GB2162497A - Plant container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for a growing plant comprises an inner bag fitting within an outer open topped carton 12; the bag 11 is initially open- topped and is wholly biodegradable. Preferably the carton 12 is also wholly biodegradable, so that it is not necessary to remove the plant in its bag from the carton when bedding-out. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plant container Field of the Invention The invention relates to containers for growing plants.

Background to the Invention Containers for housing growing plants are exemplified by the well known flower pot, on the one hand, and its more modern successor the flexible black polythene open-topped bag.

The traditional flower pot is essentially a rigidwalled container which is suitable for displaying the plant permanently as well as housing it during growth. The black polythene bag on the other hand is merely intended to surround and contain the plant roots and any necessary cultivating medium, temporarily until the plant can be bedded out into the ground or into a flower pot.

In each case, if the plant is bedded out into the ground, the plant pot or black bag must be removed and discarded. It cannot simply be bedded into the ground with the plant and left there, because it is not biodegradable.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention a container for a growing plant comprises an inner bag fitting within an outer carton; the carton is an open-topped carton and the bag initially is an open-topped bag; and the bag at least is wholly biodegradable.

With such a container, the carton can carry advertising or other display indicia whilst the bag fitting inside the carton contains the plant roots and any necessary plant-cultivating medium; but when the plant comes to be bedded out it is not necessary to disturb the roots and cultivating medium inside the bag because the bag can simply be set into the ground and then left to degrade. The carton can be made of material which is strong enough for display purposes and/or suitable for carrying printed advertising or other indicia, whilst the bag need not have these constraints.

Preferably and advantageously the carton as well as the bag is wholly biodegradable. In such a case, it is not necessary even to remove the plant in its bag from the carton when bedding-out. The whole assembly of carton, bag and growing plant can simply be set into the ground and then left for the plant to continue to grow as the bag and carton degrade around it.

Preferably the carton is a rigid-walled carton. This will best withstand any knocks incurred in stacking, displaying and/or transporting the growing plants. It also lends itself much more readily to bedding-out (in the case where it is a biodegradable carton) because it is much easier to dig a circular-section or rectangular-section hole in the ground whose sides will firmly support the carton, than to attempt to dig an irregular hole and then infill around a flexible-walled carton of indeterminate shape which will not then support the growing plant as efficiently.

Preferably also the carton has a flapped top in which an opening is defined, when the flaps are folded towards one another, rather than simply being a totally open-topped carton. The flaps then aid in supporting the stem of the plant growing through the opening.

In the case just outlined, advantageously the flaps lock into one another and then hold each other in attitudes sloping towards the base of the carton. In other words the carton then has a "countersunk" top aspect. This helps to retain the plant and inner bag within the carton, should the carton inadvertently be knocked over or up-ended, as the flaps will then tend to be bent back on themselves and will tend to lock more firmly together under the weight of the plant.

Advantageously, the carton is of such a construction that, when folded and assembled, its surfaces interlock in such a way that they need no adhesive or other fastening means to continue to hold together in normal intended use of the carton; or alternatively, if one or more flaps of the carton had to be glued into finally assembled position, the glue used is a biodegradable glue.

An example of a biodegradable glue which may be used is that sold under the trade mark DEXTRIN by National Adhesives and Resins Limited of Galvin Road, Slough, Berkshire.

Some biodegradable glues do not set quickly and it has been found that non-biodegradable glues may have to be used commercially. A suitable non-biodegradable glue is a polyvinyl acetate emulsion.

A further glue which may also be used is sold under the trade mark SUPERLOK 61, also by National Adhesives and Resins Limited.

Preferably the bag, in use, seals around the stem of the growing plant. This helps retain moisture and/or nutrients in the plant-cultivated medium within the bag during the crucial early stages of growth and especially immediately after bedding-out.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows the carton blank of one container embodying the invention; Figure 2 shows in perspective the inner bag of the container; Figure 3 shows the carton assembled and viewed in perspective; Figure 4 shows the carton of Fig. 3 viewed from above.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the drawings, a plant container comprises an inner bag 11 fitting within an outer carton 1 2. The bag and the carton are both initially open-topped and fit closely one within another so that the top of the bag abuts the underside of the opening 1 3 defined by the top flaps of the carton when those flaps are folded into their fully assembled state.

The bag 11, as Fig. 2 shows, is a gussetted block-bottom bag of transparent plastics film.

It is sealed longitudinally as indicated at 14.

The fin seal 14 is formed and folded by conventional methods. The initially open top 1 5 of the bag occupies a central region of the bag when the bag is viewed from above.

This particular bag is made of transparent plastics cellulose film MXXT/A Copolymer coated and approximately 550 micron thickness.

The carton 1 2 has side walls 1 6 and bottom flaps 1 7 which fold around respective lines 18, 1 9 to define an upright rectangular relatively rigid-walled carton. A flap 21 protrudes from one of the side walls 1 6. When the side walls 16 and bottom flaps 1 7 have been folded into place, the flap 21 is glued with the biodegradable glue sold under the trade mark DEXTRIN to the outside of the next adjacent side wall 16; and the last folded two of the flaps 1 7 are spot-glued against the other two flaps with similar glue.

The top flaps of the carton as illustrated are of two respective types referenced 22, 23.

Each half 22a, 23a of each of the flaps 22, 23 folds down (ie out of the plane of the paper in Fig. 1) about a fold line which in Fig.

1 is horizontal, to lie against the other half 22b, 23b or the tab. All four tabs are then folded towards one another, with the two tabs 22 first being folded and then the two otherpattern tabs 23 following. Tabs 23 lock into tabs 22 to define, as Fig. 3 illustrates clearly, a "countersunk" top with an opening 1 3 occupying the central region thereof.

Before tabs 22, 23 are folded in towards one another as just described, the plant is inserted into the initially open top 1 5 of bag 11 together with any necessary cultivating medium such as compost. Self-adhesive tabs, not illustrated in the drawings, then seal the top of bag 11 around the stem (also not illustrated) of the plant where the stem protrudes from the top of the bag. The bag and its contents are then fitted into carton 1 6 and, finally, tabs 22 and 23 are folded down to lock into one another as previously described.

The adhesive tabs just referred to contain biodegradable glue and are themselves wholly biodegradable. They can be selected from several alternatives which the skilled addressee can achieve without inventive thought.

The carton itself is made from KYRO medium coated carton board which is mould resistant and is coated with TK-100 METASOL (750 parts per million strength) and is, like the bag 11, appoximately 550 micron thick.

By way of example the adhesive tabs sealing the top of bag 11 around the plant stem could comprise paper which has been made from 100 per cent wood pulp extract and is biodegradable long-term.

The container illustrated is particularly suitable for supporting young shrubs or trees, such as roses, both for display purposes and after subsequent bedding-out without needing to remove the bag or the container from around the growing plant.

Claims (9)

1. A container for a growing plant comprising an inner bag fitting within an outer carton, in which, the carton is an open-topped carton and the bag initially is an open-togged bag, and the bag at least is wholly biodegradable.

2. A container according to Claim 1, in which the outer carton is biodegradable.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the outer carton has rigid walls.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the outer carton has a flapped top, in which an opening is defined, when the flaps are folded towards one another.

5. A container according to Claim 4, in which the flaps lock into one another to hold each other in attitudes sloping towards the base of the carton.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the carton is arranged such that, when folded and assembled its surfaces interlock so that no adhesive or other fastening means is required to hold the carton together.

7. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the carton is glued together by a biodegradable glue.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the inner bag, in use, seals around the stem of the growing plant.

9. A container for a growing plant, arranged substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.