GB2214904A

GB2214904A - Mixing trays

Info

Publication number: GB2214904A
Application number: GB8804126A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Richard Treleven
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-23
Filing date: 1988-02-23
Publication date: 1989-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-23
Also published as: GB8804126D0; GB2214904B

Abstract

A mixing tray 1 for particulate and/or fibrous material comprises an enclosure defined by walls 3, conjoined by a base 5. The tray is provided with a container support 9 which upstands with respect to the base 5. The upstanding support 9 is positioned adjacent the conjuncture of two walls 3, the base being inclined downwardly from the support 9 towards the well 5. Material falling from a container on the support 9 will roll from the support into the well 5 where it may be easily gathered for further use. <IMAGE>

Description

MIXING TRAY FOR PARTICULATE AND FIBROUS MATERIAL The present invention relates to a mixing tray for particulate and/or fibrous material and particularly to a potting tray for use in horticultural applications.

Trays of this type have been known, particularly for the potting of plants. These generally comprise a tray comprising an enclosure defined by wall or walls conjoined by a suitable base.

Usually a portion of a wall or one of said walls is removed so that a trowel or similar implement can be readily slid along the base so as to be loaded with a suitable particulate material such as a compost. It is usual in such circumstances to place a pot or other container to be loaded either on the base itself or to balance it on the particulate material in the enclosure, or to place the container separately from the tray. In each case there are disadvantages to be overcome. In the first place, placing the container to be loaded on the base of a tray means that the tray can only be loaded with about two-thirds of its total theoretical capacity.

In the second place, where the container is balanced on the compost within the tray the container tends to be unstable and hence must be constantly manually supported.

Where the container is positioned separately from the tray a certain proportion of the material will almost certainly be wasted.

The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages by providing a new and improved mixing tray for particulate and/or fibrous material. Accordingly the present invention provides a mixing tray for particulate and/or fibrous material, which tray comprises an enclosure defined by a wall or walls conjoined by a base, a container support upstanding with respect to the base; characterised in that the upstanding support is positioned adjacent a wall or at the conjuncture of two walls, and in that the base is inclined downwardly from the support toward a well defined by the base.

The tray in accordance with the present invention is preferably a potting tray and the support is preferably adapted to locate a flower pot or similar container. The support is of a generally planar configuration having towards its edge a plurality of upstanding ribs adapted together to define a retaining means for retaining the container on the support. The rib or ribs are provided with at leastxdiscontinuity, said discontinuity allowing material falling onto the support to be readily returned to the well in the base.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention the tray in accordance with the invention has a generally rectilinear crosssection, as does the support. It will be appreciated that in such a configuration, with the support positioned adjacent the conjuncture of two walls, the tray in accordance with the invention can be used anther right-Pandedly or left-handedly with convenience.

In a further preferred form of the invention the downwardly inclined base extends from the portion of the wall, or the wall immediately adjacent the support. There is thus provided two generally downwardly inclined base portions which meets together to define a well at the lowermost portion of the tray. The invention also envisages the utilisation of a scoop formed of the same material as that from which the tray is formed. This allows the particulate and fibrous material to be loaded without colateral damage to the tray or-scoop. The tray is preferably formed of- a plastics material impervious to the moisture or chemical reaction with commonly available fertilisers.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement set out heretofore minimises spillage of materials into a surrounding area, is easy to keep clean, is suitable for domestic or horticultural use, is convenient to carry and store and may be provided with provision for a lid or cover.

The invention will now be described, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a potting tray in accordance with the present invention in side elevation from above. In the description which follows reference is made to a potting tray, but the arrangement can be used for any other material if desired.

The potting tray shown generally at l is formed of an impervious plastics material to have a generally rectilinear transverse section.

The tray 1 is provided with four walls 3 which upstand from a plinth 2. The walls 3 are generally convergent in the upward direction and are provided towards their upper edge with a rebate to allow a lid or cover, which may be of a plastics material, to be located thereabout. The walls 3 terminate in a rolled edge 4 which edge 4 is generally inclined inwardly and downwardly so that any material falling upon the rolled edge 4 tends to roll into the tray 1. Adjacent the conjuncture of two walls 3 is a plant pot support 9 having a base which is generally parallel with the base of the plinth 2. The edge of the support 9 is defined on each of its four sides by an upstanding rib 7 adapted to locate the base of a plant pot disposed thereupon.The upper edge of the rib 7 is co-incident with the upper edge of the rolled edge 4 so that together they can provide a support for a larger container if desired.

Adjacent the end of each rib 7 is a discontinuity 8. These discontinuities form gaps through which material falling onto the platform 9 can be readily brushed into the body of the tray 1.

The base of the tray 1 is formed by a well 5. The well 5 is formed by the base material being inclined generally downwardly from the walls 3 immediately adjacent the support 9. The walls remote therefrom are inclined almost vertically in part so that a flat inclined surface extends from the edge 6 LH 6 RH toward a well 5 disposed remote from the platform 9. The channel 6 so formed in each case is adapted to receive a scoop (not shown) formed of a material similar to or slightly softer than the material forming the tray 1. It will be appreciated that by use of the arrangement shown above the tray may be readily utilised by people who are either left-handed or right-handed with equal facility merely by rotating the tray through 900.

It will be seen that in accordance with this invention a plant pot may be positioned on the support 9 and retained against lateral displacement by the ribs 10. The scoop may be utilised to scoop compost contained within the well 5 into the pot on the support 9.

Any excess material falling from the pot onto the support 9 can be readily swept back into the well 5.

The moulded tray is formed with curved surfaces and no short sharp corners which makes it easy to empty and to wipe clean. In a preferred form of the invention the side walls are about 15 mm wide at their tops and slope inwardly to encourage spilled compost to fall back into the tray and not to fall into the surrounding area. The base is preferably 500 mm by 500 mm and the height is preferably 100 mm. This size readily carries 5 litres of compost and is small enough to carry through doorways for use on tables.

The support 9 is preferably about 150 mm square and is designed for pots having a base diameter of up to 120 mm.

If desired a clear lid or tray may be positioned over the well 5 resting on the rebate in the wall 3 and the device may then be utilised as a propagator.

The invention therefore provides a new and improved tray for mixing particulate materials, particularly a potting tray suitable for left or right handed operation.

Claims

C L A I M S:

1. A mixing tray for particulate and/or fibrous material, which tray comprises an enclosure defined by a wall or walls conjoined by a base, a container support upstanding with respect to the base, characterised in that the upstanding support is positioned adjacent a wall or at the conjuncture of two walls, and in that the base is inclined downwardly from the support toward a well defined by the base.

2. A tray according to claim 1 characterised in that the support has a generally planar configuration, having towards itS edge a plurality of upstanding ribs, adapted together to define a retaining means for retaining the container on the support.

3. A tray according to claim 2 characterised in that the rib/ribs are provided with at least one discontinuity to allow the particulate and/or fibrous material to fall from the support into the well.

4. A tray according to any preceding claim characterised by a generally rectilinear cross-section, and in that the support is positioned adjacent the conjuncture of two walls for right or left hand utilisation.

5. A tray according to any preceding claim characterised in that the downwardly inclined base extends from a portion of the walls immediately adjacent the support, thereby to provide two generally downwardly inclined base portions which meet together to define the well at the lowermost portion of the tray.

6. A tray substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.