GB2278265A

GB2278265A - Liner; tool

Info

Publication number: GB2278265A
Application number: GB9407654A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Maye
Original assignee: ERIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LIM; SHATTOCK Ltd
Current assignee: ERIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LIM; SHATTOCK Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-04
Filing date: 1994-04-18
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-18
Also published as: GB2278265B; IE71018B1; GB9407654D0; IE940104A1

Abstract

A liner 20 for a hanging basket or other perforated container, comprises a wall 21 having predetermined portions 23, 27 removable therefrom, to provide apertures 23', 27' in the wall 21 in predetermined positions. The portions 23 and 27 may be provided by weakened juncture lines, by a cut or slot at least partially into thickness of wall 21, or by a core portion detachable from wall 21 and secured by release adhesive. The lines may be moulded or otherwise formed by means of a tool with means to define the portions 23, 27 such as a wire or blade. <IMAGE>

Description

LINER DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a liner for a hanging wire basket or other perforated or apertured container and a tool for moulding same.

Known liners of this type are shaped, usually with a continuous solid side wall, to nest snugly within correspondingly-shaped hanging baskets or other perforated containers and are usually made of an absorbent material, such as, a previously-slurrified but subsequently-solidified moulding of fibrous material.

A major disadvantage associated with these known types of liner is that one or more holes have to be cut therein, if bedding plants, seedlings or other types of plant are to be positioned with respect to the associated hanging basket or other container below the level of the top edge thereof, when the liner is used. Also, a further disadvantage is that any such hole(s) preferably has to lie in registration with a gap(s) defined by the latticework structure of the associated hanging basket or perforation(s) of other planting container. Generally, it is difficult to provide the hole(s) in the liner, in order to achieve such registration, particularly when several holes are used. This is because those holes have to cut from the liner wall at random positions thereon before the liner is nested in the hanging basket or other perforated container, in the hope that at least one of the holes lies in registration with a corresponding gap in the latticework structure of the hanging basket or with a corresponding perforation in another container, as the case may be. Alternatively, the liner has to be nested in the hanging basket or other perforated container and the required positions of the holes marked on the wall of the liner through, and in registration with, corresponding gaps in the latticework structure of the basket or perforations in the other container, as the case may be, before such holes can be cut from the liner wall either with the liner still so-nested or with the liner removed from the basket or other perforated container for subsequent re-nesting therewithin.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an internal liner for a hanging basket or other perforated planting container which overcomes, or at least substantially reduces, the disadvantages associated with known types of liner, as discussed above.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides a liner for a hanging basket or other perforated container, comprising a wall having a predetermined portion which is removable therefrom, to provide an aperture in the wall in a predetermined position with respect thereto.

The predetermined wall portion may comprise a pre-defined portion of the wall of the liner, which is removable completely therefrom to provide the aperture therein, in the required, predetermined position with respect thereto.

Preferably, any removable, pre-defined portion of the liner wall can be pressed-out therefrom, although any other suitable arrangement for such removal may be provided. For instance, the inner or outer surface, or both, of the liner wall may be provided with a marking which defines that pre-defined portion and along which that portion can be cut around or otherwise separated from the liner wall for subsequent complete removal therefrom, to provide a correspondingly-shaped aperture therein in the required predetermined position with respect thereto.

The pre-defined liner wall portion may be constituted by any other suitable means, for example, by a closed, weakened line of juncture between that portion and the remainder of the liner wall, which may provide a complete aperture in the wall when the portion is removed therefrom.

Alternatively, an unclosed weakened or other juncture line may be used to provide a correspondingly-shaped partial aperture or gap in, say, the top rim of the liner when removed therefrom.

Alternatively also, the removable, predetermined wall portion may be in the form of a preformed wall portion secured to the liner wall to cover a preformed aperture therein, in which case it, or part of it, can be removed from the liner wall, to expose at least part of that aperture.

Such a removable, predetermined cover portion may be secured detachably to the liner wall in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a release adhesive, to cover the aperture, so that, in use, it can be removed to expose at least part of the preformed aperture.

An aperture so-exposed or otherwise provided in the liner wall may be complete or partial, as described hereinbelow.

The liner may be made of any suitable material, for example, a fibrous material or other absorbent material, although it need not necessarily be made from such a material.

An aperture provided in a predetermined position with respect to a wall of the inventive liner by removal of a pre-defined cover or other predetermined portion from the liner wall, may be of any suitable shape and/or in any suitable predetermined position of the wall, usually depending upon the shape and position of an associated gap defined by the latticework wire structure basket or a corresponding perforation or aperture of another container in which the liner can be nested.

Another aspect of the invention provides a combination of a liner in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and/or any modifications thereof described above, and a hanging wire basket or other perforated or apertured container in which the liner is or can be nested.

The liner may be arranged on the interior or exterior of the hanging basket or other perforated or apertured container.

A further aspect of the invention provides a tool upon which a liner for a hanging basket or other container is formable and which comprises a liner moulding or other forming surface with means associated therewith to provide a predetermined portion of a wall of the eventually-moulded or otherwise formed liner, which predetermined portion is removable from liner to provide an aperture in said liner wall in a predetermined position with respect thereto.

Said means may be arranged to provide marking(s) on the inner and/or outer surface of the wall of the eventually-formed liner, which marking(s) pre-defines the predetermined wall portion for subsequent removal from the liner wall.

Alternatively, said means may comprise a projection extending outwardly from the moulding or other forming surface of the tool, which is arranged to provide a weakened juncture line in the wall of the eventually-formed liner between the predetermined wall portion and the remainder of the liner wall. Such a weakened juncture line may extend at least partially into the thickness of the liner wall, such that the pre-defined or otherwise predetermined portion can be pushed-out or otherwise removed from the liner wall, to provide a correspondingly-shaped, partial or complete aperture therein in a predetermined position with respect thereto.

Such a projection may take the form of a continuous wire or blade secured to the moulding or other forming surface of the tool. Alternatively, a plurality of, say, projecting wires or blades may be used, to provide a broken, weakened juncture line for the predetermined portion of the liner wall.

The material from which the liner is moulded or otherwise formed, may be an absorbent material, such as, a fibrous material, in which case, the tool may be dipped into a slurry thereof, for subsequent drying and solidification of the slurry to form the liner.

Also, the inventive tool is particularly useful for manufacturing a liner in accordance with the first aspect of the invention defined above, including any modification thereof.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, preferred embodiments of liner, in accordance therewith, for hanging baskets will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1A to 1C are respective perspective, plan and side elevational views of a first embodiment of hanging basket liner, as manufactured; Figure 1D is a perspective view of the liner of Figures 1A to 1C, ready for use; Figures 2A and 2B are respective perspective and side elevational views of a second embodiment of hanging basket liner, as manufactured; and Figure 2C is a perspective view of the liner shown in Figures 2A and 2B, ready for use.

Referring firstly to Figures 1A to 1C of the drawings, an internal liner, indicated generally at 10, for a hanging basket (not shown) is moulded from a previously-slurrified but subsequently-solidified fibrous material and comprises continuous side and base walls 11, 12. The liner 10 is bowl-shaped, such that it can be nested snugly within a correspondinglyshaped hanging wire basket.

The side wall 11 of the liner 10 is provided with a plurality, in this case six, of pre-defined circular portions 13 constituted by circular, weakened lines of juncture 14 between those portions 13 and the remainder of the liner side wall 11. The portions 13 are located in predetermined positions with respect to the side wall 11.

The circular, weakened juncture lines 14 which define the six pre-defined or otherwise predetermined wall portions 13, are formed during manufacture of the liner 10 by one or more cuts or slots which extend at least partially into the thickness of the side wall 11, preferably to about half the thickness thereof.

Alternatively, each juncture line 14 may be formed by a continuous circular cut or slot extending at least partially into the thickness of the liner side wall 11.

When the liner 10 is prepared for use, as shown at 10' in Figure 1D, and for nesting snugly within a correspondingly-shaped hanging wire basket, one or more of the pre-defined portions 13 of the side wall 11 is or are pushed-out completely from the remainder of the area of the side wall, to provide one or more complete, circular apertures 13' therein, such aperture(s) being located in a predetermined position(s) with respect to the liner side wall 11.

Preferably, the predetermined positions of the circular apertures 13' are arranged to lie in registration with gaps defined by the latticework wire structure of the associated hanging basket, when the liner is nested therein.

In this manner, a bedding plant, seedling or other type of plant can have its root system inserted through the apertures 13' from the outside of the hanging basket, during a planting operation.

Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, a second embodiment of liner 20 for a correspondingly-shaped hanging wire basket also has six circular, weakened juncture lines 24 providing respective circularlyshaped, pre-defined or otherwise predetermined portions 23 of the side wall 21 of the liner 20, which can be pressed-out completely, as described above in relation to the first embodiment of Figures 1A to 1D, to provide respective apertures in predetermined positions with respect to the liner side wall 21.

However, in this second embodiment of hanging wire basket liner 20, there are provided also six semi-circular weakened juncture lines 25 adjacent the top rim 26 of the liner 20, which define respective pre-defined or otherwise predetermined semi-circular portions 27 of the liner wall 21 in predetermined positions with respect thereto.

In the ready-for-use condition of the liner, as shown at 20' in Figure 2C, the circular and semicircular portions 23, 27 of the liner side wall 21 have been pressed-out completely therefrom, to provide respective complete circular apertures 23' in the side wall 21 and partial, semi-circular apertures or gaps 27' in the top rim 26 thereof.

In this manner, plants can be positioned not only within the circular apertures 23' but also in the semi-circular apertures or gaps 27' in the rim 26 of the liner, when the latter is nested snugly within a correspondingly-shaped hanging wire basket and is used for planting purposes.

Again, the apertures 23', 27' in their predetermined positions with respect to the liner wall 21 may be arranged to lie in register with corresponding gaps provided by the latticework wire structure of the associated hanging basket, when the liner 20 is nested snugly therein.

The weakened juncture lines 24, 34 of the second embodiment of liner 20 may be formed in the side wall 21 by the same method as that described above in relation to the weakened juncture lines 14 of the first embodiment of Figures 1A to 1C.

Each of the two embodiments of inventive liner 10 and 20 described above, may be moulded or otherwise formed by means of a tool comprising a moulding or other forming surface with means arranged thereon to define the predetermined wall portions 13 and 23.

Such defining means may comprise a correspondinglyshaped projection, such as, a wire or blade, secured to and extending outwardly of the forming surface of such a tool.

The tool may be used for dip moulding the liners 10, 20, whereby the tool is dipped into a slurry of the fibrous material from which the eventually-moulded or otherwise formed liners 10 and 20 are made. After such dipping, the slurrified fibrous material is dried, to form the generally solid but absorptive liners for subsequent use with associated hanging wire baskets.

Also, the pre-defined or otherwise predetermined portion(s) may be provided on any wall of the liner.

For example, if fast drainage of the liner, in use, is required, then one or more such portions may be provided in the base wall of the liner, in addition to or as an alternative to the portions of the liner side wall, to provide the corresponding aperture(s) in that base wall. Thus, the moulding or other forming tool may be modified accordingly.

Although the embodiments of liner discussed above in relation to the drawings include at least one predefined or otherwise predetermined portion of the liner side wall which can be removed completely therefrom to provide the required aperture(s) therein, it is to be appreciated that the aperture(s) may be provided by any other suitable means. For example, and as discussed above, a preformed removable portion may be secured detachably to the side wall to cover an aperture preformed therein, so that, in use, it can be removed at least partially from the remainder of the liner wall, to expose a correspondingly-shaped preformed aperture. The detachable securement of any such preformed cover portion to the liner wall may be effected by means of a release adhesive, so that, in use, at least part, and preferably the whole, of the cover portion can be removed to expose a preformed aperture(s) in the wall.

Claims

1. A liner for a hanging basket or other perforated container, comprising a wall having a predetermined portion which is removable therefrom, to provide an aperture in the wall in a predetermined position with respect thereto.

2. A liner according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined wall portion comprises a pre-defined portion of the wall of the liner which is removable completely therefrom to provide the aperture therein, in the required, predetermined position with respect thereto.

3. A liner according to claim 2, wherein the removable, pre-defined portion of the liner wall can be pressed-out therefrom.

4. A liner according to claim 2, wherein the inner or outer surface, or both, of the liner wall is provided with a marking which defines the pre-defined portion and along which that portion can be cut around or otherwise separated from the liner wall for subsequent complete removal therefrom, to provide a correspondingly-shaped aperture therein in the required predetermined position with respect thereto.

5. A liner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pre-defined liner wall portion is constituted by a closed, weakened liner of juncture between that portion and the remainder of the liner wall.

6. A liner according to claim 5, wherein the closed, weakened line of juncture provides a complete aperture in the liner wall when the pre-defined portion is removed therefrom.

7. A liner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pre-defined liner wall portion is constituted by an unclosed weakened line of juncture between that portion and the remainder of the liner wall, to provide a correspondingly-shaped partial aperture or gap in the top rim of the liner when removed therefrom.

8. A liner according to claim 1, wherein the removable, predetermined wall portion is in the form of a preformed wall portion secured to the liner wall to cover a preformed aperture therein, such that the preformed wall portion or part of it can be removed from the liner wall, to expose at least part of the aperture therein.

9. A liner according to claim 8, wherein the removable preformed cover portion is secured detachably to the liner wall by means of a release adhesive.

10. A liner according to any preceding claim, made of a fibrous or other absorbent material.

11. A liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperture is shaped and positioned with respect to the liner wall to correspond with the shape and position of an associated gap defined by the latticework wire structure basket or corresponding perforation or aperture of another container in which the liner can be nested.

12. A combination of a liner in accordance with any preceding claim and a hanging wire basket or other perforated or apertured container in which the liner is nested in the interior thereof.

13. A combination of a hanging wire basket or other perforated or apertured container and a liner according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the basket or other container is nested in the interior of the liner.

14. A tool upon which a liner for a hanging basket or other container is formable and which comprises a liner moulding or other forming surface with means associated therewith to provide a predetermined portion of a wall of the eventually-moulded or otherwise formed liner, which predetermined portion is removable from liner to provide an aperture in said liner wall in a predetermined position with respect thereto.

15. A tool according to claim 14, wherein said means is arranged to provide marking(s) on the inner and/or outer surface of the wall of the eventually-formed liner, which marking(s) pre-defines the predetermined wall portion for subsequent removal from the liner wall.

16. A tool according to claim 14, wherein said means comprises a projection extending outwardly from the moulding or other forming surface of the tool, which is arranged to provide a weakened juncture line in the wall of the eventually-formed liner between the predetermined wall portion and the remainder of the liner wall.

17. A tool according to claim 16, wherein the weakened juncture line of the so-formed liner extends at least partially into the thickness of the liner wall, such that the pre-defined or otherwise predetermined portion can be pushed-out or otherwise removed from the liner wall, to provide a correspondingly-shaped, partial or complete aperture therein in a predetermined position with respect thereto.

18. A tool according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the projection is in the form of a continuous wire or blade secured to the moulding or other forming surface of the tool.

19. A tool according to claim 18 wherein a plurality of said projections are used, to provide a broken, weakened juncture line for the predetermined portion of the liner wall.

20. A tool according to any of claims 14 to 19 which can be dipped into a slurry of fibrous material or other absorbent material for subsequent drying and solidification of the slurry to form the liner.

21. A tool according to any of claims 14 to 20 when used to manufacture a liner according to any of claims 1 to 13.

22. A liner for a hanging wire basket or other preformed or apertured container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A tool for forming a liner, substantially as hereinbefore described.