GB2295759A

GB2295759A - Seed propagator kit

Info

Publication number: GB2295759A
Application number: GB9424647A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Lythgoe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-12-07
Filing date: 1994-12-07
Publication date: 1996-06-12
Also published as: GB9424647D0

Abstract

A seed propagator kit is disclosed which is in the form of a flat pack which comprises a water-impermeable sheet material which is capable of foldable assembly into a flower pot or seed tray, a substance capable on addition of water to form a water gel and a pliable transparent plastics film for placing over the assembled pot or tray to provide an environment suitable for seed propagation. <IMAGE>

Description

SEED PROPAGATORS This invention relates to seed propagators. Many proposals have been made to provide seed propagators but mostly these are expensive and complicated apparatus which take up considerable space and often include electrical heaters. A convenient way of propagating seeds is to plant the seeds in a pot and place them in an airing cupboard or on a window-ledge to germinate the seeds.

Unfortunately, this often leads to problems because the container leaks or is knocked over.

It is an object of the invention to provide a seed propagator kit which is very compact, yet can be quickly assembled to provide a seed propagator which will be relatively clean and convenient to use.

According to the present invention there is provided a seed propagator kit in the form of a flat pack, which comprises a water-impermeable sheet material adapted for assembly into a flower pot or seed tray, a substance capable on addition of water to form a water gel and a pliable transparent plastic film for placing over the assembled pot or tray to provide an environment suitable for seed propagation.

Preferably, the kit additionally contains seeds for growing in the pot or tray so that the pack includes everything except water for growing the seeds.

The sheet material may be pre-scored or preformed with fold lines to facilitate assembly into a pot or tray and the sheet material may be printed with instructions for growing the seeds and subsequent plants and with a representation of the mature crop. Suitable materials for the sheet material include paper or board having a waterresistant plastic coating, or a stiff plastics material.

Examples of suitable water gelling materials include carboxyalkyl or hydroxyalkyl celluloses, e.g.

carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, acrylic acid polymers and xanthan gums, and hydrous sodium/magnesium silicates. Currently preferred water gelling materials are sodium magnesium silicates, e.g.

those produced by Laporte Industries Limited under the trade mark "Laponite". The water gelling agents are generally dry powdered materials and may be included in a sachet within the flat pack in an amount of about 20-40 grams which will normally be sufficient for gelling up to about 1 litre of water.

Also included in the pack will be a pliable film for applying over the assembled pot, in order to provide minigreenhouse conditions for the seeds. Suitable pliable materials are cling-film type sheet materials of which the most widely available are thin, highly plasticised pvc.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of the sheet material in its flattened state, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seed pot after assembly, and Figure 3 is a plan view of a slightly modified design of a carton blank for a seed pot.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the propagator comprises a sheet 1 of water-impermeable material such as cardboard, coated on the inside with plastic film to render it water-impermeable. The sheet material 1 is formed with a number of fold lines defining panels some of which, e.g. panel 2 may carry a representation of the plant to be grown, while other panels, e.g. 3, may be printed with instructions for assembling the pot and growing the seeds. Other panels may provide space for writing the date on which the seeds were sown and other records.

The fold lines 4 may, e.g. be folded into the plane of the drawing while other fold lines 5 may be folded out of the plane of the paper. Other fold lines 6 and 7 are folded to provide ears 8 which, in the assembled state, are folded over an adjacent panel e.g. 3 and then secured by plastic clips 10 to hold the assembled pot together.

Once the sheet material 1 has been folded into the assembled pot as shown in Figure 2, the water gelling material is mixed with the required amount of water and filled into the pot. Gelling occurs after stirring.

Once the water has been gelled seeds can be inserted into the gel and the material has the properties such that upon agitation, the gel is broken. Thus, seeds can be easily pushed into the swollen gel and held there until germinated. Because the resultant gel is transparent, the seeds can be distributed evenly within the pot. Once the seeds have been introduced into the gel, the cling-film can then be placed over the open top 12 and squeezed around the sides 3 of the pot. The pot can then be placed in a warm place such as on the window-ledge or in an airing cupboard, the cling-film preventing substantial loss of water.

Referring to Figure 3, this is a view of a blank for a seed pot which is similar to that shown in Figure 1.

As in Figure 1, the blank has panels 31 for pictorial or descriptive material and fold lines 32 for facilitating folding of the blank to form a carton. Instead of providing separate clips to hold the assembled carton in place, the blank includes ears 33 which engage in slots 34.

Because of the transparent nature of the gel, the progress of the seeds can be monitored and once they germinate, the seeds can be brought out into the light and placed on a window-ledge and the cling-film removed. When the seedlings have reached the stage when they can be transplanted, they are easily taken out of the gel and planted in soil or potting compost.

Instead of using a cardboard sheet material, a foldable plastics material can be used, e.g.

polypropylene, which has the capabilities of forming hinges by scoring and pulling transversely of the hinge.

This may have the further advantage that the whole pack can be made transparent so that the growth of the plants can be observed more closely, and this may be of advantage in the case where the product is used in schools or as a teaching or educational aid.

It will be appreciated that all the materials can be packed into a flat pack using the base sheet material of the pot as the backing of the pack, or using additional sheet material to form the pack. The pack can include the clips for holding the folded pot together, the water gelling agent in the sachet and the seeds in a packet.

The cling-film material can either form the packaging for the flat pack or be contained in the packaging, e.g. in a plastic bag. The pack can then, if desired, be attached to a backing card from which individual packs can be stripped off for sale.

Claims

CLAIMS:- 1. A seed propagator kit in the form of a flat pack which comprises a water-impermeable sheet material which is capable of assembly into a flower pot or seed tray, a substance capable on addition of water to form a water gel and a pliable transparent plastics film for placing over the assembled pot or tray to provide an environment suitable for seed propagation. 2. A kit as claimed in claim 1 which additionally contains seeds for growing in the pot or tray. 3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheet material is pre-scored or formed with folded lines to facilitate assembly into a pot or tray. 4. A kit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet material is paper or board having a water-resistant plastics coating. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A seed propagator kit in the form of a flat pack which comprises a water-impermeable sheet material which is capable of assembly into a flower pot or seed tray, a substance capable on addition of water to form a water gel and a pliable transparent plastics film for placing over the assembled pot or tray to provide an environment suitable for seed propagation.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1 which additionally contains seeds for growing in the pot or tray.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheet material is pre-scored or formed with folded lines to facilitate assembly into a pot or tray.

4. A kit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet material is paper or board having a water-resistant plastics coating.

5. A seed propagator which comprises a moulded plastics dish containing a substance capable on addition of water to form a water gel, seeds for growing in the dish and a pliable plastics film enveloping the tray.

6. A kit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the dish is a thermoformed polystyrene tray.

7. A kit according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the seeds are grass seeds.

8. A kit according to any one of claims 5 to 7 which includes a moulded plastics cover which may be transparent or translucent.