GB2380115A

GB2380115A - Plant tray and support

Info

Publication number: GB2380115A
Application number: GB0123517A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Richard Norman; Robert Charles Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-01
Filing date: 2001-10-01
Publication date: 2003-04-02
Also published as: GB0123517D0

Abstract

At least one tray unit 11 for a growing medium in which a plant is to be cultivated is engaged with at least one spacing unit 12 to provide vertical spacing of the tray from a support, such as a floor or ground, or another tray (Fig.1). The tray or the spacing unit may be adapted to receive an element for plant support (18,19). The tray may be provided with interior partitions (Fig.3).

Description

GROWING SYSTEM This invention relates to a growing system for cultivating plants.

It is concerned with the provision of a growing system whereby plants can be efficiently cultivated particularly in relation to available space, accessibility to plants and adequate light provision.

Vegetables are traditionally grown in the ground in a plot of adequate size to accommodate the chosen crops. Certain vegetables can be grown in bags of a growing medium but such bags can have limitations as to the available depth of the growing medium. Modern residential developments have a tendency to provide small plots for growing plants (assuming that they provide any plots at all). Small plots are not conducive to traditional cultivation of many types of vegetables.

It is commonly the practice to provide for seedlings to be grown in a tray which can be readily located so as to provide for a suitable environment of temperature and light for the plant type. If carried out on any scale it is necessary to provide sufficient working surface area for all trays to be laid out so that they can be readily observed and seedlings watered. Normally in a domestic environment such working surfaces are not readily available or need to be used for a range of functions.

According to as first aspect of the present invention there is provided a growing system for cultivating plants comprising: at least one tray unit for a growing medium in which a plant is to be cultivated; and at least one spacing unit for engagement with the tray unit to provided for vertical spacing of the tray from a support, such as a floor or ground, or another tray; the spacing unit being adapted to provide, at least when spacing an upper tray from a lower tray, for access and for the provision of ambient light to the lower tray.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention

the or each tray unit and/or the or/each spacing unit are adapted to receive at least n one element for directly or indirectly supporting a stem of a plant cultivated in a tray unit.

According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of the first preferred version thereof the or at least one tray unit provides a working volume for the receipt of a growing medium and there is provided at least one partition whereby the working volume of a tray unit can be divided into separate growing regions.

According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of

any preceding preferred version thereof the or each tray unit and the or each spacing I unit are of plastics material.

According to a fourth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof a spacing unit can receive a tray unit to provide two different possible working configurations.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising a plurality of growing systems according to the first aspect or any preferred version thereof.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a growing system which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of components of a tray growing system according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 are perspective view of a stack of components shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a shows assembled components of Figure 1 with additional, partitioning, items;

Figure 4 shows an assembly of components of Figure 1 with additional, supporting, items;

I Figure 5 shows an assembly of components of Figure 1 with additional, partitioning and supporting, items; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a component according to a second embodiment; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment in a stacked arrangement similar to that of Figure 2..

In the following description assemblies are described involving at least one tray unit which serves to contain a growing medium for a plant to be cultivated by means of the assembly. There are a wide range of such media readily available and described in the literature. Consequently no particular media is described in what follo\ s. Similarly the type of plants that can be grown in the proposed system are very diverse and are available and described in the literature so no particular plant is described in what follows.

FIGURE 1 Components of a growing system for cultivating plants made up of a tray unit 11 for a growing medium in which a plant is to be cultivated; and a spacing unit 12.

Tray unit 11 is provided with a rim 13 containing: holes, typically holes 13A, 13B, 13C for spacing units (described hereafter in connection with Figures 4 and 5); vertically spaced pairs of index slots, typically slots Sl and S1', S2 and S2'for partitioning units (described hereafter in connection with Figures 3 and 5); and dimples Dl, D2, D3 for use in locating a spacing unit as will be described hereafter.

The tray unit 11 is provided with a base 14 which is square in plan view.

Spacing unit 12 is provided with a flange 15 complementing in shape base 14 and adapted to receive and form a snug fit around the base 14 of the tray 11. The spacing

unit 12 is further provided with a lip 16 extending within the flange 15. The lip 16 serves to receive and support a tray 11 entered through the flange 15.

The spacing unit 12 is provided with legs 17A, 17B 17C serving to provide a stable tripod support for the spacing unit 12 and any tray unit/s which it bears. The legs 17A, 17B, 17C provide a vertical clearance H between floor G and underside U of flange 15.

Each tripod leg 17A, 17B, 17C is provided with a single recess (recess 17A', 17B', 17C') complementing in shape and location respectively dimples Dl, D2, D3 on rim 13.

The flange 15 is provided with a series of holes, typically holes 15A, 15B, 13C corresponding in pitch, size and location with corresponding holes (typically holes 13A, 13B, 13C) in tray unit 11 for spacing units (described hereafter in connection with Figures 4 and 5).

Links 18,19 provide for the location of support members as will be described hereafter in connection with Figures 4 and 5. The links 18,19 are each provided with holes corresponding in pitch, size and layout with holes 13A, 13B and 13C.

FIGURE 2 Assembly 20 for growing seedlings is made up of a spacing unit 22, tray unit 23, spacing unit 24, and tray unit 25. Each spacing unit 22,24 is identical to spacing unit 12 and each tray unit 23,25 is identical to tray unit 12 of Figure. The assembly 20 is topped off by a cover 26.

By providing a clearance H between each tray unit and the underside of a neighbouring spacing unit located vertically above it a substantial peripheral area (typically area A between tray unit 23 and spacing unit 24) is provided so that access is readily obtained to seedlings contained in tray unit 23 such as for tending or watering and light can readily fall on such seedlings. The contents of the tray 23 are effectively provided with a peripheral area corresponding to 3 times A being the area extending between each of the three legs of the spacing unit 24.

FIGURE 3 Assembly 30 is made up of tray unit 31 located on a spacing unit 32 which units are similar in form and function to, respectively, tray unit 11 and spacing unit 12 of Figure 1. The tray unit 31 is provided with vertically spaced pairs of index slots (not shown but corresponding to the slots shown in Figure 1 in which slots Sl and SF, 52 and S2' were shown by way of example. The slots are used to receive and locate in working volume W of tray 31 partitions XI to X6 and Y1 to Y5 to establish a series of discrete seedling volumes, typically volumes VI, 2 and 3. Partitions Yl and X6 are shown clear of their location by way of example. Each partition is provided with a series of slots extending part-way across the partition to enable the X and Y partitions to be interlocked with one another and with the tray while providing a readily dismantled partition structure. In this way individual seedlings can be grown in a discrete portion of growing medium (which can vary from one seedling volume to another). A grown seedling is readily removed as a complete entity comprising a seedling in a block of growing medium whether for transplanting or for disposal.

Spacing unit 32 has tripod legs 33A and 33C (the third leg not being shown). The legs are each equipped with a single castor (typically castor 34 for leg 33A and castor 35 for leg 33C) to enable the tray unit and its contents, and any further tray or spacing units supported by tray unit 31, to be readily wheeled to provide for access to, or storage of, the unit combination. In addition the legs are each provided with a pest barrier (typically barrier 36 for leg 33A and barrier 37 for leg 33C). In this way it can be made difficult for pests such as slugs and snails to reach growing plants in the working space W of the tray unit 31.

FIGURE 4 An assembly 40 is provided comprising a tray unit 41 is located on a spacing unit 42 which units are similar in form and function to, respectively, tray unit 11 and spacing unit 12 of Figure 1. The tray unit 41 is provided with straps 43,44 similar in form and function to straps 18,19 described in connection with Figure 1. The straps 43,44 serve to locate vertical supports 45,46, 47. Vertical supports 45 and 47 are located,

respectively, by way of holes 41A, 42A in rim 48 of tray unit 41. At their lower ends the vertical supports 45,47 are each located in a hole in flange 49 of spacing unit 42 corresponding in position to holes in the rim 48. The lower end of vertical support 46 is mounted in a recess in a brace located on the inner side of the base of the tray unit 41.

Plants being grown in the tray unit 41 can be supported in a conventional manner by being strapped to one or more of the vertical supports 45,46, 47.

FIGURE 5 An assembly 50 is provided comprising a tray unit 51 located on 1 spacing unit 52 which units are similar in form and function to, respectively, tray unit 11 and spacing unit 12 of Figure 1.

In this case partitions 53,54, provide for work volume W to be divided into four sections W1, W2, W3, W4 to provide for the independent growing of four plants.

Vertical supports VI, V2, V3, V4, V5 are provided for plants requiring support. They are located in the way described in connection with Figure 4 in relation to vertical supports 45,46, 47.

Castors 55,56 and a further one not shown serve to provide for ready movement of the assembly 50. Pest barriers 57,58 and a corresponding one on the un-shown castor serve to prevent ready access to growing plants in the tray unit 51 as was described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figure 3.

FIGURE 6 Unit 50 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention providing a tray unit 51 with an integral support unit comprising four legs (legs L1 to L3 and one unshown). In this case the tray unit 51 is provided with holes for support members (typically holes VI, V2, V3 which are disposed so as to lie within the tray volume. Four corner holes Sl, S2, S3, S4 serve to receive the lower end of legs on a further tray unit located vertically above, and aligned with, tray unit 51.

FIGURE 7 In this further embodiment there is provided an assembly 70 comprising tray units 71, 72,73 spaced vertically apart by means of a spacing unit comprising four columns 75, 76,77, 78 mounted on a base frame 79 which in this cases is provided with slidable extensions 80,81 which when extended provided for increased stability for the assembly 70. The columns serve to support either end of each tray unit by way of a slide member. Typically end 82 of tray unit 72 is supported by slide member 83.

The base frame is equipped with feet 82 which can be screwed into or out of the frame 79 to provide for levelling of the assembly 70.

The assembly 70 is topped by a cover 84.

The exemplary embodiments show a variety of ways that the present invention can be utilised. Typically it enables enabling a single area of floor space to accommodate a multiple of that area in which to grow plants whether from seeds or seedlings or other form of propagation.

The modular nature of the embodiments provides for a relatively large number of assemblies to be created from a relatively limited number of basic components.

The embodiments of Figures 1 to 5 show trays with a square plan view. However the plan section of a tray unit can be of any desired form as long as a spacing unit used in connection with the tray unit can provide adequate support. In addition it is envisaged that the spacing unit can be designed so that a tray unit can be mounted on it in more than one stable configuration. In this way a wide range of assemblies differing in appearance could be provided from a relatively small number of units in combination.

In addition the invention enables a range of adjuncts to be readily utilised. Thus an assembly can be readily supplied with an artificial light unit, heating means, watering means, instrumentation (such as for temperature, acidity, chemical content or other monitoring action).

The various embodiments and other developments of the invention can be readily incorporated and their content tended in a variety of environments so that particular requirements or conditions or changes in them can be readily provided.

The exemplary embodiments describe what can conveniently be termed domestic units. However units based on the invention can be readily scaled to provide for a larger scale of growing.

The components making up the described assemblies are readily manufactured in large quantities using relatively cheap material. Once assemblies involving the components have been used they are readily disassembled and the components cleaned and re-used or stored compactly for further use.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A growing system for cultivating plants comprising: at least one tray unit for a growing medium in which a plant is to be cultivated; and at least one spacing unit for engagement with the tray unit to provided for vertical spacing of the tray from a support, such as a floor or ground, or another tray; the spacing unit being adapted to provide, at least when spacing an upper tray from a lower tray, for access and for the provision of ambient light to the lower tray.
2 A growing system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the or each tray unit and/or the or/each spacing unit are adapted to receive at least one element for directly or indirectly supporting a stem of a plant cultivated in a tray unit.
3 A growing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or at least one tray unit provides a working volume for the receipt of a growing medium and there is provided at least one partition whereby the working volume of a tray unit can be divided into separate growing regions.
4 A growing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each tray unit and the or each spacing unit are of plastics material.
5 A growing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a spacing unit can receive a tray unit to provide two different working configuration.
6 A growing system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7 An assembly comprising a plurality of growing systems as claimed in any preceding claim.