GB2433015A

GB2433015A - Plant pot unit

Info

Publication number: GB2433015A
Application number: GB0525131A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Smith
Original assignee: SMITH PLASTICS Ltd H
Current assignee: SMITH PLASTICS Ltd H
Priority date: 2005-12-09
Filing date: 2005-12-09
Publication date: 2007-06-13
Also published as: GB0525131D0

Abstract

The plant pot unit may be vacuum-formed and have three flower pots (4, 5, 6). Each pot has a circular base (7, 8, 9) and an open upper mouth (13, 14, 15). The mouths of the pots are interconnected by a web 16. The flower pots may be mounted within a transport tray with the lower parts of the pots frictionally engaged in recesses in the tray. The combination of the tray, the pots and the web (16) which extends between the pots provides a substantially rigid structure, which is easy to transport. The web may have corrugations 18 which act as a flow path for liquids.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PLANT POTS

Description of Invention

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to plant pots (so-called "flower pots").

Nurserymen use plant pots (so-called "flower pots") when growing plants which are intended, for example, to be sold in garden centres or the like.

Typically the plants are grown in individual plant pots, and in order to facilitate transportation of the flower pots, the pots are inserted into recesses formed in a transport tray. A typical transport tray may have twelve or fifteen recesses, thus being capable of carrying twelve or fifteen flower pots.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view illustrating a transport tray I and a plurality of plant pots 2. The transport tray I is of generally rectangular form and defines twelve recesses 3 each dimensioned to receive one of the flower pots 2. The recesses are in a regular rectangular array. The tray 1 may be formed, for example, from a moulded block of polystyrene, but it is preferred to use a tray formed from a vacuum-formed sheet plastics material, since trays formed in this way are more economic to produce, and can also be stacked in a relatively small space, thus facilitating transportation and storage. However, a tray I formed from a vacuum-formed material is not very strong, and when twelve flower pots, each containing a plant have been inserted in the twelve recesses, the tray may yield and bend when lifted.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved plant pot arrangement.

According to this invention there is provided a plant pot unit, the plant pot unit comprising a plurality of plant pots, each plant pot having a base and an open mouth, and a web, the web extending substantially parallel with the bases of the plant pots at a level adjacent the open mouths of the plant pots.

Preferably the web is formed integrally with the pots.

Conveniently there are three plant pots forming the unit in a linear row.

Alternatively there are four plant pots in the plant pot unit, the plant pots being arranged at the corners of a notional square. The four pots could also, instead, be arranged in a linear row.

Preferably the web is reinforced by one or more corrugations.

Conveniently the corrugations are extended between adjacent plant pots of the plant pot unit.

Advantageously each corrugation is in the form of a trough or gully to provide a flow-path for liquid between adjacent pots.

Preferably the plant pot unit is a vacuum-formed integral unit, although it could alternatively be pressure-formed.

The invention also relates to a plant pot unit as described above in combination with a plant pot support tray, the plant pot support tray defining a plurality of recesses to receive the plant pots.

Preferably the plant pots of the plant pot unit are received within the recesses as a snug-fit.

Conveniently the plant pots are received in the recesses as a friction-fit.

Advantageously there are a plurality of plant pot units received within the tray, the webs of adjacent plant pot units abutting against each other.

Preferably the tray is a vacuum-formed tray.

Conveniently, two layers of plant pot units may be employed, the first layer being supported by said support tray and the pots of the second layer being nested with the pots of the first layer such that at least one plant pot unit in one of the layers spans at least two plant pot units in the other layer.

Optionally, each of the layers may comprise a plurality of plant pot units, the webs of adjacent plant pot units within a given layer abutting against one another.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustrative view of a plant pot tray and some individual plant pots, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view from above of a plant pot unit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 3 is a view of the plant pot unit of Figure 2 when inverted, FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a plant transport tray, of the type shown in Figure 1, together with a plurality of plant pot units and, FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Figure 4.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings a plant pot unit is illustrated which comprises three plant pots 4, 5, 6 of conventional size, each plant pot having a circular substantially planar base 7, 8, 9 with a cruciform rib 10, 11, 12 formed therein to provide some degree of reinforcement to the base of each flower pot. Each flower pot has an open upper mouth 13, 14, 15, which is of greater diameter than the diameter of the base. The mouths of the pots are all interconnected by a web 16. The web is substantially planar and is in a plane parallel to the plane of the bases 7, 8, 9 of the pots 4, 5, 6.

The web is of rectangular form. The web is provided with a peripheral down-turned lip 17 (see Figure 5), to enhance the rigidity of the web. The web is also provided with corrugations 18 extending between the adjacent pots 4, 5 and 6. The corrugations enhance the rigidity of the web. Each corrugation 18 extends substantially parallel with one relatively long side of the rectangular web 16. Each corrugation 18 is in the form of an open-topped gully or trough, with each gully or trough forming a possible flow-path for liquid, such as water, from the upper part of one pot into an adjacent pot.

In the illustrated embodiment the plant pot unit is formed as a single integral piece, by a vacuum-forming technique, from a single sheet of appropriate plastics material. However, it is to be understood that an equivalent plant pot unit could, in certain circumstances, be formed from three "conventional" flower pots together with a separate web-element designed to receive the conventional flower pots, for example by exerting a friction grip on each of the conventional flower pots adjacent the open mouth of each of the conventional flower pots.

However, the described integrally moulded flower pot unit is preferred for reasons of ease of manufacture, cost of manufacture and stacking-ability. A number of the plant pot units may be stacked together, occupying a minimum amount of space, which facilitates transport and storage.

It is envisaged that plant pot units, of the type shown in Figures 2 and 3, may be carried by a conventional transport tray, for example a transport tray I of the type shown in Figure 1, that is to say a conventional transport tray which is vacuum-formed. The plant pot units may be mounted to the tray with the plant pots 4, 5, 6 being received a snug-fit, which is preferably a friction-fit, within the recesses 3 provided in the tray. As can be seen from Figure 4, four of the illustrated plant pot units may be mounted on a single tray in a side-by-side relationship, with each of the webs 16 being located at a level above the level of the support tray I and the edges of each of the webs 16 abutting against the edges of the web(s) 16 of the adjacent plant pot unit(s).

Referring again to Figure 4, the entire structure, including the support tray and the plant pot units, is found to have substantially enhanced strength, as compared with the strength of the support tray I and individual flower pots 2 of the arrangement shown in Figure 1. It is believed that the strength is achieved because the webs 16, although capable of bending, each individually resist any lateral compressive or tensile force, and the transport tray exhibits a similar property. Each of the webs 16 are jointed by the respective pots 4, 5, 6 to the support tray, effectively forming a respective plurality of "box beams" (each "box beam" being defined by a respective web 16, respective pots 4, 5, 6 and the support tray 1). In this manner, the structure exhibits a substantially enhanced resistance to lateral compressive force along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A (see Figure 4) of the plant pot units (for example in the case where the entire structure is lifted at each end), as well as lateral tensile force directed along the longitudinal axis A (for example in the case where the entire structure is lifted in the middle). Moreover, it is to be appreciated that, as the edges of each of the webs 16 abut against the edges of the web(s) 16 of the adjacent plant pot unit(s), the adjacent webs will engage each other to resist a lateral compressive force acting along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A and, in this manner, the adjacent webs will effectively form a single composite reinforcing web (located at a level above the level of the support tray 1) so that, specifically as regards a lateral compressive force directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A, the entire structure will effectively act as a single "box beam" being formed by the single, composite reinforcing web and support tray 1, jointed by the plurality of respective pots 4, 5, 6. This facilitates transportation of the tray together with the plants.

In a further embodiment (not illustrated), two separate layers of plant pot units may be mounted on the support tray, with the first layer being supported by the support tray, and the pots of the second layer being nested within the pots of the first layer such that at least one plant pot unit in one layer spans at least two plant pot units in the other layer. More specifically, referring to Figure 4, an additional layer of plant pot units may be mounted on the illustrated layer of plant pot units perpendicular thereto, with the pots of the upper layer of plant pot units (which may receive plants as appropriate) being "nested" in the pots of the lower layer of plant pot units. For example, referring to Figure 4, three plant pot units, each comprising four pots arranged in a linear row, could be mounted perpendicular to the illustrated plant pot units to provide a complete upper layer of plant pot units.

It has been found that the above described "two-layer" configuration exhibits yet further enhanced strength compared with the strength of the support tray I and individual flower pots 2 of the arrangement shown in Figure 1. It is believed that the strength is achieved because each of the webs in each layer individually resist lateral compressive or tensile force, and the support tray exhibits the same property. Thus, it will be appreciated that, in the specific "two-layer" configuration described above, the webs of the lower layer of plant pot units will form a lower, composite reinforcing web, whilst the webs of the upper layer of plant pot units will form an upper, composite reinforcing web, positioned at substantially the same level above the support tray 1. Each composite web resists a lateral compressive or tensile force directed parallel to the longitudinal axis A, as well as a lateral compressive force directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A, in similar manner as described above.

However, in addition, it will be appreciated that each of the upper and lower composite webs will act to reinforce the other composite web by resisting a lateral tensile force directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the plant pot units forming the other composite web, so that the upper and lower composite webs combine to form a "two layer" composite web which, for a given layer of plant pots, not only resists a lateral compressive and tensile force parallel to the longitudinal axis A and lateral compressive force perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A, but also a lateral tensile force perpendicular to the axis A. Thus, the "two layer" composite web is jointed to the support tray via the two layers of respective pots to form a single, composite "box beam" exhibiting enhanced rigidity in all directions, as compared with the support tray I and individual flower pots 2 of the arrangement shown in Figure 1. This facilitates transportation of the tray together with the plants.

It will be apparent that no special modification of the plant pot units is required in order to assemble the "two-layer" structure described above; rather, each of the plant pot units may be of substantially the same form as the plant pot units described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Whilst the above embodiment has been described with reference to two "complete" layers of plant pot units being supported on the support tray (that is, with each layer of plant pot units comprising the same number of pots as there are recesses in the support tray) it is to be appreciated that some or all of the benefits of this embodiment may be obtained even where one or both of the layers of plant pot units are "incomplete". For example, referring to Figure 4, it is envisaged that the rigidity of the structure perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A could be substantially enhanced by introducing an additional layer of plant pot units comprising only a single plant pot unit, for example a plant pot unit comprising four plant pots arranged in a linear row, orientated perpendicular to the existing layer of plant pot units illustrated in Figure 4. Indeed, it will be appreciated that any number of "two-layer" arrangements might be employed in accordance with the invention, provided that at least one plant pot unit in one layer spans at least two plant pot units in the other layer. In this manner, the individual plant pot units afford a degree of "design flexibility", in that they may be arranged upon a support tray in a large number of different configurations to enhance the strength of the structure.

In the embodiments as described above, the web(s) extending between the plant pots, although of complex cross-sectional shape due to the presence of the corrugations, is of substantially uniform thickness along its entire length.

This provides a desired degree of strength in the web. However, it is envisaged that in one embodiment lines of mechanical weakness may be provided extending transversely between the adjacent pots, to enable an individual pot (particularly a pot containing a plant) to be "torn off' for ready use.

If one pot is over-watered, excess water may flow through a trough or gully 18 to the next adjacent pot.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a plant pot unit in which there are three plant pots, it is to be understood that an equivalent unit may be provided having two pots or having four or more pots. Also, whilst in the invention the plant pots of the unit are shown as being aligned in a single row, it is envisaged that it would be possible to have a unit comprising four pots, with the pots being located as two adjacent pairs, that is to say with each pot lying at the corner of a notional square.

When used in this Specification and Claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising'1 and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A plant pot unit, the plant pot unit comprising a plurality

of plant pots, each plant pot having a base and an open mouth, and a web, the web extending substantially parallel with the bases of the plant pots at a level adjacent the open mouths of the plant pots.

2. A plant pot unit according to claim 1 wherein the web is formed integrally with the pots.

3. A plant pot unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are three plant pots forming the unit in a linear row.

4. A plant pot unit according to any one of claims I or 2 wherein there are four plant pots in the plant pot unit, the plant pots being arranged at the corners of a notional square.

5. A plant pot unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the web is reinforced by one or more corrugations.

6. A plant pot unit according to claim 5 wherein the corrugations are extended between adjacent plant pots of the plant pot unit.

7. A plant pot unit according to claim 6 wherein each corrugation is in the form of a trough or gully to provide a flow-path for liquid between adjacent pots.

8. A plant pot unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plant pot unit is a vacuum-formed integral unit.

9. A plant pot unit according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a plant pot support tray, the plant pot support tray defining a plurality of recesses to receive the plant pots.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the plant pots of the plant pot unit are received within the recesses as a snug-fit.

11. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the plant pots are received in the recesses as a friction-fit.

12. A combination according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein there are a plurality of plant pot units received within the tray, the webs of adjacent plant pot units abutting against each other.

13. A combination according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the tray is a vacuum-formed tray.

14. A combination according to any of claims 9 to 13, comprising two layers of plant pot units, the first layer being supported by said support tray and the pots of the second layer being nested with the pots of the first layer such that at least one plant pot unit in one of the layers spans at least two plant pot units in the other layer.

15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein each of the layers comprises a plurality of plant pot units, the webs of adjacent plant pot units within a given layer abutting against one another.

16. A plant pot unit substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A plant pot unit in combination with a support tray substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.