IE20140265A1

IE20140265A1 - A device to mechanically protect and enhance the growth of a plant, growing in a pot or receptacle

Info

Publication number: IE20140265A1
Application number: IE20140265A
Authority: IE
Inventors: A Waters Gerard
Original assignee: A Waters Gerard
Priority date: 2014-09-24
Filing date: 2014-09-24
Publication date: 2016-04-06
Also published as: IE86881B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a growth enhancement device, which facilitates the growth, and protects a pot plant. The device comprises a flexible semi-rigid sheet material, which may be oval, round, square or rectangular, with a centre, or off-centre orifice, in communication with the peripheral edge of the device by means of a slit or slits. The device is sized such that the peripheral edge overreaches the pot edge in a cantilever fashion, the sheet material adopts a generally truncated cone or inverted pyramid shape when the split edges are overlapped. The inner orifice rests on the soil in the pot. The device operates in a number of ways, including but not excluding, of other ways not delineated herein: weed control, snail control, increased water collection and distribution, alteration of soil temperature, facilitation of air conduction to soil, prevention of soil disturbance by children and animals, and prevention of sowing weed seeds. <Figure 6>

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanical device which, facilitates, protects, and enhances the growth of plants in pots and other receptacles, in a number of ways, including but not excluding of other ways not delineated herein: Weed control, slug and snail control, increased water collection, enhanced distribution of water to the roots, decreased water loss by evaporation, alteration of soil temperature, facilitate air conduction to soil surface within the receptacle, obstruction of soil disturbance by children and animals, discourage the use of the pot as an ashtray and rubbish bin, bud eating bird deterrent, ease of removal of plant debris from the pot, collection of rain fall surplus to the need of the plant to prevent leaching of soil, prevention of sowing the pot soil with seeds of weed plants.

The device is not limited to use on a plant pot, it can be used as a flat weed, preventing device when laid flat on the soil at the base of a tree or plant.

Due to the construction and design of the device, a precise size match is not required for each pot size, as one size device will cover a number of pot sizes.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be viewed in 25 construction material and detail within the scope of the claims. -3Background to the Invention The growth of plants shrubs and trees in pots and receptacles is common and widespread throughout the world. In private homes settings small numbers of plants are grown, in the horticultural industry many thousand plants may be grown. The growth of such plants is dependent in all cases on the supply of light, water, nutrients, trace element, minerals and heat. In general the light and heat are supplied by the sun and the water and nutrients are supplied via the soil to the roots.

The soil requires the circulation of oxygen bearing air to facilitate the growth and survival of bacteria and other microorganisms, which are necessary for plant growth and the control of noxious organisms or fungi which can be detrimental to the growth of the plant. The present invention successfully accomplishes resolution of this problem, by not lying directly on the soil, and providing an air circulation void between the soil and invention.

The root system of the growing plant requires water, the quantity of which depends on the plant species. The water is supplied by precipitation, or man made water supply systems such as sprinklers. The water having reached the upper layers of the soil is subject to evaporation, depending on the ambient temperature and humidity. This aspect of hydrodynamics may have major impact on water supply to plant roots. The water supply from rain fall is subject to massive variation. Too much water may be supplied and cause leaching of nutrients and trace elements from the soil. Water can also be wasted where excessive rain, falls in a short period of time, and runs across the surface of the soil, and down the side of the pot, where due to dehydration and compaction, retraction of the soil has occurred.

The present invention successfully accomplishes resolution of all these issues by (a) Increasing the collection area for water by 60-100%. (b) Directing the collected water to the base of the stem or trunk and hence to the root, (c) Providing an evaporationpreventing surface, (d) In an other embodiment a collection system for -4storage of surplus water, and preventing the passage of excess water through the soil preventing leaching, this embodiment collects the water if required.

A major source of growth inhibition and disfigurement of plants, is caused by the feeding upon their foliage by slugs and snails. These gastropod molluscs are voracious herbivores which are capable of totally destroying plants. They secrete themselves in the soil, during the day, ascend the stem or trunk of the plant at night, and can consume large amounts of foliage, before returning to the soil in the morning.

Many solutions to this problem have been tried and marketed, such as copper bands applied to the stem, copper filing and powder applied to the soil. Also the use of sharp sand, diatomaceous material, crushed shells, and salt has been tried with variant degrees of success.

Pest control efforts to kill or discourage the passage of gastropod molluscs onto the plant centres on substances which are thought to be detrimental to the mucus secreting glands in the foot of the animal. Sharp sand, crushed shells, salt and copper represents the most common methods of snail deterrent, and the most popular product sold in garden centres, and horticultural websites.

Copper is widely believed to render a small electric shock to the foot of the mollusc. This belief appears to have very little scientific authenticity. Many studies have been conducted to ascertain the reasons why molluscs are deterred by copper. Molluscs have a blood based on a copper molecule, which performs a similar role to the iron molecule based haemoglobin in most vertebrates. The presence of copper based blood system has been postulated as the reason why molluscs avoid copper.

Recent research suggest that copper may be toxic to molluscs, due to the interference with the cell membrane of the epithelial cells in the foot section of the animal, which may be detrimental to the molluscs in a manner not yet elucidated -5or published. The present invention makes use of sharp sand, copper and diatomaceous material or all three in combination as a slug and snail deterrent depending on the particular embodiment.

The growth of weeds and unwanted plant species in pots is believed to be detrimental to the growth of the desired plant due to competition for water, nutrients and light.

There is also a phenomenon referred to an allepathy, which is described as the secretion of chemicals by one species of plant into it's environment to discourage the growth of other species. This phenomenon may be detrimental to the desired plant species growing in a pot, in the presence of certain weed species.

Sunlight which is the electro magnetic energy emitted from the sun, comprises many different wave lengths or frequencies. The portion of the electromagnetic energy which is perceived as colour by the human visual system, is in the wave length 390nm’s - 700nm's. Our perception of colour is dependent on the ability of the material being viewed to absorb and reflect different wave lengths. A material that appears black absorbs, and does not reflect any of the visual wave lengths. It also absorbs longer waves lengths, which include the infra-red portion of the spectrum. The visual and infra-red frequencies of light cause the excitation and vibrations of atoms and molecules within the material, which generates heat, initially heating the upper surface of the sheet material, this temperature rise is conducted through to the lower surface, and to the soil by means of convection and radiation.

The device that is the subject of the present invention, in its principle embodiment is coloured black, it has been found by experimentation to increase the temperature of the underlying soil by a number of degrees.

The device which is the subject of the present invention, in its principal embodiment makes use of an off centre stem orifice, which ensures a large surface area on one side which may be orientated towards the sun, and thus -6increase the absorption of solar heat. In a different embodiment of the present device, a white or reflective material is used to reduce the temperature in hot environments.

Mulch is a material that is used to cover soil or growth medium to prevent the growth of unwanted plants referred to as weeds. Mulch may take many forms, living plant cover, loose organic or inorganic particulate matter, sheets of synthetic or mineral materials. There is also spray on mulch which forms a thin film over the growth medium. Mulch is often used in the form of weed discs.

Weed discs are a common and ubiquitous method of preventing and suppressing weed growth in pot plants. Prior art endeavours to fulfil certain criteria, which include being easy and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, lay flat, fit snugly on the soil, not easily dislodged by the wind, permeable to water, available in different sizes, not support weed growth, and durable. Prior art has generally been successful in fulfilling most of these criteria. The present invention successfully fulfils these important criteria in a radical and different fashion.

The invention which is the subject of this application in one embodiment uses black recycled tyre rubber in the sheet material, which is inexpensive to produce.

The density and weight of the sheet material ensures that there is a good seal made with the upper edge of the pot plant, and makes a very effective barrier to the ingress of light and seeds and thus ensures an almost total lack of weed growth in the pot.

The unimpeded circulation of the air above the soil is important for the oxygenation of the micro ecosystem in the soil. Prior art proposes weed discs and mulch, many of which totally occlude the soil surface and interfere with the eco system on the surface of the soil. The device which is the subject of the present invention by the nature of its design has one or more slits in the sheet material between the stem orifice and the peripheral edge, these has been found to provide an effective vents, -7particuiarly in conjunction with air convection currents caused by the variation of the air temperature above and below the device. It should be noted that the underside of the invention is not adherent to the rim of the pot, but held in place by the weight and density of the sheet material, and shape into which the invention naturally forms.

Pot plants can be subject to soil disturbance by domestic or wild animals, of particular and distasteful importance, where an animals use the soil to defecate, this is not unusual in situations where domestic cats do not have access to soil, in which they can bury their faeces.

The presence of soil in pot plants will always present temptation to small children to play, or at times eat, which is unhygienic, particularly if they cohabit with cats, which is not unusual. The device which is the subject of the present invention provides a very effective barrier to both children and animals, to the soil in the pot.

One embodiment of the invention takes advantage of decimation behaviour. A defence strategy in insects, moths, butterfly and fish. An area of the animal, often the wing or side of the body, displays large and obvious eye spot, which are believed to discourage predation particularly by birds. In this embodiment of the invention, there is provision for the printing or application of two predatory front facing eyes on the upper surface of the device. It is postulated that these eye spots will discourage the feeding on buds and fruit by birds such as finches and sparrows.

One embodiment of the invention will take advantage of a large flat area which may be used for printed advertising or information statements.

There have been many patent applications in relation to weed mats and plant protectors during the last number of years. The majority of them relate to a device which fits into the pot with no overhang or cantilever affect. Many different materials have been proposed including biodegradable, synthetic or natural material -8Examples of these patents are as follows: Patent No. US6195.935BI No 2001 Bellucci Describes a weed mat which fits within the pot. Patent No. US5,32,5627 - 1994 Anderson Describes a mat of porous construction which fits within the pot. Patent No.4,995-192 Feb De Wit 1991 Truncated cone intended only to prevent over watering of the plant. Patent EP 250864A1 Weed disk to fit into the pot - no cantilever effect. Patent US1,931,602 Shirly T 1993 Weed disk not intended for use in a pot - no cantilever effect. Patent No. US 5,058,317 I.J.Mcmurry 1991 Weed collar - no cantilever effect. Patent No. US 5,355,623 D.Brown 1994 Plant disk installed into a plant pot. Patent No. GB 2,053,640 Metal box company. Plant shoe for preventing weeds, fits within pot. Patent No. DE19812530 (A1) Gardena Kress 1999 Saline soaked rubber foam for prevention of access of snails. Patent No. 7,013,587 (B1) Oscar Dominguez 2006 A tree ring elastic outer peripheral edge and elastic inner edge - no cantilever effect. Patent No. KR 201,200,85705 LEE JUN GU 2012 Preventative weed growth sheet to protect only a plant growing in the soil not in a pot. Patent No. 3,618,260 R.T Convey 1971 Weed inhibiting and water attachment device for potted plants - substantially rigid devise attached to the pot with a perforated base and stiffing ribs, and requires standard size pots - plate like not trunked cone or pyramid. Patent No. CA2259482 Plate to fit into pot. Patent No. US0,130,825 Brian Ronald Stearns Plate to fit into a pot. Patent No. US 2,822,644 Edward H. Berger 1958 Plate to fit into a pot. Patent No.US 4,395,845 Edward M. Markowitz 1983 Plate to fit into a pot. Patent No. US 5,425,204 Doris L. Holmes 1995 Mesh plate to fit onto a pot -9Summary of the invention The invention relates to a flat sheet material, cut into a disk, oval, square or rectangular shape, with a centre or off centre stem orifice, which is in communication with the circumferential or peripheral edge of the device by means of a split or divide. The flat sheet material is cut to a size which is bigger than the pot on which it is intended to rest. The flat sheet material is flexible but rigid, and naturally tends to form a cone or pyramid, when the radial or diagonal slit edges are overlapped. The central stem orifice rests on the soil, and the body of the device rests on the upper edge of the pot, and over reaches on all sides in a cantilever fashion .forming an truncated cone or inverted pyramid.

One embodiment of the device incorporates a centre or off centre stem orifice with triangular tapered tines, forming a crown or coronet shaped opening, thus creating a closely adherent collar around the trunk or stem of the plant growing in the pot. This flexible shaped collar, has been found to cause no injury or damage to the stem of the plant. -10A brief description of the drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1. is a perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment, suitable for use on round pots illustrating the upper surface, with a slit (12) from the stem orifice (13) to the peripheral edge (25) showing fixing holes(23) and a slug and snail preventing ring (24).

Figure 2. is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention suitable for use on a square or rectangular pot illustrating the invention (11) stem orifice (13) split edge (12) diagonal splits (17) also showing the slug and snail preventing border (24).

Figure 3. is a perspective view on the invention (11) with particular attention to stem orifice (12) illustrating the crown affect (22) shaped collar to facilitate close fitting to the stem of the plant.

Figure 4. a side elevation of the invention (11) showing the stem of the plant (16) passing through the stem orifice (13) illustrating the crown shape (22) and the spilt edge of the device (12).

Figure 5. a side elevation cut through view of the invention (11) in position on a pot (14) illustrating the plant (16) growth medium (15) stem orifice (13) crown shaped collar (22) spilt edge (12) overlap (20) plant root (21) this drawing draws attention to the cantilever (19) effect with the device(11) resting on the growth medium (15) and the upper lip of the pot (18) also illustrating the slug and snail prevention border area (24).

Figure 6. is a side elevation cut away view of the invention (11) in position on a round pot (14) illustrating the asymmetrical nature of the cantilever effect caused by the stem orifice (13) being off centre, also showing the orientation of the larger surface area, angled towards the sun, showing the plant (16) spilt edge (12) overlap (20) upper lip of the pot (18) cantilever section (19) soil or growth medium (15).

Figure 7. a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention (11) for use in multi-stem plants, illustrating the large orifice (28) cut in an off centre position in the outer disk(26) illustrating the radical split edge (12) outer edge (25) slug and snail prevention ring (24).

Figure 8. is a perspective view of the inner disk (27) showing the multi-stem orifices (13) splits (12) slug and snail prevention ring (24).

Figure 9. a top perspective view with a cut away section of one embodiment of the invention (11) use on square or rectangular pots illustrating the diagonal slits (17) overlaps(20) also showing the slug and snail prevention border (24) stem orifice (13) split edge (12) upper lip of the pot (18) cantilever section (19).

Figure 10. A cut away side perspective of the invention (11) with particular reference to the cantilever effect (19) with the invention (11) resting on the growth medium (15) and the upper lip of the pot (18) also illustrating one diagonal slit communicating with the stem orifice (13).

Figure 11. Perspective view of the invention (11) illustrating the split edge (12) outer edge of the invention (25) with particular reference to the gutter water collection embodiment (29) of the invention.

Figure 12. A side elevation cut through view of the invention (11) insitue on the pot(14) with the plant (16) the growing medium (15) the stem orifice (13) slit edge (12) plant root (21) with particular reference to the water collection flexible tube (30) which is attached to the gutter system (29).

Figure 13 Perspective view of invention(11), illustrating the decimation embodiment.

Figure 14 Perspective view of device (11) illustrating area for advertising or information statements.

Claims

1. A device (11) for the growth enhancement and protection, of a plant (16) growing in a pot or receptacle (14) comprising a round flat sheet of flexible, semi rigidmaterial (11) which is sized, larger in area, than the upper opening (18) of the pot(14) on which it is intended to be placed, and having an off centre stem orifice (13) connected to the peripheral edge(25) by means of a radial slit(12) the edges of which when overlapped form the devise into a truncated cone shape, the inner orifice (13) of which rests on the growth medium (15) the outer edge protrudes(25) past the upper lip of the pot(18) in a cantilever manner(19), and is not specific to pot size.

2. A device (11) for the growth enhancement and protection, of a plant (16) growing in a pot or receptacle(14) as claimed in claim 1, the sheet material is cut into a square or rectangular shape, and sized larger than the pot on which it is intended to be placed, with diagonal slits (17) at each corner, the edges of the slits when overlapped form the devise into an inverted pyramid shape, the stem orifice of which rests on the growth medium (15) and outer edge (25) protrudes past the upper lip (18) of a square or rectangular pot (14) in a cantilever fashion (19),and is not specific to pot size.

3. A device (11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant growing in a pot (14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, in which the sheet material (11) is manufactured from a suitable dense rubber or synthetic material, to provide sufficient weight, such that the device is not easily disturbed by the wind, and does not require attachment to the pot.

4. A device (11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant growing in a pot(14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, where a preferred embodiment is of black or dark colour material to increase the absorption of heat.

5. A device (11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant (16) growing in a pot(14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, where in one embodiment, a white or reflective colour sheet material is used to reflect radiant heat.

6. A device(11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a receptacle or pot(14) as claimed in previous claims, which includes a band or ring of copper(24) or other chemical substances to prevent and impede the movement of slugs and snails across the sheet material(11) of the invention.

7. A device (11 )for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot(14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, that includes a band or ring of sharp sand , shells or other diatomaceous material(24), to hinder the passage of snails and slugs across the surface of the invention.

8. A device(11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot (14)or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, the stem orifice(13) of which is cut in such a way as to produce a coronal collar(22) which embraces the stem of the plant( 16) which penetrates the device, and prevents access of slugs or snails to the foliage from the soil.

9. A device (11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot(14) or receptacle, as claimed in previous claims, which has a larger central orifice(28) to accommodate multi stemmed plants(16),and is provided with a central smaller inner disk(27) that accommodates 2, 3 or more separate stems.

10. A device(11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot (14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, which includes the addition of eye spots onto the upper surface of the device.

11. A device (11) for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot(14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, which include the addition of advertising or information statements.

12. A device for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot(14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims, where the central orifice(13) is surrounded by a spiral water collecting gutter(29) which directs surplus water into a flexible collecting tube (30) which is collected through the pot(14) into a receptacle.

13. A device for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot(14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims where small holes (23)may be punched close to the peripheral edge(25) and held in position be means of laces or fixing pins.

14. A device for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot (14) or receptacle as claimed in previous claims the device can be turned upside down and secured be means of a lace or fixing pins to facilitate the prevention of excessive rainfall entering the pot(14).

15. A device for the growth enhancement and protection of a plant(16) growing in a pot (14)or receptacle as claimed in previous claims in a separate embodiment a clip or retaining pin can be used to hold the overlap of the radial slit (12)apart to facilitate the conduction of air to the soil in the receptacle.