NL2013782B1 - A rooting plug, a tray and a method. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates toa rooting plug made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant. The plug comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped plug body having a top surface, an outer side surface and a bottorn surface. In a particular embodiment, the plug body comprises a root chamber for accommodating at least a part of a root structure of a plant, and a stem passage extending from the top surface of the plug body into the root chamber. The plug body also has a protrusion extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical shape.

Description

Title: A rooting plug, a tray and a method

The invention relates to a rooting plug made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant, comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped plug body having a top surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface.

Such a rooting plug is e.g. known from patent publication EP 2 572 571 in the name of the same applicant. Although the rooting plug is successful in practice, there is an ongoing need for further improvement.

It is an object of the invention to obtain an improved rooting plug according to the preamble. In particular, the invention aims at obtaining a rooting plug that can be used in a more flexibly manner. Thereto, according to an aspect of the invention, the plug body has a protrusion extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical shape of the plug body.

By providing a protrusion extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical shape of the plug body, the rooting plug can be moved into a corresponding cavity of a tray with the plug’s top surface facing away from the cavity until the radially extending protrusion is pressed radially inwardly by the cavity wall of the tray so that the volume of the root chamber is reduced. Then, the stem passage encloses the stem of the plant more closer, advantageously without or with reduced air spaces thereby reducing chances that water unintentionally flows into the root chamber. By closing off the stem passage, any water flows through the plug body.

Further, a single rooting plug type may serve for cultivation of plants of different geometry and dimensions. The plug is flexible in use as the plug can be inserted into a tray until pressurizing forces reducing the root chamber volume are sufficiently counteracted by contact forces of the root and/or stem of the plant.

The plug has also the advantage that it can be removed much easier from a tray since the contact area of the plug and the tray is reduced significantly. More specifically, the plug may contact the tray only at the protrusion. In addition, intermediate air spaces between plug and the tray may improve the cultivation process of the plant significantly.

The invention also relates to a tray.

Further, the invention relates to a method of inserting a plug into a tray.

Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the appended claims.

By way of non-hmiting example only, embodiments of the present inventions will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a rooting plug according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 a shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2b shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2c shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2d shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

The embodiments disclosed herein are shown as examples only and should by no means be understood as limiting the scope of the claimed invention in any way. In this description and in the figures, the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs.

It is noted that in this description a plant has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to a land plant. The plant does not need to be in a particular growth phase, and may for example be a seedling or a young plant. In advantageous embodiments the plant may for instance be a bromeliad or an orchid.

It is further noted that in this description a root structure has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to a root system, e.g. a system of roots, which root system may include at least a part of the roots and/or aerial roots of the plant. For example, the root structure may alternatively or additionally be formed by a part of a cutting, which part is rooting or is capable of rooting. Further, the root structure may for instance be formed by a further, relatively small, rooting plug of a plant already rooted in said relatively small plug. When said rooted plant is transplanted to a larger rooting plug, e.g. the rooting plug according to an aspect of the invention, the plant does not need to be removed from the relatively small rooting plug, since the relatively small rooting plug can be inserted into a root chamber of the relatively large rooting plug.

In this description words like substantially or about should be understood as meaning that a slight variation on or deviation from an orientation or dimension or other product or method related feature is possible within the scope, at least such as would be understood by the skilled person. Such variation or deviation can for example be between 0 and 20%, more specifically between 0 and 15%, such as for example between 0 and 10% of the originally disclosed value or orientation or the like. By way of example this should be understood as meaning that for a direction an angular variation would be allowable, such as when shapes are defined as being substantially cylindrically-shaped, the shape may be tapered to some extent that at least side wall deviations from a cylindrical shape of less than e.g. 18, 14, 11, 9, 7 or 5 degrees would be within the scope, whereas for perpendicular directions or parallel directions, including an angle of 180 degrees, at least similar variations would be within the scope.

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a rooting plug 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The rooting plug 1 is integrally formed for cultivation of a plant 2, and comprises a substantially cylindrical plug body 3 having a top surface 4, an outer side surface 5 and a bottom surface 6. Although in the shown embodiment the plug body is substantially circular cylindrically-shaped, the plug body may have another cylindrical shape, for instance the plug can have substantially the shape of a cuboid and/or prisms. The plug body 3 comprises a root chamber 7 for accommodating at least a part of a root structure 8 of the plant 2.

Preferably, the root chamber is substantially cylindrically-shaped, e.g. having substantially the shape of a circular cylinder, an elliptical cylinder, a cuboid or a prism. Although the root chamber and the plug itself may preferably have a similar shape, the root chamber can have a shape differing from the shape of the plug. For example, the root chamber can have the shape of a cuboid, while the root plug itself can e.g. be circular cylindrically-shaped. Furthermore, the root chamber 7 may have a non-cylindrical shape, such as substantially the shape of a ball, an oblate spheroid or a pyramid. The plug body further has a stem passage 9 extending from the top surface 4 of the plug body 3 into the root chamber 7.

Further, the plug body 3 includes a side wall 13 surrounding the chamber 7. The side wall 13 has an outer side surface 5 oriented radially outwardly and an inner side surface 17 oriented radially inwardly towards the chamber 7.

Further, the plug body 3 has a protrusion 30 extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical shape. Upon moving the rooting plug into a tray the radially extending protrusion is pressed radially inwardly by tray structure thereby reducing the volume of the root chamber.

The protrusion comprises a portion that is located closer to the top surface 4 than to the bottom surface 6 of the plug body 3. Then, the side wall 13 is pressed at the upper part of the body 3 thereby closing off the passage 9 near the top surface 4 of the plug.

Generally, the plug body may have a diameter that is invariant thereby providing a cylinder geometry that has a height invariant outer side surface 13. However, the plug body may also have a diameter that increases in a mainly monotone manner with its height such as a cylinder geometry that is slightly tapered towards the bottom surface 6 of the plug body 3. The protrusion forms a portion radially extending from the substantially cylindrical shape of the plug body 3.

In the shown embodiment, the protrusion 30 includes a portion 31 extending along a substantial part in a circumferential direction C near the rim 32 of the top surface 4. Said protrusion portion 31 may extend along substantially the entire top surface rim 32 or along a substantial part thereof.

Further, in the shown embodiment, the protrusion 30 also includes a rib portion 33 oriented mainly along the longitudinal axis 22 of the rooting plug 1. Preferably, the rooting plug 1 includes a multiple number of protrusions, viz. a multiple number of rib portions 33 oriented mainly along the longitudinal axis 22 of the rooting plug. Optionally, downwardly oriented rib portions are mainly evenly distributed in the circumferential direction C.

The plug 1 may merely include the above-described circumferentially extending protrusion portion or may merely include a single or multiple number of downwardly extending rib portions. As shown, the plug 1 may also include both protrusion types.

Figures 2a-d show a schematic top view of a rooting plug according to a second, third, fourth and fifth embodiment, respectively, of the invention. The rooting plugs 1 shown in Fig. 2a and 2b are closed, i.e. without a slot opening 10. Here, the side wall 13 encloses the root chamber 7 in each radial direction. In Fig. 2a the outer contour of the plug body 3 is circular, while in Fig. 2b the outer contour of the plug body 3 is rectangular. In both embodiments, four downwardly extending protrusion portions 33a-d are provided, distributed evenly in the circumferential direction C. The rooting plugs 1 shown in Fig. 2c and 2d are open, i.e. with a slot opening 10. In Fig. 2c, again four downwardly extending protrusion portions 33a-d are provided. Further, in Fig. 2d the protrusion includes a portion 34 extending in the circumferential direction C. Here, the dimension of the protrusion in the radial direction, outwardly, depends on the position along the edge 32 of the top surface 4, in the circumferential direction C. The outwardly extending dimension of the protrusion has a maximum at two positions 34c,d along said edge 32, opposite to each other. Similarly, the outwardly extending dimension of the protrusion has a minimum at intermediate positions 34a,b also opposite to each other. In a particular case, the minima may substantially become zero, so that in fact two circumferentially extending protrusions are provided.

It is noted that other variants can be designed. As an example, another number of downwardly extending protrusions can be applied, e.g. three protrusions or five protrusions. Further, the circumferential contour of a protrusion extending in the circumferential direction C may be different, e.g. including three or four maximum dimensions in the radial outwardly direction.

Returning to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the side wall 13 of the plug is further provided with circumferential mutually facing end sections 14, 15 defining therebetween a slot opening 10. The slot opening 10 extends in a longitudinal direction 11 from the bottom surface 6 to the top surface 4 and in a lateral direction 12 from the outer side surface 5 into the root chamber 7 and the stem passage 9 so that the root structure 8 of the plant 2 can be inserted into the root chamber 7 from a lateral direction.

In the open state shown in Fig. 1 the end sections 14, 15 are offset with respect to each other. Therefore, in the shown state, the receptive opening 10 stands agape between said end sections 14, 15. Preferably, the end sections 14, 15 are substantially parallel to each other. In the open state, the slot opening 10 forms a plant passage for enabling an insertion of the root structure 8 and/or other plant parts from exterior towards the root chamber and/or the stem passage. In the shown embodiment each of the end sections 15 comprises a substantially flat end surface, which at one side may smoothly end at the inner side surface 17 of the root chamber 7 and which at the other side may smoothly end into the outer side wall 13 of the plug. This is, the corners or edges between the flat end surface and the inner and/or outer side wall 17, 13 may be substantially rounded off, for instance for counteracting damage to the root structure 8. However, said corners or edges can also have another shape, e.g. the corners may be sharp corners or can be chamfered. Alternatively, the or each end section 15 does not comprise a substantially flat end surface, but a curved end surface, for instance a convex surface.

The side wall end sections 14, 15 can be designed to be movable in a circumferential direction to define the open state shown in Fig. 1 and a closed state wherein the end sections abut each other. In the closed state, the root chamber 7 defines a cavity 16 extending in the longitudinal direction 11. Thereto, the side wall end sections, the plug body and/or the rooting plug may be at least partly resilient. Alternatively or additionally, the side wall end sections, the plug body and/or the rooting plug may comprise a single or a multiple number of e.g. hinges or so called living hinges. In an advantageous embodiment the side wall end sections 14, 15 are biased in the open state. Therefore, the root structure 8 can be inserted into the root chamber without the hassle of forcing the end sections apart.

In this context, abutting of the end sections has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to the end sections being located that close to each other that they substantially close off the receptive opening 10, e.g. said receptive opening 10 closes off the plant passage and can not any longer allow through the root structure 8 and/or the other plant parts. As an example, the end sections 14, 15 should be understood to be abutting as e.g. a protruding root 25 is jammed between said end sections.

Further, here, in the closed state, the root chamber 7 defines a cavity 16 extending in the longitudinal direction 11. For example, a width 23 of the chamber 7 may be e.g. about 10, 20, 35, 50 or 65% of a width 24 of the plug. Preferably, the chamber width 23 is at least circa 10%, at least circa 20%, at least circa 35%, at least circa 50% or at least circa 65% of the plug width 24. It is noted that said widths are preferably measured in a cross section of the plug substantially passing through both the central axis of the rooting plug 1 and the central axis 22 of the root chamber, more preferably at the same height seen in the longitudinal direction 11.

The width of the chamber is to be understood as a onedimensional spatial extension of the chamber, mainly transverse to the central axis of the rooting plug or mainly transverse to the central axis of the root chamber. As an example, when the chamber has a circular cross section, transverse to one of said central axes, the width of the chamber is the diameter. When the chamber has a non-circular cross section, the chamber width is not uniquely defined. Then, the width then ranges between a minimum width and a maximum width, depending on the angle of the measuring line through the central axis. The width of the plug can be defined in a similar way. The above-mentioned ratio restrictions between the chamber width and the plug width imply that, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one of said restrictions is fulfilled when measuring along a particle fine dimension, through and transverse to the central axis.

Similarly, the chamber can be designed to have a width exceeding a pre-defined minimum distance, e.g. greater than circa 0.5 cm, greater than circa 1 cm, greater than circa 2, cm, or greater than circa 5 cm.

Although in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the substantially cylindrical plug body 3 and the root chamber 7 are slightly tapered in a downward direction, the plug 1, plug body 3 and or root chamber 7 may alternatively or additionally be tapered in an upward direction and/or may taper to a lesser extent or a lesser extent than in the shown embodiment.

For example, the plug 1, plug body 3 and or root chamber 7 may at least partly be tapered to e.g. 3, 5, 7, 11, 15 or 20 degrees. As a further example, although the outer side surface might be tapered downwardly, the root chamber may be upwardly tapered root chamber such that an upper part of the root chamber has smaller dimensions than a lower part of the root chamber. Advantageously, also relatively small volume plant rootings can be accommodated inside the rooting plug.

Preferably, the stem passage has the same diameter as the root chamber. More generally, the stem passage 9 has, seen in the horizontal plane (e.g. a plane substantially parallel with the bottom and/or top side of the rooting plug), a substantially similar cross section as the root chamber 7. The root chamber and the stem passage can together form a cylindrical passageway through the rooting plug extending from the top surface 4 to the bottom surface 6 of said plug 1. In the shown embodiment, the rooting plug 1 substantially forms a hollow tube being slit open in its longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the chamber is provided with a bottom wall. Further, the stem passage can have a different shape and/or size as the root chamber. For example, the stem passage may have a cross section substantially differing from the root chambers cross section, e.g. being substantially smaller, wider and/or having a different shape.

In advantageous embodiments the root chamber 7 is centrally located in the rooting plug 1. This is, a central axis 22 of the root chamber 7 can substantially coincide with a central axis of the rooting plug itself. However, it is noted that the central axes do not need to coincide. For example, the root chamber can be eccentrically located in the rooting plug. Further, an outer wall 17 of the root chamber 7 forming an inner side surface 17 of the rooting plug can be substantially parallel with the outer side surface 5 of said plug 1.

By providing a root chamber having a non-trivial spatial extension, transverse to the central axis, room is available for accommodating the root structure of a plant without deforming said root structure.

In a preferred embodiment, in the open state, a width of the root chamber 7 measured through and transverse to the central axis of the rooting plug 1 is larger than the offset between the end sections 14, 15 of the side wall 13.

Further, preferably, in the closed state, a width 23 of the root chamber 7 measured through and transverse to a central axis of the rooting plug 1 is at least ten times larger than a distance between the end sections 14, 15 of the side wall 13.

By providing a root chamber having a substantial volume, also in the closed state of the plug, a root structure of a plant can be accommodated without any damage, or at least without severe damage to the roots of the plant.

Here, the rooting plug 1 accommodates the plant 2 at least partly. Although, the root structure 8 of the plant is here substantially completely accommodated in the root chamber 7, the root structure may alternatively be only partly accommodated in the chamber, e.g. a part of the root structure may protrude from e.g. a top or a bottom side of said chamber 7, and/or the substantially radially outstanding root 25 may at least partly protrude into the receptive opening 10. Here, the accommodated plant 2 is an orchid 2, but the plug may alternatively accommodate another plant 2, e.g. a bromeliad or an anthurium. The plant 2 may comprise a stem 20 which can stick out of the chamber through the stem passage 9. However, the plant does not need to comprise a stem 20. Alternatively or additionally, one or a multiple number of other plant parts, such as leafs 21, may pass through the stem passage 9.

In the closed state, the side wall 13 can be arranged for securing the root structure 8 in the root chamber 7. Thereto, the side wall 13 may form a claw which may clench the root structure. Further, the inner side surface 17 of the plug, e.g. a surface defining the cavity 16, may be arranged to counteract that a root structure inserted into the chamber 7 can slide down in the chamber. Thereto, the inner side surface 17 may be tapered, may at least partly be rough and/or may be provided with elements for counteracting shifting of the root structure, such as protrusions.

Further, the plug 1 can comprise fixation means 18 for substantially fixating the plug 1 in the closed state. The fixation means include a separate fixation means for attachment to the rooting plug, e.g. during the process of insertion the root structure into the rooting plug. For example, the fixation means 18 can comprise a fixation strap, tape and/or rubber band. Preferably, the fixation means 18 are made of a non-toxic and/or organic material, more preferably a biodegradable material. Additionally or alternatively, at least a part of the fixation means may form an integral part of the rooting plug. As an example, the fixation means 18 can comprise a protrusion, e.g. located at a first one 14 of the end sections and a hole in the second one 15 of the end sections, which protrusion and hole can cooperate to form a clickable connection.

Here, the outer surface 5 of the side wall 13 comprises a groove 19 extending in the circumferential direction for at least partly receiving the fixation strap and/or tape 18. The groove may be for receiving at least a part of the fixation means 18. For example, a fixation strap 18 may be sunk into the groove, such that the fixation strap for instance does not hinder a placement of the rooting plug into a container such as a pot or a cup of a tray for accommodating rooting plugs.

The rooting plug can be produced with any suitable manufacturing process, such as and is preferably formed as an integral part.

The rooting plug has preferably a tapered shape, more preferably in a downward direction. Said tapered shape may facilitate forming the rooting plug in and/or removing the rooting plug from a manufacturing mould. Besides, the tapered shape, especially the downwardly tapered shape, of the rooting plug may facilitate placement of the rooting plug into a receiving cavity.

In the shown embodiment, the structure of the plug body is substantially invariant in the longitudinal direction 11. This is, substantially horizontally cross sections of the plug body have substantially similar shapes and sizes. As noted above, it should be understood that slight variations and/or deviations are possible within the scope of the invention, such as the tapered shape of the rooting plug 1 which can form the substantially cylindrical shape of the rooting plug, and the groove 19 that does not alter the fact that the shown rooting plug can still be substantially invariant in the longitudinal direction 22.

It is noted that the rooting plug 1 is preferably made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of plants. More specifically, the plug body can be made from a substrate including material for cultivation of plants. Advantageously, the plug body is formed as an integral part. The substrate may be formed as a composition. More preferably, the composition and/or material is spongy and/or penetrable to growing roots. Such and other suitable substrate materials and/or compositions are known in the art. For example, the substrate material or composition may comprise organic fibres, e.g. coconut fibre, peat and/or bark. Here, the plug 1 comprises for instance a substrate composition including particles joined by a bind agent, such as a non-toxic and/or organic glue. The joined particles may e.g. comprise organic fibres and/or soil particles.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a tray, comprising at least one rooting plug as described above. The tray can be any tray capable of carrying one or a multiple number of rooting plugs, and may for instance comprise one or multiple number sockets or cups for receiving rooting plugs.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of inserting a plug into a tray. The method includes the step of providing a rooting plug as described above, a step of providing a tray including a multiple number of cavities for receiving the rooting plug, wherein a cavity wall has a geometry and dimensions in conformity with the substantially cylindrically shape of the plug body, and a step of moving the rooting plug into the cavity of the tray with the plug’s top surface facing away from the cavity until the radially extending protrusion is pressed radially inwardly by the cavity wall of the tray thereby reducing the volume of the root chamber.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

As an example, the rooting plug can in an advantageous embodiment be provided with a, preferably resilient, bottom part for closing of the bottom side of the root chamber.

In this respect it is noted that the protrusion extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical shape of the plug body can only be applied to plug bodies that are provided with a rooting chamber and a stem passage, but also to other rooting plugs, without rooting chamber and/or stem passage. As an example, the plug body can be homogeneous, without interior chamber. In a specific embodiment, the plug body does not include a slot opening or cutting. In a further specific embodiment, the plug body can be provided with a cutting extending from the top surface downwardly so that the plug body may deform from a closed state wherein cutting surface abut each other, towards an open state wherein a left-hand side body section has swivelled away from a right-hand side body section around a hinge part at the bottom surface of the plug body. Optionally, the left-hand side body section and/or the right-hand body section may include a cavity at their mutually facing surfaces. In use, the plug can be partially put into a tray cavity or tray cell. Then, the growing material can be put on said facing surfaces of the left-hand side body section and the right-hand side body section. As a next step, the plug can be advanced further into the tray cell, thereby clamping and securing the growing material between both body sections.

Further, it is noted that the dimensions of the rooting plug may vary from the shown embodiments. For example, the ratio between the height and the width of the plug may vary and can for instance be about 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.7, 2.5, or 5, wherein the outer width of the rooting plug can for instance be about 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 cm.

These and other variants will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as formulated by the following claims. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Claims (17)

A root plug made of a substrate with organic and / or inorganic material for growing a plant, comprising a substantially cylindrical plug body with an upper surface, an outer side surface and a bottom surface, the plug body having a protrusion extending radially outwards from the cylindrical shape. The root plug of claim 1, wherein the plug body comprises a root chamber for accommodating at least a portion of the root structure of a plant, the plug body further comprising a stem passage extending from the top surface of the plug body into the root chamber. The root plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion comprises a portion that is located closer to the top surface than to the bottom surface. The root plug of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the plug body has a diameter that is invariant or increases in height in a substantially monotonous manner, and wherein the protrusion forms a radially extending portion from the substantially cylindrical shape. 5. Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug tapers slightly towards the bottom surface. A root plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusion comprises a part which extends along a substantial part in a circumferential direction near the edge of the upper surface. A root plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusion forms a rib portion that is substantially oriented along a longitudinal axis of the root plug. 8. Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a multiple number of protrusions. A root plug according to any one of the preceding claims, formed as an integral part. 10. Root plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug body comprises a side wall surrounding the chamber, the side wall being provided with circumferentially facing end sections defining therebetween a slot opening extending in a longitudinal direction from the bottom surface to the upper surface and in a lateral direction from the outer surface radially inwardly into the root chamber and the stem passage to allow a laterial introduction of the root structure of the plant into the root chamber, and wherein the end sections of the side wall are movable in a circumferential direction for defining an open state where the end sections are remote and a closed state where the end sections abut each other. The root chamber of claim 10, wherein, in the closed state, the root chamber defines a cavity that extends in the longitudinal direction. 12. Root chamber according to claim 10 or 11, wherein each of the end sections of the side wall comprises a substantially flat end surface, the corners between the end surfaces and the inner side surface and / or the outer side surface of the plug body being substantially rounded. The root chamber according to any of the preceding claims 10-12, wherein, in the open state, a width of the root chamber, measured by and transversely of a central axis of the root plug, is greater than the distance between the end sections of the side wall. Root plug according to one of the preceding claims 10-13, wherein the end sections of the side wall, the plug body and / or the root plug are at least partially resilient, and wherein the end sections of the side wall are biased in the open state. Root plug according to one of the preceding claims, which houses at least a part of a plant, preferably an orchid or a bromeliad. A tray comprising at least one root plug according to any one of the preceding claims. A method for introducing a root plug into a tray, the method comprising the steps of: providing a root plug according to claim 1, providing a tray with a plurality of cavities for receiving the root plug, wherein a cavity wall has a geometry and dimensions in conformity with the substantially cylindrical shape of the plug body, moving the root plug into the cavity of the tray with the top surface of the plug turned away from the cavity until the radially extending protrusion is pressed radially inwards by the cavity wall of the tray so that the volume of the root chamber is reduced.