NL2018818B3 - A rooting plug, a tray or pot and a method - Google Patents

Abstract

A rooting plug, a tray or pot and a method Abstract The invention relates to a rooting plug made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant. The rooting plug comprises a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis,. Further, the plug has a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface. In addition, the rooting plug is provided with an incision extending from the cylinder axis to the side surface and from the top surface to the bottom surface.

Description

P115266NL00 Title: A rooting plug, a tray or pot 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, the rooting plug comprising a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis, the plug having a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface.

Such a rooting plug is known from publication EP 2 572 571 Al in the name of the same applicant, wherein the plug is provided with a root chamber for accommodating at least a part of a root structure of a plant, a stem passage extending through the top surface of the plug body to the root chamber, and a receptive slot opening in the outer side surface of the plug body, the slot opening extending in a longitudinal direction from the bottom surface to the top surface and in a lateral direction from the outer surface to the root chamber and the stem passage for enabling a lateral insertion of the root structure into the root chamber. Although the rooting plug is successful in practice, there is an ongoing need for alternative structures.

It is an object of the invention to obtain an rooting plug according to the preamble. In particular, the invention aims at obtaining a rooting plug that is applicable to plants having relatively small roots. Thereto, according to an aspect of the invention, the rooting plug is further provided with an incision extending from the cylinder axis to the side surface and from the top surface to the bottom surface.

By providing an incision extending from the cylinder axis to the side surface of the plug body, the plug body can be opened for receiving a root structure of a plant, and can subsequently be closed thus leaving no passage, cavity or other interior space empty, thereby providing a massive rooting plug geometry. Then, also relatively small root structures can be brought into contact with the substrate material of the plug body.

The invention also relates to a tray or pot.

Further, the invention relates to a method of inserting at least a part of a root structure of a plant into a rooting plug.

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

It should be noted that the technical features and method steps described above may each on its own be embodied in a rooting plug, tray or pot or method for inserting at least a part of a root structure of a plant into a rooting plug, i.e. isolated from the context in which it is described, separate from other steps or features, or in combination with only a number of the other features or steps or described in the context in which it is disclosed. Each of these features or steps may further be combined with any other feature or step disclosed, in any combination.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of non- limitative exemplary embodiments which are represented in a drawing. In the drawing: Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug according to a first embodiment of the invention in an open state; Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 1 in a closed state; Figure 4 shows a flow chart of a method according to the Invention; Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug according to a second embodiment of the invention in an open state; Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 5, and Figure 7 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 51n a closed state.

The embodiment disclosed herein is shown as an example 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.

Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug 1 according to a first embodiment the invention, while Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the rooting plug 1. The rooting plug 1 is integrally formed for cultivation of a plant, and comprises a plug body 3 that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis C. The plug 1 has a top surface 4, a side surface 5 and a bottom surface 6. Although in the shown embodiment the plug body 3 is substantially circular cylindrically-shaped, the plug body may have another cylindrical shape, such as a polygon or elliptic cylindrical shape, or may have a yet further cylindrical shape such as a cuboid or a prism.

The rooting plug 1 also comprises an incision extending from the cylinder axis C to the side surface 5, and from the top surface 4 to the bottom surface 6.

The rooting plug 1 is manufactured for cultivating a plant, such as a young plant or a seedling, e.g. a bromeliad, an anthurium or an orchid.

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 3 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. Preferably, at least a part of the substrate material of the plug body 3 is resilient. In the shown embodiment, the cylinder axis C of the plug body bounds the incision such that the incision and the cylinder axis C extend in the same plane. Depending on a geometric state of the plug body 3, the incision extends in a two-dimensional plane, such as a flat or curved two- dimensional plane or in three-dimensional volume, such as a circular sector of the cylindrically formed plug body 3.

In the shown embodiment, the incision defines two facing incision surfaces F1, F2, opposite to each other. The plug body 3 is deformable from an open state, as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the two incision surfaces F1, F2 are remote from each other, to a closed state wherein the two incision surfaces F1, F2 mainly abut each other. Preferably, the incision surfaces F1, F2 are biased towards the open state. Alternatively, the incision surface F1, F2 are biased towards the closed state, or to a geometrical state between the open and closed state. Generally, the incision surfaces F1 coincide at the cylinder axis C of the plug body 3.

Generally, the plug body 3 has a disc shaped profile, when seen in a direction along the cylinder axis C, as shown in Fig. 1. The side wall 5 defines the exterior contour of the disc. Further, in a preferred embodiment, a circular sector has been removed from the disc shaped profile, the circular sector forming a gap 7 between the two opposing incision surfaces F1, F2 in the open state. The circular sector generally is a disk portion enclosed by two radii, i.e. the two incision surfaces F1, F2, and an arc, i.e. a cylinder wall 8 wherein the side wall 5 of the plug body 3 extends. In the open state, the angle A between the incision surfaces can be in a range from circa 15° to circa 90°, preferably in a range from circa 45° to circa 60°.

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug shown in Fig. 1 in the above-mentioned closed state wherein the two incision surfaces

F1, F2 mainly abut each other. In this context, abutting of the incision surfaces F1, F2 has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to a situation wherein the incision surfaces F1, F2 are located so close to each other that they substantially close off any gap 7 5 between them. As an example, the incision surfaces F1, F2 should be understood to be also abutting when a protruding root of the plant is Jammed between said incision surfaces F1, F2. In the closed state, the plug body 3 typically completely fills a space enclosed, in the circumferential direction CD, by the side surface 5, leaving no passage, cavity or other interior space empty, thereby providing a massive rooting plug geometry. Then, also relatively small root structures are brought into contact with the substrate material of the plug body 3.

When deforming the plug body 3 towards the open state or to the closed state, the incision surfaces F1, F2 move relative to each other along a circumferential direction around the cylinder axis CD, i.e. towards each other or away from each other.

In the open state, as shown in Fig. 1, the plug body 3 is arranged for receiving at least a part of a root structure of a plant. After inserting the root structure along a lateral direction L towards the cylinder axis C, the plug body 3 can be brought in the closed state for cultivating the plant.

The rooting plug 1 can comprise fixation means (not shown) for substantially fixating the plug 1 in the closed state. The fixation means may include a separate fixation element to be attached to the rooting plug. For example, the fixation means can comprise a fixation strap, tape and/or rubber band. Preferably, the fixation means 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 can comprise a protrusion, e.g. located on a first incision surface F1 and a hole in a second incision surface F2, which protrusion and hole can cooperate to form a clickable connection.

The rooting plug 1 may be slightly tapered in a direction towards the bottom surface 6. Said tapered shape may facilitate forming the rooting plug in and/or removing the rooting plug from a manufacturing mould. Besides, a tapered shape, especially a downwardly tapered shape, of the rooting plug may facilitate placement of the rooting plug into a receiving structure of a tray or pot. Alternatively, the rooting plug 1 has constant cross sectional dimensions, the plug body 3 having a straight side wall.

Advantageously, a tray or pot can be provided with a multiple number of receiving structures or cups for receiving corresponding rooting plugs 1. Upon receiving a rooting plug 1, the receiving structure or cup of the tray or pot may exert an inwardly oriented force, radially towards the cylinder axis C of the plug body 3, thereby deforming the plug body 3 towards the closed state. Then, in principle, the plug 1 can be maintained in the closed state, also without the fixation means described above.

When deforming the plug body 3 from the open state to the closed state, the incision surfaces F1, F2 defining an opening, e.g. a wedge shaped opening as shown in Fig. 1, move to each other, e.g. in a pivoting movement relative to the cylinder axis C, along the circumferential direction CD.

The tray can be any tray capable of carrying one or a multiple number of rooting plugs 1 by receiving said plugs 1 in corresponding receiving structures. The receiving structures have a geometry and dimensions in conformity with the geometry and dimensions of the plug body side surface 5 though less tapered so that a compression force is exerted on the upper part of the plug body 3 to bring the plug 1 into the closed state, and maintain the plug 1 in said closed state.

Figure 4 shows a flow chart of a method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 is used for inserting at least a part of a root structure of a plant into a rooting plug, and comprises a step of providing

110 a rooting plug made from a substrate including organic and/or non- organic material for cultivation of a plant, the rooting plug comprising a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis, the plug having a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface, wherein the rooting plug is further provided with an incision extending from the cylinder axis to the side surface and from the top surface to the bottom surface, the incision defining two facing incision surfaces, opposite to each other, a step of inserting 120 at least a part of the root structure into the rooting plug, in a lateral direction L between the two incision surfaces towards the cylinder axis, while maintaining the plug body in an open state wherein the two incision surfaces are remote from each other, and a step of deforming 130 the plug body into a closed state wherein the two incision surfaces mainly abut each other.

Further, the step of deforming 130 the plug body 3 into the closed state can be performed by applying a fixation means as described above and/or by inserting the rooting plug 1 into a receiving structure of a tray or pot, the receiving structure having a geometry and dimensions in conformity with the geometry and dimensions of the plug body side surface 5 though less tapered.

Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention, in an open state. Further, Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the rooting plug 1 shown in Fig. 5, while Figure 7 shows a schematic top view of the rooting plug 1 shown in Fig. 5, in a closed state.

The plug 1 in Fig. 5-7 has another geometry. Here, the removed gap 7 has a bell shaped contour, when seen in a direction along the cylinder axis C, in the open state, for receiving a root structure of a plant. In the closed state, again, the plug body 3 complete fills the gap 7.

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

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 (9)

CONCLUSIONS I. Root plug made from a substrate with organic and/or non-organic material for raising a plant, the root plug comprising a plug body substantially cylindrically shaped about a cylindrical axis, the plug having a top surface, a side surface and has a lower surface, the root plug further comprising an incision extending from the cylindrical axis to the side surfaces and from the upper surface to the lower surface, the incision extending in a flat or curved plane and the incision defining two facing incision surfaces, opposite each other, and wherein the plug body is deformable from an open condition in which the two incision surfaces are spaced from each other to a closed condition in which the two incision surfaces are substantially abutting. Root plug according to claim 1, wherein the plug body in the open position is adapted to receive at least part of a root structure of a plant. The swivel plug of claims 1 and 2, wherein the substrate of the plug body in the closed state completely fills an opening enclosed by the side faces. A root plug according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the substrate material of the plug body is at least partially resilient, and wherein the cut surfaces are biased toward the open condition. A root plug according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plug body has a disk-shaped profile, viewed in a direction along the cylindrical axis, with a circular sector being removed. A root plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plow body tapers slightly conically in a direction towards the bottom surface. A root plug according to any one of the preceding claims, formed as an integral part. 8. Tray or pot, comprising at least one root plug according to one of the preceding configurations. A method for introducing at least a part of a root structure of a plant into a root plug, the method comprising the steps of: - providing a root plug prepared with a substrate with organic and/or non-organic material for the growing a plant, the root plug comprising a plug body substantially cylindrically shaped about a cylindrical axis, the plug having an upper surface, a side surface and a lower surface, the root plug further comprising an incision extending from the cylindrical axis toward the side faces and from the top face to the bottom face, the cut defining two facing cut faces, opposite each other; 16 - inserting at least part of the root structure into the root plug, in a lateral direction between the two incision surfaces towards the cylinder axis, while at the same time maintaining the sod body in an open condition with the two incision surfaces spaced from each other, and - deforming the plug body to a closed position wherein the two incision faces lie substantially against each other.