NZ237130A - Plant holding article made from tree bark and latex adhesive: roots of plant can penetrate the article - Google Patents

Description

23 7 1 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: Date: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PLANTING MEDIA I, JAMES FOOK SEONG CHEAN, a Malaysia citizen of 64 Browns Lane, Chapel Heights, R.D., Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 23 71 This invention relates to a method of forming an article and/or an article and has been devised particularly as a holding device for the growing of plants.

In the growing of plants three main requirements are necessary. Firstly an aggregate planting or planting medium is required, secondly there must be a condusive growing environment and thirdly there must be water. This invention relates to the first of these, that is to say the aggregate or planting medium.

By tradition soil is the usual choice of planting medium but this has disadvantages particularly with the growing occurrence of soil pollution. Also the excavation of natural sphagnum peat reserves and the creation of artificial growing media can contribute to undesirable environmental effects such as the greenhouse effect.

In large scale production a common method of nursery operations is to use a bag of plastics material often called a polybag which holds the planting medium together to provide a medium in which roots of the plant can thrive. This requires ordering the planting medium in bulk or purchasing the necessary materials needed to mix the planting medium, purchasing the required number of bags or an alternative such as plastic pots, employing persons to fill the bags or plastic pots and inserting the seedlings into the pots. As a plant outgrows a bag or pot it is necessary to remove the bag or pot and replant into a larger one. This means having an area to store the planting media, maintaining a minimum quantity of bags or pots, employing a work force to fill the bags or pots and also to insert the seedlings.

When transplanting many bags or pots must be disposed of and also there is a possibility of damaging the rootball. Furthermore when effecting final planting, for example, by a domestic gardener again there are bags or pots to discard and also possibilities of damaging the rootball.

The foregoing is disadvantageous.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of forming an article and/or an article which will obviate or minimise the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet 23713 effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a method of forming a plant holding device comprising the steps of selecting a planting medium, said medium comprising or including at least a substantial proportion of tree bark, mixing said tree bark with a latex adhesive, forming said mixture to the desired shape and curing or setting the artieie so formed, to provide an article into which the roots of a plant can penetrate.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a plant holding device comprising a mixture of planting media and a latex adhesive, said planting medium comprising tree bark or including a substantial proportion of tree bark, said adhesive adhering said planting medium to form said article into which the plants of a root can penetrate.

In a still further aspect the invention consists in a method of growing plants comprising the steps of providing a plurality of articles in a graduated series, at least the second and any subsequent articles in said series having at least one cavity and the external transverse dimensions of one article in said series being substantially equal to the internal transverse dimension of the next article in said series, propagating a plant in one said article in said series and subsequently inserting said article into the or a cavity in the next said article in said series.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which 237130 Figures 1, 2 and 3 are a side elevation, a plan view and an underneath view respectively of a joint collection of punnets formed according to the invention, Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views as in Figures 1 to 3 of a pod, according to one preferred form of the invention, Figures 7 to 9 are a cross section, a plan view and an underneath view of a pot according to one preferred form of the invention, Figures 10 to 12 are views as in Figures 7 to 9 of a mat formed of materials according to the invention.

Figures 13 to 15 are views as in Figures 7 to 9 of a bowl formed according to the invention, Figures 16 to 18 are views as in Figures 7 to 9 of a tray formed according to the invention, Figures 19 to 21 are diagrammatic cross-sectional views showing the use of a graduated series of holding devices used according to one preferred form of the invention.

Figure 22 shows diagrammatically the plant mat of Figures 10 to 12 in use in a preferred form, Figures 23 to 25 are diagrammatic cross sections of the pods of Figures 4 to 6 and in the case of Figure 24 the pots of Figures 7 to 9 in use in a preferred form, Figures 26 to 28 are respectively a cross section, plan view, and underneath view of a block manufactured according to one aspect of the invention, Figures 29 to 31 are views as in Figures 26 to 28 of an alternative block, Figures 32 to 35 show diagrammatically how the blocks of Figures 26 to 31 may be used in a preferred form of the invention, Figures 36 to 39 are respectively a side elevation, plan view, underneath view and front elevation of an alternative block according to the invention, Figures 40 and 41 are side elevations of still further alternative blocks, Figures 42 to 44 are diagrammatic views showing how blocks as shown in Figures 36 to 41 can be used, Figures 45 to 47 are respectively side, plan and underneath views of a paving block according to preferred forms of the invention, 2371; Figure 48 to 50 are plan views of alternatively shaped paving blocks, Figures 51 to 53 are respectively plan, underneath and end views of a still further alternative block, Figures 54 to 56 are views as in Figures 51 to 53 of a still further alternative block, Figures 57 to 59 are views as in Figures 51 to 53 of a still further alternative block, and Figure 60 is a diagrammatic view of blocks according to Figures 51 to 53 and 57 to 59 in one possible use.

Referring to the drawings a method of forming an article and an article are provided as follows.

According to the invention an article particularly a holding device for plants is provided as follows. A planting medium comprises tree bark or at least a substantial proportion of tree bark. Pinus radiata provides a particularly suitable tree bark in New Zealand because of the large plantings of such trees, so that the material is readily available. Other tree barks can be used. Substantially any grade of tree bark can be used and including growers mix formulas. The tree bark is then mixed with a bonding agent or adhesive and a suitable adhesive is natural latex such as pre-vulcanised latex. This natural latex has an approximately 60% water content when collected from the trees but latex more dilute may be used in the invention. The dilution can be at a rate of 1:5 for example although it is likely that a dilution ration of 1:1 to 1:2 water to latex by volume would more likely be used.

Once thoroughly mixed the material can then be formed into the articles required and allowed to cure or set. Useful articles includes plant holders and some possible articles will now be described.

Referring to the drawings Figures 1 to 3 show a punnet arrangement where a block 1 of individual punnets 2 is provided so that the individual punnets can be snapped off. The punnet block is formed from the formulation above described. The punnets can be used to propagate plants for example. Figures 4 to 6 show a pod 3 which would be in effect a solid block of the tree bark formulation into which a seed or the like could be placed to germinate and grow. It will be apparent that other 237Jjo materials such as nutrients could be included in the mix if desired.

Figures 7 to 9 show a planting pot having walls 5 and a base 6 the walls being in the form of a substantially straight sided cylinder.

Figures 10 to 12 show views of a planting mat 7 again onto which seeds can be placed. Figures 13 to 15 show a bowl 10 having a recess 11 therein surrounded by the walls 12.

Figures 16 to 18 show a tray having a recesses 16 bounded by walls 17. figure 19 shows pod 3 or pot 4 in which a plant has been grown. As the plant outgrows the pod 3 or pot 4 the pod 3 or pot 4 may be inserted into a larger pod or pot 4 to increase the bulk of the planting medium about the root of the plant. Figure 20 shows the same technique with the pod 3 or pot 4 being inserted into a bowl 20. Figure 21 shows how this technique is used in conjunction with the tray 15. The pods 3 or pot 4 are inserted into recesses 16. The wall thickness of the pots 4 will vary depending on the pot size, the type of plants and possibly other factors. However, it is believed that a minimum wall thickness of about 2 1/2 cm for the pots is likely. Greater wall thickness can be used.

Figure 22 shows mats 7 on which a ground cover plant 20 such as grass has been grown. The mats 7 are laid over an area 21 in the manner of turfs so as to provide a ground cover over the area 21. The mats 7 can be grown in a nursery and sold pre-germinated or the mats 7 can be sown and laid on-site.

In figure 23 pods 3 or pots 4 are shown placed above a ground surface 25. The pods 3 or pots 4 have been placed on a layer of soil , compost or other growing medium and the pods 3 or pots 4 then arranged as desired. The spaces 26 between the pods 3 or pots 4 are then filled as desired, for example and desirably with a growing medium. Figure 24 shows a similar arrangement but the pods 3 or pots 4 are placed into larger pots 4 positioned in growing medium 27. Figure 25 is again similar save that the pods 3 or pots 4 are placed on a bank 28 the growing medium 27 being retained by a retaining member 29 or members such as a crib wall which may be partially sunk into the ground surface. Of course the techniques of Figure 24 may be used in the arrangement of Figure 25. 0 237130 In Figure 26 to 28 planting blocks 30 are formed having recesses or apertures 31. The blocks 30 may be strengthened or reinforced by the internal reinforcing members 32. The reinforcing material may be wire and there may be two or more levels of reinforcing members. Each wire reinforcing member may comprise a pair of spaced apart stringers 33 joined by cross members 34 so that apertures 31 are within a grid formed by the stringers 33 and cross members 34. Positioning means may be provided to allow the blocks 30 to be engaged with a ground surface and these means preferably comprise a loop 35 formed at the end of stringers 33. The loop 35 may be outside or partly outside ( as shown ) the bounds of the block 30. Similar unapertured blocks 40 as shown in Figures 29 to 31 may also be provided. To use the blocks 30 and 40 a slope or bank 41 may be cut to provide a series of steps 42. Blocks 30 are placed onto the steps 42, with a block 40 there below if desired or required. Pods 3 or pots 4 are placed into apertures 31 either before or after the blocks 30 have been positioned. Pins or spikes ( not shown) are placed through loops 35 to hold blocks 30, 40 at least until further stabilized by root growth as shown in Figure 35.

Figures 36 to 39 shows an alternative block 50 with depressions 51 of varying sizes. Block 50 may be provided with a bottom surface 52 which is not intended to be horizontal in use. Thus the block 50 may be trapezoidal in cross-section. Also the blocks 50 are intended to be relatively large so as to be usable to stabilise roadside banks 57 for example. Steps 53 may be cut with the lower surface not horizontal but so as to be complementary to the underside 52 of block 50. Blocks 50 can then be lifted into position and pods 3 or pots 4 inserted. Such insertion may be before or after the blocks 50 are lifted into position. Reinforcement 54 and fixing loops 55 may again be provided. A drain 56 may also be provided which drain may be coil piping, other pipes, or otherwise desirably with a gradient, preferably slight to allow discharge of for example, stormwater.

The present invention can also be used to provide paving blocks 60 such as shown in Figures 45 to 47. A barrier material 61, such as non-biodegradable plastics material weed mat may be included to reduce any tendency for weeds to germinate or grow in the paving block. Figures 48 to 50 show alternative paving block shapes.

Similarly kerb planting blocks can be provided. Figures 51 to 53 show a straight step like block 70 again having recesses 71 into which pods 3 or pots 4 may be positioned. Figures 54 to 56 showing a curved step like block 75 and Figures 57 to 59 a non stepped block 76. Figure 60 shows a possible use of such blocks 70, 75, 76.

The constructions may be formed for example by moulding techniques but the constructions of Figures 4 and 7 may alternatively be extruded. For the construction of Figure 4 the pod can be extruded as a rod or solid member and then cut to the desired length.

In the construction of Figure 7 two extrusions can be made, the first being a cylinder and the second a solid rod. The cylinder can then be cut to length to form the walls 5 and the rod or solid member cut into shorter lengths to form the base 6. The base 6 can then be fixed or adhered into or onto the bottom end of the walls 5. This construction can utilise a double extrusion die having an annular extrusion ring surrounding a more circular one so that the central parts and the cylindrical walls can be extruded at substantially the same time before being cut to length.

In the preferred form of the invention once formed the external surfaces of the holding device are then coated, for example by spraying with for example the latex material so as to provide an extra coating on the exterior of the pot or other device but in particular the pots. , The construction is then cured or allowed to set and this may be achieved at a raised temperature of for example 55 degrees C which can be achieved in an oven or alternative drying methods such as solar drying could be used.

It is envisaged that at least with the constructions of Figures 4, 7, 13 and 16 a graduated series of holding devices can be provided with at least the second and other holding devices in the series having at least one cavity so that the external transverse dimensions of one holding device are substantially equal to the internal transverse dimensions of the next in the series the axial dimensions also preferably have the same relationship. The series of holding devices are formed of a material through which plant roots can penetrate. The preferred material is the tree bark formulation above described but other materials could be used to form the series of pods and pots.

Thus for example the pod 3 can be inserted into the recess of the pot 4. The pot 4 itself could be inserted into the recess of a larger pot. The pod 3 or pot 4 could be 2371 inserted into the recess 11 or a bowl 10 of the recess 16 of the tray 15. Such arrangements are indicated in Figures 19, 20 and 21 where the pod 3 or pot 4 is shown being inserted in Figure 19 into a larger pot 4 a bowl 10 in Figure 20 or a tray 15 in Figure 21. Similarly for other construction described herein.

As the roots of the plant will be able to penetrate the gaps between the tree bark and also the latex material there is not necessity to strip the holding device from the plant before re-potting or planting in the ground where the whole pot or series of pots can in fact be planted into the ground. It will of course be apparent that there could be more than two pots or the like in the graduated series so that plants of a substantial size could be grown from seeds or small cuttings or otherwise.

In use the invention enables plants to be grown in a desirable planting medium which is able to be utilised to allow in particular re-potting to take place in a simple manner.

Thus it can be seen that at least in the preferred form of the invention a method of forming a holding device and/or a holding device are provided which has the advantage that a desirable planting medium is provided which in general will carry no weeds and little or no herbicide. The planting medium is able to be utilised to form the holding devices so that re-potting or planting out can take place in a simple manner thus reducing substantially in particular labour costs associated with re-potting or planting out which is advantageous. 237130

Claims (26)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of forming a plant holding device comprising the steps of selecting a planting medium, said medium comprising or including at least a substantial proportion of tree bark, mixing said tree bark with a latex adhesive, forming said mixture to the desired shape and curing or setting the article so formed to provide an jo-6-?r article into which the roots of a plant can penetrate.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said article is formed in parts and substantially cured or set said parts are adhered one to the other to form a holder.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said holder comprises a pot, said parts comprising walls and a base.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said walls are substantially straight sided.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said walls are extruded as an annular member and said base is extruded as a solid member, said members being cut to the desired length and said base then being fixed in the opening at one end of the said hollow member to form said pot.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein said tree bark is the tree bark of the pinus radiata tree. 237130 -11- aA

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein said late^is ^o4-^r diluted.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein said curing or setting comprises the step of heat curing or setting.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims further including the step of coating the external surface of said article with a latex material.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of coating comprises the step of spraying said latex material onto said external surface.

11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said plant holding device comprises a pot.

12. A method as claimed in 11 wherein said pots are formed in a graduated series having at Jeets one cavity, the external transverse dimensions of one pot in the series being ^ ^ ^ substantially equal to the internal transverse dimensions of the next said pot in said series.

13. A method of forming a plant holding device or pot substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2371 -12-

14. A plant holding article comprises a mixture of planting medium and a latex adhesive, said planting medium comprising tree bark or including a substantial proportion of tree bark, said adhesive adhering said planting medium to form said article into which the roots of a plant can penetrate.

15. An article as claimed in claim 14 wherein said plant holding article comprises a pot.

16. An article as claimed in either one of the claims 14 and 15 wherein said tree bark comprises pinus radiata. adltetive

17. An article as claimed in any one of the claims 14 to 16 wherein said latex material C/d wlknWt / is a diluted latex material. * ,;I*-

18. An article as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein said article has an external coating of an adhesive material thereover. QJlJ

19. An article as claimed in 18 wherein said external eeasting comprises latex,

20. An article as claimed in either of a claims 18 and 19 wherein said external coating is sprayed.

21. An article as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20 wherein said article comprises a pot . 237130 -13-

22. A series of articles, each article being a pot as claimed in claim 21 and wherein, said pots are formed in a graduated series, at least the and any subsequent pots in said series having at least one cavity, the external transverse dimensions of one said pot in said series being substantially equal to the internal transverse dimensions of the next said pot in said series. device-

23. A plant holdingAsubstantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of growing plants comprising the steps of providing a pot formed by the method of either one of the claims 12 and 13 and/or providing a series of pots according to of claim 22, propagating a plant in one said pot, and subsequently inserting said pot into the/or a cavity in the next pot in said series.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24 further including positioning a next pot in said series in a selected location before or after inserting the previous pot in said series thereinto.

26. A method of growing plants substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. James Fook Seong Chean By his authorised agents-C.J. Woodroffe & Co. 8th Floor, Southern Cross Building Corner of High St and Victoria St East PO Box 6505, DX CP24140, Fax: 09 366 6274, Ph: 09 366 6276