WO2002074067A1

WO2002074067A1 - Plant delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO2002074067A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001035
Authority: WO
Inventors: Suzanne W. Single
Original assignee: Single Suzanne W
Priority date: 2001-03-15
Filing date: 2002-03-15
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Also published as: GB0106375D0

Abstract

Apparatus and method of delivering a plant. The apparatus is a vessel (1) which can be disassembled to form a mulch mat for placing around the plant once the plant has been delivered.

Description

Plant delivery system

The present invention relates to a system for the containment, transportation and delivery of plants which can further be converted for use as a mulch mat.

The delivery or transportation of plants requires that the root ball of the plant (and surrounding soil) be contained within a receptacle or carrier. Such carriers are traditionally bags made from non-biodegradable plastic, which are either discarded after use or re-used for delivery purposes at a later date. The delivery vessel used may also be a traditional plant pot, which is spherical when viewed from above and tapers to a smaller sphere at its base, forming a conical shape. These pots are traditionally favoured as they are easy to stack when not being employed for planting. However, the conical shape of these pots is not ideal for the healthy growth of the plant contained therein, as the root ball is restricted in its potential growth by the tapered base of the pot.

Furthermore, plants which are planted in for example, a nursery or plantation subsequent to purchase and delivery are susceptible to "choke". Choke is the horticultural term for the killing of plants by weeds which have taken hold around the base of the plant or nearby, and rob the plant of its required nutrients.

A common prevention used to combat choke is mulching. Mulching controls the onset of weed growth by preventing light from reaching the weeds which are sprouting at the plant's soil level. The weed seedlings are prevented from becoming established and most die due to lack of sunlight. Mulching also provides benefits in the form of conserving soil moisture, preventing erosion, and maintaining the soil at a uniform temperature.

Mulches are traditionally either organic or synthetic. Organic mulch can be materials such as grass clippings or leaves spread thickly around the base of the plant. Synthetic mulches are usually black polythene sheets or film which blocks off all light, water and air from the weeds when fitted around the base of the plant.

In common with the non-biodegradable plant carriers made of plastic, these polythene mulches are not environmentally friendly as they will not break down upon disposal.

In the prior art, weed control mulches are known. However none of these have the dual function of also acting as a plant delivery or transportation vessel.

European Patent No. 0 889 172 refers to a weed control plate with the purpose of covering the ground around the root of the plant to prevent weeds growing. The plate forms a conical shape around the base of the plant, but has no facility for functioning as a plant carrier.

German Patent No. 4 027 978 similarly describes a covering for the ground surface of forest or tree plantations which prevent sunlight penetrating to propagate weeds .

US Patent No. 6 029 395 refers to a biodegradable mulch mat which is light impermeable. This mat is more environmentally friendly than mats made of polythene as it will break down over time, but again it does not provide the efficient, waste-saving feature of having been converted from a plant carrier vessel.

US Patent Nos. 5 647 951, 5 163 247 and European Patent No. 0 345 743 also disclose mats for use in preventing the growth of weeds around the base of a plant.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant delivery means which can be converted for use as a mulch mat for the prevention of weed growth.

Within this document, description and claims, the term "plant" refers to all forms of plant life grown for commercial sale or otherwise, including trees and shrubbery.

According to the present invention there is provided a plant delivery system all or part of which can be converted for use as a mulch mat after delivery of the plant has occurred.

In a preferred embodiment, the plant delivery system comprises a vessel capable of containing the root ball of the plant and surrounding soil in its entirety.

Preferably, the plant delivery system comprises a vessel or container which can be disassembled to form a flat sheet.

More preferably, the rectangular sheet features slots extending at regular intervals from and at right angles to the horizontal bisecting line to the upper outer edge.

Optionally, these slots are sickle-shaped, in that they are straight with a partial circle shape towards the horizontal bisecting line.

The rectangular sheets may be folded to form a smaller sheet in which all the slots are brought into alignment with one another to form a single slot.

Typically, this single slot can be used to permit the smaller sheet to fit around the base of a plant, forming a mulch mat.

Preferably, the plant delivery system comprises a bag made of biodegradable material such as biodegradable synthetic material or natural materials such as paper or cotton. More preferably, the plant delivery system is disassembled by means of detachable fasteners, zips, perforations or other frayable incisions.

Typically, the disassembly means extend vertically down the whole side of the plant delivery means and around the entire circumference or periphery of the vessel's base.

Optionally, the disassembled delivery means feature two guiding lines to facilitate the folding of the rectangular sheet into three equal pieces.

Typically, the disassembled delivery means feature three slots evenly spaced along the sheet.

Optionally, the disassembled delivery means features a single guiding line to facilitate the folding of the rectangular sheet into two halves.

The disassembled delivery means feature two slots evenly spaced along the sheet.

Preferably, the folded mulch mat is air and water permeable, but light impermeable.

Optionally, the folded mulch mat may be re-assembled to reform a plant delivery vessel.

The delivery means, prior to disassembly or subsequent to re-assembly, may feature a drawstring, handle or other gripping means to improve ease of transport. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of plant delivery using a plant delivery system, all or part of which can be converted for use as a mulch mat after delivery of the plant has occurred.

In a preferred embodiment, this method comprises the steps of:

Disassembling the delivery means by unfastening it at one vertical line down its side and around the circumference of the base;

Disposing of the base;

Unfastening three vertical slots extending from the horizontal bisecting line to the upper edge of the plant delivery means;

Folding the flattened delivery means into thirds;

Fitting this folded sheet around a plant-base by means of the unfastened pre-formed slots which have been brought into alignment with one another.

Optionally, the base is not disposed of after being unfastened but remains in the hole dug for planting to safely decompose.

In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention, an example will now be described by way of 1 example only with reference to the accompanying Figures

2 in which: J

4 Figure 1 illustrates the plant delivery means prior

5 to disassembly; 6

7 Figure 2 illustrates the disassembled plant delivery

8 means prior to folding; 9

10 Figure 3 illustrates the disassembled plant delivery

11 means when folded into a mulch mat; 12

13 Figure 4 illustrates the mulch mat when fitted

14 around the plant's base. 15

16 Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a

17 plant delivery means 1 for transporting a plant including

18 a root system or ball (not shown) . Plant delivery means

19 1 comprises a cylindrical body upon a circular base. The

20 body and base are of two piece construction wherein the

21 body comprises a substantially rectangular portion rolled

22 and fastened 2 at the short edges and the base which is

23 also fastened around a long edge of the body. The body

24 and base are made of a biodegradable material and in the

25 preferred embodiment the body and base are an organic

26 mulch. The body also includes three equally spaced

27 incisions 3 which are cuts providing access through the

28 mulch. When assembled the incisions 3 are closed by a

29 fastening so that the soil around the plant does not

30 escape from the plant delivery means 1. In use delivery means 1 is assembled either around a plant by locating the plant on the base and then attaching the body using the fasteners 2 or independently of the plant so that the plant is then inserted into a cylindrical body. The plant can then be transported safely, with the root ball well contained but without preventing root growth.

Plant delivery means 1 is disassembled once the plant has been delivered to its intended destination. Perforation or incision 2 is unfastened down the full height of plant delivery means 2 and around the entire circumference or periphery of the base of the plant delivery means. The base is then discarded or left in the area of planting. Plant delivery means 1 is then removed from around the root ball and surrounding soil of the plant and laid out flat. Perforations or incisions 3, 4 and 5 are then unfastened to form open slots which towards the bisecting lateral line of the flattened sheet.

Figure 2 illustrates the unfastened and flattened plant delivery means 1, featuring unfastened slots 3, 4 and 5 which extend in a sickle shape towards the centre point of each third of the sheet. In one embodiment the fastenings are formed by shaping the mating edges in an interweave or locking arrangement which can be pulled apart but is of sufficient strength to hold the plant and soil in place. Guiding fold lines 6 can also be seen, dividing the sheet into three equal parts.

Figure 3 illustrates the flat sheet when folded along the two guiding fold lines 6 to form mulch mat 7. Slots 3, 4 and 5 are brought into alignment so that only slot 4 is visible.

Figure 4 illustrates the mulch mat 7 when fitted around the base of the plant by means of sickle-shaped slot 4. The sickle-shape provides a flap which lifts from the mat to provide a hole through which the plant can protrude. The circular end of the sickle-shape portion may be removed if required. The mat may be fixed in place by pins 8.

An advantage of the present invention is that there is provided a means of containing and transporting plants which decreases wastage and provides improved cost efficiency by being convertable into a mulch mat.

The present invention is environmentally friendly as it is made of biodegradable material which harmlessly decomposes into the earth.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the plant delivery means is cylindrical and even in shape, therefore does not restrict the growth of the plant's roots as the traditional tapered plant pots do.

Further modifications and improvements may be added without departing from the scope of the invention herein described. For example, any number of fold lines may be used as long as, when folded, the incisions are aligned to provide an access to insert the mat around the plant stem. Additionally, the incisions may be of any shape which allows access of the plant from a side of the mat while providing sufficient coverage around the plant when disassembled to give weed control.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Apparatus for the delivery of a plant, at least a portion of which can be converted for use as a mulch mat after delivery of the plant has occurred.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein all of the apparatus is convertible for use as a mulch mat.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the apparatus comprises a vessel capable of containing a root ball of the plant and surrounding soil in its entirety.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the vessel can be disassembled to form a flat sheet.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the sheet includes one or more slots extending from and at right angles to an outer edge of the sheet.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the slots are sickle-shaped, in that they are straight with a partial circle shape towards an end distal from the outer edge.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 wherein the sheet is folded to form a smaller sheet in which all the slots are brought into alignment with one another to form a single slot.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the apparatus is made of biodegradable material .

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8 wherein the apparatus is disassembled by means of detachable fasteners, zips, perforations or other frayable incisions.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the disassembly means extend vertically down a side of and around a base of the vessel.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 10 wherein the sheet can be re-assembled to reform the vessel.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 11 wherein the vessel further comprises a drawstring, handle or other gripping means to improve ease of transport.

13. A method of plant delivery comprising the steps:

(a) containing at least a root ball of the plant in a vessel; (b) transporting the plant in the vessel; (c) disassembling the vessel to form a sheet; and (d) arranging the sheet around the plant to form a mulch mat.