WO2005015978A1

WO2005015978A1 - A box for raising seedings

Info

Publication number: WO2005015978A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nam-Jin Yoo; Heon-Pal Moon; Sung-Tae Park
Original assignee: Nam Jin Agriculture Technique Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-08-19
Filing date: 2004-08-19
Publication date: 2005-02-24
Also published as: KR20050019519A; KR100581411B1; CN1838873A; CN100593968C

Abstract

The present invention discloses a box for raising seedlings, of which the length of the box can vary, if necessary, cause the growth of a young rice plant to occur quickly, and prevent an injury in the roots while being transplanted. The box for raising seedings according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a first culturing means, of which the upper part and one end are open and has a first flange having a first fitting groove around the edge of the first flange, which is extended and folded. A second culturing means, of which the upper part and both ends are opened and has a second flange having a second fitting groove around the edge of the second flange, which is extended and folded, is detachably coupled with the opened end of the first culturing means.

Description

A BOX FOR RAISING SEΞD NGS

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a box for cultivating plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to a built-up box for raising seedlings, which can vary the length if necessary without damaging the plant roots. BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

In general, a built-up box for cultivating plants is to briefly germinate seeds before sowing the main paddy with them.

The built-up box for cultivating plants helps the sown seeds grow healthy to lower the failing ratio of rasing seedlings after they are transplanted in the main paddy field.

Mutuo Nagamatsu in USP No. 4,926,586 dated May 22, 1990 discloses a built-up box for cultivating plant according to the conventional art. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the built-up box for cultivating plants according to the conventional art is configured in such a manner that a peripheral wall 1 is integrally connected to the periphery of the rectangular bottom plate 2 and a plurality of hollow ridges 3 are provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate 2, hollow ridges 3 having the upper surfaces thereof disposed below the upper end of the peripheral wall 1.

The hollow ridges 3 have a hollow trapezoidal cross section and a plurality of water drainage apertures 4 are formed on the upper surface of the hollow ridges 3. Furthermore, below or on the rear surface of the hollow ridges 3, water drainage grooves 5 which have the same cross section as that of the hollow ridges 3 are formed. Due to such construction, when the soil for cultivating plants is filled in the built-up box A, the water contained in the upper part of the soil is discharged into the water drainage grooves 5 through water drainage apertures 4, while the water contained in the lower part of the soil is prevented from draining through the apertures 4.

Accordingly, the hollow ridges 3 work as a reinforcing rib of the built-up box A as well as a means for draining water from the built-up box A.

However, the conventional box for cultivating plant has a problem that in the case of cultivating a plant such as rice seedlings which should be planted in a built-up box and then should be transplanted in a main paddy field, the roots of the seedlings are injured since the roots may get tangled or the roots may slip out of the built-up box through the drainage apertures 4. In addition, since the built-up box is manufactured with predetermined standards, it could not be used when users want to use a built-up box longer or shorter than the length of the conventional built-up box. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is to resolve the above-mentioned problems . It is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a built-up box for raising seedlings, which can adjust its length as occasion demands.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a built-up box for raising seedlings which can help the seedlings grow faster and can prevent injury of the roots at the time of transplanting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a built-up box for cultivating plant according to the conventional art;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a built-up box for raising seedlings according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the assembling state of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a built-up box for raising seedlings wherein a second culturing means is removed from Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a partial top planar view of a culturing means of a built-up box for raising seedlings according to Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a partial bottom planar view of a culturing means according to Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a view showing that rice seedlings grow in a built-up box for raising seedlings according to Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides a built-up box for raising seedlings comprising: a first culturing means of which the upper part and one end are open and of which a first flange having a first fitting groove along the edge of the first flange is extended and folded; a second culturing means of which the upper part and both ends are open and of which a second flange having a second fitting groove along an edge of the second flange is extended and folded, and which is detachably coupled to the open -end of the first culturing means, and; a third culturing means of which the upper part and one end are open and of which a third flange is extended and folded, and which is detachably coupled to the open end of the second culturing means, wherein a plurality of recesses of a regular row-column arrangement are placed at he bottoms of the first culturing means, the second culturing means and the third culturing means, and a plurality of drainage apertures are placed in the recesses at a predetermined interval.

The first culturing means has a first coupling groove on the lower surface of the open end; the second culturing means has a first coupling projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into the first coupling groove, on the lower surface of the open end; a second coupling groove opposite to the first coupling projection on the lower surface of the other end; and a first fitting projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into the first fitting groove of the first flange, at one end of the second coupling groove of the second flange; and the third culturing means has a second coupling projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into the second coupling groove of the second culturing means, on the lower surface of the open end; and a second fitting projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into the second fitting groove of the second flange, at the open end of the flange.

The second coupling projection is inserted into the first coupling groove, and the second fitting projection is inserted into the first fitting groove.

A plurality of linear ribs are intersected at a right angle on the lower surfaces of the first, second and third culturing means so as to have a plurality of rectangular sections. The ribs have a flow path at each wall of the rectangular sections so that water can flow.

The built-up box for raising seedlings according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the first, second and third culturing means which are detachable. Thus, the built-up box can vary the length for various purposes.

Hereinafter, the built-up box for raising seedlings according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail by referring to the attached drawings.

Fig. 3 is a view showing that the built-up box for raising seedlings 100 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disassembled into the first culturing member 110, the second culturing member 120 and the third culturing member 130. Fig. 4 is a view showing the state of coupling the first culturing member 110, the second culturing member 120, and the third culturing member 130 as shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a view for showing the coupling state of the first culturing member 110 with the third culturing member 130. Fig. 6 is a view from the top of a part of the built-up box for raising seedlings 100 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is a view from the bottom of a part of the built-up box for raising seedlings of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 3, the first culturing member 110 has a predetermined rectangular bottom surface 111 and a sidewall 112 which is extended upward vertically from the outer periphery of the lower surface 111. The upper part and one end of the first culturing member 110 are open. The first culturing member 110 has a first flange 113, which runs outward from the edge of the sidewall 112 and then is extended downward. The lower surface of the open end of the first flange 113 becomes the first fitting groove 114 which can receive an insertion. The lower surface of the bottom surface 111 of the first culturing member 110 has a plurality of first coupling grooves 115 from the open end toward the other end of the first culturing member 110.

The second culturing member 120 has a predetermined rectangular bottom surface 121 and a sidewall 122 which is extended upward vertically from both ends of the bottom surface 121. That is, the upper part and both ends of the second culturing member 120 are open. The second culturing member 120 has a second flange 123 which runs outward from the edge of the sidewall 122 arranged in both ends thereof and is extended downward. The second flange 123 corresponds to the first flange 113 of the first culturing member 110.

The second flange 123 running to the open end of the second culturing member 120 becomes the second fitting groove 124 of which the lower surface can receive an insertion. The second fitting groove 124 has an identical shape and size to those of the first fitting groove 114. In addition, the lower surface of said open one end of the second culturing member 120 has a plurality of coupling projections 125 to be inserted into the a plurality of first coupling grooves 115 of the first culturing member 110.

The other end of the second fitting groove 124 has the first fitting projection 126, which is forcibly inserted into the first fitting groove 114 of the first flange 113. The size and shape of the first fitting projection 126 correspond to those of the first fitting groove 114. The lower surface of the other end of the second culturing member 120 which has the first fitting projection 126, has a plurality of second coupling grooves 127 having the identical size and shape to those of the first coupling grooves 115.

The third culturing member 130 has a predetermined rectangular bottom surface 131 of a shape corresponding to the first culturing member 110 and a sidewall 132 which is extended upward vertically from the outer periphery of the bottom surface 131. The upper part and one end of the third culturing member 130 are open. The third culturing member 130 has a third flange 133, which runs outward from the edge of the sidewall 132 and is extended downward.

The open end of the third flange 133 has a second fitting projection 134, which is forcibly inserted into the second fitting groove 124 of the second flange 123. The size and shape of the second fitting projection 134 are identical to those of the first fitting projection 126, and correspond to the size and shape of the second fitting groove 124 so that they can be inserted into the second fitting groove 124.

The lower surface of the open end of the third culturing member 130 has a plurality of second coupling projections 135 which are a forcibly inserted into with the second coupling groove 127 of the second culturing member 120. The size and shape of the second coupling projection 135 are identical to those of the first coupling projection 125 and correspond to those of the second coupling groove 127 so that they can be inserted into the second coupling groove 127.

As described above, the sizes and shapes of the first fitting groove 114 and the second fitting groove 124, the first coupling projection 125 and the second coupling projection 135, and the first fitting projection 126 and the second fitting projection 134 are identical to each other. Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the length of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention can be adjusted by attaching and/or detaching the second culturing member 120 on and/or from the first culturing member 110.

In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, if the built-up box for raising seedlings 100 is assembled by coupling all of the first culturing member 110, the second culturing member 120 and the third culturing member 130, the length of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings becomes longer, and thus many seedlings can be raised simultaneously. In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, if the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings is assembled by coupling the first culturing member 110 with the third culturing member 130 directly, the rice seedbed can be easily prepared even in a narrow space.

Referring Fig. 6, the bottom surface of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings has a plurality of recesses 101 of a regular row-column arrangement. The recesses 101 have a form of hemisphere and its upper part is wider than its lower part. A plurality of drainage apertures 102 are arranged inside the recesses 101 at a predetermined interval. Once drainage aperture 102 is arranged preferably at every three recesses.

As shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of linear ribs 103 are intersected at a right angle on the lower surface of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings to have a plurality of rectangular sections. Each of the rectangular sections has the location corresponding to one recess on the bottom surface of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings.

The rib 103 comprises a flow path 104 at each wall of the rectangular sections so that water can flow. It is preferable to form the flow path 104 by partially cutting away one side of the rib 103. The lower surface of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings also comprises drainage apertures 102 penetrating the bottom surface.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 4., which shows the cross-section of the portion corresponding to the first culturing member 110. Referring to Fig. 8, according to the built-up box for raising seedlings according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first coupling projection 125 is coupled with the first coupling groove 115, and the first fitting projection 126 is inserted into the first fitting groove 114, formed on the lower surface of the first flange 113.

A plurality of recesses 101 of a semicircular cross-section are arranged at the bottom of the first culturing member 110 at a regular interval. One drainage aperture 102 penetrate one recess out of every three recesses 101, and the drainage aperture 102 introduces water into the first culturing member 110 from the outside of the first culturing member 110. The linear ribs 103 are vertically arranged on a predetermined interval on the lower surface of the first culturing member 110 to support the lower surface of the first culturing member 110. The sidewalls of each section consisting of the ribs 103 have a plurality of partially cut away flow paths 104.

Hereinafter, the operation of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained. The built-up box 100 for raising seedlings according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is constituted by assembling the first culturing member 110, the second culturing member 120 and the third culturing member 130 in detail. The process of assembling the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings is explained by classifying the built-up box for raising seedlings illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

First of all, the built-up box for raising seedlings in Fig. 4 is explained by referring to Figs. 3 and 4. Upon reviewing the assembling state of the first culturing member 110 and the second culturing member 120, the first coupling projection 125 of the second culturing member 120 is inserted into the first coupling groove 115 of the first culturing member 110. At the same time, the first fitting projection 126 of the second culturing member 120 is inserted into the first fitting groove 114 of the first culturing member 110.

At this time, the width of the first coupling projection 125 of the second culturing member 120 is almost the same as, or a bit bigger than, that of the first coupling groove 115 of the first culturing member 110, and thus the first coupling projection 125 is tightly fitted to the first coupling groove 115. In the same manner as mentioned above, the width of the first fitting projection 126 of the second culturing member 120 is almost the same as, or a bit bigger than, that of the first fitting groove 114 of the first culturing member 110 and thus the first fitting projection 126 is tightly fitted.

Thereafter, the third culturing member 130 is coupled with the second culturing member 120 assembled as mentioned above. That is, the second coupling projection 135 of the third culturing member 130 is inserted into the second coupling groove 127 of the second culturing member 120. At this time, the width of the second coupling projection 135 of the third culturing member 130 is almost the same as, or a bit bigger than, that of the second coupling groove 127 of the second culturing member 120, and thus the second coupling projection 135 is tightly fitted. Further, the width of the second fitting projection 134 of the third culturing member 130 is almost the same as, or a bit bigger than, that of the second fitting groove 124 of the second flange 123, and thus the second fitting projection 134 is tightly fitted.

Meanwhile, referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the assembling process of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings illustrated in Fig. 5 is explained. First of all, after removing the second culturing member 120, the first culturing member 110 and the third culturing member 130 are directly coupled. That is, the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings is assembled by using only the first culturing member 110 and the third culturing member 130 excluding the second culturing member 120.

More specifically, the third culturing member 130 is coupled with the open end of the first culturing member 110. At this time, the second coupling projection 135 of the third culturing member 130 is inserted into the first coupling groove 115 of the first coupling member 110. Meantime, the width of the second coupling projection 135 of the third culturing member 130 is almost the same as, or a bit bigger than, that of the first coupling groove 115 of the third culturing member 130 , and thus the second coupling projection 135 is tightly fitted.

At the same time, the second fitting projection 134 of the third culturing member 130 is inserted into the first fitting groove 114. At this time, the width of the second fitting projection 134 of the third culturing member 130 is almost the same as, or a bit bigger than, that of the first fitting groove 114 of the first culturing member 110, and thus the second fitting projection 134 is tightly fitted. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 9, the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings is filled with the mixture of soil for seedbed and a fertilizer to a predetermined height, preferably upto the two-thirds height of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings. Then, the rice seeds are sowed on the mixture of the soil for seedbed and the fertilizer, and then the built-up box for raising seedling is again filled with the mixture of the soil for seedbed and the fertilizer When the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings with the sown rice seeds is moved in the seedbed, water in the seedbed is introduced through a plurality of the drainage apertures 102 formed at the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings to raise the rice seeds. At this time, since the size of the drainage apertures 102 is smaller than the roots of the seedling, water can be introduced but the roots of the seedling roots do not slip out of the built-up box. Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 8, the flow paths are cut away at each rib 103 formed on the lower surface of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings, the water in the seedbed can easily flows into the drainage apertures 102 without interception. The water flowing as above is gathered to a plurality of recesses 101 formed at the bottom of the built-up box 100 for raising seedlings. Therefore, the roots of the rice seeds located in the recesses 101 are provided with sufficient moisture. As mentioned above, since water flows into each recess 101, the rice seeds take roots toward each recess 101, and the roots get tangled in the recess 101. Therefore, the rice seeds absorb the moisture inside the recess 101, and thus the rice seed can be raised faster. In addition, since the recesses 101 do not penetrate outward, the raised roots of the seedlings do not slip out so that the roots of the seedling are not damaged at the time of the transplant.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As mentioned above, the built-up box for raising seedlings according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises the first culturing member, the second culturing member and the third culturing member and a user can attach and/or detach the second culturing member if necessary. Thus, if the second culturing member is assembled with the other culturing member so the user can attach and/or detach the second culturing member as occasion demands, the length of the built-up box for raising seedlings becomes longer and many seedlings can be raised simultaneously. Accordingly, the labor charges can be reduced.

Furthermore, the bottom surfaces of the first, second and third culturing member have a plurality of recesses of a regular row-column arrangement, and the drainage apertures penetrate the recesses at a predetermined interval so that water can be flowed into the recesses. Thus, the seedlings can be raised faster. In addition, since the roots of the seedlings are seperatedly located in each recess on the bottom surface of the built-up box for raising seedlings, the injury of the roots at the time of being transplanted can be prevented. Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be 'made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A built-up box for raising seedlings comprising: a first culturing means of which the upper part and one end are open and of which a first flange having a first fitting groove along an edge of the first flange is extended and folded; a second culturing means of which an upper part and both ends are open and of which a second flange having a second fitting groove along an edge of the second flange is extended and folded, and which is detachably coupled with said open one end of the first culturing means, and; a third culturing means of which an upper part and one end are open and of which a third flange is extended and folded along an edge of said third culturing means, and which is detachably coupled with said open one end of the second culturing means, wherein a plurality of recesses of a regular row-column arrangement are placed in bottom of the first culturing means, said second culturing means and the third culturing means, and a plurality of drainage apertures are placed in the grooves at predetermined interval.

2. The built-up box for raising seedlings according to claim 1, wherein said first culturing means has a first coupling groove on the lower surface of the open end; said second culturing means has a first coupling projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into said first coupling groove, on the lower surface of the open end; a second coupling groove opposite to said first coupling projection on the lower surface of the other end; and a first fitting projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into said first fitting groove of said first flange, at one end of said second coupling groove of said second flange; and said third culturing means has a second coupling projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into said second coupling groove of said second culturing means, on the lower surface of the open end; and a second fitting projection, which protrudes outward to be forcibly inserted into said second fitting groove of said second flange, at the open end of said flange.

3. The built-up box for raising seedlings according to claim 2, wherein said second coupling projection is inserted into said first coupling groove, and the second fitting projection is inserted into said first fitting groove.

4. The built-up box for raising seedlings according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of linear ribs are intersected at right angles on the lower surfaces of said first, said second and said third culturing means to have a plurality of rectangular sections .

5. The built-up box for raising seedlings according to claim 4, wherein said ribs comprise a flow path on each wall of the rectangular section so that water can flow.