WO2010042082A1

WO2010042082A1 - Grow-a-head

Info

Publication number: WO2010042082A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/025701
Authority: WO
Inventors: Randy Slater
Original assignee: Randy Slater
Priority date: 2007-12-17
Filing date: 2007-12-17
Publication date: 2010-04-15

Abstract

A figurine shaped from coir base material compressed with a combination of fertilizer, paper and sawdust. The figurine includes a self - watering wick that allows water to be drawn from a reservoir to provide continuous water to the coir material. The figurine is further covered with a grass seeds and nylon net to retain the seeds on the coir figurine. When water is added to the figurine, the seeds sprout grass that resembles hair. The grass can further be trimmed or grown to a desired length. Figurines of shapes can be human, animal or other shapes.

Description

GROW-A-HEAD

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 1 1 /1 93,809 filed July 28, 2005 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[Para 1 ] This invention relates to a self-watering figurine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a figurine or shape made and shaped from compressed part of coconut husk, known as coir. The coir is compressed with a wick is optionally placed within the coir that allows water to be drawn from a reservoir to provide continuous water to the coir material, thus keeping the seeds on top moist enough to propagate and grow The figurine includes plant seeds that simulate hair growing on the figurine or provides grass for a cat..

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[Para 2] Several products are available that allow for grass to grow as simulated hair on a figurine. Several patents have also been issued to allow for the growing of grass or other plant types on or from a figurine. However, these products require frequent manual watering to keep the plant life alive.

[Para 3] Figurines of animals or heads have been sold under the trademark of CHIA PET sold by Joseph Enterprises, Inc. These figurines consist of a hollow clay body in the shape of an animal or other shape. The clay body is filled with water and a paste consisting of a bonding agent and seeds that is spread over some or all of the figurine that later grows to appear as hair on the clay body. While this product provides the cosmetic appearance of hair being grown on a figurine, the product base is made from a ceramic material that is not self-watering. When the reservoir is filled with water, the water leeches out through the ceramic head to keep the seeds moist. The water level can not be visually determined, and a user must spread the seeds over the top of the product.

[Para 4] Weiner U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,599 discloses a sculptured head and torso where the head can receive a plant with leaves where the leaves provide the appearance of hair. The plant(s) are placed within the head, and any excess water applied can drip through the head sculpture and be collected within the base of the sculpture for disposal. While this product provides the cosmetic appearance of hair being grown on a figurine, the product is made from multiple pieces of ceramic material that is not self-watering. Excess water must be removed and discarded. A potted plant or an unspotted plant can be placed into the top of the sculptured head, but there is no provision for the ceramic head to support seeds or other plant life from growing on or within the head. The water level also can not be visually determined from viewing the outside of the sculptured head.

[Para 5] Manoah U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,500 discloses an animal figurine made from saw dust placed within a netting material. Seeds are placed within the bottom or scalp portion of the netting material and then saw dust is added into the netting. The entire assembly is the watered to allow the seeds to grow. This product provides a ball of saw dust that the seeds grow from. The sawdust ball provides minimal shape, and any features must be added to the sawdust ball as a secondary operation. Excessive water can wash past the head or be collected in a dish where the ball is placed. While the dish provides for a collection of water or water to be provided to the sawdust ball, the amount of water available is limited to the water stored in a dish and cannot be drawn from a reservoir.

[Para 6] What is needed is a simple preformed figurine shape that provides self-watering where the water can be drawn for through a wick or from a reservoir, and the amount of water in the reservoir can be easily determined. The proposed invention satisfies these needs by providing a coir-based figurine or shape with retained plant seeds and a watering wick or reservoir.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[Para 7] It is an object of the grow-a-head to provide a figurine consisting basically of a coir based material. The coir material is pre-formed into the shape of a character such as the head of a person animal or other shape. The animal shapes may include a dog, cat, pig, or other known animal, cartoon character. While the head of person may include a generic male or female, or may include the shape of a celebrity.

[Para 8] Another object of the grow-a-head is provides the figurine with a self-watering wick made of cloth, fiber material, woven or wrested material that can draw water from a reservoir.

[Para 9] Another object of the grow-a-head is to provide the coir based material with other growing media that may include fertilizer, paper, sawdust or other materials that may provide both a filler for the coir, as well as additional nutrition for the plant life. The fertilizer may be coated to provide a time release function that allows the fertilizer to dissipate over an extended period of time to provide nutrients to the simulated hair.

[Para 10] Another object of the grow-a-head is to provide a net covering of the figurine to allow retention of the plant material so the plant material remains in position while the seeds germinate.

[Para 1 1 ] Another object of the grow-a-head is to provide various types of plant material such as various types of grass seeds, moss, or other low growing vegetation with or without flowering sprouts.

[Para 1 2] Another object of the grow-a-head is to provide a visual reservoir that allows inspection of the amount of water that is available for watering of the figurine.

[Para 1 3] Another object of the grow-a-head is to provide the shape with head or face adornment features such as a nose, ears, smile, earrings and or nose rings. Some of these features may alternately be included in the packaging but not pre-attached to the shape. Some of these features will be pre-affixed to the head but may also be available as separate or kit with additional features that can be added such as sun glasses, bow ties, and even eyes and nose, etc.

[Para 14] Another object of the grow-a-head is to provide the figurine in a complete head package including a planted figurine head with seeds, wick installed and reservoir cup so the only component needed is water for the plant material to grow and simulate hair on the figurine.

[Para 1 5] Another object of the grow-a-head to provide the coir product with preformed accessories that can be added to the shape to customize the shape for a particular event, occasion or appearance. The ability to customize the grow-a-head promotes the purchasing of multiple grow-a-head's. The apparatus that is provided with each grow-a-head gives a good starting point for customization and allows for user creativity to make a unique personality for the grow-a-head. The ability to create a character from a base grow-ahead makes each figure unique as opposed to a ceramic molded pot.

[Para 16] It is another object of the grow-a-head to use the coir material with a tuna type can where the base is broader than the height. The broad base allows the grown grass to be eaten by a cat without the container being tipped over. Because a typical tuna can is fairly bland or unattractive the tuna can is adorned with physical features such as arms, legs, ears, tail and other features to resemble animals. The addition of the physical features further enhances the stability of the can from being tipped over while the grown grass is being eaten.

[Para 1 7] Still another object of the grow-a-head is to provide the plant like to grow on the top of the figure such that the plant provides the appearance of hair on the figurine. The simulated hair can be trimmed or styled based upon user or owner preference.

[Para 18] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Para 19] FIC. 1 is an isometric exploded view showing the components of the coir figurine.

[Para 20] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the coir figurine with plant material shown growing out of the top of the figurine.

[Para 21 ] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the coir figurine showing the various components from FIG. 2 shown in greater detail.

[Para 22] FIG. 4 shows one contemplated packaging method for the coir figurine.

[Para 23] FIG. 5 shows a typical kit of components that make a pre-defined character.

[Para 24] FIG. 6 shows a number of different customizable shaped for the grow-a-head.

[Para 25] FIG. 7 shows the coir ball outside of a container used for growing grass for a cat.

[Para 26] FIG. 8 shows the coir inside of a container used for growing grass f r _^ ιoυrr a a c caatt..

[Para 27] FIG. 9 shows the embodiment from FIG. 7 and 8 with the grass grown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[Para 28] Referring to FIC. 1 there is shown an isometric exploded view showing the components of the coir figurine. The major component of the figurine is the coir head 10. Coir is biodegradable organic fibers made from the fibrous material that forming part of the soft mass that surrounds a coconut. This fibrous material is ideal for this application due to its hygroscopic properties for retaining and wicking moisture. The coir is chopped and or shredded and then formed into the desired shape that makes- up the figurine. The shape of the figurine can vary from resembles a human, animal, cartoon, or celebrity shape. In the preferred embodiment, the coir figurine is about 3 inches tall and about 1 -1 /2 inches in diameter, but other dimensions or shapes are contemplated. As an example of alternative shapes, the shape may be a 2-inch tall oval shape about 4 inches across. While the base material of the figurine is made from is coconut husk, other materials can be added to fill, supplement and or bond the coconut husk. Filling materials may include but not be limited to fertilizer, paper, and sawdust. In the preferred embodiment, time released fertilizer is included in the coir shape. The fertilizer dissipates over an extended period of time to provide nutrients so the simulated hair will grow. A bonding material may be utilized to hold the coir in shape during the fabrication and or seed sprouting phase. The bonding agents may include but not be limited to polymers, glues, waxes or other similar additives that may help to keep the coir in the desired shape. Once to coir shape has been formed, additional features may be added to the figurine. Other materials are contemplated that can be used to form the head shape. Some of these materials include but are not limited to synthetic materials such as chopped plastics or recycles bottles and bags. Other natural materials such as peat moss or bark can also be used.

[Para 29] Shapes such as a nose 1 2, ears 14, 1 5 and a smile 16 may be added to the figurine to add additional character to the figurine. It is further contemplated that one or more head or face adornment items including but not limited to hair bands, ribbons, ears or nose rings can be added to the coir shape. Some features such as earrings 18, 19 can be added to the figurine after purchase. The shape of the nose 12 in this figure is round in shape, but in the case of a dog, the nose or snout may be elongated. The shape of the ears 14, 1 5 also are shown as round, but in the case of a cat figurine the ears may be pointy, or in the configuration of a dog, the ears may hang down on the sides of the head. The smile 16 can be formed into or out of the coir head. The mouth, smile, or other feature may be sewn on to the head or it may be simply drawn onto the coir head when it is manufactured or by the buyer of the figurine. Seeds 50 are placed, bond or otherwise retained on the top of the heads. The seeds can be a variety of one type of seeds or a blending of seeds. In the preferred embodiment, the seeds are a grass seed, but other types of seeds such as flower or vegetable seeds can be used that may create a different effect of hair. Grass seeds such as bahaigrass, bentgrass, bermuds, bluegrass, buffalo, carpetgrass, centipede, fescue, ryegrass, St Augustine and zoysia can be used, but in the preferred embodiment the seeds are ryegrass because they are tolerant to variations in watering and provide a more hair like appearance.

[Para 30] A watering wick 30 is being placed within the coir shape to provide a continuous feeding of water from a reservoir to the coir shape. The watering wick can be made from using a variety of methods including but not limited to woven, braided, stranded, twisted, rolled, knitted, spun or gathered. The watering wick may also be fabricated from a number of materials including but not limited to cotton, nylon, felt, polyester and silk. In the preferred embodiment, the wick is made from a twisted cotton fiber.

[Para 31] A net, screen, or mesh 20 is placed over or placed around the coir and seed assembly to retain the seed upon the top of the figurine. The netting can be made from a variety of materials that provide the function of retaining the seeds on top of the head, and still allowing seeds to sprout through the netting. Acceptable materials that provide this function may include but not be limited to nylon, silk, metal, cloth and cotton. After the netting is drawn over or around the coir shape, it may be gathered or collected and tied with one or more piece(s) of string, yarn or wire 22 to maintain the seeds upon the coir shape while the seeds sprout.

[Para 32] After the mesh is placed over the coir shape additional features can be added or drawn onto the figurine. Accouterments that can be added may include but not be limited to eyes 24, 25, mouth 16, ear rings 1 8, 19, ears 14, 1 5, tail, snout, mustache, eyebrows, nose ring and facial hair. This entire assembly can then be placed into a glass or cup 40 that is used as a reservoir to provide water from the bottom of the cup through the wick and into the figurine.

[Para 33] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the coir figurine with plant material shown growing out of the top of the figurine. The figurine 5 is shown placed in the reservoir 40 with the wick 30 shown in water 60. The head of the figurine 50 is shown with ear 1 5 located on the side of the figurine, and hair 52 growing out of the top of the figurine. The glass in this figure provides a good visual representation of the reservoir with water in the reservoir. In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir is fabricated from a plastic material. Acceptable plastic material may include but not be limited to PVC, ABS, acrylic and polycarbonate. Glass, crystal or other materials may be used that will accomplish the same result as holding water. As shown in this figure, the reservoir is transparent clear or semi-transparent. While a clear reservoir is preferred, the reservoir can be frosted, colored, opaque or translucent. A user may optionally discard the provided reservoir and utilize their own cup, pot or other container to grow the head. The amount of water that can be stored within the reservoir can also vary. In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir contains minimum 44 and maximum 42 water level markings where the ideal water level is about 2 ounces of fluid or water. A mark for the preferred or ideal water level may be optionally included or used instead of the minimum and maximum water level markings. Markings may also or optionally be provided to indicate the amount of water within the reservoir in ounces. This figure shows a flat base 46 of the reservoir that helps keep the reservoir in an upright orientation. Depending upon the configuration of the reservoir, the base may be optional fabricated from a different material than the reservoir. [Para 34] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the coir figurine showing the various components from FIC. 2, shown in greater detail. In this cross sectional view the coir figurine 5 is cut through the thick portion of the head 10 and nose 1 2. The grass hair 52 is shown extending up from the top of the figurine. The tape, string, wire or ribbon 22 that secures the coir figurine and the watering wick 30 is partially shown in this figure. The plastic reservoir 40 is shown with water 60 located inside the reservoir where the wick 30 can draw water from the reservoir into the coir figurine.

[Para 35] FIG. 4 shows one contemplated packaging method for the coir figurine. While many packaging methods can be used to package the product, the preferred embodiment of packaging the product is shown in this figure. This method of packaging is ideal because the components are readily available, cost effective, and provide a semi-sealed environment that is minimally affected by humidity and moisture changes. An alternative vacuum packaging method is contemplated because the vacuum packaging removes moisture from the packaging and helps to retard any growth that may occur from the seeds collecting moisture from the air. The vacuum packaging also allows for other retail store display options, such as hanging the product for distribution or sale. In this figure, the coir figurine 5 is shown assembled and placed into the clear glass vase reservoir. This entire assembly is then placed within a clear plastic cylindrical container 70 with a removable lid 72. The instructions 80 for growing the figurine are also shown within or on the cup 70, but may optionally be placed or taped to the outside of the cup or lid. The instructions may also be optionally printed on the outside of the cup or lid. Additional printing 92 can be placed on the cup to indicate the type of product or what it does. Other printing 90 can show other figurines that are available to encourage purchasing the entire group.

[Para 36] FIG. 5 shows a typical kit of components that make a pre-defined character 6. This kit is specifically configured to create a character with the appearance of a dog 6 "Spike". The kit has pre-formed shapes for snout 23, ears 24, eyes 26, nose 27, and tongue 92. Instructions are included with each kit to identify a preferred construction of the components. While components for a dog have been shown and described it is contemplated that may other shapes may be included with the kit to forma variety of figures. Some contemplated figures are shown in FIG. 6.

[Para 37] FIC. 6 shows a number of different customizable shaped for the grow-a-head. This collection of figures is not shown to be an exhausted collection of figures, but give a representative of some of the contemplated figures that are available in kits. Since each kit contains a different set of components the cost of each kit may be varied. As an example the basic kit may include a limited number of pieces while a kit for a pirate or Santa may include a number of more expensive pieces and may be priced at a higher amount. In another contemplated embodiment a coir figure may hold a sign with a specific notation to identify an event or salutation. The figures can be made to identify a holiday such as Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. The diversity of the characters encourages purchasing of a variety of different characters that can be shown from the commercial success.

[Para 38] FIG'S 7-9 show the coir being used for ball outside of a container used for growing grass for a cat where FIG. 7 shows the coir ball outside the container, FIG. 8 shows the coir inside the container and FIG. 9 shows the container with some grown grass. The coir assembly 100 is shown wrapped in a stocking type material 108 that allows grass seeds to sprout through the stocking material. The seeds 109 are placed in the upper portion 101 of the stocking material on top of a coir 102 base. The coir assembly 100 is placed in a brad based can 103 such as would be used with packaged tuna or the like. The can has a base that is greater than the height to give the can stability from being tipper over. The can is also adorned with extremities or features, including but not limited to, arms 104, a tail 105, eyes 106, ears 107, whiskers 1 1 1 and a nose 1 10. The configuration shown represents a mouse, but other figures are contemplated including but not limited to a dog, pig, snake, cow, bird or other creature. It is also contemplated that the can could be adorned with flowers or vines to match the decor where the can is being placed. The addition of the extremities further enhances the stability of the can to make it less susceptible from tipping. The can provides a reservoir for water to keep the coir moist and allows water for the grass 1 1 2 to grow.

[Para 39] Thus, specific embodiments and applications for a coir-based figurine have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is: [Claim 1 ] A coir based self watering figurine kit comprising: a coir based shape; a watering wick connected from the coir based shape; a reservoir to hold water that the watering wick can be placed into; plant seeds retained under a netting secured around the coir based shape that when grown, appears to simulate grass hair, and a plurality of accouterments that a user adds to the figurine to make the figurine have a substantially predefined appearance.

[Claim 2] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the coir based shape resembles a human, animal, cartoon, or celebrity shape.

[Claim 3] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the coir consists of core, combined with one or more materials in a group consisting of fertilizer, paper, peat, fertilizer and sawdust.

[Claim 4] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the watering wick is woven, braided, stranded, twisted, rolled, knitted, spun or gathered.

[Claim 5] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the watering wick is made from a group comprising cotton, nylon, felt, polyester and silk.

[Claim 6] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the reservoir may optionally include markings to identify one or more of the following items, ounces, minimum, maximum and ideal water level.

[Claim 7] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the netting is made from a group consisting or nylon, silk, metal, cloth, cotton or other man made material.

[Claim 8] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the seeds are selected from a group consisting of grass, flower, vegetable and herb.

[Claim 9] The coir based figurine from claim 8 wherein the grass seeds mare selected from a group consisting of bahaigrass, bentgrass, bermuds, bluegrass, buffalo, carpetgrass, centipede, fescue, ryegrass, St Augustine zoysia or other grass seed.

[Claim 1 0] The coir based figurine from claim 1 wherein the figurine may further include one or more of items selected from the group consisting of ear rings, ears, tail, snout, mustache, eyebrows, hair band, ribbon, hair net, nose ring, facial hair or other facial or head or body adornments.

[Claim 1 1 ] A coir based grass growing cylinder comprising: a coir based shape inside a fabric web that further includes seeds placed on one side of the coir based shape within the fabric web; an open cylinder having a closed bottom where the height of the cylinder is at least half the diameter of the open cylinder, and the outside of the open cylinder has a plurality of extremities to make the open cylinder have the appearance of an animal or a person.

[Claim 1 2] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 1 1 wherein the coir based shape is round or elliptical in shape.

[Claim 1 3] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 1 1 wherein the coir consists of core, combined with one or more materials in a group consisting of fertilizer, paper, peat, fertilizer and sawdust.

[Claim 1 4] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 1 1 wherein the open cylinder is essentially a tuna fish type can.

[Claim 1 5] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 1 1 wherein the open cylinder is made from metal, glass or plastic.

[Claim 1 6] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 1 1 wherein the extremities increase the size of the base of the growing cylinder to further reduce the potential of tipping the coir based grass growing cylinder over.

[Claim 1 7] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 1 1 wherein the netting is made from a group consisting or nylon, silk, metal, cloth, cotton or other man made material.

[Claim 1 8] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 1 1 wherein the seeds are selected from a group consisting of grass, flower, vegetable and herb.

[Claim 1 9] The coir based grass growing cylinder from claim 18 wherein the grass seeds mare selected from a group consisting of bahaigrass, bentgrass, bermuds, bluegrass, buffalo, carpetgrass, centipede, fescue, ryegrass, St Augustine zoysia or other grass seed.

[Claim 20] The coir based figurine from claim 1 1 wherein the extremities include one or more of items selected from the group consisting of ear rings, ears, tail, snout, mustache, eyebrows, hair band, ribbon, hair net, nose ring, facial hair or other facial or head or body adornments.