WO2011140650A1

WO2011140650A1 - Cup and removable seed tab combination device

Info

Publication number: WO2011140650A1
Application number: PCT/CA2011/000597
Authority: WO
Inventors: Craig R.P. Taylor
Original assignee: Taylor Craig R P
Priority date: 2010-05-14
Filing date: 2011-05-17
Publication date: 2011-11-17
Also published as: CA2704170A1

Abstract

A cup and removable seed tab combination device for providing an all in one grow kit with a disposable coffee cup. The cup and-temovable seed tab combination device includes a cup having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall-integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A tab is removably attached -to the cup. A seed or seeds is positioned on the tab. The tab is removed from the cup and positioned inside the cup within potting soil.

Description

CUP AND REMOVABLE SEED TAB COMBINATION DEVICE

The present invention relates to grow kit devices and more particularly pertains to a new cup and seed tab combination device for providing an all in one grow kit with a coffee cup.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of all in one plant kit devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, all in one plant kit devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfilment of countless objectives and requirements.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the

aforementioned patents do not disclose a new cup and seed tab combination device. The inventive device includes a cup having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A tab is removably attached to the cup. A seed or seeds is positioned on the tab. The tab is removed from the cup and positioned inside the cup within the potting soil to germinate and grow seedling in an optimum location. Then planted with or without a cup, so said cup can decay into the soil.

In these respects, a disposable cup or other biodegradable materials and seed tab combination device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an all in one grow kit, to provide a reuse for a disposable cup, container or other biodegradable materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The peel and stick seed tab is an all in one grow kit which provides a second use for a disposable paper cup, container or packaging. Once the disposable paper cup, container or packaging has fulfilled it primary purpose, the seed tab will provide a second reuse for the cup, container or packaging as a container for growing plants. The seed tab which is attached to the cup, container or packaging will be removed from said packaging and placed inside the container within potting soil. The seed tab will germinate, produce a seedling and grow into a plant within said soil within said cup, container or packaging. When the plant is rootbound the cup or container can be used in one or two ways. The first is the plant can be removed from said cup and placed directly into the soil. The second would be to remove the bottom portion of the cup and place cup and all into the soil to let the roots continue to grow and let the paper cup, container or packaging decay into soil to provide biomass, nutrients and conditioning to said soil.

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of seed devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new cup, container or other biodegradable packaging and seed tab combination device construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing an all in one grow kit with a used coffee cup and biodegradable disposable packaging and containers.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a cup and removable seed tab combination device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the all in one grow kit devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a removable seed tab combination device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art all in one grow kit devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a cup or container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A tab is removably attached to the cup. A seed or seeds is positioned on the tab. The tab is removed from the cup and positioned inside the cup within the potting soil. The seed tab can also be used alone or attached and used with any number of biodegradable containers or materials.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the all in one grow kit devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in used cups and other biodegradable material and seed tab combination devices which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art cup and removable seed tab combination device, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide removably attached seed tab combination device which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such cup and all in one grow kit combination device economically available to the buying public or as a free promotional offer.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device for providing an all in one grow kit with a used coffee cup or other disposable

environmentally friendly materials.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device which includes a cup having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A tab is removably attached to the cup. A seed or seeds is positioned on the tab. The tab is removed from the cup and positioned inside the cup within the potting soil.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device that conveniently positions all in one grow kit on a disposable paper cup or packaging which may be used once the user has finished their beverage, consumed the product or has fulfilled its primary purpose.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a peel and stick seed tab combination device that helps the environmental reuse of a disposable coffee cups.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new cup and seed tab on device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a new cup and all in one grow kit combination device, designated by reference numeral 10 or FIG.2, the peel and stick seed tab device designated by reference numeral 23, embodies the principles and concepts of the present invention.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the cup and all in one grow kit combination device 10 generally comprises a cup 12 having a bottom wall 14 and a peripheral wall 16 integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall 14. Attached to the perimeter lip 20. The cup 12 comprises a paper material and is a conventional disposable coffee cup.

The removable seed tab 23 is usually a round paper tab 22 but can be of any shape. The tab 22 has a peel and stick adhesive on one side for the purpose of attachment to the bottom wall 14 of cup 12 within the recessed portion 21 of cup 12. The reverse side of the tab 22 contains an adhesive 24 for the attachment of the seed or seeds 26 to said tab 22.

A seed or seeds 26 is positioned on the tab 22. The seed or seeds 26 is preferably selected from the group consisting of various plants, such as vegetables, herbs, flowers and trees, though any variety of seed or seeds 26 may be used. The seed or seeds 26 may be applied by any conventional method.

In use, the tab 22 is removed from the cup 12 and positioned inside the cup 12 within the potting soil. This allows a user to drink coffee and, when finished with the coffee, to then grow plants with the used cup 12.

As best illustrated in FIG.2, the peel and stick seed tab device 23 is an all in one plant kit which can be used with a cup 12 or any other container or biodegradable materials which it is attached to. The peel and stick seed tab 23 is also not limited to use with the cup 12 but can be germinated and planted within the soil, alone, without the assistance of said cup 12.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims I claim:

1. A disposable cup and seed tab combination device comprising: a cup having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall integrally coupled to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said peripheral wall having a top edge having a perimeter lip attached thereto, said cup comprising of a paper or biodegradable material; said tab comprising a paper or plant material; a seed or seeds being positioned on said tab, said seed or seeds being selected from the group consisting of various plants such as vegetables, herbs flowers and trees ; and wherein said tab is removed from said cup and positioned inside the cup within the potting soil to germinate into a seedling and grow a plant.

2. According to the present invention the "cup" should not be construed as self limiting but include the myriad of containers such as chip bags, food packaging, service ware, wrappers, boxes, bags and not limited to said containers.

3. According to the present invention the "paper" should not be construed as limiting but include the multitude of biodegradable materials and combination of materials which make up all products, packaging and not be limited to said materials.

4. Also the object of the present invention is not limited to the paper cup but provide a removable seed tab which can be attached to any biodegradable, compostable or organic materials or

manufactured goods or containers such as paper and plant material which will take away from landfill and provide a directional and beneficial reuse providing biomass, nutrients, conditioning and soil enrichment with said organic materials; including and not limited to a multitude of paper and plant materials and packaging such as chip bags, food packaging and service ware, containers, wrappers and the like.

5. The disposable cup and seed tab combination device as in claim 1, wherein said seed tab is removably attached to the disposable cup, biodegradable packaging or containers.

6. The disposable cup and seed tab combination device as in claim 1, wherein said tab comprises of paper or plant material.

7. It is the object of the present invention to provide a reuse solution product for disposable paper cups, packaging and containers by providing a removable seed tab which will be low cost, easy to manufacture and use and assist in an environmental end use.

8. According to the present invention the peel and stick seed tab is actually a removable storage unit for the seeds to facilitate the second use for the cup, packaging, products or containers.

9. According to the invention the peel and stick seed tab would be preferably attached to the outside bottom recessed portion of the cup to assist in stacking and shipping and protect seeds from damage and improve the amount of space needed for larger seeds.

10. According to the invention the peel and stick adhesive is used to facilitate removal, handling and collection of said seed tabs.

11. According to the present invention the tabs can carry or be impregnated with a wide variety of seeds from an endless amount of species of plants.

12. According to the invention the tab may also be impregnated with or contain on, additives, such as plant nutrients or plant protectants which will optimize the health of the plants.

13. According to the present invention the paper or plant based tab will have water retention and air- permeable qualities needed to facilitate optimum germinating and growth processes.

14. It is also the object of the present invention that the seed tab can be added to anyjsart of the cup, lid, sleeve or associated requirements for the coffee, tea or drink cups.

15. It is also the object of the present invention to use the advantageous shape, construction, design and material of the disposable paper cup to reuse it as a container for planting because it can easily be customized to the plants' needs.

16. According to the present invention the said cup or container is favourable to germinate the seed and promote the growth of the seedling to and optimum stage of development in optimum controlled environment such as in homes or offices and still have the mobility to be transplanted in gardens with a greater survival rate.

17. It is the object of the present invention to cut holes through the bottom portion of the used cup for water drainage which will also soften adjacent material, this will ease removal of the bottom of the cup for transplanting.

18. According to the present invention the disposable compostable paper cup or container can be removed or planted, cup and all, into said soil with plant.

19. It is also the object of the present invention to provide a seed tab which can be used alone and be planted in the soil without any container or biodegradable material.