WO2022220687A1

WO2022220687A1 - Transport tray, set, use, assembly, method of transporting, and method of producing

Info

Publication number: WO2022220687A1
Application number: PCT/NL2022/050212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erwin VAN LOENEN
Original assignee: Houdstermaatschappij Modiform B.V.
Priority date: 2021-04-16
Filing date: 2022-04-19
Publication date: 2022-10-20
Also published as: EP4322736A1; NL2027995B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport tray. The tray comprises a main tray part having at least one receiving compartment for receiving at least a portion of a growth medium body. The receiving compartment has a top entrance for inserting at least a lower portion of a growth medium body into the receiving compartment in an inserting direction. The transport tray further comprises at least a first restraining part which is hingedly connected to the main tray part. The transport tray is arranged such that the first restraining part can be pivoted from a releasing position towards a restraining position. During use of the transport tray, in the restraining position of the first restraining part, the first restraining part, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction, covers or overlaps at least a portion of a growth medium body which is held at least partly in the receiving compartment.

Description

Title: TRANSPORT TRAY, SET, USE, ASSEMBLY, METHOD OF TRANSPORTING, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING

The invention relates to a transport tray, in particular for holding a growth medium body, which may for instance be formed by a plant pot and an actual growth medium held in said plant pot, from which growth medium body a plant growing therein may extend.

Such transport tray may be used to transport a plant growing in a plant medium body from one location to another.

Although such transport trays are known, such known transport trays are often not well arranged for shipping all kinds of differently shaped and/or differently sized plants, which may be preferable, for instance in order to facilitate selling plants by means of e-commerce.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative transport tray. In particular, it can be an object of the invention to provide a transport tray, wherein at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art transport trays is counteracted. More in particular, the invention may aim to provide a transport tray which may enable transporting, in particular shipping, a relatively large number of differently shaped and/or differently sized plants.

For instance thereto, the invention provides for a transport tray comprising a main tray part, wherein the main tray part has at least one receiving compartment for receiving at least a portion of a growth medium body, wherein the receiving compartment has a top entrance for inserting at least a lower portion of a growth medium body into the receiving compartment in an inserting direction, wherein the transport tray further comprises at least a first restraining part which is hingedly connected to the main tray part, wherein the transport tray is arranged such that the first restraining part can be pivoted from a releasing position towards a restraining position, and wherein, during use of the transport tray, in the restraining position of the first restraining part, said first restraining part, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction, covers or overlaps at least a portion of a growth medium body which is held at least partly in the receiving compartment.

By enabhng the transport tray to restrain the growth medium body in place during use of the transport tray, it may be counteracted that the growth medium body may unintentionally be moved out of the receiving compartment during transport, in particular in cases in which, in the restraining position of the first restraining part, said first restraining part, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction, overlaps at least partly with the top entrance of the receiving compartment.

By providing the first restraining part with a first recess for during use allowing at least a part of a plant protruding from the plant growth medium body held at least partly inside the receiving compartment to extend at least partly through said first recess when said first restraining part is in its restraining position, it can be facilitated that at least a part of said plant may protrude from the transport tray. This may for instance enable that the same transport tray may be used for relatively many relatively differently shaped and/or relatively differently dimensioned plants.

The invention also relates to a transport assembly comprising a transport tray and a container in which said transport tray is to be held. As the plant may be partly protruding from the transport tray, said plant may during use, when the transport tray is held in the container, be at least partly be covered by said container. As such, although a plant may thus protrude to a certain extent from the transport tray, said plant may nevertheless thus be shipped in a relatively protected manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the transport tray and/or the container is provided with at least one connector for connecting or mounting the transport to the container, such as to keep the transport substantially in place during transport. In particular said one or more connectors may be arranged such as to facilitate substantially keeping the transport tray in place inside the container even in case the container is tilted to a certain degree, for instance in case said container is turned on its side, or even when it is held upside-down.

By providing differently dimensioned containers, for instance at least a relatively low container and a relatively high container, it may be facilitated that plants with relatively large height differences can be packed, and thus shipped, in a relatively economic and/or efficient manner, for instance without using a way too high container for a relatively low plant and/or for instance without needing to cram a plant into a relatively low container thereby risking said plant to be damaged during shipment.

In embodiments, the transport tray of the present invention may facilitate that a person or a company, for instance one that deals with e-commerce, can keep only a relatively small number of different transport trays in stock, such as for instance only one single type or size of transport trays, but may by using the transport tray in combination with a respective one of differently dimensioned containers kept in stock enable himself to pack differently dimensioned plants in a relatively efficient and/or relatively economic manner.

The invention also relates to a set of multiple transport trays, in particular nestable transport trays.

Further, the invention relates to the use of a transport tray, in particular use in combination with a container holding said transport tray.

The invention also relates to a method of transporting a plant, in particular for shipping a plant to a consumer.

Moreover, the invention relates to a method of producing a transport tray, in particular by moulding it, more in particular from a paper pulp material. Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the appended claims.

By way of non-limiting examples only, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a transport tray according to an aspect of the invention in an open position;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the transport tray of Fig. 1 in which three plant pots are placed;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the transport tray with plant pots of Fig. 2 in a closed position of said transport tray;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the closed transport tray with the plant pots of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an container provided with multiple transport trays of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to the invention. In the figures, the same or similar reference signs or numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a transport tray 100. In particular, the transport tray 100 may be a shipping tray, and/or it may be arranged and/or intended for facilitating shipping one or more plants, more in particular by means of parcel post or a package delivery system or the like, for instance in order to facilitate selling plants by means of e-commerce.

The transport tray 100 comprises a main tray part 110, which in the here shown embodiments comprises three receiving compartments 111, each of which is for receiving at least a portion of a respective growth medium body. In alternative embodiments, the main tray part 110 may comprise a different number of receiving compartments 111, such as for instance only a single receiving compartment. However, the main tray part

110 may preferably comprise a multiple number of receiving compartments 111, such as for example two, three, four, five, six or even more receiving compartments 111, which in preferred embodiments may be located in one or more rows, preferably in a single row, more preferably located substantially along a straight line, as is also the case in the here shown exemplary embodiment.

The receiving compartment 111 may be arranged for holding at least a portion of a plant pot, for instance a lower end portion thereof as can for example be seen in Figure 2.

For example, the receiving compartment 111 may be arranged for holding a substantially circular plant pot, i.e. a plant pot with a substantially circular cross-section, which plant pot may for instance taper in a downward direction. For instance thereto, the receiving compartment

111 may be defined at least partly by means of one or multiple curved wall parts, a cross-section of which, when seen in a direction parallel to a direction ID in which the plant pot can be inserted into the receiving compartment 111, may substantially correspond with a circle or a portion of a circular arc.

Alternatively or additionally, the receiving compartment 111 may be arranged for holding a differently shaped plant pot, for instance one with a substantially polygonal cross-section, such as for example a plant pot with a substantially rectangular, in particular substantially square, cross-section or for example one with a substantially hexagonal cross-section.

Advantageously, the receiving compartment 111 may be arranged such that it is suitable for holding different plant pots, for instance such that not only a substantially round plant pot can fit in, but that alternatively a substantially square plant pot can fit. For example thereto, the cross-sectional shape of the receiving compartment 111 may to some extent substantially correspond with multiple overlapping shapes, such as for instance a substantially square shape overlapping with a substantially circular shape, as is the case in the exemplary embodiment shown here in Figure 1. As such, the receiving compartment 111 may be arranged to hold any one of a relatively large number of different pots.

Although the receiving compartment 111 may thus be arranged for holding at least a portion of a plant pot, for instance a lower end portion thereof as can for example be seen in Figure 2, the receiving compartment 111 may additionally or alternatively be arranged for holding for instance a more or less bare root bah or for instance a plant plug. The receiving compartment 111 may thus be arranged for holding at least a portion, in particular at least a lower portion, of a growth medium body.

The growth medium body may preferably be formed by a plant container 200 and an actual growth medium (not shown) held therein. For example, the plant container 200 may be a plant pot, for example a plastic plant pot, such as a thermoformed plastic plant pot, which may be relatively inexpensive and/or which may be used as a growing pot during at least a part of the growing of the plant (not shown). Alternatively, the plant container 200, in particular formed as a plant pot, may be made of a different material.

For example, the plant pot, or other plant container, may be made of a biodegradable and/or compostable material, for instance such as to facilitate that one can plant the plant together with said biodegradable and or compostable plant pot.

Alternatively or additionally, the plant container, in particular a plant pot, may be made of the same material as the transport tray, for instance to facihtate that they may be processed in a single residual flow and or can be recycled together.

It is noted that the growth medium or so-called plant substrate held in the container may be formed out of any suitable growth medium and may for instance comprise soil, clay, perlite, natural chips, such as bark chips or coconut chips, etc. or combinations including one or multiple ones thereof and/or one or multiple other grow mediums.

Although the growth medium body may preferably be formed by a plant container and a growth medium held therein, it may be formed differently. For example, the growth medium body may comprise, and may in particular be formed as, a plant plug, which may hold at least a part of a root system of at least one plant. As another example, the growth medium body may for instance be formed by a root ball, wherein the root system of at least one plant may hold an actual growth medium, for instance formed by soil, grains of any suitable material, such as perlite grains, natural chips, such as coconut chips or bark chips, clay, etc., or combinations including one or multiple ones thereof and/or one or multiple other grow mediums.

For instance in order to facilitate enabling holding a plant pot filled with growth medium or another growth medium body relatively well in the receiving compartment 111, said receiving compartment 111 and or one or more side walls or side wall portions defining said receiving compartment 111 may taper, in particular in a downward direction, as for instance can be seen relatively well in Figure 4.

The receiving compartment 111 for receiving at least a portion of a growth medium body has a top entrance 112 for inserting at least the lower portion of the growth medium body into the receiving compartment 111 in the inserting direction ID. It is noted that the inserting direction ID may lay substantially parallel with an axial direction or a central axis Alll of the receiving compartment 111 and or the axial direction of a growth medium body held or to be held in said receiving compartment 111.

Further, the transport tray 100 also comprises at least a first restraining part 151 which is hingedly connected to the main tray part 110, for instance by means of a preformed fold line 130. Such a preformed fold line 130 may for instance be formed at least partly by interruptions 131, which for example may at least partly be integrally formed, in particular at least partly integrally moulded, when forming the main tray part 110 and/or the restraining part 151. Alternatively or additionally, the interruptions 131 may be formed at least partly by other means, for instance by means of puncturing and/or creasing, which for instance may be done after removing a moulded intermediate product for forming the transport tray 100 from a respective mould. Additionally or alternatively, other means may be used to form a preformed fold line 130 or other hinge, which for instance may include the use of a film hinge.

As the transport tray 100 comprises at least two parts 110, 151 hingedly connected to each other, the transport tray 100 may be considered to be a foldable transport tray 100 or foldable tray 100.

The transport tray 100 is arranged such that the first restraining part 151 can be pivoted from a releasing position towards a restraining position. In Figures 1 and 2, the first restraining part 151 is in its releasing position, in which it for instance can restrain a plant pot 200, and preferably also actual growing medium held within said plant pot 200, whereas said first restraining part 151 is in its restraining position in Figures 3 to 5. It will be appreciated that, at least in embodiments, the said first restraining part 151, and for instance also any optional further restraining part 152, if any, may be considered to form a cover or cover part.

During use of the transport tray 100, in the restraining position of the first restraining part 151, said first restraining part 151, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction ID, overlaps or covers at least a portion of a growth medium body which is held at least partly in the receiving compartment 111. As such, the first restraining part 151 can restrain the growth medium body to a certain extent, and may in particular counteract or even substantially prevent movement of said growth medium body in a direction OD substantially opposite to the inserting direction ID. The restraining part may thus counteract that the growth medium body can be moved in said substantially opposite direction OD to such extent that the growth medium body, which then is at least partly held in the receiving compartment 111, can be moved out thereof unintention ally .

It will be appreciated that the growth medium body, which in preferred embodiments may include a plant pot 200, may at a height level above the portion of said growth medium body held in the receiving compartment 111 be wider than said receiving compartment 111. As such, it is not strictly necessary that, in the restraining position of the first restraining part 151, said first restraining part 151, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction ID, overlaps at least partly with the top entrance 112 of the receiving compartment 111 in order to cover or overlap at least a portion of the growth medium body, such as for instance a portion of a top face of said growth medium body. However, in advantageous embodiments, in the restraining position of the first restraining part 151, said first restraining part 151, when seen in said direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction ID, does overlap at least partly with said top entrance 112, as for example can be seen relatively well in Figure 4.

Although one restraining part may be sufficient, the transport tray 100 can advantageously comprise a second restraining part 152 which is hingedly connected to the main tray part 110. Preferably, as for example is the case in the here shown embodiments, the second restraining part 152 is directly hinged to said main tray part 110. However, in alternatively embodiments, said second restraining part 152 may not be directly connected to the main tray part 110, but may for example be directly hinged to the first restraining part 151, which in turn may then for example be directly hinged to the main tray part 110.

In such embodiments, the transport tray 100 may then be arranged such that the second restraining part 152 can be pivoted from a releasing position towards a restraining position, wherein, during use of the transport tray 100, in the restraining position of the second restraining part 152, said second restraining part 152, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction ID, overlaps or covers at least a portion of the growth medium body which is held at least partly in the receiving compartment 111. As such, two restraining parts 150; 151, 152 can together restrain the same growth medium body. It will be appreciated that in embodiments, the transport tray 100 may even comprise more than two restraining parts that, in their respective restraining positions, each can cover or overlap at least a portion of the same growth medium body, and can preferably even each overlap at least partly with the top entrance of the receiving compartment in which said growth medium body is to be held.

Although the transport tray 100 may thus preferably comprise more than one, for instance two, primary restraining parts 151, 152 that can cooperate to restrain at least the same first growth medium body, and which for instance may also restrain one or more additional growth medium bodies, the transport tray 100 may alternatively or additionally comprise one or multiple further restraining parts not being for restraining said first growth medium body nor said one or more additional growth medium bodies, if any, but are for restraining one more further growth medium bodies not restrained by said one or more primary restraining parts.

Advantageously, the one or more respective restraining parts 150; 151, 152 can be provided with a respective recess 155, which during use, when said respective restraining part 150; 151, 152 is in its respective restraining position, can allow at least one or more parts, such as for instance one or more stems or trunks, of a plant to extend at least partly through said respective recess 155.

In case the transport tray 100 is arranged with two or more restraining parts 151, 152 for cooperating restraining at least one growth medium body in one receiving compartment 111, multiple ones of said two or more restraining parts, for instance each of them, may comprise a respective recess 155, and the transport tray 100 may then be arranged such that, when the respective restraining parts 150 are in their restraining positions, said recesses 155 are substantially adjoining each other, in particular such that said recesses together define a plant passage 160 for during use allowing at least a part of a plant protruding from the plant growth medium body held at least partly inside the receiving compartment 111 to extend at least partly through said plant passage 160. An example hereof can for instance be seen in Figure 3, in which the two restraining parts 151, 152 together define three of such plant passages 160.

In particular, the transport tray 100 may be arranged such that the plant passage 160 formed by at least one, and preferably by multiple restraining parts, is, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction ID, smaller than a top view of a growth medium body during use held at least partly in the receiving compartment 111 and/or smaller than the top entrance 112 of the receiving compartment 111.

Preferably, during use of the transport tray 100, in the restraining position of the respective restraining part 150, the respective recess 155 defined by said respective restraining part 150 may, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction ID, overlap with a portion of a growth medium body which is held at least partly in the receiving compartment 111 and/or may overlap with a portion of the top entrance 112 of the receiving compartment 111.

In advantageous embodiments, the transport tray 100 may be arranged such that, when the transport tray 100 is in its closed position, the one or multiple restraining parts 150 may cover at least a certain portion of a top surface area or top face of the growth medium body, wherein said certain portion may be preferably at least a 1/4, more preferably at least 1/3, yet more preferably at least 1/2, such as for instance at least 3/5 or at least 3/4 of said top surface area of the growth medium body, in particular of a top surface of the actual growth medium of said growth medium body. As such, the transport tray 100 may for instance be relatively well equipped to keep actual growth medium inside a plant pot held by said transport tray 100.

It will be appreciated that the transport tray 100 can be used to transport one or more plants or the hke, for instance potted plants. In particular, a growth medium body, e.g. formed by a plant pot holding an actual growth medium therein, may be inserted into the receiving compartment 111 and subsequently said growth medium body may be restrained by pivoting the one or more restraining parts towards their respective restraining position. In preferred embodiments, the one or more restraining parts 150; 151, 152 may then be substantially fixated in their restraining positions, for instance by means of adhesive tape, a string, an elastic band, another band or sleeve, such as for example a sleeve of cardboard material or other paper-based or paper-like material which may enclose the transport tray 100 in its closed position, a staple or any other suitable fixation means. In embodiments, the transport tray 100 may for instance be provided with connectors, in particular integrally formed connectors, for fixating the respective restraining part 150 in its restraining position, for instance by snappingly connecting said respective restraining part 151 to the main tray part 110 and/or to one or more further restraining parts 152 to keep said respective restraining part 151 in its restraining position.

Additionally or alternatively, during use of the transport tray 100, a plant or the like protruding from the plant growth medium body may extend outside of the transport tray 100, in particular through a plant passage 160 formed by one or multiple recesses 155.

During use of the transport tray 100, in particular during shipment, when said transport tray 100 may be in its use position in which the one or multiple restraining parts 150; 151, 152 thereof are in the respective restraining position, said transport tray 100, from which one or more plants may then protrude, may be held in a container 300. The transport tray 100 may thus be part of a transport system 400 or a transport assembly 400, which may comprise said transport tray 100 and a container 300 in which at least said transport tray 100 is to be held, and may for instance comprise one or multiple additional transport trays, preferably one or multiple additional transport trays of substantially the same design as said at least one transport tray 100.

Said container 300 may for instance be formed as a box 300’, in particular a cardboard box or so-called carton, yet more in particular a carton made of corrugated fibreboard material. Although the box 300’, or other container 300, such as for example a crate, may for instance comprise a main container part 310 and a separately formed cover part 320, as is the case in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 5, the box 300’ may be formed in any other suitable manner.

Preferably, the container 300 may be made of a similar material as the transport tray 100, for instance to facilitate recycling or discarding them together. In embodiments, the container 300, and preferably the transport tray 100 as well, may be made of paper-based or paper like material and/or may be biodegradable and/or compostable.

For example because a plant may protrude from the transport tray 100, the transport tray 100 and or the container 300 in which said tray 100 is to be held may be comprising one or more connectors 133, 333 for connecting the transport tray 100 to the container 300. In particular, the container 300 and the transport tray 100 may be provided with cooperating connectors 333, 133.

For example, as is the case in the here shown embodiment, the container 300, in particular one or more side walls 303 thereof, such as two opposite side walls, may be provided with one or more connectors 333 or stops 333, for instance formed as one or more flaps 333’, which for example may be snapped onto or into one or more corresponding connectors 133 or stops 133 provided on the transport tray 100. In embodiments, the one or more connectors 133 of the transport tray 100 may be formed by one or more recesses 133’ or the bke. Such a recess 133’ may for example be composed of multiple cooperating recesses 113, 153, for instance at least a first recess 153 provided in the restraining part 151 and for example an additional recess 113, if any, for example provided in the main tray part 110 and/or in a further restraining part 152, if any. It will be appreciated that the recess 133’ or other connector or stop 133 may at least be present when the transport tray 100 is in its use position and/or when the respective restraining part 150 is in its restraining position.

It is noted that the height of the interior of the container 300 may be larger than the height of the transport tray 100 in its use position, as for instance can be seen in Figure 5, in which the transport system 400 is shown in a state in which the container is open, such as to clearly show the mounted transport trays 100, and in which figure the transport trays 100 are shown without any growth medium bodies held therein such as to enable clearly seeing said transport trays. Preferably, the height of the interior of the container 300 may be at least 120%, preferably at least 150%, of the height H100 of the transport tray 100 when folded-in or in its so- called use position.

It is noted that in advantageous embodiments, the transport tray 100 may be made of a biodegradable material.

In embodiments, the transport tray 100 may be made of a paper-based or paper like material, for example a paper pulp material. The paper-based or paper like material may comprise cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops, waste paper, rags, etc.

Advantageously, the transport tray 100, or an intermediate product for forming said transport tray 100, may be made by means of a moulding process, such as for instance a process in which paper pulp or fibrous slurry is moulded by means of a mould. In particular, said transport tray 100, or an intermediate for forming said transport tray 100 by means of a moulding process, in particular a process in which paper pulp, paper slurry or so-called fibrous slurry material is moulded by means of a mould. For example, the transport tray 100 may be formed of moulded pulp or so-called moulded fibre, and may then for instance have a wall thickness of 1 mm to 8 mm, preferably of about 1.5 mm to about 6 mm. In particular, the transport tray 100 may be formed by a moulding process, in particular a so-called transfer moulding process or so-called spray-moulded vacuum -formed process, in which a fibrous slurry or pulp material or the like is applied to an outer surface of a mould, for instance by means of spraying. For example, the mould may be formed by means of a relatively fine wire mesh, which may be mated with a vacuum chamber which may draw the sprayed-on slurry material relatively tightly against the mesh.

As such a moulding process may enable creating a relatively smooth surface at the side of the product which abuts the mould during said moulding process, whereas the opposite side of the product to be formed, in this case the transport tray 100, may become relatively rough, it may be advantageous that during the moulding process one or more surfaces defining one or more inner surfaces of the one or more receiving compartments 111 may be abutting the mould, as in particular for such surfaces it may be advantageous that they are relatively smooth and/or relatively accurately dimensioned, for instance in order to counteract too large deviations which otherwise could make it difficult to fit a plant pot into the receiving compartment 111. Additionally or alternatively, one or more other surfaces, such as for example certain stop surfaces, for instance corresponding stop surfaces 114, 154 for facihtating that a respective restraining part 150 can be he held relatively precisely in a predefined restraining position and/or for instance a stop surface 158 for during use limiting movement of the growth medium body in the direction OD opposite to the inserting direction ID, may be abutting the mould during the moulding process. Advantageously, as is the case in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the transport tray 100 may preferably be arranged such that such stop surfaces 114, 154, 158 and such surfaces defining the inner sides of the receiving compartment 111 can all abut against a single mould piece, in particular a single wire mesh mould piece. The same may be advantageous for other surfaces which may be relatively well defined, such as for example surfaces for defining integrally formed connectors, such as for instance integrally formed connectors for fixating one or more respective restraining parts 150 in their respective restraining position.

In preferred embodiments, the transport tray 100 may be made by means of a relatively simple two part mould. Additionally or alternatively, the transport tray 100 may preferably be of a nestable design, which can facilitate that multiple transport trays 100 can be stacked in a nesting manner.

Advantageously, at least the main tray part 110 and one or more restraining parts 151, 152 of the transport tray 100 are integrally moulded, and preferably the entire transport tray 100 is integrally moulded. In particular, the one or multiple restraining parts 151, 152 may be moulded in an initial position which corresponds with the respective releasing position of said respective restraining part 150; 151, 152. For example, the exemplary embodiment of the transport tray 100 shown here may be moulded in its initial position shown in Figure 1.

For instance because the transport tray 100 may be moulded from a paper-like or pulp based material, which may need to be dried after it has been moulded, the main tray part 110 and the first restraining part 151 may have faces 119, 159; 117, 157 which may be substantially flush with each other in the initial position in which the transport tray 100 is moulded. This may for example facilitate that the transport tray 100 can be supported relatively easily in said initial position, for example in order to facilitate drying. Additionally or alternatively, it may for instance counteract that the transport tray 100 may substantially deform when drying. Additionally or alternatively, it may for instance facilitate stacking of multiple transport trays 100, in particular in a nesting manner.

In embodiments, the main tray part 110 may for example define a bottom end level 119’, and the first restraining part 151 may then define a first lower end level 159’ when said first restraining part 151 is in its releasing position, wherein said bottom end level 119’ of the main tray part 110 may then lay substantially flush with the first lower end level 159’ of the first restraining part 151 when said first restraining part 151 is in its releasing position. Additionally or alternatively, the second restraining part 152, if any, may define a second lower end level 159 when said second restraining part 152 is in its releasing position, and a bottom end level 119 defined by the main tray part 110 may then be substantially flush with said second lower end level 159’ defined by said second restraining part 152 when said second restraining part is in its releasing position.

Alternatively or additionally, the main tray part 110 may define a top end level 117 and the first restraining part 151 may define a first upper end level 157 when said first restraining part 151 is in its releasing position, wherein said top end level 117 may then be substantially flush with said first upper end level 157 when the first restraining part 151 is in its releasing position. Additionally or alternatively, the second restraining part 152, if any, may then define a second upper end level 157’ when said second restraining part 152 is in its releasing position, wherein a top end level 117 defined by the main tray part 110 may then be substantially flush with said second upper end level 157’ when said second restraining part 157 is in its releasing position.

Preferably, the upper end level 157, 157’ of a respective restraining part 150; 151, 152 may extend substantially parallel with the lower end level 159, 159’ of said respective restraining part 151, 152. Additionally or alternatively, the top end level 117 of the main tray part 110 may preferably extend substantially parallel with the bottom end level 119 of said main tray part 110 of the transport tray 100.

Having the upper end level 157, 157’ of a respective restraining part 151, 152 and the top end level 117 of the main tray part 110 being substantially flush or substantially coinciding and/or having the lower end level 159, 159’ of a respective restraining part 151, 152 and the bottom end level 119 of the main tray part 110 being substantially flush or coinciding, when said respective restraining part 151, 152 is in its initial position and/or in its releasing position, may for example facilitate stacking of multiple transport trays and/or may for example facilitate supporting the tray in a state in which the respective restraining part 151, 152 is in its respective releasing position, which position may correspond with a position in which it is formed, in particular moulded.

Although it may be preferred that the transport tray 100 is formed, preferably moulded, with its one or more restraining parts 151 being in their respective releasing position, this is not necessary for all embodiments, and a respective restraining part 150 may for instance also be brought into its releasing position after forming the transport tray 100. This may then for instance still facilitate stacking of multiple transport trays 100.

It is noted that a respective one of the above mentioned levels, i.e. the top end level 117, the upper end level 157, 157’, the bottom end level 119 and the lower end level 159, 159’, may be considered as being formed or defined as a substantially flat virtual plane, in particular a substantially horizontal plane, wherein more than two points of the respective part 151, 110, 152 of the transport tray 100, which more than two points are not located on a single straight line, are located in said substantially flat virtual plane, and wherein no portions of said respective part 151, 110, 152 are then substantially protruding beyond said virtual plane.

When the respective restraining part 150; 151, 152 is in its respective releasing position, which preferably corresponds with an initial position in which it has been formed, said respective restraining part 151, 152 may have a first height H151, HI 52, preferably defined substantially transverse to the upper end level 157, 157’ and/or the lower end level 159, 159’. The main tray part 110 of the transport tray 100 may have a second height HI 10, preferably being substantially transverse to the top end level 117 and/or substantially transverse to the bottom end level 119 and or substantially parallel with the inserting direction ID and or substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the receiving compartment 111 and or substantially parallel with a central axis Alll of said receiving compartment 111.

Advantageously, the second height HI 10 of the main tray part 110 may be substantially the same as said first height H151, H152 of the respective restraining part 151, 152 of the transport tray 100.

In embodiments, the receiving compartment 111 of the transport tray 100 may have a bottom 115, although that is not necessary, for instance as the receiving compartment 111 may taper in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction ID. Preferably, said bottom 115 of the receiving compartment 111 may be free of any through holes, which may be contrary to the bottom 215 of a plant pot 200 held in said receiving compartment 111, as such plant pot bottom 215 may usually have one or multiple drainage holes 216. By arranging the transport tray 100 such as to have a lower section of the receiving compartment 111, or at least its bottom 115, being free of holes, it can be counteracted that water leaking from the growth medium body, e.g. out of a plant pot 200 through drainage holes of its bottom 215, may leak out of the transport tray 100. This may be advantageous, for example in particular as the transport tray 100 may be used for shipping plants to consumers, for example by means of parcel post or another more or less standard package delivery system or the like.

For example, the lower section of the receiving compartment 111, which may be formed by its bottom 115 and lower end sections of one or more side walls of said receiving compartment 111, may be free of holes over a height of at least 1 cm high, preferably at least 2 cm, for instance at least about 3 cm.

Although in preferred embodiments the lower section of the receiving compartment 111, or at least the bottom 115 of the receiving compartment 111, may be free of any through holes, in alternative embodiments the lower section of the receiving compartment 111 may nevertheless be provided with one or more through holes, in particular, drainage holes, which may then in particular be provided in the bottom 115 of said receiving compartment 111. Such alternative embodiments may for instance be advantageous as they may for instance facilitate that the transport tray 1 may be used to grow therein one or more plants, preferably housed in a plant pot, in particular a plastic grow pot. In preferred embodiments, the plant pot’s bottom may then be provided with one or more drainage holes and the bottom 115 of the receiving compartment 111 may then be provided with one or more corresponding drainage holes such that it may be facilitated that water leaking out of the plant pot through a through hole in its bottom may substantially fall through a corresponding through hole in the bottom 115 of the receiving compartment 111, thereby preferably enabling counteracting the material of the transport tray 1, which may be a paper-based or paper-like material, from soaking to at least a certain extent.

Additionally or alternatively, in embodiment, and as for example can be seen in Figure 4, the transport tray 100 may be arranged such as to define a growth medium body enclosing compartment 161 in a folded-in state of the transport tray 100, i.e. a state in which the one or more restraining parts 151, 152 are in their respective restraining position. Said growth medium body enclosing compartment 161 may more or less enclose the growth medium body, which may be held partly in the receiving compartment 111. It will be appreciated that said growth medium body enclosing compartment 161 may be formed such as to include said receiving compartment 111 and such as to be further defined by one or multiple respective restraining parts 151, 152, as is also the case in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 4.

In embodiments, the restraining part 151, 152 may comprise a stop surface 158 for during use limiting movement of the growth medium body in the direction OD opposite to the inserting direction ID.

Preferably, said stop surface 158 may, in the restraining position of the respective restraining part 151, 152, extend substantially transverse to the inserting direction ID and/or a central axis and/or longitudinal direction of the growth medium body and/or a central axis Alll and/or longitudinal direction of the receiving compartment 111. Additionally or alternatively, said stop surface 158 may, when the respective restraining part 151, 152 is in its restraining position, extend substantially parallel with the receiving compartment’s bottom 115, if any.

Advantageously, the transport tray 100 may be arranged such that, when the respective restraining part 150; 151, 152 is in its restraining position or folded-in position, in particular in a manner in which the stop surface 158 defined thereby extends substantially horizontally and/or substantially parallel to the bottom 115 of the receiving compartment 111 and/or substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of said receiving compartment 111, said respective restraining part 151, 152 is held in said position and/or prevented from folding-in any further. For example, the transport tray’s main tray part 110 may, for instance thereto, comprise a first stop 114 which may be arranged to cooperate with a second stop 154, wherein the respective restraining part 151, 152 is provided with said second stop 154, wherein said first stop 114 and said second stop 154 may abut when the respective restraining part 150 is in its restraining position. Additionally or alternatively, in particular when the transport tray 100 comprises multiple, preferably two, cooperating restraining parts 151, 152 arranged for cooperatingly closing off the receiving compartment 111 in their respective restraining positions or folded-in positions, as can be seen in Figure 4, said multiple cooperating restraining parts 151, 152 may abut to each other in their restraining positions, such as to counteract that they can be moved past their respective restraining position. It will be appreciated that said multiple cooperating restraining parts 150; 151, 152 may therefore be provided with cooperating stops 156, 156’, which, as for instance can be understood from Figure 4, may abut each other in a use position or folded-in position of the transport tray 100.

Advantageously, the transport tray 100 may be arranged such that during use of said transport tray 100, the height of a growth medium body held in the growth medium body enclosing compartment 161, in particular a plant pot thereof, if any, may not substantially exceed, and preferably correspond with, the height of said growth medium body enclosing compartment 161.

In preferred embodiments, the transport tray 100 may be of substantially symmetrical design, in particular of substantially mirror symmetrical design, as is the case in the here shown exemplary embodiment. More preferably, the transport tray 100 may comprise a first restraining part 151 and a second restraining part 152, wherein both of said restraining parts 151, 152 are of substantially the same design and are located at opposite sides of the main tray part 110 of said tray 100. Preferably, the tray 100 may then be free of any other substantial parts, and in particular free of any further restraining parts in addition to said two restraining parts 151, 152.

Additionally or alternatively, it is noted that although the transport tray 100 may be of any other suitable design, the transport tray 100 may be arranged such that in its open position or folded-out position, as is for instance shown in Figure 1, the respective restraining part 150; 151, 152 may extend substantially laterally away from the main tray part 110 of the transport tray 100, in particular in a sideward direction D150 substantially transverse to an axis, e.g. formed by a preformed fold line 130, about which said restraining part 150 is hingedly connected to the main tray part 110. In particular, the respective restraining part 150 may comprise a wall portion 170, which in said open position or folded-out position of the transport tray 100 may extend substantially in said sideward direction D150, preferably substantially horizontally, and said respective restraining part 150 may then further comprise restraining portion 180, which may in particular be a portion forming the stop surface 158. Preferably, in the open position or folded-out position of the transport tray 100, said restraining portion 180 of the restraining part 150 may extend substantially upwards, e.g. substantially transverse to the sideward direction D150. Additionally or alternatively, said restraining portion 180 may form an edge portion of the restraining part 150 and/or of the transport tray 100.

In embodiments, said restraining portion 180 and/or a portion of the restraining part 150 forming the stop surface 158 may be formed as a double walled portion, as for instance can be seen in the cross-sectional view shown in Figure 4. As such, said portion may be relatively firm, which may enable that the growth medium body may be held in place relatively well.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Further, it is noted that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

For example, any feature disclosed in the context of the first restraining part is considered to be also disclosed in the context of the second restraining part and/or a further restraining part, if any. For example, it will be appreciated that features, such as optional features, relating to the preferred fold line which may connect the first restraining part to the main tray part are also considered to be disclosed as features of an optional further fold line, for instance one by means of which the second restraining part, or any further restraining, if any, is directly or indirectly connected to the main tray part.

Claims

1. A transport tray, comprising a main tray part, wherein the main tray part has at least one receiving compartment for receiving at least a portion of a growth medium body, wherein the receiving compartment has a top entrance for inserting at least a lower portion of a growth medium body into the receiving compartment in an inserting direction, wherein the transport tray further comprises at least a first restraining part which is hingedly connected to the main tray part, wherein the transport tray is arranged such that the first restraining part can be pivoted from a releasing position towards a restraining position, wherein, during use of the transport tray, in the restraining position of the first restraining part, said first restraining part, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction, covers or overlaps at least a portion of a growth medium body which is held at least partly in the receiving compartment.

2. The transport tray of claim 1, wherein in the restraining position of the first restraining part, said first restraining part, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction, overlaps at least partly with the top entrance of the receiving compartment.

3. The transport tray of claim 1 or 2, wherein the transport tray further comprises a second restraining part which is hingedly connected to the main tray part, wherein the transport tray is arranged such that the second restraining part can be pivoted from a releasing position towards a restraining position, wherein, during use of the transport tray, in the restraining position of the second restraining part, said second restraining part, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction, overlaps or covers at least a portion of the growth medium body which is held at least partly in the receiving compartment.

4. The transport tray of claim 3, wherein in the restraining position of the second restraining part, said second restraining part, when seen in a direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction, overlaps at least partly with the top entrance of the receiving compartment.

5. The transport tray of claim 3 or 4, wherein the second restraining part is provided with a second recess for during use allowing at least a part of a plant protruding from the plant growth medium body held at least partly inside the receiving compartment to extend at least partly through said second recess when said second restraining part is in its restraining position.

6. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first restraining part is provided with a first recess for during use allowing at least a part of a plant protruding from the plant growth medium body held at least partly inside the receiving compartment to extend at least partly through said first recess when said first restraining part is in its restraining position.

7. The transport tray according to claim 5 and claim 6, wherein said transport tray is arranged such that, when the first restraining part and the second restraining part are both in their restraining positions, the first recess and the second recess are substantially adjoining each other, in particular such that said first recess and said second recess together define a plant passage for during use allowing at least a part of a plant protruding from the plant growth medium body held at least partly inside the receiving compartment to extend at least partly through said plant passage.

8. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transport tray is made of a biodegradable and/or compostable material.

9. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transport tray is made of a paper-based or paperlike material, in particular paper pulp material, more in particular sprayed-on paper pulp material.

10. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transport tray is made by means of a moulding process, such as for instance a process in which paper pulp is moulded by means of a mould.

11. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main tray part defines a bottom end level, wherein the first restraining part defines a first lower end level when said first restraining part is in its releasing position, and wherein the bottom end level of the main tray part lays substantially flush with the first lower end level of the first restraining part when said first restraining part is in its releasing position.

12. The transport tray of any one of claims 4 to 11 as far as said respective claim is depending directly or indirectly on claim 3, wherein the main tray part defines a bottom end level, wherein the second restraining part defines a second lower end level when said second restraining part is in its releasing position, and wherein the bottom end level of the main tray part lays substantially flush with the second lower end level of the second restraining part when said second restraining part is in its releasing position.

13. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main tray part defines a top end level, wherein the first restraining part defines a first upper end level when said first restraining part is in its releasing position, and wherein the top end level of the main tray part lays substantially flush with the first upper end level of the first restraining part when said first restraining part is in its releasing position.

14. The transport tray of any one of claims 4 to 13 as far as said respective claim is depending directly or indirectly on claim 3, wherein the main tray part defines a top end level, wherein the second restraining part defines a second upper end level when said second restraining part is in its releasing position, and wherein the top end level of the main tray part lays substantially flush with the second upper end level of the second restraining part when said second restraining part is in its releasing position.

15. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport tray is provided with at least one connector for connecting the transport tray to a container in which said transport tray may be held during use.

16. The transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport tray is of a nestable design.

17. Set of multiple transport trays according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport trays are stacked in a nesting manner.

18. Use of the transport tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the first restraining part is substantially fixated in its restraining position, and preferably wherein also the second restraining part, if any, is substantially fixated in its restraining position.

19. A transport assembly, comprising the transport tray of any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising a container in which said transport tray is held.

20. Method of transporting a plant, in particular for shipping a plant to a consumer, wherein the plant is packed at least partly by means of a transport tray according to any one of claims 1 to 17 and/or by means of a transport assembly according to claim 19.

21. Method of producing a transport tray according to any one of claims 1 to 17, comprising a step of forming said transport tray or an intermediate for forming said transport tray by means of a moulding process, in particular a process in which paper pulp or fibrous slurry material or the like is moulded by means of a mould, more in particular by means of a so-called spray-moulded vacuum-formed process.