WO2023150199A1 - Convertible collapsible plant container - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible container configured to hang vertically as well as be placed on the ground, in water, or other flat surfaces such as tabletop or window sill. The container can be made of a flexible fabric, and a tapered bottom when collapsed or hung. The bottom of the container can be inverted inwards such that when filled with soil and placed on the ground, the container can maintain an upright position. The container can have engagement elements (such as hooks and strings) to engage with a vertical placement platform, such as walls, railings and fencing.

Description

CONVERTIBLE COLLAPSIBLE PLANT CONTAINER Cross Reference to Related Application This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.63/305,990, filed February 2, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a plant container and uses thereof. Background of the Invention In urban and suburban areas, people’s outdoor area suitable for growing plants or flowers can be quite limited. People often use potted plants on decks, porches, backyards, etc, sometimes using railings or fencing on the perimeter of the property to improve the utilization efficiency of the space. Plants are commonly grown in various types of containers including clay and plastic pots. Most planter pots are designed to sit on a flat surface. Therefore, they usually have a flat bottom. Some planter pots designed to be hung vertically, e.g. against a fence panel, can have tapered or pointed bottom. There is a need for a versatile planter pot or receptacle that can be easily switched between a configuration suitable for use on a flat surface, and a configuration suitable for use on a vertical platform such as a railing or fence. Summary In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a plant container which comprises: a front side, and a back side joined with the front side, both the front side and the back side being made from flexible and porous fabric material, the front side and the back side together forming a closed bottom having a tapered configuration and a top opening through which planting soil can be inserted, wherein the tapered bottom can be inverted inwardly to form a bottom edge by which the container can stand upright when placed on a flat surface. In some embodiments of the plant container, at least one or the front side and back side further comprises an engagement element configured to be attached to a vertical support such that the plant container can be hung above ground. In some embodiments, the plant container further includes an inner moisture retention liner attached to the inner side of the fabric material. In some embodiments of the plant container, the fabric material comprises polyethylene. In some embodiments of the plant container, the fabric material comprises a biodegradable material. In some embodiments, fabric material comprises a photodegradable material. In some embodiments of the plant container, the fabric material is knitted. In some embodiments of the plant container, the fabric material comprises a knitted high density polyethylene (HDPE) material. Brief Description of the Drawings The embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: FIG.1 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of a convertible collapsible plant container in a collapsed configuration according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG.2A is a front perspective view of the convertible collapsible plant container (shown in FIG.1) in an open configuration. FIG.2B is a front perspective view of a convertible collapsible plant container with an inner liner in an open configuration according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG.3 is a top perspective view of the convertible collapsible plant container shown in FIG.1 in an open configuration. FIG.4A is a front perspective view of the convertible collapsible plant container (shown in FIG.2A/2B) with the bottom of the container inverted inwardly. FIG.4B is a front perspective view of a convertible collapsible plant container with an inner liner with the bottom of the container inverted inwardly according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG.5 is a top perspective view of the convertible collapsible plant container shown in FIG.4A/4B when the bottom of the container is inverted inwardly. FIG.6 is a bottom perspective view of the convertible collapsible plant container shown in FIG.4A/4B when the bottom of the container is inverted inwardly. FIG.7 is a photo of a convertible collapsible plant container containing a plant according to embodiments of the present invention when the container is placed on a flat horizontal surface and the bottom of the container is inverted inwardly. Detailed Description The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described herein as "exemplary" or "illustrative" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. Shown throughout the figures, the present invention provides a convertible collapsible plant container 100. FIG.1 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of a convertible collapsible plant container 100 in a collapsed configuration. FIG.2 is a front perspective view of the convertible collapsible plant container 100 (shown in FIG.1) in an open configuration. As seen in these figures, the container 100 includes a front side 110, and a back side 120 joined with the front side. The front side and the back side can be made by a one-piece construction of a flexible and porous fabric material, or by sewing two pieces of a flexible and porous fabric material together. The container 100 has a top opening 130 from which planting soil can be loaded, and a tapered closed bottom. The back side 120 has a top tab 150 which can include an engagement element, such as grommets 152, hooks 154, and strings/ropes 156, for attaching the container to a vertical support (such as a fence, a railing, a post, etc.) so that the container can be hung above the ground without the bottom 140 touching the ground. As seen in FIG.2, the tapered bottom 140 can take a shape of a cone when expanded (e.g., when the container is filled with soil). FIG.3 also shows the cone shape from the top. The front side and the back side of the container can be joined by a seam 115, e.g., by sewing, velcroing, heat sealing or welding the front side and the back side together. As shown in FIGS.4-6, the bottom of the container 100 can be inverted inwardly to form a bottom edge 145 (which can be substantially round or of other shapes as the body of the container is pliable) which contacts the ground to enable the container to stand upright when placed on a flat surface such as the ground, a tabletop, a window sill, etc. In this way, the container 100 can be conveniently transformed between two configurations: one with the tapered bottom in its “native” state, which is suitable for being hung on a vertical support platform, and one with the bottom inverted inwardly which is suitable for being placed a flat surface. A user can use the container in either configuration according to his or her needs or circumstances. As shown in FIG.7, when a plant (with soil) is contained in a convertible collapsible container as described herein with the bottom inverted, the container can maintain an upright and stable position. The tab 150 shown previously can be tucked or folded down and held in the folded configuration by the soil in the container. The flexible fabric that can be used to construct the container herein can be knitted fabric with sufficiently large pore size and thread material strength to maintain the breathability of the fabric. The pore size and other parameters of the fabric can be adjusted for different applications or plants to be potted therein. In some embodiments, the fabric material contains a ripstop feature (such as specific knitted pattern) that can prevent unraveling of the knitted strands when the fabric is punctured or torn. The material for the fabric can include common synthetic or natural fibers, e.g., polyethylene fibers or burlap fibers. In some embodiments, the fabric can be constructed from a natural biodegradable material which includes hemp, jute, burlap, coconut Coir, or synthetic biodegradable polymeric material, such as poly(lactic acid), that can degrade or decompose upon action of naturally existing elements, such as water, bacteria, certain enzymes, etc. In some embodiments, the fabric can be constructed from a photodegradable polymeric material which can degrade/decompose under sunlight. In some embodiments, the knitted fabric is constructed by high density polyethylene (HDPE) fibers. In some embodiments, the container can include an inner moisture retention liner attached to the inner side of the flexible fabric (liner 115 as shown in FIGS.2B and 4B). The liner can have smaller mesh size than the flexible fabric, and can be made from a woven or knitted fibrous material of synthetic or natural fibers, or a blend material such as a polyester/cotton blend material. In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of growing a plant, which includes: in a convertible collapsible plant container described herein, placing an amount of soil and at least one seed or a plant at a first growth stage; and securing the convertible collapsible plant container onto a vertical support (e.g., a pole, a railing, a fence, a wall) by a securing the container on the support using one or more zip ties, nails, screws, hooks, cords, strings, or other elements commonly known in the art. The present disclosure also provides a method of protecting or positioning a plant containing planting pot, by placing a plant containing planting pot into a convertible collapsible plant container described herein. The convertible collapsible container of the present invention can save storage space due to the collapsible nature of its material and it is reusable, washable and modular. It can be hung or placed above or underground, under water or be placed almost anywhere. The present disclosure further provides a method of transplanting a plant growing in a (conventional hard plastics) planting pot containing an amount of soil, comprising removing the plant and soil from the planting pot and placing the plant and soil into a convertible collapsible plant container. Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A plant container, comprising: a front side, and a back side joined with the front side, both the front side and the back side being made from flexible and porous fabric material, the front side and the back side together forming a closed bottom having a tapered configuration and a top opening through which planting soil can be inserted, wherein the tapered bottom can be inverted inwardly to form a bottom edge by which the container can stand upright when placed on a flat surface. 2. The plant container of claim 1, wherein at least one or the front side and back side further comprises an engagement element configured to be attached to a vertical support such that the plant container can be hung above ground. 3. The plant container of claim 1, further comprising an inner moisture retention liner attached to the inner side of the fabric material. 4. The plant container of claim 1, wherein the fabric material comprises polyethylene. 5. The plant container of claim 1, wherein the fabric material comprises a biodegradable material. 6. The plant container of claim 1, wherein the fabric material comprises a photodegradable material. 7. The plant container of claim 1, wherein the fabric material is knitted. 8. The plant container of claim 1, wherein the fabric material comprises a knitted high density polyethylene material.