Patent Application
20220225576
The present invention relates generally to a collapsible plant container system and uses thereof.
Home gardening in the United States is big business. In 2019, revenues from the sales of gardening equipment and supplies have been reported to be in excess of $80 billion. Additional data shows that nearly 1 in 3 persons in the United States engage in some form of gardening activity.
Many gardens begin by planting seeds in small containers and/or as seedlings also in small containers which may be purchased from a local nursery or obtained from a local co-op. The majority of the seeds which are being initially planted and/or the seedlings which are being initially obtained and transported are contained in some form of plastic container, plastic flowerpot, plastic tray, etc. A number of the plants obtained from these seeds or seedling, whether green plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, or even shrubs or trees, are transplanted directly into an outdoor garden, and the plastic container, plastic flowerpot, plastic tray, etc., are simply discarded with other household trash for disposal in a local landfill.
As populations continue to become more and more concentrated in medium and large metropolitan areas, the availability of plots of land in which to plant a garden are becoming scarcer and scarcer. As such, many apartment and condominium dwellers, as well as owners of smaller properties, have increasingly expanding the practice of growing plants entirely in some form of pot and/or planter wherever some outdoor space is available, such as on a porch, or on a balcony, or on a landing, etc. As with the containers utilized to start seeds and/or to transport seedlings, many of these pots and/or planters are constructed of rigid impervious plastic materials of construction.
These rigid impervious plastic pots and/or plastic planters invariably prevent airflow through the soil contained therein, which is essential for a plant growing in such a pot or planter. More in particular, proper aeration of the soil facilitates a more efficient uptake of water and necessary nutrients to the plant through its root system. Further, aeration helps prevent the growth of mold which may results in rot and/or other damage to the root system, which ultimately results in damage, if not death, of the plant itself. This is particularly a problem with impervious plastic pots and/or plastic planters which typically provide nothing more than a single drain hole, or perhaps several drain holes, through the bottom thereof, which in many cases fails to provide sufficient water drainage therefrom, water retention being a major contributor to root rot.
In the case where a person is cultivating numerous types of plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc., a considerable amount of space is typically required for storage of the various rigid plastic pots and/or plastic planters which a person utilizes during a growing season. This can create a significant inconvenience for some persons living in apartments and condominiums, or on smaller properties, and it can create an outright problem for others who may find no other alternative than to simply dispose of the rigid plastic pots and/or plastic containers for lack of space for proper storage thereof.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing, in view of the considerable volume of gardening equipment and supplies sold in the United States each year, it is apparent that large volumes of rigid impervious and non-degradable plastic pots, plastic planters, and other such plastic containers are being manufactured and ultimately disposed of in landfills across our country, and across the world. As is becoming increasingly more apparent, a result of the production and often improper disposal of these large volumes of plastic materials, is that tons upon tons of non-degradable micro-plastic particles are finding their way into the lowest reaches of the food chain and ultimately, making its way back up into the food we purchase, and prepare, and feed to our friends and families.
Accordingly, there is a need for a solution to one or more of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings in the current state of the art.
The present invention is directed to a collapsible plant container system, and uses thereof.
In one aspect, a plant container system includes a collapsible plant container unit configured and dimensioned to contain an amount of soil (e.g., an amount needed to physically and/or nutritionally support the a plant potted therein), wherein the collapsible plant container unit can include a sidewall having an upper end and a lower end, an open top at least partially defined by the upper end of the sidewall, and a base disposed opposite the open top thereof and attached to the lower end of the sidewall. The collapsible plant container unit is disposable between an operable expanded (working or deployed) configuration and a collapsed (storage) configuration.
In some embodiments, the open top comprises a periphery having a free edge that can be rolled down and up, wherein rolling down the free edge decreases the capacity of the container unit for containing soil, and rolling up the free edge increases the capacity of the container unit for containing soil.
The collapsible plant container unit can include at least a sidewall and/or bottom that has a biodegradable material of construction. As used herein, a biodegradable material can include 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. The sidewall and/or the bottom can be made from a breathable fabric material (permeable to airflow therethrough). For example, the fabric material is knitted fabric with sufficiently large pore size and thread material strength to maintain the breathability of the fabric. In some embodiments, the fabric material containing a ripstop feature (such as specific knitted pattern) that can prevent unraveling of the knitted strands when the fabric is punctured or torn.
In some embodiments, the sidewall of the collapsible plant container unit can be constructed by a synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, nylon, polyester, etc. In any event, the material of construction should sufficient tensile strength to contain the amount of soil needed to support the plant potted therein.
In some embodiments, the collapsible plant container unit can include at least one seam to form a sidewall from a material of construction. In some embodiments, the collapsible plant container unit may have a plurality of seams to form a sidewall from a material of construction.
In some embodiments, the collapsible plant container unit can include a side wall with two opposing edges that can be reversibly opened and closed from top to bottom, where the closure of the two opposing edges can be effected by a Velcro structure (hooks on one side and loops on the other) or a zipper structure.
In some embodiments, the collapsible plant container unit can include an upper end of the sidewall at least partially defining an upper periphery therearound.
In some embodiments, at least one reinforcement member is disposed around the sidewall proximate the open top of the collapsible plant container unit to facilitate maintaining the collapsible plant container unit in the operable expanded configuration. In some embodiments, no reinforcement member is present. The collapsible plant container unit can be maintained open by the volume of soil contained therein.
In some embodiments, the collapsible plant container system can include a reinforcement member including an outer reinforcement panel positioned around and along a portion of an outer surface of the sidewall. In some other embodiments, the collapsible plant container system can include a reinforcement member having an inner reinforcement panel positioned around and along a portion of an inner surface of the sidewall of the collapsible plant container unit. In certain embodiments, the collapsible plant container system can include a reinforcement member including an upper reinforcement portion positioned around and overtop a portion of an upper end of the sidewall of the collapsible plant container unit.
In some embodiments, a tensioning mechanism is included in the collapsible plant container unit which operable with the open top of the sidewall to further facilitate maintaining the collapsible plant container unit in the operable expanded configuration. The tensioning mechanism can include a tensioning member (e.g., a draw cord) disposed in a channel around the sidewall proximate the upper end thereof.
The present invention also provides methods of using the plant container system described in for growing plants.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the embodiments, which follow.
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:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
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. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “rear”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
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 collapsible plant container, generally as shown as at 100 throughout the figures.
Referring initially to
As may be seen from
Conversely, a collapsible plant container 100 in accordance with the present invention may be configured with the capacity to contain an amount of soil S as large as 10 gallons, or 100 gallons, or 1,000 gallons, or more.
With particular reference to
In an embodiment, a collapsible container unit 110 has an open top 116. As may be seen best in the illustrative embodiment of
A sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 is constructed of a non-rigid flexible material of construction, so as to facilitate disposition of the collapsible container unit 110 from a collapsed configuration, such as is convenient for transport and/or storage, into an operable expanded configuration such that the collapsible container unit 110 can be filled with an amount of soil S sufficient to allow at least one plant P to be potted therein, such as is shown by way of example in the illustrative embodiments of
As such, in at least one embodiment, a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 in at least one embodiment of the present invention is constructed of a fabric-like material which is non-rigid and flexible. Utilizing a fabric-like material of construction for a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 facilitates assembly, as opposite sides of a sidewall 113 may be simply sewn together along a seam 119, so as to fully form the sidewall 113 of the collapsible container unit 110. A seam 119 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention may be sewn with thread, string, twine, etc. As shown throughout the figures, a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 comprises a generally cylindrical configuration, however, it is to be appreciated by those of skill in the art that it is within the scope and intent of the present invention for a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 in accordance with the present invention to comprise any of a number of geometric configurations, for example, having a cross-sectional shape of a rectangle, ellipse, a polygon, or a regular polygon. In particular embodiments, for easy construction and horizontal packing/stacking, a square cross-section shape of the side-wall profile can be selected.
In one embodiment, at least a sidewall 113 (and/or the base member 111) of the collapsible container unit 110 is constructed of a biodegradable material such that the collapsible container unit 110 having an amount of soil S and one or more plants P potted therein to be buried in the ground without the need to remove the collapsible container unit 110 prior to doing so. More in particular, as the sidewall 113 is biodegradable, the roots of the plants P can readily expand and grow through and beyond the boundaries of the sidewall 113 once the plant(s) P and the collapsible container 110 are buried in the ground. In some embodiments, the container can be constructed entirely of biodegradable material.
In yet one further embodiment of a collapsible plant container 100 in accordance with the present invention, a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 is constructed of a material which is permeable to air flow therethrough. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, providing aeration to the soil S contained in a collapsible container unit 110 through an air permeable sidewall 113 thereof in accordance with the present invention facilitates plant growth, by as much as 30% to 50%, as a result of air pockets created in the soil which enhance the transfer of water and nutrients to the root system, and thus, to the plant itself, as well as inhibiting damage from disease and/or overwatering thereof. In at least one embodiment, a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 is constructed of a woven or knitted material such as, by way of example only, a woven polyethylene material, as is shown best in the illustrative embodiment of
A collapsible container unit 110 in accordance with the present invention further comprises a base member 111 disposed opposite an open top 116 thereof. Looking once again to
A collapsible container unit 110 may also include a base attachment 112 structured to attach a base number 111 to a lower end 115 of a sidewall 113, such as is shown best in the illustrative embodiment of
Similar to a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110, a base member 111 is constructed of a non-rigid flexible material of construction, so as to facilitate disposition of the collapsible container unit 110 from a collapsed configuration, such as is convenient for transport and/or storage, into an operable expanded configuration such that the collapsible container unit 110 can be filled with an amount of soil S sufficient to allow at least one plant P to be potted therein. As such, a base member 111 of a collapsible container unit 110 comprises a material of construction having sufficient tensile strength to contain the amount of soil S needed to support at least one plant P potted therein. Also similar to a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 in accordance with the present invention, a base member 111 of the collapsible container unit 110 can be constructed of a biodegradable material such that the collapsible container unit 110 having an amount of soil S and one or more plants P potted therein to be buried in the ground without the need to remove the collapsible container unit 110 prior to doing so.
In some embodiments, the collapsible plant container 100 can include at least one reinforcement member 120 operably interconnected to a portion of a collapsible container unit 110. In at least one embodiment, a reinforcement member 120 is disposed around at least a portion of a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 proximate an open top 116 of the collapsible container unit 110 such as is shown best in
In at least one embodiment of a collapsible plant container 100 in accordance with the present invention, a reinforcement member 120 comprises an outer reinforcement panel 122 which is disposed around and along an outer sidewall surface 123 of a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110, as may be seen throughout the figures. As further shown in
In at least one embodiment, a reinforcement member 120 comprises a reinforcement attachment 128, such as may be seen in
A reinforcement member 120, and more in particular, an outer reinforcement panel 122, an inner reinforcement panel 124 and/or an upper reinforcement portion 126, are constructed of a material exhibiting greater rigidity and less flexibility than a material of construction of a sidewall 113 to which it is attached. As such, the greater rigidity of the reinforcement member 120, and once again, more in particular, an outer reinforcement panel 122, an inner reinforcement panel 124 and/or an upper reinforcement portion 126, will tend to retain an open top 116 of a collapsible container unit 110 in an operable expanded configuration when the collapsible container unit 110 is filled with an amount of soil S into which one or more plants P are potted.
At least one further embodiment of a collapsible plant container 100 in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of reinforcement members 120 disposed around a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 at various spaced apart positions between an upper end 114 and a lower end 115 of the sidewall 113. As will be appreciated, providing a plurality of reinforcement members 120 around a sidewall 113 of a collapsible container unit 110 will further facilitate maintaining the collapsible container in an operable expanded configuration when the collapsible container unit 110 is filled with an amount of soil S into which one or more plants P are potted therein.
A collapsible plant container 100 in accordance with the present invention may further comprise a tensioning mechanism 130 which is operable with an open top 116 of the sidewall 113 of the collapsible container unit 110 to further facilitate maintaining the collapsible container unit 110 in operable expanded configuration once it is filled with an amount soil S. A tensioning mechanism 130 is typically employed on a collapsible container unit 110 having a larger volume capacity such as, by way of example only, 10 gallons, 20 gallons, 30 gallons and more. With reference to
In at least one embodiment, a tensioning mechanism 130 comprises a channel aperture 136 through which at least a portion of a tensioning member 132 is disposed into and out of a tensioning member channel 134. In still one further embodiment, a tensioning mechanism 130 comprises a channel aperture reinforcement 138 disposed around and about a channel aperture 136 so as to provide structural integrity thereto. As one example, a channel aperture reinforcement 138 may comprise a grommet affixed around a channel aperture 136. As another example, a channel aperture reinforcement 138 comprise stitching along and around an open periphery of a channel aperture 136 so as to prevent stretching or tearing thereof, by movement of a tensioning member 132 therethrough.
Looking next with reference to the illustrative embodiment of
As illustrated in
As shown in
In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of protecting a conventional non-collapsible plant pot (e.g., a plant container constructed of hard plastics or pottery) by a collapsible container system described herein. The method includes placing the non-collapsible plant pot (with the plant therein) into a collapsible container unit described herein, thereby providing the non-collapsible plant pot with a protective covering.
In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of growing a plant, which includes: in a collapsible plant container unit of a plant container system described herein, placing an amount of soil and at least one seed or a plant at a first growth stage; allowing the at least one seed or plant to grow in the first plant container system to a second, later growth stage having a root system; placing at least a second plant container system containing at least an amount of soil adjacent to the first plant container system, such that at least a portion of the root system of the plant in the first plant container system grows into the soil in the second plant container system (the collapsible container unit having permeable side wall made of breathable fabric, allowing the plant root to penetrate through). A plurality of additional collapsible plant container units can be packed or stacked adjacent the first collapsible plant container unit, e.g., to sandwich the first plant container unit or to surround the first plant container unit.
In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of growing a plant, which includes: in a first collapsible plant container unit of a first plant container system described herein, placing an amount of soil and at least one seed or a plant at a first growth stage; allowing the at least one seed or plant to grow in the first plant container system to a second, later growth stage having a root system; placing the first collapsible plant container unit of the first plant container system into a second collapsible plant container unit of a second plant container system, the second collapsible plant container unit having a greater volume than the first collapsible plant, without removing the plant or soil from the first collapsible plant container unit of the first plant container system; and adding an amount of soil into the second collapsible plant container unit (e.g., into the vacant volume in the second collapsible plant container unit that has not been occupied by the first collapsible container unit).
In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of growing a plant, which includes: in a collapsible plant container unit of a plant container system described herein, placing an amount of soil and at least one seed or a plant at a first growth stage; and securing the collapsible plant container unit of the plant container system onto the ground, e.g., by a securing stake described herein.
The present disclosure also provides a method of protecting a plant containing planting pot, by placing a plant containing planting pot into a collapsible plant container unit of a plant container system described herein.
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 collapsible plant container unit of a plant container system as described herein.
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.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/130,466 filed Dec. 24, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/236,689 filed Aug. 24, 2021, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63130466 | Dec 2020 | US | |
| 63236689 | Aug 2021 | US |
