Patent Application
20190387694
This invention relates to plant protection from adverse environmental factors, and more specifically, to a modular apparatus that protects and accommodates plant growth to restore depleted forests and environments and reduce climate change effects.
Currently, over 2 billion hectares are available for forest and landscape restoration worldwide. Adverse climate change effects, including increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, can be potentially remedied with reforestation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, restoring riparian forests and mountain top forests are vital for sustaining rivers, watersheds, and other water resources. The benefits of forest growth include invaluable improvements in water quality and air quality.
Traditional approaches for reforesting remote areas with limited access are logistically complex, inefficient, and expensive. The primary challenges to reforestation include: the limited access due to mountainous relief; the presence of depleted soil; the possibility of long drought periods; the abundance of leaf-cutting ants, the growth of competing grasses and/or weeds, the angle of the terrain, and the need for long post-plant maintenance cycles. Current planting devices and methods require extensive human labor and time for installation and maintenance to plant seedlings and protect their growth. A skilled workforce is often required to plant each seedling in an area which can be dangerous to navigate on foot. Further, periodic post-plant maintenance visits slow down progress in reforestation. Traditional planting systems provide inadequate protection against small invasive species which hinder plant survival. Such prior systems are limited by the use of agrochemicals and insecticides to combat infestation, which contribute further to degrading the soil and water quality. Also, such prior art systems lack a means to expand protection to a growing plant as the plant grows beyond the area of protection provided by the system.
Tropical areas have lost resilience and often require human intervention to restore the tropical rainforest. Costs per hectare are high considering the need for a large skilled workforce to perform the laborious maintenance. Post-planting maintenance includes monitoring irrigation and controlling invasive species e.g., leafcutter ants and competing vegetation. Especially in degraded tropical biomes, invasive grass, leafcutter ants, and seasonal volatile rainfall post challenges to seedling growth. Further, a skilled workforce is often limited. Field workers can be exposed to adverse conditions including excessive ultraviolet rays, toxic agrochemicals, and hauling heavy equipment in hard-to-access or unstable terrain. Although agrochemicals help individual seedlings survive and grow, these toxic chemicals pollute the ecosystem and affect the wildlife.
The prior art provides some solutions for planting in environments that require human intervention. Commercial devices currently offer solutions for planting in desert landscapes (Groasis, The Netherlands; Land Life Company, The Netherlands), for saving water for arboriculture (Tal-ya, Israel), growing hydroponic systems in homes (Tower Garden, USA), for protecting and/or irrigating trees (Ooze Tube Tree, USA, Tubex, UK, T-PEE, USA, Dew Right, USA, Tree Mat, USA, Treebio, UK, Mr. Garden Rubber Mulch Tree Mat, USA), and for planting indoors (Floraflex, USA).
U.S. Pat. No. 8,752,330 to Hoff describes a plant aid for surrounding a young plant. The device includes a tube at least partly sideways surrounding a young plant. The plant aid also includes a water collection sheet for collecting atmospheric moisture. The water collection sheet has a water collection surface with a receiving surface, which receiving surface operatively makes a first angle with respect to gravity's orientation. The water collection sheet also has a collecting surface adjoining a lower edge of the receiving surface, which collecting surface operatively makes a second angle with respect to gravity's orientation. The first angle is smaller than the second angle.
International Patent Application Publication No. WO2011031153 to Hoff describes a removable plant protection system designed to provide shade or sun exposure to a soil area. The system comprises a wall module with an upwardly extending wall segment that is arranged for throwing a shadow on a soil area when the sun reaches its highest orbit point and for allowing a sun beam on the soil area at a time period on the day when the elevation of the sun is relatively low.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0128283 discloses an expandable tree protection device that covers an area surrounding a tree trunk and provides for expansion to accommodate growth of the tree trunk over time. This device, however, mentions no solution for controlling invasive species such as leafcutter ants which can greatly hinder seedling growth.
The prior devices fail to address issues of resource competition from invasive species such as leafcutter ants, mosquitos, insects, undesired vegetation, weeds, and grass. Further limitations include costly post-planting maintenance, use of toxic measures to manage invasive species, and the plant protection unsuitable for sloped terrains and adapting to varying planting area. Also, current devices can provide insufficient ventilation and insufficient water to a plant and be cumbersome to transport, in particular, to hard to reach areas.
Therefore, there is a need for a modular plant protection apparatus that requires minimal or no post-planting maintenance, uses non-toxic, passive measures against invasive species, and provides adaptable protection as a plant grows over time.
The present invention overcomes these and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a modular apparatus for protecting plant growth from invasive species and expanding a protection area with little to no post-planting maintenance. For example, a modular apparatus comprises a base comprising a first rim, a water storage, and a plug-in-joint, a lid comprising a second rim and an opening, wherein the first rim is configured to correspondingly fit the second rim, wherein the opening is configured to correspondingly fit the plug-in joint; and a recess disposed on an edge of the base and on an edge of the lid. An infinite number of modular apparatuses can be coupled to expand protection for plant growth. The modular plant protecting apparatus can be installed manually or deployed by an aerial vehicle into degraded areas with limited-access.
In one embodiment, a modular apparatus for protecting plant growth comprises a base comprising a first rim, a water storage, and a plug-in-joint, a lid comprising a second rim and an opening, wherein the first rim is configured to correspondingly fit the second rim, wherein the opening is configured to receive the plug-in-joint; and a recess disposed on an edge of the base and on an edge of the lid. In an embodiment, the base further is permanently or detachably coupled to the lid. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a capillary fabric. In other embodiments, the lid further comprises a textured surface comprising a peak and a valley and optionally an opening within a valley. In various embodiments, the base, the lid, or both comprise a circular form. In other embodiments, the base, the lid, or both comprise a rectangular form. In certain embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a guard. In certain embodiments, the apparatus comprises a material including polypropylene, an oxo-biodegradable material, a bagasse fiber, a bagasse-based fiber, a plant fiber, a plant-based fiber, or a combination thereof.
In another embodiment of the invention, a modular apparatus for protecting plant growth comprises: a base comprising a first inner rim, a first outer rim, a water storage, and a first plug-in-joint, a lid comprising a second inner rim, a second outer rim, and a second plug-in-joint, wherein the first inner rim is configured to correspondingly fit the second inner rim, the first outer rim is configured to correspondingly fit the second outer rim, and the first plug-in-joint is configured to receive the second plug-in-joint; and a recess disposed on the base corresponding to a recess disposed on the lid. In one embodiment, the lid further comprises a dual-colored material, wherein an exterior surface comprises a light reflecting color and an interior surface comprises a light absorbing color. In an embodiment, the base further is permanently or detachably coupled to the lid. In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprisse a capillary fabric. In multiple embodiments, the lid further comprises a textured surface comprising a peak and a valley and an opening within a valley. In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a guard. In specific embodiments, the apparatus comprises a material including polypropylene, an oxo-biodegradable material, a bagasse fiber, a bagasse-based fiber, a plant fiber, a plant-based fiber, or a combination thereof.
Some advantages of the invention include reducing costs associated with sustaining a manual workforce and reducing risk in planting in dangerous terrain. The invention enables reduced use of agrochemicals and insecticides which in turn improves the soil and water quality in the ecosystem. Traditional forest restoration approaches have expensive maintenance costs and inefficient irrigation and pest control. The invention allows for water storage on a sloped terrain. Also, the invention permits sufficient water entry while preventing the entry of invasive species such as leafcutter ants detrimental to plant growth. Another advantage of the invention includes passive microclimate control of a plant using a dual colored material that reflects and absorbs light.
The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. Other advantages and variants would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art and are within the scope of the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to
In one example, the base and the lid form a donut-like shape with a centered recess in fluid communication with a plant. The diameter of the recess is between about 150 mm and about 300 mm, or another diameter smaller than 150 mm, larger than 300 mm without departing from the scope of the invention. In certain examples, the lid is detachably coupled to the base. In other examples, the lid can be integrally formed with the base.
The lid has a textured surface 15 to increase water capture and prevent the entry of invasive species. In certain examples, the textured surface has peaks and valleys to create more surfaces with which water vapor to contact. The base can also include a textured surface. The lid has a plurality of openings 3 strategically placed in the valleys or troughs of the textured surface to funnel water into the water storage of the base. Alternatively, the textured surface may have bumps, protrusions, or other textures that prevent leafcutter ants or other insects from entering the openings in the lid. The water storage collects water from rain or dew for passively plant watering. Specifically, the textured surface works as a water trap. When water vapor contacts a lid peak it condenses, water accumulates within a valley, and flows through the openings into the water storage.
The dimensions of the lid openings enable water entry yet slowed water evaporation from the water storage. Furthermore, the dimensions of the lid openings prevent entry of invasive species, such as leafcutter ants, mosquitos, and other insects. In one example, the lid openings comprise a diameter between about 5 mm and about 8 mm. The dimensions of the lid openings accommodate hydrogen bridging or hydrogen bonds between water molecules. In various examples, the lid openings have a round shape or non-round shape. Such lid openings can be identical or variable in dimensions.
As shown in
The lid comprises an exterior surface and an interior surface. In certain examples, the exterior surface comprises a color that reflects light (heat) and the interior surface comprises a darker color than that of the exterior surface that absorbs light (heat). Such exterior and interior surfaces are made of selected materials having specific colors to help optimize microclimate parameters such as moisture retention and temperature and inhibit growth of competing species (e.g., weeds, vegetation, fungi, etc.) around a plant. For instance, an exterior surface made of an opaque and dark colored plastic prevents light transmission through the material and thereby prevents unwanted growth beneath the lid. The use of a dual color material enables passive control of the microclimate affecting plant growth. For use in cooler temperatures, both the exterior and interior surfaces of the lid can comprise an opaque, black plastic material to provide a warmer environment to a seedling.
In a preferred example, the lid is manufactured from a biodegradable plastic material that can be extruded in two layers. The two layers comprise a light-colored top layer and a darker-colored bottom layer, wherein the material comprises a thickness of about 1 mm. After extrusion, the lid may further be shaped by molding, die-cutting, or both.
The base couples to the lid using a combination of joints and fittings. This prevents the separation of the lid from the base especially in strong wind conditions. In particular, the first plug-in joint 4a of the base connects with the second plug-in joint 4b of the lid. In certain cases, the first plug-in joint is a male structure and the second plug-in joint is a female structure, or vice versa. Additionally, the plug-in joint 4 can receive a plant growth supporting material. Such material can be selected from a group including but not limited to: soil, fertilizer, plants that make green manure which helps fix soil nutrients, soil fixing agents, plant growing agents, or a combination thereof. The invention also provides a convenient means for adding material to the plant without having to disassemble the apparatus or displace it after installation. Further, the plug-in joints 4a and 4b are in fluid communication with the recess 5 to allow air circulation and gas exchange. Further, the first external fitting 9a and the first internal fitting 10a of the base connects, respectively, with the second external fitting 9b and the second internal fitting 10b of the lid. In certain cases, the first external fitting is a male structure and the second external fitting is a female structure, or vice versa. In other instances, the first internal fitting is a male structure and the second internal fitting is a female structure, or vice versa. Air can circulate above the base through the plug-in-joint, and external and internal fittings. This advantage in turn makes the soil within the recess area more fertile.
The base and the lid may be coupled detachably, semi-permanently, or permanently. The base may couple to the lid using one of the following including but not limited to: fasteners, snap-fit joints, adhesives, clips, or a combination thereof.
In certain instances, the base includes a filling space 8 for fixing the base to a ground surface. The filling space 8 accepts a weighted material such soil, sand, or rocks, to provide an inert mass on the base. The filling space 8 fixes the base to the ground using natural materials in the local environment without relying on materials imported into the environment such as stakes or screws. A filling space prevents the base from becoming displaced especially during strong winds.
The apparatus accommodates for a plant's natural growth pattern over time. Referring back to
The invention provides solutions to accommodate plant growth beyond the protection of the apparatus.
The base, the lid, or both may be manufactured as separate units or a single unit. In various examples, the base, the lid, or both can have a circular, rectangular, polygonal, or another shaped form. In multiple examples, the base and the lid are permanently coupled or detachably coupled.
In various alternative examples, the apparatus comprises a base integrally coupled to a lid. As shown in
The modular apparatus for plant protection affords many advantages. For example, the modular apparatus enables simple and cheap manufacturing which better fit manufacturing machines. Also, the ability to disassemble one or more modular apparatus enables efficient transplantation for protecting one or more plants in various terrains.
The modular plant protecting apparatus may be composed of materials including, but not limited to: plastics, acrylics, polyesters, polyurethanes, metals, slowly-degrading plastics, slowly-degrading ployvinylalcohol, natural fibers, aluminum, sugarcane bagasse, coconut fiber, sisal fiber, slowly-degrading paper-based materials, paper-based materials, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the modular plant protecting apparatus may be constructed of polypropylene with an oxo-biodegradable material. The modular plant protecting apparatus can be manufactured using thermoforming, vacuum-forming, stamping, injection molding, molded pulp, molded fiber, thermoformed fiber, die-cutting, molding, or combination thereof.
The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/688,953, filed Jun. 22, 2018 entitled “PLANT PROTECTING DEVICE AND METHOD,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62688953 | Jun 2018 | US |
