Patent Application
20210076574
The present disclosure relates generally to plant growing apparatus, and, more particularly, to plant growing containers with fabric liners configured to retain growing medium and root prune.
Growing plants in household items is becoming exceedingly common. For example, plants are grown in colanders, tin cans, tea pots, muffin tins, old sinks, and plastic bottles. Plants may also be grown in other common containers or crates around the house. For example, plants may be grown in a milk crate. Milk crates are durable and often made of hard plastic, metal, galvanized metal, or wood. Milk crates also come in a variety of colors and can be used as décor in a room such as an apartment, college dormitory, home, or office. The sturdiness of a milk crate creates a desirable container for growing plants. However, milk crates and other common containers and crates typically have vents in the bottom and sides, commonly constructed with interwoven slats about an inch or two apart.
Vented containers and crates, such as milk crates, are sturdy and durable, but have deficiencies when attempting to grow plants. The large open vents between the interwoven slats create issues with retaining soil, or other growing medium. To successfully grow a plant in a vented container or crate, a liner is required. For example, the liner may be newspaper or flexible plastic. Newspaper is a temporary solution for retaining soil as the newspaper rots over time allowing soil to flow out of the container or crate. Flexible plastic retains too much moisture which negatively affects plant growth. If holes are punched in the flexible plastic to aid in the moisture issue, growing medium and water flows out of the container or crate through the holes. These deficiencies prompt the need for a liner that retains growing medium while also being porous.
In accordance with the present invention, a plant growing apparatus is provided which overcomes the deficiencies described above, and has other advantages.
In one embodiment, a plant container is provided. The plant container comprises a fabric liner having a plurality of pores. The fabric liner is configured into a container having a bottom and four upwardly projecting sidewalls. The container has a sufficient rigidity to retain growing medium within its interior. To provide sufficient porosity to permit transfer of air and water through the bottom and the upwardly projecting sidewalls, each of the pores has a diameter less than one millimeter.
In another embodiment, a plant growing apparatus is provided. The plant growing apparatus comprises a container and a fabric liner having a plurality of pores. The container has an interior defined by a bottom and at least four sidewalls with vents in the bottom and the at least four sidewalls. In some embodiments, the container is a milk crate. Positioned within the container is the fabric liner. The fabric liner lines the interior of the container and is configured into a shape which conforms substantially to the interior of the container. The fabric liner has a fabric bottom and at least four upwardly projecting fabric sidewalls. Each of the pores throughout the fabric liner has a diameter less than one millimeter.
The drawings included with this application illustrate certain aspects of the embodiments described herein. However, the drawings should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.
The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to these detailed descriptions. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, container 20 is comprised of a rigid material. The rigid material allows one or more of container 20 to be stacked on top of one another without container 20 bending or flexing. For example, hard plastic, metal, galvanized metal, or wood are suitable rigid materials for container 20.
Fabric liner 30 lines interior 22 of container 20 to restrict the loss of soil and other media through vents 28 of container 20. Fabric liner 30 comprises a fabric interior 32 defined by a fabric bottom 34 and at least four upwardly projecting fabric sidewalls 36. Fabric bottom 34 and fabric sidewalls 36 have inner surfaces 38A and outer surfaces 38B. Fabric bottom 34 and fabric sidewalls 36 may be formed from a single piece of fabric or from two or more pieces of fabric. In some embodiments, the type of fabric used for fabric bottom 34 may be different than the fabric used for fabric sidewalls 36.
Typically, fabric liner 30 is a non-biodegradeable fabric. The plurality of pores throughout fabric liner 30 provide air and water permeability through fabric liner 30. Pores having diameters no larger than one millimeter in diameter will provide the desired air and water permeability while also providing the desired retention of soil and other media within fabric interior 32 of fabric liner 30. Fluid permeability allows fabric liner 30 to release heat buildup, while also permitting moisture movement through fabric liner 30. These characteristics allow plant components to breathe while in fabric interior 32.
Suitable types of fabric for fabric liner 30 include porous, non-woven, needle-punched fabrics. The porous, non-woven, needle-punched fabrics are comprised of fibers which are tangled and knotted as a result of being needle punched. This creates a rough or fuzzy surface capable of trapping, or catching plant roots, but restricts and curtails penetration of the fabric by the roots. In some embodiments, outer surface 38B of fabric bottom 34 and fabric sidewalls 36 has been heat bonded to create a smooth surface which provides stiffness to fabric bottom 34 and fabric sidewalls 36. In such embodiments, inner surfaces 38A of fabric bottom 34 and fabric sidewalls 36 remain rough or fuzzy, such that the roots of a growing plant may be trapped and directed back into fabric interior 32.
A suitable type of needle punched fabric for fabric liner 30 is formed of staple cut fibers. The fabric is formed using fibers of polyolefin, polyester, polyamide or mixtures thereof. A staple cut fiber fabric suitable for use as fabric liner 30 may be a heavy, for example about 203.43 grams per meter squared or heavier, fabric formed of polypropylene staple fibers which is strongly heat bonded on one side. For example, non-woven staple-cut polypropylene is a suitable fabric for fabric liner 30.
Heavy needle punched fiber fabrics formed of continuous fibers are also suitable as fabric liner 30. For example, non-woven needle-punched fabrics formed of continuous polyolefin fibers, polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers can be used such as non-woven polypropylene. As in the case of staple fiber fabrics, the continuous fiber fabrics are preferably about 203.43 grams per meter squared or heavier and are fused by heating after being tangled and knotted by needle punching. The heavier, fused fabric provides strength for resisting root penetration and for resisting the enlargement of those roots that do penetrate the material.
Another material suitable for use as fabric liner 30 is formed of woven continuous fibers. The woven continuous fibers form a substrate and, prior to being needle punched, one or more layers of staple fibers are placed on the substrate. The staple fibers and substrate are then needle punched, whereby the staple fibers are attached to one side of the substrate forming a highly rough or fuzzy surface thereon.
In some embodiments, fabric liner 30 is comprised of a heavy fabric which has been tangled and knotted by needle punching. The tangled and knotted fabric increases strength of the fabric and promotes root pruning. For example, the mass of the fabric may range from about 67.81 grams per meter squared to about 508.59 grams per meter squared. Some of the root tips growing within fabric interior 32 will not penetrate fabric liner 30 and will root prune or laterally branch when the mass of the fabric used for fabric liner 30 is within such range. Other roots may slightly penetrate fabric liner 30 and become exposed to the atmosphere. These roots will air root prune, branching laterally inside fabric interior 32. Increased strength can be imparted to fabric liner 30 by heat bonding the fibers on outer surfaces 38B. Because the roots are captured by fabric liner 30, the apical dominance of the roots that encounter fabric liner 30 is stopped, and lateral root branching, or root pruning, will occur within fabric interior 32. A fibrous root system within fabric interior 32 is created. Because of the root branching, which takes place in fabric interior 32, the plant, if transplanted, will re-establish itself and anchor itself quickly and effectively.
In some embodiments, the mass of the fabric used for fabric bottom 34 and fabric sidewalls 36 is the same. In other embodiments, the mass of the fabric used for fabric bottom 34 is greater than the mass of the fabric used for fabric sidewalls 36. Greater mass in the fabric used for fabric bottom 34 allows for a more defined and structured fabric bottom 34.
In some embodiments, as shown in
Although the disclosed invention has been shown and described in detail with respect to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and detailed area may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as claimed. Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the object and advantages mentioned as well as those which are inherent therein. While numerous changes may be made by those skilled in the art, such changes are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
