PLANT STARTER CELL CONTAINER ARRAY RACK

Abstract

A set of stackable plant starter cell trays in which each of the plant trays include a plurality of inwardly tapering starter cell sockets for removable insertion of plant starter cells. Each of the plant trays has upper and lower leg connection means for the removable insertion of support legs, and each of the support legs is adapted for removable insertion into one of the leg connection means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a 25-cell embodiment of the plant starter cell container array rack of the present invention, showing the rack entirely filled with starter cells;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing stacked container array racks of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved plant starter cell container array rack, generally denominated 100 herein.

These views show that in a first preferred embodiment the inventive apparatus comprises a generally planar, rigid, injection-molded plastic plant tray 110 designed to securely contain and hold 25 individual plastic plant starter cells for starting plant growth. Accordingly, the plant starter cells will typically soil media and plants. The plant tray includes a grid 120 of starter cell sockets 130. Each of the sockets is a substantially circular ring which is connected to adjoining starter cell sockets by tangential points of contact 140. The grid of starter cell sockets includes a plurality of vertical and horizontal rows in any desired number. The starter cell sockets preferably measure 2½″ in diameter at their upper edges to accept and capture industry standard plant starter cells 150 immediately under the cell collars 160 at the upper portions of the cells. The taper in the starter cell sockets ensures a snug fit for the correspondingly tapered cells.

This grid is circumscribed by an outside wall 170, preferably comprising a substantially square band of plastic measuring approximately 14″ on all four sides. The starter cell sockets at the grid corners define and form the corners of the tray. As will be appreciated, the shape of the tray may be any of a number of other suitable shapes, including rectangular, triangular, and multisided polygonal.

Preferred material dimensions of the tray include a ½″ outside wall, 1¼″ wide starter cell sockets having an upper edge 180 generally coplanar with the upper edge 190 of the outside wall and extending downwardly to terminate in a lower edge 200 which is approximately ½″ below the lower edge 210 of the outside wall.

The tray further includes four ¾″ diameter leg sockets 220 which project roughly ½″ above the plane formed by the upper edges of the starter cell sockets and outside wall. The leg sockets are sized to accept ¾″ PVC legs.

It should be noted that when the tray is filled with plant starter cells, there remain a plurality of air spaces 230 between the cells. These openings facilitate air movement from and light transmission through the top to the bottom of the tray even when the top is filled with cells and plants.

The inventive container array rack further includes removable legs 240. As noted, the tray includes leg sockets specially sized to accommodate four legs constructed from standard schedule 40 ¾″ PVC pipe. The sockets preferably have an outside diameter of 1¼″ and an inside diameter of ¾″. The sockets extend ½″ below the lower edge of the outside wall and include ¾″ plastic plugs 250 extending ½″ above the upper edges of the starter cell sockets and the outside wall. The plug is a male element that fits snuggly into the open end (female element) of a leg configured as a pipe. Thus, the upper surface of the plant tray includes means to securely place a leg for stacking plant trays above. The portion of the leg socket extending below the plant tray simply accepts and captures a leg by its outside diameter, and does not include a plug for insertion into the opening in the leg. Thus, for instance, and referring now to FIG. 3, if the legs comprise cut lengths of standard schedule 40 PVC pipe, the legs can be interposed between an upper plant tray 300 and a lower plant tray 400 simply by inserting legs into the leg socket openings in the bottom of tray 300 and onto the leg socket plugs of the lower tray 400.

As will be readily appreciated, the leg sockets may be either male or female in conformation, or any combination thereof, when used in connection with hollow pipe, inasmuch as the outer circumference can of the pipe engage a female leg socket (i.e., the female leg socket can receive and capture the pipe with a friction fit), and the inside wall of the pipe can engage a male plug element (i.e., the inside wall of the pipe can receive and capture the male element). Accordingly, both configurations, and combinations thereof, are contemplated in the present invention.

According to such a construction, legs of any length may be cut from standard plastic plumbing pipe, such as readily available schedule 40 PVC pipe. This allows the end user to customize the height of the tray for different kinds of plants and growth periods. When rapidly growing upright plants are started in the starter cells, the legs can be sized to accommodate the anticipated vertical growth. Likewise, if low growing and shade loving ground cover is started in the starter cells, the legs can be considerably shortened.

Furthermore, the legs can be easily removed for stacking when the trays are empty. To add to stability when stacking trays, the leg sockets are disposed proximate each corner in the space between the first and second rows of starter cell sockets as viewed from all of the adjacent sides of the outside wall of the tray. This placement also facilitates easy handling of the trays and to prevent the trays from being knocked about at the legs.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

Claims

1. A plant starter cell container array rack, comprising: at least one generally planar plant tray having a plurality of starter cell sockets for holding plant starter cells;a plurality of leg sockets, each adapted to accept an end of a support leg; anda plurality of legs, each having an end removably inserted into one of said leg sockets.

2. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 1, wherein said plant tray comprises a grid of starter cell sockets, each of said starter cell sockets having an upper edge forming a plane, and a lower edge.

3. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 2, wherein said leg sockets project above the plane formed by said upper edges of said starter cell sockets.

4. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 2, further including an outside wall substantially surrounding said grid of said starter cell sockets, said outside wall having an upper edge and a lower edge.

5. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 4, wherein said leg sockets extend below said lower edge of said outside wall and further include plugs extending above said upper edges of said starter cell sockets and said upper edge of said outside wall, said plugs adapted for insertion into an open end of a tubular leg.

6. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 1, wherein each of said starter cell sockets taper inwardly from said upper edge to said lower edge.

7. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 6, wherein adjacent starter cell sockets are connected by tangential points of contact.

8. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 1, wherein said starter cell sockets form a grid having a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows which form corners, and wherein said plant tray leg sockets are disposed proximate each corner in the space between the first and second rows of starter cell sockets from each of every two adjoining sides of said outside wall of said plant tray.

9. The plant starter cell container array rack of claim 1, wherein said starter cell sockets have an upper edge and a lower edge, and an outside wall surrounding said starter cell sockets and having an upper edge and a lower edge, and wherein said upper edge of said starter cell sockets is generally coplanar with said upper edge of said outside wall and said lower edge of said starter cell sockets extends below said lower edge of said outside wall.

10. A set of stackable plant starter cell trays, comprising: a plurality of plant trays having starter cell sockets for removable insertion of plant starter cells, each of said plant trays having upper and lower leg connection means for the removable insertion of support legs; anda plurality of support legs, one each removably inserted into one of said leg connection means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said leg sockets comprise female openings for receiving a pipe inserted therein.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said legs comprise hollow pipe, wherein said leg sockets include a male element for insertion into one of said hollow pipes, and wherein each of said hollow pipes captures and retains one of said male elements of said leg sockets.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said leg sockets comprise female elements for receiving and capturing said legs with a friction fit.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said starter cell sockets form a grid of substantially circular rings surrounded by an outside wall, wherein adjoining starter cell sockets are connected at tangent points, and wherein at places other than tangent points, the spaces between starter cell sockets and said outside wall is open air space which facilitate air movement from and light transmission through said plant tray even when said plant tray is filled with starter cells and planting material.