FR2668128A1 - Tray provided with a detachable staking device - Google Patents

Abstract

Tray intended to contain plant cultivation tubs, characterised in that it is associated with a staking device comprising vertical elements (3) which are fixed in a detachable manner to the walls of the tray and serve as a support for horizontal elements (4) which are also detachable in order to delimit, above the tray, a volume intended to confine the vegetation.

Description

 SHELF PROVIDED WITH A REMOVABLE GUARDING DEVICE.

Certain plants, in particular the "ivy" geraniums, have stems that are not rigid enough to remain erect.

They are grown in small pots, packaged in packs of 10 for sale in plastic shelves or trays.

During the sales period, the horticulturalist is currently forced to plant stakes made up of bamboo stems, in the soil of the pots, and to attach the stems to the stakes by means of links. This operation requires a considerable workforce, while the need for staking is only temporary, the buyer, once the plant is in place, removing the stakes.

The invention solves this problem by associating with the shelf a staking device comprising vertical elements which are removably attached to the walls of the shelf and which serve as support for horizontal elements also removable to delimit, above the shelf, a volume intended to confine the vegetation.

According to a first embodiment, the shelf has at its four corners tubular receptacles intended to engage, in a removable manner, rigid calibrated elements, made of bamboo or plastic, intended to serve as a support for an elastic band enclosing the set of rods.

According to a more particular embodiment, the shelf being frustoconical, said receptacles are arranged inside its side wall, in the region of the horizontally folded upper edge thereof.

According to a second embodiment, the horizontally folded upper edge of the shelf is provided at its respective corners with four slots intended for the removable engagement of two vertical grids and the horizontal elements hook onto the vertical edges of said grids.

The various features of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description below.

In the attached drawing
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view
tive of a shelf fitted with an amo device
tutorial according to the first mode
of the invention
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view
a shelf fitted with a removable device
of staking according to the second mode
of the invention;
Figure 3 is a partial plan view of
one of the two grids that the device has
tif of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the
horizontal upper edge, provided with four
slots, on the side wall of the shelf.

According to the particularly simple embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, we see that the horizontally folded upper edge 1 of the shelf is provided with four tubular receptacles, such as 2, arranged in its corners. Vertical staking elements, such as 3, engage in a removable manner in the respective receptacles.

Due to the frustoconical shape of the shelves, these receptacles do not prevent their stacking when the staking elements are not in place.

The staking elements, advantageously molded in rigid plastic, have been shown with a cross section, which reduces their weight without weakening them. At their upper part, they hold a rubber strap 4 which encloses the stems of the plants.

In the more elaborate embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the vertical elements of the support device consist of two parallel grids 5 and 6, advantageously arranged along the large dimension of the shelves. Horizontal elements, such as 7, hang on the vertical edges of the two grids.

The assembly is advantageously made of plastic. Two pairs of horizontal elements arranged at different levels at the two respective ends of the large dimension of the grids and hooked to the vertical edges of these, are sufficient to delimit with this a volume intended to confine the vegetation.

Very simply, the removable fixing of the grids to the horizontal upper edge of the tray can be obtained by engaging hooks, such as 8, which are provided with the ends of the lower edge of the grids, in slots, such as 9, formed in said horizontal edge.

Triangular stops, such as 10, with which the grids are provided, by resting on said horizontal edge, contribute to ensuring the verticality of the grids.

It goes without saying that the embodiments described and shown are given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Claims (5)

Claims  1. Shelf intended to contain pots for growing plants, characterized in that it is associated with a staking device comprising vertical elements (3; 5-6) which are removably attached to the walls of the shelf and serve supporting horizontal elements (4; 7) also removable to delimit, above the shelf, a volume intended to confine the vegetation.  2. Shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at its four corners tubular receptacles (2) intended to engage, in a removable manner, rigid calibrated elements (3), made of bamboo or plastic, intended for serve as a support for an elastic band (4) enclosing all of the rods.  3. Shelf according to claim 2, characterized in that, the shelf being frustoconical, said receptacles are arranged outside of its side wall, in the region of the upper edge (1) folded horizontally thereof.  4. Shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontally folded upper edge of the shelf is provided in its respective corners, with four slots (9) intended for the removable engagement of two vertical grids (5-6) and the horizontal elements (7) cling to the vertical edges of said grids.  5. Shelf according to claim 4, characterized in that the ends of the lower edge of the grids are provided with hooks (8) which engage in said slots (9) and stops (10) intended to bear on said folded edge horizontal (1).