GB2166031A - Synthetic mulch - Google Patents

Abstract

A mulching device comprises a shallow concave dish converging to a hole 3 in the centre with a split from the centre through the vertical side wall(s), the depth of the wall(s) being such as to maintain the position in outdoor conditions. Moulded within the inside top portion are angled ribs 2 all of which have short spaced notched or serrated edges and provide bars from which condensed moisture can drip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Synthetic mulch A design for the retention of water, specifically related to horticultural purposes, the objective is for maintaining rain or water for as long a period as possible around the roots of plants, shrubs, newly planted young trees, and propagation of seeds.

This design will allow the rain or water to apply or being applied as would normally be, but then to be retained by the process of condensing the evaporated water back into water droplets and returning them to the roots with an even distribution over the area from which moisture came.

This arrangement could protect plants, young trees, shrubs and seeds or similar growths from drying out from lack of water particularly in long dry spells, restricted water supplies by authorities, variable weather conditions in forests, plantations, gardens, wholesale horticultural production and greenhouses.

This design can be applied to a number of horticultural purposes in other shapes and forms to accommodate the numerous proceedures and different purposes of the horticultural industry and societies. The principle of this design could be used in rectangular and square types, propagating seed, seedling plant covers by incorporating and uniting a number of these designs to form such necessary shapes. Such covers would maintain moisture and also ventilation thus reducing trouble of damp rot.

The novelty claimed is a mechanical method of evenly distributing rising vapour after condensing back into water droplets also allowing rain, water, air, to enter and so maintaining a moisture supply to seeds, seedlings, plants, newly planted trees, cutting and similar growths.

Figure 1 show a cross section of the synthetic mulch.

Figure 1-1 the moulding a concaved dish shape and vertical edging all round up to the split.

Figure 1-2 vapour condensation drip bars.

Figure 1-3 inlet hole for rainwater, water, air.

Figure 2 viewed from underneath.

Figure 2-4 the edging.

Figure 2-5 circular vapour condensation drip bars, circular up to each side of the split.

Figure 2-6 the split which allows the twist of the object so as to cause space enough to allow the foresaid object to be fitted closely around the stem of that which is to be grown, in the case of seeds, seedlings, cuttings, which would need the novelty moulded into multiples, without the split, forming a rectangular or square shape edging.

Figure 3-7 indicates a form of serrated edge to the vapour condensation drip bars these could be indents or nodules to resist water movement around the drip bars.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- 1. The invention claimed is what is called a drip-bar which has incorporated along the leading edge serrations-nodules-in- dents-pyramid shapes or similar These are moulded I suggest by injection mouldings or other forms into a one whole plastic unit of tough weatherproof flexible plastic. See Fig. 1-2.

2. The object of the invention is to stop the loss of evaporation from inside the plastic mulch and to retain it until it can be mechanically condensed back to water.

3. By the means of vapour rising and lining all over the inside of the mulch much will be gathered and controlled into channels, this is all done by drip-bars.

4. Naturally the time comes when the drip forming has more condensed water than will stay, so the condensed water will move to the very lowest side of inside of the mulch, thus finally only dripping off on the one side of the growth it is supposed to be watering.

5. Now by my invention this would not apply, my invention with circular drip-bars covering the inside of the plastic synthetic mulch together with all the drip-bars incorporating at close quarters serrated edges-nodules-- castles-indents.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Synthetic mulch A design for the retention of water, specifically related to horticultural purposes, the objective is for maintaining rain or water for as long a period as possible around the roots of plants, shrubs, newly planted young trees, and propagation of seeds. This design will allow the rain or water to apply or being applied as would normally be, but then to be retained by the process of condensing the evaporated water back into water droplets and returning them to the roots with an even distribution over the area from which moisture came. This arrangement could protect plants, young trees, shrubs and seeds or similar growths from drying out from lack of water particularly in long dry spells, restricted water supplies by authorities, variable weather conditions in forests, plantations, gardens, wholesale horticultural production and greenhouses. This design can be applied to a number of horticultural purposes in other shapes and forms to accommodate the numerous proceedures and different purposes of the horticultural industry and societies. The principle of this design could be used in rectangular and square types, propagating seed, seedling plant covers by incorporating and uniting a number of these designs to form such necessary shapes. Such covers would maintain moisture and also ventilation thus reducing trouble of damp rot. CLAIMS The novelty claimed is a mechanical method of evenly distributing rising vapour after condensing back into water droplets also allowing rain, water, air, to enter and so maintaining a moisture supply to seeds, seedlings, plants, newly planted trees, cutting and similar growths. Figure 1 show a cross section of the synthetic mulch. Figure 1-1 the moulding a concaved dish shape and vertical edging all round up to the split. Figure 1-2 vapour condensation drip bars. Figure 1-3 inlet hole for rainwater, water, air. Figure 2 viewed from underneath. Figure 2-4 the edging. Figure 2-5 circular vapour condensation drip bars, circular up to each side of the split. Figure 2-6 the split which allows the twist of the object so as to cause space enough to allow the foresaid object to be fitted closely around the stem of that which is to be grown, in the case of seeds, seedlings, cuttings, which would need the novelty moulded into multiples, without the split, forming a rectangular or square shape edging. Figure 3-7 indicates a form of serrated edge to the vapour condensation drip bars these could be indents or nodules to resist water movement around the drip bars. CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. The invention claimed is what is called a drip-bar which has incorporated along the leading edge serrations-nodules-in- dents-pyramid shapes or similar These are moulded I suggest by injection mouldings or other forms into a one whole plastic unit of tough weatherproof flexible plastic. See Fig. 1-2.

2. The object of the invention is to stop the loss of evaporation from inside the plastic mulch and to retain it until it can be mechanically condensed back to water.

3. By the means of vapour rising and lining all over the inside of the mulch much will be gathered and controlled into channels, this is all done by drip-bars.

4. Naturally the time comes when the drip forming has more condensed water than will stay, so the condensed water will move to the very lowest side of inside of the mulch, thus finally only dripping off on the one side of the growth it is supposed to be watering.

5. Now by my invention this would not apply, my invention with circular drip-bars covering the inside of the plastic synthetic mulch together with all the drip-bars incorporating at close quarters serrated edges-nodules-- castles-indents.