GB2404321A

GB2404321A - Transparent liner for plant pot

Info

Publication number: GB2404321A
Application number: GB0416580A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Susan Young; Andrew James Robert Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-26
Filing date: 2004-07-24
Publication date: 2005-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-24
Also published as: GB0317546D0; GB2404321B; GB0416580D0

Abstract

A plant container 100 comprises transparent or translucent material, when a plant is grown within the container in a growing medium, the plant roots or the growing medium below surface level can be inspected through the transparent or translucent material; wherein the container is shaped to fit within a plant pot 200 and comprises at least an upper outwardly extending flange 102 and/or rim 101 of opaque material. The container can be shaped to fit within a standard plant pot and allows rapid and convenient inspection of roots without disturbing plant growth. Raised area 110 may have additional holes for drainage. The holes may be formed by pushing out weakened areas that define the positions of the holes.

Description

Containers The present invention relates to containers, especially to

containers for plants.

In the field of horticulture it is often necessary to inspect the roots of plants that have been grown or maintained within a container. For example, it may be necessary to check the structure and size of a root system in order to determine whether or not a plant is ready for re- potting or whether the roots are developing properly. It may also be necessary to check the roots for signs of nutrient deficiency, water deficiency or disease.

Traditionally. the roots of a plant have been inspected by grasping the plant by its stem, removing a plant from its container, viewing the roots, if necessary after removing some soil, and then replacing the plant in the container. In some cases it may be necessary to agitate the container, or to tap it so as to release the plant. It may also then be necessary to add additional soil to replace that lost when the plant is moved out of the container.

Furthermore, it may be necessary to firm soil around the replaced plant in order to ensure that the plant stays in an erect position.

Although this procedure has been used for very many years it can result in damage to the roots, stem or other parts of the plant. Particular problems can arise with plants that are sensitive to handling, such as plants at an early stage of development, or plant species such as clematis or passion flowers, etc. which are known to be prone to damage.

Even if the plant is not damaged by this procedure it can still be difficult to replace the plant in the container once it has been removed.

T bus the traditional way of inspecting roots is generally cumbersome and time-consuming.

In commercial nurseries it may be necessary to inspect the roots of many thousands of plants. T his can significantly affect profit levels, given that employment costs are one of the major outgoings of nurseries.

Even for the small-scale gardener, root inspection is inconvenient. indeed many gardeners are reluctant to undertake such a procedure because of the risk of damaging plants.

A further consideration is that many gardeners are elderly and can have difficulties in manipulating plants when they have been removed from their containers.

There has therefore been a long-standing need for an alternative method of checking the root systems of plants in containers.

One possibility is discussed in GB-A-2197574. This uses a plant pot formed at least partly from transparent or translucent material in order that roots and / or soil structure can be visually inspected without removing the plant from the plant pot. In a preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in GB-A-2197574 the plant pot wall is opaque and the base is transparent or translucent. This is said to facilitate manufacture and to enable root inspection from below without permitting light to enter through the walls of the pot. It does not however allow the roots to be inspected from the side. It is also disadvantageous in that light may enter the bottom of the container when this is not desired. For example if the container is placed on its side or is placed on a transparent surface light may penetrate to the root system for significant periods of time. In an alternative embodiment disclosed in GB- A-2197574 the plant pot may have transparent or translucent side portions. However here the plant pot is required to have with a specially constructed removable sleeve or cover.

This significantly increases manufacturing costs.

Another possibility is disclosed in US Patent No. 6253488, which is entitled "Two-part plant pot having a transparent internal plant-growing vessel ''. In the only specific embodiment illustrated in US Patent No. 6253488 the internal vessel is described as being of solid, transparent construction.

According to the present invention there is provided a plant container that comprises transparent or translucent material, whereby, when a plant is grown within the container in a growing medium, the plant roots or growing medium below surface level can be inspected through the transparent or translucent material; wherein the container is shaped to fit within a plant pot and comprises at least an upper outwardly extending flange and/or rim of opaque material.

Desirably the fit is a snug fit, whereby the container fits within the plant pot so that the outside of the side-wall of the container contacts or is closely adjacent to the inside of the side wall of the plant pot. For example, they may be less than 5mm apart, or less than 3 mm apart.

For the purposes of the present invention the term "roots" includes roots per se as well as other extending parts of a plant located below the surface of a growing medium - such as tubers, rhizomes, underground stems, etc. 'I'he present invention is therefore useful in inspecting one or more of the aforesaid.

It will be appreciated that the present inventors have taken a different approach from the approach described in GB-A-2197574. They have provided a container that can fit within a conventional plant pot. This avoids the need to purchase a separate sleeve or cover.

I'he container of the present invention has an upper outwardly extending flange and/or rim of opaque material. The upper flange and/or rim is useful in enabling the container to be gripped when it is desired to remove it from the plant pot, because it extends radially outwardly from the rest of the container. The upper outwardly extending flange and/or rim is opaque in nature, because the present inventors have appreciated that, even if a transparent container is seated within an opaque plant pot, light can still penetrate towards the roots of the container by passing through the rim and/or flange. Thus the importance of providing the flange and/or rim in the form of opaque material has been appreciated.

If desired, only the flange and/or rim of the container may be opaque and the remainder of the container may be transparent or translucent. This is not however essential, because, for example, an upper portion of the side wall of the container may be opaque and/or the base may be opaque, provided that there is at least some portion of the container that is transparent or translucent to allow the roots to be viewed when desired. (for example, transparent/translucent windows, slots or sections may be provided.) By providing an opaque flange and/or rim, the risk of undesired light penetrating towards the roots of a plant grown in the container (either directly or via refraction) and damaging them whilst the plant is growing can be avoided. This contrasts with the invention disclosed in US Patent No. 6253488, for example, where there is simply no appreciation of the need to prevent light penetrating through the flange or rim.

If desired, the opaque flange and/or rim of the container of the present invention can be colour coded. For example different colours can be used to represent different plant varieties, or types and/or plants at different stages of development. A plurality of containers with differently coloured flanges and/or rims can therefore be provided.

In many cases both a flange and a radially extending rim located above the flange may be provided. However it is possible to provide the flange without the rim, or to provide the rim without the flange. It is also possible to provide one or more additional flanges located below the upper flange, although this is not essential. (For the purposes of the present invention the term "flange" includes a collar.) If an upper rim is provided, it desirably has a rounded or knurled edge.

The container preferably has a side-wall, all or part of which is transparent or translucent.

The side-wall is desirably round in transverse section, although it can have any other form (e.g. a polygon such as a square, hexagon, triangle, etc.) The container is desirably generally frusto-conical. Thus it is preferred that the side- wall is rounded and slopes inwardly so that the container is narrower at the bottom than at the top.

1 he container may also have a base. In some embodiments all or part of said base is transparent or translucent.

For ease of manufacture and of viewing it is preferred that all of the side-wall (located below the flange and/or rim) and all of the base is transparent or translucent. However this is not essential. Thms in a less preferred embodiment the side-wall may be opaque, provided that at least part of the base is transparent or translucent' or the base may be opaque.

provided that at least part of the side-wall is transparent or translucent.

The container is shaped so that it can be stacked in the plant pot so as to rest upon an inner ledge of the plant pot. The container is desirably substantially the same shape and/or size as the plant pot. Preferably, the container andlor pot is generally frusto-conical in shape. If desired the container and/or pot may have one or more drainage holes.

The container is preferably self-stacking - i.e. it is shaped so that a plurality of containers of the same size can be stacked on top of one another, whereby a given container rests upon an inner ledge of a container below it in the stack and the container itself provides a ledge upon which a further container can be stacked. Such stacking is advantageous in reducing storage and transportation costs, which can be significant costs for gardening centres and nurseries.

Also within the scope of the present invention is a container of the present invention containing growing material. Any appropriate growing material may be contained - e.g. soil, compost, peat, artificial nutrient media, etc. A plant, or material capable of being propagated so as to form a plant? may also be present.

Thus a container containing growing material and a plant or material capable of being propagated so as to form a plant is also within the scope of the present invention.

The invention further includes an assembly comprising a container of the present invention and a plant pot wherein the container is located within the plant pot.

A further assembly that is within the scope of the present invention is a stack comprising a plurality of containers of the present invention, as discussed above.

Thus the container may be provided alone or as part of an assembly. It may also be provided as part of a kit. Thus a kit comprising the container and also comprising one or more of the following may be provided: a) a plant pot b) growing material c) a plant or material capable of being propagated so as to form a plant.

d) a tray or other base for supporting the plant pot / assisting in drainage e) a protective cover for the container (e.g. a transparent or translucent dome) i) instructions for use (preferably instructions explaining / showing how the container can be placed within a plant pot and subsequently removed to enable viewing through the transparent or translucent material).

If desired, the base and/or cover (if present) may be provided in snap-on or clip-on form.

A further kit within the scope of the present invention comprises a plurality of containers of the present invention of different sizes. This is useful where one or more repottings of a plant may be required. as will be discussed later on.

Kits can be provided for educational or research purposes (e.g. for children, schools, colleges, research organizations, etc). The present invention is not limited to being used for studying plants but can be used to study anything contained within the container. Thus it can be used to study small animals / insects. For example ant and worm colonies can be studied.

Kits for such use can therefore also be provided.

More usually, kits will be provided for the private gardener or for commercial growers.

The present invention further provides a method comprising placing a container of the invention in a plant pot and using it to grow a plant, the method comprising the step of removing the container from the plant pot and viewing plant roots or growing material through the transparent or translucent material (e.g. to check if insufficient or excessive watering / feeding has occurred, or if parasites are present).

This method can be performed without disturbing the growing medium or plant. Once it has been performed the container can be replaced in the plant pot.

A plant that has been grown in a container of the present invention is also within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a container of the present invention Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through a conventional plant pot. (The shape is the same as that of the container shown in Figure 1.) F igure 3 shows the container shown in Figure I when placed inside the conventional plant pot shown in Figure 2.

Example

A container 100 of the present invention is purchased by a gardener, who has a standard size plant pot and requests a container of generally similar dimensions and size.

The container 100 is shown in Figure I. It is radially symmetrical about a vertical axis extending through the centre of the container. It has an upper, knurled lip 101, an upper flange 102 and a collar 103, all of which are opaque. It also has a generally round side-wall 104 located below the collar 103, which slopes downwardly and inwardly, so that the circumference of the container 100 is smaller at the bottom than at the top of the container 100. The side-wall 104 is transparent or translucent. The container 100 has two circumferentially extending inner ledges 105, 106, which are respectively located so as to connect the flange 102 with the collar 103 and to connect the collar 103 with the side-wall 104.

The container 100 also comprises a base 107. The base defines a plurality of drainage holes 108, 109. 'I'hese may be provided when the container is sold or may be formed when needed by pushing out weakened areas that define the positions of the holes.

In the embodiment shown the base 107 is not completely flat but includes partially raised areas I 10, which can themselves have additional holes for drainage (not shown). These raised areas can assist in aeration and drainage. The base 107 is also transparent or translucent.

The container 100 has been formed of a resilient plastics material by moulding, although other techniques could have been used. The plastics material is transparent or translucent but the knurled lip 101, an upper flange 102 and collar 103, have been coloured by painting them with a durable, opaque material. (Alternatively they could, for example. have been formed initially of opaque material and then adhered or fused to the transparent or translucent side-wall.) I'urning now to Figure 2. the plant pot 200 that is already possessed by the gardener is shown. This is of the same general shape and size as the container 100 and similar reference numerals are therefore used. Thus, reference number 201 of the plant pot, like reference number 101 of the container corresponds to an upper lip, reference number 202 of the plant pot, like reference number 101 of the container, corresponds to a flange, etc. However, unlike the container 100, all of the plant pot 200 is formed of opaque material (e.g. an opaque plastics material or opaque ceramic/terracotta material). This contrasts with the transparent or translucent side-wall 104 and base 107 of the container 100.

When it is desired to use the container 100, it can be filled with growing material, such as soil or compost, and a plant, seed or other propagating material can be placed in or on the growing material. Desirably the container 100 is filled so that the growing material is at a level above that of the transparent side-wall. In order to assist drainage, sharp sand, grit, or other coarse material may be provided in the bottom of the container 100. The container can then be placed within the plant pot 200 in the manner shown in Figure 3. If desired, a dish (not shown) can be provided below plant pot 200 to collect water that has drained through container 100.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the container 100 rests upon upper ledge 205 of the plant pot 200. Upper flanges 02 and rim 101 of the container extend above the rim 201 of the plant pot and are exposed to light. However they are formed of opaque material and light is therefore prevented from travelling down the rim 10 1 end flange 102 to a level beneath the surface 300 of growing material. Collar 103 is also opaque even though it does not extend significantly above the level ofthe rim. This is because some ofthe collar 103 is exposed above the level of growing material and light from above could otherwise penetrate through the collar and below the surface of the growing material.

Periodically, the gardener may wish to inspect the roots of the plant or to inspect the growing material. This can the be achieved very easily by gripping the rim 101 or flange 102, lifting the container 100 out from the plant pot 200 and viewing the roots through the translucent or transparent side-wall 104 and base 107 of the container 100. It can thus be readily ascertained whether or not there are problems in the development of the roots or in the growing medium. If there are any such problems then the gardener can take appropriate action. If not the container 100 can be replaced in the plant pot 200 without any significant disturbance to the plant or growing material. Various horticulturaUflower societies, such as the Clematis society, advocate that plants/cuttings be grown close to the inner perimeter of a container but recommend against frequently rifling the plants/cuttings out of the container in order to avoid damage. The present invention allows such plants / cuttings to be viewed many times without damage.

If the plant is healthy, a gardener can use the present invention to easily determine when re-potting into another container is necessary. Several re-pottings may be needed as a plant grows to maturity. Thus containers 100 ofthe present invention may be provided in a series of increasing size so as to fit within a series of plant pots 200 of increasing size. For each re- potting many inspections may be required and therefore by using containers 100 of the present invention, a great deal of disturbance to the plant and plant growing medium can be avoided over the lifetime of the plant.

Again it should be remembered that the plant pots 200 can be standard ones that may already be in the gardener's possession and therefore it will often only be necessary to purchase containers of the present invention 100. In any event it is not necessary to manufacture special sleeves or covers, in contrast to the invention disclosed in GB-A- 2197574.

In the UK plant pots are generally characterized by their maximum outer diameters (measured across the upper rim), although the heights of the containers are sometimes also quoted. Examples of typical standard sizes are shown in the table overleaf.

The table shown overleaf provides typical dimensions of such pots.

(Tolerance levels are typically within less than 10%, preferably within less than 5% of the dimensions indicated. ) Maximum Outer Diameter Height (Across upper rim) Round pot* 2 lt2 " (60 mm) 2 1/4 " (57 mm) 3 1/2 " (90 mm) 3 1/2 " (90 mm) 4" (101.5 mm) 3 3/4 " (95 mm) 5" (127 mm) 4 3/4 " (120.5 mm) 6" (152.5 mm) 5 1/2 " (139.5mm) 7"(178mm) 63/4-(171 mm) 8" (203 mm) 7 1/2" (190 mm) " (254 mm) 9 1/2 " (241 mm) 12 " (305 mm) 11 1/2 " (292 mm) Square pots 2 1/2 " (60 mm) 3" (76 mm) 3 1/4 " (82 mm) 3 1/2 " (89 mm) 4 1/2"(114mm) 5"(127mm) 1/2 " (139.5 mm) 6 1/2 " (165rnm) It will of course be appreciated that many modifications can be made to the arrangement illustrated herein by way of example and still fall within the scope of the present claims.

For example, the side-wall (or part thereof) may be transparent or translucent and the base may be opaque, or vice-versa; the shape or size of the container may vary to fit different shapes or sizes of plant pots; etc. As another example the whole, or part of the container could be made in various colours of semi-transparent or semi-opaque material, such as green, yellow etc. Also it should be appreciated that the term "plant pot" is used herein to cover not only standard plant pots but also other devices for maintaining or supporting plants. Thus carry trays and shuttle trays are included. (These comprise a plurality of recesses for receiving plants or for receiving containers containing plants.) The term "plant pot" also covers specialist containers. An example of such a container is a root trainer, which is elongate in nature in order to encourage root growth.

Claims

Claims 1. A plant container that comprises transparent or translucent

material, whereby, when a plant is grown within the container in a growing medium, the plant roots or the growing medium below surface level can be inspected through the transparent or translucent material; wherein the container is shaped to fit within a plant pot and comprises at least an upper outwardly extending flange and/or rim of opaque material.
2. A plant container according to claim 1, wherein only the upper outwardly extending flange and/or rim is formed of opaque material.
3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 having a side-wall, at least part of which is transparent or translucent.
4. A container according to any preceding claim having a base, at least part of which is transparent or translucent.
5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is shaped so that it can be stacked in the plant pot so as to rest upon an inner ledge of the plant pot in a manner so that, when the container is in use to grow a plant, light cannot penetrate to the roots of the plant unless the container is removed from contact with said inner ledge.
6. A container according to any preceding claim that is substantially the same shape and/or size as the plant pot.
7. A container according to any preceding claim that is generally frustoconical in shape.
8. A container according to any preceding claim having a base that comprises one or more drainage holes.
9. A container according to any preceding claim, further comprising growing material.
10. A container according to claim 10, comprising a plant or material capable of being propagated so as to form a plant.
11. An assembly comprising a container according to any of claims 1 to 10 and a plant pot, wherein the container is located within the plant pot.
12 An assembly comprising a stack of a plurality of containers according to any of claims 1 to 8.
13. A kit comprising a container according to any of claims 1 to 8 and one or more of the following: a) a plant pot.

b) growing material c) a plant or material capable of being propagated so as to form a plant.

d) a tray or other base for supporting the plant pot / assisting in drainage e) a protective cover for the container (e.g. a transparent or translucent dome) f) instructions for use.
14. A kit comprising a plurality of containers according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the containers are of different sizes and / or are colour coded.
15. A method comprising placing a container according to any of claims 1 to 8 in a plant pot and using the container to grow or maintain a plant in a growing medium, the method comprising the step of removing the container from the plant pot and viewing the roots or growing medium through the transparent or translucent material.
16. The use of a container according to any of claims 1 to 10 in studying plants or parts thereof.
17. The use of a container according to any of claims 1 to 10 in studying animals (e.g. in studying insects, worms, or plant parasites).
18. The invention substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 3.

18. A container according to any preceding claim and being of coloured semi-transparent or coloured semi-opaque material, such as green, yellow etc. 19 The invention substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or example.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A plant container that comprises transparent or translucent material, whereby, when a plant is grown within the container in a growing medium, the plant roots or the growing medium below surface level can be inspected through the transparent or translucent material; wherein the container is shaped to fit within a plant pot (as hereinbefore defined) and comprises at least an upper outwardly extending flange andlor rim of opaque material.

2. A plant container according to claim I, wherein only the upper outwardly extending flange and/or rim is formed of opaque material.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 having a side-wall, at least part of which is transparent or translucent.

4. A container according to any preceding claim having a base, at least part of which is transparent or translucent.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is shaped so that it can be stacked in the plant pot so as to rest upon an inner ledge of the plant pot in a manner so that, when the container is in use to grow a plant, light cannot penetrate to the roots of the plant unless the container is removed from contact with said inner ledge.

6. A container according to any preceding claim that is substantially the same shape andlor size as the plant pot.

7. A container according to any preceding claim that is generally frustoconical in shape.

8. A container according to any preceding claim having a base that comprises one or more drainage holes.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, further comprising growing material.

10. A container according to claim 9, comprising a plant or material capable of being propagated so as to form a plant.

11. An assembly comprising a container according to any of claims 1 to 10 and a plant pot, wherein the container is located within the plant pot.

12 An assembly comprising a stack of a plurality of containers according to any of claims 1 toe.

13. A kit comprising a container according to any of claims l to 8 and one or more of the following: a) a plant pot.

b) growing material c) a plant or material capable of being propagated so as to form a plant.

d) a tray or other base for supporting the plant pot / assisting in drainage e) a protective cover for Me container (e.g. a transparent or translucent dome) f) instructions for use.

14. A kit comprising a plurality of containers according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the containers are of different sizes and / or are colour coded.

] S. A method comprising placing a container according to any of claims 1 to 8 in a plant pot and using the container to grow or maintain a plant in a growing medium, the method comprising the step of removing the container from the plant pot and viewing the roots or growing medium through the transparent or translucent material.

16. The use of a container according to any of claims l to 10 in studying plants or parts thereof. it

17. The use of a container according to any of claims 1 to 10 in studying animals (e.g. in studying insects, worms, or plant parasites).