AU674543B2 - Plant growth container - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: e o Applicant(s) Ronneby Tree Farm Pty. Ltd.

101 Beaumont Road Berwick Victoria 3806

AUSTRALIA

Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "PLANT GROWTH CONTAINER" Our Reference: 311750 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): ~h&Q/A fS;0 2^1 v l o o 1 PLANT GROWTH CONTAINER This invention relates to containers for storing growing plants and more specifically, to containers suitable for storing growing plants which are intended for eventual transfer to the ground.

The word "plant" as used throughout this specification is to be understood as embracing all forms of plant life, including shrubs, bushes and trees, having a root structure which extends at least during the early stages of growth of the plant.

A container for the root ball of a growing plant is the subject of Australian Patent No. 629067. A particular feature of that container is the side wall arrangement which promotes air pruning of the expanding root structure. The arrangement is such that laterally extending roots are directed towards openings of restricted size formed through the container side walls.

The root growth which extends to the openings is air S 20 pruned in a known manner, thus causing secondary roots to form. The secondary roots repeat the same growth and air pruning process. The root system thus obtained, forms a well matted and cohesive root ball which is ideal for transplantation.

25 It is a characteristic of the container of patent 629067 that it does not have a base. The container is in effect a tubular member formed of a flexible panel, the upright edges of which can be secured together to retain the tubular form. A problem with that container, and 30 other containers which do not have a base, is that it is difficult to transport the container from one place to another while soil and/or a plant remain within the container. Because of that difficulty, such containers are not considered suitable for use in circumstances where the container is to be filled at a central potting machine with the growing media and then transported to another location at which the container is to be stored while the plant is growing.

A further problem with the containers of patent la 629067, and similar containers, is that there is no control of downward root extension comparable to the control imposed on lateral root extension. It is therefore generally necessary to locate the container on a surface which cannot be penetrated by downwardly extending roots, or to otherwise guard against uncontrolled and downward extension of the root structure into the underlying soil or gravel, thus reducing lateral root growth.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container of the general kind identified which has a base adequate to support a load situated within the container.

It is a further and separate object of the invention to provide means for controlling the downward extension of the root structure of a plant situated within a container of the general kind identified. It is yet another object of the invention in a preferred form to provide means constituting a container base which serves both as a load supporting means and barrier allowing controlled root penetration.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for growing plants including, a side wall and a base wall formed separately from said side wall, each said wall being formed of a sheet-like material having a plurality of alternating inwardly and outwardly projecting hollow cones or cusps extending across each surface thereof, a series of rows of said inwardly projecting cones or cusps extending across an inner surface of said side wall, each said row extending transverse to a central axis of the container, a recess formed between each two adjacent said rows, said base wall being located within said side wall and having a peripheral edge portion engaged in a said recess so as to thereby retain the base wall against substantial movement relative to said side wall, and a hole formed through the apex of at least some of the outwardly projecting cones or cusps of each said wall so as to 25 facilitate air pruning of the root structure of a plant growing within said container.

In a preferred form of the container, it has a side wall composed of a flexible panel which is the same as or similar to that described in patent 629067. The recesses formed between adjacent rows of cones or cusps on the inside surface of such a wall provide a convenient loca'ion for the peripheral edge portion of a container base. In such an arrangement, the base may be plate-like and may have cusps and openings of the same form as those of the side wall.

The container base may take any of a variety of SCC 'WINDWORDSMONEWOIRK+It0'D OC possible forms. By way of example, the base may simply be an imperforate plate, which is fitted to the container and which extends across its full diameter. Alternatively, the base may include perforations of limited size, to facilitate air pruning of the downwardly extending roots.

The base may, in a further alternative embodiment, include recesses suitable for guiding roots towards openings formed in the base, the openings being provided to facilitate the air pruning process. For this purpose and in any application where the base is formed to facilitate air pruning, it is preferable to have an air gap between the base and the surface upon which the container is supported.

In yet another arrangement, the base may be formed with an opening located substantially centrally about the container axis. In that event, the opening should preferably be covered by a goo-fabric or other suitable material to prevent the contents of the container from .ego **emptying through the opening. This type of base may also be formed with perforations or recesses as previously discussed.

The base may also include provision to accommodate fastening means which may be used to fasten together two overlapping edge portions of a panel which forms the side or sides of a plant growth container. In its simplest form, this provision may be a hole in the base, large enough to allow the fastening means eg. in the form of a clip to pass through.

The base may be made from any suitable material, such as a plastics material or a metal. If a metal is chosen, it is preferably of a composition that is both rust and corrosion proof. Clearly, appropriate selection of the base material will allow for repeated re-use of a base.

In a further arrangement, there is provided a plant container having a side wall and a separable base. The base preferably has a load supporting characteristic:, and it may also be arranged so as to allow for controlled or limited passage of the downwardly extending root structure 3 of a plant. In one embodiment, the base serves as a common base for a plurality of containers. That is, each of a plurality of tubular sections is placed on the base so that one open end of that tubular section is closed (at least in part) by the base, and each tubular section forms the side wall or side walls of a respective container.

One particular container base which is suitable for use in a multiple container arrangement, includes a load supporting platform having a plurality of legs or supports which operate to retain that platform a suitable distance above a supporting surface so as to thereLy form an air gap between that surface and the platform. The platform is preferably formed of an open grid, or grating, or a network or mesh of intersecting elongate members, so as to have openings therethrough.

With an arrangement of the foregoing kind the openings formed by the platform grid or mesh will generally be relatively large, and in particular may not .*..prevent escape of soil or provide satisfactory controli 20 over downward extension of the root structure of a plant.

It is therefore preferred to place a layer or layers of a suitable material over that grid or mesh, and that material may be a geo-fabric material or other suitable material having relatively small perforations which allow 25 the passage of a fine root but otherwise provide a root penetration control barrier. A material suitable for that purpose is referred to in Australian patent 598158.

Although a single section of root control material is preferred, it may be that a separate section of such material will be provided for each of the tubular container sections.

In order to assist in arriving at an understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments are illustrated in the attached drawings. However, it should be understood that the following description is illustrative only and should not be taken in any way as a restriction on the generality of the invention as described above. Throughout the drawings, duplicated parts are referenced by the same numerals.

4 Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a container according to one embodiment of the invention.

shows a cross-sectional view of a container having a base located near the bottom thereof.

shows a fastener clip as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

shows a plan view of a circular base having small performations.

shows a cross-sectional view of a container according to a further embodiment of the invention having a base located near the bottom thereof.

shows a perspective view of a base similar to that shown in Figure shows a perspective view of a base having an opening located concentrically about its axis.

shows a cross-sectional view of a base to accommodate a plurality of containers.

shows a perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 8.

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r In Figure i, there is shown a container 1, of the type described in Australian Patent No. 629067. It must be understood however, that the invention is not limited 25 to use with such a container, but may be used with any suitable container of any shape. This includes any smooth walled tubular containers of cylindrical, square or other cross-section. The container as shown includes a circular base 2, which can be attached to the container side wall 3 in any appropriate fashion. In the arrangement shown, the base 2 is located within the tubular section of the container 1 so as to be surrounded by the side wall 3, and is retained in position by cooperation with that side wall. Since the side wall 3 is formed as described in patent 629067, the inner surface of that wall has a series of rows of inwardly projecting cones or cusps 4 (as seen in Figure and a recess 5 is formed between each two adjacent rows. The peripheral edge portion 6 of the base 2, or at least part of that edge portion, is positioned within one such recess 5 so as to be elevated above the lower edge 7 of the side wall. The base 2 is thereby supported by the cones or cusps 4 of the row which defines the lower boundary of the recess.

%i.levation of the base 2 is necessary if an air gap 8 is to be provided within the confines of the container 1 below that base 2. Assuming an air gap is required, it need not be provided in the foregoing manner, and consequently the base can be located, if desired, at the extreme lower edge 7 of the side wall 3.

In the particular arrangement shown, the overlapping upright edges of the panel which forms the side wall 3, are held together by a wire clip 9. It will be appreciated that other fastening means could be used for that purpose. In the case of a clip 9 as shown however, the base may be provided with a hole 10 as shown -o permit .o.passage of one leg of the clip 9, hut that is only necessary in situations where a clip 9 is to be used at oleo the bottom of the container. If the container is of 20 relatively small size, only one clip may be required, and

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that could be at the top rather than the bottom of the side wall 3 as shown. In many cases however, there will be a need for a clip 9 both at the top and the bottom of :..the side wall 3.

S 25 Figure 3 shows in more detail the wire clip 9 which may be used to form the container from a panel. The clip 9, is simply a resilient fastener formed from any suitable material, which engages either side of two overlapping edge portions of a panel, which form the vertical sides 3 of the plant growth container. Such an arrangement is i shown in Figures 1 and 2, both showing clip 9 passing through opening Although the base may be imperforate, Figure 4 shows a base 11 which has perforations 12, and those perforations 12 are preferably of limited size to allow for air pruning of the plant roots.

In one particular arrangement, as shown in Figure the base is formed so as to have the same shape characteristics as those of the panel forming the side 6 wall. That is, it is formed with a series of cones or cusps 21, at least some of which have a hole 23 of limited size at the apex or terminal end. The base 20 may also be formed of the same material as that of the panel. With such an arrangement, the base serves to guide downwardly extending roots to the holes 23 in the base, in the same manner as laterally extending roots are gui-ded by the cones or cusps of the side wall. The base therefore acts as a root control barrier in the same manner as the side wall functions as such a barrier. Assuming the base is sufficiently rigid, it may also function as a load supporting platform for the contents of the container. A perspective view of the base 20 is seen in Figure 6. Air gap 12 should again be provided for effective air pruning.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7. In that embodiment the base 30 has a central opening 31 of relatively large size. Base 30 may be fitted to a container in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 2. It is preferable, in order to prevent the S 20 contents of the container from emptying through opening 31, to provide a geo-fabric or non-perforate material 32 across it. However, it may not be necessary to provide material covering 32, as the plant roots may hold the soil or growing medium sufficiently above opening 31. If a 25 covering is required, this may take the form of an imperforate plate. Alternatively one or both of the base and the plate may incorporate perforations, or cones or 0 cusps leading to openings, in order to effect air pruning.

Figures 8 and 9 show yet another embodiment of the 30 invention v is particularly suited for use with 000o relatively su. Corntainers eg, in the order of 75mm x 100mm but which can be adapted for use with larger containers if desired, or multiple containers.

In this embodiment, a base 40 is provided which is adapted to support at least one container, but which is particularly suited to support a plurality of containers as shown. The containers to be supported need not include their own bases, but may simply be open-ended containers, for example, as described in Australian Patent No. 629067.

410 7 The base 40 has a plurality of legs 41 and may also include a load supporting platform 42. Platform 42 is shown in Figure 9 as being in the form of a relatively widely spaced grid network and, in this form, provides little resistance to prevent escape of soil and has no control over the downward extension of the root structure of a plant. Platform 42 as shown, is therefore, ideally covered with at least one layer of a geo-fabric material 43 or other suitable material, in order to prevent escape of soil. The material 43 may also be provided with small perforations enabling air pruning of the roots as they enter the perforations.

It is envisaged that one layer of material 43 will be used to cover platform 42. However, it is possible that the platform may be provided with a layer of geo-fabric or other suitable material, for each individual container.

In an alternative arrangement platform 42 may be formed of a closely spaced perforate material, rigid enough to support the container or containers and also providing a barrier against the downward extension of plant roots. In this arrangement, it may not be necessary to provide material 43.

It is further envisaged that base 40 need not necessarily include support platform 42, as it is possible that the chosen material 43, may be of suitable rigidity to support the containers itself. Further, it may not be necessary to provide an air gap between the lower end of the containers and the base supporting surface ie. it may be that legs 41 may be dispensed with. In this arrangement, base 40 may itself rest on the supporting surface, which would in turn provide support for the containers.

The containers themselves may be attached in some form to base 40, to secure them against movement. Such attachment is especially advantageous where the containers and base are to be transported and may comprise any attachment means capable of securing the container to the base. One suitable form of attachment is shown in Figure 8 8. As previously described, clip 9 is shown securing together the overlapping upright edges of the panel which forms the side wall of the container. A further clip 44 is shown and this engages part of base 40 and at least part of the container, thereby securing the container to the base. It should be noted that one clip may perform the functions of both clips 9 and 14, however, it would normally be more convenient to use two clips. Further, any number of clips 44 may be used to secure the container to the base. The clip 44 may simply be adapted to engage the grid network of platform 42 and/or to pass through material 43. It may be necessary to provide specific openings in material 43 to allow clip 9 to pass through, although, depending on the type of material selected, it may be possible to simply force the clip through the material at the desired location of the container.

It is also possible to use this same attachment method, to attach containers having bases similar to those shown in Figures i, 2 and 4 to 7, to a supporting structure. It will sometimes be necessary to provide a second hole 10, similar to that provided for clip 9 shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the base, to allow clip 44 to pass through. However, where a sufficient air gap is left, 44 may be able to secure the container without 25 passing through the base.

It is envisaged that the embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 9 and other like embodiments may be used in automatic or semi-automatic processes, ie. in the field of filling containers and/or in the field of their transportation. The base 40 could form part of a conveyor line, with the material 43 forming the moving conveyor.

The containers could then be loaded at one end of the conveyor and conveyed to a filling point, where the plant and soil or growing medium could be placed in the containers. The containers would not need their own separate base, as the conveying material 43 would act to prevent the escape of plant and soil. In the same or a separate line, the containers may be conveyed to the point of sale, or to the despatch area for subsequent loading 9 onto transport vehicles.

The present invention therefore provides an advantageous arrangement for the growth of plants, particularly in circumstances where they are to be transported or temporarily stored.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be many variations and modifications of the configuration described herein which are within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (8)

1. A container for growing plants including, a side wall and a base wall formed separately from said side wall, each said wall being forrme-d of a sheet-like material having a plurality of alternating inwardly and outwardly projecting hollow cones or cusps extending across each surface thereof, a series of rolvs of said inwardly projecting cones or cusps extending across an inner surface of said side wall, each said row extending transverse to a central axis of the container, a recess formed between each two adjacent said rows, said base wall being located within said side wall and having a peripheral edge portion engaged in a said recess so as to thereby retain the base wall against substantial movement relative to said side wall, and a hole formed through the apex of at least some of the outwardly projecting cones or cusps of each said wall so as to facilitate air pruning of the root structure of a plant growing within said container.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly projecting cones or cusps of one surface of a said wall form the outwardly projecting cones or cusps of the other surface of that wall.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each said wall is formed of the same said material.

4. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein an air gap is formed between the underside of the base wall and the lower edge of the side wall. i

5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein said base wall is releasably connected to said side wall.

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein said releasable connection includes a clip which is releasably engageable with both said walls. i" 25

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein an opening is formed through said base wall adjacent said peripheral edge portion, and part of said clip extends through said opening.

8. A container for growth plants substantially as herein particularly described with reference to what is shown by Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. RA\ ABSTRACT A base is provided suitable for use with a plant container 1. The base 2 is capable of supporting a load which is placed within the container 1. The base 2 may include control means 12 for controlling the downward extension of the root structure of a plant. 0* I