# US 10,477,781 B2 · Plant tray > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,477,781 B2 - Document ID: US10477781B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/296,396 - Filed: 2016-10-18 - Published: 2017-02-09 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-07 - Assignees: Blackmore Company, Inc. - Applicants: Blackmore Company, Inc. - Inventors: Fred N. Blackmore, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477781B2 ## CPC - A01G 9/0295: {Units comprising two or more connected receptacles} - A01G 9/028: {Multi-compartmented pots} - A01G 24/44: in block, mat or sheet form - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) ## Abstract A horticulture tray including a plurality of growing cells each configured to accommodate a stabilized growth plug therein. A support peak of each cell is configured to protrude into a center of the stabilized growth plug and force soil of the stabilized growth plug outward and away from the support peak. A sidewall of each cell is angled to force soil of the stabilized growth plug inward and away from the sidewall. The support peak and the sidewall force soil of the stabilized growth plug together between the support peak and the sidewall to compact the soil to form a soil bridge that extends between the support peak and the sidewall, and prevents soil from passing through the growing cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A horticulture tray having a plurality of growing cells each configured to accommodate a stabilized growth plug therein, each stabilized growth plug including a plant, soil, and a soil wrapper, each growing cell comprising: a first end defining an aperture configured to receive the stabilized growth plug; a second end opposite to the first end, at the second end are a plurality of drain holes for allowing excess liquid to drain therethrough; a sidewall extending from the first end to the second end, the sidewall tapers inward from the first end to the second end, the sidewall defines a plurality of arcuate chambers disposed radially about a central axis of the growing cell, the plurality of arcuate chambers are joined together to define the growing cell and each have an interior shape that is concave relative to the central axis; and a support peak arranged along a longitudinal axis of the growing cell such that the support peak is at a center of the plurality of arcuate chambers, the support peak is proximate to, but spaced apart from, the second end, the support peak supports the stabilized growth plug spaced apart from the second end; wherein: at the second end, outer portions of the plurality of drain holes are defined by the plurality of arcuate chambers, and inner portions of the plurality of drain holes are defined by inner arcuate surfaces that extend upward and away from the second end to form the support peak; the support peak is configured to protrude into a center of the stabilized growth plug and force soil of the stabilized growth plug outward and away from the support peak; the sidewall is angled to force soil of the stabilized growth plug inward and away from the sidewall; and the support peak and the sidewall force soil of the stabilized growth plug together between the support peak and the sidewall to compact the soil to form a soil bridge that extends between the support peak and the sidewall, and prevents soil from passing to the second end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The horticulture tray of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is angled to define a perimeter gap between the stabilized growth plug and the sidewall that promotes uniform, lateral growth of a root system of the plant by air pruning. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The horticulture tray of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is angled to provide a seal between the stabilized growth plug and the sidewall at an end of the stabilized growth plug in contact with the support peak, due to the seal liquid is retained in the perimeter gap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The horticulture tray of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is devoid of horizontal surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The horticulture tray of claim 1, wherein the sidewall includes a stabilized growth plug support portion arranged vertically between the support peak and the second end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The horticulture tray of claim 1, wherein the soil bridge of the stabilized growth plug is generally arcuate and concave with respect to the second end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The horticulture tray of claim 1, wherein the support peak supports the stabilized growth plug spaced apart from the second end to define a gap between the stabilized growth plug and the second end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The horticulture tray of claim 1, wherein each growing cell defines a channel configured to convey water between adjacent growing cells. ### Claim 9 A horticulture tray having a plurality of growing cells each configured to accommodate a stabilized growth plug therein, each stabilized growth plug including a plant, soil, and a soil wrapper, each growing cell comprising: a first end defining an aperture configured to receive the stabilized growth plug; a second end opposite to the first end, at the second end are a plurality of drain holes for allowing excess liquid to drain therethrough; a sidewall defining a plurality of arcuate shaped chambers disposed about a central axis of the growing cell and extending longitudinally between the first and second ends and having a curve angle of 110°-130°, the plurality of arcuate chambers are joined together to define the growing cell and each have an interior shape that is concave relative to the central axis, each arcuate shaped chamber defining a plant supporting portion axially between the first and second ends, each arcuate shaped chamber having a first length that tapers between the first end and the plant supporting portion at a first rate and a second length that tapers from the plant supporting portion to the second end at a second rate that is greater than the first rate, the growing cell being devoid of horizontal surfaces at the plant supporting portion, the plant supporting portion is configured to support the stabilized growth plug spaced apart from the second end; and a support peak arranged along a longitudinal axis of the growing cell such that the support peak is at a center of the plurality of arcuate chambers, the support peak is proximate to, but spaced apart from, the second end, the support peak supports the stabilized growth plug spaced apart from the second end; wherein: at the second end, outer portions of the plurality of drain holes are defined by the plurality of arcuate chambers, and inner portions of the plurality of drain holes are defined by inner arcuate surfaces that extend upward and away from the second end to form the support peak; the support peak is configured to protrude into a center of the stabilized growth plug and force soil of the stabilized growth plug outward and away from the support peak; the sidewall is angled to force soil of the stabilized growth plug inward and away from the sidewall; and the support peak and the sidewall force soil of the stabilized growth plug together between the support peak and the sidewall to compact the soil to form a soil bridge that extends between the support peak and the sidewall, the soil bridge provides a soil dam that prevents soil from passing therethrough to the second end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The horticulture tray of claim 9, wherein the plant supporting portion is configured to create a seal between the stabilized growth plug and the sidewall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The horticulture tray of claim 10, wherein the sidewall defines a perimeter gap between the stabilized growth plug and a portion of the sidewall that is axially between the first end and the plant supporting portion, the perimeter gap being configured to promote uniform growth of a root system by air pruning and to retain liquid axially between the seal and the first end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The horticulture tray of claim 9, wherein the sidewall is devoid of horizontal surfaces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The horticulture tray of claim 9, wherein the support peak supports the stabilized growth plug spaced apart from the second end to define a gap between the stabilized growth plug and the second end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The horticulture tray of claim 9, wherein each growing cell defines a channel configured to convey water between adjacent growing cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The horticulture tray of claim 9, further comprising: an outer lip; and a ridge disposed between the outer lip and the first ends of adjacent ones of the growing cells, the ridge preventing fluid communication between the adjacent ones of the growing cells when a fluid level is above the first end of each growing cell and below the ridge.