Plant-growing tray
AssigneeInternational Plant Propagation Technology Ltd
InventorJohn Cooley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plant-growing tray for containing cylindrical stabilised media for growing plants comprises an array of flared columns, a lower end of the columns being wider than an upper end. The columns define an array of cells therebetween for containing cylindrical stabilised media, and a column comprises one or more contact edges defined by an intersection between a wall of the flared column and a virtual cylindrical surface in a cell, such that the contact edges are suitable for contacting a cylindrical stabilised medium positioned in the cell.
Claims28
A plant-growing tray for containing cylindrical stabilised media for growing plants, the tray comprising:
- an array of flared columns, a lower end of the columns being wider than an upper end;
- in which the columns define an array of cells therebetween for containing cylindrical stabilised media;
- and
- in which a column comprises one or more contact edges defined by an intersection between a wall of the flared column and a virtual cylindrical surface in a cell, such that the contact edges are suitable for contacting a cylindrical stabilised medium positioned in the cell.
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, in which the contact edge extends upwardly over at least 40% 50%, or 60%, or 70%, or 80%, or 90% of the height of the column, preferably over the entire height of the column.
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, in which one or more columns is hollow and comprises one or more openings through the wall of the column, the edges of the openings being configured to lie on the virtual cylindrical surface in the cell.
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, in which the flared columns comprise a circular cross-section, or a square cross section, or a polygonal cross section.
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, in which the columns comprise a plurality of convex walls configured to form cell walls, or
- in which the columns comprise a plurality of flat walls configured to form cell walls.
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, in which an upper portion of the flared columns is chamfered, such that the chamfered columns define a widened upper portion of the cells.
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of column-connecting walls configured to connect adjacent columns to one another
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, in which the flared columns have an angle of taper which varies along their height.
A plant-growing tray according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more projections facing into the cell, configured in use to contact the cylindrical stabilised medium positioned in the cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.