Method and means for covering low plant growths
AssigneeBreveteam S.A.
InventorJean-Pierre Muller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and article for horticultural protection of plant growths during the maturation thereof whereby the volume exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and moisture is controlled in accordance with the demands thereof during maturation.
Claims15
A method for horticultural protection of plant growth during the maturation thereof whereby there is provided an interchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture between the area surrounding the plant growth and the ambient environment, comprising the steps of:
- a. placing a resiliently deformable, perforate web capable of transverse expansion over ground having seeds or seedlings therein which, upon development, will present primary foliage of a dimension greater than the largest dimension of the individual perforations of said web;
- b. securely affixing the peripheral edges of said web to the ground such that said web is retained in place over said ground but is yet capable of sufficient transverse expansion to envelop said plant growth during maturation;
- and,
- c. allowing said plant growth to mature substantially completely beneath said web causing said perforations of said web to expand thus permitting transverse expansion thereof in response to maturation of said plant growth and allow greater volume exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and moisture in accordance with an increasing demand thereof due to said maturation.
An article for horticultural protection of plant growth during the maturation thereof whereby the volume exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and moisture is influenced in accordance with the demands thereof during said maturation, said article comprising a web of resiliently deformable material having a plurality of perforations formed therein in a central zone longitudinally disposed along said web, said perforations comprising rows of slits parallel to the longitudinal axis of said web wherein:
- a. said slits are each from about 2 mm to about 12 mm in length;
- b. successive slits in each of said rows are separated by a distance of from about 2 mm to about 12 mm;
- c. successive rows of slits are separated by a distance of from about 2 mm to about 12 mm;
- and,
- d. said web is from about 0.03 mm to about 0.10 mm in thickness, whereby said plant growth is confined beneath said web.
The method of manufacturing a perforate web for horticultural protection of plant growth during the maturation thereof whereby there is provided an interchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture between the area surrounding the plant growth and the ambient environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. slitting individual perforations of from about 2 mm to about 12 mm in length in said web;
- b. slitting said individual perforations in a longitudinal row along said web where said individual perforations are separated from successive slits by a distance of from about 2 mm to about 12 mm in length;
- and
- c. slitting a plurality of said rows transversely across said web where individual rows of slits are separated from successive rows of slits by a distance of from about 2 mm to about 12 mm in length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.