Plant culture vessel

#The present invention relates to a vessel for use in growing plant tissue cultures, e.g., plant tissue, parts of plants or plants.

#In the growing of plant tissue cultures, it is likely that the grower will want to provide various growth conditions at various stages of the plant growth. Such conditions may include, for example, a condition under which the container is hermetically sealed, a condition under which the container is allowed to breathe only to a very limited extent, a condition under which air is allowed to pass freely into and out of the closed container but with the air going into the container being filtered to remove possible contamination. Vessels for this purpose are known. An example of such a known vessel is illustrated by my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,765.

#A principal object of the present invention is to provide an economical vessel which is readily adaptable by the grower to provide any of the variety of growing conditions as may be desired by the grower. Economy is not only present insofar as the cost of manufacture is concerned (and thus the grower's acquisition cost) but also from the standpoint of efficient use of the area or space that a grower has available to be occupied by plant culture vessels. An additional consideration for the grower is the problem of sterilizing the vessel prior to its use and embodiments of the present invention are well suited to receive that treatment.

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a view looking at the underside of a portion of the cap;

#FIG. 3 is a view looking upward from below a portion of the base;

#The following disclosure is offered for public dissemination in return for the grant of a patent. Although it is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions or further improvements.

#A vessel in accordance with the present invention comprises two components, a base, generally 10, and a cap, generally 11. When the base and cap are mated together as illustrated in FIG. 1, they define an enclosure or chamber 12 which can be used for the culturing of plants. The configuration is substantially square in horizontal cross-section. While they may be made in various sizes, I believe that an appropriate size for the chamber would be to have the square dimension of the chamber equal to about 25/8 inches (6.67 cm) and to have its height 37/8 inches (9.84 cm). The vessel should be transparent, or at least translucent so that light can enter. The base would be made of a rigid plastic, such as polycarbonate, while the cap or cover would be made of a semi-flexible plastic such as polypropylene. Such a vessel is light in weight and virtually unbreakable.

#The base has four upright walls 14 which stand substantially vertically upright from the bottom 15. The walls terminate in tops 16 which lie in a common plane. An annular rim 17 encircles the base a short distance below the tops of the walls. As best seen in FIGS. 4-6, this rim is generally "L" shaped in cross-section and consists of a bottom leg 18 joined to the walls 14 and an upright leg 19. All about the base the upright leg of the rim terminates in a top 20 which is in a plane below the plane of top 16. The rim defines a space 21 between it and the walls 14. Spaced gussets 22 are employed between the bottom leg 18 and the walls 14 for reinforcement.