Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The pre.sent invention relates generally to products
having as an essential ingredient thereof a predetermined quantity
and arrangement of an aquatic plant belonging to the genus
Zostera, and methods of preparing and using such products. In
particular, the present invention relates to products which
include a special type of seaweed known as eel grass.
Background of the Invention
Heretofore, various varieties of seaweed have been known
for long periods of time, but relatively little use has been
made of seaweed. In the main, the prior art attempts to obtain
some beneficial use from seaweed have been unsuccessful. Not-
withstanding the relative success or lack thereof of such prior
art attempts, there is set forth hereinbelow a discussion of the
prior art attempts.
United States Letters Patent 1, 212, 196 patented on
January 16, 1917 by Georgè H. Earp-Thomas and entitled "FERTILIZER
COMPOSITION AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME" discloses a process of
forming a fertilizer which consists of grindlng eel grass,
-~ grinding phosphate rock, and thoroughly mixing the two together.
Earp-Thomas also discloses a fertilizer containing eel grass and
addittonal amounts of phosphate, and compounds of potassium and
nitrogen. The patent states that one of the principal
ingredients of the composition is
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Zostera Marina, or what is commonly known as eel grass.
The Earp-Thomas patent fails to disclose or suggest the
flame-retardant, or sound-proof qualities of eel grass, and
also fails to disclose any pelletizing or encapsulating of
S the fertilizer product, nor any combination of the fertilizing
substances or the binder.
United States Lette~ Patent 2,075,768 patented on
March 30, 1937 by Steven Wilson and entitled "FIBER coMæosITIoN
AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME" discloses various cellulous
compositions which are used in flame-retardant ~aterials, but
the cellulous compositions themselves are not flame-resistant
or flame-retardant. The Wilson patent discloses a fiber com-
position made by disintegrating or shredding ground vegetable
matter, and combining with a binder, and wherein the composition
may be substituted for hard rubber, bakelite, and may be rolled
into sheets or pressed into any desired shape and may be worhed
upon and machined with perfect freedom. The Wilson invention
also contemplates the incorporation of germ-killing ingredients
in dry form.
The Wilson patent does not disclose the use of eel grass
in any form whatsoever, nor the use of any ve~etable matter
which itself is flame-retardant, or fire-proof, or rot-proof.
United States Letters Patent 2,523,626 patented on
September 26, 1950 by Grinnell Jones and Samuel Soll and
entitled "FIRE-RETARDA~T COMPOSITIO~ AND PROCESS" discloses
a composition which is fire-retardant, heat-insulatingj and
may possess wa te r- and moisture-repellenc:e, as well as
the ability to be suspended, dispersed or dissolved in an
aqueous media. The composition according to this patent may
include a foam-producing substance and may be applied as a
surface coating.
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Although the aforementioned Jones et al patent does dis-
close a fire-retardant composition which includes a protein,
it fails to disclose the use of any seaweed whatsoever, nor
does it contemplate or suggest the mixing of the composition
with foam rubber or the possibility of weaving the composition
into a fabric, nor the ~ualities of being vermin-proof or bug-
proof.
United States Letters Patent 2,940,942 patented on June 14,
1960 by Olaus T. Hodnefield and entitled "FIRE RETARDA~T COM-
POSITIO~ COMPRISING GILSONITE, MI~ERAL FILLER AND FATTY ACIDSOAP" discloses fire-retardant compositions which are adapted
to be applied in a dilluted state, as by dipping or spraying,
to make the surfaces flame-resistant. Hodnefield also con-
templates the use of additives to make the composition insect-
or fungus-retardant, and also contemplates using the solution
to treat burlap, roofing felt and the like. The Hodnefield
patent also contemplates the composition as an insulator, and
for use by spray painting.
Hereagain, the Hodnefield patent also fails to disclose
2Q the use of any seaweed whatsoever, nor any rot-proof or bug-
proof composition.
United States Letters Patent 3,050,42~ patented on
August 21, 1962 by Milton G. Schmitt and entitled "FLAMEPROOF
SHEET" discloses an improved flam~oof sheet which may also
be used as an insulation material. The Schmitt invention
discloses that the sheet is to be used as a backing sheet
for insulation, as a building paper to provide a vapor
barrier.
Hereagain, the Schmitt patent also fails to disclose
the use of any seaweed whatsoever, nor the use of eel grass
to produce a sound-proof, flame-retardant, and vermin-proof
material.
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Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a product which includes -
as an essential ingredient thereof a predetermined quantity
and arrangement of an aquatic plant belonging to the genus
Zostera.
It is an o~ject of the present invention to provide small
particles of dried eel grass for mixing with a fluid carrier
so that the resulting composition may be utilized as a spray
or a coating.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
product which is fabricated from seaweed into a blanket-type
material for insulating, flame-retarding, sound-proofing, and/or
weather-proofing purposes.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a mixture of dried seaweed particles in a binder
which is then pe~letized for disposal in cavities in building
walls, or between buildings, or between apartments or rooms
for insulation purposes.
An additional object of the present invention is to
mix a hardening or setting catalyst with a composition
of small seaweed particles and liquid carrier ~o that the
resulting composition may be poured in liquid form for sub-
sequent setting or hardening.
Another object of the present invention i5 to provide
granulated dried eel grass for use as a soil conditioner and
fertilizer.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
an aquatic plant which is woven to form a fabric which is
vermin-proof, rot-proof, bug-proof, and possesses substantial
insulating characteristics.
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One of the embodiments of the present invention involves
m-xing eel grass with foam rubber to increase the flame-
retardant characteristic of the resulting product.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
eel grass in a liquid carrier which is selected from the
group consisting of paint, a fabric spray, a carpet spray,
and a hardening agent.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
an aquatic plant belonging to the genus Zostera for forming
into rigid sheets similar to press-board.
Other objects-and advantages of the present invention
will appear from the specification description and appended
claims set forth hereinbelow.
Detailed ~escriPtion of Some Preferred Embodiments of the
Present Invention
Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is
to be understood that the invention is not limited in its ap-
plication to the details of the preferred embodiments set
forth hereinbelow, because the present invention is capable
- 20 of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phrase-
ology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of
description and not of limitation~
In view of the fact that the primary ingredient in the
products according to the principles of the present inven-
tion is a specific and predetermined type of seaweed, there
is set forth hereinbelow the chemical analysis of the type of
seaweed which constitutes the preferred ingredient in prac-
ticing the present invention.
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EXAMPLE NO. 1
Total Nitrogen: 0.69 %
Total Phosphorus: 0.118%
Potash (Potassium Carbonate): 16.29 %
Minerals.
Potassium: - 2.33 %
Phosphorus: 0.118%
It should be carefully noted that although the present
invention relates generally to the use of all aquatic plants
belonging to the genus Zostera, the chemical analysis of the
seaweed of Example ~o. 1 as set forth hereinabove relates to
a particular member of such genus, such particular member
being known as eel grass, or grass wrack, or tape grass.
The seaweed of Example No. 1 is green in color when it is
wet, and is black in color when it is dry.
The genus Zostera is a smàll genus of widely distributed
marine plants (family Potamogetonaceae) with branching stems,
distichous leaves, and monoecious flowers that are borne in a-
spabix. It has been discovered that such aquatic plants ex-
hibit the very surprising and unexpected properties of beingflame-retardant, vermin-proof, sound-proof, xot-proof and bug-
proof. - -
In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of thepressnt invention, the seaweed, of the type hereinabove
described, is collected and dried. Thereafter, the dried sea-
weed is then reduced to form small particles thereof. The
small particles of the dried seaweed is then admixed with a
fluid carrier therefor so that the resulting composition may
be utilized by spraying. 5uch spray may be applied on fabrics,
carpets or mixed with paint for paint spraying, in order to
apply a coat of a flame-retardant and sound-proof material.
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In this manner, the present invention may be beneficially
utilized to eliminate, or at least reduce significantly,
destruction of a myriad of coated items to which the novel
spray is applied.
In accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the above-identified seaweed may be woven
into a flame-retardant fabric. As an alternate embodiment,
such seaweed may be made into sheets, or pressed into a board-
like material similar to press-board.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the above-identified seaweed may be com-
bined with a suitable binder to be formed into bricks or
blocks which possess extraordinarily high insulation, sound-
proofing, and flame-retardant properties.
In accordance with yet a further preferred embodiment
of the invention, the above-identified preferred seaweed is
formed into small dry particles, and then mixed with a setting
or hardening catalyst, and then dispersed in a liquid form
for pouring. The poured composition will then set or harden
.
into an excellent filler material which is flame-retardant,
bug-proof and sound-proof.
Pursuant to another preferred embodiment o~ the pr~sent
invention, small particles of the dried seaweed, which is
described hereinabove, are mixed with foam rubber to make
the resulting foam rubber product flame-retardant.
It has also been discovered that the Zostera marina
seaweed may surprisingly make previously non-growable soil,
very readily suitable for growing crops and the like. In
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention,
the mentioned seaweed is dried and milled to be sold in bulk
as a fertilizer and soil conditioner. As an alternate embodi-
men-t of the fertilizer aspect of the invention, such milled
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or granulated eel grass particles may be combined with a
binder, and/or predetermined quantities of additional potash,
nitrogen, phosphorus or vitamins, to be subsequently encap-
sulated or pelletized to produce a time-released soil con-
ditioner.
Furthermore, the present invention embraces the conceptof forming the eel grass particles into pellets for disposal
in cavities in building walls, or between buildings, apart-
ments, rooms, or the like. Such pellets and structure form
an excellent weather-proofing, flame-retardant, and sound-pxoof
arrangement.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the composition of materials as herein-
above described are admixed with a binder, and then formed into
very hard stakes or spikes. Such sta~es or spikes have su~-
ficient strength to be driven or hit into the ground without
fracturing. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention,
a series of such stakes may be driven into the ground sur- .
rounding a tree or bush-like plant. For example, a series
of four equally-spaced stakes may be driven around the tree in
question, and the stakes or spikes will then slowly and period-
ically release, with the passage of time, the inqredient~ into
the adjacent soil and ultimately into the tree in question~
The present invention also contemplates an embodiment,
such as the one described hereinabove in connection with the
liquid carrier, wherein the resultant liquid product is sprayed
onto any desired location, plants, trees, or sail.
The products of the present invention are very economical
to manufacture, and are also economical to ship, use and apply.
It is believed that with the above description, the novel
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features of the present invention will be apparent ~or a
definition of the scope of the invention, reference should
be had to the appended claims.
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