Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
CONTAINER FOR A BULB
Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to containers for plants or shrubs and
particularly relates to a container for a bulb and a method of planting a bulb
in a
container.
Background Art
The most popular and common container for potted plants and shrubs is of
the type where the top cross-section or volume of earth or nutrient is greater
than
the bottom. Such tapered pots may comprise of plastic or clay material in a
fashion well known to those persons skilled in the art.
Such prior art pots are generally planted by first introducing soil in the
bottom section of the tapered plant and then introducing seed or bulbs on top
of
such soil and thereafter topping up the pot with further soil or nutrient.
Such prior art tapered pots are not generally efficient in terms of providing
sufficient volumetric space for the roots of the plant which tend to
concentrate at
the bottom section of the pot which tapers to provide less and less cross-
sectional area towards the bottom of the tapered prior art pots.
Furthermore such prior art pots are generally non-decorative or appealing
to look at since they comprise generally of the same shape.
Various attempts have heretofore been made to improve on such prior art
tapered pots.
For example U.S. Patent No. 3,991,516 discloses a segmented container
for potted plants and shrubs of the type defining an inverted conical shape or
spherical zone segment which provides greater volume of earth at the base of
the
container than at the top to incur greater and healthier root growth. The
container
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assembly consists of a base and two or more separable upper section shell
segments which are separable along a vertical line and having circumferential
sealing means.
Moreover U.S. Patent No. D278,521 relates to an ornamental design for a
two part flower container while U.S. Patent No. 2,834,153 relates to a venting
cone for use in the lower part of a flower pot adapted to be positioned over
the
opening in the bottom thereof comprising an annular rim having Spacing nodes
extending from the undersurface, a wall having an intermediate portion of
interlay
strips extending upwardly from the upper edge of the rim, and inperforate cone
extending from the upper edge of the wall to the apex of the device.
Moreover U.S. Patent No. 1,534,508 relates to a device for testing soil or
seed comprising a closed frusto-conical container having its end walls formed
by
removable discs adapted to fit the container body snugly, one of said discs
being
apertured to permit insertion of seed when the container is charged with soil.
Yet another arrangement is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4, 057,932 which
teaches a container split in half longitudinally. The two half sections may be
separate, in which case they are held together by the walls of a crate into
which a
number of the containers are placed. Alternatively the sections may be
connected together along their bottom margins by a hinge.
Yet another arrangement is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4.435,918 which
shows a flower pot comprising an upper pot, lower pot, with means that can
regulate the water supply to the soil and a means that can adjust the exposed
area of the soil to the water, thereby minimizing the unfavourable effect of
the
drastic changes of the weather.
Yet another arrangement is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5,852,896 which
relates to a container and methodology for growing a plant in soil, soil
within an
area defined by an annular inner wall having an open top end to expose the
soil
and plant to ambient air; the inner wall includes transverse holes around its
circumference and up its length. In one embodiment the inner wall includes a
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water impervious circumferal band at its upper end to help maintain the soil
top
surface dry. An outer annular wall of water impervious material laterally
surrounds, in spaced relationship, the inner wall to define an open space with
upper opening between the walls into which water can be applied and air may
flow.
Finally U.S. Patent No. 4, 014,506 relates to a support collar assembly
which is designed, primarily to fell a need for a simple, reliable and
economical
way of suspending and supporting standard flower pots, and the like within any
one of a series of larger diametered containers, or within deeper containers.
These and other prior art devices present relatively complicated structures
which are not well suited for easily and simply planting seeds, shrubs, bulbs
or
the like.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved container, which
may be easily used, for planting bulbs of the like.
Disclosure of Invention
It is an aspect of this invention to provide a plant container containing side
walls extending from a bottom to a top opening so as to define a cavity, said
top
opening smaller than said bottom; means for introducing seeds of said plant
into
said cavity from said bottom.
It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a container for a bulb
comprising sidewalls extending generally upwardly and inwardly from a bottom
to
top opening so as to define a cavity; said bottom including an opening for
introducing said bulb into said cavity; removable means for closing said
opening.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a method of planting a bulb
in a container having sidewalls extending generally inwardly from a bottom to
a
top opening so as to define a cavity, said bottom having an opening,
comprising
the steps of disposing said container upside down with said top opening
pointing
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downward; introducing said bulb into said cavity through said bottom opening
where said top opening is smaller than said bulb; filling. said cavity with
soil;
closing said bottom opening; disposing said container right side up.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a method of planting a
bulb in a container having upper and lower mating and separable sidewall
sections, said mated sidewall sections extending generally inwardly from a
bottom surface to a top opening so as to define a cavity, said method
comprising
the steps of separating said upper sidewall section from said lower sidewall
section; placing soil and a bulb into said lower sidewall section; placing
said
upper sidewall section into registrable mating disposition with said lower
sidewall
section.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the
invention.
Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the
invention.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a plug.
Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of Figure 5 with the upper and lower sidewall
sections separated from one another.
Fig. 7 is a another perspective view of Figure 6.
Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of three other embodiments of the
invention.
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Fig. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the mating surfaces between the
upper and lower sidewall sections.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the
specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions
may
have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features of the
invention.
Fig. 1 generally illustrates one embodiment of the invention, which
illustrates the container 2 having a bottom 4 and a top 6. Sidewalls 8 extend
generally upwardly and inwardly from the bottom 4 towards the top 6. The top 6
presents an opening 10, which is generally smaller in size than the bottom 4.
Furthermore the top opening 10 is generally smaller in size than the bulb 12,
but
does not need to be. The plant 12 may comprise of any seeds, shrubs, bulbs or
the like. In the embodiment illustrated a bulb has been shown although the
invention should not be limited thereto.
The sidewalls 8 extend generally inwardly from the bottom 4 to the top
opening 10 so as to resemble the side profile of a bulb.
The bottom 4 in Figure 1 presents a bottom opening 14 which has an outer
edge 5 and an inner edge 7. The bottom opening 14 may be closed by the plug
16 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to be inserted in the hole 14 or by a
bottom surface 18 shown in Figure 3 which is adapted to embrace the lower
portions of the sidewall 8.
The hole 14 shown in Figure 1 provides access into the cavity defined by
the sidewalls 8 and may include the shoulder 20 and undercut 22. The plug 16
is
more fully shown in Figure 4 and includes a solid end wall 24, solid
circumferential walls 26 extending from the wall 24. The solid circumferential
wall
26 includes a radial flange section 28 which is adapted to be received by the
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undercut 22 as shown in Figure 1. The inner portion 30 of the plug may be
hollow.
The embodiment shown in Figure 2 is similar to the embodiment shown in
Figure 1 apart from the side profile of the sidewalls 8 where the sidewalls 8
in
Figure 2 extend generally inwardly from the bottom 4 to the top opening 6.
The configuration shown in Figure 2 resembles mere of a sphere while
that in Figure 1 resembles a bulb.
Figure 1 includes means for introducing seeds, bulbs or the like into the
cavity 32 from the bottom 4. In particular such means comprises the opening 14
at bottom 4 and the removable plug 16 for closing said opening.
Accordingly Figure 1 illustrates a method of planting a bulb 12 into a
container 2 having sidewalls 8 extending generally inwardly from a bottom 4, a
top opening 10 so as to define a cavity 32. Such method includes the steps of
disposing the container 2 upside down with the top opening 10 pointing
downwardly. Then the bulb 12 is introduced into the cavity 32 through the
bottom
opening 14 where the top opening 10 is smaller than the bulb so as to prevent
the bulb from dropping through the opening. Alternatively, some plant mesh
material may be first introduced into the cavity 32 so as to plug the opening
10.
Thereafter the bulb 12 may be introuuced into the cavity 32 through the
opening
14. Thereafter the cavity can be filled with soil and the bottom opening
closed.
The bottom opening may be closed with the plug 16 as shown in Figure 1 or the
bottom surface 18 as shown in Figure 3. Thereafter the container 2 is disposed
right side up.
The container shown in Figure 2 may also be used similarly to that shown
in Figure 1 so as to introduce the bulb 12 into cavity 32 as shown in Figure
2.
The container 2 may be comprised of a variety of materials including clay
or plastic. Furthermore the plug 16 or bottom surface 18 may comprise of a
variety of materials including plastic or the like.
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Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the invention whereby
the means for introducing seed or bulb into container 2 comprises a split 34
in the
sidewalls 8.
More particularly the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 illustrates an
upper sidewall section 36 and a lower sidewall section 38. The upper sidewall
section presents the top opening 10 while the lower sidewall section 38
presents
a bottom 4. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the bottom 4 will generally
consist of a solid bottom surface which is integral with a lower sidewall
section
38. Alternatively the bottom 4 could include the configuration as shown in
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The upper sidewall section 36 is separable from the lower sidewall section
38 as shown in Figure 6 so as to permit introducing of the bulb or the like
into the
cavity 32. Furthermore the upper sidewall section is registrable~in mating
fashion
with the lower sidewall section 38 as shown in Figure 5 so as to contain the
bulb
12 in the cavity 32.
Figure 8 shows other embodiments of the invention whereby the container
2 includes upper sidewall section 36 and lower sidewall section 38 which is
split
along the line 34. The split 34 may be substantially linear as shown by the
middle container 2 as shown in Figure 8 or may be non-linear as shown by the
left and right containers as shown in Figure 8.
Furthermore the container 2 may include a variety of shapes 40, 42 and 44
of the lower sidewall section as well as a variety of upper sidewall sections
46, 48
and 50 as shown in Figure 8, so as to provide a variety of pleasing decorative
shapes which are aesthetic to the eye.
Moreover the stem 52 of the bulb grows through the top opening 10 and
may include at least one bulb.
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The embodiments shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 will generally include a
solid bottom surface 4 although the bottom surface may include drain holes 54
as
required.
The containers 2 as shown in the embodiments herein are well suited for
bulbous plants such as tulips, amaryllis or the like.
Moreover introducing water from the top opening 10 may water such
plants.
Furthermore the mating edge 56 of upper sidewall section 36 and the
mating edge 58 of lower sidewall section 38 may be orientated as shown in
Figure 9 so as to minimize the possibility of any water introduced into the
container 2 from spilling out and over the outer surface of the container 2.
In
particular the mating edges 56 and 58 may be disposed so as to deflect any
moisture back into the cavity 32. Furthermore the mating edges 56 and 58 may
be orientated as shown in Figure 9 so as to assist the registration of the
mating
edges of the upper sidewall section with the lower sidewall section 38.
The embodiments shown in the drawings illustrate a bottom having an
opening for introducing the bulb into the cavity and removable means for
closing
said opening. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 such removable
means comprises a plug 16 for closing the opening 14 in the bottom 4.
Figure 3 illustrates the removable means as comprising a bottom wall 18
adapted to embrace the side of the sidewall 8. In particular the bottom wall
18
closes the opening 14.
The removable means in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 comprises:
(a) the upper sidewall section 36 which presents the top opening 10;
(b) the lower sidewall section 38 presenting the bottom 4
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said upper and lower sidewall sections;
(c) separable from one another so as to permit introduction of said bulb
into the cavity 32;
(d) registrable with one another in mating fashion so as to contain the
bulb 12 in cavity 32.
Figures 5-9 illustrate a method of planting a bulb or the like in a container
2 having upper and lower mating and separable sidewalls sections 36 and 38,
where said sidewall sections extend generally inwardly from a bottom surface 4
to a top opening 10 so as to define a cavity 32, such method comprising the
steps of:
(a) separating the upper sidewall section 36 from the lower
sidewall section 38;
(b) placing soil and a bulb 12 into the lower sidewall section 38;
(c) placing said upper sidewall section 36 into registrable mating
disposition with the lower sidewall section 38.
The stem 52 of the bulb 12 grows through the top opening 10 as illustrated
by the drawings.
The container 2 as shown herein provides an aesthetically pleasing shape.
Furthermore the method of planting a bulb or the like with the container 2
shown
herein may be quickly and easily performed and well adapted for automated
means.
Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail.
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Since changes in and/or additions to the above-described best mode may be
made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope, of the invention, the
invention is not to be limited to said details.
