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Patent 3180773 Summary

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 3180773
(54) English Title: PLANTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLANTING
(54) French Title: APPAREIL DE PLANTATION ET PROCEDE DE PLANTATION
Status: Application Compliant
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • A01G 9/029 (2018.01)
  • A01G 13/02 (2006.01)
  • A01G 24/50 (2018.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • HOBERT, TOBIAS (Germany)
  • RIEDEL, JURGEN (Germany)
(73) Owners :
  • GREENECONO UG
(71) Applicants :
  • GREENECONO UG (Germany)
(74) Agent: OSLER, HOSKIN & HARCOURT LLP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 2021-04-01
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2021-10-14
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/EP2021/058679
(87) International Publication Number: WO 2021204691
(85) National Entry: 2022-10-07

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
10 2020 109 654.2 (Germany) 2020-04-07

Abstracts

English Abstract

A planting device for improving the growth of young plants, in particular of trees, comprises a hollow protective device (1) to protect from damage due to adverse weather and/or animals. The protective device (1) has at least one wall (2). The planting device comprises a seed capsule (3), wherein the seed capsule (3) has a water-absorbent substrate (4). At least one seed (5), preferably a tree seed, is at least partially surrounded by the substrate (4). The seed capsule (3) is or can be accommodated in or by the protective device (1).


French Abstract

Un dispositif de plantation pour améliorer la croissance de jeunes plants, en particulier d'arbres, comprend un dispositif de protection creux (1) pour protéger de dommages dus à des intempéries et/ou des animaux nuisibles. Le dispositif de protection (1) comprend au moins une paroi (2). Le dispositif de plantation comprend une capsule de semence (3), la capsule de semence (3) comprenant un substrat absorbant l'eau (4). Au moins une semence (5), de préférence une semence d'arbre, est au moins partiellement entourée par le substrat (4). La capsule de semence (3) est ou peut être logée dans ou par le dispositif de protection (1).

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


37
-19-
CLAIMS
1. A planting apparatus for improving the growth of
seedlings, in particular trees, comprising a hollow
protective device (1) for protection from adverse
weather conditions and damage caused by animals, the
protective device (1) having at least one wall (2),
characterised in that
the planting apparatus comprises a seed capsule (3),
wherein the seed capsule (3) has a water-absorbent
substrate (4), wherein at least one seed (5), preferably
a tree seed, is at least partially surrounded by the
substrate (4), wherein the seed capsule (3) is
accommodated in the protective device (1) or can be
accommodated by the protective device (1).
2. The planting apparatus according to one of Claims 1 or
2, wherein the protective device (1) contains a
biodegradable plastic.
3. The planting apparatus according to one of Claims 1 or
2, wherein the protective device (1) or the wall (2) of
the protective device (1) comprises a functional
substance to affect the plant, preferably a fertiliser
and/or activated carbon and/or a dye.
4. The planting apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to
3, wherein the substrate (4) is biodegradable and/or
porous and/or firm, wherein the substrate (4)
preferably comprises activated carbon, in particular
biochar.
5. The planting apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to
4, wherein the seed capsule (3) has a biodegradable
and/or water-absorbent outer layer (6) which at least
partially surrounds the substrate (4).
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6. The planting apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to
5, wherein the planting apparatus comprises a bud-
protecting part (7).
7. The planting apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to
6, wherein the protective device (1) has a holding
element (8) and/or a holding part (9) for holding the
seed capsule (3) in the protective device (1).
8. The planting apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to
7, wherein the protective device (1) has a lower,
downwardly tapering wall end (10) and/or an upper, bent
or angled or rounded wall end (11).
9. A seed capsule (2), in particular having at least one
of the features of Claims 1, 4 and 5, comprising a
water-absorbent substrate (3) and at least one seed
(4), in particular a tree seed, wherein the substrate
(3) at least partially surrounds the seed (4).
10. A method for planting, in particular using planting
apparatuses having at least one of the features from
one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein a planting apparatus has
a hollow protective device (1) and a seed capsule (3),
the protective device having at least one wall (2),
wherein the seed capsule (3) comprises a water-
absorbent substrate (4) and at least one seed (5), in
particular a tree seed, wherein the substrate (4) at
least partially surrounds the seed (5), wherein the
protective device (1) is fixed in the earth (12) at a
target location, wherein the seed capsule (3) is
arranged in the protective device (1).
Date Reçue/Date Received 2022-10-07

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


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-1-
DESCRIPTION
PLANTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLANTING
The invention relates to a planting apparatus for improving
the growth of seedlings, in particular trees, comprising a
hollow protective device for protection from adverse weather
conditions and damage caused by animals, such as browsing
and rubbing damage. The invention also relates to a method
for planting using planting apparatuses.
Such a planting apparatus is already known from EP 0 558 356
El. The tubular plastic protective device thereof is arranged
around the seedling for this purpose, as is likewise the
case in FR 2 621 441 Al and DE 78 32 685 U. The seedlings,
which are at particularly high risk of damage from browsing,
are thereby protected from animals much better and moreover
grow faster owing to the improved microclimate. As a result,
the forestry yield is increased noticeably because a larger
number of trees survive the seedling stage and virtually all
the plants grow faster in the seedling stage.
However, this yield is only possible with a corresponding
expense of effort. For instance, the seedling is grown in a
greenhouse or tree nursery, for example, in a first step and
planted out later at the target location in a second step,
and the tubular plastic protective device is then erected
directly afterwards at the target location in a third step.
As soon as the seedling protrudes out of the protective
device, the protective device is removed in a fourth step,
as long as this is still non-destructively possible.
This four-stage procedure is complex and correspondingly
cost-intensive. The object of the invention is therefore to
considerably reduce the effort for forestation or planting
without noticeable losses in yield.
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This object is achieved by a planting apparatus for improving
the growth of seedlings, in particular trees, comprising a
hollow protective device for protection from adverse weather
conditions and damage caused by animals, the protective
device having at least one wall, wherein the planting
apparatus comprises a seed capsule, wherein the seed capsule
has a water-absorbent substrate, wherein one or more seeds,
preferably tree seeds, is at least partially surrounded by
the substrate, wherein the seed capsule is accommodated in
the protective device or can be accommodated by the
protective device.
The invention is initially based on the finding that in
particular the first, conventional step of growing seedlings
in a greenhouse or in the open in a tree nursery and the
subsequent planting out or transfer to a target location
means considerable effort. The invention is further based on
the finding that the water-absorbent seed capsule increases
the probability of germination so much and the protective
device protects the germling so well that any accepted slight
loss in yield in comparison with growing in a greenhouse is
overcompensated by the reduction in effort for planting. For
this reason, the invention pursues a new, radical approach
according to which the growing of seedlings in a greenhouse
should be dispensed with in future.
According to the invention, direct sowing is carried out at
the target location. To this end, the protective device and
the seed capsule are placed at the target location. This
minimal effort per plant accelerates the process of planting
considerably, as a result of which capacities needed urgently
elsewhere in forestry are freed up. These involve for example
tree care, which offers considerable possibilities for
increasing yield. As has been found, this often lies above
the advantages offered by the conventional method (growing
seedlings remote from the target location) in comparison
with direct sowing by means of protective device and seed
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capsule. As a result, the object mentioned in the
introduction is achieved by means of overcompensation by the
planting apparatus according to the invention.
Finally, it has been found that there is a potential for
errors when planting out or transferring previously grown
seedlings, since the root system usually always only
continues to develop in the same growth direction. If the
roots are oriented incorrectly or even kinked during
planting, the root system continues to grow in this
direction. As a result, the developing tree has too little
soil retention and loses static stability, which sooner or
later leads to a total loss of the tree. It can also easily
happen that the plant or tree does not put down roots at all
after being planted out or transferred. The direct sowing
according to the invention thus also helps to achieve the
object mentioned above in this way.
It is very preferred for the protective device to comprise
a plastic. The plastic is preferably light-permeable. The
term "light-permeable" in particular means transparent or
translucent materials. The term "transparent" means in
particular clear materials such as Plexiglass or window
glass. In contrast, the term "translucent" preferably means
materials which scatter light and thus appear cloudy and
make contours behind this material look blurry. Very
preferably, the term "transparent" means that the contour of
a plant within the protective device is sharp when viewed
from outside. The expression "translucent" particularly
preferably means that the contour of a plant within the
protective device can be recognised when viewed from outside
but is not sharp and instead is perceived to be blurry or
cloudy.
The protective device is preferably a tube and further
preferably a cylindrical tube. It is expedient for the tube
to be circumferentially closed over most of its length. It
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is possible for the tube to have a continuous slot and be
continuously C-shaped, for example. It is particularly
preferred for the tube to be produced by extrusion. It is
possible for the tube to be designed as a polygonal tube and
in particular as a triangular tube or square tube. It is
within the scope of the invention that the tube or the
protective device is formed by folding a flat element into
a polygonal tube and closed or fixed to form a polygonal
tube for example via tabs with corresponding complementary
openings. According to one embodiment, the protective device
can be an injection-moulded part or comprise multiple
injection-moulded parts. It is possible for the protective
device to be a combination of at least one extruded part and
at least one injection-moulded part. According to one
embodiment, the protective device or a/the bud-protecting
part is produced by means of an additive method (3D
printing). This is advantageous in particular in the case of
complex structures, for example partially open mesh
structures or translucent and opaque regions on one part (in
particular on the protective device). For instance, cavities
can be filled with active substances during printing.
It is possible for the protective device to have the shape
of a truncated cone or truncated pyramid. Preferably, the
protective device has a length of at least 10/15/20 cm. It
is preferred for the length of the protective device to be
at most 200/160/140 cm long. The wall thickness of the
protective device expediently comes to at least 0.5/0.75/1.0
mm. Advantageously, the wall thickness of the protective
device is at most 3/2/1.5 mm. It is preferred for an inner
diameter or an edge length of the protective device in a top
region to be at least 15/18/20 mm. It is preferred for an
inner diameter or an edge length of the protective device in
the top region to be at most 150/120/100 mm.
It is particularly preferred for the protective device to be
at least partially and preferably fully biodegradable. It is
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preferred for the protective device to consist at least
partially and preferably completely of renewable raw
materials. The expression "biodegradable" should preferably
be understood within the meaning of EN 13432 and/or EN
141959. It is very preferred for the protective device to
comprise a biodegradable plastic. It is advantageous if the
protective device comprises a plastic which consists at least
partially and preferably completely of renewable raw
materials. Biodegradable plastics are, for example,
polylactides (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA),
thermoplastic starch (TPS), polycaprolactone (PCL),
polybutylene adipate terephthalate (BPAT) or polybutylene
succinate (PBS). Examples of plastics consisting of
renewable raw materials are cellulose acetate (CA), bio-
polyethylene (bio-PE), polyethylene furanoate (PEF), PLA,
PHA, or TPS.
It is very advantageous that the plastic of the protective
device both is biodegradable and consists of renewable raw
materials; these include in particular the plastics PLA, PHA
and TPS. Since polylactides are often compostable only
industrially, and since thermoplastic starch has a strong
tendency to absorb water, polyhydroxyalkanoates appear to be
the ideal group of plastics for the present purpose. These
can be transparent or translucent, are not water-soluble but
are still compostable on the forest floor. The mechanical
properties of PHA are similar to those of polypropylene (PP).
The mechanical properties can also be controlled via a large
number of biodegradable additives.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the
protective device or the wall of the protective device or
the plastic of the protective device comprises a functional
substance, preferably a fertiliser and/or activated carbon
and/or a dye, to affect the seedling. It is particularly
preferred for the wall of the protective device to comprise
a biodegradable plastic and at least one functional
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substance, in particular a fertiliser and/or a pest control
agent. The dye may act as a light filter in order to adapt
the light spectrum to the needs of the seedling. It is very
preferred for the protective device or the wall of the
protective device to be designed such that the biodegradable
plastic emits the at least one functional substance in the
course of the biological decomposition of the plastic. In
this way, the seedling still benefits even after months or
years, even if the protective device has no longer been
standing for a long time. In particular, work steps of
subsequent fertilisation are then dispensed with, and
therefore the basic concept of the invention has even more
of an effect.
It is possible for at least one wall section of the wall of
the protective device to have a cavity material. It is
advantageous if activated carbon is arranged in the cavity
material or cavities. It is preferred for the wall section
to be assigned to an angular section when viewed from above
and to correspond, for example, to an angular section of 30
to 1800. It is particularly preferred for the wall section
containing activated carbon to be oriented north so that the
seedling receives more thermal radiation from a northerly
direction. It is within the scope of the invention that the
protective device biodegrades more slowly in a lower region,
in particular in a region sunk into the earth, than in an
upper region. To this end, the lower region can be multi-
layered, for example. According to one embodiment, the
protective device comprises a mesh material or a sieve-like
material, which extends in the radial and/or axial direction
beyond at least one section. It is possible for the
protective device to comprise a stabilisation element, e.g.
in the form of a rod or a thickened wall portion. The
protective device can have a sensor, for example a position
sensor or an environmental sensor. Environmental sensors
include in particular temperature sensors, moisture sensors
and/or light sensors. It is possible for the protective
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device to comprise an identification element, for example an
applied number, a barcode or an RFID element. Preferably,
the protective device comprises at least one measurement
scale for determining the growth height, so that the growth
height can be established by drone recording, for example.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the seed
capsule or the substrate is biodegradable and/or porous
and/or firm. The term "firm" means in particular that the
seed capsule or the substrate does not yield to pressure
which can be exerted with two fingers. The substrate
comprises preferably activated carbon and particularly
preferably biochar. The expression "biodegradable" is
preferably meant within the meaning of EN 13432 and/or EN
14995. The word "porous" preferably means a material which
has micropores and/or mesopores and/or macropores. The term
"porous" means in particular materials with pores which are
distributed over the entire material and do not occur only
locally, such as air pockets. Within the meaning of the
present invention, micropores have an average diameter of
less than 2 nm, mesopores have an average diameter of 2 to
50 nm, and macropores have an average diameter of more than
50 nm. The porosity of the substrate of the seed capsule is
preferably at least 0.3/0.4/0.5. Advantageously, the
porosity of the substrate is at most 0.9/0.8/0.75. The term
"porosity" relates to the bulk density of the substrate
material, where the porosity = 1 - bulk density/particle
density. The term "bulk density" is also referred to as
"apparent density" or "volumetric density". Preferably, a
certain volume of the substrate material is removed and then
weighed for this. The term "particle density" preferably
means the density of the substrate material without any air
pockets, which should preferably be determined via
datasheets or lexical works and is also referred to as
"packed density" or "true density".
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It is very preferred for the substrate of the seed capsule
to contain at least one active substance, in particular a
fertiliser and/or a reaction inhibitor and/or a substance
for pest control and/or a substance for encouraging
beneficial organisms and/or a substance for mineral
enrichment or pH regulation (in particular magnesium and/or
calcium or lime, inter alia limestone meal or quicklime) at
the target location or in the earth. Preferably, the at least
one active substance is adapted to the intended use or to
the seed. It is advantageous if the substrate has a binder
so that the activated carbon is kept in shape better, for
example. It is expedient for the material of the substrate,
in particular the activated carbon and/or the at least one
active substance and/or the binder to be pressed and to have,
for example, a cube, cuboid, spherical or egg shape. It is
possible for the substrate to have a release agent, for
example a paraffin oil or a carnauba wax, close to the
surface. The release agent is preferably used for better
separation of the pressed substrate material from a mould.
It is preferred for the seed capsule to have a biodegradable
and/or water-absorbent outer layer which at least partially
surrounds the substrate. The outer layer comprises, for
example, cellulose and/or lignin and/or hydrogel and is
preferably used to form a smooth and clean border of the
seed capsule. The outer layer of the capsule can be produced
using additive methods or pulp-moulding methods. It is
possible to apply the outer layer or a further layer of the
seed capsule to the substrate, which has been produced by
pressing, for example, by means of additive or pulp-moulding
methods. In additive methods, it is also possible to prepare
the outer layer in parallel with simultaneous filling of the
seed capsule with seed and substrate.
According to a very preferred embodiment, the planting
apparatus comprises a bud-protecting part. It is
advantageous for the bud-protecting part to be placeable or
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placed loosely onto the protective device so that a seedling
can lift the bud-protecting part off from the protective
device during growth. It is expedient if the bud-protecting
part protrudes or can protrude into the protective device.
Preferably, the bud-protecting part comprises a supporting
element, for example a protruding rest so that the bud-
protecting part does not or cannot slip into the protective
device. Advantageously, the bud-protecting part closes off
an upper end of the protective device. It is advantageous if
the bud-protecting part has an air hole or multiple air
holes. It is very preferred for the bud-protecting part to
consist of or comprise a plastic, preferably a biodegradable
plastic. It is expedient for the bud-protecting part to
consist of the same material as the protective device. The
bud-protecting part is preferably light-permeable and in
particular transparent or translucent. The bud-protecting
part is expediently an injection-moulded part consisting of
plastic. According to a very preferred embodiment, the bud-
protecting part tapers upwards to a point. It is preferred
for the bud-protecting part to have a taper in a lower region
to accommodate an apical bud and to support the stem of the
seedling. Advantageously, the bud-protecting part comprises
a widened portion facing downwards in a bottom region, for
guiding the apical bud preferably in the direction of the
taper.
It is advantageous for the protective device and/or the bud-
protecting part to have a marking element. The marking
element can be, for example, a flag or a colour marking by
means of which the tree variety can be recognised, for
example.
It is possible for the protective device to have a holding
element and/or a holding part for holding the seed capsule
in the protective device. Preferably, the holding element is
arranged at one end, preferably at the lower end of the
protective device, such that the seed capsule cannot fall
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out of the protective device at this end or at the lower
end. It is advantageous if the holding part is arranged at
one end, preferably an upper end, of the protective device
such that the seed capsule cannot fall out of the protective
device at this end or an upper end. It is particularly
preferred for the holding element or the holding part to
reduce an effective inner cross-sectional area of the
protective device. The expression "effective cross-sectional
area" preferably means that the seed capsule cannot pass
through the region of the holding element or holding part
owing to the holding element or holding part. It is
advantageous if the holding element is arranged at the lower
end of the protective device such that the seed capsule is
automatically in contact with the earth after the protective
device has been introduced into the earth. Preferably, the
holding element is situated within the bottom
half/third/quarter/fifth/sixth of the protective device. It
is advantageous if the holding part is situated in an upper
half/third/quarter/fifth/sixth of the protective device. It
is particularly preferred for the holding element and/or the
holding part to be connected in one piece and preferably
integrally to the wall of the protective device. According
to a preferred embodiment, the holding element and/or the
holding part is separated in some sections from the wall of
the protective device by cut or punched sections. The cut or
punched sections can be, for example, U-shaped or V-shaped
or II-shaped. Preferably, the cut/punched holding element
and/or holding part is produced by bending inwards in a
plastically deforming manner. According to one embodiment,
the holding element or the holding part is produced, for
example, by squeezing or thermal deformation such that the
effective inner cross-sectional area is reduced at the
respective point of the protective device. It is possible
for the holding element and/or the holding part to be a
stopper. Advantageously, the holding part is arranged above
the holding element when the protective device is in an
upright state. It is particularly preferred for the seed
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capsule to be arranged between the holding part and the
holding element so that the seed capsule is arranged
preferably captively in the protective device.
It is preferred for the protective device to have a lower,
downwardly tapering wall end and/or an upper, rounded wall
end. The term "rounded" means in particular also angled ends
resulting for example from kinking or folding. It is
preferred for only the outside of the lower wall end to taper
downwards, which can be produced by turning, for example. It
is particularly preferred for the upper wall end to be
thickened, which can be produced by thermoforming, for
example. A thickening of the upper wall end is advantageous
in particular if the protective device is to be driven into
the earth using a hammer and board owing to a hard ground.
To achieve the object mentioned in the introduction, the
invention teaches a seed capsule, in particular having at
least one of the aforementioned features, comprising a water-
absorbent substrate and at least one seed, in particular a
tree seed, wherein the substrate at least partially and
preferably completely surrounds the seed. It is advantageous
in some uses to dispense with the protective device and
merely to place the seed capsule at the target location. It
is possible, for example, to scatter the seed capsules by
means of aircraft (manned or unmanned helicopters and/or
aeroplanes, in particular multi-rotor drones), so that the
effort is considerably reduced even further. If it is found
after some time that a relatively large number of seed
capsules have not sprouted at the target locations, a second
drone flight can scatter further seed capsules at these
target locations so that the number of seedlings is
considerably increased.
The object mentioned in the introduction is achieved by a
method for planting, in particular using planting
apparatuses having at least one of the aforementioned
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features, wherein a planting apparatus has a hollow
protective device and a seed capsule, the protective device
comprising at least one wall, wherein the seed capsule has
a water-absorbent substrate and at least one seed, in
particular a tree seed, wherein the substrate at least
partially surrounds the seed, wherein the protective device
is fixed in the earth at a target location, wherein the seed
capsule is arranged in the protective device.
The term "target location" preferably means the final
planting location and thus preferably the location of
subsequent tree felling. It is possible for the seed capsule
to be arranged on the earth initially and then for the
protective device to be inserted into the earth around the
seed capsule. It is likewise possible to erect the protective
device first and then to put the seed capsule into the
protective device and, where necessary, press it against the
earth using a stick. It is within the scope of the invention
that the protective device contains the seed capsule
immediately before the protective device is erected, wherein
the seed capsule is preferably held in the protective device
by a/the holding element or a/the holding part. This variant
is of particular interest for automated or partially
automated sowing with the aid of sowing or planting machines.
It is preferred for the holding element to be designed such
that the holding element automatically allows the seed
capsule to come into contact with the earth when the
protective device is erected. It is advantageous if a/the
bud-protecting part is designed such that the holding part
is pressed automatically against the wall of the protective
device when the bud-protecting part is placed onto the
protective device, because damage to the seedling is
prevented thereby.
The invention is explained in more detail below using figures
of an exemplary embodiment. In the figures:
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Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a planting
apparatus according to the invention immediately
before contact with the earth,
Fig. 2 shows the planting apparatus according to the
invention from Fig. 1 in a longitudinal section
after it has been fixed in the earth and a bud-
protecting part has been placed thereon, and
Fig. 3 shows a side view of the planting apparatus from
Fig. 1 without a seed capsule.
Fig. 1 shows a planting apparatus according to the invention
with a protective device 1 in the form of a tube and with a
seed capsule 3. The protective device 1 is substantially
hollow-cylindrical and to this end has a correspondingly
shaped wall 2. The protective device 1 comprises, as the
most important component, preferably a thermoplastic
material, in particular a polyhydroxyalkanoate such as
polyhydroxybutyrate and is preferably produced by means of
extrusion. The material of the wall 2 may also contain a
fertiliser, for example nitrogen, potassium and/or
phosphorus. In this exemplary embodiment, the wall 2 is not
transparent but translucent or a cloudy light grey owing to
the fertiliser. Nevertheless, the seedlings are supplied
with a completely sufficient amount of light. The plastic of
this exemplary embodiment originates from renewable raw
materials.
The protective device 1 has a lower wall end 10 and an upper
wall end 11. In this exemplary embodiment, the lower wall
end 10 tapers downwards on its outside, so that the wall 2
of the protective device 1 tapers to a point in the
longitudinal section of Fig. 1 and therefore can be driven
into the earth 12 more easily. This taper can be produced,
for example, by turning and, where necessary, also by
thermoforming. In contrast, the upper wall end 11 in this
exemplary embodiment is rounded and has a contour thickened
approximately in a drop shape in longitudinal section. This
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-10-07

CA 03180773 2022-10-07
- 14 -
thickening at the upper wall end 11 is achieved by
thermoforming, for example, so that the upper wall end 11 is
much more stable than the lower wall end 10. This increased
stability is advantageous in particular when it is difficult
to fix the protective device 1 in the earth 12 and a hammer
and board is then preferably used.
In this exemplary embodiment, the protective device 1 also
comprises a holding element 8 at its lower end and a holding
part 9 at its upper end. Both the holding element 8 and the
holding part 9 have a projection-like design and protrude
into the interior of the protective device 1. It can be seen
in Fig. 3 that the holding element 8 and the holding part 9
have been produced by a U-shaped punch in the wall 2 with
subsequent pressing in of the holding element 8 or holding
part 9. Thus, both the holding element 8 and the holding
part 9 are integral components of the wall 2 of the
protective device 1. The punches also produce window-like
openings 13, 14 in the wall 2. The function of the holding
element 8 and the holding part 9 is to hold a seed capsule
3 in the protective device 1. As a result, the work step of
placing the seed capsule 3 in the protective device 1 at the
target location is omitted.
While Fig. 1 shows the moment shortly before insertion into
the earth 12, Fig. 2 shows the protective device 1 already
fixed in the earth 12. In the process, the earth 12 has
penetrated a little into the protective device 1 so that the
holding element 8 has been automatically pushed against the
wall 2 or also into the wall 2 and into the associated window
13. As a result, the seed capsule 3 now lies directly on the
earth 12.
The seed capsule 3 has an outer layer 6, which in this
exemplary embodiment comprises cellulose and is therefore
water-absorbent. The outer layer 6 completely surrounds a
substrate 4, which in this exemplary embodiment mainly
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-10-07

CA 03180773 2022-10-07
- 15 -
consists of activated carbon in the form of biochar. The
substrate 4 in turn surrounds a seed 5, which can in
particular be a tree seed. It is advantageous if the
substrate 4 contains a fertiliser which is specifically
matched to the seed 5. Furthermore, the substrate 4 can
contain a reaction inhibitor which prevents a premature
effect of the fertiliser. Finally, it can be advantageous if
the substrate comprises a plant protective agent which is
advantageously matched to the seed 5.
In an outer region of the substrate 4 there is preferably a
release agent, which can be, for example, a paraffin oil.
The release agent allows cleaner shaping during pressing of
the activated carbon, so that a uniformly shaped product is
produced. Owing to the tendency to crumble, the substrate 4
consisting of activated carbon is additionally covered with
the outer layer 6 of cellulose so that the seed capsule has
a clean, smooth and rounded and thus high-quality appearance.
Moreover, the coating with the outer layer 6 is advantageous
during production and subsequent logistics.
The effort for producing the outer layer 6 is accepted
because the activated carbon or biochar offers superior
advantages in terms of water-absorbency. This water-
absorbency is ensured by the micropores, mesopores and
macropores of the activated carbon, so that the water passes
rapidly out of the earth 12 and out of the air into the seed
capsule 3, and the seed 5 is moistened likewise rapidly. As
a result, the seed 5 becomes a germling and soon forces the
seed capsule 3 open. While the germling grows into a
seedling, the active substances or the fertiliser of the
seed capsule 3 pass into the earth 12 and as a result can be
absorbed by the roots of the seedling. In this way,
particularly rapid growth is achieved at a very young age of
the plant or tree.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-10-07

CA 03180773 2022-10-07
- 16 -
This growth, which is already very rapid anyway, is
accelerated further in that a microclimate similar to that
of greenhouses prevails in the protective device 1. To this
end, it is provided in this exemplary embodiment to place a
bud-protecting part 7 according to Fig. 2 on the upper end
of the protective device 1. The bud-protecting part 7 has a
section 18, 20 which is arranged inside the protective device
1 so that the bud-protecting part 7 in particular cannot be
blown out of the protective device 1 by strong wind. The
section 18, 20 is dimensioned such that it sits loosely in
the protective device and additionally moves the holding
part 9 automatically back into the opening 14. The bud-
protecting part 7 is thus fixed only very loosely in the
protective device 1 and is prevented from falling into the
protective device 1 by a protruding rest 17.
In this exemplary embodiment, the bud-protecting part 7
tapers upwards and forms a point 19 in the middle of the
longitudinal section according to Fig. 2. This taper of the
bud-protecting part 7 acts so that the apical bud of the
seedling is accommodated in the region of the point 19, so
that the seedling gradually lifts the bud-protecting part 7
out of the protective device 1 as it continues to grow. The
apical bud which is so important for the growth of the
seedling is thereby subsequently protected from browsing.
The section 18, 20 in the protective device 1 preferably has
a taper 18 and a widened portion 20 thereunder. The widened
portion 20 is used to guide the apical bud during growth so
that it finds the way through the taper 18. The taper 18
means that the bud-protecting part 7 sits more closely to
the stem and does not fall off so easily as the seedling
continues to grow.
In this exemplary embodiment, the bud-protecting part 7 also
has upper air holes 16, which, in conjunction with lower air
holes 15 in the protective device 1, allow air exchange in
the manner of a chimney. As a result, fresh air and in
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-10-07

CA 03180773 2022-10-07
- 17 -
particular carbon dioxide continuously reaches the seedlings
so that they have the substance, which is so important for
growth, available in sufficient amounts.
As soon as the seedling is large enough and emerges from the
protective device 1, at least the apical bud is still
protected by the bud-protecting part 7. The rounded upper
wall end 11 ensures that the seedling is not damaged on sharp
edges, e.g. as a result of movements caused by wind. Owing
to the biodegradability, the forester does not even have to
dispose of the protective device 1 or the bud-protecting
part 7, because both parts 1, 7 consist of
polyhydroxybutyrate in this exemplary embodiment.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-10-07

CA 03180773 2022-10-07
- 18 -
List of reference signs:
1 Protective device
2 Wall
3 Seed capsule
4 Substrate
1 Protective device
2 Wall
3 Seed capsule
4 Substrate
Seed
6 Outer layer
7 Bud-protecting part
8 Holding element
9 Holding part
Lower wall end
11 Upper wall end
12 Earth
13, 14 Opening
Lower air holes
16 Upper air holes
17 Protruding rest
18 Taper
19 Point
Widened portion
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-10-07

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

2024-08-01:As part of the Next Generation Patents (NGP) transition, the Canadian Patents Database (CPD) now contains a more detailed Event History, which replicates the Event Log of our new back-office solution.

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Event History

Description Date
Maintenance Fee Payment Determined Compliant 2024-09-25
Maintenance Fee Payment Determined Compliant 2024-09-25
Maintenance Request Received 2024-09-25
Compliance Requirements Determined Met 2024-05-14
Letter Sent 2024-04-02
Inactive: Office letter 2024-03-28
Inactive: First IPC assigned 2022-12-20
Priority Claim Requirements Determined Compliant 2022-12-07
Letter sent 2022-12-07
Inactive: IPC assigned 2022-11-29
Inactive: IPC assigned 2022-11-29
Application Received - PCT 2022-11-29
Request for Priority Received 2022-11-29
Inactive: IPC assigned 2022-11-29
National Entry Requirements Determined Compliant 2022-10-07
Small Entity Declaration Determined Compliant 2022-10-07
Application Published (Open to Public Inspection) 2021-10-14

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Maintenance Fee

The last payment was received on 2024-09-25

Note : If the full payment has not been received on or before the date indicated, a further fee may be required which may be one of the following

  • the reinstatement fee;
  • the late payment fee; or
  • additional fee to reverse deemed expiry.

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Fee History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Paid Date
Basic national fee - small 2022-10-07 2022-10-07
MF (application, 2nd anniv.) - small 02 2023-04-03 2022-10-07
MF (application, 3rd anniv.) - standard 03 2024-09-25
Late fee (ss. 27.1(2) of the Act) 2024-10-02 2024-09-25
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
GREENECONO UG
Past Owners on Record
JURGEN RIEDEL
TOBIAS HOBERT
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Representative drawing 2022-10-07 1 18
Description 2022-10-07 18 1,183
Claims 2022-10-07 2 103
Drawings 2022-10-07 3 64
Abstract 2022-10-07 1 22
Cover Page 2023-04-12 1 43
Confirmation of electronic submission 2024-09-25 1 59
Courtesy - Office Letter 2024-03-28 2 189
Commissioner's Notice - Maintenance Fee for a Patent Application Not Paid 2024-05-14 1 568
Courtesy - Letter Acknowledging PCT National Phase Entry 2022-12-07 1 595
Patent cooperation treaty (PCT) 2022-10-07 8 497
Correspondence 2022-10-07 29 1,023
Patent cooperation treaty (PCT) 2022-11-22 2 188
International search report 2022-10-07 8 285
International Preliminary Report on Patentability 2022-10-07 17 571
International Preliminary Report on Patentability 2022-10-07 4 303
Amendment - Abstract 2022-10-07 1 111
Patent cooperation treaty (PCT) 2022-10-07 26 1,402
National entry request 2022-10-07 9 375