I AUSTRALIA FB RICE & CO Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys Patents Act 1990 MULTISTEPS PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: A seedling tray The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Field of the Invention The invention relates to seedling trays. Summary of the Invention 5 According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a seedling tray including a body defining at least one chamber having an opening, the opening being circumscribed by a rim; a slit formed in the rim through which an end of a label is insertable, and a bulbous projection extending from an underside of the rim proximate at least one end of the slit, the projection being engageable with a tab at the end of the 10 label inserted through the slit to inhibit removal of the end of the label from the slit. A bulbous projection may be arranged at each end of the slit. Each end of the slit may extend into its associated bulbous projection. The slit may be formed at an angle other than 900 with respect to a plane in which the opening lies. 15 The slit may be curved. Brief description of the drawings An exemplary embodiment of a seedling tray is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: 20 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a seedling tray; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seedling tray with a label inserted into a slit formed in a rim of the seedling tray; Figure 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of the rim showing the slit; Figure 4 is an enlarged, underside view of the rim showing the slit; 25 Figure 5 is an enlarged, underside view of the rim showing an end of the label inserted through the slit; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through the rim of the seedling tray taken along line VI-VI in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through the rim of the seedling tray taken 30 along line VII-VII in Figure 5; and 3 Figure 8 is an enlarged, perspective view of a rim showing a slit according to another embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of exemplary embodiments 5 In the figures, reference numeral 10 generally designates an exemplary embodiment of a seedling tray. The seedling tray 10 includes a body 12 having six chambers 14E and 14M (collectively identified as 14 below). Each chamber 14 defines an opening 16 and each opening 16 is circumscribed by a rim 18. As is best seen in Figure 1, each chamber 14 shares part of its rim 18 with its neighbouring chambers 14. 10 The body 12 has a periphery 20 which, in respect of outer chambers 14 of the body 12, at least partially defines the rim 18 of those outer chambers 14. Each rim 16 has a flat surface 22 which lies in a plane substantially parallel to a plane in which the openings 16 lie. The flat surface 22 of the rim 16 defined by the periphery 20 is wider than the flat surface 22 of the rim between neighbouring chambers 14. 15 In this embodiment, the two middle chambers 14M are slightly narrower than the end chambers 14E and the rim 16 of each middle chamber 14M defined by the periphery 18 is correspondingly wider to define a platform 26. A slit 24 is formed in this platform 26 of the rim 16 of the middle chambers 14M of the seedling tray 10. As can be seen in Figure 6, the slit 24 is formed at an angle, not being 900, with respect to 20 the plane in which the openings 16 lie. The angle is preferably from approximately 300 to approximately 60' with respect to the plane in which the openings 16 lie. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the angle is about 60" with respect to the plane in which the openings lie. As can best be seen in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the slit 24 is curved with both ends of 25 the slit 24 being located closer to the chamber 14M than the middle portion of the slit 24 which is located toward an outer edge 27 of the periphery 20. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a projection 28 extends from an underside 30 of the rim 16. A projection 28 is associated with each end of the slit 24. In this embodiment, there is a depression 32 in the flat surface 22 of the rim 18 corresponding 30 to the projection 28 on the underside 30 of the rim 18. A round hole 33 is formed in the platform 26 of the rim approximately midway between the two depressions 32 and the slit 24 passes through the hole 33. The hole 33 can be used during or after manufacture of the seedling tray 10 in order to align equipment, such as a blade, for cutting or forming the slit 24 in the platform 26. In this 35 embodiment the slit 24 passes through the hole 33. However, the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement or to having any hole or mark for aligning 4 equipment to form the slit 24. In addition, the invention is also not limited to the slit 24 being cut or formed by a blade. In Figure 8, instead of hole 33, an indent 35 has been formed in the platform 26 of the rim 16. As with hole 33, the indent 35 can be used to align the seedling tray 10 5 with equipment for cutting or forming the slit 24 during or after manufacture of the seedling tray 10. The indent 35 has the advantage of being visible when the seedling tray 10 is viewed both from above or from the side. As shown in Figure 2, an end 34 of a label 36 is insertable through the slit 24. The end 34 of the label has two tabs 38 which extend laterally with respect a 10 longitudinal axis of the label 36. The end 34 of the label 36 shown in Figures 2 and 5 has a maximum width (from an end of one tab 38 to an end of the other tab 38) approximately the same as a length of the slit 24 (end to end). In addition, in Figure 2, the label 36 has been inserted through the slit 24 sufficiently for the tabs 38 to be spaced from the underside 30 of the rim 18. 15 Depending on the place of use, the label 36 may carry information regarding the type of seeds planted in the seedling tray 10 (for example, in a plant nursery) and/or it might carry information about the variety, growing conditions, pricing, etc of the seedlings growing in the seedling tray 10 (for example, in a plant shop). The end 34 of the label 36 shown in Figure 2 has scoring S to make the label 36 20 more flexible and to give the middle section of the end 34 of the label 36 a slight curve. In addition, the tabs 38 of the label 36 are not scored and the slight curve in the label 36 does not extend to the tabs 38. The slight curve in the label assists in aligning the end 34 of the label 36 with the curved slit 24 when the end 34 of the label 36 is being inserted into the slit 24. 25 In use, the end 34 of the label 36 is inserted through the slit 24. The angle of the slit 24 facilitates the label 36 becoming inclined at a corresponding angle which makes the label 36 easier to see and read particularly when the seedling trays 10 are positioned at or below the line of sight of a reader (see Figure 2). As can be understood from Figure 5, when the label 36 is pulled such that the 30 tabs 38 are brought into abutment with the underside 30 of the rim 18 (from the arrangement shown in Figure 2), at least one of the tabs 32 engages one of the projections 28 to inhibit removal of the end 34 of the label 36 from the slit 24. As can be seen in Figures 5 and 7, the tab 38 is held in position by the projection 28. The projections 28 further reduce the likelihood of breaking the rim 18 at the slit 24. 35 In Figure 5, one tab 38 is shown engaging one projection 28, but it will also be understood, that each projection 28 could engage an associated tab 38 of the label 36.
5 It will be appreciated that the interaction between the tabs 38 and the underside 30 of the rim 18 and the projections 28, which results in the engagement of the tabs 38 and the projections 28, is enhanced by the slit 24 being curved while the tabs 38 are not. 5 It will also be appreciated that the angle of the slit may contribute to this interaction. As a result of the engagement of the projection 28 and the tab 38, the likelihood that the tab 38 will become aligned with the slit 24 such that the tab 38 can pass through the slit 24 and the end 34 of the label 36 be removed from the slit 24 is 10 reduced. Therefore, the likelihood of the label 36 being accidentally removed from the slit 24 (for example, when the label 36 is being handled by a vendor or a consumer in order to read the label 36 or when the seedling tray 10 is lifted by pulling on the label 36 rather than the seedling tray 10 itself being picked up) is reduced. It will be appreciated that if the label 36 were to be removed from the seedling tray 10 there may 15 be confusion later about the contents of the tray, pricing, etc., for both vendors and consumers. In addition, it is not uncommon for consumers to attempt to lift seedlings trays by pulling on their accompanying labels and, if the label 36 were to come free from the seedling tray 10 while the seedling tray 10 was being pulled up by the label 36, the seedling tray may fall to the ground leading to damage to the seedlings growing 20 in the seedling tray or to the contents of the seedling tray being spilled. In the embodiment described above, the body 12 of the seedling tray has six chambers 14. The present invention is not limited to such an arrangement. The body of the seedling tray 10 may have any number of chambers 14. For example, it may have one single chamber or it might have nine or even more chambers. In addition, in 25 the embodiment described above, the slit 24 is formed in the periphery 20 which partially defines the rim 18 of the middle chamber 14M. The present invention is not limited to this arrangement and the slit 24 may be formed in any part of the rim 18 and is not limited to the rim 18 defined by the periphery 20. For example, the slit 24 may be formed in the rim 18 between any neighbouring chambers 14. In such an 30 embodiment, the rim 18 between neighbouring chambers 14 is formed to be wide enough to accommodate the slit 24. In the embodiment described above, the slit 24 is shown having a single curve. However, the slit 24 is not limited to a slit 24 having the curve or degree of curvature shown in the figures. 35 In addition, in the embodiment described above, the slit 24 is curved with the ends of the slit 24 being located closer to the chamber 14 than the middle of the slit 24.
6 The present invention is not limited to this arrangement. For example, the slit 24 may be curved in the opposite way such that the ends of the slit 24 are located closer to the outer edge 27 with the middle of the slit 24 being located closer to the chamber 14. In that case and depending on the angle of the slit 24, the label 36 may be inserted into the 5 slit 24 of the seedling tray 10 corresponding to the vacant slit 24 in Figure 2 such that the chambers 14 are in front of the label 36 when the seedling tray 10 is displayed. The angle of the slit 24 is not particularly limited and can be selected according to the angle desired for displaying the label 36 and also for increasing interaction between the tabs 38 and the underside of the seedling tray and/or the projections 28. 10 In the embodiment described above, the projections 28 have corresponding depressions 32 on the flat surface 22 of the rim 18. The present invention is not limited to this arrangement. For example, the depressions may be absent with the projections 28 being defined by an increased thickness in the rim 18. In such a case, the projections 28 may reinforce the ends of the slit 24 and reduce the likelihood of tearing 15 at the ends of the slit 24 which would result in the slit 24 becoming longer. As discussed above, in the embodiment described above, the end 34 of the label 36 shown in Figures 2 and 5 has a maximum width (from an end of one tab 38 to an end of the other tab 38) approximately the same as a length of the slit 24 (end to end). However, the present invention is not limited to the width of the end of the label 36 20 being approximately the same as the length of the slit 24. For example, the length of the slit 24 may be, within limits, shorter than the width of the label used with the seedling tray and, in such a case, the label can be tilted during insertion so that one tab passes through the slit before the other tab. The length of the slit could also be greater than the width of the end of the label. 25 In addition, in the embodiment described above, two projections 28 extend from the underside 30 of the rim 18 at the ends of the slit 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement and each projection 28 may be proximate the end of the slit 24 as long as engagement of the tab 38 and the projection 28 as described above is achieved. For example, the slit 24 could be longer and extend beyond the projections 30 28. The projections could also be adjacent the ends of the slit. In addition, with reference to the above embodiment and depending on the configuration of the slit as discussed above, the projections may also be located between the slit and the edge of the periphery or between the slit and the chamber. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations 35 and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly described.
7 The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.