GB2207845A - Cover for a plant container - Google Patents

Abstract

A cover for a plant container comprises a pliable body member having an aperture 12 at or near its centre and an opening 14 extending from the aperture to the peripheral edge of the body member. The body member includes a portion surrounding the aperture comprising a multiplicity of segments 17 each separated from an adjacent segment by a slit or slot to permit the size of the aperture to be increased by raising or lowering of the segments. Also, the segmented portion is defined at its outer edge by a rib 21 at the periphery of the segmented portion. <IMAGE>

Description

"COVER FOR A PLANT CONTAINER" The present invention relates to a cover for a plant container and, in particular, for plant pots and the like.

As described in Specification No. 1,328,606, one drawback of cultivating individual plants in pots or the like is that more frequent watering is required than when planted in open ground. In addition, watering by sprinkling encounters the problem that the plant itself acts as an umbrella and only the outer parts of the soil in the pot are moistened. Also, it. is difficult to effect mechanical cleaning or weeding and that must be done manually, which is more expensive.

The earlier invention proposes, in an attempt to provide a solution to such problems, to associate with a flower pot or the like, a pliable disc of such formation as to be able to direct irrigating liquids such as water to the centre of the lump of earth in the pot. The earlier invention accordingly consists in a pliable disc to surround a plant during its growth in a flower pot or the like, said disc having an aperture at or near its centre and a radial opening extending from said aperture to the periphery of the disc, enabling the radial edges of said opening to be brought together in overlapping relationship to shape the disc into a funnel, and fastening members of the press button type operable to fasten said edges together in their overlapping relationship.At that time already various protective rings were known having a conical or concave shape made by forming or pressing, and having a radial slot, but according to the earlier invention any forming or pressing is avoided by manufacturing the disc in the flat state and enabling it to be formed up as required into the appropriate funnel or conical shape.

The earlier invention also provides a method of cultivating a plant, which comprises positioning a disc according to the invention around the stem of the plant by separating the two edges of the radial opening therein, shaping the disc into a funnel by bringing the said edges into overlapping relationship, and fastening said edges together by means of the fastening members, whereby the peripheral zone of the disc rests on and extends slightly beyond the rim of the pot or the like and the centre thereof rests on the earth in the pot or the like surrounding the plant stem.

The earlier invention described above is predicated on the avoidance of any forming or pressing operation. However, the earlier disclosure acknowledges various protective rings are known having a conical or concave shape by forming or pressing, and having a radial slot. Such other known rings of which we are aware while suffering from the disadvantage of having to be moulded, nevertheless can have the added advantage of including a peripheral portion which can be locked over the upper rim of the pot to secure the ring in a desired position. Furthermore, the portion of the cover surrounding the central aperture can be segmented to provide an aperture of variable size to accommodate a degree of plant growth. However, such segmenting can introduce a potential weakness in the cover and for that reason can be disadvantageous.

We have now found surprisingly that the advantages of known formed or moulded covers can be taken up while essentially avoiding the above disadvantage by providing a cover in which the segmented portion of the cover is defined at its outer edge by an annular rib, which can be so formed that in use its upper surface affords an annular trough which can regulate the flow of water from the upper surface of the cover to the soil in the pot.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cover for a plant container, which cover comprises a pliable body member having an aperture at or near its centre and an opening extending from the aperture to the peripheral edge of the body member whereby the body member may be positioned to surround the stem of a plant during its growth in a pot or a like container, the body member including a portion surrounding the aperture comprising a multiplicity of segments each separated from an adjacent segment by a slit or slot to permit the size of the aperture to be increased by raising or lowering of the segments, and the segmented portion being defined at its outer edge by a rib at the periphery of the segmented portion.

In the cover of the invention, the rib is preferably formed to provide a trough in the upper surface of the cover surrounding the segmented portion of the body member. Such a trough may be defined by a rib formed with a hollow upper surface, and typically may have a smoothly curved outline in section across the trough. Preferably, the slits or slots in the segmented portion extend into the trough. The provision of such a trough enables water to be held back in the trough when the plant is watered. In that way the water fed to the central portion of the soil in the pot is fed over a longer period of time and, because at least some of the water which is held back flows down through the slits or slots in the segmented portion, especially where the slits or slots extend into the trough, a wider area of soil can be watered.

Preferably, the segmented portion of the body member comprises at least four segments which are essentially equal in size, more preferably from four to sixteen e.g. four to eight, segments. Preferably also, the segmented portion is arranged such that the segments at their edge adjacent the aperture rise above the horizontal in use to permit the size of the aperture to be increased. That may be arranged by providing a very slight upward bias towards that edge of the segments when the cover is made.

In addition, in the cover of the invention the body member preferably includes an outer peripheral portion which can be positioned over the rim of a plant pot to secure the cover on the pot. Such an outer peripheral portion preferably comprises inner and outer wal-ls joined at their upper edges and defining a downwardly facing opening in which the rim of a plant pot can be positioned. Preferably also, the inner wall extends above the upper surface of the body member.

More preferably, the peripheral portion includes means to lock the cover on the pot rim. Such locking means preferably comprise a plurality of ribs associated with the inner and/or outer walls. Thus, preferably in one aspect, such locking means comprise a plurality of pairs of ribs, one rib of each pair being associated with the inner wall and the other rib of each pair being associated with the outer wall. Typically, the locking means in that one aspect may comprise four pairs of such opposed ribs, specifically as exemplified below.

Alternatively, however, in another aspect a plurality of ribs may be provided on the inside face of the outer wall only, typically nine ribs with one rib adjacent each side of said opening.

As described in the introduction above, one purpose of the cover is to assist in distributing water intended to moisten the soil in the pot to be covered.

Accordingly, in the cover of the invention it is additionally preferred that the body member should have a configuration in that portion between the outer periphery of the body member and the rib which is dished so that water on the upper surface of the body member is directed to flow away from the outer periphery. In that manner the central portion of the soil in the pot can be supplied with water more effectively, preferably via the trough described above.

The cover of the invention may have any shape overall which fits the top of a plant container, for example, round or square. Preferably, however, the cover is shaped overall as a disc and typically it may be manufactured from a plastics material. Furthermore, while a variety of manufacturing techniques may be employed, for example, injection moulding, the cover is preferably manufactured by vacuum forming.

Also, while a variety of plastics materials may be chosen, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene, the preferred plastics material is polystyrene. Especially preferred is high impact polystyrene since that permits the provision of more rigid segments surrounding the aperture. In that way a larger number of segments up to sixteen of more can be provided so that a greater and easier accommodation of plant stem growth can be accomplished. Also, high impact polystyrene leads to a less expensive vacuum formed end product.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a view from above of a preferred form of cover in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 shows a cross section through the cover of Figure 1 along a diagonal line passing through the opening therein.

Referring to the drawings, the cover shown comprises a disc shaped pliable body member 11 having a central aperture 12. Extending radially from the aperture 12 to the outer peripheral edge 13 of the body member 11 is an opening in the form of a slot 14. The slot 14 has opposed edges 15 and 16 which are spaced as shown in the cover (in its relaxed condition) before it is positioned on a plant pot or the like.

The body member 11 includes a segmented portion 17 which surrounds the aperture 12. The segmented portion 17 comprises eight segments of essentially equal size each separated from an adjacent segment by slits 18.

The slits 18 extend to an inner portion 19 of a rib 21which surrounds the segmented portion 17 and the rib 21 is formed with a hollow upper surface 22. In that manner the rib can provide a trough in the upper surface of the cover surrounding the segmented portion 17 of the body member 11.

At its outer periphery the body member 11 has an inner wall 24 and an outer wall 25. The inner wall 24 extends above the upper surface of the body member and the two walls are joined at their upper edges by portion 26. Equidistant around the outer periphery are four pairs of locking means generally designated 27, one of which bridges the radial slot 14. Those locking means comprise opposed ribs 28, 29 between which in use a pot rim can be gripped to secure the cover locked in position over the upper surface of soil in a pot.

In use the cover is positioned over soil in a pot or the like containing a growing plant. That is achieved by raising or lowering one part of the body member 11 adjacent the slot 14 in relation to its opposed part across the slot. In that manner the slot can be opened to permit the cover to be slid around the plant stem. The cover is then secured in position by pushing downwards at its periphery so that the walls 24 and 25, and ribs 28, 29, snap over the pot rim. When so secured the opposed edges 15 and 16 of the slot 14 are essentially abutting.

The cover when so positioned covers the soil in the pot and prevents weed growth. Also, when the plant is watered, water is collected by the cover and directed towards trough 23 which acts as a weir- to retain a portion of the water and to prevent the whole charge of water from being immediately directed through the aperture 12. Water in the trough then bleeds more slowly through the slits 1 8 and closed slot 1 4 to feed a wider area of soil than that closely adjacent the aperture.

In the embodiment shown the cover is made of opaque high impact polystyrene. Also, the cover is made by a technique comprising vacuum forming. However, it is to be understood that other materials and manufacturing techniques may be employed and the invention is not limited to the specific details described above by way of illustration only. For example, in an alternative sixteen segments may be provided in the segmented portion 17. Also, the ribs 28, 29 may be replaced by a larger number of ribs on the inside of the outer wall only. Thus, numerous variations may be made to what is specifically described within the spirit of the invention defined by the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims (20)

1. A cover for a plant container, which cover comprises a pliable body member having an aperture at or near its centre and an opening extending from the aperture to the peripheral edge of the body member whereby the body member may be positioned to surround the stem of a plant during its growth in a pot or a like container, the body member including a portion surrounding the aperture comprising a multiplicity of segments each separated from an adjacent segment by a slit or slot to permit the size of the aperture to be increased by raising or lowering of the segments, and the segmented portion being defined at its outer edge by a rib at the periphery of the segmented portion.

2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the rib is formed to provide a trough in the upper surface of the cover surrounding the segmented portion of the body member.

3. A cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the segmented portion of the body member comprises at least four segments which are essentially equal in size.

4. A cover according to claim 3, wherein the segmented portion comprises from four to sixteen segments.

5. A cover according to claim 3, wherein the segmented portion comprises from four to eight segments.

6. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the segmented portion is arranged such that the segments rise above the horizontal in use to permit the size of the aperture to be increased.

7. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body member includes an outer peripheral portion which can be positioned over the rim of a plant pot to secure the cover on the pot.

8. A cover according to claim 7, wherein the outer peripheral portion comprises inner and outer walls joined at their upper edges and defining a downwardly facing opening in which the rim of a plant pot can be positioned.

9. A cover according to claim 8, wherein the inner wall extends above the upper surface of the body member.

10. A cover according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the peripheral portion includes means to lock the cover on the pot rim.

11. A cover according to claim 10, wherein the locking means comprise a plurality of ribs associated with the inner and/or outer walls.

12. A cover according to claim 11, wherein the locking means comprise a plurality of pairs of ribs, one rib of each pair being associated with the inner wall and the other rib of each pair being associated with the outer wall.

13. A cover according to claim 11, wherein the locking means comprise a plurality of ribs on the inside face of the outer wall.

14. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body member has a configuration in that portion between the outer periphery of the body member and the rib which is dished so that water on the upper surface of the body member is directed to flow away from the outer periphery.

15. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims which is shaped overall as a disc.

16. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims which is manufactured from a plastics material.

17. A cover according to claim 16, wherein the cover is manufactured by vacuum forming.

18. A cover according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the plastics material is high impact polystyrene.

19. A cover for a plant container according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

20. A cover for a plant container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.