WO2008037990B1

WO2008037990B1 - Manually foldable receptacles

Info

Publication number: WO2008037990B1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/003660
Authority: WO
Inventors: John William Farley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-28
Filing date: 2007-09-27
Publication date: 2008-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-28
Also published as: GB2455954A; WO2008037990A1; GB0906893D0; EP2091318A1

Abstract

A manually foldable receptacle comprises a base portion; walls projecting upwards from said base portion; wherein at least said base portion incorporates substantially flat strips of plastics material woven in a criss-cross pattern; and each of at least two opposite walls incorporates a respective tunnel extending along the length of said wall with at least one open end into which an appropriately sized supporting member may be inserted in use.

Claims

28AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 02 April 2008 (02 April 2008)

1. A manually foldable receptacle comprising a base portion; walls projecting upwards from said base portion; wherein at least said base portion incorporates substantially flat strips of plastics material woven in a criss-cross pattern; and each of at least two opposite walls incorporates a respective tunnel extending along the length of said wall with at least one open end into which an appropriately sized supporting member may be inserted in use; characterised in that the height of said receptacle's walls substantially corresponds to the height of said tunnels; whereby the receptacle's walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material.

2. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is formed from a single sheet of woven strips of polypropylene with fold lines separating said base portion and said walls.

3. A receptacle according to either of the preceding claims, wherein one or more fasteners are provided to attach said walls to one or more fasteners of the walls of an adjacent receptacle.

4. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said fasteners incorporate a filamentary touch to close fastener pad.

5. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said supporting member is a polypropylene rope.

6. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle incorporates no handles, which protrude beyond the upper rim of the receptacle.

7. A sheet of material comprising a central portion and a plurality of wings extending from said central portion; whereby when said wings are folded inwards relative to said central portion and neighbouring wing portions are sewn together, a receptacle having the features of claim 1 is formed.

8. A sheet according to claim 6, wherein one or more of the wings are folded on each other to form one or more walls with two or more layers of sheet.

9. A grow bag according to any of the preceding claims, containing a grow medium.

10. A grow bag according to claim 9, wherein said grow bag comprises a base portion with at least one drain portion.

11. A grow bag according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the bag comprises a base and sidewall portions whose mesh is sufficiently tight to be substantially impermeable.

12. A grow bag according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the bag comprises portions of woven strips which are relatively coarse to allow drainage and portions of woven strips which are relatively tightly meshed to be substantially impermeable.

13. A grow bag according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the bag comprises a base portion; walls projecting upwards from said base portion; and a lid comprising a top portion and walls projecting downwards from said base portion.

14. A grow bag according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the bag comprises a plurality of sections separated by one or more walls.

15. A system for growing crops comprising a grow bag according to any of claims 10 to 14; a pump for drawing water collected through said drain; and an irrigator to which said water is pumped for irrigation of said grow medium.

16. A tray comprising a housing; an absorbent material located within said housing; wherein said housing comprises substantially impermeable walls of woven strips of plastics for preventing any undue leakage from said absorbent material; and a membrane of woven strips of plastics whose meshes form perforations of sufficient size to allow oil or the like to pass through said membrane whilst forming a retention barrier for the absorbent material.

17. A tray in accordance with claim 16, wherein said absorbent material is Swedish Peat.

18. A tray according to either of the preceding claims, further comprising a substantially impermeable cover of woven strips of plastics which when opened allows liquid to be absorbed by said absorbent material.

19. A bag comprising a tray in accordance with either of the preceding claims, wherein releasable attachment means are provided to allow the opening and secure closing of said housing.

20. A method of growing crops comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of grow bags with a wall of woven strips of plastics; filling grow bags wholly or partially with grow medium; laying a plurality of grow bags side by side to form a field at the beginning of the crop growing cycle; and removing one or more of said bags dependent upon the maturity of the crop.

21. A method of growing crops according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of drawing water collected underneath one or more bags and pumping said water to irrigate said grow medium.

22. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein said base portion and said walls are formed of woven strips to allow said receptacle to be permeable; wherein said receptacle incorporates one or more openable and/or removable wall forming and/or base forming portions; and releasable attachment means which secure said portions to neighbouring wall forming and/or base forming receptacle portions; whereby the extent to which the receptacle is opened may be increased by releasing said attachment means.

23. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein said base portion and said walls are formed of woven strips to allow said receptacle to be permeable; wherein said receptacle incorporates a funnel projecting downwards from said base portion, and said walls form an upper opening for unrestricted top filling between said walls. 31

24. A receptacle according to either of the preceding claims, wherein said tunnel is sized and shaped for the insertion of a supporting member in the form of a tine of a lifting fork.

25. A receptacle according to claim 24, wherein said tunnel is formed between two superposed layers of receptacle material which are sown together whilst leaving a side opening for the insertion of a tine of a lifting fork.

26. A receptacle according to any of claims 22 to 25, wherein said receptacle incorporates tunnels suitable for the insertion of a tine of a lifting fork and handles projecting upwards from said walls.

27. A receptacle according to any of claims 22 to 25, wherein said walls incorporate an openable window for access at a level below an upper opening.

28. A receptacle according to claim 27, wherein said openable window incorporates a funnel.

29. A manually foldable water permeable receptacle suitable for filling wholly or partially with earth covering material and intended to remain in situ when so filled, comprising a base portion and walls projecting upwards from said base portion, wherein the receptacle's walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material.

30. A grow bag containing a grow medium and one or more walls of woven strips of plastics.

31. A tray comprising a housing; an absorbent material located within said housing; wherein said housing comprises substantially impermeable walls of woven strips of plastics for preventing any undue leakage from said absorbent material; and a membrane of woven strips of plastics whose meshes form perforations of sufficient size to allow oil or the like to pass through said membrane whilst forming a retention barrier for the absorbent material. 32

32. A receptacle comprising a base, and walls projecting upwards from said base portion; said base portion and said walls being formed of woven strips to allow said receptacle to be permeable; wherein said receptacle incorporates one or more openable and/or removable wall forming and/or base forming portions; and releasable attachment means which secure said portions to neighbouring wall forming and/or base forming receptacle portions; whereby the extent to which the receptacle is opened may be increased by releasing said attachment means.

33. A manually foldable receptacle comprising a base portion, and walls projecting upwards from said base portion; said base portion and said walls being formed of woven strips to allow said receptacle to be permeable; wherein said receptacle incorporates a funnel projecting downwards from said base portion, and said walls form an upper opening for unrestricted top filling between said walls.

34. A receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as illustrated with reference to any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.