GB2329315A - Pocketed plant container. - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for growing plants is provided with gusseted pockets 8 on at least one side into which plants can be inserted. The pockets communicate with the main body of the container through openings 11. The container may be in the form of a pouch adapted to be hung from a bracket (Fig. 1) or tied to a support by means of ties (33, 34 Fig. 3), or it may be free standing (Fig. 4). A liner may also be provided for use with the container.

Description

Title - Plant Growing Apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for the growing of plants, and in particular to a plant growing system including a container for the display of plants growing therein.

The use of hanging baskets for the growing of decorative plants such as flowers and the like is well-known and popular. Typically, a generally hemispherical container is filled with soil or the like and planted up. The container is supported in a suitable frame which is then suspended by chains from a bracket fixed, for example, to the wall of a house.

Hanging baskets can be very attractive, but suffer from a number of disadvantages. Because only the upper surface of the basket is planted, and since the basket is usually suspended at relatively high level, the full decorative effect may not be apparent. Also, a bracket must generally be securely fixed to a support such as a wall in order to support the basket and this may be difficult for some people to do, as well as limiting the positions in which the basket may be placed. In addition, the basket and associated frame and chains are relatively bulky which require considerable storage space when not in use, which may for the greater part of each year.

It is also well known to display plants in pots or tubs, sometimes of quite large dimensions.

Again, such containers are bulky and difficult to store when not in use.

There has now been devised an improved form of plant container which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention, apparatus for growing plants comprises an open-topped container adapted for suspension from, or to be supported upon, an available support, the container being further provided with at least one opening in a side portion thereof to receive, in use, a plant, and a liner filled with a growing medium, the liner being adapted to fit within and be retained by the container.

The apparatus according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it may provide a more attractive display of plants than conventional apparatus such as a hanging basket. In addition, in preferred embodiments the apparatus may be more versatile than a conventional hanging basket, being easier to hang, and also easier to store when not in use. Furthermore, the shape of the container may be adapted to conform to the shape of the support. For example, a container intended to be suspended on a wall may have a flat back so that it lies flush against the wall.

This reduces the tendency of the container to move in the wind.

The container may be formed from any suitable material and take any suitable form. Most preferably, however, the container is flexible. The container is preferably formed from a suitably tough fabric, most preferably a woven synthetic fabric. The fabric most preferably has an open weave, not only to reduce the overall weight of the container, but also to facilitate drainage of excess moisture from within it.

For reasons of durability, the container is preferably formed from a synthetic material.

Preferably, the container is provided with a plurality of openings in the side thereof, most preferably three or more, typically six to twelve openings. Most preferably, the opening(s) in the container are provided with upstanding means to prevent loss of plants and growing medium from the opening. Such means may take the form of a lip or the like positioned in front of the opening. Most preferably, the opening(s) are positioned such that plants growing in them are visible and seen to best effect when the container is suspended or otherwise supported. The openings may therefore be spaced about the part of the container which, in use, is most visible, eg the front part.

In some embodiments, the container may be suspended by any convenient means. For example, the container may be provided with an integral aperture through which a hook or other projection on the support may be passed. Alternatively, a suspension cord, rope, chain or the like may be attached to the container.

In other embodiments, the container is free-standing and takes the form of an open-topped tub or the like.

The liner is most preferably a plastics bag which is introduced into the container from above.

The bag may then be punctured through the opening(s) in the container and plants inserted into the growing medium contained within the liner, through the opening(s). The liner may also be perforated at its lower part, in order to facilitate drainage of excess water.

The liner may be retained and re-used in successive growing seasons. Alternatively, the liner and its contents may be disposable, a new liner filled with growing medium being purchased each year.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plant support sack according to the invention, and a growing medium insert for use therewith; Figure 2 shows adetailed view of a growing pocket forming part of the sack of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear view of a modified version of the plant sack of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a free-standing embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, a plant support sack (generally designated 1) according to the invention is formed from a synthetic fabric, specifically a PVC-coated woven nylon mesh. The sack 1 complises three major components. A generally rectangular rear panel 2 is stitched at the sides to a generally rectangular front panel 3, the front panel 3 being somewhat wider than the rear panel 2 and also somewhat shorter such that the rear panel 2 extends above the upper edge of the front panel 3. Finally, a gusset or base panel 4 is stitched to the lower edges of the front and rear panels 2,3. In alternative embodiments, the base panel may be integral with the front and/or rear panels.

The upper edge of the rear panel 2 is folded over and stitched down to form a tube 5 into which a hollow rod 6, eg of relatively rigid plastics material, is inserted. A cord or rope 7 is passed through the rod 6 and tied to form a loop by which the sack 1 can be suspended from a suitable support.

Three further lengths of the nylon mesh material are fixed to the front of the sack 1 by stitching along their lower edges, at the sides and also at two intermediate, upwardly-extending lines of stitching. Each further length of nylon mesh thus forms three upwardly-open pockets 8 of generally equal size on the front of the sack 1, there being nine such pockets in all.

Various braids or tapes 9, eg of nylon material, are applied to the sack 1 to reinforce lines of stitching. Tapes 10 are also folded and stitched over the upper, exposed edges of the front panel 3 and the further lengths of nylon material used to form the pockets 8, and also the exposed side edges of the part of the rear panel 2 used to form the tube 5.

One pocket 8 is shown in more detail in Figure 2. It can be seen that the rear wall of the pocket (constituted by the front panel 3 of the sack 1) has a cut-out 11 allowing access from the pocket to the interior of the sack 1.

In use, a plastics bag 20 of a growing medium such as soil or compost (see Figure 1) is inserted into the sack 1 from above. The bag 20 is dimensioned to fit closely within and fill the sack 1.

The top of the bag 20 may be opened to permit the open top of the bag 20 to be planted up. In addition, the bag 20 may be punctured through the pockets 8 and further plants inserted into the bag 20 (or into soil spilling from the bag 20 into the pocket 8). The sack 1 may be suspended, by means of the rope 7 from a support in the manner of a conventional hanging basket, the plants growing in the open top of the sack 1 and the pockets 8 cascading downwards to form an attractive display.

Referring now to Figure 3, a modified flower sack 30 is broadly similar to the sack 1 of Figure 1. The rear of this embodiment, however, is provided with two relatively broad tapes 31,32 stitched along their upper and lower edges so as to define channels within which straps 33,34 are received. The straps 33,34 can be used to bind the sack 30 to a support such as a downpipe or lamp-post, thereby conforming the sack 30 to the shape of the support.

Finally, the container 40 of Figure 4 is free-standing and takes the form of an open-topped cylinder. The cylinder is formed from a similar material to that used for the sack 1 of Figure 1 and is provided with two rows of pockets 41 similar to the pockets 8. A disc, eg of rigid plastics material, may be fitted in the lower part of the container 40 to provide enhanced stability.

The embodiments of Figures 3 and 4 are used in conjunction with suitably shaped bags (not shown) of soil or compost, in a similar manner to that of Figure 1.

Claims (4)

1. A plant growing apparatus being an open topped tubular or cyllindrical body comprising a front, rear, side and base panels or otherwise one continuous circular panel and having shaped and covered appertures or openings to one, or all sides of the body to form gusset pockets through which planting material can be inserted or introduced into the main cavity of the body.

Figure 1 - No. 1

2. A plant growing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 into which a polythene liner can be inserted into the cavity of the body and into which compost or other growing medium can be contained to prevent spillage of growing medium.

Figure 1 - No. 2

3. A plant growing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 having the facility to be a suspended plant apparatus by means of a rigid tube or hollow rod inserted into and within a fold at the top end of one or other rear or back panel of the body, through which a length of cord, rope, chain or other suitable hanging device is threaded to enable the plant growing apparatus to be suspended from a hook, nail, screw or other implement against a flat surface, for example a wall or fence. Figure 2 - No. 3 4. A plant growing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 incorporating a brass or metal eyelet feature at either end of the seamed fold referred to in Claim 3 through which a screw or nail can be driven to secure the plant growing apparatus. Figure 2 - No. 1 5.

A plant growing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 incorporating widths of webbing or mesh to the external surface of a rear panel of the plant growing apparatus through which a strap , tie, belt or girdle can be threaded to enable the plant growing apparatus to be suspended against or around a feature or article which are rotund or irregular in shape, for example a lainppost, tree down-rainwater spout. Figure 2 - No. 2 6. A plant growing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the appertures or openings (Figure 3 - No. 1) made to one or more of the panels of the body are themselves covered on the external face of the apparatus with self same strips of the material described in Claim No. 7 to form a gussett pocket (Figure 3 No. 2) and being secured vertically to either side of the apperture by a length of braid or webbing (Figure 3 - No. 3) and being secured horizontally to the bottom edge of the apperture by the same feature of braid or webbing (Figure 3 - No 4)

7. A plant growing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 which is made from PVC coated woven nylon mesh.

4. A plant growing apparatus substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.