Seedling container and method of making the same

Details Seedling container and method of making the same Seedling container and method of making the same

1999-02-10

2001-03-06

Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)

Plant husbandry

Receptacle for growing medium

For transplanting

C047S065800

Reexamination Certificate

active

06195938

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seedling container and a method of making the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Canadian Patent 939,905 describes a seedling container having a body of compressed peat moss encased in a thin, tubular, impermeable, flexible casing, which encases the side surface only of the body of compressed peat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,431 describes an apparatus for making seedling tubes, such as those described in Canadian Patent 939,905.
When it comes time to plant a seedling that has been grown in the seedling container, as described above, the thin tubular casing is removed. This is a time consuming process, that requires the use of a cutting instrument.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a seedling container that will make planting seedlings a less time consuming process.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a seedling container that includes a sleeve filled with a compressed plant growth medium and having a first end, a second end, and a defining sidewall. The sidewall has at least one integrally formed tear away strip that extends between the first end and the second end.
When planting a seedling that has been grown in the seedling container, as described above; the sleeve is removed from around the plant growth medium by tearing away the tear away strip to open up the sidewall. This procedure can rapidly be performed and does not require any cutting tools. The seedling, still encased in plant growth medium, can then be planted.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the seedling container, as described above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when several tear away strips in the form of ribs are used. The tear away rib strips serve as reinforcement allowing a thinner sidewall to be used. The rib strips also serve to direct root growth downward when the roots reach an interface between the plant growth medium and the sleeve.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a seedling container, involving the step of co-extruding an inner stream of compressed peat moss and an outer annular stream of polymer plastic. This forms a continuous flexible polymer plastic sleeve filled with compressed plant growth medium. The continuous coextruded sleeve with compressed plant growth medium is cut into individual lengths each having a first end, a second end and a defining sidewall with at least one integrally formed tear away strip that extends between the first end and the second end.
This method of manufacture allows the seedling container described above to be manufactured in a continuous process at a comparatively high rate of production.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 29248 (1977-06-01), Congleton
patent: 2968124 (1961-01-01), Coplan
patent: 3313333 (1967-04-01), Lorid
patent: 3375607 (1968-04-01), Melvold
patent: 3403840 (1968-10-01), Mathes
patent: 3642564 (1972-02-01), Walker et al.
patent: 4189868 (1980-02-01), Tymchuck et al.
patent: 4245431 (1981-01-01), Barbulescu et al.
patent: 4939865 (1990-07-01), Whitcomb et al.
patent: 6088962 (2000-07-01), Johnson
patent: 939905 (1974-01-01), None
patent: 0 172 060 (1986-02-01), None
Abstract of U.S. Patent No. 4,008,544, Rupprecht, et al, issued Feb. 22, 1977.

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