Plant husbandry – Mulching
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-02
2001-12-04
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Mulching
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324781
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a mat which, in one aspect, is designed for promoting plant growth and/or limiting growth of weeds around plants and which, in another aspect, may incorporate seeds for establishing a growth of grass, lawn or other plants.
2. Description of Related Art
Seed mats of a number of different forms are known, some of which incorporate paper. Generally, however, the paper is used as a backing for carrying a mulch material, such as straw and the paper itself does not serve as the carrier or supporter of the seed. Alternatively, when paper is used in such mats, it is in the form of a wet paper pulp or slurry. Other forms of mulching products are also known, using different types of materials, such as straw or wood. Mulching products which use recycled or waste paper, however, do not appear to be presently available.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention aims to provide a mat for horticultural applications which, in a first aspect, is for use primarily in mulching applications and which comprises substantially a paper material, and preferably a recycled paper material. The present invention also aims in a further aspect to provide a seed mat incorporating such a paper material. The present invention aims, in yet a further aspect, to provide a method for manufacturing a mulch mat or seed mat of the above type.
The present invention thus provides, in a first preferred aspect, a mulch mat comprising shredded paper pressed into a substantially mat-like form and a binder, said binder binding and maintaining said shredded paper in said mat-like form. Preferably the discrete strips of shredded paper have a width measurable or noticeable to the naked human eye. Typically the width of the pieces of shredded paper is 2-10 mm, preferably 2-6 mm, most preferably 3-5 mm. Typically the pieces of shredded paper are elongate with a length greater than their width, substantially greater than their width. As randomly oriented shredded paper is difficult to handle, the strips of paper would not typically have a length greater than 20 cm. Advantageously the strips of paper have a length of 6-8 cm.
Typically the strips of paper are obtained by shredding waste paper, newspaper or computer paper, in a conventional shredder of the type that is used in an office or industrial facility.
The product of this process is discrete pieces of paper which are separate from each other and each of which has a visibly discernible width and length. Thus the strips of paper are not akin to pulp fibres. The discrete pieces of paper are merely glued together and do not form a homogeneous mixture or porridge of pulped fibre. The shredded paper is most suitably used in a dry form.
The binder for binding the strips of the shredded paper together may comprise a glue, or latex.
The present invention in a further aspect provides a method of manufacturing a mulch mat from paper, said method including the steps of shredding said paper or providing said paper in shredded form, applying a binder to said shredded paper and pressing said shredded paper into a substantially planar form.
The shredded paper may be pressed by one or more rollers and suitably onto a continuous belt, so as to form a mat of elongated form. Alternatively the shredded paper may be pressed flat using a pressing apparatus, such as a flat platen.
The mat, after or during pressing, is suitably dried to substantially remove moisture in the end product. Drying of the mats during manufacture may be achieved through the application of heat with, for example, blowers.
Drying, however, may also be achieved by use of microwave drying techniques.
If desired, the mulch mat may incorporate a layer of thin paper such as a tissue paper on one or both sides to assist in binding the shredded paper into a mat-like form and to provide a preferred finish.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a seed mat, said seed mat being formed of shredded paper pressed into substantially planar mat-like form and a binder for binding and maintaining said shredded paper in said mat-like form, and seed on or within said mat.
In a preferred form, the seed mat comprises two layers, each being formed of shredded paper material and the seed is disposed between the layers. The layers and the paper within each layer may suitably be bound together by a binder, such as a glue or latex or starch.
So as to promote the growth of seeds in the seed mat, the mat may be provided with a plurality of perforations. At least some of the seeds may be located adjacent some of the perforations so as to more easily allow root and/or stem growth. Preferably, the perforations through the mat are provided in a regular array or pattern.
The mats formed as above may be in continuous lengths so as to be capable of being rolled up and supplied in a rolled in form for subsequent unrolling and use in a planar form. Alternatively, the mats may be provided in any other shape, for example, of round shape with a central opening through which plant may grow or with a slot extending from the periphery of mat to the central opening to permit the mat to be located about a growing plant. In a preferred form, the mats may be of hexagonal shape which will facilitate the manufacture of a large number of mats from a continuous length with minimum waste.
The binder for the mat may comprise any suitable adhesive or liquid with adhesive properties. A particularly suitable adhesive comprises polyvinyl acetate (PVA) which may be mixed with water for spraying onto the mat. When the mat is subsequently dried, the adhesive binds the shredded paper together. The higher the concentration the PVA glue, the longer it will take to break down when subject to external weather conditions.
Either mat may incorporate an additive or additives. Such additives may comprise herbicides or insecticides. These may be natural or synthetic and applied internally or externally. Other additives may comprise slug or snail repellents or other pest repellents or pesticides, beneficial fungus, bacteria or viruses which may be genetically altered or not or nemacides. The mats may also incorporate plant growth promoters such as fertilisers and trace elements. The mat may be further incorporate super absorbents which may be of granular form to retain moisture in the mat.
The present invention provides, in a further aspect, a method of manufacturing a seed mat from paper, said method including the steps of shredding said paper or providing said paper in shredded form, applying a binder to said shredded paper, applying seed to said paper and pressing said shredded paper into a substantially planar form.
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W. Benton, Encyclopedia
Gellner Jeffrey L.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Poon Peter M.
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