US3662490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for packaging trees for transplanting
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-09-25
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A pair of semi-cylindrical shells hingedly secured at one edge and releasably secured at the other edge to form a digging cylinder about the trunk of a tree. The cylinder is driven into the ground and removed with the soil and roots of the tree therein. A bottom packaging disc is placed on a packing stand and the loaded digging cylinder is placed on radially protruding retractable support pins on the stand. A tubular packaging sleeve is attached to the top flange of the digging cylinder. When the support pins are retracted and the digging cylinder is pushed downward about the legs of the packing stand the packaging sleeve is drawn downwardly about the soil and roots of the tree and onto the bottom disc. The bottom disc is wired to the packaging sleeve to complete the packaging of the tree.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S Childs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:29
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/08; A01G9/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
In a method of packaging trees for transplanting comprising the steps of sinking an open-ended digging cylinder into the ground about the roots of the tree to be packaged and removing said digging cylinder from the ground with the soil and roots of the tree therein, the steps of: a. placing a bottom disc on a packaging stand, b. placing said digging cylinder with the soil and roots of the tree therein over the bottom disc on the packaging stand, c. releasably attaching the lower end of a tubular packaging sleeve to the upper end of the digging cylinder, d. sliding said digging cylinder and said packaging sleeve downwardly together to transfer the soil and roots of the tree from the digging cylinder to the packaging sleeve, and e. securing said bottom disc to said packaging sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a method of packaging trees for transplanting comprising the steps of sinking an open-ended digging cylinder into the ground about the roots of the tree to be packaged and removing said digging cylinder from the ground with the soil and roots of the tree therein, the steps of: a. placing a bottom disc on a packaging stand, b. placing said digging cylinder with the soil and roots of the tree therein over the bottom disc on the packaging stand, c. releasably attaching the lower end of a tubular packaging sleeve to the upper end of the digging cylinder, d. sliding said digging cylinder and said packaging sleeve downwardly together to transfer the soil and roots of the tree from the digging cylinder to the packaging sleeve, and e. securing said bottom disc to said packaging sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for packaging trees for transplanting comprising: a. an open-ended digging cylinder for sinking into the ground about the roots of a tree to be transplanted, b. an upright stand having laterally movable support means to engage the bottom of the digging cylinder for supporting the digging cylinder thereon, c. a bottom packaging disc having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the digging cylinder, d. a centering element mounted on said stand for positioning said packaging disc on said stand, e. a tubular packaging sleeve, f. means for releasably attaching the packaging sleeve to the upper end of the digging cylinder whereby the packaging sleeve is pulled downwardly about the soil and roots of the tree over said bottom packaging disc when the digging cylinder is moved downwardly of the movable support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for packaging trees for transplanting comprising: a. an open-ended digging cylinder for sinking into the ground about the roots of a tree to be transplanted, b. an upright stand having laterally movable support means to engage the bottom of the digging cylinder for supporting the digging cylinder thereon, c. a bottom packaging disc having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the digging cylinder, d. a centering element mounted on said stand for positioning said packaging disc on said stand, e. a tubular packaging sleeve, f. means for releasably attaching the packaging sleeve to the upper end of the digging cylinder whereby the packaging sleeve is pulled downwardly about the soil and roots of the tree over said bottom packaging disc when the digging cylinder is moved downwardly of the movable support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for packaging trees extracted from the ground with their roots and a surrounding soil clump in an open-ended digging cylinder, said apparatus comprising: a. a bottom packaging disc adapted to receive the tree-loaded digging cylinder thereon, b. a tubular sleeve adapted to be placed on the tree-loaded digging cylinder and moved downwardly about the roots and soil clump of the tree onto the bottom packaging disc, and c. means for securing said packaging disc to the bottom of said tubular packaging sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for packaging trees extracted from the ground with their roots and a surrounding soil clump in an open-ended digging cylinder, said apparatus comprising: a. a bottom packaging disc adapted to receive the tree-loaded digging cylinder thereon, b. a tubular sleeve adapted to be placed on the tree-loaded digging cylinder and moved downwardly about the roots and soil clump of the tree onto the bottom packaging disc, and c. means for securing said packaging disc to the bottom of said tubular packaging sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
A packaging stand for packaging trees extracted from the ground with their roots and a surrounding soil clump in a open-ended digging cylinder, said stand Comprising: a. frame means mounted on upright supporting legs, and b. at least three radially spaced support assemblies mounted on said frame means, each of said support assemblies having a reciprocal element which is laterally moved between an extended position extending under and supporting the lower edge of a tree-loaded digging cylinder and a retracted position to allow the digging cylinder to pass downwardly thereabout.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A packaging stand for packaging trees extracted from the ground with their roots and a surrounding soil clump in a open-ended digging cylinder, said stand Comprising: a. frame means mounted on upright supporting legs, and b. at least three radially spaced support assemblies mounted on said frame means, each of said support assemblies having a reciprocal element which is laterally moved between an extended position extending under and supporting the lower edge of a tree-loaded digging cylinder and a retracted position to allow the digging cylinder to pass downwardly thereabout.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |