US4035951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container of stabilized media with growing plant therein and method of making the same
Assignee: Gravi-Mechanics Co
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Filing: 1975-08-11
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Granted: 1977-07-19
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Expires: 1995-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A container of stabilized media with a growing plant therein comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end, a body of soil mix in the container with a growing plant having the roots thereof in the body of soil mix and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from the upper surface, and a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout the body of soil mix and around the roots in an acetone solution, the resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding the body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of the container and binding the roots in the cohesive mass, the roots being disposed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of the cohesive mass and the stalk being intimately surrounded by the cohesive mass and extending through the upper surface thereof; there also is disclosed a container wherein the growing plant is disposed in a soil plug that is stabilized by an open-celled hydrophilic polymer; there is also disclosed method of forming such containers of stabilized media with growing plant therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard R. Dedolph
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:38
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S521/00; Y10S521/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A container of stabilized soil mix comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, a body of soil mix in said container, and a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of soil mix, said quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container, said soil mix comprising at least 96% by weight of said cohesive mass.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A container of stabilized soil mix comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, a body of soil mix in said container, and a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of soil mix, said quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container, said soil mix comprising at least 96% by weight of said cohesive mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is transparent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said soil mix is sand.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is transparent, and said soil mix is a sand disposed in said transparent container in an artistic design to provide a sand painting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said container has an indicia thereon visible to an observer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said cohesive mass is provided with an opening in the center thereof to receive a soil plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 7, and further including a liner for said opening affixed to said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 8, wherein said liner is integral with said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin comprises from about 2% to about 4% by weight of said body of soil mix.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a polyurethane resin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 1, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a reaction product of toluene diisocyanate with a polyester having unreacted hydroxyl groups thereon and water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
A container of stabilized soil mix with a growing plant therein comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, a body of soil mix in said container, a growing plant having the roots thereof in said body of soil mix and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from the upper surface of said body of soil mix, and a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of soil mix and around said roots, said quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and binding said roots in said cohesive mass, said roots being disposed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said cohesive mass and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said cohesive mass and extending through the upper surface thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
A container of stabilized soil mix with a growing plant therein comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, a body of soil mix in said container, a growing plant having the roots thereof in said body of soil mix and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from the upper surface of said body of soil mix, and a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of soil mix and around said roots, said quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and binding said roots in said cohesive mass, said roots being disposed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said cohesive mass and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said cohesive mass and extending through the upper surface thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 13, wherein said body of soil mix has a porosity maintenance capacity and a water holding capacity and an ion exchange capacity and a pH buffering capacity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 13, wherein said soil mix includes a fertilizer source of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 13, wherein said body of soil mix is a mineral soil.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 13, wherein said soil mix is a mixture of a natural organic soil and an agricultural modified mineral selected from the group consisting of Perlite and Vermiculite.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 13, wherein said soil mix is a synthetic organic soil substitute.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 13, wherein said body of soil mix is a sand, and said growing plant is selected from the group consisting of cacti, euphorbias, sansevieria, and bromeliads.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
215 words
A container of stabilized sand with a growing plant therein comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, a polymerized soil plug disposed in said container and including a body of soil mix, a growing plant having the roots thereof in said body of soil mix and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said body of soil mix, a first quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of soil mix, said first quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, a body of sand in said container and substantially surrounding said soil plug, and a second quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of sand and around said soil plug, said second quantity of synthetic organic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of sand into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and to the adjacent outer surfaces of said soil plug.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
215 words
A container of stabilized sand with a growing plant therein comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, a polymerized soil plug disposed in said container and including a body of soil mix, a growing plant having the roots thereof in said body of soil mix and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from one surface of said body of soil mix, a first quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of soil mix, said first quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a plug and binding said roots in said plug, said roots being distributed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of said plug and said stalk being intimately surrounded by said plug, a body of sand in said container and substantially surrounding said soil plug, and a second quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout said body of sand and around said soil plug, said second quantity of synthetic organic resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of sand into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and to the adjacent outer surfaces of said soil plug.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The container of stabilized sand set forth in claim 20, wherein said second quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin comprises from about 2% to about 4% by weight of said body of sand.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of stabilized sand set forth in claim 20, wherein said second quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin is a polyurethane resin.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The container of stabilized sand set forth in claim 20, wherein said second quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin is a reaction product of toluene diisocyanate with a polyester having unreacted hydroxyl groups thereon and water.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of making a container of stabilized soil mix comprising the steps of providing a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, placing a body of soil mix in said container, distributing a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin in solution throughout said body of soil mix, and reacting said synthetic organic plastic resin in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container, said soil mix comprising at least 96% by weight of said cohesive mass.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of making a container of stabilized soil mix comprising the steps of providing a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, placing a body of soil mix in said container, distributing a quantity of foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin in solution throughout said body of soil mix, and reacting said synthetic organic plastic resin in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container, said soil mix comprising at least 96% by weight of said cohesive mass.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 24, wherein said quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin is distributed in said soil mix before placing the said soil mix in said container.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 24, wherein said quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin is distributed in said soil mix after placement of said soil mix in said container.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 24, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin comprises from about 2% to 4% by weight of said soil mix.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 24, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a polyurethane resin.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 24, wherein said synthetic organic plastic resin is a reaction product of toluene diisocyanate with a polyester having unreacted hydroxyl groups thereon and water.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 24, and further comprising the steps of providing an opening in the center of said body of soil mix to receive a soil plug therein.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of making a container of stabilized soil mix with a growing plant therein comprising the steps of providing a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, placing a body of soil mix in said container with the upper surface of said body of soil mix disposed below the upper end of said container, placing the roots of a growing plant in said body of soil mix with the stalk thereof extending out from said upper surface of said body of soil mix, providing a layer of a dispersion in water of a foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin covering said upper surface of said body of soil mix and forming a liquid seal across the upper end of said container, applying a vacuum to the lower portion of said container to draw said dispersion downwardly throughout said body of soil mix, and reacting said synthetic organic plastic resin in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and binding said roots in said cohesive mass.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of making a container of stabilized soil mix with a growing plant therein comprising the steps of providing a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, placing a body of soil mix in said container with the upper surface of said body of soil mix disposed below the upper end of said container, placing the roots of a growing plant in said body of soil mix with the stalk thereof extending out from said upper surface of said body of soil mix, providing a layer of a dispersion in water of a foam-forming synthetic organic plastic resin covering said upper surface of said body of soil mix and forming a liquid seal across the upper end of said container, applying a vacuum to the lower portion of said container to draw said dispersion downwardly throughout said body of soil mix, and reacting said synthetic organic plastic resin in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and binding said roots in said cohesive mass.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 31, and further comprising the step of applying additional dispersion of resin to the upper surface of said body of soil mix as said dispersion moves therethrough.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 31, wherein the volume of said dispersion is at least 50% of the volume of said soil mix in said container.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix as set forth in claim 31, wherein said dispersion comprises from about 1% to about 10% by weight of resin-forming material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix as set forth in claim 31, wherein said dispersion has a temperature at the time of application to said container in the range from about 1° C. to about 202° C.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix as set forth in claim 31, wherein the vacuum applied to said container is in the range from about 5 inches to about 50 inches of water.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 31, wherein the vacuum is applied to said container by a suction probe having an inlet disposed adjacent to the bottom of said container and in communication with said body of soil mix.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 31, wherein said container has a foraminous wall at the bottom thereof, and the vacuum is applied to said container through said foraminous wall.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of making a container of stabilized soil mix set forth in claim 31, and further comprises the step of distributing the roots of the growing plant in the soil mix.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of making a container of stabilized sand with a growing plant therein comprising the steps of providing a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, placing a soil plug with a growing plant therein in said container, placing a body of sand in said container around said soil plug with the upper surface of said body of sand disposed below the upper end of said container, providing a layer of a dispersion in water of a foam-forming synthetic organic resin covering said body of sand and forming a liquid seal across the upper end of said container, applying a vacuum to the lower portion of said container to draw said dispersion downwardly throughout said body of sand, and reacting said synthetic organic plastic resin in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of sand into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and to the adjacent outer surfaces of said soil plug.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of making a container of stabilized sand with a growing plant therein comprising the steps of providing a fluid-tight container open at the upper end thereof, placing a soil plug with a growing plant therein in said container, placing a body of sand in said container around said soil plug with the upper surface of said body of sand disposed below the upper end of said container, providing a layer of a dispersion in water of a foam-forming synthetic organic resin covering said body of sand and forming a liquid seal across the upper end of said container, applying a vacuum to the lower portion of said container to draw said dispersion downwardly throughout said body of sand, and reacting said synthetic organic plastic resin in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding said body of sand into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of said container and to the adjacent outer surfaces of said soil plug.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand as set forth in claim 40, and further comprising the step of applying additional dispersion of resin to the upper surface of said body of soil mix as said dispersion moves therethrough.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand set forth in claim 40, wherein the volume of said dispersion is at least 50% of the volume of said soil mix in said container.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand as set forth in claim 40, wherein said dispersion comprises from about 1% to about 10% by weight of resin-forming material.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand as set forth in claim 40, wherein said dispersion has a temperature at the time of application to said container in the range from about 1° C. to about 20° C.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand as set forth in claim 40, wherein the vacuum applied to said container is in the range from about 5 inches to about 50 inches of water.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand as set forth in claim 40, wherein the vacuum is applied to said container by a suction probe having an inlet disposed adjacent to the bottom of said container and in communication with said body of soil mix.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand as set forth in claim 40, wherein said container has a foraminous wall at the bottom thereof, and the vacuum is applied to said container through said foraminous wall.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of making a container of stabilized sand as set forth in claim 40, and further comprises the step of distributing the roots of the growing plant in the soil mix.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |