Container for seedlings

Claim 2

A container for growing seedlings, said container being normally upstanding when in use and comprising: a pair of first and second wall members, each formed of thin-walled, flexible, substantially non-porous sheet plastic, each said wall member comprising a series of spaced, inwardly-projecting, elongate shoulders integrally joined by webs, the shoulders of the first wall member being mutually opposed relative to the shoulders of the second wall member, said mutually opposed shoulders being provided with inter-engaging means, whereby when the wall members are pressed together, a series of open-topped cells are formed, defined by the shoulders and their connecting webs and closed along the greatest part of their length; said shoulders and webs combining to form a series of parallel, inwardly-directed, relatively broad, deep grooves within said shoulders, said grooves extending perpendicularly downwardly from the wall members' upper edge portions; the lower end portions of each pair of opposed webs and integrally joined shoulders combining to form the base of each cell, within which is formed an aperture, said aperture being smaller than the aperture at the top of the cell; said webs constituting the predominant portion of the side walls of the container, and each pair of opposed webs forming the side walls of an individual cell of said series of cells; each said web being corrugated longitudinally of said cell, the grooves of the corrugations on the interior side walls of each said cell extending downwardly directly toward the base aperture and constituting a series of root grooves for directing root growth toward said aperture; and hinge means connecting the wall members at their lower ends.

Claim 3

A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower end portions of each pair of opposed webs are curved inwardly and the corresponding lower end portions of each pair of integrally joined shoulders are inwardly tapered.

Claim 4

A container as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper portions of each wall member of said container extend vertically a short distance above the upper edges of the shoulder members and form a pair of mutually opposed flanges, said upper edges of the shoulder members forming a ledge extending across the container when the shoulders are inter-engaged, said ledge and said flanges being smooth and straight.

Claim 5

A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said hinge means takes the form of a series of hinge members, each of which is integrally formed with an adjacent pair of opposed shoulders and interconnecting webs of said container, there being between each pair of adjacent hinge members a relatively wide, shallow channel-shaped depression provided with a slit along the line of folding of said hinge, such that, when the container is closed, in which condition the hinge member is folded, the slit expands to provide a large drainage and root-pruning aperture at the base of the cell.

Claim 6

A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the ridges on the exterior of the longitudinally corrugated side walls are so configured as to mate with corresponding grooves on the exterior of the corrugated side walls of a second counterpart seedling-growing container when the latter is in abutting relationship to the first-mentioned container, said configuration being thereby adapted to prevent relative lateral movement of said containers.

Claim 7

A container as defined in claim 1, wherein a pair of substantially horizontal, mutually opposed, finger-like members extend in from the lower end portions of each pair of opposed webs to form a growing medium-retaining bar extending across the base aperture.

Claim 8

A container as defined in claim 6 wherein the upper portions of each wall member of said container extend vertically a short distance above the upper edges of the shoulder members and form a pair of mutually opposed flanges, said upper edges of the shoulder members forming a ledge extending across the container when the shoulders are inter-engaged, said ledge and said flanges being smooth and straight.

Claim 9

A container according to claim 6, wherein said shoulders and webs extend downwardly generally vertically, whereby cells of substantially constant cross-sectional area are provided.

Claim 10

A container as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said root grooves is of a size and shape such as to direct root growth downwardly to said base aperture in a minimum of distance.

Claim 11

A container for growing seedlings according to claim 8, wherein said finger-like members forming said growing medium-retaining bar extending across the base aperture are joined at their ends, and the shoulders are interconnected at their bases by horizontal members, said joined finger-like members and said horizontal members constituting a hinge means connecting the wall members of the container at their lower ends.

Claim 12

A container according to claim 6, wherein the opposed shoulders are so constructed as to provide a shiplap joint along the greatest part of their lengths when pressed together, said shiplap joint maintaining separation between adjacent cells and restricting intermingling of root systems in said cells.

Claim 13

A container according to claim 11, wherein each first shoulder is rebated to define a first groove along one side edge thereof, and a second shoulder is rebated to define a second groove along the opposite side edge thereof, whereby the non-rebated portion of the first shoulder seats in the second groove and the non-rebated portion of the second shoulder seats in the first groove when the wall members are in the closed position to provide a shiplap joint.

Claim 14

A container according to claim 12, wherein the first and second grooves terminate short of the upper ends of the shoulders, the first shoulder is rebated along its remaining side edge to define a short groove at its upper end, and the second shoulder is rebated along its remaining side edge to define a short groove at its upper end, whereby the non-rebated upper portion of each shoulder seats in the short groove of the opposed shoulder when the container is closed to provide an interlocking arrangement which reduces twisting and distortion of the shoulders when the container is in use.

Claim 15

A container according to claim 1, wherein the opposed shoulders are so constructed as to provide a shiplap joint along the greatest part of their lengths when pressed together, said shiplap joint maintaining separation between adjacent cells and restraining intermingling of root systems in said cells.

Claim 16

A container according to claim 14, wherein each first shoulder is rebated to define a first groove along one side edge thereof, and a second shoulder is rebated to define a second groove along the opposite side edge thereof, whereby the non-rebated portion of the first shoulder seats in the second groove and the non-rebated portion of the second shoulder seats in the first groove when the wall members are in the closed position to provide a shiplap joint.

Claim 17

A container according to claim 15, wherein the first and second grooves terminate short of the upper ends of the shoulders, the first shoulder is rebated along its remaining side edge to define a short groove at its upper end, and the second shoulder is rebated along its remaining side edge to define a short groove at its upper end, whereby the non-rebated upper portion of each shoulder seats in the short groove of the opposed shoulder when the container is closed to provide an interlocking arrangement which reduces twisting and distortion of the shoulders when the container is in use.

Claim 18

A container as defined in claim 15, wherein said hinge means takes the form of a series of hinge members, each of which is integrally formed with an adjacent pair of opposed shoulders and interconnecting webs of said container, there being between each pair of adjacent hinge members a relatively wide, shallow channel-shaped depression provided with a slit along the line of folding of said hinge, such that, when the container is closed, in which condition the hinge member is folded, the slit expands to provide a large drainage and root-pruning aperture at the base of the cell.

Claim 19

In combination: a. a plurality of upstanding containers for growing seedlings, each said container comprising a pair of first and second wall members, each formed of thin-walled, flexible, substantially non-porous sheet plastic, each said wall member comprising a series of spaced, inwardly-projecting, elongate shoulders integrally joined by webs, the shoulders of the first wall member being mutually opposed relative to the shoulders of the second wall member, said mutually opposed shoulders being provided with inter-engaging means, whereby when the wall members are pressed together, a series of open-topped cells are formed, defined by the shoulders and their connecting webs and closed along the greatest part of their length; said shoulders and webs combining to form a series of parallel, inwardly-directed, relatively broad, deep grooves within said shoulders, said grooves extending perpendicularly downwardly from the wall members' upper edge portions; the lower end portions of each pair of opposed webs and integrally joined shoulders combining to form the base of each cell, within which is formed an aperture, said aperture being smaller than the aperture at the top of the cell; said webs constituting the predominant portion of the side walls of the container, and each pair of opposed webs forming the side walls of an individual cell of said series of cells; each said web being corrugated longitudinally of said cell, the grooves of the corrugations on the interior side walls of each said cell extending downwardly directly toward the base aperture and constituting a series of root grooves for directing root growth toward said aperture; and hinge means connecting the wall members at their lower ends; and b. a holder for said containers, said holder having side and end walls and a flat, foraminous bottom for retaining growing medium in the cells, said containers being disposed in abutting relationship with respect to each other and to the walls of the holder, said containers filling said holder.

Claim 20

In combination: a. a plurality of upstanding containers for growing seedlings, each said container comprising a pair of first and second wall members, each formed of thin-walled, flexible, substantially non-porous sheet plastic, each said wall member comprising a series of spaced, inwardly-projecting, elongate shoulders integrally joined by webs, the shoulders of the first wall member being mutually opposed relative to the shoulders of the second wall member, said mutually opposed shoulders being provided with inter-engaging means, whereby when the wall members are pressed together, a series of open-topped cells are formed, defined by the shoulders and their connecting webs and closed along the greatest part of their length; said shoulders and webs combining to form a series of parallel, inwardly-directed, relatively broad, deep grooves within said shoulders, said grooves extending perpendicularly downwardly from the wall members' upper edge portions; the lower end portions of each pair of opposed webs and integrally joined shoulders combining to form the base of each cell, within which is formed an aperture, said aperture being smaller than the aperture at the top of the cell; said webs constituting the predominant portion of the side walls of the container, and each pair of opposed webs forming the side walls of an individual cell of said series of cells; each said web being corrugated longitudinally of said cell, the grooves of the corrugations on the interior side walls of each said cell extending downwardly directly toward the base aperture and constituting a series of root grooves for directing root growth toward said aperture; and hinge means connecting the wall members at their lower ends; and b. a holder for said containers, said holder having side and end walls and a flat, foraminous bottom for retaining growing medium in the cells, said containers being disposed in abutting relationship with respect to each other and to the walls of the holder, said containers filling said holder.

Claim 21

The combination according to claim 18, wherein said holder is a tray.

Claim 22

The combination according to claim 18 wherein the opposed shoulders are so constructed as to provide a shiplap joint along the greatest part of their lengths when pressed together, said shiplap joint maintaining separation between adjacent cells and restraining intermingling of root systems is said cells.

Claim 23

The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein the upper portions of each wall member of each of said containers extend vertically a short distance above the upper edges of the shoulder members and form a pair of mutually opposed flanges, said upper edges of the shoulder members forming a ledge extending across the container when the shoulders are inter-engaged, said ledge and said flanges being smooth and straight.

Claim 24

The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein, in each of said containers, said hinge means takes the form of a series of hinge members, each of which is integrally formed with an adjacent pair of opposed shoulders and interconnecting webs of said container, there being between each pair of adjacent hinge members a relatively wide, shallow channel-shaped depression provided with a slit along the line of folding of said hinge, such that, when the container is closed, in which condition the hinge member is folded, the slit expands to provide a large drainage and root-pruning aperture at the base of the cell.

Claim 25

A combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein the ridges on the exterior of the longitudinally corrugated side walls of each container are so configured as to mate with corresponding grooves on the exterior of the side walls of another of said containers abutting therewith, thereby to prevent lateral movement of the containers relative to others of said containers juxtaposed thereto.

Claim 26

The combination according to claim 18, wherein said holder is a box.

Claim 27

The combination according to claim 24, wherein the box has an open grid bottom, the members of the grid floor of said box traversing the base aperture of each cell of said containers.

Claim 28

The combination according to claim 18 wherein, in each cell of said containers, a pair of substantially horizontal, mutually opposed, finger-like members extend in from the lower end portions of each pair of opposed webs to form a growing medium-retaining bar extending across the aperture.

Claim 29

A combination according to claim 26, wherein the shoulders and webs of each of said containers extend downwardly generally vertically, whereby cells of substantially constant cross-sectional area are provided for each of said containers.