Patent US4241537A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4241537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Plant growth media utilizing polyurethane hydrogel
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
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Filing: 1979-05-10
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Granted: 1980-12-30
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Expires: 1999-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A plant growth media in the form of a gel which is useful for growing plants in the form of seeds, seedlings, cuttings, nursery stock, etc., is obtained by dissolving a water-soluble polyisocyanate capped prepolymer containing said growing plant in an aqueous medium optionally containing various plant growth additives such as fertilizer, agricultural modified minerals and the like. The media can be formed in a variety of shapes.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis L. Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:09
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; A; A01; A01G; A01G24/00; A01G24/10; A01G24/12; A01G24/15; A01G24/30; A01G24/35; A01G24/40; A01G24/44; C08G; C08G18/00; C08G18/06; C08G18/28; C08G18/40; C08G18/48; C08G18/4833; C08G18/4837; C08G2210/00; C08G2310/00; C08J2375/00; C08J2375/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S521/00; Y10S521/905; Y10S521/914
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
17 words
A soil plug comprising a plant growth in an aqueous gel of a monolithic, crosslinked, hydrophilic polyurethane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
A soil plug comprising a plant growth in an aqueous gel of a monolithic, crosslinked, hydrophilic polyurethane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The soil plug according to claim 1 wherein the plant growth is in the form of seeds, seedlings, tubers, cuttings, roots and transplants.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The soil plug according to claim 1 wherein the crosslinked hydrophilic polyurethane gel composition comprises the reaction product of (a) a prepolymer having a reaction functionality greater than two comprising an isocyanate-capped water-soluble polyether polyol having a molecular weight of at least 1,000/OH group with a total molecular weight of at least 2,000 and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
(b) an aqueous reactant, the weight ratio of prepolymer to aqueous reactant is in the range 1-100 to 100 respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
(b) an aqueous reactant, the weight ratio of prepolymer to aqueous reactant is in the range 1-100 to 100 respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A gel composition according to claim 3 wherein the prepolymer is a liquid at room temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A gel composition according to claim 3 wherein the polyether polyol is made of random ethylene oxide units and other alkylene oxide units with the ethylene oxide units comprising at least about 50 percent of the total number of ethylene oxide and alkylene oxide units.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gel composition according to claim 5 wherein the ethylene oxide units comprise at least about 70 percent of the total number of ethylene oxide and alkylene oxide units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A gel composition according to claim 5 wherein the polyether polyol is made of random ethylene oxide units and propylene oxide units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A gel composition according to claim 3 wherein said prepolymer is present in the reaction mixture in an amount of about 1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts of water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The soil plug according to claim 1 wherein the gel further comprises a fertilizer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The soil plug according to claim 9 wherein the fertilizer is water-soluble.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The soil plug according to claim 1 wherein the gel further comprises an agricultural modified mineral.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The soil plug according to claim 11 wherein the agricultural modified mineral is vermiculite or perlite.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The soil plug according to claim 1 wherein the gel further comprises a surfactant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The soil plug according to claim 13 wherein the surfactant is an amphoteric, cationic or non-ionic surfactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An article comprising a container having therein (1) a plant growth and (2) a prepolymer having a reaction functionality greater than two comprising an isocyanate-capped, water-soluble polyether polyol having a molecular weight of at least 1,000/OH group with a total molecular weight of at least 2,000.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
An article comprising a container having therein (1) a plant growth and (2) a prepolymer having a reaction functionality greater than two comprising an isocyanate-capped, water-soluble polyether polyol having a molecular weight of at least 1,000/OH group with a total molecular weight of at least 2,000.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article according to claim 15 wherein the plant growth is in the form of seeds, seedlings, tubers, cuttings, roots and transplants.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article according to claim 15 wherein (1) and (2) are entirely enclosed by said container and said container is a plastic film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article according to claim 15 wherein a portion of said container is open to the atmosphere.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article according to claim 15 wherein the container is a tube or tape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article according to claim 19 wherein the tube or tape is plastic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article according to claim 19 wherein the tube or tape is compartmentized.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article according to claim 15 wherein said article is enclosed in a larger plastic film container which larger container also contains water.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article according to claim 22 wherein the water also contains a fertilizer.
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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) | 1983-12-30 | 1984-06-30 | 1984-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-30 | 1988-06-30 | 1988-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-30 | 1992-06-30 | 1992-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |