Container for the individual transportation of plants

Claim 1

A container unit for the growth and transportation of plants, said unit comprising: a container having a closed lower end and an open upper end, said container upper end having formed in the interior thereof a recess defining an annular step including an annular substantially horizontal surface and an inner substantially vertical surface; a soil receptacle containing soil having therein a plant, said receptacle having a closed lower end and an open upper end, said receptacle upper end having extending radially outwardly therefrom an integral annular flange; said receptacle being positioned within said container in a substantially coaxial manner with said annular flange of said receptacle being supported by said annular horizontal surface of said container, and said annular flange being soldered to said annular horizontal surface to form a hermetically sealed chamber defined by the outer surface of said receptacle and the inner surface of said container; said annular flange having extending therethrough an orifice for the introduction of water into said chamber; plug means for closing said water introduction orifice to prevent the leakage of water from said chamber; said receptacle having therein, adjacent said lower end thereof, small orifice means for allowing water to pass from said chamber to said soil in said receptacle to achieve automatic capillary irrigation of said plant in said soil; disc means for retaining said soil within said receptacle, said disc means having therein a central hole dimensioned to have extend therethrough the stem of said plant, said disc means having therein slit means extending from the periphery of said disc means to said central hole for enabling said stem of said plant to be inserted into said central hole, said disc means being positioned over and supported by said annular flange of said receptacle, and said disc means having an outer edge precisely fitting within said vertical surface of said recess of said container; and a transparent cover including an open lower end having edge means precisely fitting within said vertical surface of said recess of said container for securely retaining said cover to said container and for pressing said disc means against said annular flange of said receptacle to thereby maintain said disc means in an operative position to retain said soil within said receptacle.