US4309844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production of artificial growing mediums
Assignee: Caligen Foam Ltd
•
Filing: 1980-01-14
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Granted: 1982-01-12
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Expires: 2000-01-14
Abstract
Abstract Process and apparatus for the production of a seeded artificial growth medium comprises continuously feeding a flexible carrier sheet which may comprise a non-woven fibrous material or a sheet of foamed plastics material, applying seeds to the upper surface of the continuously moving sheet, moving a sheet of flexible foamed plastics material in synchronism with the carrier sheet, bringing the sheet of foamed plastics material into juxtaposition with the upper surface of the carrier sheet after application of the seeds and continuously adhering the sheets together, preferably by flame lamination.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. King
- 👤 Sidney J. Vallans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:06
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01C; A01C1/00; A01C1/04; A01C1/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A process for the production of a seeded artificial growth medium comprising continuously feeding a flexible carrier sheet, applying seeds to the upper surface of the continuously moving sheet, moving a sheet of flexible foamed plastics material in synchronism with said carrier sheet, bringing aid sheet of foamed plastics material into juxtaposition with the upper surface of said carrier sheet after application of said seeds thereto, and continuously adhering the sheets together by fusion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for the production of a seeded artificial growth medium comprising continuously feeding a flexible carrier sheet, applying seeds to the upper surface of the continuously moving sheet, moving a sheet of flexible foamed plastics material in synchronism with said carrier sheet, bringing aid sheet of foamed plastics material into juxtaposition with the upper surface of said carrier sheet after application of said seeds thereto, and continuously adhering the sheets together by fusion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said sheets are fused together by flame lamination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein the flame is brought into contact with the surface of said foam plastics sheet before the latter is brought into juxtaposition with the carrier sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the flame temperature is between 1100° C. and 1250° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said carrier sheet is moved at a speed in excess of 30 yds/min.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein said carrier sheet comprises a non-woven fibrous material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said carrier sheet comprises a sheet of foamed plastics material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1, 2, or 7 wherein a reinforcing material in the form of a net-like structure is incorporated between the two sheets of material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein said reinforcing material comprises a net formed from synthetic plastics material and of a mesh size sufficiently large to permit the sheet materials to contact one another between the meshes of the net to retain the integrity of the bond therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A seeded artificial growth medium produced by the process according to any of claims 1, 2, or 7.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein said foamed plastics material is an open-celled foam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said foamed plastics material is polyurethane foam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said sheet of plastics foam is between 0.5 mm and 15 mm thick.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said sheet of plastics foam is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm thick.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said sheet of plastics foam has a cell size of 20-60 cells/in.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein said sheet of plastics foam has a density of 15-35 kg/m 3 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for the production of an artificial growing medium containing seed, the apparatus including means for continuously feeding a carrier sheet of flexible material, means for applying seed to the surface of the carrier sheet, means for continuously feeding a sheet of flexible foamed plastics material and for bringing same into juxtaposition with the seeded surface of said carrier sheet, and means for continuously adhering the sheets to one another by fusion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for the production of an artificial growing medium containing seed, the apparatus including means for continuously feeding a carrier sheet of flexible material, means for applying seed to the surface of the carrier sheet, means for continuously feeding a sheet of flexible foamed plastics material and for bringing same into juxtaposition with the seeded surface of said carrier sheet, and means for continuously adhering the sheets to one another by fusion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for adhering the sheets to one another comprises a burner tube extending transversely of the direction of movement of the sheets and serving to direct a flame on to the surface of at least one of said sheets, and means for pressing the sheets together after application of said flame thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said burner tube is disposed adjacent to the region at which said sheets are brought into juxtaposition but is tilted so as to direct the flame away from the seeded carrier sheet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to any of claim 19 including means for introducing a reinforcing material of net-like structure between said sheets prior to adhering same to one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to any of claim 19 wherein said means for delivering seeds on to said carrier sheet comprises a vibratory conveyor device disposed above said carrier sheet and having a discharge opening extending across the width of the carrier sheet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said foamed plastics material is an open-celled foam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A seeded growing medium comprising a pair of sheets of flexible material at least one of which comprises a foamed plastics material, the sheets having seeds entrapped between them and having been adhered together by continuous fusion bonding.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A seeded growing medium comprising a pair of sheets of flexible material at least one of which comprises a foamed plastics material, the sheets having seeds entrapped between them and having been adhered together by continuous fusion bonding.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 23 wherein both said sheets comprise foamed plastics material and are fused together by flame lamination.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 23 wherein one of said sheets is a non-woven fibrous material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A seeded growing medium according to any of claims 23 to 25 wherein said foamed plastics material is an open-cell foam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 26 wherein said foamed plastics material is polyurethane foam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 23 or 24 wherein the or each foam plastics sheet is between 0.5 mm and 15 mm thick.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 23 or 24 wherein the or each foam plastics sheet is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm thick.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 23 or 24 wherein the or each foam plastics sheet has a cell size of 20-60 cells/in.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 23 or 24 wherein the or each foam plastics sheet has a density of 15-35 kg/m 3 .
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 23 or 24 wherein a reinforcing material comprising a net-like structure is incorporated between the two sheets.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
A seeded growing medium according to claim 32 wherein said reinforcing material comprises an open mesh structure formed from synthetic yarn.
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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) | 1985-01-11 | 1985-07-13 | 1986-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-01-11 | 1989-07-13 | 1990-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-01-11 | 1993-07-13 | 1994-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |