US4336669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Planting container
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-12-23
•
Granted: 1982-06-29
•
Expires: 2000-12-23
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a container (10) for planting seeds or seedlings either manually, mechanically, or by air drop. The container (10) includes at least one tubular cone (22) formed by fluid hardened by freezing and having a tapered lower end (24), an open upper end (26), and an inner cavity for receiving soil (30) and a seed (80) or seedling (32).
Inventors
- 👤 George N. Gordon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:22
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/02; A01G9/029; A01G9/0291; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S111/00; Y10S111/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
A planting container comprising: at least one tubular cone having a tapered lower end, an open upper end, and an inner cavity for receiving soil and a seed or seedling, the tubular cone being formed by fluid hardened by freezing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
A planting container comprising: at least one tubular cone having a tapered lower end, an open upper end, and an inner cavity for receiving soil and a seed or seedling, the tubular cone being formed by fluid hardened by freezing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The planting container of claim 1 including ballast means for maintaining vertical alignment of the container during air drop, the ballast means being frozen in the tapered lower end of the tubular cone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The planting container of claim 2 wherein the ballast means comprises iron shavings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The planting container of claim 2 wherein the ballast means comprises a split arrow tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The planting container of claim 1 further including a tubular receptacle having an elongated shape and defining a chamber, the receptacle having an open upper end and a tapered lower end and being formed of a biodegradable material, the tubular cone being received in the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 5 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The planting container of claim 5 wherein the tubular receptacle includes closure means for closing the open upper end of the receptacle and for locking the tubular cone and the receptacle together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The planting container of claim 7 wherein the closure means comprises a plurality of tabs secured to the open end of the receptacle, the tabs being constructed so as to be folded over the open ends of the receptacle and the cone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The planting container of claim 7 wherein the closure means comprises: a cap disposed over the open end of the tubular receptacle and having a radially outwardly extending overhanging lip; and a wire frozen in the tubular cone, the wire extending axially from the open end of the cone and constructed so as to be bent over the cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The planting container of claim 9 wherein the cap is constructed from biodegradable material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 10 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The planting container of claim 10 further including aerodynamic stabilizing means for maintaining vertical alignment of the container during air drop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The planting container of claim 12 wherein the aerodynamic stabilizing means comprises a plurality of feathered members secured to the cap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 7 wherein the frozen fluid comprises water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The planting container of claim 7 wherein the frozen fluid comprises a preselected mixture of water, nutrients, and fertilizer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The planting container of claim 1 further including a second tubular cone received in the inner cavity of the first-mentioned tubular cone, the second tubular cone having a tapered lower end, an open upper end, and an inner cavity for receiving soil and a seed or seedling, the second tubular cone being formed by fluid hardened by freezing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The planting container of claim 16 including ballast means for maintaining vertical alignment of the container during air drop, the ballast means being frozen in the tapered lower end of the first-mentioned tubular cone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The planting container of claim 17 wherein the ballast means comprises iron shavings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The planting container of claim 17 wherein the ballast means comprises a split arrow tip.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The planting container of claim 16 further including a first tubular receptacle having an elongated shape and defining a chamber, the receptacle having an open upper end and a tapered lower end and being formed of a biodegradable material, the tubular cones being received in the chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 20 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The planting container of claim 20 wherein the first tubular receptacle includes closure means for closing the upper end of the receptacle and for locking the tubular cones and the receptacle together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The planting container of claim 22 wherein the closure means comprises a plurality of tabs secured to the open end of the first tubular receptacle, the tabs being constructed so as to be folded over the open ends of the first receptacle and the tubular cones.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
61 words
The planting container of claim 22 wherein the closure means comprises: a cap disposed over the open end of the first tubular receptacle and having a radially outwardly extending overhanging lip; and a wire frozen in the first-mentioned tubular cone, the wire extending axially from the open end of the cone and constructed so as to be bent over the cap.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The planting container of claim 24 wherein the cap is constructed from biodegradable material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 25 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The planting container of claim 25 further including aerodynamic stabilizing means for maintaining vertical alignment of the container during air drop.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The planting container of claim 27 wherein the aerodynamic stabilizing means comprises a plurality of elongated feathered members secured to the cap.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The planting container of claim 22 wherein the frozen fluid of the first-mentioned tubular cone comprises water.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The planting container of claim 22 wherein the frozen fluid of the first-mentioned tubular cone comprises a preselected mixture of water, nutrients, and fertilizer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The planting container of claim 22 wherein the frozen liquid of the second tubular cone comprises a preselected mixture of water, nutrients, and fertilizer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The planting container of claim 20 further including a second tubular receptacle disposed intermediate the first and second tubular cones, the second tubular receptacle being formed of biodegradable material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 32 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
58 words
The planting container of claim 16 further including a third tubular cone received in the inner cavity of the second tubular cone, the third tubular cone having a tapered lower end, an open upper end, and an inner cavity for receiving soil and a seed or seedling, the third tubular cone being formed by fluid hardened by freezing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The planting container of claim 34 including ballast means for maintaining vertical alignment of the container during air drop, the ballast means being frozen in the tapered lower end of the first-mentioned tubular cone.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The planting container of claim 35 wherein the ballast means comprises iron shavings.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The planting container of claim 35 wherein the ballast means comprises a split arrow tip.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The planting container of claim 34 further including a first tubular receptacle having an elongated shape and defining a chamber, the receptacle having an open upper end and a tapered lower end and being formed of a biodegradable material, the tubular cones being received in the chamber.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 38 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The planting container of claim 38 wherein the first tubular receptacle includes closure means for closing the open upper end of the receptacle and for locking the tubular cones and the first receptacle together.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
The planting container of claim 40 wherein the closure means comprises a plurality of tabs secured to the open end of the first receptacle, the tabs being constructed so as to be folded over the open ends of the first receptacle and the tubular cones.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
61 words
The planting container of claim 40 wherein the closure means comprises: a cap disposed over the open end of the third tubular receptacle and having a radially outwardly extending overhanging lip; and a wire frozen in the first-mentioned tubular cone, the wire extending axially from the open end of the cone and constructed so as to be bent over the cap.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The planting container of claim 42 wherein the cap is constructed from biodegradable material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 43 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The planting container of claim 42 further including aerodynamic stabilizing means for maintaining vertical alignment of the container during air drop.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The planting container of claim 45 wherein the aerodynamic stabilizing means comprises a plurality of elongated feather-like members secured to the cap.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The planting container of claim 40 wherein the frozen fluid of the first-mentioned tubular cone comprises water.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The planting container of claim 40 wherein the frozen fluid of the first-mentioned tubular cone comprises a preselected mixture of water, nutrients, and fertilizer.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The planting container of claim 40 wherein the frozen fluid of the second tubular cone comprises a preselected mixture of water, nutrients, and fertilizer.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
24 words
The planting container of claim 40 wherein the frozen fluid of the third tubular cone comprises a preselected mixture of water, nutrients, and fertilizer.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
The planting container of claim 38 further including a second tubular receptacle disposed intermediate the first-mentioned and the second tubular cones, the second tubular receptacle being formed of biodegradable material.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 51 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
30 words
The planting container of claim 51 further including a third tubular receptacle disposed intermediate the second and the third tubular cones, the third tubular receptacle being formed of biodegradable material.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
The planting container of claim 53 wherein the biodegradable material comprises paper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-28 | 1985-12-28 | 1986-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-28 | 1989-12-28 | 1990-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-28 | 1993-12-28 | 1994-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |