US4369598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container element combination for seed sprouting or plant culture
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-03-19
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Granted: 1983-01-25
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Expires: 2001-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A multiple use container is made by modifications to a tapered wall, plastic, utility bucket and its associated lid. The parts may alternatively be specifically manufactured for the container. The utility bucket from which the container is made is of the type having reinforcing ribs about its upper sidewall. The bucket lid has a groove on its upper surface and a pair of concentric grooves on its lower surface. The bucket is cut along two horizontal lines to form a ring structure which may be split; an open top container; and a reinforcing ring which is inverted and placed around the upper edge of the open top container. The bucket lid is inverted with the upper edge of the open top container received in the single groove on what was the top of the bucket lid. Holes are placed in the lid. The ring structure is inverted and its rim is inserted in the outer concentric groove of the lid. An identical lid is placed on top of the inverted ring structure with the top edge of the ring structure received in the inner concentric groove of the upper lid. Webs on opposite sides of the bucket have holes in them which are used for receiving the ends of U-shaped clips to hold a series of stacked ring structures together.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas F. Beckwith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:57
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G31/00; A01G31/02; A01G31/06; A01G9/00; A01G9/02; A01G9/022; A01G9/024; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/20; Y02P60/21; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49716; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/49796
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of making a multiple use container, adapted for growing plants, sprouting seeds or the, like, from utility pails and mateing lids comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a circular utility bucket of the type having tapered side walls and an enclosing bottom; (b) selecting a lid which has a circumferential, circular groove on its bottom surface mateable with the top edge of the bucket and a circumferential, circular groove on its top of a smaller diameter than that on its bottom surface; (c) cutting the bucket on a transverse plane to form a ring structure to which the lid may be attached and the entire ring and lid inverted and to form an open top container whose top will receivably engage the groove in the top of the lid which when inverted forms a lid for the open top container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of making a multiple use container, adapted for growing plants, sprouting seeds or the, like, from utility pails and mateing lids comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a circular utility bucket of the type having tapered side walls and an enclosing bottom; (b) selecting a lid which has a circumferential, circular groove on its bottom surface mateable with the top edge of the bucket and a circumferential, circular groove on its top of a smaller diameter than that on its bottom surface; (c) cutting the bucket on a transverse plane to form a ring structure to which the lid may be attached and the entire ring and lid inverted and to form an open top container whose top will receivably engage the groove in the top of the lid which when inverted forms a lid for the open top container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method of making a multiple use container from utility pails and mateing lids, as claimed in claim 1, comprising the additional steps of cutting the open top container at spaced intervals along its top to form a plurality of tabs and cutting the bucket on a second transverse plane above the plane of the cut defining the top of the open top container to form a ring which may be inverted and placed around the top of the open top container to reinforce the tabs and provide a grip for lifting the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of making a multiple use container from utility pails and mateing lids; as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of perforating the interior surface of the lid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
A method of making a multiple use container from utility pails and mateing lids, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a bucket includes selecting a bucket of the type having at least one circumferential rib on the upper, exterior portion of the bucket and wherein the step of cutting the bucket to form the ring structure includes cutting the bucket below the rib so that the rib is on the ring structure; and further comprising the steps of selecting a second bucket identical to the first and then cutting the second bucket on a transverse plane to form a second ring structure with a rib which may be inverted to nest with the first ring structure to increase the height of the multiple use container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
A multiple use container comprising: (a) an open top circular container having a bottom and tapered side walls bounded by a top edge and a bottom edge wherein the top of the container is larger in diameter than at the bottom edge of the container; (b) a circular ring structure having an open top, an open bottom, tapered upstanding sidewalls bounded by a top edge and bottom edge with the bottom edge of the ring structure having a larger diameter than both its top edge and the top of the open top container; and (c) a combined lid for the open top container and bottom for the ring structure, having a perforated, planar central surface, a bottom which receivably engages the top of the open top container and a top surface which receivably engages the bottom of ring structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
A multiple use container comprising: (a) an open top circular container having a bottom and tapered side walls bounded by a top edge and a bottom edge wherein the top of the container is larger in diameter than at the bottom edge of the container; (b) a circular ring structure having an open top, an open bottom, tapered upstanding sidewalls bounded by a top edge and bottom edge with the bottom edge of the ring structure having a larger diameter than both its top edge and the top of the open top container; and (c) a combined lid for the open top container and bottom for the ring structure, having a perforated, planar central surface, a bottom which receivably engages the top of the open top container and a top surface which receivably engages the bottom of ring structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are a plurality of identical tapered wall ring structures each having a projection extending from their wall which engage the bottom edge of an adjacent ring for support when they are stacked.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the walls of the open top container are tapered and extend beyond the bottom of the container on the outside to form a circumferential projection and wherein the combined lid and bottom structure has a circumferential groove on its bottom defined by an outer wall which engages at least a portion of the top of the open top container and an inner circumferential wall which is engageable with the projection on the bottom of the open top container to restrict its lateral movement when the combined lid and bottom structure is inverted and the open top container is stacked on the combined lid and bottom structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 7, comprising in addition, a lid for enclosing the top of the ring structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lid has a top surface defining a central hole therein and a split which communicates with the hole and the edge of the lid to permit the stem of a plant in the ring structure to pass through the hole in the lid with the split permitting the lid to be inserted and removed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the open top container and the ring structure are uniformly tapered at the same angle with respect to their respective top and bottom edges and the diameter of the top edge of the ring structure does not exceed the diameter of the top of the open top container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the top of the open top container has a plurality of upstanding tabs which engage the bottom of the lid forming open spaces between the tabs for the entry of air in to the open top container when the lid is in place.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a circular band of a resilient material which is uniformly tapered with respect to its top and bottom edge at the same angle as the open top container, with the bottom edge larger in diameter than the top edge, and the ring structure has its top edge the same diameter as the top of the open top container and surrounds the upper parts of the open top container, below the tabs to reinforce the top of the open top container and to provide a grip for lifting the container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A multiple use container, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the top edge of the ring structure and the bottom edge of the circular band are the same diameter.
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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) | 1986-01-24 | 1986-07-26 | 1987-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-24 | 1990-07-26 | 1991-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-24 | 1994-07-26 | 1995-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |