US5155934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container insert
Assignee: Rentokil Inc Tropical Plant Services
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Filing: 1990-08-17
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Granted: 1992-10-20
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Expires: 2010-08-17
Abstract
Abstract An insert for a planting container is useful to support planting soil above a water reservoir. A base member includes several leg openings, a fill tube opening, and a plurality of air vents. Hollow leg members are attached to the base member to maintain the base member above the floor of the container. The leg members have conduits that are open to the leg openings. Flaps are flexibly connected to the periphery of the base member. The flaps contact the inside walls of the container and prevent soil from falling beneath the insert. A fill tube is positioned in the fill tube opening and is designed to extend from the floor of the container to a position above the soil. Water added to the fill tube creates a water reservoir beneath the base member. A webbed cover portion attached to the bottom of the leg members has slots that allow water to enter the conduits of the leg members. Soil may fill the conduits and draw water from the reservoir, while soil on the base member is aerated through the air vents.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald F. Leider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:11
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G27/00; A01G27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An insert for a container, comprising: a base member sized to fit within the container, said base member having a leg opening; a leg member having a top portion, an opposite bottom portion, and a conduit extending between said top and bottom portions, said leg member being attached to said base member so that said conduit is open to said leg opening; and a plurality of flaps flexibly connected to said base member, said flaps being positioned adjacent one another about the periphery of said base member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An insert for a container, comprising: a base member sized to fit within the container, said base member having a leg opening; a leg member having a top portion, an opposite bottom portion, and a conduit extending between said top and bottom portions, said leg member being attached to said base member so that said conduit is open to said leg opening; and a plurality of flaps flexibly connected to said base member, said flaps being positioned adjacent one another about the periphery of said base member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein said base member is formed with a plurality of air vents.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein said base member has a fill tube opening, and the insert further comprises a hollow fill tube that is positionable in said fill tube opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein said leg member is generally conically shaped, said top portion having a larger diameter than said bottom portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein said base member, said leg member and said flaps are integrally formed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein said base member has four leg openings and there are four leg members that correspond with the four leg openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein: each flap has an attachment edge, an opposite outer edge, and two sides extending between said attachment and outer edges; said attachment edge is flexibly connected to the periphery of said base member; and the flexible connection allows each flap to be positioned in a plane transverse to the plane containing said base member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The insert according to claim 7, wherein said sides of the neighboring flaps are oppositely tapered along a thickness of the flap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein said leg member includes a slot to permit a fluid to enter said conduit from outside said leg member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The insert according to claim 9, wherein said slot is formed in a webbed cover portion attached to said bottom portion of said leg member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The insert according to claim 10, wherein said webbed cover portion includes a plurality of nubs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
An insert for a container having a floor and walls extending upward therefrom, the insert comprising: a base member sized to fit within the walls of the container, said base member having a leg opening and a fill tube opening; a leg member having a top portion, an opposite bottom portion, and a conduit extending between said top and bottom portions, said leg member being attached to said base member so that said conduit is open to said leg opening, said leg member having a slot in communication with said conduit; a plurality of flaps, each flap having an attachment edge flexibly connected to said base member, an opposite outer edge, and two sides extending between said attachment and outer edges, said flaps being positioned next to one another about the periphery of said base member, said outer edges engaging the walls of the container when said leg member rests on the floor of the container; and a hollow fill tube positionable within said fill tube opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
167 words
An insert for a container having a floor and walls extending upward therefrom, the insert comprising: a base member sized to fit within the walls of the container, said base member having a leg opening and a fill tube opening; a leg member having a top portion, an opposite bottom portion, and a conduit extending between said top and bottom portions, said leg member being attached to said base member so that said conduit is open to said leg opening, said leg member having a slot in communication with said conduit; a plurality of flaps, each flap having an attachment edge flexibly connected to said base member, an opposite outer edge, and two sides extending between said attachment and outer edges, said flaps being positioned next to one another about the periphery of said base member, said outer edges engaging the walls of the container when said leg member rests on the floor of the container; and a hollow fill tube positionable within said fill tube opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The insert according to claim 12, wherein said sides of the neighboring flaps are oppositely tapered along a thickness of the flap.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The insert according to claim 12, wherein said base member is formed with a plurality of air vents.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The insert according to claim 12, wherein said leg member has a webbed cover portion and said slot is formed in said webbed cover portion to permit fluid to enter said conduit from outside said leg member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The insert according to claim 15, wherein said webbed cover portion includes a plurality of nubs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The insert according to claim 12, wherein said leg member is generally conically shaped, said top portion having a larger diameter than said bottom portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The insert according to claim 12, wherein said base member, said leg member and said flaps are integrally formed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The insert according to claim 12, wherein said base member has four leg openings and there are four leg members that correspond with the four leg openings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The insert according to claim 1, wherein each flap has an attachment edge connected to the periphery of said base member, and an opposite outer edge which is longer than said attachment edge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The insert according to claim 12, wherein the opposite outer edge of each flap is longer than the corresponding attachment edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-20 | 1996-04-20 | 1996-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-20 | 2000-04-20 | 2000-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-20 | 2004-04-20 | 2004-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |