US6032409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Support for cultivating plant
Assignee: Mukoyama Orchids Ltd
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Filing: 1996-07-29
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Granted: 2000-03-07
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Expires: 2016-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A vessel for growing a plant, comprising: a base material 11 in the form of a vessel which is capable of accommodating therein at least a part of a plant; and a hydrogel-forming polymer 12 having a crosslinked structure disposed inside of the vessel-form base material 11 is disclosed. When such a vessel is used, a transfer operation for the plant can be automated, and any damage caused by transferring the plant can be reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhiro Obonai
- 👤 Takehiko Mukoyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:41
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01H; A01H4/00; A01H4/001; A01G; A01G24/00; A01G24/30; A01G24/35; A01G24/40; A01G24/44; A01G9/00; A01G9/02; A01G9/029; A01G9/0293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A support for cultivating a plant, comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure, the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in equilibrium water absorption with an increase in temperature in a temperature range from 0° C. to 70° C. wherein the ratio (E L /E H ) of equilibrium water absorption E H at 50° C. to an equilibrium water absorption E L at 5° C. of the hydrogel-forming polymer is at least 2.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A support for cultivating a plant, comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure, the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in equilibrium water absorption with an increase in temperature in a temperature range from 0° C. to 70° C. wherein the ratio (E L /E H ) of equilibrium water absorption E H at 50° C. to an equilibrium water absorption E L at 5° C. of the hydrogel-forming polymer is at least 2.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The support for cultivating a plant according to claim 1, wherein water is retained in the crosslinked structure of the hydrogel-forming polymer to form a hydrogel containing the hydrogel-forming polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The support for cultivating a plant according to claim 1, wherein a nutrient is retained in the crosslinked structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The support for cultivating a plant according to claim 1, wherein a plant growth-regulating substance is retained in the crosslinked structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A support for cultivating a plant according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of hydrogel-forming polymer in a dry state is in the range of 0.1 μm-1 cm, and the shape thereof is any of a micro-bead-type, a fiber-type, a sponge-type or an indeterminate-type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A support for cultivating a plant, comprising: a carrier for supporting a plant; and a soil-modifying agent comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure, the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in equilibrium water absorption with an increase in temperature in a temperature range from 0° C. to 70° C. wherein the ratio (E L /E H ) of equilibrium water absorption E H at 50° C. to an equilibrium water absorption E L at 5° C. of the hydrogel-forming polymer is at least 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A support for cultivating a plant, comprising: a carrier for supporting a plant; and a soil-modifying agent comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure, the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in equilibrium water absorption with an increase in temperature in a temperature range from 0° C. to 70° C. wherein the ratio (E L /E H ) of equilibrium water absorption E H at 50° C. to an equilibrium water absorption E L at 5° C. of the hydrogel-forming polymer is at least 2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The support for cultivating a plant according to claim 6, wherein the plant-supporting carrier comprises at least one kind of carrier selected from the group consisting of: soil, gravel, sand, pumice, carbide, peat, vermiculite, bark, pearlite, zeolite, rock wool, sponge, peat-moss, crushed coconut shell and crypo-moss.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The support for cultivating a plant according to claim 6, wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer has been added to the plant-supporting carrier in an amount of 0.1-10 wt., in terms of the weight in a dry state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0122797A1
Cited
JPS62138123A
Cited
JPS63303704A
Cited
JPH0349525A
Cited
JPH0474981A
Cited
JPH0560250U
Cited
JPH06276873A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-07 | 2003-09-06 | 2004-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-07 | 2007-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-07 | 2011-09-06 | 2012-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |