Patent US1832335A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US2152033A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5311700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container for plants
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-10-07
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Granted: 1994-05-17
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Expires: 2011-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An improved container for growing and holding plants for transplanting encloses the root ball in a polyurethane liner, which is then supported within a wire mesh outer basket. The polyurethane liner does not rot above ground, yet is permeable, so that the roots in the root ball air prune, forming extensive fine filamentary root growth, significantly improving the viability and health of the plant when transplanted. Although the liner of the invention does not rot above ground, it easily passes roots when the basket and root ball is planted, As a result, the basket and liner need not be removed prior to planting the plant, significantly simplifying handling of the plant.
Inventors
- 👤 Johnny D. Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:25
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G23/00; A01G23/02; A01G23/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S47/00; Y10S47/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; means, within said supporting means, for spacing said liner means for air flow about the bottom of said liner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; means, within said supporting means, for spacing said liner means for air flow about the bottom of said liner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means: said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom is biodegradable; wherein said bottom consists of wood.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means: said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom is biodegradable; wherein said bottom consists of wood.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom further resists root growth by cording roots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom further resists root growth by cording roots.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 above wherein said bottom is a non-biodegradable material, having a plurality of small, non expandable openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 4 above wherein said non-biodegradable material is a tightly woven synthetic fiber cloth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom is black plastic sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom is black plastic sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom is a tarred felt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A container for containing a growing plant within a root growth medium comprising: supporting means, having an open mesh construction, for supportably containing a root ball; and means for air pruning the roots of a plant in a root growth medium, said means further comprising a polyurethane liner, being permeable, rot-resistant and root-penetrable, surrounding said root growth medium within said supporting means; said supporting means having a bottom and sides thereof; said liner means being conformable to the sides thereof; the supporting means bottom thereof being resistant to root growth; wherein said bottom is a tarred felt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
A container for growing plants comprising in combination: a basket having a bottom and sides thereof; means for air pruning the roots of a plant supported by said basket, said means further comprising: a polyurethane liner conformable to said basket, lining the interior thereof; said liner enclosing a root ball of a plant; said liner forming an air pruning surface between said root ball and the atmosphere, said basket further comprising: said bottom comprising an interior, false bottom surface spaced a distance from the bottom of said basket; said liner lining said false bottom surface and the sides of said basket; said false bottom surface spacing said liner from the bottom of said basket for air circulation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
A container for growing plants comprising in combination: a basket having a bottom and sides thereof; means for air pruning the roots of a plant supported by said basket, said means further comprising: a polyurethane liner conformable to said basket, lining the interior thereof; said liner enclosing a root ball of a plant; said liner forming an air pruning surface between said root ball and the atmosphere, said basket further comprising: said bottom comprising an interior, false bottom surface spaced a distance from the bottom of said basket; said liner lining said false bottom surface and the sides of said basket; said false bottom surface spacing said liner from the bottom of said basket for air circulation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: means for supporting said false bottom a distance from said bottom under the weight of a root ball.
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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) | 1997-05-16 | 1997-11-15 | 1998-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-16 | 2001-11-15 | 2002-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-16 | 2005-11-15 | 2006-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |