GB2069973A - Growing bag assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag assembly for containing a growing medium 12 consists of a substantially rectangular plastic bag having one or more removable panels in its upper surface 10, and a semi- rigid panel 15 inserted between the base 14 of the bag and a further panel 11 secured thereto. The side edges of the stiffening panel 15 fold upwardly around the base of the bag and assist in maintaining its rigidity when it is lifted to move it from one place to another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Growing bag assembly Background of the Invention This invention relates to new and useful improvements in growing bag assemblies.

Plastic bags containing a growing medium are well known and these usually consist of upper and lower synthetic plastic panels sealed around the edges thereof and containing the growing medium with one or more removable panels in the upper surface thereof which may be cut out or otherwise removed when planting takes place.

In reasonabiy moderate climates, these are quite satisfactory as they are usually placed in position prior to the plants or seedlings being planted and do not have to be moved from one location to the other so that the roots of the plants or seedlings do not become disturbed.

However, in more intemperate regions, one of the advantages of using such growth bags is the fact that plants or seedlings can be started earlier than normal so that when same can be placed outside, the plants have obtained a good start in their growth cycle so that maturity is reached considerably earlier than is usual.

In order to accomplish this, it is often necessary to move the growth bags from one location to the other in order to shelter them from inclement weather, particularly during the night when temperatures may drop below freezing.

With the conventional growth bags, it is very difficult to move same without disturbing the root system because of the flexibility of the bag and the growing medium therein.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a semi-rigid stiffening panel underneath the growth bag which enables the growth bag to be lifted and moved from one location to the other without same collapsing and therefore without unduly disturbing the root systems of the plants or seedlings grown therein.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a growing bag assembly for plants, seedlings and the like, comprising in combination a sealed bag having an upper panel and a base comprising a lower panel sealed to said upper panel around the perimeters thereof, at least one removable portion in said upper panel and stiffening means for said bag spanning the base thereof.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a growing bag for plants, seedlings and the like comprising in combination a flexible synthetic plastic envelope having an upper panel and a lower panel, at least one removable portion in said upper panel and stiffening means for said envelope spanning the lower panel thereof.

One of the principal advantages of the invention is the fact that the semi-rigid stiffening panel provided, may include edge portions which bend upwardly to enclose the growth medium and to maintain substantially, the confines of the growth medium both under static conditions and when the growth bag is being moved from one location to the other.

Still another advantage of the invention consists of the stiffening panel preferably but not necessarily being enclosed in a separate pouch or envelope remote from the growing medium so that moisture does not affect same. This enables a stiffening panel of a material such as cardboard to be utilized.

Yet another advantage of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric view of the growth bag assembly shown upside down to illustrate the stiffening panel.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the growth bag in the upright position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing one upper panel removed and the other upper panel partially removed.

Figure 4 is an isometric cross sectional view of the assembly.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view or end view panel from the lefthand end of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the stiffening panel per se.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Detailed Description Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, the conventional growth bag consists of two substantially rectangular panels of flexible synthetic plastic, namely an upper panel 10 and a lower panel 11 secured together by sealing the perimetricai edges thereof either by heat sealing, adhesive or other means thus forming a sealed envelope which may contain a growing medium illustrated by reference character 1 2 which may be soil, a soil mixture, an inert medium or a mixture as is well known in the art.

In the present embodiment, at least two rectangular panels 13 are provided in the upper panel 10 which may be cut out or otherwise removed when it is desired to use the growth bag and this is shown in Figure 3. Under these circumstances, seedlings or plants may be planted within the growing medium which may be watered in the usual way.

In the present invention, a further flexible synthetic plastic lower panel 14 is provided of similar dimensions to the base panel 11 and which is sealed to the edges of the upper envelope or the edges of the lower panel 11 also by heat sealing, adhesive or other means thus forming a lower envelope 1 5 which receives and retains a semi-rigid stiffener element coliectively designated 16. This is of a similar configuration to the lower panel 11 and includes a substantially rectangular base 1 7 and upwardly bendable edge portions 18 being cut at the corners 1 9 as clearly shown. When inserted and sealed within the lower envelope 15, and when filled with the growing medium 12, the weight of the growing medium depresses the lower panel 11 onto the base 17 so that the edge portions 18 bend upwardly and enclose nestably, the lower panel and the growing medium as clearly shown in the drawings. This supplies rigidity to the growth bag assembly and enables same to be moved relatively safely, from one location to another.

The semi-rigid panel 1 6 may be made of a material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like as it is sealed from the growth medium and the moisture which may be resident therein, by being enclosed within the sealed lower envelope 15.

It will be appreciated that other materials can be used for the stiffening panels such as a single panel of plywood, hardboard, sheet plastic or the like.

Claims (12)

1. A growing bag assembly for plants, seedlings and the like, comprising a sealed bag having an upper panel and a base comprising a lower panel sealed to said upper panel around the perimeters thereof, and stiffening means for the bag spanning the base thereof.

2. A growing bag according to claim 1 wherein there is at least one removable portion in said upper panel.

3. A growing bag according to claim 1 or 2 in which the stiffening means includes a semi-rigid panel having a similar configuration to the base and including edge portions formed on the semirigid panel bendable upwardly relative thereto.

4. A growing bag according to claims 1, 2, or 3 which includes a further flexible synthetic plastic panel secured to the lower panel, the stiffening means being contained between the lower panel and the further panel.

5. A growing bag according to claim 4 in which the further panel is of similar dimensions to the lower panel and sealably attached to the edges of the lower panel by the edges of the further panel to enclose and retain the stiffener means therein.

6. A growing bag according to any of the preceding claims which includes a growing medium within the sealed bag.

7. A growing bag according to claims 3 or 5 which includes a growing medium within the sealed bag and in which the bendable edge portions extend upwardly and enclose the lower panel and the growing medium therebetween.

8. A growing bag assembly for plants, seedlings and the like comprising in combination a flexible synthetic plastic envelope having an upper panel and a lower panel, at least one removable portion in said upper panel and stiffening means for said envelope spanning and lower panel thereof,

9. A growing bag according to claim 8 in which the stiffening means includes a semi-rigid panel having a similar configuration to the base and including edge portions formed on the semi-rigid panel bendable upwardly relative thereto.

10. A growing bag according to claims 8 or 9 which includes a further flexible panel secured to the edges of the lower panel of the envelope to form a further flexible synthetic plastic envelope, the stiffening means being contained in said further envelope.

11. A growing bag according to claims 8, 9, or 10 in which the further panel is of similar dimensions to the lower panel and sealably attached to the edges of the lower panel by the edges of the further panel to enclose and retain the means therein.

12. A growing bag assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.