GB2272141A

GB2272141A - Plant cover.

Info

Publication number: GB2272141A
Application number: GB9223462A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Joseph Des Car Virden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-11-09
Filing date: 1992-11-09
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Also published as: GB9223462D0

Abstract

Translucent covers for plants seeds and seedlings of which the top 2 comprises a catchment for water from rain, watering can, or other source or other liquids. A hole 4 or holes in the top 2 direct the collected water to chosen points under the cover. The cover may be flanged 6 for stability. The cover may have multiple catchment areas and distribution holes. Additional ventilation can be provided. More than one of the covers may be fitted together in rows or groups to cover more plants than one. <IMAGE>

Description

PLANT COVER This invention relates to covers for plants.

It is well known that protection of germinating seeds, seedlincrs and plants durincr earlv or later growth from cold, wind. excessive heat.

moisture or drought. and pests enhances their growth especially at the marginal times of year for each sort of plant. Many examples o devices to perform such protection are common: rareenhouses, cold frames.

glass cloches. semi-rigid plastic tunnels. plastic sheet tunnels.

lightweight svnthetic fibre mats. and the upper parts ol translucent bottles and others.

All of the above suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: Difficulty in access or application of appropriate water or other liquids to the protected plants.

Difficulty of observation of the plants, Difficulty of tendlrcr plants and harvesting produce, Liability to damage or displacement by wind.

Difficult in cleaning and storage of the cover, Lack of @ortability.

According to the present invention there are provided covers for plants, seedlings. and seeds with catchment for water and other liquids.

Thine invention will be described by way of examples witn reference to the five accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an example of the invention in perspective. In its simplest general form the invention is like. an inverted flower-pot.

According to the present invention a cover for plants typically has a conical or pyramidal shape, ror stability and ease of manufacture from plastic materials. In the figure 1 the top 2 is shaped with depressed centre to collect water falling on it. The top 2 may have a raised edqe 3 to enhance the collection of water. The top 2 is provided with a hole 4 place at the lowest point to direct the collected water to where it can be used by the plant(s) inside the invention rather than being diverted away from the plants.

The pattern ot distribution of water falling on the ground under the cover or covers approximates to natural distribution, less the amount of water which falls between the tops which itself is distributed approximately in the natural distribution, without the need to move the cover.

The slope of the surface of top 2 from the edge 3 to the hole 4 is typically 10 degrees in a circular top, are similar average slope for all other shapes. For use in places where the ground is steeper than 10 degrees a greater angle is provided The invention may be symmetrical or asymmetrlcai in any convenient way to suit particular applications, for example sloping ground or specific direction of arrival of water.

The invention may have a flange 6 along all or part of the outside of the rim 5 on which soll or other material may be place@ for the purpose or anchoring the invention. or which may be used to interlock with others.

The invention ma@ have slots 7 in the faces to provide ventilation and ro@ ease of nandling.

The invention is typically made from transparent plastic material which is tolerant of Ultra Voilet light and which resists degradation. The invention can be made from other material or merely translucent material.

but with loss of durability and loss o@ clarity of observation of the contents.

Rows of examples of the invention may be close-packed as close as the limit allowed by flanges, if any, of the version of the invention being usea.

Figure @ shows a variation of the invention in perspective and separately in plan. This example has rectangular plan at ground level, with flanges 6 on only two sides and near vertical faces 8 on the sides without flanges.

This type of arrangement allows two or more of the invention to be placed close side-by-side in a row while providing means or collection and suitable distribution of most of the rainwater which would otherwise be diverted away from the plants by the protectlve cover.

The angles or each of the faces 8 and 9 to verticai. @vertical being perpendicular to the plane of the rim in most example. of the invention but not in all examples sudl as those which are. asymmetrical) may conveniently be made to be between 0 degrees and 70 degrees to vertical according to the needs or method of manufacture. the desired capture of water, and the growth of the plant or plants.

A typically convenient example conforms with figure 2 (not to scale).

body 1 is 200 millimetres high and 150 millimetres square at the rlm 5 at ground level, with flanges 6 each 25 millimetres wide on opposite sides 9.

Figure shows two opposite sides 8 sloping at 3 degrees from vertical without flange at the rim 5 and two other sides 9 sloping at 4 decrees to vertical with flanges 6 at the rim 5. The top 2 has an edge 3 which is 5 jill 11 imetres higri. The centre or top 2 is 10 to 15 millimetres lower at the centre hole O than at the edges. The centre hole 4 has 10 millimetres diameter. Two ventilation/handling points 7 are shown. This version can stand alone or pack closely in rows with the faces 8, without flanges.

being adjacent.

Figure 3 shows a further example of the invention. In figure 3 the invention has a rectaqular plan and is longer than it is wide. In figure 3 and figure 4 the dashed lines represent high points or watersheds between t.he depressions to distribute rainwater or other water among the holes according to the catchment area provided.

In the example in figure 3 five holes 4 are set in the top. Each hole 4 is set in the centre of a depression in the top 2 for the purpose of directing collected water to the plants below one fifth of the whole area of top 2.

Fiaure 4 shows a further extension of the invention, where the top 2 is formed with many depressions each with a hole 4. The distribution and formation of the depressions and holes can be arranged to sult any pattern of distribution of water which may be desired The advantages of the invention are that it protects seeds and plants ln the manner already known and directs much of normal rainfall and any applied water, with or without nutrients or agrochemicals, to the plants growing under its protection. and the invention is easy to fit over patters of piants, such as rows. by choice of suitable versions of the invention. The invention can be made in any size or shape to suit the use to which it is to be put. The invention is easy to clean, to stack. to store. and to use on repeated occasions.

Claims

1 Covers for plants, seedlings. and seeds with catchment for water or other liquids.

2. As c@aimed in Claim 1 with trianqular or other shapes of base plan to allow complete cover of ground.

2 Covers for plants as claimed in claim 1 with any chosen distribution of water or other liquids collected in the catchment.

3 Covers for plants as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 with single or multiple depressions and holes for any distribution of water or other liquids.

4 Lovers for plants as claimed in claims 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 with flange or flanges, Covers for plants as claimed in any preceding claim shaned to allow groups of covers to fit close together along rows, 6 Covers for plants as claimed in any preceding claim shaped to allow more than one of the cover to fit together covering an area of ground without limit in any direction.

7 Covers for plants as claimed in any preceding claim shaped to allow ciose stacking of a number of similar covers.

8 Covers for plants as claimed in any preceding claim shaped in any size or horizontal plan, for example but not exclusively, circular, oval, triangular. rectangular. hexagonal or reentrant.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS 1. A cover for plants with a depressed top with a hole in it, with hexaqonal plan or the base and snaped to allow c@ose packing of a numbe@ of them.