NL2020943B1 - A rooting plug structure and a method - Google Patents

A rooting plug structure and a method Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2020943B1
NL2020943B1 NL2020943A NL2020943A NL2020943B1 NL 2020943 B1 NL2020943 B1 NL 2020943B1 NL 2020943 A NL2020943 A NL 2020943A NL 2020943 A NL2020943 A NL 2020943A NL 2020943 B1 NL2020943 B1 NL 2020943B1
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NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
plug
root
rooting
plugs
structure according
Prior art date
Application number
NL2020943A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Van Der Maarel John
Original Assignee
Duemmen Group Bv
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Publication date
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Priority to NL2020943A priority Critical patent/NL2020943B1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2020943B1 publication Critical patent/NL2020943B1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
    • A01G24/40—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor characterised by their structure
    • A01G24/44—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor characterised by their structure in block, mat or sheet form
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
    • A01G24/10—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing inorganic material
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
    • A01G24/20—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing natural organic material

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a rooting plug structure having a multiple number of rooting plugs that are made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant. Each rooting plug comprises a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis, the plug having a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface. Further, the rooting plug structure comprises a connection structure interconnecting the rooting plugs in an array. Preferably, the connection structure and the rooting plugs form a single piece.

Description

© 2020943 © B1 OCTROOI (2?) Aanvraagnummer: 2020943 © Aanvraag ingediend: 17 mei 2018 © Int. Cl.:
A01G 24/20 (2018.01) A01G 24/44 (2018.01) A01G
24/10 (2019.01) (© Afsplitsing van aanvraag , ingediend (30) Voorrang:
Aanvraag ingeschreven: 25 november 2019 (43) Aanvraag gepubliceerd:
© Octrooihouder(s):
Dümmen Group B.V. te De Lier © Uitvinder(s):
John van der Maarel te De Lier © Gemachtigde:
ir. P.J. Hylarides c.s. te Den Haag
47) Octrooi verleend:
november 2019 © Octrooischrift uitgegeven:
november 2019 (54) A rooting plug structure and a method (57) The invention relates to a rooting plug structure having a multiple number of rooting plugs that are made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant. Each rooting plug comprises a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis, the plug having a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface. Further, the rooting plug structure comprises a connection structure interconnecting the rooting plugs in an array. Preferably, the connection structure and the rooting plugs form a single piece.
B1 2020943
Dit octrooi is verleend ongeacht het bijgevoegde resultaat van het onderzoek naar de stand van de techniek en schriftelijke opinie. Het octrooischrift komt overeen met de oorspronkelijk ingediende stukken.
P119121NL00
Title: A rooting plug structure and a method
The invention relates to a rooting plug structure.
Rooting plugs are used for cultivating plants. Typically, rooting plugs can be made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant, comprising a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis, the plug having a bottom surface, a side surface and a top surface.
Such a rooting plug is e.g. known from publication EP 2 572 571 Al in the name of the same applicant, wherein the plug is provided with a root chamber for accommodating at least a part of a root structure of a plant, a stem passage extending through the top surface of the plug body to the root chamber, and a receptive slot opening in the outer side surface of the plug body, the slot opening extending in a longitudinal direction from the bottom surface to the top surface and in a lateral direction from the outer surface to the root chamber and the stem passage for enabling a lateral insertion of the root structure into the root chamber.
Although the rooting plug is successful in practice, it appears in practice that plugs may occupy a considerable amount of volume during storage and/or transport.
It is an object of the invention to obtain a rooting plug structure that uses available storage and/or transport volume in a more efficient manner. Thereto, according to an aspect of the invention, a rooting plug structure is provided, comprising a multiple number of rooting plugs made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant, each rooting plug comprising a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis, the plug having a bottom surface, a side surface and a top surface, wherein the rooting plug structure further comprises a connection structure interconnecting the rooting plugs in an array.
By providing a connecting structure interconnecting the rooting plugs in an array, individual rooting plugs are ordered in a more structural manner, thereby occupying a volume more efficiently, advantageously reducing a required storage and/or transport volume.
Preferably, the connection structure includes bridging elements interconnecting neighboring rooting plugs, thereby forcing rooting plugs in an ordered array. In principle, the array can be one-dimensional, twodimensional or even three-dimensional.
Further, the invention relates to a method of preparing plant material cultivation.
Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the technical features and method steps described above may each on its own be embodied in a rooting plug structure or method, i.e. isolated from the context in which it is described, separate from other steps or features, or in combination with only a number of the other features or steps or described in the context in which it is disclosed. Each of these features or steps may further be combined with any other feature or step disclosed, in any combination.
The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a nonlimitative exemplary embodiment which is represented in a drawing. In the drawing:
Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a rooting plug structure according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the rooting plug structure shown in Fig. 1, and
Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention.
The embodiment disclosed herein is shown as an example only and should by no means be understood as limiting the scope of the claimed invention in any way. In this description and in the figures, the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs.
Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a rooting plug structure 1 according to the invention, while Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of said structure 1. The structure 1 includes a multiple number of rooting plugs 2a-g and a connection structure 12 interconnecting the rooting plugs 2a-g in an array. The connection structure 12 and the rooting plugs 2 form a single piece.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the rooting plugs 2 are arranged in a linear array, as a strip. Advantageously, individual rooting plugs, especially at an end of the linear array, can be easily removed. Further, the rooting plug structure 1 can be stacked in a relatively condense manner, thereby saving volume during transport, distribution and/or storage. The length of the rooting plugs structure 1 can be several centimeters such as circa 8 or 10 centimeters, or more such as circa 40 centimeters or circa 60 centimeters.
As an alternative to the shown linear array, the rooting plugs can be arranged in another one-dimensional array, e.g. as a curved array. Further, the rooting plugs can be arranged in a two-dimensional or even in a three-dimensional array.
The rooting plugs 2 are made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant. The substrate may be formed as a composition. Preferably, the composition and/or material is spongy and/or penetrable to growing roots. Such and other suitable substrate materials and/or compositions are known in the art. For example, the substrate material or composition may comprise organic fibres, e.g. coconut fibre, peat and/or bark. Here, the rooting plug 2 may comprise for instance a substrate composition including particles joined by a bind agent, such as a non-toxic and/or organic glue. The joined particles may e.g.
comprise organic fibres and/or soil particles. Preferably, at least a part of the substrate material of the rooting plug 2 is resilient.
Each rooting plug 1 is integrally formed for cultivation of a plant, and comprises a plug body 3 that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis C. The plug body 3 has a bottom surface 4, a side surface 5 and a top surface 6. Although in the shown embodiment the plug body 3 is substantially circular cylindrically-shaped, the plug body may have another cylindrical shape, such as a polygon or elliptic cylindrical shape, or may have a yet further cylindrical shape such as a cuboid or a prism.
Generally, the plug body 3 has a disc shaped profile, when seen in a direction along the cylinder axis C. The side surface 5 defines the exterior contour of the disc. A variety of dimensions can be applied. As an example, the height of an individual rooting plug 2, along the cylinder axis C may be in a range from circa 1 cm to circa 50 cm, while a diameter or a cross sectional dimension through the cylinder axis C, e.g. between opposite locations on the plug body side surface 5, may be in a range from circa 0.5 cm to circa 20 cm.
The rooting plug 2 may be slightly tapered in a direction towards the bottom surface 4. Said tapered shape may facilitate forming the rooting plug in and/or removing the rooting plug from a manufacturing mould. Besides, a tapered shape, especially a downwardly tapered shape, of the rooting plug may facilitate placement of the rooting plug into a receiving structure of a tray or pot. Alternatively, the rooting plug 2 has constant cross sectional dimensions, the plug body 3 having a straight side wall.
In the shown embodiment, the rooting plug structure 1 includes seven rooting plugs 2a-g arranged in a linear order as a first plug 2a at a first end of the array, the first plug 2a followed by a second plug 2b, a third plug 2c, a fourth plug 2d, a fifth plug 2e, a sixth plug 2f and a seventh plug 2g at a second end of the array, opposite to the first end.
Apparently, the rooting plug structure 1 may include less than seven rooting plugs 2, e.g. 4 or 2 rooting plugs, or more than seven rooting plugs 2, e.g. 8, 10, 12 or even more rooting plugs such as 20 rooting plugs.
In the shown embodiment, the connection structure 12 of the rooting plug structure 1 includes bridging elements 12a-f interconnecting neighboring rooting plugs 2. Here, a first bridging element 12a interconnects the first rooting plug 2 a to the second rooting plug 2b. A second bridging element 12b interconnects the second rooting plug 2b to the third rooting plug 2c, etc., such that, generally, the bridging elements 12 a-f form intermediate parts between the individual rooting plugs 2.
In the shown embodiment, the bridging elements 12a-f each connect two neighboring rooting plugs 2. In principle, the bridging elements 12a-f may connect more than two neighboring rooting plugs, e.g. three or four neighboring rooting plugs 2, e.g. in a two-dimensional or threedimensional array of rooting plugs 2.
The connection structure 12 and the rooting plugs 2 can be formed as an integral part, e.g. in a single mould in a moulding process. Then, the bridging elements 12a-f can be formed by the same material as the rooting plugs 2.
In the shown embodiment, the bridging elements 12a-f are connected to the side surfaces 5 of the respective neighboring rooting plugs 2, located near the top surface 6 of the respective plug bodies 3, thereby enabling the rooting plug structure 1 to be curved with the bottom surfaces 4 extending radially outwardly. Alternatively, the bridging elements 12a-f can be located near the bottom surface 4 or half-way between the bottom surface 4 and the top surface 6 of the plug bodies 3.
Advantageously, the volume of the bridging elements 12a-f is smaller than the volume of the plug body 3 of a rooting plug 2, thereby saving material.
It is noted that the bridging elements 12a-f can be made from another material, e.g. a metal or plastic material interconnecting the individual rooting plugs 2.
In another embodiment, the connection structure 12 includes a single or a multiple number of frame elements made from another material interconnecting the individual rooting plugs 2. The frame element or frame elements may include a base frame element extending along an array of rooting plugs 2 and provided with connecting elements extending transverse to the base frame element as branches to a stem. Then, the individual rooting plugs 2 can be connected to the connecting elements, as leaves to a branch of a tree. Then, the frame element or frame elements carry the individual rooting plugs.
The top surface 6 of the plug body 3 can be provided with a cavity for receiving plant material such as a seed, a seedling or a rooting structure of a young plant.
Alternatively, the rooting plug 2 can be provided with an incision extending from the cylinder axis C to the side surface 5 and from the top surface 6 to the bottom surface 4. Then, the plug body 3 can be deformable from an open state wherein two incision surfaces are remote from each other, for receiving plant material, to a closed state wherein the two incision surfaces mainly abut each other, for accommodating the received plant material.
Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 is used for preparing plant material cultivation, and comprises a step of providing 110 a rooting plug structure, comprising a multiple number of rooting plugs made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of a plant, each rooting plug comprising a plug body that is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylinder axis, the plug body having a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface, wherein the rooting plug structure further comprises a connection structure interconnecting the rooting plugs in an array, a step of removing 120 a rooting plug from an end of the array, and a step of placing 130 plant material on or into the removed rooting plug.
In Fig. 2 it is shown that a rooting plug 2g at an end of the linear array is removed from the rooting plug structure 1. In the shown embodiment, the bridging elements 12a-f are located near the top surface 4 of the plug body 3, thereby improving a chance that the rooting plug 2 is oriented in a correct manner when placing the plant material on or into the removed rooting plug 2.
The rooting plug 1 is manufactured for cultivating a plant, such as a young plant or a seedling, e.g. a broineliad, an anthurium or an orchid.
The rooting plug 2 including the plant can be placed in a pot or a tray cell.
The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above. It will be understood that many variants are possible.
These and other variants will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as formulated by the following claims. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

Claims (11)

ConclusiesConclusions 1. Wortelplugstructuur, omvattende een meervoudig aantal wortelpluggen vervaardigd van een substraat met organisch en/of nietorganisch materiaal voor het kweken van een plant, waarbij elke wortelplug een pluglichaam omvat dat in hoofdzaak cilindrisch is gevormd om een cilinder-as, waarbij de plug een bodemoppervlak, een zij-oppervlak en een bovenoppervlak heeft, waarbij de wortelplug voorts een verbindingsstructuur omvat die de wortelpluggen in een reeks verbindt.A root plug structure comprising a plurality of root plugs made from a substrate with organic and / or non-organic material for growing a plant, wherein each root plug comprises a plug body which is substantially cylindrical about a cylinder axis, the plug having a bottom surface , has a side surface and an upper surface, the root plug further comprising a connecting structure connecting the root plugs in a series. 2. Wortelplugstructuur volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de verbindingsstructuur brugelementen omvat die naburige wortelpluggen verbindt.The root plug structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting structure comprises bridge elements connecting adjacent root plugs. 3. Wortelplugstructuur volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarbij de brugelementen zijn verbonden met de zij-oppervlakken van de respectievelijke naburige wortelpluggen.The root plug structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bridge elements are connected to the side surfaces of the respective neighboring root plugs. 4. Wortelplugstructuur volgens conclusie 3, waarbij het volume van de brugelementen kleiner is dan het volume van het pluglichaam van een wortelplug.The root plug structure of claim 3, wherein the volume of the bridge elements is smaller than the volume of the plug body of a root plug. 5. Wortelplugstructuur volgens conclusie 3 of 4, waarbij de brugelementen zich nabij het boven- of onderoppervlak van de respectievelijke pluglichamen bevindt.Root plug structure according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the bridge elements are located near the upper or lower surface of the respective plug bodies. 6. Wortelplugstructuur volgens één der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de wortelpluggen in een lineaire reeks zijn op gesteld.Root plug structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the root plugs are arranged in a linear series. 7. Wortelplugstructuur volgens één der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de verbindingsstructuur en de wortelpluggen een ééndelig stuk vormen.7. Root plug structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection structure and the root plugs form a one-piece piece. 8. Wortelplugstructuur volgens één der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het bovenoppervlak van het pluglichaam is voorzien van een holte voor het opnemen van plantmateriaal.8. Root plug structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper surface of the plug body is provided with a cavity for receiving plant material. 9. Wortelplugstructuur volgens één der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het pluglichaam enigszins taps toeloopt in een richting naar het bodemoppervlak.Root plug structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug body tapers slightly in a direction towards the bottom surface. 10. Wortelplugstructuur volgens één der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de wortelplug voorts is voorzien van een insnijding die zich vanaf de cilinder-as naar het zij-oppervlak en van het bovenoppervlak naar het bodemoppervlak uitstrekt.10. Root plug structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the root plug is furthermore provided with an incision which extends from the cylinder axis to the side surface and from the top surface to the bottom surface. 11. Werkwijze voor het voorbereiden van het kweken van plantmateriaal, omvattende de stappen van:A method for preparing the cultivation of plant material, comprising the steps of: het verschaffen van een wortelplugstructuur, omvattende een meervoudig aantal wortelpluggen vervaardigd van een substraat met organisch en/of niet-organisch materiaal voor het kweken van een plant, waarbij elke wortelplug een pluglichaam omvat dat in hoofdzaak cilindrisch is gevormd om een cilinder-as, waarbij de plug een bodemoppervlak, een zijoppervlak en een bovenoppervlak heeft, waarbij de wortelplug voorts een verbindingsstructuur omvat die de wortelpluggen in een reeks verbindt;providing a root plug structure comprising a plurality of root plugs made from a substrate with organic and / or non-organic material for growing a plant, wherein each root plug comprises a plug body that is substantially cylindrical about a cylindrical axis, the plug has a bottom surface, a side surface, and a top surface, the root plug further comprising a connecting structure connecting the root plugs in a series; het verwijderen van een wortelplug van een uiteinden van de reeks, en het plaatsen van plantmateriaal op of in de verwijderde wortelplug.removing a root plug from one end of the series, and placing plant material on or in the removed root plug. 1/31/3 2/32/3 3/33/3 100100
NL2020943A 2018-05-17 2018-05-17 A rooting plug structure and a method NL2020943B1 (en)

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3973355A (en) * 1974-01-18 1976-08-10 Agritec Co. Self-contained hydrophilic plant growth matrix and method
DE8102061U1 (en) * 1981-01-28 1981-07-30 Filzfabrik Fulda Gmbh & Co, 6400 Fulda SUBSTRATE DESIGNED AS A MOLDED BODY FOR PROPERTY MILLING AND THE LIKE
NL9101795A (en) * 1991-10-25 1993-05-17 Rockwool Grodan Bv Cultivation set
WO2008140715A1 (en) * 2007-05-09 2008-11-20 Ifa Nurseries, Inc. Device for protecting container-grown seedling root systems and method for its manufacture
WO2015025407A1 (en) * 2013-08-22 2015-02-26 Kudo Tetsuya Filled soil block for cultivation, plant cultivation method, and soil block-cultivated plant

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3973355A (en) * 1974-01-18 1976-08-10 Agritec Co. Self-contained hydrophilic plant growth matrix and method
DE8102061U1 (en) * 1981-01-28 1981-07-30 Filzfabrik Fulda Gmbh & Co, 6400 Fulda SUBSTRATE DESIGNED AS A MOLDED BODY FOR PROPERTY MILLING AND THE LIKE
NL9101795A (en) * 1991-10-25 1993-05-17 Rockwool Grodan Bv Cultivation set
WO2008140715A1 (en) * 2007-05-09 2008-11-20 Ifa Nurseries, Inc. Device for protecting container-grown seedling root systems and method for its manufacture
WO2015025407A1 (en) * 2013-08-22 2015-02-26 Kudo Tetsuya Filled soil block for cultivation, plant cultivation method, and soil block-cultivated plant

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