System and method facilitating growth and transportation of plant life

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10617066-B2
Application number	US-201715619055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2017
Priority date	Jun 9, 2017
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A system and method provide a foundation for a plant during growth and transportation.

First claim

We claim:

1. A platform assembly for facilitating growth and transportation of a plant, the platform assembly comprising:
a base assembly including a container holding a growth medium for the plant;
a trellis assembly including a support and a chain, the support capable of removable connection with the base assembly, wherein the platform assembly includes:
a growth configuration including the support removably attached to the base assembly, and the chain removably attached to the support and suspended above the base assembly to support growth and entwinement of the plant, and
a transportation configuration including the support detached from the base assembly, and the chain detached from the support and collapsed with the entwined plant atop the base assembly to facilitate compact assembly and transportation of the base assembly, the collapsed chain, and the entwined plant.

2. The platform assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a singular connector removably connecting the support at a singular location of the base assembly when the platform assembly configured in the growth configuration.

3. The platform assembly of claim 2 , wherein the singular location located on the container.

4. The platform assembly of claim 2 , wherein the singular location located in the growth medium.

5. The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chain includes two or more segments, each of the two or more segments configured to removably couple to another segment and/or the support.

6. The platform assembly of claim 5 , wherein each segment sized to fit within an area defined by a perimeter of the container proximate an upper surface of the growth medium.

7. The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support is extendable and retractable in length.

8. A platform assembly facilitating transportation of a plant and capable of cooperation with a support to buttress the plant during growth, the platform assembly comprising:
a base assembly including a growth medium disposed within a container;
a chain including at least one segment and capable of entwinement with the plant, wherein the platform assembly includes:
a growth configuration including the support removably connected to the base assembly, the chain removably connected to and suspended from the support for position above the growth medium and supporting entwinement of the plant during growth; and
a transportation configuration including the support disconnected from the base assembly, and the chain disconnected from the support and collapsed with the entwined plant atop the base assembly for shipment.

9. The platform assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a singular connector removably connecting the support at a singular location of the base assembly when the platform assembly configured in the growth configuration.

10. The platform assembly of claim 9 , wherein the singular location is located on the container.

11. The platform assembly of claim 9 , wherein the singular location is located in the growth medium.

12. The platform assembly of claim 8 , wherein the chain includes two or more segments, each of the two or more segments configured to removably couple to another segment and/or the support.

13. The platform assembly of claim 12 , wherein each segment sized to fit within an area defined by a perimeter of the container proximate an upper surface of the growth medium when the platform assembly is assembled for shipment.

Assignees

• Ball Horticultural Co

Inventors

• Carlsson Kristopher Robert

Classifications

• B65D85/52

  for living plants; for growing bulbs · CPC title

• A01G9/12 Primary

  Supports for plants; Trellis for strawberries or the like (stays for trees, props for vines A01G17/14) · CPC title