Multiple cell tray with media plugs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11266077-B2
Application number	US-201916687772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2019
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A multiple cell horticulture propagation tray arranged in rows of star-shaped cells forming a substantially rectangular shaped tray having the cells formed therein, combined with inserted cylindrically shaped growing media plugs comprising primarily of peat moss with an amount of biochar, and enveloped to retain moisture within the growing media plugs

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple cell horticulture propagation tray, the tray comprising:
cells formed in the tray, the cells being arranged in rows, each of the cells being configured to receive a growing media plug,
wherein each of the cells comprises a cup having a top rim and a bottom perimeter and flutes comprising inwardly-radiused indentations running from the top rim to the bottom perimeter, and wherein the flutes are narrower at the top rim than at the bottom perimeter.

2. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the inwardly-radiused indentations reduce an amount of interior space within each of the cells.

3. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the cells are enveloped.

4. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the top rim is star-shaped and the bottom perimeter is star-shaped.

5. The tray of claim 4 , wherein the flutes extend from a point of the top rim to a corresponding point of the bottom perimeter.

6. The tray of claim 1 , wherein a distance between opposite sides of the cell at the top rim is larger than a distance between opposite sides of the cell at the bottom perimeter.

7. The tray of claim 1 , wherein each cell comprises a hole in a bottom surface.

8. The tray of claim 7 , wherein each cell comprises at least one nib on an exterior of the bottom surface that provides a fluid path from an interior of the cell to space beneath the exterior of the bottom surface.

9. The tray of claim 1 , further comprising one or more growing media plugs comprising peat moss and biochar.

10. The tray of claim 9 , wherein an amount of biochar is approximately 5% of the growing media plug by volume.

11. The tray of claim 9 , wherein an amount of biochar is at least 5% of the growing media plug by volume.

12. The tray of claim 9 , wherein the biochar is formed from forest waste.

13. The tray of claim 9 , wherein each of the one or more growing media plugs are substantially cylindrical in shape and sized to fit within one of the cells so as to be increasingly engaged with the corresponding flute.

14. The tray of claim 9 , wherein each of the one or more growing media plugs are inserted in one of the cells, and wherein air gaps exist between sides of each of the one or more growing media plugs and interior surfaces of the respective cell.

15. The tray of claim 14 , wherein the air gaps cover approximately 50% of a surface area of the sides of the one or more growing media plugs.

16. The tray of claim 14 , wherein the air gaps cover a range of 40% to 60% of a surface area of the sides of the one or more growing media plugs.

17. A multiple cell horticulture propagation tray having star-shaped cells formed therein and arranged in rows, wherein each of the cells comprise:
a cup having a star-shaped top rim, a star-shaped bottom perimeter, and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having an exterior, wherein a distance between opposite sides of the cell at the top rim is larger than a distance between opposite sides of the cell at the bottom perimeter;
flutes each extending from a point of the star-shaped top rim to a corresponding point of the star-shaped bottom perimeter, wherein the flutes comprise inwardly-radiused indentations that reduce an amount of interior space within the cell, and wherein the flutes are narrower at the top rim than at the bottom perimeter; and
at least one nib on the exterior of the bottom surface that provides a fluid path from an interior of the cell to space beneath the exterior of the bottom surface.

18. A multiple cell horticulture propagation tray, the tray comprising:
cells formed in the tray, the cells being arranged in rows, each of the cells being configured to receive a growing media plug,
wherein each of the cells comprises a cup having a top rim and a bottom perimeter and flutes comprising inwardly-radiused indentations running from the top rim to the bottom perimeter, and
wherein the top rim is star-shaped and the bottom perimeter is star-shaped.

19. A multiple cell horticulture propagation tray, the tray comprising:
cells formed in the tray, the cells being arranged in rows, each of the cells being configured to receive a growing media plug,
wherein each of the cells comprises a cup having a top rim and a bottom perimeter and flutes comprising inwardly-radiused indentations running from the top rim to the bottom perimeter, and
wherein each of the cells comprises a hole in a bottom surface.

20. A multiple cell horticulture propagation tray, the tray comprising:
cells formed in the tray, the cells being arranged in rows, each of the cells being configured to receive a growing media plug, wherein each of the cells comprises a cup having a top rim and a bottom perimeter and flutes comprising inwardly-radiused indentations running from the top rim to the bottom perimeter; and
one or more growing media plugs comprising peat moss and biochar, wherein each of the one or more growing media plugs are inserted in one of the cells, and wherein air gaps exist between sides of each of the one or more growing media plugs and interior surfaces of the respective cell.

Assignees

• Hgci Inc

Inventors

• Davis Rod

Classifications

• A01G24/44

  in block, mat or sheet form · CPC title

• A01G9/029

  Receptacles for seedlings (growth substrates in block form A01G24/44) · CPC title

• A01G9/028 Primary

  Multi-compartmented pots · CPC title

• A01G9/021

  Pots formed in one piece; Materials used therefor · CPC title

• C05F11/02

  from peat, brown coal, and similar vegetable deposits · CPC title