Multiple cell tray with media plugs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016235017-A1
Application number	US-201514850928-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 10, 2015
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . 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.

2 . The tray of claim 1 wherein each of said cells comprise a cup having a star-shaped top rim and a star-shaped bottom perimeter.

3 . The tray of claim 2 wherein flutes extend from a point of the star-shaped top rim to a corresponding point of the star-shaped bottom perimeter.

4 . The tray of claim 3 wherein the flutes running from top rim to bottom perimeter comprise inwardly radiused indentations that reduce the amount of interior space within the cell.

5 . The tray of claim 4 wherein the sides of each cell are tapered such that the distance between opposite sides of the top rim is larger than the distance between sides of the bottom perimeter.

6 . The tray of claim 4 wherein the fluted indentations running from top rim to bottom perimeter are narrower near the top rim and wider near the bottom perimeter.

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

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

9 . The tray of claim 1 wherein the amount of biochar is approximately 5% of the growing media plug by volume.

10 . The tray of claim 1 wherein the amount of biochar is at least 5% of the growing media plug by volume.

11 . The tray of claim 1 wherein the biochar is formed from forest waste.

12 . The tray of claim 1 wherein each media plug is substantially cylindrical in shape and sized to fit within a cell so as to be increasingly engaged with fluted indentation running from a top rim of the cell to a bottom perimeter of the cell.

13 . The tray of claim 1 further comprising air gaps between the sides of each growing media plug and the interior surfaces of each cell.

14 . The tray of claim 13 wherein the air gaps comprise approximately 50% of the surface area of the sides of the growing media plug.

15 . The tray of claim 13 wherein the air gaps comprise within the range of 40% to 60% of the surface area of the growing media plug.

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

17 . A growing media plug adapted for insertion into a cell of a horticulture propagation tray, the growing media plug comprising primarily of peat moss mixed with an amount of biochar.

18 . The growing media plug of claim 17 wherein the amount of biochar is approximately 5% of the growing media plug by volume.

19 . The growing media plug of claim 17 wherein the amount of biochar is at least 5% of the growing media plug by volume.

20 . The growing media plug of claim 17 wherein the biochar is formed from forest waste.

Assignees

• Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Davis Rod

Classifications

• A01G9/029

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

• A01G9/028 Primary

  Multi-compartmented pots · CPC title

• C05G3/0005

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic