US3739522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Horticultural cell system and method of manufacture
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-22
•
Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A cell system for use in horticulture comprises a belt of sheet material such as plastic, folded in half longitudinally and having its two layers sealed along lines transverse to and spaced apart along the belt. The sheet forms a series of spaced web portions in which the layers are contiguous, and an alternating series of cells each suitable for receiving the root system of a mature plant. Cover means for the mouths of the cells may comprise a cover strip separate from the belt, or edge portions of the belt may be folded over the mouths. The seals in the web portions may be discontinuous and localized to allow water and nutrient to flow between the cells; or unsealed edge portions of the webs may form a liquid conduit between cells.
Inventors
- 👤 G Greenbaum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:33
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/02; A01G9/029; A01G9/0295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A horticultural cell system comprising, in combination: a belt of sheet material folded along a fold line longitudinally into two layers with the edges of the sheet material substantiallY parallel, said layers being sealed to one another along lines of seals which have extent transverse to the length of said belt and are spaced apart longitudinally of said belt, to form a series of web portions of said belt in which said layers are contiguous, and a series of cells alternately spaced between said web portions; said cells having Approximately oval cross-sections and each being of a size to contain the root system of a preselected mature plant and a corresponding quantity of plant life-support materials; each of said cells having an open mouth formed between the edges of said layers; each of said cells being provided with cover-forming means for overlying at least a portion of said mouth to retain moisture in the cell while permitting a plant stem to protrude therefrom; each of said lines of seals extending from said fold line only partially across the width of said belt toward said edges; portions of said layers which lie beyond said lines of seals adjacent to said edges and which form parts of said cells providing said cover-forming means; portions of said layers which lie beyond said lines of seals adjacent to said edges and which form parts of said web portions providing fluid-communication troughs between said cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A horticultural cell system comprising, in combination: a belt of sheet material folded along a fold line longitudinally into two layers with the edges of the sheet material substantiallY parallel, said layers being sealed to one another along lines of seals which have extent transverse to the length of said belt and are spaced apart longitudinally of said belt, to form a series of web portions of said belt in which said layers are contiguous, and a series of cells alternately spaced between said web portions; said cells having Approximately oval cross-sections and each being of a size to contain the root system of a preselected mature plant and a corresponding quantity of plant life-support materials; each of said cells having an open mouth formed between the edges of said layers; each of said cells being provided with cover-forming means for overlying at least a portion of said mouth to retain moisture in the cell while permitting a plant stem to protrude therefrom; each of said lines of seals extending from said fold line only partially across the width of said belt toward said edges; portions of said layers which lie beyond said lines of seals adjacent to said edges and which form parts of said cells providing said cover-forming means; portions of said layers which lie beyond said lines of seals adjacent to said edges and which form parts of said web portions providing fluid-communication troughs between said cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
A horticultural cell system comprising, in combination: a belt of sheet material folded along a fold line longitudinally into two layers with the edges of the sheet material substantially parallel, said layers being sealed to one another along lines of seals which have extent transverse to the length of said belt and are spaced apart longitudinally of said belt, to form a series of web portions of said belt in which said layers are contiguous, and a series of cells alternately spaced between said web portions; said cells having approximately oval cross-sections and each being of a size to contain the root system of a preselected mature plant and a corresponding quantity of plant life-support materials; each of said cells having an open mouth formed between the edges of said layers; each of said intervening web portions being formed with a plurality of said lines of seals by means of spaced-apart localized seals between said layers, forming a quilted pattern and providing liquid communication paths between adjacent cells, while holding said layers in said web portions in contiguity against the pressure of liquid contained within said web portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
A horticultural cell system comprising, in combination: a belt of sheet material folded along a fold line longitudinally into two layers with the edges of the sheet material substantially parallel, said layers being sealed to one another along lines of seals which have extent transverse to the length of said belt and are spaced apart longitudinally of said belt, to form a series of web portions of said belt in which said layers are contiguous, and a series of cells alternately spaced between said web portions; said cells having approximately oval cross-sections and each being of a size to contain the root system of a preselected mature plant and a corresponding quantity of plant life-support materials; each of said cells having an open mouth formed between the edges of said layers; each of said intervening web portions being formed with a plurality of said lines of seals by means of spaced-apart localized seals between said layers, forming a quilted pattern and providing liquid communication paths between adjacent cells, while holding said layers in said web portions in contiguity against the pressure of liquid contained within said web portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cell system as recited in claim 2, in which portions of said layers forming parts of the walls of said cells are joined by a plurality of spaced-apart localized seals in a quilted pattern, to hold said portions in contiguity against the pressure of liquid contained therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cell system as recited in claim 3, in which other portions of said layers forming parts of the walls of said cells, other than said portions having said localized seals, are filled with hydrophilic foam material to support the root systems of selected plants.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
A horticultural cell system comprising, in combination: a belt of sheet material folded along a fold line longitudinally into two layers with the edges of the sheet material substantially parallel, said layers being sealed to one another along lines of seals which have extent transverse to the length of said belt and are spaced apart longitudinally of said belt, to form a series of web portions of said belt in which said layers are contiguous, and a series of cells alternately spaced between said web portions; said cells having approximately oval cross-sections and each being of a size to contain the root system of a preselected mature plant and a corresponding quantity of plant life-support materials; each of said cells having an open mouth formed between the edges of said layers; each of said lines of seals being discontinuous and being formed by spaced-apart localized seals, to form fluid communication paths between adjacent ones of said cells through the intervening web portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
A horticultural cell system comprising, in combination: a belt of sheet material folded along a fold line longitudinally into two layers with the edges of the sheet material substantially parallel, said layers being sealed to one another along lines of seals which have extent transverse to the length of said belt and are spaced apart longitudinally of said belt, to form a series of web portions of said belt in which said layers are contiguous, and a series of cells alternately spaced between said web portions; said cells having approximately oval cross-sections and each being of a size to contain the root system of a preselected mature plant and a corresponding quantity of plant life-support materials; each of said cells having an open mouth formed between the edges of said layers; each of said lines of seals being discontinuous and being formed by spaced-apart localized seals, to form fluid communication paths between adjacent ones of said cells through the intervening web portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cell system as recited in claim 5, in which said discontinuous lines of seals are formed by spaced-apart localized seals which have extent longitudinally of said belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cell system as recited in claim 6, together with tube means received between adjacent ones of said localized seals to provide non-collapsible fluid-communication paths between said cells and said web portions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |