US3748783A — Sealed live plant container and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 186 words

A sealed live plant display assembly comprising: a container member having a hollow interior chamber of a given size and having at least one opening; an ecologically balanced soil-animal-plant system positioned within said chamber, said soil-animal-plant system including at least one live plant, an amount of suitable animal life sufficient to provide an effective symbiotic relation between said plant and animal life, sufficient moisture and atmospheric gases for sustaining said plant and animal life and a soil mixture comprised of a major amount of organic material and a minor amount of inorganic material; a cover member positioned on said opening of said container so as to substantially block ingress and egress of fluids from said chamber; said members being gas-impermeable and at least one of said members being composed of a material transmitting light to a degree sufficient to permit photosynthesis; and an adhesive material characterized by substantial non-toxicity to said soil-animal-plant system and positioned between contacting surfaces of said members for providing a substantially permanent and substantially gas-impermeable seal between said members, whereby the interior of said display is an ecologically balanced self-supporting life system.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 186 words

A sealed live plant display assembly comprising: a container member having a hollow interior chamber of a given size and having at least one opening; an ecologically balanced soil-animal-plant system positioned within said chamber, said soil-animal-plant system including at least one live plant, an amount of suitable animal life sufficient to provide an effective symbiotic relation between said plant and animal life, sufficient moisture and atmospheric gases for sustaining said plant and animal life and a soil mixture comprised of a major amount of organic material and a minor amount of inorganic material; a cover member positioned on said opening of said container so as to substantially block ingress and egress of fluids from said chamber; said members being gas-impermeable and at least one of said members being composed of a material transmitting light to a degree sufficient to permit photosynthesis; and an adhesive material characterized by substantial non-toxicity to said soil-animal-plant system and positioned between contacting surfaces of said members for providing a substantially permanent and substantially gas-impermeable seal between said members, whereby the interior of said display is an ecologically balanced self-supporting life system.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the container member is composed of a light-transmitting material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 4 words

sterilizing said soil mixture;

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 4 words

sterilizing said soil mixture;

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

adding a suitable animal life to said sterilized soil mixture in an amount sufficient to provide an effective symbiotic relation between the plant life and said animal life; and

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

adding a suitable animal life to said sterilized soil mixture in an amount sufficient to provide an effective symbiotic relation between the plant life and said animal life; and

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover member is composed of a light-transmitting material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the container member is composed of a light-impermeable material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 80 words

adjusting the amount of moisture in the soil-animal mixture to a predetermined degree; b. potting at least one live plant within said soil-animal mixture to define an ecologically balanced soil-animal-plant system; and c. substantially permanently sealing at least a portion of said ecologically balanced system within a substantially gas-impermeable hollow container composed at least partially of a material which transmits light to a degree sufficient for photosynthesis, whereby the interior of said display is an ecologically balanced self-supporting life system.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 80 words

adjusting the amount of moisture in the soil-animal mixture to a predetermined degree; b. potting at least one live plant within said soil-animal mixture to define an ecologically balanced soil-animal-plant system; and c. substantially permanently sealing at least a portion of said ecologically balanced system within a substantially gas-impermeable hollow container composed at least partially of a material which transmits light to a degree sufficient for photosynthesis, whereby the interior of said display is an ecologically balanced self-supporting life system.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 45 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the ecologically balanced soil-animal-plant system consists essentially of a soil mixture of compost, clay, sand, peat moss and sphagnum moss in amounts selected for a desired live plant and a suitable animal life.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein the soil mixture consists essentially of about 85 percent compost, about 1 percent clay, about 5 percent sand, about 5 percent peat moss and about 3 percent sphagnum moss.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 60 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the soil mixture consists essentially of about 1 percent clay, about 5 percent peat moss, about 3 percent sphagnum moss and a mixture of compost and sand comprising about 90 percent of said mixture, the ratio of sand to compost ranging from about 1: 15 to about 10:9.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the adhesive material is selected from the group consisting essentially of silicon rubber, rosin, beeswax and paraffin.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

A sealed live plant display assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the adhesive material is silicon rubber.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 22 words

A method of manufacturing a sealed live plant display assembly comprising the steps of: a. preparing an ecologically balanced soil-animal mixture by;

Claim 18

Independent Claim 22 words

A method of manufacturing a sealed live plant display assembly comprising the steps of: a. preparing an ecologically balanced soil-animal mixture by;

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said container comprises at least two separate members, one member defining a chamber for said ecologically balanced system and the other member defining a cover for said chamber and said member being sealed to one another by an adhesive material characterized by substantial non-toxicity to said soil-animal-plant system.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method as defined in claim 10 wherein a select amount of said soil-animal mixture is placed in said container and then said live plant is potted and sealed therein.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-07-30	1977-01-29	1977-07-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-07-30	1981-01-29	1981-07-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-07-30	1985-01-29	1985-07-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sealed live plant container and method

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