Removable plant container and method of use

• US 20020056716A1
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZIP POTS LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael Banhagel
• Inventors: Banhagel, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,481,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/676
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 2009/003 Receptacles consisting of separable sections, e.g. for allowing easy removal of the plant
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/029 Receptacles for seedlings growth substrates in block form A01G24/44

Abstract

A removable plant container for growing and transporting plants having a base member in communication with a lateral support wall. The base member and lateral support wall define a receiving aperture, having a volume V, for receiving the plant and growing media therein. At least one removal device is in communication with the lateral support wall, the base member, or both. Actuation of the at least one removal device results in an increase in the volume of the receiving aperture from volume V to volume V′, thereby permitting the removal of the plant and growing media without damage to the plant root system of root ball.

Claims

1. A container for holding plants, comprising:

a base member;

a lateral support wall in communication with said base member;

a receiving aperture formed by said base member and said lateral support wall, said receiving aperture having a volume V; and

at least one removal device located on and separable from said container, wherein separation of said at least one removal device from said container results in said receiving aperture having a volume V′

, wherein volume V′

is larger than volume V.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said container is formed in a shape selected from a group consisting of conical, square, rectangular, circular, or cylindrical.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said base member further comprises at least one hole formed therein.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said lateral support wall further comprises at least one hole formed therein.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one removal device is located on said lateral support wall.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one removal device is located on said base member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one removal device is located on said lateral support wall and said base member.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one removal device is selected from the group consisting of perforated slits, slots, retention bridges, hook and loop devices, buttons, straps, zippers, grooves, or channels.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one removal device comprises at least one tear strip, said tear strip comprising at least one tear perforation formed in said container.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one removal device comprises at least one tear device in communication with said container.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said at least one tear device is embedded in said container.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said at least one tear device is a material selected from a group consisting of a thread, string, or wire.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said lateral support wall further comprises at least one finger hole positioned proximate to said at least one removal device.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising a flange in communication with said lateral support wall.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said flange further comprises at least one finger hole formed thereon, said finger hole positioned proximate to said at least one removal device.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein said flange further comprises at least one handle formed thereon.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said container is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, acrylic, thermoplastic, metal, clay, ceramic, fabric, paper, or wood-based product

13. The device of claim I wherein said at least one removal device further comprises at least one tear starter positioned on said container.

19. A container for holding plants, comprising:

a base member;

a lateral support wall in communication with said base member, said lateral support wall comprising a first portion and a second portion;

a receiving aperture formed by said base member and said lateral support wall, said receiving aperture having a volume V;

at least one tear member in communication with and separable from said first portion and said second portion of said lateral support wall, wherein separation of said at least one tear member from said lateral support wall results in said receiving aperture having a volume V′

, wherein volume V′

is larger than volume V; and

at least one finger hole formed in said lateral support wall, said at least one finger hole in communication with at least one removal device.

20. A method of removing a plant from a plant container, comprising:

providing a plant container comprising a receiving aperture having a volume V, said receiving aperture formed by a base member in communication with a lateral support wall;

providing at least one removal device in communication with said container, said at least one removal device capable of increasing the volume of said at least one receiving aperture from V to V′

;

actuating said at least one removal device in communication with said container;

increasing said volume of said receiving aperture from V to V′

; and

removing said plant from said receiving aperture.

21. A container for holding plants comprising:

a base;

a wall extending upwardly from said base;

said wall having a substantially uniform tensile strength;

a separation zone extending along substantially a length of said wall;

said separation zone having a tensile strength less than said substantially uniform tensile strength of said wall.

22. A method of removing a plant from a container comprising:

providing a container having a plant disposed within a substantially continuous wall of said container;

exerting a force on a wall of said container such that a zone along substantially a length of said container wall yields so as to disrupt said substantially continuous wall and expose said plant.