Container convertible for use as a plant protection cover

• US 5,560,486 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Zak
• Original Assignee: John Zak
• Inventors: Zak, John
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/379,612
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 206/423, 220/215, 220/420, 220/428, 220/426, 220/506, 220/521, 220/625, 220/662, 47/26, 47/28.1, 47/69
• US Class Current: 206/423
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/04 Cloches , i.e. protective full coverings for individual plants individual canopies A01G13/0212
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/16 with double walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/36 adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/52 for living plants; for growing bulbs

Abstract

A container (10) for storing of transporting pourable material can be converted to a plant protection device by removing a portion of the base (11) of the container to allow the peripheral wall (12) of the container to be engaged over the plant thus surrounding the plant (32). The peripheral wall is formed from a double layer with annular space (15) therebetween for receiving liquid such as water to maintain heat.

Claims

1. A container convertible for use as a plant protection cover comprising a container body having a base wall, a peripheral wall upstanding from the base wall to a top edge of the peripheral wall so as to define with the base wall a hollow interior for receiving and containing material for storage or transportation, the peripheral wall having an inner and outer wall portion with the outer wall portion surrounding the inner wall portion so as to define a generally cylindrical space therebetween, means defining at least one opening through the inner wall portion below the top edge thereof and communicating between the hollow interior and the generally cylindrical space four communicating liquid between the hollow interior and the space and a removable plug insertable into the opening to retain the liquid in the space.

2. The container according to claim 1 when filled with a material for storage or transportation wherein the plug means is removed so that the hollow interior and the space are both filled with the material.

3. The container according to claim 1 including a cover for extending over an upper edge of the peripheral wall, the cover being removable.

4. The container according to claim 3 wherein the cover includes an upper wall and a lower wall defining therebetween a space for receiving liquid therein.

5. The container according to claim 1 wherein at least some portions of the peripheral wall are transparent and at least some other portions of the peripheral wall are dark so as to absorb sunlight for heating the liquid.

6. A container convertible for use as a plant protection cover comprising a container body having a base wall with an upper surface and a lower surface, a peripheral wall upstanding from the upper surface of the base wall, the peripheral wall having an inner surface, the upper surface of the base wall and the inner surface of the peripheral wall defining a hollow interior for receiving and containing material for storage or transportation, the peripheral wall having an inner and outer wall portion with the outer wall portion surrounding the inner wall portion so as to define a generally cylindrical space therebetween, wherein the base wall includes a weakened line therein communicating between the upper surface of the base wall and the lower surface of the base wall at which line the base wall can be cut to define an opening communicating from a position below the lower wall to the hollow interior to receive the plant passing from soil under the lower surface of the base through the base into the hollow interior.

7. The container according to claim 6 wherein the weakened line is formed just inside the peripheral wall.

8. A method for providing a plant protection cover comprising:

providing a container body having a base wall and a peripheral wall upstanding from the base wall so as to define therewith a hollow interior for receiving and containing material for storage or transportation;

the peripheral wall having an inner and outer wall portion with the outer wall portion surrounding the inner wall portion so as to define a generally cylindrical space therebetween for receiving liquid therein;

including the steps of removing the material from the container;

cutting the base to remove at least a portion thereof defining an opening through the base to receive the plant passing therethrough, filling the space with a liquid and placing the container over the plant.

9. The method according to claim 8 including providing at least one opening in the inner wall portion below a top edge thereof communicating between the hollow interior and the space and inserting a plug into said at least one opening to retain the liquid in the space.

10. The method according to claim 9 including removing the plug when the container is filled with the material for storage or transportation so that the whole of the container including the hollow interior and the space is filled with the material.

11. The method according to claim 8 including providing a cover extending over an upper edge of the peripheral wall, the cover being removable and including an upper wall and a lower wall defining therebetween a space for receiving liquid therein.

12. The method according to claim 8 including providing in the base wall a weakened line at which line the base wall is cut to define said opening.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the weakened line is formed just inside the peripheral wall.