A VASE FOR PLANTS OR SHRUBS

Abstract

A vase for plants or shrubs has a tubular-shaped lateral wall and a base with a first and a second plurality of through-holes, respectively, enabling exit of roots. The lateral wall in transversal section is star-shaped and forms a first plurality of internal cusps and a first plurality of external cusps, each through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes being arranged at a respective one of the external cusps. The vase has a first wall and a second wall which connect one of the internal cusps with an immediately-following one of the external cusps. The first wall and the second wall are mutually contiguous and form there-between an internal angle of less than 180°.

Claims

1. A vase for plants or shrubs, comprising: a lateral wall which: is tubular-shaped; and which comprises a first plurality of through-holes for enabling exit of roots of plants or shrubs; a base which comprises a second plurality of through-holes for enabling exit of roots of plants or shrubs; characterised in that: the lateral wall in transversal section is star-shaped and forms a first plurality of internal cusps and a first plurality of external cusps; each through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes is arranged at an external cusp of the first plurality of external cusps; it comprises a first wall and a second wall which connect an internal cusp of the first plurality of internal cusps with an immediately-following external cusp of the first plurality of external cusps; and in that the first wall and the second wall are mutually contiguous and form there-between an internal angle of less than 180°.

2. The vase for plants or shrubs of claim 1, wherein: the lateral wall comprises a first edge which extends at the upper end of the lateral wall, when the vase is in use configuration, further comprising a surface that extends starting from the first edge and has a flared shape towards the outside of the vase.

3. The vase for plants or shrubs of claim 1, wherein the through-holes of the first plurality of through-holes are slots and each slot extends along the whole extension of an external cusp of the first plurality of external cusps.

4. The vase for plants or shrubs of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a bottom having: a first part of bottom which is star-shaped and which defines a second plurality of internal cusps and a second plurality of external cusps and wherein the second plurality of through-holes is arranged; a second part of bottom which extends from the first part of bottom towards the central portion of the bottom and comprising a plurality of tabs; each tab of the plurality of tabs has a free end such as to flex upon the action of a thrust force; the plurality of tabs being positioned in such a way that the relative free end of each tab of the plurality of tabs is arranged at the central portion of the bottom in order to facilitate extraction of the plants or shrubs from the vase during the extraction operations.

5. The vase for plants or shrubs of claim 4, wherein the bottom of the base has a complementary shape to the shape of the lateral wall in transversal section.

6. A tray for plants or shrubs, comprising: at least a vase for plants or shrubs of claim 1; a plurality of support elements for supporting the at least a vase at a predetermined distance from the terrain when the at least a vase is in use configuration.

7. The tray for plants or shrubs of claim 6, wherein the plurality of support elements supports the base of the at least a vase at a distance comprised between 3-10 cm from the terrain when the at least a vase is in use configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Specific embodiments of the invention will be described in the following part of the present description, according to what is set down in the claims and with the aid of the accompanying tables of drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are different respective perspective views of a vase for plants or shrubs that is the object of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the vase of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a view from above of the vase of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tray for plants or shrubs, also an object of the present invention;

[0022] FIGS. 6-8 are plan views, taken from different sides, of the tray of claim 5;

[0023] FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively illustrate a perspective view and a transversal section view of a further embodiment of the vase for plants or shrubs of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] With reference to the accompanying tables of drawings, reference numeral (1) denotes a vase for plants or shrubs comprising: a lateral wall (2) which: is tubular-shaped; comprises a first plurality of through-holes (3) for enabling exit of roots of plants or shrubs; a base (4) which comprises a second plurality of through-holes (5) for enabling exit of roots of plants or shrubs. The lateral wall (2) in transversal section is star-shaped and forms a first plurality of internal cusps (6) and a first plurality of external cusps (7); each through-hole (3a) of the first plurality of through-holes (3) is arranged at an external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7). The vase (1) further comprises a first wall (8) and a second wall (9) which connect an internal cusp (6a) of the first plurality of internal cusps (6) with an immediately-following external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7); the first wall (8) and the second wall (9) are mutually contiguous and form there-between an internal angle of less than 180° (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The vase (1) is preferably a transplant vase (1), i.e. particularly suitable for plants and shrubs destined for transplanting. In other words, the vase (1) is predisposed to easily enable extraction of plants or shrubs from the vase (1), reducing to a minimum that part of trauma suffered by plants or shrubs when being transplanted, known as transplant shock, due to extraction from the vase (1).

[0025] It is specified that in the present description, the expression “external cusps (7, 15)” denotes the cusps having the point thereof facing towards outside the vase (1), while the expression “internal cusps (6, 14)” denotes the cusps having the point thereof facing towards inside the vase (1).

[0026] It is further specified that the expression “shape in transversal section” refers to the shape on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extension axis of the vase (1), in other words on a plane that is horizontal, when the vase (1) is in use configuration (U).

[0027] By use configuration (U) of the vase (1) is meant the configuration in which the vase (1) is rested on a rest plane (not illustrated), with the base (4) substantially parallel to the rest plane so as to be able to receive internally thereof the terrain for cultivation of a plant or a shrub.

[0028] The first wall (8) and the second wall (9) connect an internal cusp (6a) of the first plurality of internal cusps (6) with an immediately-following external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7).

[0029] With particular reference to FIG. 4, the first wall (8) extends starting from a first internal cusp (6a) of the first plurality of internal cusps (6) and the second wall (9) extends starting from a first external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7), which is immediately-following the first internal cusp (6a), to join one another. When the first wall (8) and the second wall (9) join one another, the first internal cusp (6a) and the first external cusp (7a) are connected to one another.

[0030] Each internal cusp (6a) of the first plurality of internal cusps (6) can be connected to each external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7) by means of the first wall (8) and the second wall (9).

[0031] Considering a first internal cusp (6a) and a first external cusp (7a), immediately consecutive to the first internal cusp (6a), the first wall (8) can extend on a first extension plane (S1), which first extension plane (S1) defines, when it intersects a plane (Z) that is parallel to the plane of symmetry of the vase (1) and which passes through the first internal cusp (6a), a first acute angle of inclination (α).

[0032] Likewise, considering a first internal cusp (6a) and a first external cusp (7a), immediately consecutive to the first internal cusp (6a), the second wall (9) can extend on a second extension plane (S2), which second extension plane (S2) defines, when it intersects a plane (Z) that is parallel to the plane of symmetry of the vase (1) and which passes through the first internal cusp (6a), a second acute angle of inclination (β) (see FIG. 4).

[0033] The first acute angle of inclination (α) can be greater than the second acute angle of inclination (β) (see FIG. 4).

[0034] The lateral wall (2) preferably comprises a first edge (10) which extends at the upper end (2a) of the lateral wall (2), when the vase (1) is in use configuration (U), and vase (1) comprises a surface (11) that extends starting from the first edge (10) and has a flared shape towards the outside of the vase (1) (see FIG. 2).

[0035] It has advantageously been found that during the extraction operation of the plant or shrub from the vase (1), the surface (11) having a flared shape facilitates the extraction of the plant or shrub, as the surface (11) accompanies the plant or shrub towards the outside of the vase (1) during the relative travel towards the outside of the vase (1).

[0036] The first edge (10) can delineate a circular or polygonal outline. The surface (11) and the lateral wall (2) can be in a single body. In this way, the lateral wall (2) can have a flared shape, at the first edge (10), towards the outside of the vase (1).

[0037] Further, when the lateral wall (2) of the vase (1) is countersunk, the relative transversal section progressively grows towards the first edge (10) and has a trunco-conical development.

[0038] In other words, by “surface (11) having a flared shape” is intended a surface (11) at which a tangential plane at a point of the surface (11) has an inclination of less than 90°.

[0039] Alternatively, according to an embodiment that is not illustrated, the lateral wall (2) of the vase (1) can have a regular development along the extension thereof, i.e. the transversal section having a constant dimension along the whole extension of the lateral wall (2) of the vase (1).

[0040] The lateral wall (2) can comprise a second edge (12) which extends at the lower end (2b) of the lateral wall (2), when the vase (1) is in the use configuration (U) (see FIG. 1).

[0041] The base (4) can be arranged at the second edge (12) (see FIG. 3).

[0042] The base (4) and the lateral wall (2) can be in a single body.

[0043] During the use operations of the vase (1), no operation of mounting and demounting the vase (1) will advantageously not be required.

[0044] The through-holes (3a) of the first plurality of through-holes (3) are preferably slots and each slot extends along the whole extension of an external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7).

[0045] Advantageously, as along the whole extension of an external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7) only one slot is present, during the extraction operations of the plant or shrub from the vase (1), the plant or shrub slides along the lateral wall (2) towards the outside of the vase (1) and the roots, which have exited the vase (1) through the slot, slide along the slot towards the first edge (10) of the vase (1), without obstructing the extraction of the plant or shrub from the vase (1). In other words, the slots, advantageously extending continuously along the external cusps (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7,) more easily facilitate the exit of the roots of plants or shrubs towards the outside and the triggering of the air-pruning phenomenon.

[0046] The base (4) preferably comprises a bottom (13) having: a first part (13a) of bottom (13) which is star-shaped and which defines a second plurality of internal cusps (14) and a second plurality of external cusps (15) and in which the second plurality of through-holes (5) is arranged; a second part (13b) of bottom (13) which extends from the first part (13a) of bottom (13) towards the central portion of the bottom (13) and comprising a plurality of tabs (16); each tab (16a) of the plurality of tabs (16) has a free end (17) such as to flex upon the action of a thrust force; the plurality of tabs (16) being positioned in such a way that the relative free end (17) of each tab (16a) of the plurality of tabs (16) is arranged at the central portion of the bottom (13) in order to facilitate extraction of the plants or shrubs from the vase (1) during the extraction operations (see FIG. 4).

[0047] The relative free end (17) of each tab (16a) of the plurality of tabs (16) advantageously ensures a greater flexibility of the bottom (13) with respect to the flexibility of a bottom (13) having a closed structure.

[0048] Further, during the extraction operations of the plant or shrub from the vase (1), it will be sufficient to apply a thrust force on the tabs (16a) of the plurality of tabs (16) to direct them towards the bottom terrain of the plant or shrub present in the vase (1) and the tabs (16a) will distribute the thrust force on the surface (11) of the bottom terrain of the plant or shrub, facilitating the extraction of the plant or shrub from the vase (1).

[0049] The bottom (13) of the base (4) preferably has a complementary shape to the shape in transversal section of the lateral wall (2).

[0050] In transversal section the bottom (13) of the base (4) is star-shaped so as to have a complementary shape to the shape in transversal section of the lateral wall (2).

[0051] With particular reference to FIG. 4, the through-holes (5a) of the second plurality of through-holes (5) have a trapezoid shape and are distributed along a circular trajectory in the first part (13a) of the bottom (13).

[0052] The through-holes (3a, 5a) of the first plurality of through-holes (3) and the second plurality of through-holes (5) have dimensions that are such as to prevent the exit of terrain therefrom. In fact, the terrain in which plants or shrubs are cultivated in a vase is generally made up of compost earth, i.e. constituted by a combination of various substances, so as to be compact sufficiently not to exit from the through-holes (3a, 5a) of the first plurality of through-holes (3) and of the second plurality of through-holes (5), if of appropriate dimensions.

[0053] In particular, the through-holes (3a, 5a) of the first plurality of through-holes (3) and the second plurality of through-holes (5) can have dimensions that are variable according to the dimensions of the vase (1).

[0054] The vase (1) for plants or shrubs can be made of a polymer material, such as for example polyethylene or rubber or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

[0055] Alternatively, the vase (1) for plants or shrubs can be made of cardboard or other materials.

[0056] Further, the vase (1) for plants or shrubs can comprise a plurality of projections (not illustrated) which extend from the base (4). Each projection of the plurality of projections can extend downwards, when the vase (1) is in use configuration (U), starting from the base (4) and is arranged at an external cusp (7a) of the first plurality of external cusps (7), so as to be adjacent to one another.

[0057] Each projection of the plurality of projections supports the base (4) of the vase (1) at a predetermined distance from the terrain when the vase (1) is in use configuration (U). Further, each projection of the plurality of projections extends for length comprised between 1.5 cm and 3 cm.

[0058] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, according to a further embodiment of the vase (1), object of the present invention, the second part (13b) of bottom (13) can take on a cylindrical shape and starts and extends from the first part (13a) of bottom (13) towards the first edge (10).

[0059] The second part (13b) of the bottom (13) can move towards the first edge (10) to a maximum height of a third of the height of the vase (1).

[0060] According to this embodiment, the first part (13a) of bottom (13) can have a planar extension on a first plane.

[0061] Further, the second part (13b) of the bottom (13) can comprise: a relative lateral wall (22) which is tubular-shaped and which extends starting from the first part (13a) of bottom (13); a relative top wall (23) which extends starting from the relative lateral wall (22) and which has a planar extension on a second plane.

[0062] The second plane can be parallel to the first plane.

[0063] In this embodiment, the top wall (23) can comprise a part of the through-holes (5a) of the second plurality of through-holes (5).

[0064] When the vase (1) is in use configuration (U), the first plane and the second plane are arranged at different heights from one another.

[0065] Further, when the vase (1) is in use configuration (U), the second plane is at a height, with respect to the terrain, that is greater than the height of the first plane. In this particular embodiment, a part of the roots will advantageously reach the part of the through-holes (5a) of the second plurality of through-holes (5) arranged on the top wall (23) in advance with respect to the part of roots that reach the through-holes (5a) of the second plurality of through-holes (5) arranged on the first part (13a) of the bottom (13).

[0066] In this way, for this part of the roots, in particular the roots that grow towards the base (4) of the vase (1), there will be an advance phenomenon of air-pruning, facilitating the development of a root system that is sturdier and more fibrous.

[0067] The following includes a description of a tray (20) for plants or shrubs, also object of the present invention, comprising at least a vase (1) for plants or shrubs, having the characteristics as revealed in the foregoing, and comprising a plurality of support elements (21) for supporting the at least a vase (1) at a predetermined distance from the terrain when the at least a vase (1) is in use configuration (U) (see FIGS. 5-8).

[0068] The tray (20), by bearing one or more vases together, advantageously enables arranging, on the terrain, a plurality of vases flanked to one another at the same time.

[0069] Further, the support elements (21a) of the plurality of support elements (21) ensure that the base (4) of the at least a vase (1) is not in direct contact with the terrain on which the tray (20) is arranged, facilitating the correct oxygenation of the roots of the plant or shrub.

[0070] The tray (20) for plants or shrubs can be made of a polymer material, such as for example polyethylene or rubber or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

[0071] Alternatively, the tray (20) for plants or shrubs can be made of cardboard or other materials.

[0072] The tray (20) for plants or shrubs can comprise a plurality of vases (1), which vases (1) have the above-described characteristics and can define, when arranged flanked to one another, a polygonal shape of the tray (20) (for example rectangular) or a circular shape of the tray (20).

[0073] The plurality of support elements (21) preferably supports the base (4) of the at least a vase (1) at a distance comprised between 3-10 cm from the terrain when the at least a vase (1) is in use configuration (U) (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 8).