PLANT GROWING STAND AND PLANT PRODUCT

Abstract

The invention is related to plant growth and in particular to a plant growing stand. In one aspect the invention provides a plant growing stand comprising a container in which a plant holding structure is arranged. The plant holding structure comprises a bottom support member for receiving a plant thereon and a side support member for supporting a shoot system of the plant. The invention in another aspect provides a plant product comprising such a plant growing stand and a plant.

Claims

1. Plant growing stand for growth of a plant, containing a supporting body for supporting the plant, the supporting body comprising a container defining a chamber in the supporting body which container is open at a top of the supporting body and a plant holding structure arranged in the chamber for holding at least part of the plant in the chamber, characterized in that the plant holding structure comprises a side support member extending laterally in the chamber for supporting a shoot system of the plant and a bottom support member for receiving the plant thereon, wherein the side support member defines an opening for the shoot system of the plant which opening is vertically aligned with the bottom support member and the bottom support member is arranged between the top and bottom of the supporting body to divide the chamber in a lower chamber section below the bottom support member and an upper chamber section above the bottom support member, the sections being in open communication to enable the plant provided on the bottom support member in the upper chamber section to grow with roots extending into the lower chamber section.

2. Plant growing stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the plant holding structure and container are separate body parts of the supporting body.

3. Plant growing stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the container comprises a generally cylindrical wall enclosing the chamber.

4. Plant growing stand according to claim 3, characterized in that the generally cylindrical wall is transparent.

5. Plant growing stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the plant holding structure comprises a coupling member with which the plant holding structure is detachably coupled with the container.

6. Plant growing stand according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling member comprises an edge part of the plant holding structure extending laterally over a top edge of the container.

7. Plant growing stand according to claim 6, characterized in that the edge part comprises a tab extending laterally beyond the top edge of the container.

8. Plant growing stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the plant holding structure defines a cup shaped basket with the bottom support member forming a base of the basket and the side support member extending laterally inward from the basket in the upper chamber section above the support member.

9. Plant growing stand according to claim 8, characterized in that the cup shaped basket in a vertical direction tapers outward from the bottom support member to an edge extending over a top edge of the container.

10. Plant growing stand according to claim 9, characterized in that the side support member extends from the edge of the basket.

11. Plant growing stand according to claim 10, characterized in that the side support member comprises a plurality of flexible teeth extending laterally inward from the plant holding structure above the bottom support member.

12. Plant growing stand according to claim 11, characterized in that the bottom support member and the edge are connecting by at least one flexible connecting member.

13. Plant growing stand according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one connecting member is connected to the edge in between two side support teeth.

14. Plant growing stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom support member comprises a horizontal wall in which the openings between the lower chamber section and upper chamber section are provided.

15. Plant growing stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom support member comprises a conical base with a top surface for receiving a plant thereon and a lateral guiding surface sloping downward to an opposite bottom surface of the conical base for guiding roots of the plant to the openings between the lower chamber section and upper chamber section.

16. Plant growing stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting body has a density higher than water.

17. Plant product comprising a plant held in a plant growing stand according to claim 1.

18. Plant product according to claim 17, wherein the plant is a water plant, in particular an aquarium plant.

19. Plant product according to claim 17, wherein the plant and plant growing stand are packaged in a transparent holder.

Description

[0022] These and other aspects of the present invention are further elucidated by the appended drawings and the corresponding embodiment, which form part of the present application. The drawings are not in any way meant to reflect a limitation of the scope of the invention, unless this is clearly and explicitly indicated.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a plant holding structure for use in a plant growing stand according to the invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the plant holding structure of FIG. 1, a container and a label for use in a plant growing stand according to the invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the plant growing stand with the plant holding structure, container and label of FIG. 2 in assembled form.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1-3 the plant holding structure for use in a plant growing stand according to the invention comprises a side support member of laterally extending teeth 1 for supporting a shoot system of a plant or a plurality of plants 7 provided in the plant holding structure. The teeth define an opening for receiving the shoot system of the plant or plurality of plants. The opening is vertically aligned above a bottom support member 2 of the plant holding structure so that a plant received on top of the bottom support member 2 will be held in an at least almost vertical, upright, position by the bottom support member and side support member. The teeth of the side support member extend radially inward from an edge of the plant holding structure which extents over a top edge of the cylindrical shaped container 4. The edge, which is ring-shaped, is supported by the container so that the plant holding structure is carried by the container. As a height of the container is larger than a height of the plant holding structure, the bottom support member 2 is positioned in height between a bottom surface of the container and a top surface of the container. The bottom support member 2 divides a chamber defined by the container in an upper chamber section in which the plant holding structure is provided and a lower chamber section in which a root system of the plant or group of plants may grow. The lower chamber section may be filled with a plant growth substrate or medium, such as a liquid medium, for providing the necessary nutrients and liquid to the plant or group of plants for growth. The plant holding structure may also be placed over or in an amount of plant growth substrate or medium, as the container is open at a bottom for open communication between the lower chamber section and a surroundings.

[0027] The bottom support member 2 has a conical or pyramid shaped base with a top surface for receiving a plant thereon and a lateral guiding surface sloping downward to an opposite bottom surface of the conical base for guiding roots of the plant to the openings between the lower chamber section and upper chamber section.

[0028] The ring-shaped edge comprises a laterally extending tab 6 which extends laterally beyond the outside surface of the container 4. The tab may be dimensioned with an adequate surface area for a user to grab with its fingertips in order to position a plant holding structure on top of the container or vice versa in order to manually lift the plant holding structure from the container. The plant holding structure may be firmly coupled to the container by applying downward pushing pressure on the plant holding structure positioned on the container, which will force clamping means in the plant holding structure to fit in the chamber while engaging the container wall under clamping force.

[0029] The tab 6 may also be used to attach a label or other indicator 5 to the plant growing stand. Hereto the tab may comprise edges or shoulders that engage with corresponding edges or shoulders of the label or indicator at an opening or recess in the label or indicator for a snapping connection between the plant holding structure and the label or indicator. The label or indicator 5 may comprise an informative and/or aesthetic sign.

[0030] The ring-shaped edge with extending teeth and tab and the bottom support member are connected by connecting members 3 to render an integral plant holding structure made out of one piece. The plant holding structure is a plastic body which may be made with an appropriate and convenient molding technique. The plant holding structure represents a cup shaped basket with an open structure in between the connecting members 3 through which roots of the plant may grow. The connecting members 3 of the cup shaped basket taper from the bottom support member 2 outwards to the edge. Accordingly, the basket easily fits through the open top side of the container until the laterally extending ring-shaped edge of the basket engages the top surface of the container. As a circumference of the bottom support member is smaller than a circumference of the chamber defined by in inside surface of the container, there is sufficient space in between the bottom support member and the container for roots of the plant to grow into the bottom chamber section to uptake ingredients and liquid from a substrate or medium present in the bottom chamber section.

[0031] The connecting members 3 are sufficiently strong to carry the bottom support member on which a plant or group of plants is provided. The connecting members 3 are flexible in that a lower part of each connecting member coupled to the bottom support member may elastically deform outward under pressure by plant growth towards the container wall to increase the available space defined by the plant holding structure to accommodate for further growth of the plant or plants provided in the chamber. A flexible upper part of each connecting member coupled to the ring-shaped edge is staggered outward with respect to the lower part of the connecting member and forms a clamping means for a firm connection between the plant holding structure and the container. An imaginary circumferential dimension around the upper parts of all the connecting members is in the initial position in rest larger than the circumferential dimension of the chamber defined by the inside surface of the container. However by applying a slight downwards pressure on the plant holding structure the flexible upper parts of the connecting members will be forced radially inward, so that the plant holding structure below the ring-shaped edge will fit in the chamber however with the flexible upper parts of the connecting members clampingly engaging the inside surface of the container.

[0032] For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate aspects and preferred embodiments thereof, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.