plant pot

Abstract

A plant pot (1) in a slightly conical, stackable, non-circular basic shape and thin wall thickness, with a pot base (2) from which a pot wall (3) extends upwards to a pot rim (4) which defines an access opening (5), wherein the pot wall (3) has at least one rounded first side (11, 12) whose circle of curvature (16) encloses the non-circular cross-section of the plant pot (1), characterized in that the pot wall (3) transitions in the area near the pot rim into a pot rim (4) with a substantially rectangular or hexagonal access opening (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a plant pot according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In commercial horticulture, plant pots with a slightly conical, stackable base and round, rectangular, or hexagonal cross-sectional shapes are known, with rectangular and hexagonal plant pots being particularly space-saving and, in particular, able to be placed next to each other with virtually no gaps. The publications listed below disclose different cross-sectional shapes.

[0003] JP 3171701 U shows plant pots with a conical wall, the cross-section of which changes continuously from a round shape at the bottom of the pot to a square or hexagonal shape at the top edge of the pot.

[0004] US 11564360 B2 shows a plant pot with a conical wall consisting of a pair of opposing rounded sides and a pair of opposing flat sides extending upward from the base of the pot. Information can be printed on the rounded sides by offset printing. The plant pot is placed in a tray whose compartments are adapted to the shape of the plant pot, such that one of the rounded sides faces outwards, allowing the printed information to be seen.

[0005] US 8627599 B2 shows a plant pot with a rounded trapezoidal cross-section.

[0006] CN 103329753 B shows a triangular plant pot.

[0007] FR 1477621 A shows a round plant pot with a flattened side that can be attached to a wall.

[0008] The object of the invention is to create a plant pot that can be printed on easily and that can be placed next to identical plant pots with as few gaps as possible.

[0009] This problem is solved in a plant pot according to the preamble of claim 1 by the fact that the pot wall transitions into a rim with a substantially rectangular or hexagonal access opening in the area near the pot's edge. The rectangular or hexagonal shape, which can also be present in the outer circumferential edge of the pot's rim, allows for a substantially gapless arrangement of identical plant pots. At the same time, the area of ​​the access openings is maximized, enabling substrate to be filled into the plant pots and allowing for overhead irrigation of the plants cultivated therein. The pot's rim can be flanged and project outwards at a constant width, and may be provided with a skirt. The corners of the pot's rim and / or the access opening can be rounded. This leaves small gaps between adjacent plant pots, allowing for ventilation of the plants.

[0010] At least one side of the pot wall, which is rounded with a constant curvature in the circumferential direction and whose outer circle of curvature encloses the non-circular cross-section of the plant pot, can be printed quickly and in high quality using a conventional offset printing press for conical containers. The plant pot is rotated around a vertical longitudinal axis that passes through the center of curvature and may deviate from its longitudinal center axis. Generally, the longitudinal center axis runs centrally and vertically upwards from the bottom of the plant pot when it is placed on a horizontal surface. In round plant pots, the longitudinal center axis passes through the center of the plant pot; in plant pots with a rectangular cross-section, it passes through the intersection of the lines passing through opposite corners. The circle of curvature is relative to a specific horizontal plane.Due to the conicity, the circle of curvature of the rounded side increases from the bottom of the pot to the edge of the pot, with the center of curvature always lying on the vertical longitudinal axis.

[0011] The remaining sides of the pot wall can be flat or curved in some other way, with the preferred aim of maximizing the volume within the planting pot. The rounded side refers to a side view of the planting pot and extends circumferentially across essentially the entire visible surface, creating a pressure surface that fills the visible surface when multiple planting pots are placed side by side. This rounded surface can extend to the back of the planting pot.

[0012] Preferably, the plant pot has a pot base that is profiled and perforated for stiffening, drainage and aeration.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the rectangular or hexagonal access opening has a depth of 4 to 25 mm, measured from the top of the pot rim towards the bottom of the pot. Within this distance, counter-conical stacking lugs can be formed in the pot rim, which support the plant pot in a nested stacking arrangement on the top of a plant pot stacked below. The non-circular base, which has a smaller cross-sectional area than the access opening, is located below. Its size is only slightly reduced by the low height of the access opening relative to the pot height, so that a sufficiently large contact area remains on the plant pot.

[0014] The design features a funnel-shaped transition from the pot rim to the pot wall, allowing substrate to be filled smoothly and preventing it from accumulating on the pot's edge. This transition has an inclination of 15 to 60°, preferably 30 to 45°.

[0015] In a preferred further embodiment, an aspect ratio of 0.66 to 1, preferably 0.75 to 1, and particularly preferably 0.8 to 1 is provided for a rectangular pot rim.

[0016] In a preferred further embodiment, it is provided that the center of curvature of the at least one rounded first side lies on or near the longitudinal center axis of the plant pot.

[0017] The problem stated at the outset is also solved according to the invention by a pair of opposing, rounded first sides of a first curvature and a pair of opposing, rounded second sides of a second curvature, wherein the pair of opposing, rounded first sides form a common circle of curvature and wherein the radius of curvature of the rounded second sides is larger than the radius of curvature of the rounded first sides. The pair of rounded first sides can be printed together in a single printing operation. This is because the plant pot rotates about a longitudinal axis through the common center of curvature. Since the second sides also have a curvature, these sides of the plant pot can also be printed with a conventional offset printing press for conical pots, although only one side at a time, as the centers of curvature of the two rounded second sides do not coincide.

[0018] The combination of the identically curved sides in pairs results in an oval cross-section, which approximates a rectangle and fills it more effectively than a circular cross-section can fill a square. Plant pots with this cross-section can therefore be placed closer together, filling a surface with only a few gaps visible from above. The curved sides not only give the plant pot a more pleasing appearance but also greater stability, particularly against lateral loads on the pot wall and against loads acting on the rim from above.

[0019] Preferably, the radius of curvature of the rounded second sides is less than or equal to twice the radius of curvature of the rounded first sides.

[0020] Preferably, the edges between the rounded first and second sides are rounded with a radius of curvature that is smaller than the radius of curvature of the rounded first sides.

[0021] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Individual technical features of the embodiment described below can also be combined with previously described embodiments as well as the features of the independent claims and any further claims to form objects according to the invention. Where appropriate, functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals. The figures show... Fig. 1. A plant pot in perspective view; Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view of the plant pot; Fig. 3 an arrangement of several plant pots in a top view.

[0022] The in Fig. The plant pot 1 shown in Figure 1 is made of a thin plastic film using a thermoforming process. Manufacturing by injection molding is also conceivable, as is manufacturing from a fiber material. The plant pot 1, which has a slightly conical, stackable base, has a profiled and perforated, non-circular base 2, from which a wall 3 extends to a rim 4. A longitudinal axis 10 runs centrally and vertically upwards from the base 2 of the plant pot 1, which is placed on a horizontal surface.

[0023] The radially projecting, flange-shaped pot rim 4, which includes a skirt, defines a substantially rectangular access opening 5 to a receiving space for the plant pot 1. The corners of the pot rim 4 and the access opening 5 are rounded. The access opening 5 has a depth 6. Label slots 7 are punched into the long sides of the pot rim 4. Counter-conical stacking lugs 8 are formed in the short sides.

[0024] The pot wall 3 has a pair of opposite, rounded first sides 11, 12 of a first curvature and a pair of opposite, rounded second sides 13, 14 of a second curvature. As can be seen from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the pair of opposing, rounded first sides 11, 12 have a common circle of curvature 16, the center of curvature of which lies on the longitudinal center axis 10. This circle of curvature 16 is referenced to a respective horizontal sectioning plane. Due to the taper, the circle of curvature increases from the base 2 of the pot to the rim 4, with the center of curvature always lying on the longitudinal center axis 10.

[0025] In each section plane, the radius of curvature of the rounded second sides 13, 14 is larger than the radius of curvature of the rounded first sides 11, 12. The circles of curvature of sides 13, 14 are not congruent in the respective section plane.

[0026] Their centers of curvature do not lie on the longitudinal center axis 10, but on a parallel vertical longitudinal axis. The edges of adjacent sides 11 and 13, 13 and 12, 12 and 14, and 14 and 11 are provided with a rounding 15.

[0027] A funnel-shaped transition 9 is formed between the oval-shaped pot wall 3 with its alternately differently sized rounded sides and the rectangular pot rim 4.

[0028] Fig. Figure 3 shows an arrangement 21 of several plant pots 1 placed close together, with the long and short sides of their pot rims 4 abutting each other. The surface on which the pots are placed is almost completely filled. The rounded corners of the pot rims 4 leave gaps 22 open, which allow for ventilation of the plants cultivated in the plant pots 1. Reference symbol list 1 plant pot 2 pot bottoms 3 pot wall 4 pot rim 5 Access opening 6 Depth 7 label slots 8 stacking cams 9 Transition 10 Longitudinal center axis 11 rounded page 12 rounded sides 13 rounded side 14 rounded sides 15 Rounding 16 Circle of Curvature 21 Order 22 gap II. View definition Fig. 2 QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 3171701 U

[0003] US 11564360 B2

[0004] US 8627599 B2

[0005] CN 103329753 B

[0006] FR 1477621 A

[0007]

Claims

[1] Plant pot (1) in a slightly conical, stackable, non-circular basic shape and thin wall thickness, with a pot base (2) from which a pot wall (3) extends upwards to a pot rim (4) which defines an access opening (5), wherein the pot wall (3) has at least one rounded first side (11, 12) whose circle of curvature (16) encloses the non-circular cross-section of the plant pot (1), characterized by , that the pot wall (3) transitions in the area near the pot rim into a pot rim (4) with an essentially rectangular or hexagonal access opening (5). [2] Plant pot according to claim 1, characterized by , that the rectangular or hexagonal access opening (5) has a depth of 4 to 25 mm. [3] Plant pot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a funnel-shaped transition (9) from the edge of the pot (4) to the wall of the pot (3). [4] Plant pot according to claim 3, characterized by , that the transition (9) has an inclination of 15 to 60°, preferably of 30 to 45°. [5] Plant pot according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that a rectangular pot rim (4) has an aspect ratio of 0.66 to 1, preferably 0.75 to 1, particularly preferably 0.8 to 1. [6] Plant pot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the center of curvature of at least one rounded first side (11, 12) lies on or near a longitudinal central axis (10) of the plant pot. [7] Plant pot (1) according to the preamble of claim 1 or according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bya pair of opposite, rounded first sides (11, 12) of a first curvature and a pair of opposite, rounded second sides (13, 14) of a second curvature, wherein the pair of opposite, rounded first sides (11, 12) form a common circle of curvature (16) and wherein the radius of curvature of the rounded second sides (13, 14) is larger than the radius of curvature of the rounded first sides (11, 12). [8] Plant pot according to claim 7, characterized by , that the radius of curvature of the rounded second sides (13, 14) is less than or equal to twice the radius of curvature of the rounded first sides (11, 12). [9] Plant pot according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that the edges between the rounded first and second sides (11, 13, 12, 14) are rounded with a radius of curvature (15) that is smaller than the radius of curvature of the rounded first sides (11, 12).

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