Articulated Plant Container Frame for Stable Root Ball Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for plants with root balls or bare roots are bulky, unstable, and require significant time to secure, leading to risks of root damage, entanglement, and tipping, while containers for bare-root plants are unstable and require extensive handling, increasing the risk of root trauma and desiccation.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base with articulated rods that can pivot individually, forming a tubular container with a permeable wall, allowing easy assembly and secure placement of the root ball or roots, without the need for external supports, and made of a degradable metallic material for soil integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If continuous plastic walls are used to contain the root ball, then the plant becomes stable and can be stored for a considerable period, but the roots become entangled and the container becomes bulky making storage difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple vertical rods (at least three rods) that are spaced apart rather than forming continuous walls. These segmented rods create open spaces between them, allowing roots to grow through and reducing material usage while maintaining structural stability for holding the root ball during storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure incorporates permeable elements that allow root penetration. The gaps between the vertical rods create a porous structure through which roots can grow, preventing root circling and entanglement while still providing adequate containment and stability for the plant during storage periods.
2Stability of the object's composition
If crossbars or wedges are inserted into the container to secure the root ball, then the plant becomes stable and resistant to tipping, but significant time is spent on securing and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical rods are pre-positioned and configured to naturally cradle and stabilize the root ball when placed within the container structure. The rods are arranged and dimensioned in advance to provide immediate stability upon assembly, eliminating the need for additional securing operations with crossbars or wedges.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure is designed to be self-stabilizing through its geometric configuration of vertical rods. The rods are positioned and dimensioned to automatically provide structural support and prevent tipping without requiring external securing elements or additional assembly steps, making the container self-sufficient for stabilization.
3Ease of manufacture
If the container dimensions are defined by fastening devices joining two independent wire-structured half-shells, then the container can be assembled, but no clamping of the soil is possible and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The container is constructed from multiple simple vertical rod elements rather than complex pre-formed half-shells. These segmented rod components are individually simple to manufacture and assemble, replacing the need for complex fastening devices and pre-assembled shell structures while achieving the same containment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure applies different structural characteristics at different locations - vertical rods provide containment at the perimeter while leaving central and inter-rod spaces open for root growth. This local differentiation of structure and function simplifies the overall design by using simple vertical elements rather than complex fastened shells, achieving both ease of manufacture and functional performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
Device (1) for forming a container for plants, comprising: - a base (3) extending substantially along a base plane (PB), - a plurality of stems (4-7) extending respectively between a first stem end (4a-7a) and a second stem end (4b-7b), in which: - each stem (4-7) is articulated on the periphery of the base (3) along its first end (4a-7a) by means of articulation (40, 50, 60, 70) permitting a pivoting of said stem (4-7) towards and away from the base plane (PB), - each stem (4-7) has, in the vicinity of its second end (4b-7b), a means of receiving a tie (41, 51, 61, 71) formed for its connection with a tie (9).