Seed Starting Tray With Flexible Base For Plug Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seed starting trays are prone to damage and are single-use due to their rigid construction, making them difficult to reuse and causing damage to plugs when removing them from the cells.

Innovation Solution

A seed starting tray design featuring a combination of a rigid upper portion and a flexible lower portion, where the flexible portion is deformable to facilitate easy ejection of plugs and is biased to return to its original shape, allowing for easier handling and reusability, with handles for secure transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the tray is made from rigid material, then the tray provides structural support, but the tray is prone to damage and breaking during plug removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoiddamage resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is divided into two distinct portions: a rigid upper portion that provides structural support and a flexible lower portion that resists damage during plug removal. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its optimal function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the tray have different material properties - the upper portion is rigid for structural integrity while the lower portion is flexible for damage resistance. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between needing strength and avoiding damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the tray is made from rigid material, then the tray maintains its shape, but the tray cannot be reused due to cracking and breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape maintenanceVSAvoidreusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tray structure is segmented into rigid and flexible portions, where the rigid upper portion maintains shape stability while the flexible lower portion provides durability for repeated use. This segmentation enables both shape maintenance and reusability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tray combines rigid and flexible materials in a composite structure, leveraging the shape-maintaining properties of rigid material and the durability of flexible material to achieve both stable composition and extended service life through multiple uses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Weight of moving object

If the tray is made from thin rigid material, then the tray is lightweight, but the tray is easily damaged when removing plugs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetray weightVSAvoiddamage during plug removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is segmented into a thin rigid upper portion that remains lightweight and a flexible lower portion that provides damage resistance during plug removal. This segmentation allows the tray to maintain low weight while protecting against damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tray applies different material qualities locally - thin rigid material at the top for lightness and flexible material at the bottom for damage protection. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between weight and damage resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If the tray has a rigid structure, then the tray is easy to handle, but the plug may be damaged when scooping out from the cell

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling easeVSAvoidplug damage during removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is segmented into rigid and flexible portions, where the rigid upper portion provides ease of handling while the flexible lower portion prevents plug damage during removal operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tray uses different material qualities in different locations - rigid material where handling is needed and flexible material where plug removal occurs - thereby achieving both ease of operation and protection against plug damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The tray is more durable, easier to clean, reduces plug damage during removal, and allows for easier transplanting, while the flexible design enhances water drainage and stacking capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible portion forming a lower portion of each cell, the flexible portion defining a base of cell, the flexible portion being deformable in a direction toward the opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11357174B2Seed starting tray

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 W ATLEE BURPEE

AI summary

A seed starting tray including at least one cell defining a space, the at least one cell including a rigid upper portion defining an opening of the least one cell, and a flexible lower portion defining a base of the at least one cell, the flexible lower portion being transitionable between a first position in which the space defines a first volume and a first height and a second position in which the space defines a second volume and a second height, the first volume being greater than the second volume and the first height being greater than the second height.