Segmented Soil Layers for Multi-Genus Potted Plant Sales

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for arranging multiple potted plants in a sales pot are limited, as different plant genera require distinct growing conditions and times, making joint cultivation undesirable and preventing the simultaneous cultivation of various plant species in a single pot.

Innovation Solution

The method involves cultivating at least two different plant genera separately in separate growing containers, then arranging them in a common sales pot with a shared base soil layer, allowing each plant to root into its own soil layer and the adjacent base layer, which complements the total soil height, enabling optimal growth and easy transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different plant species are cultivated together in the same pot, then customer selection flexibility is improved, but cultivation quality deteriorates due to different growing conditions requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomer selection flexibilityVSAvoidcultivation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The soil volume is segmented into multiple distinct layers, each dedicated to a specific plant species. This allows different plant genera to be cultivated separately in their optimal soil conditions while being presented together in a single sales pot, resolving the contradiction between cultivation quality and customer selection flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple plant genera are cultivated separately in separate pots, then cultivation quality is maintained, but device complexity increases due to multiple separate containers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecultivation qualityVSAvoidnumber of separate containers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate plant pots are merged into a single sales pot by arranging them adjacent to each other with their soil layers extending into a common base soil layer. This eliminates the need for multiple separate containers while maintaining separate cultivation conditions for each plant genus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The growing containers are nested within the sales pot structure, with the soil layers of individual plants extending into the common base soil layer. This nesting arrangement allows multiple plants to occupy a single sales pot while maintaining their separate cultivation environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If plants are arranged in a common sales pot with shared soil, then ease of transfer is improved, but root competition increases between different plant species

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of transferVSAvoidroot competition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The soil is segmented into separate growing medium layers for each plant species, preventing root competition between different species while allowing easy transfer of the entire assembly. Each plant roots only in its dedicated soil layer, eliminating harmful root competition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3892089B9Method for growing and arranging plants
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 HARTMANN JOHANNES
  • EP3892089B9 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3892089B9 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for growing potted plants (2) and for arranging at least two potted plants (2) next to each other in a sales pot for the purpose of selling the potted plants (2).To avoid plant buyers having to assemble different plant genera themselves and plant them together in a separate pot, the method should involve at least two different plant genera, wherein the potted plants (2) of the different plant genera are cultivated independently of each other in different ways in separate growing containers in their own growing soil layer in a first step, and in a second step at least two potted plants (2) are arranged next to each other in a common sales pot on a common full-surface base soil layer for delivery to the buyer, each with its own growing soil layer, wherein the potted plants (2) arranged in the common sales pot belong to at least two different plant genera.