Patent ID: 6612073
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: A01G

Abstract:
A stackable and nesting plant-growing container system comprising:a. a first container and a substantially identical second container, the first container and the second container each of plastic molded unitary construction and comprising a bottom portion, a side portion and a container support web, b. the bottom portion comprising a substantially flat circular center section with an upper surface and a lower surface surrounded by a concentric sloping section with an outer surface and an inner surface, the sloping section being surrounded by a concentric substantially circular, substantially flat, discontinuous ring section with an upper surface and a lower surface, c. the sloping section diameter increases as the distance from the center section increases such that liquid in the sloping section will collect in the discontinuous ring section, d. the discontinuous ring section comprising an outside edge which is substantially circular and a plurality of substantially identical discontinuities of substantially similar size arranged about the outside edge, each discontinuity having an outer edge that is smaller than the outside edge radial dimension, e. the discontinuous ring lower surface contains a plurality of bottom protrusions having a outer surface and an inner surface and positioned uniformly and centrally between the discontinuous ring discontinuities in a uniform radius between the outside edge radial dimension and the discontinuity outer edge radial dimension, f the bottom protrusion outer surface comprises a circular tip portion and a sloping side portion, the diameter of which uniformly increases as the distance from the lower surface increases, g. the container side portion comprises an inner side and an outer side, a top edge and a bottom edge, and is continuously joined at the bottom edge to the bottom portion outside edges and discontinuity outer edges such that the side portion inner side and bottom portion inner surface are in contact with and contain plant growing medium, h. the side portion inner and outer sides comprise a generally circular cross-section with a plurality of lobes extending from the circumference of that circle and arranged in pairs on both sides of the bottom portion discontinuities, such that each lobe has a discontinuity section adjacent to the lobe and on the opposite side of the lobe, a nominal diameter section, i. the lobe uniformly increases in diameter as the distance from the bottom portion increases and terminates in a top edge arranged with an outwardly curving inner side extending outside the container, j. the discontinuity sections and nominal diameter sections increase in diameter as the distance from the bottom portion increases at a lesser rate than the lobe, but at a sufficient rate such that a first container may be substantially inserted into a second container, k. the container support webs comprise an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer edge, the webs arranged between the lobes at the side discontinuity sections and are continuously joined on three sides to the side portion top edge at the discontinuity sections and adjacent lobes, l. the container support webs each contain a support opening arranged to align with the bottom protrusions and sized such that all bottom protrusions may be simultaneously partially and removably inserted into a second container support openings such that the protrusions position and support the second container above the first container, and m. the locations of the protrusions position the lobe sections of the second container at the circumferential location of the discontinuity sections of the first container.