Device for Collecting, Depositing, and Compacting Soil into a Container or Hole

A device for collecting and distributing material into a receptacle having a receptacle curvature includes: a tapered wall; and a tamping flange adjoining the tapered wall. The tapered wall has a tapered wall curvature that approximates the receptacle curvature. The tamping flange is configured to compact the material into the receptacle.

FIELD

The present invention is directed to a device for collecting, transferring, depositing, and compacting soil, fertilizer, or other materials into a container, such as a pot, or a hole.

BACKGROUND

People often plant flowers and plants into pots, containers, or holes, which necessitates the collection and addition of soil and other materials for such plantings. Often times such soil comes in pre-packaged in plastic bags. Furthermore, after a plant and its root ball are placed into a pot or hole, it usually leaves only a narrow space in which soil must deposited. Also, after the soil is distributed into pots or other receptacles, it then needs to be compacted.

Currently, one method for transferring soil and various other materials into pots and containers when planting is the use of the hands. This method is slow, messy, and frequently results in spilled soil that requires clean up and also creates wasted material. Additionally, using the hands to compact soil into a narrow area between the wall of the pot and the plant can damage delicate stems and flowers.

Alternatively, another current method for transferring soil when planting is the use of a trowel, which is essentially a small, narrow, pointed shovel with a handle. Because of the narrow, pointed nature of trowels, only smaller amounts of soil can be collected and transferred at one time. Their shape also makes them prone to spilling when moving the trowel. Additionally, the presence of a traditional handle makes collecting packaged soil from a bag difficult as the handle can catch against the bag. Furthermore, a handle limits the angle at which the trowel can be tilted to distribute soil neatly into a pot or container. Also, a trowel does not offer an effective way to compact soil around potted plants.

Therefore, a need arises for a device that can neatly and efficiently collect and transfer larger amounts of soil and then deposit such soil into narrow, circular, or angled spaces of pots without damaging the plant, and such a device that can also be used to compact deposited soil without contacting the plant.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a device for collecting and distributing material into a receptacle having a receptacle curvature, the device comprising: a tapered wall; and a tamping flange adjoining the tapered wall, wherein the tapered wall has a tapered wall curvature that approximates the receptacle curvature, and wherein the tamping flange is configured to compact the material into the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

People often purchase plants and flowers with the intention of planting them in pots and containers. These plants are typically sold in a temporary container. Once removed from the temporary container, the plant typically has a cylindrical mass of compacted dirt and roots known as a root ball. The plant and attached root ball is then placed into a hole, flowerpot, or container. This receiving receptacle is typically larger than the root ball. Once the plant and attached root ball are placed in the receiving container it leaves a curved, narrow void between the plant's root ball and the circumference of the container's perimeter wall. This area then needs to be filled with additional potting soil, typically purchased in a prepackaged bag. The additional soil is then tamped down and compacted into the above empty spaces.

Consumers and gardeners currently are limited in effective methods to quickly and neatly fill such narrow, curved perimeter void areas after the plant has been placed in the container. Therefore, a need arises for a method of neatly and efficiently transferring soil and distributing it into narrow, curved spaces of containers, then compacting that soil, while minimizing contact with delicate plants.

The current invention solves these problems by utilizing a wide contoured face that is curved or angled as to mirror or approximate the arc of pots and containers. Such a shape allows for larger collection of soil and allows for such soil to be deposited precisely into the narrow, curved areas between the plant and the receptacles' perimeter without contacting or damaging the plant. Unlike a trowel, the current invention does not utilize a traditional handle that could catch on bags when extracting soil or could cause uneven soil distribution into containers. Furthermore, the present invention utilizes a tamping flange along the top of the device which, when the device is turned upside down, can be used to compact soil within such narrow and curved spaces between the plant and the receptacles' perimeter. Such tamping flange is also curved or angled as to mirror or approximate the arc or angle of the receptacle.

Also in accordance with the principles of the invention, the device may incorporate serrated areas at its base. The serrated areas can help the device penetrate into soil.

Also in accordance with the principles of the invention, the device may utilize finger or thumb depressions or textured areas on the front or back of the device to increase the user's ability to grip the device.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a device for collecting and distributing soil, fertilizer, or other materials into a pot, container, hole, or other receptacle.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a device with a curved wall and protruding flange, for collecting and distributing soil or other matter into narrow areas within a circular container then compacting such deposited soil.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a scoop, which is curved in such a way as to mirror or approximate the curvature of a pot or container. In an embodiment, the scoop incorporates a flange or lip across the top of the device.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a device used to place matter into narrow spaces.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a curved device incorporating one or more recessed areas which accommodate fingers or thumbs of the user gripping the device.

Referring toFIGS. 1-6, the device23according to the principles of the invention includes a tapered wall19that tapers from the top of the tapered wall19toward the bottom of the tapered wall19. The device23includes a serrated edge21at a bottom of the tapered wall19and a curved tamping flange15at the top of the tapered wall19. The tamping flange15has a beveled edge11. The device23includes an embossed or recessed finger pad13for enhanced grip by the user of the device. The tapered wall19has a wide contoured face that is curved or angled as to mirror or approximate the arc of pots and containers. The tamping flange15is also curved or angled as to mirror or approximate the arc of pots and containers.

Referring toFIG. 6, the device23according to the principles of the invention is shown to have a curvature that is similar to the curved perimeter of a pot17. The tamping flange15includes beveled edge11. As shown inFIG. 6, the device23is disposed between the wall of pot17and soil/fertilizer/planting material25.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS