Pot Assembly

A pot assembly is designed to grow a plant through multiple growth stages. The pot assembly includes a base surface. At least one sidewall extends up from the base surface to a top edge defining a total volume within the at least one sidewall above the base surface. The at least one sidewall includes at least one slot extending across a portion of the at least one sidewall between the base surface and the top edge. A at least one divider is removably installed within the slot dividing the volume into first and second volume parts. The at least one divider is removable at an appropriate time in the life of the plant to allow the plant's roots to expand into a new space without having to repot the plant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to pots for plants. More particularly, the invention relates to a pot assembly for plants allowing for the maximization of growth for a plant while it is planted in the pot assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Often, plants are grown in pots. As the plant continues to grow within the pot, the plant becomes root bound. While it is desirable for a plant to become root bound, the plant cannot continue to grow and/or develop if it continues to be in a root-bound condition. Currently, the only way to remedy the situation of having a root bound plant is to remove the plant from the pot and replant the plant in a larger pot. This creates inventory issues for nurseries and retail consumers and is labor-intensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pot assembly is designed to grow a plant through multiple growth stages. The pot assembly includes a base surface. At least one sidewall extends up from the base surface to a top edge defining a total volume within the at least one sidewall above the base surface. The at least one sidewall includes a slot extending across a portion of the at least one sidewall between the base surface and the top edge. A at least one divider is removably installed within the slot dividing the volume into first and second volume parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG.1, one embodiment of a pot assembly is generally indicated at10. The pot assembly10is used for growing a plant12in a growing medium14. Roots16of the plant12and a top surface18of the growing medium14are shown in phantom. A non-exhaustive list of possible growing mediums14include, but is not limited to, soil, potting mix, mulch, and coconut husks.

The pot assembly10includes a base surface20. The base surface20is generally flat and defines a bottom of the pot assembly10. It should be appreciated by those skills and the arts that the pot assembly10may include a base surface that is not substantially flat or may include a catch basin/plate (not shown) as is known in the arts to catch excess water that drains from the growing medium14.

The pot assembly10includes at least one sidewall22that extends up from the base surface20. In the embodiment shown, there are four sidewalls22. However, if the pot assembly10has a circular cross section, there will only be one sidewall22. The at least one sidewall22extends up from the base surface20to a top edge24. The top edge24defines an opening26(shown inFIG.2) for the pot assembly10allowing the plant12to grow above it. In many cases, the plant12receives water and fertilizer (neither shown) via the opening26.

The at least one sidewall22includes at least one slot30cut into the at least one sidewall22. The at least one slot30extends across a portion of the at least one sidewall22. The at least one slot30is formed within the at least one sidewall22between the base surface20and the top edge24. In the embodiment shown, the at least one slot30extends parallel to the base surface20and the top edge24of the pot assembly10. It is not imperative that the planes defined by each of these elements20,24,30are parallel as they are shown in the Figures. The ratio of the distance between the base surface20and the at least one slot30with respect to the distance between the at least one slot30and the top edge24may be defined by the characteristics of the plant12. Alternatively, as is shown in the Figures, the at least one slot30is roughly equidistant between the base surface20and the top edge24. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that more than one slot30will require the slots30to be at different elevations with respect to the base surface20.

The at least one slot30extends through over 50% of the at least one sidewall22. As an alternative to having the at least one slot30extend through over half of the at least one sidewall22is to form a channel on the inside surface of the at least one side wall22. The channel would minimize the at least one slot30to a single side wall22(in the case where the pot assembly10is cubic or rectangular in shape or 50% of the at least one side wall22when the pot assembly has a circular cross section when viewed from above.

The pot assembly10includes a at least one divider32. The at least one divider32is removably insertable into the at least one slot30. The at least one divider32is designed to have a periphery that matches the periphery created by the at least one sidewall22. The at least one divider32divides a total volume34of the pot assembly10into a first volume part36and a second volume part40. For purposes of perspective, the first volume part36is above or on top of the second volume part40.

Both the first36and second40volume parts are filled with growing medium14. The at least one divider32prevents the plant12from extending its roots into the second volume part40until after the plant12has matured and is ready to successfully occupy the second volume part40, which will allow the plant12to grow through a next stage of its life. This typically happens after a root bound plant12is provided access to more soil to grow.

In one embodiment, the growing medium14in the second volume part40includes different elements or different amounts of elements than the growing medium14in the first volume part36. In many instances when the plant12is a blooming plant, the plant12requires different nutrients at different stages of its life and the composition of the growing medium14changes between the two volume parts36,40to accommodate these differences. Some plants12that do not bloom may not need different growing mediums14above and below the at least one divider32.

The at least one divider32defines a at least one divider edge42, which is the periphery of the at least one divider32. The at least one divider edge42includes at least a pair of slot flanges44that extend out from the at least one divider32coplanarly therewith. The slot flanges44are received by the at least one slot30as the at least one divider32moves between its embedded position (shown inFIG.1) and its extracted position (shown inFIGS.3and5) with intermediate positions disposed therebetween (shown inFIGS.2and4). The at least one divider32also includes a tab or handle46that extends out from the at least one divider edge42and allows someone the ability to grab hold of the handle46to remove the at least one divider32from the pot assembly10.

In the embodiment discussed above with the interior of the at least one sidewall22having a channel, the slot flanges44would not be necessary.

A seal50is used to seal the at least one slot30so that growing medium14, roots16and water (not shown) do not extend out past the at least one sidewall22. The seal50may either be secured to the at least one divider edge42or directly to the at least one slot30. In one embodiment the seal50is an elastic band that extends around the exterior of the at least one sidewall22.

The pot assembly10includes first52and second54drainage openings associated with the first36and second40volume parts, respectively. The pot assembly10also includes a drain plug56, which is inserted into the second drainage opening54when the at least one divider32is inserted into the at least one sidewall22. The first drainage opening52is left unplugged so that excess water may drain from the first drainage opening52when the plant12is growing with the at least one divider32in place.

When the at least one divider32is removed, the plug56is removed and moved up to the first drainage opening52as indicated by arrow60. The plug56plugs the first drainage opening52to force water down into the second volume part40. With the second drainage opening54now open, excess water can drain out of the pot assembly10therethrough.

Once the at least one divider32is removed from the at least one sidewall22, the seal50is reinserted into the at least one slot30in the at least one sidewall22. This, in combination with the plug56being inserted into the first drainage opening52, seals the pot assembly10such that the plant12can utilize the total volume34of the pot assembly10.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.