Abstract:
A root feeder for watering feeding and enhancing the air flow to the roots of a plant when the root feeder is at least partially buried in soil adjacent to the root system, the feeder including body panels folded from flat stock and locked together to form a body having an interior volume and a plurality of apertures providing for circulation of air and/or water and nutrients through the body to the roots of the plant.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/053,828 filed on May 16, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a feeding device for plants such as trees and the like that provides irrigation, oxygenation and nutrients to the roots of the plant and more particularly to such a device that can be economically produced and shipped and which can be readily assembled at the point of use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The planting of trees, bushes, shrubs and the like provides for a multitude of beneficial values to residential homeowners, corporate business environments, etc. The planting of such trees, bushes, etc. typically involves the digging of an appropriate hole in the ground, placing the item to be planted at least partially within the hole and placing loose soil around the roots of the plant. It is critical during an initial plant growth stage that the plant&#39;s root system receives necessary water, air, nutrients and the like. 
     We have previously provided such a feeder. A description of a feeder which meets these requirements can be found in our U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,797. The present feeder is an improvement of our previous feeder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a feeder for the root system of a plant. As such, the root feeder has utility as a nutrient system for trees, shrubs, bushes and the like. 
     The root feeder disclosed herein includes a body having a top surface, the body having a plurality of apertures that afford for air, water, nutrients and the like to pass there through. The top surface is attached to the body and includes at least two apertures. A first aperture is larger than a second aperture, and thereby enhances the circulation of air into and out of the body through the top surface apertures. The enhanced air circulation into and out of the body results in fresh air enriched with oxygen entering into the body and stale air deprived of oxygen exiting the body. The apertures within the body result in the exchange of oxygen with the root system and the plant. It is appreciated that for the purposes of the present invention, that the term “stale air” and/or “air deprived of oxygen” means air that has a reduced level of oxygen when compared to air having normal or typical oxygen levels. For example, stale air or air deprived of oxygen includes air within the body of the root feeder disclosed herein that has provided oxygen to the root system of a plant and may or may not be enriched with carbon dioxide produced by the plant. 
     In some instances, the body can be made from a plurality of panels, with at least one of the panels having the plurality of apertures therein. The plurality of panels can be defined by three panels, with a first panel having an interlocking tab extending therefrom, a second panel extending from the first panel to a third panel and the third panel having an interlocking tab slot that is dimensioned to accept the interlocking tab of the first panel. Fold lines typically define the boundaries between the first, second and third panels and afford for the folding of these panels relative to each other and the insertion of the interlocking tab into the interlock tab slot. Once the three panels have been folded along the appropriate fold lines and the interlocking tab inserted within the interlocking tab slot, the top surface which is attached to the third panel can be folded along a fold line and have a top surface enclosure tab inserted within an enclosure tab slot such that the top surface is attached to body and covers an interior volume defined by the three panels. 
     The top surface has at least two apertures, with a first aperture being larger than a second aperture. The first aperture can include a tube retaining flap that extends from the outer edge of the aperture in a generally inward direction. Optionally included can be a convection tube that is dimensioned to fit at least partially within the first aperture of the top surface. The convection tube can include a radial ridge extending from an outer surface of the tube, the radial ridge operable to catch upon the tube retaining flap. In addition, the convection tube can have a flared end, the flared end dimensioned such that it cannot pass through the first aperture of the top surface. The convection tube enhances the flow of air into the body of the root feeder. 
     The body of the root feeder can also include stabilizer flaps that are located at a bottom end of the body. The stabilizer flaps afford for the root feeder to remain in position once surrounded with soil such that watering and movement of the soil does not result in the root feeder rising in a generally upward direction from its original position. 
     The body is formed from a flat piece of cardboard or the like which can be shipped flat and folded at the point of use to form a plurality of body panels, the body panels enclosing the interior volume. The root feeder can be manufactured from any generally flat piece of material that has been die cut to include the apertures, the top surface, and fold lines for the body panels. The feeder can be shipped relatively economically in a flat condition and then assembled at the point of use. In some instances, a convection tube can be included, the convection tube at least partially inserted into the first aperture in the top surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention after installment adjacent to a plant; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating air flow into and out of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a top surface for an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention before assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating assembly of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a convection tube according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a convection tube according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an embodiment of the root feeder is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the root feeder  10  can be positioned adjacent to a root system of a plant. In some instances, the root feeder is positioned such that a top end of the feeder is proximate to the ground level where the plant has been planted and has exposure to the air. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate a perspective view of the root feeder  10  wherein a body  100  has a plurality of apertures  101 . Also included is a top surface  200 , the top surface  200  having at least two apertures with a first aperture  210  and a second aperture  220 . Optionally included is a convection tube  270  that is dimensioned to fit or slide within the second aperture  220 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of the root feeder  10  before assembly is shown. The root feeder  10  shown in  FIG. 4  can be die cut from a variety of materials, illustratively including paper, cardboard, plastic, plastic or wax coated paper, foam, extruded materials and the like. In some instances, a biodegradable material can be used to produce the root feeder  10 . The root feeder  10  can include a first panel  110 , a second panel  120  and a third panel  130 . It is appreciated that the root feeder  10  can be made from a single panel in a cylindrical shaped tube or from more than three body panels. 
     The first body panel  110  can have panel apertures  101  and an interlock tab slot  112 . In addition, the first panel  110  can have a fold line  114 . Adjacent to the first panel  110  and extending therefrom is the second panel  120 . The second panel  120  can optionally include the apertures  101  and top enclosure tab slots  122 . Extending from the second panel  120  is the third panel  130 , the third panel  130  optionally including the apertures  101  and the top enclosure tab slots  132 . Between the first panel  110  and the second panel  120  is a fold line  124 , and likewise between the second panel  120  and the third panel  130  is a fold line  134 . In some instances, a stabilizer flap  310  can extend from a bottom end  300  of the root feeder  10  from the first panel  110 , the second panel  120  and/or the third panel  130 . A fold line  312  can be located at the bottom end  300  between the stabilizer flap  310  and the respective body panel. In addition to the apertures  101 , the top enclosure tab slots  132  and/or the stabilizer flap  310 , the third panel  130  can have an interlock tab  140  extending therefrom. The interlock tab  140  can have a body  142  with a tab  144  extending therefrom. In some instances, the body  142  has a pair of tabs  144  that extend from the body in a generally outwardly direction from said body  142 . 
     Extending from the first panel  110 , in addition to the optional stabilizer flap  310 , is the top surface  200 . The top surface  200  can have a shape such that upon assembly of the first panel  110 , the second panel  120  and the third panel  130  to form the body of the root feeder  10 , the top surface  200  encloses an interior volume defined therein. The top surface  200  can include at least two apertures, with a first aperture  210  and a second aperture  220 . The second aperture  220  is larger than the first aperture  210  and can include a convection tube retaining flap  222  that extends from an outer edge of second aperture  220  in a generally inward direction. Extending from the top surface  200  can be a top surface enclosure tab  250 . The enclosure tab  250  can have a strap  252  with an insert tab  254  extending therefrom. In some instances, the strap  252  has a pair of oppositely disposed insert tabs  254 . It is appreciated that the insert tabs  254  are dimensioned such that they can be inserted at least partially within the top enclosure tab slots  122  and  132  of the second panel  120  and/or third panel  130 , respectively. 
     Looking now at  FIG. 5 , an illustrative assembly of the root feeder  10  is shown, wherein the die cut layer shown in  FIG. 4  has been folded along the appropriate fold lines and the tabs are to be inserted within the appropriate slots to form the body  100 . In particular, the interlock tab  140  is to be inserted within the interlock tab slot  112  such that an interior volume is defined within the first panel  110 , the second panel  120  and the third panel  130 . In addition, the top surface enclosure tab  250  is to be inserted within the slots  122  and/or  132  such that the top surface covers the interior volume defined within the assembled panels  110 ,  120  and  130 . In this manner, the feeder  10  is assembled and has a generally rigid body  100 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 5  are the stabilizer flaps  310  extending from the bottom end  300  of the root feeder  10 , the flaps  310  having been folded along fold line  312  and extend in a generally outwardly direction from the interior volume of the body  100 . 
     Looking now to  FIG. 6 , the air convection tube  270  is shown with an optional radial ridge  274  extending from an outer surface of the tube  270  and an optional flared end  276 . It is appreciated that the air convection tube  270  can be inserted at least partially within the second aperture  220  of the top surface  200  with the radial ridge  274  and/or the flared end  276  preventing the tube  270  from passing all the way through. It is also appreciated that the flared end  276  of the convection tube  270  can have a variety of shapes, for example the partially flared end shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , so long as the flared end  276  retards the convection tube  270  from passing completely through the second aperture  220 . 
     In the alternative, the convection tube  270  can be attached to the top surface  200  using a nipple  202  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the convection tube  270  and the nipple  202  having complimentary shapes that afford for the sliding of the tube  270  at least partially within or around the nipple  202 . The convection tube  270  can be attached to the nipple  202  using an interference fit, adhesives, glue, welding, threads, and the like. In addition, the convection tube  270  can be made integral with the nipple  202  and/or the top surface  200 . 
     In operation, the root feeder can be shipped to a customer in a flat state, as it has been die cut from material stock. When a user is ready to install the root feeder, it can be assembled quickly without the use of secondary fasteners, adhesives and the like. Using the fold lines provided, the root feeder is folded to the desired shape that has been predetermined by the die cut design. Although the figures discussed above illustrate a triangular shaped body, any other multi-sided shape that has more than two sides can be used. The three sided triangular shaped root feeder or any other shaped root feeder provides a continuous vertical pathway from the ground surface to the root area below the surface such that air, water and nutrients flow easily and effectively to the root system. This vertical pathway promotes plant development and a healthy new root system development that assists in the growing and healing process from the shock of the plant being recently planted. 
     When the root feeder is fully assembled, it can be placed on the outside wall of a hole that has been dug for the plant and located flush with the surrounding ground surface. The soil can then be loosely packed around the root feeder and additional dirt can be added later when the surrounding soil has settled. 
     For example and for illustrative purposes only, the root feeder  10  shown in  FIG. 4  can be taken and folded about the fold lines  114 ,  124  and  134  in order to form a triangular shaped body as illustrated in the perspective view drawings. Once the triangular shaped body has been formed, the interlock tabs  140  are inserted within the interlock tab slots  112  in order to form a generally rigid body structure. Thereafter, the top surface  200  extending from the first panel  110  is folded about a fold line  202  and the top surface enclosure tabs  250  are inserted at least partially within the top enclosure tab slots  122  and/or  132  of the second panel  120  and/or third panel  130 , respectively. Thereafter, the stabilizer flaps  310  can be bent about the fold line  312  in order to form an outwardly extending structure from the bottom end  300 . The root feeder  10  is then placed adjacent to the outside wall of a hole that has been provided for the planting of a tree, shrub, etc. Once the root feeder  10  has been placed adjacent to the outside wall of a hole dug for a plant, with the top surface  210  being proximate to the ground surface, soil can be loosely packed around the root feeder  10  either before or after the plant has been positioned at least partially within the hole. Either before or after the root feeder  10  has been placed adjacent to the outside wall of the hole, the optional air convection tube  270  can be inserted within the second aperture  220  of the top surface  200 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIG. 2 , the plant has been planted with the root feeder adjacent thereto, water can be poured into the root feeder through the convention tube  270 , said water coming into contact with the root system of the plant through the apertures  101  and the open bottom of the root feeder  10 . Nutrients can of course be provided in the water delivered to the root system of the plant. In addition, the different sized apertures within the top surface  200  afford for enhanced circulation of air into and out of the interior volume within the body  100 . In particular, fresh air flows down into the root feeder  10  while stale air, that may or may not be warmer than the fresh air entering into the feeder, exits through the first aperture  210 . In this manner, an enhanced root feeder is provided that affords for improved water, air and nutrient application to the root system of a plant. 
     It should be apparent that a root feeder has been provided that utilizes relatively inexpensive materials and which because it is flat when shipped is relatively inexpensive to ship to the point of use. The result is a feeder which is greatly reduced in cost to the end user. 
     The foregoing drawings, discussion and description are illustrative of specific embodiments of the present invention, but they are not meant to be limitations upon the practice thereof. Numerous modifications and variations of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the teaching presented herein. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.