Patent ID: 12245559

It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated inFIGS.1-5, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples. It should be noted that the terms sheet(s), plastic sheet(s), transparent plastic sheet(s), planter(s), column(s), vertical column(s), construction(s), and/or assembly(ies) may be used herein interchangeably as descriptors for any suitable structure, sheet, or assembly having the features as may be described herein. The various plants of interest for a plant cultivation column assembly are not limited to the examples as may be provided herein, nor is the description limited to any planter, pot, planting medium, soil, watering/aeration technique, and/or structural assembly. A potentially preferred embodiment of a plant cultivation column assembly of the disclosure may be provided throughout, though one having ordinary skill in the art may substitute and/or reconfigure various aspects of the assembly and/or provide alternative methods of use for the construction/assembly. The disclosure is not limited to any specific configuration of the plant cultivation column assembly as herein illustrated or described, but only by the corresponding claims. The term plant, as used herein, shall mean any living or dead photosynthetic multicellular organism or any synthetically produced/manufactured replica and/or substitute thereof.

Referring now toFIG.1by way of example, and not limitation, therein illustrated is a perspective drawing of a potentially preferred embodiment of plant cultivation column assembly100of the disclosure. As illustrated therein, various features of plant cultivation column assembly100may generally include continuous wall130facing opposing left linking wall120and right linking wall110. Left slat122may protrude from left linking wall120and right slat112right linking wall110, or a plurality thereof left slat122and right slat112may protrude therefrom as illustrated thereinFIG.1. Extending from left slat122and right slat112may be left connection means123and right connection means113, respectively, as well as a plurality thereof left connection means123and right connection means113, as may be appropriate, given the corresponding plurality of left slat122and right slat112. Left aperture121may form on left linking wall120opposite a corresponding right slat112and similarly, right aperture111may form on right linking wall110opposite corresponding left slat122, and plurality thereof each of the groups thereof the slat/connection means combination and aperture may appear to alternate along the vertical structures of left linking wall120and right linking wall110, as may be more readily apparent from a review ofFIG.2and the below relevant description thereof. When assembled into plant cultivation column assembly100, each of any plurality of left connection means123may be inserted into right linking wall110at each corresponding right aperture111and each of any plurality of right connection means113may be inserted into left linking wall120at each corresponding left aperture121, thereby forming an opening at the face of the structure/assembly formed thereof plant cultivation column assembly100. Prior to, during, or after assembly of plant cultivation column assembly100, plant P may be inserted into the hollow column formed within plant cultivation column assembly100, said hollow column may be filled with planting medium M, and one or more leaf L may be placed through the openings of the face of plant cultivation column assembly100. Plant cultivation column assembly100may be fully and/or partially assembled prior to such steps, as may be further detailed in connection withFIG.5, and such steps may be reversed and/or repeated to fully assemble plant cultivation column assembly100to house plant P having leaf L and surrounded by planting medium M. Additionally, potted base B, or any other structure, pot, surface, or other known method of housing such plant cultivation column assembly100may be utilized to provide additional stability, support, decoration, or structure during use, cultivation, and/or display. As may be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art, the formation of openings between various left slat122and right slat112may provide sufficient structure to support and/or contain both plant P and planting medium M, while also offering the benefits of large surface area for vapor/air exchange as may be necessary/beneficial for the cultivation of various plants as may be known to those having ordinary skill in the art. In addition to providing such a large surface area for the exchange of vapor, moisture, and gases, these openings may further provide useful and/or beneficial during reconfiguration, assembly, disassembly, or other various reasons, such that planting medium M may be minimally disturbed and plant P having one or more leaf L may similarly be minimally harmed during such reconfiguration, assembly, and/or disassembly of plant cultivation column assembly100. Other useful features of plant cultivation column assembly100may be recognized and described below in relation to, e.g.,FIGS.2-5and the detailed description thereof.

Referring now toFIG.2, therein illustrated is a plan drawing of a potentially preferred embodiment of plant cultivation column assembly100prior to such assembly, or as may be alternatively understood as disassembled/flattened as sheet100S. Sheet100S may be understood to be illustrated to broadly include continuous wall130having opposed left linking wall120and right linking wall110about each corresponding left and right side, respectively. Continuous wall130may extend from left score124rightward to right score114and may include one or more of small aeration pore (left)132, small aeration pore (right)131, and/or a plurality thereof as may be illustrated inFIGS.2-3and as may be preferred to optimize aeration capabilities of plant cultivation column assembly100in use as may be known/preferred to those having ordinary skill in the art. Size, shape, and quantity of small aeration pore (left)132and/or small aeration pore (right)131and pluralities thereof may vary upon certain features and benefits, including but not limited to surface area requirements and/or overall structural stability of plant cultivation column assembly100. Protruding from each of left linking wall120and right linking wall110, and opposing continuous wall130, may be one or more (i.e., a plurality) of each of left slat122and right slat112. Upon each of left linking wall120and right linking wall110may be one or more (i.e., a plurality) of each of left aperture121and right aperture111, which may each be located opposite a corresponding right slat112and left slat122, respectively, and/or between one or more left slat122or right slat112, respectively. Alternatively, as may be best understood as that aperture labeled right aperture111, such aperture(s) may be placed between right slat112and the top end of right linking wall110. For the sake of simplicity of description, only one of such left slat122, right slat112, left aperture121, right aperture111, left connection means123, and right connection means113are numbered, though many may be illustrated and herein described. In such a potentially preferred embodiment of sheet100S as may be illustrated hereinFIG.2, left linking wall120may feature seven (7) corresponding slats, seven (7) connection means, and six (6) apertures and right linking wall110may feature six (6) corresponding slats, six (6) connection means, and seven (7) apertures and each slat/connection means combination may vertically oppose each aperture, as may be visibly recognized thereinFIG.2by one having ordinary skill in the art. Such a skilled artisan may adjust such quantities of slats, their connection means, and their opposing apertures to accomplish various heights, spacing, etc. Each of left connection means123and right connection means113may be optimally configured to be slightly larger than any corresponding left aperture121, right aperture111, left slat122, and right slat112, such that in a potentially preferred embodiment constructed of clear, flexible, but somewhat rigid plastic materials, or variations thereof as may be herein described, each left connection means123and/or right connection means113may be bent to protrude into each corresponding left aperture121and/or right aperture111and allowed to return to a flattened shape, thus enabling one such securing means among others which may be either known to those having ordinary skill in the art or otherwise herein described. Such alternative connection/securing means may include, but are not limited to, buttons, snaps, magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO®), tape, adhesives, welding(s), zipper(s), the like and/or combinations thereof, and may correspondingly vary in size, structure, and/or assembly as may be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to be required to implement such alternative connection/securing means. In certain preferred embodiments, such connections means may be preferably detachably connectable to enable certain features/benefits as may be herein described. Additionally, in such preferred embodiment of right aperture111and left aperture121and pluralities thereof, each may be constructed as narrow, long holes and/or understood to be slits formed in sheet100S as may be located along left linking wall120and/or right linking wall110, respectively. Certain other benefits of sheet100S as may be formed into plant cultivation column assembly100may be additionally understood by those having skill in the art through review of the remainingFIGS.3-5, as well as the corresponding Detailed Description below.

Turning toFIG.3, illustrated therein is a perspective drawing of sheet S during a potentially preferred first step to complete plant cultivation column assembly100. The same various features of sheet100S, including continuous wall130(including a plurality of small aeration pore (left)132and small aeration pore (right)131), left linking wall120(including a plurality of left aperture121), right linking wall110(including a plurality of right aperture111), and pluralities of left slat122and right slat112extending respectively therefrom and further including left connection means123and right connection means113further extending respectively therefrom are therein illustrated, the above description of which may be further detailed. Additionally, as may be important to such a potentially preferred intermediate assembly step, the importance of left score124and right score114may be further realized by those having ordinary skill in the art. In such configurations and potentially preferred intermediate assembly step(s), sheet100S may be folded at each of left score124and right score114and further creased to provide such shape and construction of plant cultivation column assembly100when assembly, as may be better understood upon review ofFIGS.1and4and therein described. Then, it may be realized that connections between left linking wall120and right linking wall110by way of left slat122and left connection means123into right aperture111as well as right slat112and right connection means113into left aperture121may form, or proceed to form, plant cultivation column assembly100from sheet S. As may be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art, certain potentially preferred methods of assembly, as may be further described in relation toFIG.5, may include assembly of the most vertically distal of one or more slats (i.e., those closest to the proposed top and bottom of sheet100S) into their corresponding aperture, followed by assembly of one or more of those most vertically proximally disposed slats into the corresponding apertures, and additionally followed by assembling the remaining slats and corresponding apertures thereof, may optimally arrange and provide the most convenient assembly of plant cultivation column assembly100. Additionally, such potentially preferred means and methods/steps of assembly may further enable the insertion of plant P into plant cultivation column assembly100as well as the threading or of any leaf L, which may protrude from plant cultivation column assembly100from the openings therein formed. Finally, in such potentially preferred intermediate assembly step(s) as may be illustrated thereinFIG.3, the overall shape of plant cultivation column assembly100may then form a semi-cylindrical column, which may offer certain structural, aeration, and assembly/disassembly benefits, as may be relevant and recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art. Further features and benefits, including the final assembly of plant cultivation column assembly100, the linking of parts thereof, and steps to achieve the features and benefits as herein described may be recognized through a review ofFIGS.4-5, as well as the remaining Detailed Description herein and related thereto.

Now turning toFIG.4, therein illustrated and herein described is a transparent elevation drawing of the potentially preferred embodiment of plant cultivation column assembly100. The same various features of plant cultivation column assembly100, including continuous wall130(including a plurality of small aeration pore (left)132and small aeration pore (right)131, which may be obscured or omitted fromFIG.4—see, e.g.,FIGS.1-3), left linking wall120(including a plurality of left aperture121), right linking wall110(including a plurality of right aperture111), and pluralities of left slat122and right slat112extending respectively therefrom and further including left connection means123and right connection means113further extending respectively therefrom are therein illustrated, the above description of which may be further detailed supra. Features of plant cultivation column assembly100which may be further evident by those having ordinary skill in the art may include at least the potentially preferred configuration therebetween the plurality of left aperture121on left linking wall120and the plurality of right connection means113as well as the potentially preferred configuration therebetween the plurality of right aperture111on right aperture111and the plurality of left connection means123, in addition to the configuration of corresponding slats of the same. As may be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from a close review ofFIG.4, subsequent to the folding step which may be further examined viaFIG.3and the corresponding description, continuous wall130may be bent or curved such that each left slat122may be pulled to meet each right aperture111at each corresponding left connection means123. Then, each left slat122may overlap a portion of right linking wall110in order to temporarily hold continuous wall130in its bent and/or curved position, especially when, in a potentially preferred exemplary embodiment of a method of use of plant cultivation column assembly100, one or more left slat122is held to in front of right linking wall110or the user pinches the same between, for example, their finger and thumb. Then, a first left connection means123may be placed through its corresponding/opposite right aperture111, which may be held proximate in such a potentially preferred configuration. This process may be repeated via the remaining left slat122, right aperture111, and left connection means123and by similarly holding one or more right slat112to the left aperture121proximate portion of left linking wall120and placing the corresponding right connection means113or plurality thereof through the corresponding left aperture121or plurality thereof. One potentially optimal order of connection may be to first join a slat proximate to the top and/or bottom to either or both of right linking wall110and left linking wall120, then joining one or more centrally located slat to either or both of right linking wall110and left linking wall120, and completing the assembly by joining the remaining slats to the corresponding/opposite linking wall. During various steps of such assembly of plant cultivation column assembly100, planting medium M may be added and plant P may be inserted into plant cultivation column assembly100. Additionally, as illustrated and perhaps readily apparent hereinFIG.4, potted base B may be filled partially or completely with planting medium M, plant cultivation column assembly100at some stage of assembly thereof may be placed therein, thereby forming an in-assembly structure thereof to free a user's hands from holding plant cultivation column assembly100during such assembly. Such potted base B, and use thereof, may provide the additional benefits of providing a weighted base and constricting mechanism to aid in the assembly of plant cultivation column assembly100, as well as providing a means to catch any mistakenly dropped planting medium M, potentially averting any waste and/or mess thereof. Since this potentially preferred embodiment of plant cultivation column assembly100may offer the feature/benefit of secure, but readily detachable connections via left aperture121, right aperture111, left connection means123, and right connection means113, connections may form and be removed to ease the construction and filling process and/or avoid damage to plant P or spillage of planting medium M. Additionally, considering that one intent of the use of plant cultivation column assembly100may include fostering the natural growth of plant P, as, for example, such leaf L sprout, grow, mature, and molt/die, adjustments may be made by repeating/reversing the above steps. Furthermore, roots of plant P may begin to naturally extend from plant cultivation column assembly100and be placed back into plant cultivation column assembly100, or may be threaded out of and/or between any corresponding left slat122and/or right slat112via the openings created therefrom. As may be understood by those having skill in the art, such openings formed thereof right slat112and left slat122may be considered predominant openings, which may allow such leaf L formations to extend and such continuous wall130having potentially smaller small aeration pore (right)131and small aeration pore (left)132(seeFIGS.1-3) may prevent such formations so as to avoid a need to prune, cut, or otherwise remove any leaf L should adjustment/transplantation become desired, warranted, and/or necessary. In other words, the predominant openings of such a potentially preferred embodiment may encourage anatomical plant development outside the structure of plant cultivation column assembly100via natural and cultivational processes whereas the smaller openings may prevent and/or inhibit such development from spreading outside the structure of plant cultivation column assembly100, thus enabling the convenient adjustment of plant P during cultivation and growth of the same.

In an additional potentially preferred embodiment of plant cultivation column assembly100, sheet100S may be alternatively constructed in at least the following substitute manner: the plurality of right aperture111may be removed such that no hole or aperture is present on the right side of sheet100S and instead twice as many of left aperture121may appear instead, then each of left slat122may be removed and placed opposite as right slat112. In such an embodiment, instead of alternating slats and apertures, all slats may appear on a first side (e.g., left or right) an all apertures on the side opposite (e.g., right or left, respectively). Using such a construction may provide the additional benefit of consuming less plastic during certain manufacture techniques of sheet100S, and may additionally consume less space when stored flat, for example, during shipping. As may be understood by those persons having ordinary skill in the art, many additional combinations, formations, constructions, and manufactures of sheet100S may be possible and are intended to be included as objects and techniques of the disclosure.

Turning toFIG.5, therein illustrated is a flowchart of a potentially preferred embodiment of a method of assembly and use of plant cultivation column assembly100. Starting at step501, sheet100S may be provided to a plant cultivator, who may be in possession of a plant, which may be capable of vertical growth through a soil or planting medium. At step502, sheet100S may be creased along right score114and/or left score124to provide the features and/or benefits as may be described supra. Then, continuous wall130may be bent and one of right connection means113may be inserted into an opposing right aperture111, then one of left connection means123may be inserted into the opposing left aperture121via a succession of steps503-504, which may be conducted in a continuous fashion or through some alternatively ordered combination of such steps503-504to form plant cultivation column assembly100through such successive steps. Potted base B housing plant P having leaf L may then accept plant cultivation column assembly100at step505, and plant P and planting medium M may be placed therein plant cultivation column assembly100. Finally, one or more leaf L may be configured through the openings formed among the slats as may be necessary and/or desired and such slats may be reconfigured and reassembled in order to accomplish such configuration at step506. Various steps in this method may be repeated, omitted, reordered, or otherwise adjusted by those having ordinary skill in the art in order to provide such plant P configuration within plant cultivation column assembly100as may be desired by such a skilled artisan.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, position, function and manner of operation, assembly, type and structure of materials, shape, manner of assembly, and type of plant, type of medium, and use(s) thereof, are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

It is contemplated herein, and should be realized by those having ordinary skill in the art, that plant cultivation column assembly100of the disclosure (and its methods of use) includes variations in size, shape, construction, manufacture, components, light/water/air source, assembly, the like and/or combinations thereof. Plant cultivation column assembly100as herein described may be joined, assembled, constructed, or otherwise linked to additional similar and/or identical plant cultivation column assembly100to increase the overall height of the structure formed thereof. Certain connection means may be integrated or installed upon such a structure to prevent the tilting, leaning, and/or collapse or to otherwise enhance the structural integrity of such a tall, narrow structure. Plant cultivation column assembly100and the slats of the disclosure may be connected using one or more of many various means, which may preferably include those that may be detachable, including but not limited to buttons, snaps, magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO®), tape, adhesives, welding(s), zipper(s), the like and/or combinations thereof, and may correspondingly vary in size, structure, and/or assembly. While specific dimensions, shapes, angles, components, materials, folds, slats, apertures, bends, sheets, the like and/or combinations thereof of the disclosed sheet100S and plant cultivation column assembly100thereof may be specifically described herein, the disclosure is not so limited. Plant cultivation column assembly100may be recognized by those having skill in the art as having a hollow cylindrical sectional, semi-cylindrical, and/or D-column shape, but plant cultivation column assembly100may be further constructed of otherwise configured sheet100S to enable, induce, or otherwise configure various other column arrangements/shapes which may be known, desired, and/or utilized by those having ordinary skill in the art, and may include but are not limited to a regular cylindrical hollow column shape, a hollow triangular prism column, a B-shaped hollow column shape (when viewed from a top angle via e.g., an inward crease of continuous wall130), a hollow rectangular prism shape (via, e.g., two creases along continuous wall130), the like and/or variations and combinations thereof. While a suitable and potentially preferred material of construction of sheet100S and corresponding plant cultivation column assembly100may include a clear plastic sheet (e.g., Polyethylene (PE)) die-cut into the specific arrangement disclosed herein, the disclosure is not so limited and may further include painted, opaque, tinted, translucent or otherwise non-clear PE sheets, as well any number of various suitable materials such as cloths, other woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, papers, wood, other natural materials, metals and alloys thereof, meshes, screens, and/or synthetic materials such as composite materials and other plastics as well as combinations and the like. While a preferred method of production of sheet100S may include production of such a sheet of such various materials and/or their combinations, or perhaps preferably a PE sheet, and machine die-cut shaping of the same, the disclosure is not so limited and may further include hand/knife/blade-cutting of such materials, laser cutting, guillotine cutting, rotary cutting, waterjet cutting, saw cutting, the like and/or combinations thereof. Additionally, certain various materials may be shaped into a vertical block which may then be sliced and scored to meet the various features and benefits herein and are herein described. Certain features and/or benefits of the proposed potentially preferred embodiment of plant cultivation column assembly100may exist and be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art, and may additionally be outlined and discussed in detail herein or may be otherwise apparent from a review of the Drawings and Detailed Description. These may include, but are not limited to the ease of manufacture, transport, assembly and construction and overall simplicity sheet100S as may be assembled into plant cultivation column assembly100, additional structural support as may be provided by right score114and left score124which may provide certain vertical rigidness to plant cultivation column assembly100, bending curvature which may be provided by continuous wall130during the assembly disclosed above which may provide additional vertical rigidness and/or support, redundant opposing slats which may provide a sturdy/flat face for potentially optimal gas/vapor exchange, top and bottom openings which may further provide the ability to easily and conveniently water and drain plant cultivation column assembly100, the like, and/or combinations thereof. Additional optional accessories may further enhance such features, benefits, and/or utility, which may be recognized and/or observed by those having ordinary skill in the art. These may include but are not limited to additional vertical supporting structures such as stakes and poles which may be connected or adhered to plant cultivation column assembly100or which may be placed into plant cultivation column assembly100proximate a side or centrally within plant cultivation column assembly100, a removable or permanent top, a connection means to potted base B, an openable sleeve to install planting medium M, a time-released fertilizing planting medium M, a moisture retaining additive of planting medium M, the like, combinations thereof, and/or other means, devices, mechanisms, methods, and manufactures to enhance overall plant cultivation as may be known to the relevant skilled artisans. Other uses of the plant cultivation column assembly100that involve other uses of plants and/or separate uses altogether may be understood by those skilled in the art and the disclosure is not so limited to include only the disclosed uses as may be detailed herein.

The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of sheet100S and plant cultivation column assembly100thereof, it should be noted by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications of same may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Moreover, the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.