Patent Document:

according to the present invention , a package generally designated by the numeral 10 is provided . in the preferred embodiment , the package is generally pillow - shaped having what could be considered a top wall 12 and an opposed bottom wall 14 , two opposed side walls 16 and 18 , and opposed end walls 20 and 22 . a pair of longitudinally spaced apart cut - outs 24 and 26 are provided by indicia 28 and 30 which could be merely printed indicia for guiding the user to make the cut - outs with scissors or some other sharp implement , or could be perforations . the cut - outs are preferably square or rectangular in shape although they could be round or oval . it is preferred to merely have printed indicia . the cut - outs 24 and 26 are spaced on either side of the transverse axis of top wall 12 . thus , there is left an integral carrying handle 32 . since the material of which the package is made is a heavy - weight plastic , carrying handle 32 will support the weight of the package in carrying it from one location to another . this is especially helpful when the package is converted for use in growing plants and is kept on a balcony or the like of a city dwelling . as the sun shifts , it might be necessary to move the receptacle in which the plants are growing in order to obtain the maximum benefit thereof . referring to fig2 the method of converting the package for use is shown . the user merely cuts along indicia 28 or 30 and removes the cut - out flap 24 or 26 to leave an opening designated in fig2 as 34 filled with a flowable material 36 . in the preferred embodiment shown in fig3 the flowable material 36 is a plant growth medium . in another embodiment , which is not shown , the flowable material could be cat litter . in that instance , the cat would leave its waste in the litter showing through openings 34 and the owner would dispose of the used material by lifting , using handle 32 and disposing of the complete package in the usual manner . another embodiment is shown in fig4 wherein the package designated as 38 is generally rectangular in cross - section rather than oval or free - form . it is also constructed of heavy gauge plastic such as polyethylene and has squared - off ends 40 and 42 constructed in a common manner by over - lapping end flaps and sealing by means of heat or other known methods . referring to fig5 the package generally designated by the numeral 10 is the same as the package of fig1 having cut - outs 24 and 26 and carrying handle 32 in top wall 12 . in using this embodiment , however , rather than cutting completely around indicia 28 and 30 to remove cut - outs 24 and 26 , respectively , as in fig1 the cut - outs are only partially removed initially . it will be seen that cut - out 26 , for instance , is defined by sides 44 , 46 , 48 , and 50 . by cutting only three sides , 44 , 46 , and 48 , and using side 50 as a hinge , a flap is formed which acts as a temporary &# 34 ; greenhouse &# 34 ;. after watering and planting seeds , the flap is allowed to cover the planted seeds protecting them from wind and rain which can disrupt the seeds . it also maintians the moisture and heat in a manner similar to a greenhouse . when the seeds germinate , the flap can gradually be lifted , propped up if need be , and eventually cut off at the hinged side and discarded . obviously , while the flap 46 is depicted in fig5 as being hinged at side 50 , it can be hinged on any one of the four sides depending on the needs or desires of the user . cut - out 24 is hinged in the same manner as cut - out 26 . in the embodiment shown in fig6 package 38 has an integral carrying handle 54 centrally located on end 42 . if desired , another such carrying handle could be located on end 40 . this carrying handle 54 provides for ease in carrying the package before its actual use . when using the package of the present invention for a plant growth medium , any well - known plant growth medium can be utilized . the actual composition of the medium is immaterial to the present invention since it will vary according to the type of plant being grown , the type of raw materials available in any particular geographical area , and the like . one composition which has been used successfully is that suggested by j . w . boodley and r . sheldrake , jr ., of cornell university . the formula for a one bushel mix is given as : ______________________________________ingredient amount______________________________________vermiculine no . 2 size horticultural 1 / 2 bushelshredded canadian or german sphagumumpeat moss 1 / 2 bushelground limestone , preferably dolomitic 4 tablespoonspowdered superphosphate 20 % 1 tablespoon5 - 10 - 5 fertilizer 8 tablespoons______________________________________ the materials are mixed thoroughly and moistened if necessary to reduce dusting . it was suggested by messrs . boodley and sheldrake that &# 34 ; pillow paks &# 34 ; made of 4 to 6 &# 34 ; diameter clear or black polyethylene , of any convenient length , be filled with this mixture . the ends would then be folded over and stapled shut . small holes for individual plants would be cut at appropriate spacing . the physical construction of these &# 34 ; pillow paks &# 34 ; was crude and no commercial success was enjoyed . the importance of this prior art is the formula for the plant growth medium . another description of a suitable plant growth medium appears on the first page of the aforementioned british pat . no . 1 , 365 , 913 . it should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description that the objects set forth hereinabove have been successfully achieved . moreover , while there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention , it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims . accordingly ,

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