Plant container liners

Abstract

A liner ( 80 ) for a plant container includes one or more sheets of partially compressed, dried or at least substantially dry, reconstitutible sphagnum moss. The liner ( 80 ) is formed into a 3-dimensional shape having a top opening and one or more walls extending in an upstanding configuration towards the opening, the walls having a body and top edges 86 defined along the top opening. The top edges 86 are compressed to a lesser degree than the body of the walls. A blank ( 84 ) for forming the liner ( 80 ) and a method of forming the liner or the blank ( 84 ) is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A liner for a plant container including one or more sheets of partially compressed, dried or at least substantially dry, reconstitutible sphagnum moss formed into a 3-dimensional shape having a top opening and one or more walls extending in an upstanding configuration towards the opening, the walls having a body and top edges defined along the top opening wherein the top edges are compressed to a lesser degree than the body of the walls.  
     
     
         2 . The liner as claimed in  claim 1  made from a blank comprising a base portion with a unitary arcuate wall portion, the arcuate wall portion being adapted to fold around the base portion to form a continuous wall with overlapping side edges, the one or more walls of the liner being defined by the unitary arcuate wall portion.  
     
     
         3 . The liner as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the overlapping side edges of the arcuate wall portion are not compressed to the same degree as the body of the wall portion.  
     
     
         4 . The liner as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the base portion has a peripheral edge and a body portion, the peripheral edge not being compressed to the same degree as the body portion.  
     
     
         5 . The liner as claimed in  claim 1  being partially reconstituted.  
     
     
         6 . The liner as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the exterior is partially reconstituted with a liquid which comprises substantially water and the interior of the body of the one or more walls is substantially unreconstituted.  
     
     
         7 . The liner as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 113 to 331 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         8 . The liner as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 113-173 g/M 2  of the exterior surface of the liner and the liner is packaged to minimise dehydration.  
     
     
         9 . The liner as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 241-331 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         10 . The liner as claimed in  claim 9  made from loose sphagnum moss having a pre-compression density of approximately 925 g/m 2  of the area of the one ore more sheets making up the liner.  
     
     
         11 . The liner as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid of about 286 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         12 . The liner as claimed in  claim 6  further including a stiffening insert against the interior of the body of the one or more walls.  
     
     
         13 . The liner as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the stiffening insert is comprised of cardboard to protect the body of the one or more walls of the liner.  
     
     
         14 . The liner as claimed in  claim 10  further including a stiffening insert against the interior of the body of the one or more walls.  
     
     
         15 . The liner as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the stiffening insert is comprised of cardboard to protect the body of the one or more walls of the liner.  
     
     
         16 . The liner as claimed in  claim 1  made from a blank comprising a base portion with a unitary arcuate wall portion, the arcuate wall portion being adapted to fold around the base portion to form a continuous wall with overlapping side edges such that the one or more walls of the liner is defined by the unitary arcuate wall portion and wherein the overlapping side edges of the arcuate wall portion are compressed to a lesser degree than the body of the walls, the exterior of the liner being partially reconstituted with a liquid comprising substantially water and the interior of the body of the one or more walls being substantially unreconstituted, the liner further including a stiffening insert against the interior of the body of the one or more walls with a gap being provided in the insert where the side edges of the arcuate wall portion overlap.  
     
     
         17 . The liner as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in range 241-331 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         18 . The liner as claimed in  claim 17  made from loose sphagnum moss having a pre-compression density of approximately 925 g/m 2  of the area of the one or more sheets making up the liner.  
     
     
         19 . The liner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the liner is received in a plant container in the form of a wire basket.  
     
     
         20 . The liner as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the top edges of the liner extend beyond the top of the basket.  
     
     
         21 . The liner as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the liner is received in a plant container in the form of a wire basket.  
     
     
         22 . The liner as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the top edges of the liner extend beyond the top of the basket.  
     
     
         23 . A blank configured to form a liner for a plant container, the blank comprising one or more sheets of partially compressed, dried or at least substantially dry sphagnum moss configured such that when the sheets are formed into a 3-dimensional form of the liner, the liner has a top opening and one or more walls extending in an upstanding configuration towards the opening, with the walls having a body and top edges defined along the top opening wherein the edges of the blank corresponding to the top edges in the 3-dimensional form of the liner are compressed to a lesser degree than the part of the blank corresponding to the body of the walls.  
     
     
         24 . The blank as claimed in  claim 23  comprising a base portion with a unitary arcuate wall portion, the arcuate wall portion being adapted to fold around the base portion to form a continuous wall with overlapping side edges, the continuous wall defining the one or more walls of the 3-dimensional form of the liner.  
     
     
         25 . The blank as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the side edges of the arcuate wall portion which overlap in the 3-dimensional form of the liner are not compressed to the same degree as the part of the blank corresponding to the body of the walls.  
     
     
         26 . The blank as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the base portion has a peripheral edge and a body portion and the peripheral edge is not compressed to the same degree as the body portion.  
     
     
         27 . The blank as claimed in  claim 23  being partially reconstituted.  
     
     
         28 . The blank as claimed in  claim 27  wherein a first side of the blank corresponding to the exterior of the 3-dimensional form of the liner is partially reconstituted with a liquid comprising substantially water and the other side corresponding to the interior of the body of the one or more walls in the 3-dimensional form of the liner is substantially unreconstituted.  
     
     
         29 . The blank as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved by using an amount of liquid in the range of 113 to 331 g/m 2  of the surface of said first side of the blank.  
     
     
         30 . The blank as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 113-173 g/m 2  of the surface of the first side of the blank and the blank is packaged to minimise dehydration.  
     
     
         31 . The blank as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 241-331 g/m 2  of the surface of the first side of the blank.  
     
     
         32 . The blank as claimed in  claim 31  made from loose sphagnum moss having a pre-compression density of approximately 925 g/m 2  of the area of the one ore more sheets making up the blank.  
     
     
         33 . The blank as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid of about 286 g/m 2  of the surface of the first side of the blank.  
     
     
         34 . A mould for use in forming the liner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the liner is formed from a blank and the mould comprises a female mould part and a male mould part wherein the male mould part is shaped to achieve the lesser degree of compression along the edges of the blank corresponding to the top edges of the 3 dimensional liner.  
     
     
         35 . The mould as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the male mould part is smaller than the female mould part in order that the top edges of the blank corresponding to the top edges in the finished blank are substantially uncompressed by the mould.  
     
     
         36 . A method of forming the liner as claimed in  claim 1  including: 
 compressing loose sphagnum moss in a mould to form a blank wherein the mould comprises a female mould part and a male mould part, the male mould part being shaped to achieve the lesser degree of compression along the edges of the blank corresponding to the top edges of the 3 dimensional liner; and  
 folding the blank into the 3-dimensional shape of the liner.  
 
     
     
         37 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the male mould part is smaller than the female mould part in order that the top edges of the blank corresponding to the top edges in the 3-dimensional liner are substantially uncompressed by the mould.  
     
     
         38 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  further including partially reconstituting with a liquid comprising substantially water, the side of the blank corresponding to the exterior in the 3-dimensional form of the liner.  
     
     
         39 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  further including partially reconstituting with a liquid comprising substantially water, the exterior of the formed 3-dimensional liner.  
     
     
         40 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the interior of the body of the one or more walls is substantially unreconstituted.  
     
     
         41 . The method as claimed in  claim 38  wherein the reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 113 to 331 g/m 2  of the said side of the blank.  
     
     
         42 . The method as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 113 to 331 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         43 . The method as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 241-331 g/m 2  of the said side of the blank.  
     
     
         44 . The method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 241-331 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the loose sphagnum moss has a density of approximately 925 g/m 2  of the area of the blank.  
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 44  wherein the loose sphagnum moss has a density of approximately 925 g/m 2  of the area of the blank.  
     
     
         47 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  further including inserting a stiffening insert against the interior of the body of the one or more walls of the 3-dimensional form of the liner.  
     
     
         48 . A method of forming the blank as claimed in  claim 23  including: 
 compressing loose sphagnum moss in a mould to form the blank wherein the mould comprises a female mould part and a male mould part, the male mould part being shaped to achieve the lesser degree of compression along the edges of the blank corresponding to the top edges of the 3 dimensional liner.  
 
     
     
         49 . The method as claimed in  claim 48  wherein the male mould part is smaller than the female mould part in order that the edges of the blank corresponding to the top edges in the 3-dimensional liner are substantially uncompressed by the mould.  
     
     
         50 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  further including partially reconstituting with a liquid comprising substantially water, the side of the blank corresponding to the exterior in the 3-dimensional form of the liner.  
     
     
         51 . The method as claimed in  claim 50  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 113 to 331 g/m 2  of said side of the blank.  
     
     
         52 . The method as claimed in  claim 51  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 241-331 g/m 2  of the said side of the blank.  
     
     
         53 . The method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the loose sphagnum moss has a density of approximately 925 g/m 2  of the area of the blank.  
     
     
         54 . A combination plant container and liner wherein the liner comprises one or more sheets of dried or at least substantially dry, reconstitutible sphagnum moss, at least part of which is compressed, the liner being partially reconstituted on the exterior and supported by the plant container, the combination further including a stiffening insert.  
     
     
         55 . The combination plant container and liner as claimed in  claim 54  wherein the liner is in the form having a base and one or more walls extending upwardly from the base wherein the majority of the interior of the one or more walls is substantially unreconstituted.  
     
     
         56 . The combination plant container and liner as claimed in  claim 54  wherein the reconstitution is achieved using a liquid comprising substantially water, the amount being in the range 113 g/m 2  to 331 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         57 . The combination plant container and liner as claimed in  claim 56  wherein the reconstitution is achieved using an amount of liquid in the range of 113 -173 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner and the combination is packaged to minimise dehydration.  
     
     
         58 . The combination plant container and liner as claimed in  claim 56  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved by an amount of liquid in the range of 241-331 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         59 . The combination plant container and liner as claimed in  claim 58  made from loose sphagnum moss having a pre-compression density of approximately 925 g/m 2  per area of the sheets making up the liner.  
     
     
         60 . The combination plant container and liner as claimed in  claim 59  wherein the partial reconstitution is achieved using at about 286 g/m 2  of the exterior surface of the liner.  
     
     
         61 . The combination plant container and liner as claimed in  claim 54  wherein the stiffening insert is comprised of cardboard.  
     
     
         62 . A liner for a plant container including one or more sheets of partially compressed, dried or at least substantially dry, reconstitutible sphagnum moss formed into a 3-dimensional shape having one or more walls extending in an upstanding configuration wherein the liner is partially reconstituted on at least the exterior of the or each wall such that in the or each wall, the ratio of the thickness of the partially reconstituted moss to the thickness of unreconstituted moss is in the range 7:10 to 7:25.  
     
     
         63 . The liner as claimed in  claim 62  wherein the range is 7:15 to 7:25.  
     
     
         64 . The liner as claimed in  claim 63  wherein the overall thickness of the liner prior to reconstitution is 3 to 8 mm.  
     
     
         65 . The liner as claimed in  claim 64  wherein the overall thickness of the liner prior to reconstitution 4 to 7 mm.