Cover for plant growing medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for covering a plant growing medium. The device includes a sheet that defines an aperture. One or more protrusions extend from the sheet to engage a top surface of the plant growing medium. A wall is integrally attached to each edge of the sheet. Each wall has a series of ridges.

1 . A device for covering a plant growing medium, comprising:
 a sheet, said sheet being substantially planar and lying substantially in a first plane;   said sheet comprising an aperture therein that will permit a plant to grow therethrough; and   at least one protrusion projecting in a first direction from said sheet for engaging a plant growing medium, wherein said sheet has at least one sheet edge, and at least one of said at least one sheet edge has a cover wall connected thereto and projecting therefrom into said first direction and wherein said at least one protrusion has a lower portion for engaging a plant growing medium to support said device thereon, wherein said aperture in said sheet is spaced in said first direction away from said lower portion of said at least one protrusion.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sheet has four sheet edges. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said sheet is square. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one protrusion consists of four protrusions. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each of said protrusions is proximate to a separate corner of said sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device can prevent growth of algae on a growing medium covered thereby. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising four cover walls wherein each said cover wall is integrally attached to a separate edge of said sheet and wherein each said cover wall is in a cover wall plane, each said cover wall plane intersecting said first plane. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein two of said cover walls are opposing and said two opposing walls each comprise a slit so as to enhance the circulation of air proximate to a plant growing medium when said device is placed on a plant growing medium. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein each of said four cover walls has a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of ridges on each of said four walls extends such that a portion of each said ridge is on said sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plant growing medium, said growing medium having a growing medium top surface, wherein said device for covering a plant growing medium can be placed over said growing medium so that said at least one protrusion engages said growing medium, wherein when said at least one protrusion is in contact with said growing medium said sheet spaces said growing medium from said sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said growing medium has a top surface has the same shape as said sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said growing medium is in the shape of a cube and said sheet is substantially planar and square in shape, said sheet having four edges and four cover walls projecting from said sheet edges in said first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said growing medium is rockwool. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said device can prevent growth of algae on said growing medium covered thereby. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said device can prevent growth of algae on said growing medium covered thereby. 
     
     
         17 . A device for covering a plant growing medium, comprising:
 a cover comprising a sheet, said sheet being substantially planar and lying substantially in a first plane;   said sheet comprising an aperture therein that will permit a plant to grow therethrough; and   at least one protrusion projecting in a first direction from said sheet for engaging a top surface of a plant growing medium, wherein said sheet has at least one sheet edge, and wherein said at least one protrusion has a lower portion for engaging a plant growing medium to support said cover thereon, wherein said aperture in said sheet is spaced in said first direction away from said lower portion of said at least one protrusion, wherein when said at least one protrusion is in contact with a growing medium said sheet is spaced from the growing medium top surface.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a plant growing medium, said plant growing medium having a medium top surface of substantially the same shape and dimensions as said sheet, wherein a plant growing in said growing medium can grow from said growing medium through said aperture in said sheet, and wherein said sheet can prevent growth of algae on said growing medium top surface covered thereby. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said cover has at least one side wall projecting in said first direction from at least one of said at least one sheet edge, and wherein said cover has at least one slit in said at least one side wall or in said sheet spaced from said aperture, wherein said at least one slit can enhance the circulation of air proximate to said plant growing medium when said cover covers said medium top surface. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said cover comprises at least one ridge in at least one portion of said cover.