BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a tray including multiple cells or compartments, and more particularly to a seed starting tray.

Description of the Related Art

Plug plants (“plugs”) in horticulture are small-sized seedlings grown in seed starting trays that include small individual cells that are typically filled with a peat or soil substrate. Typically, plugs are small rooted cuttings or seedlings grown in cell trays containing soil. They are relatively inexpensive and allow a space to be vegetated with a known mix of plants in a desired density and arrangement.

After growing the plugs in the trays, the plugs are transplanted into containers or into a garden. The trays are typically formed from a thin, rigid material that is prone to being damaged or broken, especially when attempting to remove the plug from the tray. As the trays are formed from a rigid material that is prone to cracking or breaking, during removal of the plugs, the trays are often damaged and as such cannot be reused. In addition, the plug may be damaged when trying to scoop the plug out from the cell within the tray. Thus, conventional trays are disadvantageous because they tend to be damage-prone and single-use and the plugs may be damaged during removal of the plugs from the cells of the tray.

Accordingly, there exists a continuing need for new and improved trays for growing plug plants that are less prone to be damaged and easier to clean and thus suitable for being re-used and that facilitate easier removal of plugs from the cells of the tray in which they had been grown. The present disclosure addresses the problems of the conventional trays.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is provided to aid in understanding the present disclosure and should not be construed as any admission of prior art without an explicit statement to that effect.

ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, a seed starting tray may include: a plurality of cells arranged in columns and rows and defining a shape having a perimeter; a rigid portion forming an upper portion of each cell, the rigid portion defining an opening of each cell; a flexible portion forming a lower portion of each cell, the flexible portion defining a base of cell, the flexible portion being deformable in a direction toward the opening; and a pair of opposing handles, each handle being disposed at opposing sides of the perimeter.

In an embodiment, a seed starting tray may include at least one cell defining a space. The at least one cell may include a rigid upper portion defining an opening of the at least one cell and a flexible lower portion defining base of the at least one cell. The flexible lower portion being transitionable between a first position in which the space defines a first volume and a first height and a second position in which the space defines a second volume and a second height, the first volume being greater than the second volume and the first height being greater than the second height. The at least one cell may include a plurality of cells, which may be arranged in columns and rows. The at least one cell may define a rectangular shape. The lower portion may include at least one drainage opening.

The flexible lower portion may be deformable and pushable in a direction toward the opening of the at least one cell when a force is applied upon the flexible lower portion in a direction toward the opening of the at least one cell such that the flexible lower portion transitions toward the second position. The flexible lower portion may be biased toward the first position.

The flexible lower portion may include a hinged section that borders the rigid upper portion and a base section. The flexible lower portion may be transitionable between an unfolded state and a folded state, wherein when in the unfolded state, the flexible lower portion is in the first position and in the folded state, the flexible lower portion is disposed at least partially in the rigid upper portion and the flexible lower portion is in the second position. The hinged section may be a living hinge that is configured to facilitate transitioning of the lower portion between the folded state and the unfolded state.

A handle or a pair of handles may be secured to the perimeter of the rigid upper portion of the tray such that the tray may be moved without disturbing the lower flexible portion of the tray. For example, the at least one cell may define an upper perimeter, and a pair of opposing handles may be coupled to opposing sides of the upper perimeter.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure are more fully described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.

