Oh, patents! Rain Bird drip irrigation emitters

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Rain Bird drip irrigation emitters, also known as “drippers”, are primarily designed to provide very small quantities of water (drips), at the base of a plant, by compensating the water pressure coming from a water source, such as a watering tube. In other words, irrigation for a plant by reducing to a drip the water flow that would otherwise normally flow from a watering tube without pressure control. Attached strategically at various intervals to a watering tube, drip irrigation emitters also each provide varying amounts of water (measured in gallons per hour [GPH]) to the base of a given plant type. Varying drips of water for each plant type, extracted from the regular flow of water in a tube, as a result of having travelled through bottlenecks, and a patented maze of tiny diversion walls, within each emitter.

Compared to overhead and underground irrigation systems, the advantages of drip irrigation are considered several-fold (Rain Bird). Drip irrigation is, above all, water-efficient, selective, and suited for small areas. Drip irrigation provides very small amounts of water to each individual plant. Water is targeted at the roots, thus discouraging weeds from growing around the plant, and leaves from molding. Drip irrigation is also easy to install, expand, and modify.

The Rain Bird drip irrigation emitter is a patented invention, covering the design of a small irrigation device (<1 inch), resistant to the fast flow of normally running water, usually inside a .5 or .75-inch watering tube. The US utility patent, US5820029, titled Drip irrigation emitter, was awarded on October 13th, 1998, to Elaine Marans. The patent was assigned to Rain Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing Corp.* in Glendale, California.

Included below, the patent Figure 2, with the images of two marketed Rain Bird drip irrigation emitters, a blue half-gallon emitter and a red two-gallon emitter. The patent Figure 2 is an exploded view of the Rain Bird irrigation emitter 10. The patent Figure 2 depicts a cup-shaped base 20, with a circular floor surface 32, and a cylindrical upstanding outer wall 34. The circular floor 32 comprises a channel pattern 26, designed to divert (and thus reduce) the incoming flow of water, causing the water to exit as "drips" from the downward hollow stem 36. Above the channel-patterned diversion 26, on the floor surface 32, spacer posts 38 are designed to support the cap 22, which fits inside the cup-shaped base 20, together with the valve 28 beneath.

               

The abstract of the Rain Bird drip irrigation emitter is included below.

An improved drip irrigation emitter is provided for low volume supply of water at a trickle or drip flow rate. The emitter comprises a housing adapted for connection to a water supply hose, and includes a water inlet and a water outlet with an elongated pressure reducing flow channel extending therebetween. The flow channel is lined on opposite sides by a plurality of flow diverting ribs which project laterally and partially into the flow channel in a staggered or alternating pattern, in combination with a plurality of flow diverting weirs which project upwardly and partially into the flow channel from a floor thereof. The flow diverting ribs and weirs define a three-dimensional tortuous flow path for repeated back-and-forth and up-and-down directional flow change as water travels therethrough, resulting in an improved pressure drop between the water inlet and outlet. [Abstract US5820029A]

Note

* The Rain Bird Manufacturing Corporation, founded in 1933, is a privately held company, currently a global leader in the domain of irrigation systems, serving 123 countries. The company holds hundreds of patents.

References

Rain Bird Corporation

www.rainbird.com

Rain Bird – Five advantages of drip irrigation.

https://www.rainbird.com/homeowners/blog/5-advantages-of-drip-irrigation

Oh, patents! Diane von Fürstenberg bag with tablet holder (2)

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Diane Von Fürstenberg (DvF) bag with tablet holder was also awarded a US design patent. In other words, a patent that covers just the ornamental aspects of the bag, in contrast to a US utility patent, covering the bag's functionalities.

The US design patent, USD728925, titled Bag with tablet holder, was awarded on May 12th, 2015, to Diane von Fürstenberg. The patent Figures 1 and 2 are included below, respectively depicting the front and closed rear of the bag. Beneath the patent figures, an image is included of a marketed bag with tablet holder, showing the front and open rear of the bag. 

Reference
Diane von Furstenberg (website)
https://www.dvf.com

Oh, patents! Diane von Fürstenberg bag with tablet holder (1)

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Diane Von Furstenberg (DvF) “bag with tablet holder“ was more than a tablet carrier. It was designed to enable using and viewing a tablet secured within the bag. The DvF bag with tablet holder not only resolved the prior art problems of having to haul around a second bag to accommodate a tablet. The DvF bag with tablet holder also resolved having to constantly take the tablet in and out of a bag, to see or use the device. The assumption in both cases, based on observation, was that everyone was using a tablet, and in need to consult their device several times during the day. 

The US utility patent application reciting this invention, US20130206527A1, titled Bag with tablet holder, was published on August 15th, 2013. The inventor on record is Diane von Fürstenberg.

Figure 3, extracted from the patent, is included below. The Figure 3 depicts a rear perspective of the bag with tablet holder 10, detailing the actual tablet holding aspects of the invention. 

Specifically, the Figure 3 shows the body 12 of the bag 10, with a strap 16, and the top of the front flap 14. On the rear of the bag, the Figure 3 shows the device compartment 50, forming an open window 48. The tablet access flap 40 is open, with open zippers on the right 46 and on the left 44, and exposed male 56 and female 58 closure snaps. On each side of the open window 48, there are tablet panels 52, which might be padded to secure the tablet within the compartment 50. One of the side panels 52 depicts a half-circle notch, designed to accommodate the “home” button on former iPad® tablet models. The tablet compartment 50, might be accessed via a top rear opening 32, equipped with a zipper 42.

Below, an image of Diane von Fürstenberg, presenting her DvF bag with tablet holder. On the left, the image shows the front of the bag. On the right, the back flap is open, showing the  tablet inside its compartment, accessible for use.  

The invention abstract is included below. 

Disclosed herein is a bag with tablet holder that includes a body defining an inner compartment, a tablet pocket on the body defining a device compartment, a top opening defined by the body providing access to the inner compartment, and a rear opening to the tablet pocket providing access to the device compartment. An access flap extends from an edge of the tablet pocket and is movable between a closed position where it is secured over the pocket, and an open position where the pocket is uncovered and tablet is accessible. The device compartment includes a plurality of retention panels forming a border configured to receive and retain an electronic tablet in the pocket. The tablet can be accessed and used  while remaining within the pocket in the bag. [Abstract US2013/0206527A1]

Reference

Diane von Fürstenberg (website)

https://www.dvf.com

Oh, patents! Diane von Fürstenberg Stephanie hobo

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Launched in 2009, the slouchy Diane von Fürstenberg Stephanie hobo became a cult favorite, used by celebrities. The medium-sized Stephanie hobo was a carry-all, measuring 14" x 22". The most popular versions were made of woven metallic-covered leather. Various models were fabricated in metallic denim, black, gunmetal metallic leather, and chainlink leather in silver/gold/black/grey and pewter with suede accents.

The Stephanie hobo was a patented design. The US design patent, USD630014, titled Bag, was awarded on January 4th, 2011, to Diane von Fürstenberg, Beatrice McCabe, and Julie Peelo.

Below, a right-side view of the Stephanie hobo, together with an image of one of the marketed models.

Reference

Diane von Fürstenberg (website)

https://www.dvf.com

Oh, patents! Diane von Fürstenberg medical gown

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

A hospital gown designed by a well-known fashion stylist? Yes, a hospital gown designed by Diane von Fürstenberg, celebrated for her iconic wrap-around dresses, chairwoman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) from 2006 to 2019, and inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019, among many additional accolades.

The US utility patent, US8990966, titled Medical garment, was awarded to Diane von Fürstenberg, Erin Przekop, and Jeanne M. Ryan, on March 31st, 2015, and assigned jointly to Diane von Fürstenberg Studio L.P., and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Although the patent is a utility patent vs. a design patent that would otherwise cover only the ornamental aspects of the gown, the patent explicitly addresses both functionality and appearance. The functionality of being able to easily access a patient’s body for examination. The attractiveness of a gown that might be comforting to patients, while still providing coverage. Most importantly, an inventive gown that might also be fastened by patients without assistance, since the patent states that most hospital gowns are inspired by 19th-century night shirts, further tailored in a variety of ways to open and close in the back.

Commissioned by the Cleveland Clinic to design a gown, Diane von Fürstenberg (2021) stated: “ I was taken aback. I thought, “Why?” But then I understood: It’s about the dignity of the patient.” Fürstenberg then explained that she designed a print and worked with the hospital nurses on the gown’s functionality. In particular, she mentions that the gowns come in three sizes that are color-coded so that the correct size might be easily grabbed in a hurry.

                                     

The patent Figure 1, shown above, depicts a plan view of the inventive garment or gown 11, comprising three substantially rectangular panels, one central panel 12, and two side panels 13 and 14. The central panel 12 has a right edge 12c, and a left edge 12 b, respectively joined via the right seam 17, and the left seam 16, to the side panels 13 and 14.

The gown comprises two sleeves, a right sleeve 21, and a left sleeve 18, attached to the central and side panels (11-14) through the right and left armholes 22 and 19. The two sleeves 18 and 21 further comprise corresponding slits 36 and 37, secured with fasteners 38, to enable access to the patient’s arms.

The gown also comprises a V-neck 39, which may be worn on the front or on the back of a patient's body. When the gown is worn with the V-Neck 39 on the front, the pocket 41 appears on the patient’s chest. When the V-neck 39 is worn on the back, the pocket 48 appears on the patient's chest. The gown comprises two more pockets, the side pocket 32 attached to the seam 16, and the side pocket 33 attached to the seam 17.

The gown further comprises a tunnel-like waistband 23, extending across the left panel 13 and the central panel 12. A first belt 24 is anchored at point 24a on the seam 16, and extends out of the waistband 23, through the side panel 13. A second belt 26 is anchored at point 26a, also on the seam 16, but it extends out of the waistband 23, through the central panel 12. Both belts 24 and 26 cooperate like drawstrings to cinch the waistband 23. Two additional ties 28 and 27 are provided, respectively attached to the outer edge of the side panel 14, and to the seam 16, both at waistband 23 height. The ties, 28 and 27, are meant to coordinate with the cinching drawstring belts, 24 and 26.

Although the gown is described as a medical gown for use at hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, and other healthcare facilities, the scope of the invention is recited as extending to health spas, beauty salons, as well as to private uses, or to uses requiring the functionalities of the garment. In terms of materials, the patent recites multiple suitable materials, such as natural or synthetic fabric. Synthetic fabric unlimited to polyester, acrylic, polyamide or polyolefin fiber and combinations, provided that both the materials and the tailoring can sustain the rigors of use and multiple washing.

The patent abstract is included below.

A medical garment formed of a central body region and two side regions with a pair of belts and a pair of fasteners for securing the garment around a patient’s body is provided. The central body region may be worn on the back or front and may have a V-neck form. A waistband extends across the central body region and across one side region with a first belt secured at the junction of the central region and the second side region and extending to the outer edge of the first side region. The second belt extends from the secured end of the first belt through the waistband across the central body region, the second belt exiting the waistband at the junction of the second side region and central body region. A first fixed tie is positioned at the outer edge of the second side region along the position of the waistband. A second fixed tie is secured to the inside of the waistband between the central body region and first side region. This garment design allows for easy gathering of fabric to present a secure and attractive body covering. [Abstract US8990966]

References

Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)

https://cfda.com/

Cleveland Clinic

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/
Diane von Fürstenberg (website)

www.dvf.com
Luthra, S. (March 30, 2025). A new unusual Diane Von Fürsetenberg gown. The Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-new-unusual-diane-von-furstenberg-gown/2015/03/30/0e9a626e-d313-11e4-8fce-3941fc548f1c_story.html

National Women's Hall of Fame

https://www.womenofthehall.org/

Von Fürstenberg, D. (2021). Hospital chic.  Cleveland Clinic Magazine.

https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/hospital-chic

Oh, patents! LeafFilter®

Copyright © Francoise Herrmann

Guaranteed for life, LeafFilter® offers “gutter protection perfection”! Indeed Leaf Filter® is the largest gutter protection company in the United States. They have installed 269,592,100 feet of LeafFilter® gutter protection (and counting) to 1,797,250 customers, with zero clogged gutters. 

Difficult to clean and dangerous to access for cleaning, clogged gutters also cause roof and siding damage, basement flooding, and even foundation damage. Compared to existing gutter protection systems: hood, foam, screen and brush, LeafFilters® are installed on a pitch, on existing gutters, with no gaps, large holes or openings. Comprising a patented three-piece system (micromesh to screen even shingle grit, a temperature-resistant unplasticized polyvinyl [uPV] frame, and hangers inside the gutter to secure the filter), LeafFilters® cause debris to simply roll off, and only water to collect inside gutters. Debris that includes dirt, leaves, pine needles, even grit and seed pods,

The following are a few of the LeafFilter® utility patents, covering various aspects of the LeafFilter® gutter protection system: 

• US10633868B2 - Main bodies with securing features for use with modular platform for gutter guard systems with interchangeable components. 
• US10655334B2 - Adjustable width gutter guard systems. 
• US11078670B2 - Systems and methods for modular platform for gutter guard systems with interchangeable components.
• US11591800B2 - Gutter assessment and method. 

The below patent Figure 1 is extracted from one of the design patents, USD885533S1, titled Gutter guard assembly. This patent was awarded on May 26, 2020, to the LeafFilter®  inventors, Michael Gori, Michael J. Peck,  and Scott M. Garbe. The patent was then assigned to LeafFilter North, LLC. The patent Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the gutter guard system.  An image of the installed, marketed, and pitched LeafFilter® is also included below. Specifically, the image shows the micromesh on top of the uPV frame, installed on a pitch, on a gutter.

Reference
LeafFilter®
https://www.leaffilter.com/

Oh, patents! The Rolodex®

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Does anyone still use a Rolodex®? Hard to believe that the Rolodex® is almost 70 years old! The trademark Rolodex® is a portmanteau term combining “rolling” and “index”. Invented in 1958, the Rolodex® is an office supply device meant to organize index-card contacts on a cylinder that rotates. The term “rolodex” has certainly endured since people refer to their “rolodex” even when it is an electronic version. In any event, non-electronic Rolodex® organizers are still available on the market.

The Rolodex® is a patented invention. A French patent, FR1197557A, titled Fichier rotatif, was filed on July 3rd, 1958 and awarded the following year, on June 1st, 1959, to Arnold Neustadter, residing in the United States. He was the founder of Rolodex, Inc., a company manufacturing Rolodexes®, as well as many other sorts of office supplies.

Interestingly, the French patent also specifies that an earlier US patent had been filed in the United States, by Mr Hildaur Lykee Neilsen, on March 25th, 1958. An annotation that is consistent with claims by Hildaur Neilsen’s daughter, who specifies that Arnold Neustadter was the entrepreneur who manufactured and marketed patented products, whereas her father, Hildaur Neilsen, was the commissioned inventor and licensor for many years at Rolodex Inc., without ever being an employee on record (Hall, 2014).

The French patent recites an index-card organizing device where it is far easier to consult and annotate information, because the index cards are not positioned directly horizontal, relative to the user (as they might be in a tray), but rather at an angle. Thus, the invention seeks to resolve the issue of easy access to card contact-information, rotating through the stack, both forward or backward, while able to set card position at an optimal angle for consultation and annotation. The invention also seeks to minimize wear of the rotating drum.

The patent Figure 1, depicting a perspective view of the device, is included below, together with the image of a vintage Rolodex®. Specifically, the patent Figure 1 depicts a tubular metal support, comprising two opposite and similar sides connected by a transverse element 10, each side of the support further comprising a base piece 12 and an upright 14. The uprights 14, on each side of the support, rise at the same angle, and are attached at their upper end with openings for supporting pins, provided on each side of a rotor formed by a drum 20. On at least one of the pins, or to each of them, a handwheel 22 is fixed. One or two handwheels 22,  which can be operated by a user of the device to rotate the cards 26. Some of the cards 26 have tabs 30, indexed with letters of the alphabet, or numbers, to facilitate the task of locating and annotating a particular card 26.

References

Hall, A. (April 15, 2014). The Power of the Rolodex. Cooper Hewitt.
https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2014/04/15/the-power-of-the-rolodex/

Rolodex®
https://www.rolodex.com/

EPO Young European Inventors Awards – The 2025 Trophy

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The winners of the Young European Inventors Awards not only receive cash prizes. The winners also receive a trophy. A trophy masterminded by Miriam Irle, an industrial designer located in Munich, Germany. The trophy is truly special on several counts. First, the shape of the trophy is symbolic. Crafted as a “sail” (no pun intended), the trophy was designed as a symbol of the exploration and ingenuity that propels inventors on the frontiers of discovery. Secondly, the trophy is fabricated each year from locally significant materials, in the city or country where the Awards ceremony is held. Thus, for example, in 2016, when the European Inventor Awards were held in Lisbon, Portugal, the sail trophies were each uniquely crafted from Portuguese azulejo ceramics. Likewise, in 2017, when the European Inventor Awards were held in Venice, Italy, the sail trophies were each uniquely crafted out of the famous Murano glass.

The year 2025 was no exception. To celebrate the winning Young European Inventors, each team received a uniquely designed sail trophy, crafted from black sand and glass, by Brynhildur Þorgeirsdóttir, a renowned artist in Reykjavik, Iceland. Black sand resulting from the erosion of volcanic rock, found on the beaches at Reynisfjara, on the south coast of Iceland. And glass, reminiscent of the glacial landscape in Iceland, where a thriving community of glassmakers exists.

Below, the image of a black sand and glass model for the sail trophies that were presented on June 18th, during the Awards Ceremony, held in Reykjavik, Iceland. According to Miriam Irle (personal communication forwarded to her):

"The trophies were produced by a local glass artist (https://www.brynhildur.com/about). Color was slowly dropped into the hot glass to achieve the melted structure. After being polished, a double layer of black volcanic sand was added, and the letters were sandblasted (the trophy in the photo was the backup, hence no labeling). The trophies were color-matched to the four categories and were produced in blue, black, red, and yellow."

References

Brynhildur Þorgeirsdóttir

https://www.brynhildur.com/

Miriam Irle

https://www.miriam-irle.com/

EPO Young European Inventors 2025

https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/young-inventors-prize-2025-meet-tomorrow-shapers

Juneteenth 2025!

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Juneteenth, a portmanteau term for “June Nineteenth”, celebrates Black emancipation from slavery. Specifically, Juneteenth celebrates June 19th, 1865, when military General Orders #3 were given by Major-General Granger to proclaim the emancipation of slaves in Galveston, Texas, one of the last outposts of slavery. Orders given to implement Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Emancipation, dated January 1st, 1863. Orders, in fact given just a few months prior to ratification of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, on December 6th, 1865, formally abolishing slavery across the US.

 

However, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was only signed into law on June 17th, 2021, by then-President Joe Biden. At the end of the day, recognition of Juneteenth as a National federal holiday, marking Black Independence Day, rights a wrong. A wrong, because on Independence Day, July 4th, 1776, the United States declared independence from Great Britain, while Black Americans remained in bondage.

References
Juneteenth
https://juneteenth.com/

Lincoln, A. (Jan. 1, 1863). Proclamation of Emancipation. Transcript in PDF format. Library of Congress.
https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/mss/mal/172/1723200/1723200.pdf

Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution - Abolition of Slavery [Transcript]  https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendment/amendment-xiii

US Congress - Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, S. 475
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/475

Galveston History Staff (June 15, 2024). Juneteenth and General  Orders #3.
https://tinyurl.com/yvp8xbvw

EPO - Young Inventors Awards 2025 - The Winners!

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The winners of the Young  European Inventors Awards were announced today, at a livestream ceremony held in Reykjavik, Iceland. The ten Young European Inventor finalists, called Tomorrow Shapers, were in fact all winners as their teams each received a €5000 prize. However, the jury also selected three teams to each receive an additional €15,000 prize. The three additional prizes, called Community Healer, Nature Guardian, and World Builder, were respectively awarded to:

• Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita (Uganda), for their sachet invention designed to extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables for 30 days. 
• Neeka Mashouf and Leila Mashouf (United States), for the process they invented to transform CO₂ emissions into cellulose.
• Marie Perrin (France, United States and Switzerland), for a process designed to recycle rare earth elements from electronic waste. 

A fourth €5000 people's choice award was also announced. The popular vote went to:

• Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez and Luis Chimeno (Spain), for the smart food security labels they invented. 

Below, the YouTube recorded video of the 2025 Ceremony. A new selection of Young European Inventors (<30 years of age) will again be celebrated in 2027. Inventors >30 years of age will compete next year for a European Inventor Award in Berlin, Germany. 

References
European Patent Office (EPO)
www.epo.org
EPO Young Inventors Prize
https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/young-inventors-prize?size=n_15_n

Oh, patents! Land Life's Cocoon (video)

Copyright Françoise Herrmann

Land Life is participating in the World Economic Forum challenge to plant one trillion trees. One trillion trees to combat climate change and the dramatic deforestation that has occurred in the past 25 years. Indeed, trees are one of the most effective ways of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary source of greenhouse gases, which is assumed to be responsible for climate change. Trees capture more CO2 than any other existing plant. 

The video below shows how Land Life seedlings are planted in their (patented) Cocoons. 

References
Land Life (company website)

https://landlifecompany.com/en-us

World Economic Forum

https://www.weforum.org/

Oh, patents! Land Life’s Cocoon

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Dutch company, Land Life, invented the Cocoon, a sustainable way of planting trees in degraded and harsh environments. Harsh environments where soils are arid, temperatures are extreme, and pests are abundant. Degraded lands where the earth no longer supports biodiversity and productivity, resulting in desertification due to a combination of natural causes, such as drought, and human activity, such as deforestation, unsustainable agricultural and husbandry practices, or urbanization.  

According to Land Life, two billion hectares of land (the size of the surface of China and the United States combined) are deemed degraded. Thus, the company's mission is to sustainably reforest 100 million hectares of degraded land. Reforestation will not only restore ecosystems, but most importantly serve to sink carbon dioxide (Co2), a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. The company’s Cocoon is 95%  effective at shielding young seedlings from extreme temperatures, and at keeping a moist environment for the seedling, even in a host desert environment, without the need for added water, for up to a year after planting. 

The Cocoon, an evolving, donut-shaped protection for seedlings is a patented invention, recited in several utility patents. In particular, the US patent, US103083291B2, titled Method and apparatus for planting in arid environments, recites the donut-shaped invention, and method of using the invention for sustainably planting seedlings. The patent was awarded to Jurriaan Hendrik Ruys and Eduard Willem Zanen from the Netherlands, and to Steven Caffall Finch from the United Kingdom on September 15th, 2016.  

The donut-shaped invention comprises one or several water reservoirs, depending on the aridity of the soil, each with a moisture-resistant cover, and a wick acting as a slow irrigation channel between the water reservoir and the soil beneath. At the center of the reservoir, a perforated shroud is inserted upright to shade and protect the seedling. The reservoir, its cover, and the perforated shroud are each made of biodegradable pulp, with waterproofing additives to retain moisture. The wick is made of a strip of capillary matting material such as nylon or polylactic acid (PLA) with a width that is selected according to the desired flow rate. The reservoir and cover are buried in an excavated hole, flush with the ground surface both to mechanically support the reservoir walls and to protect them from animal attack and harsh temperatures. Once the reservoir is positioned in the excavated hole, the seedling in a plug of growing medium is inserted into the perforated shroud at the center of the reservoir. Then, the reservoir is filled with water and covered. 

Thus, the reservoir, together with its cover and the shroud extending above ground, create a protective microclimate for the seedling, while slowly decomposing and eventually leaving no trace, as the seedling matures, grows roots, and establishes itself. A process that also requires initial installation training, as well as preliminary satellite survey and soil analysis. Required preliminaries to determine the choice of seedling and to devise a growing plan, considering that different soils react in different ways.

The patent Figure 15B below shows a cross-sectional view of the Cocoon apparatus. The reservoirs 40 are filled with water 54, and protected from evaporation with a lid 42. At the center of the reservoirs 40,  the shroud 20,  extends up above the ground surface 51, while the lower portion 22, of the shroud 20, is buried in the soil 53. At the bottom of the shroud 22, the seedling’s upper portion 4 protrudes from the upper portion 6 of the plug 2, comprising growing medium 5.  The wicks 43 are shown at the soil level 53 surrounding the reservoirs 40. The bottom of the plug body 10 is shown in contact with the soil 53, where roots will eventually grow. 

The image on the left shows the Land Life Cocoon with a seedling at the center of the donut -shaped reservoir, being filled with water. The image on the right shows the closed buried reservoir, now protected from evaporation and rodents, with a shrouded and growing seedling, at the center.

Below, the abstract of the invention.

An apparatus for planting a seedling (3) in an arid area comprises a vertical, downwardly tapering shroud (20) and a seedling plug (1) comprising a body of growing medium covered by a moisture-resistant cap (14) which preferably is sealingly received in a lower region (22) of the shroud. The lower region of the shroud surrounding the upper portion of the seedling is buried beneath ground level (51) with at least one water reservoir (40, 200) and supplied with water via capillary wicks (43), the reservoir being buried beneath ground level and covered by a moisture resistant cover (60) which sealingly surrounds the shroud. The shroud extends above ground level to protect and shade the seedling and together with the cap (14) and cover (60) serves to retain moisture in the planting region for the first year of growth. [Abstract US10383291B2]

References

Land Life (company website)

https://landlifecompany.com/en-us

WHO staff (16 Oct. 2020).  Climate change: Land degradation and desertification.

https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/climate-change-land-degradation-and-desertification