Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a gardening system
and a container for plants.
Container planting is well known and widely
practiced. Its uses vary from locations wherein other types
of gardening are impossible such as in urban settings
including high rise buildings to its use for decorative
and aesthetic purposes such as flower boxes. Container
gardening is also widely practiced for purposes of space
utilization and design such as for patios, solariums and the
like.
To date, most container gardening has consisted of
placing a desired amount of soil in a container and using it
for plants. There have been attempts to devise specific
types of structures and thus, one may refer to Canadian
Patent 263,518 which discloses a flower box which permits a
circulation of air and drainage. Structures for attaching
the containers are also known such as that shown in Canadian
Patent Application 2,003,178. Feeding systems for plants
are also known such as shown in Canadian Patent 2,018,923.
However, to date, none of these systems have taught an
integrated gardening system which addresses the needs for
all plants.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a novel container for plants wherein an integrated approach
to plant growth is provided.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a novel gardening system which helps to maximize
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plant growth.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a plant container which comprises a
bottom wall and at least one side wall extending upwardly
therefrom. An insert having a soil supporting member which
is spaced from the bottom wall and which has a plurality of
apertures formed therein. There is also provided a liquid
outlet located between the bottom wall and soil supporting
member and a gas inlet or communication means to permit
gaseous communication to a space intermediate the liquid
outlet and the soil supporting member.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a gardening system which comprises a container
having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly
therefrom with a soil support member having apertures
therein spaced from the bottom wall to define a space
between the bottom wall and the soil support member. A
liquid outlet extends from a lower portion of the space
while gas inlet means communicates with an upper portion of
the space. A non-soil growing medium is placed on the soil
support member and on top thereof, a soil is placed. An
upper support member extends transversely across an upper
portion of the container and there is at least one vertical
plant support member extending from the soil support member
and being supported both by the soil support member and the
upper support member.
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The container of the present invention may be formed
in any number of different configurations. Thus, it may be
a conventional rectangular configuration or if desired, it
could be formed into other configurations for esthetic
purposes. The functioning of the container, however,
irrespective of the shape, is the same.
In one particular embodiment of the invention, the
container is adapted to be divided into different sections
wherein each section may accommodate different types of
plants. The plants may all have the same growing
requirements or alternatively, different soil mediums may be
provided for varying plant requirements.
A feature of the present invention is the use of an
insert in the container and which insert is adapted to
support the soil in a spaced relationship from the bottom of
the container. The bottom of the container is designed to
retain a certain amount of liquid and air in the bottom
thereof. As such, the base of the container will preferably
be of a waterproof nature.
As mentioned, the insert is adapted to support the
soil in a spaced relationship from the bottom of the
container. As such, there may be provided support means on
the walls of the container for supporting the insert in such
a relationship. Preferably, the insert includes one or more
cavities of any shape and form therein and which cavities
extend downwardly into an area where water may be contained.
These cavities are adapted to be filled with a non-soil
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~14722~
medium as will be seen in greater detail hereinbelow.
One may use a single insert or a plurality of such
inserts. The inserts may be of a different size and thus
allow for different types of plants. The inserts will
contain a plurality of apertures to permit passage of roots
therethrough. Preferably, the aperture area will consist of
between 25 to 85% of the total area of the insert.
There are provided various fluid communication means
between the space between the soil support member and the
exterior of the container. Preferably, there is provided at
least one communication means for liquid and one
communication means for gas. Thus, when the plants are
growing, a lower portion of the space between the soil
support member and the container bottom is adapted to
contain water with an upper portion of the space adapted to
permanently contain air. For this reason, the water outlet
is situated such that when the water reaches a certain level
(below the level of the soil support member) it will
automatically overflow such that the air space is maintained
and the overflow of water can be kept aside in another
container for the next watering, so that no minerals or
micro-organisms from the soil should ever be lost from the
container or network of containers. Such a liquid outlet
may be incorporated by a conduit extending through either
the bottom wall or a side wall.
There is also provided a gaseous communication means
such that air may freely flow in the space between the soil
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support member and the water. Again, a suitable conduit may
be provided which extends upwardly through the soil or
alternatively, may extend through a side or end wall of the
container.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a second outlet which is situated proximate the
bottom wall of the container. This second liquid outlet can
serve two functions. In a first roll, it can provide liquid
communication between adjacent containers when a plurality
of such containers are employed. Secondly, it can serve as
a liquid outlet during the initial stages of plant growth
when a lesser amount of water may be desired in the bottom
of the container. During the later stages of plant growth,
this second liquid outlet can be closed to allow water
retention in the space between the soil support member and
the bottom wall of the container.
The container of the present invention is intended
to be suitable for growing a number of plants and many of
which such plants need support - i.e. tomatos, etc. To this
end, there is provided a support arrangement which utilizes
a two point support. A first point of support is provided
by the insert in the container while there may be an upper
support member which extends between container walls and to
which the plant support member is secured.
The system of the present invention includes an
arrangement wherein a non-soil medium such as vermiculite,
perlite, a particulated foam, etc. is utilized so as to be
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in contact with the water in the container and on top of
which soil is placed. In conjunction with the above,
various wicking means such as strips of material could be
provided between the apertures and the bottom of the
container to allow for moisture to enter the soil by
capillary action when roots are not mature enough for water
uptake from the bottom of the container.
The material of which the container is formed may be
any suitable. Thus, one could employ various woods,
plastics, ceramics, metals, etc. Desirably, those portions
which are continuously in contact with water such as the
insert are made of an inert and water resistant material
such as a plastic or styrofoam.
The containers may be linked together either in a
vertical or horizontal manner or combinations thereof.
Having thus generally described the invention,
reference will be made to the accompanying drawings
illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of
containers in an interconnected system;
Figure 2 is a perspective view, partially in
cutaway, of a container according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partially in
cutaway, of the container; and
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines
5-5 of Figure 4.
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Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by
reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a
container according to the present invention and which
container is generally designated by reference numeral 10.
Container 10, in the illustrated embodiment is of a
generally rectangular configuration and has a bottom wall
12, a pair of opposed side walls 14 and 16, and opposed end
walls 18 and 20. Mounted on the interior surface of side
walls 14 and 16 are side support members 22 and 24 (Figures
and 6) respectively. Side support members 22 and 24
extend longitudinally along the inner surface of side walls
14 and 16.
A plurality of inserts 26, are adapted to be placed
in the interior of container 10. Each of the inserts is
similar and thus, only one wlll be described in detail
herein.
Insert 26 includes a planar top wall 28, a lower
surface 30 (Figure 5) thereof being adapted to seat on side
support members 22 and 24. Insert 26 also includes a pair
of cavities 32 and 34; each of cavities 32 and 34 is
substantially identical and only one will be described
herein.
Cavity 32 is defined by a pair of opposed side walls
36 and 38 and opposed end walls 40 and 42. A bottom wall 45
is angled between side walls 36 and 38. In this respect, it
will be noticed that side wall 36 extends downwardly a
distance greater than side wall 38.
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A plurality of apertures 44 are provided in top wall
28 as well as in end walls 40, 42; side walls 36 and 38; and
bottom wall 45 for reasons which will become apparent
hereinbelow.
Extending through end wall 18 is a conduit 46. A
similar conduit may extend through end wall 20 (Figure 4).
Conduit 46 provides fluid communication between the interior
of container 10 and the exterior thereof. In this respect,
conduit 46 is spaced upwardly from bottom wall 12.
An upper conduit 48 extends from planar top wall 28
upwardly to near the top of wall 14, again for reasons which
will become apparent hereinbelow. In this respect, it will
be noted that conduit 48 is placed such that fluid
communication is provided with one or more of apertures 44.
A lower conduit 50 extends through bottom wall 12
and also provides fluid communication between the interior
and exterior. In this respect, it will be noted that the
upper end of conduit 50 is spaced below planar upper wall
28 and above conduit 46.
As may be seen in Figure 2, a transparent insert 52
is provided in side wall 16. Transparent insert 52 is
preferably located proximate the bottom of the container
- i.e. in the space below top wall 28 of insert 26.
In the illustrated embodiment, the container also
includes a plurality of transverse dividers indicated by
reference numeral 54. Transverse dividers 54 extend between
side walls 14 and 16 and are supported by top wall 28 of
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inserts 26.
A plurality of upper support members 56 are provided
with each upper support member 56 extending between a pair
of transverse dividers 54 or a transverse divider 54 and an
end wall as applicable.
Each upper support member 56 includes a tenon 58 and
a mortise 60 at an opposed end thereof. The end containing
mortise 60 includes a groove 62 formed in the bottom thereof
such that upper support member 56 will seat on transverse
divider 54 or end wall 18, as appropriate.
Upper support members 56 also have one or more
apertures 64 formed therein. Apertures 64 are sized to
receive vertically extending plant supports 66. In this
respect, it will be noted that supports 66 extend through
apertures 64 and also are adapted to seat in one of the
apertures 44 provided in top wall 28.
Supports 66 also include apertures 68 through which
one or more strings 70 may extend.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a screen 72 may be
provided on the upper surface of top wall 28 for reasons
which will become apparent hereinbelow.
In operation, inserts 26 are placed inside the
container with top wall 28 being supported by side support
members 22 and 24. The arrangement is such that after being
placed in the container, the bottom wall 45 of cavities 32
and 34 is spaced from bottom wall 12 of container 10. A
soil-less medium 74 such a vermiculite is then placed within
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cavities 32 and 34 and screen 72 placed thereover. A
further layer of non-soil medium 74 may then be placed on
top of screen 72 (see Figure 6).
Subsequently, soil 76 is placed on top of non-soil
medium 74.
Initially, plants or seeds are placed in soil 76
with a minimum amount of water being provided to the bottom
of container 10. Subsequently, after roots have grown
sufficiently to pass through apertures 44 such that they are
visible through transparent insert 52, conduit 46 would have
a plug placed therein and water would be permitted to fill
the bottom of the container up to the level of the top of
conduit 50. Any excess water would, of course, flow through
conduit 50. In this respect, it is noted that conduit 50 is
below the level of top wall 28.
In growth, different types of roots will form and
which roots will spread throughout soil 76. Certain roots,
are water seeking and will extend through the soil-less
medium 76 in order to exit the lower member through its
apertures and down into the water in the bottom of
container 10. Still other roots will form and occupy the
space between the top of the water in the container and the
top wall 28 - i.e. in the portion wherein air is provided.
Roots specialized for seeking nutrients will grow in the
planting medium.
It will be seen from the above that there is
provided a container which provides both soil with its
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nutrients, an aqueous zone, and an air zone. Combinations
of these various zones allow for the maximum development of
the plant into a well balanced soil ecosystem contained in
the planter.
The system also provides for maximum flexibility.
Thus, with the use of transverse dividers 54, one can grow
different plants having different requirements in the same
container. As may be seen, the support members are
extremely solid as they are supported at two different
points.
As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of the containers
may be connected in a horizontal manner. Thus, in a typical
arrangement on a depth D having railing R, a plurality of
containers 10 are provided and suitably supported. Conduits
46 may be utilized for interconnecting the containers to
provide for free passage of water from one container to
another. If desired, vertical connections could also be
employed.
Still further, it will be understood that conduits
46 could be used to direct any excess water to a container
for reuse. Thus, in watering the plants in container 10,
any nutrients leeched from the soil by the water as it
passes therethrough will collect in the bottom and it would
be desirable that any excess water be collected for such
reuse.
It will also be understood that the bottom of the
containers, could, if desired, have different forms such
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that one end of the container would have a greater depth of
water than the other end. This would permit the placing of
plants having different requirements in the same box. Thus,
carried to the extreme, one could have, for example, tomato
plants at one end of the container wherein the water
reservoir is relatively deep while at the other end one
could grow plants requiring arid conditions such as cacti.
It will be understood that the above described
embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that
changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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