CONTAINER FOR AQUATIC PLANTS

Abstract

Container for aquatic plants, which can be filled with water, the side walls and bottom of which comprise an outer wall and a bottom wall, respectively, in each instance, followed, toward the interior of the container, by an intermediate layer that consists of an insulating material. On the inside of the container, the insulating material is completely covered with a water-tight plastic film, in the manner of a tub, or by a water-tight basin composed of transparent glass. On the bottom of the tub or of the basin and/or in a plant pot situated in the container, there is a plant culture medium that makes growth of aquatic plants possible, and preferably winter-hardy and/or non-winter-hardy aquatic plants are disposed in the container, which is filled with water.

Claims

1: Container (10) for aquatic plants (14; 16), which can be filled with water (12), having side walls (18) and a bottom (24), wherein the side walls (18) comprise an outer wall (20), in each instance, which is followed, toward the interior of the container (10), by an intermediate wall (22) formed by an insulating material, that the bottom (24) has an outer bottom wall (26), which is followed by a bottom intermediate wall (28), which is formed by an insulating material, and wherein a water-tight inner layer (30) that completely covers the intermediate walls (22; 28) is provided on the intermediate walls (22) of the side walls (18), on their sides facing the interior of the container (10), as well as on the bottom intermediate wall (28), on its side facing the interior of the container (10), and wherein a plant culture medium that makes the growth of aquatic plants (14; 16) possible is provided on the inner layer of the bottom (24) and/or in a plant pot (34) situated in the container (10), and wherein winter-hardy (14) and/or non-winter-hardy aquatic plants (16) are disposed in the container (10), which is filled with water (12).

2: Container according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer (30) is formed by a plastic film.

3: Container according to claim 1, wherein the winter-hardy aquatic plants (14) are formed by winter-hardy water lilies.

4: Container according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material (22) comprises hydrophobic rock wool or polystyrene.

5: Container according to claim 1, wherein the outer walls (20) and the bottom wall (26) are formed by wood, plastic or noble metal.

6: Container according to claim 1, wherein aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, snails or mollusks are situated in the water of the container.

7: Container according to claim 1, wherein the container (10) is provided with a protective grid (36) on its top, open side, through which the aquatic plants (14; 16) can grow.

8: Container according to claim 1, wherein the container (10) is provided with an overflow (38) to allow excess water (12) to flow off.

9: Container according to claim 1, wherein a bottom heating device (40) is disposed on the bottom (24) of the container (10).

10: Container according to claim 9, wherein the bottom heating device (40) is formed by heating coils (42) laid on the bottom (24) of the container (10) or disposed above the bottom (24), through which coils a warm fluid flows.

11: Container according to claim 10, wherein a grid is laid onto the heating coils to weigh them down.

12: Container according to claim 11, wherein a nylon loop mat laminated to a nonwoven fabric on both sides is disposed on the grid, over its full area.

13: Container according to claim 9, wherein the bottom heating device (40) is operated with a heat pump.

14: Container according to claim 9, wherein the bottom heating device (40) is operated with solar energy.

15: Container according to claim 9, wherein the bottom heating device is formed by a heat cable operated with electrical current, which cable can be connected to an electrical outlet.

16: Container according to claim 9, wherein the bottom heating device is formed by heating rods operated with electrical current, which rods can be connected to an electrical outlet.

17: Container according to claim 1, wherein the container (10) is configured without an outer wall (20) and intermediate wall (22) in the region of at least one side, and wherein the water-tight inner layer (30) is formed by a water-tight basin (44), which comprises, at least in the region of the side configured without an outer wall (20) and an intermediate wall (22), transparent material, which forms a front pane in the said region.

18: Container according to claim 17, wherein the entire basin (44) comprises glass.

19: Container according to claim 17, wherein the entire basin (44) comprises Plexiglas.

20: Container according to claim 17, wherein only the front pane comprises transparent material and is glued to the remaining part of the basin in water-tight manner.

21: Container according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured in the manner of a barrel having a round cross-section.

22: Container according to claim 17, wherein the container has a partial region that is configured without an outer wall and intermediate wall, and wherein the water-tight inner layer is formed by a round basin, which comprises transparent material, at least in the partial region.

23: Container according to claim 22, wherein only the partial region comprises transparent material, and wherein the partial region, in the form of a front pane, is glued to the remaining part of the round basin in water-tight manner.

24: Container according to claim 1, wherein the outer walls (20) are disposed in a metal frame (46).

25: Container according to claim 24, wherein multiple metal frames (46) disposed next to one another are provided for a side wall (18).

26: Container (48) for aquatic plants (14; 16), which can be filled with water (12), having side walls (50) and a bottom (52), wherein the side walls (50) and the bottom (52) are configured to be hollow and form a cavity (54), wherein a plant culture medium (56) that makes the growth of aquatic plants possible is provided on the bottom (52) of the container (48), and wherein winter-hardy (58) and/or non-winter-hardy aquatic plants (60) are disposed in the container (48), which is filled with water (12).

27: Container according to claim 26, wherein the cavity (54) is filled with an insulating material (62).

28: Container according to claim 27, wherein the insulating material (62) is water-repellent and comprises hydrophobic rock wool or polystyrene.

29: Container according to claim 26, wherein the winter-hardy aquatic plants (58) are formed by winter-hardy water lilies.

30: Container according to claim 26, wherein the cavity (54) is filled with air.

31: Container according to claim 26, wherein there is a vacuum in the cavity (54).

32: Container according to claim 26, wherein the inner sides of the side walls (50) and of the bottom (52) are covered with a water-tight film (64).

33: Container according to claim 26, wherein the inner sides of the side walls and the bottom are covered by a water-tight stable tub provided as an insert.

34: Container according to claim 26, wherein aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, snails or mollusks are situated in the water of the container.

35: Container according to claim 26, wherein the container (48) is provided with a protective grid (66) on its top, open side, through which the aquatic plants (58; 60) can grow.

36: Container according to claim 26, wherein the container (48) is provided with an overflow (70) to allow excess water (12) to flow off.

Description

[0052] In the following, the invention will be explained in greater detail using the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. The figures show:

[0053] FIG. 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention,

[0054] FIG. 2 a schematic perspective representation of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention according to the first embodiment,

[0055] FIG. 3 a schematic perspective representation of a further exemplary embodiment of the invention according to the first embodiment, modeled after FIG. 2,

[0056] FIG. 4 a side view of a container according to the invention, according to an exemplary embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention,

[0057] FIG. 5 a top view of a bottom heating device according to the first embodiment of the invention,

[0058] FIG. 6 a schematic cross-sectional view according to a first exemplary embodiment of the second embodiment of the invention,

[0059] FIG. 7 a schematic cross-sectional view according to a second exemplary embodiment of the second embodiment of the invention, and

[0060] FIG. 8 a schematic cross-sectional view according to a further exemplary embodiment of the second embodiment of the invention, modeled after FIG. 7.

[0061] In FIG. 1, a container 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention is shown. The rectangular container 10, filled with water 12, is formed by four side walls 18 as well as by a bottom 24.

[0062] The side walls are structured in multiple layers and consist of an outer wall 20, an intermediate wall 22, which follows the outer wall toward the inside, and an inner layer 30 composed of a plastic film, which follows the intermediate wall toward the inside. The intermediate walls 22 are formed by an insulating material, for example hydrophobic rock wool or polystyrene. Wood, plastic or noble metal can be used for the outer walls 20 and the bottom wall 26.

[0063] The bottom 24 is formed by an outer, lower bottom wall 26, which is followed by a bottom intermediate wall 28, which is formed by an insulating material, corresponding to the intermediate walls 22. The inner layer 30 composed of plastic film, which has already been mentioned, follows the bottom intermediate wall (28), which layer covers not only the bottom intermediate wall 28 but also the intermediate walls 22.

[0064] To clarify the multi-layer structure of the container 10 or of the side walls 18 and the bottom 24, the individual components are shown at a distance from one another on the left, next to the perpendicular broken line A. On the right side of the broken line A, the individual components lie directly against one another.

[0065] At the bottom of the container 10, there is a plant culture medium 32, in which the roots of winter-hardy water lilies 14 or other aquatic plants can extend. Furthermore, a plant pot 34 is shown on the plant culture medium 32, in which non-winter-hardy water lilies 16, for example, grow. The use of a plant pot offers the possibility of being able to use water lilies or also other aquatic plants having low growth heights, and of being able to adapt the height difference without great effort. In contrast, water lilies whose growth height correspond to the height of the water 12 in the container 10 can grow directly in the plant culture medium 32, without a plant container 34.

[0066] In the region of the surface of the water 10, there is a protective grid 36 in the container 10. The grid structure of the protective grid 36 is composed in such a manner that the water lilies 14 and 16 can grow through the protective grid 36. In the event that fish are released in the water 10, the protective grid 36 prevents fish that tend to jump from jumping out of the water 10. In addition, the protective grid 36 also prevents small children from being able to fall into the container 10.

[0067] The container 10 is equipped with an overflow 38 on at least one side. In the event of heavy rainfall, the rising water 10 can run off through this overflow 38.

[0068] In FIG. 2, a second exemplary embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein the inner layer 30 described in FIG. 1 is formed by a basin 44 consisting of transparent material, in which basin the water 12 is situated. For reasons of clarity, no water lilies and no plant culture medium are shown in FIG. 2.

[0069] The container 10 comprises not only the basin 44 but also the bottom 24 as well as three side walls 18, which by three outer walls 20 and intermediate walls 22 composed of insulating material that follow them. The bottom 24 is formed by the outer bottom wall 26 and the bottom intermediate wall 28 composed of insulating material that follows it.

[0070] Aside from the use of the basin 44, the special feature of the container 10 consists in that no side wall is provided at the front side. At this location, the side of the basin 44 that is in question is exposed, and because the basin 44 consists of a transparent viewing element composed of glass or Plexiglas, the observer can look into the container 10 below the surface of the water 12 and here can view water lilies and other aquatic plants, not shown, from a completely new viewing angle.

[0071] Because of the missing outer wall 20 and intermediate wall 22, the open side of the container 10 is practically unprotected at cold temperatures. However, the possibility exists of protecting and covering the open side during the winter, by means of an individual element of a side wall 18 having an outer wall 20 and intermediate wall 22. In the spring, the corresponding, releasably attached element of the side wall 18 can then be removed again.

[0072] Also in the case of the further exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the front side of the container 10 is configured to be transparent, so that the observer can look into the interior of the container 10.

[0073] However, in contrast to FIG. 2, a basin 44 that is transparent as a whole is not provided. Instead, only the front side of the container 10, in the form of a front pane 72, is transparent (composed of glass or Plexiglas). The remaining inner surfaces of the container 10 are covered by the water-tight plastic film 30 that has already been mentioned in FIG. 1. The front pane 72 is firmly glued to the container 10, in water-tight manner, in the region of the front side of the container 10. In total, the plastic film 30, together with the front pane 72, forms an insert in the form of a water-tight tub or a water-tight basin.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment according to the first embodiment of the invention. A side wall 18 of a container 10 is shown, wherein the outer wall 20 is formed by slats 47 disposed perpendicularly one on top of the other. These slats 47 are held in grooves, not shown, of a metal frame 46. Sufficient stability is imparted to the side walls 18 of the container 10 by the metal frames 46, in order to withstand the pressure of the water 12 situated in the container 10.

[0075] In FIG. 5, a variant of the first embodiment of the invention is shown, in which a bottom heating device 40 is disposed on the bottom 24. In known manner, the bottom heating device 40 is formed by heating coils 42, which are structured in the manner of a pipe and through which heated fluid flows in the direction of the arrow tips B. The bottom heating device 40 can be operated in known manner, by means of a heat pump or using solar energy. In addition, operation with conventional electrical current is also possible.

[0076] As has already been mentioned, a grid, not shown here, can be laid onto the heating coils 42 to weigh them down, and a nylon loop mat, laminated to a nonwoven fabric on both sides, also not shown, can be laid onto this grid, over its full area. This nylon loop mat promotes uniform heat distribution of the heating coils that lie underneath it, and prevents direct heat damage caused by the clearly warmer heating coils. The thickness of the nylon loop mats can amount to between 5 and 50 mm.

[0077] The water heats up in the region of the bottom, by means of the bottom heating device 40, and the warm water subsequently rises upward. As a result, the entire water 12 in the container 10 warms up. By means of the bottom heating device, it is possible to use tropical plants, as well, in the summer, along with the water lilies, if the temperature of the water 12 is correspondingly set by means of the bottom heating device 40.

[0078] The drawing according to FIG. 6 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the second embodiment of the invention in a schematic cross-sectional view. Here, the side walls 50 and the bottom 52 of the container 48 are configured to be hollow, so that they produce a cavity 54. On the bottom 52 of the container 48, there is a plant culture medium 56 that makes the growth of aquatic plants possible. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a plant pot 68 is provided, in which non-winter-hardy water lilies 60 grow, for example.

[0079] The cavity 54 is filled with an insulating material 62. The bottom 52 and the side walls 50 are covered by a water-tight film 64 in the interior of the container 48, which film forms a tub. Corresponding to the first embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1, the container 48 is provided with an overflow 70.

[0080] In the exemplary embodiment of the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, there is a vacuum in the cavity 54, thereby also achieving a heat-insulating property of the side walls 54 and of the bottom 52. The roots of aquatic plants, for example of winter-hardy water lilies 58, extend in the plant culture medium 56. As was already the case in the embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1, a protective grid 66 is provided here, as well.

[0081] Modeled after FIG. 7, FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention, wherein no separate plant culture medium is provided on the bottom of the container 48 or on the film 64 situated there. Instead, the plant pot 68, which contains a plant culture medium and thereby makes growth of water lilies 60 possible, is situated in the container 48.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0082] 10 container [0083] 12 water [0084] 14 winter-hardy aquatic plants/water lilies [0085] 16 non-winter-hardy aquatic plants/water lilies [0086] 18 side walls [0087] 20 outer wall [0088] 22 intermediate walls/insulating material [0089] 24 bottom [0090] 26 outer bottom wall [0091] 28 bottom intermediate wall/insulating material [0092] 30 inner layer/plastic film [0093] 32 plant culture medium [0094] 34 plant pot [0095] 36 protective grid [0096] 38 overflow [0097] 40 bottom heating device [0098] 42 heating coils [0099] 44 basin [0100] 46 metal frame [0101] 47 boards [0102] 48 container [0103] 50 side walls [0104] 52 bottom [0105] 54 cavity [0106] 56 plant culture medium [0107] 58 winter-hardy aquatic plants/water lilies [0108] 60 non-winter-hardy aquatic plants/water lilies [0109] 62 insulating material [0110] 64 film [0111] 66 protective grid [0112] 68 plant pot [0113] 70 overflow [0114] 72 front pane [0115] A broken line [0116] B arrow tips