PLANT CONTAINER FOR GREENING WALLS AND A GREENING WALL

Abstract

A plant container for greening walls has a main body defining a chamber to receive a growth medium for a plant. A draining pipe is coupled with the main body, extends along a back wall of the main body and has a top end, a bottom end and an opening in a wall of the draining pipe to allow water from inside the chamber to enter inside the draining pipe. The opening in the wall of the draining pipe extends from a bottom wall of the main body. A connecting conduit is configured to connect the bottom end of the draining pipe with a top end of the draining pipe of another plant container of the same type. A through hole extends along the whole length of the draining pipe.

Claims

1. A plant container for greening walls, comprising: a main body defining a chamber to receive a growth medium for a plant; a draining pipe coupled with the main body, extending along a back wall of the main body and having a top end, a bottom end and an opening in a wall of the draining pipe to allow water from inside the chamber to enter inside the draining pipe; wherein the opening in the wall of the draining pipe extends from a bottom wall of the main body; a connecting conduit configured to connect the bottom end of the draining pipe with a top end of the draining pipe of another plant container of the same type; and a through hole that extends along the whole length of the draining pipe.

2. The plant container according to claim 1, wherein the draining pipe extends vertically along the main body.

3. The plant container according to claim 1, wherein the draining pipe is formed integrally with the back wall of the main body.

4. The plant container according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the wall of the draining pipe has a form of a slit.

5. The plant container according to claim 1, wherein the opening extends along the whole length of the draining pipe.

6. The plant container according to claim 1, wherein the opening extends along a part of the length of the draining pipe, up to the top end of the opening.

7. The plant container according to claim 1, wherein the opening is perforated.

8. The plant container according to claim 1, further comprising an insert installed at the bottom end of the draining pipe to cover at least part of the opening.

9. The plant container according to claim 1, further comprising fasteners at a back wall of the main body to secure the main body to a greening wall structure.

10. The plant container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rib extending along the internal portion of at least one wall of the main body.

11. The plant container according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of ribs parallel to each other and extending along the internal portion of at least one wall of the main body.

12. The plant container according to claim 1, further comprising a recess in each of the side walls for accommodating a water supply pipe.

13. The plant container according to claim 1, further comprising a pouch with the growth medium located within the chamber.

14. The plant container according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is configured to receive a plurality of pouches positioned next to each other.

15. A greening wall comprising a frame and a plurality of plant containers according to claim 1 mounted on the frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent by describing, in detail, exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a container in a view from the front;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the container in a view from the back;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the container with an insert in a draining pipe;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the container in a cross-sectional view;

[0027] FIG. 5A shows two containers located one above another in a side view;

[0028] FIG. 5B shows a first configuration of a draining pipe;

[0029] FIG. 5C shows a second configuration of the draining pipe;

[0030] FIG. 5D shows a third configuration of the draining pipe;

[0031] FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment of the container in a view from the back;

[0032] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a greening wall with a plurality of containers of the first embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 8 shows two containers hanged at opposite sides of the greening wall;

[0034] FIG. 9 shows a portion of a greening wall formed from a plurality of plant containers of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference will now be made to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Aspects and features of the embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements. The present invention, however, may be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as being limited only to the illustrated embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the aspects and features of the present invention to those skilled in the art. It shall be understood that not all of the features shown in the embodiments are essential and the scope of the protection is defined not by means of literally shown embodiments, but by the features provided in the claims.

[0036] FIGS. 1-5A show a first embodiment of the invention which is a plant container for a single pouch. The container has a main body 100 comprising a back wall 101, two side walls 102, 103, a bottom wall 104 and a front wall 105. The walls 101-105 encompass a chamber 110 in which a growth medium 112 for a plant (and preferably with the plant 113) can be positioned.

[0037] A draining pipe 120 is coupled with the main body 100 such that it is integrated with the back wall 101, wherein the back wall 101 of the main body 100 forms the back wall of the draining pipe 120. The draining pipe 120 has a top end 121 positioned vertically above a bottom end 122, and a connecting conduit 124 located adjacently to the bottom end 122. The connecting conduit 124 has a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the top end 121 of the draining pipe 120, therefore it can be easily inserted into the draining pipe 120 of a container of the same type located below, as shown in FIG. 5A. The wall 126 of the draining pipe 120 has an opening 123 to allow water from inside the chamber 110 to enter inside the draining pipe 120. The opening 123 extends from a bottom wall of the main body (i.e. from where the draining pipe 120 intersects with the bottom wall 104). A through hole 127 extends along the whole length of the draining pipe 120.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, an insert 125 can be installed at a bottom end 122 of the draining pipe 120 to cover a bottom portion of the opening slit 123, such that some water can be collected at the bottom of the container up to the height of the insert 125, depending on the needs of the plant growing in that container.

[0039] A pair of off-centered hooks 106 is formed at the back wall 101 of the main body 100, by means of which the container may be hang on a greening wall structure, such as shown in FIG. 8, wherein two containers are hang at opposite sides of a horizontal bar 201 of the structure.

[0040] A plurality of pairs of ribs 107 extend along all walls 101-105, which offset the pouch 111 with the growth medium 112 from the walls, as shown in FIG. 4. In particular, one of the ribs 107A is located at a distance not exceeding twice its height, from the slit 123 formed at a side wall of the draining pipe 120.

[0041] In a first configuration, as shown in FIG. 5B, the draining pipe 120 may have the opening 123 extending through substantially the whole length of the draining pipe 120, i.e. from the bottom wall 104 of the main body 100 up to the top end 121 of the draining pipe.

[0042] In a second configuration, as shown in FIG. 5C, the draining pipe 120 may have the opening 123 extending only partially through the draining pipe 120, i.e. from the bottom wall 104 of the main body 100 up to a top end 123T of the opening 123, such that between the top end 123T of the opening 123 and the top end 121 of the draining pipe 120 the draining pipe has a fully closed circumferential wall 123.

[0043] In a third configuration, as shown in FIG. 5C, the draining pipe 120 may comprise a plurality of perforations 123P, wherein the bottom perforation forms an opening 123 extending from the bottom wall 104 of the main body 100 up to its top end 123T.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the container, which is similar to the first embodiment, with the following differences. The front wall 105 is curved, such that two sections 110A, 110B are defined within the chamber that allow to position two pouches therein. A single central drain pipe 120, preferably having the opening 123 facing the front wall 105, is present for collecting water from pouches located in both sections 110A, 110B, thereby the container can be used with the same type of the container or the type of the first embodiment, located above or below it. This type of container can be fastened to the greening wall structure by means of hooks as in the first embodiment or by screws inserted to attachment openings 109.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a greening wall formed from a plurality of plant containers of the first embodiment mounted on a frame 200.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows a portion of a greening wall formed from a plurality of plant containers of the second embodiment, with water supply pipes 211 with drippers 212 extend along each row of containers positioned at the same level. The horizontal water supply pipes 211 may be connected to common vertical water supply line 213.

[0047] Although the invention is presented in the drawings and the description and in relation to its embodiments, these embodiments do not restrict nor limit the presented invention. It is therefore evident that changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the essence of the invention, may be made. The presented embodiments are therefore to be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. According to the abovementioned, the scope of the invention is not restricted to the presented embodiments but is indicated by the appended claims.