Internal irrigation circuit board, plantable roof tile comprised of an internal irrigation circuit board and a wall panel comprised of an internal irrigation circuit board

Abstract

An internal irrigation circuit board (10) comprises: a body (1), with a planting niche (2) adjacent to a drip irrigation channel (3) holding at least one drip irrigation hose (5), with the drip irrigation channel (3) functioning in cooperation with the planting niche (2) through a connecting channel (4) arrayed concurrently with the drip irrigation channel (3), the connecting channel (4) conveying water accumulated in the drip irrigation channel (3) to the planting niche (2).

Claims

1. A pair of plantable roof tiles, each comprising, from bottom to top, a base tile, a core, and a perforated cap tile, wherein the core consists of an internal irrigation circuit board which comprises: a body comprising a growth surface opposite a lower surface, wherein the growth surface is closer to the top than the lower surface, a planting niche adjacent to a drip irrigation channel holding at least one drip irrigation hose, wherein the plant niche and the drip irrigation channel are open on the growth surface, the drip irrigation channel being cooperated with the planting niche through a connecting channel arrayed concurrently with the drip irrigation channel, wherein the connecting channel is open on the growth surface, the connecting channel being configured to convey water accumulated in the drip irrigation channel to the planting niche by gravity from the top; two or more longitudinal run-off channels connected to the planting niche, wherein surplus water in the planting niche is drained away through the two or more longitudinal run-off channels, wherein the two or more longitudinal run-off channels are longitudinally parallel to each other, and wherein the two or more longitudinal run-off channels are arrayed and open on the lower surface; wherein the base tile covers the lower surface of the core; wherein the perforated cap tile covers the core, wherein the perforated cap tile is open over the planting niche to allow seedlings in the plant niche to grow; wherein the first of the pair of plantable roof tiles has a female connector and the second of the pair of plantable roof tiles has a male connector, and wherein the female and male connectors are configured to connect such that the pair of plantable roof tiles are leakproof.

2. The plantable roof tile, according to claim 1, wherein the drip irrigation hose is configured to be inserted into the drip irrigation channel after the assembly of the internal irrigation circuit board in the space between the base tile and the perforated cap tile.

3. The plantable roof tile, according to claim 2, wherein the body comprises at least one spacer segments alongside the growing surface.

4. The plantable roof tile, according to claim 2, wherein the body is flat.

5. The plantable roof tile, according to claim 2, wherein the planting niche holds a substrate and a plurality of plant seedlings.

6. The plantable roof tile, according to claim 2, wherein the body is made from polymer or thermoplastic material and wherein the body is solid or hollow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This invention will be described in greater detail below, based on an example of an installation presented in the Drawings. The Figures show:

(2) FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views in perspective of the internal irrigation circuit board object of this invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view in perspective of the internal irrigation circuit board arrayed in a plantable roof tile object of this invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view in perspective of the internal irrigation circuit board arrayed in a plantable wall panel object of this invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the drawer-like engagement of one plantable roof tile 20 in another succeeding plantable roof tile 20 or one wall panel 30 in another subsequent wall panel 30.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) According to a preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the present invention refers to an internal irrigation circuit board 10, a plantable roof tile 20 comprising the internal irrigation circuit board 10 with a core 23 and to a plantable wall panel 30 comprising the internal irrigation circuit board 10 as a core 33.

(7) As may be seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the internal irrigation circuit board 10 comprises a body 1 that may be solid or hollow, which does not accumulate water at undesirable places, restricting the weight limit of the board 10.

(8) Particularly with regard to FIG. 1a, this illustrates an internal irrigation circuit board 10 with the specific geometry (trapezoidal, corrugated or other formats) whereby it forms at least one and preferably two spacer segments 13, 14 on each side of a growing surface 11 that contains a planting niche 2, conferring the structural characteristics of the tile formats commonly found on the market.

(9) The planting niche 2 holds a substrate and a plurality of plant seedlings and it is in this planting niche 2 that the roots of these plants grow whereby they form a green roof tile together with a plurality of other plants grown in the planting niches 2 of other boards 10.

(10) With regard to the spacer segments 13, 14, their function is to establish sufficient space, together with the other parts of the body 1, between a cap 22 of the plantable roof tile 20 (FIG. 2) and the growing surface 11 for the formation of a plant root system. Wider spacing between the cap 22 and the base 21, that is, a thicker core 23, allow larger plants to grow. The smaller the spacing, the smaller the volume for root formation in the planting niche 2, thus allowing only the growth of smaller plants.

(11) As may also be seen in FIG. 1a, the body 1 of the internal irrigation circuit board 10 also comprises a drip irrigation channel 3 arrayed close to a rear extremity 15 of the board 10 and alongside the planting niche 2. This drip irrigation channel runs through the body 1, that is, from one lateral surface to the other, with its function being to hold at least one drip irrigation hose 5.

(12) Furthermore, the drip irrigation channel 3 is cooperated with the planting niche 2 through the connecting channel 4 arrayed concurrently with the drip irrigation channel 3 and linking this drip irrigation channel 3 to the planting niche 2. The connecting channel 4 conveys water from the drip irrigation channel 3 to the planting niche 2 by gravity. Surplus water in the planting niche 2 is drained away through a plurality of run-off channels 6 that are longitudinally parallel to each other and connected to the planting niche 2, arrayed on a lower surface 12 of the body 1.

(13) FIG. 1b illustrates a variation on the body 1 of the internal irrigation circuit board 10. In this variation, the body 1 presents a flat geometry with no spacer segments, but with channels at various levels preventing water from accumulating at undesired places.

(14) In this variation of the internal irrigation circuit board 10 illustrated in FIG. 1b, the body 1 of the internal irrigation circuit board 10 also comprises a drip irrigation channel 3 arrayed close to a rear extremity 15 of the board 10 and alongside the planting niche 2. This irrigation channel runs across the body 1, that is, from one lateral surface to the other, with the function of holding at least one drip irrigation hose 5.

(15) This drip irrigation channel 3 is cooperated with the planting niche 2 through the connecting channel 4 arrayed concurrently with the drip irrigation channel 3 and connecting this drip irrigation channel 3 to the planting niche 2. The connecting channel 4 conveys water from the drip irrigation channel 3 to the planting niche 2 by gravity. Surplus water in the planting niche 2 is drained away through a plurality of run-off channels 6 that are longitudinally parallel to each other and connected to the planting niche 2, arrayed on a lower surface 12 of the body 1.

(16) This variation of the internal irrigation circuit board 10 illustrated in FIG. 1b allows its use on wall panels that are arranged vertically on indoor and outdoor walls, for example.

(17) Still with regard to the body 1, this may consist of a single part, it may be a type of tray molded from a thin metal sheet, among other possibilities. However, for all options, the material used is preferably polymer or thermoplastic.

(18) The internal irrigation circuit board 10 has the function of a core 23 in plantable roof tiles 20 and wall panels 30, holding a drip irrigation hose 5 that is inserted into the drip irrigation channel 3 only after the board 10 is assembled in the plantable roof tile 20 or wall panel 30.

(19) More specifically and as may be seen in FIG. 2, the plantable roof tile 20 comprises the base tile 21 and a perforated cap tile 22 covering the base 21 in order to form a space that is filled by the core 23 which consists of the internal irrigation circuit board 10. The base tile 21 and the perforated cap tile 22 may be made from metal, polymer or thermoplastic material.

(20) Similarly and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the wall panel 30 also comprises a base panel 21 and a perforated cap panel 22 covering the base 21 in order to form a space that is filled by the core 23 which consists of the internal irrigation circuit board 10. The base panel 21 and the perforated cap panel 22 may be made from metal, polymer or thermoplastic material.

(21) For both the roof tile 20 and the wall panel 30, the perforated cap tile 22 ou perforated cap panel 22 comprises at least one hole facing the planting niche 2 of the internal irrigation circuit board 10 holding a plurality of plant seedlings.

(22) As illustrated in FIG. 4, as the plantable roof tile unit 20 or the wall panel 30 is assembled with the base tile 21/base panel 21, with a perforated cap tile 22/perforated cap panel 22 and the core 23 that consists of the internal irrigation circuit board 10, the joint of a plantable roof tile 20 to another subsequent roof tile 20 or a panel 30 to another subsequent panel 30 may done with a slot-in type system, aligning the connection points between the roof tiles 20 or the panels 30 where the conformation shown in the drawings forms a male and female type track that allows two parts to slide while remaining aligned and ensuring that they are leakproof, or with click-type or locking, also using a male and female configuration for the roof tile 20 or the panel 30, whereby they slot together along the upper line of a roof tile 20 or a panel 30 and the lower line of another roof tile 20 or panel 30 adjacent thereto during assembly.

(23) Thus, once the plantable roof tiles 20 or the wall panels 30 are assembled, the drip irrigation hose 5 is inserted in the drip irrigation channels 3. Water running through the drip irrigation hose 5 is released into the drip irrigation channel 3 and conveyed by gravity to the planting niche 2 through the connecting channel 4, irrigating the substrate and the seedlings planted in the niche 2.

(24) The geometry of the internal irrigation circuit board 10 addressed by this invention and the assembly of the plantable roof tile 20 or the wall panel 30 containing this internal irrigation circuit board 10 and also object of this invention, allow the use of any type of drip-irrigation hose, that is, the assembly of the plantable tile 20 or the wall panel 30 with this board 10 does not require a specific hose that must be considered a part of the roof tile 20. The user may select its best option for the drip irrigation hose after the roof tiles 20 have been installed.

(25) This is because, after the roof tiles 20 or the panels 30 have been assembled/slotted together, the drip irrigation hose 5 is inserted in the drip irrigation channels 3 of these roof tiles 20 or panels 30 through a pusher or puller, similar to those used for electric wires, with this drip irrigation hose 5 requiring only a diameter compatible with the drip irrigation channel 3. Once the water begins to drip at any point along this drip irrigation channel 3, it is distributed by gravity to the planting niches 2 holding the substrate and the plant seedlings.

(26) Having described in example of a preferred embodiment, it must be understood that the scope of this invention encompasses other possible variations, being limited only by the content of the appended Claims, including possible equivalents thereto.