JP2003180156A - Mat for growing plant - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mat for growing plants, hard to cause the root rot of the plants. <P>SOLUTION: The mat for growing plants has a plurality of growing sections 3 and air flow sections 4 in an inner part 2 framed by an outer peripheral part 1. The growing sections 3 are formed into nearly boxy shapes each with an upper surface opened, the bottom parts of the sections 3 is positioned upper than the lower part of the outer peripheral part 1, and the air flow sections 4 are opened at the lower and upper surfaces. By this structure, air flows downward the growing sections 3 so as to cause no stagnation of heat, and thereby, root rot of the plant is hard to be caused in the growing sections 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plant-growth mat which is installed on a roof of a building or a veranda of a general house to grow plants.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, rooftop gardening and rooftop gardening have been carried out by taking measures such as heat island countermeasures and energy saving. For this rooftop greening, it is important that the soil for cultivating plants can retain water appropriately, and various mats for rooftop greening have been proposed for that purpose. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-317730, a mat for rooftop greening has been proposed in which projections are formed in a lattice pattern on the surface and a portion surrounded by the projections forms a recess for retaining water. There is.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned conventional mat for rooftop greening, the soil for cultivating plants is laid on the entire surface of the mat and the plants are cultivated. Since the temperature is high, root rot of plants is likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a plant-raising mat in which root rot of a plant is less likely to occur.

[0005]

A first invention is an outer peripheral portion 1
And an inner part 2 surrounded by the outer peripheral part 1 has a predetermined planar shape, and the inner part 2 has a substantially box-shaped growth compartment 3 having an upper surface opened, and a substantially vertical hole opened on the upper surface and the lower surface. A plant-growth mat having a plurality of shaped air-circulation sections 4, each of which has a bottom portion located above a lower portion of the outer peripheral portion 1.

A second aspect of the present invention is the plant growing mat according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the interior 2 has a vertical connecting partition 5 to which upper and lower connecting members are detachably connected.

A third aspect of the present invention is the plant-growth mat according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, in which the outer peripheral portion 1 has a flat joint portion 6 and a flat joint portion 7 which are mutually joined.

In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, the outer peripheral portion 1 has a rectangular shape, and each corner portion has an auxiliary connecting partition portion 40 into which an auxiliary connecting member 41 is fitted and connected. It is a plant mat.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a plant growth mat according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, in which a cutout portion 16 is formed on the upper surface of each growth partition portion 3.

[0010]

[Operation] According to the first invention, the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion 1 is in contact with the roof by installing it on the roof, and a gap is created between the bottom of the growth compartment 3 and the roof. Therefore, since air circulates through the air circulation partitioning portion 4 below the growth partitioning portion 3, heat does not accumulate in that portion, and the interior of the growth partitioning portion 3 does not have a high temperature. Is unlikely to occur. Further, since water, extra soil and nutrients in the growth compartment 3 flow into the air distribution compartment 4, the nutrients in the growth compartment 3 can be maintained in an appropriate amount and the water content becomes unnecessarily large. There is no. Therefore, root rot of the plant is more difficult to occur.

According to the second invention, it is possible to stack a plurality of plant-growth mats A at intervals vertically. Therefore, it is possible to install a plurality of plant growth mats A in a small installation space and grow a large number of plants in a small installation place. Further, by sprinkling water on the upper plant-raising mat A, the sprinkled water flows down the air circulation partitioning part 4 and flows to the growing-up partitioning part 3 of the lower plant-growth mat A. By doing so, water can also be sprayed on the growth section 3 of the plant growth mat A below. Further, since sunlight can be applied to the growth compartment 3 of the lower plant growth mat A through the air circulation partition 4 of the upper plant growth mat A, the sunlight of the lower plant growth mat A can be irradiated. Plants can be sufficiently grown in the growth section 3.

According to the third invention, a plurality of plant-growth mats A can be connected in the plane direction. Therefore, by using a plurality of plant-growth mats A, it is possible to obtain an arbitrary plane size.

According to the fourth invention, it is possible to connect the plant growth mats A which are adjacent to each other in the plane direction so as not to come off when they are lifted. Therefore, a plurality of plant-growth mats A connected in the plane direction can be lifted and transported.

According to the fifth aspect, unnecessary soil, nutrients and water in the growth section 3 are discharged from the notch 16. In addition, the roots of plants such as turf project from the cutouts 16 and enter the growth divisions 3 through the cutouts 16 of the other growth divisions 3.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a plant-growth mat according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 which is a schematic plan view and FIG. 2 which is a perspective view in which a part of the inside is omitted.
The plant-raising mat A has a predetermined plane shape in the outer peripheral portion 1 and the inside 2 surrounded by the outer peripheral portion 1, and has a predetermined plane size. The lower portion of the outer peripheral portion 1 projects below the lower portion of the inner portion 2. The inside 2 has a plurality of growth compartments 3, a plurality of air circulation compartments 4, and a vertical coupling compartment 5.
The outer peripheral portion 1 has a plane joint portion 6 and a plane joint portion 7. The plant-growth mat is molded using a recycled material (recycled pellet) of a synthetic resin product (for example, PET bottle). It is preferable that the material of the regenerated synthetic resin product has excellent weather resistance. The material for the plant-raising mat is not limited to the above-mentioned materials, and it goes without saying that metal or the like may be used.

Each of the growing sections 3 has a substantially box shape with an open upper surface, and its bottom is located above the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion 1. Soil or nutrients a necessary for growing is put in the growing section 3 to grow seeds or seedlings of plants. For this soil or nutrients, it is desirable to use a mixture of a soil water retention agent and an inorganic material. Each of the air circulation partition portions 4 has a substantially vertical hole shape that is open on the upper surface and the lower surface, and allows not only air but water and excess soil or nutrients of the growth partition portion 3 to pass through. The growth compartments 3 and the air distribution compartments 4 are arranged alternately or intermittently.

The upper and lower connecting compartments 5 are formed by stacking a plurality of plant-growth mats A on top of each other with a vertical connecting member, which will be described later, and connecting them. The upper and lower connecting compartments 5 are stacked. In order to hold the plant growing mat A horizontally when they are connected together, the plant growing mat A is provided at a well-balanced position in consideration of the position of the center of gravity of the plant growing mat A. The plane coupling part 6
And the to-be-joined to-be-joined part 7 have a shape to be joined to each other, and sequentially connect a plurality of plant-raising mats A in the plane direction.

As described above, when the plant growing mat is installed on the roof, the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion 1 contacts the roof, and a gap is generated between the roof and the bottom of the growing section 3. Since it is like this, air circulates between the air circulation partition 4 and the gap, and air does not circulate in a portion lower than the growth partition 3, and that portion does not retain heat. The temperature in 3 does not become high, and root rot of the plant hardly occurs. Moreover, since water, excess soil and nutrients in the growth compartment 3 flow into the air distribution compartment 4, the soil and nutrients in the growth compartment 3 can be held in appropriate amounts, and the water content is larger than necessary. Never be. Therefore, root rot of the plant is more difficult to occur. Further, since there are a plurality of growth compartments 3, it is possible to perform maintenance such as plant replacement for each one of the growth compartments 3.

Further, by providing the upper and lower connecting compartments 5, a plurality of plant growing mats can be vertically stacked by using the upper and lower connecting members. Even in such a stacked state, water, air, and the like flow from the top to the bottom through the air circulation partition portion 4, so that by sprinkling water from above, the water also flows to the growth partition portion 3 of the plant growth mat A below. That is, water can be sprinkled on the plant growth mat A below. Moreover, since the bottom area (installation area) in the stacked state is the same as that of one plant growth mat A, a large number of plants can be grown in a small installation place. Further, it is also possible to irradiate sunlight from the air distribution section 4 of the upper plant growth mat A to the growth section 3 of the lower plant growth mat A.

Further, by providing the plane connecting portion 6 and the plane joined portion 7, a plurality of plant growing mats A can be connected in the plane direction to form a large plant growing mat. Because of this, by providing a plurality of plant growth mats each having a predetermined plane size, it is possible to obtain a plant growth mat having an arbitrary plane size. In addition, maintenance such as plant replacement can be performed for each plant growth mat unit.

As described above, one plant-growth mat can be installed as a single unit, a plurality of plant-growth mats can be stacked one on top of the other, or a plurality of plant-growth mats can be installed in a planar direction. However, the rooftop on which they are installed may be horizontal or sloped.
Further, for the purpose of improving the moisture retention effect of plant growth and buffering it, a non-woven fabric (sheet polyester etc.) is laid on the roof as a backing material and installed on it.

Next, an example of a specific shape of the plant-raising mat will be described. The outer peripheral portion 1 has a pair of first vertical plates 10 facing each other and a pair of second vertical plates 11 facing each other, and has a rectangular planar shape. The planar shape of the outer peripheral portion 1 is not limited to the rectangular shape,
A triangular shape or a pentagonal shape may be used. Further, the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion 1 may have an uneven shape. A plurality of first internal vertical plates 12 are integrally provided between the pair of first vertical plates 10.
A plurality of second internal vertical plates 13 are provided between the pair of second vertical plates 11.
Are provided integrally. The first internal vertical plate 12 and the second internal vertical plate 13 are integrally connected in a cross shape to form a rectangular frame portion 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this first
-Upper surfaces 12a, 13a of the second inner vertical plates 12, 13 and the first
-The upper surfaces 10a and 11a of the second vertical plates 10 and 11 are flush with each other,
The lower surfaces 12b and 13b of the first and second inner vertical plates 12 and 13 are located above the lower surfaces 10b and 11b of the first and second vertical plates 10 and 11, respectively. The bottom plate 15 is integrally provided on the bottom portion of the rectangular frame portion 14 to form the growth partition portion 3, and the rectangular frame portion 14
The air flow dividing section 4 is used by itself.

As shown in FIG. 3, notches 16 are formed in the upper part of the growth partitioning part 3, for example, in the upper part of the first and second inner vertical plates 12, 13 where the growth partitioning part 3 is formed. is there. Excessive soil, nutrients, and water in the growth section 3 are discharged from the cutout 16. In addition, the roots of plants such as turf project from the cutouts 16, and the cutouts 1 of the other growth divisions 3
It enters from the 6th.

The upper and lower connecting compartments 5 are connected with the upper and lower connecting members in a detachable manner. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a bottom plate 17 is provided on the lower surface of the rectangular frame portion 14 surrounded by the first and second inner vertical plates 12 and 13, and a hole 18 is formed in the bottom plate 17.
Has been formed. The hole 18 has a pair of notches 18a facing each other in the radial direction. The cutout portion 18a has a rectangular shape. The upper and lower connecting members are detachably connected to the upper and lower connecting section 5. For example, as shown in FIG.
It is formed by 0 and the bolt 21. The lower part of the rod 20 is inserted into the hole 18 of the upper and lower connecting compartments 5 of the lower plant growth mat A, and is connected so as not to come out upward. For example, in the lower portion of the rod 20, a rectangular portion 20a that is inserted into the pair of notches 18a, a circular portion 20b that is inserted into the hole 18,
It has a downward step portion 20c, and the rectangular portion 20a is inserted into the pair of cutout portions 18a so as to protrude below the hole 18 and is rotated by a predetermined angle as shown in FIG.
Is connected to the lower surface of the bottom plate 17 so as not to come out upward. In this state, the downward step portion 20c is located at the upper end surface of the vertical coupling partition 5, that is, the first and second internal vertical plates 12, 13
Abut on the upper end surfaces 12a and 13a. A screw hole 20d is formed in the upper portion of the rod 20. As shown in FIG.
The rod 20 is formed by screwing a bolt 21 into the screw hole 20d from the hole 18 of the upper and lower connecting partition 5 of the upper plant growth mat A.
The upper part of is connected.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ropes 22 for hanging are connected to the upper and lower connecting compartments 5 by the bolts 21, so that the ropes 22 for hanging are hoisted by a crane or the like to be stacked. The plant-growth mat A can be easily transported.

When stacking in three stages or more and connecting,
As shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 5, an upper and lower connecting member having a lower screw portion 23 and an upper screw hole 24 is used.
Is screwed into the screw hole 20d of the upper and lower connecting members below from the hole 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plane coupling portion 6 has coupling holes 6a penetrating the upper and lower surfaces thereof. For example, the planar U-shaped member 30 is attached to the outer peripheral portion 1 (first vertical plate 10, second vertical plate 1
1), and the member 30 and the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion 1 form a coupling hole 6a. The flat coupled part 7 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, it has a coupling projection 7a that fits into the coupling hole 6a. For example, the outer peripheral portion 1 (the first and second vertical plates 1
(0, 11), a pair of cutout recesses 31 are formed at a distance from each other, and a portion between the pair of cutout recesses 31 serves as a coupling projection 7a.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a), 8 (b), 8 (c) and 8 (d), one of the plant-raising mats A is lifted up so that the connecting projections 7a are provided in the other plant-growing mat A. Located on top of. One of the plant-raising mats A is moved downward to fit the connecting projections 7a into the connecting holes 6a to connect them. By thus connecting, it is possible to prevent the plant-growth mat A from being displaced or turning over.

Further, since the plane connecting portion 6 and the plane joined portion 7 are provided on the pair of first vertical plates 10 and the pair of second vertical plates 11, respectively, a plurality of plant growth mats A are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. It can be connected infinitely and can be installed in a vast area.

When a plurality of plant-growth mats A connected in the plane direction by the plane connecting portion 6 and the plane joined portion 7 as described above are lifted, the plane joined portion 6 and the plane joined portion 7 are pulled out in the vertical direction, Since a plurality of plant-growth mats A come off, they cannot be lifted and transported by a crane or the like. In order to eliminate this, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a), (b), and (c), auxiliary connection partition sections 40 are formed at four corners of the plant-raising mat A, and adjacent plant-raising mats A are formed. By fitting and mounting the auxiliary connecting member 41 over the auxiliary connecting partition 40, the plurality of plant growth mats A are not separated when lifted.

The auxiliary connecting partition portion 40 has a shape having a recess 40a opened on the lower surface. The auxiliary connecting member 4
Reference numeral 1 denotes a shape in which a plurality of protrusions 41b are provided on the plate 41a, and the protrusions 41b are strongly fitted into the recess 40a, that is, fitted so as not to come off even when a strong force acts. As a result, when a plurality of plant growing mats A connected in the plane direction are lifted, the plurality of plant growing mats A are not separated and cannot be detached, so that they can be lifted and transported by a crane or the like.

The auxiliary connecting member 41 has a shape having two protrusions 41b as shown in FIG. 10 (a) when connecting two plant growing mats, and when connecting three plant growing mats. Is a shape in which three protrusions 41b are provided on an L-shaped plate 41a as shown in FIG. 10 (b), and when connecting four plant growth mats, FIG.
As shown in (c), it has a shape having four protrusions 41b.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion 1 contacts the roof by installing it on the roof, and a gap is formed between the bottom of the growth compartment 3 and the roof. Therefore, since air circulates through the air circulation partitioning portion 4 below the growth partitioning portion 3, heat does not accumulate in that portion, and the interior of the growth partitioning portion 3 does not have a high temperature. Is unlikely to occur. Further, since water, extra soil and nutrients in the growth compartment 3 flow into the air distribution compartment 4, the nutrients in the growth compartment 3 can be maintained in an appropriate amount and the water content becomes unnecessarily large. There is no. Therefore, root rot of the plant is more difficult to occur.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of plant-growth mats A can be stacked vertically at intervals. Therefore, it is possible to install a plurality of plant growth mats A in a small installation space and grow a large number of plants in a small installation place. Further, by sprinkling water on the upper plant-raising mat A, the sprinkled water flows down the air circulation partitioning part 4 and flows to the growing-up partitioning part 3 of the lower plant-growth mat A. By doing so, water can also be sprayed on the growth section 3 of the plant growth mat A below. Further, since sunlight can be applied to the growth compartment 3 of the lower plant growth mat A through the air circulation partition 4 of the upper plant growth mat A, the sunlight of the lower plant growth mat A can be irradiated. Plants can be sufficiently grown in the growth section 3.

According to the invention of claim 3, a plurality of plant-growth mats A can be connected in the plane direction. Therefore, by using a plurality of plant-growth mats A, it is possible to obtain an arbitrary plane size.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the plant-growth mats A that are adjacent to each other in the plane direction can be connected so as not to come off when lifted. Therefore, a plurality of plant-growth mats A connected in the plane direction can be lifted and transported.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, unnecessary soil, nutrients and water in the growing section 3 are discharged from the notch 16. In addition, the roots of plants such as turf project from the cutouts 16 and enter the growth divisions 3 through the cutouts 16 of the other growth divisions 3.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view schematically showing an embodiment of a plant growing mat of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a plant growing mat of the present invention with a part of the interior omitted.

3 is an enlarged detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of a partition for vertical connection.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view in which the plant-growth mats are vertically connected.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the plant growth mats are vertically connected.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which hanging ropes are connected.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of connecting the plant growth mats in a plane direction.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of connecting the plant growth mats that are adjacent to each other in the plane direction so as not to come off.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an auxiliary connecting member.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer peripheral part, 2 ... Inner peripheral part, 3 ... Growth division part, 4 ... Air distribution division part, 5 ... Vertical connection division part, 6 ... Planar connection part, 7
... Plane to-be-joined portion, 16 ... Notch portion, 20 ... Upper and lower joining member, 40 ... Auxiliary connecting partition portion, 41 ... Auxiliary connecting member.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An outer peripheral portion 1 and an inner portion 2 surrounded by the outer peripheral portion 1 have a predetermined planar shape, and the inner portion 2 has a substantially box-shaped growth partitioning portion 3 having an open upper surface, and an upper surface. Plant growth characterized in that it has a plurality of substantially vertical hole-shaped air circulation partition parts 4 that open to the lower surface, and the bottom of each of the growth partition parts 3 is located above the lower part of the outer peripheral part 1. mat. 2. The plant-raising mat according to claim 1, wherein the interior 2 has a vertical connecting partition 5 to which upper and lower connecting members are detachably connected. 3. The plant-growth mat according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral portion 1 has a planar joint portion 6 and a planar joint portion 7 which are mutually joined. 4. The plant growing mat according to claim 3, wherein the outer peripheral portion 1 has a rectangular shape, and each of the corner portions has an auxiliary connecting partition portion 40 to which an auxiliary connecting member 41 is fitted and connected. 5. The plant growth mat according to claim 1, 2 or 3 or 4, wherein a cutout portion 16 is formed on the upper surface of each growth division portion 3.