FR3055182A1 - PLANT SUPPORTING DEVICE AND FRAME STRUCTURE FOR SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant support device (10) which comprises: - a peripheral culture support (105), - at least one openwork holding means (110), for placing a plant through a day of a holding means, fixed to the culture support forming a first face and a second face and closing the space defined by the culture support, - at least one separator (115) fixed to the culture support in a first direction, each separator forming a junction between the first and second faces; - the superabsorbent polymer (120) for retaining a liquid placed between the first face and the second face in each part separated by a separator.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plant support device and a framing structure for such a device. It applies, in particular, in the field of plant walls and plant supports arranged vertically or horizontally, plant roofs, plant floors, near motorways, for example.

STATE OF THE ART

Currently, there are frames to hang on a wall with plants. These frames have water tanks and spread the water at the root of the plants installed in the frame. The plants are installed in a porous material such as moss, earth or cotton, in which the plants take root. The frames are equipped with a water tank filling the porous material by capillary action.

However, the autonomy of these frames is very low, indeed, the water tank only allows to serve the roots in water for a few weeks. In addition, the tank being on the side of the wall on which the frame is installed, it is difficult to access. To fill the tank, a user must remove the heavy frame, fill the tank, and reassemble the frame well horizontally so as not to spill water.

These frames also have the disadvantage that in the event of the death of one of the plants on the frame, the removal of the latter causes degradation of the porous material, which is not aesthetic and requires the entire replacement of the porous material. Plants still alive must be transplanted.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks. In particular, the present invention aims to allow easy supply of plants water to the device object of the present invention and for a longer period.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a plant support device, comprising:

- a peripheral culture support,

- at least one perforated holding means, for placing a plant through a day of a holding means, fixed to the culture support by forming a first face and a second face and closing the space delimited by the culture support,

at least one separator fixed to the culture support in a first direction, each separator forming a junction between the first and the second face,

- superabsorbent polymer for retaining a liquid placed between the first face and the second face in each part separated by a separator.

Thanks to these provisions, the water or the superabsorbent polymer, possibly comprising nutrients and trace elements for the plants, is retained and makes it possible to supply the plants with liquid for a duration greater than three months.

In addition, the device does not include a tank and is not subject to the drawbacks of such a tank. Indeed, to charge the superabsorbent polymer with water, it suffices to spray water on the polymer.

Also, the separators allow the superabsorbent polymer to be distributed uniformly in the device so that each plant has similar access to the water retained by the polymer.

Plants having their roots intertwined in the polymer, no soil or soil is necessary which avoids dirtying the wall and the ground around the device. In addition, if a plant dies, or must be removed from the device, the roots are separated from the superabsorbent polymer, which takes the form of a gel. You can then put a plant back in the space left by the removed plant.

Also, the plants are installed in a hydroponic culture, with hydro-fertilizing retention which avoids the dirt of the ground and the lack of food of the plants.

In embodiments, the first and second faces are substantially parallel and each separator is placed in a plane normal to the first and to the second face.

These embodiments allow each separator to be installed substantially parallel to the ground once the device is fixed to the wall.

In embodiments, the device which is the subject of the present invention comprises at least one perforated dividing means and fixed to the culture support in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, each dividing means being between the first and the second face. .

The advantage of these embodiments is to separate the space into parallelepipeds in which superabsorbent polymer is installed. The plants therefore all have sufficient growth and have a beautiful aesthetic appearance. Also, in the event of an attack by a parasite on a plant, it is easier to remove this plant.

In embodiments, at least one holding means and / or at least one separator and / or at least one dividing means is made of material:

- mesh,

- interlaced and / or

- braided.

Thanks to these provisions, porosity is maintained between the various elements while retaining sufficient rigidity to partition the device.

In embodiments, the liquid retained by the superabsorbent polymer and / or the superabsorbent polymer comprises at least one plant feeding substance.

These embodiments make it possible to increase the life of the plants installed in the device which is the subject of the present invention.

In embodiments, the culture medium is incorporated into a framing structure comprising at least one hollow subdivision of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the culture medium.

These embodiments make it possible to separate the device from all of the plants, in particular in the context of a plant wall on which only part of the plants can be replaced.

In embodiments, the culture support is made of mesh, interlaced and / or braided material, and the junction of the culture support to each holding means has a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the material of the culture support.

These embodiments make it possible to partially soften the device while retaining the shape and the rigidity of the structure of the culture support and to limit its weight in order to facilitate transport.

In embodiments, the culture support is attached to the framing structure by a self-gripping link.

The advantage of these embodiments is to facilitate the mounting and dismounting of the culture support relative to the framing structure.

In embodiments, the culture medium is fixed to the framing structure by a magnetic link.

These embodiments make it possible to fix the culture support to a metallic framing structure and therefore to limit the weight of the assembly. In addition, only the culture medium or the framing structure has a magnet.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a framing structure, for a device which is the subject of the present invention, comprising at least one open subdivision of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the culture medium of the device.

The aims, advantages and particular characteristics of the frame structure object of the present invention being similar to those of the device object of the present invention, they are not repeated here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the device and of the framing structure which are the subject of the present invention, with reference to the attached drawings. , wherein :

FIG. 1 represents, diagrammatically and in section, a first particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention,

FIG. 2 represents, diagrammatically and in section along a second cutting plane perpendicular to the first cutting plane, the first particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention,

FIG. 3 represents, schematically and in front view, the first particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention,

FIG. 4 represents, diagrammatically and in front view, a second particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention,

FIG. 5 represents, schematically and in back view, a third particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention,

FIG. 6 represents, schematically and in back view, a fourth particular embodiment of the device which is the subject of the present invention, and

- Figure 7 shows, schematically and in front view, a first particular embodiment of the frame structure object of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The present description is given without limitation, each characteristic of an embodiment can be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment in an advantageous manner. Furthermore, each parameter of an exemplary embodiment can be implemented independently of other parameters of said exemplary embodiment.

We note now that the figures are not to scale.

It is noted here that the term "fixed" must be understood as inseparable from an element, examples of fastenings are gluing, sewing, screwing, stapling, fixing by nails or screws, interlocking or welding, for example.

FIG. 1, which is not to scale, shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the device 10 which is the subject of the present invention. FIG. 2 represents the embodiment of the device 10 of the present invention according to a second section perpendicular to the section plane of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 represents a front view of the embodiment of the device 10 represented in section in Figure 1 and 2.

The plant support device 10, 130, 135 and 140, includes a peripheral culture support 105.

The culture support 105 is a peripheral structuring element at least part of which has a through opening. The culture medium 105 therefore forms a rigid or flexible frame around a void.

Preferably, the culture support 105 is a cylinder trunk defining the periphery comprising the through opening in the trunk of the generator cylinder parallel to the generator of the periphery. The faces defining the cylinder trunk are substantially parallel. The culture medium 105 therefore defines two parallel faces on each side of the opening delimited by the culture medium 105.

We recall here that a cylinder is a surface in space defined by a straight line, called a generatrix, passing through a variable point describing a closed planar curve, called a directing curve, and keeping a fixed direction. The directing curve is preferably a straight line.

The guide curve of the periphery does not intersect with the guide curve of the through opening. The guide curve of the through opening is written in the guide curve of the periphery.

îo In embodiments, the guiding curves of the through opening and of the periphery are rectangles or squares of parallel sides. In other embodiments, the guide curves of the through opening and the periphery are two concentric circles of different radii.

The culture medium 105 may include a decorative element in the plane of one of the defined faces such as a frame in a predefined material known to those skilled in the art comprising reliefs and / or particular decorations.

The culture medium 105 may include elements for fixing to a wall known to a person skilled in the art such as:

- a cable connected to two hooks fixed to the culture support 105 or

- a metal support comprising a hole configured to pass a screw or a nail, for example.

Preferably, in the first embodiment 10, the culture support 105 is made of wood, plastic, or a metal alloy such as stainless steel. The rigidity of the culture support 105 is preferably such that the support 105 does not undergo plastic deformations when the device 10 supports plants, or when the culture support 105 is fixed to a wall. In these embodiments, the culture support 105 can be called a rigid frame.

The device 10 comprises at least one perforated holding means 110 for placing a plant, 130, 135 or 140, through a day of a holding means 105. The holding means 105 is fixed to the culture support and forms a first face and a second face and closing the space delimited by the culture medium 105.

The day may be a cut hole, or a pre-cut hole in the holding means 110, or an opening inherent in the material of the holding means 110.

The holding means 110 closes the space delimited by the culture support 105. Preferably, each holding means 110 is made of material:

- mesh,

- interlaced and / or

- braided.

These embodiments make it possible to separate a mesh, a mat or an interlacing of the holding means 110 for inserting the roots of a plant inside the support 105, in a superabsorbent polymer 120 while keeping the polymer 120 hidden.

îo A holding means 110 can be:

- a net, made of plastic or fabric, such as felt for example,

- a canvas with holes,

- a mat, in reed rush, nylon or straw, for example,

- an ultra-absorbent mat,

- a stainless steel screen, or

- a random tangle of fibers, the interlacing of the fibers having sufficient technical characteristics to maintain the polymer 120, such as a geotextile, for example.

Preferably, all of the holding means 110 are made of the same material.

Each holding means 110 is fixed to the support 105 on the periphery of the support 105 to form a face. For example, each holding means 110 can be stapled, sewn, glued or wedged in means provided for this purpose known to those skilled in the art, on the periphery of the culture medium 105 to cover the through opening of the culture medium. culture 105.

The device 10 comprises, at least one separator 115 fixed to the culture support 105 in a first direction. Each separator 115 is positioned between the first and the second face. When the first and second faces of the culture support 105 are substantially parallel, each separator 115 is placed in a plane normal to the first and to the second face. Each separator 115 is therefore in the space delimited by the culture support 105.

The fixing of each separator 115 on the support 105 is similar to the fixing of each holding means 110 on the support 105. The materials stated with regard to each holding means 110 can also be the materials of each separator. Preferably, all of the separators 115 are made of the same material.

In embodiments, the material of each separator 115 is the material of each holding means 110.

In the case of wall devices 10, the first direction in which each separator 115 is positioned is such that, once the support 105 is mounted on a wall, each separator is substantially horizontal. The first direction therefore depends on the means of fixing the support 105 to the wall.

îo Preferably, when the support 105 has a shape substantially in a rectangular parallelepiped, the fixing means are positioned such that one face of the parallelepiped is substantially horizontal, and the first direction is therefore parallel to the substantially horizontal face.

The direction of each separator 105 relates to the straight line between each point of attachment of a separator 115 to the culture support 105. The separator 115 may be substantially loose between the points of attachment of each separator 115 to the culture support.

Each separator 115 extends from the first face to the second face defined by each holding means 110.

In embodiments, each separator 115 can be fixed to a rigidity element such as a bar or a cable. Each rigidity element being fixed to the culture support 105, in one of the faces among the first and the second face and in the first direction.

In complementary embodiments, each holding means

110 is fixed to at least one rigidity element on which a separator 115 is fixed.

These embodiments make it possible to minimize the communication between the compartments defined by each separator 115 in order to preserve the appearance of the device 10 and to avoid too much entanglement of plant roots.

The device 10 comprises superabsorbent polymer 120 for retaining a liquid placed between the first face and the second face in each part separated by a separator 115.

It is recalled here that a superabsorbent polymer 120 is a polymer which can absorb and store very large quantities of a liquid in comparison with its own mass. It can thus absorb up to a hundred and a thousand times its mass in liquid. The absorbed liquid can be water or an organic liquid.

Preferably, the superabsorbent polymer 120 is of:

- sodium polyacrylate,

- potassium polyacrylate,

- nitrate polyacrylate,

- lithium polyacrylate and / or

- ammonium polyacrylate.

Preferably, the superabsorbent polymer 120 fills at least 50 percent of the volume defined by the culture support 105, each separator 115 and the holding means 110.

In embodiments, the superabsorbent polymer 120 and the roots of the plants fill the entire volume defined by the culture support 105 each holding means 110 and each separator 115. These embodiments make it possible to hold the plants more firmly in place and have a longer supply of water and nutrients.

The liquid retained by the superabsorbent polymer 120 is preferably water. Water can contain at least one plant food substance such as salts, fertilizers, trace elements or plant nutrients. In embodiments, the superabsorbent polymer 120 includes at least one plant food substance such as salts, fertilizers, trace elements or plant nutrients. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content (known by the acronym "NPK") and adapted to the plants implanted in the device 10 according to values known to those skilled in the art.

Preferably, the thickness of superabsorbent polymer 120 is minimum of four and a half centimeters, on at least part of the device 10.

In embodiments, represented in FIG. 1, the device 10 comprises at least one dividing means 125 fixed to the culture support 105 in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, each dividing means 125 being between the first and the second side.

These embodiments make it possible to produce partitions between different groups of plants having different properties and requiring different food substances. The roots of each plant can develop without constraints, but superabsorbent polymer 120 with different values of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium coefficients, can be distributed between the division means 125 and the separators 115.

The embodiments of the dividing means 125 are similar to the embodiments of the separators 115, but the dividing means 125 are oriented in a perpendicular direction.

FIG. 4 represents a front view of a second embodiment of the device 20 which is the subject of the present invention.

The device 20 represented in FIG. 4 differs from the device 10 represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in that the culture support 205 is an embodiment different from the culture support 105 of the device 10.

In these embodiments, the support 205 is made of mesh, interlaced and / or braided material, and the junction of the culture support 205 with each holding means 105 has a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the material of the culture support 205. In these embodiments, the culture support 205 can be called flexible periphery.

Preferably, the culture support 205 is made of fabric, stretched by the superabsorbent polymer 120, and the junction of the culture support 205 with each holding means 110 comprises a reinforcement. The reinforcement may be a wire inserted in a seam of the fabric, or a winding of fabric at the seam between the holding means 110 and the culture support 205.

The rigidity of the culture support 205 is such that the material does not break after loading with polymer and plants. The rigidity of the culture support 205 is such that culture support 205 roughly retains the shape before filling, after filling even if elastic deformation can take place.

Thus, the device 20 is lighter and can be easily inserted into a frame structure 50 which is the subject of the present invention.

When the culture support 205 is made of fabric, each holding means 110, each separator 105 and / or each dividing means 125 is preferably made of fabric.

The device 20 comprises fixing means 210 to a framing structure 50, which comprises corresponding fixing means. The connection produced by the fixing means can be a self-gripping connection. The fixing means are then self-gripping fabric. The fabric is fixed to the structural support, by being sewn, for example, and is located, preferably, in the plane of the face among the first and the second face, not comprising the plants. The junction between the fixing means 210 and the culture support 205 can be a pivot link to facilitate the installation of the culture support 205 in the framing structure 50.

Preferably, the fixing means 210 is fixed on the periphery of the culture support 205, on at least forty percent of the culture support 205 to allow sufficient connection to maintain the culture support 20 in the frame structure 50.

In the embodiment shown, the culture support 205 has a substantially parallelepiped shape, the directing curve is therefore substantially a parallelepiped. The culture support 205 has a fixing means 210 on each side of the culture support 205.

In embodiments represented in FIG. 5, the culture support

305 is fixed to the frame structure by a magnetic link. The fixing means 310 are then a magnet or a metal plate, the structure 50 comprising the corresponding element. The magnet or the metal plate can be glued or sewn to the culture medium 305.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two embodiments of the device, 30 and 40, which are the subject of the present invention.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the culture support, 305 or 405, is formed by sewing two pieces of fabric at the periphery. The fabric elements are of equal size and overlapped. The ends of the fabric elements are sewn on the periphery, 315 and 415, and parallel to the first seams, 315 and 415, according to second seams, 320 and 420. The space between the seams, 315 and 320, and 415 and 420, parallel forms the culture support 105. And the tissue in the space delimited by the second seams, 320 and 420, is the means of support 110. The proximity of the seams, 315 and 320, and 415 and 420, and the double thickness of tissue has a rigidity of the culture support, 305 or 405, greater than the rigidity of the holding means 110.

Preferably, in these embodiments, each separator 115 is a seam produced in the holding means 110, from one edge to another of the second seams, 320 and 420.

The culture support, 305 or 405, may have an opening means 325 5 or 425, on a part of its periphery, to fill each volume delimited by a separator 115 and by the culture support, 305 or 405, with superabsorbent polymer 120. Each opening means, 325 and 425, is a separation between the two pieces of fabric constituting the device, .30 or 40. The separation comprises means for forming a self-gripping bond on each fabric, in superposition , at the level of the culture support 305 or 405. The opening means,

325 or 425, could therefore be opened or closed by breaking the hook-and-loop connection.

The fixing means, 310 or 410, are on the face of the device not comprising the plants.

The device 40 includes fixing means 410 to a frame structure 50, which includes corresponding fixing means. The connection produced by the fixing means 410 is a self-gripping connection. The fixing means 410 are then self-gripping fabric. The tissue is fixed, sewn or glued to the culture support 405, and is located only on one of the faces of the device 40.

Preferably, the fixing means 410 is fixed on the periphery of the culture support 405, between the first 415 and second 420 seams, on at least forty percent of the culture support 405 to allow sufficient connection to the maintenance of the culture support 405 in the supervisory structure 50.

In the embodiment shown, the culture support 405 has a substantially parallelepiped shape, the directing curve is therefore substantially a parallelepiped. The culture support 405 has a fixing means 410 on each side of the culture support 405.

The device 30 includes fixing means 310 to a framing structure 50, which includes corresponding fixing means. The connection produced by the fixing means is a magnetic connection. The fixing means 310 are then a magnet or a metal part. The fixing means 310 are sewn or glued to the culture support 405, and located only on one of the faces of the device 30.

Preferably, the fixing means 310 is fixed on the periphery of the culture support 305, on the corners of the culture support 305 on at least twenty percent of the culture support 305 to allow sufficient bonding to maintain the culture support 305 in the supervisory structure 50.

In the embodiment shown, the culture support 305 has a substantially parallelepiped shape, the directing curve is therefore substantially a parallelepiped. The culture medium 305 has a fixing means 310 on each corner of the culture medium 305, in the shape of a triangle.

FIG. 7 shows a particular embodiment of a frame structure 50 of a device, 10, 20, 30 or 40, which is the subject of the present invention. The framing structure 50 comprises at least one hollow or open subdivision, 515 of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the culture support, 105, 205,

305 or 405.

The framing structure 50 comprises perpendicular structural elements 505 and 510, such as metal or PVC profiles (acronym for "polyvinyl chloride") known to those skilled in the art, fixed to a wall. The space enclosed by structural elements, 505 and 510, defines a subdivision 515, like a grid.

In the embodiments in which the device corresponds to the device 10, the supports 105 are placed in each subdivision 515.

In the embodiments in which the device corresponds to the device, 20, 30 or 40, the supports, 205, 305 or 405, are placed in each subdivision 515 and fixed by the fixing means, 210, 310 or 410, to the elements structural 505 and 510, which comprise the corresponding fixing means.

Plant walls can thus be easily created, while retaining independent, easily replaceable devices, 10, 20, 30 or 40.

The framing support 50 may include means for fixing to a wall known to those skilled in the art.

The frame support 50 may include a wall protection to prevent plant roots from spreading in the wall and to create thermal and sound insulation, of PVC or wood covering the surface of the frame support 50 Such protection can be perforated, to let air currents pass, or not, if the framing support is glued to the wall.

Claims (10)

1. Device (10, 20, 30, 40) for supporting plants (130, 135, 140), characterized in that it comprises: - a peripheral culture support (105, 205, 305, 405), - at least one perforated holding means (110), for placing a plant through one day a holding means, fixed to the culture support by forming a first face and a second face and closing the space delimited by the culture medium, at least one separator (115) fixed to the culture support in a first direction, each separator forming a junction between the first and the second face, - superabsorbent polymer (120) for retaining a liquid placed between the first face and the second face in each part separated by a separator. 2. Device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to claim 1, in which the first and the second face are substantially parallel and each separator (115) is placed in a plane normal to the first and to the second face. 3. Device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to one of claims 1 or 2, which comprises at least one dividing means (125) perforated and fixed to the culture support (105, 205, 305, 20 405) in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, each dividing means being between the first and the second face. 4. Device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one holding means (110) and / or at least one separator (115) and / or at 25 at least one dividing means (125) is made of material: - mesh, - interlaced and / or - braided. 30 5. Device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the liquid retained by the superabsorbent polymer (120) and / or the superabsorbent polymer comprises at least one plant-feeding substance (130, 135, 140). 6. Device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the culture support (105, 205, 305, 405) is incorporated in a frame structure (50) comprising at least one hollow subdivision (315) of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the culture medium. 7. Device (20, 30, 40) according to claim 6, in which the culture support îo (205, 305, 405) is made of a mesh material, interlaced and / or braided, and the junction of the rigid culture support is each holding means (110) has a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the culture support material. 8. Device (20, 30, 40) according to one of claims 6 or 7, in which the culture support (205, 305, 405) is fixed to the frame structure (50) by a self-gripping connection. . 9. Device (20, 30, 40) according to one of claims 6 or 7, in which the culture support (205, 305, 405) is fixed to the framing structure (50) by a connection 20 magnetic. 10. Framing structure (50), for a device (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising at least one open subdivision (515) of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the support culture (105, 205, 305, 25 405) of the device. 1/7 105 115 115