GB2243524A

GB2243524A - Plant container

Info

Publication number: GB2243524A
Application number: GB9010219A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Lonsdale Moffet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-05-05
Filing date: 1990-05-05
Publication date: 1991-11-06
Also published as: GB9010219D0

Abstract

A plant container comprises a dished vessel (10) intended to hold growing medium (8) and plants (6). The vessel (10) is supported on a central column (12) which has stability means, The vessel (10) has an outer peripheral rim (14) which is rounded and extends inwardly to overlie marginally the medium receiving portion of the vessel (10). The bottom of the vessel (10) tapers upwards from the centre of the bottom towards the rim (14). The column (12) is of height to allow a person in a wheelchair (34) to be positioned with the lower part of the body and part of the chair under the overhang of the vessel (10). <IMAGE>

Description

PLANT CONTAINER.

This invention relates to a plant container particularly, but not exclusively, for use by elderly, disabled or physically handicapped people, the container being primarily, but not necessarily, of dimensions to contain a plurality of plants, and be capable of use as a miniture garden.

Gardening is good occupational therapy for mentally and/or physically ill people. A problem exists in that such people are not normally capable of gardening activity at ground level.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means to obviate or mitigate this problem.

Accordingly, the present invention is a plant container comprising a dished vessel intended to hold growing medium and plants, the vessel being supported on a central column which has stability means, the vessel having an outer peripheral rim with the bottom of the vessel tapering upwards from the centre of the bottom towards the rim.

Preferably, the rim is rounded and extends inwardly to overlie marginally the medium receiving portion of the vessel.

Preferably also, a watering system is provided associated with a capilliary acting means located across the internal surface of the bottom of the vessel below the medium placed therein. The watering system desirably comprises a reservoir to receive water, the reservoir being in liquid communication with the capiliary acting means to feed water continuously to the medium above the means. The reservoir is preferably in liquid communication with a sump provided internally at the centre of the vessel, the capilliary acting means being a sheet member whose inner end is positioned in the sump.

Preferably further, the stability means is a plinth on which the column is supported, the plinth having a side surround upwardly converging from its base to the column. The column is desirably of height to allow a person in a wheel-chair to be positioned with the lower part of the body and part of the chair under the overhang of the vessel.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a side elevation, in part section, of a plant container, the container being shown with growing medium and plants therein and a wheel-chair confined person positioned relative thereto.

Referring to the drawing, a plant container for use as a raised miniture garden comprises a dished vessel 10 intended to hold growing medium 8 and plants 6. The vessel 10 is supported on a central column 12 which has stability means. The vessel 10 has an outer peripheral rim 14 with the bottom 16 of the vessel 10 tapering upwards from the centre of the bottom 16 towards the rim 14.

The rim 14 is rounded and extends inwardly to overlie marginally as shown the medium receiving portion of the vessel 10.

A watering system is provided associated with a capilliary acting means located across the internal surface of the bottom 16 of the vessel 10 below the medium 8 placed therein. The medium is soil or compost or admixtures thereof. Sand may also be admixed therewith. The watering system comprises a reservoir 18 in the form of a tank supported at 17 above the level of the medium 8. The reservoir 18, to receive water and any liquid supplements or additives mixed therewith to induce growth or prevent fungus or infestation of insects, is in liquid communication with the capiliary acting means to feed water continuously to the medium 8 above the means. The reservoir 18 is in liquid communication through a drip feed or capiliary acting device (not shown), located in the support 17, with a sump 20 provided internally at the centre of the vessel 10.The capilliary acting means is a sheet member 22, ie. a membrane, whose inner end is positioned in the sump 20. A pipe 24 is provided leading downward from the sump 20 to a valved outlet 26 to drain off excess water from the sump 20.

The stability means is a plinth 28 on which the column 12 is supported. The plinth 28 has a side surround 30 upwardly converging from its base to the column 12. The column 12 is of height to allow a person 32 in a wheel-chair 34 to be positioned with the lower part of the body and part of the chair under the overhang of the vessel 10.

The plant container above-described is filled with growing medium and is primarily intended to be used by mentally or physically ill people. The vessel 10 is circular in plan with a diameter of 1800 mm and the container'stands 900mm high. These dimensions allow for several persons in wheel chairs to be accommodated around the vessel each having a sector of the vessel allocated to him/her in which to potter'ie. dig up or plant bulbs, seedlings, cuttings, small shrubs or the like. The plant container can be provided in other sizes and be used for decoration only in, for example, foyers, waiting rooms, offices, day rooms, canteens, restaurants as wellas outdoor locations.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A plant container comprising a dished vessel intended to hold growing medium and plants, the vessel being supported on a central column which has stability means, the vessel having an outer peripheral rim with the bottom of the vessel tapering upwards from the centre of the bottom towards the rim.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rim is rounded and extends inwardly to overlie marginally the medium receiving portion of the vessel.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a watering system is provided associated with a capilliary acting means located across the internal surface of the bottom of the vessel below the medium placed therein.

4. A container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the watering system comprises a reservoir to receive water, the reservoir being in liquid communication with the capiliary acting means to feed water continuously to the medium above the means.

5. A container as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the reservoir is in liquid communication with a sump provided internally at the centre of the vessel.

6. A container as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the capilliary acting means is a sheet member whose inner end is positioned in the sump.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the stability means is a plinth on which the column is supported.

8. A container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the plinth has a side surround upwardly converging from its base to the column.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the column is of height to allow a person in a wheel-chair to be positioned with the lower part of the body and part of the chair under the overhang of the vessel.

10. A plant container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.