GB2248176A

GB2248176A - Planter system

Info

Publication number: GB2248176A
Application number: GB9117648A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Mackintosh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-17
Filing date: 1991-08-15
Publication date: 1992-04-01
Also published as: GB9018084D0; GB9117648D0

Abstract

A planter system comprises a plurality of vertical wall brackets 1 each having slots 2 for support brackets 4 which co-operate with a plant trough 9. The trough 9 may have a lid 10. The wall brackets 1 are affixed along a side wall of a greenhouse and support brackets 4 are affixed at a desired height. A trough 9 is affixed to the support brackets 4 and can then be used as required. A self watering arrangement can also be built into the troughs 9 by providing an appropriate water channel 12. Outlets in the side of the trough 9 distribute the water into the trough 9 and an end fitting allows attachment of a hose from a water supply. Optionally an automatic, possible solar powered, control system can be provided for the watering system. <IMAGE>

Description

"Planter Svstem" This invention relates to a planter especially but not exclusively for use as a seed tray and propagator in conservatories, greenhouses, nurseries and the like and incorporating a watering system.

Conventionally, at least for the average amateur gardener, greenhouses are laid out with a fixed shelf or shelves along one side for plant pots and seed boxes and a similar layout or an open layout for larger plants such as tomatoes on the other side. This particular type of layout has a number of disadvantages and is somewhat inflexible. The shelves are generally in fixed positions which limits their usefulness and if one side has no shelves then a large amount of space may be wasted for a part at least of each growing season. Folding shelves have been proposed in the past but these can be unwieldy and inevitably interfere with other plants growing in the greenhouse. In addition, except generally in larger commercial greenhouses, a practical self watering system has not been available.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a planter system which obviates or mitigates these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a planter system comprising a plurality of ground or wall engaging members having support means arranged at selected positions for receiving a plant trough and to support said plant trough thereon.

The support means on the ground or wall engaging members may comprise a formation for receiving a support bracket, said support bracket having an upstanding projection co-operable with a slot on a plant trough.

The formation for receiving the support bracket may comprise a T slot for receiving a lug on the support bracket.

Alternatively the support means on the ground or wall engaging members may comprise a formation itself forming an upstanding projection co-operable with a slot on a plant trough.

Preferably, said ground or wall engaging members are adapted for fitment to the uprights of a greenhouse frame.

Preferably also, a lid is provided for the trough to provide a propagator.

The lid may have indicating means to provide a means of uniform plant spacing.

Preferably also, self watering means are provided for the trough comprising a throughbore along the length of a wall of the trough or a tubular member either having outlets to direct water or feed into the interior of the trough said throughbore or member having an end fitment for attachment of a tube or hose from a water or feed supply.

The self watering means may be either manually controlled or an automatic systems operating on demand or under time control. Such a system may be provided with a solar powered control device.

Preferably also soil heating means are provided.

Most preferably said soil heating means are electrically powered änd thermostatically controlled.

A cold frame arrangement may also be provided arranged to attach externally to a greenhouse frame and to receive the plant troughs and watering system.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a greenhouse shelving system comprising a greenhouse having frame members adapted to receive support brackets for plant troughs, the system allowing the positioning of plant troughs at selected heights and positions along one or more sides of the greenhouse either internally or externally.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a first alternative wall bracket of a planter system in accordance with the present invention; Fig. la is a perspective view of a trough support bracket for use with the wall bracket of Fig. 1 of a planter system of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second alternative wall bracket of a planter system in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2a is a side view of the wall bracket of Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of one example of a general arrangement of a planter system of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic end view of a greenhouse incorporating a planter system of the present invention;; Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a watering system for use with the planter system of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a control unit for a watering system for use with the planter system of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings a planter system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of wall brackets 1 each having a series of T slots 2 for receiving mounting arms 3 of support brackets 4. The support brackets 4 have a front face 5 and an upper edge 6 arranged to co-operate with a side wall 7 and support groove 8 of a plant trough 9. The trough 9 is produced from a plastics or other lightweight material and has an open top inwardly tapering sides and a closed base. A clear plastic lid 10 is optionally provided for the trough 9.

The basic parts of the systems co-operate as will now be described to provide a planter system for greenhouses. Two or more wall brackets 1 are affixed in spaced apart arrangement along a side wall of a greenhouse either to the greenhouse frame or to separate supports. A support bracket 4 is affixed at a desired height to each of the wall brackets 1 by engaging the mounting arm 3 in the T slots 2. A trough 9 of the appropriate size is the affixed to the support brackets 4 by engaging the upper edge 6 of the brackets 4 in the support groove 8 of the trough. Additional support is provided by the side wall 7 of the trough 9 engaging the front face 5 of the support brackets 4.

Appropriate compost 11 is placed in the trough 9 which can then be used to plant seeds or seedlings as required. The optional lid 10 can be fitted to the trough 9 if desired to produce a propagator.

As the seeds or seedlings grow the trough can be repositioned on the wall brackets 1 as required or can be easily moved outside if the plants being grown allow and replaced with another trough thus ensuring that the greenhouse space is fully utilised. To this end it is of course possible to arrange troughs along both sides and one end of the greenhouse and at different heights to ensure that the layout of the greenhouse is best utilised as can be seen in Fig. 3. In addition one or both sides of the greenhouse can be left free of troughs for other uses, such as growing tomatoes, as the wall brackets 1 are unobstrusive and do not intrude into the available space.

Various modifications and improvements may be incorporated in the planter system without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the system can also be used outside the greenhouse by attaching appropriate wall brackets to the outside of the greenhouse frame. This is useful for hardening off young plants and to assist in this a portable cold frame arrangement (not shown) can be provided. The cold frame may optionally incorporate a blind.

Another option is for the wall brackets and support brackets of Figs 1 and la to be replaced by an alternative wall bracket 100 incorporating trough support lugs 101 of semi-circular or square section pressed out of the bracket 100 as shown in Fig. 2 and 2a. The troughs 9 engage these lugs 101 directly.

A self watering arrangement can also be built into the troughs by providing an appropriate water channel 12 along and through one rim 13 of the trough 9. The water channel 12 may be substituted with a separate tube. Appropriate outlets in the side of the trough 9 distribute the water into the trough 9 and a suitable end fitting (not shown) allows attachment of a hose from a water supply either directly or provided by a watering system as described below.

The troughs can be produced in various lengths and sizes and troughs of the same size will interfit with with another for stacking purposes. Furthermore the lid 10 can be provided with a series of equispaced dimples which can be used to ensure uniform plant spacing. As can be seen in Fig. 3 the trough 9 and lid 10 may have detachable end caps 9a and lOb provided with vents 9b and lOc.

Referring now to Fig. 5 a hard watering device for use with the troughs of the present invention or with conventional troughs or other items such as hanging baskets is illustrated. The device comprises an extending tube 20 having a downturned end 21. The tube 20 extends via a fitting 22 of a push fit or nut and seal type into a container attachment assembly 23 which has a push on or screw on fitting 24 for attachment to a conventional plastics mineral water bottle (not shown). A plastics or rubber material bulb 25 attaches to the fitting 24 via a flexible tube 26 and can be used to pressurise the bottle by virtue of a pair of one way valves (not shown) to dispense water from the end 21 of the tube 20. This end 21 may either attach to the watering system of the troughs 9 or have a detachable spray head (not shown). In this way manual watering of the troughs or other containers can be achieved.

Referring now to Fig. 6 a more sophisticated watering system is shown schematically. The manually operated pump arrangement of Fig. 5 is replaced by an automatic electrical system 30. The system 30 is essentially a controller for a pump which connects to a water supply via a valve 31. Power is provided by a battery pack 32 which is charged via a solar panel 33. The controller provides for timer control of watering by setting a dial 34 or watering may be triggered by a moisture probe connected to a sensor 35. Indicator lights 36 provide a visual indication of the system functioning.

The system 30 is connected to the troughs in a similar fashion to the manual system already described.

Claims

1 A planter system comprising a plurality of ground or wall engaging members having support means arranged at selected positions for receiving a plant trough and to support said plant trough thereon.

2 A planter system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support means on the ground or wall engaging members comprises a formation for receiving a support bracket, said support bracket having an upstanding projection co-operable with a slot on a plant trough.

3 A planter system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the formation for receiving the support bracket comprises a T slot for receiving a lug on the support bracket.

4 A planter system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support means on the ground or wall engaging members comprises a formation itself forming an upstanding projection co-operable with a slot on a plant trough.

5 A planter system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said ground or wall engaging members are adapted for fitment to the uprights of a greenhouse frame.

6 A planter system as claimed in any of one of the proceeding claims, wherein a lid is provided for the trough to provide a propagator.

7 A planter system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the lid has indicating means to provide a means of uniform plant spacing.

8 A planter system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein self watering means are provided for the trough comprising a throughbore along the length of a wall of the trough or a tubular member either having outlets to direct water or feed into the interior of the trough said throughbore or member having an end fitment for attachment of a tube or hose from a water or feed supply.

9 A planter system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the self watering means is manually controlled.

10 A planter system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the self watering means is an automatic system operating on demand or under time control.

11 A planter system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein a solar powered control device is provided.

12 A planter system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein soil heating means are provided.

13 A planter system as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said soil heating means are electrically powered and thermostatically controlled.

14 A planter system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a cold frame arrangement is provided arranged to attach externally to a greenhouse frame and to receive the plant troughs and watering system.

15 A greenhouse shelving system comprising a greenhouse having frame members adapted to receive support brackets for plant troughs, the system allowing the positioning of plant troughs at selected heights and positions along one or more sides of the greenhouse either internally or externally.

16 A planter system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.