GB2264032A - Planter - Google Patents

Abstract

The planter comprises a tray-like body 12 shaped to cover an area beneath which water is present, the body 12 being provided with a wick 19 which depends therethrough to dip into the water, thus to supply water to the inside of the body by capillary action. In the embodiment of Figures 1 - 3, the body 12 is adapted to fit over a rainwater drain (13, Figure 2) and has indent 14 to fit round downpipe 15. Wick 19 is of U-shape with its limbs passing through slots 18 into water (21) in S-trap of drain. Bottom 16 of body may be lined with absorbent material to disperse water from the wick. In the embodiment of Figures 4-6 the planter (111) fits over a lavatory cistern with wick (119) extending thereinto. <IMAGE>

Description

PLANTER This invention concerns a planter, particularly, but by no means exclusively, suitable for disguising or ornamenting surface water drains such as those which receive the down pipes from house gutters or other item of sanitary ware.

Drains and the like are not only unsightly but may often become blocked by articles such as leaves falling into them through their grids causing unpleasant odours and even flooding. Planters adapted to cover rain water drains have been proposed. Such are, for aesthetic reasons quite shallow and have the problem that the planting medium quickly dries out not least because they tend to be sheltered by the eaves and receive little rain as a result.

Yet again indoor plants are a popular form of decoration for a bathroom. Frequently their life span is limited through lack of regular watering, whilst houseplants in more frequented living areas receive regular attention, those in bathrooms are often neglected.

The present invention overcomes, at least to some extent, the problems aforesaid.

According to the present invention there is provided a planter comprising a tray-like body shaped to cover an area beneath which free water is present, said body being provided with a wick which depends therethrough to dip into the water, thus to supply water to the inside of the body.

The bottom of the interior of the body may be lined with an absorbent material to disperse water from the wick.

The planter may be shaped for location over a rainwater drain.

The bottom of the body may be perforated to provide drainage therethrough.

The tray-like body may be sized and shaped to fit over a conventional low level lavatory cistern in place of its lid, and means for securing the body in position may be provided.

The bottom of the interior of the body may be lined with an absorbent material to disperse water from the wick and prevent any solid material from within the body migrating into the cistern.

The planter may be comprised by any suitable material, such as plastics and may be manufactured by any suitable method, for example, by injection moulding.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, two forms of planter embodying same.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first form of planter.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the planter on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view of the planter when in use; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the second form of planter when installed over a lavatory cistern; Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the planter on the line IV-IV of Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows a bottom plan view of the planter.

Referring now to FIgures 1-3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the planter 11 comprises a tray-like body 12 adapted to fit over a rainwater drain 13, the body 12 having an indent 14 shaped to fit snugly around the downpipe 15. The bottom 16 of the body 12 is perforated with holes 17 to allow drainage from the interior of the body. Slots 18 are provided in the bottom 16 of the body 12 and support a wick of inverted U-Shape whose limbs depend from the body. The wick 19 is positioned so that its limbs pass through the grid 20 of the drain 13 and dip into the free water 21 in the S-trap of the drain. Water is conducted through the wick 19 by capilliary action into the base of the body 12. The bottom 16 of the body 12 may be lined with an absorbent material (not shown) to disperse water from the wick across the whole of the bottom 16 of the body 12.

In use, as shown in Figure 3, plants are grown in the planter 11. The planting medium is kept moist by the wick.

Of course, the volume of water available from the S-trap is limited, especially if the wick 19 is set to prevent the possibility of breaking the seal provided by the trap. The water is of course replenished whenever there is rain, but the possibility of the wick ceasing to be effective after a prolonged dry spell must be recognised and there may be need for manual watering on occasion.

The planter is attractive and disguises the drain whilst preventing ingress of such as fallen leaves.

Referring now to Figures 4-6 of the drawings, it will be seen that the planter 111 comprises a tray-like body 112 adapted to fit over a lavatory cistern 113 in place of its conventional lid. The rear-wall of the body 112 is provided with apertures 114 to enable it to be secured to the wall behind the cistern. The bottom 116 of the body 112 is provided with a slot 118 through which extends a wick 119 which depends into the water within the cistern. Water is conducted through the wick 119 by capilliary action into the base of the body 112.

The bottom 116 of the body 112 is lined with an absorbent pad of material 120 to disperse water from the wick across the whole of the bottom 116 of the body 112 and to ensure that no solid materials from within the body 112 can migrate into the cistern.

As shown in Figure 6, the slot is adjacent the rear wall of the body 112 and parallel therewith whereby the wick 119 extends into the cistern adjacent its rear wall without disturbing the operation of the ball-cock or any other mechanism.

In use, plants are grown in the planter 111.

The planting medium is kept moist by the wick.

The body may be of moulded plastics of a colour to match or contrast with the colour of the lavatory suite or may have a matt surface enabling it to be painted as desired.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (7)

1. A planter comprising a tray-like body shaped to cover an area beneath which free water is present, said body being provided with a wick which depends therethrough to d4 into the water, thus to supply water to the inside of the body.

2. A planter according to Claim 1, wherein the bottom of the interior of the body is lined with an absorbent material to disperse water from the wick.

3. A planter according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the the planter is shaped for location over a rainwater drain.

4. A planter according to any preceding Claim, wherein the bottom of the body is perforated to provide drainage therethrough.

5. A planter according to Claim 1, wherein the tray-like body is sized and shaped to fit over a conventional low level lavatory cistern in place of its lid, and including means for securing the body in position.

6. A planter according to Claim 5, wherein the bottom of the interior of the body is lined with an absorbent material to disperse water from the wick and prevent any solid material from within the body migrating into the cistern.

7. A planter according to any preceding claim comprised of plastics material.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A planter comprising a tray-like body shaped to cover an an item of sanitary ware beneath which free water is present, said body being provided with a wick which depends therethrough to dip into the water, thus to supply water to the inside of the body.