GB2518964A

GB2518964A - Grow bag tower

Info

Publication number: GB2518964A
Application number: GB1414242.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James John Thorn
Original assignee: Oakthrift Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Oakthrift Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-16
Filing date: 2014-08-12
Publication date: 2015-04-08
Also published as: GB201314653D0; GB201414242D0

Abstract

A grow bag tower comprises a plurality of grow bag supports 3a, 3b, 3c that are spaced from each other in a substantially vertical stack. Each support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag. At least one of the supports is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag rests at an angle of between 5 and 60 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower. The support may comprise a sheet of flexible material. The tower may comprise fastenings for a soaker hose and may also have a cover.

Description

Grow Bag Tower The present invendon relates to a grow bag tower.

Grow bags are widely used to grow comestible produces hi locations that do not otherwise have suitable ground for plants to thrive in. Grow bags are particularly useful for providing temporary growing beds, for example on patios.

However, as population density increases and living conditions become increasingly confincd it would bc desirablc to incrcasc the yicld that grow bags might providc in any given location.

Thc present invcntion sccks to addrcss this issuc.

I S According to the present invention there is provided a grow hag tower comprising a plurality of grow hag supports that are spaced from each other in a substantially vertical stack, with each support being adapted to retain at least one grow bag, wherein at least one of the supports is adapted to retain at least one glow hag such that thc grow bag rcsts at an anglc of bctwccn S and 60 degrccs to thc horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.

By providing at least one support iii a vertical stack arranged such that a grow hag retained thereon is angled to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the towcr thc amount of light reaching any such angled grow bag is increased compared to if the support retained the bag horizontally.

In some embodiments at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag is at an angle of between 5 and 45 degrees to the horizontal. In some embodiments at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow hag such that the grow bag is at an angle of between 5 and 30 degrees to the horizontal. In some embodiments at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag is at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees to the horizontal, In some embodiments at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag is at an angle of around 10 degrees to the horizontal. In some embodiments at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag is at an angle of around 8 degrees to the horizontal.

Preferably a plurality of the supports are adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of between 5 and 30 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.

By providing a plurality of supports adapted to retain grow bags at an angle to the horizontal a plurality of grow bags niay bellefit froni enhanced light conditions.

In some embodiments a plurality of supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of between 5 and 45 degrees to the horizontal. In sonic embodiments a plurality of supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of between I 5 5 and 30 degrees to the hoizontal. In some embodiments a plurality of supports are each adapted to ietain at least one grow hag such that i-espective grow bags rest at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees to the horizontal. In some embodiments a plurality of supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow hag such that respective glow bags rest at an angle of around 10 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower. In some embodiments a plurality of supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow hag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of around 8 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the towet Preferably a support comprises a sheet of flexible material.

Preferably the tower comprises a plurality of substantially vertical legs. Preferably the tower comprises corner legs.

Preferably the tower comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal struts between the legs.

Preferably the sheet of flexible material is positioned between legs.

I

Preferably the sheet of flexible material is attached to the legs and/or the strnts In some embodiments the tower comprises a cover so as to at least partially shield grow bags retained on the supports from undesirable weather. Preferably the cover has a door that is openable and closable.

Preferably the tower comprises at least one attachment adapted to retain a watering hose on the tower such that the watering hose may water at least one grow bag retained on the tower.

Preferably the tower comprises a plurality of attachments adapted to retain a soaker hose on the tower such that the soaker hose may water a plurality of grow bags retained on the tower.

IS By way of example a specific embodiment will now he desciihed with reference to the accompanying drawings. of which: Figure I is a perspective view of a grow hag tower made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the tower of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the tower of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tower of Figure I with a soaker hose attached thereto; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tower of Figure 1 with a cover attached thereto.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a grow bag tower 1 having four corner legs 2a. 2b. 2c, 2d that are substantially vertical when tower 1 is on a level surface. The corner legs may be considered as being a front pair of legs 2a, 2b and a rear pair of legs 2c. 2d.

Front legs 2a, 2b and rear legs 2e. 2d are connected by opposing pairs of side struts 6a. 6b, 6e, 6d. The configuration of these side struts is not of any particular significance other than Iceephig each pair of front and rear legs 2a, 2c. and 2b. 2d in a substantially fixed spatial position relative to each other. n

Connecting front legs 2a, 2b arc thrce front struts 3a. 3b, 3c. each of said struts bcing spaced vertically from each other.

Similarly, connecting rear legs 2c. 2d are three rear struts 4a. 4b. 4c. each of said struts being spaced vertically from each other and paired respectively with front struts 3a. 3h. 3c Three grow bag supports 3a, 3b, 3c positioned in the tower between corner legs 2a, 2b. 2c. 2d.

Grow bag supports 3a, 3b. 3c are each in the form of a textile sheet that is attached to and hangs bctwccn rcspective pairs of front and rear struts.

I S Thus an upper suppoit 3a is attached to and hangs between front strut 4a and i-ear strut S a.

Beneath the upper support 3a is located middle support 3h, which is attached to and hangs betwecn front strut 4b and rear strut Sb.

Beneath the middle support 3h is located lower support 3c, which is attached to and hangs between front strut 4c and i-ear strut Sc.

Thus it can bc scen that supports 3a, 3b, 3c are spaced horn each other and arranged in a substantially verdcal stack, with upper support 3a being located above middle support 3b and middle support being located above lower support 3c.

Although in the present embodiment only three supports are present in tower 1 it will he apparent that any number of supports might he used.

As can be seen from the Figures, an in pardcular Figures 2 and 3, with each pair of front and rear struts the front strut is slightly lowcr than the rear strut. Thus when tower I is stood on a substantially level surface front strut 4a is located below rear strut Sa, front strut 4b is located below rear strut Sb, and front strut 4c is located below rear strut 5c.

Thus, supports 3a, 3b and 3c. which run between respective pairs of front and rear S struts are each angled to the horizontal by around 8 degrees. This in turn means that when tower 1 is in use ally grow bag positioned on a grow bag support 3a, 3b. 3c is also angled to the horizontal by around 8 degrees such that the grow hag has an upper edge and a lower edge.

The upper edges of respective grow bags (not shown) retained by grow bag supports 3a, 3h, 3c are those that would run alongside rear struts Sa, Sb Sc, and the lower edges of respective grow bags retained by grow bag supports 3a. 3b, 3c are those that would run alongside front struts 4a, 4b 4c.

I 5 Front struts 4a, 4h, 4c may he considered to together define the frontal exterior face of the tower. This exterior face is intended to he the source of light for plants growing in the tower.

Although in the present embodiment supports 3a. 3b. 3e are angled to the horizontal by around 8 degrees it will be apparent that they could be angled at any suitable angle.

When tower 1 is in use and grow bags are retained by each of supports 3a, 3h, 3c the grow bags thereon are angled on tower 1 with the lower edge of the grow bag adjacent an exterior face of the tower thereby increasing the light rcaching plants growing in the bags and aiding growth.

Thus the arrangement of the present invention is significantly advantageous in comparison to simply stacking grow bags vertically on a conventional shelving unit as conventional shelves are not tilted so as to increase the amount of light reaching lower grow bags.

Turning to Figures 3 and 4 it can be seen that tower 1 comprises hose fastenings in the form of hoops 7a. 7b adjacent support 3a.

Tower 1 also comprises hose fastenings adjacent supports 3b and 3c, but for brevity these are not labelled of discussed.

As can been seen from Figure 4 a soaker hose 8 may be threaded through the hose fastening hoops such that the soaker hose 8 is retained on tower 1 and operable to water grow bags retained on supports 3a. 3b, 3c.

In the present embodiment each support has two associated hose fastening hoops but it will be apparent that any suitable arrangement or types of fastening might be employed.

Turning to Figure 5 it can be seen that grow bag tower 1 may be provided with a removable cover 11 so as to protect tower 1 and the grow bags retained thereon from undesirable weather conditions. For example, the user of grow bag tower 1 might I 5 wish to tightly regulate the amount of water provided to plants growing in grow bags on the tower. In such an instance cover 11 may piotect the grow bags fiom unwanted precipitation.

In the present embodiment cover 11 covers the top, sides, rear and front of the tower but is provided with an opening 9 that may be opened and closed by means of rollablc door 10 as shown in Figure Sin a rolled-up position wherein it is retained by ties (not shown).

In some embodiments cover 11 niay be formed of a transparent material and in other embodiments door 10 may be formed of a transparent material. However, it will be apparent that whatever material cover 11 is made from any cover may reduce the amount of light reaching plants growing in bags retained on tower 1.

Thus becomes apparent a further advantage of a tower formed in accordance with the present invention, as even whilst cover 11 is in place plants growing in grow bags retained on respective supports 3a, 3b, 3c might still receive ample light in order to thrive as supports 3a, 3b. 3c arc angled to towards opening 9.

It will be apparent that both a soaker hose 8 and cover 11 may be used with tower 1 simultaneously.

It will be apparent that although in the present enibodiment textile sheets are S employed to provide supports for grow bags in other embodiments any suitable support might be used, such as an angled shelf, perhaps with a retaining lip such that a grow hag does not slip from there from Any shelf might he in the form of a metal or plastic grid so as to reduce the material used.

In some embodinients it niay be possible to provide adjacent stacks of supports wherein the upper edges of angled grow bags retained on respective supports ale adjacent alongside each other and the lower edges of angled grow bags retained on respective supports are located adjacent opposite exterior faces of the tower.

Many variations are possible. hut the key feature is that a grow hag retained on the support is at an angle to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower so as to increase its exposure to light in comparison to a grow bag retained horizontally.

In the present embodiment the grow bags are held at angle of around 8 degrees to the horizontal, hut in other embodiments other angles might he employed. For example, iii some embodiments grow bags might he held at around I S degrees, at around 20 degrees. at around 25 degrees, at around 30 degrees. or at other angles to the horizontal. Where the grow bag permits, more extreme angles to the horizontal could also be employed, such as 45 degrees or even up to 60 degrees.

In some embodiments the tower may be configured such that a user nmy select an angle at which a grow bag is retained.

It will be apparent that in sonic embodiments a tower might retain more than one grow bag on a single support.

In the present application the term grow bag tower' is intended to mean any grow bag stand adapted to retain grow bags in a vertical stack and is not intended to provide any limitation of dimensions, shape or other characteristics.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as set out in the appended claims.

S

Claims

Claims: 1. A grow bag tower comprising a plmality of grow bag supports that are spaced from each other in a substantially vertical stack, with each support being adapted S to retain at least one grow bag. wherein at least one of the supports is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag rests at an angle of between 5 and 60 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.
2. The grow bag tower of claim 1 wherein at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow hag such that the grow hag is at an angle of between 5 and 45 degrees to the horizontal.
3. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein at least one support is 1 5 adapted to retain at least one grow hag such that the grow hag is at an angle of between S and 30 degrees to the horizontal.
4. The grow hag tower of any preceding claim wherein at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag is at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees to the horizontal.
5. The grow hag tower of any preceding claim wherein at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag is at an angle of around 10 degrees to the horizontal.
6. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein at least one support is adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that the grow bag is at an angle of around S degrees to the horizontal.
7. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein a plurality of the supports are each adapted to retah at least one grow bag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of between 5 and 60 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.
8 The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein a plurality of the supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of between S and 45 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.S
9. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein a plurality of the supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow hag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of between 5 and 30 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.
10. The groW hag tower of any preceding claim wherein a plurality of the supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that respective grow bags rest at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.
11. The groW hag tower of any preceding claim wherein a plurality of the supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow bag such that respective grow bags at an angle of around 10 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.
12. The groW bag tower of any preceding claim wherein a plurality of the supports are each adapted to retain at least one grow hag such that respective grow bags at an angle of around 8 degrees to the horizontal with a lower edge adjacent an exterior face of the tower.
13. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein a support compnses a sheet of flexible material.
14. The grow hag tower of any preceding claim wherein the tower comprises a plurality of substantially vertical legs.
15, The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein the tower comprises corner legs.
16. The grow bag tower of claim 14 or 15 wherein the tower comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal struts between the legs.
17. The grow bag tower of any of claims 14 to 16 wherein a support comprises a sheet of flexible material that is positioned between the legs.
18. The grow bag tower of any of claim 16 wherein the sheet of flexible material is attached to the legs and/or the struts.
19. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein the tower comprises a cover so as to at least partially shield grow bags retained on the supports from undesirable weathet
20. The grow bag tower of claim 19 wherein the cover has a door that is openable and closable.
21. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein the tower comprises at least one attachment adapted to retain a watering hose on the tower such that the watering hose may water at least one grow bag retained on the tower.
22. The grow bag tower of any preceding claim wherein the tower comprises a plurality of attachments adapted to retain a soaker hose on the tower such that the soaker hose may water a plurality of grow bags retained on the tower.
23. A grow bag tower substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.