GB2530797A

GB2530797A - Wall for growing plants

Info

Publication number: GB2530797A
Application number: GB1417483.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Laurence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-10-03
Filing date: 2014-10-03
Publication date: 2016-04-06
Also published as: GB201417483D0

Abstract

A wall 1 for growing plants with a matrix of plant holding modules 10 filled with a growing medium 11 having a front face 12 with apertures 13 from which plants can grow, a rear face 14, a top face 15 with apertures 15A, 15B, and a bottom face 16 with apertures 16A, 16B. A spacer member 20 is provided between rows of modules, each spacer member having a lower section 21 to house an irrigation hose 30 which feeds water into the component top face aperture below, and an upper section 22 forming part of a drainage channel to channel water away from the bottom face aperture above. In the first embodiment the plant modules are secured onto a wall and water drains between the containers and the wall, with plants growing from one face only. In the second embodiment excess water is diverted to the sides of the structure, and has plants growing from both the front and rear faces.

Description

TITLE: Wall for Growing Plants The present invention relates to a wall for growing plants.

According to the present invention there is provided a wall for growing plants comprising: a) a matrix of rectangular wall components each wall component being filled with a growing medium having a front face with apertures from which plants can grow from the growing medium, a rear face, a top face with an aperrure to allow entry of water into the component, and a bottom face with an aperture allowing escape of water from the component, and b) spacer member/s to space vertically components in the matrix, each spacer member having a ower section to house an irrigation hose and to feed water into a component top face aperture below, and an upper section forming part of a drainage channel to channel water away from the bottom face aperture above.

Preferably the spacer member includes a baffle dividing the lower section from the upper section. The baffle may be at least partially inclined to direct water away through the drainage channel. Preferably the spacer member has a front face to space front faces of adjacent components. Preferably the irrigation hose is supported below the baffle adjacent the spacer member front face. The hose may be contained in a C-shaped cavity formed by the baffle and front face. Preferably the spacer member is formed as a unitary moulding, preferably as an extrusion.

In one embodiment the spacer member includes a rear face adapted to be secured to a supporting frame. In another embodiment the rear face is adapted to space rear faces of adjacent components.

In one embodiment the matrix may be attached to backing frame securable to a wall. The back face be open or may be sealed. The drainage channel may be vertical formed between the matrix and a backing frame.

In another embodiment the back face may have apertures from which plants can grow from the growing medium. Drainage channel can be horizontal.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a wall a matrix of six components, Figure 2 shows a cross section view of part of Figure 1A, and Figure 3 shows a cross section view of part of an alternative embodiment to that of Figure 1A.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a wall I for growing plants.

Wall I has a matrix of four identical rectangular wall components 10. Each wall component is filled with a growing medium 11, and has a front face 12 with apertures 13 from which plants can grow from the growing medium, a rear face 14 (which may be open or closed), a top face with an aperture 1 5A, I 5B to allow entry of water into the component, and a bottom fitce 16 with an aperture 16A,16B allowing escape of water from the component.

Each component 10 is secured to a back frame 40 by means of screws 50, and may be spaced from the back frame by an impervious geotextile sheet 60. A vertical drainage channel to drain irrigation water from the apertures 16A,16B of components 10 is formed between the components 10 and sheet 60.

Three unitary moulded (e.g. extruded) spacer members 20 are provided each to space vertically components in the matrix, each spacer member having a lower section 21 to house an irrigation hose 30 and to feed water into a component top face aperture 1SA,15B below (see arrow), and an upper section 22 forming part of the drainage channel to channel water away (see arrow) from bottom face apertures 16A,16B above to the gap between components 10 and sheet 60.

Each spacer member 20 includes a baffle 23 dividing the lower section from the upper section.

The baffle may be at least partially inclined to direct water away through the drainage channel.

Spacer member 20 has a front face 24 to space front thces of adjacent components.

The irrigation hose 30 is supported below the baffle and adjacent the spacer member front face 24, and the hose 30 is contained with a friction fit in a C-shaped cavity formed by the baffle and the front face 24. Spacer member 20 has a rear face 25 face adapted to be secured to frame by screws 50.

In use, plants can be grown through the apertures 13 of each components 10 to create a "living wall". The plants can be irrigated by feeding water A (with nutrients) from each pipe 30 through each component 10. Excess water is drained out from each component into the drainage channel so water from one component does not drain onto and saturate a component below. The water can be circulated from a common tank fed by the drainage channel. Only four components and three spacer members are shown in the drawings, but in practice a wall may be formed with many more than this.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown an alternative construction where two alternative components are separated by an alternative spacer member. In Figure 3 each component has both front face 12 and rear face 14 with apertures 13 through which plants can grow. The components 10 are free standing so not secured to a back frame. Figure 3 shows just two upper and lower components, but in practice a wall may be formed with many more than this.

The spacer member front face 24 overlaps the front face 12 of upper and lower components, and spacer member rear face 25 overlaps the rear face 14 of upper and lower components. In this case the upper section of the spacer member forms a horizontal drainage channel leading to a side edge of a wall for drainage.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above, Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A wall for growing plants comprising: a) a matrix of rectangular wall components each wall component being filled with a growing medium having a front face with apertures from >vich plants can grow from the growing medium, a rear face, a top face with an aperture to allow entry of water into the component, and a bottom face with an aperture allowing escape of water from the component, and b) spacer member/s to space vertically components in the matrix, each spacer member having a L: : lower section to house an irrigation hose and to feed water into a component top face aperture * below, and an upper section forming part of a drainage channel to channel water away from the bottom face aperture above. * **.

: .
2. A wall according to claim 1, wherein the spacer member includes a baffle dividing the lower section from the upper section.
3. A wall according to claim 2, wherein the baffle is at least partially inclined to direct water away through the drainage channel.
4. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the spacer member has a front face to space front faces of adjacent components.
5. A wall according to claim 4, wherein the irrigation hose is supported below the baffle adjacent the spacer member front face.
6. A wall according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the hose may be contained in a C-shaped cavity formed by the baffle and front face.
7. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the spacer member is formed as a unitary * *.* * * moulding. *.* * *
8. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the spacer member includes a rear face adapted to be secured to a supporting frame. * * ***
9. A wall according to claim 8, wherein the spacer member rear face is adapted to space rear faces of adjacent components.
10. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the matrix rear face is open or is sealed.
II. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the matrix is attached to a backing frame securable to a wall.
12. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the drainage channel is vertically formed between the matrix and a backing frame.
13. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the back face has apertures from which plants can grow from the growing medium.
14. A wall according to any preceding claim, wherein the drainage channel are horizontal. * *. * * . *.* *
15. A wall for growing plants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. S. * 0 *,*