GB2543028A

GB2543028A - Wall component for forming a wall for growing plants

Info

Publication number: GB2543028A
Application number: GB1516471.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence Mark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-17
Filing date: 2015-09-17
Publication date: 2017-04-12
Also published as: GB201516471D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a wall component 10 for growing plants. Component 10 has a chamber 11, in use containing a growing medium. Chamber 11 has a chamber front face 12 with holes 12A through which plants can be planted, a chamber top face 13, a chamber bottom face 14, opposing chamber side faces 16,17, and a chamber rear face 15. A cut-out 18 is provided in the top face and the side walls between the front and rear face, said cut-out adapted to receive a generally horizontal irrigation pipe X. In use two or more components can be arranged abutting one another in rows and columns to form a wall for growing plants whilst supporting an irrigation pipe.

Description

TITLE: Wall Component for forming a wall for growing plants

The present invention relates to a wall component for growing plants.

It is known to create a wall by securing to a back frame rectangular wall components in rows and columns, with irrigation pipes in vertical spaces between rows of wall components. A problem with such a wall is that the irrigation pipe needs to be secured to back frame (as well as the wall components) and the irrigation pipe is exposed between vertical spaces between rows of wall components which is unsightly. Water thus delivered can miss the growing medium, falling in-between panels, causing irregular amounts of water to be delivered. A wall component for growing plants comprising: a) a chamber, in use containing a growing medium b) a chamber front face with holes through which plants can be planted c) a chamber top face, d) a chamber bottom face e) opposing chamber side faces f) a rear face, and g) a cutout in the top face and the side walls between the front and rear face, said cutout adapted to receive a generally horizontal irrigation pipe, in use two or more components can be arranged abutting one another in rows and columns to form a wall for growing plants whilst supporting an irrigation pipe.

Preferably a sloping top face section is provided between the cut-out and the rear face to direct liquid onto the rear face.

Preferably a recess in the bottom face allowing liquid from the core to drop onto the sloping top face of an adjacent component below.

Preferably the cut-out is a U-shaped slot in the top face with a rear cut-out wall being shorter than a front cut-out wall whereby a component can be removed from or replaced at a downward angle from a matrix of components without disturbing the irrigation pipe.

Preferably the front face has large apertures to receive plants and small apertures to aerate the growing medium in the chamber.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective front view of part of a pair of wall components,

Figure 2 shows a perspective rear view of part of a pair of wall components.

Figure 3 shows a side view of three wall components, and

Figure 4 shows a front view of a plurality of panels forming a wall.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown part of a wall 1 for growing plants formed from wall components 10.

Each component 10 comprises a rectangular box chamber 11, in use containing a growing medium such as Grodan (trade mark). A chamber rectangular front face 12 is provided with large holes 12A through which plants can be planted, and small holes 12B to aerate the growing medium. These small holes align with internal horizontal capillary breaks (not shown) which distribute air with the growing medium. A chamber top face 13 is provided, as is a chamber bottom face 14, an open rear face 15, and opposing chamber side faces 16,17. A cut-out in the form of a U-shaped slot 18 is provided in the top face 13 and the side walls 16,17 between the front and rear face to receive a generally horizontal irrigation pipe X. Cutout slot 18 has a rear cut-out wall 18A shorter than a front cut-out wall 18Bwherebya component can be removed from or replaced at a downward angle from a matrix of components without disturbing the irrigation pipe (see Figure 3 described below).

Top face 13 has a sloping top face section 19 between the rear cut-out wall 18A and the rear face 15 to direct liquid onto the rear face. A recess 20 is provided in the bottom face 14 allowing liquid from the chamber growing medium to drop onto the sloping top face section 19 of an adjacent component below and be moved to a rear drainage void between the rear of each component and a rear frame (see Figure 3 below) to which each component is fixed, so as not to drain down into the component below.

In use a wall of two or more components can be arranged abutting one another in rows and columns to form a wall for growing plants whilst supporting an irrigation pipe as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 3, there is shown a side view of three panels 10 arranged vertically in a column. Panels 10 may conveniently be secured to a frame Y by means of screws 30. Irrigation pipe X is held in cut-out 18. If it is desired to remove the middle panel, screws 30 can be removed and the middle panel rotated out swinging the bottom of the middle panel forward (as shown by dotted lines) whereby a component can be removed from or replaced at a downward angle from a matrix of components without disturbing the irrigation pipe as the rear wall 18A of cut-out 18 is lower than front wall 18B. Thus when a wall of numerous components 10 is created, individual components 10 can be removed for replanting and the like.

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

1. A wall component for growing plants comprising: a) a chamber, in use containing a growing medium, b) a chamber front face with holes through which plants can be planted, c) a chamber top face, d) a chamber bottom face, e) opposing chamber side faces, f) a rear face, and g) a cut-out in the top face and the side walls between the front and rear face, said cut-out adapted to receive a generally horizontal irrigation pipe, in use two or more components can be arranged abutting one another in rows and columns to form a wall for growing plants whilst supporting an irrigation pipe.

2. A wall component according to claim 1, wherein a sloping top face section is provided between the cut-out and the rear face to direct liquid onto the rear face.

3. A wall component according to claim 2, wherein a recess in the bottom face allows liquid i from the core to drop onto the sloping top face of an adjacent component below.

4. A wall component according to any preceding claim, wherein the cut-out is a U-shaped slot in the top face with a rear cut-out wall being shorter than a front cut-out wall whereby a component can be removed from or replaced at a downward angle from a matrix of components without disturbing the irrigation pipe.

5. A wall component according to any preceding claim, wherein the front face has large apertures to receive plants and small apertures to aerate the growing medium in the chamber.

6. A wall component for growing plants, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.