JPS59143531A - Soil heater for plant - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a soil warmer for plants.

In recent years, home gardening, including ornamental plants, has become popular, but in winter, when the temperature drops and the soil around the plants gets cold,
Plants may suffer from stunted growth or death.

To prevent this, conventional methods include laying straw around the base of plants, and exposing plants in flower pots to sunlight during the day.
Methods such as bringing it indoors at night or building a greenhouse to overwinter were used, but the method of laying straw is less effective in cold weather, and the method of exposing it to sunlight depends on the weather and is reliable. It lacked character and required a lot of effort to move. Greenhouses also had the disadvantage of high equipment costs.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and provides a soil warmer for plants that can be inserted into the soil when necessary and can heat the soil around the plants with electric heat.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the plant soil warmer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the figure, (1) is a rod-shaped case made of a metal material (e.g. stainless steel) that does not corrode in soil, (2) is a heat sink that protrudes from case (1), and (3) is a heat-resistant insulating material. (3a) is the heater wrapped in it, (4) is the electric wire connected to the heater (3), and (5) is the lid. In other words, a heater (3) is made by pressing a metal plate into a heat sink (2) and a case (1), which are then welded together facing each other, and then wrapped in a heat-resistant insulating material (3a). and sealed with a lid (5). When the electric wire (4) is connected to the power supply, the heater (3)
becomes hot, and the case (1) and heat sink (2) also become warm. Therefore, if it is embedded in a place where it will not interfere with plant roots, it can gently warm the soil over a wide area.

The heating capacity of the heater (3) is small enough to prevent the soil from freezing, and even if electricity is supplied continuously, the temperature will not rise above a certain level, even if the roots come into direct contact with this heater. It also has no negative impact.

The heater (3) is protected by a heat-resistant insulating material (3a) and housed in a case (1), and is inserted into the soil.
It will not be affected by water injection or application of liquid fertilizer, etc.

The heat source is electricity, and if there is a power source nearby, it can be easily obtained through an electric wire (4), and does not alter the soil or generate harmful substances that have a negative effect on plants. The heat dissipation plate (2) has a serrated shape, and soil does not easily adhere to the base of the teeth, creating a gap, which can replenish the air in the soil that is decreasing by warming the soil. Additionally, this warmer is easy to handle, as it has a rod-shaped body that can be used only around plants that are sensitive to the cold, and can be inserted and used only when it is extremely cold.

Other embodiments and application examples of this invention will be described below. Figure 4 shows a flat rod-shaped case (1) made by press-forming a metal plate that will not corrode in the soil.A through hole (6) is provided in the middle to allow easy passage of moisture and nutrients in the soil. An indicator light (7) is provided on the upper part of the case (1), and lights up when the heater (3) is energized, so that it can be seen that the heater (3) is energized. Figure 5 shows a case (1) made of a plate-shaped plastic material with excellent heat resistance and soil resistance, with a tapered tip to make it easier to insert into the soil.A heater (3) is attached to the top of the case (1). It is equipped with a switch (8) that can turn on and off the electricity.

That is, this soil warmer for plants is made of a material that does not corrode into the soil and has a shape that can be easily inserted into the soil, so that the electric heater (3) can warm the soil as wide as possible.

If the case (1) is made of a flexible material such as rubber or soft plastic, it will be easier to insert it into the soil and use it if the heater (3) portion or core material is made rigid. If the soil is harder than the warmer and you cannot insert it by hand, you can dig up the soil and insert it.

The shape and size of the case (1) may be determined depending on the intended use, for example, for a flower pot, for use on flat land, or to be an optimal shape and size depending on the type of plant. That is, case (1)
The cross-sectional shape can be round, oval, flat, corrugated, hollow, etc., and an attached mechanism such as a heat sink (2) must be provided. is also free. The length of the case (1) is related to the rigidity of the warmer, but it may be a length that allows it to be easily inserted into the soil or a length that allows the soil to freeze easily. The width should also be within a range that is easy to handle, and if there is a shortage, multiple pieces can be used side by side.

To supply air into the soil, which becomes necessary when the soil is warmed, granular soil may be mixed into the soil, or grooves may be provided in the case (1) to facilitate the passage of air.

In addition, if a recess or sponge-like object is provided in the case (1) or the heat sink (2), water or liquid fertilizer can be received there, preventing the soil from drying out due to warming the soil. I can do it.

Conventional techniques are used to insulate and protect the heater (3) inside the case (1), and the size and arrangement of the heater (3) can be determined depending on the shape and size of the case (1). good. In addition, during use, the temperature (high and low) of the heater (3) may be adjusted depending on the degree of coldness, the type of plant, etc., and a temperature sensor may be placed at one end of the case (1) or in the soil. Electricity to the heater (3) may be turned on and off automatically to enable more accurate control of soil temperature.

Furthermore, electricity can be saved by providing a heat insulating material or a heat storage material in the case (1) so that it does not cool down immediately even if the electricity to the heater (3) is cut off.

In addition, by providing a reflector or heat insulating material on one side of the case (1) to prevent the heat from the heater (3) from escaping from that side, you can efficiently heat only the soil around the plants you want to warm on the other side. I can do it.

In addition, this soil warmer can be used not only for home gardening, but also for agricultural seedbeds, etc., for forced cultivation. In this case, 1
If the heat capacity of individual heaters is insufficient, it is convenient to use several heaters as a set.

As explained above, in this invention, a heater is built into a case shaped so that it can be inserted into the soil around plants, and electricity is passed to the heater from the outside.

When electricity is turned on, the heater heats up and the case warms, which in turn warms the soil that comes into contact with the case. Therefore, if it is used in the soil around plants that are sensitive to cold during the cold winter months, they can be grown vigorously without experiencing the cold.

This soil warmer is inserted into the soil, is easy to handle, has a simple structure, and can be manufactured at low cost.
It serves as a soil warmer for plants, which is useful for winter gardening.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view (partially shown in cross section) showing an embodiment of the soil warmer for plants according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing II of FIG.
-II line sectional view, FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1. Fourth
5 are perspective views showing other embodiments of the present invention. (1) is the case, (2) is the heat sink, (3) is the heater,
(4) is an electric wire. In addition, the same parts (corresponding parts) in the figures are indicated by the same reference numerals. Patent applicant Kiyoshi Ikeda

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A soil warmer for plants that has a case that can be inserted into the soil, has a built-in heater, and is equipped with a device that connects electricity to the heater to warm the soil around the plants. 2. The soil warmer for plants according to claim 1, wherein the case containing the heater is formed into a rod-shaped body. 3. The soil warmer for plants according to claim 1, wherein the case containing the heater is formed into a plate-like body.