Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G31/00—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
  • A01G31/02—Special apparatus therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
  • Y02P60/20—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
  • Y02P60/21—Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for growing plants, as defined in the introduction section of Claim 1.
• a certain alternative is to use a floating growing base, which is placed in water.
• this kind of floating base is not possible, nor would they be able to work in the desired way.
• the plants either dry from a lack of water, the pots float too much on the surface of the water and fall over, or the whole device with the plants sinks to the bottom, or blows away in the wind.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a device for growing plants, whereby the inconveniences associated with prior art shall be reduced.
• the object of the invention is to provide a device for growing plants, which is self- watering, dependable in use, reliable, simple in structure, advantageous to produce and maintain, and easy to use.
• the object of the invention is accomplished with a device for growing plants, the characteristics of which are set forth in the independent Claim 1.
• a growing device formed in accordance with the invention comprises a growing space for plants, the bottom and/or border of which has been made of water-permeable, supportive material to keep the substance in the growing space in the growing device, and for conducting the water from the water basin up to the growing space and to the substance in it.
• the principle idea of the invention is thus: the growing area of the plants, in which is placed soil, or a corresponding substance, with nutrients, is supported by a structure which works as a float, such that the float structure provides for a proper growing space on the surface of the water, and the vertical level of the moisture line automatically always stays the same. Due to the water-permeable and supportive bottom or border, the water can pass into the lower part of the growing space, which has an advantageously porous, loose layer of material.
• the roots of the plants are meant to extend to the moist part of the porous intermediary layer, or further down into the water. It is known, that plant roots always find their way to the optimal position in relation to water. Since the level of the water surface does not vary, the plants grow well.
• An advantage of a growing device formed in accordance with the invention is that the plants, which are growing get watered automatically, because the vertical level of the moisture line automatically always stays in the same place. Thus, the plants get the required moisture from the water basin even during long periods of dryness. On the other hand, moisture caused by large quantities of precipitation from above flows through the growing area to the water basin without causing the plants to drown.
• An additional advantage of the invention is that a device formed according to the invention is mechanically reliable and stable.
• a further advantage of the invention is that no special knowledge about plant nutrients is required for growing plants in a device formed according to the invention.
• a further advantage of the invention is that a device formed in accordance with the invention is relatively simple, and the costs for its production are relatively small and it is easy to clean.
• the growing device adapts to use for all kinds of plant growing. Decorative plants can be grown in it, as well as plants for cultivation and eating.
• the base is underneath the mentioned growing space.
• This kind of structure is simple and functional.
• the wall of the floating unit has at least one channel or corresponding formation in order to lead the air to the material inside the growing space.
• the size, shape and number of the channels can vary in different applications of the invention. They can extend through the wall or they can be depressions or other channels made in the wall.
• a growing device advantageously comprises attaching elements, which are connected to the edge of the device, by which growing devices are detachably attached to one another.
• the form and structure of the attaching elements can vary; they can be different types of projections or hook-like, string-like or rope-like fasteners. With the attaching elements, growing devices can easily and simply be fastened to one another and can be made into one impressive- looking shaped formation.
• a growing device formed in accordance with the advantageous application comprises a part in its structure to which the anchor string can be attached. Using the anchor string and the anchor attached to it, the growing device can be made to stay in place.
• Figure 1 illustrates a growing device formed in accordance with a certain application of the invention, diagonally viewed from the top,
• Figure 2 illustrates a cross-section of a growing device formed in accordance with Figure 1 .
• Figures 3a-e illustrate some examples of different applications of a growing device formed in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 1 illustrates a certain application of a growing device and its structure, formed in accordance with the invention.
• the growing device 100 comprises a float 110 and a bottom 120, which is not shown in the figure. Additionally, the figure illustrates an intermediary layer 130.
• the float is shaped like a cut, downwards widening cone, which has an open top part. In the middle of it, the figure shows an empty space 150, which decreases downwards and is intended to be the growing space for the plant.
• Figure 1 additionally illustrates vertical grooves 115, which have been made in the side of the growing space on the inner surface of the float 110. The purpose of these is to lead air to the substance in the growing space to allow the plant roots to breathe better, and secondly, to speed up the drying of the substance, such as soil, in the event that it receives too much water.
• Figure 2 illustrates a vertical cross-section of a growing device 100 and its structure, which have been formed in accordance with Figure 1.
• This figure shows the float material 110, bottom 120, the substance containing nutrients, such as soil, which functions as a growing foundation 160, located in the growing space, and the intermediary layer 130, underneath the growing foundation.
• the float has been made as one whole piece using a light material. It may also advantageously be a hollow part made of rigid material, or a rigid part which is open at the bottom.
• the bottom 120 is a strong membrane attached to the float and perforated, which is made of a material known as such. It can advantageously also be of the same piece as the float.
• the bottom material can vary in different applications, but it is such that it can support the intermediary layer and the growing foundation on top of it.
• the intermediary layer 130 can be, for example, a coarse natural material, some suitably porous artificial material, or it can be a mechanical device, such as grating or corresponding device.
• Figure 2 also illustrates a projection 121, which is connected to the bottom 120, to which the anchor string 122 is connected in order to anchor the device.
• the level of the water when the growing device is being used and has been placed in the water, S is marked with a dashed line in the figure. This water level remains the same after the device has been placed in the water. The water level is at the same point as the intermediary layer, but the water cannot penetrate to dissolve the growing foundation.
• the plant roots which are in the growing foundation grow more quickly into the intermediary layer, or near to it, such that the plant gets the water it needs, because the plant roots always seek out the optimal position regarding water.
• the water level can be regulated in the desired way, for example, by using weights or by putting more or less soil in the growing space.
• Figures 3a-e illustrate examples of different forms of the growing device, as viewed from above.
• Figure 3a illustrates the form of a structure, which has been formed in accordance with Figures 1 and 2.
• Figure 3b illustrates a structure, which corresponds to the structure in Figure 3a, differing in that, in the horizontal cross-section, its structure is square-shaped instead of circular.
• the growing space 160 in the structure in Figure 3c is oblong and straight.
• the growing device and its growing space 150 are elliptically shaped when viewed in a horizontal cross- section.
• the floating unit 31 in the structure in Figure 3e is composed of five parallel float parts 110. Four oblong growing spaces 160 remain between these parts. The thickness of the intermediary layer in the growing spaces can be individually chosen, as is shown in the cross-section Figure A-A. Thus, different plants can be planted in different growing spaces, because some plants require more moisture in the growing foundation than others in order to grow.
• Floating unit 31 can be made as one unit. Its parts can however be advantageously made separately and then joined together by some simple mechanism.
• attaching elements for attaching the growing devices to one another, but these attaching elements are not pictured in the figures.
• the material for the floating unit can vary in different applications. Likewise, its color may also vary. It is advantageous to use a dark color, because in that way, the sun will be best able to warm the plants. It is also possible to fit the growing device with accessories, known per se, such as a light, whereupon, for example, a solar cell could be used as a power source.
• accessories known per se, such as a light, whereupon, for example, a solar cell could be used as a power source.
• the preceding is a description of a certain structure of a growing device for plants and some of its variations, formed in accordance with the invention. The invention is not limited to the illustrated applications. Its form and structure can vary in the desired way in different applications. The device can, for example, be outwardly even in width instead of it having a width that increases downwards.
• the shape of the floats can vary in the desired way.
• the inner and/ or outer walls of the floating unit can be vertical. It is also possible to make the growing device, such that the floating unit is in the middle of the structure and the growing space is farther out. A certain application of this can be attained by turning the growing device in Figures 1 and 2 upside down and by altering the float material in the growing space and the growing space in the floating unit. Nor is the invention limited to the way in which it can be made. The idea of the invention can be adapted in different ways within the limits set forth in the independent Claim 1.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Hydroponics (AREA)
• Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8554529

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (2)

Citations (4)

• 1999
  • 1999-04-27 FI FI990947A patent/FI110156B/sv active
• 2000
  • 2000-04-27 AU AU42991/00A patent/AU4299100A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-04-27 WO PCT/FI2000/000364 patent/WO2000064240A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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