WO2010110756A2

WO2010110756A2 - A modular receptacle for plant and a handling device thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2010110756A2
Application number: PCT/TH2010/000011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karn Nitayasuthi; Teerawat Kampun; Rawee Mattanurak; Thanaphol Pongpipat
Original assignee: Scg Building Materials Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-03-23
Filing date: 2010-03-19
Publication date: 2010-09-30
Also published as: WO2010110756A4; WO2010110756A3; MY184517A

Abstract

A modular receptacle for plant is characterized in that it comprises water container, water drainage part, wall, and slots. The modular receptacle includes slots to be inserted with the handling device while removing or mounting an individual modular receptacle without affecting the operation of the remaining modular receptacles. The wall is the barrier-like member surrounding the water container for use in containing the cultivation materials, part of the wall higher than the water container having one portion that forms an inward angle measuring from 100 to 260 degrees with respect to the plane of the placement area for the modular receptacle and have slots which are holes or openings located on the wall that forms an inward angle measuring from 100 to 260 degrees with respect to the plane of the placement area for the modular receptacle. This enables the handling device in accordance with the slots to be used in lifting or moving modular receptacles without affecting other modular receptacles. Further, the handling device can also be used with other modular receptacles.

Description

A MODULAR RECEPTACLE FOR PLANT AND A HANDLING DEVICE THEREOF

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plant - growing receptacle.

Description of the Related Art

In the past, there were plenty of areas for planting trees available. Planting was mostly carried out by planting directly onto the soil ground by various cultivation methods. At present, especially in the urban areas, the planting spaces are reducing as a result of urban developments. Those spaces are being replaced by construction of residential areas, buildings, and infrastructures. However, there are still needs for planting areas to create the livable atmosphere, hi general, one of the most popular methods is planting in pots. One of the drawbacks of this method is that the plants need constant care and watering. In addition, the plant - growing pots are usually heavy and thus moving them is not very convenient. These factors result in the limitation of decorative design.

In order to fulfill the needs, a new technological approach has been developed to solve the problems associated with the conventional method, i.e. plant - growing pots. One approach is a plant - growing receptacle. The development advantageously provides a system for water retaining wherein once the plant is watered, the receptacle able to retain water, reducing the need for frequent watering. Furthermore, the plant - growing receptacle has a lighter weight and this, in turn, allows planting to be distributed in larger areas, especially, planting inside and/or on top of buildings where the areas of usage and load bearing capability are limited or restricted. The above plant - growing receptacle is suitable for planting on rooftops or terraces. The plant - growing receptacle also comes with various models as will be described in the following context.

If there is an opening on the wall of the plant - growing receptacle, then one can put his/her hands into that opening to lift or move a single plant - growing receptacle. However, if there are many plant - growing receptacles arranged in a series, putting one's hand between receptacles as mentioned above is impossible since there is no access for the hand. If one needs to lift or move those plant - growing receptacles, first, he/she has to start lifting or moving the outermost plant - growing receptacle. On the other hand, if the plant - growing receptacles are arranged with some spaces in between to provide room to facilitate the lifting, then the garden designed to decorate with those plant - growing receptacles will lose its attractiveness due to the loss of greenery connectivity among the array of plat-growing receptacles. Similarly, in case the plant - growing receptacles include the lugs projecting upward at their upper parts, the appearance will also be obscured by these lugs.

The published International Patent Application, WO2007050042 aimed at providing a plant - growing receptacle capable of retaining an amount of water for the plants. The receptacle is provided with an irrigation channel inside the receptacle to receive and drain water. The receptacle, however, has some limitations in maintaining the receptacle as well as moving them due to the fact that all receptacles are connected by the water supply channel thus it is impossible to remove any single receptacle from the array of connected receptacles without disturbing the remaining receptacles. Furthermore, it is also possible that the water inside the receptacles will leak along the adjoining parts of the plant - growing receptacles then the amount of water in the system needed for plants is affected.

US Patent Application No.20080034654 disclosed a receptacle, which is capable of retaining water for the plants. The receptacle provides some spaces for use in containing water and includes a water supply pipe for use in water retention. The receptacle comprises a fixing means used in mounting the plant - growing receptacle to the ground to prevent sliding when mounted on the inclined surface. Yet there is a problem that is the fixing means must be affixed inside the receptacle. This arrangement results in loss of the cultivation spaces. Moreover, maintaining or moving of the receptacle can be difficult to handle due to the small space or room for the access to lift the plant - growing receptacles as well as the fact that water supply channel is attached to the receptacle, at which making it even more difficult to remove any receptacles from the array of remaining receptacles without removing the outermost receptacle first.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular receptacle for plant characterized in that it comprises water container, water drainage part, wall, and slots. The modular receptacle includes slots to be inserted with the handling device while removing or mounting an individual modular receptacle without affecting the operation of the remaining modular receptacles. The present invention advantageously provides the capability of removing and mounting a large number of adjacent modular receptacles in an easy manner. This capability thus facilitates the modification of the planting methods and cultivation maintenance, and does not deteriorate the plants landscape.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanied drawings illustrate various embodiments of the apparatus and principles as mentioned above and form a part of the present specification. Those illustrated embodiments merely exemplify an embodiment and therefore do not limit the scope of the appended claims in any ways.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular receptacle;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular receptacle during usage;

Fig. 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of the modular receptacle;

Fig. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the modular receptacle;

Fig. 5 shows a lateral cross section of an embodiment of the modular receptacle during drainage;

Fig. 6 shows a lateral cross section of an embodiment of the plant modular receptacle after being filled with cultivation materials;

Fig. 7a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the lock;

Fig. 7b shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the lock;

Fig. 8a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular receptacles connected to one another without the installation of the water supply;

Fig. 8b shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular receptacles connected to one another with the installation of the water supply;

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular receptacles installed with wall decoration portion;

Fig. 10 shows a side view of an embodiment of the handling device;

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the handling device usage.

Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention discloses a cultivation system using a modular receptacle which will now be referred to herein as "receptacle". In the following detailed description of the present specification, a large amount of specific details are provided for the thorough understanding of various elements of the system. However, it will be appreciated among those skilled in the present art that members, equipment, units, or systems that will be later described can be practiced without those specific details. With reference to the present specification, the terms "an embodiment", "an example", or other terms with similar meaning means that the disclosed characteristic, structure, or property are relevant to an embodiment or an example incorporated in at least one embodiment and do not necessarily appear in other embodiments. The term "in one embodiment" frequently appearing herein or other similar terms appearing throughout the present specification do not necessarily always refer to the same embodiment.

One- embodiment of the receptacle (20) according to the present invention includes water container (21), water drainage part (22), wall (23), and slots (24) as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3.

Water container (21)

Water container (21) realized as deep well or protruding partitioning wall used in containing water. The water is then used in moistening the plant growth medium (99) inside the receptacle (20). The water container (21) is located at the lower part of the receptacle (20) wherein the bottom of the water container (21) lies on the placement area for the receptacle (20). The height of a water container (21) is correlated to the amount of water to be retained for the plant. The upper and the lower cross section area of the water container (21) may or may not be equal. The lower cross section area of the water container (21) is preferably smaller than that of the upper cross section area for the sake of the water drainage and the mounting of the water supply (60).

Water drainage part (22)

As shown in Fig. 5, a water drainage part (22) represents any hole or any opening located on any surfaces of the water container (21). The water drainage part (22) is preferably the hole prepared on the top of the water container (21) for draining excessive amount of water used in cultivating the plants out of the receptacle (20). Wall (231

As shown in Fig. 6, a wall (23) is the member surrounding the water container (21). The wall (23) is positioned above the array of water containers (21) and to provide space for holding growth medium (99) as well as accommodating the plant in the receptacle (20). There is provided a filter (98), featuring a perforated sheet to allow the permeability of water. The mesh size, however, is smaller than that of the particles of the growth medium materials (99). The filter (98) is provided to lift the growth medium (99) off the water container (21) and allow the flow of supplied water and rain water to fill in the water container and, only the excess, drained away through the water drainage part (22). The filter (98) is also used in capturing the growth medium (99) in the receptacle. The water retained at the water container (21) is used for further moistening the growth medium (99) when the water supply (60) is off. The wall (23) features the barrier-like member. A Part of the wall which is higher than the water container (21) has one portion that forms an inward angle measuring from 100 to 260 degrees with respect to the plane of the placement area for receptacle (20).

As shown in Fig.7a and 8a, the connection among the receptacles (20) is carried out by mean of lock (30). The lock (30) comprises a core (31) and snap retainers (32). The core (31) holds the snap retainers (32) together. The snap retainer (32) is a recessed protrusion to be fitted to the wall. The snap retainers (32) are used in connecting at least two adjacent receptacles (20) together.

As shown in Fig.2, the wall (23) includes a coupling portion (25). The coupling portion (25) is a convex-shaped member in relation to the tubular water supply (60) used in transporting water to the receptacle (20) by running the water supply (60) under the receptacle or along the lateral part of the receptacle (20) and distributing water to the upper section of the receptacle (20) using dripped line or sprinkler (63). The water supply (60) may include the lifting support member (61) for use in lifting the water supply (60) away from the surface where the receptacle (20) is placed. The lifting support member (61) facilitates the drainage of the water that is drained from the water drainage parts (22) to gutter and drainage outlet along the slope of roof or terrace surface. It is also possible to install the automatic water supply, which is the combination of the opening/closing mechanism of the valves and sensors connected thereto from the water supply source to allow the automatic water supplying once the surrounding condition is changed or the operating timer is set.

As shown in Fig.7b and 8b, in an arrangement in which the receptacle (20) includes the water supply (60) connected to the coupling portion (25). The lock (30) is capable of being fastened to the coupling portion (25) in order to connect any receptacle to the adjacent one as well as holding the water supply (60) in place. The fastening method of the lock (30) to the water supply (60) corresponds with the configuration of the water supply (60). Preferably, the lock (30) includes a hole or opening that enables the insertion of the water supply (60) through the lock (30) to hold the water supply (60) in a fixed position while the receptacle (20) is being supplied with water.

As shown in Fig. 4, the wall (23) is capable of including an engagement support member (26). The engagement support member (26) features any geometrical shape members that is attached to the wall (23) and located underneath the slots (24) to prevent any damages associated with the lifting or moving of the receptacle (20). Further, the walls (23) may include a reinforcement member (27) of which realized as a flange or a ridge protruding from the wall (23). The reinforcement member (27) is used in bearing the load exerted on the receptacle (20) to facilitate replacement or the maintenance of the receptacle (20).

As shown in Fig. 9, the receptacle (20) may be mounted with the wall decoration portion (28). The wall decoration portion (28) may be a plate to be affixed to the wall (23), or the slots (24), or the engagement support member (26) by attaching, engaging, hanging, suspending, or by any means. The wall decoration portion (28) is provided to create the attractiveness of the cultivation system. Especially, the wall decoration portion (28) is attached to the outermost receptacle (20) or the receptacle (20) which is not connected to any other receptacle (20). The wall decoration portion (28) may be attached to at least one side of at least one receptacle (20). In the preferred embodiment, the wall decoration portion (28) may include a protrusion (29) of which shape matches that of the slots (24) and may be engaged with the engagement support member (26).

Slots (2A) slots (24) represent any holes or openings located on the wall region that forms an inward angle measuring from 100 to 260 degrees with respect to the plane of the placement area for the modular receptacle (20) to enable the use of the handling device (40) for moving the receptacle (20) when needed.

In order to lift the receptacle (20) individually, the handling device (40) may be engaged with the slots (24). In an embodiment in which the wall (23) is inclined more steeply, the handling device (40) may be inserted through the slots (24) and engaged with the wall (23) or the engagement support member (26).

Fig. 10 illustrates a handling device (40) which comprises at least two legs and a leg connector (43) for use in lifting of moving any receptacles, boxes, or cases provided with at least two holes or openings. The length of the first leg (41) is less than the widest part of the first hole. The length of the second leg (42) is longer than the minimal length of the second hole. The length of the nearest points between the first leg (41) and the second leg (42) is at least equal to the distance between the nearest points of these holes and does not exceed the farthest distance between the holes and the leg connector (43). The leg connector (43) is a bent rod or a curved rod to connect these legs together. The leg connector (43) may include the reinforcement core (44), which is a rod or a connecting plate located between the legs to prevent bending of deformation of the handling device (40). The handling device (40) is detachable to be used in moving other receptacles (20).

Fig. 11 illustrates an example of the use of the handling device (40) with the receptacle (20). The configuration of the handling device (40) corresponds to the receptacle (20). That is, the handling device (40) comprises the first leg (41) and the second leg (42). The number of these legs matches that of the slots (24) on one side of the receptacle (20) and the leg connector (43). The length of the first leg (41) is less than the widest part of one slot (24). The length of the second leg (42) is longer than the minimal length of the other slot (24). The length of the nearest points between the first leg (41) and the second leg (42) is at least equal to the distance between the nearest points between the slots (24) and does not exceed the farthest distance between the slots (24) and the leg connector (43). The leg connector (43) is a bent rod or a curved rod to connect the first leg (41) and the second leg (42) together. A holding lug (45) has the shape of any geometric shape protruding from the second leg (42) by the distance of no greater than the height of the engagement support member (26). The holding lug (45) is locked to the receptacle (20) while the handling device (40) is being used in lifting the receptacle (20). In order to remove or mount the receptacle (20) without affecting many other receptacles (20) arranged in series, one may start from inserting the second leg (42) of the handling device (40) into a slot (24) of the receptacle (20) in the non-parallel direction with the width or length of one side of the slot (24) and inserting the second leg (42) into the lower part of an engagement support member (26) with the sufficient depth to enable the insertion of the first rod (41) into the other side of the slot (24) in parallel with the width or the length of the slot (24). Once the first rod (41) moves underneath the other engagement support member (26), one has to move the second rod (42) toward the first rod (41) by the distance that put the holding lug (45) to the lateral portion of the engagement support member (26). This will lock handling device (40) to the receptacle (20) to be later lifted or moved. In order to remove the handling device (40) for further use with other receptacles (20), one may reverse the above-mentioned steps.

Claims

1. A modular receptacle for plant comprising:

- water container defining well or protruding partitioning wall capable of retaining water inside the modular receptacle;

- water drainage part realized as hole or opening located on any surface of the water container;

- wall which is the barrier-like member surrounding the water container defining cavity able to contain plant growth medium; wherein part of the wall of which higher than the water container having one portion that forms an inward angle measuring from 100 to 260 degrees with respect to the plane of the placement area for modular receptacle;

- slots realized as holes or openings located on the wall that forms an inward angle measuring from 100 to 260 degrees with respect to the plane of the placement area for the modular receptacle.

2. The modular receptacle according to claim 1 further comprising a lock used in fastening and connecting at least two modular receptacles together at the wall edge, wherein said lock includes a core and snap retainers for engaging or attaching to the walls of the modular receptacle.

3. The modular receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said wall includes a coupling portion with a convex-shaped member correspond with tubular water supply used in transporting water from outside modular receptacle to the lower or lateral section of the modular receptacle and distributing water to the upper section of the modular receptacle.

4. The modular receptacle according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said lock engages with the coupling portion to hold the water supply in a fixed position while the modular receptacle is being supplied with water.

5. The modular receptacle according to claim 4 wherein said lock includes a hole or opening at its core that enables the insertion of the water supply through said lock.

6. The modular receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said walls includes the reinforcement member realizing a flange or a ridge protruding from the walls to bear the load exerted on the receptacle.

7. The modular receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said wall includes an engagement support member which is any geometrical shape members attached to the wall to prevent any damages associated with the lifting or moving of the receptacle.

8. The modular receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said wall includes a wall decoration portion realized as a plate to be affixed to the walls; and wherein the wall decoration is assembled to the walls or the slots by means of attaching, engaging, hanging, suspending, or the like.

9. A handling device comprising at least two legs and a leg connector for use in lifting of moving any receptacles, boxes, or cases provided with at least two holes or openings wherein the length of the first leg is less than the widest part of the first hole; the length of the second leg is longer than the minimal length of the second hole; the length of the nearest points between the first leg and the second leg is at least equal to the distance between the nearest points of these holes and does not exceed the farthest distance between the holes and the leg connector which is a bent rod or a curved rod to connect these legs together; the handling device is detachable to be used in moving other -modular receptacles.

10. The handling device according to claim 9 wherein the leg connector includes a reinforcement core which is a rod or a connecting plate located between the legs to prevent bending of deformation of the handling device.

11. The handling device according to claim 9 or 10 and the modular receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the handling device comprises at least two legs and a leg connector for use in lifting of moving the modular receptacle, wherein the length of the first leg is less than the widest part of the first slot; the length of the second leg is longer than the minimal length of the second slot; the length of the nearest points between the first leg and the second leg is at least equal to the distance between the nearest points of these slots and does not exceed the farthest distance between the slots and the leg connector; the leg connector is a bent rod or a curved rod to connect these legs together.

12. The handling device according to claim 11 and the modular receptacle according to claim 7 wherein the leg connector includes a protruding holding lug with the shape of any geometric shape to hold or engage with the engagement support member.