WO2005029943A1

WO2005029943A1 - Garden planter

Info

Publication number: WO2005029943A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/004098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shelene Wendy Mitchell
Original assignee: Marshall, Lisa, Annette
Priority date: 2003-09-26
Filing date: 2004-09-24
Publication date: 2005-04-07
Also published as: GB0322573D0; GB2406256B; GB2406256A

Abstract

The invention provides a garden planter comprising a container (1) capable of housing a plurality of plants, the container being provided with a watering tube (6, 9) extending from the interior of the container to the exterior to permit water to be introduced into the container, wherein the watering tube has a laterally extending portion which passes through an opening in a side wall of the container, and a downwardly oriented perforated portion.

Description

GARDEN PLANTER

This invention relates to a garden planter which is capable of being stacked to form a tower structure. More particularly, the invention provides a garden planter which includes irrigation to allow each container in a stack to be watered without dismantling the stack.

Background of the Invention

Planters and other containers for use in cultivating plants are well known and examples of such containers are disclosed in British patent GB 1486553, US patents US 4161085, US 4065876 and US 5381625, German patent application DE 3307428, French patent application FR 2386250, and Japanese patent applications JP 10075664 and JP 2003235360.

When cultivating plants in pots, planters and other containers, it is important to ensure that the plants receive adequate water to enable them to grow and thrive. One problem that must be addressed is to ensure that water is distributed relatively evenly in a container and that the plants are not flooded at one location in a container and parched at another. This can be a particular problem with containers of the type known as planters which can be in the form of relatively tall containers provided with holes in their side walls tlirough which plants can grow. With planters of this type, it can be difficult to achieve an even degree soaking of the growing medium in the planter to ensure that plants at all levels in the container receive an appropriate amount of water.

Various arrangements have been proposed for introducing water into plant containers.

US 4065876 and US 4161085 both describe plant containers in which a soaker comprising a horizontal loop of tubing is buried in the soil at the upper end of the container, the soaker being connected to a supply of water by a tube passing through the upper end of the side wall of the container. US 5381625 discloses a hanging planter provided with a perforated watering tube that extends from the top to the bottom of the planter and is buried in the soil. Water is introduced into the watering tube at the top of the tube. A problem with the arrangement described in US 5381625 is that it is not suited for use with stacking plant containers.

Japanese patent application JP 2003235360 describes a watering system for a plant container wherein the base of the container has water absorbing legs filled with an inorganic substance to draw water up from a tray of water in which the container is stood.

Japanese patent application JP 10075664 describes a planter formed froin a stack of containers configured to resemble parts of a tree trunk, wherein a watering tube is embedded within the side wall of the planter, entering the side wall at the base of the stack and emerging into the interior of the container at the top of the stack.

GB 1486553 describes a planter which is provided with a central perforated watering tube. The watering tube is either fed from the bottom by a tube passing out through the side wall at the base, or the tube is sealed at its lower end and water is poured in from the upper end of the planter.

French patent application FR 2386250 describes a stacked planter system in which a central watering tube is fed from a reservoir at the upper end of the stack.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a garden planter with an improved watering system that is particularly, but not exclusively, suited for use with stacked planters.

More particularly, the invention provides a garden planter comprising a container capable of housing a plurality of plants, the container being provided with a watering tube extending from the interior of the container to the exterior to permit water to be introduced into the container.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a garden planter comprising a container capable of housing a plurality of plants, the container being provided with a watering tube extending from the interior of the container to the exterior to permit water to be introduced into the container, wherein the watering tube has a laterally extending portion which passes through an opening in a side wall of the container, and a downwardly oriented perforated portion.

Particular and preferred features of the planter are as set out in the claims appended hereto and in the following description.

The garden planter of the invention is preferably configured to enable one planter to be stacked on top of another. For example, the garden planter may be configured with a rebated bottom to enable one planter to be stacked on top of another.

Means may be provided for locking two or more planters together when stacked. The locking means can comprise protrusions at the bottom of the planter and indents at the top of the planter, whereby the protrusions at the bottom of one planter engage the indents at the top of another planter to lock the planters together.

The garden planter typically has a plurality of holes in a side wall thereof through which plants may grow.

The container may be open at the upper end thereof.

The container may have one or more drainage holes in a lower surface thereof.

The watering tube has a laterally extending portion which passes through an opening in a side wall of the container, and a downwardly oriented perforated portion that extends downwardly from the laterally extending portion. Typically the watering tube has a perforated inner portion located within the container, and a non- perforated portion that extends from the container interior to the exterior. The perforated inner portion may be of circular cross section and may be of substantially uniform diameter along its length. The watering tube is typically formed from a plastics material.

The watering tube can be removably mounted in the container, or can be fixed in the container, but typically it is removably mounted. In one embodiment, the watering tube is formed in two or more pieces and may be dismantled for removal from the container. For example, the watering tube can be formed from a perforated inner portion and a non-perforated portion, that may be separated to allow for removal from the container. The watering tube can be formed in two or more pieces that are connected together by means of a spigot and socket joint.

Alternatively, the watering tube can be a unitary component.

The watering tube may have an upwardly oriented opening at its outermost end into which water may be poured.

The garden planter of the invention is typically constructed so as to be free-standing on a surface, and is preferably constructed so as to be capable of being vertically stacked. Means may be provided for securing the planter against a support such as a wall to prevent it from being knocked over.

The container can take a variety of different forms but is typically of a substantially circular cylindrical form. The container is typically formed from a plastics material.

The watering tube can contain a particulate material such as sand, glass beads or gravel for slowing down passage of water through the tube, gravel being presently preferred.

In another aspect, the invention provides a free-standing stack comprising a plurality of garden planters as defined herein.

The invention also provides a method of cultivation comprising introducing a solid growing medium such as compost or soil into a container as defined herein, positioning the watering tube such that it is substantially surrounded by growing medium, introducing one or more plants or propagating forms thereof (such as seeds or bulbs) into the growing medium, stacking two or more planters together, and introducing water into the watering tube of one or more of the planters. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side view of a planter according to one embodiment of the invention in which the internal components of the planter are indicated by a dotted line.

Figure 2 is a bird's eye view of the planter of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the interior components of the planter of Figures 1 and 2, with the outer wall of the planter being indicated by a dotted line.

Figure 4 is a side sectional elevation of a planter consisting of two stacked containers and a watering tube according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a an enlarged view of the watering tube of the planter of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the region marked B in Figure 4.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention will now be illustrated in more detail, but not limited, by reference to the accompanying drawings Figures 1 to 6.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the planter comprises a generally cylindrical container 1 which is open at its upper end and has a plurality of holes 2 in its side walls through which plants may grow. In this embodiment, the holes 2 are equally spaced but they need not be, and other arrangements of holes (for example randomly spaced holes) may be used instead. The lower end of the container is closed by a base which has a plurality of drainage holes 11 to allow excess water to escape. The cylinder is typically formed from a suitably tough plastics material and may be formed by conventional injection moulding techniques. The container 1 is configured so that it is free-standing and is capable of being vertically stacked in a stable manner. It may, however, be provided with means for securing it against a support such as a wall to prevent it from being knocked over. Such securing means can take the form of, for example, holes through which fastening screws or nails may be located, or a suitably configured bracket, or a hook and eye fastening with either the hook or the eye being mounted on the planter. Although the container 1 is shown in the Figures as having a circular cross section, it may take other forms. For example it can be of polygonal cross section, for example rectangular (e.g. square), hexagonal or octagonal cross section.

The lower end of the container 1 has a rebate 5 around its circumference such that the bottom of one container 1 can fit snugly into the top of another container 1, thereby permitting stacking of the containers. The rebated portion 5 of the container is provided with protrusions 3 that engage indents 4 in a bayonet-like fitting to lock the two containers 1 together. Where the cross section of the container is non-circular, and relative rotation between two containers 1 when fitted together is not possible, alternative locking means may be used, for example a series of ridges and grooves on the tops of the tops and bottoms of the containers 1 that engage to form a snap-fit.

As shown in the Figures, a watering tube 6, 9 is provided to allow water to be introduced into the container interior. The watering tube 6, 9 is in two sections which are joined together by means of a push-fit connection 7 (e.g. a spigot and socket connection). The inner section 9 is provided with a plurality of holes or perforations 10 to allow water to drain from the tube into the interior container 1. The outer section 6 of the tube passes through a hole in the side wall of the container 1 and has a right angle bend so that the end 8 of the tube faces upwards to facilitate pouring of water into the tube. By virtue of the fact that it is made in two (or more) sections, the watering tube 6, 9 can be easily dismantled when necessary to allow cleaning and the removal of debris from the tube interior or debris blocking the holes 10. The tube may be closed at its lower end to stop water from pouring out through the bottom in an uncontrolled way.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a planter in which the watering tube 6, 9 is capable of being dismantled for ease of removal. However, as an alternative, the tube may instead be a unitary component, which can be formed in several pieces and then fixed together (e.g. by means of a snap-fit or an adhesive), or can be formed as a single piece (e.g. by injection moulding). When the tube is a unitary component, it can be formed with a smoother curve between the downwardly oriented perforated portion 9 and the laterally extending non-perforated portion 6, rather than a right angle bend, to allow it to be pulled out of the container 1 more easily. An example of a planter in which the tube is formed as a unitary component is shown in Figures 4 to 6. As a further alternative, either the inner 9 or outer 6 portions of the tube 6, 9, or both, may be fixed (e.g. bonded by adhesive or solvent-welding) into the outer container 1 but, since this makes cleaning more difficult, it represents a less preferred option.

The precise shape of the watering tube is not critical. Thus the tube can be of circular cross section, or square cross section, or polygonal (e.g. hexagonal or octagonal) cross section. The tube may have a regular cross section or may vary in width along its length. It could, for example, be provided with a bulbous lower end. It will be appreciated that when the tube is made in more than one section, the size of the inner portion 9 is not constrained by the size of the opening in the wall of the container 1 since the inner portion may simply be removed through the open top of the container 1.

In use, the tube 6, 9 will be positioned in approximately the centre of the container 1 and will be surrounded by a plant growing medium such as soil and/or compost. Plants, for example annual flowering plants such as the Busy Lizzy, may then be planted through the planting holes 2.

The plants can be watered regularly by pouring water into the end 8 of the tube 6, 9 without the need to disturb the plants. In order to slow down the passage of water through the tube and ensure that water can pass through the upper perforations rather than falling immediately to the bottom of the tube, the inner portion 6 of the tube can be filled with a particulate medium such as sand, glass beads or gravel.

If watered regularly, the plants in the planter will typically grow to such a size that they will appear to join and will cover completely the outside of the planter. When several planters (for example two, three or four) are stacked one on top of another and locked in place, the planters will in time become hidden by the plants and will appear as a tower of blooms. Figure 4 illustrates a stack of two planters, the lower of which has a watering tube 6', 9' passing through an opening in the wall of the planter. The watering tube in this embodiment is fonned as a unitary component by injection moulding. The watering tube is shown in enlarged detail in Figure 5 and the manner in which the watering tube is connected to the planter is shown in enlarged detail in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 4, water can be introduced into the planter from a reservoir 12 which can be, for example, an inverted plastic bottle of the type used to contain domestic kitchen detergent. The nozzle of the bottle 12 is held within the upturned end 8' of the watering tube.

Although the planter is referred to herein as a garden planter, it may be used in locations other than in a garden and can be used indoors as well as outdoors. For example, it can be used in a conservatory, atrium, shopping mall or arcade, office or domestic living room. It may be used together with a water collection tray (particularly when situated indoors) to collect water draining from the bottom of the container or stack of containers.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

1. A garden planter comprising a container capable of housing a plurality of plants, the container being provided with a watering tube extending from the interior of the container to the exterior to permit water to be introduced into the container, wherein the watering tube has a laterally extending portion which passes through an opening in a side wall of the container, and a downwardly oriented perforated portion.

2. A garden planter according to claim 1 which is configured to enable one planter to be stacked on top of another.

3. A garden planter according to claim 2 wherein the planter is configured with a rebated bottom to enable one planter to be stacked on top of another.

4. A garden planter according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein means are provided for locking two or more planters together when stacked.

5. A garden planter according to claim 4 wherein the locking means comprise protrusions at the bottom of the planter and indents at the top of the planter, whereby the protrusions at the bottom of one planter engage the indents at the top of another planter to lock the planters together.

6. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container has a plurality of holes in a side wall thereof through which plants may grow.

7. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is open at the upper end thereof.

8. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container has one or more drainage holes in a lower surface thereof.

9. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the watering tube has a perforated inner portion located within the container, and a non-perforated portion that extends from the container interior to the exterior.

10. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the watering tube is removably mounted in the container.

11. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the watering tube is formed in two or more pieces and may be dismantled for removal from the container.

12. A garden planter according to claim 11 wherein the watering tube is formed from a perforated inner portion and a non-perforated portion that may be separated to allow for removal from the container.

13. A garden planter according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the watering tube is formed in two or more pieces that are connected together by means of a spigot and socket joint.

14. A garden planter according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the watering tube is a unitary component.

15. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the watering tube has an upwardly oriented opening at its outermost end into which water may be poured.

16. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims which is constructed so as to be free-standing on a surface.

17. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is of a substantially circular cylindrical form.

18. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the watering tube is formed from a perforated inner portion and a non- perforated portion, and the perforated inner portion is of circular cross section.

19. A garden planter according to claim 18 wherein the perforated inner portion is of substantially uniform diameter along its length.

20. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is formed from a plastics material.

21. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the watering tube is formed from a plastics material.

22. A garden planter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the watering tube contains a particulate material for slowing down passage of water through the tube.

23. A garden planter according to claim 22 wherein the particulate material is gravel.

24. A garden planter substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A free-standing stack comprising a plurality of garden planters as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

26. A method of cultivation comprising introducing a solid growing medium such as compost or soil into a container as defined in any one of claims 1 to 24, positioning the watering tube such that it is substantially surrounded by growing medium, introducing one or more plants or propagating forms thereof (such as seeds or bulbs) into the growing medium, stacking two or more planters together, and introducing water into the watering tube of one or more of the planters.