WO2006057554A1

WO2006057554A1 - Growing wall

Info

Publication number: WO2006057554A1
Application number: PCT/NL2005/000797
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelmus Josina Petrus Nolascus Van Santen; Marco Roberto Ino Marcello Blonk
Original assignee: MAWI CONSTRUCTIONS BV
Current assignee: MAWI CONSTRUCTIONS BV
Priority date: 2004-11-23
Filing date: 2005-11-15
Publication date: 2006-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-23
Also published as: NL1027566C2

Abstract

A growing wall for growing plants, placed in growth substrate comprising supporting means having a plurality of receiving positions1 provided next to one another in a substantially straight line and substantially one below the other in a substantially straight line for receiving plants, in which the receiving positions are designed for supporting the plants placed in growth substrate at inclined angles relative to the vertical. The supporting means comprise several shelves (2), each of which is provided with one or more through-holes (3) provided next to one another in a substantially straight line which form the receiving positions for the plants, placed in particular in pots (4). In addition, a plurality of suspension elements (5) are provided, one below the other, for suspending the shelves (2) at inclined angles from the horizontal, one below the other in a .substantially straight line.

Description

Short title: Growing wall.

The invention relates to a growing wall for growing plants,' in particular using artificial light.

A growing wall of this type is known, for example, from EP 0 533 939, which shows a vertical growing wall consisting of an upright panel made from a plastic foam. Both sides of the panel are provided with a plurality of insertion openings which are downwardly directed at an angle for inserting water-absorbing plugs containing the plants to be grown. A water flow duct is provided in the centre

^■ of the panel which extends from the 'top downwards along the backs of the plugs. A drawback thereof is the fact that the formation of roots which occurs during the growing of the plants prevents the plugs from being easily removed from the growing wall when the plants have reached a certain size. In this case, the roots quickly propagate into the water flow duct and soon become entangled with the roots of adjacent plants or plants situated below. To this end, the roots of the plant will soon have to be cut when the plants are being removed, which is detrimental to the quality and health of the plant. Any remaining roots have to be removed from the panel before new plugs with plants to be grown can be put in position: Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the panel is difficult to clean and that growing cannot be carried out in soil. In addition, the panel is difficult to produce and expensive.

Furthermore, NL-C-103421 discloses a rack for pots containing flowers or plants. The rack in this case comprises vertical girders between which several supports are arranged so as to be adjustable about horizontal shafts. The supports are formed by profiled gutter- like elements having cavities which are connected to one another.

The drawbacks in this case are that the structure is complicated and expensive to produce and is difficult to clean. In addition, the plants cannot be provided with nutrients and water individually.

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the above disadvantages and/or to provide a . usable alternative. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive and simple growing wall which can be adjusted to several kinds and sizes of plants to be grown.

This object is achieved by a growing wall according to claim 1.

The growing wall in this case comprises a plurality of shelves with one or more holes provided next to one another in a substantially straight line for receiving the plants placed in. growth substrate, in particular in pots. Furthermore, the growing wall comprises one or more suspension elements placed one below the other for . suspending the shelves at an inclined angle from the horizontal, one below the other in a substantially straight line. The 'growing wall

. constructed in this manner is inexpensive to produce and can be constructed quickly and easily in large and small sizes which are tailored to. the wishes of the- user and the expected growing size of a certain kind of plant to be grown. The growing wall is easy to clean and is suitable for use of individual (inner) pots.

Advantageously, the plants can easily be provided with nutrients and water .individually due to the open structure of the growing wall.

Advantageously, if (inner) ^' pots are being used, it is possible to use all types of soil and other growth substrates. In a particular embodiment, the shelves are suspended from the suspension elements in such a way that they are removable. This means that the entire . growing wall can be taken apart and can thus easily be supplied in any size. In that case, it- is also possible to equip the growing wall with various kinds of shelves which are, for example, provided with holes at relatively large or small intervals, in order ^• to be able to grow different types of plants

. simultaneously. . . . ^• .

Further preferred embodiments are defined in the subclaims. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a growing ' wall containing plants to be grown and placed in pots according to one of the claims 9-11.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment of a growing wall according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a part of the growing wall from Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 shows a top view of a shelf in Fig. 1. . The growing wall is denoted overall by reference numeral 1 in

Figs. 1 and 2. The growing wall 1 comprises several/ shelves 2 which are provided with through-holes 3 for receiving plant pots 4. The shelves 2 are removably suspended between suspension elements 5

5 which are-.in this case formed by uprights 8' provided,with supporting feet 7. The shelves 2 and the .uprights ^' 8 are provided with complementary coupling members 10 which in. this case are formed by hooks 11 provided at the head .ends of the shelves- 2 and which can engage behind hooks 12 fitted to the uprights :8... .The coupling

10^' members 10 on the uprights 8 are in this case positioned in ^•such a

.manner that the shelves 2 are at an inclined angle relative to the. horizontal after they ^■ have been suspended between . them. ϊn

^■ particular, the shelves 2 in this case' enclose an angle of more than

45 degrees relative to the horizontal. In addition, the coupling

15 members 10 on the uprights 8 are .positioned such that the shelves 2 are suspended one below the other in a straight line.

At the bottom, a water collecting gutter .15.is provided which serves to collect excess water which has been fed to the plants.

The 'shelves 2 are of rectangular design and have a thickness of ^•20 less than 10 centimetres, and in particular of less than 5 centimetres. , ..^• . ^'

In use, the plant pots 4 are placed in- the holes '3.. As the shape of the plant pots 4 widens up-wards, they rest on. the peripheral edge parts of the holes 3..In one variant, .pots may also'

25 ^' be used which are provided with a protruding edge or other kind of protruding profiling which ^•' ensures that the plant pots remain

.suspended in the holes 3 in the shelves 2. The plant pots 4 in this case extend beyond the underside of the shelves 2. In particular, the plant pots 4 extend beyond the "rear of .the ■ shelves 2. This has

30 the advantage that excess water can freely leak away downwards into the collecting gutter 15. The water ^• and any nutrients can be

. supplied to ^• the individual plant pots 4 in metered fashion, for

. example 'by a system of water pipes comprising individual branches or discharge openings which end at the 'respective plant pots- 4. 35 The growing wall 1 is particularly suitable for . use in growing plants using artificial 'light. The positioning of the plants at an inclined angle ensures that each of the plants can receive ^" the desired proportional amount of light. Fig. 1 in this case shows two growing walls 1 placed opposite one another with a series of growing lamps 17 suspended between them. .

Many variants are possible in addition to the embodiment shown. Thus, holes of a different shape may be used, optionally in combination .with differently shaped plant pots. With the shelf-like 5 supports illustrated, the adjacent holes are separated from one another by. transverse segments or transverse ribs which form an integral part of the shelf-like support. In a variant, these transverse segments or transverse . ribs may also be completely or partially omitted, creating as it were one or more elongate holes in

10 the shelf-like support in which one or more pots or- trays containing plants can be placed, if desired in succession. It is also possible to use other types of suspension elements instead of uprights, for example suspension elements which are designed to be attached to a wall or ceiling. Instead of separate shelves,, it- is also possible to

15. use shelves which are fixedly connected to or even completely or . partially form an integral part of the uprights or other types of suspension elements. The growing wall according to the invention is not only suitable for large-scale users, such as professional growers, but also for home use, for example as .a miniature stand for

20 growing herbs or for displaying and tending plants in, for example, garden centres.

Thus, the invention provides a user-friendly growing wall which is of simple construction and can be tailored to specific sets of wishes and requirements. The growing wall makes it .possible to grow

25 a maximum number of .healthy and high-quality plants, using a minimal amount of space.

Claims

C L A I M ' S

1. Growing wall for growing plants placed in growth substrate, comprising: supporting, means having a plurality of ' receiving positions provided, next to one another in a substantially straight line and substantially one below the other in a substantially straight line for receiving plants, in ^'which the receiving^' positions are designed for supporting the plants placed .in growth substrate, at inclined angles relative to the vertical, characterized in that the supporting means comprise several shelves ^• (2) , each^' of which is provided with one or more through-holes (3) provided next to one another in a .substantially straight line which form the receiving positions for the plants, placed in particular in pots (4) , and in that a plurality of suspension elements (5) are provided, one below the other, for suspending the shelves (2) at inclined angles from the horizontal, one below the. other in a substantially straight line.

2. Growing wall according to claim^' 1, in which the shelves (2) are suspended from the suspension elements (5) in such a way that they are removable. .. . . .. .

3. Growing wall according to claim 1 or 2, in which the suspension elements (5) are provided on uprights (8)..

4. .Growing wall according to claim 3, in which the uprights (8) are provided with supporting feet (7) .

5. Growing wall according to one of the preceding claims, in which a water collecting gutter (15) is provided at the bottom.

6. Growing wall according to one of the preceding claims, in which the suspension elements (5) and the shelves (2) are provided with complementary coupling members (10) .

7. Growing wall according to one of the preceding claims, in which the shelves (2) are substantially rectangular.

8. Growing, wall according to one of the preceding claims, in which the shelves (2.) have a thickness of less than 10 centimetres, in particular of less than 5 centimetres.

9. . .Assembly of a growing wall (1) according 'to one of the preceding claims and pots (4)^' placed in the holes C3) in. the shelves

(2) containing plants to be grown, in^' which the pots (4) comprise ^' peripheral wall parts by which they rest on the shelves (2) .

10. Assembly of a growing wall (1) according to one of the preceding^' claims and pots (4) 'placed in the holes (3). in the shelves

(2) ^'.containing plants to ^'be grown, in which the. undersides of the pots (4), ^'extend beyond the underside of the. associated shelf (2) .

11. Assembly, according to claim 10, in which the undersides of the pots (4) extend beyond the rear of the shelves (2) .