DESC:A MODULAR PLANTER FOR COMPLETE GREEN WALL AND SYSTEM THEREOF

Field of the Invention
This invention, in general relates to a green wall systems. In particularly, the present invention provides a modular light weight planter apparatus and system which is adapted to plant from every side of the planter.

Background of the Invention
The lack of vegetation in urbanized areas, as result of human establishments, directly affects the quality of life, from physical and aesthetical point of view. Pressure on agricultural land from a rising global population is necessitating the maximization of food production per unit area of cultivation. Therefore, attention is increasingly turning to Vertical Farming approaches in an attempt to provide a greater crop yield per square meter of land. In modern building architecture and engineering, there is increasing demand indoor and outdoor green wall systems.

Various approaches have been disclosed in the prior arts in relation to develop green wall system by using different kind of planters and system arrangements along with irrigation materials. However, the existing system possess various challenges such as there are few systems that are structurally strong, but they don't possess all other required features. Some systems which are slender are structurally weak and need elaborate support system. These can be planted from only one side and they require frequent irrigation. There is no easy way to form structural media or foam inside the modules / system. It is not tried before this. The continuity of media within module is achieved by few, by using hydroponic media, stuffed in the fabric or plastic box as a cover which have few openings or pockets for planting. The media used for these solutionsarehydroponic but this arrangement lacks uniform spreading & storage of water. The modularity is achieved by few by having support boards or boxes, but with limited planting space. The assured life of most of the systems is less than 5 years. The system invented has assured life of 15 years.

There exist felt of a system which is slender, where plants are directly planted in felt, and felt is irrigated all the time and is not suitable for outdoor installations in climates where temperatures increase above 30 degrees &can’t stand drought conditions. It needs continuous support and otherwise it is weak structurally & planting is possible from one side only.

As mentioned above various modules for vertical plantation are already there in the market, but problems related to the structural stability of the plantation system along with the growth media have been the most common in past decades. In past, such systems were unnecessarily bulky and are not suitable over a varied range of climates, required continuous support and frequent irrigation. The continuity of media within such module are rarely achieved by using hydroponic media which are stuffed in the fabric sack or plastic box as a cover which have few openings or pockets for planting, but this arrangement lacked uniform spreading and storage of water.

Therefore, it would be desirable to improve the design of the planter apparatus and the system arrangement to overcome the drawbacks associated in the prior arts and provide an odourless system supporting vegetation which is light weight provided with partitions and keeping 100% control over irrigation and drain. At the same time, it was important to keep the system slender and aesthetically appealing, green from all sides, modular and movable with the help of rotating green wall panels.
Summary of the Invention
According to the primary aspect of the invention is to provide a unique designed planter which is adapted to design a green wall system capable of providing solution of all the requirement mentioned in the background section in a single system. The primary and other aspects of the present invention are achieved by a unique design of the planter/planting containers and the system having said planters, wherein the design is developed by employing a reliable irrigation & drainage arrangement, sustaining the surface exposure to the environmental forces, by providing new ways of joinery enabling strong, secure and longevity. It also provides root anchoring, ensuring long term sustainable growth media which does not change its properties much so that it keeps on providing required space for white roots and also ensures the rate of drain within the stipulated parameters. The present application details the preferred embodiments of the present invention herein below. However, it the disclosed embodiments are not limited and can be extended to understand by the person skilled in the art.

According to an aspect of present invention, there is provided a modular green wall system having greenery from all sides and also slender in thickness as less as 2.5 or less and at the same time good looking uniform size, strong and long lasting.

The system disclosed herein according to the present invention capable of install over any kind of surface including but not excluding surface like tilted, sloping, hanging, concave and convex surfaces, perforated greenery & odd shapes.

The module according to the present invention is designed in a manner to have flexibility of installation in different ways and also adapted to plant in all sides.

The module according to the present invention is adapted to install vertically or horizontally and capable to increase the thickness as per requirement employing unique joinery mechanism and wherein said modules are installed in a system wherein it stands on its own with minimal support members.

The system is having said modules are installed in a manner to achieve lesser thickness and at the same time provide structural stability to the root zone, wherein optimum space for roots is provided to support vegetation for longer period.

The module installed in said system in a manner wherein system comprising plurality of modular planters detachably connected to each other and each of said containers including a receiving portion that is adapted to receive a multiple plant from all sides forming 3600 greens.

The module according to the present invention is designed in a manner wherein it supports forming of hydrophilic foam or structural media inside the module itself and wherein said modules are installed in said system in a manner wherein continuous spread of growth media is achieved to ensures optimum space for roots and also the roots and water movement throughout system.

The modules and system according to the present invention is useful in the modern green buildings, biophilic spaces, indoor green partitions, movable surfaces like gates / doors, vertical vegetated blinds, facades have scope for this product.

A term “receptacle” has been used below in this specification, that defines a kind of container designed to secure a plant growth media. When plurality of such receptacles is fixedly connected to each other forms the modular planter as disclosed in this specification.

In accordance iwth one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter comprising a plurality of receptacles adapted to contain a similar or dissimilar plant growth media, wherein each said receptacle is having one or more openings for plantation, wherein each said receptacles are fixedly adjoined with one or more receptacles, a plurality of grooves, each adapted to receive a joiner capable of interlocking one or more similar or dissimilar planter to form a complete green wall system, wherein each said groove is contained on the sides of the planter, a joinery mechanism comprising one or more holes in each of the receptacle enabling clamping on to an external mounting support and joining among one or more planter, wherein said receptacles having one or more openings containing plant growth media allows plantation from all sides, wherein said modular planters are interconnected to each other to form complete green wall system in such a manner that said complete green wall system receives optimum all physical conditions but not just limited to air and light.

In accordance with just above embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter comprising a plurality of receptacles adapted to contain a similar or dissimilar plant growth media, wherein each said receptacle is having one or more openings for plantation, wherein each said receptacles are fixedly adjoined with one or more receptacles, a plurality of grooves, each adapted to receive a joiner capable of interlocking one or more similar or dissimilar planter to form a complete green wall system, wherein each said groove is contained on the sides of the planter, a joinery mechanism comprising one or more holes in each of the receptacle enabling clamping on to an external mounting support and joining among one or more planter, wherein the interlocking of one or more planter with the help of joiner and joinery mechanism to form an interconnected network of complete green wall system provides inbuilt strength for rendering the system with a requirement of at most one directional external mounting support, either from vertical or horizontal direction or any other third direction, wherein the containment of grooves and joinery mechanism in the planter facilitates flexibility and enable its installation over any kind of surface including but not excluding surfaces like tilted, sloping, hanging, concave and convex surfaces, perforated greenery, and odd shapes.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter comprising a plurality of receptacles adapted to contain a similar or dissimilar plant growth media, wherein each said receptacle is having one or more openings for plantation, wherein each said receptacles are fixedly adjoined with one or more receptacles, a plurality of grooves, each adapted to receive a joiner capable of interlocking one or more similar or dissimilar planter to form a complete green wall system, wherein each said groove is contained on the sides of the planter, a joinery mechanism comprising one or more holes in each of the receptacle enabling clamping on to an external mounting support and joining among one or more planter wherein the interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner in grooves and joinery mechanism takes place in vertical directions to form the interconnected stacked network of modular green planter or in horizontal direction to form the interconnected network of complete green planter wall system or said interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner in grooves and joinery mechanism takes placein a three dimensional space i.e. in all x, y and z directions enabling increase in the thickness of the modular green wall planter system for the providing space for larger plants or in any other direction to form the desirable planter system depending on the requirement, wherein the receptacles of the planter are designed to support forming of hydrophilic foam or structural growth media inside it.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein said planters are functionally interconnected to one or more similar or dissimilar planters via joiner affixed on to their respective grooves to form a network of the desirable complete green system for achieving continuous spread of growth media to ensure optimum space for roots, wherein said joiner provide means for irrigation to the receptacles of the planter through an irrigation channel.
Detailed Description of the Invention
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a complete green wall system comprising one or more modular planters, each comprising a plurality of receptacles adapted to contain a similar or dissimilar plant growth media, wherein each said receptacle is having one or more openings for plantation, wherein each said receptacles are fixedly adjoined with one or more receptacles, a plurality of grooves, each adapted to receive a joiner capable of interlocking one or more similar or dissimilar planter to form the complete green wall system, wherein each said groove is contained on the sides of the planter, a joinery mechanism comprising one or more holes in each of the receptacle enabling clamping on to an external mounting support and joining among one or more planter, wherein said modular planters are interconnected to each other to form complete green wall system in such a manner that said complete green wall system receives optimum all physical conditions but not just limited to air and light, wherein said receptacles having one or more openings containing plant growth media allows plantation from all sides, wherein an irrigation channel is spaced between two planters for irrigating the receptacles uniformly and functionally passes through the any two functionally interlocked joiners.

In accordance with just above embodiment of the present invention, wherein the interlocking of one or more planter with the help of joiner and joinery mechanism to form the interconnected network of complete green wall system provides inbuilt strength for rendering the system with a requirement of at most one directional external mounting support, either from vertical or horizontal direction or any other third direction.
In accordance with the above exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner in grooves and joinery mechanism takes place in vertical directions to form an interconnected stacked network modular green planter or in horizontal direction to form the interconnected network of complete green planar wall system or said interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner in grooves and joinery mechanism takes placein a three dimensional space i.e. in all x, y and z directions enabling increase in the thickness of the modular green wall planter system for the providing space for larger plants having deeper roots for penetration or in any other direction to form the desirable planter system depending on the requirement.

Referring to Figure 1 and 2, there is provided a modular planter having plurality of receptacles (1) adapted to contain a similar or dissimilar plant growth media, wherein the planters are designed to support forming of hydrophilic foam or structural growth media inside it and for its preparation and structure making in the receptacles (1) for giving the media an optimum structure, wherein each said receptacle (1) is having one or more openings for plantation, wherein openings such as front openings, side openings, back, top and bottom openings, wherein the plants can be planted into the growth media from any directions, i.e. plants can be planted in any of the above openings as per desired direction of plant growth, wherein each said receptacles (1) are fixedly adjoined with one or more receptacles (1). The planter has a plurality of grooves (6) contained on the sides of the planter for receiving a joiner (4), wherein with the help of its complementary structure with the groove, the joiner (4) is capable of interlocking one or more similar or dissimilar planter to form a complete green wall system (15) in a three-dimensional space. The modular planter has a joinery mechanism (5) having one or more holes (2) in each of the receptacle (1) for clamping on to some external mounting support (8 or 10) and for joining among one or more planters.

Referring to Figure 3, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter, wherein the one or more planters are interlocked with each other via grooves (6) and joinery mechanism (5) in vertical directions to form the interconnected stacked network of modular green planter enabling increase in the thickness of the modular green wall planter system (15) for providing space for larger plants having deeper roots for penetration.

Referring to Figure 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, the modular planters are connected with each other in two dimensional space to form the interconnected network of complete green planter wall system (15), wherein the one or more planters are interlocked with the help of joiner (4) in grooves (6) and joinery mechanism (5), wherein the grooves (3) and joinery mechanism (4) in the planters are contained in such a manner that it facilitates flexibility and enable the installation of complete green wall system over any kind of surface including but not excluding surfaces like tilted, sloping, hanging, concave and convex surfaces, perforated greenery, and odd shapes. wherein the modular planter and the functionally interconnected network of complete green planter wall system are designed for achieving continuous spread of growth media to ensure optimum space for plant roots.

Though, not shown in the drawings, but the interlocking of modular planters can take place evenin a three-dimensional space i.e. in all x, y and z directions to form a three dimensional interconnected network of desirable planter system (15) depending on the requirement.

Referring to Figure 5, wherein said modular planters are interconnected to each other to form a network of complete green wall system (15) in such a manner that said complete green wall system (15) receives optimum physical conditions but not just limited to air and light. The space (9) created among the network of complete green wall system enables the planters to receive air and light in optimum amount and as a result of which the growth media supports the plant growth optimally and plants themselves receives light at angles of their effective growth.

Referring to Figure 4 and 6, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the interlocking of one or more planter with the help of joiner (4) and joinery mechanism (5) forms an interconnected network of complete green wall system (15) that provides an inbuilt strength for rendering the system (15) with a requirement of at most one directional external mounting support (8 or 10), either from vertical or horizontal direction or any other third direction.

Referring to Figure 7, in one of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a hanging complete green wall system hung on to a hanger (11) fastened from an external support and passing through the space between two planters interlocked horizontally with the help of joiners (4), wherein said complete green wall system is having an interconnected network formed by interlocking of modular planters joined via joiners (4). There are provided one or more irrigation channels (13) spaced between two planters for irrigating the receptacles (1) uniformly and functionally passes through the any two functionally interlocked joiners (4). The modular planters are light in weight and can be modularly and complementarily interlocked via joiners (4) and joinery mechanism (5) with each other to form interconnected network of complete green wall system (15), wherein said modularly and complementarily interlocking of modular planters provides an inbuilt strength for rendering the system (15) with a requirement of only two hanging support (11), thereby enabling free hanging of the entire complete green wall system (15) over any kind of hanging support .

Referring the accompanying drawings are provided herein illustrating the further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this complete specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, however, the same will be further expanded within the scope of the disclosure and serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

It is obvious that the embodiments to be described are only a part rather than all the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by persons skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A modular planter comprises:
a plurality of receptacles (1) adapted to contain a similar or dissimilar plant growth media, wherein each said receptacle (1) is having one or more openings for plantation, wherein each said receptacles (1) are fixedly adjoined with one or more receptacles (1);
a plurality of grooves (6), each adapted to receive a joiner (4) capable of interlocking one or more similar or dissimilar planter to form a complete green wall system (15), wherein each said groove (6)is contained on the sides of the planter;
a joinery mechanism (5) comprising one or more holes (2) in each of the receptacle (1) enabling clamping on to an external mounting support (8 or 10) and joining among one or more planter;
wherein said receptacles (1) having one or more openings containing plant growth media allows plantation from all sides, wherein said modular planters are interconnected to each other to form complete green wall system (15) in such a manner that said complete green wall system (15) receives optimum all physical conditions but not just limited to air and light.

2. The modular planter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interlocking of one or more planter with the help of joiner (4) and joinery mechanism (5) to form an interconnected network of complete green wall system (15) provides inbuilt strength for rendering the system (15) with a requirement of at most one directional external mounting support (8 or 10), either from vertical or horizontal direction or any other third direction.

3. The modular planter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the containment of grooves (3) and joinery mechanism (4) in the planter facilitates flexibility and enable its installation over any kind of surface including but not excluding surfaces like tilted, sloping, hanging, concave and convex surfaces, perforated greenery, and odd shapes.

4.The modular planter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner (4) in grooves (6) and joinery mechanism (5) takes place in vertical directions to form the interconnected stacked network of modular green planter or in horizontal direction to form the interconnected network of complete green planter wall system (15) or said interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner (4) in grooves (6) and joinery mechanism (5) takes placein a three dimensional space i.e. in all x, y and z directions enabling increase in the thickness of the modular green wall planter system (15) for the providing space for larger plants or in any other direction to form the desirable planter system (15) depending on the requirement.
5. The modular planter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacles (1) of the planter are designed to support forming of hydrophilic foam or structural growth media inside it.
6. The modular planter as claimed in claim 5, wherein said planters are functionally interconnected to one or more similar or dissimilar planters via joiner (4) affixed on to their respective grooves (6) to form a network of the desirable complete green system (15) for achieving continuous spread of growth media to ensure optimum space for roots.
7. The modular planter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said joiner (4) provide means for irrigation to the receptacles (1) of the planter through an irrigation channel(13).
8. A complete green wall system (15) comprises:
one or more modular planters, each comprising:
a plurality of receptacles (1) adapted to contain a similar or dissimilar plant growth media, wherein each said receptacle (1) is having one or more openings for plantation, wherein each said receptacles (1) are fixedly adjoined with one or more receptacles (1);

a plurality of grooves (6), each adapted to receive a joiner (4) capable of interlocking one or more similar or dissimilar planter to form the complete green wall system (15), wherein each said groove (6) is contained on the sides of the planter;

a joinery mechanism (5) comprising one or more holes (2) in each of the receptacle (1) enabling clamping on to an external mounting support (8 or 10) and joining among one or more planter;

wherein said modular planters are interconnected to each other to form complete green wall system (15) in such a manner that said complete green wall system (15) receives optimum all physical conditions but not just limited to air and light, wherein said receptacles (1) having one or more openings containing plant growth media allows plantation from all sides, wherein an irrigation channel (13) is spaced between two planters for irrigating the receptacles (1) uniformly and functionally passes through the any two functionally interlocked joiners (4).

9. The complete green wall system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interlocking of one or more planter with the help of joiner (4) and joinery mechanism (5) to form the interconnected network of complete green wall system (15) provides inbuilt strength for rendering the system (15) with a requirement of at most one directional external mounting support (8 or 10), either from vertical or horizontal direction or any other third direction.
10. The complete green wall system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner (4) in grooves (6) and joinery mechanism (5) takes place in vertical directions to form an interconnected stacked network modular green planter or in horizontal direction to form the interconnected network of complete green planar wall system (15) or said interlocking of one or more planters with the help of joiner (4) in grooves (6) and joinery mechanism (5) takes placein a three dimensional space i.e. in all x, y and z directions enabling increase in the thickness of the modular green wall planter system (15) for the providing space for larger plants having deeper roots for penetration or in any other direction to form the desirable planter system (15) depending on the requirement.