Description:DISCLAIMER
[0001] Portions of this patent document may contain material that may be subject to Copyright or Trademark protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights and trademarks whatsoever. All copyrights and trademarks are owned by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to hydroponic and aeroponic farming practices involving parapet and railing elements, and specifically to a railing system integrated with a hydroponic plant growing apparatus.

BACKGROUND
[0003] The following description of the related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section is used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of the prior art.
[0004] Balcony gardening is a growing trend in urban areas, driven by a desire for green spaces in cities. As urbanization increases, many city dwellers find themselves in high-rise buildings or apartments with limited access to traditional gardens. This has sparked interest in using balconies as miniature gardens, enabling people to connect with nature and enjoy gardening despite space constraints. Several factors contribute to the popularity of balcony gardening. Firstly, it maximizes available space, transforming balconies into vibrant, green retreats. It also improves air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, creating a healthier environment. Additionally, balcony gardening allows individuals to grow their own food, promoting self-sufficiency, and reducing reliance on store-bought produce. Furthermore, interacting with plants and nature has been proven to positively impact mental well-being, reducing anxiety, and promoting relaxation.
[0005] To encourage the practice of balcony gardening, urban planners and architects are integrating green spaces into building designs. Developers are including balconies and rooftop gardens in their projects, acknowledging their positive impact on resident’s quality of life. However, limited space poses a significant challenge for urban gardeners. Balconies are typically small, and the use of pots can take up valuable floor space. Additionally, ensuring proper watering practices can be difficult for home gardeners, as overwatering or underwatering plants can result in problems like root rot or dehydration.
[0006] Many techniques have been evolved to obviate the above-mentioned issues, for instance, conventional systems consist of individual planter elements rather than integrated railing systems, requiring a purchase of separate products. They are often not well-suited for balconies, adding bulky elements to the already limited space. Further, soil-based systems are heavy and require large amounts of water, and lack automation features. The soil-based systems often do not blend well with the balcony's aesthetic, detracting from an overall look of the building with visually intrusive elements. Some systems require additional storage space for nutrient solutions.
[0007] There is, therefore, a need in the art to provide an improved railing system by overcoming the deficiencies of the prior art(s).

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are listed herein below.
[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a railing system that allows users to grow vegetation in horizontal and inclined surfaces.
[0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a railing system that holds hydroponic solution for growing vegetation in net-pots which can easily be inserted into holes of the railing system.
[0011] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a railing system that is improved in aesthetics and functionality.
[0012] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a railing system that provides a space for practical gardening/farming along with automating watering of vegetation through a float valve-based water level regulation mechanism, or electronic systems.
[0013] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a railing system that includes a water channel with attachable pipes to serve as a dripping system for other planters placed near the railing system, thereby automating a watering process for a user.

SUMMARY
[0014] This section is provided to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0015] In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a railing system. The railing system includes a removable upper casing including a plurality of holes arranged along a length of the upper casing, where the plurality of holes is inserted with a plurality of net-pots including vegetation. The plurality of holes is covered using one or more lids, where the one or more lids are configured to be removable, hinged, or sliding on top of the plurality of holes to allow selective insertion of the vegetation into the plurality of net-pots. The railing system includes a lower casing including a first slot for inserting a screening element, and a cavity across a length of the lower casing to hold a nutrient medium, where the nutrient medium provides hydration to the vegetation. The railing system includes a liquid source configured to distribute liquid to the nutrient medium inside the lower casing to maintain hydration of the vegetation.
[0016] In an embodiment, the railing system may include a primary drip-watering conduit arranged in a slot provided along a length of the lower casing, and operatively connected to a liquid source to distribute liquid to the plurality of net-pots.
[0017] In an embodiment, the railing system may include a plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits operatively connected to the primary drip-watering conduit to distribute the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit, from the liquid source, to one or more external planters arranged in a vicinity of the railing system.
[0018] In an embodiment, the plurality of holes may be arranged in one or more rows along the length of the upper casing.
[0019] In an embodiment, an internal section of the lower casing may be configured as a bendable structure to form the cavity to hold the nutrient-medium to a predetermined height.
[0020] In an embodiment, the upper casing may include at least a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is planar, and the second surface including the plurality of holes is slanted to a pre-defined angle to allow the vegetation to face towards an exterior environment.
[0021] In an embodiment, the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits may be affixed orthogonally to the primary drip-watering conduit through one or more nozzles with one or more stoppers.
[0022] In an embodiment, the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits may be operatively connected to a horticultural apparatus to distribute the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit to the horticultural apparatus, where the horticultural apparatus may be positioned on a ground platform of the railing system or near to the railing system.
[0023] In an embodiment, the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits may distribute the liquid to the horticultural apparatus through one or more drippers. The one or more drippers may be affixed to at least one edge of each of the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits.
[0024] In an embodiment, the plurality of holes may be covered using one or more lids. The one or more lids may be configured to be removable, hinged, or sliding on top of the plurality of holes.
[0025] In an embodiment, the lower casing may include a supporting structure for fixing one or more flexible structural elements to a barrier to support a climbing vegetation.
[0026] In an embodiment, the railing system may include a water level regulator module affixed to at least one end of the railing system.
[0027] In an embodiment, the water level regulator module may be operatively connected to at least one of the liquid source and the lower casing, via a primary pipe. The water level regulator module may be configured to regulate the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit from the liquid source or the nutrient medium in the lower casing.
[0028] In an embodiment, the primary pipe may be branched to form a secondary pipe and a tertiary pipe.
[0029] In an embodiment, the secondary pipe may be connected to the primary drip-watering conduit, and configured to allow the one or more drippers to distribute the liquid to the horticultural apparatus or the plurality of net-pots.
[0030] In an embodiment, the water level regulator may include a float valve apparatus configured to automate an optimum adjustment of liquid levels in the water level regulator, without using an electrical energy source. The liquid may flow from the liquid source into the water level regulator via the tertiary pipe.
[0031] In an embodiment, the railing system may be implemented on at least one of a top rail surface, an inclined surface, and a land surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0032] For a better understanding of the nature and desired objects of the present disclosure, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures wherein like reference character/numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views. Objects, features, and advantages of embodiments disclosed herein may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not meant to limit the scope of the claims included herewith. For clarity, not every element may be labelled in every figure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments, principles, and concepts. Thus, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0033] FIGs. 1A and 1B illustrate sectional isometric views of a railing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a railing system with growing vegetation and watering pipes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional isometric view of railing system including an upper casing and a lower casing along with watering pipes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view depicting an arrangement of an upper casing and a lower casing along with watering pipes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 5A illustrates a cross-sectional view depicting a flat upper casing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view depicting a slanted upper casing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an upper casing with dual row of holes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIGs. 6A-6C illustrate schematic views depicting a flexibility of lid placement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIGs. 7A and 7B illustrate schematic representations of a railing system with a supporting structure for supporting a climbing vegetation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0042] FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric sectional view depicting an attachment of a railing system with a water level regulator module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional view of a water level regulator module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic view of a railing system implemented in an inclined surface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0045] The foregoing shall be more apparent from the following more detailed description of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where it should be understood that all these drawings and description are only presented as exemplary embodiments. It is to be noted that based on the subsequent description, several alternative embodiments may be conceived that may have a structure similar to that disclosed herein and/or formed by a method as disclosed herein, and all such alternative embodiments may be used without departing from the principle of the disclosure as claimed herein, and hence such alternative embodiments are construed to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0047] All references in the specification made to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “a preferred embodiment” etc., indicate that the embodiment described herein may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases may not be necessarily referring to the same embodiment. It should also be understood that various terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing a particular embodiment or specific embodiments only and the use of such terminology is not intended to be limiting the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” may also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “has” and “including” used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence of one or more other features, elements, components and/or a combination thereof. For example, the term “multiple” used here indicates “two or more;” the term “and/or” used here may comprise any or all combinations of one or more of the items listed in parallel. Definitions of other terms will be specifically provided in the following description. Furthermore, in the following description, some functions, or structures well-known to those skilled in the art will be omitted in order not to obscure embodiments of the disclosure in the unnecessary details.
[0048] It may be appreciated that these exemplary embodiments are provided only for enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and then further implement the present disclosure, not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any manner. Besides, in the drawings, for a purpose of illustration, optional steps, modules, and units may be illustrated in dotted-line blocks.
[0049] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a railing system, for example, a top-railing system integrated with a hydroponic plant growing apparatus. The railing system may be installed as a standard contemporary top-rail with glass, grill, or composite parapets, in balconies, terraces, staircases, landings, and other areas. A cross-section of the railing system is designed in a manner that the railing system can hold hydroponic solution for growing vegetation in net-pots which can easily be inserted into the railing system. The design of the railing system adds aesthetic and functional value to conventional handrails, as they provide a space for practical gardening/farming along with automating watering of the vegetation through a float valve-based water level regulation mechanism, or electronic systems. The railing system also includes a separate water channel with attachable pipes to serve as a dripping system for other planters placed near the railing system, thereby automating a watering process for a user.
[0050] Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to FIGs. 1A-10.
[0051] FIGs. 1A and 1B illustrate sectional isometric views of a railing system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0052] With reference to FIGs. 1A and 1B, the railing system 100 may be, for example, but not limited to, a banister or a top-rail system equipped with features that support growth of vegetation or plants along a length of the railing system 100. It may be appreciated that the terms vegetation and plants may be interchangeably referred throughout the disclosure.
[0053] The railing system 100 may be mounted on a top of various parapet screening elements, such as, for example, but not limited to, metal grills 102, glass panels 104, composite materials, or any similar structures where handrails are utilized. The railing system 100 may be positioned at an edge of a ground platform 106, for example, balconies or other demarcation areas, as illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B.
[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation 200 of the railing system 100 with growing vegetation and watering pipes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0055] With reference to FIG. 2, in an embodiment, a horticultural apparatus 108 may be positioned on the ground platform 106 of the railing system 100. In an embodiment, the horticultural apparatus 108 may be positioned near to the railing system 100. A row of plants 110 may be grown on the railing system 100, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0056] FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate sectional isometric views of the railing system 100 including an upper casing and a lower casing, and an arrangement of the upper casing and the lower casing along with watering pipes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0057] With reference to FIGs. 3 and 4, the railing system 100 may include the upper casing 112 and the lower casing 114. The upper casing 112 may be configured to be removable or detachable. The upper casing 112 and the lower casing 114 may be provided on a top of the screening element 102 or 104.
[0058] In an embodiment, the upper casing 112 may include a plurality of holes 112a. The plurality of holes 112a may be arranged along a length of the upper casing 112. The plurality of holes 112a may be inserted with a plurality of net-pots 116, where each hole 112a is inserted with one net-pot 116. The plurality of holes 112a may be arranged in one or more rows along the length of the upper casing 112. The net-pot 116 may be provided with the plants 110.
[0059] In an embodiment, an internal section of the lower casing 114 may be configured as a bendable structure to form a cavity to hold a nutrient-medium 118 to a predetermined height. The cavity may be provided across a length of the lower casing 114 to hold the nutrient medium 118. The nutrient medium 118 may provide hydration to the plants 110. For example, the nutrient medium 118 may be soil, water solution, or water retaining substrate-mediums. The nutrient-medium 118 may provide necessary water and nutrients to roots of the plants 110 arising through the net-pots 116.
[0060] In an embodiment, water retaining substrate-mediums such as, for example, but not limited to, clay balls, cocopeat, rock-wool, or other hydroponic foams may be inserted in the railing system 100 by removing the upper casing 112. In an embodiment, soil can also be used, but that may increase a load on the parapet, and may be harder to maintain. The soil can be kept wet manually or by adding dripper connections.
[0061] In an embodiment, a first slot 120 may be provided at a bottom of the lower casing 114 to hold the screening element 102 or 104. In an embodiment, a running rubber gasket 122 may be provided at a junction of the first slot 120 and the screening element 102 or 104. When the parapet screening element is the glass panel 104, the first slot 120 may include a lining of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) strip 144 to improve an aesthetic value of the railing system 100.
[0062] In an embodiment, a second slot 126 may be provided at a bottom portion of the lower casing 114. The second slot 126 may be provided along a length of the lower casing 114. In an embodiment, a primary drip-watering conduit 128 may be arranged in the second slot 126 provided along the length of the lower casing 114, as illustrated in FIGs. 3 and 4. The primary drip-watering conduit 128 may be a continuously running primary drip-watering conduit through the second slot 126. The primary drip-watering conduit 128 may be preferably concealed. In an embodiment, the primary drip-watering conduit 128 may be operatively connected to a liquid source (not shown). The liquid source may be configured to distribute liquid to the nutrient medium 118 inside the lower casing 114 to maintain hydration of the vegetation.
[0063] In an embodiment, a plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits 130 may be operatively connected to the primary drip-watering conduit 128. In an embodiment, the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits 130 may be configured to receive liquid, e.g., water flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit, from the liquid source, and distribute the liquid to one or more external planters arranged in a vicinity of the railing system 100. For example, the one or more external planters may be the horticultural apparatus 108. In an embodiment, the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits 130 may be affixed orthogonally to the primary drip-watering conduit 128 through one or more intermittent pipe connector nozzles with one or more stoppers 132.
[0064] In an embodiment, the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits 130 may be operatively connected to the horticultural apparatus 108 which is positioned on the ground platform 106 or near to the railing system 100. In an embodiment, the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits 130 may distribute the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit 128 to the horticultural apparatus 108. In an embodiment, one or more drippers 134 may be affixed to at least one edge of each of the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits 130. The plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits 130 may distribute the liquid to the horticultural apparatus 108 through the one or more drippers 134, thereby watering the horticultural apparatus 108 at a steady pace.
[0065] FIGs. 5A-5C illustrate cross-sectional views 500A-500C depicting a flat upper casing, a slanted upper casing, and the upper casing 112 with dual row of holes 112a, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0066] With reference to FIG. 5A, in an embodiment, in the cross-section of the upper casing 112, a horizontal stretch called as a horizontal platform 124 may be created along a running length of the upper casing 112. The horizontal platform 124 may act as a hand rest, or a usable platform.
[0067] With reference to FIG. 5B, in an embodiment, the upper casing 112 may be formed of a first surface 112b and a second surface 112c. The first surface 112b may be made planar, and the second surface 112c may be slanted. The second surface 112c may include the plurality of holes 112a inserted with the net-pots 116. The second surface 112c may be slanted to a pre-defined angle to allow the plants 110 to face towards an exterior environment. The pre-defined angle may allow the plants 110 to face more towards the exterior environment in a balcony context, adding to more functional and aesthetical value.
[0068] With reference to FIG. 5C, the plurality of holes 112a may be arranged in one or more rows along the length of the upper casing 112. The plurality of holes 112a may be provided to accommodate the net-pots 116 including the plants 110.
[0069] FIGs. 6A-6C illustrate schematic views 600A-600C depicting a flexibility of lid placement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0070] With reference to FIG. 6, the plurality of holes 112a may be covered using one or more lids 136. The one or more lids 136 may be collectively referred to as lids 136, and individually referred to as lid 136. The one or more lids 136 may be configured to be removable, hinged, or sliding on top of the plurality of holes 112a to allow selective insertion of the vegetation 110 into the plurality of net-pots 116. In an embodiment, all of the plurality of holes 112a may be covered using a single lid 136, as illustrated in FIG. 6A. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of holes 112a may be covered using separate lids 136, as illustrated in FIG. 6C.
[0071] The lids 136 can be selectively placed or removed to ensure user flexibility of a region to grow the plants 110. When all of the plurality of holes 112a are covered, the railing system 100 may look like a regular railing system, increasing an acceptance of the railing system 100 in all situations.
[0072] FIGs. 7A and 7B illustrate schematic representations 700A, 700B of the railing system 100 with a supporting structure for supporting a climbing vegetation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0073] In an embodiment, the lower casing 114 may include a supporting structure 138. The supporting structure 138 may be affixed to a bottom portion of the lower casing 114, via an attachment element, as illustrated in FIG. 4. With reference to FIGs. 7A and 7B, the supporting structure 138 may be provided for fixing one or more flexible structural elements 140, 142 to a barrier (e.g., parapet) to support a climbing vegetation or a climbing plant 146 to grow. For example, the flexible structural elements may be a mesh 140, a net, or a rope 142.
[0074] FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric sectional view depicting an attachment of the railing system 100 with a water level regulator module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0075] In an embodiment, the lower casing 114 may be considered as a major structural component in the railing system 100. Therefore, the lower casing 114 has to be supported on its ends against walls 150 or on balusters. The lower casing 114 may be formed of a material which can be corrosion resistant metal like stainless steel, aluminium alloys, or the like. In an embodiment, the upper casing 112 may be formed of corrosion resistant metal, plastic, ceramic, or the like. In an embodiment, casing extrusions may be continuous running channels or may be unitized of fixed sizes.
[0076] With reference to FIG. 8, in an embodiment, the railing system 100 may include an end wall connector 148 to structurally hold the railing system 100 to the walls 150. In an embodiment, for joining the railing system 100 to reach a certain length, secondary connecter parts 152 may be used, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The railing system 100 may also include a plurality of other members for angle joinery and for vertical support elements.
[0077] FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional view 900 of a water level regulator module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0078] In an embodiment, the railing system 100 may be relatively utilized for a Kratky method of hydroponics where the plant growth relies on a stagnant hydroponic solution and air space. For the Kratky method, a fixed water level may be maintained to ensure that the plant’s roots don’t dry off and may act as the nutrient-medium 118. Therefore, the railing system 100 may include the water level regulator module 154 affixed to at least one end of the railing system 100.
[0079] With reference to FIGs. 8 and 9, the water level regulator module 154 may be operatively connected to the liquid source 158 and the lower casing 114, via a primary pipe 156. The water level regulator module 154 may be configured to regulate the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit 128 from the liquid source 158, or the nutrient medium 118 in the lower casing 114.
[0080] In an embodiment, the primary pipe 156 may be branched to form a secondary pipe 156- 1 and a tertiary pipe 156-2. In an embodiment, the secondary pipe 156-1 may be connected to the primary drip-watering conduit 128, and configured to allow one or more drippers 134 to distribute the liquid to the horticultural apparatus 108 or the plurality of net-pots 116.
[0081] In an embodiment, the water level regulator module 154 may include a float valve apparatus 160 configured to automatically perform an optimum adjustment or a precise adjustment of liquid levels 162 in the water level regulator module 154. The float valve apparatus 160 may perform the optimum adjustment or the precise adjustment of liquid levels without using an electrical energy source. The liquid may flow from the liquid source 158 into the water level regulator module 154 via the tertiary pipe 156-2. In an embodiment, the water level regulator module 154 may be electronic, and may create a need for additional energy to be provided to the railing system 100.
[0082] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic view of the railing system 100 implemented in an inclined surface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0083] With reference to FIG. 10, the railing system 100 may be implemented in a slanting surface or an inclined surface, and may perform the same functionality as implemented in the top-rails or top rail surface, as illustrated in FIGs. 1A-9. For example, the railing system 100 may be implemented in ramps and staircases 164, as illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0084] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments disclosed here. Embodiments of the present disclosure intend to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Examples of the present disclosure have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing both the process and apparatus of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive, and the present disclosure is not to be limited to the details given herein but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims. It should be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed and explained as examples of the present disclosure.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0085] The present disclosure provides a railing system that allows users to grow vegetation in horizontal and inclined surfaces.
[0086] The present disclosure provides a railing system that holds hydroponic solution for growing vegetation in net-pots which can easily be inserted into holes of the railing system.
[0087] The present disclosure provides a railing system that is improved in aesthetics and functionality.
[0088] The present disclosure provides a railing system that provides a space for practical gardening/farming along with automating watering of vegetation through a float valve-based water level regulation mechanism, or electronic systems.
[0089] The present disclosure provides a railing system that includes a water channel with attachable pipes to serve as a dripping system for other planters placed near the railing system, thereby automating a watering process for a user.
, Claims:1. A railing system (100), comprising:
a removable upper casing (112) comprising a plurality of holes (112a) arranged along a length of the upper casing (112), wherein the plurality of holes (112a) is inserted with a plurality of net-pots (116) comprising vegetation (110), and covered using one or more lids (136), wherein the one or more lids (136) are configured to be removable, hinged, or sliding on top of the plurality of holes (112a) to allow selective insertion of the vegetation (110) into the plurality of net-pots (116);
a lower casing (114) comprising a first slot (120) for inserting a screening element (102 or 104), and a cavity across a length of the lower casing (114) to hold a nutrient medium (118), wherein the nutrient medium (118) provides hydration to the vegetation (110); and
a liquid source (158) configured to distribute liquid to the nutrient medium (118) inside the lower casing (114) to maintain hydration of the vegetation (110).
2. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a primary drip-watering conduit (128) arranged in a second slot (126) provided along a length of the lower casing (114), and operatively connected to the liquid source (158) to distribute the liquid to the plurality of net-pots (116).
3. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprises a plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits (130) operatively connected to the primary drip-watering conduit (128) to distribute the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit (128), from the liquid source (158), to one or more external planters arranged in a vicinity of the railing system (100).
4. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes (112a) is arranged in one or more rows along the length of the upper casing (112).
5. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an internal section of the lower casing (114) is configured as a bendable structure to form the cavity to hold the nutrient medium (118) to a predetermined height.
6. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper casing (112) comprises at least a first surface (112b) and a second surface (112c), wherein the first surface (112b) is planar, and the second surface (112c) comprising the plurality of holes (112a) is slanted to a pre-defined angle to allow the vegetation (110) to face towards an exterior environment.
7. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits (130) is affixed orthogonally to the primary drip-watering conduit (128) through one or more nozzles with one or more stoppers (132).
8. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits (130) is operatively connected to a horticultural apparatus (108) to distribute the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit (128) to the horticultural apparatus (108), wherein the horticultural apparatus (108) is positioned on a ground platform (106) of the railing system (100) or near to the railing system (100).
9. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits (130) distributes the liquid to the horticultural apparatus (108) through one or more drippers (134), wherein the one or more drippers (134) are affixed to at least one edge of each of the plurality of secondary drip-watering conduits (130).
10. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower casing (114) comprises a supporting structure (138) for fixing one or more flexible structural elements (140, 142) to a barrier to support a climbing vegetation (146).
11. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a water level regulator module (154) affixed to at least one end of the railing system (100).
12. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the water level regulator module (154) is operatively connected to at least one of: the liquid source (158) and the lower casing (114), via a primary pipe (156), and configured to regulate the liquid flowing through the primary drip-watering conduit (128) from the liquid source (158) or the nutrient medium (118) in the lower casing (114).
13. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the primary pipe (156) is branched to form a secondary pipe (156-1) and a tertiary pipe (156-2).
14. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the secondary pipe (156-1) is connected to the primary drip-watering conduit (128), and configured to allow one or more drippers (134) to distribute the liquid to a horticultural apparatus (108) or the plurality of net-pots (116).
15. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the water level regulator module (154) comprises a float valve apparatus (160) configured to automate an optimum adjustment of liquid levels in the water level regulator module (154), without using an electrical energy source, and wherein the liquid flows from the liquid source (158) into the water level regulator module (154) via the tertiary pipe (156-2).
16. The railing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the railing system (100) is implemented on at least one of: a top rail surface, an inclined surface, and a land surface.