Vertical garden system

Abstract

Vertical garden system (1) with an integrated irrigation system (2), comprising a support structure (19) for mounting on a wall, a water tank (3), a pump (4) connected to the water tank (3) and part of a water circuit, and a plurality of pot elements (6), each designed as an open prism with a hexagonal base and a horizontal central axis MA, and having a downwardly open core (9), a shell (10), and a space (11) between the core (9) and the shell (10), wherein in this space (11) of each pot element (6) there is at least in the lower region a capillary structure (12) which partially fills the downwardly directed opening (13) of the core (9) and is designed to channel water, which flows through a recess (17) in the top of the shell (10) of the pot element (6) on both sides of the outside of the core (9) into the lower region of the space (11),to convey from the space (11) towards the core (9), which is designed to receive a substrate (22) designed to absorb the supplied water, wherein an overflow (14) is placed in the capillary structure (12) of the pot element (6), which is designed to direct excess water into a lower pot element (6) and further into the water tank (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vertical garden system for plants with an integrated irrigation and lighting system for mounting on an indoor wall.

[0002] German patent DE 10 2020 134 776 B4 discloses a hydroponic system in which at least two farm inserts for receiving crops are placed in a base unit. These farm inserts can have a wick element made of capillary structures to transport liquid from a receiving area towards the plant container.

[0003] EP 3 987 918 A2 describes a vertical garden system with at least one plant box, wherein each plant box is assigned its own supply unit with the corresponding sensors to supply it with water, food and / or energy.

[0004] Another vertical gardening system is described in US 2013 / 0104456 A1. In this system, any number of plant cell modules are attached to a mounting plate, from which the plants grow horizontally. A liquid reservoir at the top of the vertical gardening system supplies the plant cell modules with water.

[0005] CN 102763572 B discloses a vertical plant wall which is fully illuminated by a light source. An irrigation system for supplying the plant wall is also shown, in the form of a pipe system.

[0006] US patent 2011 / 0094152 discloses a vertical garden composed of individual box units. Plants contained in water-permeable bags are placed horizontally in these box units.

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of providing a vertical garden system with an integrated irrigation system that is further developed compared to the prior art and which, despite simple operation and cleaning, enables an optimal water supply and thus optimal growth of various plants indoors.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by a garden system with the features of claim 1.

[0009] The registered vertical garden system with an integrated irrigation system comprises a mounting structure for wall attachment, particularly indoors, a water tank, a pump connected to the water tank which, as part of a water circuit, pumps the water from the tank to the top of the vertical garden system via water pipes, and a number of pot elements. These pot elements are each designed as an open prism with a hexagonal base and a horizontal central axis. Each pot element has a downward-facing core, a shell, and a space between the core and the shell. This space contains, at least in its lower section, a capillary structure that partially fills the downward-facing opening of the core.

[0010] The upper surface of the pot element's casing features a recess through which water, supplied from the water pipes above, flows on both sides of the core's outer surface into the lower part of the space between the layers. The capillaries within this structure are designed to transport the water from the space towards the core by means of capillary action. The core is intended to hold a substrate designed to absorb the supplied water, thus supplying a edible or ornamental plant planted horizontally within it. The pot element's capillary structure also incorporates an overflow to direct excess water into a lower pot element. The overflow opening is located approximately at the same level as the upper end of the capillary structure and is connected to a drain.

[0011] The prismatic pot elements are completely closed on their front face by a hexagonal base, while on the opposite end face they have only a hexagonal top surface to close the gap between the core and the outer shell. This top surface can extend beyond the shell to close gaps between adjacent pot elements. This hexagonal shape of the individual pot elements allows for more customized arrangements, for example, above door frames. The base surface of the individual pot elements can be attached to the support structure, which can be designed to accommodate any number of pot elements, for example, using a click mechanism. The opposite side, with its open core, is intended for inserting and replacing the substrate.

[0012] Materials of either organic or inorganic origin are used as substrates. The absorbency of the substrate is crucial in order to achieve the best possible water supply for each individual plant.

[0013] LED lamps can be placed at regular intervals on the support structure in specially designed holders, which are intended to provide light to the plants and thus enable growth indoors.

[0014] A central control unit can be coupled with individual liquid sensors and controlled by an application on a mobile device.

[0015] The vertical gardening system is distinguished in particular by its unique irrigation system, in which a water circulation system, and thus constant water movement, reduces bacterial growth and consequently lowers cleaning requirements. By combining capillary action with the absorbency of various substrates, the individual water supply to each pot element allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of plants within a single vertical gardening system.

[0016] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A vertical garden system, Fig. 2 a frontal cross-section of a pot element, Fig. 3 a lateral cross-section of a pot element, Fig. 4 a perspective view of a pot element from above, Fig. 5 a perspective view of a pot element from below, Fig. 6 a perspective view of a support structure designed as a base plate.

[0017] A vertical garden system, designated with the reference symbol 1, comprises a Fig. Figure 1 shows an irrigation system 2, comprising a water tank 3, a pump 4 connected to the water tank, and water pipes 5 connected to the pump 4. The water pipes 5 each terminate at pot elements 6 arranged in a top row. The volume of the water tank 3 varies between a few liters and several hundred liters, depending on the size of the vertical garden system 1. The hexagonal pot elements 6 can be arranged side by side and one above the other as desired, thus allowing for individual design of the vertical garden system 1. LED lamps 8 are arranged at regular intervals to provide light to the growing plants. A control unit 7 links several liquid and light sensors (not shown) and can be controlled via an application on a mobile device.

[0018] The in Fig. 2 and Fig. The pot element 6, shown in more detail below, is prismatic with a hexagonal base and a horizontal central axis MA. It has a downward-facing core 9 and a shell 10 with a wall thickness of approximately 1-3 mm. The shell 10 has a diameter of a few tens of centimeters and features a round recess 17 on its upper surface with a diameter of a few centimeters. Between the hexagonal core 9 and the hexagonal shell 10 is a space 11 with a width of approximately 1-3 cm.

[0019] The water, which is delivered via the water pipes 5, for example as drip irrigation, flows through the recess 17 on both sides of the core 9 into the lower part of the space 11. A capillary structure 12 is arranged in the lower part of this space 11, which closes the opening 13 of the core 9 except for two slots parallel to the central axis MA. To prevent water from leaking out of the core 9, an overflow 14 is integrated into the surface of the capillary structure 12. As soon as the water flows through the slots of the opening 13 of the core 9 and reaches a critical level above the capillary structure 12, the excess water flows through the overflow 14 to a drain 18 below, through which the water leaves the pot element 6 to flow into a lower pot element 6 or further into the water tank 3.

[0020] For example, as soon as the water level drops below the surface of the capillary structure 12 when irrigation is switched off or reduced, the capillary forces in the capillaries, which have a diameter of a few millimeters, ensure that the water in the space 11 is drawn towards the core 9. The substrate 22 located in the core 9 then absorbs the water according to its absorption capacity. Both organic and inorganic materials can be used as substrate 22.

[0021] The in Fig. The hexagonal base 15 shown in Figure 3 completely encloses one of the two end faces of the pot element 6, while a hexagonal top surface 16 on the opposite end face merely closes the gap 11, leaving the core 9 open. The base 15 is used to attach the pot element 6 to a support structure 19. The top surface 16 thus corresponds to the side of the pot element 6 facing the room and can extend a few centimeters beyond the shell 10 in a collar-like fashion. This allows for gaps between the individual pot elements 6, which are not visible from the front when several are joined together. These gaps are used for wiring and water pipes 5. The open side of the core 9, enclosed by the top surface 16, serves for inserting and replacing the substrate 22.The simple handling of the exchange of substrate 22 allows substrates to be individually adapted for the cultivation of various useful or ornamental plants, depending on their absorbency.

[0022] Perspective views of pot element 6 are in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is given. The recess 17 and the drain 18 are clearly visible here.

[0023] The holding structure 19 is shown in the exemplary embodiment in Fig. The base plate 6, shown here, could also be designed as a rail. A click mechanism 20 is attached to the support structure 19, which is designed to fasten the pot elements 6 with their base surface 15. The support structure 19 also has holders 21 for LED lamps 8 at regular intervals, into which the LED lamps 8 are inserted. Reference symbol list 1 Vertical garden system 2 Irrigation system 3 water tanks 4 pump 5 Water pipe 6 pot element 7 Control unit 8 LED lamps 9 core 10 cases 11 space 12 Capillary structure 13 Opening the core 14 Overflow 15 Base area 16 Cover area 17 Exclusion 18 Drain 19 Mounting structure 20 click mechanism 21 LED lamp holders 22 Substrat MA Central Axis QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2020 134 776 B4

[0002] EP 3 987 918 A2

[0003] US 2013 / 0104456 A1

[0004] CN 102763572 B

[0005] US 2011 / 0094152

[0006]

Claims

[1] Vertical garden system (1) with an integrated irrigation system (2), comprising a support structure (19) for attachment to a wall, a water tank (3), a pump (4) connected to the water tank (3) and forming part of a water circuit, and a plurality of pot elements (6), each designed as an open prism with a hexagonal outline and a horizontal central axis MA, and having a downwardly open core (9), a shell (10), and a space (11) between the core (9) and the shell (10), wherein in this space (11) of each pot element (6), at least in the lower region, there is a capillary structure (12) partially filling the downwardly directed opening (13) of the core (9) and being designed to conduct water, which flows through a recess (17) in the upper side of the shell (10) of the pot element (6) on both sides on the outside of the core (9) into the lower region of the space (11),from the intermediate space (11) towards the core (9), which is provided for receiving a substrate (22) designed to absorb the supplied water, wherein an overflow (14) is placed in the capillary structure (12) of the pot element (6), which overflow is designed to guide excess water into an underlying pot element (6) and further into the water tank (3). [2] Vertical garden system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the pot elements (6) are completely closed on one side of the prism plan by a hexagonal base surface (15) and are fastened to the holding structure (19) with this side by a click mechanism (20) and on the opposite side only have a cover surface (16) at the end of the intermediate space (11) between the core (9) and the shell (10), so that the core (9) remains open on this side in order to receive the substrate (22). [3] Vertical garden system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that an organic-based substrate (22) is used. [4] Vertical garden system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that an inorganic-based substrate (22) is used. [5] Vertical garden system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that LED lamps (8) are located at regular intervals on the support structure (19) and are designed to supply light to the plants. [6] Vertical garden system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by a central control unit (7) which is coupled to individual liquid sensors and can be controlled by an application on a mobile device.

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