Minimal material use of greened wall and fence system

Abstract

Material-minimized green wall and fence system, such that the soil-fillable planting devices and the fixing posts are separate elements.

Description

[0001] According to environmental researchers, the two biggest environmental problems are climate change and species extinction. Increasing green space slows global warming by binding CO2. Connected green spaces also provide habitat for many animal species, thus making an important contribution to combating species extinction. Green space also has a positive effect on rainfall frequency, acts as an insulating layer on buildings, reduces noise, and filters particulate matter from the air.

[0002] Open land or greenable areas, such as roofs, are only available in limited quantities, as in densely populated areas these areas are occupied by buildings, roads, parking lots, industrial or agricultural land. Therefore, the potential for creating green spaces and thus acting as CO2 storage and as reserves for species conservation is limited. (Agricultural land does not permanently bind CO2, as this effect is destroyed by harvesting. Due to their uniformity, monocultures also do not represent a reserve for the development of diverse biodiversity.)

[0003] The situation is different in urban areas with vertical surfaces: A high noise barrier along a highway has a side surface many times larger than the footprint. This represents a potential green space or green mass without requiring additional floor space. When the total facade area of ​​a building is added together, even minus windows, the facade area is significantly – often several times – larger than its floor area. Thus, the exterior walls of buildings, noise barriers, and (privacy) fences offer an opportunity to contribute to climate protection and species conservation simultaneously.

[0004] The question arises as to which systems are available on the market for the various applications: Soundproof walls rely on the mass of the building to provide sound insulation. The heavier a structure, the less it is displaced by sound. These structures are typically made of concrete or steel. Greening is only possible to a very limited extent with climbing plants such as ivy or Virginia creeper.

[0005] This limits the effectiveness of these greening solutions in terms of climate protection and species conservation. Their dust-filtering effect is also limited. The high material consumption for production, in turn, increases CO2 emissions, is difficult to transport, and is also expensive to produce.

[0006] Privacy fences are usually made of steel or wood. Greening with climbing plants such as ivy or Virginia creeper is only possible to a very limited extent. This limits the effectiveness of these solutions as greening solutions in terms of climate protection and species conservation. Their dust-filtering effect is also limited. While a hedge as a fence replacement offers considerably more habitat for endangered species, it is unsuitable for sound insulation due to its lack of mass, is partially visible, and offers no significant protection against unauthorized intrusion.

[0007] Typical facade greening systems work with elements attached to the exterior wall, which then either allow for greening with moss, or they have holes in the suspended elements into which small plants can be planted.

[0008] Due to the tension on the façade, the vertical planting level, and the weight-related restricted element thickness, which acts as a root base, the variety of possible vegetation and the depth and quantity of green growth are very limited.

[0009] Similar restrictions also apply to natural facade greening with climbing plants such as ivy or Virginia creeper.

[0010] This limits the effectiveness of these greening solutions in terms of climate protection and species conservation. Their insulating, soundproofing, and dust-filtering effects are also only partially present.

[0011] These problems are solved by the presented invention. The invention offers an economical construction solution that simultaneously combines sound insulation, greening, intrusion protection, and particulate matter filtration.

[0012] In the following functional description, reference is made to figures in the drawings which show the advantages and possible embodiments of the invention: Fig. 1 shows the schematic side view of the planting devices of the invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a conventional mounting in the same view. Both figures omit the mounting posts. Fig. 3 illustrates, again in a schematic side view without fixing posts, the higher light output in the planting level compared to the conventional solution in Fig. 4 in the same form of representation. Fig. Figure 5 shows the higher rain yield of the invention compared to conventional planting devices in Fig. 6. Here too, both illustrations are schematic side views and do not show the mounting posts. Fig. 7 illustrates in comparison to the conventional design in Fig. 8 the closed rear facade with the same volume and soil as a cavalier representation. Fig. Figure 9 shows an exploded view of the elements of the invention. Fig. 10 shows an exemplary design in perspective.

[0013] In the figures are; - the front of the planting device with 1, - the back of the planting device with 2, - the bottom with 3, - the fastening devices on the planting devices with 4, - the earth, or the planting level with 5, - the recess / groove in the mounting post with 6, - the cavity in the fixing posts with 7, - the fastening / connecting devices for the planting devices with 8, - the outlets of the inner cavity to the mounting level are designated with 9 and the greenery / plants with 10.

[0014] The modular construction of fastening posts and planting devices formulated in claim 1 enables a variety of constructions, the formation of corners and / or different construction heights.

[0015] This modular construction according to claim 1, in which the elements are not rigidly connected, also makes it possible for components of the construction to be replaced if necessary without the entire component becoming unusable.

[0016] In conjunction with the horizontal planting level (5) according to claim 2 and the downwardly tapering front of the planting devices according to claim 5, filling with a large amount of soil and planting with taller and more voluminous plants is possible without this being restricted by the planting device above.

[0017] This effect is illustrated by the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the planting devices according to the described invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows, for comparison, the conventional square shape of the planting devices, with both figures having the same total height and the same volume of soil in the planting devices.

[0018] Claim 3 defines the ability to shorten the planting devices without losing the fastening options to the fastening posts. Fig. Figure 9 shows an example of such a solution on the planting devices using the pre-punched additional fastening options (4). Together with the open design of the planting devices on the short sides, which, according to claim 4, only form a closed shape upon installation in the fastening posts, it is possible to adapt the structures to the required lengths.

[0019] Due to the downwardly tapered design of the front side (1) of the planting devices according to claim 5, more reflected light is directed onto the plants than with the conventional design, provided the planting devices have a correspondingly bright or reflective surface. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrated: Fig. Figure 3 shows schematically the arrangement of the planting devices of the invention, Fig. 4 the conventional construction in comparison.

[0020] The downwardly tapered front side (1) also offers advantages for rain drainage into the planting devices: Fig. Figure 5 shows, again in the same schematic sectional view without fastening posts, the rain yield of the invention compared to the Fig. 6, which shows the drainage of rainwater in the same schematic representation in a conventional planting device design

[0021] The comparison of the two construction methods in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, shows that the invention allows a closed and even flat back of the overall construction - defined in claim 6 - without significantly restricting the planting, as in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0022] The closed rear facade significantly improves sound insulation and also serves as a privacy screen and particulate matter barrier. When cladding a building, this closed rear facade also serves as weather protection and protection against mechanical damage to the exterior walls behind it (for example, from external insulation).

[0023] The soil (5) in the planting devices of the invention, with its closed back, creates a heavy body that thus provides good sound insulation. The vegetation (10) also forms a second layer with different vibration and damping properties, which is considered ideal for sound insulation. Overall, the invention enables the creation of sound-absorbing components as projecting facades, fences, and freestanding walls with minimal material expenditure. In the case of the facade elements, the freestanding construction also acts as sound insulation, since the system is not suspended from the exterior wall.

[0024] The slightly forward-sloping underside (3) of the planting devices according to claim 7 lies in the mounted state in the front edge on the recess / groove (6) of the fastening posts, described in claim 8. This is shown in the example according to Fig. 7 can be seen.

[0025] This ensures that any waterlogging is safely drained downwards along the fixing posts and not, for example, through holes, into the planting device below.

[0026] The cavities (7) in the mounting posts, described in claim 9, in conjunction with the outlets (9) in the mounting plane, according to claim 10, allow the installation of an artificial irrigation solution for the planting devices. This feature offers the potential for a separate patent.

Claims

[1] Material-minimized green wall and fence system, such that the soil-fillable planting devices and the fixing posts are separate elements. [2] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to claim 1, such that the plantable level of the planting device forms a horizontal or only slightly inclined surface when assembled. [3] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to one of the preceding claims, such that the planting devices can be shortened to different lengths without losing their ability to be attached to the fixing posts. [4] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to one of the preceding claims, such that the planting devices are open on the short sides and only form a closed hollow body when mounted with the fixing posts. [5] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to one of the preceding claims, such that the front of the planting devices - when mounted - tapers downwards. [6] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to one of the preceding claims, such that the mounted planting devices can form a closed, flat surface on the rear. [7] . Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to one of the preceding claims, such that the underside of the mounted planting devices has a forward-inclined plane. [8] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to one of the preceding claims, such that the fixing posts have a recess / groove in the mounting plane. [9] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to one of the preceding claims, such that the fixing posts have an inner hollow body. [10] Material-minimized green wall and fence system according to claim 9 in such a way that the inner hollow bodies have openings to the mounting level.

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