Device for irrigating at least one plant container arranged on the outside of a liquid basin, suspension device and aquaponic planting system

Abstract

Device (1) for watering at least one plant container (20) arranged on the outside of a liquid basin, in particular an aquarium basin, characterized by at least wick-like water conduit material (2) which has at least one capillary which is arranged and designed such that, when the device (1) is arranged as intended on the liquid basin, one end of the capillary is immersed in water located in the liquid basin, while another end of the capillary is arranged in the plant container (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for watering at least one plant container arranged on the outside of a liquid tank, in particular an aquarium. The invention also relates to a suspension device for suspending at least one plant container on the outside of a side wall of a liquid tank, in particular an aquarium. Furthermore, the invention relates to an aquaponic planting system comprising at least one plant container.

[0002] Combining planters with aquariums is common. In particular, planters can be placed inside an aquarium, but this results in space constraints, restricts access to the interior of the aquarium, and impairs the lighting of submerged plants in the aquarium. Alternatively, a planter can be placed on the outside of an aquarium.

[0003] It's also known to supply planters with water from an aquarium using electric pumps. However, this is maintenance-intensive and involves electricity consumption.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved possibility for watering plant containers arranged externally on liquid basins.

[0005] This object is achieved by claims 1, 5, and 8, respectively. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the subclaims, the following description, and the figures, wherein these embodiments, each taken individually or a combination of at least two of these embodiments with one another, may represent an advantageous and / or further developing aspect of the invention.

[0006] A device according to the invention for watering at least one plant container arranged on the outside of a liquid basin, in particular an aquarium basin, has at least wick-like water conducting material which has at least one capillary which is arranged and designed in such a way that, when the device is arranged as intended on the liquid basin, one end of the capillary is immersed in water located in the liquid basin, while another end of the capillary ends in the plant container.

[0007] According to the invention, water can be automatically pumped from the liquid basin into the plant pot using only the capillary effect, without the need for an electric pump or the like. This allows costs to be saved, both for the manufacture of the device according to the invention and for the operation of the device according to the invention. By omitting an electric pump and the like, space is also freed up in the liquid basin, whereby the lighting of submerged plants in the liquid basin remains unaffected. The invention can, in particular, provide a continuous supply of water to the plant container from the liquid basin without the need for manual monitoring or watering of the plant container.If the liquid basin is an aquarium, for example, the nutrient-enriched water in the aquarium basin is fed into the plant pot or a plant planted in it, which has a positive effect on plant growth and plant health.

[0008] The wick-like water conduction material of the device according to the invention can be formed from fibers, in particular from glass fibers or the like, wherein the capillary can be formed by a gap between adjacently arranged fibers or by a fiber itself. Due to the capillary effect, water is sucked from the liquid basin via the end of the capillary immersed in the water and released into the plant container via the end of the capillary arranged in the plant container, for example, into the potting soil in the plant container or into a felt or fleece cushion partially or completely covering the bottom of the plant container.

[0009] The fibers of the water conducting material can be formed, for example, as a scrim or a braid. The water conducting material can also have two or more, in particular a plurality, of capillaries. The device according to the invention can also have two or more corresponding, in particular parallel-connected, water conducting materials.

[0010] The device according to the invention can be used to water a plant container that is arranged, for example, on the outside of a side wall of the liquid basin or above the liquid basin, for example, on a lid of the liquid basin. In the latter case, the plant container is arranged above the water level of the liquid basin. Alternatively, the plant container can be arranged at a distance from the liquid basin.

[0011] The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for watering at least one plant container arranged on the outside of an aquarium tank.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the device has at least one substantially U-shaped conduit unit through which the water conduit material is passed, wherein the conduit unit has at least one first vertical conduit section immersible into the water in the liquid basin, at least one second vertical conduit section partially insertable into the plant container, and at least one conduit web connecting the two vertical conduit sections. This conduit unit can be used, in particular, to water a plant container arranged externally on a side wall of the liquid basin, so that no space above or within the liquid basin is occupied by the plant container. The plant container can be attached to the side wall, for example, by means of at least one suction cup or at least one permanent magnet-ferromagnet combination.The first vertical line section can, for example, be tubular. The first vertical line section can be arranged at least partially within the liquid basin such that its lower end is immersed in the water in the liquid basin. The line web then runs above the side wall of the liquid basin, in particular transversely thereto. The second vertical line section can, for example, be tubular. The second vertical line section is then arranged outside the liquid basin such that its lower end is arranged in the plant container. The line unit can be made partially or entirely from a plastic. The water line material is guided through the first vertical line section, the line web, and the second vertical line section.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the conduit web has at least one upper access opening through which the water conduit material is accessible. The conduit unit can have at least one cover for closing the access opening. For example, a nutrient solution or a liquid fertilizer can be applied to the water conduit material via the access opening, so that the nutrient solution or fertilizer is absorbed by the water conduit material and conveyed along with it. The access opening is preferably arranged on a side of the conduit web facing away from the vertical conduit sections.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the cable unit has a modular design. This allows the cable unit to be easily and optimally adapted to the respective application, particularly by the user. For example, depending on the specific application, vertical cable sections of different lengths and / or a cable bridge of different lengths can be selected and combined to create the cable unit. Two interconnectable components of the modular cable unit can be connected to each other, for example, via a plug connection.

[0015] A suspension device according to the invention for suspending at least one plant container on the outside of a side wall of a liquid tank, in particular an aquarium tank, has at least one device according to one of the aforementioned embodiments or a combination of at least two of these embodiments with one another.

[0016] The advantages mentioned above with regard to the device are correspondingly associated with the suspension device. The plant container can have a single planting receptacle in which a plant can be planted, or two or more such planting receptacles, which can be arranged next to one another and can be of identical or different design. The suspension device can also be designed to suspend two or more plant containers externally on a side wall of a liquid tank, in particular an aquarium tank, wherein the plant containers can be arranged next to one another or one above the other.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the suspension device has at least one adjustable clamping mechanism with which an upper section of the side wall of the liquid basin can be clamped between at least two clamping elements of the clamping mechanism. This allows the suspension device to be clamped or secured to the side wall. Due to the adjustability of the clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism or the suspension device can be adapted to different side wall thicknesses, so that the suspension device can always be securely attached to the respective side wall of the liquid basin.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device is integrally formed on the suspension device. In other words, the device is monolithically connected to the remaining suspension device. In this case, at least one section of the device, for example, the first vertical line section of the line unit of the device, can form part of the clamping mechanism. The suspension device can be manufactured, for example, by an injection molding process or a 3D printing process.

[0019] An aquaponic planting system according to the invention comprises at least one planting vessel and at least one suspension device according to one of the aforementioned embodiments or a combination of at least two of these embodiments.

[0020] The advantages mentioned above with regard to the device or the suspension device are associated with the planting system.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment, the aquaponic planting system has at least one height adjustment device with which the arrangement height of the plant container can be adjusted relative to the suspension device. This ensures, in particular, that the water level in the plant container does not exceed a certain height. This enables the cultivation of plants with different water requirements.

[0022] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures based on preferred embodiments, wherein the features mentioned below can represent an advantageous and / or further developing aspect of the invention, both individually and in various combinations with one another. It shows: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic exploded view of the Fig. 1 shown device; Fig. 3 a schematic longitudinal section of the Fig. 1 shown device; Fig. 4 a schematic side view of an embodiment of an aquaponic planting system; Fig. 5 a schematic and perspective representation of the Fig. 4 shown planting system; and Fig. 6 a schematic front view of the Fig. 4 shown planting system.

[0023] In the figures, identical or functionally identical components are provided with the same reference numerals. A repeated description of such components may be omitted.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention for watering at least one plant container (not shown) arranged on the outside of a liquid basin (not shown), in particular in the form of an aquarium basin.

[0025] The device 1 has a wick-like water conducting material 2 which has at least one capillary (not shown) which is arranged and designed such that when the device 1 is arranged as intended on the liquid basin, one end of the capillary, which is formed at a first end 3 of the water conducting material 2, is immersed in water located in the liquid basin, while another end of the capillary, which is formed at a second end 4 of the water conducting material, is arranged in the plant container.

[0026] In addition, the device 1 comprises a substantially U-shaped conduit unit 5 through which the water conduit material 2 is passed. The conduit unit 5 comprises a tubular first vertical conduit section 6 that can be immersed in the water in the liquid basin, a tubular second vertical conduit section 7 that can be partially inserted into the plant container, and a conduit web 8 that communicatively connects the two vertical conduit sections 6 and 7.

[0027] The first vertical line section 6 is longer than the second vertical line section 7. The line web 8 has a Fig. 2, through which the water pipe material 2 is accessible and which is closed with a cover 14 of the pipe unit 5. The cover 15 has a laterally projecting and tab-like actuating section 15, via which the cover 14 can be actuated and thereby lifted off the pipe web 8. The pipe unit 5 is of modular construction, which is apparent from Fig. 2 is described.

[0028] Furthermore, the device 1 has a holding element 17 for holding an end section of the water pipe material 2. This ensures that the end 3 of the water pipe material 2 is always located at a suitable location on the device 1, so that the irrigation function of the device 1 can always be reliably ensured. For this purpose, the holding element 17 has an axially extending central through-bore (not shown) through which the water pipe material is guided. The holding element 17 can be made of an elastomer.

[0029] Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded view of the Fig. 1 shown device 1.

[0030] It is shown, among other things, that the line web 8 has two lower connecting pieces 9 and 10, which run parallel to each other and are arranged at a distance from each other. The vertical line sections 6 and 7 each have a widened upper connecting section 11 and 12, respectively, which can be plugged onto the respective connecting pieces 10 and 9, respectively, in a form-fitting manner or by forming a press fit, as shown in Fig. 1 is shown.

[0031] In addition, the released access opening 13 of the cable web 8 is shown, which is connected to the cover 14 according to Fig. 1 can be closed. For this purpose, the cover 14 has a tapered lower connecting section 16, which can be inserted into the cable web 8 via the access opening 13 in a form-fitting manner or by forming a press fit.

[0032] In addition, the holding element 17 is shown, on the outside of which a profiling 18 is formed, under the elastic deformation of which the holding element 17 can be pressed into the lower end of the vertical line section 6, as shown in Fig. 1 is shown.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the Fig. 1 shown device 1. In particular, it is shown how the water pipe material 2 is passed through the pipe unit 5.

[0034] Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of an aquaponic planting system 19.

[0035] The planting system 19 has a planter 20 which is decorated on its outer side as shown.

[0036] In addition, the planting system 19 has a suspension device 21 for suspending the plant container 20 on the outside of a side wall (not shown) of a liquid basin (not shown), in particular in the form of an aquarium basin.

[0037] The suspension device 21 has a device 1 for watering the plant container 20 arranged on the outside of the liquid basin. For this purpose, the device 1 has a wick-like water conducting material 2 which has at least one capillary (not shown) which is arranged and designed such that, when the device 1 is arranged as intended on the liquid basin, one end of the capillary, which is formed at a first end 3 of the water conducting material 2, is immersed in water located in the liquid basin, while another end of the capillary, which is formed at a second end (not shown) of the water conducting material 2 arranged in the plant container 20, is arranged in the plant container 20.

[0038] The suspension device 21 has an adjustable clamping mechanism 22 with which an upper section (not shown) of the side wall of the liquid basin can be clamped between a first clamping element 23 of the clamping mechanism 22 and a second clamping element 24 of the clamping mechanism 22.

[0039] The second clamping element 24 extends vertically and has an axially extending passage or tunnel (not shown) through which the water pipe material 2 is passed. The second clamping element 24 is connected to the plant container 20 in one piece or monolithically.

[0040] The first clamping element 23 is adjustably arranged on a holding element 25 extending obliquely or at an acute angle to the second clamping element 24. The first clamping element 23 is wedge-shaped and has a clamping surface 29 arranged parallel to the second clamping element 24.

[0041] The first clamping element 23 and the holding element 25 form a locking mechanism between them, by which the first clamping element 23 is secured in the respective position relative to the holding element 25. Due to this adjustability of the clamping mechanism 22, the suspension device 21 can be adapted to different wall thicknesses of liquid basins and can be clamped to the respective side wall of a liquid basin. The device 1 is integrally formed on the suspension device 21.

[0042] The planting system 19 may have a height adjustment device (not shown) with which an arrangement height of the plant container 20 relative to the suspension device 21 can be adjusted.

[0043] Fig. 5 shows a schematic and perspective view of the Fig. 4. Among other things, a planting receptacle 26 of the planting vessel 20 is shown. Furthermore, it is shown that the second clamping element 24 has a rectangular cross-sectional area and a tapered lower end portion.

[0044] Fig. 6 shows a schematic front view of the Fig. 4. It is shown, among other things, that a locking tab 27 is formed on the first clamping element 23, which engages with a detent 28 on the holding element 25. The locking tab 27 and the detent 28 form the above-mentioned locking mechanism. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 Water pipe material 3 End of 2 4 End of 2 5 line unit 6 vertical line section 7 vertical line section 8 cable bridge 9 connecting pieces of 8 10 connecting pieces of 8 11 connecting section of 6 12 connecting section of 7 13 access opening of 8 14 lids 15 operating section of 14 16 connecting section of 14 17 Holding element 18 Profiling of 17 19 Planting system 20 planters 21 Suspension device 22 clamping mechanism 23 first clamping element 24 second clamping element 25 Holding element 26 planting images of 20 27 locking tab of 23 28 detent of 25 29 clamping area of ​​23

Claims

[1] Device (1) for watering at least one plant container (20) arranged on the outside of a liquid basin, in particular an aquarium basin, characterized by at least wick-like water conducting material (2) which has at least one capillary which is arranged and designed such that, when the device (1) is arranged as intended on the liquid basin, one end of the capillary is immersed in water located in the liquid basin, while another end of the capillary is arranged in the plant container (20). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized byat least one substantially U-shaped conduit unit (5) through which the water conduit material (2) is passed, wherein the conduit unit (5) has at least one first vertical conduit section (6) which can be immersed in the water in the liquid basin, at least one second vertical conduit section (7) which can be partially inserted into the plant container (20), and at least one conduit web (8) which connects the two vertical conduit sections (6, 7) to one another. [3] Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the pipe web (8) has at least one upper access opening (13) through which the water pipe material (2) is accessible. [4] Device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the line unit (5) has a modular design. [5] Suspension device (21) for suspending at least one plant container (20) on the outside of a side wall of a liquid tank, in particular an aquarium tank, characterized by at least one device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4. [6] Suspension device (21) according to claim 5, characterized by at least one adjustable clamping mechanism (22) with which an upper section of the side wall of the liquid basin can be clamped between at least two clamping elements (23, 24) of the clamping mechanism (22). [7] Suspension device (21) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that the device (1) is formed integrally on the suspension device (21). [8] Aquaponic planting system (19) comprising at least one planting vessel (20), characterized by at least one suspension device (21) according to one of claims 5 to 7. [9] Aquaponic planting system (19) according to claim 8, characterized byat least one height adjustment device with which an arrangement height of the plant container (20) relative to the suspension device (21) can be adjusted.

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