Weed Pool

Abstract

To provide a weed pool capable of effectively utilizing weeds that occur in a relatively small farm such as a home vegetable garden by converting the weeds into soil or compost using a simple device. [Solution] This weed pool is characterized by a corrugated sheet 1 that is bent in the longitudinal direction to form a peripheral wall that is circular in plan view on the ground, and a fixing jig 2 that is formed in an approximately hairpin shape and is longer than the short side length of the corrugated sheet, with the upper end side of the peripheral wall being attached to the bent part of the fixing jig and the lower end side being inserted into the ground 3 to fix the corrugated sheet to the ground. When weeds that grow in relatively small farms such as home vegetable gardens are put into this weed pool, the weeds turn into soil and compost over time and reduce in volume, so that even if the pool is once full, pulled weeds can be put in as many times as necessary.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for converting weeds that occur in relatively small farms such as home gardens into soil and compost, and a method for treating weeds using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for effectively treating weeds has been proposed in which weeds collected outdoors are shredded, then heated to a high temperature at which harmful seeds mixed with the shredded weeds cannot germinate, and then fermented to obtain compost (Patent Document 1). However, shredding weeds collected in small-scale farms such as home gardens, then heating the shredded weeds to a high temperature and fermenting them, etc., is too time-consuming and laborious for those who operate relatively small-scale farms such as home gardens, and can be said to be practically impossible. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-240784 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide an apparatus for solving the problem of wanting to effectively utilize weeds collected in small farms such as home gardens by easily converting them into soil and composting, and a method for processing weeds using said apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] As a result of extensive research, the present inventors have discovered that the above object can be achieved by using a specific device.

[0006] That is, the various aspects of the present invention are as follows. [1] A weed pool comprising a corrugated sheet that can be bent in the longitudinal direction to form a peripheral wall in a circular shape in a plan view on the ground, and a fixing jig for fixing the corrugated sheet, which is formed into an approximately hairpin shape longer than the length of the short side of the corrugated sheet, to the ground. [2] The weed pool according to claim 1, wherein the corrugated sheet has a height of 30 to 100 cm and a length of 1 to 10 m, and the fixing jig has a diameter of 8 to 12 mm and a length of 1.1 to 1.5 times the height of the corrugated sheet. [3] The weed pool according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the fixing jig is made of plastic. [4] A fixing jig for the weed pool, which is a metal rod bent in the middle into a circular shape, so that the overall shape is roughly hairpin-shaped and the lower end is acute-angled.

[0007] In this invention, the term "corrugated sheet" refers to a rectangular sheet made of plastic or metal with a wavy shape. Plastic materials include polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, etc., and metal materials include iron, aluminum, galvalume, etc., and corrugated sheets, which are easy to obtain, can be used, but rust-resistant polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene sheets are inexpensive and easy to use.

[0008] In this invention, the "metal rod" refers to a rod made of iron, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, etc., which can be bent 180 degrees.

[0009] The "plastic fixture" in this invention is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a hard plastic that is generally used for piles, etc., but injection molded products made of hard polyvinyl chloride resin, polypropylene resin, high-density polyethylene resin, ABS resin, polystyrene resin, polycarbonate resin, etc., which are readily available on the market, can be preferably used, and it is preferable that the fixture can sandwich a corrugated sheet and that the lower part has an acute angle.

[0010] In the present invention, the symbol "~" in relation to a numerical range is used to mean a certain numerical value, greater than a certain numerical value and less than another certain numerical value, or another certain numerical value, where the other certain numerical value is greater than the certain numerical value.

[0011] Other than in the examples, or where otherwise specified, all numerical values ​​used in this invention should be understood to be modified by the term "about." Without attempting to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical value should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0012] In the present invention, terms specifying shapes or geometric conditions, such as square, rectangle, circle, parallel, orthogonal, and perpendicular, are intended to include not only their strict meaning but also substantially the same state. Effect of the Invention

[0013] Weeds that occur in relatively small farms such as home vegetable gardens can be effectively utilized by turning them into soil or compost using a simple device. Municipalities will no longer have to dispose of weeds as waste, which will also save fuel costs at incinerators. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a photograph showing the state in which a weed pool according to an embodiment is installed. [Diagram 2] 1 is a photograph in lieu of a drawing showing a state in which weeds have been placed in a weed pool according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing a perspective view, a plan view, a side view, and a fixing jig of a weed pool according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a photograph of a metal fixing jig according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] 1. Corrugated sheet The main body of the weed pool is made by bending a corrugated sheet that can be bent in the longitudinal direction to form a surrounding wall that is circular in plan view on the ground, and has the function of keeping weeds within a certain area. The height of the corrugated sheet is preferably 30 to 100 cm. If it is less than 30 cm, it will not be able to contain the weeds sufficiently, and if it exceeds 100 cm, it will take time to set up the weed pool and the ease of installation will be lost. The height of the corrugated sheet can be said to be the width of the corrugated sheet. The corrugated sheet should preferably be 0.2 to 2 mm thick. If it is thinner than 0.2 mm, it will be weak and easily deformed, and if it is thicker than 2 mm, it will be difficult to bend.

[0016] The corrugated sheet should preferably be 1 to 10 meters long. If it is shorter than 1 meter, it cannot contain weeds sufficiently, and if it is longer than 10 meters, it is too large and difficult to handle, and the ease of installation is lost.

[0017] 2. Fixture The fixing jig is formed in an approximately hairpin shape that is longer than the short-side length of the corrugated sheet, and has the function of hanging the bent part of the fixing jig on the upper end side of the peripheral wall and inserting the lower end side into the ground to fix the corrugated sheet to the ground.

[0018] If the fixing jig is a round bar, it is preferable that the diameter is 8 to 12 mm. If it is thinner than 8 mm, it will be difficult to securely fix the weed pool, and if it is more than 12 mm, it will be difficult to process and insert the fixing jig into the ground. If the fixing jig is not a round bar, it is better to match the cross-sectional area of ​​the round bar. Specifically, the cross-sectional area of ​​an 8 mm diameter jig is 50 mm. 2 The cross-sectional area of ​​a 12 mm diameter tube is 113 mm 2 Therefore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the fixture is specified as 50 to 113 mm. 2 is preferred.

[0019] The length of the fixing jig should preferably be 1.1 to 1.5 times the height of the corrugated sheet. If it is less than 1.1 times, the fixing jig cannot be firmly inserted into the ground and the weed pool cannot be fixed with sufficient strength, and if it exceeds 1.5 times, the balance between the fixing jig and the corrugated sheet becomes poor and it becomes unstable.

[0020] One tip of the fixing jig is acute-angled. An acute angle is an angle smaller than a right angle, and in the application of the present invention, the angle is preferably 20 to 60 degrees, and more preferably 30 to 45 degrees. If the angle is more acute than 20 degrees, the tip is easily deformed, and if it exceeds 60 degrees, it may be difficult to insert the tip into the ground.

[0021] By using the corrugated sheet and the fixing jig, a weed treatment device was realized that is made of commercially available materials, is lightweight for easy installation, and has a size that can be adjusted according to the installation location. Below, the weed pool of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0022] A 4m long polyvinyl chloride corrugated sheet 1 was curved so that it was circular in plan view with a diameter of 1m, and one fixing jig 2 was used at the part where two corrugated sheets overlapped, and three other fixing jigs were used as evenly spaced as possible to clamp the corrugated sheet bent into a circle in plan view between the fixing jigs, which were then inserted into the ground 3 to fix the corrugated sheet 1 to the ground 3, forming a weed pool (Figure 1).

[0023] Weeds that were pulled out from May to September were placed in this weed pool (Figure 2). They overwintered in this state, and by the following spring the weeds had turned into soil and compost. This composted weed soil could be used to plant flowers and vegetables. The example was carried out in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture from May 2023 to April 2024.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a plan view, a side view, a perspective view showing a state of use of the weed pool according to the embodiment, and a conceptual diagram of a fixing jig.

[0025] The metal fixture according to the embodiment is an iron fixture (FIG. 4) having a hairpin shape with a diameter of 45 mm at the upper end, a length of 55 cm, and a tip angle of 40 degrees. [Industrial Applicability]

[0026] By adjusting the overlapping length of the corrugated sheets and the size of the circular shape when viewed from above, it is possible to make it smaller or larger to suit the installation location.

[0027] When weeds that grow in relatively small farms, such as home gardens, are placed into this weed pool, the volume of the weeds decreases over time, so even if the pool becomes full at one point, pulled weeds can be added again and again.

[0028] Next spring, you can remove the weed pool and set it up again in a new vacant space or corner of your garden.

[0029] The weed pool of this invention has no bottom or lid, is not heavy, and can be easily set up by anyone, but since it is not a garbage pot, it is not suitable for storing food that birds and other creatures may scavenge. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1. Corrugated sheet (perimeter wall) 2 Fixture 3 Ground (GL) 4. Weeds being treated 5 Circular part at the top of the fixture 6 Sharp corners at the bottom of the fixture

Claims

1. A weed pool comprising a corrugated sheet that can be bent in the longitudinal direction to form a peripheral wall in a circular shape in a plan view on the ground, and a fixing jig that fixes the corrugated sheet, which is formed into a hairpin shape longer than the length of the short side of the corrugated sheet, to the ground.

2. 2. The weed pool according to claim 1, wherein the corrugated plate has a height of 30 to 100 cm and a length of 1 to 10 m, and the fixing jig has a diameter of 8 to 12 mm and a length of 1.1 to 1.5 times the height of the corrugated plate.

3. 3. The weed pool according to claim 1, wherein the fixing jig is made of plastic.

4. The fixing jig for the weed pool is made by bending the center of a metal rod into a circular shape, so that the whole shape is roughly hairpin-shaped, and the lower end has an acute angle.

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