Plant cultivation device

Abstract

To provide a plant growing apparatus that can be easily stored, transported, installed, and removed, as well as, made in a larger size than ever.SOLUTION: There is provided a plant growing apparatus 1 in which a plant PLANT is planted and soil SOIL is put in, and which is formed of bottom face cage members, back face cage members, front face cage members, left side face cage members and right side face cage members, that are hooked by hooks, so as to be assembled into a standing state, and fixed through stoppers 15 to a metallic cage 20 on which width stopper members 31, 32 is stretched. The plant growing apparatus 1 can be carried into an installation place in a compact packing form in which a bottomed bag body 10, the stoppers 15, the cage members, and the width stopper members are separated. For removal of thee plant growing apparatus, the plant and soil are removed, the stoppers 15 are removed to take out the bottomed bag body 10, the width stopper members are removed, and the metal cages are separated from each other, so that the metal cages can be carried out in a compact packing form.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for growing plants. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, ceramic or plastic flowerpots and planters have been used as containers for growing ornamental plants such as various trees and flowers. However, because of problems with portability and storage, a plant growing device has been proposed in which a plant growing bag is suspended on a foldable support stand (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Also, large planters are sometimes required in commercial facilities, etc. In order to meet such demands, a planter has been proposed that is characterized by having an outer cylinder made of fiber-mixed concrete, an inner cylinder made of insulating concrete and provided inside the outer cylinder, and an extension formed at the upper end of the outer cylinder and covering the upper end of the inner cylinder (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2008-48640 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 4-316429 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The technology of Patent Document 1 has difficulty in meeting the demand for larger sizes, and the technology of Patent Document 2 has the problem that a great deal of effort is required for storage, transportation, installation, and removal.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a plant growing device that is easy to store, transport, install and remove and can be made large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The plant growing device of the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, is a device for growing plants by storing a culture medium in a bottomed bag, and is characterized by having the following configuration. (1A) Fixing the upper edge of the bottomed bag to a metal cage that is installed so as to surround the bottomed bag. (1B) The metal cage is composed of a bottom cage member and a wall cage member that is installed in an upright position surrounding the bottom cage member, and each cage member has vertical and horizontal members arranged in a crisscross pattern. (1C) The vertical and horizontal members of the bottom cage member each have a hook at each end onto which the lower portion of the wall cage member can be hooked. (1D) The wall cage member is composed of at least two or more members installed side by side, and the wall cage members are configured to be assembled by hooking a hook formed on a horizontal member of one of the adjacent cage members onto a vertical frame of the other. (1E) The facing cage members in the wall cage member are fastened in width by a width fastening member having hooks on both ends.

[0008] The plant growing device of the present invention can be stored and transported in a state where it is separated into a bottomed bag, a bottom cage member, and at least two or more wall cage members. The plant growing device of the present invention can be assembled by hanging it on a hook at the installation site, assembling a metal cage in which the wall cage member is in an upright state surrounding the bottom cage member and the width is fixed with a width fixing member, attaching the bottomed bag inside the cage, putting in a culture medium, and planting the plant. When removing the device, the plant and culture medium are removed, the bottomed bag is removed from the metal cage, the width fixing member is removed, and the bottom cage member and the wall cage member are separated, so that the device can be transported in a small package. This makes it easy to store, transport, install, and remove the device. In addition, by appropriately selecting the dimensions and shape of the entire metal cage and manufacturing the bottomed bag to fit it, a plant growing device can be provided that is suitable for the installation location and purpose, such as a large one or an irregular one.

[0009] Here, the plant growing device of the present invention may further include the following configuration. (2) The bottom cage member is configured as an approximately flat rectangular body overall, and the wall cage member is composed of a back cage member, a front cage member, a left side cage member and a right side cage member, each of which is an approximately flat rectangular body overall, and the horizontal members of a pair of facing wall cage members are provided with hooks at both ends by which the vertical frames of the adjacent wall cage members can be hooked.

[0010] According to this plant growing device, the cage members that make up the metal cage are all configured as a generally flat rectangular body, so that the packaging can be made more compact during storage and transportation.

[0011] These plant growing devices of the present invention may further include the following configuration. (3) The rear cage member, front cage member, left side cage member and right side cage member are configured to be at the same height when erected, and the hooks are provided on both ends of the cross members of the front cage member and rear cage member.

[0012] According to this plant growing device, the left side cage member and the right side cage member, and the front cage member and the rear cage member can each have a common structure, thereby reducing the number of types of parts.

[0013] This plant growing device may further include the following configuration. (4) The cage members disposed between the left side cage member and the right side cage member each connect a plurality of cage members in the left-right direction and are provided with hooks on both the left and right ends of the cage member as a whole after connection to be hooked onto the left side cage member and the right side cage member.

[0014] According to this plant growing device, the cage member disposed between the left side cage member and the right side cage member is a cage member that is connected in the left-right direction, and thus the package size for storage and transportation can be reduced in a plant growing device that has a large metal cage in the left-right direction, and it is suitable for providing a larger plant growing device that is easy to store, transport, install, and remove. For example, two or more cage members that are connected in the left-right direction to form a cage member that forms a back surface, etc., have a hook on the left end of the left cage member and a hook on the right cage member, and only one of the connecting parts has a hook, and if the left-right connection is also configured to hook the hook, it is desirable from the viewpoint of "consistency of work in assembly and disassembly". Note that the left-right connection is not limited to the hook-hook configuration, and can also be configured to be connected with a connecting ring and folded for storage and transportation.

[0015] Furthermore, the plant growing device of the present invention may have the following configuration instead of (3). (5) The rear cage member, left side cage member and right side cage member are taller than the front cage member when upright, are the same height as each other, and are connected at the top by hooking them onto a hook of a top cage member similar to the bottom cage member.

[0016] With this plant growing device, the left and right sides and the back can be assembled into a tall metal cage, making it possible to eliminate the need for supports when cultivating climbing plants. In order to fulfill this function, the upper part can be connected with a top cage member, making the metal cage as a whole strong.

[0017] Moreover, the plant growing device of the present invention can have the following configuration instead of (2) to (5). (6A) The bottom cage member is configured as a substantially flat semicircular shape overall, and the wall cage member is composed of a semi-cylindrical back cage member which is assembled in an upright state relative to the arc portion of the bottom cage member, and a rectangular front cage member which is assembled in an upright state relative to the straight portion of the bottom cage member, and the hooks are provided on both ends of the horizontal members of the front cage member, and the rear cage member is assembled in an upright state by hooking the vertical frames at both ends thereof. (6B) The rear cage member is taller than the front cage member when erected, and has a top cage member similar to the bottom cage member fixed to its upper portion.

[0018] This plant cultivation device makes it possible to provide a plant cultivation device in the form of an upright semi-cylinder that is suitable for cultivating climbing plants and has overall strength, and also allows the plant cultivation device itself to exhibit design appeal.

[0019] These plant growing devices of the present invention may further include the following configuration. (7) The metal cage is made of hot-dip zinc-10% aluminum alloy plated iron wire, and the bottomed bag is made of a weather-resistant sheet material woven with black dyed polyester yarn.

[0020] This plant growing device has sufficient durability, and remains durable even when installed outdoors where it is exposed to wind and rain. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a plant cultivation device that is easy to store, transport, install and remove and can be made large. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows Example 1, where (A) is a perspective view of the plant-growing device, and (B) is a perspective view illustrating the plant-growing device in use. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the assembly procedure of the plant cultivation device of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the assembly procedure of the plant cultivation device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the assembly procedure of the plant cultivation device of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the assembly procedure of the plant cultivation device of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a plant growing device of a second embodiment and an assembly procedure thereof. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the plant growing device of the third embodiment and the assembly procedure thereof. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the plant growing device of Example 4 and the assembly procedure thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, the mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples. EXAMPLES

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1(A), the plant cultivation device 1 of the first embodiment is composed of a bottomed bag 10 for storing soil, and a metal cage 20 surrounding the bottomed bag 10. The bottomed bag 10 is fixed to the metal cage 20 via a fastener 15. Soil (SOIL) is placed in the bottomed bag 10 of the plant cultivation device 1 thus installed, and a plant (PLANT) is planted.

[0025] 2(A), the metal cage 20 is constructed by assembling a bottom cage member 21, a back cage member 22, a front cage member 23, a left side cage member 24, and a right side cage member 25. Each of the cage members 21-25 is manufactured by assembling hot-dip zinc-10% aluminum alloy plated iron wires with a wire diameter of 6 mm or less in a criss-cross pattern and welding them at their intersections, and is an approximately flat rectangular body overall, with the back, front, left side, and right side cage members 22-25 all having the same height when standing.

[0026] The bottom cage member 21 is provided with hooks 21a formed by bending the ends of the vertical and horizontal iron wires. The rear cage member 22 is provided with hooks 22a formed by bending the ends of the iron wires arranged horizontally when erected, except for the top and bottom two. Similarly, the front cage member 23 is provided with hooks 23a formed by bending the ends of the iron wires arranged horizontally when erected, except for the top and bottom two. The left side cage member 24 and the right side cage member 25 are formed by assembling iron wires in a crisscross pattern inside a rectangular outer frame. In addition to these, the components used include width-direction stopper members 31, 31, ... that are hung between the left and right side cage members 24, 25, and front-rear width-direction stopper members 32, 32 that are hung between the front and rear cage members 22, 23. Each width-direction stopper member 31, 32 is provided with hooks 31a, 32a at both ends for hanging from above. Each of the width stopping members 31, 32 is also manufactured by bending a hot-dip zinc-10% aluminum alloy plated iron wire having a wire diameter of 6 mm or less.

[0027] For assembly, as shown in Fig. 2(B), the bottom cage member 21 is placed, and the horizontal bar at the lower end of the rear cage member 22 is hooked onto the hook 21a on its rear side to stand it up. Next, as shown in Fig. 3(A), the horizontal bar at the lower end of the front cage member 23 is hooked onto the hook 21a on the front side of the bottom cage member 21 to stand it up. Next, as shown in Fig. 3(B), the frame at the lower end of the left cage member 24 is hooked onto the left hook 21a of the bottom cage member 21 to stand it up, while the vertical frame of the left cage member 24 is hooked onto the left hooks 22a, 23a of the rear cage member 22 and the front cage member 23. 3(C), the lower frame of the right side cage member 25 is hooked onto the right hook 21a of the bottom cage member 21 to stand it up, while the vertical frame of the right side cage member 25 is hooked onto the right hooks 22a, 23a of the back cage member 22 and the front cage member 23. In this way, the metal cage 20 is assembled.

[0028] Width stoppers 31, 32 are attached to the appropriate positions of the metal cage 20 thus assembled, as shown in Fig. 4. Next, as shown in Fig. 5, the bottomed bag 10 is stored inside the assembled metal cage 20, and the upper edge is fixed with a fastener 15. The bottomed bag 10 is made by sewing a weather-resistant sheet material woven with black dyed polyester thread. This sheet material is a sheet made from fabric for large sandbags, which was developed based on the guidelines for installing "weather-resistant large sandbags" in disaster recovery projects, etc., and has excellent weather resistance, and is also used as a shading sheet, sunshade sheet, civil engineering sheet, leakage prevention sheet, etc. In this way, the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment is completed.

[0029] The plant growing device 1 of this embodiment can be transported to an installation site in a compact package with the bottomed bag 10, stopper 15, cage members 21 to 25, and width stopping members 31 and 32 separated. When removing the device, the plants and soil are removed, the bottomed bag 10 is taken out by removing the stopper 15, the width stopping members 31 and 32 are removed, and each metal cage is separated, allowing the device to be transported in a compact package. EXAMPLES

[0030] As shown in Fig. 6(C), the plant cultivation device 2 of the second embodiment is composed of a bottomed bag 110 for storing soil, and a metal cage 120 surrounding the bottomed bag 110. The bottomed bag 110 is fixed to the metal cage 120 via fasteners 115. As shown in the figure, the back and sides of the metal cage 120 of the plant cultivation device 2 extend upward beyond the bottomed bag 110, making it suitable for planting climbing plants.

[0031] 6(A) and (B), the metal cage 120 is constructed by assembling a bottom cage member 121, a back cage member 122, a front cage member 123, a left cage member 124, a right cage member 125, and a top cage member 126. As in the first embodiment, each of the cage members 121 to 126 is manufactured by assembling hot-dip zinc-10% aluminum alloy-plated iron wires having a wire diameter of 6 mm or less in a criss-cross pattern and welding them at their intersections, and is generally a substantially flat rectangular body. The back, left and right cage members 122, 124, 125 have the same height when standing and are higher than the front cage member 122, and the top cage member 126 is assembled by replacing the bottom cage member 121 with the same one, but upside down.

[0032] The bottom cage member 121 has hooks 121a formed by bending the ends of vertical and horizontal iron wires. The back cage member 122 has hooks 122a formed by bending the ends of horizontally arranged iron wires. Similarly, the front cage member 123 has hooks 123a formed by bending the ends of horizontally arranged iron wires. The left cage member 124 and the right cage member 125 are made by arranging iron wires in a crisscross pattern inside a rectangular outer frame. The top cage member 126 has hooks 126a formed by bending the ends of vertical and horizontal iron wires.

[0033] The assembly method is the same as in Example 1, and the top cage member 126 is attached last. Width stop members 131, 132 are attached to appropriate locations of the metal cage 120 thus assembled by hooking hooks 131a, 132a, and the bottomed bag body 110 is stored and fixed at the upper edge via a fastener 115. As in Example 1, the bottomed bag body 110 is made by sewing a weather-resistant sheet material woven with black dyed polyester thread. The fastener 115 may be attached to the upper edge of the bottomed bag body 110 and fixed to the metal cage using a width stopper plastic, sewing string, or the like.

[0034] The plant growing device 2 of this embodiment can be transported to an installation site in a compact packaged state with the bottomed bag 110, the stopper 115, the cage members 121 to 126, and the width stopping members 131 and 132 separated. When removing the device, the plants and soil are removed, the bottomed bag 110 is taken out, the width stopping members 131 and 132 are detached, and each metal cage is separated, allowing the device to be transported in a compact packaged state. EXAMPLES

[0035] As shown in Fig. 7(C), the plant cultivating device 3 of Example 3 is composed of a bottomed bag 210 for storing soil, and a metal cage 220 surrounding the bottomed bag 210. The bottomed bag 210 is fixed to the metal cage 220 via fasteners 215. As shown in the figure, the back and sides of the metal cage 120 of the plant cultivating device 3 extend upward beyond the bottomed bag 110, making it suitable for planting climbing plants.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 7(A) and (B), the metal cage 220 is constructed by assembling a bottom cage member 221, a back cage member 222, a front cage member 223, and a top cage member 226. As in the first and second embodiments, each of the cage members 221 to 223, 226 is manufactured by assembling hot-dip zinc-10% aluminum alloy-plated iron wires having a wire diameter of 6 mm or less in a grid shape and welding them at the intersections. The bottom cage member 221 is generally configured in a substantially flat semicircular shape, and the back cage member 222 is in a semicylindrical shape that is assembled in an upright state relative to the arc portion of the bottom cage member 221. The front cage member 223 is rectangular that is assembled in an upright state relative to the straight portion of the bottom cage member 221, and is configured to be lower in height than the back cage member 223.

[0037] The bottom cage member 221 has hooks 221a formed by bending the ends of vertical and horizontal iron wires. The front cage member 223 has hooks 223a formed by bending the ends of horizontally arranged iron wires. The top cage member 226 has hooks 226a formed by bending the ends of vertical and horizontal iron wires.

[0038] The assembly method is the same as in the first and second embodiments, and the top cage member 226 is attached last. The width stopper members 231, 232 are attached to the appropriate positions of the metal cage 220 thus assembled by hooking the hooks 231a, 232a, and the bottomed bag body 210 is stored and fixed at the upper edge via the stopper 215. As in the first and second embodiments, the bottomed bag body 210 is made by sewing a weather-resistant sheet material woven with black dyed polyester thread. The stopper 215 may be attached to the upper edge of the bottomed bag body 210 and fixed to the metal cage using a width stopper plastic or sewing string.

[0039] The plant growing device 3 of this embodiment can be transported to an installation site in a compact packaged form with the bottomed bag 210, the stopper 215, the cage members 221-223, 226, and the width stopping members 231, 232 separated. When removing the device, the plants and soil are removed, the bottomed bag 210 is taken out, the width stopping members 131, 132 are detached, and each metal cage is separated, allowing the device to be transported in a compact packaged form. EXAMPLES

[0040] As shown in FIG. 8(C), the plant cultivation device 4 of Example 4 is an open-top rectangular parallelepiped like the plant cultivation device 1 of Example 1, but its left-right width is twice as large. As in Examples 1 to 3, the metal cage 320 is made by assembling cage members manufactured by assembling molten zinc-10% aluminum alloy plated iron wire with a wire diameter of 6 mm or less in a criss-cross pattern and welding the intersections. The bottomed bag body 310 is made by sewing a weather-resistant sheet material woven with black dyed polyester yarn.

[0041] For this reason, as shown in Fig. 8(A), the metal cage 320 uses bottom cage members 321L, 321R, rear cage members 322L, 322R, and front cage members 323L, 323R that can be connected to the left and right for the bottom, back, and front. In this embodiment, there is no need to provide hooks in the areas surrounded by the two-dot chain lines.

[0042] When assembling, first, the left end of the right side bottom cage member 321R is hooked onto the right hook of the left side bottom cage member 321L to connect them. Next, the lower parts of the right side back cage member 322R, front cage member 323R and right side cage member 325 are hooked onto the hook of the right side bottom cage member 321R to raise them up, and the right hooks of the right side back cage member 322R and front cage member 323R are hooked onto the front and rear vertical frames of the right side cage member 325. In this way, the right half of the cage is assembled.

[0043] Next, the lower parts of the left rear cage member 322L and front cage member 323L are hooked onto the hooks of the left bottom cage member 321L to raise them up, and their right hooks are hooked onto the vertical frames of the right rear cage member 322R and front cage member 323R. Then, the lower part of the left side cage member 324 is hooked onto the left hook of the left bottom cage member 321L to raise it up, and the left hooks of the left rear cage member 322L and front cage member 323L are hooked onto the front and rear vertical frames of the left side cage member. In this way, the left half of the cage is also assembled.

[0044] Thereafter, the width-retaining members 331 and 332 are hooked in the same manner as in the first embodiment to complete the left-right long cage 320 , after which the left-right long bag body 310 is housed therein and fixed with the fasteners 315 .

[0045] In this embodiment, the bottom, back and front cage members in the left and right connected state also have hooks on both the left and right ends. It is also possible to configure a cage that is even longer in the left and right direction by positioning a cage member without left and right hooks in the center and connecting cage members having hooks on the left and right ends to the left and right of it, so that the bottom, back and front cage members after connection have hooks on both the left and right ends.

[0046] This embodiment is also effective in providing a plant cultivation device which can be easily stored, transported, installed and removed in a compact package and can be made large.

[0047] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be embodied in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0048] The present invention can be used as a device for growing plants. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1,2,3,4...Plant growing device, 10,110,210,310...Bottomed bag body, 15,115,215,315...Fastener, 20,120,220,320...Metal cage, 21,121,221,321L,321R...Bottom cage member, 22,122,222,322L,322R...Rear cage member, 23,123,223,323L,323R...Positive cage member for left side, 24, 124, 324···cage member for left side, 25, 125, 325···cage member for right side, 21a, 22a, 23a, 31a, 32a, 121a, 122a, 123a, 126a, 131a, 132a, 221a, 223a, 226a, 231a, 232a···hook, 31, 32, 131, 132, 231, 232, 331, 332···width stopping member.

Claims

1. 1. A plant growing device for growing plants by storing a culture medium in a bottomed bag, comprising the following components: (1A) Fixing the upper edge of the bottomed bag to a metal cage that is installed so as to surround the bottomed bag. (1B) The metal cage is composed of a bottom cage member and a wall cage member that is installed in an upright position surrounding the bottom cage member, and each cage member has vertical and horizontal members arranged in a crisscross pattern. (1C) The vertical and horizontal members of the bottom cage member each have a hook at each end onto which the lower portion of the wall cage member can be hooked. (1D) The wall cage member is composed of at least two or more members installed adjacent to each other, and the wall cage members are configured to be assembled by hooking a hook formed on a horizontal member of one of the adjacent cage members onto a vertical frame of the other. (1E) The facing cage members in the wall cage member are fastened in width by a width fastening member having hooks on both ends.

2. 2. The plant growing device according to claim 1, further comprising the following configuration: (2) The bottom cage member is configured as an approximately flat rectangular body overall, and the wall cage member is composed of a back cage member, a front cage member, a left side cage member and a right side cage member, each of which is an approximately flat rectangular body overall, and the horizontal members of a pair of facing wall cage members are provided with hooks at both ends by which the vertical frames of the adjacent wall cage members can be hooked.

3. 3. The plant growing device according to claim 2, further comprising the following configuration. (3) The rear cage member, front cage member, left side cage member and right side cage member are configured to be at the same height when upright, and the hooks are provided on both ends of the cross members of the front cage member and rear cage member.

4. 4. The plant growing device according to claim 3, further comprising the following configuration: (4) The cage members disposed between the left side cage member and the right side cage member each connect a plurality of cage members in the left-right direction, and are provided with hooks at both the left and right ends of the cage member as a whole after connection to be hooked onto the left side cage member and the right side cage member.

5. 3. The plant growing device according to claim 2, further comprising the following configuration. (5) The rear cage member, left side cage member and right side cage member are taller than the front cage member when upright, are the same height as each other, and are connected at the top by hooking them onto a hook of a top cage member similar to the bottom cage member.

6. 2. The plant growing device according to claim 1, further comprising the following configuration: (6A) The bottom cage member is configured as a substantially flat semicircular shape overall, and the wall cage member is composed of a semi-cylindrical back cage member which is assembled in an upright state relative to the arc portion of the bottom cage member, and a rectangular front cage member which is assembled in an upright state relative to the straight portion of the bottom cage member, and the hooks are provided on both ends of the horizontal members of the front cage member, and the rear cage member is assembled in an upright state by hooking the vertical frames at both ends of the rear cage member. (6B) The rear cage member is taller than the front cage member when erected, and a top cage member similar to the bottom cage member is fixed to its upper portion.

7. The plant growing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the following configuration: (7) The metal cage is made of molten zinc-10% aluminum alloy plated iron wire, and the bottomed bag body is made of a weather-resistant sheet material woven with black dyed polyester yarn.

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