Planter Riser Reservoir for Water Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional planters require large volumes of water to maintain soil moisture, leading to water wastage as it drains to the bottom, necessitating more soil and water than necessary.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a riser within the planter that forms a space between the riser and lateral walls, creating a reservoir to store water and support smaller planters or plants, reducing the internal volume and allowing water to be stored closer to the roots, thus minimizing water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If water is applied to the soil in a conventional planter, then the soil moisture is maintained, but water drains to the bottom and is wasted, requiring larger volumes of water
Solution Approach 1:
The planter is segmented into distinct functional zones: an elevated riser section for plant placement and a lower reservoir section for water storage. This segmentation prevents water from draining past the root zone by creating a physical barrier at the riser base, thereby eliminating water waste and improving efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to water management by elevating the plant container on a riser structure. This vertical arrangement creates an upper planting zone and a lower water reservoir zone, allowing water to be positioned closer to the roots in a three-dimensional space rather than spreading horizontally at the bottom
2Loss of energy
If a riser is added to create water storage space, then water efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The riser structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it elevates the plant container above the soil line for visibility and access, creates the water reservoir space in its lower portion, and provides structural support for the planting container. This merging of functions reduces overall device complexity while achieving water efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The elevated riser section serves as a multi-functional element that combines plant support, water reservoir creation, and structural framing. This universal component addresses multiple planter requirements (planting, watering, visibility) with a single structural solution, minimizing added complexity
3Loss of energy
If the internal volume of the planter is reduced by adding a riser, then water storage closer to roots is enabled, but the volume for soil is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The planter employs local quality by concentrating water storage capacity in the lower reservoir zone while maintaining adequate soil volume in the upper planting zone. The riser structure creates localized water storage where it is most needed (at the root zone) without significantly reducing the overall soil volume available for plant growth
Data Source
AI summary
A planter includes an interior surface and a riser extending from a bottom of the interior surface and including a space between the riser and lateral walls of the planter. The riser includes an open-top recess formed in a top portion of the riser. A plate including a protrusion extending from a bottom side of the plate and forming an open-top reservoir on a top side of the protrusion. The protrusion is configured to be coupled with the recess to secure the plate to the riser.