Wall Planter Box Spacing for Drainage and Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall planting systems lack an efficient method to secure planters to vertical surfaces while allowing for effective water drainage and aesthetic enhancement, and they often require skilled installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular wall-mounted agricultural system with a mounting structure and planter boxes that create a space between the rear wall and the vertical surface, featuring an upwardly opening aperture for water drainage and a durable, easy-to-install design using H-shaped mounting members and vertical frame members with integrated water distribution and drainage troughs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If planters are mounted directly to the wall surface, then installation is simple, but water drainage is ineffective and aesthetic appeal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The planter box is mounted to create a spatial relationship where the rear wall is spaced from the wall surface, forming a three-dimensional drainage space rather than direct contact. This dimensional change enables water to drain into the space between the rear wall and wall surface through the aperture, solving the drainage effectiveness problem while maintaining installation simplicity through the mounting structure.
2Ease of operation
If planters are mounted directly to the wall surface, then installation is simple, but aesthetic appeal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By spacing the rear wall from the wall surface to create a three-dimensional mounting space, the system achieves an aesthetically pleasing configuration that allows the planter to be properly mounted while maintaining installation simplicity through the designed mounting structure and aperture system.
3Reliability
If a space is created between the rear wall and wall surface, then water drainage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is divided into distinct components: the mounting structure itself, the planter box with integrated aperture, and the created space between rear wall and wall surface. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the mounting structure provides support, the aperture enables drainage, and the space receives and channels water away, achieving effective drainage without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture in the planter box serves multiple functions: it allows water to drain from the compartment into the space, and its positioning facilitates the creation of the drainage space between the rear wall and wall surface. The mounting structure similarly provides both support and the means to create the necessary spatial relationship, reducing the need for additional separate components.
4Reliability
If the rear wall is spaced from the wall surface, then water drainage is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the mounting function from the planter box, using a separate mounting structure that simplifies the installation process. The mounting structure is designed to easily create the necessary space between the rear wall and wall surface, while the planter box with its integrated aperture requires minimal additional assembly, achieving effective drainage without excessive installation complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system securely attaches planters to vertical surfaces, enhances aesthetic appeal, improves thermal efficiency, and allows for efficient water distribution and drainage, making it durable, easy to install, and suitable for various environments.
Implementation Method 1
the aperture in fluid communication with the space is configured to allow water to receive through the upwardly opening aperture to drain from the planter box into the space
Data Source
AI summary
A wall mounted agricultural system includes a mounting structure including first and a second ends and supported from a substantially vertically extending wall surface, and at least one planter box that includes a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom wall that cooperate to form a compartment and an upwardly opening aperture, wherein at least one of the sidewalls comprises a rear wall facing the wall surface, the at least one planter box is configured to mount to the mounting structure such that the rear wall is spaced from the wall surface to create a space therebetween, and wherein the at least one planter box includes an aperture in fluid communication with the compartment and the space positioned between the rear wall and the wall surface, and wherein the aperture in fluid communication with the space is configured to allow water received through the upwardly opening aperture to drain into the space.