"BUILDING MODULE OF A VERTICAL GARDEN, A WALL OR A FENCE"

[0001] The present invention pertains to the civil building sector, and in particular to the sector of components for building vertical gardens. The present invention, moreover, may be used as an element for making fences or a partition wall, for interiors or for exteriors.

[0002] Recently, the sector of components for building vertical gardens has shown considerable development.

[0003] Such gardens, usually built close to the facade of a building, perform both an aesthetic function, as the view of plants and shrubs is particularly pleasant, and a heat-regulating function, as they allow the facade behind, and thus the corresponding building environment, to be kept cooler.

[0004] However, the currently known solutions have some drawbacks .

[0005] For example, the known solutions must be assembled on site, often with considerable difficulty, and do not allow for easy replacement of any plants that have dried out, with significant degradation of the aesthetic effect .

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a vertical garden (or a fence or a dividing wall) which overcomes the drawbacks referred to with reference to the prior art.

[0007] Such object is achieved with a building module for building a vertical garden according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe further embodiments of the invention.

[0008] The features and advantages of the building module according to the present invention will be apparent from the description given below, provided by way of non- limiting example, in accordance with the appended figures, wherein:

- figure 1 shows a vertical garden comprising a building module according to the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment;

figure 2 shows a building module according to an embodiment of the present invention, according to a front view;

- figure 3 illustrates the building module of figure 2, according to a rear view;

figure 4 shows the building module of figure 3, partially in section;

- figure 5 shows a sectional plan view of the building module according to the present invention; and

- figure 6 illustrates a sectional view of an extruded element of a box-like body of the building module, according to a preferred embodiment. [0009] With reference to the enclosed figures, a vertical garden system applied to a facade of a building is indicated collectively at 1.

[0010] The system 1 comprises a support frame (not shown) applied to the facade, for example consisting of a pair of vertical columns, and at least one building module applied to the frame.

[0011] For example, according to the illustrated embodiment, the system 1 comprises two superposed modules 2, 4.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the module 2 comprises a quadrangular box-shaped body 6 consisting of a plurality of elements 8, preferably made by extrusion.

[0013] For example, the elements 8 are all identical to each other and four in number, connected to each other at their respective ends so as to form the quadrangular box ^¬ like body.

[0014] In particular, the box-like body 6 is composed of an upper element 8a, a lower element 8b, a right element 8c, and a left element 8d.

[0015] Preferably, said elements 8, and in particular the right element 8c and the left element 8d, comprise at least one coupling region 10, for example three regions spaced out along the element for coupling the module to the support frame. [0016] According to a preferred embodiment (figure 6), each element 6 has a section wherein may be recognized a main wall 9a facing the outside of the box-like body 6, a dividing partition 9b projecting internally from the main wall 9a, and an auxiliary chamber 9c, appropriately delimited. Furthermore, an auxiliary compartment 9d is defined between the dividing partition 9b and one of the walls of the auxiliary chamber 9c.

[0017] The box-like body 6 peripherally delimits the module 2, 4, while inside is housed a plurality of inclined bands 14, arranged superposed vertically, the outer surface of which forms the outer face of the box-like body .

[0018] Each band 14 extends along its own band axis X, arranged transversely between the vertical right element 8c and the vertical left element 8d.

[0019] Frontally, along said band axis X, each band 14 provides an undulated pattern which has a succession of arched portions 16 and flat portions 18.

[0020] Each arched section 16 therefore forms an opening 20 for the arrangement of one or more plants.

[0021] Preferably, the bands 14 are superposed vertically so that an arched portion 16 below corresponds to a flat portion 18 above.

[0022] Preferably, moreover, the bands 14 are joined together and made by bending a single sheet, so as to form a single front panel.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, moreover, the building module 2, 4 includes irrigation means suitable to be connected to the water network and to distribute water transversely, preferably at different heights.

[0024] For example, said irrigation means of the building module 2 comprise an inlet junction 30, projecting outwardly from the box-shaped body 6, for example from the lower element 8b, to connect to the water supply or irrigation means of a further upstream building module.

[0025] Furthermore, the irrigation means comprise at least one main duct 32 which extends vertically into the box- shaped body 6, connected upstream with the inlet junction 30 and downstream with an outlet junction 34 arranged outside the box-shaped body 6, for example on the upper element 8a.

[0026] For example, the main duct 32 is housed in the auxiliary compartment 9d of the right element 8c or the left element 8d.

[0027] The outlet junction 34 is intended to connect with irrigation means of a further downstream building module or simply plugged.

[0028] Furthermore, the irrigation means comprise at least one secondary duct 36 which extends transversely, for example horizontally, starting from the main duct 32 and plugged at the opposite end.

[0029] For example, three secondary ducts 36 placed at different heights are provided.

[0030] Said secondary ducts 36 are, for example, provided with a uniformly distributed porosity or provided with a plurality of separate openings for the water to exit.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the main duct 32 and the secondary ducts 36 are composed of self- compensating tubes, i.e. suitably flexible tubes and provided with a distributed porosity which allows the dripping of the irrigation water to reach a predefined internal pressure, for example of 2.2 bar. Advantageously, this makes it possible to irrigate all the soil uniformly.

[0032] Preferably, the building module 2, 4 further comprises bulk soil, placed at the rear of the front panel, so as to fill the module and also cover the secondary ducts 36 of the irrigation means.

[0033] Preferably, said soil consists of a predefined quantity (for example, 50%) of organic material and a predefined quantity of (for example, 50%) inert material. Advantageously, this allows a light, non-compacted soil.

[0034] Furthermore, preferably, the building module 2, 4 comprises a breathable soil retention sheet (not shown) , placed over the soil, between the soil and the anterior front panel. Preferably, said sheet is made of a non- woven fabric material.

[0035] Finally, the building module 2, 4 comprises a closure panel 40, placed above the retaining sheet and fixed to the box-shaped body 6.

[0036] The building module 2, 4 thus forms an independent module, already provided with or without soil, which may be prepared and shipped immediately or, if necessary, may be stored in stock and shipped when required.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, moreover, the building module 2, 4 comprises drainage means suitable to collect the water that has irrigated the soil and to channel it towards a drainage network.

[0038] Preferably, said drainage means are integrated with the box-like body.

[0039] For example, the drainage means comprise the auxiliary chamber 9c of the lower element 8b, provided with passage openings made toward the inside.

[0040] The water that has been distributed by the irrigation means collects on the bottom of the box-shaped body 6 at the lower element 8b, penetrates into the auxiliary chamber 9c through said passage openings, and is drained through said auxiliary chamber into a drainage network, for example, through the vertical columns of the support frame.

[0041] According to a different application, the building module according to the present invention may be used to make a wall for interiors or exteriors, or a fence, possibly provided with a second front panel, so as to enable plants to be arranged both anteriorly and posteriorly .

[0042] According to one embodiment, moreover, the module is painted, at least externally, with a reflective paint (defined as "anti-heating") which allows sunlight to be reflected to limit the internal heating of the module.

[0043] According to a still further embodiment, the building module comprises a humidity sensor suitable to detect soil moisture and to generate a relative humidity signal, and transmission means to remotely transmit the humidity signal. Said modules may thus constitute a vertical garden system provided with management means suitable to receive the humidity signals, process them and transmit irrigation signals to said irrigation means to manage the irrigation according to a management program.

[0044] Innovatively, the building module according to the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art .

[0045] In effect, the module is already pre-assembled and, provided with or without soil; it may be shipped immediately after preparation or stored in stock and shipped as needed.

[0046] In other words, advantageously, the building module is pre-assembled to constitute an independent and transportable module.

[0047] Advantageously, moreover, it is not necessary to make an ad hoc irrigation system; it is in effect sufficient to connect the irrigation means to the water network.

[0048] According to a further advantageous aspect, the module according to the present invention is capable of retaining humidity, so as to perform the heat-regulating function very well.

[0049] According to an even more advantageous aspect, replacing the plants is very simple and quick, thus avoiding the aesthetic degradation of the garden.

[0050] Advantageously, moreover, each module is independent of the others, so that, even during the life cycle of the shrubbery contained therein, a module may be disassembled, for example from a wall or a facade, and placed in another position or with a different use.

[0051] Moreover, according to a further advantageous aspect, at the end of the life cycle of the shrubbery, the entire structure of which the module is a part may be disassembled, the soil and the shrubbery replaced, and the structure reassembled, reusing the same module, without further costs due to the structure itself.

[0052] According to a still further advantageous aspect, the structures made with the modules according to the invention have very low maintenance costs, yet are still able to maintain particularly luxuriant shrubbery. It is in effect possible to implement fertigation, i.e. fertilization of the soil with liquid fertilizers dissolved in the irrigation water. Fertigation has the advantage of distributing the fertilizer evenly in the soil, facilitating its absorption by the roots.

[0053] It is clear that one skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, may make changes to the garden system described above, all contained within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.