RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2009904149 in the name of Aranooc Pty Ltd, which was filed on 31 August 2009 and, entitled "Liquid Reservoir Equalisation and Connection System" and the specification thereof is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of connectable structures for use in residential properties, industrial properties, municipal parks, gardens or indoor/outdoor spaces.

In one form, the invention relates to a connector system for use in the connection of liquid reservoirs, which may include tanks and, is particularly suited for use in equalising connected reservoirs and/or the liquid stored in such reservoirs.

While the present invention will be described with reference to a rain water tank for use at a residential property, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not so limited and relates more generally to liquid storage reservoirs used in a wide range of applications. In particular the present invention may be used for non-residential purposes, such as in industry or farming.

BACKGROUND ART

It is to be appreciated that any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the present invention. Further, the discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventor and/or the identification of certain related art problems by the inventor. Moreover, any discussion of material such as documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention in terms of the inventor's knowledge and experience and, accordingly, any such discussion should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein. Rain water storage tanks are becoming increasingly common in residential areas as citizens become aware of the ecological and economic advantages of collecting rain water. Capture of rain water has become particularly important due to climate change, and increased pressure on water catchment areas caused by population increase.

Traditional water storage tanks are very -large and unsightly and many consumers have struggled to locate them within their property due to limited space, or a lack of space of suitable dimensions. A further limitation on positioning of rain water storage tanks is that they usually need to be installed close to a house or other building in order to efficiently collect rain water runoff from a roof. This problem is not limited to domestic properties. Space can be at a premium at many other types of properties such as shopping centres and council offices

The aesthetics and dimensions of rain water tanks have been improved in recent times enabling them to be placed along the side of a house with minimal unsightly intrusion into the garden. In order to facilitate this, there have been numerous attempts to disguise rain water tanks or incorporate them into a structure that has an alternative function. For example,

• United States patent 6,553,723 B1 (Alcorn) describes a rain water tank which functions as the outer wall of a building;

• United States patent application 2006/0150531 A1 (Cann) describes a water tank within a cavity of an external building wall; and

• Australian patent application 2008202262' (Aranooc Pty Ltd) describes a system incorporating a liquid storage tank that is adapted to emulate a raised garden bed or other structure.

Nonetheless, in order to fit into the space available the capacity of individual tanks often have to be quite limited. In order to attain a sufficient storage capacity to service a site, including for example a commercial/industrial building, a private residence or its gardens in each case, a number of interconnected tanks may be required that allow free flow of fluid between tanks. Free flow of fluid between tanks may also be required for compliance with health and safety requirements. This may be a particularly pertinent requirement for instance with water retention systems in high density housing areas where infrastructure cannot cope with stresses associated with increased dwellings.

However there are considerable difficulties associated with interconnecting two or more liquid reservoirs as such, which for example, may be in the form of abutting tanks in rows or with adjacent tanks at right angles. One difficulty is that for large and heavy tanks it may be very difficult to work in between to form a fluid tight seal as there is often no workable space in between the tanks or along the sides of the tanks for doing so. In particular,, difficulties may be caused by independent movement of each tank relative to an adjacent tank. This includes independent movement caused by local environment changes such as variation of climatic conditions, temperature changes, variations in sub-soil or movement of footings or other adjacent independent supporting structures for respective tanks or reservoirs. Independent movement can also occur as a result of deliberate relocation of tanks or due to maintenance activity."

Independent movement of tanks places stress on the connection between tanks, potentially breaching any fluid tight seal and allowing leakage.

By way of example, one existing method of connecting tanks includes using a pipe of any convenient material to connect pre-cast ports of adjacent tanks and placing a washer and nut (or similar) at each end of the pipe to tighten the pipe in the port. However, this method of connection can start to fail as the tank and pipe expand and contract over time causing the fasteners to strip or damage the tank.

Another existing method of connecting tanks includes using a fitting such as a threaded metal screw that is fixed cast into the tank to define the port. A pipe with a corresponding thread at each end cap then be screwed into the port. However, it is extremely difficult to line up the thread in each of the ports with a threaded pipe. The lack of flexibility in this arrangement can cause damage to the tank during fitting, or stripping of the thread in the port. Furthermore, independent movement of a tank places stress on fixed cast fittings and may damage, stretch or crack the side wall of the tanks.

Sealant can also be applied in an attempt to achieve a watertight seal between a pipe and port in a tank. However, over time the expansion and contraction of the pipe and port and independent movement of a tank and the resultant mechanical stress causes deterioration of the seal. Furthermore, the successful application of sealant relies heavily on the skill of the installer, and the proper choice of sealant. For example, sealant may not seal properly if the material is wet or in the presence of aggregate or 'blow holes' or aggregate holes at the port of a pre-cast concrete tank. Furthermore, many sealants are not suitable for total submersion in water, some dry hard and are prone to cracking under stress, and some become porous over extended periods of time. Repairing a leak due to sealant failure is a time consuming and expensive process.

As an alternative to using sealant for connection of pipe between adjacent tanks, some tanks are provided with an integral, connector that is typically cast into the tank when it is fabricated. For example, connectors sold under the name CAST-A-SEAL™ are made of rubber and cast into concrete tanks. On-site, the connector is simply tightened around a pipe using a stainless steel take-up clamp. This is of course impractical when the tanks to be joined are abutted to each other. Such a device is reliant on the installer to ensure an external band is tightened correctly or not damaged in any way. However if the connector is not fitted correctly or damaged due to independent movement of a tank or the pipe or corrosive properties effecting the tightening band, it is difficult to repair and it may be necessary to go through the expensive process of replacing the entire tank.

In another example, some tanks have an integral polymeric connector known as a 'press seal'. However the entire tank becomes unusable if the O-ring included in the device is abraded or otherwise damaged by careless installation or independent movement of adjacent tanks.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate the drawbacks associated with the above noted related art systems.

In a first aspect of embodiments there is provided a connection system for accommodating the flow of liquid between a liquid reservoir and its exterior, the system comprising:

at least-one port located in the liquid reservoir for providing a connection between the interior and exterior of the reservoir;

a conduit for enabling the passage of liquid via the at least one port; a sealing means operatively connected to the at least one port for providing a liquid tight seal to an exterior surface of the conduit so that liquid flow is restricted to an internal passage of the conduit;

wherein, in combination, the at least one port and the sealing means form an arrangement for accommodating pivotal movement of the conduit with respect thereto and restricting contact between the conduit and the liquid reservoir.

The sealing means is preferably adapted for engagement with an internal wall of the liquid reservoir forming the at least one port. Furthermore, the arrangement for accommodating pivotal movement of the conduit may comprise one or a combination of:

the at least one port comprising a recessed formation in cross section; a barrier between the conduit and the liquid reservoir comprising a flange of resilient material extending along a surface of the at least one port.

In a preferred embodiment, the recessed formation comprises a taper. In other preferred embodiments the flange that forms a barrier between the conduit and the liquid reservoir is integral with the sealing means. Alternatively, the flange may be integral with a moulding separate to the sealing means where the moulding is adapted to engage with an internal wall of the liquid reservoir forming the at least one port. In these embodiments, the moulding may be adapted for accommodating the sealing means, for example, an O-ring, either in a fixed or removable fashion.

With the above arrangement, the conduit is limited to having contact with the sealing means or, in the case of the barrier comprising a flange of resilient material being in place, contact is limited to the sealing means and the barrier. In this respect, there is no contact between the structure of the liquid reservoir itself and the conduit, which can be the cause of mechanical stress and damage, particularly during relative movement between the reservoir and the conduit.

In other embodiments the operative connection of the sealing means to the at least one port comprises one of:

fixed engagement of the sealing means to the at least one port, or;

releasable engagement of the sealing means with the at least one port.

It is also preferable that the sealing means is adapted to retain the liquid tight seal under longitudinal movement of the conduit with respect thereto. Preferably, the sealing means comprises an O-ring.

In another aspect of embodiments there is provided a method of equalising at least two adjacent liquid reservoirs that are movable with respect to each other, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a connection between the interior of the reservoirs;

enabling the passage of liquid between the interior of the reservoirs via a conduit located within at least one port of each respective reservoir;

providing a liquid tight seal to an exterior surface of the conduit so that liquid flow is restricted to an internal passage of the conduit '

forming an arrangement with the at least one port and the sealing means, in combination, for accommodating pivotal movement of the conduit with respect thereto and restricting contact between the conduit and the liquid reservoir.

In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a system for the flow of liquid between a liquid reservoir and another structure, the system comprising:

one or more resilient seals seated at the periphery of a port in the liquid reservoir, and

a conduit which is adapted to be encircled and sealingly engaged by the one or more seals and can move relative to the port., wherein the one or more seals are independently separable from the port and the conduit.

The liquid reservoir may be any structure adapted to retain a body of fluid and includes a tank, trough or pit. Water for storage in the reservoir may be from any convenient source including mains water, rainwater runoff, a reticulated water supply or combinations thereof.

The seal may be of any convenient conformation or material. In a preferred embodiment the port is circular in cross-section and the seal is a neoprene O-ring

The ports may be located at any convenient position on the liquid reservoir and other structure, the ports being configured so that the conduit can be maintained at any convenient angle.

The other structure may comprise a further liquid reservoir or another structure that receives liquid via the conduit. Typically the other structure is co- dependent, that is, firstly it utilises liquid from the reservoir, and secondly it contributes to the transformation of the appearance of the liquid reservoir.

For example the other structure may comprise at least one platform or container adapted to function as a garden bed when it is connected to the liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir may form part of another structure, for example a wall (such as a walled garden or retaining wall), a garden bed (such as a single- level, multi-level or terraced garden bed), water feature (such as a swimming pool, fish pond or spa), or outdoor furniture (such as a garden seat or day bed). This provides the advantage that the liquid reservoir can take a more aesthetic form that makes it pleasant to view and may also have the advantage of providing a secondary function or purpose. This increases the number of options for its location.

In still another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a system for sustaining plants, the system comprising:

- a liquid reservoir,

a subsidiary apparatus comprising a garden bed and adapted to receive liquid from the reservoir,

a fluid connector intermediate the liquid reservoir and the subsidiary apparatus, the connector comprising:

- one or more resilient seals seated at the periphery of a port in the liquid reservoir, and

a conduit which is adapted to be encircled and sealingly engaged by the one or more seals and can move relative to the port, the one or more seals being independently removable from the port and the conduit, wherein the liquid reservoir, the subsidiary apparatus and the garden bed emulate an outdoor structure.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the liquid reservoir is a rain water tank combined with a subsidiary apparatus that comprises a garden bed. This is particularly useful in areas that have low rainfall because it provides a constant supply of rain water for the garden bed while the combined structure can serve an alternate function, such as a retaining wall. In stitl yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a connection system for the flow of liquid between a first liquid reservoir and a second liquid reservoir, the system comprising: ,

one or more first resilient seals seated within a first port in the first liquid reservoir,

one or more second resilient seals seated within a second port in the second liquid reservoir, and

a conduit which is adapted to be encircled and sealingly engaged by the one or more first seals and one or more second seals, wherein the one or more seals are independently removable from their respective seats with the ports and the conduit, and

wherein the conduit can move relative to the first port and the second port. This embodiment of the connection system allows the first and second liquid reservoirs to be readily relocated. For example, they can be moved around a garden as required, or to optimise their position according to the season - for example, they can be moved into a shaded position in summer and ^" a sunny position in winter. This versatility of placement is very valuable for a residential property because water storage can be maximised without having to sacrifice garden areas or other useable space.

In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a structure for liquid storage comprising a connection port for liquid flow, the port comprising:

seating means adapted to accommodate at least one resilient seal means comprising one or more seals that are independently separable from the port and adapted to sealingly engage a conduit placed within the port, and;

a recessed formation adapted to avoid contact between the conduit and the structure during movement of the conduit when it is sealingly engaged with the port.

In other preferred forms the present invention may be embodied as a kit of parts comprising:

a structure for liquid storage as described above and hereinbelow;

resilient seal means comprising one or more seals adapted to be independently removable from a port of the structure, and; at least one conduit for engaging the port of the structure.

In alternate embodiments and preferred forms the present invention may be embodied as a kit of parts comprising at least one or a combination of:

a structure as described herein;

resilient seal means comprising one or more seals adapted to be independently removable from a port of the structure as described herein;

at least one port located in a liquid reservoir for providing a connection between the interior and exterior of the reservoir;

a sealing means operatively connected to the at least one port for providing a liquid tight seal to an exterior surface .of the conduit so that liquid flow is restricted to an internal passage of a conduit located within the port;

wherein, in combination, the at least one port and the sealing means form an arrangement for accommodating pivotal movement of the conduit with respect thereto and restricting contact between the conduit and the liquid reservoir, and; at least one conduit for engaging the port of the structure or the said liquid reservoir.

In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing sealed fluid connection between structures for liquid storage, the method comprising the steps of:

forming at least one port in a liquid reservoir which is adapted for seating at least one independently removable resilient seal, the seal adapted to encircle and sealingly engage a conduit;

providing at least one recessed formation at the periphery of the port which is adapted to avoid contact between the conduit and the structures during movement of the conduit when it is sealingly engaged with the port.

Without limitation, exemplary forms of conduit suitable for the embodiments disclosed herein may be PVC piping or galvanised pipe.

Other embodiments of the present invention further provide a method of connecting a liquid reservoir and another structure using a connection system according to the present invention.

Other aspects and preferred forms are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention. In essence, embodiments of the present invention stem from the realization that restricting contact between a conduit passing through a port of a liquid reservoir and the structure of the reservoir itself will not only prevent disintegration of the conduit that may result in leakage but will also allow for and provide for a greater range of relative movement between reservoirs during installation, maintenance and in situ.

Furthermore, seating seal means within the periphery of a port of a liquid reservoir allows for independent movement (including relocation as well as inadvertent relative movement) of adjacent connectable reservoirs, tanks or other such structures without ^{^} substantial risk of breaching of the fluid seal therebetween.

Overall, the present invention offers a number of advantages including the following:

• the liquid reservoirs may expand or contract or move independently without being damaged or leaking,

• the ability to tolerate independent movement means that liquid reservoirs can be relocated,

• the system can readily be installed and maintained by a home handyman or unskilled labourer,

• installation does not require the use of sealant or complicated fittings,

• the system and its components can be readily maintained in situ, aided by simple removal and replacement of the seal or conduit,

• the system can provide a ready supply of water in combination with a secondary function such as instant privacy with pleasant aesthetics, • the system contributes to space saving in areas where space is at a premium,

• the system contributes to efficient collection and use of water in areas where water is at a premium.

Further scope of applicability of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. Various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which:

Figure 1 is cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a connector according to the invention;

Figure 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a port of a liquid reservoir in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2B is another enlarged cross-sectional view of a port of a liquid reservoir in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 3 is a perspective view showing how three cuboid tanks may be placed side by side and plumbed together to create the appearance of a stepped garden bed;

Figure 4 is a top view of the reservoirs of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan side view of the reservoirs of Figure 3

Figure 6A, 6B and 6C are side, cross sectional and perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a connection system;

Figure 7A, 7B and 7C are side, cross sectional and perspective views of yet another preferred embodiment of a connection system;

Figure 8A, 8B and 8C are side, cross sectional and perspective views of still another preferred embodiment of a connection system;

Figure 9A, 9B and 9C are side, cross sectional and perspective views of yet another preferred embodiment of a connection system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to figure 1 , in use a first liquid reservoir 101 is located adjacent a second liquid reservoir 102, each reservoir having a respective first port 105 and second port 106. It is to be noted that a further reservoir may be. positioned adjacent the second reservoir and connected in a similar fashion to that described herein and this may be repeated for any number of further reservoirs connected in modular fashion. Typically the reservoirs are located In a row, or at right angles to adjacent reservoirs. A conduit 107 is in communication between the two reservoirs, either end of the conduit 107 being located through the respective ports 105 & 106. In figure 1, two first seals 109a & 109b in the form of O-rings are located in the first port 105 and encircle one end of the conduit 107. Two second seals 110a & 110b are located in the second port 106 and encircle the other end of the conduit 107. It is to be appreciated that the seal means shown in the preferred embodiment herein of figure 1 is not limited to use of O-rings as there are forms of seals that provide a similar function in sealing the conduit in accordance with the present invention. For example, a number of variations on seal formation including but not limited to channel rubber or sealing strips may be incorporated into the structure of liquid reservoirs disclosed herein. By way of further example, figures 6A to 6C show an alternate sealing means to the conventional O-ring. Furthermore, suitable variants of seals for the purposes described herein are commercially available from a number of suppliers in the market and a number of appropriate examples are depicted in product information available at http://www.ormistonrubber.com.au/general.php.

In this embodiment the walls of the first liquid reservoir 101 and second liquid reservoir 102 are each of a thickness of 100 to 150 mm or more. Hence the combined wall thickness when the reservoirs are abutting is 200 to 300 mm or more. Although the reservoirs 101 & 102 are shown in Figure 1 as defining a rectangular space; it is to be understood that this is a preferred form and that the reservoirs 101 & 102 need not be of constant horizontal cross-sectional shape and need not even be rectangular In horizontal cross section, as is described in conjunction with other figures of this specification.,

The reservoirs may be manufactured of any convenient material such as moulded polymeric material such as UV-stable frost and heat resistant polypropylene, or cast concrete. Preferably the reservoirs 101 & 102 have a storage capacity in the range of from about one thousand litres to about two thousand litres. The conduit 107 is therefore typically 200 to 300 mm or more and can be manufactured of any convenient material such as PVC.

The seals 109 & 110 are able to be independently removed from the conduit and their respective ports 105 & 106. Preferably the ports 105 & 106 are configured to include a seat for each seal 109 & 110. The seat may be formed by any convenient means, such as by forming an appropriately shaped recess during casting of the liquid reservoir. For example, when the seals 109 & 110 are O-rings the seat may be of circular, square or polygonal shape as convenient for cross sectional shape of the O-ring.

With reference to figure 2, in a further embodiment of the invention, the connector may comprise a conduit 115 having one end located through a first port 117 formed in the wall 119 of a first reservoir, and the other end located through a second port 118 formed in the wall 120 of a second reservoir. The periphery of each port 1.17 & 118 may be cast to include a seat of any convenient shape for a first seal 122 and second seal 123 respectively. The ports 117 & 118 may comprise an appropriately recessed formation such as a taper at their inner and/or outer ends in cross section as shown so that the conduit 115 can move without touching the periphery of the ports 117 &118 or breaching the watertight sealing of the connection.

It will be appreciated that, depending on configuration, it may be necessary to provide non-return valves between reservoirs that are plumbed together. It is accordingly preferred that non-return valves be provided, either in association with the conduit 115 or as a separate fitting.

The provision of multiple such tanks, plumbed together, enable the use of multiple tanks to form a wall, partition or other indoor or outdoor structure.

Depending on capacity, the reservoirs 101 & 102 may be suitably reinforced to withstand pressure loadings from the liquid contents and to provide adequate support for loading from garden beds and the like.

It is preferred that the reservoirs 101 & 102 are provided, either integrally or as an attached component, with skids or other mechanisms to allow ease of movement and handling. Each reservoir may also have structural reinforcing support by way of ground engaging means incorporated into the structure to

- accommodate location of retaining wall support mechanisms such as flat plates and/or horizontal divides to prevent tanks from moving when empty. Soil from a retaining wall may be placed against a reservoir 101 or 102 and in a counter force also holds water tank stable from movement. These support mechanisms may be further stabilised by devices driven into the ground such a star pickets or the like. The support mechanisms may be of any suitable size or configuration and may be an integral moulding or add-on as required, as would be recognised by the person skilled in the art.

The embodiments described here for the present invention can be used in conjunction with liquid storage reservoirs and structures of the type disclosed in Australian patent application 2008202262 (Aranooc Pty Ltd), and those disclosures are herein incorporated by cross reference.

Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view being an enlargement of a port 105A of a liquid reservoir 101 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing a seal means 109a for sealing around a conduit 107. An exaggerated taper 201 is applied to the wall of the reservoir 101. Figure 2A omits the seat for the seal means 109a for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 2B is another cross-sectional view also being an enlargement of a port 105B of a liquid reservoir 101 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. Seal means 109b is used to seal a conduit 107 within the port 105B. A taper 202 is again applied to the wall of the reservoir forming the port 105B and is exaggerated in figure 2B for the purpose of illustration. Also shown is a seat 203, which in this particular embodiment protrudes out from the edge of the orifice in the port 105B so as to assist in preventing the conduit touching the side of the reservoir wall.

In a preferred form, when installing tanks as liquid reservoirs as illustrated, for example, in figures 1 to 5, ports 105, 106 etc are lined up to accommodate conduit 107 for the flow of liquid therebetween. The side walls of the ports of the tanks are tapered to prevent the conduit or pipes touching the wall(s) of the tanks which could cause unwarranted pressure on the pipes and sealing means as a result. Seal means in the form of casting or O-rings are seated or cast in PVC moulding and protrude, in a preferred embodiment, out from the edge of the orifice so formed by the ports so as to also prevent pipe touching the side of the tank walls. In figures 2A and 2B only one O-ring is used per tank. The protrusion so formed may be sufficient in certain embodiments to prevent the conduit from touching the walls of the reservoir without the need for a tapering of the reservoir wall(s).

Generally, when fitting the seal means into the liquid reservoir one option is to cast a shape in the wall of a concrete reservoir and then the seal, preferably an

O-ring, may be pushed into the formed shape to provide the seal. In a second option a PVC sleeve or an equivalent component of predetermined shape may be cast into the reservoir wall to house a removable O-ring, for example.

As noted above the shape of the orifice of the reservoir may be so designed that it has a small taper to also prevent the pipe/conduit from touching the side of the concrete reservoir. That means the only point of seal is the pipe or conduit on the seal or seal. The other way of achieving this is to make the orifice large enough and the seal protruding to provide enough space around a removable O-ring so as not to touch the concrete wall. If the pipe was to press against the concrete wall of the tank there is a possibility the O-ring may not seal correctly in the event the structure moves somewhat. In a most preferred form, it is intended to use only one O-ring per tank wall.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate how three reservoirs 120, 121 & 122 may be placed side by side and plumbed together using the connector of preferred embodiments of the present invention to create the appearance of a stepped garden bed. In use, the downpipe is aligned with an aperture 126 which is in turn aligned with a filter assembly (not shown) that discharges filtered water into the reservoir 122.

As an alternative configuration, one or more of the reservoirs may be positioned at right angles relative to at least one adjacent reservoir.

Each of liquid storage reservoirs 120, 121 & 122, is mounted with containers 129a, 129b & 129c suitable for Use as garden beds. According to alternative preferred embodiments not illustrated in the drawings, instead of a container 129 for a garden bed, other structures may be alternately formed or provided at the top of or- adjacent one or more reservoirs so that the system can function otherwise as, for example, a garden seat or table top or other device for outdoor furniture use. According to the preferred embodiment of Figures 3 to 5, the containers 129a, 129b and 129c have drainage channels in their bases to allow water to freely move along the bases to allow hydroponic .cultivation. In this case, instead of soil being placed in the containers 129a, 129b and 129c, water is pumped through the container with pump and then to waste or back into one of the liquid storage reservoirs 120, 121 or 122 for recirculation.

The embodiments of figures 1 to 5 may further comprise attachment points for the attachment of external cladding, mouldings or the like. Such external cladding or mouldings may comprise natural or artificial timber or stone, or other decorative material.

Further exemplary embodiments of the connection system of the present invention are now described.

Figures 6A to 6C show an embodiment of the connection system where a moulding 601 of suitable material is engaged into the internal wall of the reservoir forming the port 106 or 105. As is best shown in figure 6C, the moulding 601 has an integral barrier 603 comprising an _, integral flange and furthermore, the moulding also comprises sealing means' 602 adapted for making a liquid tight seal with the conduit 107. In this example, in the event of pivotal movement of the conduit 107 with respect to the reservoir structure including the ports 105, 106, the contact that the conduit will make with .any structure in the connection system is limited to either one or both of the seafing means 602 and the barrier

603.

Figures 7A to 7C also show a moulding 701 for engagement with the internal wall of the ports 105, 106. In this example, the internal walls are recessed to form a tapered cross section. The moulding includes internal flanges

.704 that assist with anchoring the moulding to the internal walls of the ports 105, 106. The moulding 701 is also adapted for engaging a separate sealing means

702 in the form of O-rings that may be removable. As noted above, the sealing means in this example is not limited to being O-rings. Similar to the example of figures 6A to 6C, the moulding 701 includes an integral flange for forming a barrier 703, best shown in figure 7C ₁ that will work in combination with the tapered recess of the internal walls of the ports 105, 106 to restrict contact between the conduit 107 and the structure of liquid reservoirs 101 , 102. In figure 8A to 8C ₁ there is an example shown that omits a moulding and in place has a concrete moulding of the reservoir itself to form the internal walls of the ports 105, 106. The walls are also tapered in this example and in combination with the O-ring seals 802 are adapted to restrict contact between the conduit 107 and the liquid reservoirs 101 , 102.

Figures 9A to 9C show an example of a variation in the embodiment shown in figures 7A to 7C that omits the internal flanges 704 that are shown in figures 7B and 7C. In all other resects the embodiment of figures 9A to 9C is the same as that shown in figures 7A to 7C.

Advantageously, the connection system as described herein provides for a convenient and effective means of allowing liquid to flow between adjacent reservoirs and thus equalise the liquid contained therein. Furthermore, with the benefit of restricting contact between the conduit 107 and the structure of the liquid reservoirs 101 , 102 particularly when relative movement between reservoirs may occur in a number of circumstances, it is possible to maintain an equilibrium between adjacent reservoirs or tanks as the case may be.

In general, as shown in the accompanying drawings and in accordance with preferred embodiments and variations thereof, a seal internal to the tank or reservoir walls is provided with a seal of any sort or similar to an O" ring which may or may not be removable and with the edges of the tank wall at such an angle to allow substantial conduit or PVC pipe movement without hitting the side of the tank walls thus causing leakage. In other embodiments, it is envisaged that "cast in place" seals be a further option and incorporation of a large flange cast into the tank structure with an internal "O" ring structure may suffice. The O" ring structure and flange combination are designed to not protrude past the side or edge of the tank to interfere with the abutment of each tank to the other.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, advantageously, a large flange incorporating "O" ring and external taper of tank wall provide flexibility for movement of tanks for any reason. This particular embodiment allows conduit or PVC pipe to be easily pushed between two adjoining tanks and provide an adequate seal. In such cases, it is preferred that the internal "O" ring seal is not removable and is to be manufactured from suitable materials to ensure integrity of the "O" ring seals are maintained at all times. While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth. For example, although embodiments of the invention are directed to systems that provide rainwater reservoirs and raised garden beds,- the reader will appreciate that the invention is not so limited. It is also envisaged that reservoirs provided by preferred embodiments of the invention may function as fish ponds, small swimming pools for children and even spas where the water source is the reservoir itself rather than wasting precious water supplies. The scope of the invention in one preferred form comprehends any system comprising a reservoir and a closely associated structure in which the reservoir is adapted to hold a liquid, the liquid can travel from the reservoir to the associated structure and the associated structure is adapted to utilize that liquid. Moreover, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a seal means which may comprise at least one "O-ring" component that is fixedly andtar permanently mounted into a port of a structure, which may be in the form of a liquid reservoir. A suitable "O- ring" component suitable for this embodiment is manufactured by Presealed Systems LLC. The Pre Sealed Systems mid body seal as a suitable seal may be cast straight into the concrete wali of a reservoir and provides a suitable seal and enough space so a taper may not be required to prevent pipe touching the concrete. However, in this embodiment, the O-ring cannot be removed for maintenance.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures.

"Comprises/comprising" when used in this- specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof." Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise ¹ , 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".