Field of the Invention

This invention, in general relates to bio-wall/green wall systems. In particularly, the present invention provides a modular planter apparatus and system for sustainable bio-wall which is designed in a manner to provide seamless curvatures, firm installation on tilted surfaces, long term sustenance of vegetation and installations in any shape.

Background of the Invention

The urban environment is full of concrete structures, vehicular traffic, noise and pollution. With humans constantly moving towards modernization, we are adding more vehicles, industries, electronic devices and consuming the forests, trees and agricultural land even more than before. These acts are not only affecting our environment but consequently impacting our physical and mental wellness. With green spaces reducing drastically in cities, growing greens in the available space has become necessity of urban life. It is a known fact that having a view of greenery can increases the positive physiological responses and productivity of a human mind.

A study shows that bio-wall or living green walls work as natural air-filters and detoxifiers by metabolizing harmful toxins and releasing oxygen into the air. A Green Wall is a natural insulation and helps to maintain the temperature almost 10 degrees cooler than an exposed wall. This not only gives comfort to the residents but also saves electricity. Moreover, it also maintains the viable humidity level.

Various modular living wall/green wall/bio-wall systems have emerged in past from the use of modules for green structure. Modular system may be of different shapes and sizes supported by panel to hold the plant and the growth materials. Irrigation system also play an important role at different level along the wall to provide the required water to plant.

Various approaches have been disclosed in the prior arts in relation to green wall systems by using different kind of planters and system arrangements along with irrigation materials.

l US6668484B2 titled Garden edging system discloses garden edging system is made up of (a) one or more straight edger units, (b) one or more curved edger units and (c) one or more corner units. Each unit has a connecting face at each of its ends for connecting and holding adjacent units in end-to-end alignment with one another. The connecting faces facilitate the layout of a myriad of garden edging designs. The curved units have both their convex side and their concave side formed on the same arc of curvature so that a plurality of the units may be nested together with the concave side of each unit engaged flush against the convex side of the next adjacent unit. This facilitates packing and shipping of the units and mitigates against damage to the units. The units are dimensioned and sized to be stronger, more damage resistant, more versatile and more user-friendly than conventional edger bricks or tiles.

CN103843652B titled vertical greening plant wall planting box discloses a vertical greening plant wall planting box, comprising a box frame, a panel, a back plate and a curved plate is assembled, all components are good to use phenolic resin or ABS or polysulfone or polycarbonate such as weather resistance, good mechanical property of engineering plastic by injection moulding, the planting box is a box structure, back sealed four sides and front are provided with through water permeable port, provided with easy removable reserved retaining plate and reserved planting plate, top and bottom are respectively provided with chamfer angle groove for mounting drip irrigation pipe, is a space lattice structure are mutually connected in the box, the upper and lower adjacent bar-shaped clapboard is set between grids so that it is a half-through, plant cultivation base suitable for flower, ground cover, small vine and shrub plant growing of plant, after cutting with changeable size and without losing its integrity.

CN203762001 U titled Vertical afforestation plant wall planting box discloses a vertical afforestation plant wall planting box which is formed by assembling a box framework, a faceplate, a back plate and a curved faceplate. All components are form by engineering plastic, such as phenolic resin, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), polysulfone acid ester or polycarbonate which is high in weatherability and excellent in mechanical performance through injection molding. The planting box is of a box-type structure, the back of the planting box is closed while the four sides and the front of the same are provided with water- permeable ventilating ports, a preserved soil retaining plate and a preserved planting plate which are easy to take down are arranged on the front of the planting box, a chamfered groove convenient for mounting of a drip irrigation pipe is arranged at each of the top and the bottom of the planting box, a mutually-through space grid structure is formed in the planting box, a strip-shaped partition is arranged between each upper grid and a corresponding lower grid which are adjacent to enable each upper grid and the corresponding lower grid to be half through, the planting box is suitable for planting and growing various plants like flowers, ground cover plants, vines and undershrub after a plant culture medium is placed in the planting box, size of the planting box can be changed by cutting without losing completeness, and the planting box is used as a wall afforestation module to build a planting wall.

KR1485824B1 titled Verticality type interior garden discloses various kinds of plants are installed in the vertical profile and at the same time, it improves the esthetics and design capacity of the indoor gardening the availability of the indoor space with the elevation and in addition, it is selectively comprised the replacement of the plant. It is comprised in the vegetation board; the pump; the water tank in which water is kept; the multiple vegetation boards consisting of the unit block which is adhered to the upright frame and records the upright frame surface on video tape; the upright frame which is formed erectly including the injection nozzle spraying water.

The currently available solutions as disclosed above have their own restrictions in developing different types of planters and the systems. It was noticed that applying vertical greenery over odd surfaces, like curved or tilted surfaces, was difficult using current designs and arrangement. Also, the reliable long term sustainable joinery was lacking in the current designs and arrangements. It was also observed that the plants in the prevailing bio wall systems available in the market have short life span i.e. of 6 to 12 months and their cost of maintenance is extremely high.

Therefore, it would be desirable to improve the design of the planter apparatus and the system arrangement to overcome the drawbacks associated in the prior arts and meet the requirement to install the vertical green walls or bio-walls.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular planting system for bio-wall system, wherein said system is made sustainable in hot and extreme climates. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular planting system for bio-wall, wherein said system is achieved by arranging plurality of planter apparatus enabling cost efficient installation.

According to one other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular planting system for bio-wall, wherein said system is designed in a manner to apply on any kind of concave and convex surfaces.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular planting system, wherein said system is designed in a manner to apply on surfaces tilted in any direction and wherein the modular planting system is fitted to achieve odd shapes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular planting system, wherein said system is designed in a manner to grow broader plants palate and takes many hardy plant varieties.

According to one other aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular planting system, wherein said system is designed in a manner to make it user friendly and wherein the joinery used in the system is designed to take wind loads, shocks and it last for a very long period.

The above and other aspects of the present invention are achieved by a unique design of the planter and the system having said planters, wherein the design is developed by employing a reliable irrigation and drainage arrangement, water reservoir of correct size, sustaining the surface exposure to the environmental forces, by providing new ways of joinery enabling strong, secure and longevity. It also provides root anchoring, ensuring long term sustainable growth media which does not change its properties much so that it keeps on providing required space for white roots and also ensures the rate of drain within the stipulated parameters. The present application details the preferred embodiments of the present invention herein below. However, the disclosed embodiments are not limited and can be expanded to be understood by the person skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus for a bio-wall comprising a front wall having angular curvature at the top layer, a pair of sidewalls having notches to run drip line, a rear wall having mounting options adapted to direct installation on the surface and a bottom layer having dedicated water reservoir. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus for a bio-wall comprising a front wall having angular curvature at the top layer and wherein said angular curvature is designed to provide extra space for white roots in upper area and also provide shadow on facia during hot hours of the day.

In accordance with one other embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus for a bio-wall, wherein said water reservoir is capable of holding more than 85 ml of water per planting cavity and wherein reservoir is adapted to restrict extra root growth, hold moisture required by plants, enable oxygenation of root zone and providing thermal insulating effect.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus for a bio-wall, wherein said apparatus is capable of containing more than 60 cubic inches volume of growth medium to enable long term vegetation.

In accordance with one other embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter system for bio-wall comprising a plurality of planter apparatus, wherein each planter apparatus is having a front wall with angular curvature at the top layer, a pair of sidewalls having notches to run drip line, a rear wall having mounting options adapted to direct installation on the surface and a bottom layer having dedicated water reservoir.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter system for bio-wall wherein the system further comprising a tongue and groove mechanism to secure installation of the system.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter system for green wall, wherein plurality of planter apparatus contains two or more planters.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus and system thereof for g bio-wall, wherein plurality of planters is designed in a manner to separate out and be used as a standalone planter.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter system for green wall, wherein plurality of planter apparatus is arranged employing a joinery and wherein a space has been provided between the joinery walls of planter apparatus to enable air buffer and also optionally insert insulating materials to reduce the root zone temperature.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus and system thereof for a bio-wall comprising drip line arrangement wherein said drip line is adapted to arrange inside or outside planter depending upon the kind of vegetation and the distance between two planter apparatus.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus and system thereof for a bio-wall I, wherein the installation of the system with different surface type is done employing various means enabling secure mounting, wherein said means are including hook, wire rope, groove or strings between two planters apparatus and wherein different type of surface incudes high rise walls, odd shapes, curved concave or convex, tilted in either side or large areas.

In accordance with one other embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a modular planter apparatus and system thereof for a bio-wall, wherein said rear wall of the planter is having grooves to ensure secure installation employing a tongue to enable sustenance to high wind velocity, shocks & enabling secured installations in different tilted positions.

Other embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the various embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

Figure 1 illustrates the perspective view of the planters 100 and 101 and system having arrangement of said planters. Figure 2 illustrates the perspective view of the system and advantage of the design and arrangement of the system.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the planters and system explaining the arrangement to install with the surface.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of the planters and system explaining the process using tongue to strengthen the installation.

Description of the Invention

The following detailed description provides further details of the figures and embodiments of the present application. Reference numerals and descriptions of redundant elements between figures are omitted for clarity. Terms used throughout the description are provided as examples and are not intended to be limiting.

It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, the descriptions of these exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and across the figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the various figures. Finally, the description of exemplary embodiments presented herein may be combined in any combination, e.g., any element from one exemplary embodiment description may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a bio- wall/green wall gardening system, wherein said system is a modular type arrangement and wherein said modular system is designed in such a way that allows shadow on the surfaces. The surface gets covered however there is air buffer in between planting cavities, thus together achieving reduction in the net exposure of surfaces to the environmental forces.

The sustainable green wall garden according to the present invention provides right size of space for roots. The advantages of said system is reliable irrigation & drainage, water reservoir of correct size, sustaining the surface exposure to the environmental forces, designing new ways of joinery making it strong, secure, longevity enabled. It also provides root anchoring; ensuring long term sustainable growth media which does not change its properties much so that it keeps on providing required the space for white roots and also ensures the rate of drain within the stipulated parameters.

The green wall system set for high rise applications, odd shapes, curved concave or convex, tilted in either side or large areas. Some designers required solution to these kind of shapes, curved and tilted surfaces using modular system. Providing seamless curvatures, firm installation on tilted surfaces, long term sustenance of vegetation, odd shaped installations.

Irrigation Materials used herein according to the present invention is selective irrigation material, which enable the better vegetation and long life of any kind of plants.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein reference numerals designates different components of the planters and the system. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the modular planter apparatus 100 and 101 in a living wall planter system, wherein a planter system comprises a plurality of modular planter apparatus. Each modular planter apparatus is arranged to develop a green wall. Each planter is having front wall 102, side walls 103a and 103 b, a rear wall 104 and a bottom layer 105. Each planter is connected with others by a joinery 106, said joinery 106 is optional joinery either/ or to hold planters and enable the flexibility of arrangement in horizontal direction. There is a small space 107 provided between the joining wall of the planters which designed to provide air buffer and also space to insert insulating materials to reduce the root zone temperature. There are notches 108 a, b, c, d at the side wall 103 a and b have been provided, which enables drip line to communicate with plants depending on the type of vegetation and vertical space between two rows. The rear wall has various arrangements to install the system on different type of surfaces. Referring figure 1 , holes 109 a, b are provided to use wire rope application. Another option of hooks 1 10 a, b are provided to direct installation to the surface. Similarly various means are provided for installation of the system including hook, wire rope, groove or strings between two planters apparatus. Further the bottom layer 105 is having a dedicated water reservoir 1 1 1 which is optimum in size and contains more than 85 ml water per planting cavity. The water reservoir 1 1 1 enables holding moisture required by plant and oxygenation of root zones, provides thermal insulating effect and restrict the extra root growth.

Referring figure 2, the front wall is having angular curvature 1 12 at the top layer which designed to provide extra space for white roots in upper area and also provide shadow on facia during hot days. At the bottom layer, a ribs structure 1 13 is provided to ensure drain and protect drain sleeve 1 14 when stored in uninstalled condition on ground or horizontal surface, wherein drain sleevel 14 is used to connect the drain system.

Referring Figure 3 and 4 shows a cross sectional view of rear wall 104 of the planter apparatus and system, wherein ribs 1 13 has been shown clearly which ensure drain and protect drain sleeve when stored in uninstalled condition on ground or horizontal surface. As discussed above, the system further comprising a tongue 1 17 to secure installation of the same to the surface. The rear wall 104 is having deep groove 1 15 for tongue 1 17 and groove joinery that ensures secure installation and systems sustenance to high wind velocity, shocks and enabling secured installation in different tilted positions. Also the ribs 1 16 are provided at the rear wall 104 provides correct alignment of the planters and also enhance the strength of the planters.

The term 'green wall', 'bio-wall', 'green garden' or 'living wall' used in the present invention is interchangeable and define the same meaning. It is defined as green planation for the vertical, wall of any high-rise building.

The term 'wall' used herein is defined as any kind of surface vertical, horizontal, odd shapes, curved concave or convex, and tilted in either side or large surfaces with or without voids or space with standalone structure.

The term 'planter' or 'planter apparatus' is used interchangeably and define the same meaning, where the same can be of any size and made by using any desired materials.

The foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the present disclosure may be used as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the following claims.