TECHNICAL RELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to soilless plant cultivating containers for soilless cultivation of plants, more specifically it relates to a soilless containers for high density cultivation of plants in a general vertically orientation relative to a ground surface. BACKGROUND TO THE If EMTiON

The Inventor is aware of soilless growing systems where plants, such as vegetables are cultivated by exposure to constant supply of nutrient containing fluid. Some of the problems associated with the commonly known soilless plant cultivating containers and or tubes, are that the nutrient rich fluid tend to escape through the planting holes in the containers, especially when orientated substantially vertically relative to a ground surface, and as a result of the rich nutrient levels, cause overgrow of unwanted algae on the outer surface of the containers and or tubes. One of the other problems associated with soilless cultivation of plants is due to the constant exposure of roots to fluid, little or no oxygen is available for uptake by the plant roots. Oxygen is an essential plant nutrient and plant root systems require oxygen for aerobic respiration, an essential plant process that releases energy for root growth and nutrient uptake. Injury from low (or no) oxygen in the root zone can take several forms and these will differ in seventy between plant types.

Soilless plant systems are associated with high capita! Investment, thus, the higher the density of plants per square meter in a typical soilless greenhouse type environment, the better the financial returns on investment. After having considered and taking into account the above, the applicant proposes the invention as described hereunder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a soilless plant cultivating container, which includes;

an elongate body of generally wave shaped form having a flow channel defined therethrough; and

at least one receptacle defined in a sidewai! of the body in fluid communication with the floe channel for receiving and supporting a plant therein, wherein the receptacle is angularly disposed to the vertical axis of the body.

The body may be manufactured from any suitable plastics and or synthetic material. The body may be of general rectangular form, in cross section. The body may be of any suitable dark colour.

The soilless plant cultivating container may comprise two symmetric elongate halves to be assembled together so as to define the said container.

A sealing arrangement comprising a sealing channel for complementary receiving a sealing element therein, may extend longitudinally the soilless plant cultivating container for sealing off a space defined In-between the two symmetric halves when in assembled mode.

Securing formations may further be provided for securing the assembled halves together in assembled mode.

The receptacle may include spacing formations extending inward from an upper end region thereof for spacing the plant away from the inner surface of the receptacle. The spacing formations may be in the form of protrusions extending from an inner surface of the receptacle.

The receptacle will typically be located in a concave region of the wave shaped body. A plurality of receptacles will typically be orientated out of register one another on opposing surfaces of the soilless plant cultivating container.

The body may further include channeling means for channeling fluid streaming downward the flow channel toward the plant roots of the plant contained in the receptacle. The channeling means may be in the form of v shaped ridges extending from an inner surface of the body.

The body may also include a disperser element extending from the inner surface thereof for dispersing fluid received from the channeling means.

The disperser element may be of any suitable shape and size and may be located below the v shaped ridges. The disperser element may take the form of a pin extending substantially orthogonally away from the said inner surface. In order to prevent the overflow of fluid out of the receptacle in instances when the receptacle becomes overgrown with plant root material, guiding formations are provided for guiding fluid out of the receptacle towards the flow channel.

The guiding formations may take the form of a pair of channels defined on opposing peripheral regions of the receptacle, the guiding formations extending substantially vertically.

To promote the exposure of the plant roots to oxygen, as well as to control the temperature inside the receptacle surrounding the plant roofs, an air passage for introducing air from outer the body, to the plant roots are provided. The air passage may be arranged longitudinal the body on a peripheral region thereof. The air passage may include slot formations, for allowing the flow of air out of the passage, toward the receptacle, and thereby the piant roots. Engagement formations defined on end regions of the body may be provided so as to allow coupling of a plurality of soilless plant cultivating containers together thereby defining a soilless plant cultivating pipe.

The engagement formations may take the form of male and female engagement formations, shaped and sized to sealabiy couple with one another so as to inhibit escape of fluid out of the soilless cultivating pipe, when assembled.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a soilless piant cultivating container which includes;

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a body having a flow channel defined therethrough;

an arm extending at angle of between 1 and 179 degrees away from the body; and

a receptacle defined at an opposing region of the arm for receiving and supporting a piant therein, wherein the body, arm and receptacle Is in fluid communication with one another for allowing fluid received by the receptacle, to flow downstream the arm towards the body.

The soilless piant cultivating container may be manufactured from any suitable plastics and or synthetic material and may be of any suitable dark colour.

The soilless plant cultivating container may comprise two symmetric halves to be assembled together so as to define the said container.

A sealing arrangement comprising a sealing channel for complementary receiving a sealing element therein, may extend longitudinally the soilless piant cultivating container for sealing off a space defined in-between the two symmetric halves when in assembled mode.

Securing formations may further be provided for securing the assembled halves together when in assembled mode.

The receptacle may include spacing formations extending inward from an upper end region thereof for spacing the plant away from inner surface of the receptacle. The spacing formations may be in the form of protrusions extending from an inner surface of the receptacle. The spacing formation may be in the form of a spacer element shaped and sized to be compiementaliy fit in the receptacle.

The receptacle may be shaped and sized to in turn compiementaliy receive a basket type element therein, which basket type element is configured to receive a seedling plug. The basket type element may be perforated for allowing roots of the seedling plug to extend therethrough towards the arm.

The body may have engagement formations defined on end regions thereof so as to allow coupling of a plurality of soilless plant cultivating containers together, thereby defining a soilless plant cultivating pipe.

The engagement formations may take the form of male and female engagement formations, shaped and sized to sealably couple with one another so as to inhibit escape of fluid out of the soilless cultivating pipe, when assembled.

It should be appreciated that the term plant is to be interpreted so as to Include any plant like propagation matter such as seedlings, bulbs, seeds, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by means of a non-!imiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings. in the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of a first embodiment of the soilless plant cultivating container in accordance of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the container as shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional side of the container as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective top vie of one symmetrica! halve of the container, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, in accordance with the invention;

Figures 5 and 6 show perspective views of a second embodiment of a soii!ess plant cultivating container, in accordance with the invention; Figures 7 and 8 are perspective and fop views respectively, of a basket type element to be used with the second embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 9 is an illustration of the spacer element for use with the second embodiment of the invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the soilless plant cultivating container in accordance with the invention is generally depicted by reference numeral 10. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, more clearly illustrated in figures 1 to 4, the soilless plant cultivating container 10 includes an elongate body 12 of generally wave shaped form, having a flow channel 14 defined therethrough, a receptacle 16 defined in a sldewali of the body 12 for receiving and supporting a plant therein, spacing formations 18 for spacing the plant relatively centrally the receptacle 16, channeling means in the form of v-shaped ridges 20 for channeling fluid toward the receptacle and thereby to the plant roots contained therein, a disperser element 22 for dispersing fluid received from the channeling means, guiding formations 24 for guiding an overflow of fluid out of the receptacle 16 towards the flow channel 14, an air passage 26 for allowing flow of oxygen and or temperature regulated air from outer the body 12 toward the receptacle and engagement formations 28 defined on end regions of the body 12 so as to allow coupling of a plurality of soilless plant cultivating containers 10 together so as to define a soilless plant cultivating pipe (not shown). The container 10 can be manufactured from any suitable plastics and or synthetic material and can be of any suitable geometrical shape and size, preferably of general rectangular form, in cross section.

The container 10 further comprises two symmetric elongate halves 28 to be assembled to define the said container 10.

A sealing channel 30 shaped and sized to complementaiSy receive a sealing element (not shown) therein provides for sealing off a space in-between the two symmetric halves when assembled.

Securing formations 32 are further provided for securing the symmetrical halves together when in assembled.

The receptacle 16 includes an aperture defined in the sidewaii of the body 12, and a supporting surface 34 angularly disposed relative the body 12. The spacing formations 18 for securing the plant substantially centrally the receptacle away from the inner surfaces thereof, are in the form of protrusions extending Inward from an inner surface of the supporting surface 34 of the receptacle 16.

The receptacles are in fluid communication with the flow channel so that, in use, seedlings are planted in the receptacles with their roots dangling info the flow channel so that the roofs can come into contact with a fluid trickling down the flow channel or a gas or a mist in the flow channel.

In order to achieve a maximum density of plants in a typical greenhouse type structure, a plurality of receptacles 16 will typically be orientated out of register relatively one another on opposing outer surfaces of the body 12. in order to facilitate the desirable downstream flow of fluid in the body 12, the receptacle 16 will typically be located in a concave region of the wave shaped body 12.

The disperser element 22 will typically extend substantially orthogonally away from the inner surface of the body 12.

Guiding formations 24 for guiding an overflow of fluid out of the receptacle 16 towards the flow channel 14 can take the form of a pair of elongate ridges extending from the inner surface of the body, parallel orientated relative each other in a general vertical orientation relative a ground surface. The guiding formations 24 facilitate the flow of fluid out of the receptacle 16 into the flow channel 14 in instances where the normal flow of fluid is obstructed by plant roots. This prevention of overflow of nutrient rich fluid inhibit the growing of algae and other non-desirable organisms on the outer region of the body 12.

In order to control the temperature in the receptacle, especially around the plant roofs in the preferred region of 16 to 25 degrees celcius, air passage 26 and slot formation 36 is provided for allowing flow of temperature regulated oxygenated air from outer the body 12 toward the receptacle and thereby the plant roofs contained therein. A pair of air passages 26 will typically be extending longitudinally the body 12 on opposing peripheral regions thereof. Slot formations 36, arranged in sidewa!ls of the air passages 26, facilitate the flow of the temperature regulated oxygenated air towards the receptacle 18, and thereby the plant roots. Air of the required temperature will be introduced intermittently through the passage via the slots 36 to promote maximum plant growth.

Engagement formations 28 defined on end regions of the body 12 allow coupling of a plurality of soilless plant cultivating containers 10 together, thereby defining a soilless plant cultivating pipe. The engagement formations 28 typically includes male and female engagement formations, shaped and sized to sealably couple with one another so as to inhibit escape of fluid out of the soilless cultivating pipe, when assembled. Turning now to figures 5 and 8, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention the soilless plant cultivating container 110 includes a body 1 12, an arm 1 14 extending at angle of between 1 and 179 degrees away from the body 112 and a receptacle 1 16 defined at an opposing end region of the arm 114 for receiving and supporting a plant therein, wherein the receptacle 1 16, arm 114 and the body 112 is in fluid communication with one another for allowing fluid received by the receptacle 116, to flow downstream the arm 1 14 towards the body 1 12.

The body 1 12 can be manufactured from any suitable plastics and or synthetic material and can be of any suitable dark colour.

The container 110 can comprise two symmetric halves to be assembled together to define the said container 110.

Spacer element 1 18 provides for spacing the plant substantially centrally and away from the inner surface region of the receptacle 1 16, see Figure 9. The receptacle 1 16 can be shaped and sized to in turn compiementally receive a perforated basket type element 120 therein, see Figures 7 and 8, shaped and sized to receive a seedling plug therein.

The receptacle 116 further includes a securing formation 122 for receiving and securing a fluid source to the receptacle, for trickling a nutrient enriched fluid to the receptacle 116 for absorption by the plant roots.

Engagement formations 124 are defined on end regions of the body 112 to allow coupling of a plurality of soilless plant cultivating containers 10 together so as to define a soilless growing pipe typically for use a greenhouse type structure.

The Applicant considers the invention advantageous in that a soilless container for the cultivation of plants is provided which is designed to manipulate the flow of fluid inside the container so as to maximise the availability of nutrient rich fluid to the plant roots. Further does the inclusion of the air passages allow a user to control the ambient temperature as well as the availability of oxygen in the receptacle surrounding the plant roots. The arrangement of receptacles on opposing outer surfaces of the container maximise the density of plants to be cultivated Upon reading this disclosure it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment described, and that those changes and modifications shall not be interpreted In departing from the general scope and spirit of the invention.