A moisturized, soilless, root-culture planter provides a water storage space that is sealed by a cover unit. A planter unit is assembled in the container, with the bottom extended to include a water channel to suck water from the container to the planter unit, to maintain a moisturized status. The planter unit provides a hollow planting space for direct insertion for growth of a plant root. Such a structure completely seals off a planting environment containing water without soil. Even when the container is overturned, water is still contained to maintain the planting environment for growth. So there is no risk of contamination that may be caused by spilling water and soil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional planter is completely of open type, providing different measurements of filling spaces for refilling of soil or cultivating soil (pebbles) or other similar cultivating substances, for planting different plants. On the bottom of the container is a water outlet to discharge excessive water. Such planter has the following shortcomings:1. With a completely open type of planter, the culture medium, particularly the soil, is completely exposed to the ambient environment and air. With moisture, the germs or other matter in the air will directly fall on the culture medium. So the culture medium in a regular container generally has a surface filled with moulds or worms, causing environmental contamination, or influence to the growth of the plant, and becomes a breeding ground for germs.2. Such a completely open type of planter is often overturned accidentally or by a foreign force, resulting in direct falling down of the culture medium, such as soil, and subsequent contamination to the environment that requires labor and time for consuming cleaning and rearrangement of the planter, the plant and the culture medium. In particular, the small potted plants placed on an office table or an office environment would easily be overturned, spilling water and oil that cause environment pollution to the table, or even the electronic appliances on the table, such as computer and telephone sets.3. The water of draining hole at the bottom of the conventional planter will often cause environment contamination when discharging excessive water out of the container. Meanwhile, the out-flowing soil or pebbles look dirty and the culture medium inside the container, particularly soil, will be reduced gradually.4. Due to regional and seasonal influences, the relative humidity and coldness under the natural climate or in an indoor environment are exposed directly to evaporation. As a result, the water content in the culture medium, particularly the soil will evaporate, and the growth of the plant will be inhibited. Then, the cultivator must pay more care and time to look after the plant. That could be an extra burden to a busy worker in the industrial or commercial sector.5. Because of the completely open and direct exposure of the culture medium, and the discharge and evaporation of water content out of the water drain outlet, the planter needs to be watered at least once or two times a day, or the lack of moisture will inhibit its growth or even cause it to wither away.

Aimed at the aforementioned shortcomings in the use of conventional planters and plant pots, businessmen have come up with a variety of different planter constructions, or different planting media and so-called high-tech soil products available on the market.

Such new types of planter construction introduced to the market generally involves additional equipment of a water bottle, or direct installation of a water storage space on the aforementioned planter, which uses a dripping or siphoning principle to control the water content in the planting media, particularly soil, to avoid excessive watering that may drown the plant or cause contamination from excessive discharge of water from the water drain outlet. Such planting structures may have addressed the problems of conventional planters as mentioned in items3and5above. But the shortcoming mentioned in item4above can be slightly reduced by lengthening watering intervals from a daily basis to 3˜6 days. The problems mentioned in items1and2remain to be improved because they involve completely open cultivation by direct exposure of culture medium.

As for artificial soil invented by some manufacturers, it does replace regular soil. But it needs filling process in a regular pot or glass container, so it still has the problem of overturning and spilling of the container producing a mess.

Another different structures of planter has been disclosed in Taiwan Patents Nos. 166871 and 175511, wherein:

Taiwan patent No. 166871 discloses a planter structure basically comprising a pot container and a water feeding part that are overlapped or combined as one unit. Wherein, the water feed pipe is connected to a water of storing chamber for refilling of water. Two ends of a water channel made of baked ceramics in the water feeding assembly are respectively inserted in a water storage unit and the soil filled in the pot container, thereby an appropriate amount of water is delivered by capillarity to the soil; such a structural design may have solved the problems in items3and5as found in conventional pots. As for the problem mentioned in item4, the watering interval is extended from once a day to 3˜6 days, and the watering frequency is reduced slightly. As a matter of fact, the planting method has the same problems that could not be improved, as mentioned in items 1˜2 for the conventional pot planting containers.

Taiwan patent No. 175511 discloses a planter construction basically consisting of a water tank serving as a water container, on top of the container is a screen that is paved with water absorbent cotton to deliver water. Then, soil is used as a culture medium for the cultivation of a culture dish for plant, directly placed on water absorbent cotton paved on the water tank, thereby the water in the water absorbent cotton is delivered into the soil through a through hole at the bottom of the culture dish. Such a structural design can solve the above problems in items3and5for conventional planters. But the problem mentioned in item4remains unsolved because the watering interval is only lengthened from once per day to 3˜6 days and there is a slight reduction of water frequency. Actual planting method still has the problems mentioned in items 1˜2 that remain unsolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container unit, the container providing a hollow space, having a bottle opening that is tightened by a cover unit to obtain complete sealing effects, the container providing a hole for assembling a planter unit;

A planter unit, matching the hole on the container unit, the planter unit serving as a culture medium and has at least one planting space;

A water channel, assembled on a bottom of the planter unit, communicating with the planting space, one end thereof extended into the container and immersed with the liquid contained therein;

With the planter unit serving as a culture medium for a plant root, and a sealed container providing a completely sealed environment for water storage and soilless cultivation, there is no risk of spilling water or soil when the container is overturned. The liquid contained in the container is capable of having a longer service duration since the container is sealed to prevent evaporation, without the need of frequent refilling, preventing the growth of mould and worms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIGS. 1to4, the invention includes a container unit1, the container unit1being optionally formed in a variety of shapes and specifications; planter unit2assembled within the container unit1, and a water channel3installed between container unit1and planter unit2, as inFIG. 1, wherein

The container unit1includes a container11, the container11consisting of a bottle body12having a sealed bottom and a bottle opening13. The bottle body12provides a hollow three-dimensional containing space15for storing a culture liquid, such as water or culture agent or nutritious liquid; a cover unit14to be matched and tightened onto the bottle opening13of the container11to permit complete sealing effect and have the sealed containing space15, thereby keeping the culture liquid sealed inside without any risk of leakage. The cover unit14is at least one opening for assembling at least one planter unit2.

Said container unit1is optionally made of transparent or translucent material in different shapes and specifications; selectively by baking a ceramic container to form, or through the processing of glass, acrylic, plastic or other materials that can be used for liquid containing purposes.

At least one planter unit2, directly fitted into hole16on the cover unit14with the help of a position secured member4. Instead of being limited to vertical arrangement, the planter unit2and the cover unit14is optionally made in different assembling angles or configurations. In the present embodiment, planter unit2is optionally designed in the shape of a long pipe21, having a hollow center space, providing at least one planting space20and concurrently serving to define the media of planting, forming a cultural environment without the need of filling any culture media, such as soil, cultivating soil or pebbles, artificial soil, or other similar cultivating materials, thereby the plant and its roots are directly inserted in the planting space20through the opening22of the planter unit2extending from the top of the cover unit14. Meanwhile, the opening22is optionally an expanded neck having a diameter slightly larger than the hole16, for securing purpose onto the planter unit2. Of course, it is optionally assembled by means of a mounting unit18as shown inFIG. 1, having a diameter slightly larger than the hole on the cover unit, for securing onto the planter unit2. Another end of the planter unit2is extended into container11and the sealed containing space15. The liquid contained inside the container11is transmitted through the water channel3to the water containing, moisturized and air permeable planter unit2, providing an appropriate amount of water required by the plant.

The planter unit2has a capillary structure for obtaining better water containing, moisturizing, and air permeable characteristics that are needed for the growth of plant roots, so the plant can obtain sufficient but not excessive moisture and an air permeable space for root growth without soil. Therefore, planter unit2is optionally made of baked earthenware, or foam materials, or other types of cotton material or non-woven materials, or plastic ware, or other materials having water containing, moisturizing and air permeable capillary properties, or a combination of the above materials.

The planter unit2, optionally made in different single-unit shapes made of the above materials according to design or actual requirements, is assembled onto the cover unit14and extended into container11, or is optionally made in the shape of the above container unit1, or has a monolithic form at the bottom inside the container11or fixed, by gluing or plain placement, extending upwards for assembly.

The position secured member4is made of a material having excellent water resistance, having an outside groove41on an outside perimeter thereof, the groove41having a height equivalent or smaller than the thickness of the end side of the cover unit14. The diameter of the groove is equal to the diameter of the hole on the cover unit14, so that the position secured member4is justly fitted into the hole16on the cover unit14. Meanwhile, the position secured member4provides a center hole42, the hole diameter being equal or smaller than the shape and outside diameter of the planter unit2, permitting directly fitting of the planter unit2in the center hole42so the planter unit2and the hole16of the cover unit14are sealed and assembled in position by the position secured member4.

The water channel3for transmission between the container unit1and the planter unit2is a length of a belt shape or strip member, preferably made of water-absorbent materials like cotton or non-woven fabric. One end of the water channel3is formed or wound to have a form equal or slightly larger than the diameter of the planting space20of the planter unit2, directly matching the planter unit2in the container11and joined with the planting space20, or fitted with a mounting member31, as shown inFIG. 1, communicating with the bottom of the planter unit2and the planting space20in the container11. Another end of the water channel3is extended and immersed in the liquid contained inside the container11, absorbing and transmitting water to the planter unit2.

The foregoing embodiment is assembled and used in a way shown inFIGS. 2to4. The planter unit2is air-tighten assembled in the hole16of the cover unit14by means of the position secured member4. The container11is also sealed by tightened the cover unit14after water is filled therein. Meanwhile, the water channel3at the bottom of the planter unit2is also extended and immersed in the liquid contained therein, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Thereby, the liquid is taken up and delivered to the planter unit2by capillarity, forming a humid space for growth with the help of the water containing, moisturizing and capillary air permeable properties of the planter unit2, the planter unit2serves as a cultivating medium and constitutes a completely sealed liquid storage and soiless planting environment. Then, the root51of the plant5is directly inserted into the planting space20through the opening22on top of the cover unit14, as shown inFIG. 4, so the root51can directly obtain required moisture or nutrients from the planter unit2with excellent water containing, moisturizing and capillary air permeable properties. The root51can grow and extend inside the planter unit2, or cling to the capillaries of the planter unit2. Meanwhile, liquid can be filled in easily by opening the cover unit14and the bottle opening13on the container11. Then the cover unit14is tightened onto the container11to form once again a sealed status. Of course, it can also be designed to have a re-sealable refill opening17on a side of the cover unit14, as shown inFIG. 6, to facilitate refilling of liquid inside the container11.

In the foregoing planting structure, the liquid is completely sealed and contained in the container, and the planter unit2is directly used as a medium for planting without the need of soil or similar media, forming a completely neat and sealed planting environment. Even if the container unit1is overturned, as inFIG. 5, the liquid is completely sealed within the container11without the risk of water or oil spilling out to cause a mess. Meanwhile, the liquid contained therein is sealed to prevent evaporation, so the liquid contained inside the container11will last longer without frequent refilling, so that there is no environment to allow the growth of mould or worms; there is no chance that a small planter (tabletop type) will overturn or the need to sprinkle water that may cause damage to the tabletop or the electronic appliances such as computer and telephone on the table.

The structural contents of the invention can be modified for applications without departing from the spirit and scope of design.FIGS. 7to9illustrated another embodiment of the invention. The cover unit14of the container unit1provides at least one hole16, permitting at least one planter unit2and the position secured member4to be directly mounted on the cover unit14, and a water channel3is provided at the bottom of the planter unit2.

The cover unit14and the container11are assembled to suit actual requirements and the planting environment. If there is no risk of overturning, the cover unit14optionally seals directly the bottle opening19of the container11, to facilitate convenient lifting of the cover for refilling of liquid, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8; the cover unit14is optionally fixed, optionally by gluing process, to the bottle opening19of container11, with a refilling opening17designed on a side of the cover unit14, to facilitate refilling of liquid inside the container, as shown in FIG.19.

Besides the assembly of the container unit1to at least one planter unit2by installing it to the hole16on the cover unit14, one or more holes can be designed directly on one side of the container unit1, for assembling at least one planter unit2, to obtain the same planting effects.

FIGS. 10 and 11show another embodiment of the invention, wherein the planter unit2is directly fitted into the container11, and on the bottom of the planter unit2is installed a water channel3, and

A container unit1, including a container11, the container11is including a bottle body12and a bottle opening19. The bottle body12provides a hollow containing space15, for constant storage of culture liquid, such as water, or other culture liquid or nutritious liquid; the cover unit14is optionally disposed to match and directly fitted into the bottle opening19of the container11for complete sealing effects, thereby having a sealed containing space15, so the culture liquid is sealed and contained therein without the risk of leaking if overturned. On one side of the cover unit14is at least one through hole16permitting assembly for at least one planter unit2.

The cover unit14is made of flexible materials, preferably cork or rubber or polystyrene product. The cover unit14is shaped to have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the bottle opening19, so that a force is applied to push the cover unit14into position in the bottle opening19of the container11. Meanwhile, the diameter of the hole on the side of the cover unit14is preferably slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the planter unit2, to obtain the effects of proper fitting and sealing. Of course, the foregoing shall not be based to limit the diameter thereof.

Such a structural design is capable of obtaining the effects of a sealed container unit1permitting storage of the planting liquid, and refilling of liquid when the cover unit14is opened, and the planter unit2enables the root of the plant5to cling in a space for growth and acquisition of moisture. Even when the container is overturned, the planting environment is maintained without contamination that may be caused by dumping of soil.