CONTAINER FOR CULTIVATIONS OF DIFFERENT KIND

Abstract: Container for cultivations of various kind, of the type for garden and flower nursery, for balcony and the like, into which a water supply of predetermined volume is introduced and is employed for irrigating automatically the cultivations for long periods of time. Container comprising a first and a second component part (11, 51; 12, 53) co-operating to each other, delimiting a chamber containing the mould and the respective cultivations and an inner chamber for the storage of such water supply. These chambers are communicating to each other and shaped in a way to permit the irrigation water to pass toward the underlying inner chamber and to ascend subsequently by capillarity toward the containing chamber. Different embodiments of the invention are foreseen.

Description: CONTAINER FOR CULTIVATIONS OF DIFFERENT KIND. The invention relates to a new type of container for cultivations of different kind, of the type for garden and flower nursery, for balcony, flower-beds and the like, in which a water supply of pre-esta¬ blished volume is introduced for being utilized for irrigating automatically and continuously the cultivations for long time periods. At the present, the containers utilized for the cul¬ tivations of different kind for garden and flower nursery, for greenhouses, nurseries, flower beds, roof-gardens, lawns and the like as well as for bal¬ conies and " private uses in general, are substantially made of a suitable rigid material as the plastic materials, the baked clay etc...general¬ ly shaped with a box-like form open at its top for the introduction of the mould for supporting the cultivations and for the vertical growth of the same cultivations, having variable containing volumes de¬ pending on the number of cultivations required from time to time, and such that to be able to receive also the needed irrigation water for this growth, which is sprayed on the mould and the cultivations by means of automatic irrigation plants or manually operable irrigation tools of conventional type. Moreover, these containers are provided with at le¬ ast a lower through hole for the drainage of the wa¬ ter in excess introduced therein, and are generally laid on corresponding basins for the collection of such water in excess. The so realized containers, still ensuring effecti¬ ve and satisfactory growth of the cultivations put therein, are critical as far as the irrigation ope- ration is concerned, independently from the utili¬ zed irrigation system in that they need that such irrigation operation be effected with very approa¬ ched rates, so as to maintain the cultivations and the mould always adequately wet and therefore on the conditions adapted for the growth of the same cultivations, with consequent need of frequent o- perations of the automatic irrigation plants or in- terventions of the operator devoted to the manual irrigation operation, which need also a continuous and regular surveillance of these cultivations. The present invention has the object to eliminate the drawbacks and limitations involved with the u- se of the present containers for the cultivations referred to, by means of the employ of a new type of container adapted to receive a water supply of pre-established value and such that to ensure au¬ tomatically the irrigation of the same cultivations for time periods with durations longer than the present ones, without the need to operate repeate¬ dly the available irrigation plants and to require manual operator's interventions. The invention also provides the employ of a conta- iner to be used in combination with tiles and similar flooring elements, which can be installed on flower-beds, roof-gardens, lawns and the like, in such a way as to support the weight of persons and things. This object is obtained, in accordance to the in¬ vention, by means of a container made with the con¬ structive characteristics substantially described with particular reference to the enclosed claims. The invention will be understood better by the fol- lowing description, given solely by way of not-li¬ miting example and with reference to the accompany¬ ing drawings, wherein : - Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of the conta¬ iner according to the invention, in a first embo- diment thereof ; - Fig. 2 shows a front view of the container of Fig. 1, cutaway along the line A-A ; - Fig. 3 shows a first component part of the pre- sent container, in a front view enlarged and cut¬ away as in Fig. 2 ; - Fig. 4 shows a second component part of the pre¬ sent container, in an enlarged plan view thereof; - Fig, 5 schematically shows a cutaway front and en¬ larged view of the lower portion of the container according to the invention, in a second embodi¬ ment thereof ; - Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the container repre- sented in Fig. 5 ; - Fig. 7 shows a front view of the second component part of the container according to the invention, made in a third embodiment thereof ; - Fig. 8 shows a cutaway front view of a container or pot with the two component parts of the conta¬ iner according to the invention inserted therein, in a fourth embodiment thereof ; - Fig. 9 shows a plan view of a component part of the container of Fig. 8 ; - Fig. 10 shows a front view of the component part of Fig. 9, cutaway along the line A-A thereof ; - Fig. 11 shows a plan view of another component part of the container according to the invention; - Fig. 12 shows a front view of the component part of Fig. 11, cutaway along the line B-B thereof ; - Fig. 13 shows a front view of the component part of Fig. 11, cutaway along the line C-C thereof ; - Fig. 14 shows a plan view of the same component part of Figs. 9 and 10 of the container according to the invention, in a fifth embodiment thereof ; - Fig. 15 schematically shows a plan view of a plu¬ rality of containers according to the invention, in a further embodiment thereof ; - Fig. 16 shows a front view of one of the contai- ners of Fig. 15, cutaway along the line D-D the¬ reof ; - Fig. 17 shows a plan view of the container illu¬ strated by Fig. 16 ; - Fig. 18 shows a partially cutaway front view of a first component part of a container according to the invention, in a further embodiment there¬ of ; - Fig. 19 shows a bottom side view of the component part of Fig. 18 ; - Fig. 20 shows a front view of a second component part of the container of Fig. 18 ; - Fig. 21 shows a bottom side view of the component part of Fig. 20 ; - Fig. 22 shows a partially cutaway front view of the two component parts of both Figs. 18 and 20 reciprocally assembled to form the present conta¬ iner ; - Fig. 23 shows a front view of the present conta¬ iner, still in another embodiment thereof ; - Fig. 24 shows a bottom side view of the container of Fig. 23 ; - Fig. 25 shows a front view of the container accor- ding to the invention, in another embodiment the¬ reof ; - Fig. 26 shows a bottom side view of the container of Fig. 25 ; - Fig. 27 shows a front view of the container accor- ding to the invention, in a further embodiment thereof ; - Fig. 28 shows a bottom side view of the container of Fig. 27 ; - Fig. 29 shows a front view of a container accor- ding to the invention, still in another embodi¬ ment thereof ; - Fig. 30 shows a bottom side view of the container of Fig. 29 ; - Fig. 31 shows a front view of a modified item of the container in accordance to the invention ; - Figs. 32 shows a plan view of the item of Fig. 31, displaced in an operative position thereof ; - Fig. 32 a shows an enlarged view of a detail of the Fig . 32 ; - Fig. 33 shows a plan view of the item of Fig. 32, displaced in another operative position thereof ; - Fig. 33 a shows an enlarged view of a detail of the Fig. 33. In the Figures referred to is represented schemati¬ cally ' a container 10 for cultivations of various kind, such as for example plants to be put on pots and maintained on a protected ambient (tunnels, greenhouses, apartments and the like), plants to be cultivated outside such as the nurseries, plants for exhibition areas and to be sold outside, plants to be put in flower-beds, roof-gardens, lawns and the like. This container is made of suitable rigid material such as for example the plastics and the like, and in the examples from Figs. 1 to 17 has a circular form and different dimensions depending on the uses • to which it is assigned (for example as pot, balco- ny-box, cup etc...), and in the examples from Figs. 18 to 33 is provided for being put into containers or pots of different form and size, assigned to be covered by modular flooring elements such as tiles and the like, in a manner to permit the persons and things to pass thereupon, but of course it may be made also with other forms for example with rectan¬ gular, polygonal form etc., thus without departing from the protection field of the invention. In the Figs. 1-4 it is schematically represented the present container in a first embodiment thereof, in which it is noted that it is formed substantial¬ ly by a first component part 11, shaped like a co¬ nical pot with taper decreasing from the upper to lower side thereof, as well as a second component part 12 adaptable removably inside the first com¬ ponent part 11, on the lower zone thereof. In particular, the first component part 11 (see al¬ so Fig. 3) comprises a flat and inclined periphe- rai casing 13 open at its top and connected at its lower side with a horizontal flat bottom 14, in which a vertical conduit 15 having short lenght is provided, which enters the inner chamber delimited by the casing 13 and defining a through hole 16 a- dapted to put into communication such inner chamber to the outside, therefore acting as an overflow conduit for the reason set forth below. Advantageously, the peripheral casing 13 is provi- ded also with a circular edge 17 projected from its lower side for being laid on the ground, adapted to keep slightly spaced from this latter the outlet of the through hole 16, so as to permit the passage of air and any overflowing water through said vertical conduit 15. In turn, the second component part 12 comprises a peripheral casing 18 having dimensions slightly smaller than those of the peripheral ca¬ sing 13 of the first component part 11, and adapta- " ble removably on the lower zone of this latter, said peripheral casing being open at its lower side and laid with its circular edge 19 on the corresponding inner wall of the flat bottom 14 of the first compo¬ nent part 11, and being closed at its upper end with a flat wall 20 in which a plurality of through holes and/or openings 21 having different cross-sections is provided, which are distributed in a circular direction on a position concentric to and not coin¬ cident with that of the underlying vertical conduit 15 of said first component part 11. In this way, when the second component part 12 is introduced and adapted into the first component part 11 as described, a chamber open at its top is defi¬ ned between the flat wall 20 for closing this second component part and the upper portion of the periphe- rai casing 13 of the first component part 11, which chamber is assigned for containing the mould and the relative species of plant to be cultivated. As evident in detail from the Fig. 4, such second component part is also provided with a plurality of vertical slots 22 provided along the outer surface of the peripheral casing 18, and distributed at de¬ termined intervals for the entire extent thereof, which are adapted to define through hollow spaces with the opposite inner wall of the peripheral ca¬ sing 13 of the first component part 11, which put into communication the mould and cultivation conta¬ ining chamber with the underlying inner chamber of the peripheral casing 13, delimited between the flat bottom 14 of this latter and the flat wall 20 of the second component part 12. These slots are realized with reduced dimensions and such that to permit the water to ascend by ca- pillarity from the inner chamber of the peripheral casing 13, where it arrives after the irrigation of the mould and the relative plants contained within said containing chamber, with the aid of possible through conduits introduced into the mould, by pas- sing through the through holes and/or openings 21 of the flat wall 20, up to the same containing chamber. Such slots may be replaced also by a con¬ tinuous hollow space, provided directly between the inner surface of the peripheral casing 13 of the first component part 11 and the outer surface of the peripheral casing 18 of the second component part 12. Preferably, the present container is also associated with a level gauge of per se known type (not shown) , which is generally inserted through o- ne of the through holes and/or openings 21 of the flat wall 20, in such a way that to be projected upward beyond this latter so as to permit the rea¬ ding of the water level introduced from time to ti¬ me within such inner chamber of the peripheral ca- sing 13. In the practice, in the inner chamber re¬ ferred to is introduced a water quantity enough both to irrigate the mould effectively, in a way to keep the plants in an ambient adapted for the gro- wth thereof, and to fill almost fully the same cham¬ ber, up to the overflow level of such chamber de¬ termined by the vertical overflow conduit 15, which in turn is realized with a height lower than that one of the inner chamber, so that in case of exces¬ sive filling of such inner chamber the water quan¬ tity in excess is discharged automatically outside through said vertical conduit. Thus, in the inner chamber is collected continuous- ly a quantity of supply water, whose level is main¬ tained below the overflow level of the vertical conduit 15, and which is sufficient to irrigate the mould and plants for a relatively long time period, thanks to the fact that the water contained in the inner chamber ascends by capillarity from this lat¬ ter to the overlying containing chamber, by passing through the slots 22, and ascends further by capil¬ larity by spreading it in the mould for the entire ■ extent thereof, with consequent automatic continu- ous irrigation of the mould and plants as soon as the water already introduced in the mould is absor¬ bed by the plant roots. Then, under these circumstances, the space compri¬ sed between the surface of water contained in the inner chamber and the opposite lower surface of the flat wall 20 is filled with air, thereby forming an air chamber which on the one side ensures an ef¬ fective and continuous oxygenation of the roots of the plants contained in the mould, by passing thro- ugh the through holes 21 of the flat wall 20, and on the other side creates a partition barrier bet¬ ween the roots and the water, which prevents or ma¬ ke at least difficult both an expansion of the sa¬ me roots downwards, and the consequent passage through such through holes 21 thereof, by determi¬ ning after all the growth prevalently in the mo¬ uld thereof, and the direct contact of the supply water wth the same mould, thereby avoiding any ri- sk of excessive water absorption by this latter. By dimensioning adequately the slots 22, by vary¬ ing the outflow port thereof, it is therefore pos¬ sible to change the water quantity to be transfer- red by capillarity from the lower inner chamber to the upper containing chamber of the present contai¬ ner, by adapting it from time to time to the kind of plants to be cultivated and the employed moulds. Advantageously, these water quantities for the au- tomatic irrigation are so selected as to achieve in the mould an imbibition maximum level (range capa¬ city) and minimum level (whitering point) , corre¬ sponding to the conditions of absorbing the respec¬ tive maximum and minimum water quantity compatible with the plant growth. Now, by referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it is schema¬ tically and partially represented the present con¬ tainer in a second embodiment thereof, in which it is noted that it is substantially identical to the previous one, so as the component parts identical to those preceding are marked with the same refe¬ rence numerals, with the exception of the fact that in this case the slots 22 aren' t more provided on the outer surface of the peripheral casing 18 of the second component part 12, which therefore is smooth and not slotted, rather such slots are pro¬ vided exclusively on the inner surface of the pe¬ ripheral casing 13 of the first component part 11 of the container referred to (which in Figs. 5 and 6 is represented with respective cutaway front and plan view) , on the same positions of the slots pre¬ viously provided on such second component part 12, with consequent achievement of the same above cited objects and operations. Finally, the remaining Figure 7 shows the container according to the invention in a third embodiment thereof, and in particular the second component part 12 of the same container, which is made always with slots 22 provided on the outer surface of its outer casing 18, however in this case such slots a- re realized with a lenght different to each other at the level of their lower end communicating with the inner chamber of the same container, which cir¬ cumstance allows this component part to be utili¬ zed for transferring by capillarity different fil¬ ling levels of water supply from the inner chamber to the containing chamber of this container, by a- scending the same water through the slots which a- re communicating from time to time with the corre¬ sponding filling level, with consequent effective spraying of different kinds of plants with the wa¬ ter quantites respectively needed by the same plants, without the need to use particular compo¬ nent parts for each kind of plant to be cultivated. The component parts 11 and 12 may be also made as a single component part, in which at least two se- • parated chambers are provided again, respectively for containing the mould and the plants to be cul¬ tivated and for the water supply to be metered in the course of time, which chambers are communica¬ ting to each other through the through holes and/ or openings for the passage of water and its col- lection in the inner chamber, and the slots for the ascent by capillarity of such water supply, thus without departing from the protection field of the present invention. Therefore, the so realized container ensures a steady and fully automatic wetting of the plants for long time periods, without needing of repea¬ ted cut in and off of the existing irrigation plants and operator interventions, by permitting also any water quantity in excess to be dischar- ged through the overflow conduit. Furthermore, such container also permits to ins¬ pect the filling condition of water therein, with consequent continuous delivery of water in the mould and plants in the manner as described, thanks to the presence of at least a filling level gauge of the type referred to, and with the possibility to add further εupply water in the same container when such gauge signals the exhausted conditon of the already existing water supply, which circumstan¬ ce therefore permits a reduction of the frequency of irrigation plant cut in operations or operator's manual interventions. This reduction of the cut in operations and the in¬ terventions involves thus a diminution of the pe¬ riods of time in which the mould upper surface re¬ mains wet, with consequent reduction of danger to submit the plants to the bacterial and fungi agents responsible of the "collar illness". The container referred to may be coupled with dif¬ ferent irrigation systems, such as for instance the dipping or spraying irrigation system, since in a- ■ ny case the supply water will be introduced in the same container until the pre-established maximum filling level of the overflow conduit, in which the water quantities in excess are always discharged outside and, if any, also collected in additional basins for being utilized subsequently for further cultivations, by keeping therefore the plants always on the optimum cultivating conditions. Moreover, this container does not need the presence of specific saucers or similar receptacles for col¬ lecting the water in excess, since in this case the water supply is introduced in the same container always with a filling level at least equal to the overflow level of the overflow conduit, and after¬ wards it descends progressively below such overflow level during its transfer by capillarity toward the plants, which circumstance is particularly advanta¬ geous when the container is used for cultivating plants for apartments and balcony and the like. This kind of container lends itself also to the ad- dition of any fertilizer and manure for plants, which in this case are reaching rapidly with the water the underlying inner chamber of the same con¬ tainer, and then ascend by capillarity with this water firstly from the inner chamber toward the up¬ per chamber containing the mould, and thereafter through all the mass of mould arrive up to the up¬ per layers thereof, thereby distributing homogene¬ ously therein, and therefore ensuring an effective fertilizing action for the plants. Likewise, thanks to such ascent by capillarity, the salts contained in the water are distributed also homogeneously in the mould, so as to achieve the same objects and avoid the accumulation of the same salts and the incrustation on the outer surface of the mould thereof. Finally, in the present container the mould may be also replaced by expanded clay or other materials normally used in the cultivations without soil, without the need to prepare this kind of plants in specific manners, permitting to obtain always ef- ective cultivations and the advantages as descri¬ bed above. By referring now to the Figs. 8-17, there are re- presented several types of containers 10 provided for being adapted in containers or pots having dif¬ ferent form and sizes, wherein in the present exam¬ ple each container has a circular form and diffe¬ rent dimensions depending on the uses to which it assigned (for example as pot, balcony-box, cup etc.) , but of course it may be made also with other polygonal forms, thus without departing from the protection field of the invention. In the Figs. 8-13 it is represented schematically the present container in a fourth embodiment there¬ of, in which it is noted that it is formed substan¬ tially by a first component part 11, insertable re¬ movably in a conical receptacle or pot 23 with ta- per decreasing from the upper to the lower side thereof, as well as a second component part 12 adap¬ table removably in the first component part 11 as it will be described later. The first component part 11 of the container according to the invention (see Figs. 9 and 10) is made substantially as an insert 24 insertable or extractable removably with respect to the receptacle or pot 23, and provided with an upper flat flange 25 having dimensions slightly smal ler than those of the peripheral casing 13 of the receptacle or pot 23, so as to be able to be inser¬ ted or extracted internally with respect to such peripheral casing, and an extended sleeve 26 joined at its upper side with the flat flange 25, and ha- ving a perimeter smaller than that of such flange. Besides, the flange 25 and the sleeve 26 are provi¬ ded with at least a central and axial through ope¬ ning 27 having the same diameter, which passes ful¬ ly therethrough and is open at its upper and lower side, in such a way that when the insert 24 is ful¬ ly introduced in the receptacle or pot 23, the lo¬ wer circular edge 28 of the sleeve abuts the corre¬ sponding inner wall of the flat bottom 14 of this latter, by permitting also the overflow conduit 15 to be introduced through the through opening 27 of of the sleeve 26. In this way, a circular crown 29 is defined between the peripheral edge of the flange 25 and the cen¬ tral through opening 27, the upper surface of which performs the function of rest surface which is εha¬ ped with a plurality of zigzag inclined walls 30 distributed radially, in which some through slits 31 are provided for the entire thickness of such circular crown, distributed at regular intervals a- long the whole circumferential distance of the sa¬ me crown, as well as one or more holes 32 and 33 having different size, passing through the entire thickness of said circular crown so as to permit a correspondent water level gauge (not indicated in the Figures) of per se known type to be inserted therethrough. The object of the through slits 31 is to permit the water which is introduced in the re- ceptacle or pot 23 to pass therethrough, by leading such water against the circular crown 29 of the flange 25, toward the underlying inner chamber deli¬ mited by the casing 13 of such receptacle or pot, where such water is collected and therefore made di- sposable for the re-use thereof in the manner which will be described hereinafter, and whose level is inspected steadily by said level gauge. In turn, the second component part 12 of the present container is made substantially as an additional in- sert 34, insertable and extractable removably with respect to the preceding insert 24, and also provi¬ ded with an upper flat flange 35 and an extended sleeve 36 joined at its upper side with such flat " flange, and having a perimeter smaller than that of latter, of which such sleeve 36 is adaptable with a slight interference within the corresponding cen¬ tral through opening 27 of the sleeve 26 of the pre¬ ceding insert, in which condition the upper surface of such flange 35 is slightly raised with respect to that one of the circular crown 29 of the flange 25, thereby forming on the one hand an obstacle for the penetration of the plant roots therein, and on the other hand a continuous closing plane of the un¬ derlying inner chamber of the receptacle or pot 23, and wherein the respective lower circular edges 28 and 37 of such sleeves 25 and 36 are almost flushing to each other. Advantageously, also the upper sur¬ face of the flange 36 is provided with a set of cir¬ cular recesses 38 concentric to each other, defi- ning depressed surfaces, in order to facilitate the insertion of possible support elements for plants therein. The sleeve 36 of the insert 34 may be also provided with a set of lower notches 39 and 40, in- clined with inclination directions respectively op¬ posite to each other for a portion of the height of such sleeve, which subdivide this latter in a set of sectors 41 regularly spaced from each other, as well as a plurality of longitudinal notches 42 provided along the peripheral outer surface of both the sleeve 36 and the associated sectors 41, and distributed at regularly spaced intervals for the entire height of the same sleeve. These notches 42 are realized with different forms (in the present example of quadrangular form) , by forming corresponding conduits with the opposite smooth inner surface of the sleeve 26, whose lower ends communicate with the water introduced in the inner chamber of the receptacle or pot 23 and whose upper ends are communicating, through the circular gap (not indicated) defined by the interference be¬ tween the sleeve 36 and the through opening 27, with the overlying containing chamber inside the re- ceptacle or pot 23, in which there are introduced the plants to be cultivated and irrigated systema¬ tically, together with the relative mould, which chamber therefore is separated from the underlying chamber by means of the above mentioned continuous closing plane. Furthermore, the notches 42 are re¬ alized with reduced dimensions and such as to per¬ mit the water to ascend by capillarity from the un¬ derlying inner chamber of the receptacle or pot 23, in which it is arrived by passing through the thro- ugh openings 31 of the flange 25, after the irri¬ gation operation of the mould and the relative plants contained in the above mentioned containing chamber, by passing through said circular gap, up to the same containing chamber. The adjustment of the height of the ascending water column to be transferred by capillarity may be ef¬ fected also in a different manner, for example by eliminating the sectors 41 and providing only not- ches having the same height, dimensioned with va¬ riable cross-sections, thus without departing from the protection field of the present invention. The presence of the notches 42 distributed at dif- ferent heights along the sectors 41 and the remai¬ ning portion of the sleeve 36 permits the supply water to ascend at different filling heights, by changing in this way the water quantities which are transferred by capillarity from the lower inner chamber to the upper containing chamber of the pre¬ sent container, depending on the kind of plants to be cultivated and the employed moulds. By referring now to the Fig. 14, in which is shown the container according to the invention in a fifth embodiment thereof, it is noted that in this case such container is substantially identical to the previous one, so that the component parts identical to the preceding ones are marked with the same refe¬ rence numerals, and differs therefrom in that it is realized with rectangular form instead of circular one, for the adaptation into corresponding recepta¬ cles or pots thereof, with consequent achievement of the same objects and operations as cited above. By referring now to the Figs. 15, 16 and 17 in which it is shown the container according to the invention in a sixth embodiment thereof, it is noted that also in this case it is formed by two component parts a- daptable to each other, which are shaped in the same manner and can be fitted, with some other containers of the same type, within at least a receptacle having variable capacity, adapted to hold a plurality of such containers for cultivating various plants. To this aim, the first and second component part of each container is marked with the same reference nu- merals of the preceding ones. In this case, also, the sleeve 26 of the insert 24 is joined with a flat peripheral collar 43 having the same form thereof and can be laid at its lower side on the flat bottom 44 of the receptacle 45 ha¬ ving variable capacity, which in the case referred to has a flattened form, extended in a horizontal direction and is of either fixed or portable type, so as to be disposed in different cultivations si¬ tes. In turn, the sleeve 36 of the insert 34 is pro¬ vided along its outer peripheral surface with a plu¬ rality of vertical slots 46 having different form and reduced cross-section, approached to each other and distributed along the entire surface and exten¬ ded for all the sleeve height, and in turn the flange 35 of such an insert is provided with a de¬ pressed peripheral edge 47, foreseen for the rea¬ sons set forth below. As in the preceding cases, also the slots 46 delimite corresponding conduits with the opposite smooth inner surface of the slee¬ ve 26, which allow the supply water stored on the bottom of the receptacle 45 to ascend by capillari¬ ty. Each container of this kind is disposed in po- sition and assembled by inserting firstly the slee¬ ve 26 of the insert 24 through a corresponding ho¬ le (not indicated) , provided through the thin thic¬ kness of a sheet 48 of suitable waterproof rigid material such as for example a plastic material, di- mensioned in such a way as to extend almost for the whole surface of the receptacle 45, then by dispo¬ sing the so equipped sheet 48 at a certain height inside the same receptacle, and afterwards by arran¬ ging around the flange 35 a possible part 49 of li- quid filtering and absorbing material such as spon¬ ge, fabrics etc..., which therefore arranges itself into contact with the upper surface of the sheet 48. Afterwards, the sleeve 36 is inserted in the sleeve 26, thereby providing thanks to its depres- sed peripheral edge 47 abutting the sheet 48, a clo¬ se contact of the part of filtering and absorbing material with the same foil. As soon as all the containers have been assembled as described, in the receptacle 45 are introduced the relative cultivations, plants and the mould introduced therein, which are disposed on the up¬ per surface of the sheet 48. In this way, such cul- tivations and plants may be regularly sprinkled with water or rain sprayed thereon, with subsequent penetration of this water in the part 49 of filte¬ ring and absorbing material, by passing through a set of through holes 50 provided laterally of the sheet 48, or through the slots (not shown) in case provided along the outer surface of the sleeve 36, where the water is filtered from the foreign parti¬ cles and absorbed, thereby entering the underlying receptacle 45, from which such water ascends by ca- pillarity through the slots 46 by returning back in the cultivations and plants again, with consequent progressive absorption of this water by the culti¬ vation and plant roots. Now, in the examples from Figs. 18 to 30 it is de- scribed a container in different embodiments, which is provided for being adapted into receptacles or pots having different forms and size, assigned to be covered by modular flooring elements such as ti¬ les and the like, in a way that to permit persons and things to pass thereupon. Such container is introduced preferably into a flat¬ tened lower basin (not shown) , adapted to contain a water supply for irrigating automatically and continuously the overlying cultivations in the man- ners as described, which extends for the entire si¬ ze and has the same form of the respectively provi¬ ded cultivation. In the Figs. 18-22 the present container in an em¬ bodiment thereof is schematically represented, in which it is noted that such container is substan¬ tially formed by a first component part 51, remo¬ vably insertable through a corresponding hole (not indicated) provided through a sheet 52 made of sui- table waterproof or not waterproof material such as for example a plastic material, which is so dimen¬ sioned as to extend almost for the entire surface to be cultivated, and onto which some flooring ele- ments made of suitable rigid material are applied , as well as a second component part 53 removably a- daptable in the first component part 51, in the man¬ ner which will be described later. The first component part 51 of the container accor- ding to the invention (see Figs. 18 and 19) is made substantially as an insert 54 insertable and extrac¬ table removably from the top with respect to the corresponding through hole of the sheet 52 and pro¬ vided with an upper flat flange 55 joined with a de- pressed peripheral edge 56 adapted to be laid on the opposite upper surface of said sheet, thereby delimiting a cavity between the flange and the de¬ pressed edge, adapted to house or not house a sui¬ table liquid filtering and absorbing material 56', as sponge, fabric etc..., and an extended sleeve 57 joined at its upper side with the assembly flange- depressed edge and made with a perimeter smaller than that of said flange and the corresponding through hole of the sheet 52, in order to be able to be inserted with a slight interference through this latter, up to the condition at which the peri¬ pheral edge 56 abuts on the upper surface of the same sheet. Advantageously, the upper surface of the flange 55 is provided with a set of circular reces- ses 58 concentric to each other, defining depres¬ sed surfaces, in order to facilitate the insertion of possible support elements for plants therein. The sleeve 57, which in the present example has a circular form and may be made also with different forms, is shaped for its entire lenght with a plu¬ rality of longitudinal notches 59 equally spaced from each other and entering the inner cavity 60 delimited by the same sleeve, as well as a plura- lity of longitudinal hollows 61 parallel and provi¬ ded at regular intervals from each other along the relative sleeve sectors 62 defined between the one and the other one of the different entering notches 59. These notches 59 and hollows 61 are realized with different forms (in the present example of quadrangular form) , and are provided for the rea¬ sons hereinafter described. In turn, the second component part 53 of the con- tainer according to the invention (see Figs. 20, 21 and 22) is realized substantially as a further in¬ sert 63 provided with a cylindrical and central sle¬ eve 64 having extended form, delimiting an axial through hole 65 having dimensions slightly larger than those of the outer diameter of the sleeve 57 of the insert 54, in order to permit this latter to be inserted through the entire lenght of such hole 65, as well as provided with a plurality of suppor-" ting ribs 66 having the same lenght and equally spa- ced from each other, which are directed radially outwardly from the outer surface of the sleeve 64, and inclined in a divergent manner from the lower to the upper side thereof, thereby defining a lower base 67 to be laid on the bottom of the underlying basin and an upper flange 68 having larger size, ac¬ ting as resting surface for the sheet 52. In this way, such component parts are assembled re¬ ciprocally by arranging firstly the insert 63 on the basin bottom as described, then the sheet 52 and the relative rigid flooring element onto the upper resting surface of the flange 68, and finally by introducing the insert 54 from the top through the correspondent hole of such sheet, up to its sleeve 57 is fully introduced in the through hole 65 of the remaining sleeve 64 as evident from Fig. 22. In this reciprocally assembled condition, then, the notches 59 and hollows 61 of the sleeve 57 respec¬ tively delimite, with the opposite and approached smooth inner surface of the hole 65 of the sleeve 64, some conduits for the flow of drainage water to be introduced in the underlying basin, and conduits for water ascent from such basin towards the culti- vations located outside above the sheet 52, whose lower ends are all communicating with the water sup¬ ply introduced in the basin and whose upper ends a- re all communicating with any possible filtering and absorbing material 56 through corresponding holes having a reduced size (not shown) provided through the sheet 52. In this way, it is possible to use the present container both for filling up the basin with a quantity of water supply, which is introdu¬ ced by passing through the material 56 and the as- sociated draining conduits defined by the longitu¬ dinal notches 59, and for the ascent by capillari¬ ty of this water through the conduits defined by the longitudinal hollows 61, thanks to their redu- • ced sizes, and through such material 56 which pro- vides for absorbing and filtering water from the impurities by distributing then it gradually toward the cultivations and the relative mould. In the practice, in the basin is introduced a water supply whose level is controlled by a suitable le- vel indicator (not shown) , which is enough to irri¬ gate effectively the mould and the plants and cultivations of various kind for a relatively long time period, in a way to keep them in an ambient a- dapted for the growth thereof, with consequent au- tomatic continuous irrigation of the mould, culti¬ vations and plants as soon as the water already in¬ troduced in the mould is absorbed by the roots of such plants and cultivations. By referring now to Fig. 23 and 24, in which a con- tainer according to the invention in another embo¬ diment thereof is shown, it is noted that in this case such container is substantially identical to the previous one, and therefore is marked with the same reference numerals, and differs therefrom in that it is no more combined with a sheet 52 as pre¬ viously, rather with a flat tile 69 made of plastic material and the like, in the present case with qu- adrangular form, provided with a central through hole 70 in which the two above mentioned component parts of the container in accordance to the inven¬ tion are inserted, of which the second component part is provided with radial supporting ribs 66 ha- ving different lenght and such a size as to be a- dapted for the entire extent of each tile. Moreover, such tile is provided with side edges, which are so shaped as to permit various tiles ar¬ ranged adjacent from each other to be coupled toge- ther, and in particular is provided with two depres¬ sed edges 72 having a central slot 73 and two fol¬ ded edges 74, each one of which can be coupled with the corresponding central slot 73 of the depressed - edge 72 of the tile directly contiguous thereto, in a way to form a continuous flooring with a size e- qual to that of the extent of the respective cultivation. By referring now to Figs. 25 and 26 in which the container in accordance to the invention in a fur- ther embodiment thereof is shown, it is noted that in this case the container is formed by a plate 75 made of porous material such as for example concre¬ te, tiles, porous ceramic and the like, serving for the flooring, into which an internally hollow ex- tended sleeve 76 is embedded, in the present case having cylindrical form, whose lower edge 77 is laid on the basin bottom, thereby supporting also the plate 75, and in whose wall a plurality of se¬ parated and reciprocally approached holes 78 with reduced size is provided, which extend for the en¬ tire sleeve lenght and whose lower and upper ends are communicating respectively with the water sup¬ ply introduced in the basin and the material of the plate 75. Then, in this case water is introdu¬ ced in the basin by passing through the porous mate¬ rial of the plate 75 and the central through hole 79 delimited by the sleeve 76, and from such basin it ascends by capillarity through the different through holes 78, and by passing again through the porous material of said plate it arrives finally in the cultivation above the same plate. In the Figs. 27 and 28 is shown now the container in accordance to the invention in a further embodi¬ ment thereof. From such Figures, it is noted that the container is substantially identical to that of the preceding Figures 25 and 26, and differs there¬ from in that in this case the through holes 78 for the water ascent by capillarity are no more provi¬ ded through the sleeve, which here is eliminated, rather through the radial supporting ribs 80 joined centrally to each other, and embedded in the plate • 75 at the upper side thereof and laid at their lo- wer side on the basin bottom again, by performing as before the function of supporting the same pla¬ te. Then, in this case water is introduced in the basin by passing through the porous material of the plate 75 again, and through possible through holes (not shown) provided through such plate (and through the plate of the preceding Figs. 25 and 26 too) , and from such basin it ascends by capil¬ larity through the different through holes 78 of the radial ribs 80, and by passing adequately through the porous material of said plate it ar¬ rives in the overlying cultivation again. In the Figs. 29 and 30 is shown another embodi¬ ment of the present container, which is substan¬ tially identical to that of the preceding Figs. Figs. 27 and 28, except that in this case the plate 75 is replaced by a sheet 52 suitably bored of the type described in the Figs. 18-22, and co¬ vered at its upper side by a cloth 81 of fabric or similar water absorbing material, performing the double function of introducing water in the basin, with subsequent ascent by capillarity thereof as de¬ scribed in the Figs. 27 and 28, and to prevent the cultivation roots from entering the underlying ba¬ sin. Moreover, in accordance to the invention it is also possible to eliminate either the sleeve 76 of Figs. 25 and 26 or the supporting ribs 80 of Figs. 27, 28, 29 and 30, by replacing them with a sponge, porous tile and porous material of other kind, ade¬ quately dimensioned for being introduced in the un¬ derlying basin and adapted to permit water to be introduced in the basin and to ascend by capillari¬ ty toward the overlying cultivation, as well as performing directly the function of supporting also the flooring elements, or combined with suitable supporting structures of these latter, or perfor¬ ming itself the function of supporting the cultiva- ' tions with the mould etc., with the possible inter- position of sheets between these latter and such porous material, which sheets are commonly utilized for preventing the cultivation roots from passing therethrough and contemporaneously permitting the water drainage. Of course, it is also possible to combine to each other the previously described solutions in diffe¬ rent manners, thus without departing from the pro¬ tection field of the present invention. The so realized container provides for the same advantages described for the containers already re¬ ferred to, and also permit any water quantity in excess to be discharged through respective overflow conduits associated with the relative basins. Obviously, several variants may be brought to the described embodiments of the invention, by provi¬ ding for instance water supply realized in manners different than those described, provided that the supply of plants and cultivations is always perfor- med with the above mentioned criteria, thus without departing from the protection field of the present invention. Finally, by referring now to Figs. 31 to 33, shown therein is a modifed item of the container according to the invention, and particularly the first compo¬ nent part 11 shaped as an insert 24 insertable or extractable removably with respect to the recepta¬ cle or pot 23 (see the previous Figs. 9 and 10), whose upper flat flange 25 in this case is provided along its outer periphery with a plurality of fle¬ xible tongues 82, delimited by radial slots 83 of the same lenght provided from the outer peripheral edge of the same flange to a set of through holes 84 arranged along a circular line concentric to the central through opening 27 of the flange 25 and the sleeve 26. These tongues 82 can be folded along cir¬ cular lines of different diameters, from their posi¬ tion shown in Fig. 32 to their position shown in Fig. 33, permitting in this manner the flange 25 to be introduced into receptacles or pots 23 having different inner diameters, without the need to use specific flanges for each diameter of such recepta¬ cles or pots. As evident also from the Fig. 31, in which it is shown a flange 25 folded upward along a circular peripheral diameter, and in which the in¬ sert 34 forming the second component part 12 is in¬ troduced therethrough, such flange 25 always acts as a continuous closing plane separating the upper chamber of the receptacle or pot 23, containing the cultivations and mould, from the lower inner cham¬ ber thereof, containing the water supply and also permits to discharge through the holes 84 the water introduced in this upper chamber toward the lower inner chamber. Furthermore, also in this case the flange 25 may be provided with at least a through hole 85 for the passage of a water level gauge and the drainage water toward the lower chamber.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Container for cultivations of different kind such as plants for pot to be maintained on a protected ambient (tunnels, greenhouses, apart¬ ments and the like) , plants to be cultivated outside such as the nurseries, plants for exhibition areas and to be sold outside, plants to be put in flower-beds, roof-gardens, lawns and the like, said container comprising at least a first and a second component part (11, 51; 12, 53) made of a suitable rigid material such as plastics and similar materials, co-operating to each other and adapted to hold the materials em- ployed for the cultivations like the mould, ex¬ panded clay etc.. and a water supply to be transferred by capillarity toward the cultiva¬ tions and the mould, as well as adaptable into at least a possible receptacle or pot (23, 45) having different forms and dimensions, cha¬ racterized in that said first component part (11, 51) comprises at least a separated insert (24, 54) and said second component part (12, 53) com¬ prises at least a separated additional insert (34, 63), said insert (24, 54) being provided with an upper flange (25, 55) adaptable either in the same receptacle or pot (23, 45) or with at least a flooring element (52, 69) which can be applied above said receptacle or pot (23, 45) and supports at its top the cultivations with the relative mould, manure and the like, said flange (25, 55) being provided with an extended sleeve (26, 57) having a perimeter smaller than that of the same flange, and characterized in that said additional insert (34, 63) is provided with an extended sleeve (36, 6 * 4) which can enga¬ ge the sleeve (26, 57) of said insert (24, 54), in a manner that in the condition of reciprocal engagement of both sleeves (26, 57 ; 36, 64) a passageway for the water from the supply water to the cultivations and mould is provided. 2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the re- ceptacle or pot (23, 45) comprises at least a vertical conduit (15) acting as an overflow con¬ duit at its bottom (14), characterized in that said flange (25) and said sleeve (26) are pro¬ vided with at least a central and axial through opening (27) which passes fully therethrough and is open at its upper and lower side, by defining a circular crown (29) between it and the peri¬ pheral edge of said flange (25) , so that in the condition of insertion of said insert (24) into said receptacle or pot (23, 45) said overflow conduit (15) passes through said through opening (27) and said sleeve (26) rests at its lower si¬ de on the flat bottom (20) of said receptacle or pot (23, 45), defining an inner chamber con- taining said water supply. 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that said circular crown (29) is shaped with a plurality of zigzag inclined walls (30) distri¬ buted radially, provided with a plurality of through slots (31) and at least a hole (32, 33) communicating with the underlying inner chamber and pro ' vided respectively for the passage of wa¬ ter and a correspondent water level gauge. 4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that said additional insert (34, 63) is provided with an upper flange (35, 68) joined with said sleeve (36, 64) and which, on the condition of reciprocal engagement of both sleeves (26, 57; 36, 64) , is either slightly raised with its upper surface with respect to the upper surface of said circular crown (29) , or is laid on the upper surface of said flooring element (52, 69) with a depressed peripheral edge (56) joined thereto. 5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that said sleeve (64) is also provided with a plurality of supporting ribs (66) defining a lo¬ wer base (67) to be laid on the bottom of the underlying receptacle or pot. 6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that said sleeve (36) is provided with a set of lower notches (39, 40) inclined with inclination directions respectively opposite to each other for a portion of height thereof, which subdivi¬ de it in corresponding sectors (41) , as well as a plurality of longitudinal notches (42) along the outer peripheral surface of said sleeve (36) and said sectors (41) , and distributed at regu- lar intervals for the entire height of the same sleeve, as well as communicating at its top with the chamber containing the cultivations and the mould and at its lower side with said inner cham¬ ber, and permitting the supply water to pass therethrough toward said containing chamber. 7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the respective sleeves (26) of each contai¬ ner are inserted through a correspondent hole of a sheet (48) made of suitable waterproof rigid material, so dimensioned as to be adapted at a determinate height within said receptacle or pot (45) , a ' nd provided with through holes (50) , on¬ to which a part (49) of absorbent and filtering material is applied by means of the respective flanges (35) of the sleeves (36), which are sub¬ sequently inserted in the corresponding sleeves (26) . 8. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper flange (55) de- limites with said depressed peripheral edge (56) a cavity for housing a possible liquid filtering and absorbing material (56) such as sponge, fa¬ bric, etc.... 9. Container according to the preceding ci. characterized in that said flooring eleme A comprises at least a sheet (52) made of watt, proof or not waterproof material such as the p. stic material, having rigid material elements ap plied thereon. 10. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said flooring element comprises at least a tile (69) made of plastic material and the like. 11. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (54) is provi¬ ded with an extended sleeve (76) , having a lower edge (77) which is laid on the bottom of said receptacle, and a plurality of holes (78) separa- ted and reciprocally approached, extended for the entire height thereof and communicating at their lower side with said water supply contai¬ ned into said receptacle. 12. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (54) is pro¬ vided a plurality of radial supporting ribs (80) joined centrally to each other, laid at their lower side on the bottom of said receptacle, and provided with a plurality of through holes (78) extended for the entire height thereof and communicating at their lower side with the wa¬ ter supply of said receptacle. 13. Container according to either one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that said additional in- sert (63) , performing the function of said floo¬ ring element, comprises a plate (75) made of po¬ rous material such as for example concrete, ti¬ les, porous ceramic and the like, into which either said extended sleeve (76) or said radial ribs (80) are embedded at their upper side. 14. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (54) and said additional insert (63) comprises at least a po¬ rous material such as a sponge, porous tiles and the like, arranged at the lower side onto said receptacle and covered at the upper side by the cultivations with the mould etc., with a possible interposition of said flooring ele ¬ ment therethrough. 15. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (24) is pro- vided on its outer surface with a plurality of slots (22) , having different lenghts at the le¬ vel of the lower end thereof communicating with said water supply. 16. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper flange (25) of said insert (24) is provided along its outer pe¬ riphery with a plurality of flexible tongues (82), delimited by radial slots (83) of the sa- • me lenght provided from outer peripheral edge of the same flange to a set of through holes (84) arranged along a circular line concentric to the through opening (27) of the flange, said tongues (82) being foldable along circular li¬ nes of different diameters, so as to be adapted into receptacles or pots (23) having different inner diameters.

Inventors: ZANELLA TULLIO, ZANELLA, TULLIO
Applicants: MEDIO PIAVE S R L, ZANELLA TULLIO, MEDIO PIAVE S.R.L., ZANELLA, TULLIO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A01G27
IPC codes: A01G27