Abstract:
A gardening bed includes a frame and a structural panel coupled to the frame. The panel includes at least two interconnected layers of polymer material, at least one channel defined between the layers, the channel having an opening into which a fluid may be poured, and at least one reservoir defined between the layers in which fluid poured through the channel may accumulate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to planters, and more particularly to raised bed planters having means for wicking water from a reservoir into the planter. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wicking or self-watering planters typically include an enclosure for receiving soil and plant material therein, a reservoir for storing water, and at least one wick extending between the reservoir and the soil for diffusing water from the reservoir into the soil. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention provides, in one aspect, a gardening bed including a frame and a structural panel coupled to the frame. The panel includes at least two interconnected layers of polymer material, at least one channel defined between the layers, the channel having an opening into which a fluid may be poured, and at least one reservoir defined between the layers in which fluid poured through the channel may accumulate. 
         [0004]    The invention provides, in another aspect, a structural panel for a gardening bed. The structural panel includes a first portion, a second portion extending generally perpendicularly from the first portion, and at least one channel extending through the first portion. The channel has an opening into which a fluid may be poured and at least one reservoir in which fluid poured through the channel may accumulate. 
         [0005]    Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gardening bed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the gardening bed of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a structural panel of the gardening bed of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the gardening bed taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of water being poured into a structural panel of the gardening bed of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0011]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a gardening bed  10  including a frame  14  and an enclosure  18  supported on the frame  14  and configured to receive soil and plant matter therein. The enclosure  18  is defined by first and second structural side panels  22 ,  26 , and first and second spaced end panels  30 ,  34  coupled to the frame  14 . A stand  38  including a pair of generally V-shaped support members  42  may support the gardening bed  10  in an elevated position. In some embodiments, the stand  38  may be removed to allow the gardening bed  10  to be positioned directly on a ground surface. 
         [0013]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the structural side panels  22 ,  26  are made of first and second interconnected sheets  46 ,  50  of a heat-shrinkable polymer material. The interconnected sheets  46 ,  50  may define a self-corrugating polymer panel such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2014/0087145, 2014/0087146, and 2014/0087147, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0014]    Before assembling the enclosure, each of the sheets  46 ,  50  is uniaxially stretched to impart direction or orientation in the polymer chains. The sheets  46 ,  50  are oriented so that the stretched direction of the first sheet  46  is generally perpendicular to the stretched direction of the second sheet  50 . A radio frequency (RF) or other suitable welding process is used to create weld spots  54  that permanently bond the sheets  46 ,  50  at evenly-spaced intervals. The sheets  46 ,  50  are then heated, causing them to shrink along orthogonal axes. This creates undulations  58  in each of the sheets  46 ,  50  between adjacent weld spots  54 . 
         [0015]    With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the undulations  58  in the first sheet  46  define a first plurality of channels  62  extending in a first direction  66  and the undulations  58  in the second sheet  50  define a second plurality of channels  70  extending in a second direction  74  that is orthogonal to the first direction  66 . As described in greater detail below, these channels  62 ,  70  allow fluid to flow through the structural side panels  22 ,  26  and to be stored within the panels  22 ,  26 . 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each of the structural side panels  22 ,  26  has a generally L-shaped cross-section and includes a first or vertical portion  78 , a second or bottom portion  82 , and a bend  84  between the vertical and bottom portions  78 ,  82 . The illustrated bend  84  defines an included angle θ ( FIG. 4 ) of about 90 degrees such that the bottom portions  82  are horizontal; however, in other embodiments the angle θ may vary. The vertical portions  78  define side walls  86 ,  90  of the enclosure  18 , and the bottom portions  82  collectively define a bottom wall  94  ( FIG. 2 ) of the enclosure  18  for supporting soil and plant material thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the structural side panels  22 ,  26  is made of a single, continuous polymer panel that is thermoformed into the illustrated shape after undergoing the heat-shrinking process described above. In other embodiments, the side panels  22 ,  26  may be made of multiple discrete segments joined together (e.g., using a polymer welding process, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, etc.). 
         [0017]    The first channels  62  extend continuously through the vertical and bottom portions  78 ,  82  of the side panels  22 ,  26  ( FIG. 4 ). In the vertical portions  78 , the first channels  62  include openings  98  into which fluid, such as water or a water and nutrient mixture, may be poured. In the bottom portions  82 , the channels  62 ,  70  define a reservoir  102  in which the fluid poured through the vertical portions  78  may accumulate. Wicks  106  extend upward from the reservoir  102  and into the soil. The wicks  106  can draw fluid from the reservoir  102  via capillary action to diffuse the fluid into the soil. 
         [0018]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the illustrated gardening bed  10  also includes an overflow trough or vessel  110  located between and beneath the bottom portions  82  of the side panels  22 ,  26 . The overflow trough  110  collects any excess fluid that cannot be accommodated within the volume of the reservoir  102 . Each of the side panels  22 ,  26  includes a second bend  104  to direct fluid from the reservoir  102  into the trough  110 . The trough  110  may be removable for manual emptying or may include a valve, hose connector, or other means for draining fluid from the trough. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the bends  104  may pinch the channels  62 , creating a restriction to impede the fluid from freely flowing out of the reservoir  102 . As such, excess fluid may only flow out of the reservoir  102  when there is sufficient pressure or head (e.g., due to excess fluid building up in the vertical portions  78  of the panels  22 ,  26 ) to force the fluid through the bends  104  . Alternatively or additionally, the angle θ may be reduced so that the fluid is retained in the reservoir under the influence of gravity. 
         [0020]    In operation, a user fills the enclosure  18  of the gardening bed  10  with soil and plant material, such as seeds, seedlings, and the like. As an alternative to pouring water directly on the soil, the user may pour water into the openings  98  in the side panels  22 ,  26  ( FIG. 5 ). The water circulates downward through the channels  62  (i.e., between the interconnected polymer sheets  46 ,  50 ) and accumulates in the reservoir  102  located in the bottom portions  82  of the side panels  22 ,  26  ( FIG. 4 ). The bottom ends of the wicks  106  are immersed in the accumulated water, causing water to be drawn upward and into the soil by capillary action. Excess water may be discharged from the reservoir  102  and into the overflow trough  110 . In the illustrated embodiment, the structural side panels  22 ,  26  are semi-transparent, enabling the user to visually monitor the water level in the reservoir  102  and avoid over-watering. 
         [0021]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.