Abstract:
A lightweight portable garden container consists of a space frame that supports a flexible waterproof liner such that the floor of the flexible liner is elevated above the ground. The flexible liner includes a plurality of drain holes formed in the bottom surface that are attached to a manifold for collecting water draining from the flexible liner. The manifold drains into a closed reservoir which is attached to a pump that recirculates water from the reservoir back into to the container for irrigating the plants growing therein. The raised floor facilitates gardening at a comfortable level, while the recirculation system minimizes the amount of wasted water.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to portable containers, more specifically to portable containers for containing soil for the purpose of growing vegetables, flowers or other plants. 
         [0002]    Portable garden boxes are well known in the art. Gardening is a popular pastime in both urban and rural areas and portable garden boxes enable a garden to be established quickly in areas that otherwise would not support a garden. Portable garden boxes with raised floors permit the garden surface to be raised to a convenient level for gardening without stooping or bending over for protracted periods of time, however, the raised floor necessitates the garden box be of heavier construction to support the raised floor, thus adversely impacting the portability of the garden box. In arid regions of the world it is also important to conserve water as much as possible. Establishing a proper watering schedule (e.g., deep watering in the very early morning) helps eliminate water lost through evaporation, but does nothing to conserve water that drains into the ground away from the roots of the garden plants. 
         [0003]    Prior art raised-floor portable garden boxes include U.S. Pat. No. 1,420,191 to Hassig, which comprises a plurality of rigid side and bottom panels made of a mixture of asbestos and cement supported by rigid corner pieces that are assembled to form an enclosure. A drip pan is provided to collect water that drains out of the drain hole but no provision is made for conserving the water collected. Moreover, although the garden box of Hassig is portable in the broad sense of capable of being moved, a garden box made of concrete and asbestos panels is not likely to be considered portable in the modern sense of capable of being transported in the trunk of a car and assembled by a single hobbyist. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,522 to Marchioro discloses a modular flower box having post and wall elements that are connected by reversible anchoring elements that enable the modular boxes to be connected in various shapes to allow substantial gardening units to be installed in building lobbies and the like. The modular flower box of Marchioro does not have a raised floor or any provision for conserving water. U.S. patent application US 2007/0151150 to Sandoval discloses a portable garden box with protective fence comprising a rigid tub with a protective screen to exclude small animals. The rigid tub includes a plurality of drain holes, however, no provision is made for raising the floor of the tub above the supporting surface or for conserving water. 
         [0005]    No prior art garden box addresses the issue of water lost into the ground beyond the reach of the garden plants&#39; roots and none have achieved a satisfactory balance of incorporating a raised floor with lightweight construction necessary for portability. Accordingly, what is needed is a portable garden box that has a floor raised above the ground or other supporting surface and which recycles the water that drains from the garden box so that only the water that is actually absorbed by the plants or lost through evaporation must be replaced from an external water source. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention satisfies the foregoing need by providing a lightweight portable garden container comprising a space frame that supports a flexible waterproof liner such that the floor of the flexible liner is elevated above the supporting surface. According to an embodiment of the invention, the flexible liner includes a plurality of drain holes formed in the bottom surface that are attached to a manifold for collecting water draining from the flexible liner. The manifold drains into a closed reservoir which is attached to a pump that recirculates water from the reservoir back into to the container for irrigating the plants growing therein. The reservoir may include filters to filter detritus from the recirculated water and a float valve for admitting make-up water necessary to compensate for water lost through evaporation and absorption by the plants growing in the container. The container may include side panels that can be closed and locked to exclude cats, rabbits and other pests and may also include roof for supporting a renewable energy source such as a photovoltaic cell or wind generator for powering the pump, timer and associated electronics. The raised floor of the portable container enables the surface of the soil within the container to be raised to a convenient level for enjoyable gardening without using an unnecessarily large volume of soil while at the same time providing an appropriate sheltered area beneath the garden box for containing the reservoir pump, battery and associated hardware. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The present invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like references designate like elements and, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable container incorporating features of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the portion of  FIG. 1  indicated by reference  2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged portion of the portion of  FIG. 1  indicated by reference  3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of the portable container of  FIG. 1  with the roof and liner removed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the roof portion of the portable container of  FIG. 1  showing details of the space frame construction; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of the reservoir and pump assembly of the portable container of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the reservoir and pump assembly of the portable container of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a portable garden box  10  comprises a space frame  12  supporting a flexible waterproof liner  14 , which is adapted to contain a quantity of soil for growing vegetables, flowers or other plants. Space frame  12  is composed of a plurality of vertical upright members  16 , a plurality of horizontal floor joist members  18  and a plurality of horizontal beam members  20  assembled together to form a box-like enclosure as shown in  FIG. 4 . The elements of space frame  12  preferable comprise 1¼ inch diameter lightweight plastic pipe made of a material with good ultraviolet resistance such as ABS, Nylon 6/6, Acetal, PET or PPO, or may comprise ordinary PVC pipe coated or treated for UV resistance. 
         [0016]    Upright members  16 , joist members  18  and beam members  20  may be assembled by any conventional technique (e.g., adhesives, fasteners, fusion welding, etc.) but in the illustrative embodiment are assembled by means of three-way, four-way, and five-way Tees together with or without a solvent-adhesive such as PVC cement. The volume enclosed by the box-like enclosure defined by space frame  12  may be of any convenient size, but in the illustrative embodiment comprises an enclosure approximately 48 inches by 48 inches by 18 inches. Additional length and/or width can be added to space frame  12  simply by inserting additional upright members  16 , joist members  18  and beam members  20  to lengthen the assembly as necessary. A plurality of leg members  22  are attached to space frame  12  at appropriate locations, typically directly beneath upright members  16 . Leg members  22  may be attached to space frame  12  in any convenient manner but in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1  are attached to space frame  12  by means of four-way and five-way Tees. Leg members  22  are preferable adjustable in length (e.g., by pin and hole attachments or by a telescoping thread) to enable space frame  12  to be leveled on an irregular surface. 
         [0017]    A floor  24  is provided to support the weight of the soil contained within liner  14 . Floor  24  comprises a plurality of fabric straps  26  that are looped around joist members  18  and interlaced across the span of floor  24  to provide a substantially solid surface for supporting liner  14 . Liner  14 , which rests on floor  24  comprises a thin flexible membrane composed of suitable material such as UV resistant ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polycarbonate or fluoropolymer sheet stitched or welded to form an open rectangular container. The upper ends of liner  14  are formed into pockets  28 . Beam members  20  are passed through pockets  28  to support the upper edge of liner  14 . Alternatively, the fabric may be wrapped around and secured with hook and loop fasteners to create pockets. Fabric straps  26  may be formed of any suitable natural or synthetic fabric such as cotton fibers, nylon 6/6, aramid fibers or polypropylene fibers. As can be discerned from  FIG. 4 , in addition to supporting liner  14 , the tension in fabric straps  26  also tends to hold space frame  12  together, thereby eliminating the need for fasteners. 
         [0018]    The center portion of liner  14  includes a flanged throat (not shown) that extends upward and surrounds center support  30  up to a level approximately equal to the level of upper edge of liner  14 . The throat formed in liner  14  allows liner  14  to remain watertight while at the same time permitting center support  30  to pass through liner  14  for reasons that are discussed more fully hereinafter. 
         [0019]    Space frame  12  further includes an awning  32 . Awning  32  is preferable formed of a woven synthetic material having good ultraviolet resistance such as Nylon 6/6, PTFE, PPO or PET stretched over a roof frame  34  ( FIG. 5 ). Roof frame  34  is of similar construction to space frame  12 , consisting of a plurality of roof frame members  36  assembled with elbows  38  and Tees  40  to form a substantially rigid structure. The center Tee  40  is supported by center support  30  to provide the necessary rigidity to enable roof frame  34  to support a renewable energy source such as solar panel  42  or a wind turbine (not shown). Awning  32  may include pockets sewn into the fabric through which roof frame members  36  pass to secure awning  32  to roof frame  34 . Alternatively, fabric straps with fasteners (e.g., hooks, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, etc.) may be used to secure awning  32  to roof frame  34 . The entirety of awning  32  and roof frame  34  is attached to and supported by a plurality of vertical struts  46 . Each of vertical struts  46  is attached to an upright member  16  by means of an elbow  50  which is threaded and pinned into a Tee fitting  52  attached to upright member  16 . Vertical strut  46  is in turn received by elbow  50  and attached by conventional means such as clevis pin  54  which holds vertical strut  46  in a proper angular orientation relative to space frame  12 . The upper ends of vertical struts  46  are held in a rigid, spaced-apart configuration by means of a plurality of horizontal struts  48  attached to the upper ends  56  of vertical struts  46  thereby forming a substantially rigid structure for supporting roof frame  34 . 
         [0020]    Garden box  10  further includes a plurality of side panels  66  comprising a side panel frame  68  supporting a side panel screen  70 . Side panel frame  66  is of similar construction to space frame  12  and is preferable hinged to horizontal strut  46  by means of a loosely fitting so-called “hinge” Tee  72 . Side panel frame  68  may be permanently attached to hinge Tee  72  or may be attached by temporary means such as pin  74  which may be a conventional clevis pin, hitch pin, ball pin, etc. Side panels  66  can be secured in their closed position by means of a spring loaded pin  76  which engages an open end  78  of side panel frame  68 . When latched in their closed positions, side panels  66  protect the garden from garden pests such as rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, cats and the like. 
         [0021]    Side panels  66  may be retained in an open configuration by means of wire stays  80 , each of which comprises a Z-shaped piece of spring wire passing through a hole in vertical strut  46 . The opposite end of the wire passes through a similar hole in side panel frame  68 . Wire stay may be retained to vertical strut  46  by means of a conventional push fastener, e-clip or similar means. The spring tension in wire stay  80  urges it toward side panel frame  68  so that it remains engaged to hold side panel  66  in the open position without additional fasteners. 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an important aspect of the present invention is the capability of recycling water that has been used to irrigate the plants growing in garden box  10 . To that end there is provided a manifold  90  having a plurality of inlets  92  which couple to corresponding flanges (not shown) formed in the bottom surface of liner  14 . Suitable wire mesh screens may be incorporated into the flanges to prevent large debris from entering inlets  92 . Manifold  90  is coupled to a closed reservoir  94  such that water draining from liner  14  through inlets  92  will collect in reservoir  94 . As used herein, “closed” reservoir means the reservoir is substantially sealed to minimize water lost through evaporation and therefore is closed on all sides with the exception of an inlet leading from the manifold, an outlet to the pump, an inlet to the float valve and, optionally an overflow vent as described hereinafter. 
         [0023]    Reservoir  94  may comprise a rigid structure formed of a suitable plastic material such as PPO, PET or ABS or may comprise a flexible bladder formed of an elastomeric material such as polyurethane. Reservoir  94  may also include a float valve  96  which admits water from a water source such as a water tank, well or other pressurized source of water to ensure the water within reservoir  94  is sufficient for irrigating the contents of garden box  10 . A pump  98  draws water from reservoir  94  in response to an external signal such as a watering timer or preferable a moisture sensor embedded in the soil contained within liner  14 . Pump  98  discharges the water through irrigation line  100  which passes through the center of center support  30  and terminates in one or more sprinkler nozzles  102 . Filter  104  ensures sediment collecting in reservoir  94  does not enter pump  98 . A power/control module  108  provides power (battery or plug-in) as well as control signals (sprinkler timer or moisture sensor, etc.) to operate pump  98  at the appropriate time for irrigating the contents of garden box  10 . 
         [0024]    As can be determined from the foregoing, the garden box  10  in accordance with the present invention is lightweight, portable, and can be assembled with a relatively small amount of soil. Yet, because of the raised floor, the surface of the garden will be at an elevated level for easy gardening. In operation, in response to an external signal such as a moisture sensor embedded in the soil or a sprinkler timer, pump  98  will pump water from reservoir  94  through irrigation line  100  to be discharged through sprinkler nozzles  102  to irrigate the contents of garden box  10 . Because the garden box has a raised floor and a manifold for collecting water draining from the garden box, water that is not absorbed by the plants growing in the garden or lost through evaporation (which otherwise would be lost in through percolation into the soil) is captured and stored for subsequent irrigation cycles. The floor of the planter is raised. Accordingly, the water recovery system is conveniently located above ground and the reclamation process occurs naturally through gravity flow. Because a substantial portion of the water that would otherwise be lost is reclaimed, the present invention minimizes the amount of make-up water that must be supplied from other sources (which in rural, arid regions without municipal water supplies may be scarce). 
         [0025]    Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the invention. For example, although the illustrative embodiment includes a manifold with multiple inlets, if the liner is provided with only a single drain, the manifold could be a single drain tube leading to a closed reservoir. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law. Additionally, as used herein, unless otherwise specifically defined, the terms “substantially” or “generally” when used with mathematical concepts or measurements mean within ±10 degrees of angle or within 10 percent of the measurement, whichever is greater.