Abstract:
The present invention includes an improved planter system that can be located in a variety of locations largely independent of available light and water sources. In at least one embodiment, the invention provides a self-contained planter system, having a water retaining box, an elevated first soil retaining box disposed above the water retaining box; and a drain portal in the soil retaining box adapted to drain into the water retaining box. A pump provides water recirculation from the water retaining box to the soil retaining box using water that drains from the soil retaining box into the water retaining box. A light mounted above the soil retaining box provides light independent of ambient conditions. The invention can also include a stacked array of soil containing boxes where excess water in a higher soil retaining box drains onto a lower soil retaining box and then to the water retaining box.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to planters. More specifically, the invention relates to planter systems having an integrated source of water.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Planter systems are as old as dirt. As society became more settled and inhabitants of buildings and homes realized the benefits of bringing the plants inside, planter systems moved inside. The challenge became providing a sufficient amount of light and water to allow the plants to thrive at least as well as they could outside.  
         [0003]     Typically, the plants are placed adjacent a lighted window and hand watered. Hand watering entails bringing the plant to a faucet for water if it is small or bringing a water container to the plant if it is large. In many situations, neither the light is conveniently located to the plant nor is watering conducted on a regular basis. In either case, the location and health of the plant is limited.  
         [0004]     These limitations are especially problematic to landscape designers and architects planning lobbies, walkways, and other accessible areas. The building design or the aesthetics or both are sometimes compromised depending on the available light and convenience of watering sources adjacent a large array of plants.  
         [0005]     Thus, there remains a need for an improved planter system that can be flexibly located independent of available light sources and available water sources.  
       SUMMARY OF THEE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention includes an improved planter system that can be located in a variety of locations largely independent of available light and water sources. In at least one embodiment, the invention provides a self-contained planter system, having a water retaining box, an elevated first soil retaining box disposed above the water retaining box; and a drain portal in the soil retaining box adapted to drain into the water retaining box. A pump provides water recirculation from the water retaining box to the soil retaining box using water that drains from the soil retaining box into the water retaining box. A light mounted above the soil retaining box provides light independent of ambient conditions. The invention can also include a stacked array of soil containing boxes where excess water in a higher soil retaining box drains onto a lower soil retaining box and then to the water retaining box.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, the invention provides a self-contained planter system, comprising a water retaining box; an elevated first soil retaining box disposed above at least a portion of the water retaining box; and a drain portal disposed in a lower portion of the soil retaining box and above at least the portion of the water retaining box, and adapted to drain into the water retaining box.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, the invention also provides a self-contained planter system, comprising: a water retaining box; an elevated first soil retaining box disposed at least partially above the water retaining box, and a drain portal disposed in a lower portion of the first soil retaining box and above the water retaining box; an elevated second soil retaining box disposed at least partially above the first soil retaining box and a drain portal disposed in a lower portion of the second soil retaining box and above the first soil retaining box; a water line coupled to at least the second soil retaining box; a pump coupled to the water retaining box to pump water at least to the second soil retaining box through the water line; and a light mounted above the first soil retaining box and below the second elevated soil retaining box.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     A more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, can be realized by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings and described herein. However, it is to be noted that the appended drawings illustrate only some embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the drawings are not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional schematic side view of one embodiment of a self-contained planter system.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional schematic side view of the self-contained planter system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the self-contained planter system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front schematic view of the self-contained planter system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional schematic side view of one embodiment of a self-contained planter system.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional schematic side view of the self-contained planter system of  FIG. 1 . Similar elements are similarly labeled and the figures will be described together. A self-contained planter system  10  includes at least one water retaining box  12  and at least one soil retaining box, such as a first soil retaining box  14 . The system can be relocated in some embodiments to locations that would otherwise be adverse to a plant&#39;s growth. The self-contained planter system overcomes the heretofore location barrier by providing a water recycling system and in some embodiments a light to assist in the plant&#39;s growth. Some embodiments include a stacked array of other soil retaining boxes, such as a second solar retaining box  18  that is higher than the first soil retaining box  14 . Further, a third soil retaining box  20  may be included in the system that generally would be higher than the second soil retaining box  18 . A columnar support  16  assists in supporting the various boxes. Further, the various boxes can be height-adjustable for a given location, a particular plant, or other preferences.  
         [0015]     As an example of a water retaining box, the water retaining box  12  contains a bottom  22  and sides  24  that retain a quantity of water  28  therein. The term “water” as used herein includes pure water or mixtures of water with other fluids. A water fill opening  26  is provided in the side  24  of the water retaining box  12  to provide make-up water to the system. An optional float control  30  can be provided in the system to control the amount of water  28  in the water retaining box  12 . In at least one embodiment, the bottom  22  can include a sloped surface  32  that moves the water toward one portion of the water retaining box  12 .  
         [0016]     Further, the water retaining box can include a pump landing  34 . A pump  36  is disposed on the pump landing  34  to pump the water  28  to other portions of the planter system. In at least one embodiment, the pump  36  can pump the water through a water line  38  that is coupled to one or more of the soil retaining boxes  14 ,  18 ,  20  through various branch water lines. Such branch water lines include, for example, water line  70 , which can provide water to the first soil retaining box  14 , and water line  90  which can provide water to the second soil retaining box  18 . The term “coupled,” “coupling,” and like terms are used broadly herein and can include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon or therein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example, mechanically, fluidicly, magnetically, electrically, chemically, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of members together and can further include integrally forming one functional member with another.  
         [0017]     In at least one embodiment, a conveniently located valve  40  is provided in the water retaining box to assist in flushing out or emptying water from the water retaining box  12 . The valve  40 , such as a ball valve, is coupled to a drain  41  that is sealingly coupled to the water retaining box to allow water to drain therethrough. Further, the valve outlet can include a threadable connection, such as a hose bib to connect to a hose to assist in draining. The valve, hose bib, and other equipment can be housed in an enclosure  42 , which can be attractively concealed with an access plate. An auxiliary outlet  43  can also be included in the water retaining box  12 . The auxiliary outlet can be used to provide water for other resources.  
         [0018]     The first soil retaining box  14  is disposed at least partially above the water retaining box  12 . The first soil retaining box  14  contains soil  52  for growing one or more plants  54 . The term “soil” as used herein includes any growing media that will support plant life. The soil retaining box  14  can include a soil filter  56  disposed in lower portions of the soil retaining box  14 . A soil filter  56  assists in retaining soil in the soil retaining box  14  while allowing water to drain therethrough. The soil retaining box  14  can also include a support  58  disposed in the lower portions of the soil retaining box  14 . The support  58  provides support for the soil filter  56  and also allows water drainage 2 .  
         [0019]     Further, the soil retaining box  14  can include a drain portal  62  disposed in the lower portion of the box. Generally, the drain portal  62  is disposed below the support  58  and fluidicly coupled thereto, so that water draining through the filter  56  and the support  58  can drain through the portal  62 . The drain portal  62  is generally formed in the bottom  60  of the soil retaining box  14 , but can be formed in other portions of the box. Advantageously, the drain portal  62  is generally aligned above a box underneath it, such as the water retaining box  12 . The drain portal can be any size, as may architecturally or structurally be appropriate. In some embodiments, the drain portal  62  can include multiple outlets, such that the function of the soil filter  56  and/or the support  58  can be subsumed with the drain portal.  
         [0020]     A water line  70  can be disposed in some portion of the soil retaining box  14 . In some embodiments, the water line  70  may be subsurface to the soil  52 . A light  80  can be disposed above the soil retaining box  14 . The light  80  can be of any appropriate size and intensity as may assist in plant growth. In some embodiments, the light  80  can be a grow light that replicates the light spectrum of sunlight.  
         [0021]     A power panel  82  can advantageously provide a junction for the various electrical devices included in the self-contained planter system  10 . Such devices include the pump  36 , the light  80 , any timers, and other associated equipment known to those with ordinary skill in the art. The power panel can include an electrical cord for plugging into an appropriate electrical outlet. A control panel  84  can be mounted in some appropriate location, such as on one of the soil retaining boxes. The control panel  84  generally can include a clock timer, a control for pumping, a control for lighting, and any other devices needing operator input or indication. The control panel can include a faceplate.  
         [0022]     Some embodiments of the invention may include only one soil retaining box  14  disposed at least partially above the water retaining box  14 . In other embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , multiple soil retaining boxes can be used. Other soil retaining boxes can be similarly constructed, as has been described above for the soil retaining box  14 . In general, the second soil retaining box  18  can include a bottom and sides, a soil filter, a support, and a drain portal  88 . The drain portal  88  can be conveniently disposed in the lower portions of the second soil retaining box, such as in the bottom  86  of the box.  
         [0023]     The light  80  can be disposed below the second soil retaining box, so that the light can shine on the first soil retaining box, when the second soil retaining box is situated higher than the first soil retaining box. Similarly, a second light  92  can be disposed below the third soil retaining box  20 , allowing the light  92  to shine on a growing area of the second soil retaining box  18 . A water line  90  can be coupled to the water line  38  from the pump  36  to allow water to be pumped to the second soil retaining box  18 .  
         [0024]     The third soil retaining box  20  can include similar features, such as sides, bottom, soil filter, support, drain portal, water line, light, and other features as have been described above. Generally, a higher soil retaining box is aligned above a lower retaining box, so that the drain portals can drain excess water to the lower soil retaining box.  
         [0025]     In operation, water can be placed in the water retaining box  12 , such as through the water fill opening  26 . In some embodiments, the water level can be automatically maintained by coupling the water retaining box to a water supply. In other embodiments, the water retaining box can be replenished with water at periodic intervals. The control panel  84  can be programmed to operate in a manual or automatic mode, for example, using the pump  36  to pump water through the various water lines, and lights to provide lighting. The water line  38  can provide water up to the water line  70  that can drain water into the first soil retaining box  14 . Excess water drains through the soil filter  56 , the support  58 , the drain portal  62 , and back into the water retaining box  12 . Likewise, the light  80  can be activated at desired intervals to assist plant growth, independent of ambient lighting.  
         [0026]     If a second soil retaining box  18  is included in the system, water from the water line  38  can also flow into the water line  90  to provide water to the second soil retaining box  18 . Excess water in the second soil retaining box  18  can drain through the soil, the filter, the support, and the drain portal  88 . Since the drain portal  88  of the second soil retaining box  18  is generally aligned with the first soil retaining box  14 , excess water draining through the drain portal  88  can fall on the soil or plants in the first soil retaining box  14 . Any excess water can thence drain through the drain portal  62  of the first soil retaining box  14  and back into the water retaining box  12 , as has been described. A similar process can occur for the third soil retaining box  20 .  
         [0027]     If the water retaining box  12  is to be drained, as in relocation, cleaning, or other maintenance functions, the drain  41  can be used to drain the water out through an open valve  40 . For convenience, a hose can be attached to the valve  40  to suitably dispose of the water in a selected location.  
         [0028]     In some embodiments, the self-contained planter system  10  can include a structural bollard  94 . The structural bollard is generally a structural piece of relative considerable weight and strength that adds stability to the self-contained planter system. The bollard can also provide for force protection against oncoming objects that could damage the planter system  10 . A sufficiently sized bollard could provide protection from misguided objects that could injure occupants in a building. For example, an architect may choose to locate the self-contained planter system near a large window to provide some protection against someone or something trying to crash through the large window into the occupied area. The bollard  94  can be structurally embedded inside the columnar support  16  for aesthetic reasons or can be mounted to an exterior surface of the self-contained planter system.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the self-contained planter system of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the general layout of the self-contained planter system from the side view as might be seen by an occupant of a building or other location where the self-contained planter system is located. Various plants  54  can be planted in the first soil retaining box  14  and other soil retaining boxes  18 ,  20 , as appropriate. The enclosure  42  can be accessed for suitable operation, such as draining, described herein. The power panel  82  is generally mounted in some appropriate location on the self-contained planter system, such as along the columnar support  16 , and having an appropriate power cord for connecting to the power outlet. The control panel  84  can be disposed at some aesthetically pleasing location that will allow an operator access. The lights  80 ,  92  can be disposed at an appropriate location such as below a higher soil retaining box but above a lower soil retaining box upon which the respective light is to shine.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a front schematic view of the self-contained planter system of  FIG. 1 . The shape of the various structural elements, such as the water retaining box, the soil retaining boxes, and the columnar support, can vary as may be appropriate for a particular architectural effect or location. Thus, the shapes shown are only exemplary. The shapes can be rectangular, square, oval, rounded or sharp-cornered, and other various shapes. Aesthetically, the water retaining box  12  and first soil retaining box  14  can be fitted into a single enclosure. The columnar support  16  can support one or more of the soil retaining boxes, such as the second and third soil retaining boxes, described herein. Further, the columnar support  16  can provide adjustable heights to which the soil retaining boxes can be situated. The enclosure  42  can be disposed at some portion of the water retaining box  12  and the control panel  84  can be disposed at some appropriate location to allow operator access.  
         [0031]     While the foregoing is directed to various embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. Other embodiments within the scope of the claims herein will be apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention as disclosed herein. For example, multiple columnar supports can be used. It is intended that the specification, together with the example, be considered exemplary only, with the scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the claims that follow.  
         [0032]     The various methods and embodiments of the invention can be included in combination with each other to produce variations of the disclosed methods and embodiments, as would be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art, given the understanding provided herein. Also, various aspects of the embodiments could be used in conjunction with each other to accomplish the understood goals of the invention. Also, the directions such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” and other directions and orientations are described herein for clarity in reference to the figures and are not to be limiting of the actual device or system or use of the device or system. Unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, should be understood to imply the inclusion of at least the stated element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof, and not the exclusion of a greater numerical quantity or any other element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof. The device or system may be used in a number of directions and orientations. Further, the order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split into multiple steps. Additionally, the headings herein are for the convenience of the reader and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0033]     Further, any references mentioned in the application for this patent as well as all references listed in the information disclosure originally filed with the application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent such may be deemed essential to support the enabling of the invention. However, to the extent statements might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of the invention, such statements are expressly not meant to be considered as made by the Applicant.