Patent Publication Number: US-2015059244-A1

Title: Planting device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a planting device which allows covering of a generally vertically extending face or surface with e.g. growing plant, typically for use in wall surface greening. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As prior-art document information relating to a planting device of the above-noted type, there is Patent Document 1 identified below. According to this Patent Document 1, a planting container includes a front plate having a square shape in its front view and a back plate having the same shape, the front and back plates being fixed to each other with bolts, nuts, etc., with a water-absorbent matrix being sandwiched therebetween. At multiple portions in its front plate, the planting container includes planting rack portions which are opened obliquely upwards. As the container described above is mounted to a wall surface by means of e.g. a wire, this is useable as a planting container for wall surface greening. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-239878 (paragraphs 0041-0043, FIG. 1, FIG. 2). 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     Problem to be Solved by Invention 
     However, with the planting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a complicated form having the front plate and the back plate fixed to each other with bolts, nuts, etc. with the water-absorbent matrix sandwiched therebetween. Hence, it was difficult for a user to e.g. change the configuration of the planting device. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     Then, in view of the problem presented by the above-illustrated conventional art, the object of the present invention is to provide a planting device that allows relatively easy change of the configuration thereof. 
     According to a characterizing feature of a planting device proposed by the present invention, the planting device comprises: 
     one or multiple planting containers, each having a water storage portion capable of storing an amount of planting water therein and a planting space capable of mounting a water-absorbent planting bed material, the container being capable of forming, at least on a side of its front face, an opening portion exposing the planting bed material therethrough; and 
     a frame member capable of surrounding and supporting the one or multiple planting containers, with the one or multiple planting containers being detachably attachable thereto; 
     wherein the planting container forms a projection in a portion of an outer circumference thereof and the frame member includes, in an outer circumference thereof, an interlocking opening portion to be engaged with the projection. 
     With the planting device having the above-described characterizing feature, it is possible to obtain a planting device having superior aesthetic feature simply by causing the planting container(s) to be surrounded and supported by the frame member which is provided with a desired outer appearance. Moreover, as the frame member is detachably attachable to the planting container(s), various modes of use are made possible such as change to a frame member having a different color and using the planting container(s) and the planting bed member alone in combination, with detachment of the frame member from the planting container(s) when necessary. In these ways, the configuration of the planting device can be changed relatively easily. 
     Further, with the planting device having the above-described characterizing feature, when the frame member is to be attached to the planting container(s), the interlocking opening portion formed in the outer circumference of the frame member can be engaged with the projection formed at a portion of the outer circumference of the planting container. Hence, inadvertent detachment of the planting container(s) from the frame member is prevented. 
     Further, even when the frame member is formed of a material which is non-transparent and colorful, via a transparent water-level checking portion of the planting container which is viewed through the interlocking opening portion of the frame member, the level of the amount of planting water stored in the water storage portion inside the planting container can be checked. 
     According to a further characterizing feature of the present invention, an overflow pipe for discharging an amount of the planting water over a predetermined level is formed integral with the planting container. 
     With this arrangement, as there is integrally formed an overflow pipe for discharging an amount of the planting water supplied to the water storage portion in excess of the predetermined level, it is readily possible to prevent a situation of an excessive amount of planting water stored in the water storage portion. 
     According to a still further characterizing feature of the present invention, the projection comprises a lower end of the overflow pipe. 
     With this arrangement, when the planting container is used in combination with the frame member, engagement takes place between the lower end of the overflow pipe and the interlocking opening portion of the frame member, so that inadvertent detachment of the planting container from the frame member can be prevented effectively. Further, with this arrangement, when the overflow pipe is used, it is possible to cause an amount of planting water flowing down the overflow pipe to be discharged smoothly through the interlocking opening portion of the frame member. 
     According to a still further characterizing feature of the present invention, the overflow pipe is formed with an inclination relative to the perpendicular line as viewed in its front view. 
     Even in the case of an embodiment wherein two or more planting containers are vertically stacked and an excess amount of planting water supplied to the upper planting container is supplied through the overflow pipe into the lower planting container via an opening portion formed in an upper face of this lower planting container, with the above-described arrangement, since the overflow pipe is formed with an inclination relative to the perpendicular line as viewed in its front view, the opening portion disposed in the upper face of the planting container and the vicinity of the upper end of the overflow pipe will necessarily be disposed with an offset relative to each other in the left/right direction. Thus, there will hardly occur a situation of the planting water supplied via the opening portion disposed in the upper face of the planting container bypassing the water storage portion to be discharged via the overflow pipe to the outside. 
     According to a still further characterizing feature of the present invention, a transparent water-level checking portion is formed in at least one lateral face of the planting container to project therefrom, and the water-level checking portion constitutes the projection. 
     With this arrangement, even when the frame member is formed of a material which is non-transparent and colorful, via a transparent water-level checking portion of the planting container which is visible through the interlocking opening portion of the frame member, the level of the amount of planting water stored in the water storage portion inside the planting container can be checked. 
     Further, with the above-described arrangement, when the frame member is to be attached to the planting container(s), the interlocking opening portion formed in the outer circumference of the frame member can be engaged with the water-level checking portion formed in the lateral face of the planting container as a projection therefrom. Hence, inadvertent detachment of the planting container(s) from the frame member is further prevented. 
     According to a still further characterizing feature of the present invention, the planting container is formed integral by blow-molding of resin. 
     With this arrangement, molding can be effected with using a split mold having a simple construction, in comparison with a case of molding through injection molding technique for instance and also the amount of resin used can be small, so that reduction of manufacture cost is made possible also. Further, with this arrangement, in comparison with the arrangement molded through injection molding technique, it is possible to reduce sufficiently the thickness of the wall face portion constituting the planting container. Hence, a sales person or a user can easily form the opening portion with using a simple tool such as a cutter knife. 
     Moreover, with the above-described arrangement, since it is possible to reduce sufficiently the thickness of the wall face portion constituting the planting container, it becomes possible to render the water-level checking portion to be elastically deformable relative to the entire lateral face, so that the attachment and detachment of the planting container to/from the frame member can be further facilitated. 
     According to a still further characterizing feature of the present invention, the opening portion is disposed with an upward offset from the vertical center; and downwardly of the opening, there are formed a pair of supporting portions for supporting the planting bed material along a front/rear direction, with the supporting portions projecting inwards. 
     With this arrangement, the planting bed material can be supported along the front/rear direction by means of the pair of supporting portions formed downwardly of the opening to project inwards therefrom. Therefore, such inconveniences as wobbling displacement of the planting bed material within the planting container, falling thereof to the front or rear side within the planting space, thus causing a portion of this planting bed material to be discharged through the opening portion to the outside to be detrimental to the appearance of a plant planted in the planting bed material, can be effectively restricted. 
     According to a still further characterizing feature of the present invention, in opposed lateral faces of the planting container, there are integrally formed gripping portions projecting toward the planting space, the gripping portions acting also as restricting means for restricting lateral displacement of the planting bed material. 
     With the above-described arrangement, with the integral formation of the portions in the opposed lateral faces of the planting container which portions project toward the planting space, it is possible to provide these portions with two functions at a time, i.e. the function of gripping portion usable as handling means of the planting container and the further function of restricting means for restricting lateral displacement of the planting bed material. 
     According to a still further characterizing feature of the present invention, the planting container has a rear face side opposed to the front face side, and on the rear face side, an auxiliary opening portion can be formed in opposition to the opening portion. 
     This arrangement provides possibility of selection of the location where the opening portion (auxiliary opening portion) is to be provided, between the front face side and the rear face side. Hence, if the overflow pipe is provided at either one of the left and right ends of the planting container, by appropriately selecting which of the front face side and the rear face side the opening portion (auxiliary opening portion) is to be provided, the location of the overflow pipe can be set on either appropriate one of the left and right sides. Moreover, with this arrangement, by providing the opening portions (auxiliary opening portions) on both the front face side and the rear face side, it becomes possible to realize a mode of use wherein the planting bed material and a plant planted in this planting bed material are caused to be exposed from both the front and rear sides of the planting container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a planting device relating to the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a planting container relating to the present invention, 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a process of providing an opening portion in the planting container, 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a process of accommodating a planting bed material in the planting container, 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a process of planting a plant in the planting bed material inside the planting container, 
         FIG. 6  is a partially broken front view showing the planting container, 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a process prior to fitting of a frame onto the planting container, 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a process during the fitting of the frame onto the planting container, 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a state where a large-sized frame is fitted on a plurality of planting containers, and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing an example wherein a plurality of planting containers are assembled together and mounted on a wall surface. 
     
    
    
     MODES OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION 
     Next, modes of embodying the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows one example of the planting device relating to the present invention, showing in particular a configuration wherein only one rectangular-shaped planting container made of transparent resin is used and a water-absorbent planting bed material B is accommodated inside this planting container A, and a detachably attachable frame C having a relatively high rigidness is fixed and fitted on the outer circumference of the planting container A, and plants P are planted in planting through holes H of the planting bed material B. 
     The planting container A is integrally formed by blow molding of a resin such as polystyrene. And, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the planting container A immediately after its blow molding includes a front face wall portion A 1  and a rear face wall portion A 2  which extend parallel with and apart from each other in the front/rear direction, a bottom wall portion A 3  closing, from under, a space formed by the front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2 , a top wall portion A 4  closing this space from the above, a first lateral wall portion A 5  closing the space from the left side and a second lateral wall portion A 6  closing the space from the right side. 
     The front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2  respectively exhibit a squire shape. And, the bottom wall portion  3 A, the top wall portion A 4 , the first lateral wall portion A 5  and the second lateral wall portion A 6  are formed to extend along the four sides of these squires. 
     The planting container A as a whole exhibits a generally rectangular plate-like shape; and as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when the planting container A is caused to stand upright so that the front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2  extend generally perpendicularly, the respective widths of the bottom wall portion A 3 , the top wall portion A 4 , and the first lateral wall portion A 5  and the second lateral wall portion A 6  become a fraction (e.g. from ⅕ to ⅓) of one side of the front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2 . 
     In the blow molding process, a resin parison is inserted between two half split molds (not shown) having mating faces which extend along the bottom wall portion A 3 , the top wall portion A 4 , the first lateral wall portion A 5  and the second lateral wall portion A 6 . Then, compressed air is blown into the parison through inlets formed at two locations corresponding to the left and right end portions of the top wall portion A 4 , whereby the parison can be pressed against the inner surface of the cavity inside the half split molds. 
     Therefore, adjacent the left and right end portions of the top wall portion A 4  immediately after the blow molding, as shown by chain lines, portions of the parison will remain as two small dome-shaped excess end portions  3 A,  3 B. But, when these excess end portions  3 A,  3 B are cut off at the base ends thereof at a desired timing after demolding from the half split molds, two upper face opening portions A 4 ,  4 B will be formed adjacent the left and right end portions of the top wall portion A 4 . 
     At least one of these upper face opening portions  4 A,  4 B will be used as a water supplying inlet for supplying an amount of planting water W to the plants P via the planting bed material B accommodated in the planting container A. 
     Along the bottom wall portion A 3 , the top wall portion A 4 , the first lateral wall portion A 5  and the second lateral wall portion A 6 , there can be seen a burr striation E generated due to the boundary faces of the two half split molds; and the planting container A as a whole has a plane-symmetrical shape with respect to a plane extending along this burr striation E. 
     At a portion of the front face wall portion A 1  (an example of a “front/rear face”), there is provided a rectangular window-forming line  5  having a laterally elongated rectangular shape. In this window-forming line  5 , along its rectangular entire circumference, a radially inward portion thereof is provided in the form of a stepped portion receded by a depth of approximately 1 to 2 mm toward the interior of the blow mold. 
     As the blow mold is formed with an appropriate thinness, when e.g. a seller, a user, etc. of the planting container A cuts in along the entire circumference of the window-forming line  5  by a cutter knife or the like with the aid of the above-described stepped portion to remove a removing portion  5 A radially inwardly of the window-forming line  5  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , there is formed a planting window portion  5 B (an example of an “opening portion”) in the front face wall portion A 1 . 
     Incidentally, in the rear face wall portion A 2  (another example of the “front/rear face”) too, there is provided a completely identical window-forming line  5 . Thus, if desired by the seller or the user, the planting window portion  5 B (an example of an “auxiliary opening portion” relative to the opening portion described above) can be formed not in the front face wall portion A 1 , but in the rear face wall portion A 2 . Alternatively, the planting window portion  5 B can be formed in both the front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2 . 
     The inside space of the planting container A disposed below the lower edge of the planting window portion  5 B formed in the manner described above serves as a water storage portion capable of storing an amount of planting water W supplied through e.g. the upper face opening portions A 4 ,  4 B and a planting space capable of mounting a water-absorbent planting bed material B. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the planting bed material B will be mounted via the planting window portion  5 B. In this regard, the planting bed material B in  FIG. 4  is shown in its size after being swollen to about 1.3 times of its original size with the planting water. Therefore, the planting bed material B before its swelling can be easily mounted via the planting window portion  5 B. 
     The planting bed material B comprises a mixture of e.g. urethane and pulverized wood dust, etc. and is capable of retaining water and air substantially uniformly and in appropriate proportions from its upper portion throughout to its lower portion and is capable also of retaining readily an amount of air needed for growth of a plant root. 
     The planting bed material B exhibits a somewhat vertically elongate rectangular shape and is configured such that the height of the planting bed material B after being swollen is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than a distance from an upper face of the bottom wall portion A 3  to a lower face of the top wall portion  4 A of the planting container A and also that the thickness of the planting bed material B after being swollen is somewhat smaller than a distance from the inner face of the front face wall portion A 1  to an inner face of the rear face wall portion A 2  of the planting container A. 
     Slightly upwardly of the vertical center of each one of the first lateral wall portion A 5  and the second lateral wall portion A 6  of the planting container A, there are formed handling recess portions  6  (an example of “gripping portions” and “restricting means”) in the form of depressions for facilitating handling of the planting container A. Referring to each one of the first lateral wall portion A 5  and the second lateral wall portion A 6 , two such handling recess portions  6  are provided in the left/right symmetry across the vertically extending burr striation E. And, the width of the planting bed material B after being swollen is set to be approximately same as or slightly smaller than the distance from the inner face of the handling recess portion  6  disposed on the side of the first lateral wall portion A 5  to the inner face of the handling recess portion  6  disposed on the side of the second lateral wall portion A 6 . The handling recess portions  6  serve also as restricting means for restricting lateral displacement of the planting bed material B accommodated in the planting container A. 
     The planting window portion  5 B formed along the window-forming line  5  is formed at a position with an upward offset from the vertical center of the front face wall portion A 1 . 
     Also, five planting through holes H formed through the generally plate-like planting bed material B along the front/rear direction as a whole are formed at positions with an upward offset from the vertical center of the front face wall portion A 1 . 
     Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 5 , under the swollen condition of the planting bed material B accommodated in the planting container A being swollen with the planting water W, the five planting through holes H disposed in the planting bed material B are distributed substantially equidistantly on the inner side of the planting window portion  5 B upwardly offset as described above. 
     Incidentally, as may be understood from  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , no planting through hole H is provided at the lower portion of the planting bed material B disposed more downwardly than the lower edge of the planting window portion  5 B, and as left and right lateral portions of this portion are tapered downwards with progressively decreasing width as seen in the front view, thus serving to secure a larger volume available for the water storage portion to be formed downwardly of the lower edge of the planting window portion  5 B. 
     From positions of the front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2  downwardly of the lower edge of the planting window portion  5 B, there are formed supporting projections  8  (an example of “supporting portions”) in the form of ribs which are horizontally narrow and elongate in the left/right direction to project toward the inside of the blow mold. These supporting projections  8  as being spaced apart from each other in the front/rear direction come into contact with the swollen planting bed material B, thus stabilizing the posture of this planting bed material B approximately perpendicularly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , at a position corresponding to midway between the left side, first lateral wall portion A 5  and the bottom wall portion A 3 , there is integrally formed an overflow portion  10  for allowing automatic overflowing of an amount of the planting water exceeding a proper reference wall level WL. 
     The overflow portion  10  includes a weir portion  10 A formed to project upwardly from the vicinity of the right end of the bottom wall portion A 3  and an overflow pipe  10 B projecting smoothly downwards from the upper end of the weir portion  10 A and the lower end of the first lateral wall portion A 5  so as not to project laterally. The weir portion  10 A and the overflow pipe  10 B are interconnected via a reinforcing portion  11  in the form of a thin plate-like rib. 
     The upper end of the weir portion  10 A is disposed at the proper reference water level WL which is set slightly lower than the lower edge of the planting window portion  5 B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , under the condition immediately after blow molding, the lower end of the overflow pipe  10 B is closed like a blind pipe. Hence, the above arrangement as it is does not serve as the overflow portion  10 . Only after the lower end of the overflow pipe  10  is cut away substantially horizontally at a position  10 C, the arrangement becomes capable of causing an excess amount of planting water over the weir portion  10 A to be overflown downwards via the overflow pipe  10 B. 
     For instance, in case two planting containers A are stacked one on top of the other directly, without using the frame C, if these planting containers A are of the same shape with the planting window portion  5 B being formed in the front face wall portion A 1 , upon alignment of the left/right centers of the planting containers A, the lower end of the overflow pipe  10 B of the upper disposed planting container A can be inserted smoothly into the upper face opening portion  4 A on the left side of the downwardly disposed planting container A. 
     Incidentally, since selection is made possible regarding the location to provide the planting window portion  5 B (opening portion, auxiliary opening portion) between the front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2  as described above, it is possible to set the position of the overflow pipe at any right or left convenient position desired by the user, through selecting in which one of the front face wall portion A 1  and the rear face wall portion A 2  the planting window portion  5 B is to be provided. 
     Further, there will hardly occur a situation of the planting water supplied directly downwards through the upper face opening portion  4 A to the inside of the planting container A being inadvertently discharged to the outside of the planting container A via the overflow pipe  10 B. This is because the overflow pipe  10 B is slanted from the upper end which is in agreement with the height of the weir portion  10 A, progressively inwards in its front view towards the lower end, so that the upper end of the overflow pipe  10 B and the upper face opening portion  4 A are offset relative to the left/right direction of the planting container A and also because an amount of planting water supplied through the upper face opening portion  4 A to the inside of the planting container A will generally be either absorbed in the planting bed material B or flow along the vicinity of the surface of the planting bed material B toward the bottom inside the planting container A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the second lateral wall portion A 6  (an example of an “outer circumference”) disposed on the right side of the planting container A, there is formed a vertically elongate water-level checking portion  14  as a projection therefrom. As the planting container A as a whole is formed transparent, in case the planting container A and the planting bed material B alone are used in combination as will be described later, it is possible to check the actual level of planting water W from any desired direction of the planting container A. However, in the case of using the planting container A with the frame C generally formed of a non-transparent material being fitted thereon as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the water level cannot be checked from the front face of the frame C. For this reason, an arrangement is made such that the level of the planting water W is checked through the water-level checking window  24  (an example of an “interlocking opening portion”) formed through a right side lateral wall portion C 4  of the frame C and the above-described water-level checking window  14  in alignment with this water-level checking window  24 . 
     The frame C includes one generally square-shaped front plate portion C 1  having a rectangular window portion  20  and four side plate portions C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , C 5  extending perpendicularly from the fours sides of the front face portion C 1 . 
     When the frame C is to be fitted over or engaged outwardly with the planting container A, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the front plate portion C 1  will be laid over or overlapped with the front face wall portion A 1  forming the planting window portion  5 . 
     In the side plate portion C 3  on the top side of the frame C, there is formed an upper through hole  21  for supplying planting water therethrough. In the side plate portion C 2  on the bottom side of the frame C, there is formed one lower through hole  22  for discharging an excess amount of planting water flown down the overflow pipe  10 B to the outside of the planting device. 
     The lateral width and the height of the outer dimensions of the planting container A are set substantially same as the lateral width and the height of the inner dimensions of the frame C. Also, the water-level checking portion  14  (an example of a “projection”) of the planting container A is configured to be engageable with the water-level checking window  24  of the frame C; and the lower through hole  22  (an example of the “auxiliary interlocking opening portion”) on the bottom side of the frame C is configured to be engageable with the lower end (an example of the “projection”) of the overflow pipe  10 B. 
     When the frame C is to be fitted over the planting container A, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , first, the planting container A will be introduced under a slanted posture in its plane view relative to the frame C such that the water-level checking portion  14  of the planting container A may be brought into the vicinity of the water-level checking window  24  of the frame C. Next, while the planting container A is being rotated to bring the water-level checking portion  14  into engagement with the water-level checking window  24 , the first lateral wall portion A 5  of the planting container A will be pushed in to the inner side of a right lateral plate portion C 5 , whereby engagement will eventually be established between the lower end of the overflow pipe  10 B and the lower through hole  22  of the frame C, thus completing the mounting. 
     Incidentally, the lower end of the overflow pipe  10 B is engageable with the lower through hole  22  of the frame C, regardless of whether this lower end of the overflow pipe  10 B is opened with cutting or remains closed as being not yet cut. And, when the lower end of the overflow pipe  10 B is opened, the through hole  22  functions as a water discharge opening for discharging an excess amount of planting water W flowing out of the overflow pipe  10 B. 
     At the left/right center on the rear side of a top face side plate portion C 3  of the frame C, there is formed therethrough a retaining hole  26  for hooking. Hence, as a length of string or a hook member suited for this retaining hole  26  or a needle-like attaching means mounted erect from the wall surface is retained in this retaining hole  26 , the planting device under the condition shown in  FIG. 1  can be suspended from the wall surface. 
     At the left/right center of the top wall portion A 4  of the planting container A, there are formed a pair of front and rear circumventing concave portions  16  for allowing passage therethrough of the string or the hook member described above. These front and rear pair of circumventing concave portions  16  serve also for supporting an upper end vicinity of the planting bed material B from the front and rear directions. 
     Further, in the water-level checking portion  14  of the planting container A, there is formed, as a projection therefrom, a horizontal linear pointer  14 A indicating the reference water level corresponding to the height of the weir portion  10 A of the overflow portion  10 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an exemplary mode of use wherein four planting containers A are mounted and retained on the upper, lower, right and left sides in a tile-like layout, on the inner side of an oversized frame CX. 
     In this particular case, the two planting containers A stacked vertically on the right side form the planting window portions  5 B in the front face wall portion A 1 , whereas the two planting containers A stacked vertically on the left side form the planting window portions  5 B in the rear face wall portion A 2 . Therefore, all of the four planting containers A have their overflow pipes  10 B disposed toward the left/right center, thus presenting a symmetric layout (left/right symmetry) as a whole. 
     In the side plate portion C 3  on the top face side of the frame CX, there are formed two upper through holes  21  for supplying the planting water. In the side plate portion C 4  on the right side of the frame CX, there is formed the lower through hole  22  (not shown) to come into engagement with the lower end of the overflow pipe  10 B. 
     Further, in the left and right side plate portions of the frame CX, there are formed four water-level checking windows  24  in total for engagement with the respective water-level checking portions  14  of the four planting containers A. 
     If the lower ends of the overflow pipes  10 B of at least two planting containers A disposed on the upper side are kept opened and planting water W is supplied to these upper side planting containers A through the upper face opening portions  4 A, an excess amount of planting water W for these upper planting containers A will be supplied via the overflow pipes  10 B to the planting containers A disposed downwards, so that all of the planting bed materials B accommodated in the four planting containers A can be rendered into water-retained conditions, respectively. 
     Incidentally, as may be understood from the illustration in  FIG. 5  for instance, the inventive device is usable also as a planting device comprised of combination of the planting container A and the planting bed material B only, without using the frame C. 
       FIG. 10  shows a state wherein four planting containers A are disposed in upper, lower and left and right juxtaposition, without using the frame C. In this case too, the two planting containers A stacked vertically on the right side form the planting window portions  5 B in the front face wall portion A 1 , whereas the two planting containers A stacked vertically on the left side form the planting window portions  5 B in the rear face wall portion A 2 . Therefore, all of the four planting containers A have their overflow pipes  10 B disposed toward the left/right center, thus presenting a symmetric layout (left/right symmetry) as a whole. 
     The planting containers A can be fixed to a wall surface by means of special attaching means  30  as shown in  FIG. 10  for instance. This attaching means  30  includes a leg portion to be struck into the wall surface like an anchor and a head portion  30 A to be engaged into the left/right handling recess portion  6  from the lateral side. Hence, by this method, a desired number planting containers A can be fixed to a wall surface. 
     Aside from the frame C shown in  FIG. 7 , there may be provided a left/right inversed frame member having the water supplying through hole  21  and the water discharging through hole  22  formed in left/right inverse arrangement relative to the window portion  20  from the frame C. In this case, a mode of use will become possible wherein the frame C having the planting container A forming the planting window portion  5 B in the front face wall portion A 1  engaged therein as shown in  FIG. 7  and the left/right inversed frame having the planting container A forming the planting window portion  5 B in the rear face wall portion A 2  unlike  FIG. 7  illustration, stacked one on top of the other. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The invention is applicable as a technique for solving the problem conventionally suffered by a planting device including a planting container having a water storage portion capable of storing an amount of planting water therein, a planting space capable of mounting a water-absorbent planting bed material and an opening portion exposing the planting bed material therethrough and a frame member capable of surrounding and supporting the planting container. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE MARKS 
     
         
         
           
             A planting container 
             A 1  front face wall portion (front/rear face) 
             A 2  rear face wall portion (front/rear face) 
             B planting bed material 
             C frame 
             H planting through hole 
             P plant 
             W planting water 
               5  window-forming line 
               5 A removing portion 
               5 B planting window portion (opening portion, auxiliary opening portion) 
               6  handling recess portion (gripping portion, restricting means) 
               8  supporting projection (supporting portion) 
               10  overflow portion 
               10 B overflow pipe (projection) 
               14  water-level checking portion (projection) 
               22  lower through hole (auxiliary interlocking opening portion) 
               24  water-level checking window (interlocking opening portion)