Patent Publication Number: US-11641813-B2

Title: System and method for creating an area of landscaping

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to systems and methods that inform a person of where to plant various species of plants on a tract of land. More particularly, the present invention relates to landscaping templates that are placed over a tract of land, wherein information for planting is printed upon the template. 
     2. Prior Art Description 
     Landscaping is a branch of horticultural science. A properly landscaped tract of land can rarely be created by accident. Rather, the plant landscaping must either be designed, or evolved through trial and error through many growing seasons. The complexities of landscaping arise from the fact that different plants have different life cycles with different light requirements, different water requirements, and different soil requirements. Different plants grow to different sizes, present different colors and bloom at different times. Different plants also are susceptible to different diseases and attract different types of pests and herbivores. It therefore takes a lot of thought and preparation to create a landscaping design that thrives and maintains pleasing aesthetics throughout a growing season. 
     Many landscaping projects are also designed to present a specialized aesthetic at a specific time. For example, a homeowner may want a garden in full bloom of red, white and blue flowers for a Fourth of July party. Otherwise, a business may want landscaping that reproduces the logo of the company in front of its headquarters. Such landscaping is difficult to create and difficult to maintain. As a consequence, most landscaping is designed, installed and maintained by professional landscapers. This results in a significant expense to the homeowner and/or business owner. 
     In the prior art, systems have been developed to assist a person, who is not a trained landscaper, to properly landscape a particular tract of land. Many prior art systems use templates of various types. One type of template is a simple grid template. Such prior art grid templates are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 8,745,918 to Dyson-Coope, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,317 to Carter. Grid templates merely help a homeowner properly space plants. Grid templates provide no information regarding what plants to use, how to arrange those plants, how to water those plants, or how to prepare the soil for those plants. The same problems occur with landscaping weed control sheeting that shows spaced points where plants can be planted through the sheeting. Such weed-control sheeting is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,544 to Spanel. Such sheeting shows a person how to space plants but does nothing to help in the selection or maintenance of the plants. 
     In the prior art, there are also templates that are laid on the ground to show where some specific types of plants should be planted. Such prior art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,601 to Turley. Such prior art is limited in its applications, because it only provides information about spacing a select few plants. Such prior art templates cannot be used on oddly shaped plants. Furthermore, such templates provide no information regarding the water requirements or soil requirements of the plants. This makes such systems inadequate for complex landscaping projects that use a wide variety of plants. 
     A need therefore exists for an improved landscaping template system that enables more complex and ornate landscaped areas to be created by a non-professional. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system and method for implementing a landscaping project on a plot of land. The system creates a flexible landscaping template that is physically placed over the land that is to be landscaped. The flexible landscaping template has graphics printed on its surface. The graphics identify a variety of plants, indicate planting positions for the plants, and identify a variety of soil conditioning products for use at the planting positions. The graphics on the flexible landscaping template can also indicate the placement of water management conduits and electrical conduits, the placement of electrical conduits, the placement of hardscaping products and/or the placement of construction foundations. 
     The system generates the flexible landscaping template using input from a user and environmental criteria for the land to be landscaped. Once the flexible landscaping template is generated, the materials identified on the flexible landscaping template are gathered into a shipping module by a supplier company. The shipping module is shipped to the customer or is made available for pick-up. Once a customer has the shipping module, the customer lays out the flexible landscaping template and completes the landscaping project using the materials and instructions provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is schematic showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention system; 
         FIG.  2    shows a first landscaping project type; 
         FIG.  3    shows a second landscaping project type; 
         FIG.  4    shows a third landscaping project type; 
         FIG.  5    shows a block diagram that illustrates a method of operation; and 
         FIG.  6    shows an exemplary embodiment of a flexible landscaping template. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention system can be configured in many ways and can be adapted for use in many applications. For example, the system can be used by professional landscapers. However, the present invention system is especially well suited for use by the non-professional who would like to achieve professional landscaping results in an economical fashion. Accordingly, an exemplary system is selected for the purposes of description and illustration and shows the present invention being utilized by an average untrained customer. The illustrated embodiment, however, is merely exemplary and should not be considered a limitation when interpreting the scope of the claims. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an overview of the present invention system  10  is shown. A supplier company  12  has a website  14  that is hosted by a server  16 . The website  14  provides public access to a landscape project selection database  18 , as will later be explained. The website  14  is accessible to the public through a data network  20 , such as a cellular network or the Worldwide Web. The supplier company  12  sells products used in landscaping. Such products include, but are not limited to, plant products  22 , soil conditioning products  24 , soil protection products  26 , hardscaping products  28 , construction products  30 , electrical management products  31 , and water management products  32 . The supplier company  12  also provides a landscaping template  34  and instructions  36  to a customer  38 , that depend upon how that customer  38  interacts with the website  14  and the landscape project selection database  18 . 
     The plant products  22  include seeds, plants, plant supports, plant cages and the like. The soil conditioning products  24  include fertilizers, top soil, peat moss, vermiculite, sand, and other such products that are used to alter the pH, drainage characteristics and/or quality of soil. The soil protection products  26  include different types of mulch, straw, weed suppression sheeting and other ground cover products. The hardscaping products  28  include gravel, paving stones, trim stones, wall stones, and the like. The construction products  30  include lumber, cement, building hardware and anything else needed to create a structure. Electrical management products  31  include wire, conduit, switches and lighting fixtures. Lastly, the water management products  32  include various irrigation hoses, nozzles, valves, hose dividers and drainage conduits. As will be further explained, the supplier company  12  combines the plant products  22 , soil conditioning products  24 , soil production products  26 , hardscaping products  28 , construction products  30 , electrical management products  31  and water management products  32  to meet the order requirements for a landscaping project. The various products are combined into a shipping module  40  that is packaged and shipped to the customer  38 . Alternatively, the shipping module can be picked up by the customer  38 . 
     The customer  38  has a plot of land  42  that is to be landscaped. The customer  38  must know some basic information about the plot of land  42 , such as the location of the plot of land  42  and the desired size and location of the landscaping project on the plot of land  42 . The customer  38  accesses the website  14  of the supplier company  12  through the data network  20 . The data network  20  is accessed using a computing device  44 , such as a laptop computer or smart phone. Once interacting with the website  14 , the customer  38  has access to the landscape project selection database  18 . The landscape project selection database  18  assists the customer  38  in defining the type of landscaping project being created. 
     Many landscaping projects can be offered at the website  14 . Referring to  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , some exemplary landscaping projects are shown. In  FIG.  2   , an example of a simple wall bed project  46  is shown. This project  46  is a basic landscaping project that is used to landscape along a wall or a fence. The wall bed project  46  is a generally rectangular landscaped bed having a certain length and a width. In  FIG.  3   , a more complex walkway project  48  is shown. The walkway project  48  includes plants  50 , a walkway  52 , and a built structure  54 . The landscaping project has an area determined by a project length and a project width. Referring to  FIG.  4   , a highly complex logo project  56  is shown, wherein the landscaping project reproduces a logo in both shape and color. This logo landscaping project  56  requires plants  58  of very specific colors and size that are planted in a very specific order. The logo landscaping project  56  also has an area determined by a length and width. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5    in conjunction with  FIG.  1   , it will be understood that the customer  38  accesses the website  14  of the supplier company  12 . See Block  60 . Using the landscape project selection database  18 , the customer  38  selects a general landscaping project from a variety of offered projects. See Block  62 . Some examples of the general landscaping project are shown in the wall bed project  46  of  FIG.  2   , the walkway project  48  of  FIG.  3   , and the logo project of  FIG.  4   . Once the landscaping project type is selected, the general landscaping project is customized to the needs of the customer  38 . The first customizable parameter is size. The customer  38  defines the size of the landscaping project, by selecting the length, width and other dimensional variables of the landscaping project. See Block  64 . The customer  38  is then queried to define the location and exposure of the plot of land  42  upon which the landscaping project is to be located. See Block  66 . The physical location of the plot of land  42  is queried. The location of the plot of land  42  is used to determine the environmental growth zone of the plot of land  42  and the typical soil type in that location. By knowing the growth zone and soil parameters, the types of plants that can and cannot thrive in that growth zone become known. The customer  38  is also queried about the orientation of the plot of land  42  using the cardinal directions. In this manner, the southern and eastern exposures of the plot of land  42  can be determined. The customer  38  is also queried with regard to exposure to sunlight. That is, when does the plot of land  42  experience full sunlight and for how long. This information is also needed to determine what plants can and cannot thrive on the plot of land  42 . 
     Knowing the general landscaping project, the growth zone, the soil type and the sunlight exposure, the system can determine what plants qualify for use in the landscaping project. See Block  68 . In addition to the physical characteristics of the plot of land  42 , the customer  38  can be queried as to landscaping aesthetics. The customer  38  can be queried if he/she prefers a particular flower color scheme, season of bloom, maintenance requirements and other such preferences. Plants that require no maintenance, some maintenance or high maintenance. Plants that reach certain heights and the like. See Block  70 . The selection of plants available for use are further filtered using the aesthetic preferences indicated by the customer  38 . See Block  72 . The filtered selection of the plants is then used to populate a variety of possible virtual or animated landscapes. See Block  74 . After being shown the simulated possibilities, the customer  38  selects a final landscape design. See Block  76 . 
     After the customer queries are complete, the system  10  has inputs for the type of landscaping project, the size of the landscaping project, the location of the landscaping project, the environment of the landscaping project and the customer&#39;s aesthetic requirements of the customer. Using this information, the supplier company  12  generates a landscaping template  34 , instruction  36  for the landscaping template  34 , and a packing list for the shipping module  40  that complements the landscaping template  34 . See Block  78  and Block  80 . The supplier company  12  then packages the shipping module  40 . See Block  82 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6    in conjunction with  FIG.  1   , an exemplary landscaping template  34  is shown. The landscaping template  34  has a flexible substrate  90  upon which various graphics are printed. The flexible substrate  90  preferably blocks the growth of weeds but is water permeable. The flexible substrate  90  can be sheet of plastic, but can also be made to be biodegradable. 
     The graphics printed on the landscaping template  34  partially serve as directions for the landscaping project. If the flexible substrate  90  is black, the graphics can be printed in white. If the landscaping template  34  is clear or white, the graphics can be printed in black and other colors. The graphics include planting circles  92 . A plant identifier  94  is printed in the planting circle  92 . The plant identifier  94  can be a number, a letter, the printed name of the plant, or the like. The planting circles  92  have different diameters. The diameters of the planting circles  92  correspond to the area needed to accommodate the plant identified by the printed plant identifier  94 . 
     The printed planting circles  92  are surrounded by printed soil circles  96 . Each soil circle  96  has a soil identifier  98  associated therewith. The soil identifiers  98  indicate what soil conditioning products  24  are needed to be added to the existing soil to allow the plant of the planting identifier  94  to thrive. It will be understood that different plants have different soil requirements and the printed soil circles  96  may differ as the printed planting circles  92  and plant identifiers  94  differ. 
     Other information is printed on the landscaping template  34 . The landscaping template  34  has a first type of placement graphics  100 ,  101  that indicates where water management products  32  and the electrical management products  31  are to be placed. The placement graphics  100 ,  101  show the placement and path of irrigation hoses, drain conduits, wiring conduits and the like. The watering needs of the plant are determined by considering the plant type, the plant size, the temperature zone and the exposure to sunlight. As such, it will be understood that in a landscaping design, a cactus may require a drain to channel away water, while a deciduous tree may require gallons of water each day. 
     The landscaping template  34  also has a second type of placement graphics  102  that indicates where hardscaping products  28 , such as paving stones and trim stones are to be placed. These hardscaping products  28  are applied directly onto the surface of the landscaping template  34  and can be applied over the water management products  32 . The outlines of stone products can be printed on the landscaping template  34 . In this manner, very precise applications of hardscaping products  28  can be included in the landscaping design. 
     The landscaping template  34  will also include construction graphics  104  that show the base positions of construction products  30 , should the landscaping design include any type of construction other than the positioning of stones. Depending upon the requirements of the construction products  30 , foundation holes may need to be dug into the plot of land  42  or preformed foundation plates positioned on the plot of land  42  to support the eventual construction. 
     Lastly, the landscaping template  34  has area graphics  106  that indicate where various soil protection products  26  are to be applied in the overall landscaping design. The area graphics  106  may indicate that soil protection products  26  are to be spread between the planting circles  92  and various hardscaping products  28 . 
     It will be understood that once the parameters of a landscaping design are detailed by the customer  38 , the landscaping template  34  is made. At the same time, a shipping module  40  is prepared that contains all the plant products  22 , soil conditioning products  24 , soil protection products  26 , hardscaping products  28 , construction products  30 , electrical management products  31 , and water management products  32 , required by the landscaping template. The landscaping template  34 , the instructions  36  and the shipping module  40  are then sent to the customer  38  for implementation. 
     When the landscaping project is ready to begin, the customer  38  is in possession of the landscaping template  34 , the instructions  36  and the contents of the shipping module  40 . Pursuant to the instructions  36 , the customer  38  prepares the plot of land  42 . This typically includes cleaning away existing vegetation and rocks. Once the plot of land  42  is prepared, the customer  38  initially lays the landscaping template  34  over the prepared plot of land  42 . If foundation elements for construction must be dug into the ground and or if electrical management products  31  and water management products  32  have to be dug into the ground, the placement of such elements is marked on the plot of land  42 . The landscaping template  34  is then removed and the underground elements installed. Once the underground elements are installed, the landscaping template  34  is again placed atop the plot of land  42 . The landscaping template  34  is cut by the customer in any place indicated for a planting and/or soil preparation. For soil preparation, some indigenous earth is removed from within the soil circles  96 . The soil is replaced and/or mixed with the soil conditioning products  24  provided in the shipping module  40 . Once the soil is conditioned, the plant products  22  are set into the conditioned soil. The soil conditioning products  24  and the plant products  22  are coded to match the soil identifiers  98  and the plant identifiers  94  on the landscaping template  34 . In this manner, the proper plants are positioned in the proper soil at the proper locations. Other hardscaping products  28 , such as trim stone and paving stones can also be applied over the landscaping template  34  at this time. 
     After the plant products  22  are planted and the hardscaping products  28  installed, the soil protection products  26 , such as mulch, are applied to finish covering the landscaping template  34 . As plants begin to grow, the presence of the landscaping template  34  suppresses the growth of weeds and other plant life that may exist under the landscaping template  34 . The landscaping template  34  will eventually decompose. However, this will take at least thirty days of outside exposure. This period of time should be sufficient to kill any undesirable plant life underlying the landscaping template  34 . 
     Since the shipping module  40  contains the exact amount of materials needed to create a selected design, there is little to no waste of material in the building of the selected landscaping design. This enables the overall landscaping design to be economically packaged and economically priced. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.