Modular green roof system, apparatus and methods, including pre-seeded modular panels

• US 20020007592A1
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weston Solutions Incorporated (Weston Solutions Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Builders & Contractors Supply Company Incorporated (ABC Supply Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Mischo, Donald J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,862,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/65.9
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/033 Flat containers for turf, lawn or the like, e.g. for covering roofs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/254 Roof garden systems; Roof coverings with high solar reflectance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/32 Roof garden systems

Abstract

A modular green roof system includes modular panels (10) providing a surrounded space suitable for supporting live plant growth and adapted for installing onto a roof deck in side-by-side positioning while allowing water flow on the roof thereunder. The panels are filled with growing medium and pre-seeded prior to delivery to the roof site, and delivered in either a preserved condition or a germinated condition. The panels are adapted for interconnecting to adjacent panels, and for connection to an edge finishing/edge termination system (46) and support structure to enable provision of non-panel areas of the green roof, and above-panel structures.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a modular green roof system comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a plurality of panels each having a bottom and integral sides extending upwardly therefrom to define a surrounded space for receiving green roof materials, the bottom of the panels being formed with drain holes and being shaped to permit water to flow thereunder when resting on a roof,

(B) planting growable green roof materials in the panels,

(C) delivering the filled panels to a roof site, and

(D) positioning the panels onto the roof in side-by-side relation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of packaging the planted panels prior to said delivering step.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of connecting the panels on the roof to one of adjacent panels and intermediate members.

4. A method of constructing a modular green roof system comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a plurality of panels each having a bottom and sides extending upwardly therefrom to define a surrounded space for receiving green roof materials, the bottom of the panels being formed with drain holes and being shaped to permit water to flow thereunder,

(B) planting growable green roof materials in the panels,

(C) germinating the green roof materials,

(D) delivering the planted, germinated panels to a roof site, and

(E) positioning the panels onto the roof.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of packaging the planted, germinated panels prior to said delivering step.

6. The method of claim 4 in which said packaging step comprises the step of covering the pre-grown filled panels with an inverted panel.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of providing a cover for the panels, and stacking the panels prior to said delivering step.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of preserving the planted, germinated panels in one of a dried condition and a frozen condition prior to said delivering step.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of connecting the panels on the roof to one of adjacent panels and intermediate members.

10. A method of constructing a modular green roof system comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a plurality of panels each having a bottom and sides extending upwardly therefrom to define a surrounded space for receiving green roof materials, the bottom of the panels being formed with drain holes and being shaped to permit water to flow thereunder,

(B) planting growable green roof materials in the panels,

(C) preserving the green roof materials in the panels,

(D) delivering the filled, preserved panels to a roof site, and

(E) positioning the panels onto the roof.

11. The method of claim 10 in which said preserving step includes maintaining the filled panels in one of a dehydrated state and a frozen state.

12. The method of claim 10 in which said preserving step includes sealing the green roof materials in the panels.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of germinating the growable materials in the panels prior to said preserving step.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of connecting the panels on the roof to one of adjacent panels and intermediate members.

15. A pre-seeded panel for a green roof system, the panel being adapted to be lifted with an above-roof structure, the pre-seeded panel comprising:

a bottom and integrally formed sides extending upwardly therefrom to define a surrounded space provided with growing medium and pre-planted green roof materials,

the bottom of the panels being formed with drain holes and being shaped to permit water to flow thereunder,

the sides being adapted for releasable connection to one of the sides of an adjacent panel and an intermediate member,

an opening for receiving a connector to the above-roof structure, and

an irrigation passage connectable to a supply line for supplying the pre-seeded panel with moisture.

16. The pre-seeded panel of claim 16 in which said opening includes a slot formed in the bottom and through which a flexible connector is sized to pass.

17. A green roof system comprising:

a plurality of pre-seeded panels each having;

a bottom and integrally formed, inwardly tapered sides extending upwardly therefrom to define a surrounded space provided with growing medium and pre-planted green roof materials, the sides having generally horizontal flanges extending therefrom,

the bottom of the panels being formed with drain holes and downwardly facing voids to permit water to flow thereunder, and an opening for receiving a connector for lifting the panels, and

a plurality of intermediate members sized to be received between the sides of and under the flanges of adjacent panels,

the panels being releasably connected to one of the sides of adjacent panels and adjacent intermediate members such each connected panel is removable from the roof without removing the adjacent panels.

18. The green roof system of claim 17 in which said pre-seeded panels further include an irrigation passage connectable to a supply line for supplying the pre-seeded panel with moisture.

19. The green roof system of claim 17 in which said intermediate members engage the underside of and support said flanges against a weight applied thereon.

20. The green roof system of claim 17 in which said pre-seeded panels further include drain holes formed in said sides.