PLANTER BOX, MULTIPURPOSE DIACOLATION PIPE AND METHOD FOR SOIL DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION

• US 20140360097A1
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Channels (International) Limited
• Original Assignee: Green Channels (International) Limited
• Inventors: Lam, Kwok Hung, Lam, Kwok Wai
• Granted Patent: US 9,974,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/66.7
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/06 Watering arrangements making use of perforated pipe-lines located in the soil
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/00 Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/033 Flat containers for turf, lawn or the like, e.g. for covering roofs
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/083 Devices for setting plants in pots

Abstract

A planter box for holding planting soil includes a box body having a bottom wall, a sidewall and an open top. An anti-clog drainage and irrigation pipe is mounted across and above the bottom wall. The pipe includes a water inflow and outflow opening formed at a lower portion and extending along the length of the pipe. Two flow-guiding plates extend from two longitudinal sides of the water inflow and outflow opening towards an interior of the pipe body to form two overflow troughs in the pipe. During rainy day, the pipe is used for drainage. During sunny days, water can be supplied to the pipe for irrigation. A method for soil drainage and irrigation is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A planter box for holding therein planting soil, the planter box comprising:

(a) a box body having a bottom wall, a sidewall connected to and extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall, and an open top;

(b) an anti-clog drainage and irrigation pipe mounted across and above the bottom wall, the pipe having a pipe body;

(c) a water inflow and outflow opening formed at a lower portion of the pipe body and extending along the length of the pipe body in a longitudinal direction; and

(d) two flow-guiding plates connected to and extending from two longitudinal sides of the water inflow and outflow opening towards an interior of the pipe body, and forming two overflow troughs extending along two opposite sides of the two flow-guiding plates respectively.

2. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe body is provided therein with a plurality of connecting pieces connecting the two flow-guiding plates at upper portions thereof, the plurality of connecting pieces being spaced apart from each other.

3. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe body is provided therein with a blocking plate connecting the two flow-guiding plates at upper portions thereof, the blocking plate being formed with a plurality of openings.

4. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipe body is provided at each end thereof with a reinforcing member formed integrally with the two flow-guiding plates.

5. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the two flow-guiding plates is gradually increasing from the water inflow and outflow opening towards the interior of the pipe body.

6. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the two flow-guiding plates is gradually decreasing from the water inflow and outflow opening towards the interior of the pipe body.

7. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heightening board mounted on top of the box body, the heightening board being formed into a frame that matches the sidewall of the box body.

8. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the pipe is mounted on one side of the sidewall, and the other end of the pipe is mounted on an opposite side of the sidewall, and wherein each end of the pipe is connectable to an end of another pipe of another planter box to form an expandable planter box system.

9. The planter box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the box body is rectangular in shape.

10. A multipurpose diacolation pipe comprising:

(a) a pipe body;

(b) a water inflow and outflow opening formed at a lower portion of the pipe body and extending along the length of the pipe body in a longitudinal direction; and

(c) two flow-guiding plates connected to and extending from two longitudinal sides of the water inflow and outflow opening towards an interior of the pipe body, and forming two overflow troughs extending along two opposite sides of the two flow-guiding plates respectively.

11. The multipurpose diacolation pipe as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pipe body is provided therein with a plurality of connecting pieces connecting the two flow-guiding plates at upper portions thereof, the plurality of connecting pieces being spaced apart from each other.

12. The multipurpose diacolation pipe as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pipe body is provided therein with a blocking plate connecting the two flow-guiding plates at upper portions thereof, the blocking plate being formed with a plurality of openings.

13. The multipurpose diacolation pipe as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pipe body is provided at each end thereof with a reinforcing member formed integrally with the two flow-guiding plates.

14. The multipurpose diacolation pipe as claimed in claim 10, wherein the distance between the two flow-guiding plates is gradually increasing from the water inflow and outflow opening towards the interior of the pipe body.

15. The multipurpose diacolation pipe as claimed in claim 10, wherein the distance between the two flow-guiding plates is gradually decreasing from the water inflow and outflow opening towards the interior of the pipe body.

16. A method for drainage and irrigation of planting soil in outdoor and indoor plantation areas such as planter box, rooftop, slope, golf course, stadium, sports ground, highway, farmland and urban vegetable factory, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an anti-clog drainage and irrigation pipe comprising a water inflow and outflow opening formed at a lower portion of the pipe and extending along the length of the pipe in a longitudinal direction; and

two flow-guiding plates connected to and extending from two longitudinal sides of the water inflow and outflow opening towards an interior of the pipe, and forming two overflow troughs extending along two opposite sides of the two flow-guiding plates respectively;

(b) forming a receptacle;

(c) laying the pipe across and above a bottom wall of the receptacle; and

(d) filling the receptacle with planting soil so that the planting soil covers and encircles the pipe;

(e) whereby when water level in the planting soil is higher than top edges of the two flow-guiding plates, water in the planting soil automatically flows into the pipe through the water inflow and outflow opening, moves upwards between the two flow-guiding plates while allowing the planting soil inside the upwardly moving water to precipitate, overflows into the two overflow troughs, and drains out from the pipe.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of connecting one end of the pipe to a water source;

and supplying water from the water source to the pipe when water level in the planting soil is lower than the top edges of the two flow-guiding plates so that water flowing into the pipe overflows from the two overflow troughs, falls downwards between the two flow-guiding plates, and flows through the water inflow and outflow opening and into the planting soil.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of recycling water drained out from the pipe and using the recycled water for irrigation.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of using a water pump to pump the recycled water into the pipe for irrigation.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the receptacle is a planter box.