Vertical planter apparatus and method

• US 5,555,676 A
• Filed: 11/03/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Act Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Act Incorporated
• Inventors: Lund, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Downs, Joanne C.
• Application Number:
  US08/333,629
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 47/82, 47/83
• US Class Current: 47/82
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture

Abstract

A vertical planter for supporting a plurality of plants vertically. The planter includes a hollow column mounted vertically on a water reservoir. The hollow column is fabricated from one or more column modules which are filled with a planting medium. A plurality of planting ports are formed in the wall of the hollow column to provide access for plants to be planted in the planting medium. Planter inserts can also be attached to the planting ports, the planter inserts supporting a body of the planting medium on the external surface of the hollow column. A water distribution system is provided for delivering water to the planting medium and includes a secondary reservoir with a distribution line distributing the water into the planting medium. Moisture sensors and an optional timer drive a pump to deliver the water from the water reservoir into the water distribution system.

Claims

1. A vertical planter comprising:

a hollow column comprising at least two column modules, said column modules being mountable in an end-to-end relationship to form said hollow column;

an enclosed reservoir for holding a body of water;

mounting means on said enclosed reservoir for mounting said hollow column in a vertical orientation on said enclosed reservoir;

a planting medium in said hollow column;

a plurality of planting ports formed in said hollow column, said planting ports providing access for plants to be planted in said planting medium;

a plurality of planter inserts for mounting in said planting ports, each of said planter inserts comprising a frame generally conforming to the outline of said planter ports, a planter cup mounted to said frame and extending outwardly from said frame to hold a body of said planting medium on the outside surface of said hollow column when said planter insert is mounted to said planting port said planter insert including a shield mounted to said frame above said planter cup and extending inwardly into said hollow column when said planter insert is mounted to said planting port; and

water distribution means for distributing water from said body of water to said planting medium for said plants, said water distribution means comprising a pump means for distributing said water, said water distribution means including moisture sensor means in said planting medium for sensing when said planting medium requires more water, said moisture sensor means activating said pump means to distribute said water to said planting medium.

2. The vertical planter defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a pedestal for supporting said hollow column in said vertical orientation on said enclosed reservoir.

3. The vertical planter defined in claim 1 wherein said water distribution means includes a secondary reservoir on top of said hollow column.

4. A vertical planter comprising:

a hollow column;

an enclosed reservoir for holding a body of water;

mounting means on said enclosed reservoir for mounting said hollow column in a vertical orientation on said enclosed reservoir;

a planting medium in said hollow column;

a plurality of planting ports formed in said hollow column, said planting ports providing access for plants to be planted in said planting medium;

water distribution means for distributing water from said body of water to said planting medium for said plants; and

a plurality of planter inserts for mounting in said planting ports, each of said planter inserts comprising a frame generally conforming to the outline of said planting port, a planter cup mounted to said frame and extending outwardly from said frame to hold a body of said planting medium on the outside surface of said hollow column when said planter insert is mounted to said planting port, said planter insert including a shield mounted to said frame above said planter cup and extending inwardly into said hollow column when said planter insert is mounted to said planting port, said shield preventing said planting medium from overflowing said planter cup.

5. A vertical planter comprising:

a water reservoir;

a first hollow column module;

a pedestal on the water reservoir for supporting said first hollow column module in a vertical orientation on said water reservoir to form a planting column from said first hollow column module;

a planting medium in said planting column;

a plurality of planting ports in said planting column, said planting ports providing access for plants to be planted in said planting medium;

a plurality of planter inserts selectively mounted in said planting ports, each of said planter inserts comprising a frame for engaging said planting ports, said frame supporting a planter cup across said planting port with said planter cup extending outwardly from said planting column, said planter insert including a shield on said frame, said shield extending inwardly into said planting column above said planter cup to restrict excess planting medium from overflowing said planter cup; and

water distribution means for delivering water from said water reservoir to said planting medium.

6. The vertical planter defined in claim 5 wherein said planting column comprises a plurality of planting modules mounted in an end-to-end relationship on said pedestal.

7. The vertical planter defined in claim 5 wherein said planting column includes a plurality of planter inserts selectively mounted in said planting ports, each of said planter inserts comprising a framework for engaging said planting ports, said framework supporting a planter cup across said planting port with said planter cup extending outwardly from said planting column.

8. The vertical planter defined in claim 5 wherein said water distribution means comprises a distributor line in said planting column, said distributor line including a plurality of outlets for distributing said water into said planting medium.

9. A vertical planter comprising:

a water reservoir;

a first hollow column module;

a second column module mounted axially to said first column module to form a planting column;

a pedestal on the water reservoir for supporting said planting column in a vertical orientation on said water reservoir;

a planting medium in said planting column;

a plurality of planting ports in said planting column, said planting ports providing access for plants to be planted in said planting medium;

at least one planter cup mountable to one of said planting ports, said planter cup extending outwardly from said planting column, said planter cup including a frame and a shield mounted to said frame above said planter cup and extending inwardly into said planting column when said planter cup is mounted to said planting port and supporting a portion of said planting medium; and

water distribution means for delivering water from said water reservoir to said planting medium, said water distribution means comprises a distributor line in said planting column, said distributor line including a plurality of outlets for distributing said water into said planting medium, said water distribution means including a pump for delivering water from said water reservoir to said distributor line and moisture sensor means in said planting medium for controlling said pump.

10. A method for growing plants in a vertical orientation comprising:

preparing a water reservoir for holding a body of water for the plants;

placing a pedestal on said water reservoir;

mounting a hollow column on said pedestal with the axis of said hollow column oriented vertically;

forming a plurality of planting ports in said hollow column;

inserting at least one planter cup in a planting port, said planter cup being configured to hold a portion of said planting medium externally on said hollow column, said planter cup including a frame and a shield mounted to said frame above said planter cup and extending inwardly into said hollow column when said planter cup is mounted to said planting port;

filling said hollow column and said planter cup with a planting medium;

planting the plants in said planting medium through said planting ports and in said planting medium in said planter cup;

placing a distributor line in said planting medium and distributing water from said water reservoir into said distributor line thereby delivering said water into said planting medium; and

inserting a moisture sensor means in said planting medium, said moisture sensor means activating said distributor line in said planting medium thereby controlling watering the plants with said water from said water reservoir.