Plant Wall and Modules For Growing Plants

• US 20110107667A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotecture IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Biotecture IP LLC
• Inventors: Sabin, Richard Alexander, Laurence, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/59.S
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/025 Containers and elements for greening walls for covering roofs A01G9/033
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2

Abstract

A plant wall and module for growing plants is disclosed in which the plant wall and module provide for the controlled delivery of water and nutrients to plants located on the plant wall and module. The plant wall may include a matrix of modules, each module filled with an inert growing medium. The inert growing medium preferably includes openings in which plants are secured and from which plants can grow from the growing medium. An irrigation system delivers water and nutrients to each module and may be removed and replaced from the plant wall without removal of the irrigation system. In addition, a drainage channel, such as a rear drainage channel, is formed so that excess water may exit from the modules. Capillary breaks may also be provided within the growing medium of each module to aid in the distribution of water and nutrients throughout the growing medium.

Claims

1. A module for growing plants comprising:

a main body for housing an inert growing medium, the main body having a front, back, top, and bottom, the inert growing medium comprising a plurality of sections separated from one another by a capillary break, the inert growing medium configured to receive at least one plant.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the back of the main body includes drainage openings for allowing excess water to exit the inert growing medium.

3. The module of claim 1, further comprising a rear drainage channel adjacent to the back of the main body, wherein excess water delivered to the inert growing medium exits from the growing medium into the drainage channel.

4. The module of claim 3, wherein the drainage channel is formed in a drainage membrane, the drainage membrane comprising a permeable membrane and an impermeable membrane, the permeable membrane positioned adjacent to the back of the main body.

5. The module of claim 3, wherein the drainage channel is formed in a drainage module positioned adjacent to the back of the main body.

6. The module of claim 1, wherein the capillary break comprises a capillary membrane.

7. The module of claim 6, wherein the capillary membrane comprises a mesh core and a permeable membrane covering at least one side of the mesh core.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the inert growing medium comprises a mineral fiber oriented substantially parallel to the top and bottom of the main body.

9. A plant wall for growing plants comprising:

a module for housing an inert growing medium, the module having a front, back, top, and a bottom, the inert growing medium configured to receive at least one plant;

a support frame for securing the module to a wall;

an irrigation system for delivering water and nutrients to the growing medium; and

a drainage channel formed between the back of the module and the support frame, wherein excess water delivered to the inert growing medium by the irrigation system exits from the growing medium into the drainage channel without entering into another module located below.

10. The plant wall of claim 9, wherein the back of the module includes drainage openings for allowing excess water to exit the inert growing medium.

11. The plant wall of claim 9, wherein the drainage channel is formed in a drainage module positioned between the back of the module and the support frame.

12. The plant wall of claim 9, wherein the drainage channel is formed in a drainage membrane, the drainage membrane comprising a permeable membrane and an impermeable membrane, the permeable membrane positioned adjacent to the back of the module.

13. The plant wall of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of modules configured as a matrix.

14. The plant wall of claim 9, wherein the inert growing medium comprises a plurality of sections separated from one another by a capillary break.

15. A plant wall for growing plants comprising:

a removable module for housing an inert growing medium, the removable module having a front, back, top, and bottom, the inert growing medium configured to receive at least one plant;

a support frame for securing the removable module to a wall;

an irrigation system for delivering water and nutrients to the growing medium; and

wherein the removable module and the irrigation system are configured such that the removable module may be removed from the support frame without removing the irrigation system.

16. The plant wall of claim 15, wherein the back of the module includes drainage openings for allowing excess water to exit the inert growing medium.

17. The plant wall of claim 15, further comprising a drainage channel formed between the back of the removable module and the support frame, wherein excess water delivered to the inert growing medium by the irrigation system exits from the growing medium into the drainage channel.

18. The plant wall of claim 17, wherein the drainage channel is formed in a drainage module positioned between the back of the removable module and the support frame

19. The plant wall of claim 17, wherein the drainage channel is formed in a drainage membrane, the drainage membrane comprising a permeable membrane and an impermeable membrane, the permeable membrane positioned adjacent to the back of the removable module.

20. The plant wall of claim 17, wherein the drainage channel is configured such that the removable module may be removed from the support frame without removing the drainage channel.

21. The plant wall of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of removable modules configured as a matrix.

22. The plant wall of claim 15, wherein the inert growing medium comprises a plurality of sections separated from one another by a capillary break.

23. The plant wall of claim 15, wherein the inert growing medium comprises a mineral fiber oriented substantially parallel to the top and bottom of the module.