Patent Application
20220117176
This application claims priority to IT application No. 102020000024523 filed Oct. 19, 2020, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention finds application in the field of the cultivation of so-called “pot plants”, i.e., plants with a root system which may be cultivated outside of the natural environment thereof by placing the root system thereof in a suitable substrate accommodated in a container commonly called “pot”.
More precisely, the present invention relates to a device adapted to at least partially accommodate and support a plant of the aforesaid type.
As it is known, when a plant is cultivated in a pot, it needs more attention with respect to plants which grow outdoors in the natural environment thereof. When cultivating a pot plant, it is necessary, for example, to periodically administer water to the latter together with so-called “fertilizers”, i.e., substances capable of stimulating the development of the plant. Water and fertilizers are usually deposited at the substrate where the roots of the plant are at least partially immersed.
The periodic administration of water and fertilizers, as well as the control and adjustment of parameters, such as the temperature of the environment in which the plant grows and the light exposure of the latter, force a person assigned to the custody of a pot plant not to leave it for relatively long periods of time.
It is the object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a device for accommodating and supporting, at least partially, a pot plant, which may be remotely controlled by means of a mobile electronic apparatus, i.e., an electronic apparatus whose use does not place restrictions on the mobility of a user thereof. Among the mobile electronic apparatuses there are, by way of explanation, smartphones (i.e., mobile phones capable of performing some functions conventionally performed by a computer) and compact laptop computers (i.e., consisting of a parallelepiped body of a reduced size and weight).
The object of the present invention is a device adapted to accommodate and support, at least partially, a plant provided with a root system, said device comprising:
Said second sensor, similarly to said first sensor, is preferably adapted to measure the amount of fertilizer solution possibly present in said second tank;
Said pumping means preferably comprise an immersion pump accommodated in said first tank or in said second tank;
Said actuator preferably acts as a support which may rest on said plane, and on which said container may be rested at a portion thereof opposite to said opening. Said container is preferably capable of resting on a plane by means of said actuator so that, when said container rests on a plane, said actuator is interposed between said plane and said container.
Said actuator preferably comprises a motorized rotating platform on which the container rests;
Said transducer means preferably comprise at least one loudspeaker;
The device object of the invention is adapted to accommodate, at least partially, a pot plant and is advantageously remotely controllable by means of a mobile electronic apparatus.
The transducer means comprised in the device object of the invention are adapted to emit sound waves at least partially impacting against a pot plant when the root system of said plant is at least partially accommodated in the seat of the container of the device. Advantageously, the impact of the sound waves against the plant gives rise to vibrations which stimulate the growth of said plant.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof and from the accompanying sole drawing FIGURE, illustrating a schematic view of the invention.
As the sole drawing FIGURE is purely schematic, the scale and proportions of the various illustrated elements do not necessarily correspond to the real values.
The device 1 comprises a first tank 6 adapted to accommodate water therein, and a first sensor 7 adapted to detect whether an amount of water which is lower than a limit value previously defined as “first limit value” is accommodated in the tank 6. The sensor 7 is preferably adapted to measure the amount of water present in the tank 6.
The device 1 further comprises a second tank 8 adapted to accommodate therein a fertilizer solution for the plant 2, and a second sensor 9 adapted to detect whether an amount of fertilizer solution which is lower than a previously limit value previously defined as “second limit value” is accommodated in the tank 8. The sensor 9, similarly to the sensor 7, is preferably adapted to measure the amount of fertilizer solution present in the tank 8.
A pump 10 communicates with the seat of the container 4 and with the tanks 6 and 8 so as to: take an amount of water from the tank 6 and an amount of fertilizer solution from the tank 8, mix the water taken from the tank 6 with the fertilizer solution taken from the tank 8 so as to obtain a mixture, and introduce said mixture into the seat of the container 4, especially in the substrate 5. Preferably, but not necessarily, the pump 10 is an immersion pump accommodated in the tank 6 or in the tank 8.
In addition to the sensors 7 and 9, the device 1 comprises a third temperature sensor 11, at least partially accommodated in the seat of the container 4 and adapted to measure the temperature of at least one portion of substrate 5 previously defined as “first portion of substrate”. A fourth humidity sensor 12 is also at least partially accommodated in the seat of the container 4 so as to measure the degree of humidity of at least one portion of substrate 5 previously defined as “second portion of substrate”. Incidentally and for the avoidance of doubt, the first and second portion of the substrate may coincide, even only partially.
The device 1 further comprises an actuator 13 adapted to rotate the container 4 about an axis. More precisely, the container 4 may be rested on a plane 14 and the actuator 13 is comprised in the device 1 so that, when the container 4 rests on the plane 14, the axis about which the container 4 is rotatable is arranged orthogonally with respect to the plane 14. The actuator 13 preferably, but not necessarily, acts as a support which may rest on the plane 14, and on which the container 4 may be rested at an own base opposite to the opening to access the seat of said container 4. In particular, the latter may be rested on the plane 14 by means of the actuator 13 so that, when the container 4 rests (indirectly) on the plane 14, the actuator 13 is interposed between the plane 14 and the container 4. The actuator 13 preferably corresponds to a motorized rotating platform on which the container 4 rests.
The device 1 comprises a fifth brightness sensor 15, adapted to measure the intensity of the light in a portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14.
The device 1 further comprises an apparatus 16 adapted to emit artificial light. The apparatus 16 corresponds, by way of explanation, to an LED lamp and is adapted to emit artificial light in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14.
The device 1 further comprises an apparatus 17 adapted to emit sound waves. The apparatus 17 corresponds, by way of explanation, to a loudspeaker and is adapted to emit sound waves in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14.
The sensors 7, 9, 11, 12 and 15, the pump 10, the platform 13, the lamp 16 and the loudspeaker 17 are connected to control means 18 preferably corresponding to a programmable logic controller (usually known by the acronym “PLC”). The latter, by means of the sensor 7, knows if in the tank 6 there is an amount of water which is lower than the aforesaid first limit value and, by means of the sensor 9, it knows if an amount of fertilizer solution which is lower than the aforesaid second limit value is accommodated in the tank 8. The PLC 18 further acquires, by means of the sensor 11, the temperature of the aforesaid first portion of substrate 5, by means of the sensor 12, the degree of humidity of the aforesaid second portion of substrate 5 and, by means of the sensor 15, the intensity of the light in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14. The PLC 18 is capable of operating the pump 10 so as to: take a determined amount of water from the tank 6 and a determined amount of fertilizer solution from the tank 8, mix the water taken from the tank 6 with the fertilizer solution taken from the tank 8 so as to obtain a determined mixture, and introduce said determined mixture into the seat of the container 4, especially in the substrate 5. The PLC 18 is further capable of operating the platform 13 so as to rotate the container 4 about the aforesaid axis for a determined width and in a determined direction, to operate the lamp 16 so as to emit artificial light in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14, and to operate the loudspeaker 17 so as to emit sound waves in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14.
The PLC 18 is connected to an antenna 19 to transceive radio-frequency electromagnetic waves. By means of the latter and by means of the antenna 19, the PLC 18, and more generally the device 1, may be connected to a mobile electronic apparatus 20, such as, for example, a smartphone. The connection between the device 1 and the smartphone 20 may occur, by way of explanation, by means of the known Bluetooth™ technology and/or by means of a cellular mobile radio network to which both the device 1 and the smartphone 20 are connected.
Incidentally, in order for the device 1 to be connectable to a cellular mobile radio network, the latter is preferably provided with a SIM card by means of which the device 1 may be connected to the Internet. Alternatively, in the case where the device 1 is located in a geographical area with Wi-Fi™ coverage, the connection of the device 1 to the cellular mobile radio network may occur wirelessly by means of a connection to a local network in turn connected to the cellular mobile radio network.
When the device 1, by means of the antenna 19, is connected to the smartphone 20, the PLC 18 is capable of communicating to the smartphone 20, by transceiving radio-frequency electromagnetic waves, whether an amount of water which is lower than the aforesaid first limit value is accommodated in the tank 6 and whether an amount of fertilizer solution which is lower than the aforesaid second limit value is accommodated in the tank 8. The PLC 18 is further capable of communicating to the smartphone 20 the temperature, acquired by means of the sensor 11, of the aforesaid first portion of substrate 5, the degree of humidity, acquired by means of the sensor 12, of the aforesaid second portion of substrate 5 and the intensity of the light, acquired by means of the sensor 15, in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the surface 14.
When the device 1, by means of the antenna 19, is connected to the smartphone 20, the PLC 18 is capable of receiving from the smartphone 20, by transceiving radio-frequency electromagnetic waves, a command to operate the pump 10 so as to: take a determined amount of water from the tank 6 and a determined amount of fertilizer solution from the tank 8, mix the water taken from the tank 6 with the fertilizer solution taken from the tank 8 so as to obtain a determined mixture, and introduce said determined mixture in the seat of the container 4, especially in the substrate 5. The PLC 18 is further capable of receiving from the smartphone 20 a command for operating the platform 13 so as to rotate the container 4 about the aforesaid axis for a determined width and in a determined direction, a command for operating the lamp 16 so as to emit artificial light in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14, and a command for operating the loudspeaker 17 so as to emit sound waves in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14.
The smartphone 20 may access a database 21 containing information relating to a plurality of plants, each of which has a root system. For each plant of said plurality, the database 21 contains the physiological parameters of the life cycle of the plant, and in particular at least the following information: a preferred temperature and a preferred degree of humidity of the substrate 5 and a maximum intensity of the light to which said plant is to be exposed. The smartphone 20, preferably by means of an application, allows a user to select a plant from the database 21.
When the device 1, by means of the antenna 19, is connected to the smartphone 20, the latter, by means of the aforesaid application, is capable of communicating to the aforesaid user: whether an amount of water which is lower than the aforesaid first limit value is accommodated in the tank 6, whether an amount of fertilizer solution which is lower than the aforesaid second limit value is accommodated in the tank 8, the temperature of the aforesaid first portion of substrate 5, the degree of humidity of the aforesaid second portion of substrate 5 and the intensity of the light in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the surface 14.
When the device 1, by means of the antenna 19, is connected to the smartphone 20 and a user has selected a plant from the database 21, the smartphone 20, by means of the aforesaid application, is capable of communicating to the aforesaid user: every time the temperature of the aforesaid first portion of substrate 5 (communicated by the PLC 18) is different from the preferred temperature of the plant selected from the database 21, every time the degree of humidity of the aforesaid second portion of substrate 5 (communicated by the PLC 18) is different from the preferred degree of humidity of the plant selected from the database 21, and every time the intensity of the light in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14 is greater than the maximum intensity of the light to which the plant selected from the database 21 is to be exposed.
When the device 1, by means of the antenna 19, is connected to the smartphone 20, the latter, by means of the aforesaid application, allows a user to provide the PLC 18 with a command to operate the pump 20 so as to: take a determined amount of water from the tank 6 and a determined amount of fertilizer solution from the tank 8, mix the water taken from the tank 6 with the fertilizer solution taken from the tank 8 so as to obtain a determined mixture, and introduce said determined mixture into the seat of the container 4, especially in the substrate 5.
When the device 1, by means of the antenna 19, is connected to the smartphone 20, the latter, by means of the aforesaid application, allows a user to provide the PLC 18 with a command for operating the platform 13 so as to rotate the container 4 about the aforesaid axis for a determined width and in a determined direction, a command for operating the lamp 16 so as to emit artificial light in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14, and a command for operating the loudspeaker 17 so as to emit sound waves in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14.
According to a variant of the device 1, the latter further comprises a heater capable of transferring heat to the air present in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the surface 14. In such a case, also the heater is connected to the PLC 18 and the latter is capable of operating the heater so as to transfer heat to the air present in the aforesaid portion of space outside the container 4 and placed above the opening to access the seat of said container 4 when the latter rests on the plane 14. When the device 1 is connected to the smartphone 20, the PLC 18 is capable of receiving from the smartphone 20 a command for operating the heater, and a user of the smartphone 20, by means of the aforesaid application, is capable of providing the PLC 18 with a command for operating the heater.
With regard to the use of the device 1, a person, after having accommodated the plant 2 in the container 4 (i.e., the root system 3 in the substrate 5 in turn accommodated in the container 4), installs the above-mentioned application on the smartphone 20 thereof, selects the plant corresponding to the plant 2 from the database 21 and connects the smartphone 20 to the device 1. The PLC 18 communicates the information acquired by means of the sensors 7, 9, 11, 12 and 15 to the smartphone 20 which shows them to the user, by means of a “directional dashboard” comprised in the aforesaid application. When the ideal environmental parameters for the plant 2 (according to what is contained in the database 21) deviate from the values transmitted to the smartphone 20 by the PLC 18, the smartphone 20, by means of the aforesaid application, warns the user about the deviation and invites them to send a command to the PLC 18 so as to correct the deviation.
Based on the provided description of a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that changes may be introduced by a person skilled in the art without because of this departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102020000024523 | Oct 2020 | IT | national |
