This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 100117039, filed on May 16, 2011, Taiwan application serial no. 100127943, filed on Aug. 5, 2011, Taiwan application serial no. 101200766, filed on Jan. 12, 2012, and Taiwan application serial no. 101207646, filed on Apr. 24, 2012. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a planting three dimensional textile and a planting apparatus using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Three dimensional planting is one of the developing green technology in recent years. Generally speaking, the three dimensional planting means the planting space is three-dimensional and can effectively covers the buildings or has an effect of beautifying the gardens, also meet the purpose of power saving and carbon reducing. Furthermore, three dimensional planting can also be modified to be applied to all kinds of outdoor environment. At the same time, three dimensional planting can be applied with different types and different colors of plantings so as to improve the overall appearance and the visual effect.
The present invention is directed to a planting three-dimensional textile having light, thin, flexible and robust usable area and improving the green environment.
The present invention is further directed to a planting apparatus which is easy and convenient to be disassembled and assembled, also having better mobility.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a planting three-dimensional textile including a first textile layer and a second textile layer. The first textile layer has a first surface and a second surface. The first textile layer has a plurality of first connecting blocks which are separated from each other and arranged in array. The second textile layer covers the first surface. The second textile layer is only connected to the first connecting blocks so as to define a plurality of planting channels separated form each other between the first textile layer and the second textile layer. The second textile layer has a plurality of openings.
One embodiment of the present invention further provides a planting apparatus including a movable tank, a plurality of vertical brackets, at least one horizontal bracket, at least one three-dimensional textile, a top bracket and a watering device. The movable tank has a water collecting area and a supporting area surrounding the water collecting area. The vertical brackets stand on the supporting area. The horizontal bracket connects the vertical brackets. The three-dimensional textile is assembled on the horizontal bracket and covers the vertical brackets, and the three-dimensional textile is suitable for carrying plants. The top bracket is assembled on the top of the vertical brackets, the top bracket has a plurality of outlets facing toward the three-dimensional textile. The watering device has at least one channel. The channel is configured along at least one of the vertical brackets, and extended to at least one of the outlets of the top bracket.
The present invention further provides a planting apparatus including a three-dimensional textile, a pipe assembly and a cycling water supply unit. The three-dimensional textile has a plurality of planting channels. The pipe assembly is configured along the edge of the three-dimensional textile. The pipe assembly surrounds the planting channels. The cycling water supply unit is connected to the pipe assembly. The cycling water supply unit is configured to provide and transmit the water to the planting channels through the pipe assembly.
The present invention further provides a planting apparatus including a plurality of three-dimensional textiles, a plurality of connecting members, a pipe assembly and a cycling water supply unit. The three-dimensional textiles are connected to each other and have a plurality of planting channels separated from each other. Each of the connecting members connects the joint between each of the three-dimensional textiles for sealing the three-dimensional textiles. The pipe assembly is configured along the edge of the three-dimensional textiles, and the pipe assembly surrounds the planting channels. The cycling water supply unit is connected to the pipe assembly. The cycling water supply unit is configured to provide and transmit the water to the planting channels through the pipe assembly.
In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below.
The accompanying drawings constituting a part of this specification are incorporated herein to provide a further understanding of the invention. Here, the drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In detail, the extending direction of each cutting aperture P2 is parallel to a direction D1, and the direction D1 is, for example, the extending direction of the connecting blocks P1 of
Thus, when a user applies the outer force F onto the planting three-dimensional textile 100, two ends of each cutting aperture P2 are confined by the corresponding connecting blocks P1 so as to force the widths of the cutting apertures P2 to be magnified along the direction substantially parallel to the outer force F. Therefore, each cutting aperture P2 is expanded toward the two sides of each cutting aperture P2. Furthermore, because the cutting apertures P2 are alternately arranged, after each cutting aperture P2 is expanded, the planting channels 130 are presented in mesh pattern due to the stretching of the textile layer, such that the cover area of the planting three-dimensional textile 100 is magnified. Thus, the planting three-dimensional textile 100 can arbitrarily change the area to be covered according to different degree of stretching, so as to broaden the application of the planting three-dimensional textile 100.
Referring to
Furthermore, the textile layer 120 has a plurality of openings 122 for plants (not shown) to grow out from. Thereby, the plants can grow out from the openings 122. The openings 122 of the present embodiment is formed on the textile layer 120 by, for example fusing, mechanical cutting or laser cutting, etc. The distributing density and the size of the openings 122 depend on the planting requirement, which the present embodiment is not limited thereto. It is noted that, apart from forming the opening 122 on the textile layer 120, the present embodiment can also selectively formed similar openings on the textile layer 110, not shown.
On the other hand, the planting three-dimensional textile 100 can further include a plurality of planting fillings 140, the planting fillings 140 are filled in the planting channels 130, and the openings 122 expose part of the planting fillings 140. In other words, the user can plant the seeds of the plants (not shown) or the plants in the planting fillings 140 of the planting channels 130. When the seeds of the plants or plants sprout and grow, the plants can grow up from the openings 122. The planting fillers 140 of the present embodiment include natural fibers, regenerated fibers, semi-regenerated fibers, synthetic fibers, semi-synthetic fibers, paper pulp, foam, soil-free planting substrate, planting soil, acetate fibers or tri-acetate fibers Therefore, after water is provided into the planting channels 130, the plants in the planting fillings 140 can absorb the water and grow up. Furthermore, the water is easily held in the planting fillings 140 because the planting channels 130 are not connected to each other through the cutting apertures P2.
The only difference is that the planting channels 532 connected to each other includes a plurality of vertical planting channels 532a and a plurality of horizontal planting channels 532b, and the vertical planting channels 532a and the horizontal planting channels 532b are interlaced with and connected to each other.
Moreover, the planting three-dimensional textile 500 further comprises a textile layer 550 covering the surface S2 of the textile layer 510, wherein the textile layers 510, 550 are connected to each other by a plurality of connecting blocks P5 which are separated from each other and arranged in array, so as to define a plurality of planting channels 562 between the textile layers 510, 550. In the present embodiment, the connecting blocks P4 and the connecting blocks P5 are not overlapped.
Additionally, the above-mentioned planting channels 562 connected to each other can further include a plurality of vertical planting channels 562a and a plurality of horizontal planting channels 562b, and the vertical planting channels 562a and the horizontal planting channels 532b are interlaced with and connected to each other. In the present embodiment, the planting channels 562 are illustrated with the vertical planting channels 562a and the horizontal planting channels 562b; in other embodiment, the planting channels 562 can also be presented in mesh pattern.
In the planting three-dimensional textile 500, the textile layers 510, 520 and 550 can be integrally woven by a loom with longitudinal yarns and latitudinal yarns interlaced and connected to each other. In another embodiment, the textile layers 510, 520 and 550 can be separately made, then, the part of the textile layers 510 and 520 located in the connecting blocks P4 are interlaced with each other by the loom, and the part of the textile layers 510 and 550 located in the connecting blocks P5 are interlaced with each other by the loom, wherein the textile layer 510 located between the textile layers 520 and 550. In other words, the planting three-dimensional textile 500 can be formed by pieced the textile layers 510, 520 and 550 together. However, in another embodiment, the textile layers 510, 520 (or textile layers 510, 550) can be integrally woven, and then the textile layer 550 (or textile layers 520) can be interlaced with and connected to the textile layer 510 in pocket form.
Referring to
In the above-mentioned embodiments, material of the textile layers can be polyester, polypropylene, polyolefin polymer, nylon, rayon or synthetic cotton fibers or any combination thereof. In addition, the textile layers can be made by the loom with longitudinal yarns and latitudinal yarns interlaced with each other. In detail, the weaving method of the textile layers can be single stitch with single thread or single stitch with double thread, and for improving the weaving strength of the textile layers, J seam (SSn) can also be adapted. The weaving strength thus can be increased at least twice or higher. Moreover, the material of the textile layers can be the same as or different from each other. The following Table 1 shows the test result of the textile layers of the present embodiment. The embodiment does not limit the yarn type or the material of the textiles and the layer number of the textile layers herein, which should depend on the design and requirement of the user.
When the planting three-dimensional textile 500 is vertically placed, the water located above flows toward the lower point, the planting apparatus 400 thus can further include a water outlet system 420, wherein the water outlet system 420 is mainly configured to collect the water passing through the planting channels 532. In another embodiment, for better usage of water resource and preventing water resource from being wasted, the planting apparatus 400 also may include a cycling system 430, wherein the cycling system is mainly for transferring the water collected by the water outlet system into the water inlet system 410, so the water can be repeatedly used. In the present embodiment, the cycling system 430 is, for example, a pumping motor.
In the present embodiment, the rod 612 can be a steel pipe, an iron pipe, a high-polymer polyvinyl chloride (HPVC) pipe, a polyethylene (PE) plastic pipe, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic pipe, a stainless steel pipe, a copper pipe or other suitable pipes, which means it depends on the chosen material of the rod 612. The rod 612 can be the above-mentioned elastic rod or the above-mentioned stiff rod, so the rod 612 can be in curved, straight or any other geometric shape, which depends on the environment the planting apparatus 600 to be disposed on.
For example, if the planting apparatus 600 of the present embodiment is disposed on the outer surface of the building for presenting the green building image, because the shape of the rod 612 can be either curved or straight, the planting apparatus 600 can be matched with the curvature of the outer surface of the building so as to present the green building appearance. In particular, because the planting apparatus can be matched with the curvature of the outer surface of the building, the geometric appearance of the building would not be affected by the planting apparatus 600. In other words, apart from being utilized on the appearance of the building, the planting apparatus 600 can also be used on indoor walls, outdoor shack or any other environments or objects to be planted. Furthermore, the planting apparatus 600 can further include a water proof member (not shown). The water proof member can be disposed on one of the surfaces of the planting three-dimensional textile. In other words, the water proof member is formed by coating or applied other component to provide one side of the planting three-dimensional textile the water-proof function so as to prevent the surface of the building from damage due to moisture.
In the planting apparatus 600, the water from the planting three-dimensional textile 500 can be collected by disposing the bottom of the planting three-dimensional textile 500 in a water collecting tank 620 (as shown in lower part of the figure).
In the present embodiment, the planting three-dimensional textile 600 can also include a flow controller 616 for controlling the amount of water provided to the planting channels 532b, as shown in
Moreover, in another not-shown embodiment, the above-mentioned motor 616a, timer 616b, rod 612 may also be integrated and hidden in the planting three-dimensional textile 500 and be controlled by a control unit (not shown). The embodiment does not limit the methods of integrating the above mentioned components herein.
In the present embodiment, the movable planting apparatus U100 include a movable tank U110, a plurality of vertical brackets 1120A, U120B and U120C, at least one horizontal bracket U130A, U130B and U130C, a three-dimensional textile U140, a top bracket 1150 and a watering device U160. The movable tank U110 has a water collecting area A1 and a supporting area A2 surrounding the water collecting area A1. The vertical brackets U120A, U120B and U120C stand on the supporting area A2. The horizontal brackets U13A, U130B and U130C connect the vertical brackets U120 so as to from the main structure of the movable planting apparatus U100. The three-dimensional textile U140 is assembled on the horizontal bracket 1130A and covers the vertical brackets U120A, U120B and U120C. The top bracket U150 is assembled on the top of the vertical brackets U120A, U120B and U120C, and the top bracket U150 has a plurality of outlets U152 facing toward the three-dimensional textile U140. The watering device U160 includes a channel U162 which is configured along the vertical brackets U120A, U120B and U120C, and extended to the outlets U152 of the top bracket U150.
For a detailed description of this section, the detail structure of the planting three-dimensional textile U140 can be found in the previous embodiments, therefore no further description is contained herein.
In general, in the present embodiment, the planting three-dimensional textile U140 is suitable for carrying plants U200, and the multi-layer textile structure provides the plants U200 great long-term growing spaces and the living environment which can extend in all directions. The watering device U160 collects the water from the movable tank U110 through the channel U162 and transmits the water to the outlets U152 of the top bracket U150, such that the water can be poured from the top bracket U150, at the same time, with the permeating channels and the permeability of the planting three-dimensional textile U140, the water may permeate through layers and flow to the movable tank U110 and be reused. Thus, the movable planting apparatus U100 may have the independent water supply system so as to save the maintenance labor cost. In addition, with the roller U112 of the movable tank U110, the mobility of the movable tank is thus increased, such that the movable planting apparatus U100 does not need to be repeatedly uninstalled and installed when moved to places, so as to improve the working efficiency. The present invention does not limit the moving structure of the movable tank U110 herein. Any related structures can help moving objects may be adapted to the present invention.
In detail, in the present embodiment, the three horizontal brackets U130A, U130B and U130C are in circular shape and the vertical brackets U120A, U120B and U120C are connected to the horizontal brackets U130 from the outside. In the present embodiment, the vertical brackets U130A, U130B and U130C have a plurality of L-shaped hooks, and the horizontal brackets U130A, U130B and U130C are hung on the hooks correspondingly, such that the center of the horizontal brackets U130A, U130B and U130C are located on the same axis L1, wherein the orthogonal projection area of horizontal brackets U130A, U130B and U130C on a plane PA1 is increased orderly from the bottom to the top (as shown in
Moreover, the planting three-dimensional textile U140 are divided into three pieces of separated curtains U140A, U140B and U140C, wherein each of the curtains U140A, U140B and U140C has a sleeve portion U142 connected to the topmost horizontal brackets U130A (the one closest to the top bracket U150), and covers the vertical brackets U120A, U120B, U120C and the horizontal brackets U130A, U130B and U130C. In the present embodiment, the sleeve portion U142 is formed by folding or rolling up on end of each of the curtains U140A, U140B and U140C, and in other not shown embodiment, the sleeve portion can be made between the textile layers when the curtains U140A, U140B and U140C are woven, or one of the planting channels may be taken as the sleeve portion. Thereby each of the curtains U140A, U140B and U140C can be evenly hung on the horizontal bracket U130A and then the horizontal brackets U130A, U130B, U130C and the vertical brackets U120A, U120B and U120C may be assembled, so as to simplify the assembling. However, the present invention does not limit the disassemble methods of the planting three-dimensional textile U140, the designer can make suitable adjustment according to the requirement of the usage and the related components.
Moreover, the movable planting apparatus U100 further includes an illumination device U170 and the illumination device U170 includes a plurality of trunks U172A, U172B and U174C, a plurality of branches U174, a power system U176 and a plurality of illumination units U178 (herein the branches U174 and the illumination units U178 of the trunks U172B are not shown in
Furthermore, the water collecting area A1 is a concave structure, and the supporting area A2 of the movable tank U110 is a tilted surface. The tilted surface is configured to support and collect the water permeated from the planting three-dimensional textile U140 such that the water can be the source of the recycling water. In addition, in order to keep the source of the recycling water clear, the watering device U160 further includes a filtering units U164, disposed on the water collecting area A1 of the movable tank U110. In the present embodiment, the filtering unit U164 includes a filtering layer U164a, a filtering cotton layer U164b and a activate carbon layer U164C, which are disposed by layer along the tilted surface toward the bottom of the water collecting area A1 so as to filter the recycling water.
On the other hand, the watering device U160 further includes a pump U166 which is, for example, an external pump, and is disposed on the outer side of the water collecting area A1 (which is the outer side of the concave structure) and is connected between the channel U162 and the water collecting area A1. Thereby, the filtered water can be pressured to transmit to the channel U162 by the pump U166, so as to be poured from the outlets U152 of the top bracket U150 to water the planting three-dimensional textile. However, the present invention does not limit the type of the pump herein.
Referring back to
In addition,
In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional textile W110 has a plurality of planting channels W112 which are separated from each other so as to provide the plants growing space. Similarly, the detail structure of the planting three-dimensional textile of the present embodiment can be found in the previous embodiments, therefore no further description is contained herein.
In the present embodiment, the planting channels W112 are parallel to each other and are configured along a gravity direction G, and the pipe assembly 120 are configured along the edge of the planting three-dimensional textile W110. The pipe assembly 120 surrounds and connecting the planting channels W112. For example, the cycling water supply unit W130 is constructed of a pump and a water storage tank (not shown), and has an outlet valve W132 and an inlet valve W134 which are respectively connected to the pipe assembly W120, so as to form a cycling water supply path with the pipe assembly W120 surrounding the planting three-dimensional textile W110. In other words, the pump transmits the water from the water storage tank to the pipe assembly W120 through the outlet valve W132. The pipe assembly W120 surrounds the planting three-dimensional textile W110 such that the water can flow to the planting three-dimensional textile W110 for watering the plants. After that, the rest of the water flow back to the cycling water supply unit W130 along the pipe assembly via the inlet valve W134 so as to recycling the water.
It is noted that the pipe assembly W120 of the present embodiment is embedded in the planting three-dimensional textile W110. That is to say, the pipe assembly W120 actually can not be seen on the planting three-dimensional textile W110 of the planting apparatus W100 in
In the present embodiment, the pipe assembly W120 includes a plurality of pipes W122a, W122b, W122c, W122d and a plurality of quick couplers W124, wherein each of the quick couplers W124 can be detachably connected between any two of the connecting pipes W122a, W122b, W122c, W122d (additionally, the quick couplers Q124 can also be connected between the pipes W122a, W122b, W122c, W122d and the cycling water supply unit W130). In other embodiment, the amount of the pipes W122a, W122b, W122c, W122d and the quick couplers W124 can be any suitable amount. Besides, the quick couplers W124 are L-shaped pipe couplers. In other embodiments, the quick couplers W124 can be curvy-tripod pipe couplers so as to connecting three pipes at the same time, which means the pipes not only can be disposed on the outer edge of the planting three-dimensional textile but also can be disposed between the planting channels. The present invention does not limit the amount and the shape of the quick couplers herein. Thereby, by using the quick couplers W124 to speed up the assembling/disassembling of the pipes W122a, W122b, W122c, W122d, the planting apparatus W100 can be faster and easier to be assembled and disassembled when in use or in maintenance.
Based on the above, the pipe assembly of the present invention is easy to be assembled and disassembled, such that the pipe assembly can be applied to the planting three-dimensional textile as a single modular structure. Thus, the modular planting apparatus can be assembled freely according to the actual need and the requirement of the surrounding environment so as to improve the practicality and the mobility of the planting apparatus.
In detail, the pipe assembly W120 is disposed along the gravity direction G and divided into a water supply area W120a and a pipe full area W120b. The water supply area W120a is located above the pipe full area W120b, and a least a part of the pipes W122 located within the water supply area W120a and has a plurality of water outlets W126. To be more specific, the pipe assembly W120 of the present embodiment includes the pipes W122a, W122b horizontally disposed (the pipe W122a are located above the pipe W122b), and the pipes W122c, W122d vertically disposed (which means disposed along the gravity direction G), wherein the water outlets W126 are disposed on the pipes W122a, and part of the pipes W122c, W122d (as shown in the upper portion of the figure), and there is no water outlet disposed on the pipe W122b. Thus, the pipe W122a and part of the pipes W122c, W122d form the water supply area W120a, and the region without the water outlets W126 of the pipes W122c, W122s forms the pipe full area. Moreover, the water outlets W126 of the pipe W122c, W122d of the present embodiment are not connected with the planting channels W112. Thus, part of the water flows out from the water outlets W126 of the pipes W122c, W122d and permeates down to planting channels W112. With the disposition, the cycling water supply unit W130 provides water into the pipes W122a, W122b, W122c, W122d in order, so that the water flows along the cycling water supply path. In the present embodiment, part of water outlets W126 of the pipes W122a are aligned with the planting channels W112. Therefore, part of the water flows to the planting channels W112 through the water outlets W126 of the pipes W122a. In other embodiment, part of water outlets W126 of the pipe W122a are not aligned with the planting channels W112.
Thereby, part of the water flows out from the water outlets W126 of the pipes W122a, W122c and W122d, and part of the water gradually flows to the pipe full area W120b along the gravity direction G. In the present embodiments, non of the water outlets W126 is disposed on the pipe full area W120b, so the pipe full area W120b can maintain the pipe-full state when the water is provided, such that the air in the pipe W122b of the pipe full area W120b can be reduced. Therefore, with the water supply area W120a disposed corresponding to the pipe full area W120b, the water supply amount can be effectively in control, so as to avoid that the amount of water flowing to the planting three-dimensional textile W110 is uneven. The diameters and the amount of the water outlets W126 and the gap between the water outlets W126 are not limited herein. The designer can make suitable modifications according to the disposition of the pipe assembly in the planting three-dimensional textile W110 and the water requirement of the plants.
Referring to
Furthermore, the planting apparatus W100 further includes a water proof member (not shown). The water proof member can be disposed on one of the surfaces of the planting three-dimensional textile. In other words, the water proof member is formed by coating or applied other component to provide one side of the planting three-dimensional textile W110 the water-proof function.
When the planting apparatus W100 is disposed on another component, for example, a wall (not shown), the planting apparatus W100 may prevent the surface of the wall from damage or moisture.
In detail, each of the textile bodies W110a, W110b are formed by a plurality of textile layers partially connected and covered with each other. The difference are that each of the textile bodies W110a, W110b has different surface area, and the textile body W110a with smaller surface area is connected to the textile body W110b with greater surface area so as to form a pocket structure. In other words, the planting three-dimensional textile W110 located in the pocket structure area forms the planting channels W112 corresponding to each other. In another embodiment, when the planting channels of each textile bodies W110a, W110b are interlaced woven, and the pocket structure are presented as the structure shown in
In detail, the planting apparatus W300 of the present embodiment further includes a connecting member W150. The connecting member W150 is configured along the edge of the planting three-dimensional textile W110. The connecting member W150 includes a first lock unit W152 and a second lock unit W154. The first lock unit W152 has a hook W152a and the second lock unit W154 has a groove W154a, such that the hook W152a is locked into the groove W154a (in other not shown embodiment, the connecting means can be the lock units which the profiles thereof corresponds to each other). When the planting three-dimensional textile W110 covers the structure W50, the hook W152a is detachably locked into the corresponding groove W154a to connect two opposing sides of the planting three-dimensional textile W110, such that the planting three-dimensional textile W110 is fixed to the structure W50. However, the present invention does not limit the amount and the modular formation of the planting three-dimensional textile herein.
The similarity between the present embodiment and the previous embodiment is that the connecting member W220 of the present embodiment includes a first lock unit W222 and a second lock unit W224. The first lock unit W222 has a hook W222a, and the second lock unit W224 has a groove W224a, wherein the hook W222a is detachably locked into the corresponding groove W224a. However, the difference is that the first lock unit W222 and the second lock unit W224 of the present embodiment are belonged to different planting three-dimensional textile W210 and E220, so as to connect the planting three-dimensional textile W210.
In summary, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the second textile layer is only connected to the connecting blocks so as to define a plurality of planting channels between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, wherein the second textile layer has a plurality of openings, therefore, the planting three-dimensional textile can provide the plants with great long-term growing space and the living environment which can extend in all four directions.
Moreover, each of the connecting blocks in stripe shapes has a plurality of cutting apertures passing through the first textile layer and the second textile layer. Thereby, the planting three-dimensional textile provides the plants with great growing space and extending space. Moreover, the planting three-dimensional textile can be expanded by the planting channels. In addition, the planting three-dimensional textile can be expanded and compressed so as to have a flexible usage area.
Furthermore, the planting three-dimensional textile can be disposed on a movable structure with independent watering device and illumination device. Therefore, the movable planting device not only has the mobility, but also can reduce the maintenance labor cost for displaying or nurturing, the efficiency thus is improved.
Also, the connecting member makes the pipe assembly easy to be assembled and disassembled, such that the pipe assembly can be applied to the planting three-dimensional textile as a single modular structure. Thus, the modular planting apparatus can be assembled freely according to the actual need and the requirement of the surrounding environment so as to improve the practicality and the mobility of the planting apparatus.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims not by the above detailed descriptions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100117039 | May 2011 | TW | national |
100127943 | Aug 2011 | TW | national |
101200766 | Jan 2012 | TW | national |
101207646 | Apr 2012 | TW | national |