GB2197447A - Plant irradiator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a house plant irradiator (2) comprising at least one support (8) for a growing plant and means (5,6) for illuminating said growing plant wherein the support means includes an elongate hollow section (3) adapted to accommodate a source of full spectrum light (6) and in that the section is provided with at least one window (5) adjacent the support to allow irradiation of the adjacent plant. Preferably the support is affixed to a wall surface and the windows direct full spectrum light parallel to the surface of the wall (1) so that said light does not impinge noticably on domestic living space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION House plant irradiator The present invention relates to a house plant irradiator.

House plants may be defined as plants commonly grown in domestic circumstances. Such plants often do not thrive because of a lack of suitable light. This is particularly so in plants which are positioned within a room remote from a window and which, for example, are perennial.

It is well known that the amount of useful daylight utilisable by such plants can be very low, especially in winter, and for this reason house plants tend to be grouped on windowsills and the like. Even then the window glass tends to markedly reduce certain portions of the spectra which are useful in photosynthesis.

It is obviously desirable to avoid grouping all plants by a window but the penalty of this has previously been that plants fail to thrive.

It is also known horticulturally to irradiate plants with full spectrum light, often projected from suitably positioned fluorescent tubes or similar devices. Such full spectrum lights, since they are very bright, are usually unacceptable in domestic situations for aesthetic reasons.

The present invention seeks to alleviate this problem by providing a support for plants incorporating means for the support of full spectrum light such as a fluorescent tube, and means for directing the light only toward the plant itself so that the human eye is not disturbed.

According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a house plant irradiator comprising at least one support for a growing plant, and means for illuminating said growing plant; characterised in that the support comprises an elongate hollow section adopted to accommodate a source of full spectrum light, and in that the section is provided with at least one window adjacent said support to allow irradiation of an adjacent plant.

In a preferred form of the invention a window, or windows, are elongate in a vertical direction to encourage vertical growth of a plant. In one embodiment the support is adapted to be affixed to a wall and the windows are adapted to direct the light parallel to the plane of the wall so that in the ordinary course of domestic exchange the light within the elongate hollow section does not directly impinge upon the living space.

The support carries a plurality of brackets carrying a plurality of plant pots, for example, each associated with a window for full spectrum light extending upwardly from the bracket.

The elongate hollow section may also be provided with means for concentrating the light toward the window. Such means may, for example, be a reflector.

In another embodiment of the invention the support may be freestanding on a base. In this instance, the means for illuminating the plants projects vertically from the base. A cover is provided about the vertical projection carrying the means for illumination, said cover being provided with a plurality of suitably spaced elongate windows. The vertical assembly may be rotatable in respect of the base so that either the base may be moved relative to the vertical assembly, or the cover may be rotated relative to the illuminating means and the base. In either case, the supports for the plant pot, for example, can be positioned at desired locations relative to the illuminating means in any position within a full circle.

The invention will now be described, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a vertical side elevation in part cross-section of a wall mounted device in accordance with the present invention.

The irradiator (2) of the present invention is formed substantially of a channel shaped body (3) open toward its rear face with which it contacts a wall surface (1). The open side of the body (3) accommodates a cool full spectrum fluorescent tube or other means for providing a reasonable amount of ultraviolet light without excessive linear generation, shown diagrammatically at (6) with all the necessary electrical apparatus for operating the same; such as, for example, a choke, switch assembly etc. as required. The fluorescent tube (6) extends vertically over the majaority of the length of the body (3). End caps (4) are provided to the body (3) to assist in maintenance.

The body (3) is provided on the faces thereof perpendicular to the plane of the wall (1) with elongate windows (5). Accordingly, there are two elongate windows (5) in the Figure shown each being staggered relatively in the vertical direction such that the lower end thereof is positioned slightly above the intended lower leaves of a house plant adapted for use therewith. It will be appreciated that the elongate slots (5) provide a full spectrum light over the growing path of the plant and accordingly causes the plant to grow straight and vertically and avoids deformation often associated with house plants. Although in the Figure a single window has been shown on one surface of the body (3) obviously with an elongation of the tube (6) a plurality of in-line windows (5) can be provided to give an elongate growing path for a developing house plant.The windows may be provided with suitable shutter means to blank off unwanted windows at will, such shutter means may, for example, be provided by a flat plate pivoted at an upper edge and so arranged that it can be rotated through 180 to either obscure or open a window at will.

The body (3) is provided adjacent said windows with an angle bracket (7) supporting the plant pot holder (8) of a generally annular configuration. The plant pot holder (8) extends generally horizontally to support a plant pot (9) adapted for use therewith. The plant pot (9) may be of a configuration such that it locates within the annulus provided by the support (8) or the support (8) may be provided with a suitable tray for the support of plant pots of different sizes.

It will be noted that in the Figure there are shown two plant pots in staggered vertical relation. It will also be appreciated that the corresponding windows are correspondingly staggered in the vertical direction. If reflector means, which may be optionally provided, are accommodated within the body (3) and diametrically opposed within the body to respective windows (5) the irradiated light can be concentrated to one side without affecting the irradiated light projected on the other side of the body (3). It will be appreciated that if, for example, a 6 watt fluorescent tube is utilised, the use of a reflector allows all the light generated within the encompass of the window to be irradiated onto the plant. If the windows are in register on either side of the body (3) about half the light is available for each plant and hence a tube of a higher rating may be required.

It will be readily seen that the arrangement of the Figure can be adapted as hereinbefore set forth to provide a freestanding device wherein the body (3) is rotatable relative to a base thereby to a allow windows (5) to be directed in a desired direction, at a desired height. This may be associated if desired, with plant pot supports (8) arranged at different heights and relatively moveable with respect to the base and to the hollow body (3).

It has been found in use that the device in accordance with the invention provides house plants which are not distorted by receiving light from inappropriate directions, which are healthy, and which have higher disease resistance than plants grown in standard domestic situations.

The invention relates, therefore, to plant irradiation apparatus as hereinbefore set forth and to a method of irradiating plants in a domestic situation.

Claims (8)

1. A house plant irradiator comprising at least one support for a growing plant, and means for illuminating said growing plant, characterised in that the support comprises an elongate hollow section adapted to accommodate a source of full spectrum light, and in that the section is provided with at least one window adjacent said support to allow irradiation of an adjacent plant.

2. An irradiator according to claim 1 characterised in that the window or windows are elongate in a vertical direction to encourage vertical growth of a plant.

3. An irradiator according to either preceding claim characterised in that the support is adapted to be affixed to a wall and the window(s) are adapted to direct the light parallel to the plane of the wall so that the light within the elongate hollow section does not directly impinge upon domestic living space.

4. An irradiator according to any preceding claim characterised in that the support carries a plurality of brackets each adapted to support a plurality of plant pots, and each being associated with a window for full spectrum light extending upwardly relative thereto.

5. An irradiator according to any preceding claim characterised in that the elongate hollow section is provided with relative means for concentrating the light toward the window.

6. An irradiator according to either of claims i or 2 characterised in that the support is free-standing on a base, and in that means for illuminating the plants projects vertically therefrom.

7. An irradiator according to claim 6 characterised in that a cover is provided about the vertical projection carrying the means for illumination, said cover being provided with a plurality of suitably spaced elongate windows, the arrangement being such that the windows or the cover are relatively rotatable in respect of the base to adjust the direction of light relative to growing plants spaced relative thereto.

8. An irradiator according to claim 1 essentially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.