GB2317095A - Planter liner - Google Patents

Abstract

A planter liner is vacuum formed to provide a sustainable preformed shape. The material from which the liner is produced is both flexible to allow folding, and waterproof, to provide a waterproof membrane between the planter and any growing medium used within the liner. Drainage can be provided at the bottom of the liner by snipping off preformed teats in the liner.

Description

Planter Llner.

The present Invention relates to a planter liner for use in a planter. The term 'planter' should be taken to include any container In which plants are grown, including for example hanging baskets1 mangers, troughs, window boxes, wall baskets and containers for placing on the ground.

Hanging baskets are a widely used gardening accessory, and may take many forms. Commonly, they are manufactured in semi - spherical form from round or flat sectioned wire. They are typically hung for display by three chains or wires mounted at equidistant points about the periphery of the basket and brought together at a common junction ring from which the basket is suspended.

In use, the basket is usually lined with natural moss or specially designed liners made from coco fibres, felt or recycled wool. Compost or other growing medium is then added, and the basket completed by placing various plants in the top or sides of the basket as requIred. Water and plant food can be applied to the top surface of the basket using a watering can, hose or by mixing plant food with the compost or growing medium.

Mangers and troughs are similar to hanging baskets, but are mounted to a wall rather than suspended. A manger normally takes the form of a quarter of a sphere, whilst a trough is more elongate.

Containers can take many forms for example a pot like shape and maybe manufactured from clay, terracotta, concrete, stone or other materials.

A problem with the above products Is that they tend to require watering about once every day, and more often in hot weather. Thus, the baskets, mangers and planters are often not watered enough. Further, when they are watered1 considerable amounts of water are used, and plant food and compost can be washed away.

The present invention aims to overcome the above problems, by providing a water proof membrane between the planter and the compost inside the liner, and to provide improved hanging baskets, wall baskets and other planter assemblies In a like manner.

viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides a liner for use in a planter, said liner for containing a growing medium.

The liner may be of any suitable shape, such as the shape of any standard planter, for example a hanging basket, manger or trough, and may be mounted inside such a planter In place of the above mentioned liner materials. The liner may have slits or cross cuts in its sides - to allow plants to be planted into it. It may also have drain holes or slits towards its base to allow excess water to drain off. Alternatively, it may be left to a purchaser to make appropriate cuts, etc., where desired. Perforations and I or lines of weakness may be incorporated Into the liner to facilitate the maldng of the slits, etc., by a purchaser.

The liner is able to reduce evaporation losses and retain adequate amounts of moisture, such that, once watered, the planter does not need to be watered again for a number of days.

Thus, the present invention provides a planter liner which is relatively inexpensive, and reduces the need for watering. It also helps to prevent plant food and compost being washed away.

The liner may be made from any suitable material, but the manufacturing process for this invention calls for the material to be vacuumed formed. Preferably the liner Is of a flexible plastic material, for example, Flexible PVC. which can be vacuumed formed to provide a preformed shape. It is this aspect of the invention which is different from all other liners hitherto. The formed shape of the flexible liner is such that it fits within various planters, some examples of which are outlined In this application.

This material flexibility allows a liner to be flat - packed for ease of storage, transport and display.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, In which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hanging basket in accordance with one embodiment of the present inventlon; Fig. 2 is a cross - sectional view of the hanging basket of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a wall - mounted manger Fig. 4 is a cross - sectional view of the manger shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross - sectional view of a typical planter with the preformed flexible liner fitted, for example, this could be a clay pot.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the liner comprises of an open topped preformed, flexible plastic, semi - spherical bag. The liner contains a growing medium such as compost. Plants are placed into the compost within the liner, which is in turn inside the planter. Plants may also be placed through cross - cuts in the liner sides as required.

Drainage holes are provided towards the bottom of the bag to allow for the drainage of excess water. The drainage could be provided by snipping off preformed teats in the liner base.

Thus, such an assembly requires less watering than prior hanging baskets, and helps to prevent the washing away of plant food and growing medium.

The cross - cuts in the liners surface and the drainage holes could also not be provided, and, instead, the purchaser may be left to make their own cuts, as desired.

The liner may include perforations and J or lines of weakness to facilitate the making of the cross - cuts, etc.

Refering to Figs. 3 and 4, the liner shown is the same In all aspects, except its formed shape, to the liner described in Figs 1 and 2.

Refering to Fig. 5, a preformed flexible plastic liner is shown within a typical planter.

Claims (3)

Claims

1. A planter liner preformed in any shape by vacuum forming, manufactured from any suitable flexible waterproof material

2. A planter liner as claimed in claim 1 which is made from any material which allows easy folding after manufacture

3. A planter liner as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 which is open topped