# US 2009/0260282 A1 · Plant cultivating unit and plant cultivating container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260282 A1 - Document ID: US20090260282A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/095,106 - Filed: 2006-11-28 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-30 - Assignees: Suntory Limited - Inventors: Masaki Hashimoto; Katsuro Miyagawa; Masayuki Saito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260282A1 ## CPC - A01G 9/045: {Trays for receiving multiple pots} - A01G 9/022: {Pots for vertical horticulture} - A01G 9/033: Flat containers for turf, lawn or the like, e.g. for covering roofs - A01G 27/00: Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots - A01G 31/02: Special apparatus therefor (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00) - Y02P 60/21: Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivating unit that can perform a watering operation in a simple manner and can supply water uniformly to plants in locations where a floor surface is sloped, such as the rooftop of a building, without requiring separate water supply piping work. A plant cultivating unit (1) comprises a water storage tray (2) in which water can be stored and in which receivers (3) for housing the roots of plants can be arranged in an interior thereof, a water storage space (8) in the water storage tray (2) and the receivers (3) being communicated via water feeders (7), and the water stored in the water storage space (8) being able to be supplied to the plants via the water feeders (7). The water storage tray (2) is provided with connectors (6) capable of communicably connecting adjacent water storage trays (2) to each other, the connectors (6) being configured from an inflow connector (6a) and an outflow connector (6b), the water flowing in through the inflow connector (6a) to the water storage space (8), and the water being able to flow out through the outflow connector (6b) by an overflow when a specific amount of water is stored in the water storage space (8). ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1: A plant cultivating unit comprising: a water storage tray in which at least one receiver for housing the roots of plants can be arranged in an interior thereof and in which water can be stored; a water storage space in the water storage tray and the receiver being communicated via at least one water feeder; and the water stored in the water storage space being able to be supplied to the plants via the water feeder; the plant cultivating unit further comprising: connectors provided to the water storage tray and capable of communicably connecting adjacent water storage trays to each other; the connectors being configured from at least one inflow connector and at least one outflow connector; the water flowing in through the inflow connector to the water storage space; and the water being able to flow out through the outflow connector by an overflow when a specific amount of water is stored in the water storage space. ### Claim at position 2 (depends on 1) 2: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 1, wherein the receiver has a concave shape; a bottom part thereof is provided with a through hole that can function as the water feeder; and the bottom part is positioned below the maximum water level possible when water is stored in the water storage space. ### Claim at position 3 (depends on 1) 3: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the receivers is provided to the water storage tray; and a raised-up tray bottom is formed between the receivers. ### Claim at position 4 (depends on 1) 4: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 1, comprising a cover for covering the top of the water storage tray. ### Claim at position 5 (depends on 4) 5: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 4, wherein the receivers and the cover constitute an integrally molded component; and the integrally molded component and the water storage tray are configured to be detachable. ### Claim at position 6 (depends on 5) 6: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 5, wherein the integrally molded component has a float portion that can float on a water surface. ### Claim at position 7 (depends on 6) 7: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 6, wherein the plant cultivating unit is manufactured by blow molding. ### Claim at position 8 (depends on 6) 8: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 6, wherein the float portion is formed into a hollow shape; an opening is provided for communicating the internal space in the float portion with the outside; and a lid member for closing off the opening is detachably provided. ### Claim at position 9 (depends on 4) 9: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 4, wherein the cover is provided with connecting parts capable of connecting adjacent covers together in a state in which a plurality of covers is aligned laterally; at least one connecting part provided on one side and at least one connecting part provided on the other side are disposed in different vertical positions; and the covers can be connected together in a state in which the connecting parts of laterally adjacent covers vertically overlap each other. ### Claim at position 10 (depends on 1) 10: The plant cultivating unit according to claim 1, comprising mounting parts capable of being mounted on a wall. ### Claim at position 11 (depends on 10) 11: A plant cultivating unit comprising a protective cover member for covering the outer surface of the plant cultivating unit according to claim 10. ### Claim at position 12 12: A plant cultivating container comprising: at least one receiver for housing the roots of plants; and at least one water feeder communicated with the receiver to allow water to be supplied to the plants via the water feeder; the plant cultivating container further comprising: a through hole that can function as the water feeder and is provided to a bottom part of the receiver; at least one float portion capable of floating on a water surface; and the bottom part of the receiver being positioned below the water surface in a state in which the plant cultivating container is floated on the water surface by the float portion. ### Claim at position 13 (depends on 12) 13: The plant cultivating container according to claim 12, wherein the plant cultivating container is configured so that the edge of a main unit of the plant cultivating container is positioned below the bottom surface of the receiver. ### Claim at position 14 (depends on 12) 14: The plant cultivating container according to claim 12, wherein the float portion is formed into a hollow shape; an opening is provided for communicating the internal space in the float portion with the outside; and a lid member for closing off the opening is detachably provided. ### Claim at position 15 (depends on 12) 15: The plant cultivating container according to claim 12, wherein the container main unit is provided with connecting parts capable of connecting adjacent container main units together in a state in which a plurality of container main units of the plant cultivating containers is aligned laterally; at least one connecting part provided on one side and at least one connecting part provided on the other side are disposed in different vertical positions; and the container main units can be connected together in a state in which the connecting parts of the laterally adjacent container main units vertically overlap each other.