Channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing

Claim 2

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, the inner surface of said central core forming the bottom wall of said structure is lined by a layer of a fibrous material.

Claim 3

A channel-like structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said central core is of a thermoplastics material.

Claim 4

A channel-like structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said fibrous layer is a felt or an unwoven fabric.

Claim 5

A channel-like structure according to claim 1, characterized in that at each end, in the working position, a portion of the bottom portion is curled upwards in order to close the hollow space as provided by said central core.

Claim 6

A channel-like structure according to claim 1, wherein a continuous thread-like member is anchored to the fibrous layer along the entire length thereof.

Claim 7

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said central core being constituted by a strip forming the bottom wall of the structure, from which two substantially vertical sidewalls start, said strip being of a semi-rigid plastics material and having previously moulded longitudinal folding lines.

Claim 8

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said central core being constituted by a strip forming the bottom wall of the structure, from which two substantially vertical sidewalls start, said strip being of a semi-rigid plastics material and having previously moulded longitudinal folding lines.

Claim 9

A channel-like structure according to claim 6 wherein said strip is initially formed as a tube.

Claim 10

A channel-like structure according to claim 6 wherein said strip is initially formed as a tube, said tube being flattened to form said bottom wall, a plurality of folded sidewall panels overlying opposite edge portions of said bottom wall, and said tube being slit to define a divided upper base overlying said bottom wall and said sidewall panels.

Claim 11

A channel-like structure according to claim 8 together with means for securing together adjacent edge portions of said upper base in spaced generally parallel relation.

Claim 12

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said central core and said side strips being provided as a single piece in the form of a tubular member of a plastics material open along a generating line, said tubular member having at least a crease on two opposite sides intended to form the flanks of the channel-like structure, the confronting edges of said longitudinal opening having matching bores which are spaced apart according to a preselected pattern along the length of said edges.

Claim 13

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said central core and said side strips being provided as a single piece in the form of a tubular member of a plastics material open along a generating line, said tubular member having at least a crease on two opposite sides intended to form the flanks of the channel-like structure, the confronting edges of said longitudinal opening having matching bores which are spaced apart according to a preselected pattern along the length of said edges.

Claim 14

A channel-like structure according to claim 10, characterized in that said creases are at least twin-creases.

Claim 15

A channel-like structure according to claim 10, characterized in that said tubular member is formed from a strip of a plastics material having preselected folding lines thereon.

Claim 16

A channel-like structure according to claim 12, characterized in that said strip is obtained by laminating two plastic sheets, at least one of which is of a colour adapted to reflect the U.V. rays as much as possible.

Claim 17

A channel-like structure according to claim 10, characterized in that said channel-like structure has a parallelepipedal shape when in its working position.

Claim 18

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, and terminal members mounted at the ends of the channel-like structure, each terminal member being formed by a stiff channel closed on three sides and so sized as to contain with a small preselected clearance said channel-like structure of plastics material, at least one of said terminal members having a discharge port.

Claim 19

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, and terminal members mounted at the ends of the channel-like structure, each terminal member being formed by a stiff channel closed on three sides and so sized as to contain with a small preselected clearance said channel-like structure of plastics material, at least one of said terminal members having a discharge port.

Claim 20

A channel-like system according to claim 15, characterized in that the side upper edges of each supporting channel are curled both outwards and downwards, thus providing an open quadrangular cross-sectional outline.

Claim 21

A channel-like system according to claim 15, especially adapted for being installed in a raised position above the ground, characterized in that said structure is supported along its length by a supporting channel having a cross-sectional outline identical to that of the terminal members.

Claim 22

A channel-like system according to claim 17, characterized in that said supporting channel has at its two ends a flange which projects vertically downward from the base surface of the supporting channel.

Claim 23

A channel-like system according to claim 18, including supporting members having arms provided with slots adapted to receive the downward projecting flange portions of the supporting channels.

Claim 24

A channel-like system according to claim 19, characterized in that the height of said arms above the ground level is adjustable.

Claim 25

A channel-like structure according to claim 17 characterized in that for anchoring both the channel-like structure and its supporting channel to a supporting plane, U-shaped stirrups are provided which are adapted to pass through bores formed through the edges of the channel-like structure and through bores formed through said borderline side edges of the supporting channel.

Claim 26

A channel-like system according to claim 21, characterized in that said stirrups are formed by a stiff wire and the base side of the U has a central groove and two grooves symmetrical relative to said central groove.

Claim 27

A channel-like system according to claim 15, characterized in that, in the working position, the two end edges of each channel-like structure section are curled upwards to close the channel-like portion proper of the structure.

Claim 28

A channel-like system according to claim 15, characterized in that the discharge port is protected by a removable dome-shaped grid.

Claim 29

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said core being a portion of a single common supporting sheet, from which sidewalls rise, along the free edges whereof side strips which can be connected at short intervals, the sidewalls being common to two adjacent channel-like structures.

Claim 30

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said core being a portion of a single common supporting sheet, from which sidewalls rise, along the free edges whereof side strips which can be connected at short intervals, the sidewalls being common to two adjacent channel-like structures.

Claim 31

A channel-like structure according to claim 25, characterized in that said sidewalls and said pliable strips are made in the form of elements having a half-tubular sectional outline, affixed to said common supporting sheet along a generating line thereof.

Claim 32

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said structure being provided in coil strip form.

Claim 33

A channel-like structure for horticulture and flower-growing, of the kind in which the plants to be grown are arranged in the interior of a tubular member so that the roots are in continuous contact with liquid nutrient solution, characterized in that said structure comprises a central core of a plastic material adapted to form in use a channel-like member, two side strips of a non-rigid plastics material having their origin, each, from an edge of the central core, said side strips having such a width as to be able to be at least partially superposed to one another in correspondence with the central line of said channel-like member, said structure being provided in coil strip form.

Claim 34

A channel-like structure according to claim 27, characterized in that the central core has previously moulded longitudinal folding lines.