Abstract: A landscaping divider having a lower ground insertion section and an upper wall portion having a reinforced section. The reinforced section includes a plurality of raised areas founded in selected patterns. The raised areas form flat exposed surfaces.

Abstract: A house plant hospital comprises a closed container in which a potted plant may be positioned and covered by a hingedly-attached lid. A plurality of lights are mounted within the container, while the plant may be occasionally rotated by being positioned upon a "lazy susan" support. In an alternative embodiment, provision is made for supporting several layers of plants and a water spray system is also provided. Additionally, fertilizer and pesticides may be sprayed over the plants while they are retained within the container. The closed container positionable over the plants operates to retain heat provided by the artificial light source so as to prevent the plants from being damaged in a cold environment.

Abstract: An arrangement for attaching a window board to a transom which comprises a transom having at least one groove formed in the inner end face thereof so as to open towards the indoor side; a horizontally extending cover attachment to which the window board is attached, the cover attachment extending in parallel to the transom; and a plurality of connecting members adapted to be engaged within said groove so as to fixedly secure the cover attachment to the inner end face of the transom. Between the inner end face of the transom and the cover attachment, a heat insulation material is interposed.

Abstract: Corner protector structure is mounted within each ceiling panel to provide for enhanced strength, durability, and appeal of a drop ceiling construction. The corner protectors in association with the ceiling panels are formed with a top wall spaced from and parallel a bottom wall to complementarily receive a ceiling panel therebetween, with reinforcing leg structure projecting beyond the top wall for reinforcement and enhanced appeal of the organization. A modification of the invention includes a fan assembly rotatably mounted medially of the reinforcing leg structure to enhance air distribution within a room containing the organization.

Abstract: A mat for plant cultivation comprises upper and lower portions of non-woven fibers, substantially all of which are preferably natural, biodegradable fiber; an intermediate layer of bi-laterally stable plastic mesh, of high strength relative to the non-woven fiber layers, is structurally joined to the fiber portions, as by needling. The mat includes seed, and may include fertilizer and/or water absorbing material.A method of soil improvement comprises providing a mat having upper and lower portions of non-woven fibers, substantially all of which are natural, biodegradable fibers, with an intermediate bi-laterally stable plastic mesh layer structurally joined to the non-woven fibers. The mat is placed on the ground, such as a bare hill, for initially diminishing soil erosion by water run-off, the mat being optionally seeded after placement. The mat provided may be placed on poor soil, and after plant growth, the plants and mat may be plowed under, optionally in a repetitive cycle, to improve the soil.

Abstract: An apparatus which includes a growing container in which plants are hydroponically grown on a support medium is disclosed. The growing container includes a plurality of openings in which seals are installed. The seals include holes through which the plants grow. When seeds are planted, a hollow tube is placed through the seal hole to maintain the seed in position. After the seed germinates, it grows through the tube. As continued growth expands the plant's stem to the size of the tube, the tube breaks apart and does not constrain future plant growth. Moreover, as the plant grows further, the seal hole expands to accommodate the plant stem. The seal surrounds and contacts the plant stem to reduce evaporation of nutrient solution from the growing container and to keep insects and contamination out of the growing container. A holding container is positioned above the growing container and coupled to the growing container through a manifold arrangement.

Abstract: A hydroponic growth system comprising a wicking layer of beaded polystyrene foam to transport water to the bottom of containers on the top surface of the foam, preferably with a heating means under the foam.

Abstract: An improved system for taking care of household plants includes a plant holding basin for holding one or more plans, planters, or plant pots. The plant holding basin has a drain which is fluidly communicated to the indoors or household drainage system. Any water spilled or collected in the plant-holding basin is directed to the indoors or household drainage system. The plant-holding basin is installed near a water providing fixture which can provide water to the plant holding basin. The unit can be installed near a window so that the plants can not only have access to water and drainage, but also to sunlight. The plant-holding basin may or may not be integrated with a conventional sink.

Abstract: A system for the non-invasive monitoring of the hydration state of a plant comprising the elements:a timing capacitor comprising a plurality of conductive elements adapted for mounting on a plant part to sense the hydration state capacitance of the plant part;a capacitance-to-frequency converter electrically connected to the timing capacitor comprising an oscillator circuit having a frequency dependent upon the value of the timing capacitor and independent of the electrical losses in said timing capacitor;means for supplying electrical power to the capacitance-to-frequency converter;means for measuring the frequency generated by the capacitance-to-frequency converter, the frequency bearing a known relationship to the dielectric constant and, hence, the water content of the plant part; anddevices for electrically guarding the circuit generated by the elements from capacitance extraneous to the plant part comprising means for surrounding the elements with shields of electrical potential substantially equal to t

Abstract: In a building facade covering comprised of a profiled rail support frame and covering panels connected thereto, the vertically extending profiled rails have brackets onto which the respective covering panel with an edge surface recessed behind the panel front face is placeable. Each profiled rail has two vertically extending hollow boxes in which inserted holding elements are horizontally slidable parallel to the covering panel plane and which protrude with a hook-shaped end. The neighboring vertical side edges of two respective covering panels are connected to a common profiled rail in such a manner that the hook-shaped ends of the holding elements are inserted into the receiving pockets of the covering panels by horizontally sliding them within the hollow boxes, the receiving pockets being arranged at vertical side edges of the covering panels at edge surfaces recessed behind the panel front face.

Abstract: The invention relates to an agroblock comprising an inorganic soil type, such that the agroblock is substantially form-retaining at any moisture content and that at a suction pressure of pF 2 the moisture content amounts to at least 15% by volume. Preferably the agroblock comprises a homogeneous mixture of mineral wool and said inorganic soil type, wherein the quantity of mineral wool amounts to 0-90% by weight, and the amount of soil type amounts to 100-10% by weight.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein flexible panel webs are secured to a carport structure, wherein the carport structure includes a plurality of support posts mounting a roof thereon. The flexible webs are mounted utilizing snap fasteners to post mounts that are in turn mounted to the support posts.

Abstract: Slip and non-slip dowel placement sleeves are disclosed. The slip dowel placement sleeve generally comprises a tubular dowel receiving sheath having a closed distal end and open proximal end. A connecting means is formed around or inserted into the proximal opening of the sheath to facilitate attachment of the sheath to a concrete form. Smooth sections of dowel rod may then be advanced through holes drilled in the concrete form and into the interior compartment of the sheath. Concrete is poured within the form and the dowel rod remains slidably disposed within the interior of the sheath. Variations of the basic slip dowel placement sleeve of the invention include a tapered "extractable" sleeve and a corrugated "grout tube" for placement of non-slip dowel or rebar.

Abstract: A method of making an aluminum extrusion having a pair of thermal brakes therein and the extrusion, comprising the steps of providing an aluminum extrusion having a pair of side walls, upper and lower wall members, each secured to each of the side walls and a chamber forming a portion of each of the wall members spaced from the side walls, one of the chambers having a continuous bridge member forming a wall thereof and forming the only bridge connecting portions of the upper wall member, the other of the chamber having a discontinuous bridge member forming a portion of a wall thereof, and a "V"-shaped member bridging the discontinuity in the discontinuous bridge member, disposing thermal braking material in the chamber having a continuous bridge member and allowing the thermal braking material to set in the chamber, providing a continuous slit in the continuous bridge member and the V-shaped member to cause a thermal separation of the side walls from each other, placing a leak preventing member in the V-shape

Abstract: First and second sheets of material laminated by preferably sealing the same both peripherally and intermediate the side edges thereof to form first and second packages. Prior to sealing, seeds are disposed within the first package, while in the second package there is disposed all of the elements necessary to insure sprouting of the seeds and includes a propagation-grade soil mixture. The packages are severed with the first package, when properly trimmed, forming a sprouting container within which the sprouting elements and seeds are placed and thereafter watered to insure sprouting of the seeds.

Abstract: A device for maintaining moisture in flower pot stands, having at an inner corner thereof a water reservoir with a floater, and a conduit passing towards the bottom of the flower pot projecting therefrom, this conduit having a plurality of holes and being also covered by gravel upon which the soil for growing plants is placed. Further, axially inside the perforated conduit, there is a metal conduit, also having multiple holes, which may be removed for cleaning purposes, the flower pot stand also having a small tube for controlling water level.

Abstract: A mold for retaining a seedling during handling and transportation, whereby the mold is formed of turf, water, nutrients and a synthetic molding material. The dried form retaining mold form receives a seedling and then is packaged as needed for further handling prior to being planted and watered. The seedling then grows directly in the mold. The invention also includes the process and device for manufacturing such molds.

Abstract: There is disclosed an immature plant grafting apparatus capable of seizing en bloc a plurality of saplings raised in array irrespective of a scatter in diameters of stems without requiring hand works and damaging the saplings and of grafting the saplings at a remarkably high efficiency but at low costs. The grafting apparatus has a plurality of induction plates (9a and 9b) formed with a plurality of induction grooves (10) open to seizing surfaces, corresponding to the number of saplings (3a and 3b) to be seized and their positions, induction plates so attached to upper and lower surfaces of one of a pair of seizing devices (4 and 5) as to protrude from the seizing surfaces, and buffer members (13) projecting from the seizing surfaces of the other seizing device so that each buffer member is fitted in between the pair of induction plates.

Abstract: An erosion control blanket is made of recycled, biodegradable slit and expanded sheets of paper. A plurality of layers are provided and are oriented such that the slope of the baffles in the grid pattern of the paper may be disposed in a positive or negative direction relative to the slope. The upper layers promote runoff of water for reducing erosion. The lower layers trap the water which passes through the blanket, passing it into the soil, and trap loose soil particles. The open grid pattern provided by the slit and expanded paper provides ample air space for promoting the germination and growth of seeds.

Abstract: A corner fastener (10) is used for securing a first frame member (11) to a second frame member (12). The corner fastener (10) includes a body sized to be inserted in a cavity (11c)of the first frame member (11). Locking tabs (22 and 32) have first ends (22a and 32a) operatively connected to the body and second ends (22b and 32b) free to move between an unengaged position and an engaged position. The locking means have detent engaging members (24 and 34). The body has a fastening member aperture (27a and 37a). The aperture is in general axial alignment with an opening (12k), wherein when the body is positioned in the cavity and when a fastening member (50) is inserted in the opening and the aperture, the detent engaging member is locked in a detent by the fastening member, thereby fastening the first and second frame members together.