CA3096660A1 - Airtight and watertight plant collar for hydroponic, aeroponic, and biomechanical air filtration systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A collar to support a plant at the stem and in any position (vertical, horizontal and inverted) within a hydroponic/aeroponic system that remains with the plant throughout its lifecycle. The collar is comprised of a cap, a flexible insert, and/or basket that attaches to a chamber via a twist-lock method and functions as a vapour and pathogen separator between the plant's rhizosphere and its phyllosphere. It can also be used for propagation and transportation purposes when inserted into a cup-like vessel.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION
Airtight and watertight plant collar for hydroponic, aeroponic, and biomechanical air filtration systems TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the art of indoor agriculture, horticulture and biomechanical air filtration industries, and specifically to the method of hydroponics and its subset, aeroponics. It also relates to methods for providing plant support and rhizosphere sealing within these systems and the facilitation of plant transport.
BACKGROUND ART
Biofiltration is the process of using living organisms to remove and/or transform pollutants from their surroundings. Biofilters most commonly utilize microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi, but with recent innovation certain genetically modified plants are also capable of filtering out pollutants, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), through their leaves and stems.
There exists a need for methods to integrate these plants into mechanical systems, such as hydroponic systems, to allow this technology to be applied and to improve the availability of biofiltration.
Hydroponic systems were developed to grow plants in a nutrient rich solution without the use of soil. Systems may be divided into true hydroponics, wherein the roots dangle directly in the solution, or by substituting soil with an artificial medium to provide support for the root system.
Substrates used for these purposes include gravel, mineral wool, clay pellets, peat, and coconut fiber. Aeroponics, a subset of hydroponics, utilizes a mist to deliver the nutrient solution to hanging roots through high or low-pressure nozzles or ultrasonic vaporizer.
Plants are separated by the rhizosphere (root system) and phyllosphere (crown and leaves); the stem is supported by a plant collar.
Plant collars should be designed to hold the plant in place, but not inhibit stem growth.
Typically, collars are designed to be disposable, since the plant is marketed to consumers after propagation in hydroponic/aeroponic chambers. However, this is not an environmentally friendly option.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21 Collars should also be inert so as to not chemically harm the plant or support the growth of pathogens. If soil or peat is used as a substrate, air quality issues may arise since mold spores and other pathogens can be propagated and supported by these mediums.
To discourage harmful bacterial/fungal growth, collars should prevent light radiation from reaching the rhizosphere. Collars should also form an adequate seal both around the plant and the collar itself to prevent the entry of pathogens to the rhizosphere. Likewise, hydroponic and aeroponic systems must be regularly cleaned and maintained to prevent the growth of bacteria and algae. Therefore, there exists a need for an easily removable and well-sealed plant collar to allow growers to access the rhizosphere to prevent and remove harmful bacteria.
In US 2015/0342127 Al a growing tray system including light-resistant plastic caps to cover the openings between plants in the tray is described. Although this would provide some protection from bacterial/fungal growth, the caps do not cover the space immediately around the plant stem, leaving it exposed. This system also requires the use of a growth medium and cannot be used vertically.
In patent US 10194600 B1 a series of foam collars of different sizes and collar support cuffs are detailed, which would have to be switched out manually throughout the growth process, would most likely not form an airtight seal around the plant itself, and are intended only for use horizontally in true hydroponic systems.
Patent US 2016/0021837 Al includes baskets that are slotted into an aeroponic growth enclosure, allowing for roots to be misted with water and nutrients. However, the baskets are uncovered, smaller plants may initially require the use of growth medium, and the gravity-fed system is only usable horizontally.
In US 2019/0200551, a net cup holder capable of holding plants at an angle in a vertical hydroponic tower is detailed, but no caps or covers for the net cups are included as part of the design. Patent US 2018/0317408 Al describes a plant growing stand which could potentially be used for storing and transporting a plant, but no cap or cover surrounds the plant stem.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
As described in the background art, current plant collar and support systems leave the growth medium and rhizosphere exposed to the external environment. The invention, by incorporating a Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21 flexible insert, creates seals around the plant stem and around the plant collar itself. Said seals help prevent the entry of pathogens into the rhizosphere and prevent bacterial or fungal infection.
The creation of an airtight seal between the rhizosphere and external environment also prevents the evaporation of nutrient solution, thus reducing water use and maximizing nutrient uptake.
The flexibility of the insert also allows it to stretch with the growth of the plant, eliminating the need for switching collars throughout the plant's life as compared to other support cuffs.
The plant collar can facilitate the process of shipping as well, by being fitted into a cup-like vessel containing sufficient water and nutrients for the duration of the trip.
Multiple cup-like vessels can then be slotted into a stackable tray for stability and efficient use of space.
Maintenance processes, such as cleaning and repairs, are also simplified by the creation of a plant collar that can easily be removed and replaced. This allows easy access to the rhizosphere as well as to individual plants. The ease of moving the plant collar also facilitates the propagation process, by allowing plants to be moved between different chambers during different growth stages, with each chamber having optimized conditions for the given growth stage.
The plant collar is also designed to support the plant regardless of its physical orientation and prevents damage to the plant by distributing the load of the plant's weight over a larger surface area. For applications where the plant collar is used in systems kept in public spaces, a locking mechanism is incorporated to prevent unauthorized plant removal.
Further, the capability of the plant collar described herein to be used in any position, for both hydroponic and aeroponic systems, makes it adaptable to various system configurations, whereas the background art describes collars only usable in one specific orientation.
Additionally, as it is reusable, the plant collar will reduce waste and be a sustainable option as compared to current disposable alternatives.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of the collar showing a plant housed inside it.
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the front of the plant collar.
Figure 3 is a view of the back of the plant collar.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21 Figure 4 shows the fit of the plant collar within a wall.
Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the plastic cap and soft polymer insert separately.
Figure 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention with holes for multiple plants.
Figure 7 shows an alternate embodiment in which the plant collar has a corresponding basket.
Figure 8 shows how the plant collar may be utilized in a hybrid air purification system.
Figure 9 shows the plant collars containing plants in a hybrid air purification system.
Figure 10 shows how the plant collar may be utilized in a green wall.
Figure 11 shows how the plant collar may fit with a cup-like vessel for shipping purposes.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The plant collar, as described herein, is designed to support plants in a hydroponic or aeroponic chamber throughout their life, while separating the rhizosphere from the phyllosphere. The plant collar is comprised of a cap 2, flexible insert 6, and optional basket 14.
The cap consists of two components: a plastic body 2 and a flexible insert 6.
The body will consist of a rigid synthetic polymer material. The body is designed to be inexpensively manufactured, e.g., by insertion molding. In the preferred embodiment as seen in Fig. 2, the body is round in shape with a rectangular shape cut through the casing, extending from the top edge to slightly beyond its center. On the interior side of the casing are three inverted L-shaped protrusions 3. The three L-shaped protrusions 3 are designed to lock into a panel, or any other flat surface 11 used to separate the rhizosphere from the phyllosphere obvious to those skilled in the art, by rotating the collar clockwise as seen in Fig.4 so that the protrusions lock into corresponding cutouts 12. The L-shaped protrusions 3 also allow the collar to lock into a cup-like vessel 17 as seen in Fig.11, multiple of which can then be slotted into trays to facilitate shipping.
The cup-like vessel 17 can be filled with sufficient water and nutrients to sustain the plant during transport. The cap has serrated edges 1 to assist with hand grip and its outer edge is designed to press into the surface of the rhizosphere. In other embodiments, the cap will have receptacles for robotic insertion and removal of the cap in automated systems. In other embodiments, the cap will have smooth edges and slots for a security tool.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21 The flexible insert 6 is designed to be molded into the interior of the casing and can be made from a plurality of materials. In the preferred embodiment, the insert is made of food-grade high-heat inert silicone. The insert 6 will fill the rounded rectangular cut in the casing (exposing it on the exterior side of the cap) and will be slit 9 to allow a plant cutting to easily slide into the center, while forming a seal around the plant. The cap and the soft polymer insert also include a matching groove 13 as seen in Fig.5 to help keep the insert in place. In the preferred embodiment, a hole 4 will be at the end of the slit to accommodate the plant stem. In other embodiments, the hole 4 may be replaced with an X-shaped cut indicating the final resting place of the plant, or any other shape obvious to those skilled in the art. Multiple holes may be created to allow for multiple plants within a single collar as seen in Fig.6. The cut in the casing may also be made in various different shapes to achieve different purposes, such as an inverted "T" shape for more than one stem per collar as seen in Fig.6, or a teardrop shape to accommodate larger plants. The flexible properties of the insert material will not restrict the growth of the plant stem during its lifecycle, and the area of the insert immediately around the slit 8 will be thinner to allow for greater flexibility. The insert material at the perimeter of the insert will be thicker to provide support for plant stems 7. In certain embodiments the flexible insert will have extensions 18 that line up with the protrusions of the plastic body as seen in Fig.3, creating a continuous surface for any condensation, such as from the walls of the rhizosphere, to be directed around the collar before dripping from the bottom shelf 5.
The flexible material will also be molded into a gasket 6 lining the interior circumference of the casing as seen in Fig.3, forming a seal between the plant collar and the rhizosphere. An exploded view of the flexible insert and casing can be seen in Fig.5.
In the preferred embodiment, the cap also includes a curved shelf or support 5 that keeps the roots from coming in contact with the inside surface of the root chamber. The curved shelf 5 sits directly below the slit of the insert where a plant 10 would be situated. The support is designed to expand the load on the plant stem over a larger area to prevent damage to the plant.
In another embodiment, a basket 14 comprised of a rigid synthetic polymer will attach to the cap via a twist-lock or snap method. The roots of the plant will extend through the openings of the basket. The open basket 14 allows for aeroponic systems to mist nutrient solution both horizontally and vertically. In some embodiments, the basket is designed to house additional Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21 inert medium to support plant growth. In an embodiment including a basket, each of the L-shaped extrusions 3 on the cap has an extending cylindrical plug used for the snap-lock basket 14.
In another embodiment, the top layer of the basket 14 is circular, with three small holes that will snap-lock to the plugs on the collar. The basket 14 is truncated in shape, the bottom layer a circular ring with a smaller diameter than the top. In one embodiment, the top and bottom layer are connected by a quadrilateral pattern as seen in Fig.7. In other embodiments, the top and bottom layer are connected by a series of columns. Other embodiments for the basket include a corkscrew configuration wherein the roots can wrap around the basket, as well as different fit mechanisms with the collar such as latches, clips, and a threaded screw top.
All these embodiments serve several functions; to keep the roots from touching the inside wall of the rhizosphere, to keep the roots separated, to aid in the insertion of the plant into the rhizosphere, and in a few embodiments, to aid in the trimming of the roots.
The plant collar is designed to support plants in vertical, horizontal, and inverted positions. In horizontal growth systems, the collar is designed to be parallel to the ground. In vertical growth systems, the collar is designed to be perpendicular to the floor. An example of a vertical growth system can be seen in Fig.8 and Fig.9, in which multiple plant collars are slotted into a hybrid air purification system 15, or the green wall 16 in Fig.10. The basket is beneficial to these vertical systems since it directs and extends the roots away from the panel, allowing for greater root surface area contact with the nutrient solution. In inverted positions, the collar is upside down, which is ideal for ceiling or hanging installations.
To prevent algae growth in hydroponic and aeroponic systems, the body and the flexible insert will be opaque.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The invention can be exploited in a variety of industries through its hydroponic/aeroponic applications as well as its capacity to facilitate plant transport and propagation. This includes but is not limited to air filtration, agriculture, and interior design. The plant collar can be used in biomechanical air filtration systems which use genetically modified plants for the uptake of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Another application is in agrobusiness Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21 operations that are producing suited crops, such as strawberries or lettuce, from cuttings in hydroponic or aeroponic systems. The invention may also be used in the creation of architectural green walls or installations indoors for aesthetic purposes. Any shipping of plants required across industries may be simplified using the plant collar. The adaptability of the cap design makes it usable both for automated and manual systems, and customizable based on intended use.
All of these applications have the potential to be scaled down for residential consumer use. The collar can remain with a plant throughout its lifecycle due to the flexible insert, and allows easy transfer to and from systems.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21

Claims (3)

What is claimed is:

1. A plant collar for propagating plants that is comprised of a rigid polymer housing with a flexible polymer insert for holding a plant which provides a watertight and airtight seal.

2. A plant collar of claim 1 with a flexible polymer insert comprising a plurality of spaces for holding a plurality of plants.

3. A plant collar of claim 1 in which there is a locking or tamper proof mechanism for securing said plant collar to the rhizosphere chamber.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-1 0-2 1