CA3112648A1 - Led grow light - Google Patents

Abstract

An LED grow light enables its LED light arms to closely engage plants around and inside foliage and illuminate plants in any angular position. This grow light comprises a body frame and one to twelve light arms mounted on and around the body frame like drawbridges. Light arms can be swivelled up and down so as to illuminate outward, downward, and inward. This grow light can fit into many planting needs such as embosoming and illuminating underneath plant(s) with drooping light arms, or filling gaps among grow room plants with raised-up light arms so that a fleet of grow lights closely surround and fully illuminate each plant. Using this grow light increases illumination on bottom foliage, minimizes light attenuation and leakage, enables the use of lower power LED
chips and simple and lightweight heatsinks, reduces waste heat, and saves on power consumption and parts costs.

Description

LED GROW LIGHT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This patent application relates to the LED grow light in the fields of industrialized agriculture, horticulture and tissue-culture, etc., where LED stands for light emitting diode, which herein in this application includes LED, organic LED, and polymer LED, and its plurality emit not only human visible light but also ultraviolet rays and infrared rays.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The LED grow light is expected to replace the fluorescent and HIP grow lights, attributable to LEDs' adjustable light spectrum, higher radiant efficiency, less waste heat, and consequently lower power consumption.
It is widely observed that LED grow lights are made into flat-plane structures and for hanging level above plants, and that, in order to combat attenuation, higher power LED
chips are pursued and bigger and more complex heatsinks or forced-air cooling parts are employed. These LED grow lights either produce low illumination or generate excessive amount of waste heat and light leaks.
.. As a result, the energy saving goal cannot be met as expected.
Prior art of LED grow lights have yet been able to provide a flexible lighting structure that can adapt to different plant canopies. Some plants have tall canopies. Illuminated by lamps with flat-plane lighting structures and above-hanging installation, the bottom foliage is disadvantageous in capturing light energy due to attenuation, blockage, and small incidence angle of light rays. This situation induces plants to grow unnecessarily taller, wasting nutrition and energy and prolonging growth cycles.
Patent U59618178 and U58523385 propose adding extra lamps by the root of plants and supplementing illumination to the bottom part of the canopies from sides, but increasing the quantity of lamps doesn't improve lamps against light attenuation and leakage problems per se.
Patent US9851062 conceives supplementing illumination from the bottom under the foliage, while US10508790 proposes emitting light rays from within the foliage through a pipe. Regardless of the low illumination intensity those methods can produce, the assumption that the lower surface of leaves would absorb light energy is doubtful.
Leaves of many plants naturally drop down in an angle to face sunlight and the light rays scattered from ground objects, but leaves of other plants do not. Therefore a good LED grow light ¨ 1 ¨
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20 shall be flexible enough to illuminate not only the canopies from around in perigon but also the foliage or leaves perpendicularly.
Patent US10842082 embodies a bent-down structure of LED grow light bars that can illuminate the top part of plant canopies from top and sides. But for tall canopy plants, this improvement has 35 little benefit for bottom foliage. Besides, the structure does not consider the situation when the light bars need to bend upwards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to conquer all the problems mentioned above, the ideal LED grow lights shall be assembled and configured to engage foliage, i.e. being placed as close as possible to leaves, and to 40 surround plants and illuminate the foliage in an incidence angle as straight as possible, with minimum light attenuation and leakage. Then lower power LED chips can be opted, less waste heat will be generated, simple and lightweight heatsinks can be employed, and as a result costs are cut by energy saving and parts simplification. The present invention proposes a solution to achieve all these goals.
45 The present invention discloses a flexible LED grow light structure that features one to twelve LED light arms mounted on and around a body frame, like drawbridges, illuminating plants beside or under it by configuring light arms in raised-up, level, or drooping positions simply using attaching instruments such as hooks, hinges and/or draglines, and illuminating in a projection angle ranging from horizontally outward to vertically downward and to horizontally inward in terms of the 50 spatial relationship with the body frame axis. This structure allows the light arms to engage plants by sticking itself into the foliage or clinging right on leaves or canopy in a desired incidence angle.
Light arms are preferably configured to surround the body frame in an axisymmetric pattern, but in case of non-axisymmetric, balance weight(s) are added on the arm support to keep the body frame upright. This LED grow light can fit into many different planting needs such as embosoming and 55 illuminating underneath plant(s), and filling gaps among plants grid so that a fleet of grow lights closely surround and fully illuminate each plant in the grid.
The body frame can be separated into parts including arm supports and one or more columns.
Parts join with each other or external fixtures using screw mechanism or bonding materials. The parts can be joined together in different ways to build single, taller, layered or stacked body frames 60 and LED grow lights. For example, two columns can be joined together to make a longer column, while two basic body frames can be joined together to make a stacked or layered body frame. The ¨ 2 ¨
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20 body frame supports pendent mount and base mount on external structures.
Two forms of the arm supports are disclosed in the present invention. One is bracket daisy that features twelve brackets radiating from a center shaft and having holes or notches for mounting light 65 arms. The other form is rack wheel that features a hoop surrounding a center shaft through spokes and providing mounting supports for light arms.
Each light arm is a bar-shaped LED light module that forms a simplex LED grow light by itself.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, 70 illustrate several embodiments of the presently claimed invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the presently claimed invention. The drawings are only for illustrating preferred embodiments of the presently claimed invention and are not to be construed as limiting the presently claimed invention.
FIG. 1 is the perspective view of an embodiment of the LED grow light of the present invention, 75 which is assembled with four LED light arms configured in a raised-up position and in an axisymmetric pattern surrounding the body frame. The arm supports of the body frame in this figure embody the bracket daisy structure defined in the present invention.
FIG. 2 is the perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the LED grow light of the present invention, which is assembled with three LED light arms configured in a drooping position and in an 80 axisymmetric pattern surrounding the body frame. The arm supports of the body frame in this figure embody the rack wheel structure defined in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is the exploded view of the body frame, the screw mechanism that joins parts, and the pendent mount mechanism using cord and final. In the figure, rack wheels are used to represent arm supports of the body frame.
85 FIG. 4 is the perspective view of a bracket daisy and the exploded view of mounting a light arm on the bracket daisy by using a hinge structure. In order to focus on presenting the target views, an imaginary cut line excludes the irrelevant part of the light arm in this figure.
FIG. 5 is the elevation view of two-layer LED grow lights of the present invention and their engagement with plants. Light arms are configured in different angular positions in order to 90 optimize illumination against plants canopies from top to bottom.
Balance weights are added on body frames for them to stay upright when light arms are assembled non-axisymmetric at grow room edges.
¨ 3 ¨
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20 FIG. 6 is the top view of the deployment of LED grow lights of the present invention among grow-room plants that are arranged in square grid on the floor. These LED grow lights are each 95 assembled with four light arms in axisymmetric and raised-up configuration, and are filled and immerged in the gaps between every four plants in a square, so that each plant is fully surrounded and illuminated by four grow lights.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and alternative embodiments 100 of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIGS. 1-5 show the structures and configuration examples of the LED grow light of the present invention, and FIGS. 5-6 show the examples of the deployment of this LED grow light and its engagement with plants while used in planting.
The LED grow light of the present invention comprises a body frame 100 and one to twelve 105 detachable LED light arms 200 mounted on and around the body frame 100.
The body frame 100 is separable into parts including primarily an upper arm support, a lower arm support, and a column 101 interconnecting the upper and lower arm supports. An arm support includes a center shaft 130 and a surrounding structure for light arms 200 to mount on. Two preferred forms of arm supports are embodied herein to present the idea of the present invention in 110 detail. One form is bracket daisy 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 1&4 and the other form is rack wheel 120 as illustrated in FIGS. 2&3.
As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket daisy 110 has twelve brackets 111 radiating from the center shaft 130 in a rotational symmetric pattern. Every bracket 111, at its far end from the center shaft 130, has a hole 112 or a notch for mounting a light arm 200. Those twelve brackets 111 enable 115 axisymmetric configurations for a set of 2, 3, 4, 6, or 12 light arms 200 to surround the body frame 100.
As shown in FIG. 3, the rack wheel 120 has a hoop 122 that connects to the center shaft 130 by spokes 121. The hoop 122 is for mounting light arms 200. The hoop 122 has twelve holes 123 or notches evenly distributed along the hoop 122, providing mounting points for configuring a set of 2, 120 3, 4, 6, or 12 light arms 200 to surround the body frame 100 in an axisymmetric pattern.
In case light arms 200 are configured to surround the body frame 100 non-axisymmetric, balance weight(s) 107 are added on the arm support to keep the body frame 100 upright.
As an example shown in FIG. 5, a balance weight 107 is added on the bracket daisy arm support 110 of each grow ¨ 4 ¨
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20 light at edges, because those grow lights are assembled only one side.
125 The light arms 200 mount on the body frame 100 like drawbridges, with one end of each light arm 200 suspending from or being hinged to the lower arm support as a pivot end, and with the other end of each light arm 200 being linked to the upper arm support by a dragline 206 as a movable end. By adjusting the length of the dragline 206, the movable end can be pulled to swivel the light arm 200 around the pivot end so as to adjust the angular position of the light arm 200 from 130 straight up to level and to straight down, and let the light arm 200 to illuminate in a projection angle ranging from horizontally outward to vertically downward and to horizontally inward in terms of the spatial relationship with the axis of the body frame 100. The angular mobility of the light arms 200 in elevation is demonstrated by comparing FIG. 1 and 2, in the former the light arms 200 are raised up while in the latter drooping with longer draglines 206.
135 Each light arm 200 is a bar-shaped LED light module that forms a simplex LED grow light by itself. The light arm 200 has LED chips 201, printed circuit board(s) 202, heatsink(s) 203, and the power supply 204, assembled together for emitting light rays to illuminate and stimulate plants to grow. As shown in FIGS. 1&2, the light arm 200 has two fixture rings 205 attached to the heatsink 203 at each end. Either fixture ring 205 is for suspending from the lower arm support by suspension 140 instruments such as hooks 207, ropes and wires, or for linking to the upper arm support by a dragline 206. The fixture ring can be replaced by other fixture structures such as a hinge structure shown in FIG. 4, which can be attached directly onto a bracket daisy 110. The hinge leaves 211, protruding from the heat sink 203, are for sandwiching a bracket 111 and matching its holes 212 with the hole 112 on the bracket 111. A bolt 214 and a nut 213 fasten the hinge structure with the 145 bracket 111 and, in this case, act as the hinge pin for the light arm 200 to swivel.
When a light arm 200 is suspended from the lower arm support with a fixture ring 205, the dragline 206 shall, as shown in FIGS. 1&2, attach to two mounting points on the upper arm support to prevent the light arm 200 from swinging and collapsing to sides, though slight swing would still exist due to surrounding factors such as wind blows. The slight side swing of the light arm 200 is 150 beneficial when the LED chips 201 are closely engaged with foliage, because a LED chip may be narrow-banded in terms of spectrum and the slight side swing helps smooth light intensity and spectrum distribution on the foliage. The side swing of the light arm 200 is totally preventable by using other fixture structures instead of a fixture ring. For example, the hinge structure shown in FIG. 4 is an alternative for mounting the pivot end of a light arm 200 to a bracket daisy lower arm 155 support 110.
¨ 5 ¨
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20 What can be used as the hook 207 includes snap hooks, carabiners, or swivel hooks. What can be used as the dragline 206 includes but not limited to ropes, cords, cables, wires, chains, bungee cords, elastic bands, and leather strips. The ropes can be made of but not limited to natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or metal wires.
160 As shown in FIG. 3, a column 101 preferably has internal threads at both ends. A center shaft 130 preferably has male thread at one end and female thread at the other end.
Therefore one column 101 can join another column 101 using a nipple or a double-end stud bolt 106 to build a longer column for a taller body frame and taller LED grow light.
Using nipple(s) or double-end stud bolt(s) 106, two or more LED grow lights can be bolted 165 together and stack one on another to build a taller and layered grow light. One arm support can be spared by joining the column 101 of one grow light directly to the arm support of another grow light in the pattern of "arm support"-column-"arm support"-column-"arm support". The usage of a double-end stud bolt 106 in this scenario is illustrated in FIG. 3. Several two-layer LED grow lights of the present invention are shown in FIG. 5, in which light arms 200 are configured in various 170 raised-up angles so as to closely engage and illuminate tall plants 900 from top to bottom according to plant canopy outlines.
The screw mechanism is not the only option to join parts of the body frame.
Using bonding materials are alternative ways to avoid threading on parts. For example, solvent cement can be used to bond columns and center shafts made of PVC pipes.
175 A preferred column 101 and preferred center shaft 130 are made of pipes. By passing a cord 105 through these body frame pipes and attaching the cord 105 to a final 104 under the body frame 100, this LED grow light can be suspended from an above structure, such as ceiling, by the cord 105.
The final 104 has a bigger size than the hollow section of the body frame pipes. This pendent mount mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, &5. As an alternative method, the cord can simply attach to 180 the upper arm support brackets 111 or spokes 121 without using a final.
The present invention also supports base mount on external fixtures. For example, by using the female thread in the center shaft 130 of the lower arm support, this LED grow light can be bolted onto a base on the floor. With a moveable base, this LED grow light becomes portable.
As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred assembly of this LED grow light has a body frame 100 that 185 features a bracket daisy arm support 110, and four light arms 200 configured in axisymmetric surrounding pattern and in a raised-up position to illuminate plants beside.
This configuration style fits especially into grow room usage where a grid of this LED grow lights immerge in the gaps ¨ 6 ¨
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20 among a grid of plants, wrapping each plant with complete illumination from side to side and from top to bottom, and with minimum light attenuation and leakage. FIG. 6 provides the top view of this 190 grow room usage. As shown in FIG. 2, a preferred alternative assembly of this LED grow light has a body frame 100 that features a rack wheel arm support 120, and three light arms 200 configured in axisymmetric surrounding pattern and in drooping position to embosom and illuminate plants underneath. These two embodiments of the present invention demonstrate the capability of this LED grow light in stretching its light arms out from the body frame in any angular positon. For 195 example, the light arms can cling right on or stick into foliage to engage and illuminate the foliage as close as possible.
For grow floors on which plants are arranged in a grid, a preferred deployment of the LED grow lights of the present invention is to place the grow lights in the middle gaps among plants and configure the light arms 200 to stay in raised-up position. As shown in FIG. 6 in which the 200 observation is from the top of the grow floor that is arranged in a square grid, LED grow lights each seen from FIG. 1 as with a body frame 100 and four raised-up light arms 200 are placed in the middle gaps among every four plants 900 that stand in a square. This deployment saves grow floor space, improves engagement between LED lights and foliage, increases illumination on bottom foliage, minimizes light attenuation and leakage, lowers the requirement on LED chip power level, 205 reduces waste heat, lowers the requirement on heatsink grade and complexity, and consequently saves costs on energy and parts. This top view shown in FIG. 6 also renders a clearer view on the usage of dragline 206, each attaches to the according body frame with two mounting points to avoid light arm swing and collapse to sides.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-20

Claims (6)

The Embodiments Of The Invention In Which An Exclusive Property Or Privilege Is Claimed Are Defined As Follows:

1. An LED grow light, comprising:
a body frame that includes primarily an upper arm support, a column, and a lower arm support, joined together in sequence, and one to twelve light arms mounted on and around the body frame, with one end of each light arm suspending from or being hinged to the lower arm support as a pivot end and the other end of each light arm being linked to the upper arm support as a movable end by a dragline, of which the dragline length is adjustable for pulling the movable end and swivelling the light arm around the pivot end from straight up to level and to straight down, so as to let the light arm illuminate in a projection angle ranging from horizontally outward to vertically downward and to horizontally inward in terms of the spatial relationship with the body frame axis, wherein the arm support includes a center shaft and surrounding structure for light arms to mount on, at least in the form of bracket daisy that comprises a center shaft and twelve brackets radiating from the center shaft and having holes or notches at the far end from the center shaft, or in the form of rack wheel that comprises a center shaft and a surrounding hoop connected to the center shaft by spokes, and wherein each light arm is a bar-shaped LED light module that forms a simplex LED grow light by itself.

2. The LED grow light of claim 1 wherein said arm supports are parts detachable from said column, and said column is a part detachable from said arm supports.

3. The LED grow light of claim 2 wherein said body frame further comprises secondary columns joined with said primary column to build a taller body frame.

4. The LED grow light of claim 2 wherein said body frame further comprises secondary columns and arm supports joined with said primary column and arm supports in the pattern of "arm support"-column-"arm support"-column-"arm support" to build a taller and layered body frame.

5. The LED grow light of claim 1 wherein said hoop has twelve holes or notches distributed evenly along said hoop.

6. The LED grow light of claim 1 wherein one or more balance weights are added on said body frame to keep said body frame upright.
¨ 1 ¨