EA044987B1 - SEED BASKET ASSEMBLY, ROTATIONAL AEROPONICS DEVICE AND METHOD - Google Patents

Description

Cross reference to related application

This application claims benefit to US Provisional Application No. 62/957353, filed January 6, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

Field of technology

This invention relates generally to an aeroponic system, and more particularly to an automated rotary aeroponic system.

State of the art

Gardening and growing food crops are becoming increasingly important as the population continues to grow and the resources available for traditional farming decline. In particular, traditional farming requires large open fields in which crop seeds are placed in nutrient-rich soil. The seed requires adequate access to sunlight, water, and any other nutrients that are lacking in the soil. In traditional farming, which is two-dimensional, fields are essentially flat and only one layer of crop is typically sown per field. Accordingly, a typical farm requires large areas of land with sufficient access to sunlight.

In addition, only some regions of the world have a suitable climate for growing certain crops. For example, the climate in the Midwestern United States is ideal for growing crops such as corn and soybeans. However, Brazil's climate is more suitable for growing coffee and citrus fruits. Accordingly, traditional farming is limited at least by the availability of land and the climate of the region in which farming is carried out.

When crops are grown in a single layer, shading occurs due to which the lower leaves are deprived of full contact with light. The resulting shading often significantly limits plant growth due to reduced light penetration.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system that can easily and effectively create an environment favorable for plant growth. Additionally, there is a need for a system that can be implemented in an urban environment to provide fresh vegetables and fruits when adequate land or climate conditions are not available in natural environments. The present disclosure presents several ideas for solving the above problems.

The essence of the invention

One embodiment is a seed basket assembly that includes a basket defining an interior region and configured to support contents therein, a growing medium located at least partially in said interior region, a plant seed located at least partially in said inner area, and a cover connected to the basket for enclosing a plant seed in said inner area. The basket is sized to fit into the opening of the plant growing apparatus to allow water and nutrients to reach the plant seeds or be released from the basket.

In one example of this embodiment, the basket has support segments separated by at least one opening, wherein said opening allows water, plant roots, and nutrients to enter and exit the interior region.

Another example of this embodiment includes a filter located along at least a portion of the walls of the interior region to provide a filter barrier between the interior region and the environment. In this example, the growing medium and plant seed are located at least partially within the filter in an internal region.

Another example of this embodiment includes additives in the internal region, wherein the additives are one or more of fertilizers, pH buffers, microbes, pesticides, adjuvants, animal repellents, soil amendments, soil fortifiers, bone meal, plant growth hormones, cinnamon, sand, moisture absorbent, ribose, microbial inoculants, heat retention mass, detergent, cleaning solution, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soap and fungicides.

Another example includes a seed positioning member located around a plant seed and configured to hold the plant seed at a specific location in the interior region. In part of this example, the seed positioning member is made of a material different from the material of the growing medium. In yet another contemplated portion of this example, the seed positioning member is made of foam material.

Another example of this disclosure includes a wrap around a seed basket assembly, wherein said wrap is configured to completely surround the seed basket assembly and protect the contents of the seed basket assembly from the environment until the wrap is removed prior to placement of the seed basket assembly. into the opening of a device for growing plants.

In yet another example, the inner region has an additive layer. In part of this example, the additive layer is sandwiched between two layers of growing media. In another part of this example, the additive layer is in contact with a plant seed.

- 1 044987

In yet another portion of the filter example, a portion of the filter is located at least partially between the lid and the basket, and the lid is coupled to the basket to at least partially retain the filter therein.

Another example of this embodiment includes a retention tab coupled to or formed from the basket and configured to at least partially cover the wall defining the opening when positioned therein. In part of this example, the retention tab has an inwardly directed taper configured to frictionally engage with the wall of the opening when positioned therein. Another portion of this example includes a radial tab extending radially away from the axis of the basket, with the retention tab located at least proximal to the radial tab. In this portion, the holding tab extends from the surface of the radial tongue.

Another example of this embodiment includes an identifier configured to identify the type of plant seed in the seed basket when the seed basket is located in the opening of the plant growing apparatus. In one part of this example, the identifier is located on the lid. In yet another portion of this example, the identifier is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. In this part, the RFID tag is located on a radial tongue extending radially away from the axis of the basket.

In yet another example of this embodiment, one or more of the basket and the lid are color coded to be associated with a corresponding opening of the plant growing apparatus.

Another embodiment of this disclosure is a method for forming a seed basket assembly. This method includes placing a filter in an interior area of the basket, inserting a first layer of growing media into a filter cavity in an interior area of the basket, placing a plant seed in the filter cavity on top of the first layer of growing media, inserting a second layer of growing media in the filter cavity adjacent to the plant seed. and connecting the lid to the top of the basket.

One example of this embodiment includes adding the additive mixture and a layer of third growing medium, wherein the additive mixture is located between the first growing medium layer and the third growing medium layer. In part of this example, the additive mixture is one or more of fertilizers, pH buffers, microbes, pesticides, adjuvants, animal repellents, soil amendments, soil fortifiers, bone meal, plant growth hormones, cinnamon, sand , moisture absorbent, heat-retaining mass, ribose, microbial inoculants, detergent, cleaning solution, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soap and fungicides.

In yet another example of this embodiment, the step of placing a plant seed includes placing the plant seed in a seed positioning member to hold the plant seed in a desired orientation in an internal region, wherein the seed positioning member is made of a material different from the material of the first and second layers of the seed positioning medium. growing.

Another example involves pressing the contents of the inner area into the filter cavity while the lid is connected to the top of the basket. Another example of this embodiment includes wrapping the seed basket assembly with a wrapping material to completely isolate the interior area of the seed basket assembly from the environment. In yet another example, the step of connecting the lid to the top of the basket includes fusing at least a section of the filter between the lid and the basket in a sandwich type configuration in which the filter materials are fused into the basket.

List of drawings

The foregoing aspects of this disclosure and the manner in which they are made will become more apparent, and the disclosure itself will be better understood, with reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 is a top perspective view of a plant growing device;

in fig. 2 is a top perspective view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with door removed;

in fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, with the drawer front panel removed;

in fig. 4 is a top perspective view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, with the drawer in a partially open position;

in fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, from which several components have been removed;

in fig. 6 is a front cross-sectional view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 7 is a bottom sectional view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

- 2 044987 in Fig. 8 is a rear top perspective view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 8, with rear panel removed;

in fig. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 10 is another partial cross-sectional side view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 11 is another partial cross-sectional side view of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 11b is a partial side sectional view of yet another embodiment of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 12 is an isolated bottom perspective view of a drive system according to this disclosure;

in fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the growing rings of the plant growing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 14 is a side view of the growing ring of the plant growing device shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cultivation ring shown in FIG. 14;

in fig. 16 is an exploded view of the seed basket assembly; and in fig. 17a and 17b show another embodiment of a seed basket assembly.

Corresponding reference numbers are used to identify corresponding parts in multiple views.

Information confirming the possibility of implementing the invention

The embodiments of this disclosure described below are not exhaustive or intended to limit the disclosure to the precise forms in the following detailed description. Rather, embodiments are selected and described so that those skilled in the art can review and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

The plant growing apparatus and the corresponding method are generally explained in International Publication No. WO 2018/068042, and the detailed description and drawings of this publication are incorporated herein by reference. Also, US Provisional Application No. 62/701,908 discloses an automated system for growing plants and the contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1 shows a plant growing device 100. The plant growing apparatus 100 may be a box having a climate-controlled interior 202 or a cultivation chamber housing at least one plant housing assembly 204 . The growing device 100 may have one or more panels 102 surrounding the interior space 202. In the non-exclusive embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the plant growing apparatus 100 may have a substantially rectangular shape, and may have first and second side panels 104, 106, a rear panel 110, front panels 112, a top panel 108, and bottom panels 114. Additionally, in one embodiment, the plant growing apparatus 100 may have a The plant grower 100 may have receiving ports for a forklift or similar vehicle to facilitate transportation.

Although a rectangular plant growing apparatus 100 is depicted, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. In contrast, any three-dimensional geometric shape may be used to separate the interior space 202 from the environment 116. More specifically, the plant growing device 100 may have a cylindrical, hexagonal, octagonal, triangular, or similar cross-section, and any shape is contemplated herein. devices 100 for growing. Accordingly, the term panel may not be limited to a flat element, but may also include curved, spiral or cylindrical elements.

The growing device 100 may be sized and shaped to fit into a standard residential kitchen or similar space. Additionally, the size and shape of the growing device 100 may be suitable for use in industrial commercial applications such as warehouses and restaurants, among others. For example, in one non-exclusive embodiment, the plant growing device 100 is sized to fit into the opening of a standard floor cabinet, and the plant growing device 100 can be mounted under a countertop. Additionally, other configurations contemplated herein may include sizes and shapes consistent with those of a standard refrigerator or the like, wherein the plant growing apparatus 100 may occupy the same space as a standard size refrigerator. Additionally, the ideas of this disclosure can be implemented at the scale of larger structures, such as buildings. In this embodiment, the plant growing apparatus 100 may be an entire building, the wall(s) of the building or the interior space 202 may be the interior of the building.

In yet another example, a shipping container can be converted to house a plant housing to create a modular hydroponic farm that can be easily transported. Accordingly, this disclosure discusses the implementation of a variety of devices 100 for growing plants of various sizes.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the front panels 112 may include a door 118 and a drawer 120. The door 118 may be pivotally coupled to the remaining components of the plant growing apparatus 100 about a door axis 122. Accordingly, door 118 can rotate about door axis 122 between the closed position shown in FIG. 1, and open position. In the closed position, the door 118 and the remaining panels 102 may substantially isolate the interior area 202 from the environment 116. Alternatively, in the open position, the door 118 may allow a user to access the interior 202 from the environment.

In one non-exclusive example, one or more panels 102, 104, 106, 108, 202 or some other panel have a surface facing the interior space 202. The panel, at least partially along the interior surface, may have reflective material. Additionally, one or more LEDs may be incorporated into or mounted on the panel or panels to selectively provide additional illumination within the shade. In this embodiment, the panel or panels may have a semi- or highly reflective mirror surface to return light back into the interior space 202 to promote plant growth. Additionally, the LEDs can be used to selectively adjust the angle, intensity, orientation, position, temperature, and/or spectrum of illumination based on the rotation position of the plant housing assembly 204. In this embodiment, the LEDs may also be spaced equally apart to act as a passive heat sink to facilitate cooling of the LEDs during use.

LEDs may also be located in the corner(s) of the interior space 202, and one or more such LEDs may be selectively controlled to simulate rotation of the plant housing assembly 204 by varying the brightness of the LEDs. The changing brightness of LEDs can, among other things, help accelerate growth rates. In yet another embodiment, the LEDs may be flat panels mounted on walls, ceilings, and/or floors to provide uniform illumination on all sides.

In yet another aspect of this disclosure, any portion of the panels facing the interior area 202 may have reflective material to ensure that a majority of the emitted photons of light are absorbed by plants located in the housing assembly 204. This configuration maximizes the photosynthetic energy potential provided by the grow lights. More specifically, the interior facing surfaces of the panels may have a high gloss white or reflective material. The white or reflective material may reflect any light that does not reach the plant leaves in the housing assembly 204 back onto the plants to prevent loss of light energy.

In yet another aspect of this disclosure, the interior space 202 may be substantially sealed off from the environment to provide selective control of the humidity and pressure within the interior space 202. In low humidity environments, plants grow less well due to drying out of the stomata, which must be open to allow gas exchange to occur. necessary for photosynthesis. Accordingly, one aspect of this disclosure utilizes a positive pressure sealed interior 202 to provide the dual benefits of preventing pests from entering the interior 202 and maintaining optimal humidity for photosynthesis. In other words, the humidity and/or pressure in the interior space 202 can be selectively adjusted to provide optimal conditions for growing plants. In addition, CO ₂ levels in the interior space can be adjusted and changed to improve growing conditions.

In one aspect of this disclosure, door 118 may have a door switch 302 configured to determine that door 118 is not in a closed position. Door switch 302 may be a reed switch or some other type of sensor configured to determine the position of door 118. In one non-exclusive example of this disclosure, door switch 302 may be configured to communicate with controller 726 to determine that the door is not in position. in closed position. In addition, the controller 726 may be configured to respond, for example, by dimming the illumination from the light source 304, turning off a pump, valve, motor, or some other component when the door 118 is not in a closed position. Additionally, the system may be configured to dim or brighten the light to better match the natural light intensity curve as the sun moves across the sky, so as not to disrupt the circadian rhythm of the owner or operator of the device. In addition, glass, blinds can be used

- 4 044987 or other automatically tinted means that partially or completely limit the transparency of the door to minimize light pollution.

Likewise, drawer 120 is movable between the closed position shown in FIG. 1, and open position. More specifically, drawer 120 is axially movable along drawer axis 124 between closed and open positions. The drawer switch 306 may also be coupled to the grower 100 and configured to communicate with the controller 726 to determine that the drawer 120 is not in a closed position. In addition, controller 726 is configured to initiate actions such as limiting pump flow or other functions when drawer 120 is not in a closed position.

Drawer 120 may also have a locking mechanism 308, such as a magnetically controlled locking pin, magnetic switch, or other mechanical device configured to selectively prevent drawer 120 from moving from a closed position to an open position. The controller 726 is configured to cooperate with the locking mechanism 308 to prevent the drawer 120 from moving to an open position when the controller 726 determines that fluid flow is flowing in the plant growing apparatus 100. As will be described in more detail herein, the drawer 120 is configured to provide access to a reservoir 310 located therein. The reservoir 310 may be sized to capture and contain fluid dispensed by the plant growing apparatus 100. When drawer 120 is in the open position, reservoir 310 can no longer be positioned to properly capture fluid flowing from device body assembly 204. Accordingly, in one non-exclusive example of this disclosure, the controller 726 is configured to hold the locking mechanism 308 in a locked position for a time sufficient to drain fluid from the device body assembly 204 into the reservoir 310.

The drawer 120 may be part of a second area below the interior space 202. The second area may recirculate air above the reservoir 310 to cool heated air before being returned to the interior by fans 210. In this configuration, air blown from the interior space 202 dehumidifies the components in the second area. In other words, the air flow pattern in the second region may typically involve flowing from a rear fan to a front fan to provide drying of the lower region and/or cooling of the air as it passes over the reservoir 310. These fans may have filters at the fan inlets and /or its exits into the growing chambers. Fan filters are replaceable and may contain activated carbon, desiccant or other chemical agents to remove moisture, odors and germs from the air stream to maintain a clean environment. In addition, the exhaust fan filter is designed to remove moisture from the exhaust air, allowing it to become drier, evaporate water above the reservoir more quickly, and cool the system through evaporation. In one embodiment of this disclosure, the outlet fan uses a cooling coil that condenses water back into a reservoir to collect that moisture and cool the system. Maintaining lower temperatures may prevent the growth of algae or other pathogens in the plant growing device 100.

An input device 128 may be located adjacent to the drawer 120. Input device 128 may be a button, touch screen, or some other user-selectable device through which the user can issue instructions to controller 726. In one non-exclusive example, input device 128 may be a button and the user can press and/or hold the button for a predetermined time to reset or otherwise remove power from the plant growing device 100. Although the input device 128 is depicted adjacent to the drawer 120, other locations of the input device 128 are also discussed herein. For example, input device 128 may be connected to any panel of plant growing device 100. In addition, the input device 128 may be located internally, requiring the input device 128 to be accessed by pulling out a drawer 120. In addition, any user preferences may be communicated through the input device 128 to the controller 726, and the example provided is not exhaustive.

The reservoir 310 may be located on a drawer tray 602 and can be moved between open and closed positions. In one aspect of this disclosure, the drawer tray 602 itself may be a substantially fluid-tight container. More specifically, the drawer tray 602 may have a support portion and surrounding side portions that define a fluid-tight secondary reservoir into which the reservoir 310 may be placed. In this configuration, the drawer tray 602 may be configured to capture and hold a volume fluid medium when it lacks

- 5 044987 reservoir 310, and fluid drips or otherwise flows out of the plant housing assembly 204.

The drawer tray 602 may be slidably coupled to the plant growing device 100 along the drawer axis 124 by one or more slides 604. The drawer trays 604 may be positioned to allow the drawer tray 602 to be moved axially along the axis 124 drawers between open position and closed position. Additionally, in one aspect of this disclosure, the slides 604 may have a push-open function. The push-open function may allow the user to move the drawer tray 602, and in turn the reservoir 310 when placed thereon, from a closed position to an open position by pressing the drawer 120 in the opening direction 126. As drawer 120 is moved in opening direction 126, slides 604 may automatically move drawer 120 to a partially or fully open position without requiring additional user action.

Reservoir 310 may also have a tapered top edge that is configured to minimize splashing of fluid onto the side walls of reservoir 310. The tapered top edge may have a profile that directs fluid flowing up the side wall toward the center of reservoir 310 rather than over the side wall. The tapered top edge may be connected to or formed from the top edge of the reservoir 310 and substantially minimizes the amount of fluid flowing out of the reservoir upon impact with the side walls. Additionally, a spacer may be provided between the top edge of the reservoir 310 and the tapered top edge. Said gasket may be made of silicone, rubber, or any other material capable of providing a watertight seal between the two components. To prevent splashing, mechanical fasteners in the form of a nut and bolt, snap clamps, or stretch tape can be used to hold the two components pressed against the reservoir gasket.

To further reduce splashing from the reservoir, reservoir 310 may have one or more baffles. Baffles may be located on one or more surfaces of the reservoir to increase the number of surfaces that the flow of water must encounter before it reaches the opposite end of the reservoir 310, thereby reducing splashing. The baffles may be a single piece of metal bent in opposite directions, separating balls, or any other means known in the art. Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the plant growing apparatus 100 is shown with the door 118 removed to further illustrate the components of the interior space 202. More specifically, the interior space 202 may be formed by the interior surface of the door 118 (when the door is closed), a portion of the interior surface of the first side panel 104, and a portion of the interior surface of the second side panel 106, the inner surface of the top panel 108, and the inner surface of the support plate 206. In one aspect of this disclosure, the support plate 206 may form a lower support for the plant housing assembly 204. The support plate 206 may function as a barrier to at least partially separate the interior space 202 from the reservoir 310. Accordingly, the support plate 206 may significantly limit the fallout of debris and the like. from the plant growing unit 204 and entering the fluid in the reservoir 310.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the support plate 206 may have a fluid sensor 208 disposed thereon to detect the presence of any fluid on the support plate 206. The plant housing assembly 204 may be configured to direct fluid through the internal passage 1202 into the reservoir 310 However, if the internal passage 1202 becomes clogged or otherwise blocked, fluid may flow out of the internal passage 1202 and onto the support plate 206. Accordingly, the fluid sensor 208 is configured to communicate with the controller 726 to determine whether fluid has entered onto the support plate 206. Additionally, in one non-exclusive example of this embodiment, the controller 726 is configured to stop the flow of fluid through the internal passage 1202 of the plant housing assembly 204 when the fluid sensor 208 detects the presence of fluid on the support plate 206 to prevent fluid spill or the like. In yet another embodiment, the backing plate is configured to catch and direct spilled water toward the front to alert the user to the problem.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the support plate 206 may have one or more bends 212 or may be formed into a shallow cone such that the support plate 206 tapers towards the middle section. By narrowing the support plate 206 at the bends 212, the fluid that ends up thereon can flow toward the middle section. In addition, the middle section may have at least one opening or the like through which fluid can pass from the interior 202 into the reservoir 310 through the support plate 206. With this orientation, the support plate 206 is configured to direct fluid to the middle section when fluid accidentally leaked out of the inner passage 1202 and ended up on it.

The support plate 206 may also have at least one assembly 210 disposed thereon.

- 6 044987 blowers or fan assembly. The fan assembly 210 may be selectively activated by the controller 726 to provide air flow between the interior space 202 and the environment

116. More specifically, one or more fan assemblies 210 may supply airflow to interior space 202 and, at the same time, one or more fan assemblies 210 may exhaust airflow from interior space 202.

In one aspect of this disclosure, each fan assembly 210 may have an insect screen or the like located between the fan assembly 210 and the interior. The insect screen can significantly limit the entry of insects through the fan assembly 210 and prevent them from harmfully affecting plants located within. In one non-exclusive example, the insect screen may be electrified to kill insects that encounter the insect screen. The fan assembly 210 may shake the plant to create turgor pressure to produce more curled plants, pollinate plants in need of pollination, or remove heat from the interior, to name just a few uses of the fan assembly 210. In yet another embodiment, along the fan assembly 210 may a filter is placed to filter the air passing through it. The filter may be configured to remove moisture, remove unwanted odors, and/or prevent pathogens or pests from entering the culture chamber, among other things. In addition, fan filters can be made removable in the form of a cartridge for the possibility of their replacement. In this configuration, filters can be provided on a subscription basis. The filter may be attached using mechanical fasteners such as screws, magnetic surfaces, threaded inserts, or friction-fit profiles, among other attachment methods. Filters can be made of biodegradable or compostable polymers that can break down quickly after disposal. In yet another embodiment, the filter may include a mesh inserted into the filter frame to secure the filter above the fan. In yet another aspect of this disclosure, the fans of the fan assembly 210 may be positioned to blow air onto the light source 304. More specifically, the light source 304 is configured to emit desired light to plants located in the interior space 210. The light source 304 may be an LED lamp assembly that has a heat sink or the like. and requires cooling. The LED heat sink can be thermally coupled to the circuit used as an anti-condensation system on the doors of an appliance, such as a refrigerator, to prevent condensation from forming. In this configuration, fans from the fan assembly 210 may direct air flow to the LED lamp assembly of the light source 304, thereby cooling the LED lamps. In one non-exclusive example of this disclosure, light source 304 may be positioned on either side of the opening of door 118 to thereby direct light toward plant housing assembly 204 and away from door 118. In this configuration, light source 304 may not be substantially emit light from the door opening into the surrounding space.

As discussed herein, the fan assembly 210 may also have one or more fans exhausting air from the interior space 210. The air exhausted from the interior space 210 may have various odors associated with pollination and plant growth. Accordingly, in one aspect of this disclosure, an odor neutralizing filter may be incorporated into the exhaust fans of the fan assembly 210. The odor neutralizing filter may be any filter known in the art to eliminate odor and in one non-exclusive example is a carbon filter.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view 700 in which many of the components have been removed to better show the components of the plant growing apparatus 100 . In one non-exclusive embodiment, the fluid of the plant growing device 100 may be monitored. More specifically, both the volume and quality of the fluid in the reservoir 310 and dispersed in the internal passage 1202 can be controlled to provide fluid characteristics that are optimal for plant growth.

In particular, the plant growing apparatus 100 may have a fluid path 702 directing fluid from a fluid inlet 704 located in the reservoir 310 to a nozzle 1302 that is at least partially located in the internal passage 1202. In one embodiment of this disclosure, the fluid supply system may include a water condenser 706, an atomizer 708, a fluid level sensor 710, an ultraviolet (UV) light filter 712, anode probes 714, a pump 716, a flow meter 718, or a deionizer 720, to name a few. non-exclusive examples. The fluid supply system may be configured to supply fluid of the required volume and quality to the roots of any plants located in the plant housing assembly 204.

Pump 716 may be a high pressure diaphragm pump that is positioned in series with fluid path 702. Pump 716 may provide a flow rate and fluid pressure corresponding to nozzle 1302 to supply fluid to internal passage 1202. Additionally, nozzle 1302 and pump 716 may be configured to supply a mist of fluid to internal passage 1202 at a rate , sufficient to destroy the biofilm formed in it, without significant damage to the plant roots located in it. In one non-exclusive example, the nozzle 1302 may be configured to spray liquid approximately 360 degrees, thereby removing biofilm from all surfaces of the internal passage 1202. However, an impeller driven centrifugal pump may also be used, among other things.

In addition, nozzle 1302 may be removably coupled to fluid path 702 by a threaded or similar connection thereto. In this configuration, if the nozzle 1302 is clogged or otherwise blocked by residue, the user can remove the nozzle 1302 from the fluid path 702 and clean the nozzle 1302. Additionally, the nozzle(s) can be made of a material that prevents significant accumulation of residue, such as stainless steel or the like.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the nozzle 1302 is configured to move axially along the plant axis 1204 to accommodate housing assemblies 204 of different heights. For example, the location of the nozzle 1302 can be selectively changed to accommodate any number of grow rings 1206. However, uniform tubular columns that are not divided into segmented rings may also be used, or vertically attached portions of the columns may be used in yet another non-exclusive embodiment. More specifically, the nozzle 1302 may be coupled to a tubular assembly having a series of concentrically mounted tubes having appropriate diameters to provide telescopic repositioning. The tubular assembly may have a threaded ring at the end to selectively secure the tubular assembly in a stationary position after the optimal length device. Accordingly, the position or angle of the nozzle 1302 can be selectively changed to suit different lengths. Although a telescoping tubular assembly is described herein, in another embodiment, the tubular assembly may be a durable elongated pipe with flexible plumbing wrapped around a rigid fitting. Accordingly, any assembly capable of being repositioned to allow movement of the nozzle 1302 along the plant axis 1204 is contemplated herein.

Although a high pressure diaphragm pump is described herein, any type of fluid pump is contemplated in this disclosure. However, in one non-exclusive example, pump 716 is selected to limit the amount of heat supplied by pump 716 to the fluid. Accordingly, any fluid pump capable of providing adequate fluid pressure and flow in a fluid delivery system without adding a significant amount of heat is contemplated herein.

Flow meter 718 or flow switch may also be fluidly coupled to fluid path 702 and configured to communicate fluid flow along fluid path 702 to controller 726. Flow meter 718 may be any type of flow meter known in the art. equipment, and the controller 726 may be configured to monitor the readings of the flow meter 718 to determine how efficiently the pump 716 is operating. More specifically, in one embodiment, the controller 726 is configured to monitor the readings of the flow meter 718 when the pump 716 is commanded to supply fluid into the nozzle 1302. If the controller 726 commands the pump 716 to supply fluid to the nozzle 1302, the controller 726 is then configured to monitor the flow of fluid through the fluid path 702 using a flow meter 718 to verify that the fluid delivery system works properly. For example, if controller 726 commands pump 716 to supply fluid to nozzle 1302, but then detects through flow meter 718 a flow rate that is less than a flow threshold, controller 726 may issue a warning to the user or stop the fluid delivery system. Reduced flow may indicate, among other things, a clogged or faulty 716 pump.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the fluid path 702 may pass through a channel 804 formed in the back panel assembly. More specifically, the back panel 110 may be formed of an inner panel and an outer panel, between which there is insulation. The fluid path 702 along with the wiring for the electrical system may be provided in a channel 804 formed in the rear panel 110. The channel 804 may be formed by placing filler along the channel 804 before adding insulation between the inner and outer panels. Then, after adding insulation between the two panels, the filler is removed and an open channel 804 is formed. A fluid path 702 and wiring may then be placed along the back panel 110 between the inner and outer panels.

In addition, the fluid level in reservoir 310 may be monitored by fluid level sensor 710 to ensure that the required volume of fluid is present in reservoir 310. In one non-exclusive example, fluid level sensor 710 may be an ultrasonic sensor located above the reservoir to determine below the fluid level. However, any type of fluid level sensor 710 is also contemplated, including, but not limited to, an analog float switch, camera, or digital sensor. The fluid level sensor 710 is configured to communicate with the controller 726 to determine whether more fluid is needed in the reservoir 310. When the controller 726 detects a low level in the reservoir 310, the controller 726 may operate a source to supply fluid to the reservoir 310. storage tank.

The fluid source for adding fluid to reservoir 310 may be any fluid source. In one non-exclusive example, the fluid source may be a fluid line connected to a local water supply. In one non-exclusive example, solenoid valve 732 is configured to selectively supply fluid from a local water supply to reservoir 310 when a low fluid level is detected. Alternatively, in one embodiment discussed herein, a water condenser 706 is used to condense water from the surrounding atmosphere and direct it to the reservoir 310 when the controller 726 commands such condensation to occur. In this configuration, when controller 726 detects a low level in reservoir 310 using fluid level sensor 710, controller 726 is configured to operate water condenser 706 to condense water from the surrounding atmosphere, thereby filling reservoir 310 to the proper level.

In yet another embodiment, the device is configured to distribute one or more substances in the reservoir 310. The specified substance(s) may be a powder; compressed disks; other granular products such as fertilizers, hydroponic microbial inoculants, pH catalysts or sanitary catalysts; or any other substance or mixture of substances. Said distribution device may be a drive mechanism such as an auger, an electromagnetic coin acceptor, a rotary divider, or other device capable of adjusting the amount applied over a period of time. In yet another embodiment, said dispenser may be a mixing tank into which water is dispensed to mix the solution, and the device then distributes the mixed solution throughout the reservoir 310. In yet another embodiment, said dispenser may be a small dissolvable container placed in growing environment or tower ports.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the fluid delivery system may have one or more fluid filters. More specifically, the plant growing apparatus 100 can be particularly used for growing edible plants for human consumption. Accordingly, the cleanliness and sanitary condition of the fluid can be controlled by the fluid supply system. The nebulizer 708 may produce sound waves and the like that have characteristics that destroy bacteria in the fluid. The nebulizer 708 may be positioned within the fluid delivery system such that the fluid passes through the nebulizer 708, resulting in bacteria being exposed to sound waves generated by the nebulizer 708. In one embodiment, the fluid filter may be replaced in front of the aeroponic chambers for cultivation without opening the drawer 120.

The ultraviolet (UV) light device 712 may be another fluid filter located within the fluid delivery system. A UV light device 712 may be positioned above the reservoir 310 to irradiate the fluid contents of the reservoir 310 with UV light. The UV light device 712 is configured to emit light into the fluid in the reservoir, thereby destroying unwanted microorganisms or bacteria present therein. In one non-exclusive example, the spectrum of UV light 712 may be suitable for killing E. coli, algae, or the like. In one aspect of this disclosure, UV light device 712 may be a UV LED, such as UV-C, UV-A, and/or UV -B, as a few non-exclusive examples. Using a UV LED provides the benefits of UV light filtering without the risks associated with the mercury vapor tubes used in t5 UV lamps. The UV light device 712 may be located above the reservoir 310 or directly within it. In addition, the UV light device 712 can be operated according to a duty cycle to minimize water evaporation during the day.

Likewise, anode probes 714 may be located within the fluid in reservoir 310 or otherwise along fluid path 702 to further purify the fluid therein. Anode probes 714 may include silver and copper anode probes arranged to sterilize the water when current is applied to it. In addition, applying current to the silver and copper anode probes 714 may prevent outbreaks of bacteria such as Legionella or the like in the fluid in the plant growth apparatus 100.

Although several fluid purification devices are described herein, this disclosure contemplates the use of any type of fluid purification system that is capable of providing a more sterile and sanitary fluid environment in a fluid delivery system. As described above, the plant growing apparatus 100 can often be used to grow edible plants suitable for human consumption. Accordingly, the fluid and interior space 202 may be particularly configured to maintain a hygienic and food-compatible environment as described herein.

Power supply 724 or the like. may supply power to the electrical system of the plant growing device 100. More specifically, power supply 724 may be electrically coupled to a power supply, a solar panel, or any other known power source to provide power to an electrical system. In one non-exclusive example, power supply 724 may be electrically coupled to battery 722 or other energy storage device, thereby providing power to the electrical system even when power supply 724 is not coupled to an external power source. The battery 722 can be charged when the power source 724 is connected to an external power source, and the stored energy of the battery 722 can be used when the power source 724 is no longer connected to the external power source.

The electrical system may supply power to a water condenser 706, atomizer 708, fluid level sensor 710, UV light device 712, anode probes 714, pump 716, flow meter 718, deionizer 720, light source 304, motor drive, and chamber 214 as a few non-exclusive ones. electrical system components. In addition, the controller 726 is configured to selectively supply power to components of the electrical system to create an internal space 202 that promotes efficient and abundant plant growth.

The controller 726 may also be coupled to a plant motor 728, which is coupled to the plant housing assembly 204. The controller 726 is configured to selectively activate the plant motor 728 to rotate the plant housing assembly 204 about the plant axis 1204 to move the plants exposed to the light source 304 . In yet another embodiment, the plant housing assembly 204 is designed to be directly rotatable without the use of electricity, such as by a wind turbine or other device. Additionally, in one aspect of this disclosure, plant sensor 730 may be positioned to detect rotation of plant housing assembly 204. More specifically, plant sensor 730 may be a reed switch located adjacent to the eccentric rotary disk. The eccentric rotary disk may have recessed portions that interact with the plant sensor 730 to indicate to the controller 726 that the plant housing assembly 204 has rotated a predetermined amount. In one non-exclusive embodiment, the controller 726 is configured to use the camera 214 to take and store or otherwise transmit a photo or video of the plant housing assembly 204 depending on the angular position of the plant housing assembly 204 as determined by the plant sensor 730.

In yet another embodiment, a magnet in plant housing assembly 204 may pass a sensor coupled to support plate 206 to determine the angular orientation of assembly 204. In yet another embodiment, plant sensor 730 may be a mechanical switch that is depressed when it enters into contact with a recess on the corresponding surface to detect rotation. In yet another embodiment, a photosensor may be used that is configured to detect a specific color or reflective material on the assembly 204. In one aspect of this embodiment, the camera 214 is configured to identify specific colors or features of the assembly 204 to determine rotation. In yet another embodiment, the sensor 730 may be a laser, among other optical sensors, that is configured to measure a change in distance in a recess on a corresponding surface to determine rotation. Likewise, sensor 730 may be a sonar sensor configured to measure a distance in a recess on a corresponding surface to determine rotation. The sensor 730 is also configured to identify a physical protrusion that actuates the mechanical switch when it is rotated. Additionally, sensor 730 may be a rotary angle encoder. In yet another embodiment, the rotation of the assembly may be determined by counting the steps of the stepper motor and using a software algorithm to determine the rotation based on a known gear ratio or other means for rotating the shaft, including, but not limited to, a belt drive or direct drive motor. other options.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the fluid inlet 704 includes a tip weight 1102. The tip weight 1102 may be made of a material that is heavy enough to allow the tip weight 1102 to be positioned along the bottom of the reservoir 310 when positioned underneath it. In this configuration, through the use of a weighted tip 1102, the fluid inlet 704 remains submerged in the fluid within the reservoir 310, thereby significantly limiting the entry of air into the fluid path 702. Additionally, fluid inlet 704 and tip weight 1102 may be positioned to allow easy access to and from reservoir 310 when opening and closing drawer 120. Alternatively, the compartment fitting may be connected to a check valve to continuously draining fluid from the bottom of reservoir 310. The check valve is configured to prevent reservoir 310 from leaking from the compartment fitting when reservoir 310 is removed from the drawer

120.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9 is a half-sectional view of a portion of the plant housing assembly 204. The plant housing assembly 204 may include a plurality of grow rings 1206 connected to each other to form an internal passage 1202. Additionally, the grow rings 1206 may be connected to the plant grow device 100 in a rotatable manner about a plant axis 1204. In this configuration, a grommet 1208 or the like may be installed in the upper through hole of the top cap 1210. The grommet 1208 may significantly restrict the flow of fluid or the like. through the upper through hole so that the top cover 1210 can be rotated about the plant axis 1204.

The lower portion 1212 may be coupled to the lowermost grow ring 1206 and may be manipulated by the plant motor 728 to rotate the plant housing assembly 204 . More specifically, the lower portion may have a drainage member 1802 (FIG. 9) extending along the plant axis 204 that allows fluid from the internal passage 1202 to drain into the reservoir 310. In one aspect of this disclosure, a cover 1812 may be mounted over the drainage member 1802 to control the flow of fluid entering reservoir 310. The cap 1812 may function as a funnel to reduce the size of the outlet and thereby change the flow pattern of fluid through the bottom portion 1212. The cap 1812 may be configured to reduce splashing caused by fluid entry. into the reservoir from the bottom of 1212.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11b depicts another embodiment of drainage element 1802. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11b, a skirt seal may be located in the flow path between the internal passage 1202 and the reservoir 310. More specifically, the skirt seal may be made of a flexible material and configured to prevent water from splashing back from reservoir 310. The skirt seal may be sufficiently deformable to allow solids to freely slide past the skirt seal while preventing water from splashing back from reservoir 310. In addition, the skirt seal can substantially prevent pests or the like from entering. into the internal passage 1202 through the drainage element 1802. The skirt seal is also configured to elastically deform when sufficient water pressure is applied to it and return to its original shape after passage of water. The skirt seal may be secured around a central support, which is held concentrically with the plant shaft 1204 by a rigid arm. In this configuration, the skirt seal is configured to connect to the center support and is maintained in alignment with the plant axis 1204. Accordingly, the skirt seal essentially acts as a one-way valve in which fluid and debris can exit the inner passage 1202, but prevents fluid or debris from entering the fluid passage 1202 through the drain element 1802. It also provides opacity, thereby minimizing the exposure of tank 310 to light to reduce the likelihood of unwanted algae growing therein. The skirt may even be a conical spiral to direct the water to its central vertical axis, extending below the top of the walls of the reservoir containers. This flexible pultrusion can simply be folded over the reservoir container as the drawer is opened and closed to ensure fluid is continually returned to the reservoir.

The lower portion 1212 may also have a strainer 902 or the like located above the drain member 1802. The strainer 902 may be sized to substantially cover the drain member and be configured to allow fluid from the internal passage 1202 to pass therethrough. through and into drain element 1802. However, the strainer 902, depending on its size, may significantly restrict the passage of plant material through it. In this configuration, the strainer 902 can prevent the accumulation of plant material such as roots from blocking the drainage member 1802, while fluid can continuously flow through it. In one non-limiting example, the strainer 902 may have a dome-, pyramid-, or cone-shaped shape that extends from the drainage element 1802. Additionally, the strainer 902 may have a plurality of holes that are sized to allow fluid but not large plant matter to pass through. leftovers.

In one aspect of this disclosure, a friction reducing mechanism 1214 may be coupled to a lower portion 1212 between the lower portion 1212 and the support plate 206. The friction reducing mechanism 1214 may be any friction reducing mechanism to facilitate rotation of the plant housing assembly 204 about an axis. 1204 plants. More specifically, in one non-exclusive example, the friction reducing mechanism 1214 may be a nylon bushing or the like. Additionally, in another non-exclusive example, the friction reducing mechanism 1214 may be a slewing bearing or the like. In yet another embodiment, the lower portion 1212 is configured to float and rotate in a fluid. In yet another embodiment, the friction reducing mechanism 1214 may be a magnetic bearing. Accordingly, any known type of mechanism is contemplated herein to reduce friction between the bottom portion 1212 and the support plate 206.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the bottom portion 1212 is shown in a perspective view of the bottom side. The underside may have a drainage member 1802 sized to direct fluid into the reservoir 310 and allow the plant housing assembly 204 to rotate about the plant axis 1204. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the lower portion 1212 may have a gear 1804 incorporated therein or otherwise secured around the plant axle 1204. The gear 1804 may be sized to engage the plant motor gear 1104 coupled to the plant motor 728 to allow the plant motor 728 to rotate the plant housing assembly 204 by interacting with the gear 1804.

In yet another aspect of the lower portion 1212 shown in FIG. 12, a ring 1806 may be formed around a plant axis 1204. The ring 1806 may be a substantially circular extension of the lower surface 1808 of the lower portion 1212. Additionally, the ring 1806 may be spaced radially from the integral gear 1804 by a ring distance 1810 that is slightly greater than the diameter of the plant motor gear. In this configuration, the plant motor gear may be located in the annular channel of the lower portion 1212 formed between the gear 1804 and the ring 1806. The ring 1806 may substantially prevent debris or the like from entering. between the gear 1804 and the plant motor gear when the plant motor 728 rotates the plant housing assembly 204.

In yet another non-exclusive example, the bottom portion 1212 may have a spiral-shaped protrusion extending from the bottom surface. Said helical protrusion may have a contact point formed thereon and configured to interact with an electromagnet. The electromagnet may, instead of the plant motor 728, rotate the lower portion 1212 by pressing against the contact point of the spiral protrusion. In other words, the electromagnet is configured to expand and contract in a cyclic manner by contacting the helical protrusion and rotating the plant housing assembly 204 in each cycle.

Additionally, in yet another embodiment, the plant housing assembly 204 may be mechanically coupled to the wind turbine. In this configuration, the wind turbine is configured to rotate when exposed to wind. In addition, the rotation of the wind turbine may be converted into rotation of the plant housing assembly 204 through one or more transmission mechanism and gear assemblies.

The lowermost grow ring 2102 may be coupled to the lower portion 1212 by having an overlapping section (similar to the overlapping section 2104) that is located radially inwardly relative to the outer wall of the lower portion 1212. Additionally, each growing ring 1206 may have a similar overlapping section 2104 size so that any grow ring 1206 can be coupled to the bottom portion 1212. In addition, the bottom portion 1212 may have grooves formed therein that correspond to the tabs of the grow rings 1206 and thus provide a rotatable connection of the adjacent grow ring 1206 to the bottom portion 1212 , when it is located in it accordingly.

In fig. 13 depicts a grow ring 2106 spaced axially from an adjacent grow ring 2106 along a plant axis 1204. Each grow ring 1206 may have at least one tongue 2108 formed along the bottom that is sized to match a groove 2110 on the top of the adjacent grow ring 2106. The tongue 2108 may at least partially extend into the groove 2110 of the adjacent growth ring when the overlap section is located within the adjacent growth ring 2106. The overlap section 2104 is configured to contact the alignment surfaces 2112 of the adjacent grow ring 2106 when positioned therein to ensure alignment of the adjacent grow rings 2106 with the plant axis 1204. In addition, said connection may also be a pin connection, a threaded screw connection, or another method of connecting said rings to each other.

In addition, when adjacent grow rings 2106 are properly coupled to each other, tabs 2108 may be positioned at least partially within respective grooves 2110, essentially providing a rotatable connection of adjacent grow rings 2106 to each other. In other words, when adjacent grow rings 2106 are properly connected to each other, the contact between the overlap section 2104 and the leveling surface 2112 can provide coaxial alignment of the grow rings 2106, and the contact between the tabs 2108 and the grooves 2110 can provide a rotatable connection of the grow rings together.

Likewise, due to the presence of the closure section 2104, the fluid sprayed by the nozzle 1302 will be retained in the inner passage 1202 until the fluid is

- 12 044987 will reach the drainage element 1802 of the lower part 1212. In one aspect of this disclosure, the overlap section may have a lower edge 1506 that extends radially inward therefrom. The lower edge 1506 may also prevent fluid from leaking from the inner passage 1202 by directing the fluid toward the plant axis 1204. In other words, the growth rings 1206 are nested within each other such that the fluid dispersed in the inner passage 1202 will naturally flow to the bottom and then to the reservoir 310.

In yet another aspect of this disclosure, gasket 1304 or the like. may be located around the overlap section 2104 to further ensure proper connection of adjacent grow rings 2106 to each other. The spacers 1304 may be substantially cylindrical and may be positioned between the bridge section 2104 and the leveling surface 2112. The spacers 1304 may be made of silicone or the like. In addition, the liners 1304 may be antimicrobial, whereby the liners 1304 provide a sterile environment along the internal passage.

Next, with reference to FIG. 21-25 explain the shape of the growing rings 1206 in more detail. More specifically, the uppermost portion of each grow ring 1206 may have a first inner diameter 2502 defined by the alignment surfaces 2112. The first inner diameter 2502 may be approximately the same as the second outer diameter 2504 of the overlap section 2104. In this orientation, adjacent grow rings 1206 may be connected to each other as described herein. In addition, the leveling surfaces 2112 may be configured to elastically deform radially away from the plant axis 1204 upon contact with the overlap section 2104. Accordingly, the overlap section 2104 may be forcefully inserted into the leveling surfaces 2112, causing the leveling surfaces 2112 to expand radially away from the plant axis 1204 and thus provide frictional connection of the growing rings 1206 to each other.

In an embodiment in which spacers are used between the leveling surfaces 2112 and the overlap section 2104, the first inner diameter 2502 and the second outer diameter 2504 may be of appropriate sizes. More specifically, if the spacer is one-eighth of an inch (3.17 mm) thick, the two diameters 2502, 2504 may be sized to accommodate a spacer of approximately one-eighth of an inch thickness between them.

In addition, each growing ring 1206 may have one or more openings 2202 for plants formed therein. Each plant opening 2202 may be configured to receive a plant basket, with at least a portion of the plant basket located at least partially within the inner passage 1202. The plant openings 2202 may be formed by portions of the growing ring wall 2204 that extend in a radial direction away from the plant axis 1204. More specifically, each plant opening may be a radial extension that has an outer profile defining an axis 2208 at an angle 2206 of the plant opening relative to the plant axis 1204. However, this case considers many different angles that affect the orientation angle of the basket, which, among other things, can affect the entry of light and irrigation solution to promote growth. Accordingly, as the plant opening 2202 approaches the uppermost portion of the growing ring 1206, the plant opening 2202 may extend further radially away from the plant axis 1204. In this orientation, plant baskets can be easily placed and supported in the plant openings 2202.

In other words, the plant openings 2202 may be formed in a circular wave-like structure defined by a perimeter growing ring wall 2204. In this configuration, the growth rings 1206 may be injection molded or die-stamped. However, any other known manufacturing process is also discussed herein, and any known method for making grow rings 1206 is discussed in this disclosure.

A filter may be installed within each plant opening 2202. These filters can be located in, around or built into seed baskets. In one embodiment, the filters are semi-permeable membranes through which moisture can penetrate into the root chamber of the seed basket without affecting the water chemistry outside the seed basket. These filters may consist of: paper, polylactide (PLA) or other woven or non-woven polymer mesh, films based on PVA hydrogel (Polyvinyl Alcohol), or the like. to provide permeability to the nutrient solution while excluding larger particles such as algae, pathogens or other undesirable substances. In addition, filters can provide a specific root zone for individual crops. This root zone can provide agronomic properties optimized for individual plant species to achieve a polyculture configuration of different crop types. Filters may consist of filter paper or filter paper combined with plant-based polymers and fibers. Filters can degrade under the influence of microorganisms throughout their lifespan.

- 13 044987 plant cycle, as the plant uses up the filter and its roots expand.

These filters may contain growing materials such as seeds, growing media, fertilizers, pesticides, or any combination of these materials and/or other materials or accelerators. Additionally, these materials may be released over time. In one example, pH buffers can be coated with sensitive polymers that dissolve upon contact or under certain environmental parameters. More specifically, the addition of an acidic solution may cause the capsules to dissolve, releasing the base to raise the pH value in the root zone of the seed basket, or the release may cause the entire hydroponic chamber to return to optimal plant growing conditions. In yet another example, alkaline capsules may be released if the pH values of the root zone of the seed basket or the entire hydroponic system are highly acidic. They may also include growing media, animal repellents, soil amendments, soil fortifiers, fertilizers, bone meal, plant growth hormones, cinnamon, sand, adjuvants, moisture absorbent, ribose or pesticides among other possible additives in the seed basket.

Next, with reference to FIG. 16 depicts one non-exclusive example of a seed basket assembly 1600 along with a schematic view of a multi-layer seed basket. The seed basket assembly 1600 may include a seed basket 1606 that provides a structural framework for the assembly. The basket 1606 may be a structure configured to support contents in the interior area 1620 while allowing access to water, nutrients, or the like. into the interior region 1602. More specifically, the support segments 1622 may extend from the end of the opening to the end of the base and provide a gap therebetween. The support segments 1622 are spaced apart to provide at least one opening 1624 so that they can sufficiently support the contents of the interior region 1620 and retain water, nutrients, or the like. may enter the interior region 1602 through at least one opening 1624. In other words, the support segments 1622 do not completely enclose the interior region 1620.

Although a specific structure is depicted through which water, nutrients, and the like can flow into the interior region 1620 (ie, spaced support segments), other structures are also contemplated herein. For example, instead of using support segments 1622, through-holes may be formed in the solid walls of the interior region 1620 through which water and nutrients can flow into the interior region 1620. Alternatively, the walls of the interior region may be made of a permeable cellular material or the like. Accordingly, this disclosure contemplates the use of any structure for the wall of the interior region 1620 that will support the contents of the interior region 1620 and through which water, nutrients, or the like. will be able to enter the internal area 1620.

In one non-exclusive method of manufacturing a seed basket assembly 1600, a filter 1604 may be placed and pressed into the interior area 1620 of the basket 1606. In one aspect of this disclosure, the filter 1604 may be made of paper backing, fabric, woven mesh, non-woven PLA mesh, or any other similar material. In other embodiments, the material of the filter 1604 may be a selective water vapor permeable film (permeation-evaporation water vapor permeable film) that is waterproof. A non-porous hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film is also considered as a filter in the present invention.

Following the filter 1604, a first specific amount of a particular type of growth medium 1608 or other additive may be introduced into the cavity of the filter 1604 in the basket 1606. Then another growing medium 1608 or additive mixture 1610, which may be any one or more of fertilizers, pH buffers, microbes, pesticides, adjuvants, animal repellents, soil amendments, soil fortifiers, bone meal , plant growth hormones, cinnamon, sand, moisture absorbent, ribose, microbial inoculants, detergent, cleaning solution, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soap and fungicides, among other possible additives, may be introduced into the filter cavity in basket 1606 adjacent growth medium 1608. In the next layer, a second specific amount of growing medium 1612 for a specific type of growth medium may be introduced into the basket. The plant seed 1614 may then be placed in the basket filter cavity in the final layer of growing medium 1612. A seed positioning member 1626 may be provided, which may be a layer of foam or other material that holds the seed in position and may be disc-shaped. This foam or other material that secures the position of the layer may be placed under the layer, around, on top of the layer, or in any combination of these locations of the layers relative to the seeds. In one aspect of this disclosure, the seed positioning element 1626 may be in the form of a disk with a central notch sized to match the expected size of the seeds. In yet another aspect of this disclosure, seed positioning element 1626 may comprise a hydrogel or the like.

- 14 044987

The plant seed 1614 may be placed in the seed positioning member, and the seed positioning member may be placed in the interior region 1620 in one of the layer configurations described herein. The seed positioning member may substantially hold the seed at a desired location in the interior region until germination begins.

A third specific amount of a specific type of growth medium 1616 may then be introduced into the basket filter cavity. In other embodiments discussed herein, the seed basket may be one or more layers with various combinations of growing media, seeds, and/or additives. The entire contents of the seed basket may then be lightly pressed into the filter cavity in the seed basket, and the lid 1602 may be sealed or otherwise connected to the top of the seed basket 1606. Finally, the seed basket 1606 may be wrapped in shrink wrap or other sealing material 1618 to completely isolate the basket from environmental moisture conditions. The wrapper 1618 may be compostable and/or may be water soluble, among other possible characteristics. The seed basket assembly 1600 may be color coded to assist in determining the correct location of the seed basket depending on the expected size of the plant.

In one contemplated embodiment, some material is added to the interior of the basket 1606 to provide a heat-retaining mass that can be cooled prior to installation of the basket 1606. Among other things, this may provide improved germination. The heat-retaining mass may be a hydrogel-based material that rapidly expands and saturates to provide the highest thermal capacity among other materials.

The term layer is used herein to refer to the contents of the grow baskets 1606. However, the growing medium 1610, additives 1610, and/or plant seeds 1614 may be non-planar layers. Instead, the contents of the layer may be influenced in part by the contours of an underlying surface, such as the bottom of the basket 1606. In addition, layers such as the growing medium 1608 and additives 1610 may be at least slightly mixed when placed in the seed basket assembly 1600. Thus, the term layer refers to the arrangement of the corresponding material relative to the underlying material and can take many different physical forms.

In yet another aspect of this disclosure, the filter 1604 of the seed basket assembly 1600 may be adhesively applied or fused between the aluminum lid 1602 and the plastic basket 1606 in a sandwich type configuration in which the plastic fiber materials of the filter 1604 are fused into a sealed basket 1606 with an aluminum lid. 1602. This filter paper can also be treated to prevent fungal or algae growth. However, this lid material may also be paper, polymer, or other material that is tightly attached to the cup using sonic welding, high pressure, or other methods.

The lid 1602 may be attached to the seed basket 1606 using adhesives, by heating the metal lid to melt the polymer and cup, sonic welding to fuse the parts, or by using some other method to adhere the barrier to the basket 1606. The use of the lid 1602 may help reduce growth of algae in the growing medium by shading the contents of the seed basket assembly 1600, wherein the cover 1602 may help maintain a higher level of humidity in the seed basket assembly 1600 and the cover 1602 may be labeled with the name of the plant species. The user may be prompted to pierce the cap 1602 or even open the cap 1602 using a pull tab.

In one aspect of this disclosure, cover 1602 may include a cover 1632, such as a tear tab, over a substantially central opening 1630. The user may be prompted to pull the cover tab 1632 away from the seed basket 1606 as part of the process of placing the seed basket assembly 1600. In this case, the cover 1602 may deform outward from the seed basket 1606 when the tab is removed. This may cause the lid to taper outwardly around the opening 1630, allowing partial growth of the germinating plant through the opening 1630. Alternatively, the lid 1602 may be domed or otherwise convex with respect to the seed basket 1606 to guide the germinating plant through the opening 1630 of the lid 1602 during use. Additionally, in one embodiment discussed herein, the cover 1632 is made of a soluble material and the opening 1630 can be opened when the cover 1602 is exposed to water.

A hot plate pressing process, heat and pressure pressing, or electrical induction may be used to finally fuse the lid 1602 into the basket 1606, among other bonding methods. The cover 1602 may identify plant species using an identifier 1628. The identifier 1628 may be configured to identify a plant type associated with a plant seed 1614 in the seed basket assembly 1600. The identifier 1628 may use any known method to determine the type of plant seed 1614

- 15 044987 in node 1600 seed basket. In some contemplated examples, the identifier 1628 may be printed on the lid 1602, affixed to the lid 1602 or another portion of the basket assembly 1600 as a sticker, and/or applied as a QR code or bar code on the lid 1602 or another portion of the basket assembly 1600. In yet another embodiment, the identifier may be made of a fluorescent material, a penetrating wave reflective material, or may be a passive/active chip mounted on the cover 1602 or some other portion of the seed basket assembly 1600. In addition, the identifier 1628 may be a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag affixed to the cover 1602 or other portion of the seed basket assembly 1600.

The identifier 1628 may be capable of being detected by a person, a camera 214, a dedicated RFID receiver, a laser locator, or any other similar sensor. Each seed basket may have one or more handles or radial tabs 1708. The radial tab 1708 makes it easier for a user to lift and position the seed basket assembly 1600 and can prevent the seed basket assembly 1600 from falling into the tower. Cover 1602 may be composed of compostable or biodegradable materials.

The cover 1602 may also have a specific color designed to be associated with a corresponding color of the plant housing assembly 204. More specifically, each grow ring 1206 may have a specific color associated with the order in which the grow rings are located on the grow housing assembly 204 . By using the color on the grow ring 1206, the size of plant that can be optimally placed in that particular grow ring 1206 can be identified. For example, the lowermost grow ring 1206 may have a color that matches larger plants to provide space for growth, while the uppermost grow ring 1206 can have a color that matches smaller plants. The lids 1602 may be similarly color coded to match the color of the grow rings 1602 to guide the user to the correct placement of the grow basket assembly 1600.

Next, with reference to FIG. 17a and 17b depict another embodiment of a seed basket design 1700. The basket 1700 may be substantially similar to the basket 1606, but is provided with a retention tab 1702. Thus, the basket 1700 can replace the basket 1606 described herein and can be filled and packaged as described herein with reference to FIGS. 16. The basket 1700 is configured to be placed in one of the plant openings 2202. The plant openings 2202 may be partially defined by the upper growing ring 1206 . In this configuration, the seed basket assembly 1600 may be prone to falling out of the plant opening 2202 when the upper grow ring 1206 is moved or removed from the plant housing assembly 204 because the radial interior of the plant opening 2202 is no longer supported by the upper growing ring 1206 . Accordingly, the tab 1702 for holding the basket 1700 is positioned to at least partially cover a portion of the underlying growing member 1206 when properly positioned in the plant opening 2202.

More specifically, the retention tab 1702 may extend axially relative to the basket axle 1704 toward the bottom 1706 of the basket 1700. The retention tab 1702 may be at least partially located below a radial tongue 1708 that extends radially away from the axle. 1704. In this configuration, the radial tab 1708 may be a location that a user can grip to facilitate removal of the cover 1606. Additionally, the radial tab 1708 may be a location that a user can grip the seed basket assembly 1600 to place it in an appropriate opening 2202. Accordingly, the radial tab 1708 will generally be oriented away from the plant axis 1204 when a user places the seed basket assembly 1600 into the corresponding opening 2202. Thus, when positioning the tab 1702 to be held at least partially under the radial tab 1708, the holding tab 1702 will generally be located along the radially outer portion of the opening 2202 relative to the plant axis 1204, with the holding tab 1702 adjacent to a portion of the underlying growing ring 1206. In this configuration, the retention tab 1702 may also substantially prevent the seed basket 1700 from rotating within the associated opening 2202. Alternatively, in other configurations contemplated herein, the seed basket may have a keyed cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the opening 2202. wherein the keyed cross-section may substantially prevent rotation of the seed basket within the opening.

The retention tab 1702 may be located at a first distance 1710 from an adjacent element 1712 of the basket 1700 at a terminal portion of the retention tab 1702. The first distance 1710 may be large enough to accommodate at least a portion of the grow ring 1206 when the basket 1700 is properly positioned within the opening 2202. Additionally, the retention tab 1702 may taper inward as it approaches the radial tab. 1708. In other words, the retention tab 1702 is located at a second distance 1714 from

- 16 044987 adjacent element 1712 at the location where the retention tongue 1702 meets the radial tongue 1708. Due to this inward taper, the retention tongue 1702 is configured to frictionally contact a portion of the growth ring 1206 located between the retention tongue 1702 and the adjacent element 1712 when the basket 1700 is properly positioned in the opening 2202. This frictional contact may substantially retain the basket 1700 in the opening 2202 even if the upper adjacent growth ring 1206 is removed.

Although a tapered opening between the retention tab 1702 and adjacent member 1712 is discussed herein, in other embodiments such a tapered opening may not be present. In one example, the retention tab 1702 may extend substantially parallel to the adjacent element 1712. Accordingly, this disclosure provides both tapered openings and non-tapered openings between the retention tongue 1702 and the adjacent element 1712.

Any of the components discussed herein may be formed by an injection molding process in which antimicrobial additives or other agents are used during the injection molding process to kill pathogens on contact. The use of these additives can provide inhibition of the growth of damaging microorganisms anywhere in the plant growing apparatus 100. More specifically, when microbes come into contact with the surface of a compartment manufactured using this technology, the additives will penetrate the cell wall of the microorganism and disrupt the cell's functions, causing the microorganism to be unable to function, grow and reproduce.

One or more indicators may also be placed along the visible surface of the plant growing device 100. The indicator may be one or more buttons, indicator lights, a touch screen, an LCD screen, other visual displays, an alarm device, a speaker, a microphone, and any other components that allow users to interact with the device. The indicator light may indicate information about the operating status of the device 100. For example, a green light may indicate that the device is operating properly. Additionally, a different color or flashing pattern may indicate a spray cycle is in progress. The indicator light can also notify the user when a component needs servicing. In addition, the indicator lamp can provide a signal to the user to prevent disruption of the growth cycle in which the spray nozzle, among other things, sprays.

The number of plant openings 2202 formed in the growing ring 1206 may vary depending on the type of plant housed therein. Accordingly, a grow ring for larger plants may have fewer plant openings than a grow ring for smaller plants. Likewise, any number of grow rings 1206 may be connected to each other to form a plant housing assembly 204 to accommodate the desired height of the plant grow device 100. For example, a taller plant grower 100 may require a larger number of grow rings 1206 than a comparatively lower grower 100. The number of grow rings 1206 may be any number sufficient to allow the inner passage 1202 to extend from the top cap 1201 to the bottom 1212. Additionally, cylindrical spacers may also be used to provide the required axial distance between the top cap 1201 and the bottom. Part 1212 when plant openings are not required along the entire height of the plant housing assembly. In one aspect of this disclosure, a plug may be placed in any of the plant openings 2202 that lack a basket. These baskets can be inert or can be dissolved in cleaning solvents that can stop unwanted microbial growth without harming the plants.

In one non-exclusive example application of the present disclosure, a user may purchase a plant growing device 100 and install it in a floor cabinet space, similar to a mini-fridge or the like. The power source 724 may be electrically connected to the local power grid, and the water source may be selectively coupled by the controller to the reservoir 310. The user may then place an appropriate number of grow rings of the appropriate type between the top cover 1201 and the bottom 1212. The user may then fill the plant openings in growing rings with baskets of plants corresponding to the types of plants the user intends to grow. The controller 726 is configured to automatically identify plant baskets located in the installation by communicating with the plant baskets using wireless communication. The controller 726 may then use the fluid delivery and electrical systems described herein to create an interior space 202 that is optimal for growing the plants identified in the plant baskets.

In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, drainage element 1802 may be sized to fit a standard pipeline fitting. In one non-exclusive example, drainage element 1802 may be configured to be inserted into a T-connector from

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Claims (5)

polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In this configuration, the PVC drain piping may be formed with one or more T-fittings through which drainage elements 1802 may be attached thereto. Accordingly, multiple plant housing assemblies 204 may be fluidly coupled to a single drain piping. In addition, each plant housing assembly 204 may have a nozzle 1302 through which fluid is supplied to each plant housing assembly 204 to individual plants or to the entire growing column. The plant housing assemblies 204 may be rigidly coupled to the drain conduit and, in addition, the support line may provide additional support for the plant housing assemblies 204 and the fluid lines leading to the nozzles 1302. In this embodiment, any number of plant housing assemblies 204 may be fluidly connected to drain piping and fluid lines. Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present disclosure may be further modified within its spirit and scope. Thus, this application covers any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. In addition, the present application covers such departures from the present disclosure as are consistent with known or customary practice in the art to which it relates and which come within the scope of the appended claims. Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing description with reference to the drawings, such drawings and description are to be considered as illustrative and non-limiting in nature, it being understood that exemplary embodiment(s) have been presented and described. , and it is desirable that all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this disclosure be protected. It should be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the described features, but may benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those skilled in the art may readily develop their own embodiments that incorporate one or more features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. CLAIM 1. A seed basket assembly, comprising a basket defining an internal region and configured to support the contents therein; a growing medium located at least partially in said internal region; a plant seed located at least partially in said internal region; a cover connected to the basket for enclosing a plant seed in said internal area; an additive layer in the inner region located between two layers of growth medium; wherein the basket is sized to be placed in the opening of the plant growing apparatus to allow water and nutrients to reach the plant seeds or be released from the basket. 2. The seed basket assembly of claim 1, wherein the basket has support segments separated by at least one opening, wherein said opening allows water, plant roots, and nutrients to enter and exit the interior region. 3. The seed basket assembly of claim 1, further comprising a filter located along at least a portion of the walls of the interior region to provide a filter barrier between the interior region and the environment. 4. The seed basket assembly of claim 3, wherein also the growing medium and the plant seed are located at least partially within the filter in an internal region. 5. The seed basket assembly according to claim 1, containing additives in the internal area, wherein the additives are one or more of fertilizers, pH buffers, microbes, pesticides, adjuvants, animal repellents, soil improvers, enrichment agents soil, bone meal, plant growth hormones, cinnamon, sand, moisture absorbent, ribose, microbial inoculants, heat retention mass, detergent, cleaning solution, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soap and fungicides. -