Plant husbandry – Water culture – apparatus or method – Nutrient recirculation system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-08-21
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Water culture, apparatus or method
Nutrient recirculation system
C047S060000, C047S06200C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276089
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to chambers used for cultivating plants in aeroponic and hydroponic conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Studies have shown that plants the roots of which are exposed in aeroponic atmosphere give better results than plants the roots of which are immersed in a hydroponic environment. Known chambers used for cultivating plants in aeroponic conditions consist of heavy elongated boxes with parallel side walls, a V-shaped bottom wall and a cover perforated for plant insertion so that their roots are exposed within the box to be continuously sprayed by water jets in which suitable fertilizers and nutrients are dissolved. The water is discharged from the bottom of the chamber at one end and recirculated by a pump. The chambers should have an optimal depth of about fourteen inches for the majority of plants species. However, since these chambers are pretty bulky and heavy, the cost of manufacturing and shipping is too high, that is why chambers having a depth of only six inches are presently available on the market.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The general object of the present invention is to provide a chamber for aeroponic culture which obviates the above noted disadvantages.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a chamber of the character described which is made from a flat waterproof sheet with suitable fold lines so that the sheet can be folded into a chamber when necessary.
Another object of the present invention is to provide stands for the chambers also made of foldable waterproof flat sheets.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a chamber which can be made with an optimal depth and yet be made at a reasonable cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A chamber for aeroponic culture is formed of a single elongated moisture proof flat sheet capable of being folded for use and unfolded for storage with said sheet having spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending fold lines defining, when said sheet is folded in the same direction about said fold lines, two parallel side walls of the same width, a bottom portion composed of downwardly converging bottom walls joined along a ridge, a top cover depending from one side wall and a closure flap depending from the outer edge of said cover and adapted to overlap and be secured to the other side wall, said cover having spaced pre-cut openings for plant insertion with their roots exposed inside said chamber, said sheet further defining two pairs of end flaps depending from the respective ends of both side walls by fold lines normal to said first named fold lines, each end flap having a generally triangular extension directed towards the triangular extension of the other end flap of the pair, each pair of end flaps foldable in overlapping position to close the ends of said chamber.
Preferably, said cover further has pre-cut small holes for water inlet tubing insertion, said tubing carrying water to be sprayed onto said roots of said plants.
Preferably, there are two closely spaced fold lines forming the ridge of said downwardly converging bottom walls to define a flat bottom ridge therebetween.
Preferably, the apex portion of each of said triangular extensions of one pair of end flaps is cut out to form a water outlet.
Preferably, the chamber stands for supporting said chamber when erected, are each formed of a single, second sheet with first and second spaced, parallel, fold lines defining the longer sides of a central panel of rectangular shape, said panel having parallel free edges defining its shorter sides, said central panel having a third fold line transverse to said first and second fold lines and midway of said free edges of said central panel, the latter having a centered opening divided in two mirror image sections by said third fold line, each section of a shape to fit around said downwardly converging bottom walls and around said side walls when said central panel is folded in two portions about said third fold line to form an inverted V-shape stand, said second sheet further including a pair of flaps depending from each side of said central panel about said first and second fold lines on opposite sides of said third fold line and foldable and securable in overlapping position to position said two portions in said inverted V-shape.
Preferably, one stand has a smaller size than the size of the other stand so as to support the end of said chamber having said water outlet at a lower level than the other end of said chamber.
Alternatively, a plurality of chambers include chamber stands for supporting said chambers when erected and placed adjacent to each other, each chamber stand formed of a single second sheet with first and second spaced parallel score lines defining the shorter sides of a panel of rectangular shape, said central panel having parallel free edges defining its longer sides, said central panel having a third fold line transverse to said first and second fold lines and midway of said free edges of said central panel, the latter having a plurality of adjacent centered openings each divided in two mirror image sections by said third fold line, each section of a shape to fit around said downwardly converging bottom walls and around said side walls when said central panel is folded in two portions about said third fold line to form an inverted V-shape stand, said sheet further including a pair of flaps depending from each side of said central panel about said first and second fold lines on opposite sides of said third fold line and foldable and securable in overlapping position to position said two portions in inverted said V-shape.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4035950 (1977-07-01), Anselm
patent: 4059922 (1977-11-01), DiGiacinto
patent: 4075785 (1978-02-01), Jones
patent: 4218898 (1980-08-01), Boyen et al.
patent: 4313278 (1982-02-01), Pointing et al.
patent: 4514930 (1985-05-01), Schorr et al.
patent: 4704818 (1987-11-01), Cameron
patent: 4775093 (1988-10-01), Lin
patent: 4869019 (1989-09-01), Ehrlich
patent: 4965962 (1990-10-01), Akagi
patent: 5394647 (1995-03-01), Blackford, Jr.
patent: 6021602 (2000-02-01), Orsi
Boisclair André
Godon Raynald
Holland & Knight LLP
Jordan Charles T.
Nelson Judith A.
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