Plant husbandry – Water culture – apparatus or method – Nutrient recirculation system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-23
2001-06-19
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Water culture, apparatus or method
Nutrient recirculation system
C047S06200C, C047S06200C, C047S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247268
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to soiless or reduced soil plant growth devices commonly known as hydroponic devices. The invention has particular application for use in growing plants, especially at accelerated rates, in limited space.
It is well known that hydroponic devices have existed for some time, are widely commercially available, and are an effective means to provide predetermined nutrient delivery amounts and rates of feed to cause accelerated plant growth in limited spaces. The following are some examples of prior art hydroponic devices: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,394,647; 5,287,652; 4,926,585; 4,310,990; 4,279,101; and 4,211,034. It is also well known that many of these devices have been awkward to use, dedicated to only one type of growth method, incapable of pumpingly evacuating their liquid contents thus limiting use location, void of pressure equalizing plumbing thus requiring greater pump pressure for a given system size, of limited modularization or not comprised of readily available off the shelf components, and lacking the ability to self clean. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,647 discloses a self contained hydroponic device, yet such device is shown and described to have plumbing lines or tubes outside of the main body of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved modular self contained hydroponic device which in general comprises readily available off the shelf tubing sections that are sealingly attached together to define a liquid tight container. One portion of the container includes a plurality of openings which receive plant support baskets. The container includes a plumbing system which provides for liquid nutrient delivery to the plant support baskets.
It shall be noted that it is an object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which is self contained within a structure comprised of an assembly of standard tubing sections.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which is readily changeable to adapt to different grow methods such as changing from an ebb and flow grow method to a drip grow method.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which is capable of pressurizingly discharging it's liquid contents. For instance, when a standard hose is mounted to the exit port of the hydroponic device, the hydroponic device is capable of pumping its liquid contents to an elevation above the hydroponic device, thus increasing the number of usable locations of the hydroponic device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which provides pressure equalization plumbing thus reducing the amount of pump pressure required for a given hydroponic device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which provides quick assembly and quick release plant support baskets.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which provides modular adjustment of plant growth capacity.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which provides for recirculation of it's liquid contents thus reducing the need for manual mixing of the liquid contents of the hydroponic device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydroponic device which provides for filtering of it's liquid contents and thus provides for self cleaning of the hydroponic device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4021964 (1977-05-01), Darwin et al.
patent: 4211034 (1980-07-01), Piesner
patent: 4255896 (1981-03-01), Carl
patent: 4279101 (1981-07-01), Leroux
patent: 4310990 (1982-01-01), Payne
patent: 4533083 (1985-08-01), Tucker
patent: 4926585 (1990-05-01), Dreschel
patent: 5252108 (1993-10-01), Banks
patent: 5287652 (1994-02-01), Delp
patent: 5394647 (1995-03-01), Blackford, Jr.
Jordan Charles T.
Nelson Judith A.
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