Plant husbandry – Greenhouse – apparatus or method
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-09-04
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Greenhouse, apparatus or method
C047S029500, C047S029500, C047S029500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282834
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a tranparent or tranlucent insulating cover for a greenhouse. More particularly it relates to a thin flexible transparent or translucent insulating cover for a green house.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Growing plants in a green house has been a well known technology used for centuries. The key element of a green house is its covering which must be transparent or tranlucent but still be able to retain a significant portion of the heat generated by the sun or other means in the green house. Improved technology for the production of glass, especially economical production of large thin sheets has certainly advanced the use of green houses.
The advent of a thin plastic film has resulted in a widespread adoption of these films as a preferred covering for commercial green houses. Thin plastic films, which can be made in extremely large sheets and which can cover large square surface areas, are much lighter and much less expensive than glass. However, one of the deficiencies of thin plastic sheets are their thinness which results in a lack of heat retention capabilities which other alternatives, such as glass have. Also, due to exposure to the elements, in particular ultraviolet radiation, the plastic films generally have a relatively short life when used outside. Use of ultraviolet (UV) reflective or protective barriers has to some extend alleviated this problem.
A number of attempts have been made to improve the heat retention ability of thin plastic film. One widespread technique currently used by greenhouse owners is to place two sheets of thin plastic film over the framework of a green house and blow air in between them. The edges of the two sheets of plastic film are secured together at the appropriate places providing the sealed chamber necessary to contain and maintain inflation. However, the deficiency of this method is the requirement of the constant air pressure between the two sheets to maintain inflation and thus the space between the sheets which creates the insulating effect. If the seal happens to break at any point air pressure will fall and the inflation which maintained the separation of the sheets will be lost. Attempts have been made to solve this problem with more rigid plastic panels which have air spaces created between sheets of rigid polycarbonate plastic which make up the panel. However, this technology has its own problems and deficiencies, among them the need for more permanent structures to bear the weight of the panels
SUMMARY
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a thin flexible relatively inexpensive covering for a greenhouse. A covering for a greenhouse which not only provides superb insulating effects but can be easily placed or rolled over the top of a greenhouse structure and when required be just as easily unrolled or removed from the greenhouse during warm weather.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a covering which reflects back ultraviolet light but allows all other wave lengths of light to pass through the covering. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a covering which does not suffer degradation in the presence of ultraviolet light.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which will allow a hobby gardener or a small commercial operation to set up and maintain an economical, effective and easily maintained greenhouse that can be used year round.
The above objectives and other objectives are accomplished by providing a thin flexible light transmissive insulating cover for a greenhouse. The covering having two thin flexible sheets which have sandwiched between them an array of chambers. The chambers provide an insulating space generally containing air. The walls of the chambers form a foldable moveable connection between the two sheets which allows the cover to be rolled, folded or spread out. At least one of the sheets is reflective of ultraviolet light and both sheets and the walls of the chambers allow the passage of light. Thus, when the covering is spread over a framework of a greenhouse it provides a barrier which allows the passage of sunlight into the interior of the greenhouse except for ultraviolet light, which it reflects, and insulates the interior of the greenhouse from loss of heat.
In an additional aspect of the present invention, the chambers are formed in a regular array. In yet another aspect of the invention, the chambers are sealed and contain air which thus forms the insulating layer.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the cover allows the passage of infrared radiation into the interior of the greenhouse but reflects infrared radiation back into the interior of the greenhouse thereby helping to contain infrared radiation in the interior of the greenhouse.
In an additional aspect of the present invention the greenhouse structure is made up of a framework over which the cover can be spread, the framework being formed of a multitude of thin narrow flexible suspension arches positioned in a sequential array, each suspension arch having two ends which are secured in place so that when the cover is spread out over the arched array it forms a canopy over the space beneath the arched array.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention it has a first base plate to which the first end of each suspension arched of the arched array is secured and a second base plate to which a second end of each suspension arch of the arched array is secured and the canopy formed by the arched array encloses an interior space accessible to light through the covering. In yet a further aspect of the invention the ends of the greenhouse structure are sealed at both ends with a doorway at one end for accessing the interior of the greenhouse.
In yet another aspect of the present invention the thin narrow flexible suspension arches can be thin narrow flexible PVC piping or aluminum electrical conduit type piping or tubing.
In yet another aspect of the invention the UV reflective layer is a separate thin flexible transparent or translucent sheet reflective of UV radiation placed over the cover.
In yet a further aspect of the invention it provides a method for providing a year around greenhouse with a thin light flexible easily removed cover, the method consisting of the steps of providing a greenhouse cover made up of at least two thin flexible sheets of translucent or transparent material, said sheets having an array of chambers positioned there between which connect the sheets to each other; providing a modular support structure with a plurality of arches in a sequential array of arches with a first base plate at a foot of a first end of said arches and a second base plate at a second end of the arches; spreading the cover over the array of arches to provide a covered interior space beneath the arches; sealing off a first end and a second end of the arched array to thereby create a protective insulated light accessible interior beneath the arched array.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3339309 (1967-09-01), Stone
patent: 3375321 (1968-03-01), Laing
patent: 3812616 (1974-05-01), Koziol
patent: 4012867 (1977-03-01), Lainchbury et al.
patent: 4068421 (1978-01-01), Marovich
patent: 4375232 (1983-03-01), Heescher et al.
patent: 4560609 (1985-12-01), Fukushima et al.
patent: 4577436 (1986-03-01), Dalle
patent: 4886561 (1989-12-01), Rohweder et al.
patent: 5140768 (1992-08-01), Forbes
patent: 5256462 (1993-10-01), Callahan et al.
patent: 5519964 (1996-05-01), Kujirai et al.
patent: 5580620 (1996-12-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 5813169 (1998-09-01), Engerman
Jordan Charles T.
Levin & Hawes LLP
Nelson Judith A.
Reed Randall L.
LandOfFree
Insulating light transmissive and flexible greenhouse cover does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Insulating light transmissive and flexible greenhouse cover, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Insulating light transmissive and flexible greenhouse cover will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2478379