Plant husbandry – Water culture – apparatus or method – Nutrient recirculation system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-27
2001-05-22
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Water culture, apparatus or method
Nutrient recirculation system
C047S05900R, C047S06200C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233870
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device and method for aquatic greening or gardening in a restricted space of a dwelling or building or structure, and particularly an improved greening or gardening device and method used on a part or parts of the exterior of the dwelling or building or structure, such as a roof or passage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently house gardening, such as in a vinyl house, is now at the zenith of its popularity and various farm products are shipped to market regardless of the season. Alternately, a greening plan of a space of a dwelling or building or structure, especially a roof space, is on its way to practicality and various devices and methods, which use a fibrous foamed mat or a light artificial soil or stone, have been proposed for the greening. Further, greening concrete, which is porous and can retain moisture therein, has also been proposed to cultivate the plants on a wall surface or an inclined surface or a structure, by seeding or transplantation of the plants on these surfaces.
However, the artificial soil or the fibrous foamed mat for the greening of the structure seems to be easily blown away or carried away by a storm or a strong rain, and may contaminate a dwelling's environment. The greening concrete also seems to be higher in price than the original one, and has fault in its strength due to its porous character.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device for hydroponics or aquatic greening in a restricted space of a dwelling or building comprises at least an aquatic rearing and cultivating device, such as an aquatic planter or a ditch which is filled suitably with culture fluid or water, and at least an aquatic float provided with plural planting beds.
A known aquatic planter may be used for soil planting, however, it is preferable to use a special one which is suitably designed to be in conformity with a restricted space in a dwelling or building, such as a passage of an apartment house, a porch or roof of a private house, etc., or a long ditch or conduit along with a passage or a fence of a roof of a dwelling or building, which is specially designed for an aquatic planting and permanently settled thereon.
A greening nursery bed of the present invention may be an aquatic float disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,584, provided with or without a supplemental large float in which the former are set into the holes on the later and floated in or supported on the aquatic planter.
However, preferably a cover plate is supported on inside projections of the planter, the ditch or conduit and is provided with many holes or slits to insert the seed cages or beds, just as described above.
The aquatic planter may also be provided with a set of vertical, planar or inclined trellis or lattice means or supports to lead growth of the plants, such as a morning-glory, a cucumber, a watermelon, etc., which is disposed on or with a part of a dwelling or building, such a fence on the roof or the passage described hereinbefore, by ropes or binders.
The culture fluid or water in the aquatic planter is supplied from a storage tank, and circulated or transferred periodically to or from the other planter, with or without blowing into the air.
Rain water or town water may be used for the culture fluid, which may be prepared with a fertilizer for aquatic planting in the storage tank, prior to periodical circulation.
The blowing into the air for the aquatic planter may be performed by an air pump equipped on the planter and mainly driven with a solar electric means even if commercial electric power is practical.
The aquatic planter or the aquatic greening system may be controlled by a computer to cultivate the flowers, vegetables, etc., in a restricted space or a dwelling or building here and there, for labor saving, and may use partially or mainly the solar energy and rain water for material saving.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an aquatic greening device and method for cultivation of plants in a restricted space of a dwelling or building.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an aquatic greening device and method for cultivation of plants in a restricted space of a dwelling or building which uses natural energy and material.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an aquatic greening device and method for cultivation of plants in a restricted spaced of a dwelling or building, here and there, which is controlled automatically with a computer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an aquatic greening device and method for cultivation of plants in a restricted spaced of a dwelling or building, which can control heat in the dwelling or building, and absorbs carbonic acid gas in the air, due to the plants cultivated thereon.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dwelling or building having at least an aquatic plant garden, etc., thereon, for private use.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a dwelling or building having at least an aquatic green curtain or screen with the plants cultivated thereon for a fence or net.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dwelling or building having at least an aquatic farm block on its roof provided with a set of vertical planar trellis or lattice means for the plants.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dwelling or building having at least an aquatic farm block on its roof provided with an inclined trellis or lattice means which is disposed against a fence or a net on the roof
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dwelling or building having arranged permanently at least an aquatic farm block and/or aquatic flower garden on its roof
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Wheeler, R.A. et al., Potato growth and yield using nutrient film technique (NTF). American Potato Journal, vol. 67, pp. 177-187, Jan. 1990.*
Smay, V. Elaine, Modular hydroponics, Popular Science, vol. 212, pp. 118-120, 168, May 1978.
Carone Michael J.
Gellner Jeffrey L.
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