Plant husbandry – Mushroom culture
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-30
2004-06-15
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Mushroom culture
C047S069000, C435S283100, C435S254100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06748696
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to fungus cultivation and, specifically, to small-scale mushroom cultivation. Even more specifically, this invention pertains to devices and methods for growing mushrooms from cake cultures.
2. Description of Prior Art
Mushroom cultivation using cake cultures is popular among small-scale mushroom growers and in large-scale commercial applications. A cake culture is a stand-alone nutrient substrate composed of a nutrient source and, if needed, a structural ingredient. The substrate encourages the growth of the desired mushroom, and the proper environment discourages the invasion of undesirable bacteria and fungi. A cake culture may be of any size and shape. The nutrient source may be flour, grain, straw, sawdust, wood chips, coffee grounds, or mushroom-compatible composts. A mushroom colonizes the cake culture during the vegetation phase of the mushroom lifecycle. During the reproductive phase of the mushroom lifecycle, fruiting bodies grow either directly from the cake culture, or from the cake culture through casing media. Initiating the reproductive phase using a cake culture is known as birthing the culture.
The environment surrounding the cake culture substantially affects the quality of the fruiting bodies. Several elements are important for a quality crop. An environment with a proper balance of moisture, ventilation, humidity, temperature, and light will encourage mushroom growth, while minor changes to the environment adversely affect the temperamental fungus.
An ample source of water is necessary because mushrooms are approximately 90% water by weight. Disrupting the water supply can result in stunted, disproportioned, or aborted fruit bodies. After a cake culture has been birthed, the chief cause of contamination is exposure to high carbon dioxide levels. Constant ventilation is necessary because mushrooms produce carbon dioxide, and excessive carbon dioxide results in stale air in the grow space. If the carbon dioxide is not vented or mixed with fresh air, then the carbon dioxide, which is heavier than the other gases in the air, will accumulate at the bottom of the grow space around the cake culture and cause growth to be slowed and/or the fruit bodies to be twisted, distorted, or stunted. A low or high humidity level will adversely affect mushrooms in a similar manner.
Traditionally, it has been difficult to reproduce the ideal mushroom environment for the small-scale or indoor grower. Commercial growers find ideal mushroom growing conditions by either growing in caves and mines or by constructing expensive facilities to produce a suitable mushroom climate. These approaches are neither practical nor economical for the small-scale grower.
A common practice for the small-scale grower is to birth a cake culture in a terrarium. Terrariums provide an enclosed environment that helps maintain humidity. A typical terrarium generally requires daily maintenance. Hand fanning is required several times daily to mix the carbon dioxide with a fresh supply of air. Spray misting is also required several times daily to supply and maintain proper humidity. Watering is also needed daily to prevent a cake culture from exhausting its water supply. Thus, the cake culture requires frequent maintenance. It is desirable to have a system that reduces the required maintenance of the cake cultures.
Efforts to solve these problems include a number of patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,614 (Thompson, Mar. 29, 1966) discloses a mushroom growing container. The growing container includes a bottom portion to hold spawn media and a layer of casing media. A cylindrical, invertible top portion has notched sidewalls and encloses the grow space. Although the notched edges aid in ventilation, they do not provide an active air mixing system. Additionally, Thompson's device contains no means for a continuous water source.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,159 (Wantanabe et al., Feb. 2, 1988) discloses a method of cultivation of mushrooms that requires frequent misting to maintain proper hydration and humidity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,297 (Moren, Aug. 1, 1989) discloses a self-contained mushroom producing vessel intended primarily as an ornamental or decorative mushroom growing device. A nutrient substrate completely fills the vessel. The vessel is wrapped in fabric and rests in a water reservoir. After holes are punched in the vessel, fruit bodies grow through the holes into a room environment while the fabric cover wicks moisture to the holes in the vessel. Only a few species of mushrooms, however, are hearty enough to grow in this manner without a controlled climate.
None of the prior art discusses a self-automated mushroom growing system. What is needed, therefore, is a mushroom growing apparatus for use with a cake culture that 1) continuously supplies moisture to a cake culture, 2) automatically mixes fresh air into the growing environment, and 3) maintains proper humidity in the growing environment.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a self-automated mushroom growing apparatus to provide ideal growing conditions for cultivating mushrooms from cake cultures. A Base Tray holds a Wicking Medium to which water is added. The Wicking Medium continuously supplies water to a Cake Culture resting thereon. A Lid rests on the Base Tray and defines a Grow Space to house one or more Cake Cultures and the accompanying fruiting bodies such as mushrooms. An Air Diffuser is situated within the apparatus and connects to an air supply to provide fresh air to the Grow Space. The fresh air passes through the Wicking Medium and mixes with the settling stale air within the Grow Space.
Objects
Cake Culture Hydration
One object of the invention is to provide a mushroom growing apparatus and method that provides moisture to mushroom Cake Cultures to prevent the Cake Cultures from drying and to permit the Cake Cultures to support multiple mushroom flushes.
Air Circulation
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for preventing carbon dioxide build-up by supplying fresh air to the Grow Space that meets and mixes with settling carbon dioxide to provide the desired rate of fresh air exchange required by a given mushroom species.
Humidity Control
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for adjusting the humidity level to tailor the moisture conditions to specific mushroom varieties and to the different stages of the mushroom lifecycle.
Features
Cake Culture Hydration
One feature of the invention is a Wicking Medium that provides a continuous water supply to Cake Cultures. The Wicking Medium may be a layer of clay pebbles or other any other hydroponics medium such as perlite. After submerging a portion of the Wicking Medium, the partially submerged Wicking Medium continuously wicks moisture to Cake Cultures positioned on the surface of the Wicking Medium. The Wicking Medium can supply moisture to multiple Cake Cultures for approximately two weeks.
Air Circulation
Another feature of the invention is an air entrainment system that mixes fresh air with the carbon dioxide that a mushroom produces. An Air Diffuser within the Grow Space is connected to an air supply. The fresh air passes through the Wicking Medium and mixes with the settling stale air.
Humidity Control
The combination of the water supply and the air supply helps maintain the proper humidity in the Grow Space. A Lid encloses the Grow Space, protects the growing environment from airborne contaminants and also prevents humidity loss. When the Lid is transparent, a user can more easily monitor progress of a mushroom flush.
Additional Features
For mushrooms needing a warmer environment, a heater may be positioned outside of the apparatus, within the Wicking Medium, or within the Grow Space to maintain a desired temperature for a given mushroom species. An adjustable Exhaust Valve allows the proper amount of air to be released from the Grow Space for a given mushroom species.
Advantages
There are many advantages to t
Clock Tower Law Group
Heels Erik J.
Mather Joshua D.
Poon Peter M.
Valenti Andrea M.
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