Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
MOLDED CONTAINER FOR HYDROPONIC
CULTURE AND HYDROPONIC SYSTEM USING SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to hydroponic
culture. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a
molded container for hydroponic culture and with a hydroponic system
using such a container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hydroponic culture is widely known as a method for
growing plants without soil, in which the plant roots are brought into
contact with water containing dissolved nutrients. Small particles of a
chemically inert material, such as, for example, expanded perlite or
expanded clay, are generally provided in a net pot both to support the
roots and to allow the water to adequately contact the roots.
Different methods exist to supply nutrient containing
water to the roots of the plants. One method is the Nutrient Film
Technique which consists of flooding the container with the nutrient
containing water, a second method consists of supplying a minute
quantity of nutrient containing water to the roots and a third method,
known as aeroponic culture, consists of periodically spraying the roots
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with nutrient containing water onto the roots to keep them moist. In this
method, humidified air provides the environment in which the plant
roots grow.
While many types of containers may be used for the
different classes of hydroponic culture generally defined hereinabove, it
has been found that conventional containers suffer many drawbacks.
One such drawback is the fact that the temperature in
the container may rise or fall to undesired degrees hence, impeding the
adequate growth or even survival of the plant. This is common in non
temperate climates such as, for example, deserts where temperatures
rise and fall dramatically within the same twenty-four hour period.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The general object of the present invention is
therefore to provide an improved container for hydroponic culture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, in accordance with one aspect of
the present invention, there is provided a container for hydroponic
culture comprising:
a longitudinal body having first and second
longitudinal ends and first and second lateral sides, said longitudinal
body being defined by spaced apart outer and inner walls, said spaced
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apart outer and inner walls defining a body cavity therebetween, said
inner wall defining a longitudinal channel; and
a cover configured and sized so as to be removably
mounted to said longitudinal body, said cover including at least one
plant receiving aperture, said cover and inner wall defining a
hydroponic chamber therebetween.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a hydroponic culture system comprising:
at least one container for hydroponic culture including:
a longitudinal body having first and second
longitudinal ends and first and second lateral sides,
said longitudinal body being defined by spaced apart
outer and inner walls, said spaced apart outer and
inner walls defining a body cavity therebetween, said
inner wall defining a longitudinal channel, said first
and second longitudinal ends including body outlet
and inlet apertures respectively, said body outlet and
inlet apertures being contiguous with said body
cavity; and
a cover configured and sized so as to be removably
mounted to said longitudinal body, said cover
including at least one plant receiving aperture and at
least one spray head receiving aperture for receiving
a spray head, said cover and inner wall defining a
hydroponic chamber therebetween;
a support assembly to support at least one said
container; and
a fluid delivery assembly including:
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a water-supply member having a water inlet and a
water outlet so configured as to be connected to a
spray head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings like reference numbers
indicate like elements throughout:
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a container
for hydroponic culture according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, shown in an open position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the
container of figure 1 shown in a closed position;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view illustrating a
hydroponic culture system according to an aspect of the present
invention using containers of figure 1;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the hydroponic culture
system of figure 3;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of
figure 4;
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of
figure 4;
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5 Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of
figure 4;
figure 4; and
figure 4.
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to figures 1, 2, 5 and 9 of the appended
drawings, a container 10 for hydroponic culture according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Figure 1 and 2 respectively show container 10 in its
open and closed position. Container 10 has a longitudinal body 12 and
a cover 14 configured and sized to be removably mounted to the
longitudinal body 12. The longitudinal body 12 and the cover 14 are
preferably moulded from plastic material such as, for example ???.
The longitudinal body 12 has opposite first and
second ends 16 and 18 respectively, and opposite first and second
lateral sides 20 and 22 respectively.
It must be noted that the terms "first" and "second" are
used herein throughout only to facilitate the present decryption and
hence are interchangeable except where specifically mentioned.
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With particular reference to figure 5, it is shown that
the longitudinal body 12 is defined by spaced apart inner and outer
walls 24, 26 respectively defining a body cavity 28 therebetween. The
body cavity 28 may contain insulation material preferably, an insulation
fluid and more preferably water. The inner wall 24 is inwardly recessed
to define a longitudinal channel 30 as better shown in figure 1.
Referring back to figure 5, the longitudinal body 12 includes a flat
bottom leg 32 so as to allow the container 10 to be placed on a
horizontal surface.
Turning again to figures 1 and 2, the cover 14
includes a plurality of plant receiving apertures 34 configured and sized
for receiving conventional net pots 35 which may hold a variety of plant
types (not shown). These plant receiving apertures 34 may be covered
as will be later described. When the cover 14 is in the closed position,
as shown in figure 2, the cover 14 and the inner wall 26 of the
longitudinal body 12 define a hydroponic chamber 36 (as better shown
in Figure 5) therebetween.
It is within this hydroponic chamber 36 that the roots
(not shown) of a variety of plants are held by the net pot 35 and
wherein water containing dissolved nutrients are supplied to these
roots. Nutrient containing water may be introduced into this hydroponic
chamber 36 by a variety of methods and ways known to the person
skilled in the art. Container 10 is particularly advantageous for
aeroponic culture i.e. the hydroponic culture where the nutrient
containing water is periodically sprayed onto the plant roots placed in
the hydroponic chamber 36 to keep them moist.
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In the case of aeroponic culture, the cover 14 may
also include a plurality of spray head receiving apertures 38, as better
shown in figures 1 and 2, for receiving a conventional spray head 40
(see figure 5). These spray head receiving apertures 38 may be
covered as will be later explained. Preferably each spray head
receiving aperture 38 is adjacent to a plant receiving aperture so that
the spraying tip 41 of a spray head 40 may hang next to the plant roots
held within the net pot 35.
Preferably, the plant receiving and spray head
receiving apertures 34 and 38 are covered by respective removable
aperture coverings 42 and 44 integral with the cover 14. Aperture
coverings 42 and 44 may include breakable weak portions 33 (see
figure 9) so that they may be easily broken off cover 14 to expose the
respective apertures 34, 38 that they were covering. As shown in
figure 9, a plant receiving aperture covering 42 may also include at its
center a spray head receiving aperture covering 44. Therefore, the
user may decide to either break the weak 33 portions surrounding
aperture covering 42, exposing the plant receiving aperture 34, or to
break the weak portions 33 surrounding aperture covering 44, exposing
the spray head aperture 38.
With particular reference to figure 5, the cover 14 may
also include spaced apart inner and outer walls 46 and 48 defining a
cover cavity 50 therebetween. Preferably, the cover cavity 50 includes
insulation material 52. Advantageously, the inner wall 46 is domed so
as to define a generally tubular hydroponic chamber 36 with the
longitudinal body channel 30 formed by the inner wall 24. The cover
14 may be hingeably mounted to either one of the first or second lateral
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sides 20, 22 of the longitudinal body 12. In the present example, the
cover 14 is hingeably mounted on the second lateral side 22 via hinges
47. Hence, the cover 14 may easily open and close, as shown in
figures 1 and 2 respectively.
The longitudinal body 12 and cover 14 include
complementary fastening elements 54 and 56 respectively for
releasably and securely fastening the cover 14 to body 12. In the
present example, fastening elements 54 are mounted on the first lateral
side 20. Preferably, the longitudinal body fastening elements 54 are
clip members and the cover fastening elements 56 are configured and
sized to be engaged by these clip members 54 in a mutual fastening fit.
Obviously, other types of fastening elements may also be designed.
As can be better seen in figure 5, a water supply
member, preferably in the form of a longitudinal pipe 58, is mounted on
at least one lateral side 20, 22 of the longitudinal body. In the shown
example, a pipe 58 is mounted to the lateral side 20. The pipe 58
includes water outlets 59 for supplying water into the hydroponic
chamber 36 via the spray heads 40. Water may be delivered to the
spray head 40 by way of a water delivery member such as tubes 60
which are mounted by conventional methods at one end to the water
outlet 59 and at the other end to the spray head 40. The tubes 50 may
be a rubber hose or any suitable tube-like member for delivering water.
The pipe 58 includes a water inlet at one of either longitudinal ends 61,
depending on the direction of water flow, to draw water from a
conventional water reservoir (not shown) by way of a pump (not
shown). The pipe 58 may be constructed by a plurality of pipe
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members 58' (shown in dotted line in figure 2) having complementary
screw threads 57 so as to be fastened end to end.
The container 10 also includes water supply pipe
carrying members in the form of short fins 62 for example which
protrude outwardly from at least one of the first and second lateral
sides 20, 22 for carrying the pipe 58. The fins 62 preferably have a
grooved upper surface 65 for fitting the pipe 58 thereon preventing it
from falling off.
Container 10 further includes a laterally projecting
longitudinal extension 64, which partially covers the pipe 58 from light,
specifically sunlight, when the present container 10 is placed outdoors.
The insulation material 29 provided in the body cavity
28 and the insulation material 52 in the cover cavity 50 substantially
prevent the temperature in the hydroponic chamber 36 from varying
according to the outer ambient temperature. Furthermore, the lateral
cover edge 64 also partially protects the pipe 58 from sunlight,
substantially preventing the temperature of the water contained in the
pipe 58 from rising. In this way, the present container 10 may be used
outdoors in a region having a non-temperate climate presenting high
temperature and high sun intensity in the day and very low temperature
at night such as a desert, for example.
Returning to figure 1, each longitudinal end 16 and 18
of the longitudinal body 12 includes first and second projecting
members or stubs 66 and 68. Stubs 66 and 68 are provided with caps
67 and 69 which may be cut open to form respective apertures (such
as apertures 86 and 88 in figure 7) that are contiguous with the body
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5 cavity 28. The purpose of these apertures will be described
hereinbelow.
Hence, the above-mentioned apertures of stubs 66
and 68 may serve as either body cavity inlets or outlets for introducing
material into the body cavity and for dispensing it out of the body
10 cavity. Specifically, these apertures serve as either insulation fluid
inlets or outlets depending on whether insulation fluid 29 flows within
the body cavity 28 from end 16 towards end 18 or from end 18 towards
end 16. It is within the scope of the invention that insulation fluid 29
may flow in either direction. In this way, insulation fluid enters body
cavity 28 through the fluid inlet and exits through the fluid outlet
providing for a constant flow of insulation within the cavity 36.
This above-mentioned flow constantly renews the
insulation fluid 29 within the body cavity 28 preventing it from
substantially varying from the desired temperature in order to further
facilitate the hydroponic chamber 36 to maintain a constant and
desirable temperature in accordance with the needs of the roots of the
specific plant being grown in container 10.
The longitudinal body 12 of container 10 may include
similar first and second connecting portions 70 and 72 at the first and
second longitudinal ends 16 and 18, respectively, for interconnecting
two similarly constructed containers 10 end to end. In this example,
the first and second connecting portions may be outward body
projections 70, 72 longitudinally and outwardly projecting from the
longitudinal body 12. The projections 70 and 72 are respectively
closed by end caps 71 and 73 which may be cut open when
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interconnecting two containers 10 end to end (as will be explained
hereinbelow). Preferably, the body projections 70, 72 have respective
widths that are smaller than the width of the longitudinal body 12.
With particular reference to figures 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8,
the hydroponic culture system 11 comprising at least one container 10
for hydroponic culture, according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, will be described.
As shown in figure 3, the hydroponic culture system
11 includes a support assembly 74 including a table 75 having a flat
top surface 76 on which the containers 10 are placed with their flat
bottom legs 32 lying flush therewith. The table 75 may be mounted on
legs 78 so that it is upstanding from the ground. Preferably, the table
member 75 is sloped so that when supporting a container 10, one
longitudinal end 16 or 18 is vertically higher than the other longitudinal
end 16 or 18. In this example, it is the first longitudinal end 16 that is
vertically higher than the second longitudinal end 18 (see spacing 93).
Figures 3 and 4 show that a plurality of containers 10
can be placed on the table 75 and connected end to end and side to
side as will be described hereinbelow.
When interconnecting two containers 10 end to end,
the caps 71 and 73 (see figure 1 ) of the first and second body
projections 70 and 72 are cut open. The cut open body projections 70
and 72 are configured and sized so that one of either body projections
70 or 72 of one interconnected container 10 may be snugly fitted within
the other body projection 70 or 72 of the other interconnected container
10.
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With reference to figure 8, the first bady projection 70
of one interconnected container 10 is fitted within the second body
projection 72 of the other interconnected container 10 forming a
contiguous hydroponic chamber 36 between these two interconnected
containers 10.
In order to fit the body projection 70 in the body
projection 72 the user may squeeze the resilient lateral walls 81 (see
figure 1 ) of body projection 70 inwardly so that they may be slid within
body projection 72 for a snug fit. The fitted first and second body
projections 70 and 72 may include complementary male and female
locking members 77 and 79 for being mutually interlocked.
Referring back to Figure 2, the cover may have
different first and second ends 15 and 17 respectively.
The cover end 15 defines a flat lid 80 while the cover
end 17 defines a domed overhang 82 having an underside 84. When
the first body projection 70 is cut for interconnecting two containers 10
end to end, the flat lid 80 is also cut preferably along line 13-13,
forming an edge (not shown) along this line 13-13.
As the body projections 70 and 72 of the two
containers 10 are fitted together for interconnection, as described
above, the cut flat lid 80 is slid beneath the underside 84 of the domed
overhang 82 to a distance determined by the flat lid 80 front edge
abutting an underside stopper structure 85.
Furthermore, the present invention provides for
insulation fluid to flow from one interconnected container 10 to another
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interconnected container 10 by providing for the above-mentioned fluid
inlet apertures of one interconnected container 10 to be in fluid
communication with the fluid outlet apertures of the other
interconnected container 10 as will be described hereinbelow.
With reference to figure 7, the insulation fluid 29 flows
from end 16 to end 18. The stub 66 of one interconnected container
10, defines a fluid inlet aperture 86. The stub 68 of the other
interconnected container 10 defines a fluid outlet aperture 88.
The cut open stubs 66 of one interconnected
container 10 is configured and sized so as to be snugly fitted within the
cut stub 68 of the other interconnected container 10.
Therefore, the fluid inlet 88 of this one interconnected
container 10 receives insulation fluid 29 from the other interconnected
container 10. The flow of insulation fluid 29 from one container 10 to
the other is aided by the slope of table member 75. In this way, there
is a constant flow of insulation fluid 29 within the contiguous body
cavities 28 of a series of containers 10 being interconnected end to end
in accordance with the present hydroponic system 11.
It is within the scope of the present invention that
other types of inlet and outlet apertures may be contemplated by the
person skilled in the art in order to provide for insulation fluid 29 to flow
from the body cavity 28 of one interconnected container 10 to the body
cavity 28 another interconnected container.
Turning now to figures 4 and 6, when connecting the
containers 10 of the hydroponic system 11 side to side, fins 62 of one
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interconnected container 10 are interconnected to the fins 62 of the
other interconnected container 10. The foregoing interconnection may
be provided by a connector 90 connecting or bridging the fins 62
together, or by any type of suitable fastener.
In this way, the connected fins 62 of two containers
10 interconnected side by side may carry the same pipe 58. Hence,
tubes 60 are mounted to respective water outlets 59 of this same pipe
58 at one end and to a respective spray head 40 one of these two
interconnected containers at the other end. The extending edges of
these two interconnected containers protect the pipe 58 from light such
as sunlight, as can be better seen in Figure 6.
When adding more containers 10 in the a series of
containers 10 connected end to end according to the present
hydroponic system 11, the pipe may be elongated accordingly by
adding on pipe members 58' as explained above.
The hydroponic system 11 also includes a
conventional water source (not shown) such as a reservoir or a tank
and a pump (not shown) to pump nutriment containing water into the
pipe 58 and a water return member (not shown) such as a rubber tube
mounted to a second outlet of pipe 58 at either end 61 (see figure 1 )
may be used to return excess water that was not sprayed unto the
plant roots back to the water source.
The hydroponic system 11 also includes an insulation
fluid source (not shown) such as a reservoir or a tank and a pump in
order to pump insulation fluid 29 into the body cavity 28 via a container
inlet aperture 86 and an insulation fluid return member (not shown)
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5 mounted to a container outlet aperture 88 for returning the insulation
fluid back to its source.
Of course, all other methods known to the skilled
artisan for introducing water and/or insulation fluid to the present
hydroponic system and for recuperating this water and/or insulation
10 fluid may also be contemplated.
Since the principles of the aeropanic method for
hydroponic culture is believed to be well known to those skilled in the
art and are not within the scope of the present invention, they will not
be explained in greater detail herein.
15 It is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention
may be practised in various ways. It is also to be understood that the
phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of
description only and not limitation. Hence, although the present
invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred
embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the
spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the
appended claims.
