Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE OF INVENTION
Airtight and watertight plant collar for hydroponic, aeroponic, and
biomechanical air filtration
systems
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the art of indoor agriculture, horticulture and
biomechanical air filtration
industries, and specifically to the method of hydroponics and its subset,
aeroponics. It also
relates to methods for providing plant support and rhizosphere sealing within
these systems and
the facilitation of plant transport.
BACKGROUND ART
Biofiltration is the process of using living organisms to remove and/or
transform pollutants from
their surroundings. Biofilters most commonly utilize microorganisms such as
bacteria or fungi,
but with recent innovation certain genetically modified plants are also
capable of filtering out
pollutants, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), through their
leaves and stems.
There exists a need for methods to integrate these plants into mechanical
systems, such as
hydroponic systems, to allow this technology to be applied and to improve the
availability of
biofiltration.
Hydroponic systems were developed to grow plants in a nutrient rich solution
without the use of
soil. Systems may be divided into true hydroponics, wherein the roots dangle
directly in the
solution, or by substituting soil with an artificial medium to provide support
for the root system.
Substrates used for these purposes include gravel, mineral wool, clay pellets,
peat, and coconut
fiber. Aeroponics, a subset of hydroponics, utilizes a mist to deliver the
nutrient solution to
hanging roots through high or low-pressure nozzles or ultrasonic vaporizer.
Plants are separated by the rhizosphere (root system) and phyllosphere (crown
and leaves); the
stem is supported by a plant collar.
Plant collars should be designed to hold the plant in place, but not inhibit
stem growth.
Typically, collars are designed to be disposable, since the plant is marketed
to consumers after
propagation in hydroponic/aeroponic chambers. However, this is not an
environmentally friendly
option.
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Collars should also be inert so as to not chemically harm the plant or support
the growth of
pathogens. If soil or peat is used as a substrate, air quality issues may
arise since mold spores and
other pathogens can be propagated and supported by these mediums.
To discourage harmful bacterial/fungal growth, collars should prevent light
radiation from
reaching the rhizosphere. Collars should also form an adequate seal both
around the plant and the
collar itself to prevent the entry of pathogens to the rhizosphere. Likewise,
hydroponic and
aeroponic systems must be regularly cleaned and maintained to prevent the
growth of bacteria
and algae. Therefore, there exists a need for an easily removable and well-
sealed plant collar to
allow growers to access the rhizosphere to prevent and remove harmful
bacteria.
In US 2015/0342127 Al a growing tray system including light-resistant plastic
caps to cover the
openings between plants in the tray is described. Although this would provide
some protection
from bacterial/fungal growth, the caps do not cover the space immediately
around the plant stem,
leaving it exposed. This system also requires the use of a growth medium and
cannot be used
vertically.
In patent US 10194600 B1 a series of foam collars of different sizes and
collar support cuffs are
detailed, which would have to be switched out manually throughout the growth
process, would
most likely not form an airtight seal around the plant itself, and are
intended only for use
horizontally in true hydroponic systems.
Patent US 2016/0021837 Al includes baskets that are slotted into an aeroponic
growth
enclosure, allowing for roots to be misted with water and nutrients. However,
the baskets are
uncovered, smaller plants may initially require the use of growth medium, and
the gravity-fed
system is only usable horizontally.
In US 2019/0200551, a net cup holder capable of holding plants at an angle in
a vertical
hydroponic tower is detailed, but no caps or covers for the net cups are
included as part of the
design. Patent US 2018/0317408 Al describes a plant growing stand which could
potentially be
used for storing and transporting a plant, but no cap or cover surrounds the
plant stem.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
As described in the background art, current plant collar and support systems
leave the growth
medium and rhizosphere exposed to the external environment. The invention, by
incorporating a
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21
flexible insert, creates seals around the plant stem and around the plant
collar itself. Said seals
help prevent the entry of pathogens into the rhizosphere and prevent bacterial
or fungal infection.
The creation of an airtight seal between the rhizosphere and external
environment also prevents
the evaporation of nutrient solution, thus reducing water use and maximizing
nutrient uptake.
The flexibility of the insert also allows it to stretch with the growth of the
plant, eliminating the
need for switching collars throughout the plant's life as compared to other
support cuffs.
The plant collar can facilitate the process of shipping as well, by being
fitted into a cup-like
vessel containing sufficient water and nutrients for the duration of the trip.
Multiple cup-like
vessels can then be slotted into a stackable tray for stability and efficient
use of space.
Maintenance processes, such as cleaning and repairs, are also simplified by
the creation of a
plant collar that can easily be removed and replaced. This allows easy access
to the rhizosphere
as well as to individual plants. The ease of moving the plant collar also
facilitates the
propagation process, by allowing plants to be moved between different chambers
during
different growth stages, with each chamber having optimized conditions for the
given growth
stage.
The plant collar is also designed to support the plant regardless of its
physical orientation and
prevents damage to the plant by distributing the load of the plant's weight
over a larger surface
area. For applications where the plant collar is used in systems kept in
public spaces, a locking
mechanism is incorporated to prevent unauthorized plant removal.
Further, the capability of the plant collar described herein to be used in any
position, for both
hydroponic and aeroponic systems, makes it adaptable to various system
configurations, whereas
the background art describes collars only usable in one specific orientation.
Additionally, as it is
reusable, the plant collar will reduce waste and be a sustainable option as
compared to current
disposable alternatives.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of the collar showing a plant housed inside it.
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the front of the plant collar.
Figure 3 is a view of the back of the plant collar.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21
Figure 4 shows the fit of the plant collar within a wall.
Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the plastic cap and soft polymer insert
separately.
Figure 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention with holes for
multiple plants.
Figure 7 shows an alternate embodiment in which the plant collar has a
corresponding basket.
Figure 8 shows how the plant collar may be utilized in a hybrid air
purification system.
Figure 9 shows the plant collars containing plants in a hybrid air
purification system.
Figure 10 shows how the plant collar may be utilized in a green wall.
Figure 11 shows how the plant collar may fit with a cup-like vessel for
shipping purposes.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The plant collar, as described herein, is designed to support plants in a
hydroponic or aeroponic
chamber throughout their life, while separating the rhizosphere from the
phyllosphere. The plant
collar is comprised of a cap 2, flexible insert 6, and optional basket 14.
The cap consists of two components: a plastic body 2 and a flexible insert 6.
The body will
consist of a rigid synthetic polymer material. The body is designed to be
inexpensively
manufactured, e.g., by insertion molding. In the preferred embodiment as seen
in Fig. 2, the body
is round in shape with a rectangular shape cut through the casing, extending
from the top edge to
slightly beyond its center. On the interior side of the casing are three
inverted L-shaped
protrusions 3. The three L-shaped protrusions 3 are designed to lock into a
panel, or any other
flat surface 11 used to separate the rhizosphere from the phyllosphere obvious
to those skilled in
the art, by rotating the collar clockwise as seen in Fig.4 so that the
protrusions lock into
corresponding cutouts 12. The L-shaped protrusions 3 also allow the collar to
lock into a cup-like
vessel 17 as seen in Fig.11, multiple of which can then be slotted into trays
to facilitate shipping.
The cup-like vessel 17 can be filled with sufficient water and nutrients to
sustain the plant during
transport. The cap has serrated edges 1 to assist with hand grip and its outer
edge is designed to
press into the surface of the rhizosphere. In other embodiments, the cap will
have receptacles for
robotic insertion and removal of the cap in automated systems. In other
embodiments, the cap
will have smooth edges and slots for a security tool.
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The flexible insert 6 is designed to be molded into the interior of the casing
and can be made
from a plurality of materials. In the preferred embodiment, the insert is made
of food-grade high-
heat inert silicone. The insert 6 will fill the rounded rectangular cut in the
casing (exposing it on
the exterior side of the cap) and will be slit 9 to allow a plant cutting to
easily slide into the
center, while forming a seal around the plant. The cap and the soft polymer
insert also include a
matching groove 13 as seen in Fig.5 to help keep the insert in place. In the
preferred
embodiment, a hole 4 will be at the end of the slit to accommodate the plant
stem. In other
embodiments, the hole 4 may be replaced with an X-shaped cut indicating the
final resting place
of the plant, or any other shape obvious to those skilled in the art. Multiple
holes may be created
to allow for multiple plants within a single collar as seen in Fig.6. The cut
in the casing may also
be made in various different shapes to achieve different purposes, such as an
inverted "T" shape
for more than one stem per collar as seen in Fig.6, or a teardrop shape to
accommodate larger
plants. The flexible properties of the insert material will not restrict the
growth of the plant stem
during its lifecycle, and the area of the insert immediately around the slit 8
will be thinner to
allow for greater flexibility. The insert material at the perimeter of the
insert will be thicker to
provide support for plant stems 7. In certain embodiments the flexible insert
will have extensions
18 that line up with the protrusions of the plastic body as seen in Fig.3,
creating a continuous
surface for any condensation, such as from the walls of the rhizosphere, to be
directed around the
collar before dripping from the bottom shelf 5.
The flexible material will also be molded into a gasket 6 lining the interior
circumference of the
casing as seen in Fig.3, forming a seal between the plant collar and the
rhizosphere. An exploded
view of the flexible insert and casing can be seen in Fig.5.
In the preferred embodiment, the cap also includes a curved shelf or support 5
that keeps the
roots from coming in contact with the inside surface of the root chamber. The
curved shelf 5 sits
directly below the slit of the insert where a plant 10 would be situated. The
support is designed to
expand the load on the plant stem over a larger area to prevent damage to the
plant.
In another embodiment, a basket 14 comprised of a rigid synthetic polymer will
attach to the cap
via a twist-lock or snap method. The roots of the plant will extend through
the openings of the
basket. The open basket 14 allows for aeroponic systems to mist nutrient
solution both
horizontally and vertically. In some embodiments, the basket is designed to
house additional
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21
inert medium to support plant growth. In an embodiment including a basket,
each of the L-
shaped extrusions 3 on the cap has an extending cylindrical plug used for the
snap-lock basket
14.
In another embodiment, the top layer of the basket 14 is circular, with three
small holes that will
snap-lock to the plugs on the collar. The basket 14 is truncated in shape, the
bottom layer a
circular ring with a smaller diameter than the top. In one embodiment, the top
and bottom layer
are connected by a quadrilateral pattern as seen in Fig.7. In other
embodiments, the top and
bottom layer are connected by a series of columns. Other embodiments for the
basket include a
corkscrew configuration wherein the roots can wrap around the basket, as well
as different fit
mechanisms with the collar such as latches, clips, and a threaded screw top.
All these
embodiments serve several functions; to keep the roots from touching the
inside wall of the
rhizosphere, to keep the roots separated, to aid in the insertion of the plant
into the rhizosphere,
and in a few embodiments, to aid in the trimming of the roots.
The plant collar is designed to support plants in vertical, horizontal, and
inverted positions. In
horizontal growth systems, the collar is designed to be parallel to the
ground. In vertical growth
systems, the collar is designed to be perpendicular to the floor. An example
of a vertical growth
system can be seen in Fig.8 and Fig.9, in which multiple plant collars are
slotted into a hybrid air
purification system 15, or the green wall 16 in Fig.10. The basket is
beneficial to these vertical
systems since it directs and extends the roots away from the panel, allowing
for greater root
surface area contact with the nutrient solution. In inverted positions, the
collar is upside down,
which is ideal for ceiling or hanging installations.
To prevent algae growth in hydroponic and aeroponic systems, the body and the
flexible insert
will be opaque.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The invention can be exploited in a variety of industries through its
hydroponic/aeroponic
applications as well as its capacity to facilitate plant transport and
propagation. This includes but
is not limited to air filtration, agriculture, and interior design. The plant
collar can be used in
biomechanical air filtration systems which use genetically modified plants for
the uptake of
pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Another application is
in agrobusiness
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21
operations that are producing suited crops, such as strawberries or lettuce,
from cuttings in
hydroponic or aeroponic systems. The invention may also be used in the
creation of architectural
green walls or installations indoors for aesthetic purposes. Any shipping of
plants required across
industries may be simplified using the plant collar. The adaptability of the
cap design makes it
usable both for automated and manual systems, and customizable based on
intended use.
All of these applications have the potential to be scaled down for residential
consumer use. The
collar can remain with a plant throughout its lifecycle due to the flexible
insert, and allows easy
transfer to and from systems.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21
