Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
[0001] MODULAR AEROPONIC/HYDROPON IC CONTAINER
MOUNTABLE TO A SURFACE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
10003] The present invention relates to an aeroponic/hydroponic
container, More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a
modular
aeroponic/hydroponic container that is mountable to a surface such as a wall
or
ceiling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Vertical hydroponic or aeroponic structures are known in the
art.
[0005] For example, United States Patent No. 6,021,602 issued to
Oral on February 8, 2000 teaches a modular structure for aeroponic cultivation
1
comprising a plurality of prefabricated vertical panels which have openings in
order to receive cultures therein. United States patent No. 4,869,019 issued
to
Ehrlich on September 26, 1989 teaches a self contained aeroponic apparatus
having a reservoir for containing nutrient solution and a substantially
vertical
support. European patent application No. 0533939 filed on March 5, 1992
teaches a perforated panel that has a substantially vertical orientation with
a
small inclination. The holes in the panel are configured to contain absorbing
tampons for water in order to support plants. International application WO
02/09500 Al teaches a hydroponic system having a vertical wall made of hollow
tubes and an irrigation system as well as modules elements for receiving
plants
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therein. European patent application No. 1210868 filed on January 27, 2000
teaches a panel for supporting plants, the panels are mounted in between guard
rails, their back sides provide for exposing the roots of the plants so as to
be
pulverized via spray nozzles with nutrient and water, their front sides are
exposed to a light source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] More specifically, in accordance with the present invention,
there is provided a modular container for aeroponic and/or hydroponic
cultivation
of plants, the container comprising: at least one vertical column comprising
at
least one cultivating compartment for cultivating plants; a vertical nutrient
conduit
for delivering a nutrient solution to the at least one cultivating
compartment; a
vertical water conduit in communication with the at least one cultivating
compartment, and mounting elements for mounting the container on a vertical
support; wherein when at least two like containers are vertically mounted on a
vertical support with one container adjacently above another container thereby
respectively defining top and bottom containers, the respective nutrient and
water
conduits of the like containers being in fluid communication.
[0007] In an embodiment, the vertical nutrient conduit comprises an
intake aperture at a top end thereof and an outtake aperture at a bottom end
thereof. In an embodiment, the nutrient conduit outtake aperture of the top
container is in fluid communication with the nutrient conduit intake aperture
of the
bottom container. In an embodiment, the outtake aperture of the top container
is
in fluid communication with the intake aperture of the bottom container via an
auxiliary conduit. In an embodiment, the auxiliary conduit comprises a short
tube. In an embodiment, the intake aperture is continuous with an intake
conduit
and the outtake aperture is contiguous with an outtake conduit. In an
embodiment, the vertical nutrient conduit comprises an auxiliary delivery
conduit
for delivering the nutrient solution to the cultivating compartment. In an
embodiment, the auxiliary delivery conduit comprises a nozzle for pulverizing
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solution on the roots of plants. In an embodiment, the auxiliary delivery
conduit
comprises an irrigation member. In an embodiment, the vertical nutrient
conduit
comprises a longitudinal tubular member.
[0008] In an embodiment, the vertical water conduit comprises a
water-conduit intake end at a top end thereof and a water-conduit outtake at a
bottom end thereof. In an embodiment, the water-outtake aperture of the top
container is in fluid communication with the water-intake aperture of the
bottom
container. In an embodiment, the water-intake aperture and water-outtake
aperture are contiguous with respective intake and outtake tube members. In an
embodiment, vertical water conduit is defined by the vertical column.
[0009] In an embodiment, the container further comprisies an
enclosed body comprising a front face with the at least one cultivating
compartment and an opposite rear face with the mounting elements.
[0010] In an embodiment, the cultivating compartment comprises a
removable cover for covering a pot for holding the plant therein. In an
embodiment, the cover comprises an aperture for providing plant growth
therethough and for allowing light to be exposed with the cultivating
compartment. In an embodiment, the cover comprises an aperture for receiving
an irrigation member therethrough.
[0011] In an embodiment, the cultivating compartment comprises a
front sloped face. In an embodiment, the cultivating compartment comprises an
opening for receiving a nutrient solution pulverizing member therethrough.
[0012] In an embodiment, the container further comprises at least two
the columns, the at least two columns comprising a plurality of rows of the
cultivating compartments. In an embodiment, the vertical nutrient conduit is
positioned between the at least two columns. In an embodiment, the nutrient
conduit is removable.
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[0013] In an
embodiment, the nutrient conduit branches out to a
plurality of auxiliary delivery conduits, each the delivery conduits in
communication with a respective the cultivating compartment. In an
embodiment, the auxiliary delivery conduits is selected from the group
consisting
of an irrigation member, a pulverizing member and a combination thereof.
[0014] In an
embodiment, the mounting elements are support
members for mounting to a vertical surface.
[0015] In an
embodiment, the vertical nutrient conduit of the bottom
container is in communication with an evacuation member. In an embodiment,
the vertical water conduit of the bottom container is in communication with a
drainage member.
[0016] In an
embodiment, the container further comprises a bottom
portion, the bottom portion comprising a drainage conduit in communication
with
the water conduit, the bottom portion comprising a membrane for substantially
blocking solid material from entering into the drainage conduit. In an
embodiment, the bottom portion comprises a front wall a bottom wall and a rear
wall, the membrane being mounted between the front and rear walls. In an
embodiment, the membrane and the bottom wall define a cavity therebetween,
the cavity being in fluid communication with the drainage conduit. In an
embodiment, the membrane comprises perforations and is covered with a tissue.
In an embodiment, the tissue comprises geodesic tissue.
[0017] In an
embodiment, the cultivating compartment comprises an
open front face for receiving a substrate therein and retaining members for
retaining the substrate in the compartment. In an embodiment, the substrate
comprises rock-wool bread. In an embodiment, the retaining members comprise
brackets spanning the front open face. In an embodiment, the retaining members
comprise staple members for piercing through the substrate and being
mountable on the container.
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[0018] In an embodiment, the container further comprising a handle
member protruding from a front face of the container. In an embodiment, the
container further comprises two side by side column compartments, a stem
running therebetween and being bent so as to define the handles.
[0019] In an embodiment, the container further comprises a receptacle
portion at a bottom portion of the container.
[0020] In an embodiment, the mounting elements comprise a
longitudinal member mountable to the vertical support and extension members
pivotally mounted to the longitudinal member, the extension members being
mountable to the container. In an embodiment, the extension members are of an
adjustable length. In an embodiment, the extension members comprise
telescoping sub-members. In an embodiment, the extension members are
pivotally mountable to the container. In an embodiment, the mounting elements
comprise two brackets and wherein the container is mounted therebetween. In
an embodiment, the mounting elements comprise a support member mounted to
two opposite vertical surfaces, the container being mounted to the support
member. In an embodiment, the container is moveably mounted to the support
member.
[0021] In an embodiment, the container further comprises a mobile
light system for illuminating the plants in the cultivation compartments.
[0022] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a modular container for aeroponic and/or hydroponic
cultivation
of plants, the container comprising: at least one cultivating compartment for
cultivating plants; a nutrient conduit for delivering a nutrient solution the
at least
one cultivating compartment; a water conduit for in communication with the at
least one cultivating compartment, and mounting elements comprising a
longitudinal member mountable to a vertical support and extension members
pivotally mounted to the longitudinal member, the extension members being
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mountable to the container.
[0023] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a modular container for aeroponic and/or hydroponic
cultivation
of plants, the container comprising: at least one vertical column comprising
at
least one cultivating compartment for cultivating plants; a vertical nutrient
conduit
for delivering a nutrient solution to each the at least one cultivating
compartment;
a vertical water conduit for draining water from the cultivating compartment,
and
mounting elements for mounting the container on a ceiling support.
[0024] In an embodiment, when the at least two like containers are
vertically mounted on a vertical support with one container adjacently above
another thereby respectively defining top and bottom containers, the
respective
nutrient and water conduits of the like containers being in fluid
communication.
[0025] In an embodiment, the container further comprises a horizontal
nutrient conduit at a top portion of the container, the conduit in
communication
with the cultivating compartment. In an embodiment, when positioning a
plurality
of like the containers in an a adjacent side-to-side fashion the respective
horizontal nutrient conduits of each the like container comprise open ends so
as
to be in fluid communication with each other.
[0026] In an embodiment, the mounting elements comprise a hook
member. In an embodiment, the mounting elements comprise a top member
mountable to the ceiling and pivotally mountable to the container. In an
embodiment, the mounting elements further comprise a bottom member
mountable to a floor and pivotally mountable to the container. In an
embodiment,
the top member is of adjustable length. In an embodiment, the mounting
elements comprise a vertical member mounted to the ceiling and a floor, the
container being mounted to the vertical member. In an embodiment, the
container is moveably mountable to the support member.
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[0027] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention
there is provided aounting elements for a container for aeroponic or
hydroponic
cultivation of plants, the mounting elements comprising: a longitudinal member
adapted to be mounted to the wall or ceiling surface; and extension members
pivotally mounted to the longitudinal member, the extension members being
adapted to be mounted to the container
[0028] The term "conduit" should be construed herein to include
without limitation a channel, a tube, a pipe, an elongate hollow member and
the
like of course all of these terms are interchangeable and used only for
indicative
purposes and not limitation. Furthermore, a conduit comprises a an aperture
for
providing fluid communication.
[0029] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive
description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only
with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] In the appended drawings:
[0031] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a plurality of modular
containers mounted to a wall surface in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0032] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modular container in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] Figure 4 is a front elevation view of the modular container of
Figure 3;
[0034] Figure 5 is a lateral view of the container of Figure 3;
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[0035] Figure 6 is a top plan view of the container of Figure 3;
[0036] Figure 7 is a front elevation view of a container in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] Figures 8 and 9 are partial perspective views of the bottom
portion of the modular container of Figure 3;
[0038] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modular container in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] Figure 11 is a top plan view of the container of Figure 10;
[0040] Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modular container in
accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] Figure 13 is a front elevation view of the container of Figure
12;
[0042] Figure 14 is a lateral view of the container of Figure 12.
[0043] Figure 15 is a perspective view of various
aeroponic/hydroponic containers in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0044] Figure 16a is a perspective view of one of the
aeroponic/hydroponic containers of Figure 2;
[0045] Figure 16b is a side sectional view of the container of Figure
16a;
[0046] Figure 16c is a front elevation view of the container of Figure
2a;
[0047] Figure 16d is a side view of the container of Figure 2a, shown
atop a reservoir;
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[0048] Figure 17 is a perspective view of two aeroponic/hydroponic
containers mounted to a wall surface via movable mounting elements, in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0049] Figure 18 is a perspective view of two aeroponic/hydroponic
containers in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention
mounted to a wall surface via mounting elements;
[0050] Figure 19 is a perspective view of the mounting elements in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0051] Figure 20 is a front schematic view of an aeroponic/hydroponic
container mounted to top and bottom surfaces via mounting elements in
accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and
[0052] Figures 21a to 21d are perspective views of a mobile lighting
system in accordance with a still further embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0053] The present invention is illustrated in further details by the
following non-limiting examples.
[0054] Figures 1 and 2 show a plurality 100 of modular containers 10
for hydroponic or aeroponic cultivation mounted to a wall 12.
[0055] With reference to Figure 3, 4 and 5, container 10 has an
enclosed body 14. Body 14 includes a plurality of columns 16, with each column
16 having a plurality of rows 17 including cultivation compartment or pot 18.
In
this not limiting example, there are two rows 16A and 16B and six rows 17A,
17B, 17C, 17D, 17E, and 17F. Each compartment 18 includes a removable front
cover 20 having an aperture 22 for allowing the plant to grow therethrough.
The
plants receive light via aperture 22 and may grow through this aperture 18.
Each
compartment 18 is inclined at an angle so as to receive light at a
predetermined
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angle.
[0056] A nutrient conduit such as distribution tube 24 is positioned
between two adjacent columns 16A and 16B and includes an intake tube 26 and
an outtake tube 28 which respectively define intake and outtake apertures.
[0057] As better shown in Figure 6, the distribution tube 24 comprises
a plurality of auxiliary conduits in the form of tubes 30A and 30B for each
column
18A and 20B respectively in order to feed the adjacent compartments 18 of each
row 17A, 17B, 17C, 17D, 17E, and 17F of. The auxiliary tubes 30A and 30B are
inserted through openings 32 and 34 in order to distribute a nutrient solution
to
each compartment or pot 18. In another embodiment shown in Figure 7, the
central distribution tube 24 comprises outer auxiliary feeding tubes 36A and
36B
which distribute nutrients to each compartment 18 via an intake aperture 38 in
cover 20. As will be explained herein, tubes 30A and 30B comprise pulverizing
members with nozzles at their ends as will be understood by the skilled
artisan,
and tubes 36A and 36B comprise irrigation members.
[0058] The skilled artisan will appreciate that the container 10
comprises water conduit in communication with compartments 18. In this
respect, the container 10 includes at the top portion 40 thereof an intake
channel
41 which in the embodiment shown in Figure 7 is in the form of a single tube
which divides into secondary tubes (not shown) for each column 16A and 16B. In
this illustrated embodiment, the container 10 includes at the bottom portion
42
thereof a drainage channel 44 in the form of a single receiving tube which is
a
meeting point of two tubes (not shown) emanating from each column 16A and
16B. In another embodiment shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and particularly in
Figure 8 there are two separate intake conduits such tubes 46A and 46B
defining
respective intake apertures and two separate outtake conduits in the form
draining tubes 48A and 48B defining respective outtake apertures for each
column 16A and 16B respectively.
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[0059] The rear side 50 of the container body 14 includes mounting
elements such as support members 52. The support members 52 are elongate
bodies configured to mount a container 10 onto a vertical surface such as a
wall
12 for example.
[0060] Hence in operation, the modular containers 10 provide for a
hydroponic method in which internal auxiliary tubes 30A and 30B will pulverize
water as well as air and nutrients at about equal amounts on the plant roots
or by
drop irrigation system where water flows directly onto the roots of the
intermittent/continuous irrigation via auxiliary tubes 36A and 36B.
[0061] Therefore the modular containers 10 can be mounted on a wall
surface12 for example. The plurality 100 comprises adjacent modular container
placed in rows R1 and R2 and columns Cl, C2, C3 and C4.
[0062] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality 100 of containers 10
can be mounted in a top down adjacent fashion hence the draining tubes 48A
and 48B of a top container 10Awill drain water into the intake tubes 46A and
46B
of a bottom container 10B hence allowing water to flow through columns 16 from
a top container 10A to a bottom container1OB until it reaches the bottommost
container for evacuation via bottom evacuation pipe 54.
[0063] The distribution tubes 24 of the plurality 100 communicate via
short tubes 56 which link the outtake portions 28 of a top container 10A with
the
intake portions 26 of a bottom container 10B, the short tubes 56 then link the
bottommost container 10B with a receiving pipe 58 having exit portions 60.
[0064] The fact that the distribution tube 24 is placed on the front
side
F between two adjacent columns 16A and 166 provides for the user to easily
remove it or replace it or unblock it, if such a problem arises. Furthermore
the
modular aspect of the containers 10 provide for creating a decorative wall
surface.
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[0065] The removable covers 20 allow the users to have easy access
to the plants for removing or placing them into or out of the compartments 18.
[0066] With respect to Figures 8 and 9, the bottom portion 42 of
container 10, includes a bottom closed end wall 62 which encloses a chamber 64
defined by the hollow body 14. A membrane 66 is placed near the closed end 62
and is wedged between rear body wall 68 and front indentation 70 formed in the
front wall 71. In this way, the membrane 66 and the closed end wall 62 define
a
cavity 72 which can be used as a waste compartment free of roots. The
membrane 66 may be made of plastic material including perforations 74 and is
covered with geodesic tissue 75. The membrane 66 substantially acts as a
strainer for blocking roots or parts thereof or other materials from getting
through
the membrane perforations 74 since they are shielded by the geodesic tissue 75
and allowing the passage of water through the geodesic tissue 75 and
perforations 74 into the compartment cavity 72 and through the drainage tube
48A or 48B thereby substantially avoiding clogging these tubes 48A or 48B.
[0067] In another embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11, a modular
container 76 is illustrated having two side-by-side longitudinal compartments
78A
and 78B for receiving a respective a substrate such as rock-wool breads 79
therein. The front face 80 of the container 76 is opened and includes
retaining
brackets 81 which hold the rock-wool breads 79 in place. A distribution tube
82 is
positioned between the compartments 78A and 78B of the container 76 and
includes two auxiliary distribution conduits 84A and 84B at the top portion 85
of
the container 76 for distributing nutrient solution into the top portion 86 of
the
rock-wool breads 79. The bottom portion 87 of the container 76 includes a
draining receptacle 88 as well as two draining portions 89A and 89B for each
compartment 78A and 78B. The rear side 90 of the modular container 76
contains support members 91 for mounting the container onto a vertical surface
as explained above for container 10.
[0068] Therefore during operation, nutrient solution will flow from
the
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auxiliary conduits 84A and 84B downwards and though the rock-wool breads 79.
In order to feed the plants which have been inserted therein via making
perforations 92 in the rock- wool bread bags 79. This solution will flow by
gravity
downwards into the receptacle draining 88 and flow outwards via the draining
portions 89A and 89B. As mentioned before, the containers 76 are modular and
hence a series can be placed in a top down column on a vertical surface the
bottom draining tubes 89A and 89B will therefore be in contiguity with top
portion
85 of a bottom adjacent container 76 until it reaches the bottommost container
drainage tube 89A and 89B for evacuation thereof.
[0069] In
another embodiment, shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, a
container 93 is illustrated having two compartments 94A and 94B for receiving
rock-wool breads 79.
[0070] In this
embodiment the retaining member is in the form of a
staple 95 that is pierced through the rock-wool breads bags and includes free
ends 96 and 97 that are removably locked into the back panel 98 of container
93.
The staple 95 has two piercing fingers 99 which are inclined for better
retention
of the rock-wool breads 79 and which are contiguous with a common horizontal
portion 101 therebetween.
[0071] The
container 93 includes handles 102 for handling thereof.
These handles 102 are formed by a stem 103 which runs from the top portion
104 all the way to the bottom portion 105 of the container 93 and is so bent
as to
form protruding U-shaped structures thereby defining handles members 102.
[0072] At the
top portion 104 of the container 93 there is a main
distribution conduit 106 which is horizontally placed and spanning the width
of
both longitudinal compartments 94A and 94B. The
distribution conduit 106
includes two auxiliary distributors 107A and 107B which distribute nutrient
solution in each compartment 94A and 94B respectively in the same manner as
described above for containers 10 and 76. The main distribution conduit 106
has
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opened lateral ends 108A and 108B therefore allowing to place a plurality of
such
containers 93 in a side-by-side continuous fashion with solution flowing
across
one distribution conduit tube 106 to the next in a contiguous fashion.
[0073] Again, at the top portion 104 of the container 93 there is a
mounting element 109 in a form of a double hook having a rear hook 109R and a
front larger hook 109F in order to suspend the container 93 from a suspension
element on a ceiling portion. The bottom portion 105 of the container 93
includes
a draining receptacle 111 as well as a drainage channel 113 for evacuating the
solution that flows trough the rock-wool bread top part 104 all the way to the
bottom 105 part during irrigation. The front faces 115 of the compartments 94A
and 94B are opened allowing the user to pierce holes 92 in the rockwool bread
bags and place plants therein.
[0074] Figure 14 illustrates a variety containers 110, 120, 130, 140,
150, 160, and 170, according to other non-limiting embodiment, for aeroponic
and hydroponic cultivation of plants. The containers of the present invention
can
be provided in a variety of lengths, sizes and configurations, as shown by the
non-limiting examples herein.
[0075] Turning now to Figures 16a to 16d, only the particular
embodiment 140 will be described for concision purposes. It should be noted
that
containers 110, 120, 30, 140, 150, 160, and 170, as well as further containers
80,
90, and 100 (see Figures 3, 4, and 6 respectively) are similarly constructed.
[0076] Figure 16a shows the container 140 including cultivating
compartments 112 which are arranged in a series of rows 114 and columns 116,
as more clearly shown in Figure 16c. Turning to Figure 16b, the compartments
112 extend at an upward angle. In a non-limiting embodiment, this angle is
around 45 . A variety of plants can be placed into the cultivating
compartments
112. It should also be noted that each bottom surface 117, as shown in Figure
16b, of a top row 114 can be used as a partial cover for a plant in a bottom
row
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114 in order to aid in the incubating process. This particular arrangement of
the
rows 114 provides for lights to be directed downward at an angle, as shown in
Figures 21a, 21b, and 21c, hence facilitating the illumination of the plants.
[0077] As shown in Figure 16d, the containers of the invention include
a reservoir 118 for water and nutrients. As will be easily understood by the
skilled
artisan, a variety of conduits (not shown for these embodiments) from the
reservoir 118 to each row 114 can be provided in order to bring water and
nutrients to each plant in a cultivating compartment 112. Turning again to
Figure
16a, the back surface 122 (better shown in Figures 16b and 16d) comprises
fasteners1 24 shown in Figure 16b for fastening the container 140 to a wall
surface 126, as shown in Figure 16a.
[0078] Turning to Figure 16c, the container 140 may include a top
coven 1 41 which can partially cover the rows 114 of cultivating compartments
112
in order to provide for incubation of the various plants that are being
cultivated.
[0079] Figure 16 shows a perspective view of two containers 180 in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. These containers1 80 include
mounting elements 128.
[0080] Figure 17 shows two containers 190 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. These containers include mounting
elements 132.
[0081] Mounting elements 128 and 132 are similarly constructed and
will be described with reference to Figure 19, which shows one of the mounting
elements 132. The mounting element 132 of Figure 19 includes a longitudinal
member 134, which can be mounted to a surface such as a wall 136, as shown
in Figures 17 and 18, via fastening elements 138. The mounting element 132
includes extension members 142 and 144. Extension members 142 and 144 are
pivotally mounted to the longitudinal member 124 via pivots 146 and 148. The
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extension members 142 and 144 each include container-mounting elements 152
and 154 respectively, which are pivotally mounted to the free ends of
extension
members 142 and 144 via pivots 156 and 158 respectively. In this way, the
extension members 142 and 144 are brackets which are pivotally mounted to the
top and bottom ends 162 and 164 of containers 180 (see Figure 17), and the top
and bottom ends 164 and 166 of containers 190 (see Figure 18).
[0082] It should be noted that extension members 142 and 144 can be
adjusted in length and hence, can comprise telescoping members, for example.
[0083] Therefore, the mounting elements 128 and 132 of the present
invention provide for the containers to be pivoted about longitudinal member
134,
to be brought closer and further away from longitudinal member 134, and to be
pivoted between the brackets 142 and 144, thus allowing the user to place the
containers of the present invention in a variety of positions.
[0084] Figure 20 shows the container 200 in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention. This container 200 includes mounting
elements 168 and 172. Mounting element 168 is a top member, which is
rotatably mounted to a ceiling 174 and pivotally mounted to the top 176 of
container 200. Mounting element 172 is a support member, which is pivotally
mounted to the floor 178, and pivotally mounted to the bottom 182 of container
200. In this way, the container can be pivotally moved in an axis defined by
the
mounting elements 168 and 172.
[0085] Figures 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d show a mobile light system 184
for illuminating plants in the cultivating compartments 112, in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present invention. The mobile light system 184 includes a
longitudinal guide member 186 and at least one light 188, which is pivotally
mounted to a tubular slide 192 for moving the light 182 along the length of
the
guide member 186. The guide member 186 may be positioned in a vertical,
horizontal and/or diagonal position depending on the configuration of the
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aeroponic/hydroponic container. The lights 182 can be moved manually or via an
electronic guiding system, as will be understood by the skilled artisan. Of
course,
a variety of ways of moving the lights 182 along the length of the guide
member
86 can be contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
[0086] In other non-illustrated embodiments, a container of the
present
invention may be mounted to a bracket system that is mounted on a ceiling
instead of a wall having more variety of extensions descending therefrom in
order
to be pivoted about these extensions. In another non-illustrated embodiment,
the
mounting element can be a longitudinal support member that is mounted
between two opposite surfaces, such as two opposite wall members, or a ceiling
and floor. The containers of the present invention are mounted on the support
member and can be moveable about the support member in translational and/or
pivotable movements. Of course, all the mounting elements of the present
invention and their sub-components such as their longitudinal members 134 and
their extensions 142 and 144 can be extendable and contractible by a variety
of
means as can be contemplated by the skilled artisan.
[0087] The skilled artisan will easily understand that all the
elements
of the various containers described herein can be combined in a variety of
ways
to provide for other non-illustrated embodiments wich are within the scope of
the
invention.
[0088] 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 is capable of other
embodiments and of being practised in various ways. It is also to be
understood
that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of
description
and not limitation. Hence, although the present invention has been described
hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without
departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as
defined in
the appended claims.
