Vertical Modular Hydroponic Plant Growing System and Kit for Same

A plant growing system including a base assembly, a pumping module, a plurality of vertical stacking units, each vertical stacking unit of the plurality of stacking units including sidewalls defining an interior vertical channel, an attachment section, and a plant receiving member that includes a plant-receiving aperture to permit a plant module to be positioned therein and extend into the interior vertical channel such that a portion of the plant module is in fluidic communication with the interior vertical channel, and an irrigation module comprising sidewalls, a center member having one or more apertures, an inlet port, and an outlet port.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to vertical modular hydroponic plant growing systems and kits for the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hydroponically-grown plants, where a nutrient-enriched water-based fluid is provided to the roots of plants to facilitate growth, are advantageous to plants planted outdoors to take advantage of climate controls commonly used in indoor settings and to prevent pests from negatively affecting the growth of the plants. However, traditional hydroponic systems tend to rely on a trough of nutrient-enriched fluid into which the plants' roots may grow. Such systems tend to occupy a large area of floorspace. In indoor settings where floorspace can be limited, such systems that require large amounts of floorspace are undesirable. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a hydroponic system that reduces the amount of floorspace occupied by the system.

Where prior hydroponic systems have attempted to minimize floorspace, such systems tend to rely on tubing systems that provide nutrient-enriched fluid to the plants individually, i.e. each plant has a dedicated tube to provide the fluid to the plant. Such solutions are disadvantageous as the tubes for individual plants tend to be narrow and prone to clogging and/or occlusion. Moreover, similar systems tend to be limited in their ability to expand/include more locations for additional plants, as additional piping must be attached and routed to the expanded locations. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a hydroponic system that facilitates the expansion of the system over time and reduces the complexity of tubing to avoid performance reductions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the above in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to a vertical modular hydroponic plant growing system and a kit comprising the same. In some embodiments, the vertical modular hydroponic plant growing system may include a base assembly that may include a nutrient reservoir, and an upper attachment member. The system also includes a pumping module may include: a fluid pump operable to pump fluid, and a pump tube configured to attach to the fluid pump at a first end and permit fluid pumped by the fluid pump to flow therethrough and exit at a second end. The system also includes a plurality of vertical stacking units, each vertical stacking unit of the plurality of stacking units may include: one or more sidewalls defining an interior vertical channel, each sidewall may include an attachment section at a lower end thereof configured to interface with one of the upper attachment member of the base assembly and an upper portion of the sidewalls of a vertical stacking unit to removably attach the vertical stacking unit thereto; a plant receiving member extending radially outward from a sidewall, the plant receiving member may include a plant-receiving aperture configured to permit a plant module to be positioned therein and grow outward therefrom and extend into the interior vertical channel such that a portion of the plant module is in fluidic communication with the interior vertical channel. The system also includes an irrigation module configured to attach to a vertical stacking unit and may include: one or more sidewalls configured to interface with the sidewalls of a vertical stacking unit, thereby removably attaching the irrigation module to the vertical stacking unit; a center member may include one or more apertures; an inlet port extending downward from the center member and configured to facilitate the removable attachment of the second end of the pump tube thereto; and an outlet port extending upward from the center member and positioned in fluidic communication with the inlet port and configured to permit fluid flowing into the inlet pump to flow out the outlet port. The system also includes where the interior vertical channel of each vertical stacking unit cooperates to define a contiguous interior channel of the system. The system also includes where fluid flowing out of the outlet port flows onto the upper surface of the center member and through the one or more apertures thereof into the contiguous interior channel.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. An upper surface of the center member is bounded by the one or more sidewalls of the irrigation module. The nutrient reservoir may include a lower wall and a plurality of sidewalls, and the upper attachment member is configured to removably attach to an upper end of the plurality of sidewalls of the nutrient reservoir.

The upper attachment member may include a first section may include an attachment structure configured to facilitate the removable attachment of a vertical stacking unit thereto and defining an aperture, and a second section that is one of separate from the first section and rotatably attached to the first section, where the upper attachment member obstructs an upper opening of the nutrient reservoir when the second section is in a closed position and permits access to the upper opening of the nutrient reservoir when the second section is in an open position, and where the aperture of the first section is configured to permit the pump tube to pass therethrough and into the contiguous interior channel.

The attachment section of the one or more sidewalls of the vertical stacking units have an outer dimension that is less than an inner dimension of the upper portion of the sidewalls of the vertical stacking units. The irrigation module further may include a cover attachment member, the system may include a cover member configured to rotatably attach to the cover attachment member and be positionable to interface with an upper section of the sidewalls of the irrigation module and prevent the unintentional expulsion of fluid through an open upper section of the irrigation module.

The center member may include a first plurality of apertures positioned proximate to the sidewalls of the irrigation module and a second plurality of apertures positioned proximate to the outlet port.

The system may include a distribution member configured to removably attach to the outlet port and to deflect fluid emerging from the outlet port in a substantially uniform distribution pattern.

The plant receiving member may be integrally formed with the sidewall of the vertical stacking unit. The plant receiving member may include a body member extending upward and outward from an outer surface of a sidewall of the vertical stacking unit and defining a passageway through which the plant module may be positioned and extend into the interior vertical channel of the vertical stacking unit and an interfacing surface member extending outward and downward from the same outer surface of the sidewall of the vertical stacking unit as the body member. The interfacing surface may include an upper surface thereof defining the plant-receiving aperture and configured to interface with a surface of the plant module to prevent the plant module from sliding entirely into the interior vertical channel, thereby suspending the plant module in the plant receiving member. Each vertical stacking unit may include a plurality of plant receiving members equal in number to the number of sidewalls may include by the one or more sidewalls of the vertical stacking unit.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a vertical modular hydroponic plant growing system kit also includes a container. The kit also includes a base assembly may include: a nutrient reservoir, and an upper attachment member. The kit also includes a pumping module may include: a fluid pump operable to pump fluid, and a pump tube configured to attach to the fluid pump at a first end and permit fluid pumped by the fluid pump to flow therethrough and exit at a second end. The kit also includes a plurality of vertical stacking units, each vertical stacking unit of the plurality of stacking units may include: one or more sidewalls defining an interior vertical channel, each sidewall may include an attachment section at a lower end thereof configured to interface with one of the upper attachment member of the base assembly and an upper portion of the sidewalls of a vertical stacking unit to removably attach the vertical stacking unit thereto; a plant receiving member extending radially outward from a sidewall, the plant receiving member may include a plant-receiving aperture configured to permit a plant module to be positioned therein and grow outward therefrom and extend into the interior vertical channel such that a portion of the plant module is in fluidic communication with the interior vertical channel. The kit also includes an irrigation module configured to attach to a vertical stacking unit and may include: one or more sidewalls configured to interface with the sidewalls of a vertical stacking unit, thereby removably attaching the irrigation module to the vertical stacking unit; a center member may include one or more apertures; an inlet port extending downward from the center member and configured to facilitate the removable attachment of the second end of the pump tube thereto. The kit also includes an outlet port extending upward from the center member and positioned in fluidic communication with the inlet port and configured to permit fluid flowing into the inlet pump to flow out the outlet port. The kit also includes a plurality of plant modules, each plant module may include: a frame, a porous retaining material supported by the frame, a plant growth medium positioned within and contained by the porous retaining material, and a plant seed positioned within the plant growth medium.

Implementations of the kit may include one or more of the following features. The kit where the irrigation module further may include a cover attachment member, and the kit may include a distribution member configured to removably attach to the outlet port and to deflect fluid emerging from the outlet port in a substantially uniform distribution pattern, and a cover member configured to rotatably attach to the cover attachment member and be positionable to interface with an upper section of the sidewalls of the irrigation module and prevent the unintentional expulsion of fluid through an open upper section of the irrigation module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention, as shown and described by the various figures and accompanying text, provides a vertical modular hydroponic plant growing system. Referring now toFIGS. 1-6, a system100according to an embodiment of the invention is presented. The system100may comprise a base assembly110, a pumping module130, a plurality of vertical stacking units140, and an irrigation module150.

The base apparatus110may comprise a nutrient reservoir111. The nutrient reservoir111may be bounded by one or more sidewalls112of the base apparatus110and a lower wall113to define a fluid-tight volume within which an irrigating fluid114may be retained, such as a nutrient-enriched water-based fluid. One or more of the sidewalls112may comprise a cutout115to permit cabling associated with the pump module130to pass therethrough. The sidewalls111comprise an upper end116that defines an upper opening117of the base apparatus110. The cutout115may be formed in an upper end116of one of the sidewalls112.

The base apparatus110may further comprise an upper attachment member118, as shown inFIGS. 3a-b. The upper attachment member118may be configured to removably attach to the upper end116of the sidewalls112. The upper attachment member may comprise sidewalls119and one or more handles120formed in the sidewalls119to facilitate detachment from the sidewalls112. The upper attachment member118may comprise a first section121and a second section122. The first and second sections121,122may be one of independent and separately removably attachable to the sidewalls112from each other or rotatably coupled to each other. Where rotatably coupled, any means of rotatable coupling as is known in the art may be used, including, but not limited to, hinges, a flexible hinged section of an integrally formed member, and the like.

When attached to the nutrient reservoir111, the upper attachment member118may generally obstruct the upper opening117. The upper opening117may be rendered accessible by transitioning the second section122from a first close position to an open position. Such transitioning may be accomplished by detaching the second section122from the sidewall112of the nutrient reservoir111by manipulating a handle120comprised by the second section122.

The first section121may be configured to permit a pump tube132coupled to the pump module130to pass through the first section121. To accomplish such, in some embodiments, the first section121may comprise an attachment structure123. The attachment structure123may be configured to facilitate the removable attachment of a vertical stacking unit of the plurality of vertical stacking units140thereto. The attachment structure123may comprise a plurality of walls124extending upward from an upper surface125of the first section121. The walls124may define an aperture126through which items may pass from within the nutrient reservoir111through the aperture126and into the space above the aperture126as will be discussed in further detail. The walls124may include a slope127extending outward from the aperture127that may facilitate coupling with a vertical stacking member of the plurality of vertical stacking members130. The walls124may define a shape of the aperture126, and that shape may comply with a shape of the plurality of vertical stacking members130. In some embodiments the walls124may also extend downward from a lower surface128of the first section121. Pump tubing133may be coupled to the outlet132and a lumen thereof positioned in fluidic communication with the outlet132, such that fluid pumped out the outlet132may flow through the pump tubing133. The aperture126may have an inner dimension di1that may be configured to permit a portion of a vertical stacking unit of the plurality of vertical stacking units140to be positioned at least partially there within, thereby removably attaching the vertical stacking unit to the upper attachment member118.

The pump module130may be positioned in fluidic communication with the nutrient reservoir111. In the present embodiment, the pump module130may be positioned within the nutrient reservoir111. Accordingly, any type of submersible pump as is known in the art is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention. A power supply cord (not shown) may extend from the pump module130through the cutout115and connect to a power source to power the operation of the pump module130. The pump module130may comprise an inlet131and an outlet132. When the pump module130is operating, fluid114within the nutrient reservoir111may be drawn into the inlet131and pumped out of the outlet132. As mentioned above, the pump tubing133may be positioned so as to extend through the aperture126out of the nutrient reservoir111. It is contemplated and included in the scope of the invention that the pump module130may be positioned outside the nutrient reservoir111and that a second pump tube may be coupled to the inlet at one end and have an opposite end positioned either within the nutrient reservoir111or coupled to a port (not shown) that permits fluid114to flow out of the nutrient reservoir111.

Referring now specifically toFIGS. 4a-c, a vertical stacking unit400comprised by the plurality of vertical stacking units140is shown in detail. The plurality of vertical stacking units140may comprise any number of vertical stacking units400. Each vertical stacking unit400is configured to be modular and replaceable with another vertical stacking unit400. The vertical stacking unit400may be configured to removably attach to at least one of an adjacent vertical stacking unit400positioned either above or below the instant vertical stacking unit400, the attachment structure123of the base apparatus110, and the irrigation module150. As shown inFIG. 1, a system100comprising eight vertical stacking units400is presented. A system100comprising any number of vertical stacking units is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention.

The vertical stacking unit400may comprise a plurality of sidewalls402. Any number of sidewalls402is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention. In the present embodiment the vertical stacking unit400comprises four sidewalls402. The sidewalls402may define a shape of the vertical stacking unit. In the present embodiment the sidewalls402cooperate to define a square shape. Any regular and non-regular geometric shape is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention, including, but not limited to, circles, ellipses, triangles, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, and the like.

The sidewalls402may comprise a lower section404and an upper section406. The lower section404may be configured to be positioned within each of the upper section406of an adjacent vertical stacking unit400and the aperture126of the attachment structure123. The lower section404may define an outer dimension do1and the upper section may define an inner dimension di2. Inner dimension di2may be greater than outer dimension do1so that lower section404may be positioned within an aperture408defined by upper section406, thereby coupling adjacent vertical stacking units400. In some embodiments inner dimension di2may be equal to inner dimension di1.

The plurality of sidewalls402may cooperate to define an interior vertical channel410. The interior vertical channel410may extend through a vertical length of the vertical stacking unit400between the aperture408defined by the upper section and an aperture412defined by the lower section404. The interior vertical channel410may be configured to enable fluid flowing in through the aperture408of the upper section406through the interior vertical channel410and out the aperture412of the lower section. Similarly, the interior vertical channel410may permit the pump tube133to pass through the aperture412of the lower section406, through the interior vertical channel410and out the aperture408of the upper section406. The interior vertical channels410of each vertical stacking unit400of the plurality of vertical stacking units140may cooperate to define a contiguous interior channel of the system100. The contiguous interior channel may enable the pump tube133to extend through the aperture123, up through the contiguous interior channel, and connect to the irrigation module150. Similarly, fluid flowing out of the irrigation module as will be discussed in detail below may flow down through the contiguous interior channel, being absorbed by plant modules as will be discussed in greater detail below. Moreover, fluid flowing through the interior vertical channel410of the vertical stacking unit400that is attached to the attachment section123of the upper attachment member118may flow into the nutrient reservoir112for reuse.

The vertical stacking unit400may further comprise a plurality of plant receiving members414. In some embodiments the vertical stacking unit400may comprise a number of plant receiving members414equal to the number of sidewalls402. In some embodiments, the vertical stacking unit400may comprise a number of plant receiving members414fewer than the number of sidewalls402. The plant receiving members414may extend outward from an outer surface of the sidewalls402. In some embodiments the plant receiving members414may be integrally formed with the sidewalls402as a single monolithic unit. In other embodiments the plant receiving members may be formed separately and attached to the sidewalls402by any means or method as is known in the art, including, but not limited to, adhesives, welding, use of fasteners, and the like.

The plant receiving members may comprise a body member416and an interfacing surface member418comprising an upper surface420. The body member416may define plant module channel422configured to permit a plant module to be positioned there within. The sidewall402may further comprise a plant aperture424configured to permit a plant module to pass there through and extend into the interior vertical channel410. The interfacing surface member418may define a plant-receiving aperture426configured to permit a plant module to be positioned there through and extend into the plant module channel422, through the plant aperture424, and into the interior vertical channel410. The upper surface420may be configured to interface with a structure of a plant module to prevent the entirety of the plant module from passing through the plant-receiving aperture426and falling into the interior vertical channel410.

Referring now toFIGS. 5a-c, additional aspects of the irrigation module150are presented. The irrigation module may comprise one or more sidewalls151, a center member152, an inlet port157, and an outlet port158. The sidewalls151may be attached to a periphery of the center member152. In some embodiments, the sidewalls151and the center member152may be integrally formed as a single structure. In other embodiments that sidewalls may be formed separately and attached thereafter by any means as is known in the art. In such embodiments, a gasket (not shown) may be positioned between the sidewalls151and the center member to prevent fluid from leaking there between. Furthermore, the upper section153of the sidewalls151may prevent fluid from spilling over the side of the center member151.

The sidewalls151may comprise an upper section153and a lower section154. The lower section154may be configured to have an outer dimension doe that is less than the inner dimension di2of the vertical stacking members400such that irrigation module may be removably attached to a topmost vertical stacking member400of the plurality of vertical stacking members140, as shown inFIG. 1. The sidewalls151may define the shape of the irrigation module, which may comply with the shape for the vertical stacking members400. In some embodiments, the upper section154may extend outward to have an outer dimension greater than a maximum outer dimension of the vertical stacking unit400.

The center member151may comprise a one or more apertures155. The apertures155may be formed through a thickness of the center member151and may be configured to permit the nutrient-enriched fluid to flow therethrough. The apertures155may be distributed about the center member151. The center member151may be crowned, being configured such that an upper surface156thereof is raised at its center and lowered at its edges. The center member151may comprise a first set of apertures155′ positioned proximate to the outlet port158and a second set of apertures155″ positioned proximate to the sidewalls151.

The inlet port157may extend downward from the center member151and be configured to connect with the pump tube133to establish fluidic communication therewith. When connected, the pump module131may pump the fluid114through the pump tube133into the inlet port157. The outlet port158may extend upward from the center member151and be positioned in fluidic communication with the inlet port157. Fluid114pumped into the inlet port157may be expelled out the outlet port158and fall onto the upper surface156of the center member151and flow through the apertures155into the contiguous interior channel. There, the fluid may descend and be absorbed by plant modules placed in the plant receiving members414or flow back into the nutrient reservoir111. The inlet port157may be configured to facilitate removable attachment of the pump tube133thereto. Such configurations include, but are not limited to, threading, ridges, keyed fits, interference fits, and the like. Similarly, the outlet port158may be configured to facilitate removable attachment of a distribution member (not shown) thereto. The distribution member may be configured to distribute fluid exiting the outlet port in a substantially uniform manner and to prevent the fluid from attaining an undesirable height, which may cause splashing/splattering when the fluid lands on the center member151.

Referring now toFIG. 6, additional elements of the system100will be discussed. The system100may further comprise a cover member160. The cover member may be configured to be rotatably connected to the irrigation member150and configured to be positioned in an open position, where the center member151may be generally observable and accessible by a user, and a closed positioned, where the center member151may be generally obscured and rendered inaccessible by the user. The irrigation member150may further comprise a cover attachment member159configured to facilitate the rotatable attachment of the cover member160thereto. In the second position, the cover member160may prevent the unintended splashing of the fluid114out of the irrigation module150by interfacing with the upper section153of the sidewalls151.

Referring now toFIG. 7, a plant module700according to an embodiment of the invention is presented. The plant module700may comprise an interfacing section702and a body section704. The interfacing section702may be configured to interface with the upper surface420of the interfacing surface member418of a plant receiving member414. When so interfaced, the body section704may extend through the plant-receiving aperture426, the plant module channel422, and the plant aperture424and extend into the interior vertical channel410. The body section704may be configured to permit fluid to flow therethrough and into a cavity706defined thereby. Fluid-retaining material may be positioned within the cavity706and absorb fluid the flows through the body member704, thereby enabling a plant embedded in the fluid retaining material to extract the fluid therefrom. Any known means or method of permitting such fluid flow through the body section704is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention. In the present embodiment, the body section704comprises a plurality of openings708configured to permit fluid to flow therethrough. The present embodiment is made from a rigid material, enabling the interfacing section702and the body section704to be integrally formed as a monolithic structure. In alternative embodiments, the body section704may be formed of a fluid-permeable material and attached to the interfacing section702by any means or method as is known in the art, including those described herein above.

An alternative embodiment of the invention may be directed to a kit comprising a system as described for the system100above. The kit may comprise a container, the container containing a base assembly comprising a nutrient reservoir and an upper attachment member. The kit may further comprise a pumping module comprising a fluid pump operable to pump fluid and a pump tube configured to attach to the fluid pump at a first end and permit fluid pumped by the fluid pump to flow therethrough and exit at a second end. The kit may further comprise a plurality of vertical stacking units, each vertical stacking unit comprising one or more sidewalls defining an interior vertical channel, each sidewall comprising an attachment section at a lower end thereof configured to interface with one of the upper attachment member of the base assembly and an upper portion of the sidewalls of a vertical stacking unit to removably attach the vertical stacking unit thereto. The vertical stacking units may further comprise a plant receiving member extending outward from a sidewall, the plant receiving member comprising a plant-receiving aperture configured to permit a plant module to be positioned therein and grow outward therefrom and extend into the interior vertical channel such that a portion of the plant module is in fluidic communication with the interior vertical channel. The kit may further comprise an irrigation module configured to attach to a vertical stacking unit and comprising one or more sidewalls configured to interface with the sidewalls of a vertical stacking unit, thereby removably attaching the irrigation module to the vertical stacking unit, a center member comprising one or more apertures, an inlet port extending downward from the center member and configured to facilitate the removable attachment of the second end of the pump tube thereto, and an outlet port extending upward from the center member and positioned in fluidic communication with the inlet port and configured to permit fluid flowing into the inlet pump to flow out the outlet port. The kit may further comprise a plurality of plant modules, each plant module comprising an interfacing section configured to interface with and be carried by a plant receiving member and a body section configured to permit fluid to flow therethrough. All of the above-described elements may be positioned within the container and contained thereby.

In some embodiments, the kit may further comprise a distribution member and a cover member as described above. In some embodiments the kit may further comprise a package of fluid-retaining material configured to be positioned within the body section of a plant member and a plurality of seeds configured to be positioned within fluid-retaining material positioned within the body section. In some embodiments the kit may further comprise a water-soluble nutrient solution configured to be combined with water and positioned within the nutrient reservoir and be pumped by the fluid pump. All of the above may be positioned within and contained by the container.