Abstract:
A rotary hydroponic plant-growing machine comprising a cylindrical structure for holding plant-growing containers, a base for rotatably supporting the cylindrical structure, means for rotating the cylindrical structure on the base, a light inside the cylindrical structure and means for watering the plants in the containers as the cylindrical structure rotates. The cylindrical structure comprises a circumferential surface which defines a plurality of longitudinal slots adapted to receive one or more of the containers, and longitudinal channels adjacent to the longitudinal slots adapted to slidingly engage an outwardly-extending flange on the container and hold the container in the slot.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a plant growing machine and, in particular, to a machine for growing plants in a drum which holds planting containers and rotates about a light source.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     When plants are grown in a flat bed under a lamp, the plants are at varying distances from the lamp. Greater efficiency in the use of the light is obtained where all the plants being illuminated by a given light source are equidistant from it, reducing the number of lights needed for each productive square unit of growing area. This can be achieved by means of a rotary growing apparatus in which the plants are rotated about a light source at the axis of rotation.  
         [0003]     Canadian Patent No. 2,343,254 (Marchildon) discloses a rotary plant growing apparatus with an open-ended cylindrical drum which rotates about a horizontal axis on a support stand. A lamp is positioned at the axis of the drum. Holes in the drum hold plant pots, with the plants facing the light and the bottom of the pots extending radially outward from the drum. A tray under the drum holds a pool of water and is spaced from the drum such that the lower part of the pots contacts the water as the drum rotates, watering the plants.  
         [0004]     Canadian published patent applications No. 2,396,317 and No.2,401,737 (Poirier et al.) disclose a rotary growing apparatus which comprises a cylindrical structure or drum provided with a series of parallel elongated, longitudinally extending baskets for holding plants. A support base is provided for the drum, and a drive mechanism rotates the drum on the support base about the drum&#39;s rotational axis. A light source is positioned inside the drum. A feeding system provides nutrient fluid to the growing plants as the drum rotates and the baskets contact the nutrient fluid. The elongated baskets define in the bottom and side walls thereof a plurality of apertures for allowing the nutrient fluid to access the plants. The elongated baskets are removably attached to a pair of parallel and opposed rims of the drum by means of tubular members with resilient attachment pins at the ends thereof.  
         [0005]     There exists a need for a plant growing machine with a simple and efficient means for removeably securing plant-growing containers thereto.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     One embodiment of the invention provides a rotary hydroponic plant-growing machine comprising a cylindrical structure for holding plant-growing containers, a base for rotatably supporting the cylindrical structure, means for rotating the cylindrical structure on the base, a light inside the cylindrical structure and means for watering the plants in the containers as the cylindrical structure rotates, characterized in that the cylindrical structure comprises a circumferential surface which defines a plurality of longitudinal slots adapted to receive one or more of the containers, and longitudinal channels adjacent to the longitudinal slots adapted to slidingly engage an outwardly-extending flange on the container and hold the container in the slot.  
         [0007]     Another embodiment of the invention provides a rotary hydroponic plant-growing machine comprising a cylindrical structure for holding plant-growing containers, a base for rotatably supporting the cylindrical structure, means for rotating the cylindrical structure on the base, a light inside the cylindrical structure and means for watering the plants in the containers as the cylindrical structure rotates, characterized in that the cylindrical structure comprises a circumferential surface which defines a plurality of longitudinal slots adapted to receive one or more of the containers, edges of the circumferential surface adjacent to said longitudinal slot being adapted to slidingly engage between a pair of outwardly-extending flanges on the container and hold the container in the slot.  
         [0008]     Another embodiment of the invention provides a rotary hydroponic plant-growing machine comprising a cylindrical structure for holding plant-growing containers, a base for rotatably supporting the cylindrical structure, means for rotating the cylindrical structure on the base, a light inside the cylindrical structure and means for watering the plants in the containers as the cylindrical structure rotates, characterized in that the cylindrical structure comprises an end member at each longitudinal end thereof and a plurality of pairs of C-shaped channels extending between the end members, each pair of C-shaped channels being configured to slidingly engage an outwardly-extending flange on the containers and hold the containers therebetween.  
         [0009]     Another embodiment of the invention provides a rotary hydroponic plant-growing machine comprising a cylindrical structure for holding plant-growing containers, a base for rotatably supporting the cylindrical structure, means for rotating the cylindrical structure on the base, a light inside the cylindrical structure and means for watering the plants in the containers as the cylindrical structure rotates, characterized in that the cylindrical structure comprises a circumferential surface which defines a plurality of longitudinal slots adapted to receive one or more of the containers, and longitudinal channels adjacent to said longitudinal the adapted to slidingly engage a pair of outwardly-extending tabs on each of two opposite sides of the container and hold the container in the slot.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a prior art rotary plant growing apparatus.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partly cutaway, bottom perspective view of the prior art apparatus of  FIG. 1  from the diagonally opposite corner.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a cylindrical structure for a rotary plant growing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4 ( a ) is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3  of a portion of a cylindrical structure holding a container according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4 ( b ) is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3  of a portion of a cylindrical structure holding a container according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4 ( c ) is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3  of a portion of a cylindrical structure holding a container according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4 ( d ) is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3  of a portion of a cylindrical structure holding a container according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a cylindrical structure for a rotary plant growing apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 5  of a portion of the cylindrical structure of  FIG. 5  holding a container.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7 ( a ) is an isometric view of a container beginning to be inserted into a slot in a cylindrical structure according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7 ( b ) is an isometric view of the container of  FIG. 7 ( a ) being inserted further into the slot. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , prior art plant growing apparatus  10  has an open-ended cylindrical drum  12 , shown partly cutaway in  FIG. 2 , which rotates in a substantially horizontal orientation on support stand  14 . Stand  14  has two sections  16 ,  18  which are substantially the same in structure and are connected together by members  20 . Each section  16 ,  18  has two drum support wheels  22  mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis to rotatably support drum  12 . Section  18  of the support stand  14  includes an electric motor  24  mounted thereon to rotate drum  12 . Motor  24  turns drive belt  26  which extends around the periphery of drum  12 , as described below, to rotate the drum. Support stand  14  is supported on casters  15  to facilitate movement of the growing apparatus  10 .  
         [0024]     Lamp supports  28  are affixed to each end of the support stand  14  and hold lamp  30  at the axis of rotation of the drum  12 . A translucent tube  32 , preferably hexagonal or round in cross-section and open at both ends, (shown partly cutaway in  FIG. 1 ) is supported on lamp supports  28  around the lamp, extending the length of the drum  12 . An electric fan  34  is provided at one end of the tube. Fan  34  blows air through the tube to cool the lamp  30  and the interior of the drum  12 .  
         [0025]     Stand  14  holds tray  66  under drum  12 . Tray  66  is configured to hold water under drum  12  and catch drips falling off of drum  12 . A water-holding part of tray  66  is positioned directly under drum  12  and holds a pool of water with suitable plant nutrients, fed by a reservoir or other external source. The level of water is controlled by a float valve (not shown) in pan  69 . Tray  66  is spaced from the drum  12  such that the pots  58  move freely past the tray as the drum rotates, but the lower part of each pot is immersed in the pool of water, providing water and nutrients to the plants in pots  58  through openings in the bottom of the pots.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cylindrical structure  100 , which replaces drum  12  of the prior art apparatus in one embodiment of the invention. Cylindrical structure  100  comprises rims  102 ,  104 , configured to be rotatably supported on support wheels  22  of stand  14 . Rims  102 ,  104  are connected by means of circumferential surface  106 . Circumferential surface comprises edges  108  which define a plurality of longitudinal slots  110  therein. Each slot  110  has at least one enlarged portion or opening  112  to allow plant-growing containers  114  to be slidably inserted into slot  110 , as described below.  
         [0027]     Each container  114  is configured to hold a plant  115 , as shown in FIGS.  4 ( a ) to ( d ) and  6 . While the drawings show rectangular containers  114  for ease of illustration, it is to be understood that containers  114  need not be rectangular. Each container  114  has an opening (not shown) for plant  115  to grow out of, and at least one opening  113  for allowing plant  115  to soak up water and/or nutrients from tray  66 .  
         [0028]     FIGS.  4 ( a ) to ( d ) are sectional views of various embodiments of slots  110 , with plant-growing containers  114  slidably inserted therein. In FIGS.  4 ( a ) to ( c ), the edges  108  of circumferential surface  106  adjacent slots  110  define longitudinal channels  116 , and each container  114  has an outwardly-extending flange  118  on each of two opposite sides thereof adapted to slidingly engage longitudinal channels  116 . In  FIG. 4 ( a ), longitudinal channels  116  are formed by L-shaped brackets  120  attached to the inside of circumferential surface  106 . In  FIG. 4 ( b ), longitudinal channels  116  are formed by L-shaped brackets  120  attached to the outside of circumferential surface  106 . In  FIG. 4 ( c ) longitudinal channels  116  are formed directly in edges  108 .  FIG. 4 ( d ) illustrates another embodiment wherein container  114  comprises a pair of outwardly-extending flanges  122  on each of two opposite sides thereof which define a recess  124 . Edges  108  are slidably engaged in recess  124 . As one skilled in the art will understand, there are numerous variations and combinations of the above described channels and flanges which permit containers  114  to be slidably engaged in slots  110 , all of which are within the scope of the invention.  
         [0029]     To insert a container  114  into a slot  110 , a user positions outwardly-extending flanges  118  (or  122 ) adjacent to one of openings  112  and inserts flanges  118  (or  122 ) therethrough. The user then slides container  114  away from opening  112  such that flanges  118  are slidably engaged in longitudinal channels  116  (or such that recesses  124  defined by flanges  122  slidable engage edges  108 ). Container  114  will thus be held in slot  110 .  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , while each slot  110  has at least one opening  112 , the number and location of openings  112  may be varied without affecting the basic operation of the invention. For example, it may be desirable to provide openings  112  at a plurality of locations along slot  110 , so that containers  114  may be inserted into and removed from slot  110  at a variety of locations. This arrangement would allow a user to remove a desired container  114  without having to necessarily shift all of the other containers  114  in the same slot  110 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates cylindrical structure  100  according to another embodiment of the invention. In the  FIG. 5  embodiment, rims  102 ,  104  are connected by means of a plurality of pairs of C-shaped channels  126  which define slots  110 . While  FIG. 5  shows only channels  126  on the front-facing portion of cylindrical structure  100  for ease of illustration, it is to be understood that there are pairs of C-shaped channels  126  around the entire circumference of cylindrical structure  100 . As in the  FIG. 3  embodiment, each slot  110  of the  FIG. 5  embodiment has at least one enlarged portion or opening  112  to allow plant-growing containers  114  to be inserted into slot  110 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of one of the slots  110  of  FIG. 5 . Slot  110  is formed by a pair of C-shaped channels  126 , with outwardly extending flanges  118  of container  114  slidably engaged therein, such that container  114  is held in slot  110 .  
         [0033]     FIGS.  7 ( a ) and  7 ( b ) illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, container  114  has a pair of outwardly-extending tabs  130  on each of two opposite sides thereof. Tabs  130  are generally smaller-sized than flanges  118  or  122  in the previously described embodiments. Openings  112  are sized to allow tabs  130  to be slidably inserted into longitudinal channels  116 . To insert container  114  into slot  110 , a user positions a first opposed pair of tabs  130  adjacent to openings  112  and inserts them therethrough, as shown in  FIG. 7 ( a ). Once the first pair of tabs  130  is within channels  116 , the user slides container  114  as indicated by arrow  132  until the second opposed pair of tabs  130  are adjacent to opening  112 . The user then inserts the second pair of tabs  130  through opening  112  so that container  114  is held in slot  110 .  
         [0034]     As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.