Abstract:
A system of growing plants having a coco pod having at least one layer of coconut coir fiber and at least a hole for receiving a plant&#39;s roots, a nutrient solution, and a container for holding the coco pod and the nutrient solution, such that the coco pod is at least partially immersed in the nutrient solution and the plant&#39;s roots are continuously exposed to the nutrient solution and substantially protected from sunlight.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The invention relates generally to horticulture, and more particularly to the technical field of indoor or outdoor plant growing media systems and methods. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Hydroponic growing involves growing a terrestrial plant suspended in a container to allow the roots to be submerged in a liquid nutrient solution with or without added aeration to promote root development. Deep water culture or re-circulating deep water culture such as this can allow for a constant abundant supply of nutrients to the roots. However, an issue with this method of hydroponic growing is that microbial, bacterial, algal, or fungal infection may attack the root zone, when unsterile or improper environmental parameters are used. This can especially appear to be true when the environment and liquid temperature are above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Once introduced, microbial, bacterial, algal, or fungal infection may be exacerbated by sunlight entering the solution, apparently due to prevention of oxygen being supplied to the roots. 
         [0008]    Chillers may be used to prevent the hydroponic growing system from rising above 68 degrees Fahrenheit in order to minimize the growth of microbial or fungal growth on the root system. However, this solution may be expensive. 
         [0009]    An ebb and flow method may be used for hydroponic growing, in which the hydroponic nutrient solutions are flooded to the root system for a short period of time, and then allowed to ebb away. This method can be high maintenance since the cycles of ebb and flow may need to be repeated several times a day, and also appears to be inefficient in its delivery of nutrients to the root system. Additionally, microbial and fungal infection may still grow while using this method, so another problem is that the re-circulating solution may need to be filtered and sterilized, adding more cost. 
         [0010]    Problems associated with some horticultural growing media are that some may eventually appear to suffocate the root system, some do not appear to be able to structurally support the roots, and some do not appear to have anti-bacterial or anti-fungal properties. 
         [0011]    Therefore, there is a need for a deep water hydroponic growing media that is simple to use, low cost, low maintenance, efficient, and prevents the growth of microbes, bacteria, algae, and fungi when the nutrient solution is not being recirculated, and the root system is continuously submerged in the nutrient solution for best nutrient absorption by the roots, and without the need for chillers. 
         [0012]    The problems and the associated solutions presented in this section could be or could have been pursued, but they are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches presented in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their presence in this section of the application. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0014]    In one exemplary embodiment, a coco pod made of coconut growing media bonded with natural latex (hereinafter, “coco pod,” or “coconut coir growing media system,”) is provided. A growing plant (hereinafter, “plant,” or “seedling”) may be placed into the coco pod and both the plant and coco pod may be submerged in a nutrient solution. A system for aeration of the roots of the plant may be used. Thus, an advantage is that the coir has anti-algal, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal properties to prevent infection, to plant&#39;s root system. Another advantage is that the coir bonded with latex provides support to the plant&#39;s developing root system. Another advantage is that the aeration provides oxygen to the plant&#39;s root system. 
         [0015]    In another exemplary embodiment, the coco pod may be cylindrical or cubed, or any other shape, such as, for example, hexagonal, octagonal, spherical, pyramidal, triangular, trapezoidal, or any other shape deemed suitable. 
         [0016]    In another exemplary embodiment, a single air pump or multiple air pumps may be used to provide aeration to multiple coco pods, each with their own nutrient solution. A single air pump or multiple air pumps may also be used to provide aeration to multiple coco pods all with a common nutrient solution. 
         [0017]    In another exemplary embodiment, the coco pod growing media may be converted into a soil growth system by placing the entire coco pod with the plant and its growing roots system into the soil. Thus, an advantage is that plants may be grown in hydroponic or soil systems, or grown in a hydroponic system followed by growth in a soil system. 
         [0018]    The above embodiments and advantages, as well as other embodiments and advantages, will become apparent from the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes, embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of a coco pod cylinder, according to an embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a coconut coir growing media system including the coco pod cylinder of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the coconut coir growing media system of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of a single air pump providing aeration to multiple independent growing containers, according to an embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top perspective view of a coco pod cube, according to an embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the coco pod cube of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the coco pod cube of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top perspective view of coco pod cubes of  FIG. 5  arranged in a single tray with air provided by air pumps to each individual cube, according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    What follows is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The specific preferred embodiments of the invention, which will be described herein, are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. 
         [0029]    For the following description, it can be assumed that most correspondingly labeled structures across the figures (e.g., 12 and 42, etc.) possess the same characteristics and are subject to the same structure and function. If there is a difference between correspondingly labeled elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results in a non-corresponding structure or function of an element for a particular embodiment, then that conflicting description given for that particular embodiment shall govern. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of a coco pod cylinder  101 , according to an embodiment. The coco pod cylinder  101  is preferably made up of coconut coir growing media  10  and may have a center hole  12  and may have a monofilament  14 . The coconut coir growing media  10  may be made of coconut coir fiber woven and held together with natural latex (not shown). The coconut coir growing media  10  may be constructed in single layers  16  of coconut coir fiber bonded with natural and porous latex, and the layers may be stacked and further bonded with natural and porous latex on top of each other to achieve a desired height. Once the desired height is obtained, a monofilament  14  made of string or any material deemed suitable may be stitched through the top of the growing media  10  through all layers, exiting at the bottom of the coconut growing media  10  and tied to further strengthen the coco pod. 
         [0031]    The center hole  12  may be circular or any other suitable shape, and may preferably be vertical, and may extend continuously from the top layer to the bottom layer of the coconut coir growing media  10 . The coconut coir growing media  10  may be assembled by stacking single layers of latex bonded coconut coir media  16  on top of each other. Again, the stacks may be held together with latex bond  17  and further strengthened with monofilaments  14  around the circumference of the coco pod cylinder  101  as shown. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a coconut coir growing media system including the coco pod cylinder  101  of  FIG. 1 . The coconut coir growing media system may include a container  32 . The coco pod  101  may sit either at the bottom of the container  32 , or on a frame  25  which may elevate the coco pod  101  above the bottom of the container  32 . The container  32  may be any deemed suitable for holding the coconut coir growing media  10 , such as, for example, buckets or other similar containers. 
         [0033]    The system may include an external air pump  20 . In one exemplary embodiment, each air pump  20  may include two air hoses  22 . The container  32  may have an opening  33  for air hoses  22  to go through. Each air hose  22  may be connected to an air stone diffuser as indicated by  24  and  26 , respectively. An air stone diffuser  24  may be placed inside of the system, such as, for example, in the middle of the coco pod  101 , and another air stone diffuser  26  may be placed at the bottom of the container  32 , outside of the coco pod  101  or at the bottom of the coco pod  101 . The air pump  20  may cause the air bubbles  27  to aerate a nutrient solution (hereinafter “nutrient solution” or “liquid growing medium”)  28  and the coco pod  1 . A horticultural starter cube  30  with, for example, a seedling  31  may be placed onto the opening  12  of the coco pod  101 . The roots (not shown) of the seedling  31  may therefore be protected from sunlight by the mesh structure of the coco pod  101 . Thus, an advantage is that exposure of the nutrient solution  28  and roots to sunlight may be decreased, which may help prevent bacterial or fungal growth. 
         [0034]    The air pump  20  may be run continuously, such that the nutrient solution  28  and the coco pod  101  will be continuously aerated. The air hoses  22  may preferably be flexible. If multiple air hoses  22  are used, they may be of equal dimensions to equalize the air pressure amongst all the air stone diffusers  24  and  26 . 
         [0035]    A water line with a float (not shown) may be installed at the opening  33  to maintain the solution level. The water line may therefore replenish the water level, which may be lowered due to plant absorption of liquid or from evaporation. Thus an advantage is that no changing out of the solution is needed. A user may choose to measure and replenish the nutrient concentration as needed. 
         [0036]    The coco pod coconut coir growing media of the coco pod cylinder  101  may preferably have a porous structure that allows for aeration of the plant  31  by the air diffusers  24  and  26 . Therefore, an advantage is that developing roots of a plant  31  grown in the coco pod  101  will preferably have a dark, moist environment for healthy growth, and oxygen from the air diffusers  24  and  26 . The coco pod cylinder  101  may also provide a structurally stable foundation for the growing plant  31 . Another advantage is that when submerged in the liquid growing medium  28  of the growing system, the coconut coir (e.g., husk fibers of the coconut plant  Cocos nucifera ) may have anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. Research appears to support these properties of the coconut coir. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the coconut coir growing media system of  FIG. 2  in which a coco pod  10  may rest on top of an air stone diffuser  26  at the bottom of a container  32 . In another alternative embodiment, the center hole  12  may be only partially through the coco pod  10 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of a single air pump  20  providing aeration to multiple independent growing containers  32 , according to an alternative embodiment of the coconut coir growing media system shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown, each container  32  may have its own coco pod cylinder  101 . Each container may also have its own nutrient solution as shown in  FIG. 2   
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top perspective view of a coco pod cube  501 - a , according to an alternative embodiment of the coco pod cylinder  101  shown in  FIG. 2 . The cube shaped coconut coir growing media  40  may have a center hole  42  with monofilaments  44 . The center hole  42  may be circular or any other suitable shape, may preferably be vertical and may extend continuously from the top layer to the bottom layer of the coconut coir growing media  40 , or alternatively may extend partially down without reaching the bottom. The coconut coir growing media  40  may be assembled by stacking single layer coconut coir media on top of each other and may be held together by latex as described earlier when referring to  FIG. 1  and may also be held together with monofilaments  44 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the coco pod cube  501 - a  of  FIG. 5 . An air pump  20  may be used with the coco pod cube  501 - a , and an air hose  22  connected to the air pump  20  may provide aeration to the coconut coir growing media system. The coconut coir  40  may preferably have a porous structure that allows for aeration from an internal air stone diffuser  24  and may also receive aeration from an external air stone diffuser (see  26  in  FIGS. 2-3 ) connected to an air hose  22 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a coconut coir growing media system including the coco pod cube  501 - a  of  FIG. 5 . The coco pod cube  501 - a  may be held together with one or more monofilaments  14  and may rest on an air diffuser stone  26 . As shown, and as earlier described when referring to  FIG. 1 , the monofilament  14  may be stitched through the top of the coconut coir fibers and through all the growing media layers and exit the bottom of the growing media and may be tied securely. The center hole  42  may extend vertically to the bottom of the coco pod cube  501 - a  as shown, or extend only partially to the bottom as stated earlier when referring to the previous embodiments. 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of a coco pod cube hydroponic growing system wherein a single air pump  20  may provide aeration to multiple coco pod cubes  501 - a . Again, a coco pod cube  501 - a  may rest on individual rectangular containers, similarly as in  FIG. 4 , or in a large rectangular tray  59  as shown in  FIG. 8 . A single air pump  20  or multiple air pumps  20  may be used to supply aeration to the individual coco pod cubes  501 - a  through air hoses  22 . The nutrient solution  54  may be common to all the coco pod cubes  501 - a  in a tray  59 . A water line  55  may be included to maintain the solution level in the tray  59 . 
         [0043]    The nutrient solution  54  and the pH of the solution  54  may be checked as needed by the user. 
         [0044]    In another alternative embodiment, instead of individual coco pod cubes  501 - a  placed side by side in a large tray  59 , a large rectangular block of coco pods having a plurality of smaller holes cut out for each seedling may be used. A plurality of air stones may then be inserted inside the larger rectangular coco pod to provide aeration. In another alternative embodiment, the use of air pumps and air stones for aeration may be optional, and any other suitable means of aerating the nutrient solutions may be used. In another alternative embodiment, there may be applications where no aeration is needed and in such cases, no air pumps may be used, or no air stones may be used with the coco pod system. 
         [0045]    As an example, the coco pod, which may be of any suitable shape, may range in thickness from 6-12 inches. The hole for a coco pod cylinder may, for example, vary from ¼-2 inches depending on the application. The hole for a coco pod cube may, for example, vary from ½-2.5 inches in diameter or may for example be square-shaped, or any other suitable shape. The container may, for example, range between 4-12 inches in diameter and may, for example, be 4-12 inches in height. The air hoses used with the system may, for example, have dimensions of an outer diameter of 0.250 inch and an inner diameter of 0.170 inch. The monofilament may, for example, be able to withstand 10-28 pounds of weight, and may, for example, be resistant to corrosion in a solution of liquid nutrients. The coco pod may, for example, have no less than 6 stitches using the monofilament. Any tray used to hold single or multiple coco pods may, for example, have dimensions of a width of 4-72 inches and a length of 4-72 inches and a height of 4-12 inches. The amount of nutrient solution in a container may, for example, be 3 parts to every 5 parts capacity of the container. The coco pods may, for example, be biodegradable, and may be 100% natural. The coco pods may be converted into use with a soil growing system at any time, for example. 
         [0046]    It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
         [0047]    As used in this application, “plurality” means two or more. A “set” of items may include one or more of such items. Whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. These terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used in this application, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items. 
         [0048]    Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the described methods. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments. 
         [0049]    The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents. 
         [0050]    Further, in describing representative embodiments of the present invention, the specification may have presented the method and/or process of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of the present invention should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0051]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for the purpose of disclosing the preferred embodiments, someone of ordinary skills in the art will easily detect alternate embodiments and/or equivalent variations, which may be capable of achieving the same results, and which may be substituted for the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of this application is intended to cover alternate embodiments and/or equivalent variations of the specific embodiments illustrated and/or described herein. Hence, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the invention.