Abstract:
The reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications in the present invention is used to construct a filter to keep dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, insects, pests, etc. out of enclosed plant growing areas i.e. (greenhouses, residential and commercial plant propagation areas) and enclosed growing areas where air exchange or filtration is necessary.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is in the field of horticulture filtration, in particular, reticulated foam used in various horticultural applications. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Horticulture is the industry and science of plan cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds. Horticulture primarily differs from agriculture in two ways: firstly it generally encompasses a smaller scale of cultivation, using small plots of mixed crops rather than large fields of single crops. Secondly horticultural cultivations generally include a wide variety of crops, even including fruit trees with ground crops. Within the field, horticulturists work to improve crop yield, quality, nutritional value and resistance to insects, diseases and environmental stresses. On a smaller scale, horticulture also typically refers to gardening and the caretaking of plants, shrubs, herbs and various landscaping matters. Horticulturists routinely are seeking ways to improve on the ability to remove certain factors that cause loss attributed to plant damage. One way is to attempt to control the environment in which to cultivate plants by having indoor gardens and/or grow rooms. As one can understand, the ability to remove or filter out harmful impurities from the indoor garden air is important to keep plants healthy. In doing so, horticulturists have relied on using a variety of types of filters made of paper or other material in attempt to filter out the incoming air into the indoor garden. 
         [0003]    While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not suitable for incorporating the advantages of reticulated foam for horticulture specific applications which comprises an apparatus containing reticulated foam, which can be modified and customized to fit a variety of connections for areas of air exchange or when filtration is necessary. 
         [0004]    In these respects, the reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides a storage system that is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications either alone or in combination thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications according to the present invention is used to construct a filter to keep dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, insects, pests, etc. out of enclosed plant growing areas i.e. (greenhouses, residential and commercial plant propagation areas) and enclosed growing areas where air exchange or filtration is necessary. The horticultural industry also utilizes air cooled lamp reflectors to combat heat build-up. The air that is drawn through the reflectors and/or enclosed growing area is usually contaminated with previously mentioned foreign objects. This leads to less reflectivity of the light source due to dust build up on the reflective surfaces, glass lenses, light bulbs and potential for foreign objects or debris to damage the light source (bulb). 
         [0006]    The reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications in the present invention can also be made into a sock or sleeve that slips over/around an activated charcoal or activated carbon filter to keep debris out of the carbon/charcoal bed. This eliminates clogging of the carbon/charcoal bed with debris, prolonging the active life of the filter while still keeping impurities from entering the air cooled reflectors/ enclosed growing space. 
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of horticultural filtration devices now present in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide reticulated foam for horticultural applications comprising of a one-piece construction. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications that can be modified and customized to fit areas where filtration is desired. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a one -piece reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications that is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture; 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications that can be modified and situated to accommodate various types of indoor garden rooms or growth rooms. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications that contains a coupling mechanism that minimizes or negates the need of moving parts. 
         [0012]    To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a reticulated foam portion, a base portion, and a coupling means for coupling said reticulated foam and base portion to a variety of locations in which air filtration is desired. 
         [0013]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter. 
         [0014]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. To accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the subject matter of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the subject matter of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a close up view of the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the present invention depicting a point of air exchange; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a drawing showing one example of an embodiment of the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the present invention being used in an indoor garden room/greenhouse application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Turning now to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the present invention  10  comprises a coupling portion  14  with an opening  16 , a support portion  12 , and a reticulated foam piece  18 . 
         [0022]    As clearly shown in  FIG. 2 , the reticulated foam piece  18  can be coupled to the support piece  12  to ensure, among other things, durability and proper positioning of the reticulated foam piece. In addition, the coupling portion  14  can be customized in a variety of ways to fit areas where air filtration is desired. The coupling portion  14  can be made of a variety of material such as rubber and/or plastic. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 3 , the opening  16  to the coupling portion  14  is clearly visible. It should be noted that the support portion  12  can be also made in a variety of sizes depending on the situation and the degree of air filtration necessary. 
         [0024]    As seen in  FIG. 4 , an exploded view of the reticulated foam  20  can be seen showing normal un-filtered air  22  flowing through the reticulated foam  20  and then becoming filtered air  24 . The reticulated foam  20  can come in different foam densities to improve air filtration by trapping or filtering out certain air impurities that are undesirable for horticultural applications. In one embodiment, oil can be applied directly on the reticulated foam  20  to enhance the filtration ability. Another feature of the reticulated foam  20  is that it is able to be cleaned by washing it without negatively affecting the filtration aspects of the reticulated foam  20 . 
         [0025]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the present invention  10  can be seen in use in an indoor greenhouse  30 . As seen, the coupling portion  14  of the reticulated foam for horticultural applications is attached to an area where outside un-filtered air  32  is allowed into the indoor greenhouse  30 . 
         [0026]    In typical use, the user would install the reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications of the present invention  10  in an indoor growing room or greenhouse  30  in the area where there is an opening to allow in outside un-filtered air or in any locations within the growing room or greenhouse that air filtration is desired. The coupling  14  of the reticulated foam for horticultural applications of the present invention  10  can be customized to fit any air entrance opening. Thus the reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications of the present invention  10  can manufactured in a variety of sizes and shapes dependent on the need. In one embodiment, once the reticulated foam for horticultural applications  10  is installed, the outside un-filtered air  32  will flow through the opening  16  and through the reticulated foam  20  where air impurities that are undesired for horticultural applications are filtered out and exchanged for filtered air  28 . 
         [0027]    Thus, specific embodiments and applications of the reticulated foam for use in horticultural applications have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.