Abstract:
A system and method for rotating multiple plants through light on a continual basis and feeding plants while they are rotated. This system is able to provide the plants with food and water at levels inputted into its control panel. The water which runs through the system can be re-circulated and used by the plants. The system aerates the water in the re-circulation chamber before it is put back onto the plants. This system also has the capabilities to test the pH and nutrient level of the growing media which can include but is not limited to one or more of the following: spun rock, clay pellets, soil, or any other hydroponic growing media.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates, in general, to a system and method for rotating multiple plants through light on a continual basis and feeding plants while they are rotated. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Indoor gardening is becoming increasingly more popular. Gardening indoors allows seasonal plants to be grown year round. Often times indoor growing yields in a larger crop of fruits or vegetables as a result of the ability to control adverse environmental factors such as temperatures, water and bugs. However, one of the biggest problems with indoor gardening is that the plants do not receive an even distribution of light. Unlike outdoors where the sun moves across the sky during the day, indoor lights do not move. There are some indoor growing lights which move however these have drawbacks in that they still do not evenly distribute the light to plants with just the light moving. Plants which are in the corners or which are very close together still do not get light on some of their leaves. 
         [0003]    Currently there are plant rotators in existence which can handle just one hanging plant or one plant places on a tray but not multiple plants. However, even these single plant systems have many drawbacks in that they are not capable of feeding and watering the plant during the rotation. With these existing rotators the grower must manually feed and water the plants. These rotators are also incapable of testing the soil pH or soil nutrients or recirculating the water. There is, thus, a need for a plant moving system and method which can move plants on a continual basis in all directions and can simultaneously feed and water these plants. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention involves a process and method for manufacturing and using a complete plant growing system. This system rotates multiple plants through the light on a continual basis. Each plant rotates on two disks so that every surface of the plants is exposed to light. This system allows the plants to receive up to 70% more exposure to light than plants which are not rotated. The ability of this system to utilize two rotating wheels is very important; this enables the outside of the plants and the inside of the plants to obtain equal light. This system also waters and feeds the plants while they are rotating through the light. The plants are watered by a recirculating system. The water which filters through the plant and drains out the bottom of the pot is pumped back through the watering apparatus of the system. Thus, the system is capable of re-circulating its water. In alternative embodiments, the water can be aerated while it is in the system before it is pumped back through the plants. This can be accomplished with an air pump or air stones. The system can also be configured so that the water is not re-circulated. 
         [0005]    The system is made with a control panel which contains a constant metering of Parts Per Million (“P.P.M.”) of plant food, temperature and pH “acidity” or “alkalinity” of the water. The control panel also contains a control for the speed of the large disk rotation. The large disk rotation can be set at a constant speed over time. In alternate embodiments, the speed of the system can be increased or decreased depending on the needs of the particular plants. In one embodiment this system also comes with the capability to monitor the pH level and nutrient level of the growing media which can include but is not limited to one or more of the following: spun rock, clay pellets, soil, or any other hydroponic growing media. These capabilities enable the grower to prevent nutrient lockout which results in shock of the plants resulting in starvation. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment this is a system and method wherein the plant mover has two or more small disks, which are placed on a larger outer disk. The larger disk is rotated by a motor. The plants sit on the small disks which are placed on top of the large disk. As the large disk is rotated by the motor the small disks on top rotate as well. The small disks are further turned in a second rotation by the interconnection of the notches on their periphery catching on the matching notches of the lid of the upper component of the system. As the plants are rotated, a watering apparatus waters the plants. The watering apparatus can be hooked up to the control panel so that the plants are watered and fed at set intervals. The watering apparatus is configured so that the water which is given to the plants is re-circulated through the system and re-used. In an alternate embodiment, the water can be drained out of the system and new water can be pumped in should the user not desire to utilize the re-circulation feature. This system can be manufactured with wheels on its underside so that it can be easily moved or relocated. In a preferred embodiment, the system is manufactured with four small disks so that four plants are able to be set on the unit. However, in an alternate embodiment more disks could be utilized with this system enabling it to function with more than four plants. 
         [0007]    The system is also equipped with extra sockets. These sockets can be used to plug in a radiator unit to control the temperature of the water being fed to the plants. Alternatively, these sockets can be used to plug in a lighting system for the plants or other component which utilizes power. This system is ideally manufactured from a durable and light material so that it can be easily shipped and moved once assembled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages, and principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an plant mover system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the plant mover system of  FIG. 1  with pots and a watering apparatus in place; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of one of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the plant mover system of  FIG. 1  with the top of the upper component and the small disks removed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the plant mover system of  FIG. 1  with all the disks removed and the top of the upper component removed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a close-up view of the teeth of the large disk running through the motor of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the one of the small disks of the plant mover system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the large disk of the plant mover system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a depiction of the control panel of one embodiment of the plant mover system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, all the various embodiments of the present invention will not be described herein. It is understood that the embodiments presented here are presented by way of an example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth below. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 1 through 5 , an embodiment of a plant mover system (“system”)  100  is shown and will be described. This system  100  is composed of one large box-like housing  200 , comprised of a lower component  220  and a upper component  240 , a large disk  300 , multiple small disks  350  and a, b, c, multiple lazy suzans  360 , wheels  380 , a motor  600 , an air pump  400 , a water pump FIG.  4 ( 720 ), a control panel  500 , one or more plugs  450 , a watering assembly FIG.  2 ( 700 ). At one of each of the four corners of the system  100  sits the following components: an air pump  400 , a control panel  500 , a motor  600 , and access to install three or more plugs  450 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the plant of the system. The upper component  240  can be seen sitting on top of the lower component  220 . In the center of the system are four small disks  350   a, b, c  and  d , which are sitting on top of the large disk  300 . The large disk is interconnecting with the motor  600  enabling it to be turned. At alternate corners of the system, the air pump  400 , the control panel  500 , and the additional plugs  450  can be seen. At the center of the system the open mount  320  can be seen which allows water to drain and allows the watering assembly FIG.  2 ( 700 ) to pass through the center. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the system  100 , is shown and displayed with four plant pots  370   a, b, c  and  d  sitting on four small rotating disks  350 . The pots snap into and are held firmly by the rim  352  of each of the small rotating disks. If the correct size pot is not available, the pot with the smaller radius can be used and set directly on top of the small disk  350 . The watering assembly  700  is seen which is comprised of a water pump  720 , a hose or other hollow tubing or pipe  730 , multiple water pipes  710 , and exit ports  715 . The watering assembly  700  having multiple water pipes  710   a, b, c  and  d , is connected to the water pump  FIG. 3  ( 720 ) via a swivel connection which sits on the floor  224  of the lower component  220 . A hose or other hollow tubing or pipe  730  connects the water pump  FIG. 3  ( 720 ) to the water pipes  710   a, b, c  and  d . The water and/or plant food is pumped by the water pump  FIG. 3  ( 720 ) through the hose or hollow tubing  730  into the water pipes  710  and is sprayed or dripped into the plant via the exit ports  715 . The exit ports  715  can be manufactured to spray, drip or flow the water into the plants depending on the water needs of the particular plant species. The water pipes  710  of the watering device  700  are crossed over one another and/or connected at their center  717  where they receive water from the water pump  FIG. 3  ( 720 ) below. As the pots rotate on the small disks  350 , the watering assembly  700  rotates with the pots and evenly distributes water over the top of the soil surface. A water pump  FIG. 3  ( 720 ) sits on the floor of the lower component  220  and pumps water through the watering assembly  700 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3  an exploded view of the system is shown minus the watering assembly, motor  600 , air pump  400 , control panel  500 , and plugs  450 . At the base of the system the lower component  220  can be seen. The lower component  220  has a floor  224  and at least four sides  226 , which creates a reservoir or re-circulation chamber to hold water  228 . In a preferred embodiment the lower component is water tight and houses a water pump  720  which is placed in the center of the floor  224 . Water, which drains into the lower component and held in this area also referred to as a re-circulation chamber  228 , is pumped back out via the water pump  720  through the watering assembly FIG.  2 ( 700 ). This method allows the water which drains through the plants to be re-circulated and reused. In an alternate embodiment the water can also be pumped out through a drain and not re-circulated through the watering assembly FIG.  2 ( 700 ). 
         [0023]    The upper component  240  sits directly on the lower component  220 . The upper component  240  is supported by a stand  222  which sits on the floor  224  of the lower component  220 . This stand  222  prevents the upper component  240  from warping and bending from the weight of the filled plant pots which sit on the small disks  350 . The upper component  240  of the housing FIG.  1 ( 200 ) has a floor  244 , four sides  246  and a top  248 . The floor  244  of the upper component  240  has a hole  245  in its center where the water may drain out and portions of the watering assembly FIG.  2 ( 700 ) can pass through. The hole  245  in the center of the floor  244  is surrounded by an open bearing  320 . The hole in the floor  244  of the upper component  240  also functions to allow access to the re-circulation chamber  228 . The top  248  of the upper component  240  has a cut-out circle  249  cut into it which is just slightly smaller in diameter than the large disk  300  which sits directly below it. The entire outer circumference of the cut-out circle  249  has evenly spaced notches. The large disk sits 0.5 to 1.5 cm below this cut-out circle  249 . Multiple wheels  380  are mounted on the floor of the upper component  240 . These wheels  380  support the outer edges of the large disk  300  and allow it to freely rotate when it is turned by the motor FIG.  1 ( 600 ). In a preferred embodiment there are eight or more wheels  380 . 
         [0024]    The large disk  300  is placed just below the top  248  of the upper component  240  and rests on the multiple wheels  380  which are mounted to the floor  244  of the upper component  240 . The large disk  300  has small gear teeth  310  on its outer edge which feed through the motor FIG.  1 ( 600 ). As the motor FIG.  1 ( 600 ) runs, it catches on the gear teeth and turns the large disk  300 . The top of the large disk  300  is made with ridges  355  to hold lazy susans FIG.  4 ( 360 ) which are placed on top of the large disk  300 . A small disk  350  sits on top of each lazy susan FIG.  4 ( 360 ) which has been placed on the large disk  300 . In a preferred embodiment there are four small disks FIG.  1 ( 350   a, b, c  and  d ). The center of the large disk  300  has an open bearing  320  which provides drainage and access for the watering assembly  FIG. 2  ( 700 ), and access to the re-circulation chamber  228 . 
         [0025]    The water pump  720  sits on the floor  224  of the lower compartment  240 . This area is also referred to as the re-circulation chamber. The water which drains into this area is pumped via the water pump  720  back up into the watering assembly  FIG. 2  ( 700 ). A plug runs from the water pump  720  and directly into the control panel  450  to power the water pump. In a preferred embodiment, there is an air curtain, which oxygenates the water. The air curtain is created by the air pump  400  pushing the water through a circulation pump to evenly distribute the air through the water. In one embodiment, air stones are placed in the re-circulation chamber to further oxygenate the water. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, wheels  380  can be further attached to the bottom of the system. These wheels  380  will be attached to the underside of the floor  224  of the lower component  220 . These wheels  380  would allow the system to roll on the surface on which it is sitting, giving the user the ability to easily move or relocate the system when needed. The body of the system is preferable manufactured from Plexiglas, polypropylene, acrylic plastic, Kevlar® water treated woods, and/or fiberglass. The water which drains into the bottom tray or re-circulation chamber of the system is circulated by the water pump  720 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a top elevational view of the system  100  with the upper component  240  and small disks  350  removed is displayed. The gear teeth  310  can be seen on the periphery of the large disk  300 . These gear teeth run through the motor FIG.  1 ( 700 ) and allow the motor FIG.  1 ( 700 ) to turn the large disk  300 . The gear teeth  310  are preferably manufactured from a metal or other hard substance. The remainder of the large disk is preferably manufactured from plexi glass, polypropylene, acrylic plastic, Kevlar®, water treated wood, and/or fiberglass. This large disk  300  is manufactured so that it is concave making the outer surfaces are higher than the inner surface when it is installed the system  100 . A ridge  305  runs the entire circumference of the disk to inhibit the water from flowing over the edge and further directing it to the center. This configuration allows the water running from the potted plants to drain into the center of the large disk and out to the center drain hole into the lower component  220  of the system and into the re-circulation  228  chamber. Wheels  380  can be seen mounted on the floor  244  of the upper component  240 . In a preferred embodiment, there are eight or more wheels  380 . The large disk sits on top of the wheels  380 . When the large disk is pulled by the motor, the wheels allow the disk to freely rotate in a circular motion. 
         [0028]    On the top surface of the large disk there are four circular ridges  355 . These ridges  355  hold the lazy susans  360  in place so they do not move when the disk is rotating. The center of the large disk  300  contains an open bearing  320 . The size of the open bearing  320  can vary. In a preferred embodiment, the open bearing  320  is 6 inches by 6 inches. The open bearing  320  allows the large disk to be connected to the lazy susan and its lower support. A lazy susan  360  is further placed on directly below the large disk on top of a center support to support the center of the large disk. A lazy susan  360  is placed on a center support piece which is set on the center of the floor  244  of the upper component  240  and the upper large disk is set on top of this lazy susan. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a top elevational view of the plant mover system  100  with all the disks and the top of the upper component  244  removed is shown and displayed. This view is looking down into the upper chamber  240 . The center lazy susan  360  on top of the center support  325  which supports the large disk FIG.  4 ( 300 ) can be seen. The wheels  380  which support the large disk  300  can also be seen in this figure. There are holes cut into the floor of the upper component at two of the corners. These holes provide access for either an air pump, motor, control panel or electrical outlet. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a close-up view of the gear teeth  310  of the large disk  300  running the motor  600 . The motor turns the large disk by catching on the gear teeth. As the large disk  300  turns, the small disks FIG.  1 ( 350 ) are turned as well. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a top view of one of the small disks  350  of the plant mover system  100  is shown and displayed. The notches  359  on the outer circumference of the entire disk can be seen. A ridge  352  runs the entire circumference of the small disk. This ridge  352  allows the correctly sized plant pot to be held firmly in place. Holes  353  run through each of the small disks allowing water to drain from the pots through the disk. The water passes through the holes and lands on the large disk  300 . This water then runs to the center of the large disk  300  and flows through the center at the open bearing  320  into the re-circulation chamber at the bottom of the system  100 . The water can then be re-circulated by the water pump  720 . 
         [0032]    The outer edge of each of the small disks has notches  359  which are the same size as those on the circumference of the cut-out circle FIG.  3 ( 249 ). The notches of the small disks  350  connect with the notches of the cut-out circle FIG.  3 ( 249 ) of the upper component lid FIG.  3 ( 248 ). As the motor  600  rotates the large disk FIG.  1 ( 300 ) and each of the small disk  350  which sits on top of the large disk FIG.  1 ( 300 ) is turned. Each of the small disks is turned in a second rotation by its notches catching on the notches  359  of the cut-out circle FIG.  3 ( 249 ), which sit in line with the small disks  350 . As the large disk FIGS.  1  and  3 ( 300 ) is rotated in a clockwise fashion, it in turn rotates the smaller disk in a clockwise fashion. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of the large disk  300  of the system  100  is shown and displayed. The large disk  300  is concave so that the outer surfaces are higher than the center surface. The water which falls on the outer edges then is directed towards the center of the large disk  300 . At the center of the large disk, there is an open bearing  320 . The entire outer edge of the large disk contains gear teeth  310 . The gear teeth  310  are manufactured from metal or other hard substance. The gear teeth  310  are fed through the motor  600  and cause the large disk to rotate within the system  100 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , an embodiment of the control panel of the system  100  is shown and displayed. In one embodiment of the system, the control panel would have a master on-off timer  505 , a circulation drain pump switch  510 , an auxiliary on-off switch  515 , an air switch  520 , a feeding timer  530 , a temperature gauge  535 , a P.P.M. meter  540 , and a PH reader  545 . The master on-off timer  505  starts and stops the rotation of the disk this timer also turns on the watering apparatus. The circulation drain pump switch  510  allows circulation and drainage of the re-circulation chamber. The feeding timer  530  controls the amount and time for the feeding of the plant. In a different embodiment, there can be fewer or more gauges contained on the control panel, depending on the complexity of the individual system  100 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , when a user turns the motor FIG.  1 ( 600 ) on through the control panel  450 , the large disk  300  is rotated. This rotation turns the pots  270  which contain plants and allow them to receive an even distribution of light from lights that have been placed overhead or to the sides. As the large disk  300  is rotated, the small disks  350  interconnect with the cut-out circle  248  and are turned in a second rotation. A user can also utilize the control panel  450  to turn on the watering apparatus  700 . The watering apparatus  700  will then spray or drip water into the plants. The watering apparatus  700  turns as the plants are rotated in the double rotation providing an even distribution of water onto the plant. The user may also utilize the control panel to turn on and control the amount of plant food which is sprayed into the plants while the rotations are ongoing. In an alternate embodiment of this invention the user may utilize the control panel to test the ph of the soil or the nutrient level. The water, which is sprayed into the plant and drained at the bottom of the pot  370 , drains onto the small disk  352  where it is passed through the holes in these disks onto the large disk  300  and is directed out the hole in the center of the large disk into the re-circulation chamber  228 . The air pump  400  pumps air into the water contained in the re-circulation chamber to aerate it as explained supra. 
         [0036]    The system  100  can be fitted with many optional components in various embodiments. Some of the optional components of the system  100  can be fitted with one or more of: water chiller, self-contained reverse osmosis process, carbon charcoal filter, a combination of the osmosis and carbon charcoal filter, a filter system, a treatment filtration modules and an ultraviolet filter. 
         [0037]    The above description of disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art; the generic principals defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principals and novel features disclosed herein.