Patent Publication Number: US-2023144880-A1

Title: Apparatus and systems for plant cultivations

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/278,129 filed on Nov. 11, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the general field of plant cultivation. In particular, the present disclosure relates to apparatus and systems for the cultivation of plants. 
     INTRODUCTION 
     Indoor cultivation of plants provides a number of benefits. For example, being able to precisely control the lighting conditions, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide content and ventilation of cultivation spaces allows cultivators in relatively cool climates to grow plants that are native to relatively warmer climates. 
     There are however a number of disadvantages to indoor cultivation. For example, when plants that are native to warmer climates are grown indoors, they are typically grown in pots. The use of such pots tends to raise the root systems of such plants above the floor level of the cultivation space. Relatively tall plants (such as, for example, trees or  cannabis  plants) grown in pots which rest on an indoor floor can make them harder for human cultivators to prune and/or pick fruit and flowers therefrom. 
     Additionally, plants in pots can be unstable and may be inadvertently knocked over. This problem is often compounded by using pots for relatively tall plants which often have relatively higher canopies and centers of gravity. 
     Moreover, in temperate climates that experience significant seasonal changes, it can be particularly hard to keep indoor cultivation spaces from overheating during warmer months. Thus, when plants are grown in pots located in indoor cultivation spaces, it can be challenging to shield the root systems of such potted plants from excess heat and/or excessively cold temperatures. When the root systems of a plants overheat, the ability of the plants to metabolize sugars can be negatively impacted, which in turn can hamper their ability to yield commercially desirable fruits and flowers. 
     Furthermore, from a microbiological perspective, there are botanical advantages to providing plants with access to the microbiome of the native soils associated with the geographic areas in which the plants are grown. For example, because plants grown indoors in certain geographic regions will be exposed to the airborne microbiome of that particular geographic region, it can be beneficial to expose the root systems of those same plants to the native soil microbiome of that region. Providing such exposure in an indoor cultivation space using traditional pots can prove to be prohibitively costly and complex. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus and systems for cultivating plants indoors that do not fall foul of the above disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the applicant&#39;s teaching, but not to define any invention. 
     The various embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatus and systems comprising plant growing receptacles allowing root systems of plants to be located below a floor of a cultivation space. In some embodiments, the plant growing receptacles comprise multiple telescoping parts. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for the cultivation of plants. The apparatus includes a receptacle that comprises a collar having a first opening, a second opening and at least one collar side wall extending from the first opening to the second opening. The apparatus also includes an insert configured to be at least partially received within the collar. The insert comprises an insert opening, a base and at least one insert side wall extending from the insert opening to the base. A portion of the insert proximate the insert opening is configured to engage a portion of the collar proximate the second opening such that at least part of the insert is prevented from passing through the second opening. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for the cultivation of plants. The system comprises a floor having at least one recess extending below the floor. The system also comprises one or more receptacles. Each of the one or more receptacles is configured to receive a root system of a plant therein. Each of the one or more receptacles is further configured to fit into one of the at least recess such that the root system of the plant is located below the floor. 
     In an example of the system, each of the at least one recess comprises an aperture that extends through the floor. 
     In an example of the system, each of the one or more receptacles comprises a collar having a first opening, a second opening and at least one collar side wall extending from the first opening to the second opening. The receptacle also includes an insert configured to be at least partially received within the collar. The insert comprises an insert opening, a base and at least one insert side wall extending from the insert opening to the base. A portion of the insert proximate the insert opening is configured to engage a portion of the collar proximate the second opening such that at least part of the insert is prevented from passing through the second opening. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of apparatus, systems, and processes of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a cultivation apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a side cross-sectional view of a cultivation system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is another side cross-sectional view of a cultivation system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a cultivation space including a cultivation system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of non-limiting examples and the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. Technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured. 
     The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. A listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an” and “the” mean “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, “joined”, “affixed”, or “fastened” where the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts). None of the terms “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, “joined”, “affixed”, and “fastened” distinguish the manner in which two or more parts are joined together. 
     As used herein, the term “plant” generally refers to any living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses, typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll. 
     As used herein, the expression “in microbiological communication” generally refers to the ability of the microbiota found in a first medium to migrate and mix in with the microbiota found in a second medium. For example, first and second media that are said to be in microbiological communication have no microbiological barriers preventing the microbiota from the first media from entering the second media, and vice versa. 
     As used herein, the term “ Cannabis ” generally refers to a genus of flowering plants that includes a number of species. There are three different species that have been recognized, namely  Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica  and  Cannabis ruderalis . Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a strain of the  Cannabis sativa  plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. Hemp has lower concentrations of the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher concentrations of the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), which decreases or eliminates its psychoactive effects. 
     As used herein, the term “ cannabis  plant(s)”, encompasses wild type  Cannabis  and also variants thereof, including  cannabis  chemovars (or “strains”) that naturally contain different amounts of the individual cannabinoids. For example, some  Cannabis  strains have been bred to produce minimal levels of THC, the principal psychoactive constituent responsible for the high associated with it and other strains have been selectively bred to produce high levels of THC and other psychoactive cannabinoids.  Cannabis  plants produce a unique family of terpeno-phenolic compounds called cannabinoids, some of which produce the “high” one experiences from consuming marijuana. 
     As used herein, the term “ cannabis  plant material” refers to any part of the plant such as  cannabis  trim,  cannabis  flower (also called “ cannabis  bud”),  cannabis  kief, or any combination thereof. The plant material can be processed by removing any plant stems. The resulting  cannabis  material with stems removed can include both flower and trim, only  cannabis  trim or only  cannabis  flowers. 
     As used herein, the term “ cannabis  trim” generally refers to excess leaves a cultivator trims from the plants. For example, there are two types of leaves that are trimmed from  cannabis  buds; sugar leaves, which are smaller one-fingered leaves close to the bud, and fan leaves, which are larger multi-fingered leaves. Trimming of the  cannabis  can occur either before or after harvest of the plants. If done before, the trimming process maximizes the  cannabis  plant&#39;s bloom, yielding more desirable crystals. That is, a good trim will get the grower a bigger, higher quality plant yield. If trimming is carried out post-harvest, the appearance and odor of the buds are improved, and the lower leaf quantity makes the resulting plant matter “smoother” to smoke or vaporize. Because of inherent limitations to existing separation methods, some plant matter or other foreign matter can be present in  cannabis  trim. 
     Referring now to the drawing which represent preferred embodiments of the elements of the disclosure, it will be noted that the cultivation apparatus comprises a receptacle  10 . In some embodiments, the receptacle  10  comprises a collar  11  and an insert  12 . The collar  11  has a top opening and a bottom opening and at least one side wall extending from the top opening to the bottom opening. In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG.  1   , the top opening can be larger than the bottom opening. The receptacle  10  also comprises an insert configured to be at least partially received within the collar  11 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . The insert includes a top opening, a base  16  and at least one insert side wall extending from the insert opening to the base  16 . The insert  12  is slidably insertable into the collar  11 . 
     In some embodiments, the insert  12  and collar  11  are sized and shaped so as to be telescopically engageable. In other words, the insert  12  is arranged to be received within collar  11  such that it can move along an axis. In some embodiments, the collar  11  and insert  12  are generally circular in cross-section and concentric, the insert  12  being arranged to be received within collar  11  such that it can move along the concentric axes of the collar  11  and insert  12 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     A portion of the insert  12  proximate its top opening is configured to engage a portion of the collar  11  proximate its bottom opening such that at least part of the insert  12  is prevented from passing through the bottom opening of the collar  11 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     In some embodiments, the portion of the insert  12  proximate its top opening that is configured to engage the collar  11  is a top part of the external side wall of the insert  12 . Similarly, in some embodiments, the portion of the collar  11  proximate its bottom opening that is configured to engage the insert is a bottom portion of the internal wall of the collar  11 . 
     In some embodiments, the top opening of the collar  11  is surrounded by an outwardly projecting flange  15  extending outwardly from the collar side wall, as shown in  FIG.  1   . In other embodiments, the top rim of collar  11  can be formed in any other suitable way, including inwardly projecting flanges, tapers, or other projections. In some embodiments, the top rim of enlarged diameter will be provided in order to conform with the common configuration of such receptacles. 
     In some embodiments, the bottom opening of the collar  11  is surrounded by an inwardly projecting flange  13  extending from the at least one collar side wall. In other embodiments, the bottom rim of collar  11  can be formed in any other suitable way, including inwardly projecting flanges, tapers, or other projections. 
     In some embodiments, the top opening of the insert is surrounded by an outwardly projecting flange  14 , extending outwardly from the insert side wall, as shown in  FIG.  1   . In other embodiments, the top rim of insert  12  can be formed in any other suitable way, including inwardly projecting flanges, tapers, or other projections. 
     In some embodiments, the portion of the insert  12  proximate its top opening that is configured to engage the collar  11  is the outwardly projecting flange  14  of insert  12 . Similarly, in some embodiments, the portion of the collar  11  proximate its bottom opening that is configured to engage the insert is the inwardly projecting flange  13  of collar  11 . 
     The collar  11  and insert  12  may be tapered inwardly from the top to the bottom (e.g., frustoconical in shape), as shown in  FIG.  1   . Alternatively, the top and bottom sections of collar  11  and insert  12  can be of generally of the same size (e.g., cylindrical in shape). 
     As will be appreciated by the skilled reader, the side walls of collar  11  and insert  12  can each be formed of a single side wall, forming a single sided shape (e.g., circle or oval) in cross-section, or multiple adjoining side walls, forming a multi-sided shape (e.g., square, star, or triangle) in cross-section. When the side walls of collar  11  and insert  12  are formed of single side walls, some embodiments of collar  11  and insert  12  can be of generally frustoconical in shape. In such embodiments, collar  11  and insert  12  may also be concentric in cross-section. When the side walls of collar  11  and insert  12  are formed of multiple adjoining side walls, some embodiments of collar  11  and insert  12  can be frustopyramidal in shape (e.g., if collar  11  and insert  12  have polygonal cross-sections). 
     In some embodiments, the base  16  of the insert  12  comprises a flat surface having openings  17 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . The openings  17  can be of any size. For example, the openings  17  may be sized to allow water to flow out from insert  12 , but to also retain earth and roots systems therein. In other examples, the openings  17  may be sized to allow parts of the root system of a plant to grow out of the insert  12  and into the soil below, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, base  16  of insert  12  can comprise a flat closed surface (not shown). 
     The collar  11  and insert  12  of receptacle  10  can be formed of one or more suitable material, including, but not limited to terracotta, coir, pressed paper, polymer clay, wood, fabrics, clay, polymer, ceramic, fiberglass, concrete, foam, or metal. The collar  11  and insert  12  can be formed of the same material or different materials. In some embodiments, the collar  11  and/or insert  12  can be formed of a suitable polymer including, but not limited to, nylon, acrylic, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, thermoplastic polyurethane, and thermoplastic rubber. 
     Now, with reference to  FIG.  2   , examples of the operation of the apparatus and systems disclosed herein will now be described.  FIG.  2    shows a system in accordance with the present discloser. The system forms part of an indoor cultivation space. The system comprises a floor  20 . The floor  20  can be of any suitable thickness and be formed of any suitable material. In some embodiments, the floor  20  is formed of concrete (e.g., poured concrete). The floor  20  can form part of the structural foundation of the indoor cultivation space. In some embodiments, floor  20  can be formed or partially formed of any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, wood, ceramic, cement, polymer and/or natural or artificial turf. In some embodiments, the floor  20  is formed of a material that provides thermal insulation between the area below the floor  20  and the area above the floor  20 . 
     In some embodiments, a layer of gravel  21  can lay beneath floor  20 . Other materials can also be used together with or instead of gravel. Preferably, the material used under floor  20  promotes drainage of water away from floor  20  and thereby reduces hydrostatic pressure on floor  20 . In some embodiments, pipes  22  can be embedded in the layer of gravel  21 . Pipes  22  can provide underfloor irrigation to indoor cultivation space. Additionally, or alternatively, pipes  22  can provide nutrients, microorganisms and/or substances directed to ensuring pest-control. Additionally, or alternatively, pipes  22  can form part of a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and/or coiling the area beneath floor  20 . A layer of soil  23  can lay beneath the layer of gravel  21 . In some embodiments, the layer of soil  23  is in microbiological communication with the soil surrounding the building in which the indoor cultivation space is housed. In some embodiments, the layer of soil  23  is native to the geographic region in which indoor cultivation space is situated. 
     The system in accordance with the present disclosure also comprises one or more receptacles  10  as described in more detail elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, receptacles  10  can be received in recessed areas within the floor  20 . In some embodiments, such recessed areas can form part of floor  20 . In other embodiments, such recessed areas are provided by apertures in floor  20 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG.  2   , receptacle  10  is sized so as to partially fit through an aperture  26  in floor  20 . As such, collar  11  is sized to be press fit into aperture  26 . In some embodiments, collar  11  is sized such that the only a portion of the bottom of collar  11  can fit through aperture  26 . In some embodiments, as described in more detail elsewhere herein, the system can comprise one or more floors  20  with any number of apertures  26 , each sized to receive a corresponding receptacle  10 . As will be appreciated by the skilled reader, shielding a plant&#39;s root system from excessively cold temperatures can also be beneficial. 
     The system shown in  FIG.  2    can be provided by first cutting an aperture  26  into floor  20 . Alternatively, aperture  26  can be molded using a mold and, for example, poured concrete. Once aperture  26  is provided, a space can be created below aperture  26  by, for example, remove gravel  21  and/or soil  23  below aperture  26 . Once a space is created below aperture  26 , collar  11  can be inserted and press fit into aperture  26 . Then, once collar  11  is securely in place, insert  12  can be slidably engaged within collar  11 , as shown in  FIG.  2   . Soil can then be added to the receptacle and plant  24  can be planted therein in the normal manner. 
     As can be seen from  FIG.  2   , a plant  24  can be planted in receptacle  10 . When planted, the system is configured to ensure that the root system  25  of plant  24  is generally located below the level of floor  20 . In some embodiments, a majority of the collar  11  is located above floor  20  and a majority of insert  12  is located below floor  20 . As such, the root system can be protected from excessive heat located above floor  20 . As will be appreciated by the skilled reader, shielding a plant&#39;s root system from excessive heat can promote their capacity to metabolize sugars, which in turn can increase their ability to yield commercially desirable fruits and flowers. This feature is particularly desirable in indoor cultivation spaces that have artificial lighting, which can significantly increase temperatures of the indoor cultivation space during warmer periods of the year. 
     As can also be seen from  FIG.  2   , the root system  25  of plant  24  can also be brought into proximity with soil layer  23  located below the indoor cultivation space. This can produce significant botanical benefits to the plant  24 , notably with respect to exposing the plant  24  to the microbiome native to the surrounding soil  23 . 
     With the foregoing description of the structural and mechanical details of the systems and apparatus described herein in view, the method of operation will be obvious to the skilled reader but is briefly set out below with reference to  FIG.  3    for the avoidance of doubt.  FIG.  3    shows a system in accordance with the present disclosure comprising a floor  20 , as described elsewhere herein, a first receptacle  101 , and a second receptacle  102 . Receptacle  101  comprises a collar  11   1  and an insert  12   1 , as described in more detail elsewhere herein. Similarly, receptacle  101  comprises a collar  11   1  and an insert  12   1 , as described in more detail elsewhere herein. 
     As can be seen from  FIG.  3   , the ground below floor  20  of the indoor cultivation space may not be even. In particular, there may be more space between the soil and the floor  20  below some apertures than there is below other apertures. On significant advantage of the apparatus and systems described herein is that because the collar  11  is shaped and sized in order to engage with the sides of the aperture  26 , and that insert  12  is telescopically engageable within collar  11 , the base  16  of insert  12  can accommodate different distances between the soil and the floor  20 , without affecting the position of the collar  11 . In other words, the position of the top of the collar h is determined by the size and shape of the collar  11  and the size and shape of the aperture  26 , as opposed to the amount of soil located below aperture  26 . This provides notable advantages to cultivators. 
     For example, soil beneath each aperture  26  needs to be removed to provide a space for receptacle  10  to be received under floor  20 . It can therefore be challenging to provide the exact same amount of space beneath each aperture  26 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , more soil has been removed below aperture  26   2  than below aperture  26   1 . Because however inserts  12   x  are telescopically engageable within collars  11   x , and collars  11   x  are held in place by way of their engagements with the sides of apertures  26   x , each of insert  12   1  and insert  12   2  can slide downwardly along the inside of collar  11   1  and collar  11   2 , respectively, such that they both fill the space provided below aperture  26   1  and aperture  26   2 , without affecting the position of collar  11   1  and collar  11   2  with respect to the floor  20 . Thus, regardless of how deep the space is between each aperture  26   x , the height of the top rim of each collar  11   x  will remain unchanged (i.e., h 1 =h 2 ). 
     Moreover, because the root system  25  of plant  24  is under floor  20 , the canopy of the plant  24  will be lower than is the plant was planted in a pot that stood on floor  20 . Finally, because the position of receptacle  10  is dictated by the position of its corresponding aperture  20 , the location of receptacle  10  on floor  20  can be tightly controlled and plants can be held firmly upright. Dissimilarly, when plants are planted in pots that simply sit on a floor, those pots can often easily be moved along the floor and/or tipped over, leading to plant damage and/or uneven spacing between plants, which can, for example, negatively affect pest control and ventilation. Furthermore, providing plant canopies that are closer to floor  20  allows for easier pruning, trimming, and harvesting of such canopies. 
       FIG.  4    is a perspective view of an indoor cultivation space including a cultivation system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As can be seen from  FIG.  4   , each receptacle  10  is press fit into a corresponding aperture in floor  20 , with a majority of collar  11  being located above floor  20  and a majority of insert  12  being located below floor  20 . This allows for even and secure spacing between plants, shielding of roots systems from any excessive heat that might be present within the indoor cultivation space and pant canopies being positioned at relatively closer to floor  20 , thereby providing several of the technical advantages set out in more detail elsewhere herein. 
     While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. For example, while the above apparatus and systems have been described with respect to indoor cultivation spaces, the apparatus and systems of the present disclosure can also be applied mutatis mutandis to outdoor cultivation spaces being provided with floor surfaces. Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to be illustrative of the invention and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. The scope of the claims should therefore not be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.