Patent Publication Number: US-2022225587-A1

Title: Hydroponic Growing Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention. 
     The disclosure relates to growing devices and more particularly pertains to a new growing device for continually re-circulating a nutrient solution in a hydroponic system. The growing device includes a plurality of canisters that are elevated above a tray that captures the nutrient system that drains from the canisters. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to growing devices including a variety of multi-stage hydroponic systems. The prior art discloses a hydroponic system that employs stacked cylinders. The prior art discloses an indoor growing system that includes a nutrient tray and a fluid pump for pumping a nutrient solution upwardly from the nutrient tray. In no instance is a hydroponic system that includes cylinders, a fluid tray and a fluid pump. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a support frame and a platform is positionable on the support frame. The platform has a plurality of holes each extending therethrough. A plurality of canisters each has a plant growing in a substrate contained therein. Each of the canisters is insertable into a respective one of the holes in the platform for maintaining each of the canisters in an upright position. A tray is provided that is filled with a nutrient solution. the tray is positionable beneath the platform when the platform is positioned on the support frame. A pumping unit is coupled to the platform and the pumping unit pumps the nutrient solution in the tray into a respective one of the canisters for nourishing the plant in each of the canisters. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a hydroponic growing assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a support frame of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective in-use view of a canister of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new growing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the hydroponic growing assembly  10  generally comprises a support frame  12  that includes a table portion  14  and a plurality of legs  16  each extending downwardly from the table portion  14 . In this way each of the legs  16  can space the table portion  14  upwardly from a support surface  18 . The table portion  14  comprises a plurality of intersecting members  20  such that the table portion  14  defines a rectangle. Each of the legs  16  is aligned with a respective one of four corners  22  of the rectangle defined by the table portion  14 . As is most clearly shown in  FIG. 2 , the support frame  12  may be comprised of a plurality of modular pieces  17 , including elbows  19  and tee fittings  21 , and each of the legs  16  may threadably engage a respective one of the elbows  19 . 
     A platform  24  is included and the platform  24  is positionable on the table portion  14  of the support frame  12 . The platform  24  has a plurality of holes  26  each extending therethrough and the holes  26  are arranged into a plurality of rows  28  on the platform  24 . The platform  24  has a top surface  30  and a bottom surface  32 , and each of the holes  26  extends through the top surface  30  and the bottom surface  32 . The platform  24  has a lip  34  extending downwardly from the bottom surface  32 , the lip  34  is aligned with a perimeter  35  of the platform  24  and the lip  34  is coextensive with the perimeter  35 . Moreover, the bottom surface  32  of the platform  24  rests on the table portion  14  of the support frame  12  having each of the intersecting members  20  abutting the lip  34 . In this way the platform  24  is inhibited from sliding on the support frame  12 . 
     A plurality of canisters  36  is provided and each of the canisters  36  can have a plant  38  growing in a substrate  40  contained therein. The plant  38  may be a tomato plant, for example, or any other rooted plant that can be grown in soil. Additionally, the substrate  40  may be a mixture of clay beads and perlite, or any other soilless substrate that is commonly employed for hydroponic growing systems. Each of the canisters  36  has a plurality of root openings  42  extending therethrough to accommodate roots of the plant  38  in each of the canisters  36 . Additionally, each of the canisters  36  is insertable into a respective one of the holes  26  in the platform  24  for maintaining each of the canisters  36  in an upright position. 
     Each of the canisters  36  has a bottom wall  44  and an outer wall  46  extending upwardly therefrom, and each of the root openings  42  extends through the outer wall  46  of a respective one of the canisters  36 . The root openings  42  in the respective canister  36  are aligned with the bottom wall  44  of the respective canister  36 , and the root openings  42  are spaced apart from each other and are distributed around the outer wall  46  of the respective canister  36 . The outer wall  46  has a distal edge  48  with respect to the bottom wall  44  and the outer wall  46  flares outwardly between the bottom wall  44  and the distal edge  48 . Moreover, the outer wall  46  achieves a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the holes  26  in the platform  24  such that the canisters  36  are inhibited from falling through the respective hole. Additionally, the outer wall  46  of each of the canisters  36  has a feed opening  50  extending therethrough, and the feed opening  50  is positioned adjacent to the distal edge  48  of the outer wall  46  of a respective canister  36 . 
     A tray  52  is provided and the tray  52  can be filled with a nutrient solution  54 . The nutrient solution  54  may be a mixture of fertilizer, water, nutrients or any other type of solution that is commonly employed for hydroponic plant growing. The tray  52  is positionable beneath the platform  24  when the platform  24  is positioned on the support frame  12 . The tray  52  has a basal wall  56  and a perimeter wall  58  extending upwardly therefrom and the perimeter wall  58  contains the nutrient solution  54 . 
     A pumping unit  60  is coupled to the platform  24  and the pumping unit  60  is placed in fluid communication with the tray  52  when the tray  52  is positioned beneath the platform  24 . In this way the pumping unit  60  can pump the nutrient solution  54  in the tray  52 . The pumping unit  60  includes a plurality of outputs  62  and each of the outputs  62  is directed into a respective one of the canisters  36  when the respective canister  36  is inserted into the respective hole  26  in the platform  24 . In this way the pumping unit  60  can pump the nutrient solution  54  into the canisters  36  for nourishing the plant  38  in each of the canisters  36 . The platform  24  has a drain opening  63  extending therethrough for draining nutrient solution  54  that might overflow from any of the canisters  36  back into the tray  52 . 
     The pumping unit  60  comprises a pump  64  that has an intake  66  and an exhaust  68 . The pump  64  is positionable on top of the basal wall  56  of the tray  52  such that the intake  66  is submerged in the nutrient solution  54 . The pump  64  is electrically coupled to a power source  70  and the pump  64  may comprise an electric, submersible fluid pump or the like. The power source  70  may comprise a female electrical outlet or the like. The pumping unit  60  includes a distribution pipe  72  that is fluidly coupled to the exhaust  68  of the pump  64 . In this way the pump  64  can pump the nutrient solution  54  into the distribution pipe  72 . The distribution pipe  72  is routed to extend along the top surface  30  of the platform  24  and the distribution pipe  72  is positioned between respective rows  28  defined by the holes  26  in the platform  24 . The distribution pipe  72  may include a series of bends between the platform  24  and the pump  64 , and the distribution pipe  72  may be comprised of polyvinylchloride or other type of rigid material. 
     A plurality feed tubes  74  is each fluidly coupled to the distribution pipe  72  to receive the nutrient solution  54  pumped by the pump  64 . The feed tubes  74  are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along the top surface  30  of the platform  24 . Each of the feed tubes  74  extends laterally away from the distribution pipe  72  such that each of the feed tubes  74  is directed toward a respective one of the holes  26  in the platform  24 . Additionally, each of the feed tubes  74  is extendable through the feed opening  50  in the outer wall  46  of a respective one of the canisters  36  such that a distal end  76  of each of the feed tubes  74  is retained within the respective canister  36 . In this way each of the feed tubes  74  is oriented to direct the nutrient solution  54  into the substrate  40  contained in the respective canister  36 . Moreover, the plurality of feed tubes  74  defines a respective output  62  of the pumping unit  60 . Each of the feed tubes  74  may be comprised of a flexible material, such as rubber or the like, to facilitate the feed tubes  74  to be routed through the feed opening  50  in the respective canister  36 . 
     The pumping unit  60  includes a timer circuit  78  that is coupled to the pump  64  and the timer circuit  78  is electrically coupled to the pump  64 . The timer circuit  78  counts down a duration of time for a pumping cycle and a duration of time between pumping cycles. The timer circuit  78  alternately counts down the pumping cycle and the duration of time between pumping cycles. Additionally, the pump  64  is turned on when the timer circuit  78  begins counting down the pumping cycle and the pump  64  is turned off when the timer circuit  78  finishes counting down the pumping cycle. The pump  64  is continuously turned off while the timer circuit  78  counts down the duration of time between the pumping cycles and the pump  64  is turned on each time the timer circuit  78  begins counting down the pumping cycle. 
     In use, the platform  24  is positioned on the support frame  12 , the tray  52  is filled with the nutrient solution  54  and the tray  52  is positioned beneath the support frame  12 . Each of the canisters  36  is filled with the substrate  40  and the plant  38 , and each of the canisters  36  is inserted into a respective one of the holes  26  in the platform  24 . Each of the feed tubes  74  is extended through the feed opening  50  in the outer wall  46  of a respective one of the canisters  36 . In this way the nutrient solution  54  is pumped into each of the canisters  36  each time the pump  64  is turned on. Moreover, the tray  52  captures the nutrient solution  54  that drips out of the canisters  36  to facilitate the nutrient solution  54  to be continuously re-circulated. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.