Patent Abstract:
Exemplary sprouters may provide automatic water level adjustment for soaking seeds and growing sprouts from those seeds in trays formed from a hydrophobic material and with holes in the bottom surface of the tray sized such that the surface tension of pure water and the hydrophobic properties of the tray material resists passage of the pure water through the holes. The automatically adjusting may be facilitated by germinating seeds soaking in water changing the surface tension of the soaking water and reducing the resistance to passage through the holes.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This application relates generally to horticulture implements. More particularly, this application relates to sprouters for growing and harvesting sprouts and methods of using sprouters. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Seed sprouting is the practice of germinating seeds into sprouts that may be eaten raw or cooked. Some common varieties of sprouts grown and eaten including alfalfa, mung bean, broccoli, watercress, wheat berry, soybean, and clover. Because various health benefits that have been identified with eating sprouts, many people have become interested in home-based seed sprouting, in which individuals can grow sprouts at home. In conventional, home-based seed sprouting, seeds are placed in a first container, such as a jar. Before the seeds sprout, they are kept wet by soaking and/or periodically rinsing the seeds within the container. After the seeds begin to the sprout, the sprouts are kept moist, but should not be kept overly moist or wet, which may stunt or stop sprout growth. During this growth phase, the sprouted seeds are placed in a second container, such as a tray, where the sprouts can grow in an open environment until harvested. 
         [0000]    Because these conventional, home-based seed sprouting practices required proper watering and timely transport of the seeds between separate containers, individuals can make mistakes in caring for the sprouts, which result in low crop yields or crop failure. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to improve sprouting techniques and systems to minimize the labor and accuracy required to produce optimal seed sprout harvests. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Devices for growing sprouts, also known as sprouters, and methods for using sprouters are taught in this document. Exemplary sprouters may include at least one tray or a plurality of trays configured to stack vertically. The trays may be formed from a hydrophobic material. They trays may each include a side wall and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a plurality of openings. The sprouter may include a lid configured to cover the open top of one of the plurality of trays and a collection tray configured to collect water from the plurality of trays. 
         [0004]    In some embodiments, the plurality of openings may be in fluid communication with the collection tray. The bottom surface may include at least one raised feature and the plurality of openings may extend through the bottom surface and the at least one raised feature. The bottom surface and the side wall may define a volume having an open top. The side wall may be translucent. 
         [0005]    The hydrophobic material may be polypropylene and the plurality of openings each having a diameter of about 1/16″. The sprouter may be configured to automatically adjust the maximum water levels in the at least one tray depending on whether seeds in the tray are germinated and growing or soaking. 
         [0006]    Exemplary sprouters may be used by performing a number of steps, including: placing seeds in at least one tray; placing the at least one tray on a collection tray; pouring water in the at least one tray; providing holes in the at least one tray; providing a maximum water level in the at least one tray for soaking seeds; automatically adjusting the maximum water level when the seeds germinate; and collecting water in excess of the maximum water level in the collection tray. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the at least one tray may be a plurality of trays, and further include the step of stacking the plurality of trays vertically, wherein water from a top tray in the vertical stack supplies the others of the plurality of trays through the holes in the top tray. The top tray may be covered with a lid. Water may be supplied to the plurality of trays by pouring water in the top tray. 
         [0008]    In other embodiments, the at least one tray may be formed from a hydrophobic material and the holes in the at least one tray may be sized such that the surface tension of pure water and the hydrophobic properties of the tray material resists passage of the pure water through the holes. The automatically adjusting may be facilitated by germinating seeds soaking in water changing the surface tension of the soaking water and reducing the resistance to passage through the holes. The seeds are placed on and around the raised features. Water in the collection tray is used in the step of pouring water. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The following description can be better understood in light of the Figures, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of some embodiments of an exemplary sprouter having multiple trays; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of some embodiments of an exemplary sprouter having multiple trays with transparent sidewalls; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of some embodiments of an exemplary tray for use with a sprouter; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of some embodiments of the tray shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of some embodiments of the tray shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a cross section view of some embodiments of an exemplary sprouter having multiple trays containing growing sprouts; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7   a  shows a cross section view of some embodiments of an exemplary tray containing seeds that are unsprouted; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7   b  shows a cross section view of some embodiments of the tray shown in  FIG. 4   a  containing seeds that are germinated; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7   c  shows a cross section view of some embodiments of the tray shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  containing seeds that are sprouted and growing; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of some embodiments of a method of growing seed sprouts in the sprouter. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    The Figures illustrate specific aspects of exemplary sprouters and methods for making such devices. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the methods and structures produced through these methods. Some dimensions and thicknesses may be exaggerated for illustration purposes. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions will not be repeated. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The following description supplies specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding. Nevertheless, the skilled artisan would understand that the sprouter and associated methods of making and using the sprouter can be implemented and used without employing these specific details. Indeed, the sprouter and associated methods can be placed into practice by modifying the illustrated devices and methods and can be used in conjunction with any other apparatus and techniques conventionally used in the industry. 
         [0022]    Some embodiments of a sprouter  100  and methods for using such are shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . The sprouter  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , may generally include one or more growth trays  110 , a collection tray  160 , and a lid  140 . Some embodiments may include a single growth tray  110 , while other embodiments may include multiple growth trays  110 , such as 3, 5, 10, 15, or more than 15 growth trays  110 . Each of growth trays  110  can be stacked vertically on top each other and on top of the collection tray  160 , and the lid  140  can be placed on top of the topmost growth tray  110 . In use, seeds  132  can be placed within each growth tray  110  and left there during the entire growth process, from soaking to harvesting. Thus, there may be no need to move germinated or sprouted seeds between multiple containers, as is required in some conventional seed sprouting techniques. This can simplify the process of growing seed sprouts and also reduce the likelihood of damaging the sprouted or germinated seeds while transporting them from one container to another or forgetting to transport the seeds at the proper time. Moreover, by vertically stacking the growth trays  110 , as shown, a user can efficiently utilize available space for growing sprouts. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, each of the growth trays  110  may be stackable, such that multiple growth trays  110  can be stacked vertically on top of one another to form the body of the sprouter  100 . In some configurations, the bottom portion of each growth tray  110  can be slidably received into a top opening of a lower growth tray  110  when stacked to stabilize the stack of growth trays  110 . In some configurations, the interface  118  between adjacent growth trays  110  can further or alternatively include an interlocking feature that selectively locks adjacent growth trays  110  together to prevent the unintentional removal of one growth tray  110  from another. In use, each of the one or more growth trays  110  can be selectively lifted off of a lower growth tray  110  or the collection tray  160  so that a user can access the contents of the lower tray. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the collection tray  160  may form the base of the sprouter  100  and collect water that seeps downwards through the one or more growth trays  110 . Accordingly, the collection tray  160  can be shaped and configured to form a dish or other semi-enclosed container that can retail a liquid therein. In some configurations, the collection tray  160  that has no holes except for a top opening into which is inserted the bottom side of a growth tray  110 . In other configurations, the collection tray  160  may include one or more polls disposed on a side portion of the collection tray  160  that forms an outlet for water when the collection tray  160  is filled or nearly filled with water. The collection tray  160  can be sized to collect various quantities of water, such as between about 1 cup of water and about 10 cups of water, between about 2 cups of water and about 4 cups of water, or more than about 10 cups of water. In some configurations, the collection tray  160  can have substantially the same shape and size as the one or more growth trays  110 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, a lid  140  may be placed on the top of topmost growth tray  110  to cover the opening of the topmost growth tray  110 . The lid can form a solid barrier between the topmost growth tray  110  can assist to retain moisture and odors within the sprouter  100 . In some configurations, this barrier may be airtight, while in other embodiments this barrier can permit air to flow therethrough. The lid  140  can be removable so that a user can access the contents of the topmost growth tray  110 . In other embodiments, a lid  140  may not be included with the sprouter  110 . 
         [0026]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , in some configurations, the combination of the lid  140 , one or more of the growth trays  110 , and the collection tray  160  may form a substantially enclosed container. Moreover, in some embodiments, there may be no substantial openings or air holes between the interior of the growth trays  110  and the external environment when the one or more growth trays  110  are properly stacked and the lid  140  is properly positioned. In other embodiments, one or more air holes may be placed in the lid  140 , the one or more growth trays  110 , and/or the collection tray  160 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, one or more of the lid  140 , the one or more growth trays  110 , and/or the collection tray  160  may be made of a durable, water-proof material. Non-limiting examples of materials that can be used to manufacture these parts of the sprouter  100  may include glass, ceramics, composite materials, and other suitable materials. In some instances, these parts can be made of a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or other suitable material. In some embodiments, the growth trays  110  may be formed of or coated with a material that is hydrophobic in nature, such as PTFE, polypropylene, poly (ether imide), poly (vinylidene fluoride) and polysulfones or other suitable materials. In some configurations, the lid  140 , the one or more growth trays  110 , and/or the collection tray  160  are formed at least partially in an injection molding, vacuum forming, hydroforming, or other suitable process. 
         [0028]    The sprouter  100  can have various shapes and sizes. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, the sprouter  100  may have a cylindrical shape, such that each of the growth trays  110 , the collection tray  160 , and the lid  140  may have a circular horizontal cross-section. In other embodiments, these parts may have a non-circular cross-section, such as a square cross-section or a cross-section having the shape of another polygon. The sprouter  100  can be made to have various heights that depend in part on the number and size of each individual growth tray  110  and the collection tray  160 . In some configurations, the height of each individual growth tray  110  may be between about 1 inch and about 4 inches, between about 1.5 inches and about 3 inches, or between about 1.5 inches and about 2.5 inches. In some configurations, the length, width, and/or circumference of each individual growth tray  110  may be between about 2 inches and about 24 inches, between about 3 inches and about 12 inches, or between about 4 inches and about 8 inches. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows some embodiments of the sprouter  100  with one or more growth trays  110  made of a transparent or semi-transparent material. Such material can permit light to enter into each tray as may be beneficial for at least some of the phases of sprout growth. As shown, these materials may allow the bottom surface of each growth tray  110  to be seen through the sidewall of each growth tray  110 . As shown, in some configurations, the bottom surfaces of each growth tray  110  may include a textured surface or a pattern of raised ribs whereon seeds can be placed, sprouted, and grown to maturity.  FIG. 6  shows some embodiments of a growth tray  110  that may include a floor  120  and sidewalls  112 . In some embodiments, one or more raised ribs  124  may extend upwards from the floor  120  of the growth tray  110 . The raised ribs  124  can be disposed in a predetermined pattern, such as the illustrated circular-type pattern. The raised ribs  124  can be disposed in other such patterns such as straight rows or in rows that extend from center of the floor  120  to near the sidewall(s)  112 . In other embodiments, the floor  120  may include a textured surface rather than raised ribs  124 . In some configurations, the raised ribs  124  can extend upwards between about 1/32 of an inch to about ⅛ of an inch. The raised ribs  124  or textured surface can reduce the amount of water required within the bottom surface of the growth tray  110 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in some configurations, the one or more holes  122  in the floor  120  of the growth tray  110  may be formed through a raised rib  124  or other raised structure. The height of the raised rib(s)  124  or other raise structures can be selected so that the height of the water level  174  is configured to be retained at a predetermined height after water has stopped draining from the one or more holes  122 , as described above. Accordingly, even if the water within the growth tray  110  were to completely drain out of the holes  122  down to the level of the raised rib  124 , there would still be water between the floor  120  and the top of the raised trip  124  within the growth tray  110 , which could keep the seeds moist. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the height of the raised ribs  124  is selected based upon the desired water level  174  within the growth tray  110  after water has stopped draining from the one or more holes  122 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the growth tray  110  of  FIG. 3 . This Figure depicts the circular-type pattern of the raised ribs  124  on the floor  120  of the growth tray  110 . As shown, in some embodiments, one or more channels  126  can be formed through the pattern of the raised ribs  124  to facilitate fluid flow along the floor  120  of the growth tray  110 . These channels  126  can ensure the water is substantially evenly distributed among the seeds or sprouts within the growth tray  110 . As further shown, in some configurations, the one or more holes  122  can be formed through a raised rib  124  that is wider than the diameter of the one or more holes  122 . In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 7 , the growth tray  110  includes sixteen holes. In other embodiments, the growth tray  110  can include more than sixteen holes for fewer than sixteen holes depending on the size of the growth tray  110  and size of the holes  122 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the growth tray  110   FIGS. 3 and 4 . As shown, in some embodiments, the holes  122  extend completely through the floor  120  of the growth tray  110 . The floor of the growth tray  110  may also form a substantially flat and enclosed surface that can be inserted into the top of a lower growth tray  110  when stacked, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows some embodiments of a sprouter  100  having four growth trays  110  stacked vertical upon a collection tray  160 . Each growth tray  110  can include a floor  120  upon which seeds can be placed and one or more sidewalls  112  that can extend in a substantially vertical direction from the floor  120 . The bottom portion of each growth tray  110  can include an inward-oriented ledge  118  that can be compatibly inserted into the top portion of an adjacent, lower growth tray  110 . The inward-oriented ledge  118  can have outer dimensions that approximate the inner dimensions of the top portion of an adjacent, lower growth tray  110  such that the inwardly-oriented ledge  118  can be inserted within the adjacent growth tray  110  without excess space therebetween. In embodiments where growth tray  110  includes a circular, horizontal cross section, the inwardly-oriented ledge  118  can also include a circular, horizontal cross section having a smaller, outer diameter than the outer diameter of the main portion of the growth tray  110 . In some configurations, the outer diameter of the inwardly-oriented ledge  118  may approximate the inner diameter of the opening of the growth tray  110 . 
         [0034]    In order to provide water to the seeds and sprouts  130  growing within each growth tray  110 , one or more holes  122  can be formed through the floor  120  of each growth tray  110 . The holes  122  may be formed within an outer ring of the raised ribs  124  to provide a residual amount of water that will remain in the growth tray  110 . In some instances, as water  172  is poured into the top growth tray  110 , it trickles down through the one or more holes  122  to the growth tray  110  below it. This trickling process continues until any excess water  172  is collected in the collection tray  160 . Accordingly, a user may water the seeds  132  or sprouts  138  by adding an adequate amount water into the top growth tray  110 , which then trickles down into each of the lower growth trays  110  through the holes  122 . 
         [0035]    Referring still to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the material used to form the one or more growth trays  110  and the size of the one or more holes  122  may be selected so that the surface tension between the one or more holes  122  and the water  172  is large enough that some water  172  is retained within each tray after each watering. When the height of the water level  174  is above a certain height, the water pressure will be greater than the surface tension at the holes  122 , causing some of the water  172  to pass through the holes  122 . Once the water level  174  is below a certain height, the surface tension pressure at the holes  122  is less than the pressure and no more water flows. As such, proper selection of an appropriately hydrophobic material and correct sizing of the holes  122  can allow the correct amount of water to be automatically retained within each growth tray  110 , which can minimize the watering accuracy required for users to accurately water the seeds or sprouts  130 . In these instances, some water will be retained within each of the growth trays  110 . Accordingly, by adjusting the size of the one or more holes  122  in the growth trays  110  or by using materials with different hydrophobic properties, the height of the water level  174  retained within each growth tray  110  can be adjusted. 
         [0036]    For example, in some configurations, the height of the water level  174  retained in the growth trays  110  after water  172  has stopped draining therefrom, when there are no germinated or sprouted seeds within the growth trays  110 , is about ¼″ to about 3/16″. In other configurations, this height may be about 1/16″ to about ⅛″. Moreover, in some embodiments, the size of the holes  122  that may provide the above-listed water levels  174  can be from about 1/64″ to about ⅛″. In some embodiments, the size of the one or more holes is about 1/16″. 
         [0037]    Some different stages of growing sprouts  130  from seeds  132  using the sprouter  100  are shown in  FIGS. 7   a  to  7   c . To grow sprouts  130  within the growth tray  110 , the desired seeds  132  may be placed on the bottom surface  120  of the growth tray  110 . Some common varieties of seeds including alfalfa, mung bean, broccoli, watercress, wheat berry, soybean, and clover may be grown in the sprouter  110 . To initiate growth, the seeds  132  are soaked in water. Generally, the seeds  132  may need to be soaked for approximately one to three days or possibly longer until germination. Accordingly, as mentioned above, the size of one or more holes  122  in the growth tray  110  and the material used to form the growth tray  110  are selected such that the one or more holes  122  stops draining water when the water level  174  reaches a predetermined height. In this way, each growth tray  110  can retain enough water to properly soak the seeds  132  until germination. In some configurations, the one or more holes  122  and the growth tray  110  are configured such that the water level water level is about ¼″ to about ⅜″ of an inch when un-germinated seeds are contained within the growth tray  110 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7   b  shows the growth tray  110  and seeds  132  of  FIG. 4   a  after the seeds  132  begin to germinate and sprout. It has been recognized, that when seeds  130  begin to germinate they release one or more enzymes into the water  172  within the growth tray  110  which can affect the surface tension of the water  172 , which consequently affects the force required to push the water  172  through the holes  122 . These enzymes have been observed to decrease the surface tension of the water  174 , which subsequently can reduce the height of the water level  174  within the tray. Advantageously, at the same time the seeds  132  begin to germinate and release these enzymes, the seeds  132  are no longer required to be soaked in water  172 . At this point, the seeds  132  are beginning to sprout and entered a growth stage in which they may require a lower water level  174  in order to be kept moist for optimal growth. Accordingly, in some configurations, the one or more holes  122  and the growth tray  110  may be configured such that the water level may be maintained at about 1/32″ to about 3/16″ when germinated seeds release one or more enzymes into the water  172 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7   c  shows the growth tray  110  of  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  after the seeds  132  have grown into mature sprouts  130 . At this point, the sprouts  130  can be harvested and eaten or cooked. Between the period of seed sprouting and sprout harvesting, the sprouts should be kept moist, but should not be overwatered, which may stunt or prohibit growth. During growth, the seeds  132  and/or the growing sprouts  130  may continue to release one or more enzymes that affect the surface tension between the one or more holes  122  and the water  172  within the growth tray  110 . Accordingly, during sprout growth, the height of the water level  172  may be lower than the height of the water level  172  present in the growth tray  110  during seed soaking. Accordingly, as shown, water may be placed periodically into the one or more growth trays  110 , particularly into the top tray. For example, sprouts may be watered with about ½ cup two times per day while they are growing. As previously described, as water may only need to be placed into the topmost growth tray  110 , from which the water can drain through the one or more holes  122  into any lower growth trays  110 , and finally into the reservoir  170  of the bottom tray  160 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of a method  200  for growing sprouts within sprouter. In step  202 , seeds may be placed within the one or more growth trays of the sprouter. For effective growth, the seeds  132  may be evenly spread across the bottom surface of the one or more growth trays. When more than one growth tray is used, the growth trays can be stacked on top of each other and on top of a collection tray. In step  204 , water may be added to the top growth tray of the sprouter. Water may be added until each growth tray includes an adequate amount of water and stops draining excess water. In some instances, such as when sprouter includes between about one to about four growth trays, a half of a cup of water may be all that is required to be placed into the top growth tray two times per day. If the sprouter includes more than four growth trays, more than about a half of a cup water may be needed. 
         [0041]    In step  206 , the user may continue water this seeds regularly, noting that after this seeds sprout, the growth trays will automatically retain less water. In step  208 , the user removes excess water from the reservoir  170  from the collection tray  160  before the collection tray  160  becomes full. Lastly, in step  210 , the user may harvest the sprouts  130  when the sprouts  130  reach maturity. The period from seed sprouting to maturity will be based on the type of seed and the environmental conditions, and they generally take between about a couple of days to about several weeks. In some instances, the method  200  further includes removing and replacing the lid each time water is added to the sprouter. It has been observed, that the act of opening the lid twice a day may provide enough oxygen to the sprouts for adequate sprout grow. 
         [0042]    In addition to any previously indicated modification, numerous other variations and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this description, and appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the information has been described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred aspects, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, form, function, manner of operation and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. Also, as used herein, examples are meant to be illustrative only and should not be construed to be limiting in any manner.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8