Growing system

• US 10,595,468 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2017
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Living Greens Farm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Living Greens Farm, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Dana, Carriere, Raymond L., Lagro, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Joshua D
• Application Number:
  US15/809,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20180220591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/02 Special apparatus therefor self-acting watering devices A01G27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/06 Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

A growing system and/or plant support structure may include one or more feet supporting at least one or more uprights, on which a plurality of plants and/or grow boards for growing plants may be positioned. A nutrient delivery system may be positioned between opposing uprights to provide nutrient supply to a root zone of plants, which nutrient delivery system may be positioned adjacent each opposing upright in an interior chamber of the plant support structure. A light system may be positioned between two adjacent plant support structures such that it simultaneously provides light to the exterior surface of the two plant support structures.

Claims

1. A growing system for growing a plant, said growing system comprising:

a) a first plant support structure arranged as a row, wherein said first plant support structure has a height, a width, and a length;

b) a second plant support structure also arranged as a row, wherein said second plant support structure has a height, a width, and a length equal to said height, said width, and said length of said first plant support structure, respectively, and wherein said first plant support structure is laterally spaced from said second plant support structure so as to create an aisle between said first and second plant support structures;

c) a trolley positioned in said aisle, wherein said trolley is engaged with a light system, wherein said light system is attached to an air conduit, and wherein said light system comprises;

i. a support frame having a height, a width, and a thickness, wherein such support frame is substantially planar having a first surface and a second surface such that said first surface opposes said second surface, wherein a void is formed in said support frame and passes from said first surface to said second surface, wherein said air conduit is affixed to said support frame; and

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ii. a light source positioned in said void, wherein said light source extends outward from said support frame beyond both said first surface and said second surface to provide light to plants on either side of said aisle simultaneously, and wherein said trolley and said light system are moveable with respect to said first and second plant support structures along said lengths of said plant support structures.

2. The growing system according to claim 1 wherein said air conduit is in fluid communication with an HVAC system.

3. The growing system according to claim 1 further comprising a second light source, wherein said second light source is positioned above said air conduit and said light source is positioned below said air conduit.

4. The growing system according to claim 1 further comprising a first light cover on a first side of said light source and a second light cover on a second side of said light source, wherein said first and second light covers are engaged with said support frame.

5. A growing system for growing a plant, said apparatus comprising:

a) an air conduit affixed to a light system, wherein said light system comprises;

i. a support frame having a height, a width, and a thickness, wherein such support frame is substantially planar having a first surface and a second surface such that said first surface opposes said second surface, wherein a void is formed in said support frame and passes from said first surface to said second surface, wherein said air conduit is affixed to said support frame; and

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ii. a light source positioned in said void, wherein said light source extends outward from said support frame beyond both said first surface and said second surface;

b) a first plant support structure arranged in a row, wherein said first plant support structure has a height, a width, and a length;

c) a second plant support structure arranged in a row, wherein said second plant support structure has a height, a width, and a length equal to said height, said width, and said length of said first plant support structure, respectively, and wherein said first plant support structure is laterally spaced from said second plant support structure so as to create an aisle between said first and second plant support structures;

d) wherein said air conduit and said light system are positioned in said aisle; and

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e) wherein said air conduit and said light system are moveable within said aisle at a specific interval.

6. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 wherein said air conduit directs a volumetric flow of air to said first and said second plant support structures.

7. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 wherein said air conduit is further defined as being in fluid communication with an HVAC system.

8. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 wherein said light system further comprises a second light source, wherein said second light source is positioned above said air conduit and said light source is positioned below said air conduit.

9. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 wherein said light system further comprises a first light cover on a first side of said light source and a second light cover on a second side of said light source, wherein said first and second light covers are engaged with said support frame.

10. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 wherein said air conduit and said light system are further defined as movable in a vertical dimension.

11. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 wherein said air conduit and said light system are further defined as movable in a vertical dimension.

12. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 further comprising a second light system, wherein said second light system is positioned below said light system, and wherein said second light system comprises:

a) a support frame having a void formed therein, wherein said air conduit is affixed to said support frame; and

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b) a light source positioned in said void.

13. The growing system for growing a plant according to claim 5 wherein said first light system and said second light system are further defined as being engaged with a trolley.