SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CULTIVATING PLANTS

• US 20150351329A1
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RackREIT, LLC
• Original Assignee: RackREIT, LLC
• Inventors: Heidl, Jeremy, Muth, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 10,098,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/003 Controls for self-acting watering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/005 Reservoirs connected to flower-pots through conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/008 Component parts, e.g. dispensing fittings, level indicators
• 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 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/023 Multi-tiered planters
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/20 Forcing-frames; Lights , i.e. glass panels covering the forcing-frames
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/247 Watering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045

Abstract

A system for storing and cultivating plants and enhancing usable area or space is provided. One or more racks are provided for housing plants, such as potted plants, in arrays extending in at least a vertical direction. Lighting is provided to provide ultraviolet and infrared radiation in the system. At least one rack is selectively moveable with respect to at least one lighting element, such that proximity between plants and at least one lighting element may be selectively varied.

Claims

1. A system for cultivating a plurality of plants, the system comprising:

a plurality of storage units adapted to receive plants distributed in a vertical orientation, where said plurality of storage units are arranged in adjacent rows and columns;

the plurality of storage units provided on a moveable rack, the movable rack provided substantially perpendicular to a track and the rack being moveable in a direction defined by the track;

a fluid supply conduit in fluid communication with at least one of said storage units;

a fluid return conduit in fluid communication with a bottom portion of each the storage units and operable to convey excess fluid from the plants;

a vertically elongate lighting element for providing at least one of light and heat to the plurality of storage units;

wherein a position of at least one of the rack and the lighting element is selectively adjustable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the moveable rack comprises a plurality of storage units arranged in adjacent rows and columns on a first side of the rack, and a plurality of storage units arranged in adjacent rows and columns on a second side of the rack.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second rack, and wherein the vertically elongate lighting element is connected to the second rack.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second rack, and wherein the second rack comprises a stationary rack.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vertically elongate lighting elements.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein a first lighting element is provided proximal the first side of the rack and a second lighting element is provided proximal the second side of the rack.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second rack provided in communication with the track, and wherein the racks are moveable relative to each other in a direction defined by the track.

8. A system for cultivating a plurality of plants, the system comprising:

a first rack comprising a plurality of plant storage units distributed in a vertical orientation, where said plurality of plant storage units are arranged in adjacent rows and columns;

the first rack provided in contact with at least one of a rail and a track and wherein the first rack is moveable along a path defined by the at least one of a rail and a track;

the first rack comprising a lighting element for providing at least one of light and heat;

a second rack comprising a plurality of plant storage units distributed in vertical orientation where said plurality of plant storage units are arranged in adjacent rows and columns; and

wherein a relative distance between the first rack and the second is selectively adjustable and wherein the second rack is adapted to receive at least one of light and heat from the lighting element.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a fluid supply conduit in fluid communication with each of said plant storage units.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a fluid return conduit in fluid communication with a bottom portion of each the plants and operable to convey excess fluid from the plant storage units.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the lighting element comprises a vertically elongate lighting element.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first rack comprises a first side and a second side and wherein each of the first and second sides comprise a lighting element.

13. A system for cultivating plants, the system comprising:

a first rack having a height, a width, and a depth, the first rack adapted to receive a plurality of plants distributed along at least the height and the width;

a second rack having a height, a width, and a depth, the second rack adapted to receive a plurality of plants distributed along at least the height and the width;

the second rack comprising a wheel adapted for contact with a track and wherein the second rack is moveable in a first axis along a path defined by the track;

the second rack comprising a lighting element for providing at least one of light and heat;

a third rack having a height, a width, and a depth, the third rack adapted to receive a plurality of plants distributed along at least the height and the width; and

the third rack comprising a wheel adapted for contact with the track and moveable in the first axis along the path defined by the track.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first rack is provided in a substantially fixed position.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second rack comprises a first side and a second side opposing the first side, the first and second sides separated by the width.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the third rack comprises a lighting element interconnected to the rack.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the racks comprises an irrigation system for providing irrigation to a plurality of locations along the at least one rack.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the lighting element comprises a vertically elongate lighting element.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a fourth rack adapted to receive a plurality of plants.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the second rack comprises a user-interface for selective movement of the second rack.