Plant rejuvenator system

• US 5,152,099 A
• Filed: 10/17/1990
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ole K Nilssen
• Original Assignee: Ole K Nilssen
• Inventors: Nilssen, Ole K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US07/597,108
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 47/39, 108/20, 108/21, 428/425, 428/522
• US Class Current: 47/65
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/00 Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses of mushrooms A01G18/00; soilless cultivation A01G31/00; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/04 Flower-pot saucers
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/042 Combinations of a saucer and a flower pot attached together
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/24 Devices or systems for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature , illuminating, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

Particularly for use in wintertime, a plant rejuvenator is provided in the form of a wall-hung shelf that is internally covered with reflective material. Along the rear wall of the shelf, in front of the reflective material, is positioned an array of fluorescent lamps. Within the shelf, in front of the fluorescent lamps, is placed one or more potted plants; each plant positioned on an automatically rotating pot-base. Covering the front of the shelf is a partially transparent folding door. When closed, the door reflects some 90% of the light impinging upon it, but lets through the remaining 10%. A ventilation fan is arranged to maintain the temperature within the shelf at an optimum level. An automatic watering and feeding arrangement maintains the soil of each potted plant such as to promote effective plant growth. The light provided in intense enough to sustain a high degree of plant growth. The automatic rotation of the pots provides for even exposure to light. A plant may be placed in the plant rejuvenator for the purpose of display and/or for the purpose of being rejuvenated such as to permit it to remain in a healthy state outside of the rejuvenator for an extended period. Typically, a plant would be kept in the rejuvenator for a week or so. Thereafter, the plant would be able to maintain a good state of health for perhaps two weeks or so even if kept outside of the rejuvenator in wintertime.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising:

stationary base means;

rotatable platform means positioned on top of and supported by the stationary base means; and

rotating means located between the stationary base means and the rotatable platform means;

the rotating means being;

(1) mechanically engaged with both the stationary base means and the rotatable platform means, and (ii) operative to cause the rotatable platform means to be rotated with respect to the stationary base means;

the rotating means including an energy source connected with an electric motor by way of an electrically powered timer-switcher means;

the timer-switcher means, itself continuously powered from the energy source, being operative to cause the electric motor to be intermittently and repeatedly powered from the energy source for a relatively brief period at a time;

each relatively brief period being separated from the next relatively brief period by a relatively long period;

the relatively long period being substantially longer than each relatively brief period;

the arrangement being entirely self-contained and being fully operational as described without requiring connection with any external source of power.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the energy source is an electric battery.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

(i) said relatively brief period has a duration on the order of one minute or less; and

(ii) said relatively long period has a duration on the order of 24 hours.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the rotatable platform means includes a potted plant.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the timer-switcher means is programmable such as to permit programming of the duration said relatively brief periods.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the timer-switcher means is programmable such as to permit programming of the duration said relatively long periods.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the duration of said relatively brief period, and/or of said relatively long period, is adjustable.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

(1) the stationary base means rests on a flat substantially horizontal surface; and

(ii) the rotatable platform means is operative to cover the stationary base means, thereby to make it non-visible to a person looking from a position above the platform means.

9. An arrangement comprising:

stationary base means;

rotatable platform means positioned on top of and supported by the stationary base mean; and

rotating means located between the stationary base means and the rotatable platform means;

the rotating means being;

(i) mechanically engaged with both the stationary base means and the rotatable platform means, and (ii) operative to cause the rotatable platform means to be intermittently rotated with respect to the stationary base means;

the rotating means including an energy source connected with an electric motor by way of an automatically actuated switcher means;

the switcher means, itself continuously powered from the energy source, being operative to cause the electric motor to be intermittently powered from the energy source;

the arrangement being entirely self-contained and being fully operational as described without requiring connection with any external source of power.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the automatically actuated switcher means is operative to cause the rotatable platform means to be rotated by a few degrees of arc once every 24 hours or so.

11. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the automatically actuated switcher means is operative periodically to cause the rotatable platform to rotate in steps of a few degrees of arc, with each such step being repeated after a manifest delay.

12. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the position of the rotatable platform means relative to the stationary base means is an indication of time, such as the day of the week.

13. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein the source of energy is an ordinary electric battery.

14. An arrangement comprising:

stationary base means;

rotatable platform means positioned on top of and supported by the stationary base means; and

rotating means disposed between the stationary base means and the rotatable platform means;

the rotating means being;

(i) mechanically engaged with both the stationary base means and the rotatable platform means, and (ii) operative to cause the rotatable platform means to be intermittently rotated with respect to the stationary base means;

the rotating means including an electric energy source connected with an electric motor by way of an automatically actuated switcher means;

the switcher means being;

(i) itself continuously powered from the energy source, and (ii) operative intermittently to cause the electric motor to be powered from the electric energy source;

the arrangement being entirely self-contained, requiring no connection with any other source of energy.