Pure-grown totally concealed clean room vegetable factory

• US 8,448,379 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry Y. Igarashi
• Original Assignee: Larry Y. Igarashi
• Inventors: Igarashi, Larry Y
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Rob
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, EBONY E
• Application Number:
  US13/033,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20120144740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 47/60, 47/62.R, 47/62.N, 47/62.A, 47/62.C, 47/17, 47/655, 47/667, 47/411.2, 47/46, 47/79
• US Class Current: 47/62.R
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/06 Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

Plant roots are moved by various means and sometimes exposed to air within a clean room system of plant production. A tub and lid system of plant containment and plant care may be integrated into a rack system which may be contained within a clean room environment devoid of bugs, environmental deviations, pollution and other contaminates found in a typical organic system of the prior art.

Claims

1. A contained growing system, for moving plant roots and varying the levels of fluid in contact with the plant roots, the system comprising:

a) a grow tub lining;

b) a grow lid covering the grow tub lining, and the grow lid having a plurality of voids, the voids suitable for allowing plant life to grow through the voids;

c) a racking structure, the racking structure having a side reflector providing means of inspecting lights;

d) a light system;

e) a drain pipe system disposed within the grow tub lining, the drain pipe system comprising a lower “

B”

section configured to drain nutrient water from a lower level of the grow tub lining and the drain pipe system further comprising an upper “

A”

section configured to drain nutrient water contained within an upper level of the grow tub lining;

f) an inflow pipe system disposed within the grow tub lining and configured to deliver water containing nutrients into the grow tub lining; and

g) the drain pipe system and the inflow pipe system configured to fill and drain the grow tub lining with water containing nutrients to cause plant roots disposed within the grow tub lining to move and to expose said plant roots to air.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the grow tub lining comprises a continuous tub structure.

3. A contained growing system, using a drain and inflow system to move plant roots and to expose plant roots to air, the system comprising:

a) a plurality of racking systems;

b) a plurality of grow tub liners fitted with grow lids, with each grow lid having voids sufficient for allowing plant life to grow through the voids of each grow lid;

c) a pipe system delivering water to the plurality of grow tub liners;

d) an overflow drain system comprising a lower drain area section and an upper drain area section, with the upper drain area section superior to the lower drain section, such that plant roots contained within the grow tub liners are exposed to air upon use of upper drain section and that use of the upper drain section causes plant roots to move within the grow tub liners;

e) a lighting system providing artificial light to one or more of the grow tub liners;

f) a filtration system filtering drained water and returning water for delivery to the grow tub liners; and

g) a side reflector system, contained within the racking systems, the light reflector system allowing visual inspection of lighting components.

4. The system of claim 3 contained within a closed structure, the closed structure comprising:

a) a germination room;

b) a tank and circulation room; and

c) an air shower room having sticky mats.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the closed structure comprises a mobile structure capable of being transported as a shipping container.

6. A method of growing plants by moving plant roots and exposing the plant roots to air the method comprising:

a) using a plurality of racking systems;

b) using a plurality of grow tub liners fitted with grow lids, with each grow lid having voids sufficient for allowing plant life to grow through the grow lid voids;

c) using a pipe system to deliver water to the plurality of grow tub liners;

d) using an overflow drain system comprising a lower drain section and an upper drain section, with the upper drain section superior to the lower drain section such that plant roots—

contained within the grow tub liners are exposed to air and move upon use of upper drain section;

e) using a lighting system providing artificial light to one or more of the grow tub liners;

f) using a filtration system filtering drained water and returning water for delivery to the grow tub liners; and

g) using a side reflector system, contained within the racking systems, the light reflector system allowing visual inspection of lighting components.

7. The method of claim 6 using a closed structure to protect plants from outside elements.

8. The method of claim 7 using an air shower to clean people who enter the closed structure.

9. The method of claim 8 using clean suits to clothe people who enter the closed structure.