Patent US1908918A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US2565129A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3744183A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3744183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of hydroponic cultivation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-03
•
Granted: 1973-07-10
•
Expires: 1991-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of hydroponic cultivation of plants, comprising holding a plant in a suspended state, establishing contact between the root of the plant and a carrier member for flowing down nutrient solution disposed outwardly of the root, feeding nutrient solution from above the corner member to flow down therealong so that the nutrient solution may be fed to the root without immersing the root in the nutrient solution to establish constant and satisfactory contact between the root and air, thereby accomplishing a satisfactory cultivation free from the decay and undergrowth of the root.
Inventors
- 👤 N Kato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:52
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G31/00; A01G31/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/20; Y02P60/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation comprising the steps of: a. suspending at least one carrier member having two substantially parallel spaced apart inner surfaces facing each other in a space where air is freely ventilated by holding the uppermost portion of the at least one carrier member in the vicinity of the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member; b. placing root collar and root of at least one plant between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member; c. holding the root collar between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member by forces resiliently applied from opposite directions to the root collar while allowing the root to be substantially free of holding forces so as to suspend the at least one plant; d. feeding fluid containing nutrient material to the at least one carrier member to flow down along each of the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member; e. supplying the nutrient material from the fluid to the at least one plant by allowing the root of the at least one plant to contact freely the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member to absorb nutriment; f. supplying oxygen from air, which ventilates space between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member, to the root of the at least one plant; and g. expanding the space between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member by forces resulting from growth of the root collar of the at least one plant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation comprising the steps of: a. suspending at least one carrier member having two substantially parallel spaced apart inner surfaces facing each other in a space where air is freely ventilated by holding the uppermost portion of the at least one carrier member in the vicinity of the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member; b. placing root collar and root of at least one plant between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member; c. holding the root collar between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member by forces resiliently applied from opposite directions to the root collar while allowing the root to be substantially free of holding forces so as to suspend the at least one plant; d. feeding fluid containing nutrient material to the at least one carrier member to flow down along each of the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member; e. supplying the nutrient material from the fluid to the at least one plant by allowing the root of the at least one plant to contact freely the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member to absorb nutriment; f. supplying oxygen from air, which ventilates space between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member, to the root of the at least one plant; and g. expanding the space between the two inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member by forces resulting from growth of the root collar of the at least one plant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, comprising the further step of providing a deformable supporting body in contact with outer surfaces of the at least one carrier member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of holding the root collar includes placing a sponge between upper portions of inner surfaces of the deformable supporting body and portions of outer surfaces of the at least one carrier member in close vicinity to the root collar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, comprising the further steps of collecting and re-cycling the nutrient containing fluid which flows down the inner surfaces of the at least one carrier member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, including providing the at least one carrier member in the form of a woven fabric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, including providing the at least one carrier member in the form of a water-permeable sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, including providing the at least one carrier member in the form of a water-impermeable sheet having a napped surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, including providing the at least one carrier member in the form of a sheet having a plurality of openings sufficiently small to prevent the entry of the root of the at least one plant thereinto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, including providing the at least one carrier member in the form of a sheet having a surface active wetting agent applied thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, including providing the at least one carrier member in the form of a sheet bent substantially in U-shape to provide the two substantially parallel inner surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 10, including positioning the bent portion of the sheet lowermost, and wherein the step of holding the root collar includes positioning respectively separate sponges against outer surfaces of the sheet in the vicinity of its uppermost portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of arranging a plurality of the carrier members in spaced relationship in a substantially horizontal direction, holding at least one plant in each of the carrier members, lowering the carrier members as the plants grow, and increasing the spacing between the carrier members as the plants grow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of hydroponic cultivation as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of collecting the fluid containing the nutrient material fed to the at least one carrier member, lifting the collected fluid in a driven pump, and feeding the lifted fluid again to the at least one carrier member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |