Apparatus for supporting hydroponically grown plants

Claim 2

For use in a hydroponic system, plant-holding means including: a receptacle for holding an individual plant having a stem, said receptacle having an inner side wall surface, an open top and an open bottom portion through which said stem is adapted to extend; and means for supporting said plant laterally including yieldable means engaging said inner side wall surface and adapted to engage said stem and means for supporting said plant vertically, said vertically supporting means including a stirrup depending from said receptacle, said stirrup having an upper portion coupled to said receptacle and a lower portion forming a seat for the lower extremity of said plant stem.

Claim 3

A plant-holding means, as defined in claim 1, in which: said receptacle includes an inwardly extending shoulder in said bottom portion, said upper portion of said stirrup being configured to engage said shoulder.

Claim 4

A plant-holding means, as defined in claim 2, in which: said stirrup is in the form of a coil of wire the upper turns of which grip said shoulder.

Claim 5

A plant-holding means, as defined in claim 2, in which: said stirrup is formed of a wire mesh the upper portion of which includes an outwardly extending flange engaging said shoulder.

Claim 6

For use in a hydroponic system, plant-holding means including: a receptacle for holding an individual plAnt and adapted to receive the stem of said plant, said receptacle having a generally circular transverse section and having an open top and an open bottom and an interior wall tapering inwardly toward said bottom, said receptacle further including flange means extending outwardly from the upper extremity thereof for engaging a receptacle-holding platform and shoulder means extending inwardly at the bottom extremity thereof; means for supporting said plant both laterally and vertically including a plurality of circumferentially disposed yieldable inserts within said receptacles, said inserts having first surfaces engaging said interior wall of said receptacle and second surfaces engaging said stem, said inserts being wedged between said interior wall and said stem to resist downward movement of the plant and adapted to yield and deform to accommodate the increasing size of said stem during growth of said plant; and means for providing supplemental support for said plant including a vertically-oriented wire coil having a series of spaced, helical turns, the turns adjacent the upper extremity of said coil engaging said inwardly extending shoulder on said receptacle, the lower extremity of said coil including a portion configured to be engaged by the lower extremity of said stem to thereby provide said supplemental support.

Claim 7

For use in a hydroponic system, plant-holding means including: a receptacle for holding an individual plAnt and adapted to receive the stem of said plant, said receptacle having a generally circular transverse section and having an open top and an open bottom and an interior wall tapering inwardly toward said bottom, said receptacle further including flange means extending outwardly from the upper extremity thereof for engaging a receptacle-holding platform and shoulder means extending inwardly at the bottom extremity thereof; means for supporting said plant both laterally and vertically including a plurality of circumferentially disposed yieldable inserts within said receptacles, said inserts having first surfaces engaging said interior wall of said receptacle and second surfaces engaging said stem, said inserts being wedged between said interior wall and said stem to resist downward movement of the plant and adapted to yield and deform to accommodate the increasing size of said stem during growth of said plant; and means for providing supplemental support for said plant including a vertically-oriented wire coil having a series of spaced, helical turns, the turns adjacent the upper extremity of said coil engaging said inwardly extending shoulder on said receptacle, the lower extremity of said coil including a portion configured to be engaged by the lower extremity of said stem to thereby provide said supplemental support.

Claim 8

A plant-holding means, as defined in claim 5, in which: said turns of said wire coil have a substantially uniform diameter along the length of said coil, the stem-engaging portion of said coil comprising a length of the lower extremity of said wire directed generally diametrically across said coil.

Claim 9

A plant-holding means, as defined in claim 5, in which: particulate filler material is disposed over said yieldable inserts for providing additional lateral support of said plant and for holding said inserts in place.

Claim 10

In a hydroponic system for growing large plants, said system including means for containing nutrient solution, a plurality of plant receptacles including means associated therewith for providing vertical support for said plants, said receptacles defining a growing area, means operatively associated with said solution-containing means for supporting said receptacles in relation to said nutrient solution, and means operatively associated with said solution-containing means and positioned generally over said growing area for providing lateral support for said plants, the improvement in which: said receptacle is adapted to receive the stem of said plant and has an open top and an open bottom through which said stem is adapted to extend; and a stirrup depends from said receptacle, said stirrup having an upper portion coupled to said receptacle and a lower portion forming a seat for the lower extremity of said plant stem.

Claim 11

In a hydroponic system for growing large plants, said system including means for containing nutrient solution, a plurality of plant receptacles including means associated therewith for providing vertical support for said plants, said receptacles defining a growing area, means operatively associated with said solution-containing means for supporting said receptacles in relation to said nutrient solution, and means operatively associated with said solution-containing means and positioned generally over said growing area for providing lateral support for said plants, the improvement in which: said receptacle is adapted to receive the stem of said plant and has an open top and an open bottom through which said stem is adapted to extend; and a stirrup depends from said receptacle, said stirrup having an upper portion coupled to said receptacle and a lower portion forming a seat for the lower extremity of said plant stem.

Claim 12

The invention, as defined in claim 8, in which: said stirrup comprises a wire coil having a lower seat portion upon which said plant stem rests.

Claim 13

The invention, as defined in claim 8, in which: said stirrup is formed of wire mesh having a lower portion adapted to receive and support said plant stem.

Claim 14

The invention, as defined in claim 10, in which: said wire mesh has generally square mesh openings of at least one-quarter inch on a side.

Claim 15

The invention, as defined in claim 10, in which: said wire mesh has a generally U-shaped configuration, the lower, arcuate portion thereof adapted to support said plant stem.

Claim 16

The invention, as defined in claim 10, in which: said wire mesh is in the shape of a cylindrical cage having a lower, horizontal portion adapted to support said plant stem.

Claim 17

In a hydroponic system, said system including means for containing nutrient solution, at least one receptacle for receiving a plant and including means for providing support for said plant, means operatively associated with said solution-containing means for supporting said receptacle in relation to said nutrient solution, and means positioned in relation to said receptacle for laterally supporting portions of the plant above said receptacle, the improvement in which: said receptacle has an open lower end and includes an inwardly directed flange at said lower end; and a stirrup depends from said receptacle, said stirrup comprising a wire coil, upper turns of said coil engaging said inwardly directed flange of said receptacle, said coil having a lower end forming a seat for said plant stem.

Claim 18

In a hydroponic system, said system including means for containing nutrient solution, at least one receptacle for receiving a plant and including means for providing support for said plant, means operatively associated with said solution-containing means for supporting said receptacle in relation to said nutrient solution, and means positioned in relation to said receptacle for laterally supporting portions of the plant above said receptacle, the improvement in which: said receptacle has an open lower end and includes an inwardly directed flange at said lower end; and a stirrup depends from said receptacle, said stirrup comprising a wire coil, upper turns of said coil engaging said inwardly directed flange of said receptacle, said coil having a lower end forming a seat for said plant stem.

Claim 19

The invention, as defined in claim 14, in which: the turns of said wire coil have a substantially uniform diameter along the length of said coil, said lower portion of said coil including a length of said wire directed generally diametrically across said coil for providing said seat portion.

Claim 20

The invention, as defined in claim 15, in which: said wire coil tapers inwardly toward said lower portion, the smaller diameter turns in said lower portion being dimensioned to receive and support the lower extremity of said plant stem.

Claim 21

The invention, as defined in claim 14, in which: adjacent turns of said wire coil are spaced at least 1/4 inch apart.