US3927491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for growing plants
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-30
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1994-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A process for growing plants by means of water culture or hydroponics and apparatus therefor are disclosed. The process is particularly well suited for growing relatively bulky plants and includes floating the plants on a nutrient solution by rafts or the like. The rafts are positioned in close proximity to maximize the plant density per unit area of the solution and accordingly the space productivity of the process. As the plants grow on the rafts, the buoyancy of the rafts is increased and the rafts may be laterally displaced proportionally to plant growth to maintain high plant density per unit area of solution. Buoyancy of the rafts is preferably increased by a transrafting step in which a small raft is placed on a larger raft formed to receive the same. In another aspect of the present invention the nutrient solution is used as a transport medium, with the raft supported plants being urged across the nutrient solution as part of plant and/or raft processing steps.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S Farnsworth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:35
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
185 words
A process for growing plants, which plants require a substantial lateral area relative to the plant stem for growth during mature plant stages and relatively insubstantial lateral area during seedling plant stages, comprising the steps of: floating a plurality of plants by means of a plurality of separate raft means on a nutrient solution, each said raft means having sufficient buoyancy and stability for floating support of said plants and being adapted for communication of nutrient solution to said plants for growing of the same, said floating step including positioning of said plurality of raft means in said nutrient solution in close proximity to each other for substantially maximum plant density per unit area of nutrient solution as determined by the larger of the lateral area of said raft means and the lateral area of said plants; and laterally displacing said raft means and said plants while increasing the total effective area of said nutrient solution in an amount corresponding to the increase of the lateral area required by said plants during growth while maintaining substantially maximum plant density per unit area of nutrient solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A process for growing plants, which plants require a substantial lateral area relative to the plant stem for growth during mature plant stages and relatively insubstantial lateral area during seedling plant stages, comprising the steps of: floating a plurality of plants by means of a plurality of separate raft means on a nutrient solution, each said raft means having sufficient buoyancy and stability for floating support of said plants and being adapted for communication of nutrient solution to said plants for growing of the same, said floating step including positioning of said plurality of raft means in said nutrient solution in close proximity to each other for substantially maximum plant density per unit area of nutrient solution as determined by the larger of the lateral area of said raft means and the lateral area of said plants; and laterally displacing said raft means and said plants while increasing the total effective area of said nutrient solution in an amount corresponding to the increase of the lateral area required by said plants during growth while maintaining substantially maximum plant density per unit area of nutrient solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 1 wherein, each said raft means is initially formed with a buoyancy and stability accomodating growth of the plant supported thereon through a substantial portion of its growth cycle, and the step of increasing at least one of the buoyancy and the stability of said raft means in sufficient amount to accommodate further growth of said plant through a substantial portion of its growth cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 2 wherein, said step of increasing the buoyancy and maintaining the stability of said raft means is accomplished by placing each said raft means in an auxiliary raft means adapted to receive said raft means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 1 wherein, seeds for said plants are placed on said raft means for germination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 1 wherein, said raft means are each formed with an area laterally of the stem of the plant not substantially greater than the lateral area of said plant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 1 wherein, said plants are lettuce.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 6 wherein, said lettuce is head lettuce.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 1, and the step of: maintaining the positioning of said plurality of raft means in said nutrient solution in such close proximity that at least one of said plurality of raft means and said plurality of plants substantially covers the top surface of said nutrient solution to assist in the control of growing conditions for said plants.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A process for growing plants comprising the steps of: floating a plurality of plants by means of a plurality of raft means on a nutrient solution for growth of the said plants, said nutrient solution being contained in tank means having a plurality of processing stations at which processing steps are performed; and urging said raft means over said nutrient solution from one of said processing stations to at least one other of said processing stations whereby said nutrient solution acts as a transport as well as growing medium and periodically increasing at least one of the buoyance and stability of said raft means at one of said processing stations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
A process for growing plants comprising the steps of: floating a plurality of plants by means of a plurality of raft means on a nutrient solution for growth of the said plants, said nutrient solution being contained in tank means having a plurality of processing stations at which processing steps are performed; and urging said raft means over said nutrient solution from one of said processing stations to at least one other of said processing stations whereby said nutrient solution acts as a transport as well as growing medium and periodically increasing at least one of the buoyance and stability of said raft means at one of said processing stations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for growing plants comprising: a. placing a plant to be grown on raft means having sufficient buoyancy and stability for floating support of said plant on a nutrient solution, said raft means being adapted for communication of nutrient solution to said plant for growth thereof; b. placing said raft means with said plant thereon on said nutrient solution for growth of said plant; and c. after a period of growth of said plant, connecting said raft means with said plant thereon with auxiliary raft means adapted to provide at least one of additional buoyancy and additional stability for floating support of said plant and adapted for communication of said nutrient solution to said plant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for growing plants comprising: a. placing a plant to be grown on raft means having sufficient buoyancy and stability for floating support of said plant on a nutrient solution, said raft means being adapted for communication of nutrient solution to said plant for growth thereof; b. placing said raft means with said plant thereon on said nutrient solution for growth of said plant; and c. after a period of growth of said plant, connecting said raft means with said plant thereon with auxiliary raft means adapted to provide at least one of additional buoyancy and additional stability for floating support of said plant and adapted for communication of said nutrient solution to said plant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A process for growing plants as defined in claim 10 wherein, a plurality of said raft means each carrying a plant thereon are provided, said plurality of raft means being interconnected by frangible means, and the step of: disconnecting said plurality of raft means at said frangible means prior to said step of connecting said raft means to said auxiliary raft means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |