Back to results
US 10,701,875 B2Granted
Multi-piece hydroponic tower with hinged tower face
AssigneeMjnn LLC
InventorsBrice Klein, Michael Flynn, Alexandre Le Roux, Matthew Matera, Alex Ibrahim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-piece hydroponic tower utilizing separate tower body and face plate components that are hingeably coupled together, thereby simplifying tower construction as well as tower maintenance. In addition to the hinge, the tower face plate(s) is held in place with a latch, e.g., a snap-fit fastener. A V-shaped groove may be included on either side of the tower, the grooves increasing the efficiency of delivering water and nutrients to the plants via the narrowed rear cavity wall(s). The V-shaped grooves may also be used as an alignment aid when coupling planters, harvesters, or other equipment to the tower.
Claims20
A dual-sided hydroponic tower, comprising:
- a tower body, said tower body defining a first tower cavity and a second tower cavity, said first tower cavity configured to provide a passageway for a water/nutrient mix, said second tower cavity configured to provide a second passageway for said water/nutrient mix, wherein a first edge portion of said tower body includes a first tower body hinge member, said first tower body hinge member of said first edge portion of said tower body corresponding to said first tower cavity, said tower body further comprising a second tower body hinge member corresponding to a second edge portion of said tower body, said second tower body hinge member of said second edge portion of said tower body corresponding to said second tower cavity;
- a first tower face plate, wherein an edge portion of said first tower face plate includes a first face plate hinge member, wherein said first tower face plate is hingeably coupled to said tower body via said first tower body hinge member and said first face plate hinge member, wherein said first tower face plate is positionable relative to said tower body in at least a first tower cavity closed position and a first tower cavity open position, said first tower face plate comprising a first plurality of plant container cut-outs, said first plurality of plant container cut-outs configured to accept a first plurality of plant containers;
- a second tower face plate, wherein an edge portion of said second tower face plate includes a second face plate hinge member, wherein said second tower face plate is hingeably coupled to said tower body via said second tower body hinge member and said second face plate hinge member, wherein said second tower face plate is positionable relative to said tower body in at least a second tower cavity closed position and a second tower cavity open position, said second tower face plate comprising a second plurality of plant container cut-outs, said second plurality of plant container cut-outs configured to accept a second plurality of plant containers;
- at least one of a first fastener configured to temporarily latch said first tower face plate to said tower body when said first tower face plate is in said first tower cavity closed position;
- at least one of a second fastener configured to temporarily latch said second tower face plate to said tower body when said second tower face plate is in said second tower cavity closed position;
- said first tower cavity further comprising a first side wall, a second side wall and a first rear cavity wall, wherein said first side wall flares out relative to said first rear cavity wall when said first tower face plate is positioned in said first tower cavity open position, and wherein said second side wall flares out relative to said first rear cavity wall when said first tower face plate is positioned in said first tower cavity open position;
- and
- said second tower cavity further comprising a third side wall, a fourth side wall and a second rear cavity wall, wherein said third side wall flares out relative to said second rear cavity wall when said second tower face plate is positioned in said second tower cavity open position, and wherein said fourth side wall flares out relative to said second rear cavity wall when said second tower face plate is positioned in said second tower cavity open position.
5 more elements
A dual-sided hydroponic tower, comprising:
- a tower body, said tower body defining a first tower cavity and a second tower cavity, said first tower cavity configured to provide a passageway for a water/nutrient mix, said second tower cavity configured to provide a second passageway for said water/nutrient mix, wherein a first edge portion of said tower body includes a first tower body hinge member, said first tower body hinge member of said first edge portion of said tower body corresponding to said first tower cavity, said tower body further comprising a second tower body hinge member corresponding to a second edge portion of said tower body, said second tower body hinge member of said second edge portion of said tower body corresponding to said second tower cavity;
- a first tower face plate, wherein an edge portion of said first tower face plate includes a first face plate hinge member, wherein said first tower face plate is hingeably coupled to said tower body via said first tower body hinge member and said first face plate hinge member, wherein said first tower face plate is positionable relative to said tower body in at least a first tower cavity closed position and a first tower cavity open position, said first tower face plate comprising a first plurality of plant container cut-outs, said first plurality of plant container cut-outs configured to accept a first plurality of plant containers;
- a second tower face plate, wherein an edge portion of said second tower face plate includes a second face plate hinge member, wherein said second tower face plate is hingeably coupled to said tower body via said second tower body hinge member and said second face plate hinge member, wherein said second tower face plate is positionable relative to said tower body in at least a second tower cavity closed position and a second tower cavity open position, said second tower face plate comprising a second plurality of plant container cut-outs, said second plurality of plant container cut-outs configured to accept a second plurality of plant containers;
- at least one of a first fastener configured to temporarily latch said first tower face plate to said tower body when said first tower face plate is in said first tower cavity closed position;
- at least one of a second fastener configured to temporarily latch said second tower face plate to said tower body when said second tower face plate is in said second tower cavity closed position;
- a first V-shaped groove running along the length of a first side of said tower body, said first V-shaped groove centered between said first tower cavity and said second tower cavity;
- and
- a second V-shaped groove running along the length of a second side of said tower body, said second V-shaped groove centered between said first tower cavity and said second tower cavity.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.