# US 10,945,382 B2 · Soil module and method of manufacture thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,382 B2 - Document ID: US10945382B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/182,974 - Filed: 2018-11-07 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-07 - Assignees: GrowSquares Inc. - Applicants: GrowSquares Inc. - Inventors: Zachary Witman; John Dinning; Daeshuan McClintock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945382B2 ## CPC - A01G 9/0291: {Planting receptacles specially adapted for remaining in the soil after planting} - A01G 9/0293: {Seed or shoot receptacles} - A01G 24/25: Dry fruit hulls or husks, e.g. chaff or coir - A01G 24/28: containing peat, moss or sphagnum - A01G 24/46: multi-layered - B65D 65/466: {Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A self-contained soil module, the soil module including a biodegradable outer frame forming the shape of the soil module, a biodegradable wrapping disposed within the biodegradable outer frame, a soil composition contained within the biodegradable wrapping and at least one plant seed of at least one type of plant disposed within the soil module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self-contained soil module, the self-contained soil module comprising: a biodegradable outer frame forming an outer surface of the self-contained soil module comprising a top side, a bottom side, and one or more side walls, wherein the biodegradable outer frame is constructed from at least a mycelium sheet, the mycelium sheet grown from a mycelium substrate mixture, the mycelium substrate mixture configured to grow such that the mycelium substrate mixture fully forms at least one of the top side, the bottom side, and the one or more side walls; a soil composition disposed within the biodegradable outer frame; and an inner layer comprising a biodegradable wrapping disposed within the biodegradable outer frame, the biodegradable wrapping comprising an upper sheet and a lower sheet, wherein the upper sheet and the lower sheet are situated in parallel planes; at least one plant seed of at least one type of plant disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet; and a grid structure disposed on the bottom side, the grid structure in contact with the one or more side walls. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the at least one plant seed is dipped in tapioca. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable wrapping comprises cellulose paper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the one or more side walls comprise corners of the biodegradable outer frame and wherein the corners are curved. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the one or more side walls of the biodegradable outer frame are perforated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the one or more side walls comprise a sinusoidal texture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the bottom side of the biodegradable outer frame comprises one or more openings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the soil composition comprises by weight at least one of the following components: peat moss, pearlite, coco coir, compost, manganese greensand, bloodmeal, rock phosphate, lime, worm castings, potassium sulfate, azomite, alfalfa meal, bonemeal, biochar, capsaicin, chicken manure, cotton seed, feather meal, kelp meal, langbeinite, rock dust, tapioca, vermiculite, zinc, and molybendum. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the soil composition further comprises cultured bacteria. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the soil composition further comprises at least one component that is selected and weighted to optimize plant growth of the at least one plant seed disposed within the self-contained soil module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the soil composition further comprises at least one component that is selected and weighted to counteract at least one deficiency of a local soil medium. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the soil composition further comprises at least one component that is selected and weighted to optimize plant growth of the plant seed contained within the soil module based on a microclimate analysis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the soil composition further comprises at least one component that is selected and weighted to optimize plant growth of the plant seed contained within the soil module based on the geographic location where the soil module is to be placed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The soil module of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable outer frame comprising mycelium is self-supporting and shaped as a hollow three-dimensional geometric object. ### Claim 15 A self-contained soil module, the self-contained soil module comprising: a biodegradable outer frame forming an outer surface of the self-contained soil module comprising a top side, a bottom side, and one or more side walls, wherein the biodegradable outer frame is constructed from at least a mycelium sheet, the mycelium sheet grown from a mycelium substrate mixture, the mycelium substrate mixture configured to grow such that the mycelium substrate mixture fully forms at least one of the top side, the bottom side, and the one or more side walls; the top side, bottom side, and one or more side walls affixed together using a mastic; a soil composition disposed within the biodegradable outer frame; and an inner layer comprising a biodegradable wrapping disposed within the biodegradable outer frame, the biodegradable wrapping comprising an upper sheet and a lower sheet, wherein the upper sheet and the lower sheet are situated in parallel planes; and at least one plant seed of at least one type of plant disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The self-contained soil module of claim 15 wherein the mastic is bio-based.