# US 11,026,378 B2 · Vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,378 B2 - Document ID: US11026378B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/289,576 - Filed: 2016-10-10 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-03 - Assignees: University of Wyoming - Applicants: University of Wyoming - Inventors: Nathaniel R. Storey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026378B2 ## CPC - A01G 31/04: Hydroponic culture on conveyors - A01G 31/02: Special apparatus therefor (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00) - Y02P 60/21: Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures - 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) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus for allowing vertical hydroponic greenhouse crop production is provided. The apparatus comprises a hollow grow tube having a front face, a back face, an open first end, and an open second end. A slot is formed in the front face of the grow tube. A media material is insertable into the grow tube. The grow tube is positionable in either a horizontal position, vertical position, or any position between the horizontal position and the vertical position allowing inclined, multi-angled crop production and multi-storied conveyor style crop production. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a hollow grow tube having a front face, a back face, an open first end, and an open second end and wherein said hollow grow tube has an internal width; wherein each grow tube has a length between the first end and the open second end and the front face has a width, and wherein the length of each grow tube is larger than the width of the front face; a slot formed in the front face of the grow tube, wherein said slot is formed continuously along the entire length of said front face of each grow tube from the first end to the second end or continuously to a point approximately four (4″) inches to approximately six (6″) inches from the first end of each grow tube, the slot having a width 1/32nd to 31/32nd the width of the front face; and a media material having a thickness substantially half the internal width of the grow tube, wherein the media material is two equal lengths so that the thickness of both halves of said media material are approximately equal to the internal width of the grow tube; wherein said grow tube is adapted to receive said media material, and wherein said media material is supported by the faces of the grow tube; and wherein the grow tube is positionable in a vertical position or semi vertical position allowing inclined, multi-angled crop production and multi-storied conveyor style crop production; wherein said grow tube is configured to allow plants to be inserted into the media material and grown through said slot; and wherein the grow tube has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially square, rectangular, round, oval, octagon, pentagon and triangular. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said media material is a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for supporting said media within said tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for supporting said media is chosen from a bolt spanning the width of the media material, rivets, and metal bars. ### Claim 5 A method of growing a plant in a vertical hydroponic plant production apparatus, the apparatus comprising: providing a hollow grow tube having a front face, a back face, a first end, and a second end and wherein said hollow grow tube has an internal width, wherein the grow tube has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially square, rectangular, round, oval, octagon, pentagon and triangular; wherein each grow tube has a length between the first end and the open second end and the front face has a width, and wherein the length of each grow tube is larger than the width of the front face; forming a slot in the front face of the grow tube, wherein said slot is formed continuously along the entire length of said front face of each grow tube from the first end to the second end or continuously to a point approximately four (4″) inches to approximately six (6″) inches from the first end of each grow tube, the slot having a width 1/32nd to 31/32nd the width of the front face and the slot allowing the front face to expand outward during insertion; providing a media material having a thickness substantially half the internal width of the grow tube, wherein the media material is two equal lengths so that the thickness of both halves of said media material are approximately equal to the internal width of the grow tube, wherein said media material is capable of receiving one or more plants through said slot and into said media material and growing said one or more plants in said media material; wherein said grow tube is adapted to receive said media material, and wherein said media material is supported by the faces of the grow tube; and wherein the grow tube is positionable in a vertical position or semi vertical position allowing inclined, multi-angled crop production and multi-storied conveyor style crop production. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of growing a plant of claim 5, wherein said media material is a fibrous, non-woven matrix media material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of growing a plant of claim 5, further comprising a means for supporting said media within said tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of growing a plant of claim 7, wherein said means for supporting said media is chosen from a bolt spanning the width of the media material, rivets, and metal bars.