# US 11,297,778 B2 · Top furling automated retractable greenhouse cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,778 B2 - Document ID: US11297778B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/354,715 - Filed: 2019-03-15 - Published: 2019-07-11 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-11 - Assignees: Emerald Kingdom Greenhouse, LLC - Applicants: Emerald Kingdom Greenhouse, LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Lloyd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297778B2 ## CPC - A01G 9/16: Dismountable or portable greenhouses {; Greenhouses with sliding roofs} - A01G 9/1407: {of flexible synthetic material} - A01G 9/22: Shades or blinds for greenhouses, or the like - A01G 9/227: {rolled up during non-use (in general E06B9/08)} - E04F 10/0614: {whereby the pivot axis of the articulation is parallel to the roller} - Y02A 40/25: Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor - 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) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract Top furling automated retractable greenhouse cover is a retractable cover for a greenhouse that is mounted on top of the greenhouse. Top furling automated retractable greenhouse cover comprises: a spine clamp, a left furling cover assembly, a right furling cover assembly, a hinge pin assembly, and an electrical control box. Left and right furling assemblies each comprise a curtain or cover, a furling rod, a furling motor, and a support arm. Electrical control box sends electronic signals to cause left and right covers or curtains to furl above the greenhouse when retracted and to unfurl down to the ground when extended to cover the greenhouse. The top-mounted design allows efficient use of gravity to apply tension to the furled rolls. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A greenhouse comprising: a roof; a frame having a width between a first side supported by ground at a first location and a second opposing side supported by the ground at a second location, an apex of the frame disposed between the first and second sides; and a greenhouse cover assembly for covering at least a portion of the greenhouse, the greenhouse cover assembly comprising: a hinge assembly configured to be installed at a position that is less distant from a plane bisecting the width of the frame than from each of the first and second locations, the plane perpendicular to the ground; a first furling cover assembly comprising: a first arm having a first end connected to the hinge assembly such that the first arm is rotatable relative to the hinge assembly from a first position to a second position, the first arm having a second end opposite to the first end; a first motor that connects to the second end of the first arm such that the first motor is positioned above the roof of the greenhouse for at least a portion of the rotation of the first arm from the first position to the second position, the first arm having a length that positioned the first motor above the roof of the greenhouse in the first position; a first rod connected to the first motor; and a first cover portion that unwinds from the first rod when the first motor causes the first rod to rotate in a first direction relative to the hinge assembly and that winds around the first rod when the first motor causes the first rod to rotate in a second direction relative to the hinge assembly, the first cover portion arranged to cover less than an entire area of the roof of the greenhouse; and a second furling cover assembly comprising: a second arm rotatable relative to the hinge assembly; a second motor that connects to the second arm, the second arm having a length that positions the second motor above the roof of the greenhouse in a second position; a second rod that connects to the second motor; and a second cover portion that unwinds from the second rod when the second motor causes the second rod to rotate in the second direction relative to the hinge assembly and that winds around the second rod when the second motor causes the second rod to rotate in the first direction relative to the hinge assembly, the second cover portion arranged to cover less than an entire area of the roof of the greenhouse. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The greenhouse of claim 1, wherein the first arm has a length greater than a height of the greenhouse. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The greenhouse of claim 1, wherein the first rod is rotatable in a first direction from a position at or near the apex of the frame of the greenhouse towards the ground, and rotatable in a second direction towards the apex of the frame, the second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The greenhouse of claim 3, wherein the first rod is not rotatable in the second direction past the apex of the frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The greenhouse of claim 4, further comprising a spine clamp connecting the first cover portion to the roof of the greenhouse, the spine clamp preventing rotation of the first rod in the second direction past the apex of the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The greenhouse of claim 1 wherein the first arm is configured to telescope in length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The greenhouse of claim 6, wherein the first arm is configured to adjust between a first length and a second length longer than the first length, and wherein the first arm is biased to the first length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The greenhouse of claim 6, wherein the greenhouse is a semi-gabled greenhouse with the roof being curved, the greenhouse including a sidewall that is straighter than the roof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The greenhouse of claim 8, wherein the first cover portion is configured to be pulled by gravity along the sidewall to increase tension in the first cover portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The greenhouse of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to actuate the first motor to rotate in response to a signal from the controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The greenhouse of claim 1, wherein the first arm is between 0.5 feet and 10 feet longer than a maximum height of the greenhouse. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The greenhouse of claim 1, wherein rotation of the first rod in a first direction causes the first rod to move farther from the apex of the frame of the greenhouse, and wherein rotation of the first rod in a second direction causes the first rod to move toward the apex of the frame of the greenhouse. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The greenhouse of claim 1, wherein the first cover portion is arranged to cover no more than half of an entire area of the roof of the greenhouse. ### Claim 14 A greenhouse cover assembly for a greenhouse including a frame having a width between a first side supported by ground at a first location and a second opposing side supported by the ground at a second location, an apex of the frame disposed between the first and second sides, the greenhouse cover assembly comprising: a hinge assembly installed at a position less distant from a plane bisecting the width of the frame than from each of the first and second locations, the plane perpendicular to the ground; a first furling cover assembly comprising: a first arm having a first end that connects to the hinge assembly such that the first arm is rotatable relative to the hinge assembly, the first arm having a second end opposite to the first end; a first motor that connects to the second end of the first arm, the first arm having a length that positions the first motor above a roof of the greenhouse in a first position; a first rod that connects to the first motor; and a first cover portion that unwinds from the first rod when the first motor causes the first rod to rotate in a first direction relative to the hinge assembly and that winds around the first rod when the first motor causes the first rod to rotate in a second direction relative to the hinge assembly, the first cover portion arranged to cover less than an entire area of the roof of the greenhouse; and a second furling cover assembly comprising: a second arm rotatable relative to the hinge assembly; a second motor that connects to the second arm, the second arm having a length that positions the second motor above the roof of the greenhouse in a second position; a second rod that connects to the second motor; and a second cover portion that unwinds from the second rod when the second motor causes the second rod to rotate in the second direction relative to the hinge assembly and that winds around the second rod when the second motor causes the second rod to rotate in the first direction relative to the hinge assembly, the second cover portion arranged to cover less than an entire area of the roof of the greenhouse. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the first cover portion is arranged to cover no more than half the area of the roof of the greenhouse. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the first rod is rotatable in the first direction from a position at or near the apex of the frame of the greenhouse towards the ground. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 16, wherein the first rod is not rotatable in the second direction past the apex of the frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 17, further comprising a spine clamp that connects the first cover portion to the roof of the greenhouse, the spine clamp preventing rotation of the first rod in the second direction past the apex of the frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the first arm is configured to telescope in length. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 19, wherein the first arm is configured to adjust between a first length and a second length longer than the first length, and wherein the first arm is biased to the first length. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14, further comprising a controller configured to actuate the first motor to rotate in the first and second directions in response to a signal from the controller. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the first arm has a length that is configured to be between 15.2 cm (0.5 feet) and 304.8 cm (10 feet) longer than a maximum height of the greenhouse. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14, wherein rotation of the first rod in the first direction causes the first rod to move farther from the apex of the frame of the greenhouse, and wherein rotation of the first rod in the second direction causes the first rod to move toward the apex of the frame of the greenhouse. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) A method of installing the greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14 on the greenhouse, the method comprising: connecting the first end of the first arm to the hinge assembly; connecting the second end of the first arm to the motor; and positioning the first motor above the roof of the greenhouse, the first motor connected to the first rod, the first cover portion being at least partially wound about the first rod. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising attaching a spine clamp to the roof to clamp the first cover portion to the roof of the greenhouse. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) A method of operating the greenhouse cover assembly of claim 14, the method comprising: activating the first motor that is positioned above the roof of the greenhouse to impart rotation to the first rod connected to the first motor in the first direction about the hinge assembly to unwind the first cover portion from the first rod; and activating the first motor to impart rotation to the first rod in the second direction about the hinge assembly to wind the first cover portion about the first rod, the second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising causing the first arm to rotate about the hinge assembly. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising adjusting a length of the first arm, and causing the first rod to rotate around a corner of the frame along a sidewall of the greenhouse to unfurl or furl the first cover portion. ### Claim 29 A greenhouse cover assembly for a greenhouse including a frame supported by to the ground, the greenhouse cover assembly comprising: a first furling cover assembly comprising: a first arm; a first motor that connects to an end of the first arm, the first arm having a length that positions the first motor above a roof of the greenhouse in a first position; a first rod that connects to the first motor, the first arm configured to support the first motor and the first rod above the ground when the first motor is connected to the end of the first arm and the first rod is connected to the first motor; and a first cover portion that unwinds from the first rod when the first motor causes the first rod to rotate in a first direction over the roof of the greenhouse and that winds around the first rod when the first motor causes the first rod to rotate in a second direction over the roof of the greenhouse; and a second furling cover assembly comprising: a second arm; a second motor that connects to the second arm, the second arm having a length that positions the second motor above the roof of the greenhouse in a second position; a second rod that connects to the second motor, the second arm configured to support the second motor and the second rod above the ground when the second motor is connected to the end of the second arm and the second rod is connected to the second motor; and a second cover portion that unwinds from the second rod when the second motor causes the second rod to rotate in the second direction over the roof of the greenhouse and that winds around the second rod when the second motor causes the second rod to rotate in the first direction over the roof of the greenhouse. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The greenhouse cover assembly of claim 29, wherein rotation of the first rod in the first direction causes the first rod to move farther from an apex of the frame of the greenhouse, and wherein rotation of the first rod in the second direction causes the first rod to move toward the apex of the frame of the greenhouse, and wherein rotation of the second rod in the first direction causes the second rod to move toward the apex of the frame of the greenhouse, and wherein rotation of the second rod in the second direction causes the second rod to move farther from the apex of the frame of the greenhouse.