# US 11,304,379 B2 · Plant growing assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,379 B2 - Document ID: US11304379B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/790,987 - Filed: 2020-02-14 - Published: 2020-08-20 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-15 - Assignees: Sao Labs, LLC - Applicants: Sao Labs, LLC - Inventors: Brian Brandes Brinkerhoff; Todd Alan Smith; Deepak Goklani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304379B2 ## CPC - A01G 9/021: {Pots formed in one piece; Materials used therefor} - A01G 9/029: Receptacles for seedlings (growth substrates in block form A01G24/44) - A01G 24/18: containing inorganic fibres, e.g. mineral wool - A01G 24/22: containing plant material - A01G 27/06: having a water reservoir, the main part thereof being located wholly around or directly beside the growth substrate - 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) ## Abstract A plant growing assembly comprises a pod with an upper surface and a rigid open-mouthed vessel, these components being matable. The pod is of one piece and carries a growing medium and seeds. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plant-growing assembly comprising: a wide-mouthed jar having a containing wall and a neck, the neck having an upper rim; a plant pod formed in a single piece and made of a natural, biodegradable, and water permeable material, the pod having a conical shape with a substantially solid surface throughout and being open at its upper end and capable of carrying and being filled with a growing medium with seeds, the pod at its upper end having a cap and an overhanging wall with an internal matable surface, the upper rim of the jar being matable with the said surface of the pod; whereby, when the pod is assembled with the jar, the pod cap sits on the jar rim and the surface of the pod frictionally engages the jar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plant-growing assembly of claim 1, wherein the matable surface on the pod is a thread. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plant-growing assembly of claim 1, wherein the pod is conical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The plant-growing assembly of claim 1, wherein seeds and a growing medium are located in the pod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plant-growing assembly of claim 1, wherein the pod is conical and the jar is cylindrical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The plant-growing assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the jar is glass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The plant-growing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pod is molded pulp. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The plant-growing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pod carries a thread and the jar carries a thread, said threads mating upon assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The plant-growing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pod carries a thread and the jar carries a thread, said threads mating upon assembly. ### Claim 10 A plant-growing assembly comprising: a wide-mouthed jar having a containing wall and a neck, the neck having an upper rim; a plant pod formed in a single piece and made of a solid material that is natural and biodegradable, the pod having a conical shape open at its upper end; the pod filled with a growing medium comprising a shredded form of the solid material and with seeds; the pod at its upper end having a cap and an overhanging wall; whereby, when the pod is assembled with the jar, the pod cap sits on the jar rim. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A plant-growing assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the pod is stepped and has a fill line to denote water level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The plant-growing assembly of claim 10, the cap and overhanging wall having an internal matable surface, the upper rim of the jar being matable with the surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The plant-growing assembly of claim 10, wherein the matable surface on the pod is a thread. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The plant-growing assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the material is molded pulp. ### Claim 15 A plant growing method comprising the steps of: providing a wide-mouthed jar having a containing wall and a neck, the neck having an upper rim; providing a plant pod formed in a single piece and made of a solid material that is natural and biodegradable, the pod having a conical shape open at its upper end and being filled with a growing medium comprising a shredded form of the solid material and having seeds distributed therein, the pod at its upper end having a cap and an overhanging wall; adding water to the jar; and inserting the pod in the jar so that the pod cap sits on the jar rim; wherein after the steps of adding water to the jar and inserting the pod a portion of the pod extends into the water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the pod carries a thread and the jar carries a thread, the method further comprising the step of rotating the pod relative to the jar after the inserting step so that the thread on the jar and the thread on the pod matingly engage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the pod is stepped and has a fill line formed thereon, the step of adding water to the jar comprising adding an amount of water to the jar so the water leval is at the fill line when the pod is inserted in the jar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of removing the pod from the jar after the seeds have sprouted and planting the pod in a garden area separate from the jar.