# US 11,304,385 B1 · Flowering plant growing system and method of using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,385 B1 - Document ID: US11304385B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/666,398 - Filed: 2019-10-28 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-29 - Applicants: Jeffrey Fitzgerald Buss - Inventors: Jeffrey Fitzgerald Buss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304385B1 ## CPC - A01G 13/21: providing overhead protection, i.e. canopies - B65D 19/0095: {and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape} - A01G 9/12: Supports for plants; Trellis for strawberries or the like (stays for trees, props for vines A01G17/14) - A01G 13/20: Protective coverings for plants - A01G 13/27: protecting specific parts of plants, e.g. roots, trunks or fruits - A01G 22/60: Flowers; Ornamental plants - B65D 19/385: {Frames, corner posts or pallet converters, e.g. for facilitating stacking of charged pallets} - B65D 19/44: Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms - B65D 85/52: for living plants; for growing bulbs - B65D 2519/00024: Metal - B65D 2519/00029: Wood - B65D 2519/00034: Plastic - B65D 2519/00059: Metal - B65D 2519/00064: Wood - B65D 2519/00069: Plastic - B65D 2519/00094: Metal - B65D 2519/00099: Wood - B65D 2519/00104: Plastic - B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00293: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00298: skeleton type - B65D 2519/00323: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00333: contact surface having a stringer-like shape - B65D 2519/00796: Guiding means for fork-lift - B65D 2519/008: Drainage means - B65D 2519/0081: Elements or devices for locating articles - B65D 2519/00995: detachable elements of the side wall, i.e. not the whole wall - 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 flowering plant growing system utilizes a flowering plant growth assembly that enables the limbs of a flowering plant to be retained and supported along a bud platform to spread the growth out in a planar configuration. This type of growth arrangement may stimulate the plant to produce buds that are distributed across the bud platform and may grow up from the bud platform toward a cover. The height of the bud platform and cover may be adjustable as they are secured to vertical supports by retainers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flowering plant growing system comprising: a flowering plant growing assembly comprising: a) a deck comprising: i) a top deck board; ii) a bottom deck board; and iii) a pallet-jack opening configured between the top and bottom deck boards and configured to allow a pallet-jack fork to fit therein; and iv) a deck grid extending over the top deck board; wherein the deck is a portable deck and configured for movement via a pallet-jack or a fork truck; b) a plurality of vertical supports, wherein the plurality of vertical supports are coupled to the deck and extend upward from the deck; c) a bud platform coupled to the plurality of vertical supports and retained above the deck, wherein the bud platform is vertically positionable along the plurality of vertical supports that are coupled to the deck and extend upward from the deck, and wherein the bud platform comprises: a plurality of fastener grid pieces forming a fastener grid having grid openings; wherein a portion of a flowering plant is secured to the fastener grid thereby fixing a plurality of buds coupled to the flowering plant in close proximity to the bud platform; wherein the fastener grid is detachably attachable to and extends over the bud platform, wherein the fastener grid further comprises fastener grid slots configured to extend around a limb of said flowering plant; d) a cover that is retained above the bud platform to secure portions of said flowering plant thereto and wherein the cover comprises a plurality of cover openings to allow light to pass therethrough; wherein the cover is vertically adjustable above the bud platform along a plurality of cover vertical supports extending up from the bud platform; and wherein the bud platform is detachably attachable to the plurality of vertical supports and the cover is detachably attachable to the plurality of cover vertical supports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flowering plant growing system of claim 1, wherein the deck comprises a root enclosure and wherein said flowering plant is planted in and grows from said root enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flowering plant growing system of claim 2, wherein the root enclosure is a fabric root enclosure and wherein the flowering plant growing assembly further comprises a root enclosure frame that is coupled to the plurality of vertical supports by root enclosure vertical support retainers, and wherein said fabric root enclosure is attached to the root enclosure frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flowering plant growing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vertical supports are detachably attachable to the deck. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flowering plant growing system of claim 4, wherein the deck comprises a vertical support retainer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flowering plant growing system of claim 5, wherein the vertical support retainer comprises a clamp. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flowering plant growing system of claim 1, wherein the bud platform comprises bud platform vertical support retainers that couples the bud platform to the plurality of vertical supports. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flowering plant growing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fastener grid pieces include two outer fastener grids and a center fastener grid and wherein the two outer fastener grids comprise said fastener grid slots to enable assembly of the fastener grid around said limb of said flowering plant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flowering plant growing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cover openings are smaller in dimension than the grid openings of the fastener grid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method of growing a flowering plant comprising: a) providing the flowering plant growing assembly of claim 1; b) planting a flowering plant having a plurality of buds and locating said flowering plant on the deck; c) securing the bud platform to the plurality of vertical supports; and d) attaching a portion of the flowering plant to the fastener grid, thereby fixing the plurality of buds of the flowering plant to the fastener grid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of growing a flowering plant of claim 10, further comprising: e) configuring the cover vertical supports to extend up from the bud platform; f) placing said cover over the flowering plant and over the bud platform and securing the cover to the plurality of cover vertical supports; g) cutting the flowering plant to detach a bud portion from the flowering plant; h) detaching the bud platform from the plurality of vertical supports; and i) drying the bud portions while attached to the detached bud platform.