US 11,528,858 B2 · Plant cultivating apparatus

Abstract

A plant cultivating apparatus includes a body that defines a cultivation chamber, a cultivation bed disposed on the cultivation chamber and configured to move relative to the body, a nutrient storage configured to store nutrient solution, a pipe configured to supply the nutrient solution to the cultivation bed, a bed checker configured to detect movement of the cultivation bed, a level checker configured to detect a level of nutrient solution in the cultivation bed, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the bed checker and the level checker and to adjust the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation bed. The cultivation bed includes a signal connector that is disposed on one surface of the cultivation bed corresponding to the bed checker and the level checker and that is selectively connected to the bed checker and the level checker according to whether to move the cultivation bed.

Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

A plant cultivating apparatus comprising:

a body configured to have a cultivation chamber therein;
a cultivation bed configured to be disposed on an inner side of the cultivation chamber, to be provided to be movable relative to the body, and to have a storage space for storing nutrient solution therein;
a nutrient storage configured to store the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation bed;
a pipe configured to supply the nutrient solution stored in the nutrient storage to the storage space of the cultivation bed;
a bed checker configured to be disposed on an inner surface of a body defining one surface of the cultivation chamber and to detect a movement of the cultivation bed;
a level checker configured to be disposed on an inner surface of a body defining one surface of the cultivation chamber and to detect a level of the nutrient solution received in the cultivation bed;
and
a controller configured to receive a signal from the bed checker and the level checker, and to adjust whether the nutrient solution is supplied to the cultivation bed,
wherein the cultivation bed includes a signal connector that is disposed on a first surface of the cultivation bed corresponding to the bed checker and the level checker and that is selectively connected to the bed checker and the level checker according to whether the cultivation bed is moved in a rear and front direction,
wherein the signal connector includes:
a first signal connector that connects a first end and a second end of the bed checker and that is disposed at a rear portion of the cultivation bed,
a first level check end that is disposed at a first height of the storage space and that is disposed at a front portion of the cultivation bed,
a second level check end that is disposed at a second height of the storage space, that connects to a second end of the level checker, and that is disposed at the rear portion of the cultivation bed, and
a second signal connector that connects the first level check end and a first end of the level checker and that extends from the first level check end to the second level check end,
wherein the first level check end is disposed above the second level check end, and
wherein the controller is configured to, based on the nutrient solution stored in the storage space contacting the first level check end and the second level check end, block supply of the nutrient solution to the cultivation bed.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,431 words

Summary630 words

#The present application claims the benefits of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0140898, filed on Nov. 15, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

#The present disclosure relates to a plant cultivating apparatus.

#The general plant cultivating apparatus forms a preset cultivation chamber having an environment suitable for plant growth, and stores plant in the preset cultivation chamber. The plant cultivating apparatus is provided with a configuration for supplying nutrients and light energy necessary for plant growth, and the plant is grown by the nutrients and light energy supplied. For example, in Korean Patent No. 10-1240375, a technology related to “Plant Cultivating apparatus” is disclosed.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a plant cultivating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state where the cultivation bed of the plant cultivating apparatus according to the invention is drawn into.

#FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state where the cultivation bed of the plant cultivating apparatus according to the present disclosure is drawn out.

Detailed description5,679 words

#Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as much as possible even though they are illustrated in different drawings. In addition, in describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related well-known configuration or function interferes with the understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

#In addition, in describing the components of the embodiments of the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the components from other components, and the nature, sequence, or order of the components are not limited by the terms. If a component is described as being “connected”, “coupled” or “accessed” to another component, that component may be directly connected or accessed to that other component, but It is to be understood that another component may be “connected”, “coupled” or “accessed” between each component.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a plant cultivating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

Facts

Application

16/685,801Filed 15 Nov 2019

Priority

KR 10-2018-014089815 Nov 2018

Published

US 2020/0154657 A121 May 2020

Granted

20 Dec 2022

Term ends

20 Mar 2040

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 126 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification11 codes

A01G 9/24
Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses ; Edging for beds, lawn or the like: devices or systems for heating, ventilating,…
A01G 31/02
Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics: special apparatus therefor
A01G 31/06
Special apparatus therefor: hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers
A01G 31/065
Special apparatus therefor: with means for recycling the nutritive solution

Timeline

15 Nov 2018Priority claimedKR 10-2018-0140898
15 Nov 2019Application filedUS 16/685,801
7 May 2020Assigned to LG Electronics Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
21 May 2020PublishedUS 2020/0154657 A1
20 Dec 2022GrantedUS 11,528,858 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
20 Mar 2040Term endsEstimated, includes 126 days of adjustment

Plant cultivating apparatus

Life of this patent

Plant cultivating apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description6,431 words

Drawings

Classification11 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,431 words