# US 12,004,457 B2 · Hydroponic tower compatible plant plug holder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,457 B2 - Document ID: US12004457B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/212,557 - Filed: 2021-03-25 - Published: 2021-07-15 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-02 - Assignees: Mjnn LLC - Applicants: Mjnn LLC - Inventors: Brice Leon Klein; Alex Ibrahim; Matthew James Matera - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004457B2 ## CPC - A01G 31/06: Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers - A01G 9/0293: {Seed or shoot receptacles} - A01G 24/40: characterised by their structure - 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 hydroponic tower including a cavity defining a front tower surface and a rear inside surface, and further comprising a plant plug holder inserted within a cut-out defined in the front tower surface. The plant plug holder includes an edge member that encircles the holder's opening and which may be sealed to the front tower surface, and a base member configured to support a plant plug and which extends rearward from the edge member and into the cavity of the tower. The plug holder further includes a rear shroud top member and a pair of side members that maintain the position of the plant plug within the plug, holder such that the plant plug contacts the rear inside surface of the cavity when inserted into the plug holder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydroponic tower comprising: a cavity defined by a front tower surface and an inside rear surface opposite the front tower surface, wherein the front tower surface includes one or more cut-outs; and one or more plant plug holders inserted into corresponding ones of the one or more cut-outs, at least one of the plant plug holders comprising: an edge member, said edge member encircling a plant plug holder opening and attached to the front tower surface, said plant plug holder opening configured to receive a plant plug; a base member extending rearward from said edge member, said base member extending into the cavity such that a rearmost edge of said base member is substantially adjacent to the inside rear surface of the cavity wherein when a plant plug is fully inserted into the plant plug holder the plant plug contacts the inside rear surface of the cavity; a rear shroud extending rearward from said edge member, said rear shroud extending into said cavity, said rear shroud comprising: a top member; a first side member; and a second side member; wherein said top member of said rear shroud extends within the cavity only a portion of the distance between the front tower surface and the inside rear surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydroponic tower of claim 1, said base member is angled downwards. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydroponic tower of claim 1, said first side member and said second side member each including at least one aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hydroponic tower of claim 3, wherein each aperture of said at least one aperture of said first side member and said second side member is configured as an open-ended slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydroponic tower of claim 1, said base member including at least one aperture configured as an open-ended slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hydroponic tower of claim 1, wherein the rearmost edge of said base member is located within 2.54 millimeters of said inside rear surface of said cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hydroponic tower of claim 1, said first side member tapered inwards and said second side member tapered inwards. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hydroponic tower of claim 1, said base member tapered inwards and said top member tapered inwards. ### Claim 9 A hydroponic tower comprising: a cavity defined by a front tower surface and an inside rear surface opposite the front tower surface, wherein the front tower surface includes one or more cut-outs; and one or more plant plug holders inserted into corresponding ones of the one or more cut-outs, at least one of the plant plug holders comprising: an edge member, said edge member encircling a plant plug holder opening and attached to the front tower surface, said plant plug holder opening configured to receive a plant plug; a base member extending rearward from said edge member, said base member extending into the cavity such that a rearmost edge of said base member is substantially adjacent to the inside rear surface of the cavity wherein when a plant plug is fully inserted into the plant plug holder the plant plug contacts the inside rear surface of the cavity; a rear shroud extending rearward from said edge member, said rear shroud extending into said cavity, said rear shroud comprising: a top member; a first side member; and a second side member; wherein the inside rear surface comprises a series of vertical ridges. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hydroponic tower of claim 9, said base member is angled downwards. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hydroponic tower of claim 9, said first side member and said second side member each including at least one aperture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hydroponic tower of claim 11, wherein each aperture of said at least one aperture of said first side member and said second side member is configured as an open-ended slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The hydroponic tower of claim 9, said base member including at least one aperture configured as an open-ended slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The hydroponic tower of claim 9, said first side member tapered inwards and said second side member tapered inwards. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The hydroponic tower of claim 9, said base member tapered inwards and said top member tapered inwards. ### Claim 16 A hydroponic tower comprising: a cavity defined by a front tower surface and an inside rear surface opposite the front tower surface, wherein the front tower surface includes one or more cut-outs; and one or more plant plug holders inserted into corresponding ones of the one or more cut-outs, at least one of the plant plug holders comprising: an edge member, said edge member encircling a plant plug holder opening and attached to the front tower surface, said plant plug holder opening configured to receive a plant plug; a base member extending rearward from said edge member, said base member extending into the cavity such that a rearmost edge of said base member is substantially adjacent to the inside rear surface of the cavity wherein when a plant plug is fully inserted into the plant plug holder the plant plug contacts the inside rear surface of the cavity; a rear shroud extending rearward from said edge member, said rear shroud extending into said cavity, said rear shroud comprising: a top member; a first side member; and a second side member; wherein a first portion of said first side member extends rearward into said cavity to an equal extent as said top member, and wherein a first portion of said second side member extends rearward into said cavity to an equal extent as said top member; and wherein a second portion of said first side member extends rearward into said cavity to a greater extent than said top member, and wherein a second portion of said second side member extends rearward into said cavity to a greater extent than said top member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hydroponic tower of claim 16, wherein a rearmost edge of said second portion of said first side member is located within 2.54 millimeters of said inside rear surface of said cavity, and wherein a rearmost edge of said second portion of said second side member is located within 2.54 millimeters of said inside rear surface of said cavity. ### Claim 18 A hydroponic tower comprising: a cavity defined by a front tower surface and an inside rear surface opposite the front tower surface, wherein the front tower surface includes one or more cut-outs; and one or more plant plug holders inserted into corresponding ones of the one or more cut-outs, at least one of the plant plug holders comprising: an edge member, said edge member encircling a plant plug holder opening and attached to the front tower surface, said plant plug holder opening configured to receive a plant plug; a base member extending rearward from said edge member, said base member extending into the cavity such that a rearmost edge of said base member is substantially adjacent to the inside rear surface of the cavity wherein when a plant plug is fully inserted into the plant plug holder the plant plug contacts the inside rear surface of the cavity; a rear shroud extending rearward from said edge member, said rear shroud extending into said cavity, said rear shroud comprising: a top member; a first side member; and a second side member; wherein the plug holder further comprises: a first open region located between said base member and said first side member, said first open region directly adjacent to a top surface of said base member, said first open region configured to promote water drainage from said top surface of said base member; and a second open region located between said base member and said second side member, said second open region directly adjacent to said top surface of said base member, said second open region configured to promote water drainage from said top surface of said base member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hydroponic tower of claim 18, wherein said first open region is configured as a first continuous open slot extending rearward from said back surface of said edge member, and wherein said second open region is configured as a second continuous open slot extending rearward from said back surface of said edge member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The hydroponic tower of claim 18, said base member is angled downwards.