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US 12,635,615 B2Granted
Shelving system for plant cultivation
AssigneePipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc.
InventorsThomas A. French, Delos A. Rockwell, David E. Kowalski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Plant support equipment includes trays each have a plant-supporting surface and a series of grooves or channels extending below the pot-supporting surface. The plant support trays have water runoff troughs that receive runoff water from the grooves or channels. The plant support trays may be configured to provide gravity-based drainage while supported on a horizontal frame or rack or platform, or may be configured to provide drainage while supported on an angled frame or rack or platform.
Claims20
A shelving system for plant cultivation, said shelving system comprising:
- a frame including at least two upright frame portions;
- a drive mechanism coupled to said frame and operable to move said frame in translation along a substantially horizontal support surface;
- an upper support rack vertically-spaced above a lower support rack, each of said support racks extending between said upright frame portions;
- a plant support tray positioned atop each of said support racks, said plant support trays each comprising a pot supporting surface and a plurality of grooves or channels extending below the pot supporting surface;
- a forced-air ventilation system comprising a duct disposed below said upper support rack;
- and
- a lighting system comprising electric lamps supported below said upper support rack and below said duct;
- wherein each of said support racks has a generally Z-shaped elongate rail comprising:
- a generally horizontal bottom leg;
- a diagonally-aligned upright leg extending upwardly from one end of said bottom leg;
- a generally horizontal upper leg extending from an upper end of said diagonally-aligned upright leg for supporting an end of one of said plant support trays;
- and
- a generally vertical upper leg extending from an end of said generally horizontal upper leg.
10 more elements
A shelving system for plant cultivation, said shelving system comprising:
- a frame including at least two upright frame portions;
- a drive mechanism coupled to said frame and operable to move said frame in translation along a substantially horizontal support surface;
- an upper support rack vertically-spaced above a lower support rack, each of said support racks extending between said upright frame portions;
- a plant support tray positioned atop each of said support racks, said plant support trays each comprising:
- a plant support surface;
- and
- a trough at a forward end portion of said plant support surface, said trough comprising:
- a bottom panel defining an outlet;
- a rear lip extending upwardly from said bottom panel for supporting said forward end portion of said plant support surface;
- a forward lip extending upwardly from said bottom panel, said forward lip elevated above said rear lip and located forward of said forward end portion of said plant support surface;
- a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom panel and extending from said rear lip to said forward lip;
- and
- a flange extending upwardly and rearwardly from said forward lip, said flange extending directly above said forward end portion of said plant support surface and at least a portion of said bottom panel;
- a forced-air ventilation system comprising a duct disposed below said upper support rack;
- and
- a lighting system comprising electric lamps supported below said upper support rack and below said duct.
13 more elements
A shelving system for plant cultivation, said shelving system comprising:
- a frame including at least two upright frame portions;
- a drive mechanism coupled to said frame and operable to move said frame in translation along a substantially horizontal support surface;
- an upper support rack vertically-spaced above a lower support rack, each of said support racks extending between said upright frame portions;
- a plant support tray positioned atop each of said support racks, said plant support trays each comprising:
- a plant support surface;
- and
- a trough at a forward end portion of said plant support surface, said trough comprising:
- a bottom panel defining an outlet;
- a rear lip extending upwardly from said bottom panel for supporting said forward end portion of said plant support surface;
- a forward lip extending upwardly from said bottom panel, said forward lip elevated above said rear lip and located forward of said forward end portion of said plant support surface;
- and
- a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom panel and extending from said rear lip to said forward lip;
- a forced-air ventilation system comprising a duct disposed below said upper support rack;
- and
- a lighting system comprising electric lamps supported below said upper support rack and below said duct;
- wherein each of said support racks has a generally Z-shaped elongate rail comprising:
- a generally horizontal bottom leg;
- a diagonally-aligned upright leg extending upwardly from one end of said bottom leg;
- a generally horizontal upper leg extending from an upper end of said diagonally-aligned upright leg for supporting an end of one of said plant support surfaces;
- and
- a generally vertical upper leg extending from an end of said generally horizontal upper leg.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.