# US 2014/0193200 A1 · Moisture control grid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193200 A1 - Document ID: US20140193200A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,787 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Inventors: Wayne Holland, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193200A1 ## CPC - A01G 20/00: Cultivation of turf, lawn or the like; Apparatus or methods therefor (hand-held edge trimmers or shears for lawn A01G3/06; edging for lawn A01G9/28; lawn-mowers A01D34/00) - A01G 20/20: Cultivation on mats - A01G 25/00: Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like (special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B) - E02B 11/00: Drainage of soil, e.g. for agricultural purposes {(draining sports grounds E01C13/083; for consolidating foundation soil, e.g. sand drain piles E02D3/10)} - 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) - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) ## Abstract A moisture collection apparatus is provided to collect and store percolating ground water for increased water absorption by foliage growing above the moisture collection apparatus. In one embodiment, the moisture collection apparatus includes a first plurality of strands extending along a first direction, a second plurality of strands extending along a second direction and connected to at least one of the first plurality of strands, a plurality of channels extending along at least one of the first direction and the second direction, and a plurality of openings between adjacent strands of the first plurality of strands and adjacent strands of the second plurality of strands. In another embodiment, the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction, such that the moisture collection apparatus forms a grid-like pattern of channels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A moisture collection apparatus, comprising: a first plurality of strands extending along a first direction; a second plurality of strands extending along a second direction and connected to at least one of the first plurality of strands; a plurality of channels extending along at least a portion of one of the first direction and the second direction; and a plurality of openings between adjacent strands of the first plurality of strands and adjacent strands of the second plurality of strands. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second directions is circumferential such that one of the first and second plurality of strands is generally circular. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first plurality of strands extends beyond a first and last one of the second plurality of strands. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent strands of the first plurality of strands is approximately 4 inches, and the distance between adjacent strands of the second plurality of strands is approximately 4 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channels are U-shaped and comprise: an arcuate surface having two upper edges; and two substantially vertical wall portions extending in a first direction from the two upper edges. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channels are substantially rectangular. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one flange extending outward from each of the plurality of channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one flange forms substantially a right angle with at least a portion of the channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moisture collection apparatus comprises polyvinyl chloride. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure at the ends of the first plurality of strands and the second plurality of strands. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of channels tapers along the first direction or the second direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent strands of the first plurality of strands at a first portion of the moisture collection apparatus is greater than the distance between adjacent strands of the first plurality of strands at a second portion of the moisture collection apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of troughs formed at each of the connections between the first plurality of strands and the second plurality of strands. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moisture collection apparatus is approximately 24 inches wide by 24 inches high. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moisture collection apparatus is configured to be wound into a roll. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein a ratio between a planform area covered by the strands and a planform area of the openings is between approximately 0.45 and 0.55. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channels comprise dimples. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The moisture collection apparatus of claim 18, wherein the dimples are generally hemispherical. ### Claim 20 A method of collecting and storing percolating ground water to promote the growth of foliage, the method comprising: selecting a moisture collection apparatus with a desired configuration; and installing the moisture collection apparatus below a predetermined depth of soil, wherein the moisture collection apparatus comprises: a first plurality of strands extending along a first direction; a second plurality of strands extending along a second direction and connected to at least one of the first plurality of strands; a plurality of channels extending along at least one of the first direction and the second direction; and a plurality of openings between adjacent strands of the first plurality of strands and adjacent strands of the second plurality of strands. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined depth is approximately 6 inches. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising orienting the moisture collection apparatus. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: monitoring the water retention in the soil or the growth performance of foliage growing above the moisture control grid; determining if the soil and foliage are suffering from water saturation or water deprivation based upon the information gathered by monitoring the soil and the foliage; and modifying the moisture control apparatus installation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein modifying the moisture control apparatus installation comprises relocating the moisture control apparatus to a greater depth below the ground if the soil and foliage are water saturated, or relocating the moisture control apparatus to a lesser depth below the ground if the soil and foliage are water deprived. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein modifying the moisture control apparatus installation comprises: removing the moisture control apparatus from the ground; selecting a replacement moisture control apparatus with a configuration different than the configuration of the moisture control apparatus removed from the ground; and installing the replacement moisture control apparatus in the ground.