US 4,969,290 A · Apparatus for even exposure of plants to sunlight

Abstract

An apparatus for even exposure of potted plants to sunlight includes a base, a potted plant receiving platter rotatably mounted to said base with the platter having an upstanding peripheral flange bounding an interior portion of the platter. A shroud is mounted to the base and defines a cowl which overlies the platter's peripherlal flange to confine dirt and water to the interior portion of the platter. The platter has peripheral gear teeth and an electric motor and drive assembly is coupled to the platter for rotation thereof at predetermined timed intervals. An optional wheeled carriage can be mounted to the base with the carriage wheels rotatably coupled for movement of a plant across a support surface. A set of slave units including rotatable platters can be interconnected together and to a powered master unit for simultaneous rotation of many plants.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An apparatus for even exposure of plants to radiation, said apparatus comprising:

a base;
a platter having a central axis and being mounted to said base for rotation about said central axis;
a peripheral flange extending upwardly from and bounding an interior portion of said platter;
motor means operatively coupled to said platter for rotation thereof;
and
shroud means mounted to said base with said shroud means formed to define a cowl extending over said peripheral flange;
whereby a potted plant positioned upon the platter can be rotated therewith for even radiation exposure and falling debris from the plant is confined by the flange and cowl to the central portion of the platter where it can be easily removed.

4 more elements

A system for even exposure of potted plants to radiation with said system comprising:

a master unit having a base, a potted plant receiving platter mounted to said base for rotation about a central axis of said platter and motor means coupled with said platter for rotation thereof;
a slave unit having a base and a potted plant receiving platter mounted to said slave unit base for rotation about a central axis of said slave unit platter;
and
coupling means for rotatably coupling said slave unit platter with said master unit platter;
said master unit platter and said slave unit platter being substantially disk shaped with each platter having gear teeth formed about its periphery, said coupling means comprising an idler gear assembly including an idler gear rotatably mounted within an idler gear housing with opposed edge portions of said idler gear being exposed, said idler gear assembly being releasably mounted to said master unit and said slave unit with said opposed edge portions of said idler gear operatively meshed with the gear teeth of said master unit platter and said slave unit platter, whereby the master unit platter is rotated in response to activation of the motor means with its rotation being transferred through the coupling means to rotate the slave unit platter.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for even exposure of plants to sunlight

Life of this patent

Apparatus for even exposure of plants to sunlight

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16