Patent Application
20190297781
The present disclosure relates generally to racks for drying and/or curing crops. In particular, modular rack systems configured to hold plant crops by their stems while air drying are described.
Dried and/or cured plant crops are an important commodity in a number of industries. Furthermore, plant crops are increasingly grown on a small scale by individuals seeking to realize the benefits of small batch products. Plant crops that require or benefit from a drying and/or curing step include various types of teas, tobacco, a wide range of herbs and spices, and decorative flowers, to name a few. Common methods of drying such plant material may utilize improvised clothes line type systems, wire hangers, or shelving not specifically designed for drying plant material.
These known devices for drying plant material are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing devices and methods make it cumbersome, difficult and time consuming to secure the plant material to the drying rack. Furthermore, conventional methods may result in damage to the plant material from over handling or compression of the plant material. In addition, conventional drying devices may not make efficient use of the drying space.
Thus, there exists a need for devices for drying plant material that improve upon and advance the design of known devices. Examples of new and useful devices relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
The present disclosure is directed to drying rack systems for drying plant material. In one embodiment, a drying rack system includes a frame including horizontal members and vertical members, an array of brackets supported by the frame, and a plurality of clamping hangers supported by the brackets. A first clamping hanger of the plurality of clamping hangers may include a pair of opposing clamping jaws configured to compress against each other, and a hinge securing the clamping jaws together proximal one end of the first clamping jaw.
In one embodiment, the first clamping hanger may include a clasp configured to selectively hold the clamping jaws shut. In one embodiment, the first clamping hanger includes a series of grooves, the series of grooves configured to receive the clasp and selectively adjust the compression of the clamping jaws. In one embodiment, the first clamping hanger comprises a first compressible member disposed on a first clamping jaw of the pair of opposing clamping jaws.
The system of claim 4, wherein the first clamping hanger comprises a second compressible member disposed on a second clamping jaw of the pair of opposing clamping jaws, the first and second compressible members configured to compress against each other when the clamping jaws are shut. In one embodiment, the first compressible member comprises a rubber material.
In one embodiment, the frame comprises removable fasteners fastening the vertical members to the horizontal members. In one embodiment, the drying rack comprises a removable catch tray disposed proximal the bottom of the frame. In one embodiment, the vertical members include vertical slots, each bracket being secured to the vertical members via the vertical slots. In one embodiment, the first clamping hanger is supported on each end via a pair of opposing brackets of the array of brackets. In one embodiment, each of the pair of brackets comprises opposing notches, the notches being configured to receive the ends of the first clamping hanger and hold the clamping jaws shut.
The disclosed devices for drying plant material will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, a variety of examples of devices for drying plant material are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
With reference to
Device 10 addresses many of the shortcomings existing with conventional plant drying devices. For example, device 10 clamps softly and securely on the stem of the plant material and thus does not damage any leaves or flowers. Furthermore, device 10 makes very efficient use of the drying space by efficiently stacking the plant material in all three special dimensions. Additionally, it is exceeding quick and easy to secure device 10 to the plant material, reducing overall handling time. Finally, device 10 is modular, allowing multiple plant material drying devices to be used in conjunction with each other, placed side by side, front to back or stacked vertically to make the most efficient use of the drying space.
As shown in
Support frame 100 is comprised of horizontal members 110 and vertical members 120. The horizontal and vertical members 110, 120 may be secured to each other via removable fasteners 102. Thus, the support frame may be easily disassembled for storage or transport. In other embodiments, the horizontal and vertical members 110, 120 may be welded to each other or otherwise permanently secured.
The vertical members 120 support rows of brackets 200, which in turn support the clamping hangers 300. Brackets 200 may be secured to vertical members 120 via removable fasteners 124. In the illustrated example, the vertical members 120 include vertical slots 122. The fasteners 124 may be threaded through a hole in the bracket 200 and through a vertical slot 122. The bracket 200 may be secured to the vertical member 120 via clamping action achieved by tightening the fastener. The bracket may be vertically repositioned by loosening the fastener 124 and sliding the bracket 200 vertically, then tightening the fastener 124 again. Thus, the vertical position of the bracket 200 may be adjusted, e.g., to accommodate plant material of different lengths. In other examples, the brackets may be non-adjustable or they may be permanently affixed to the vertical members.
Turning now to
Turning now to
Clamping hanger 300 may have a hinge 330 proximal one end and a clasp 340 proximal the opposing end. The pairs of opposing brackets 200 may be spaced apart, via vertical members 120, such that the hinge 300 and clasp 340 each sit just inside their respective bracket 200. The hinge 300 and clasp 340 may be larger than the notches 210. In this manner, the clamping hanger 300 is prevented by the hinge 300 and clasp 340 from sliding out of the opposing brackets 200 in either direction.
Turning now to
In one embodiment, the support frame 100, brackets 200 and clamping hangers 300 may be comprised of aluminum, e.g. aluminum tubing and plate. In other embodiments, the support frame 100, brackets 200 and clamping hangers 300 may be comprised of steel, other metal, wood, plastic, and/or composite material, among others.
Each clamping jaw 310, 320 may include a compressible member 350 running along the length of the inside surface of the respective clamping jaw. As shown in
The compressing action of the compressible members 350 around the stems of plant material 500 may prevent damage to the stocks of plant material 500 and/or provide enhanced grip on the stocks.
In some embodiments, the compressible members 350 may be comprised of a natural rubber and/or rubber-like polymer. The rubber or rubber-like material may provide compression and increased friction over other materials. In other embodiments, the compressible members 350 may be comprised of fabric, foam, and/or composite materials, among others.
Furthermore, returning to
As can be seen in
Furthermore, as shown in
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 62/652,061, filed on Apr. 3, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62652061 | Apr 2018 | US |
