BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system and method for growing and transporting free-rooted plants, namely a transport container for free-rooted plants.
Description of Related Art
Hydroponic technology attempts to address shortcomings of soil-related farming by removing the soil from the growing method. Plants are grown in containers with a circulated nutrient solution. Dissolved oxygen is one of the critical nutrients. A reservoir is the component of the hydroponic system that holds the nutrient solution. Water is delivered to the individual plants, which absorb the water and nutrients that they need, and leave the rest in the growing medium. This may cause a buildup of salts in the growing medium or the reservoir, so flushing may be needed.
Aeroponics is a system which uses little or no growing media. Typically, the plants are suspended with the roots inside a growing chamber. The plants may then get sprayed with nutrient solution with a fine mist at regular short cycles. Prior systems have been adapted to support a large number of plants grown together.
What is called for is a system and method for transporting free-rooted plants. What is also called for is a shipping container that allows for the transport of free-rooted plants while maintaining the plant in a vegetative state.
SUMMARY
A transport container for free-rooted plants adapted to safely transport plants to be grown aeroponically. The container may include a light adapted to keep the plant in a vegetative state during transportation. The light may be wavelength limited to include lower frequency visible light. The transport container may include a stem and root stabilizer to protect, position, and stabilize the stem and roots. Water retaining structures, such as gelatinous balls, may be contained within the base of the container and are adapted to allow for moisture and nutrients to be passed to the roots.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is an oblique view of a transport container according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a top view of a transport container according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1C is a side view of a transport container according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is an oblique view of a container base according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a top view of a container base according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3A is a side view of a container top according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3B is an oblique view of a container top according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3C is a top view of a container top according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a top view of a stem and root stabilizer according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a side view of a stem and root stabilizer according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4C is an end view of a stem and root stabilizer according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4D is an oblique view of a stem and root stabilizer according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view of a transport container with plant according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an illustration of a nutrient ball according to some embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view of a transport container with nutrient balls therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in FIGS. 1A through 1D, a transport container for free-rooted plants 150 includes a base container 151. The base container 151 is adapted to support pillars 153 which extend upwards from the base container 151. A top 154 resides at the upper end of the transport container 150 and is supported by the pillars 153. The top 154 provides support for a light 155 which is adapted to provide light downwards towards a plant which may be held by the base container. In some aspects, the pillars are adapted to be inserted into receptacle holes in the base container 151 and the top 154. In some aspects, the height of the base container is 60% of the length of the pillars above the base container. In aspects, the height of the base container is in the range of 50-70% of the length of the pillars above the base container. In an exemplary embodiment, the height of the base container 151 is 40% of the height of the transport container 150.
In an exemplary embodiment, the container base size is 3 inches by 3 inches. This container size may provide plants for growing containers with a spherical diameter of 9 inches, which are discussed below. In other aspects, the container base size may be 4 inches by 4 inches, or 6 inches by 6 inches, although other larger sizes are envisioned.
A stem and root stabilizer 152 may consist of a first portion and a second portion (first portion only is shown in FIGS. 1A-C). The stem and root stabilizer is adapted to support the plant above the roots and along the lower stem through a center hole. The stem and root stabilizer 152 is adapted to removably attach to the top of the base container 151.
FIGS. 2A-B illustrate the base container 151 according to some embodiments of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the base container 151 is a square box. In some aspects, the base container 151 has four corners, each with a coupling location 156 for coupling of the pillars 153 to the corners of the base container 151. In some aspects, the coupling location 156 comprises a hole adapted to receive a lower end of a pillar 153. In some aspects, the outer surfaces of the base container 151 may have recesses 166 adapted to receive a portion of the stem and root stabilizer 152 such that the stem and root stabilizer 152 does not protrude further outward than the corners of the base container 151. This may reduce the likelihood that the stem and root stabilizer 152 be unintentionally decoupled from the top of the base container 151.
In some aspects, the base container has rounded interior corners 159 adapted to work in conjunction with hydrated balls, which will be discussed below. The rounded interiors may be seen at the junction of the inner side surfaces 158 with each other, and with the bottom of the base container. When used with hydrated balls, the ratio of the radius of the rounded interior corners to the radius of the hydrated balls is geared to enhance the movement of the hydrated balls and to reduce any stagnation. In some aspects, the radius of the rounded interior corners is 60% of the radius of the hydrated nutrient balls. In some aspects, the ratio of the radius of the rounded interior corners to the radius of the hydrated balls is in the range of 0.5 to 0.7.
FIGS. 3A-C illustrate the top 154 according to some embodiments of the present invention. In this illustrative example, the top 154 is adapted to be supported by the pillars 153. The pillars 153 may be inserted into holes 160 at each of the four corners of the top 154. Cross braces 162 are coupled to the pillars 153 and provide an interface 161 for the light at their crossing point.
The light 155 may include a battery adapted to power the light for up to 14 days, for example. The light may include a switch adapted to energize the light. In some aspects, the light contains an LED, which may be optimized in its wavelength to promote photosynthesis. The wavelength of the LED may be in the range of 400-600 nm, preferably in the range of 400-500 nm. In some aspects, the light from the LED refracts through the cross braces 162 and provides further light from above the plant which will reside in the transport container.
FIGS. 4A-D illustrate a stem and root stabilizer portion 152 according to some of the embodiments of the present invention. The stem and root stabilizer portion 152 is adapted to couple to the upper rim of the base container 151 while stabilizing and supporting the plant at the stem and root hole 165. The tabs 167 are adapted to reside in the recesses 166 of the base container 151. A first stem and root stabilizer portion and a second root and stabilizer portion are adapted to be used together to capture and stabilize a free-rooted plant and to be removably coupled to the base container. Holes 163 are adapted to allow the stem and root stabilizer portion to be captured between the pillars 153 and the holes 156 in the base container 151. With the pillars placed into the holes 156 with a frictional fit, or other releasable fit, the pillars may be used to fixedly capture the stem and root portions in place with the plant captured and stabilized.
FIG. 5 illustrates a transport container for free-rooted plants assembly with a plant 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. In this illustrative embodiment, the plant 101 has been placed within a transport container for free-rooted plants 150. The plant stem 102 is placed within the hole 163 of the stem and root stabilizer portions 152 (one is which is shown elevated and not in the final transport position). The roots 103 are suspended below the stem and root stabilizer 152 and substantially within the framing of the pillars 153. The plant is below the light 155 supported by the top 154, allowing the plant to be illuminated by the light during transport, even when the transport container for free-rooted plants 150 is contained within a shipping box, for example. Although illustrated in FIG. 5 with a portion of the root stabilizer elevated, it is to be understood that in assembled form the elevated portion would reside in line with the lowered portion.
In order to provide water and nutrition to the plant when in the transport container for free-rooted plants 150, hydratable balls are used. In some aspects, the hydratable balls are adapted to provide water, oxygen, and nutrients to the plant. With the use of hydrated nutrient balls a plant in the transport container for free-rooted plants may be shipped and be expected to survive for up to 14 days. In a typical case, the plant may be in the transport container for 3-10 days. In some aspects, the plant may continue to reside in the transport container for up to two months, in natural light. In such a circumstance, the plant may incubate as opposed to grow. In some aspects, the hydratable nutrient balls may need to be rehydrated in order for the plant to remain in the transport container.
In some aspects, as seen in FIG. 6, the hydratable balls 180 may be made using tapioca. In some aspects, the hydratable balls may be made using gelatin. In either case, the base material is fashioned into a dough. The dough may then be rolled into 5 mm cylindrical sticks, and then cut into 2-3 mm pieces. These pieces may then be rolled into balls. The balls are then boiled in water for approximately 15 minutes. Prior to placing the balls in the boiling water, nutrients may be added to the water. The nutrients may include some or all of the following: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, simple carbohydrates, rhizome, and mycorrhiza. These balls may then have oxygen added by placing them in water in a sealed container and may be oxygenated with the use of air stones, or other methods. These hydrated, completed, balls may then be used within the base container of the transport system to provide oxygen, moisture, and nutrients to a plant in the transport system. In some aspects, the hydrated nutrient balls may be in the range of ¾″ to ½″ in diameter. Although illustrated in FIG. 6 as round, it is to be understood that the hydrated balls may be a bit lumpy in appearance. FIG. 7 illustrates a transport container 150 where nutrient balls 180 are seen mostly filling the base container 151. In some aspects, the base container is filled with nutrient balls to fill 90-95% of the volume of the base container. In some aspects, the base container is filled with nutrient balls to fill greater than 70% of the volume of the base container. With larger transport containers, the nutrient balls may stay the same size. It is to be understood that the nutrient balls may be somewhat larger when fully hydrated, and somewhat smaller as they lose moisture.
In an exemplary embodiment, a method of transporting a free-rooted plant may include placing an aero-plant into the base container. Hydrated nutrient balls are then added into the base container. The stem and root stabilizer portions are then fitted around the stem of the plant above the roots, and the stem and root stabilizer portions are fitted to the top of the base container. The stem and root stabilizer portions may be fastened together, such as with adhesive tape. The pillars are then placed into the holes in the base container. The top is then coupled to the top of the pillars. At this point, the plant is nearly ready for shipment. The transport system may be placed into a shipping box, which may be rectangular and adapted to tightly enclose the transport system. The light is then switched on and the shipping box is then sealed. Finally, the plant is ready for shipping.
The transport system for free-rooted plants allows for free-rooted plants adapted for aeroponic growing to be shipped to end users who may then continue to grow the plant aeroponically. In some aspects, plants may be cloned and begin their growth cycle at a supplier location. Once removed from the clone starting system, plants may be sent singly to end users using delivery such as the postal service, for example. The recipient of the plant may then transfer the free-rooted plant to a growing system, such as a growing pod for a single plant.
As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general invention.
Patent Application
20220204253
