Device And Method For Growing Crops With Non-Fibrous And Non-Consumable Media
Patent No. US12253249 (titled "Device And Method For Growing Crops With Non-Fibrous And Non-Consumable Media") was filed by Kappa Agtech Llc on Jul 30, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’249 is related to the field of hydroponics and aeroponics, specifically addressing the challenge of providing structural support and water wicking for seeds and plants without relying on traditional fibrous media. Conventional hydroponic systems use materials like soil, rockwool, or coconut coir, which can be costly, difficult to clean, and unsuitable for organic certification. This patent aims to overcome these limitations by introducing a reusable, non-fibrous device for plant cultivation.
The underlying idea behind ’249 is to create a physical separation between the root and shoot zones of a plant using a flexible, non-fibrous structure. This structure, made of synthetic polymer, suspends the seed or plant in air, allowing the roots to access nutrient-rich water while the shoots are exposed to light and air. The key is the use of flexible protrusions that support the plant without inhibiting growth and direct water flow towards the root zone.
The claims of ’249 focus on a device for growing plants, comprising a structure with flexible protrusions made of a synthetic, non-biodegradable polymer. These protrusions define a delineation between the root and shoot zones, suspending seeds in air during germination and supporting plants as they grow. The protrusions are designed to flex under external force and return to their resting position, with the first plurality of protrusions making contact with a second plurality of protrusions.
In practice, the device is designed to be reusable and easily cleaned, addressing the waste and cost issues associated with fibrous media. The flexible protrusions allow for water to wick around the seeds and roots, ensuring proper hydration, while also directing excess water to drain towards the root zone. This controlled water management is crucial for successful hydroponic or aeroponic cultivation.
The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the elimination of fibrous materials. By using a non-fibrous, synthetic polymer structure, the invention avoids the problems of media consumption, cleaning difficulties, and limitations on organic certification. The flexible protrusions provide a unique combination of support, water wicking, and drainage control, enabling efficient and sustainable plant growth in hydroponic and aeroponic systems. The device can be incorporated into various apparatus with horizontal, vertical, or angled orientations.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’249 was filed, hydroponic and aeroponic systems were gaining traction, at a time when growing crops from seed typically involved fibrous media for initial germination and support. Systems commonly relied on manual transplanting of seedlings from the fibrous media to the hydroponic setup. Hardware or software constraints made automating the planting and cleaning processes non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art of record did not disclose or render obvious a device with a specific combination of features. This combination includes a first plurality of flexible, synthetic, non-biodegradable polymer protrusions attached to a structure that defines a delineation between a root zone and a shoot zone. These protrusions are sufficient to suspend seeds in air during germination, preventing them from passing through the delineation under their own weight. The protrusions are attached in a resting position, flex in response to an external force, and return to the resting position upon removal of the force, where the resting position of the first plurality of protrusions contacts one or more of a second plurality of protrusions. The examiner found that the cited references, even in combination, did not fairly teach this specific limitation.
Claims
This patent contains 14 claims, with independent claims 1 and 9. Independent claim 1 focuses on a device for growing plants using flexible protrusions to suspend seeds, while independent claim 9 focuses on a method of growing plants using the same device. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, materials, orientations, and harvesting methods related to the device and the growing method.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US12253249
- Application Number
- US16943138
- Filing Date
- Jul 30, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jul 30, 2040
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents