Patents by Inventor James G. Krassas

James G. Krassas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for increasing the spacing between plants in accordance with their growth rate
    Patent number: 4337986
    Abstract: A selected number of troughs containing small plants therein are placed in a parallel relation with each other at one end of a soilless growth chamber. Tubular screw sections having helical grooves therein are employed for advancing the troughs from the loading end of the chamber to the unloading end thereof, the helical or screw pitch being considerably greater at the unloading or harvesting end in order to accommodate for the increased size of the plants as they reach maturity. In other words, the pitch of the helix is correlated with the rate at which the plants mature. Tubular screw sections having different pitches can be substituted when the growth rate differs from one species to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Haub, James G. Krassas, Stanley C. Rustad, Noel Davis
  • Method and apparatus for increasing the spacing between plants in accordance with their growth rate
    Patent number: 4216618
    Abstract: A selected number of troughs containing small plants therein are placed in a parallel relation with each other at one end of a soilless growth chamber. Tubular screw sections having helical grooves therein are employed for advancing the troughs from the loading end of the chamber to the unloading end thereof, the helical or screw pitch being considerably greater at the unloading or harvesting end in order to accommodate for the increased size of the plants as they reach maturity. In other words, the pitch of the helix is correlated with the rate at which the plants mature. Tubular screw sections having different pitches can be substituted when the growth rate differs from one species to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1980
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Haub, James G. Krassas, Stanley C. Rustad, Noel Davis