Patents Examined by Kristen C Hayes
  • Indoor garden center with rotating compartments
    Patent number: 11147395
    Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet that defines a front display opening and an enclosed back portion. A grow module is rotatably mounted within the liner and include a central hub and a plurality of partitions defining a plurality of grow chambers. The grow module is selectively rotated to index the plurality of grow chambers between a sealed position between the grow module and the enclosed back portion of the liner and a display position aligned with the front display opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hunter, Lauren Nicole Platts
  • Dog collar and leash assembly
    Patent number: 11147243
    Abstract: A collar and leash system is provided which allows for easy connection of the collar with the leash without the pet owner having to bend down to attach or detach the collar leash. The collar has a first attachment member thereon which is received by a second attachment member on the leash. A solenoid position within the second attachment member operates to open and close the second attachment member so as to selectively release, accept, or retain the first attachment member of the collar. In an embodiment, the leash has a first portion which is flexible and a second portion adjacent the second attachment member which is rigid or semirigid. Preferably, a switch in the handle of the leash serves to operate the solenoid in the second attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Isaac Soto
  • Animal leash
    Patent number: 11147242
    Abstract: An animal leash including a strap having a first end and a second end and a quick-release connector coupled to the strap. A first portion of the strap extends from the quick-release connector to the first end and a second portion of the strap extends from the quick-release connector to the second end. A locking member is coupled to the first and second portions of the strap to form a collar loop. The locking member may be alterable between: (1) a locked state in which a size of the collar loop is fixed; and (2) an unlocked state in which the size of the collar loop is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Charles Ross Simons
  • Hummingbird feeder with improved flower assembly mounting member
    Patent number: 11147246
    Abstract: A hummingbird feeder is provided that includes a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin having at least one feed port therein and a flower assembly fitted within the feed port. The flower assembly includes a flower body and a mounting member fitted in the center of the flower body, the mounting member having an elongated tapered passageway through which hummingbirds can access nectar in the feeding basin. The mounting member also has a semi-conical exterior geometry that facilitates mounting of the flower assembly within the feed port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Benjamin Haney, Steven Charles Lorraine
  • Top-fill hummingbird feeder with vented press fit cap
    Patent number: 11140877
    Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin, the nectar container including a top opening closed by a cap. The cap has a sealing member configured to have an interference press fit with the top opening of the nectar container. The sealing member includes at least one void to allow air passage so that liquid can flow from the nectar container into the feeding basin when the feeder is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Benjamin Haney, Steven Charles Lorraine
  • Systems and methods for germinating seeds for an assembly line grow pod
    Patent number: 11140836
    Abstract: A system for an assembly line grow pod includes a germination hub including a tank, a water source in selective fluid communication with the tank, a pump in selective fluid communication with the tank and the water source, a pod line in selective fluid communication with the germination hub, a seeder assembly in selective fluid communication with the pod line, the seeder assembly including a seeder tank, and a metering device in selective fluid communication with the seeder tank, where the metering device selectively releases seeds from the seeder tank, and a cart positioned below the metering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Farnsworth Smith, Scott Nielson
  • Ventilated plant propagation assembly
    Patent number: 11134619
    Abstract: A ventilated plant propagation assembly provides a propagation tray that supports plant life, and a dome that covers the plants. The assembly allows for selective control between a ventilated position that allows aeration inside the dome, and a sealed position that restricts aeration inside dome. The dome laterally slides, so that depressions at the dome edges selectively interlock with ribs at the tray edges. Thus, when the dome edge slides offset from the tray edge, the dome depression engages the tray ribs, creating a seal at the junction of tray and dome. Conversely, slidably aligning the dome with the tray urges the tray ribs against the dome flange. This pushes the dome up to create a gap between the tray flange and the flat surface of the dome flange. The gap enables aeration inside dome by creating a passageway for air to flow through the edges between dome and tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Aaron Marshall
  • Potted plant hanger
    Patent number: 11134800
    Abstract: A decorative pot may be filled with soil and decorative plants and hung at a non-perpendicular angle on the side of a larger pot. By hanging at an angle, the decorative plants within the decorative pot are displayed outwards to a viewer, and also serve to obscure both the decorative pot itself as well as some or all of the larger pot, such as the sidewall and rim. Displaying decorative plants and obscuring the sidewall and rim of the larger pot reduces the need to select the larger pot based upon factors such as material, quality, and design, which can all greatly influence the cost of the larger pot. The particular angle of display can be adjusted byproviding adjustable or variably sized hangers and spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Tonette Carter Otchere
  • Biomass clumping material and method
    Patent number: 11134653
    Abstract: A process for making an animal litter from a woody biomass starting material is described, with the performance amendments substantially located entirely on the outside surface of the woody biomass particles. The process may include the steps of densifying the biomass starting material, crumbling the densified biomass material; screening the densified biomass material for size; optionally adding a zeolite containing a scent; spray coating the sized, densified biomass particles with a surface adhesion agent; and powder dosing the sized, densified biomass particles and zeolites with a performance amendment comprising equal parts bentonite and guar gum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Lignetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonah Levine, Frank Kvietok
  • Portable growing system
    Patent number: 11116149
    Abstract: A portable growing apparatus, comprising having a pre-fabricated, collapsible tent or greenhouse-like housing structure which, when constructed at the point of use, provides an enclosed growing area surrounded by one or more enclosing walls; and a growing system formed of a plurality of detachable parts for assembly at the point of use and for locating within the enclosed growing area of the collapsible housing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hydrogarden Limited
    Inventor: Stuart Green
  • Pet insect repeller
    Patent number: 11116181
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pet insect repeller, tied to the neck of a pet by a strap, comprising a housing, and a battery, a circuit board and a heating portion mounted inside the housing. The battery and a heating plate are respectively connected to the circuit board. One side of the housing is provided with a plurality of through volatilization holes. The heating portion is provided with a drug carrying member that is loaded with a biological active component. The battery is used to provide an operating current for the heating portion. After the battery is turned on, the heating portion generates heat to heat the drug carrying member. After the temperature of the drug carrying member rises, the biological active component is volatilized and diffused to the body surface of a pet through the volatilization holes. By adopting the above technical solution, there will no harm to the pet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Huixin Ma
  • Soil additives for promoting seed germination, for prevention of evaporation and methods for use
    Patent number: 11111436
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of improving germination rates of plants/crops, as well as preventing or arresting water evaporation loss from targeted soil areas, which allows for improved water usage efficiency by crops, plants, grasses, vegetation, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: RHODIA OPERATIONS
    Inventors: Galder Cristobal, Pascal Metivier, Jean-Christophe Castaing, Pengfei Ji, Zhiyun Chen
  • Device for trapping insects
    Patent number: 11102972
    Abstract: A device for trapping insects that includes a casing provided with a housing for placing a refill provided with an adhesive surface for trapping insects. The casing includes a light emitter illuminating at least one portion of the refill. The device allows maximizing the attraction of the insects as a result of the illumination of the refill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Joaquin Llorente Alonso, Rubén García Fábregas
  • Hydroponic apparatus
    Patent number: 11096343
    Abstract: Hydroponic apparatus has a rotary drum rotatably supported at one end from a bearing of a support stand and is accessibly open at an opposite open end by a removeable cover plate. A drive to rotates the rotary drum about the bearing. The rotary drum defines an annular watering tank therein and is configured for holding a plurality of plants within an interior thereof in use to be watered by the watering tank. An axial lamp is located within the drum to illuminate plants therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BACE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventor: Toby Farmer
  • Agile spectrum LED lighting fixture and control
    Patent number: 11096338
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of an agile spectrum LED lighting fixture with a control. In one embodiment, a lighting fixture includes a light emitting device comprising multiple channels. Each channel includes one or more light emitting diodes configured to emit light at a respective predominant wavelength. The lighting fixture also includes a control device to control a respective light intensity of each channel based at least in part on a desired spectrum of light and the respective predominant wavelengths of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Astro Space, LLC
    Inventor: William F. Probasco
  • Vertical grow tower conveyance system for controlled environment agriculture
    Patent number: 11089741
    Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: MJNN LLC
    Inventors: Gage Goodspeed Coffin, Michael Peter Flynn, Brice Leon Klein, Alexandre Le Roux, Timothy Michael Murcko, Nathaniel R. Storey
  • Air-root-pruning container having vertically offset ledges
    Patent number: 11089739
    Abstract: An air-root-pruning container for growing a plant and a unitary flat including a plurality of the containers. The air-root-pruning container includes a base and a sidewall upwardly extending from the base. The sidewall includes inwardly projecting ribs, each rib extending in an upward direction along the sidewall, and each rib having a first side and a second side. The sidewall further includes ledges extending from the first side of each rib, ledges extending from the second side of each rib, and holes through the sidewall, each hole being positioned adjacent a location where one of the ledges extends from one of the ribs. For each rib, each of the ledges extending from the first side of the rib extend from the rib at a location that is vertically offset from a location where each of the ledges extending from the second side of the rib extend from the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Lacebark, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl E. Whitcomb
  • Method and system for growth status determination of a plant
    Patent number: 11089738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a growth status of a plant comprising chlorophyll, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating the plant (102) with input light including a light intensity modulation component (205, 206, 207, 208); detecting light emitted from the plant; determining (S702) an offset light intensity (204) surrounding the plant, the offset light intensity being a static component of the input light; determining (S718) a phase and a gain between the input light and the detected light, determining (S720) a growth status of the plant based on a predetermined relationship between input light and detected light, and on the phase and the gain. The invention also relates to a corresponding system and to a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Heliospectra AB
    Inventors: Torsten Wik, Anna-Maria Carstensen, Tessa Pocock
  • Bioceramic and carbon-based hydroponic systems, methods and devices
    Patent number: 11076539
    Abstract: Described herein are methods, compositions, products, and processes that utilize bioceramics in traditional agricultural and hydroponic systems. The bioceramics are utilized in powder form, as films, as aerosols, as water based treatment systems, or in solid forms. The methods and bioceramic compositions described here are also used for growing a Cannabis plant. One or more cannabinoids within the plant can be used in therapeutic compositions for the treatment of glaucoma, AIDS wasting syndrome, neuropathic pain, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and certain seizure disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: MULTIPLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Alan Letton, Ross A. Marino, Francisco Jose Cidral-Filho, Shannon Vissman
  • Cognitive system using plant-based data to trigger watering
    Patent number: 11076540
    Abstract: A method of plant-initiated, cognitive watering is provided, which includes providing first a sensor(s) to ascertain water content within a xylem of a root of a first plant to determine tensile stress on a first root wall of the first plant, and a second sensor(s) to determine water content within a xylem of a root of a second plant to determine tensile stress on a second root wall of the second plant. Further, the method includes operatively coupling the first and second sensors to a control to determine whether the tensile stress on the first root wall reaches a specified threshold, and to determine whether tensile stress on the second root wall correlates to there being excess water content in soil in a region of the second plant, and if so, initiating, via the control, moving water from the region of the second plant to soil around the first plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Pramod Verma