Porous Member Or Crock Patents (Class 47/80)
  • Patent number: 11944051
    Abstract: A planter includes an interior surface and a riser extending from a bottom of the interior surface and including a space between the riser and lateral walls of the planter. The riser includes an open-top recess formed in a top portion of the riser. A plate including a protrusion extending from a bottom side of the plate and forming an open-top reservoir on a top side of the protrusion. The protrusion is configured to be coupled with the recess to secure the plate to the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CLASSIC HOME & GARDEN, LLC.
    Inventors: Fred Joseph Ryan, Hamilton Scott Team
  • Patent number: 11622514
    Abstract: The present application relates to agriculture productions system that allows for the controlled release of beneficial agents into a plant root mass, and more particularly it is beneficial for agriculture production where control of infusion of micro-nutrient, infusion macronutrient, root temperature control agents, nutrients and/or elements are applied to the root zone of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Glaude, Nicole Marie Proulx
  • Patent number: 11617314
    Abstract: A self-wicking plant growth receptacle is provided. The device includes a housing having a base opposite and upper side and a plurality of sidewalls extending therebetween. An upper opening is disposed through the upper side providing access to an interior volume dimensioned to removably receive a grow bag therein. A wick port is disposed through the base in fluid communication with the interior volume. A reservoir housing is securable to the base to define an assembled configuration. The reservoir housing includes a lower side and a perimeter sidewall defining a reservoir volume. A lip is disposed about a perimeter of the upper side, wherein the lip includes a plurality of apertures therethrough. A channel extends through the housing between an inlet on the upper side and an outlet on the base, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the reservoir volume. A filter is removably secured within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Gerrad Deal
  • Patent number: 11445666
    Abstract: A planter and planter stack are described. The planter includes a planter pot configured to be nestable with other such planter pots. The planter pot includes a base, a planter sidewall integrally formed on the base and extending upwards towards a rim, and a hollow support pillar formed on the base and extending substantially vertically upwards with a drain opening at the top of the hollow support pillar in communication with an exterior side of the base. The planter further includes a removable riser configured to be nestable with other such removable risers. The removable riser includes a plate supported by an interior of the planter sidewall by an interference fit, and an aperture configured to accept a corresponding hollow support pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CLASSIC HOME & GARDEN, LLC
    Inventors: Fred Joseph Ryan, Hamilton Scott Team
  • Patent number: 11330773
    Abstract: A watering system including a receptacle including a fluid flow generator and a fluid flow generator controller which releasably couples to a fluid reservoir containing a fluid which can be transferred by operation of the fluid flow generator from the fluid reservoir to a plurality of fluid flow meters which can be disposed in spaced apart relation to correspondingly deliver the fluid to a plurality of spaced apart locations. In particular embodiments, a plurality of potted plants can be disposed in spaced apart relation and one more of the plurality of fluid flow meters can be correspondingly located to deliver the fluid to each of the plurality of potted plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Garden Variety Water Systems LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Scott Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 11076541
    Abstract: A self-watering planter features wicking devices whose outer tubes feature a skeletal upper structure having a plurality of columns periodically interconnected by rings spanning circumferentially around the wicking material to delimit windows of large area for optimum water seepage to the soil. A flange at the bottom of the tube's skeletal upper portion cooperates with snap features at the top of a lower portion that hangs in the water reservoir to provide snap-fit installation of the wicking devices on a divider wall of a permanently enclosed planter. A soil drainage filtration device features filtration fabric held in a sandwiched state around a drainage opening in the divider wall by one or more mounting plates. In one embodiment, the fabric forms a sack that hangs into the reservoir to suspend a volume of soil therein, whereby the suspended soil serves as wicking agent in the absence of excess rainwater needing drainage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Equinox Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Jonathan Putter
  • Patent number: 11034415
    Abstract: A permeable floating concrete vessel for creating floating aquatic habitats is disclosed. The vessel includes an interior space to hold growth material and a plant. The vessels includes one or more channels so a root of the plant can extend through the channel and into a body of water in which the vessel is secured. The vessel is made from a buoyant material, such as water-permeable concrete material. In an exemplary embodiment the water-permeable concrete material includes a mixture of cement, glass microspheres, expanded glass aggregate, and microfibers. Two or more vessels may be connected together via a connecting member to form an array of the vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Jacob Ross Boswell, Martin Koelsch, Lisa E. Burris
  • Patent number: 11006591
    Abstract: A self-watering system includes a base comprising a reservoir configured to store a defined volume of water and a plurality of wick modules coupled to the base, the plurality of wick modules arranged in an organized pattern and configured to disperse the water from the reservoir. The self-watering system further includes a removable fill tube coupled to the base and configured to receive the water to fill the reservoir, and a removable drain tube coupled to the base and configured to remove the water from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Avalow, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Nusser, Andrew Picciau, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11006781
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an air-frying cooker (1) comprising: a cooking chamber (20); a food receiving container (5) in the cooking chamber (20) having a permeable bottom wall (9); a heater (19) for heating air in the cooking chamber (20); a fan (18) for circulating a flow of hot air in the cooking chamber (20) to cook the food; and a system (13) to maintain a predetermined level (LI) of water in the cooking chamber (20) during cooking. The predetermined level (LI) is disposed between a base (11) of the cooking chamber (20) and the bottom wall (9) of the food container (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mart Kornelis-Jan Te Velde, Robertus Leonardus Maria In 'T Groen, Michiel De Jong
  • Patent number: 10986790
    Abstract: The present application relates to agriculture productions system that allows tor the controlled release of beneficial agents into a plant root mass, and more particularly it is beneficial for agriculture production where control of infusion of micro-nutrient, infusion macronutrient, root temperature control agents, nutrients and/or elements are applied to the root zone of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Glaude, Nicole Marie Proulx
  • Patent number: 10980198
    Abstract: Plants are grown in adjacent rows of trays that are rotated within a pool of a nutrient solution. The roots of the plants are at least partly immersed in the nutrient solution. Each row includes a gap wide enough to receive a single tray from an adjacent row. Using three rows, the plants are planted only in one of the rows, and later the rotation is used to space the planted trays one tray apart. Each tray is a parallelepipedal block with apertures for supporting respective plants. The long sides of the blocks have protrusions for preventing adhesion of the blocks. Airlift pumping circulates the nutrient solution past the roots and maintains at least 80% dissolved oxygen saturation in the nutrient solution. A screen of parallel inflatable tubes provides adjustable shade above the pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GROWPONICS GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Lior Hessel, Geoffrey Smith
  • Patent number: 10959410
    Abstract: A separator device for separating parasites from a population of insects, and a method of separation using such a device, the device comprising a container, a basket configured to be held in the container and provided with a plurality of openings at least through its bottom wall and its side wall, and a lid that is configured to close the container in sealed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: VETO-PHARMA
    Inventors: Benoit Siefert, Ludovic De Feraudy, Gael Charpentier, Raphaele Massard
  • Patent number: 10912261
    Abstract: The plant cultivation device which workability of cutting of the leaves of the plant at the base portion thereof from the root portion of the plants. The plant cultivation device includes a culture medium holding portion in a cylindrical shape, accommodating and holding a seedling culture medium, arranged in the through-holes of the fluid passage member and absorbing the culture fluid into the seedling culture medium and a leaf supporting portion formed in a cylindrical shape, arranged at an upper side of the culture medium holding portion and supporting the leaves from around the leaves which are cultivated from the seeds. The culture medium holding portion and the leaf supporting portion are formed such that a cutting tool, used for separation between the seedling culture medium and the leaves, can be insertable from outside into a bordering portion between the culture medium holding portion and the leaf supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: FUJI SEIKO CO., LTD., FUJI SHOJI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsunori Takashima
  • Patent number: 10874063
    Abstract: The self watering bottle planter insert allows a regular bottle to be transformed into a hydroponic planter. The self watering bottle planter insert is insertable into a bottle and removes the need for a separate source of nutrients. The planter uses composite media with an enriched substrate layered beneath a more standard hydroponic growth media to add nutrients to the water for the life cycle of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Urban Leaf Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Littlewood, Robert M. Elliott
  • Patent number: 10827688
    Abstract: An aeration container system for plants having aerial roots, comprising an aeration container comprising a plurality of elongate curved vanes, each vane comprising a top portion, lower portion, a first planar side and a second planar side opposing the first planar side, the planar sides connecting a front edge, outer edge and the top and bottom portions. A reservoir is also provided wherein each vane is equidistantly spaced and attached perpendicular to an outside surface of the reservoir and focus light and ambient airflow from outside the aeration container to inside the aeration container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Cristalife Company
    Inventor: Anthony J Proctor
  • Patent number: 10813303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flower pot (1) comprising an inner element (2) with a cover (4) in which multiple fluid openings (8) are formed, an outer element (3) which surrounds the inner element (2) and which has a base (9), a lateral wall (10) protruding from the base (9) and a liquid storage chamber (11), the height of the lateral wall (10) of the outer element (3) being lower than the cover (4) of the inner element (2) and, at least one filling and viewing opening (12) between the inner element (2) and the outer element (3) for filling the liquid storage chamber (11) with liquid and for visually checking a level of the liquid in the liquid storage chamber (11) of the outer element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Alfred Hemerka
  • Patent number: 10785927
    Abstract: A flowing water channel device comprises a tubular conduit made of fluid impervious material, and a plurality of orifices extending along a longitudinal axis of said tubular conduit. Within each of the plurality of orifices, an interior plurality of strands pass from the orifice to an interior of the tubular conduit, an exterior plurality of strands pass from the orifice to an exterior of the tubular conduit, and an intermediate plurality of strands are interlaced with the interior and exterior plurality of strands and configured at least partially within the orifice. Each of the interior plurality of strands, exterior plurality of strands, and intermediate plurality of strands is made of a fluid permeable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Amir Cohen
  • Patent number: 10667476
    Abstract: A sustained release irrigation apparatus for effective water management. The sustained release irrigation apparatus includes a reservoir, a support structure, an absorbent surface, a water permeable top layer and a top opening on the water permeable top layer for filling water in the reservoir. The support structure is positioned on the reservoir and designed to support a potted plant thereon. The absorbent surface is positioned on the support structure and includes an absorbent opening. The top opening positioned on the water permeable top layer receives water from a water source and fills water into the reservoir. The water collected in the reservoir flows upwards to the water permeable top layer and then reaches the soil inside a pot thereby making water available to the roots of the potted plant without any wastage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Donald J. Stewart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10602672
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a plant cultivation container, wherein the plants do not need to be transplanted during cultivation or growth. The container is provided with pull-out trays and this allows continuous adaptation of the container volume to the growth and development of the root system. The container of the invention provides for continuous oxygen and air supply to the root system and for development of fibrous roots contrary to root spiralisation which is typical of conventional containers. The pull-out tray has several functions: partitioning of container volume to compartments, retaining of excess water while watering, and as a drip tray when the entire container volume is in use. The walls of the container are provided with slits at various heights which in conjunction with several pull-out trays partition the entire volume of the container along its height to several compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Matej Kolar
  • Patent number: 10531615
    Abstract: A modular container or irrigation module, as well as a modular irrigation system obtained by arranging at least two of said modules. The proposed modular irrigation system comprises at least two irrigation modules of the invention, and by stacking the modules vertically, the system can be used to form a continuous-flow irrigation system in which excess irrigation water is recirculated and evaporation losses can be minimized. Similarly, the module and the system of the invention can be used to form a sustainable construction system in which multiple irrigation systems are arranged to form various architectural elements, such as green walls, green columns, vertical gardens and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tiempo Libre Granada, S.L.
    Inventors: Jose Luis Jimenez Santillana, Manuel Vidal Cobos Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10356985
    Abstract: A plant pot with separable halves including a first container half having an upright first interior shell and an upright first exterior shell. A plurality of first aeration openings is disposed within the first interior shell. A second container half has an upright second interior shell, an upright second exterior shell, and a base unit having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a cavity disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. A plurality of second aeration openings is disposed within the second interior shell. A plurality of dowell pins is disposed on each of a pair of second side portions of the second container half, and a plurality of slots is disposed on each of a pair of first side portions of the first container half. One of the plurality of dowell pins is selectively engageable within one of the plurality of slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Edwin Raymond
  • Patent number: 10292344
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a hydro planter comprising an inner container which can accommodate a substrate, an absorption medium and an outer container. The inner container has one or more grids that enable liquid to filter from the inner container to the outer container. The absorption medium has at least one conductive element that is located in the substrate within the inner container and the conductive element is also located in the outer container, and the absorption medium also has a flattened portion which extends with the inner container. Finally, the outer container has two or more legs which enable the outer container to be supported on a surface and which form a gap through which air or water can flow, and the hollow interior of each leg forms a tank for storing a liquid, inside of which the lower portion of the conductive element is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Jose Antonio Flores Garcia
  • Patent number: 10225998
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cultivation management apparatus for edible perennial herbaceous flowering plants and bulbs and tubers. The cultivation management apparatus allows plants to root and take root and to grow stably in a constant immersed state in order of 40%˜50% of water with low temperature treatment for dormancy by filling a movable water tank flowerpot with a moisture absorption member by in the order of 50% of the pot and by filling thereon a plant growth soil member consisting of a mixing oil up to the upper portion and arranging a partition for partitioning off the moisture absorption element from the plant growth soil member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Youngsung Wang
  • Patent number: 10039243
    Abstract: A self-watering system includes a watering member, a pot support member, and a water container member. The watering member includes a support tube member and a water transfer member. The supporting member includes a head portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion. The head portion has a conical shape. The body portion has a hollow cylindrical shape, and includes a body groove formed in a longitudinal direction and at least one air hole formed in the body groove. The water transfer member serves to absorb water and transfer the water to soil and a root of a plant in a pot. The pot support member serves to support the pot, and includes a fixing hole. The water container member stores water to be absorbed by the water transfer member. The watering member is fixed to the pot support member such that the bottom portion is inserted into the fixing hole of the pot support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: John Heungman Jeon
  • Patent number: 9661810
    Abstract: An apparatus that fits in a container, that enables the container to function as a self-watering planter. The apparatus has a partitioning element that includes an extruded element having a hollow tubular section that terminates in a center opening and a wide flange. The extruded element separates the container into an upper portion (potting soil and plant), a lower portion (liquid reservoir), and a common portion (potting soil, water, and ultimately some plant roots). The flange is a solid plate with a lateral opening that enables liquid to be conveyed past the plate. Roots cannot grow through it. Below the solid plate is a container overflow outlet. A liquid inlet line extends from about above the rim down to the reservoir, so substantially no liquid is added directly to the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: James Felix Walker, II
  • Patent number: 9521811
    Abstract: The stackable plant container module is adapted such that a plurality of plant container modules will nest together for storage and/or shipping while allowing the plant container modules to be stacked vertically into a multi-level plant tower. The stacked plant tower includes a water bowl, defining a reservoir for receiving water, carried by the upper most plant container module, and a water tray disposed between stacked plant container modules. The stacked plant tower is adapted such that the water bowl is in fluid communication with each water tray, such that the stacked plant tower incorporates structure for managing the flow of water through the stacked plant tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventor: Jack Steve Peterson
  • Patent number: 9402353
    Abstract: An irrigation system comprises one or more waterlines coupled to one or more watering mechanisms for watering one or more areas. The watering mechanisms are fixed in place at the desired area by an adapter which removably couples the one or more watering systems in place. Water is supplied to each of the one or more watering mechanisms by traveling from the one or more waterlines and through one or more pressure compensators. The one or more pressure compensators regulate the water flow through the one or more watering mechanisms enabling the irrigation system to uniformly distribute water at a set and constant pressure value. The water is distributed by one or more valves which are used to control one or more zones of the irrigation system. In some embodiments, a controller controls the system based upon a signal received from one or more sensors of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: WATERPULSE, INC.
    Inventors: Yugen Patrick Lockhart, Ronald L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150082696
    Abstract: A horticultural system having a horticultural grow gutter produced from a single sheet of material and including an upper bridge a length, a bottom surface, and two side edges. Two upwardly facing upper channel sections are each individually integral with one of the two side edges along the length of the upper bridge section. The upwardly facing channel sections have a channel bottom having a plurality of apertures configured to allow a liquid to pass through the apertures by gravity. Two side panels are each individually integral with one of the top edges and extend downward from the top edge. An inwardly bent and upwardly facing lower channel section is integral with each side panel and the upwardly facing lower channel section is sized and positioned to receive the liquid passing through the apertures disposed below the upper channel section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORMFLEX AUTOMATION USA, LTD.
    Inventors: Arie Pieter Nicolaas Barendregt, Johan ten Veen, Arjan Kouwenhoven
  • Patent number: 8950111
    Abstract: There are provided a device for fixing biomass-based solar heat and carbon dioxide gas with a similarity to containerized culture having high crop productivity, which is capable of fixing carbon dioxide gas highly efficiently, while being compact and easily managed, and a house equipped with the fixing device having an energy circulation system. The fixing device for biomass-based solar heat and carbon dioxide gas is configured to include an air intake unit which takes air into a box, a mesh-like air and water flow-through unit laid in the bottom of the box that is configured to be open to the atmosphere, a water reservoir tray on which the box is mounted, and cultivation soil which is held inside the box. Further, in the house relating to the present invention, the fixing device for biomass-based solar heat and carbon dioxide gas is arranged in an area that gets a lot of sunshine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Plus Kaken Innovate Labo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Soejima
  • Patent number: 8656641
    Abstract: Self-watering fruit tree container comprises a container holding a living plant that is positioned above a container holding a pool of water or nutrient solution where the water may be absorbed by the living plant through a permeable bottom and/or side of the plant container. Self-watering fruit tree container allows for an airspace layer between the plant container and the water container which prevents excessive absorption of water into the plant container, thereby preventing root rot. Self-watering fruit tree container achieves this partially by special funnel shaped root-pruning aeration apertures in the bottom of the plant container that allow very small roots and root hairs to pass and grow through the bottom of the plant container and into the water reservoir below, while pruning and stopping larger roots, and also allowing for aeration of soil in the plant container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventors: Ralph Rhoads, George Charles Anderson
  • Patent number: 8584398
    Abstract: A method for efficiently delivering an aqueous solution to plants includes positioning a distal portion of a microporous hydrophobic tubing coated with a hydrophilic polymer adjacent a root system of a plant and channeling an aqueous solution from an inlet to the distal portion through a lumen. The tubing along the distal portion has a porosity adapted for permitting a flow of the aqueous solution therethrough when acted upon by a surfactant root exudate generated by the roots due to water stress. The aqueous solution is held in a reservoir, from which it can be channeled to the hydrophilic device's inlet. A nutrient solution can also be channeled to the plant roots via additional tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Development Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyman D. Gesser, Donald R. T. LaFreniere
  • Patent number: 8555586
    Abstract: A structural module (10) for use in water irrigation, water drainage, water retention and water filtering systems, comprises a load bearing base unit (10) and porous material (15), wherein the base unit has a top wall (11) and a bottom wall (12) spaced therefrom by one or more supporting elements (13, 20) so as to define a volume between the top and bottom walls. The base unit being provided with apertures (17, 18, 19) to permit the flow of liquid into and out of the volume. The porous material is a block (15) foamed polymeric material which occupies a substantial portion of the volume within the base unit and absorbs and retains water that passes through the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy Robert Lowe, Andrew Shuttleworth, Paul David Culleton, Tim Puehmeier
  • Patent number: 8510988
    Abstract: Self-watering plant container includes a container used to hold a living plant and soil and a container to hold a pool of water or nutrient solution underneath the plant/soil container where the water may be absorbed by the living plant through a permeable bottom in the plant/soil container. Self-watering plant container includes an airspace layer located between the bottom of the plant/soil container and the top of the water or nutrient solution pool in order to prevent excessive moisture or water from being absorbed into the plant/soil container, thereby preventing root rot. Self-watering plant container achieves this partly by special funnel shaped root-pruning aeration apertures in the bottom of its plant/soil container that allow very small roots and root hairs to grow through the bottom of plant/soil container and into the water reservoir below, while forcing larger roots back into the plant/soil container, and also allowing for aeration of the plant/soil container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventors: George Anderson, Ralph Rhoads
  • Publication number: 20130174484
    Abstract: Self-watering fruit tree container comprises a container holding a living plant that is positioned above a container holding a pool of water or nutrient solution where the water may be absorbed by the living plant through a permeable bottom and/or side of the plant container. Self-watering fruit tree container allows for an airspace layer between the plant container and the water container which prevents excessive absorption of water into the plant container, thereby preventing root rot. Self-watering fruit tree container achieves this partially by special funnel shaped root-pruning aeration apertures in the bottom of the plant container that allow very small roots and root hairs to pass and grow through the bottom of the plant container and into the water reservoir below, while pruning and stopping larger roots, and also allowing for aeration of soil in the plant container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Ralph Rhoads, George Charles Anderson
  • Patent number: 8453381
    Abstract: A plant container includes a container body having a conduit extending between an inlet connection and an outlet connection. A float valve assembly is in communication with the conduit within the container body for automatically controlling fluid entry into the container body from the conduit. A soil retention element is arranged in the container body above the float valve assembly. A method of using the self-watering plant container includes adding soil to an interior volume of the container body above the soil retention element, planting at least one seed in the soil, and connecting a water supply to an inlet connection of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Randy L. Porter
  • Publication number: 20130133257
    Abstract: A plant container includes a container body and an automate watering arrangement, wherein the automate watering arrangement includes a reserve unit and a plurality of watering units. Each of the watering units includes a guiding element and a watering element, wherein one end of the guiding element is communicated with the reserve unit, and another end of the guiding element is coupled with the watering element end-to-end. The watering element is downwardly extended from the guiding element and submerged into the soil of the planting cavity such that the water of the reserve unit is guided to flow to the soil of the planting cavity via the watering element so as to maintain a moisture level of the soil for the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Ai Li
  • Patent number: 8381441
    Abstract: An insertable watering device for a standard bucket comprising, a circular planar base member, central chamber, plurality of wicks, fill tube, and support legs. The insertable device provides support for soil and allows for the watering of plants contained in the soil by capillary action using a wick through the transfer of water below the base member and into the soil layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventors: George Altendorfer, Perry Joseph Altendorfer
  • Patent number: 8336254
    Abstract: A molded body for improving the cultivating conditions of plants includes at least one tapering projection. The molded body is disposed such that the projection extends into a plant substrate from the bottom. The projection is a highly porous material for providing an exchange of water by capillary forces and/or air, between the interior and the area surrounding the projection. The molded body comprises a depression provided opposite the projection and serving as a water reservoir that is spaced apart from the plant substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: IUP Institut fur Umweltpflege AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Baumann
  • Publication number: 20120297677
    Abstract: A plant cultivation container is provided which does not need a feed-water tube made of a porous material or the like but the plant cultivation bed material can be made permeated in a relatively short time period. For this purpose, a water reservoir portion for pooling plant cultivation water is provided, the water reservoir portion having a bed material accommodation part for placing a water-absorbing plant cultivation bed material. In the plant cultivation container, the water reservoir portion is provided with a surrounding feed-water channel that surrounds an entire circumference of the bed material accommodation part, and a feed-discharge channel for supplying the plant cultivation water from outside to the water reservoir portion and for discharging the plant cultivation water in the water reservoir portion to outside is provided in communication with the surrounding feed-water channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20120272573
    Abstract: A plant cultivation container includes a container body having: a plant cultivation space with an opening for planting a plant formed in a front face thereof; and a water reservoir portion for pooling plant cultivation water formed in a lower portion of the plant cultivation space, in which container a water-absorbing plant cultivation flooring material is mounted in the plant cultivation space so that a part of the plant cultivation flooring material is positioned inside the water reservoir portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20120240466
    Abstract: Self-watering plant container includes a container used to hold a living plant and soil and a container to hold a pool of water or nutrient solution underneath the plant/soil container where the water may be absorbed by the living plant through a permeable bottom in the plant/soil container. Self-watering plant container includes an airspace layer located between the bottom of the plant/soil container and the top of the water or nutrient solution pool in order to prevent excessive moisture or water from being absorbed into the plant/soil container, thereby preventing root rot. Self-watering plant container achieves this partly by special funnel shaped root-pruning aeration apertures in the bottom of its plant/soil container that allow very small roots and root hairs to grow through the bottom of plant/soil container and into the water reservoir below, while forcing larger roots back into the plant/soil container, and also allowing for aeration of the plant/soil container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: George Anderson, Ralph Rhoads
  • Publication number: 20120227321
    Abstract: A greening system is disclosed for enabling plants/vegetation to grow only with natural rainfall, enabling a garden to be constructed on building rooftops, minimizing the applicable loads on the building and risk of leakage. Planting container 1 comprises box 2 with stickers 3 to carry perforated partition panel 4. The lower half of the container is constituted as water storage 5, and drain holes 6 are opened on sides of the container. Soil layer 7 placed on partition panel 4 is formed of light woody soil-based on charcoal 9 and humus timber chips for absorbing moisture transported from the water 8 stored in water storage 5 by evaporation or difference in humidity, to increase water capacity and reduce amount of water evaporating into the air. Charcoal 9 absorbs water from the air inside the lower half of the container to water the plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: KAWADA CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Furumura, Toshiaki Fukuhara, Shinichi Kawada
  • Publication number: 20120066971
    Abstract: A water supply device for a planting container comprises a main body having a water storage space and a water supply space. A water supply hole is disposed between the water storage space and the water supply space. Water in the water storage space is transported to the water supply space through the water supply hole. A water absorbing material is disposed in the water supply space and utilizes siphon principle to pump the water in the water supply space. When the water level of the water supply space is higher than the water supply hole, a vacuum effect is generated. When the water level of the water supply space is lower than the water supply hole, the vacuum effect is released so that water in the water storage space is transported to the water supply space through the water supply hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Patent number: 8091276
    Abstract: A method for efficiently delivering an aqueous solution to plants includes positioning a distal portion of a microporous hydrophobic tubing coated with a hydrophilic polymer adjacent a root system of a plant and channeling an aqueous solution from an inlet to the distal portion through a lumen. The tubing along the distal portion has a porosity adapted for permitting a flow of the aqueous solution therethrough when acted upon by a surfactant root exudate generated by the roots due to water stress. The aqueous solution is held in a reservoir, from which it can be channeled to the hydrophilic device's inlet. A nutrient solution can also be channeled to the plant roots via additional tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Developmental Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyman D. Gesser, Donald R. T. LaFreniere
  • Patent number: 8011853
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently delivering an aqueous solution to plants includes a hydrophilic solution-channeling device having a delivery portion positionable adjacent a root system of a plant. The solution-channeling device has a lumen therethrough for channeling a solution from an inlet to the delivery portion. At least a portion of the delivery portion has a porosity adapted for permitting a flow of the solution therethrough when acted upon by at least one of a surfactant root exudate and negative root pressure generated by the plant roots, for example, when experiencing water stress and/or a need for nutrients. The system also includes a pressure regulating device for providing at least a minimum pressure value to permit fluid to flow through the lumen and at most a maximum pressure value above which fluid flows through the lumen even in the absence of surfactant root exudate or negative root pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Developmental Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyman D. Gesser, Donald R. T. LaFreniere, Edmund A. Sinda
  • Patent number: 8011852
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently delivering an aqueous solution to plants includes a microporous hydrophobic tubing coated with a hydrophilic polymer that has a delivery portion positionable adjacent a root system of a plant and a lumen for channeling an aqueous solution from an inlet to the delivery portion. The tubing along the delivery portion has a porosity adapted for permitting a flow of the aqueous solution therethrough when acted upon by a surfactant root exudate generated by the roots due to water stress. A pressure regulating device is upstream of the tubing's inlet, and a reservoir adapted for holding the aqueous solution therein is situated in fluid communication with an upstream end of the pressure regulating device. Additional tubing can be provided for channeling a nutrient solution to the plant roots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Developmental Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyman D. Gesser, Donald R. T. LaFreniere, Edmund A. Sinda
  • Patent number: 8007884
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for coating the surface of substrates such as a sheet, film, foam, fiber, etc., with a curable liquid resin or solution of curable resin, then in one embodiment, stably attaching a superabsorbent polymeric powder to such resin, and then curing the resin to form a coated superabsorbent product. Such substrates may include polymeric materials. Other process embodiments utilizing curable and thermoplastic resinous powders may be used instead of curable liquid resins and resulting products are included in the invention. The coated product may be utilized for water and nutrient retention in combination with irrigation, erosion control, to direct plant root growth, and to clean up standing water and petroleum spills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Synergistic Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeno Muthiah, Gerald K. White, Duane R. Rubash
  • Patent number: 7972840
    Abstract: There are provided an organism-culture apparatus in which a pooled culture medium and a culturing tissue is not directly contacted, which comprises a culture medium, and a microporous body having the water-absorbing ability, a part of which is immersed in the culture medium, or an intervening body connected to the microporous body which can supply the culture medium to the microporous body by contact between a part of the intervening body and the culture medium, wherein the culture medium is transferred upwardly via communicating pores in the interior of the microporous body to supply the culture medium to an organism tissue or an organism cell placed on a surface of the microporous body, whereby, the organism tissue or the organism cell is cultured, as well as a method of culturing an organism using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Phytoculture Control Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryou Hasegawa, Daisuke Suzumura
  • Patent number: 7877930
    Abstract: Drainage systems for plant gardening in flowerpots, specifically a shaped porous rock or perhaps even an enclosed pouch having soil preservation capability and filling inside the enclosed pouch. Embodiments may include a pot hole locator which may place an enclosed pouch in a bottom of a pot prior to adding soil and planting a plant in a flowerpot. Other embodiments may include the addition of soil amendments, water retention elements, drying elements and the like. Filling may include plastic, various rocks, various stones, pebbles, synthetic materials and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Aspen West Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Christine J. Burge, Gary D. Burge, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20100236150
    Abstract: A plant irrigation apparatus for providing a fluid to one or more plants includes a plurality of platforms that are disposed in an array. Each platform has a support surface that is disposed at a platform elevation. A fluid reservoir for containing the fluid is defined at least partially in between adjacent platforms of the plurality of platforms. At least one fluid-regulating structure is configured to maintain a maximum elevation for the fluid, wherein the maximum elevation for the fluid is lower than the platform elevation. A capillary mat is supported by the plurality of platforms. At least a portion of the capillary mat is disposed within the fluid reservoir below the maximum elevation of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: STRUCTURAL PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Masser, Matt Janowak