IN-GROUND AEROPONIC PLANTER AND SYSTEM

Abstract

An aeroponic planter for use in-ground includes a top strip for receiving plugs that are designed for holding plants. The planter has a rooting chamber capable of enabling aeroponic growth of plant roots, the rooting chamber having a base with a drain. A drain chamber mounts at the base of the rooting chamber for receiving liquid from the rooting chamber. At least one anchor mounted on each of the rooting chamber and the drain chamber for securing the aeroponic planter in soil. In an alternate embodiment, the at least one anchor is integral with the top strip.

Claims

1. An aeroponic planter for use in-ground, comprising: a) a top strip for receiving plugs that are designed for holding plants; b) a rooting chamber capable of enabling aeroponic growth of plant roots, the rooting chamber having a base with a drain; c) a drain chamber mounted at the base of the rooting chamber for receiving liquid from the rooting chamber; d) at least one anchor mounted on each of the rooting chamber and the drain chamber for securing the aeroponic planter in soil.

2. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top strip defines a central axis, and planter plug bores along the central axis for receiving planter plugs.

3. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 2, wherein the top strip is bifurcated in two halves along the central axis and is expandable to enable automated implanting and removing the planter plugs from the planter plug bores.

4. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the top strip includes embedded magnets along each of the two halves to releasably hold the bifurcated top strip together.

5. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rooting chamber has a top portion with two sides, one anchor extends from each of the two sides of the top portion.

6. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drain chamber has a bottom portion with two sides, one anchor extends from each of the two sides of the bottom portion.

7. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rooting chamber has a top portion with two sides and the drain chamber has a bottom portion with two sides, at least one anchor extends from each of the two sides of the top portion and each of the two sides of the bottom portion.

8. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said anchors are planar in shape.

9. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 8, wherein include a plurality of holes to enable plant roots growing in the soil to extend through the plurality of holes to grip and hold each of said anchors, accordingly the anchors both enable plant roots in the soil to hold the anchors and enable the anchors to hold the soil.

10. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 9, wherein the anchors have a gull wing profile.

11. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top strip has two sides, and includes laterally extending anchors mounted on each of the two sides.

12. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the aeroponic planter has an end, an end cap mounts on the end, the end cap defining an opening in fluid communication with the drain chamber, and at least one opening for enabling wires to extend through the end cap to monitor the aeroponic planter.

13. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rooting chamber includes pressure lines and nozzles attached to the spray lines for delivering nutrients in an aqueous spray to the rooting chamber.

14. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rooting chamber includes high pressure lines and nozzles attached to the spray lines for delivering nutrients in an aqueous mist to the rooting chamber.

15. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rooting chamber includes sensors for detecting moisture content in the rooting chamber, the sensors being in electrical communication with a controller and a pump, the pump is in fluid communication with the pressure lines, and is activated by the sensors via the controller.

16. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the top strip includes ridges aligned in parallel to the central axis for aligning a harvesting device along the central axis so that a harvesting device capable of implanting and removing the planter plugs can be utilized.

17. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1 further comprising plugs press fit into the top strip for inserting plants into the aeroponic planter.

18. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the anchors are hinged to the rooting chamber and the drain chamber, respectively.

19. An aeroponic planter for use in-ground, comprising: a) a top strip having a central axis and plug bores defined on the central axis, the top strip has edges defined in parallel to the axis, the plug bores being configured for receiving plugs that are designed for holding plants; b) a rooting chamber capable of enabling aeroponic growth of plant roots, the rooting chamber having a base with a drain; c) a drain chamber mounted at the base of the rooting chamber for receiving liquid from the rooting chamber; d) at least one anchor mounted on each of two edges of the top strip.

20. The aeroponic planter as set forth in claim 19, wherein at least one anchor is integral with the top strip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one end of an aeroponic planter.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the end of the aeroponic planter of FIG. 1 operatively immersed in-ground.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a top strip usable with the aeroponic planter of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a planter plug.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a planter plug.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a side view of the planter plug of FIG. 4.

[0037] FIG. 7 is an end view of one embodiment of the aeroponic planter of FIG. 1 having laterally extending anchors.

[0038] FIG. 8 is an end view of an embodiment of the aeroponic planter with an end cap.

[0039] FIG. 9 is an end view of one embodiment of the aeroponic planter having gull wing anchors.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the aeroponic planter having opposing lateral anchors mounted on an integrated top strip.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the aeroponic planter of FIG. 1 having lateral stabilization rods that enable an array of planters to interconnect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aeroponic planter in accordance with the present invention, generally designated with the reference numeral 10. The planter 10 includes a top strip 12 having an axis 14 and a plurality of planter plug bores 16 defined on the top strip 12, along the axis 14. The planter 10 further includes a rooting chamber 18, a drain chamber 20, a pair of upper anchors 22 mounted on a top portion of the rooting chamber 18 and a pair of lower anchors 24 mounted on a lower portion of the drain chamber.

[0043] The aeroponic planter 10 can rolled and packaged in a roll that is tens or hundreds of feet long. The rolled planter can be deployed in soil that is prepared by a trencher and buried, except for the top strip. Numerous planters 10 can be deployed in an array on acreage of tillable agricultural land, in green houses, or even in a small garden plot. Systems for delivering pressurized aqueous nutrients connect to the aeroponic planter 10. Preferably the pressure is between 80-120 psi.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the distal end 26 of the planter 10. The planter 10 is embedded in soil 28, or other solid media. Planter plugs 30 are press fit into planter plug bores 16.

[0045] The planter 10 includes high pressure tubing 31 formed with jets that mist any contents of the rooting chamber 18, such as roots. The rooting chamber 18 is further equipped with a drain section 33 at the base of the rooting chamber 18. The drain section 33 has openings to allow excess aqueous nutrients and water to drip into the drain chamber 20 so that the roots will not be submerged in water or aqueous solution. This enables oxygen from ambient air to inhibit pathogenic growth on the roots of plants in the rooting chamber 18.

[0046] The plug bores 16 extend directly to the rooting chamber 18 so that roots extend unencumbered into the rooting chamber 18 via the plug bores 16 and the plugs 30.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of the top strip 12 having a plurality of planter plug bores 16. The top strip 12 is bifurcated into two halves along the axis 14. The top strip 12 includes embedded magnets 32 and 34 along each of the two halves to releasably hold the bifurcated top strip 12 together. The magnets 34 are positioned between adjacent planter plug bores 16. The magnet 32 is positioned along the axis 14 and is visible at the distal end 26 of the top strip 12. Each half of the top strip 12 includes a ridge 36 for aligning a harvester to separate the halves of the top strip 12 along the axis 14 and to either pull the plants from the planter plug bores 16, or to optionally align a harvesting blade along the top strip 12 for harvesting plants grown in accord with the present invention. In an alternate embodiment, upon separation of the halves of the top strip, the planter bore plugs 30 are pulled from the top strip 12. The planter bore plugs 30 are shown in FIG. 2.

[0048] In another embodiment, the ridges 36 align in parallel to the central axis 14 for aligning a harvesting device along the central axis 14. The harvesting device being capable of implanting and removing the planter plugs from the bores 16. It can be appreciated that the top strip 12 and the planter 10 may not be utilized in a linear format and may curve with contours of an agricultural plot. Accordingly, the terms axis, parallel, etc. are intended to be general concepts that fit the contours of the use case an not mathematical statements of precision.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a planter bore plug 30. The plug 30 has a continuous cylindrical outer region 36, a central opening 38, and radial lines 40 cut from the outer region 36 to the central opening 38. The central opening 38 and the radial cuts 40 cooperate to enable a seed, sprout, or stem to insert into the planter bore plug 30 for planting in the aeroponic planter 10 of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the planter bore plug 30. The bottom of the planter bore plug 30 defines a root opening 42, which is a wider opening than the central opening of plug 30. The root opening 42 enables root structures to expand and grow out through the root opening 42 towards the rooting chamber 18 (FIG. 1).

[0051] FIG. 6 is a side view of the plug 30. Dotted lines show the central opening 38 having a narrower structure than the root opening 42. Thus, the root opening 42 enables roots to expand through the plug 30 into the rooting chamber, which the central opening 38 is relatively narrower to hold any plant in an upright configuration.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the aeroponic planter 10 having a top portion of the rooting chamber 18, and a bottom portion 46 of the drain chamber 20. The anchors 24 attach to the bottom portion 46, and the anchors 22 attach to the top portion 44. One anchor 22 and 24, each extends from a respective side of the aeroponic planter 10. These anchors 22 and 24 are hinged to the respective sides of the aeroponic planter 10 in one embodiment of the invention, and fixed in another. The material of the anchors can be flexible to enable the hinged attachment.

[0053] The top portion 44 defines space 45 to enable roots to extend through the top portion 44 into the rooting chamber 18 unencumbered.

[0054] FIG. 8 shows the distal end 26 of the aeroponic planter 10. An end cap 50 attaches in a press fit to the distal end 26 to seal the rooting chamber and the drain chamber. In another embodiment, the end cap 50 is glued or integral with the distal end 26.

[0055] The end cap 50 defines a drain opening 52 in fluid communication with the drain chamber. At least one opening 54 enables wires to extend through the end cap to monitor the aeroponic planter 10 with electrical connections. In an alternate embodiment, wireless communication links various pressure, temperature, and nutrient sensors in the system of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 9 shows an end view of the aeroponic planter 10 having particularly shaped anchors. Anchor 22 and 24 are each configured with a gull wing shape. In particular, each anchor 22 and 24 have a first planar portion 23 having one edge attached to the aeroponic planter 10 and another planar portion 25 having a free end. The first planer portions 23 and the second planar portions 25 are attached at an acute angle β to form the gull wing shape.

[0057] FIG. 10 is an aeroponic planter generally designated with the reference numeral 10. The planter 10 has an alternate exemplary configuration. The planter 10 has a rooting chamber 18 and a drain chamber 20 below the rooting chamber 18. A top strip 12 is above the rooting chamber 18. The top strip 12, the rooting chamber 18 and the drain chamber are all formed as a unitary structure.

[0058] The top strip 12 includes two laterally extending anchors 22 that are integral with, and define, edges of the top strip 12. The anchors 22 each have a tapered edge 60 that points relatively downward towards soil during operation. The anchors 22 and the edge 60, hold the planter 10 in a fixed position so that the top strip 12 aligns with a growth media surface such as soil.

[0059] FIG. 11 is the planter 10 having a plurality of rod holes 70 on lateral sides of the anchors 22 and 24, and rods 70 extending laterally from the rod holes 70 to interconnect with an adjacent planter so that arrays of planters 10 can be interconnected structurally. This further stabilizes the planters 10 to enable taller crops to grow therein, such as corn.

[0060] While the present invention is described in terms of various embodiments, the true scope of the invention is described in the appended claims. In particular, the anchor system can include any of a variety of configurations to hold plants in soil, including ways to enable roots of nearby plants to envelope and hold the anchors without interfering with the growth of plants held by and nourished by the planter 10. In sum, the planter 10 enables independent plant nourishment, hydration, and structural rooting which is independent of surrounding vegetation. The present system can thus be interspersed between rows of conventional crops.

[0061] In an orchard setting, plants that repel pathogenic insects can be planted in the planter 10 between rows of fruit trees, for example. Further, rows of synergistic plants can be interspersed between rows of planters 10, to attract pollinators, for example. There are many other reasons to use the present invention independently or together with conventional agricultural methods.