초록 ▼

A rotary plant growing apparatus has a cylindrical structure rotatably mounted on a support base. The cylindrical structure consists of a plurality of baskets in which plants may be grown and rotates around a rotational axis such that the baskets are at least partially immersed in nutrient reservoir

A rotary plant growing apparatus has a cylindrical structure rotatably mounted on a support base. The cylindrical structure consists of a plurality of baskets in which plants may be grown and rotates around a rotational axis such that the baskets are at least partially immersed in nutrient reservoir containing a liquid nutrient for nourishing the plants. A light source extending at least partially through the cylindrical structure provides light for growth of plants. The baskets are securely and removably attached to rims of the cylindrical structures by pins extending therefrom and which have heads which retaining the pins in apertures therefore on the rims. A motor and gear arrangement provides rotation of the cylindrical structure.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A rotary plant growing apparatus comprising: a support base comprising at least one motor and a nutrient reservoir for containing a nutrient liquid; and a cylindrical structure mounted on said support base and operatively connected to said motor, said cylindrical structure comprising f

We claim: 1. A rotary plant growing apparatus comprising: a support base comprising at least one motor and a nutrient reservoir for containing a nutrient liquid; and a cylindrical structure mounted on said support base and operatively connected to said motor, said cylindrical structure comprising first and second circularly shaped rims and at least one basket extending from said first circular rim to said second circular rim for housing a growing medium and plants in said growing medium, said basket comprising two basket side walls extending between first and second basket ends thereof with one of said basket side walls being a resilient side wall, each basket end having a pair of pins, one said pin of each pair extending from each basket side wall, each pin having a head flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and therearound, the pin being inset from said head flange, each rim having, for each pair of pins, a pair of respective apertures, one respective aperture for each pin, formed within and completely enclosed by a respective rim inner wall thereof and accessible only from said respective rim inner wail, said respective apertures having proximally situated first portions and smaller, distally situated second portions of smaller dimension than said head flanges, and thereby configured for blocking passage of said head flanges therethrough, each pin extending through said respective aperture with said respective aperture situated between said basket side wall and said head flange and being resiliently biased by said resilient side wall through said second portion with said head flange extending thereover and attaching said basket to said rim with said rim inner wall in snug and abutting contact on one side thereof with said head flange and on the other side thereof with the side wall and thereby limiting lateral movement of said basket between said rims and wobbling of said basket, said motor rotating said cylindrical structure about a rotational axis to at least partially immerse said basket in said nutrient liquid in said reservoir to nourish said plants, wherein each basket further comprises a basket bottom wall depending from said basket side walls and coextending therewith from said first basket side wall to said second basket side wall, said basket bottom wall facing generally outwardly away from said structure when said basket is attached to said rims, wherein each basket has at least one nutrient aperture, each nutrient aperture extending partially across said basket bottom wall and one of said basket side walls at a bottom corner defined by an intersection thereof, wherein said at least one nutrient aperture comprises first and second sets of nutrient apertures, said first set thereof extending across a first bottom corner defined by one said basket side wall and basket bottom wall, and said second set thereof extending across a second bottom corner at the respective intersection between the other said second basket side wall and said basket bottom wall, wherein said support base further comprises a removable drain tray, said drain tray being extending below said reservoir and completely underlying said cylindrical structure and said reservoir for receiving escaped liquid nutrient from said nutrient reservoir and said basket, wherein said drain tray comprises a central drain basin for holding said escaped nutrient liquid, said drain basin having generally opposed first and second basin side walls and first and second basin end walls connected thereto, said basin side walls extending in axial alignment with said basket side walls and beyond said first and second rims, wherein said first and second basin side walls each have a respective guide wall extending along a portion thereof and slanting upwardly therefrom for guiding said escaped liquid nutrient towards said drain basin, said drain basin being centrally situated between said guide walls, wherein each said guide wall is comprised of a first section and a second section, said first section extending proximally to said basin and slanting upwardly at a first angular inclination, said second section extending from said first section and distal said basin and slanting upwardly from said first section at a second angular inclination greater than said first angular inclination. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pin and said head flange thereof are sized and shaped for free passage through said first portion of said respective aperture. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pins, said apertures, and said basket side walls are configured for insertion of said head flanges through said first portions of said respective apertures by flexion of said resilient side wall, by application of an inwardly directed force thereto, of said basket towards another said basket side wall thereof to align said head flanges with said first portions for passage therethrough, thereby enabling removal of said basket from said rims. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein both said basket side walls are resilient side walls. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each rim is comprised of a plurality of curved rim sections attached to one another by an attachment means, said curved rim sections being sized and shaped to form a generally circular shape when attached to one another. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pins are resiliently and telescopically mounted in tubes extending along side basket side walls in proximity to said basket ends. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each pin extend axially from said basket side wall in proximity to a top edge thereof situated generally opposite a bottom corner defined by an intersection between said basket side wall and said basket bottom wall. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each basket has at least one retaining flange extending radially from one said basket side wall towards the other said basket side wall, said retaining flange extending over at least a portion of said basket bottom wall for retaining said plants and said growing medium in said basket. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nutrient apertures of said first set are disposed in alternating spaced-apart relationship with said nutrient apertures of said second set. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support base further comprises first and second pairs of rotatable mount wheels, situated generally opposite one another, upon which said first and second rims are respectively mounted, a drive mount wheel of said first pair of rotatable mount wheels being connected to said motor and abutting said first rim for rotation by said motor and causing rotation of said cylindrical structure. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said support base further comprises a drive gear connected to said motor and a drive wheel gear connected to said drive mount wheel and to said drive gear, said motor rotating said drive gear for rotating of said wheel gear and said drive mount wheel for rotating, thereby rotating said cylindrical structure. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nutrient reservoir and said cylindrical structure are configured for immersion of said nutrient aperture in said nutrient liquid for absorption of said liquid therethrough into said growing medium when said basket passes through said nutrient reservoir by rotation of said cylindrical structure. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reservoir curves downwardly from reservoir side edges thereof, which extend in general axial alignment with said basket side walls, towards a central reservoir portion thereof situated centrally between said reservoir side edges. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support base further comprises two generally longitudinally opposed end racks and two elongate cross members extending substantially parallel one another therebetween and connecting said end racks, said reservoir and said rims being mounted on said end racks, said motor being mounted on one of said end racks, said drain tray being removably seated on said cross members, each support rack having two generally opposed rack ends disposed below said drain tray and said side members, each rack end having a support wheel mounted thereon and extending therefrom, said support base, and thereby said apparatus, being supported on a surface thereby. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said rack ends are in substantially vertical alignment with another, said cross members are positioned equidistant said rack ends, said nutrient reservoir and said drain tray are substantially level relative to said rack ends, and each said support wheel is adjustably mounted in said rack end at an adjustable position relative thereto, a distance between said rack end and said surface being adjustable by adjusting said adjustable position for leveling said apparatus, including said drain tray and said reservoir, relative said surface. 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said end racks are substantially semicircular in shape, each said end rack extending along a semicircular arc between said rack ends. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support base further comprises, for each rim, at least one stabilizer wheel positioned for contact with a rim outer wall, extending generally opposite said rim Inner wall, as said rim rotates around said rotational axis. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source adjustably mounted on said base and extending at least partially through said cylindrical structure for providing light to said plants.