IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0348239
(2012-01-11)
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등록번호 |
US-8316581
(2012-11-27)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
173 |
초록
A growing medium includes a bulking agent and a water-retentive polymer blended together and compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1, being substantially free of a water-soluble binder material.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: blending a dehydrated bulking agent, including coir, and a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier; andcompressing said dehydrated bulking agent, including coir, and said non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about
1. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: blending a dehydrated bulking agent, including coir, and a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier; andcompressing said dehydrated bulking agent, including coir, and said non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 3:1 to about 10:1;wherein said compressed growing medium is not hydrophobic and maintains a compressed shape without a water soluble binder until hydrated. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said dehydrated bulking agent comprises less than 20% moisture content. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said dehydrated bulking agent is compressed at a volume-to-volume ratio between 1:1 and 3:1 prior to said blending with said non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming said growing medium into a wafer, pellet, brick, slab, cube or triangle. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a fertilizer, nutrients, a pesticide, an insecticide, or a fungicide to said growing medium. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said compressing further includes agitating said growing medium prior to said compression. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling said growing medium to between 20° C. and 25° C. during said compression of said dehydrated bulking agent. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said growing medium is maintained below about 35° C. during said formation of said growing medium. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming said compressed growing medium into an irregular shape. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding seeds to said compressed growing medium. 11. A method of making a growing medium, comprising: dehydrating a ground coir bulking agent having a grind size between ⅛ inch mesh and 1 inch mesh to less than 20% moisture content;adding a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier to said dehydrated ground coir bulking agent;compressing said bulking agent and said non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier at a volume-to-volume ratio ranging from about 5:1 to about 10:1;wherein said compressed bulking agent and non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier is free of a water soluble binder; andwherein said compressed bulking agent and non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier is maintained below about 35° C. during said formation of said growing medium. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said ground coir comprises coir dust and short coir fibers. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising grinding said coir to pass through a mesh screen ranging in size from between ⅛ of an inch to 1 inch. 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming said maintained compressed shape into an irregular shape. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein said irregular shape comprises a non-symmetrical shape. 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming said growing medium into a wafer, pellet, brick, slab, cube or triangle. 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising adding a fertilizer, a pesticide, an insecticide, or a fungicide to said growing medium. 18. The method of claim 12, further comprising adding seeds to said compressed growing medium. 19. The method of claim 12, further comprising agitating said bulking agent and said non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier prior to said compression. 20. A method of making a growing medium including dehydrated coir having less than 18% moisture content and a grind size between ⅛ inch mesh and 1 inch mesh, comprising: blending said dehydrated coir with a non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier;compressing said dehydrated coir and said non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier to a volume-to-volume ratio greater than about 5:1; andforming said compressed growing medium into an irregular shape;wherein said compressed dehydrated coir and said non-ionic surfactant or emulsifier forms a matrix, is free of a water soluble binder material, and maintains said irregular compressed shape until hydrated.
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