초록 ▼

A plant growing apparatus of a hydroponic and/or aeroponic plant growing system includes a support assembly and a pair of height control mechanisms. The support assembly includes a bottom platform, supported and mobilized by corner caster wheel devices, and top and intermediate platforms, vertically

A plant growing apparatus of a hydroponic and/or aeroponic plant growing system includes a support assembly and a pair of height control mechanisms. The support assembly includes a bottom platform, supported and mobilized by corner caster wheel devices, and top and intermediate platforms, vertically spaced apart from one another and the bottom platform by upright corner posts rigidly affixed at the corners of the bottom platform. The intermediate platform may be manually raised or lowered along the posts. The height control mechanisms are concurrently operable to raise or lower the top platform along the posts. In addition to the plant growing apparatus, the plant growing system also includes light modules supported by the top platform, plant grow cells supported by the intermediate platform below the light modules, and a water reservoir and pump on the bottom platform and connected in communication with the plant grow cells and height control mechanisms.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plant growing apparatus, comprising: a bottom platform;a plurality of elongated posts being spaced apart from one another and disposed about and affixed to said bottom platform so as to extend upright therefrom and parallel to one another;a top platform having a plurality of couplers and a peri

1. A plant growing apparatus, comprising: a bottom platform;a plurality of elongated posts being spaced apart from one another and disposed about and affixed to said bottom platform so as to extend upright therefrom and parallel to one another;a top platform having a plurality of couplers and a peripheral frame formed by a plurality of elongated members disposed in a rectangular configuration and together with said couplers, being rigidly affixed to respective end portions of adjacent pairs of said elongated members of said peripheral frame, forming a plurality of corners of said top platform, said couplers defining passages therethrough that slidably receive said elongated posts along corresponding upper portions thereof;an intermediate platform having a plurality of couplers and a peripheral frame formed by a plurality of elongated members disposed in a rectangular configuration and together with said couplers, being rigidly affixed to respective end portions of adjacent pairs of said elongated members of said peripheral frame, forming a plurality of corners of said intermediate platform, said couplers defining passages therethrough that slidably receive said elongated posts along corresponding intermediate portions thereof; anda pair of height control mechanisms each extending between and mounted to upper end portions of a selected pair of said plurality of elongated posts that extend above a corresponding pair of said couplers of said top platform, each of said pair of height control mechanisms being coupled to said top platform at a respective one of said couplers disposed at one of a diagonally opposite one pair of said corners of said top platform such that said height control mechanisms, being concurrently operable to selectively raise or lower said top platform along said posts, interact with said top platform at said diagonally opposite one pair of said corners of said top platform so as to minimize potential binding of said top platform relative to said posts;wherein said elongated posts have apertures formed therein at equal vertical spacing along said posts such that different sets of said pluralities of apertures, being aligned with one another, are disposed at different heights along said posts;also wherein said couplers of said peripheral frames of said top and intermediate platforms have respective apertures formed therethrough that align with respective ones of said different sets of pluralities of said apertures of said posts; andfurther wherein fasteners are fitted through said aligned ones of said apertures of said posts and couplers so as to retain said top and intermediate platforms respectively along corresponding upper and intermediate portions of said posts. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of caster wheel devices being spaced apart and disposed below and mounted to said bottom platform so as to mobilize said apparatus to create a non-fixed floor position of said plant growing apparatus. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of height control mechanisms comprises: an actuator having a main body coupled to said upper end of one of said elongated posts extending above one of a diagonally opposite other pair of said corners of said top platform;a first pulley coupled to one end of said actuator being extendible and retractable from and toward said main body of said actuator;a second pulley coupled to said upper end of one of upright posts extending through one of said diagonally opposite one pair of said corners of said top platform; anda cable connected at a first end to said one of said diagonally opposite one pair of said corners of said top platform, extending therefrom about and between said first and second pulleys and connected at a second end, being opposite to said first end, to said one end of said actuator such that concurrent operation of said actuators with respect to one another to extend and retract said one end of each actuator and said first pulley of each actuator therewith, away from and toward said main body thereof results in said top platform being lowered and raised along said posts. 4. A plant growing system, comprising: a bottom platform;a plurality of elongated posts being spaced apart from one another and disposed about and affixed to said bottom platform so as to extend upright therefrom and parallel to one another;a top platform of a rectangular configuration and having a plurality of corners and a plurality of couplers each being disposed and rigidly affixed at one of said corners and defining passages that slidably receive therethrough corresponding upper portions of said posts;an array of light modules supported by said top platform so as to emit light in a downward direction;an intermediate platform of a rectangular configuration and having a plurality of corners and a plurality of couplers each being disposed and rigidly affixed at one of said corners and defining passages that slidably receive therethrough said posts and along corresponding intermediate portions thereof, said intermediate platform and said posts being connectible to one another so as to retain said intermediate platform along said corresponding intermediate portion of said posts;an array of plant grow cells supported by said intermediate platform so as to receive the light emitted by said light modules disposed above said plant grow cells;a pair of height control mechanisms each extending between and mounted to upper end portions of said elongated posts that extend above a corresponding pair of said couplers of said top platform, each of said pair of height control mechanisms being coupled to said top platform at a respective one of said couplers disposed at one of a diagonally opposite one pair of said corners of said top platform and being concurrently operable to selectively raise or lower said top platform, and said light modules therewith, along said posts away from and toward said array of plant grow cells supported by said intermediate platform; anda water reservoir and at least one pump for controlling operation of said reservoir and said height control mechanisms, said water reservoir and at least one pump being supported by said bottom platform and connected in communication with said array of plant grow cells and height control mechanisms. 5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a control board coupled in communication with said at least one pump and light modules, and a user interface coupled in communication with said control board, said user interface and control board being configured to control operation of said pump, actuators and light modules. 6. The system of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of caster wheel devices being spaced apart and disposed below and mounted to said bottom platform so as to mobilize said system. 7. The system of claim 4 wherein said top platform also has a peripheral frame formed by a plurality of elongated members, and an interior framework spanning between and rigidly affixed to said elongated members of said peripheral frame and having a lattice structure defining an array of openings through said top platform and supporting said array of light modules on said lattice structure in alignment with said array of openings. 8. The system of claim 4 wherein said intermediate platform also has a peripheral frame formed by a plurality of elongated members, and an interior framework spanning between and rigidly affixed to said elongated members of said peripheral frame and having a lattice structure defining an array of openings through said intermediate platform and supporting said array of plant grow cells on said lattice structure of said top platform. 9. The system of claim 4 wherein said light modules are LED light panels. 10. The system of claim 4 wherein said plant grow cells have a pyramidal geometry.