초록 ▼

A self-contained hydroponic plant system which can be easily packaged as a kit containing a plurality of plant seeds, at least one plant cube for holding seedlings within, a germination tray to allow the plant cubes having seeds within to germinate, a vertically collapsible reservoir for holding wat

A self-contained hydroponic plant system which can be easily packaged as a kit containing a plurality of plant seeds, at least one plant cube for holding seedlings within, a germination tray to allow the plant cubes having seeds within to germinate, a vertically collapsible reservoir for holding water and nutrients therein having an open top end and a sealed bottom end, a solar powered aerator for circulating oxygen to the water in the reservoir through a flexible hose, and a net pot supported by the top end of the reservoir having a slotted bottom wall for supporting the plant cups with germinated seedlings within, whereby the plant's roots grow and access the plant nutrients within the aerated water-filled reservoir. The kit further includes a media to support/stabilize the plant cup within the net pot, a frame assembly sized to hold the reservoir, and support hangers to suspend the frame assembly and reservoir.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit comprising: a vertically collapsible tubular reservoir having an open top end, a side wall, and a sealed bottom end, said side wall having a first collapsed position for shipping whereby said side wall is less than half as tall as said side wall in an

1. A self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit comprising: a vertically collapsible tubular reservoir having an open top end, a side wall, and a sealed bottom end, said side wall having a first collapsed position for shipping whereby said side wall is less than half as tall as said side wall in an expanded position, said expanded position for use in said self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit, said sealed bottom end adapted for holding water and nutrients;a frame assembly sized to support said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir in said expanded position, said frame assembly including an upper frame member sized to secure to said open top end of said reservoir and a lower frame member sized to secure to said sealed bottom end of said reservoir, said upper and lower frame members further include a plurality of apertures, a plurality of support dowels, each of said plurality of apertures sized for accepting a corresponding support dowel, said plurality of support dowels each having a length of at least a length of said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir in said expanded position, each of said plurality of support dowels including a top end, said top end including a ring and a bottom end having a support member, said ring constructed and arranged for supporting said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir from an overhead surface, said bottom end support member constructed and arranged to support said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir upon a top surface;an aerator in the form of an air pump, said aerator collecting air from the atmosphere and pressurizing said air for delivery to said water contained within said tubular reservoir by way of a flexible hose;a net pot having a slotted bottom wall for supporting germinated seedlings therein, an open top, and a sidewall with a plurality of slots, a flange extending around said open top, said flange constructed and arranged to support said net pot at said open top end of said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir, said slots sized to allow a plant's roots to grow therethrough, whereby said plant roots can access said water and nutrients in said sealed bottom end of said vertically tubular collapsible reservoir. 2. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 1, including a solar panel, said solar panel sized for operation of said aerator. 3. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 1, wherein said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir includes an insulating wrap, said insulating wrap being formed from a flexible material and sized for circumscribing said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir while said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir is in said expanded position. 4. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 1, including a package of nutrient-rich food for mixing with water in said sealed bottom end. 5. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 1, including a plurality of plant seeds, and at least one plant cube for holding said plurality of plant seeds for germination, and a germination tray, said germination tray having a bottom portion and a translucent top portion, said translucent top portion being securable to said bottom portion, said bottom portion having a cavity sized to contain said at least one plant cube and said plurality of plant seeds. 6. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 5, including media in the form of rocks to support/anchor said at least one plant cube within said net pot. 7. A self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit comprising: a vertically collapsible tubular reservoir having an open top end, a side wall, and a sealed bottom end, said side wall having a first collapsed position for shipping whereby said side wall is less than half as tall as said side wall in an expanded position, said expanded position for use in said self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit, said sealed bottom end adapted for holding water and nutrients;an upper frame member sized to secure to said open top end of said reservoir and a lower frame member sized to secure to said sealed bottom end of said reservoir, said upper and lower frame members each having a plurality of U-shaped openings, whereby a corresponding support dowel is positionable into the open side of said U-shaped opening, each said support dowel including a first and a second support member positioned in a spaced apart arrangement along the length of each said dowel, said first said support member constructed and arranged to cooperate with a said upper frame member and said second support member constructed and arranged to cooperate with said lower frame member for positioning said upper and said lower frame members in a spaced apart relationship;an aerator in the form of an air pump, said aerator collecting air from the atmosphere and pressurizing said air for delivery to said water contained within said tubular reservoir by way of a flexible hose;a net pot having a slotted bottom wall for supporting germinated seedlings therein, an open top, and a sidewall with a plurality of slots, a flange extending around said open top, said flange constructed and arranged to support said net pot at said open top end of said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir, said slots sized to allow a plant's roots to grow therethrough, whereby said plant roots can access said water and nutrients in said sealed bottom end of said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir. 8. A self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit comprising: a vertically collapsible tubular reservoir having an open top end, a side wall, and a sealed bottom end, said side wall including a plurality of accordion pleats for regulating the height of said tubular reservoir, said side wall having a first collapsed position for shipping whereby said side wall is less than half as tall as said side wall in an expanded position, said expanded position for use in said self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit, said sealed bottom end adapted for holding water and nutrients;an aerator in the form of an air pump, said aerator collecting air from the atmosphere and pressurizing said air for delivery to said water contained within said tubular reservoir by way of a flexible hose;a net pot having a slotted bottom wall for supporting germinated seedlings therein, an open top, and a sidewall with a plurality of slots, a flange extending around said open top, said flange constructed and arranged to support said net pot at said open top end of said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir, said slots sized to allow a plant's roots to grow therethrough, whereby said plant roots can access said water and nutrients in said sealed bottom end of said vertically tubular collapsible reservoir;a plurality of plant seeds, at least one plant cube for holding said seeds for germination, and a germination tray, said germination tray having a bottom portion and a translucent top portion, said translucent top portion being securable to said bottom portion, said bottom portion having a cavity sized to contain said at least one plant cube and said plurality of plant seeds. 9. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 8, including a frame assembly sized to support said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir in said expanded position, and a support hanger to suspend said frame assembly and said reservoir from an overhead surface. 10. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 9, wherein said frame assembly includes an upper frame member sized to secure to said open top end of said reservoir and a lower frame member sized to secure to said sealed bottom end of said reservoir. 11. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 10, wherein said upper and lower frame members further include a plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures are sized for accepting a corresponding number of support dowels, a plurality of support dowels, said support dowels having a length of at least a length of said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir. 12. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 11, wherein each said support dowel includes a top end including a ring and a bottom end having a support member, said ring constructed and arranged for supporting said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir from an overhead surface, said bottom end support member constructed and arranged to support said vertically collapsible tubular reservoir upon a top surface. 13. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 12, including a support hanger, said support hanger having a first end constructed and arranged for attachment to an overhead surface, said support hanger having a second end that is constructed and arranged for attachment to said ring at said top end of each said support dowel. 14. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 13, wherein said second end of said support hanger includes at least one clip member, each said at least one clip member securable to a respective said ring at said top end of each said support dowel. 15. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 11, wherein said plurality of apertures are U-shaped openings, whereby a corresponding said support dowel is sized to slip into the open side of said U-shaped opening. 16. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 15, wherein each said U-shaped opening includes at least one snap-lock feature for engaging a side surface of said support dowel for locking said support dowel within said U-shaped opening. 17. The self-contained hydroponic plant growing kit of claim 11, wherein each said support dowel includes at least one platform support member positioned along the length of each said dowel, each said support member constructed and arranged to cooperate with a said upper or said lower frame member for positioning said frame member with respect to said dowels.