WO2018132780A1

WO2018132780A1 - Apparatus and method for plant growth management

Info

Publication number: WO2018132780A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/013684
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Smith
Original assignee: Robert Smith
Priority date: 2017-01-13
Filing date: 2018-01-13
Publication date: 2018-07-19

Abstract

A plant growth management apparatus for managing the orientation of growth of a plant retained thereby. The apparatus includes a plurality of connectors that are interchangeable with each other, wherein the plurality of connectors include one or more male members and one or more female members, and wherein female and male ends of the connectors are of substantially the same size and substantially the same configuration to enable interoperability of the plurality of connectors. The connectors include a plurality of first plant support types and one or more second plant support types removably coupled to the first plant support types. The supports may be extendible and can be configured in a variety of orientations dependent on the desired plant orientation. The apparatus includes one or more plant clamps for attaching a plant to the supports. One or more reflectors may be used to direct sunlight to the plant from selectable directions.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLANT GROWTH MANAGEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to devices and methods for controlling the orientation of the growth of plants. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and related components for managing plant growth over the course of the growth period.

2. Description of the Prior Art

[0002] A common and desirable practice when growing plants including, but not limited to, cannabis, other than watering them, is to train the plants to grow in certain ways. That may be done by snipping off the top of the plant to promote new growth or to limit the plant's size. Some growers tie branches back to maximize the use of available sunlight and/or artificial light and to otherwise control the shape of the plant over the course of its growth. Growers also create a "screen of green" by building a structure that supports a screen into which the plant grows. The plants under the screen grow to the same height and so there is no one plant overshadowing its neighbors and thereby limiting their access to light. Regardless of the plant growth method or device employed, we know that by "training" a plant, one can control the shape of the plant grown to take better advantage of available light, and ultimately, increase the yield of a plant as well as the yield of its neighbors.

[0003] A problem with managing plant growth is that it is currently very labor intensive and the tools available fail to address adequately existing needs. Current devices tend to be one-size-fits- all systems and do-it-yourself systems that are currently in gardens, such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe, bamboo stakes, tomato cages, chicken wire and trellises of all kinds. There is no system on the market today that effectively fulfills the need to manage plant growth in a cost- effective manner and that provides the user with flexibility to manage the plant growth. What is needed is an apparatus to aid in the regulation of plant growth. What is needed is such an apparatus that can be used in a way that enhances plant growth management in a cost-effective way while providing the user with flexibility in how that plant growth is managed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is a plant growth management apparatus comprising a plurality of connectors that are interchangeable with each other, wherein the plurality of connectors include one or more male members and one or more female members, and wherein female and male ends of the connectors are of substantially the same size and substantially the same configuration to enable interoperability of the plurality of connectors. The connectors are in the form of a plurality of supports that are removably connectable to one another so as to configure the support in a wide range of orientations that allow the user to choose how they want a plant to grow. Each support comprises a male member and a female member. There is one type of female member and three different types of male members. Each male member is removably coupled to a female member. The female member is formed of two sections that are connected together to capture a male member therebetween. A first male member includes a pivotable end that can be used when joined with a female member to create a plant support that can be angled at a selectable angle. A second male member is designed with at least one end arranged to engage with a releasable support engagement clamp that can be used to join plant supports together. A third male member functions as an extension to enable the configuration of the apparatus of any selectable length and/or width. The first and third male members have a tapered end that allows for placement of that male member into a soft substrate such as dirt.

[0005] The female member has a plurality of ports to receive a pin or nub of either of the second and third types of male members so that the combination enables selection of the length of the support. The support members may be made of any material having sufficient structural integrity to maintain a substantially fixed position while a plurality of configured supports are engaged with one another and while engaged with a plant that is growing. The plant supports may be made of a metallic material, a nonmetallic material or a combination of the two. The plant supports may be solid or tubular, whether round, square or some other configuration. The plant supports may be made of a plastic material such as PVC, for example.

[0006] This invention allows a gardener of any plant to train a plant to get bigger in any direction desired, and then support that plant as it grows. That enables the plant to

produce a bigger harvest at the end of its growing season. Plant supports including the first male member type are rotatable and can be used to change the orientation of that support from 0 deg to 180 deg. That provides a range of motion from 360-degree rotation of one end of the support with respect to the other end. Plant supports including the second male member type that has the support engagement clamp at either or both ends can be used to couple two supports together at any angle dependent on the orientation of a swivelable clip forming part of the support engagement clamp.

[0007] The plant supports are designed to be interconnectable with entirely interchangeable parts dependent on the particular male member used to engage with a female member. A clip element that forms part of the support engagement clamp can also be used as a clip element of a plant stalk engagement clamp to secure the plant to the apparatus where desired. An optional substrate attachment device includes a mechanism for removable attachment to a support, such as a watering table, and to a plant support so that the plant and the growth management device may be positioned where desired for additional growth control operations. A further optional component is a reflector that may be removably connected to one or more plant supports at any position where desired on such supports including, for example, at a position located below the leaves of the plant under management to reflect light back to the underside of the plant and thereby accelerate growth.

[0008] This invention is configured to help growers train and support their plants with greater ease and functionality than they currently have with do-it-yourself systems or pieced

together parts not intended for the exact purpose of helping growers increase size of plant and harvest. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the plant growth management apparatus of the present invention formed of a plurality of plant supports.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a plant support of the plant growth management apparatus including a female member and a first male member type.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plant support of the plant growth management apparatus of the present invention including a female member and a second male member type in an extended position with rotatable and swivelable support clamps at opposing ends thereof.

[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the plant support of FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a plant clamp of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the plant clamp of FIG. 5.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an optional extension support of the plant growth management of the present invention including a female member and a third male member type.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an optional substrate coupler of the present invention for removably attaching a plant growth management apparatus to a substrate such as a table.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the optional substrate coupler with an extension.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a first example configuration of the plant growth management apparatus.

[0019] FIG. 11 is a second example configuration of the plant growth management apparatus with an optional reflector component coupled thereto.

[0020] FIG. 12 is a third example configuration of the plant growth management apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] An example configuration of a plant growth management apparatus 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. It comprises a plurality of connectors that are interchangeable with each other, wherein the plurality of connectors include one or more male members and one or more female members, and wherein female and male ends of the connectors are of

substantially the same size and substantially the same configuration to enable interoperability of the plurality of connectors. The connectors include a combination of a plurality of plant supports removably joined together. A first support type 12 forms part of the apparatus in a first orientation 16 and a second orientation 18. A second plant support type 14 is of a single configuration and includes opposing support clamp ends 20 and 22 that can be swiveled and angled. The first plant support type 12 may be extendible and the second plant support type 14 is extendible. The first plant support type 12 is used to angle the apparatus 10 in selectable configurations and generally is used to define the overall vertical dimensions of the apparatus 10. The second plant support type 14 is used to couple other plant supports together at a selectable distance from one another dependent on the extension of the second plant support type 14 and generally is used to define the overall horizontal dimensions of the apparatus 10.

[0022] The support type 12 and the support type 14 are combined in any number of ways selectable by a user to form a framework, which framework may be further modified at any time, to support and to manage or control the growth of a plant that is releasably joined to the apparatus 10. Each of the support types 12 and 14 includes a plurality of support ports 24 for insertion thereof of a pin or nub that can be pressed and then released and engaged with a selectable one of the ports 24 at the desired support length. The support type 12 of the first orientation 16 and of the second orientation 18 each includes a spike component 26 and a female component 28. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the first orientation 16 has the female component 28 extending upwardly, terminating at open end 30. The stake component 26 of the first orientation 16 is pivotably connected to the female member 28 and extends into open end 30 of the second orientation 18 so that its tapered end cannot be seen retained in the interior of the female component 28 of the second orientation 18 but is the equivalent of tapered end 48 of the stake component 26 of the second orientation 18. The second orientation 18 has the stake component 26 extending downwardly so that its tapered end 48 can be seen while it is pivotably coupled to the female component 28 of the second orientation 18. In that way, the stake component 26 of the extend the length of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 at a selectable angle. The spike component 26 can be used to removably affix the apparatus 10 in an underlying substrate such as in a container of dirt.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the support types 12 and 14, each includes a female member 32 and a male member 34. The female member 32 of each type of support is formed of two parts that partially encompass the male member 32 when those two parts are joined together. There are three different types of male members 34 to be described herein, one for use in making the first support type 12, one for making the second support type 14, and a third to be described herein to make a support extension. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each female member 32 is formed of two sections 36 and 38. The sections 36 and 38 include opposing ports 40, section coupling interfaces 42, and ends 44 and 45. When the sections 36 and 38 are removably coupled together at interfaces 42, such as with pins, screws or the like, completed support ports 24 are formed and used as locations for establishing the position of an end of a male member 34 therein, which establishes the selectable length of that particular support. Ends 44 and 45 are used to releasably retain between the sections 36 and 38 adaptive members to be engaged with coupling ends of the male members 34 dependent on the desired functionality of a particular support. The female member 32 is interchangeable with the male members 34 so that the user of the apparatus 10 can customize the configuration of the apparatus 10. The female member 32 of FIG. 2 includes an adaptive component at one end thereof described with respect to its combination with the spike component 32.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first type of male member is in the form of the spike component 26. The spike component 26 includes a main body 46, a first end 48 and a second end 50. The main body includes a nub 52 for releasable insertion into a support port 24 to establish the length of the spike component 26 used in forming a version of the apparatus 10. The first end 48 is tapered so that it can pierce a relatively soft substrate to retain the apparatus 10 in position. The second end 50 includes a fixed slotted interface bushing 54 with teeth 56 that engage with teeth 58 of pivot adapter 60 that is affixed to section 36 of the female member 32 of FIG. 2. The pivot adapter 60 includes a slotted ring 64, a spring 66 and a release pin 68. The release pin is retained to the bushing 54 with a screw or equivalent. The support type 12 of FIG. 2 The application of pressure on the release pin 68 disengages the pivot adapter 60 from the bushing 54 so that the position of the female member 32 may be changed relative to the position of the spike component 26. A second pivot adapter 70 shown in FIG. 1 may be established at end 72 of the female member 32 for coupling to another male member 36 that may be the same as or different from the spike component 26.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a second type of male member is in the form of rod 74. The rod 74 is used to form the second support type 14. The rod 74 includes a main body 76 and opposing ends 78 and 80. The main body 76 includes a nub 82 for releasable insertion into a support port 24 to establish the length of the second support type 14 used in forming the apparatus 10. First end 78 and second end 48 of the rod 74 are captured in the female member 32 between sections 36 and 38. The sections 36 and 38 of the female member 32 at first end 78 form a slot 84 therebetween configured to receive and retain an adaptive support clamp 92 therebetween. Opposing end 80 of the rod 74 includes slot 86 configured to receive therein a pressure fitting 88 and a base 90 of an adaptive support clamp 92. The adaptive support clamp 92 includes a clip 94. The clip 94 is rotatable and swivelable and is used to releasably couple the second support type 14 to one or two first support types 12. The support clamp 92 includes a clamp body 96 and a swivel and bracket 98 in addition to the clip 94. The base 90 is attached to the element 98 at root 100 and the clip 94 is pressure fitted to the element 98 at socket 102. The base 90 is inserted into first end 78 in the slot 84 and the base 90 is inserted in slot 86 and releasably retained in place when sections 36 and 38 of the female member 32 are joined together. The clip 94 swivels and rotates on bracket 98. An interior region 104 of the clip 94 may include a frictional element 106, such as a rubber coating or gasket, for example, to minimize sliding of the second support type 14 on another support to which it is coupled. The flexibility of positioning enabled by the rotation and/or swiveling of either or both clips 94 allows the user to form a framework that is the plant growth management apparatus 10 of most any configuration. The support of FIGS. 3 and 4 provides flexibility in the fabrication of the present invention in that the female member 32 of FIGS. 3 and 4 can be used to couple to another male member or female member in that it includes the adaptive support clamp 92 such as established at the first end 78. Additionally, the male member 34 of FIGS. 3 and 4 can be used to couple to another male member or female member in that includes the adaptive support clamp 92 such as that established at the second end 80. Extensions can be added to the members with clips as desired to increase length of the support.

[0026] It is to be noted that the components of the apparatus 10 that are referred to herein as the supports 12 and 14 identify particular configurations of support but that a feature of the invention is the interoperability of the different male member types. In that regard it is to be understood that a plurality of male members 34 of the same or different form may be coupled together when engaged with the female member 32. As a result, it should be understood that, for example, the first support type 12 can be modified to include the rod 74 of the second male member type that may be inserted between the sections 36 and 38 of the female member 32 and have pivot adapter 60 at either or both ends thereof rather than the support clamp 92. Other combinations are possible without deviating from the intended flexibility of the configuration of the apparatus 10.

[0027] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a plant clamp 108 of the present invention. The plant clamp 108 includes a hinged clamp 110 that is used to removably engage the plant clamp 108 with either of the support types 12 and 14 or another component such as the spike component 26. The hinged clamp 110 is unhinged prior to engagement with any support 12/14 or spike component 26. It is then placed around the support 12/14 or the spike component 26 and clamped in place where desired. The clip 94 is formed of relatively flexible material, such as a plastic, but not limited thereto. The clip 94 may be used to engage with a plant stalk to keep the plant stalk in place adjacent to the support to which the plant clamp 108 is affixed. An interior region 110 of the clip 94 may include a frictional element 112, such as a rubber coating or gasket, for example, to minimize sliding of the plant clamp 108 on the plant stalk. [0028] The hinged clamp 110 includes a first member 114 and a second member 116 that are joined together at hinged ends 118 and 120 thereof with pin 122. Opposing end 124 of the first member 114 includes a male member 126 that engages with a pressure fit in socket 128 of the second member 116 when the members 114 and 116 are releasably snapped together around the support. They are disconnected from one another and the two members 114 and 116 are hingedly moved away from each other about pin 122 when the plant clamp 108 is separated from the stalk or support. An interior 130 of the hinged clamp 116 may also include a frictional element 132 to minimize slippage between the plant clamp 108 and the support to which it is affixed.

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates a third form of the male member 34 in the form of an extension bar 134 that may be used to extend the effective length of the female member 32. The extension bar 134 includes a tubular main body 136 with a pressure fit retention pin 138 for retaining to port 24 of the female member 32. The extension bar 134 may have a spiked end as shown in FIG. 7 or it may be tubular throughout its length.

[0030] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an optional substrate coupler 140 that can be used to removably join the plant growth management apparatus 10 to a substrate. The substrate coupler 140 may be used to fix the apparatus 10 to a table, for example, such as a hydro table for watering the plant that is being managed by the apparatus 10. The coupler 140 includes a coupler body 142 including a thumb screw 144 coupled to a clamping plate 146. Rotation of the thumb screw 144 in one direction causes the clamping plate 146 to move toward a clamp face 148 until engaging with a structure such as a table edge, for example, and/or a portion of the apparatus 10. Rotation of the thumb screw 144 in the opposing direction causes the clamping plate 146 to move away from the clamp face 148, thereby releasing the structure retained therebetween. The clamp body 142 also includes one or more slot members 150 for fitting a support of the apparatus 10 therein or for a portion of a substrate. As shown in FIG. 9, the optional substrate coupler 140 may include an extension 152 to increase the length of the coupler 104 as desired.

[0031] FIG. 10 illustrates a first example of a configuration of the plant growth apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this first example, a plurality of first support types 12 are fixed together or extend from one another and may also include the optional extension bar 134 for increasing the overall height of the apparatus 10. The supports 12 are also generally extended at an outward angle from base 160 to upper perimeter 162 of the apparatus 10. Additionally, the apparatus 10 of FIG. 10 includes a plurality of second support types 14 linking adjacent supports 12 together. One or more of the supports 14 are extended, some partially and then others more completely at the top end of the apparatus 10, providing the apparatus 10 with a fluted configuration so that the plant to be managed thereby will have be narrower at the base 160 and wider at the perimeter 162.

[0032] FIG. 11 illustrates a second example of a configuration of the plant growth apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this second example, a plurality of supports 12 are fixed together or extend from one another and may also include the optional extension bars 134 for increasing the overall height of the apparatus 10. The supports 12 are also generally extended at an outward angle from base 170 toward an upper perimeter 172 of the apparatus 10. At location 174, the supports 12 are substantially arranged with a perpendicular alignment so that the apparatus 10 is fluted to location 174 and then the upper perimeter 172 is substantially constant to top 176. Additionally, the apparatus 10 of FIG. 11 includes a plurality of supports 14 linking adjacent supports 12 together. The supports 14 are extended about the upper perimeter 172 so that the apparatus 10 is fluted to location 174 and then has a polygon shape at the upper perimeter 172, with the supports 12 and 14 forming a plurality of connected quadrangles corresponding in number to the number of segments of the polygon of the upper perimeter 172. This

configuration allows the plant shape to be managed so that it expands from the base 170 to the location 174 and then is of a fixed outer perimeter from the location 174 to the top 176.

[0033] The apparatus 10 of FIG. 11 also includes a plurality of optional reflectors 180 at one or more locations on the outer perimeter thereof. The reflectors 180 may be positioned in the connected quadrangles but they are not limited to those locations. The reflectors 180 include coupling clamps 182 at one or more locations for removable attachment to any of the supports. Each reflector 180 is formed of a material, such as Aluminum foil or other material suitable for reflecting light. The reflector 180 is of sufficient structural integrity to remain in position. The reflector 180 is positioned on the apparatus 10 so that it reflects light back to the underside of a plant associated with the apparatus 10, such as a plant that is being managed with the apparatus 10 of the present invention. Heretofore, any such of reflectors designed to enhance the application of light to a plant have been positioned above the plant to reflect light only to the top surface of the plant. The optional reflectors 180 of the present invention are positioned to reflect light to the underside of the plant, thereby further accelerating desired plant growth. It is to be noted that the other examples of the apparatus described and illustrated may be modified to include one or more reflectors 180. It is also to be noted that other apparatus configurations may be adapted to include one or more reflectors 180.

[0034] FIG. 12 illustrates a third example of a configuration of the plant growth apparatus 10 of the present invention. In this third example, a first set of a plurality of supports 12 are substantially perpendicularly oriented and establish a base 190 of the apparatus and are coupled to a first set of a plurality of supports 14. The supports 14 are extended or connected to optional extension bars 134 at location 192 to increase the perimeter of the apparatus beyond that of the base 190. A second set of a plurality of supports 12 extend substantially perpendicularly from the supports 14 to form a wide perimeter at top 194 of the apparatus 10 and are coupled together by a second set of a plurality of supports 14. The second set of supports 14 are either extended or coupled to optional extension bars 134. The combination of supports shown in FIG. 12 provide an apparatus configuration that allows for short upward and wide outward growth of a plant to be managed thereby.

[0035] The invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments that are not intended to be limiting. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and reasonable equivalents of the same.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A plant growth management apparatus for managing the direction of growth of a plant, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of first support types, wherein each of the plurality of first support types includes a rotatable spike component;

one or more second support types, wherein each second support type includes a clip at one or both ends thereof,

wherein each of the one or more second support types is removably coupled to one of the plurality of first support types with the clip; and

wherein the number and orientation of the first support types is selectable and a location of the coupling of the one or more second support types to the plurality of second support types is selectable.

2. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the plurality of first support types and the one or more second support types are extendible.

3. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising one or more ground stakes coupled to one or more of either of the support types.

4. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising one or more extensions couplable to one or more of the plurality of first support types and the one or more second support types.

5. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising a substrate coupler releasably connectable to one or more of the plurality of first support types and the one or more second support types and to a substrate for retaining the plant growth management apparatus to the substrate.

6. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 5 wherein the substrate coupler includes a clamp body and a thumb screw coupled to a clamping plate, wherein rotation of the thumb screw in one direction causes the clamping plate to move toward a clamp face of the clamp body until engaging with the substrate, and wherein rotation of the thumb screw in the opposing direction causes the clamping plate to move away from the clamp face, thereby releasing the substrate retained therebetween.

7. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 5 wherein the clamp body includes one or more slot members for fitting one of the plurality of first support types and the one or more second support types therein.

8. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the interface of each of the plurality of second support types includes interlocking teeth at an end thereof, wherein the interlocking teeth may be engaged to and disengaged from interface teeth of the spike component by actuating an interface button so that the second support type may be rotated with respect to the spike component.

9. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 wherein each of the one or more second support types is formed of two connectable sections that when engaged with one another enclose an extension tube.

10. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 9 wherein the clips of the one or more second support types are rotatable and swivelable, wherein the clips are formed of a clip body a swivel element that joins an end of the main body to the clip body, and a swivel bracket to rotatably retain the swivel element to the end of the main body.

11. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 10 wherein each clip further includes an interior region with a frictional element such as a rubber coating or gasket.

12. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising one or more plant clamp components, wherein each plant clamp component includes a hinged clamp that is used to removably engage a plant clip with a main body of either or both of one of the plurality of first support types and the one or more second support types.

13. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the hinged clamp includes a first member and a second member that are joined together at hinged ends thereof with a pin, wherein an end of the first member includes a male member that engages with a pressure fit in a socket of the second member when the first and second members are releasably snapped together around one of the plurality of first support types and the one or more second support types.

14. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 13 wherein an interior of the hinged clamp includes a frictional element to minimize slippage between the plant clamp component and the support to which it is affixed.

15. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising one or more reflectors coupled to one or more of the plurality of first support types and the one or more second support types.

16. The plant growth management apparatus of Claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of first support types includes a clip at an end thereof.

17. A plant growth management apparatus comprising a plurality of connectors that are interchangeable with each other, wherein the plurality of connectors include one or more male members and one or more female members, and wherein female and male ends of the connectors are of substantially the same size and substantially the same configuration to enable

interoperability of the plurality of connectors.