1. A hexagonal aeroponic vertical farming tower system, comprising: (a) a tower body formed as a hexagonal prism comprising a plurality of planar plates assembled into six faces; (b) a plurality of plant slots formed on the faces, wherein the plant slots comprise elliptical openings configured to receive plant cups; (c) a plurality of plant cups configured to fit within the elliptical openings and to hold a growing medium; and (d) an aeroponic mist delivery subsystem configured to deliver nutrient-rich mist to plant roots within an interior region of the tower body, wherein the hexagonal prism geometry improves structural rigidity and promotes more uniform airflow and mist distribution compared to a cylindrical tower.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tower body has a height of about 1250 mm and each face has a side length of about 100 mm.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elliptical openings have a major radius of about 70 mm and a minor radius b of about 50 mm.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of plant slots comprises 51 slots, including three faces having nine slots and three faces having eight slots.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the planar plates are fabricated from acrylic sheet and assembled using chamfered edges and a clamping mechanism.

6. A method for fabricating a hexagonal aeroponic tower, comprising: (a) laser cutting a plurality of acrylic plates to form tapered plate members comprising elliptical slot openings; (b) chamfering mating edges of the plate members; (c) assembling the plate members using a clamping mechanism to form a hexagonal prism tower body; and (d) installing plant cups filled with cocopeat into the elliptical slot openings and operating an aeroponic mist subsystem to deliver nutrient mist to roots.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein cocopeat is used as a growing medium due to water retention and aeration properties that reduce root rot risk.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hexagonal internal geometry reduces stagnant zones and improves circulation to improve uniform mist coverage.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein slot count is optimized using load-carrying capacity and stress/deformation calculations to maintain structural safety.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system reduces maintenance frequency by reducing yield loss due to root rot and clogging compared to conventional tower designs.

Description:[0001] The present invention relates to controlled-environment agriculture and vertical farming systems, and more particularly to an aeroponic vertical farming tower having a hexagonal modular tower body with multiple plant slots configured for cocopeat-based holders and a mist-based nutrient delivery arrangement that improves airflow and mist distribution, reduces stagnant zones, reduces root rot and nozzle clogging, and increases yield while minimizing maintenance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional vertical farming towers are increasingly used in urban settings to address space constraints and improve access to fresh produce, but most existing systems require high initial investment because they are designed for controlled indoor environments and complex setups. Common tower configurations include tray-based systems and cylindrical towers, both of which face practical limitations in cost, scalability, and maintenance when deployed widely for individual rooftop users.
[0003] A key problem with conventional vertical farming models is operational inefficiency caused by design flaws that lead to root rot and clogged nozzles. Root rot can occur due to stagnant moisture zones and inadequate aeration around roots, while clogged nozzles can interrupt nutrient/water delivery and require frequent manual identification and rectification—both leading to yield loss and increased operating cost. The report explicitly identifies these issues as major barriers that necessitate frequent and costly maintenance and cause loss of yield.
[0004] Further, existing cylindrical tower designs generally incorporate fewer plant slots per tower (e.g., 26 holes per cylindrical tower in the given reference design), limiting productivity per unit footprint. At the same time, simply adding more holes without structural optimization can reduce mechanical strength and increase deformation under crop load, leading to instability. Therefore, there exists a need for a tower geometry that increases the number of plant slots while maintaining structural integrity and improving internal airflow/mist distribution.
[0005] Aeroponic methods—where roots are nurtured by nutrient-rich mist rather than being continuously submerged—can reduce root-rot risk and improve growth, but tower geometry strongly affects airflow circulation and mist coverage. Conventional forms may exhibit uneven flow patterns and stagnant zones, which reduce uniformity of nutrient delivery and can worsen root health. Accordingly, there is a need for a practical, low-cost, rooftop-deployable aeroponic tower design that improves structural rigidity and internal flow uniformity, and is easy to fabricate at scale.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An objective of the present invention is to provide a vertical farming tower that reduces root rot and clogged nozzle issues through improved aeroponic mist delivery.
[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to increase the number of plant slots per tower compared to conventional cylindrical towers while maintaining structural safety.
[0008] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a hexagonal tower geometry that improves rigidity and resists bending/twisting during operation.
[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to improve airflow circulation and uniform mist distribution by reducing stagnant zones inside the tower.
[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a modular tower structure that is easy to fabricate using laser cutting, chamfering, and clamping assembly.
[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to enable affordable rooftop vertical farming for individuals, using cocopeat as a sustainable growing medium with high water retention and aeration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention discloses a hexagonal aeroponic vertical farming tower comprising a tower body formed from six planar plates assembled into a hexagonal prism of approximately 1250 mm height, wherein each plate contains a plurality of elliptical plant slots. In a preferred configuration, three faces include nine elliptical slots and three faces include eight elliptical slots, providing a total of 51 plant slots per tower, substantially increasing planting density compared to a cylindrical tower with 26 holes.
[0013] The tower is fabricated from acrylic sheet selected for affordability, flexibility, accessibility, and corrosion resistance, and assembled by a clamping mechanism after laser cutting and chamfering to ensure fit and durability. Cocopeat-filled elliptical cups are inserted into the slots, providing water retention, aeration, and controlled root-zone environment.
[0014] An aeroponic nutrient delivery subsystem delivers nutrient-rich mist directly to plant roots, improving oxygen availability and reducing root-rot risk. The hexagonal internal geometry improves airflow and mist circulation and reduces stagnant zones, thereby improving uniform exposure of roots to air and nutrients.
[0015] In this respect, before explaining at least one object of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of set of rules and to the arrangements of the various models set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other objects and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, according to the need of that industry. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0016] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] The advantages and features of the present invention will be understood better with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
[0018] Figure 1 illustrates the 3D model of the hexagonal tower in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] Figure 2 illustrates the Hexagonal Tower in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open-ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
[0021] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
[0022] The present invention is implemented as a rooftop-deployable aeroponic vertical farming system that enables individuals to cultivate crops in limited urban spaces using a compact tower geometry. The system is designed to reduce the high-investment barrier and recurring maintenance issues observed in conventional vertical farming models by improving tower structure and aeroponic nutrient delivery behavior. The invention is especially directed to solving yield loss due to root rot and clogging-related irrigation disruption, which the report identifies as major performance limitations of conventional towers.
[0023] The tower body comprises a hexagonal prism formed by assembling multiple plate members. Each plate is fabricated with a taper geometry and thickness (illustratively about 10 mm) and is chamfered at mating edges to enable tight, smooth assembly. A clamping mechanism is applied to join the plates and maintain structural rigidity. The fabrication process uses laser cutting to create precise slot openings and plate outlines and to ensure repeatability and clean edges for assembly at scale.
[0024] The hexagonal geometry is selected to improve structural rigidity compared with a cylindrical tower. The multi-faceted geometry distributes load across interconnected flat faces and improves resistance to bending and twisting during handling and operation, thereby improving stability and durability. This improves adaptability for rooftop environments where the system may experience handling shocks, wind loads, and dynamic plant mass growth over the cultivation cycle.
[0025] Each face of the hexagonal tower includes a vertical set of elliptical slots into which plant cups are inserted. In one embodiment, the tower has a side length of about 100 mm and a total height of about 1250 mm. Slots are elliptical with major radius a≈70 mm and minor radius b≈50 mm. To balance maximum planting capacity with load-carrying capacity, the design incorporates three faces with nine slots and three faces with eight slots, yielding a total of 51 slots per tower. This is a key productivity enhancement relative to a reference cylindrical tower with 26 holes.
[0026] Plant holders are configured as elliptical cups that fit into the elliptical slots. The cups have a wall thickness (illustratively about 2.5 mm) and a height (illustratively about 75 mm) and are filled with cocopeat. Cocopeat is selected because it is lightweight, has high water retention, provides good aeration/porosity for roots, offers suitable pH for nutrient uptake, and is biodegradable and reusable. These properties support healthy root development and reduce the likelihood of root rot compared to waterlogged media.
[0027] The material of construction for the tower plates is selected based on affordability, flexibility, local availability, and corrosion resistance. The report identifies acrylic as a suitable material and provides mechanical properties including density, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and yield strength, supporting that the tower can withstand expected operational loads. Acrylic also provides environmental durability when exposed to moisture and outdoor conditions.
[0028] A load and stress optimization approach is used to justify slot count and structural adequacy. The report includes calculations estimating tower mass, slot load contributions (plant weight, cup weight, cocopeat weight), and stresses (crushing stress and tearing stress) acting around slots, and derives deformation values for plates with nine slots and eight slots. This structured analysis supports that increasing slot count to 51 is feasible when distributed as 9-slot and 8-slot faces and when using the selected plate geometry and material.
[0029] The irrigation mechanism is implemented as an aeroponic misting system configured to deliver nutrient-rich mist directly to plant roots. By delivering nutrients as fine droplets and allowing the root zone to remain primarily aerated, the system reduces stagnant water accumulation and thereby lowers root rot risk. The report’s value proposition explicitly indicates that loss of yield due to root rot can be reduced because roots are nurtured by mist, thereby connecting aeroponic delivery with improved yield stability.
[0030] The hexagonal internal geometry improves the aeroponic environment by enhancing airflow patterns and mist distribution. Angular internal surfaces reduce stagnant zones and improve circulation inside the tower, ensuring more uniform exposure of plant roots to air and nutrient mist. By contrast, conventional tower designs can exhibit uneven flow patterns leading to less efficient mist coverage. This geometric improvement is a key technical effect supporting the invention’s novelty and performance benefit.
[0031] In a preferred operational workflow, users install the tower on a rooftop, insert cocopeat-filled cups into each elliptical slot, and plant seedlings in the cups. The aeroponic subsystem intermittently sprays nutrient mist into the internal root zone at controlled intervals to maintain moisture and nutrient availability while ensuring adequate oxygenation. After growth, crops are harvested. The report also describes a business model where the system provider purchases harvested produce and exports it, enabling an income stream for rooftop growers; however, the inventive subject matter primarily lies in the tower geometry, material/fabrication, slot optimization, and mist distribution behavior.
[0032] In best-mode construction, the tower is produced by laser cutting acrylic sheets into tapered plate panels with elliptical slot arrays, chamfering mating angles, and assembling plates using a clamping mechanism to form the hexagonal prism tower. The resulting tower provides higher planting density (51 slots), improved rigidity, improved airflow and mist uniformity, reduced root rot risk, and reduced maintenance associated with clogging and yield loss, thereby enabling a scalable and accessible vertical farming solution for urban rooftops.
[0033] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the present invention, and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
, Claims:1. A hexagonal aeroponic vertical farming tower system, comprising:
(a) a tower body formed as a hexagonal prism comprising a plurality of planar plates assembled into six faces;
(b) a plurality of plant slots formed on the faces, wherein the plant slots comprise elliptical openings configured to receive plant cups;
(c) a plurality of plant cups configured to fit within the elliptical openings and to hold a growing medium; and
(d) an aeroponic mist delivery subsystem configured to deliver nutrient-rich mist to plant roots within an interior region of the tower body,
wherein the hexagonal prism geometry improves structural rigidity and promotes more uniform airflow and mist distribution compared to a cylindrical tower.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tower body has a height of about 1250 mm and each face has a side length of about 100 mm.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elliptical openings have a major radius of about 70 mm and a minor radius b of about 50 mm.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of plant slots comprises 51 slots, including three faces having nine slots and three faces having eight slots.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the planar plates are fabricated from acrylic sheet and assembled using chamfered edges and a clamping mechanism.
6. A method for fabricating a hexagonal aeroponic tower, comprising:
(a) laser cutting a plurality of acrylic plates to form tapered plate members comprising elliptical slot openings;
(b) chamfering mating edges of the plate members;
(c) assembling the plate members using a clamping mechanism to form a hexagonal prism tower body; and
(d) installing plant cups filled with cocopeat into the elliptical slot openings and operating an aeroponic mist subsystem to deliver nutrient mist to roots.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein cocopeat is used as a growing medium due to water retention and aeration properties that reduce root rot risk.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hexagonal internal geometry reduces stagnant zones and improves circulation to improve uniform mist coverage.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein slot count is optimized using load-carrying capacity and stress/deformation calculations to maintain structural safety.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system reduces maintenance frequency by reducing yield loss due to root rot and clogging compared to conventional tower designs.