DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“A DISMOUNTABLE HYDROPONIC CULTIVATION RACK”

2. APPLICANT DETAILS
a) Name : Hydrogreens Agro-tech LLP
b) Nationality: Indian
c) Address : # 102, Abhinava poorna Apt, K R Road,
Basavanagudi, Bengaluru,
Karnataka, India, PIN-560004

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it has to be performed.

4. DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dismountable hydroponic cultivation system that is easy to assemble and disassemble.

Background of the Invention

The hydroponics industry is growing year on year. It is becoming increasingly common and indeed necessary for nations of the world to grow fresh produce locally to feed their populations. A common method of growing plants involves an NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system. An NFT system is a recirculating hydroponic system that consists of growing channels or trays over which a nutrient solution is constantly pumped across, creating a nutrient film into which the roots grow. Plants are often started in stone wool cubes and placed on the growing channels. The solution is recirculated from a main tank. Other methods and apparatuses are known.

Climate is very important for growing any type of crops. The climate change could reduce annual agricultural incomes in the range of 15 percent to 18 percent on average, and up to 20 percent to 25 percent for unirrigated areas. Minimizing susceptibility to climate change requires drastically extending irrigation via efficient drip and sprinkler technologies.

An example is clearly seen in the dairy sector where small & marginal dairy farmers income is declining by about 15 to 20% during summers and more in areas like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra. Most of the farmers reside in deep rural parts of India, where the road and last mile supply chain network is weak.

Vertical agricultural design provides for more harvest in very less space. Typically, small & marginal farmers in India & Asia have very less land to irrigate, less land for livestock. So, there is a need to grow more in very little space, with very little water and power. An affordable, low cost vertical structure that can withstand the weight of growing medium, can provide support for plumbing and piping systems plants and that which can also be packed and shipped easily to the remote corners of India is very much needed.

US patent application US 2019/ 0320606 (‘606) discloses a vertical hydroponic grow container. The ‘606 patent application discloses a tractor trailer container type enclosure having a plurality of hanging frames with hydroponic tubes supporting plants on both sides of each frame. The ‘606 patent application also discloses side to side ceiling mounted grow frames to enable work spacing between sliding frames large enough for a wheelchair. However, it is not easy to dismount and carry from one place to another.

US patent application US 2017/ 0079223 (‘223) discloses a vertical hydroponic grow container. The ‘223 patent application discloses a hydroponic cultivation apparatus with detachable cultivation tray. Each cultivation tray is magnetically mounted to an expansion socket of a main aqueduct.

None of the racks/ stands available in the prior-art literature are completely detachable. Therefore, there is a need to develop a cultivation rack that is easily assembled and disassembled and vertical in design with less space, especially for vertical agriculture.
Summary of the Invention

The following summary provides an introduction to selected concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, while certain disadvantages of other technologies may be noted or discussed herein, the claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited to implementations that may solve or address any or all of the disadvantages of those other technologies. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the claimed subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rack for hydroponic cultivation that is portable and collapsible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rack for hydroponic cultivation that is detachable.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for mounting and dismounting of the rack for hydroponic cultivation.

According to one aspect of the invention, the detachable hydroponic cultivation system includes prefabricated support frames of varying lengths, connectors, support legs.

According to one aspect of the invention, the detachable hydroponic cultivation system is easy to assemble and disassemble.

According to one aspect of the invention, the method of mounting detachable hydroponic cultivation system includes taking four support frames and joined to two vertical rods. The bottom end of each vertical rod contains a support leg.

According to one aspect of the invention, the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack includes
a. a plurality of middle rods each of 7 feet in length, made with preferably 3 PVC pipe pieces joined with each other by 4-way connectors and a stability joint at its end,
b. the middle rod has two open ends in each of its 4-way connectors;
c. a plurality of H frames to form the rack/support when fully assembled;
d. the 2 middle rods are tilted so that the one of the open ends of each 4-way connector is facing upwards, away from the ground;
e. the 2 middle rods are kept side by side and the 2 ends of H frames are joined to the 2 open ends of 4-way connectors;
f. only one of the 2 open ends of each 4-way connector of each rod is used, and the other end is open facing downards to the ground to fix another set of H frames;
g. a plurality of corner rods has at least 7 no’s of 3-way T connectors, of which one end is available to join with open ends of the H frames;
h. the corner rods having a stability joint at the bottom;
i. wherein, each corner rod is joined/connected to the open ends of the 7 no’s of the H frames;
j. the 4-way connectors are placed in such a way that they perfectly join the H frames;
k. the structure is tilted upside down so the open ends of the 4-way connectors of the middle rod come upwards;
l. the remaining 7 H frames are connected to the open ends of the 4-way connectors;
m. the remaining two corner legs are connected to the open ends of the H frames, such that all the stability corners are on the same side;
n. the stability joints (108) touching the ground when the structure is vertically tilted;
o. there are open ends coming from all the 4 coner rods, and middle rod;
p. a plurality of U pipes with 2 open connectors are connected to the top side open ends to form the structure; and
q. a plurality of 32 mm clips to the farthest ends of each of the horizontal pipes are attached wherein the clips facilitate a degree of angle to drain all the water when the trays for cultivation of veggies are placed on them.

According to one aspect of the invention, the plurality of middle rods each of 7 feet in length are made with preferably 3 PVC pipe pieces joined with each other, wherein: a first piece has 2 no’s of 4-way connectors and a stability joint at its end; a second piece has 3 no’s of 4-way connectors; and a third piece has 2 no’s of 4-way connectors with both ends open.

According to one aspect of the invention, the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) is detachable.

According to one aspect of the invention, the height of the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) is adjustable by adjusting the length of the pipe pieces (102).

According to one aspect of the invention, the cultivation tray is placed at an angle at one end with respect to the horizontal surface.

According to one aspect of the invention, the plurality of 32 mm clips (414) are detachably attached to the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400).

According to one aspect of the invention, a method of assembling the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack is disclosed. The method includes:
i) forming of middle rods by arranging pipe pieces, 4-way connector, 2-way connector and a stability joint;
ii) forming of H frames by pipes and 3-way connectors;
iii) inserting of seven H frames into the middle rods;
iv) forming of corner rods;
v) joining the corner rods to the open ends of the H frames;
vi) Tilting the corner rods such that the open side 4-way connector is facing to the top side;
vii) arranging H frames in to the open side 4-way connector of the corner rod;
vii) connecting the corner rods to the open end of the H frames;
vii) arranging the hydroponic cultivation rack with the stability joint touching the ground;
viii) connecting U-shaped pipes with top side of the middle rods and corner rods.

These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

Example embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the pipes, connectors and other fittings used according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the H shaped sub-assembly used according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the H shaped sub-assembly with two vertical rods according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates front view of the assembled rack according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the side view of the rack with clips at the edges according to the present invention;

Detailed Description of the Invention

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of composition set forth in the following description. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The use of “including”, “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 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.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention.

Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. The wording “one embodiment”, or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, is merely a convenience for the reader’s clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.

The present invention relates to a dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack that is detachable and portable.

Referring to FIG.1, pipes, connectors and other fittings used for assembling the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack are shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the pipe pieces 102 are connected to 4-way connector 104. According to one embodiment, the pipe piece 102 is connected to 2-way bend connector 106. According to one embodiment, a stability joint 108 is connected to one end of the pipe piece 102. The stability joint 108 is placed on the ground and the stability joint acts as the base for dismountable hydroponic rack.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connectors 104, 104 are made of plastic of PVC. The pipe piece 102 used in dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack are made of plastic, PVC or metal. The diameter of the pipe ranges from 0.5 inch to 1.5 inch. The length of the piece varies according to the position of the pipe 102 in the dismountable hydroponic rack

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first main rod, the second main rod and other main rods are assembled by using the pipes and other fittings.

Referring to FIG.2 and FIG.3, a H-shaped sub-assembly 210 is disclosed. The H-shaped subassembly 210 comprises 2 horizontal pipes 202 joined to 2 vertical pipes 202. One H-shaped sub-assembly contains four 3-way connectors 207. The 2 horizontal pipes 202 are separated by 0.5 ft to 1 ft distance.

According to one embodiment of the invention, two main rods are joined by using H-shaped sub-assembly structure. The two main rods are assembled from 4-way connectors, pipes of varying lengths and a stability joint.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, 7 H-shaped sub-assembly structures are used for joining the two main rods in the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack.

FIG. 4 illustrates a complete dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack 400. There are total of 6 main rods 412 (3 main rods are shown in the figure and 3 are not shown). Two of the main rods 412 a are in the middle and four main rods are at the corners 412 b. The main rods 412 are detachable in nature and are arranged in a standing condition on the stability joint 408 which acts as a ground base member.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the complete dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack 400 includes 14 H-shaped sub-assembly structures 410. The number of H-shaped sub-assembly structures 410 can be altered based on the height of the main rods and the distance between the H-shaped sub-assembly structures 410.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first main rod 412 of the first row is joined with the first main rod 412 of second row with the help of first U-shaped pipe 516 (shown in FIG.5). Likewise, the second main rod 412 of the first row is joined with the second main rod 412 of second row with the help of second first U-shaped pipe 516. The third main rod of the first row is joined with the third main rod of second row with the help of first third first U-shaped pipes.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of 32 mm clips 414 are attached to the farthest ends of each of the horizontal pipes 402 wherein the clips facilitate a degree of angle to drain all the water when the trays for cultivation of veggies are placed on them

According to one embodiment of the invention, the complete dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack 400 includes seven racks. The distance between the middle racks is more when compared to the upper and lower racks. The seven racks are used for getting fodder for animals for the entire week. In an exemplary case, if the seeds are grown on Monday, the feed will be ready by next Tuesday.

According to one embodiment of the invention, 28 trays are arranged in the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack for growing fodder to animals. The present dismountable rack 400 with 28 trays is sufficient for 4 to 5 cows or about 50 sheep.

FIG. 5 illustrates the side view of the hydroponic cultivation rack 500. According to one embodiment of the invention, 32 mm clips are arranged at the ends of the horizontal pipes. According to one embodiment of the invention, there are 56 clips arranged in the dismountable hydroponic cultivation. The clips are for providing an inclination to the trays placed. The clips allow to remove or drain any excess water or nutrient fluid present in the tray. If the clips are not present, there is a chance that excess water or nutrient fluid is present in the tray which hinders the growth of the fodder.

The dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack 400 is very useful to the small and marginal farmers who mainly depend on cows, buffaloes, sheep or goat for livelihood.

The dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack 400 is easily assembled and disassembled. The dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack of the present invention is easy to transport from one place to another.

According to one embodiment of the invention, height of the hydroponic cultivation rack 400 is about 7 ft. breadth is about 3.3 ft and depth is about 4 ft. A support leg (ground base member) is placed at the bottom of each main rod for getting proper stability.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each section of the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack has means for supplying of nutrient fluid and light to the seedlings/ plants.

According to one embodiment of the invention, modular in structure. The stand has excellent stability.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the trays used for growing fodder are made from plastic or PVC. The tray is in hollow rectangular form. The seeds are placed in the trays for growing fodder. It takes about one week from sowing of seeds to the ready to use fodder. The trays are inclined/ tapered so that the water or the nutrient fluid is drained.

According to one embodiment of the invention, pipes are arranged to each section of the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack for supplying water and nutrient fluid.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the ground base member has a hole to pass the screws for fixing firmly to the ground. A length-adjusting mechanism is provided in the ground base member, which enables the length of the ground base member and the space between the pole-supporting sections adjusted.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the vertical area is a key real estate that is exploited in the design. Hence the first two and the last two racks are of lesser height and the middle three racks have a greater distance between them. It was mandatory to design a 7 rack system in one setup (or in less than 13 square feet area), instead of splitting the structure into two parts such that there is a rack for usage for each weekday. Therefore, there are 7 racks. Since the early sprouts require less length, they could be placed in the top & bottom two rack spaces. and as they grew in height they could be moved to the center where there is some more height available.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dismountable hydroponic rack according to the present invention includes ring and rope arrangement. The rope is arranged from the top of the dismountable hydroponic rack.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dismountable hydroponic rack according to the present invention provides high space usage. The dismountable hydroponic rack according to the present invention helps in increasing production of fodder for feeding the animals.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the novel and inventive features of the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack, it is understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

List of reference numerals
102: pipe
104: 4-way connector
106: 2-way connector
108: stability joint
207: 3-way connector
210: H-Frame
312: main rods
400: front view of the dismountable hydroponic rack
414: 32 mm clips
500: side view of the dismountable hydroponic rack
516: U-shaped pipes
,CLAIMS:5. CLAIMS
I/WE CLAIM
1. A dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400), wherein the rack comprises:
r. a plurality of middle rods (412 a) each of 7 feet in length, made with preferably 3 PVC pipe pieces (102) joined with each other by 4-way connectors (104) and a stability joint (108) at its end;
s. the middle rod (412 a) has two open ends in each of its 4-way connectors (104);
t. a plurality of H frames (210) to form the rack/support when fully assembled;
u. the two middle rods (412 a) are tilted so that the one of the open ends of each 4-way connector is facing upwards, away from the ground;
v. the two middle rods (412 a) are kept side by side and the 2 ends of H frames are joined to the two open ends of 4-way connectors;
w. only one of the 2 open ends of each 4-way connector (104) of each rod is used, and the other end is open facing downards to the ground to fix another set of H frames (210);
x. a plurality of corner rods (412 b) has at least 7 no’s of 3-way T connectors (207), of which one end is available to join with open ends of the H frames (210);
y. the corner rods having a stability joint (108) at the bottom;
z. wherein, each corner rod (412 b) is joined/connected to the open ends of the 7 no’s of the H frames (210);
aa. the 4-way connectors (104) are placed in such a way that they perfectly join the H frames (210);
bb. the structure is tilted upside down so the open ends of the 4-way connectors of the middle rod come upwards;
cc. the remaining 7 H frames (210) are connected to the open ends of the 4-way connectors (104);
dd. the remaining two corner legs are connected to the open ends of the H frames (210), such that all the stability corners are on the same side;
ee. the stability joints (108) touching the ground when the structure is vertically tilted;
ff. there are open ends coming from all the 4 coner rods, and middle rod;
gg. a plurality of U pipes (516) with 2 open connectors are connected to the top side open ends to form the structure; and
hh. a plurality of 32 mm clips (414) to the farthest ends of each of the horizontal pipes are attached wherein the clips facilitate a degree of angle to drain all the water when the trays for cultivation of veggies are placed on them.

2. The dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) is detachable.

3. The dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) is adjustable by adjusting the length of the pipe pieces (102).

4. The dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cultivation tray is placed at an angle at one end with respect to the horizontal surface.

5. The dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of 32 mm clips (414) are detachably attached to the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400).

6. A method of assembling the dismountable hydroponic cultivation rack (400), the method comprising of
i) forming of middle rods (412 a) by arranging pipe pieces (402), 4-way connector (404), 2-way connector (406) and a stability joint (408);
ii) forming of H frames (210) by pipes 202 and 3-way connectors;
iii) inserting of seven H frames (210) into the middle rods (412 a);
iv) forming of corner rods (412 b);
v) joining the corner rods (412 b) to the open ends of the H frames (410);
vi) Tilting the corner rods such that the open side 4-way connector (404) is facing to the top side;
vii) arranging H frames (410) in to the open side 4-way connector (404) of the corner rod;
vii) connecting the corner rods (412 b) to the open end of the H frames (410);
vii) arranging the hydroponic cultivation rack (400) with the stability joint (408) touching the ground;
viii) connecting U-shaped pipes (516) with top side of the middle rods (412 a) and corner rods (412 b).

6. DATE AND SIGNATURE
Dated this December 15, 2019

Signature

(Anugu Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy)

Agent for Applicant (IN/PA-2420)