Seed sprouter and insert therefor

Claim 2

A seed sprouter comprising a frame, support structure on said frame mounting a container for turning about a horizontal axis, carrier structure in said container for holding seeds a predetermined distance from the horizontal axis, a motor mounted on said frame for driving said support structure to turn said container and the carrier structure therein about the horizontal axis at a speed to nullify the effects of gravity on the growth of seeds carried by said carrier structure, and an annular trough in said container for holding a body of water through which the seeds are passed as said support structure turns about the horizontal axis, whereby the seeds on said carrier structure are alternately watered and aerated as said support structure turns.

Claim 3

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is generally annular in cross section and closed at one end and has a remOvable cap closing the other end, said removable cap having an opening therein spaced inwardly from the inner periphery of said container, whereby said container and said cap provide said annular trough with the opening in said cap determining the level of water in said annular trough.

Claim 4

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 2, and further comprising screening covering the opening in said cap to hold seeds within said container during the turning thereof and permitting exchange of air between the atmosphere and the interior of said container.

Claim 5

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier structure is a film of water on the inner surface of said container holding small seeds thereon during the turning of said container.

Claim 6

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier structure is a deformable insert disposed within said container and trappingly carrying thereon the seeds.

Claim 7

A seed sprouter comprising a frame, a pair of spaced apart parallel shafts mounted on said frame, a motor mounted on said frame and connected to said shafts for simultaneously driving said shafts in the same direction, a container resting on said shafts to be turned thereby about a horizontal axis, carrier structure mounted in said container for holding seeds a predetermined distance from the horizontal axis and for turning the seeds about the horizontal axis as said container is turned, and an annular trough in said container for holding a body of water through which the seeds are passed as said container and the seeds carried therein turn about the horizontal axis, said motor and said shafts and said container being constructed and arranged so as to turn said carrier structure about the horizontal axis at a speed to nullify the effects of gravity on the growth of the seeds carried thereby and alternately to water and to aerate the seeds as said container turns.

Claim 8

A seed sprouter comprising a frame, a pair of spaced apart parallel shafts mounted on said frame, a motor mounted on said frame and connected to said shafts for simultaneously driving said shafts in the same direction, a container resting on said shafts to be turned thereby about a horizontal axis, carrier structure mounted in said container for holding seeds a predetermined distance from the horizontal axis and for turning the seeds about the horizontal axis as said container is turned, and an annular trough in said container for holding a body of water through which the seeds are passed as said container and the seeds carried therein turn about the horizontal axis, said motor and said shafts and said container being constructed and arranged so as to turn said carrier structure about the horizontal axis at a speed to nullify the effects of gravity on the growth of the seeds carried thereby and alternately to water and to aerate the seeds as said container turns.

Claim 9

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 6, and further comprising wheels mounted on said shafts and drivingly supporting said container.

Claim 10

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 7, and further comprising abutments mounted on said frame and contacting said container to maintain said container centered longitudinally with respect to said wheels.

Claim 11

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 6, wherein said frame is annular in shape and open at both ends, and further comprising a base for said frame providing a drip pan and a closure for the lower end of said frame, and a cover closing the upper end of said frame so as completely to enclose said container to maintain high humidity conditions therearound and therein.

Claim 12

The sprouter set forth in claim 9, wherein said frame and said base and said cover and said container are all formed from transparent materials.

Claim 13

A seed sprouter comprising a frame including a generally horizontal base and an upstanding support wall on said base, a motor mounted on said support wall and drivingly connected to a shaft disposed with the axis thereof horizontal, a container mounted in cantilever fashion on said shaft for rotation therewith about the horizontal axis, carrier structure mounted in said container for holding seeds a predetermined distance from the horizontal axis and for turning about the horizontal axis, and an annular trough for said container for holding a body of water through which the seeds are passed as said container and the carrier structure therein are turned, said motor and said container and said carrier structure being constructed and arranged so that the seeds are turned about the horizontal axis at a speed to nullify the effects of gravity on the growth thereof and to water and to aerate the seeds alternately as said container and said carrier structure turn.

Claim 14

A seed sprouter comprising a frame including a generally horizontal base and an upstanding support wall on said base, a motor mounted on said support wall and drivingly connected to a shaft disposed with the axis thereof horizontal, a container mounted in cantilever fashion on said shaft for rotation therewith about the horizontal axis, carrier structure mounted in said container for holding seeds a predetermined distance from the horizontal axis and for turning about the horizontal axis, and an annular trough for said container for holding a body of water through which the seeds are passed as said container and the carrier structure therein are turned, said motor and said container and said carrier structure being constructed and arranged so that the seeds are turned about the horizontal axis at a speed to nullify the effects of gravity on the growth thereof and to water and to aerate the seeds alternately as said container and said carrier structure turn.

Claim 15

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 11, wherein said base provides a drip pan for receiving excess water from said annular trough.

Claim 16

The seed sprouter set forth in claim 11, wherein said container is provided with a cap closing the open end thereof and threadedly engagIng therewith, a hub fixedly secured to said cap and removably secured to said shaft for releasably mounting said container on said shaft.

Claim 17

A seed carrier insert assembly for use in a container during sprouting of the seeds, said assembly comprising a sheet of water-insoluble flexible material having a plurality of seed-receiving troughs disposed longitudinally thereof, a plurality of seeds disposed in said troughs and essentially filling the same, and at least one cover sheet of flexible material releasably secured to said sheet of water-insoluble material for covering said troughs to enclose the same to hold said seeds therein, said insert assembly being deformable into a condition in a direction transverse to said troughs to be inserted into the associated container and thereafter having sufficient resiliency to spring outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the associated container, said cover sheet being removable after placement of said insert assembly in the associated container to expose said seeds with said troughs being shaped to trap said seeds therein while permitting sprouts to grow from the seeds out of said troughs into the associated container.

Claim 18

A seed carrier insert assembly for use in a container during sprouting of the seeds, said assembly comprising a sheet of water-insoluble flexible material having a plurality of seed-receiving troughs disposed longitudinally thereof, a plurality of seeds disposed in said troughs and essentially filling the same, and at least one cover sheet of flexible material releasably secured to said sheet of water-insoluble material for covering said troughs to enclose the same to hold said seeds therein, said insert assembly being deformable into a condition in a direction transverse to said troughs to be inserted into the associated container and thereafter having sufficient resiliency to spring outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the associated container, said cover sheet being removable after placement of said insert assembly in the associated container to expose said seeds with said troughs being shaped to trap said seeds therein while permitting sprouts to grow from the seeds out of said troughs into the associated container.

Claim 19

The seed carrier insert assembly set forth in claim 14, wherein said cover sheet is formed of a water-soluble material that after placement of said insert assembly in the associated container is dissolved upon contact with water in the associated container.