Patent US3945148A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3945148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for growing bean sprouts
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-03-10
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1995-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of growing high quality bean sprouts on a mass production basis which consists briefly of placing a relatively large quantity of mung beans in a container, leveling and covering the quantity of beans with a substantially opaque receptacle cover for temporarily holding a quantity of water, the cover being formed with openings for the immediate distributed passage of water therethrough, initially covering the quantity of germinated beans with warm water and immediately draining the water from the container and thereafter periodically wetting said sprouts, draining off all water in the container, injecting warm air at a low pressure in a reverse direction to the drainage flow, and repeating the watering, drainage, and presurizing steps at intervals until the bean sprouts have matured. The apparatus consists briefly of a container having vertical side walls, bottom walls sloping at a slight angle to a central drain and a screen covering the drain area. A substantially opaque receptacle cover with perforations to permit the even distribution of water to the container is slideably mounted within the container to rise as the sprouts develop and fill the container. A pressure pump and an optional vacuum pump are connected to the container through the water drain.
Inventors
- 👤 George Clem Oyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:19
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G31/00; A01G31/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P60/00; Y02P60/20; Y02P60/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of growing germinated bean sprouts comprising the steps of: a. placing a quantity of germinated beans to a uniform depth in a container having substantially vertical side walls, an open top, a drain opening in the bottom wall and the bottom wall having a gently sloping floor in the direction of the drain; b. placing over said beans a substantially opaque relatively rigid cover having a plurality of openings adapted for admitting water and air therethrough and slideably mounted in said container to rise with the growth of said sprouts; c. periodically introducing a pre-selected amount of water onto said cover for distribution thereby onto said beans; d. draining the water immediately from said beans through said drain opening; and e. periodically flowing air through said growing bean sprouts at a selected pressure which will not disturb the orientation of said sprouts, in a direction opposite to the flow of water through said container, and after each introduction of water for a pre-selected duration until there is a substantial change of air within the container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of growing germinated bean sprouts comprising the steps of: a. placing a quantity of germinated beans to a uniform depth in a container having substantially vertical side walls, an open top, a drain opening in the bottom wall and the bottom wall having a gently sloping floor in the direction of the drain; b. placing over said beans a substantially opaque relatively rigid cover having a plurality of openings adapted for admitting water and air therethrough and slideably mounted in said container to rise with the growth of said sprouts; c. periodically introducing a pre-selected amount of water onto said cover for distribution thereby onto said beans; d. draining the water immediately from said beans through said drain opening; and e. periodically flowing air through said growing bean sprouts at a selected pressure which will not disturb the orientation of said sprouts, in a direction opposite to the flow of water through said container, and after each introduction of water for a pre-selected duration until there is a substantial change of air within the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of growing bean sprouts as described in claim 1 comprising: a. said pressured air has a pressure of less than 1 centimeter of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of growing bean sprouts as described in claim 1 including: a. injecting ozone into the air used to subject said beans to said low air pressure flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of growing bean sprouts as described in claim 1 wherein: a. said container is approximately 60 centimeters in height; and b. the bottom of said container is covered with beans to a depth of about 2 to 5 centimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of growing bean sprouts as described in claim 1 wherein: a. the temperature of water introduced to said beans varies from about 15° C. to 30° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein: a. the cycle of watering, draining, and back pressuring is repeated at regular intervals approximately 4 to 10 times each 24-hour period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as described in claim 1 comprising: a. applying a vacuum through the drain opening in said container of about 40 to 80 centimeters of water pressure for a duration of about 5 to 10 seconds after each watering step to drain excess water from said beans.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein: a. said back pressure has a duration of about 1 to 5 minutes and the pressure is at least sufficient to push upwardly through all of the bean sprouts in said container and is less than 10 centimeters of water pressure.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for growing bean sprouts comprising: a. at least one container having substantially vertical side walls, an open top, a drain opening in a bottom wall which gently slopes toward said drain opening: b. a container top substantially opaque and being formed with a plurality of openings for admitting water and air therethrough, said top being generally coextensive with the area of said container and mounted for vertical sliding movement therein; c. means for introducing water to the top of said container; and d. means for creating pressure attached to said drain for forcing air upwarldy through the beans and bean sprouts in said container.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for growing bean sprouts comprising: a. at least one container having substantially vertical side walls, an open top, a drain opening in a bottom wall which gently slopes toward said drain opening: b. a container top substantially opaque and being formed with a plurality of openings for admitting water and air therethrough, said top being generally coextensive with the area of said container and mounted for vertical sliding movement therein; c. means for introducing water to the top of said container; and d. means for creating pressure attached to said drain for forcing air upwarldy through the beans and bean sprouts in said container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as described in claim 9 comprising: a. ozone producing means for introducing ozone to said container through said drain opening when said pressure means is operating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
An apparatus as described in claim 9 comprising: a. a plurality of said containers; b. a common drain pipe connected to the drains of said containers; c. an open trough receiving the effluent from said drain pipe; d. said pressure means being connected to said drain pipe; e. said drain pipe having its discharge end submerged a specified depth in said trough for regulating the maximum pressure applied to said containers; f. said trough having an overflow means at a selected height above the discharge end of said drain pipe in said trough for regulating the maximum pressure which said pressure means can apply; and g. said drain being placed a selected distance above the level of the water in said trough for regulating the maximum vacuum attainable in said containers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A container for growing bean sprouts as described in claim 11 comprising: a. said bottom wall having a slope ratio of elevation to horizontal distance of approximately 1 to 20; and b. said side wall height to width ratio being approximately 1 to 1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as described in claim 9 comprising: a. control means connected to said water introducing means, and said pressure means for automatic cycling of water and air through said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as described in claim 9 comprising: a. vacuum means attached to said drain pipe for creating a vacuum within said container for drawing off excess water from said sprouts and container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
146 words
A container for growing bean sprouts comprising: a. said container having vertical side walls and an open top; b. said container having a bottom sloping gently inwardly to a drain; c. said bottom wall having a downwardly offset portion; d. a strainer having a plurality of openings dimensioned for receipt in said offset portion; e. a conduit connected to said drain opening depending below the bottom wall of said container; f. leg members for elevating the bottom of said container and extending beyond the lower elevation of said conduit; and g. a rigid cover formed with a plurality of openings for admitting water to said container and permitting the exhausting of air from said container and being coextensive with the area of said container and mounted for vertical sliding movement within said container; h. and means to sequentially introduce water and pressurized air into said container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
146 words
A container for growing bean sprouts comprising: a. said container having vertical side walls and an open top; b. said container having a bottom sloping gently inwardly to a drain; c. said bottom wall having a downwardly offset portion; d. a strainer having a plurality of openings dimensioned for receipt in said offset portion; e. a conduit connected to said drain opening depending below the bottom wall of said container; f. leg members for elevating the bottom of said container and extending beyond the lower elevation of said conduit; and g. a rigid cover formed with a plurality of openings for admitting water to said container and permitting the exhausting of air from said container and being coextensive with the area of said container and mounted for vertical sliding movement within said container; h. and means to sequentially introduce water and pressurized air into said container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |