Patent US3961603A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3961603A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Habitat for earthworm cultivation
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-07-31
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Granted: 1976-06-08
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Expires: 1995-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A small-scale habitat for the cultivation of earthworms is designed for the optimum production of live worms, eggs and worm castings. The habitat comprises a plurality of superimposed, stackable containers with perforated bottoms and inward projections at their upper flanges. These projections sustain the weight of the upper containers, admit air to each individual container and permit feeding and breeding activity by earthworms at all levels of the stacked assembly; the movement of the earthworms from one level to another being facilitated by the aforementioned perforations in the bottoms of the containers. The bottom-most container has an unperforated bottom and is adapted to hold water in a matrix of pebbles or crushed stone for the control of the moisture content of bedding, suitably peat-moss or coarse earth, in the superior containers.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Gaddie, Sr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:23
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K67/00; A01K67/30; A01K67/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A habitat for the raising of earthworms in a bedding matrix, comprising: a plurality of stacked pans, each of said pans being provided with a flat bottom; perforations in that bottom, for the circulation of air, moisture and earthworms therethrough; peripheral sidewalls with an upwardly opening draft, defining spaces for the charging thereinto of said bedding; gusset means, projecting inwardly from said sidewalls into said spaces, for the support of a superior pan thereon; and with upwardly convex spacing buttons, in a substantially horizontal flange extending around the upper circumference of said sidewalls; a humidity control pan with a water-impermeable base and peripheral walls, adapted to sealably receive the lowermost one of said plurality of stacked pans; and a cover, overlapping the circumferential flange of the topmost one of said plurality of stacked pans, supported on the spacing buttons thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A habitat for the raising of earthworms in a bedding matrix, comprising: a plurality of stacked pans, each of said pans being provided with a flat bottom; perforations in that bottom, for the circulation of air, moisture and earthworms therethrough; peripheral sidewalls with an upwardly opening draft, defining spaces for the charging thereinto of said bedding; gusset means, projecting inwardly from said sidewalls into said spaces, for the support of a superior pan thereon; and with upwardly convex spacing buttons, in a substantially horizontal flange extending around the upper circumference of said sidewalls; a humidity control pan with a water-impermeable base and peripheral walls, adapted to sealably receive the lowermost one of said plurality of stacked pans; and a cover, overlapping the circumferential flange of the topmost one of said plurality of stacked pans, supported on the spacing buttons thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The habitat of claim 1, wherein: said humidity control pan further comprises support plane means, for bearing the weight of said plurality of stacked pans, of the bedding charged thereinto, and the weight of said cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The habitat of claim 1, wherein: the number of said plurality of stacked pans is three.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The habitat of claim 1, wherein: said habitat is constructed from a thermosetting plastic composition.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of raising earthworms in a habitat comprised of a plurality of breeding pans charged with bedding and stacked in a vertical array, with a humidity control pan underneath the lowermost breeding pan and chargeable with water, and with a cover superimposed on the topmost breeding pan, comprising the steps of: introducing earthworms into said topmost breeding pan; charging water into said humidity control pan; periodically removing the contents from said topmost pan; separating live worms, worm eggs and worm castings from said removed contents; replacing said bedding into the topmost pan; and exchanging said topmost pan for the pan proximate to said humidity control pan.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of raising earthworms in a habitat comprised of a plurality of breeding pans charged with bedding and stacked in a vertical array, with a humidity control pan underneath the lowermost breeding pan and chargeable with water, and with a cover superimposed on the topmost breeding pan, comprising the steps of: introducing earthworms into said topmost breeding pan; charging water into said humidity control pan; periodically removing the contents from said topmost pan; separating live worms, worm eggs and worm castings from said removed contents; replacing said bedding into the topmost pan; and exchanging said topmost pan for the pan proximate to said humidity control pan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: periodically replenishing said nutrients in said topmost of said breeding pans; and periodically recharging said humidity control pan with water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3129692A
Cited
US3654903A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-08 | 1979-12-08 | 1980-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-08 | 1983-12-08 | 1984-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-08 | 1987-12-08 | 1988-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |