Greenhouse structure

Claim 2

A greenhouse structure for growing plants and comprising: a. a building structure having a rear wall and opposite end walls and roof means cooperating with said rear wall and said opposite end walls to define an enclosed space having a front side with an inclined portion and an upright portion, said front side inclined portion having end portions cooperating with said roof means and said upright portion of said front side to define an opening therebetween in said inclined portion of said front side, said front side upright portion having end portions, said upright portion of said building structure front side including a removable center portion extending between said end portions of said front upright portion and having the major area of said center portion formed of translucent material; b. a closure member having a major area thereof formed of translucent material and pivoted on a horizontal axis and movable between open and closed positions respectively opening and closing said front side opening for controlling the entry of natural light and outside air for plants inside said building structure, said closure member having a cross sectional shape generally of a cylindrical segment; c. an earth floor within said building structure for growing plants; d. a plurality of translucent panels in said end portions of said front side inclined portion to permit sunlight to pass therethrough for substantially full utilization of the earth floor for growing plants; e. temperature responsive control means within said building structure; and f. drive means operatively connected to said closure member and controlled by said temperature responsive control means for moving said closure member between said open and closed positions in response to temperature changes within said building structure.

Claim 3

A greenhouse structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said center portion of said building structure front side upright portion has an upper edge; b. said closure member includes generally planar opposite end portions and a generally arcuate side wall portion extending between said generally planar opposite end portions whereby said closure member side wall portion extends outwardly beyond the inclined end portions of said building structure front side when said closure member is in the closed position; and c. said closure member side wall portion has one edge thereof in engagement with said upper edge of said upright portion.

Claim 4

A greenhouse structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said opposite end portions and said side wall portion of said closure member each include a plurality of translucent panels to permit sunlight to pass therethrough.

Claim 5

A greenhouse structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said closure member includes means defining an elongated side wall having opposite side edges; and b. said removable center portion has an upper edge engageable by one side edge of said closure member when in closed position.

Claim 6

A greenhouse structure comprising: a. a building structure having wall means closing a rear side and opposite ends thereof and roof means cooperating with said wall means to define an enclosed space having an open front side; b. a closure member mounted within said building structure and movable between an open position and a closed position, said closure member having opposite end portions and a side wall having a plurality of translucent panels, said closure member closing the open front side of said building structure when in the closed position; c. means within said building structure for measuring temperature therein; d. means operatively connected to said closure member and electrically connected to said temperature measuring means for moving said closure member between the open position and the closed position in response to temperature measurement within said building structure, said means for moving said closure member between the open position and the closed position including:

Claim 7

A greenhouse structure comprising: a. a building structure having wall means closing a rear side and opposite ends thereof and roof means cooperating with said wall means to define an enclosed space having an open front side; b. a closure member mounted within said building structure and movable between an open position and a closed position, said closure member having opposite end portions and a side wall having a plurality of translucent panels, said closure member closing the open front side of said building structure when in the closed position; c. means within said building structure for measuring temperature therein; d. means operatively connected to said closure member and electrically connected to said temperature measuring means for moving said closure member between the open position and the closed position in response to temperature measurement within said building structure, said means for moving said closure member between the open position and the closed position including:

Claim 8

a pair of upstanding members each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite ends of said building structure and each having an abutment member mounted thereon and extending transversely thereof, each of said abutment members having a first and second plurality of longitudinally spaced guide apertures therein; 2. a pair of axle members each mounted on a respective one of said upstanding members and having a respective one of the opposite end portions of said closure member pivotally mounted thereon; 3. an elongated flexible member having opposite ends thereof resiliently connected to one of said opposite end portions of said closure member at spaced apart locations; and 4. power means operatively engaging in intermediate portion of said elongated flexible member for effecting movement of the flexible member and thereby movement of said closure member; e. a mounting member for each of the opposite end portions of said closure member and each having said respective axle member pivotally supporting same with one end of each of a first plurality of resilient members pivotally mounted thereon and positioned on one side of said respective axle member, each of said mounting members having one end of each of a second plurality of resilient members pivotally mounted thereon and positioned on the other side of said respective axle member, each of said resilient members of said first and second plurality thereof having a respective one of a first and second plurality of flexible members connected thereto and extending through a respective one of said guide apertures in a respective one of said abutment members, each of said flexible members of said first and second plurality thereof having an enlarged end portion engageable with said respective abutment member during movement of said closure member between the open position and the closed position whereby said resilient members cushion said movement; and f. heater means within said building structure for heating the enclosed space therein when said closure member is in the closed position.

Claim 9

a pair of upstanding members each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite ends of said building structure and each having an abutment member mounted thereon and extending transversely thereof, each of said abutment members having a first and second plurality of longitudinally spaced guide apertures therein; 2. a pair of axle members each mounted on a respective one of said upstanding members and having a respective one of the opposite end portions of said closure member pivotally mounted thereon; 3. an elongated flexible member having opposite ends thereof resiliently connected to one of said opposite end portions of said closure member at spaced apart locations; and 4. power means operatively engaging in intermediate portion of said elongated flexible member for effecting movement of the flexible member and thereby movement of said closure member; e. a mounting member for each of the opposite end portions of said closure member and each having said respective axle member pivotally supporting same with one end of each of a first plurality of resilient members pivotally mounted thereon and positioned on one side of said respective axle member, each of said mounting members having one end of each of a second plurality of resilient members pivotally mounted thereon and positioned on the other side of said respective axle member, each of said resilient members of said first and second plurality thereof having a respective one of a first and second plurality of flexible members connected thereto and extending through a respective one of said guide apertures in a respective one of said abutment members, each of said flexible members of said first and second plurality thereof having an enlarged end portion engageable with said respective abutment member during movement of said closure member between the open position and the closed position whereby said resilient members cushion said movement; and f. heater means within said building structure for heating the enclosed space therein when said closure member is in the closed position.

Claim 10

A greenhouse structure as set forth in claim 5 including: a. a first edge member and a second edge member for and mounted on each of the opposite end portions of said closure member, said elongated flexible member having one of the opposite ends thereof connected to the first edge member and the other of the opposite ends connected to the second edge member, said power means including a drive pulley driven by a reversible motor, said drive pulley being in engagement with the intermediate portion of said elongated flexible member; and b. first and second direction changing pulleys being laterlly spaced from and on opposite sides of said drive pulley, said first and second pulleys each being in engagement with said elongated flexible member.