Patent US4352256A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4352256A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Greenhouse structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-02-27
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Granted: 1982-10-05
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Expires: 2001-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A greenhouse structure includes a central hub having a revolving floor therein and a plurality of arms radiating outwardly from that hub. The arms are growth chambers, and movable trays located within those growth chambers move plants from the arms onto and from a workbench in the hub.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale P. Kranz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:01
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/14; A01G9/143; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A greenhouse structure comprising: a central hub; a stationary foundation located within said hub; an upstanding stanchion mounted on said foundation; a planar floor rotatably mounted on said stanchion; a workbench mounted on said floor; a plurality of stationary elongate greenhouse growth chambers connected to said hub, said growth chambers radiating outwardly from said central hub and being adapted for plant care and storage; a plurality of rails in each growth chamber; a plurality of trays supportable on said rails, each of said trays having coupling means thereon for releasably coupling said each tray to an adjacent tray; means for rotating said floor with respect to said foundation so that said workbench can be aligned with rails in each growth chamber; means for moving a tray to and from said workbench; and overhead hoist means for lifting trays from said workbench.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A greenhouse structure comprising: a central hub; a stationary foundation located within said hub; an upstanding stanchion mounted on said foundation; a planar floor rotatably mounted on said stanchion; a workbench mounted on said floor; a plurality of stationary elongate greenhouse growth chambers connected to said hub, said growth chambers radiating outwardly from said central hub and being adapted for plant care and storage; a plurality of rails in each growth chamber; a plurality of trays supportable on said rails, each of said trays having coupling means thereon for releasably coupling said each tray to an adjacent tray; means for rotating said floor with respect to said foundation so that said workbench can be aligned with rails in each growth chamber; means for moving a tray to and from said workbench; and overhead hoist means for lifting trays from said workbench.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The greenhouse defined in claim 1 wherein said hub and said floor are circular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The greenhouse defined in claim 2 wherein said growth chambers are tubular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The greenhouse defined in claim 1 wherein each tray is rectangular and has a length less than the diameter of said floor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The greenhouse defined in claim 4 wherein said floor has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said stationary foundation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The greenhouse defined in claim 1 further including a plurality of wheels movably mounting said floor on said foundation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of caring for plants which includes steps of: defining a central workroom; locating a plurality of elongate growth chambers around the circumference of the central workroom so the growth chambers radiate outwardly from such workroom; connecting all of the growth chambers to the workroom; locating an elongate workbench in the workroom; storing the plants in trays in a plurality of growth chambers with the growth chambers being exposed to sunlight; moving some of the plants from that particular growth chamber onto the workbench in the workroom, said moving step including placing the plants in a tray and placing said tray on rails; and periodically reversing plants 180° for allowing sunlight to reach each side of such plants.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of caring for plants which includes steps of: defining a central workroom; locating a plurality of elongate growth chambers around the circumference of the central workroom so the growth chambers radiate outwardly from such workroom; connecting all of the growth chambers to the workroom; locating an elongate workbench in the workroom; storing the plants in trays in a plurality of growth chambers with the growth chambers being exposed to sunlight; moving some of the plants from that particular growth chamber onto the workbench in the workroom, said moving step including placing the plants in a tray and placing said tray on rails; and periodically reversing plants 180° for allowing sunlight to reach each side of such plants.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said moving step further includes hoisting the plants from the rail into an overhead position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 8 further including a step of maintaining the hoisted plants overhead while further plants are conveyed to the workroom.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of caring for plants which includes steps of: defining a central workroom; locating a plurality of elongate growth chambers around the circumference of the central workroom so the growth chambers radiate outwardly from such workroom; connecting all of the growth chambers to the workroom; locating an elongate workbench in the workroom; storing plants in trays in each growth chamber; rotating the workbench to be axially aligned with a particular growth chamber; moving selected plants from that particular growth chamber onto the workbench; working on the selected plants located on the workbench; after performing the work on the plants, moving plants from the workbench back into the particular growth chamber while spraying those worked on selected plants as they re-enter the growth chamber using nozzles located directly above and below the trays; and rotating the workbench to a next growth chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of caring for plants which includes steps of: defining a central workroom; locating a plurality of elongate growth chambers around the circumference of the central workroom so the growth chambers radiate outwardly from such workroom; connecting all of the growth chambers to the workroom; locating an elongate workbench in the workroom; storing plants in trays in each growth chamber; rotating the workbench to be axially aligned with a particular growth chamber; moving selected plants from that particular growth chamber onto the workbench; working on the selected plants located on the workbench; after performing the work on the plants, moving plants from the workbench back into the particular growth chamber while spraying those worked on selected plants as they re-enter the growth chamber using nozzles located directly above and below the trays; and rotating the workbench to a next growth chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-10-04 | 1986-04-05 | 1986-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-10-04 | 1990-04-05 | 1990-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-10-04 | 1994-04-05 | 1994-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |