Patent US5464456A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5464456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic stimulation of plants
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-06-30
•
Granted: 1995-11-07
•
Expires: 2013-06-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to the electronic stimulation of plant development. More particularly, it relates to the stimulation of plant development through electrifying the environment around a plant or part of a plant with an electrical field, preferably a pulsed field. The present invention also relates to an electronic method of stimulating the active membrane transport systems of growing plants and harvested plant products in order to promote growth and extend the shelf life of harvested material. The invention is of particular interest as it relates to shipment and marketing of cut flowers, greens and trees and more particularly to methods and apparatus for handling, shipping, and marketing of cut flowers.
Inventors
- 👤 M. Glen Kertz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:22
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G7/00; A47G7/02; A01; A01G; A01G7/00; A01G7/04; A47G33/00; A47G33/04; A47G33/12; A47G2033/122; A47G2033/1286
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof, comprising the steps of: creating a regularly pulsed electrical current in a plant development medium, said medium including a liquid capable of conducting electricity, said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; contacting said plant or part thereof with said medium; and, regularly pulsing the electrical current through the medium by alternating turning the electrical current on and off.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof, comprising the steps of: creating a regularly pulsed electrical current in a plant development medium, said medium including a liquid capable of conducting electricity, said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; contacting said plant or part thereof with said medium; and, regularly pulsing the electrical current through the medium by alternating turning the electrical current on and off.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said medium is substantially all water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said water is a part of a solution further comprising a horticultural preservative.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 for maintaining the freshness of a plant part wherein said part further comprises a plant stem.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said plant stem further comprises a flower.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said part further comprises an evergreen tree trunk separated from its root portion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a cut stem, comprising the steps of: creating an electrical field by establishing a current in a plant development medium, said medium further comprising water capable of conducting electricity, said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and contacting said cut stem with said medium; and, generating in said cut stem said electrical field.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a cut stem, comprising the steps of: creating an electrical field by establishing a current in a plant development medium, said medium further comprising water capable of conducting electricity, said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and contacting said cut stem with said medium; and, generating in said cut stem said electrical field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said medium is substantially all water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said water is a part of a solution further comprising a bactericide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 for maintaining the freshness of a plant part wherein said cut stem further comprises a flowering plant stem.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said flowering plant stem further comprises a flower.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
30 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof comprising creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in a plant or part thereof.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
30 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof comprising creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in a plant or part thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said part further comprises a plant stem.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said plant stem further comprises a flower.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for creating an electrical field in a plant or part thereof comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electrical current generator operably linked to said first and said second electrode; said generator alternating sending and not sending electrical current regularly through the plant or part thereof; said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for creating an electrical field in a plant or part thereof comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electrical current generator operably linked to said first and said second electrode; said generator alternating sending and not sending electrical current regularly through the plant or part thereof; said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said generator regularly generates electrical pulses through a conductive plant development medium in electrical contact with said plant or said part thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the generator is further capable of delivering said regular electrical pulses at a rate of a range of 10 to 30 hertz.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
A kit for promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof comprising: an apparatus for creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in said plant or said part thereof or in a plant development medium in electrical connection with said plant or said part thereof; said electric field established by a current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; a source for supplying an electrical current to said apparatus; and a plant development medium or a recipe therefor, said medium capable of conducting electricity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
A kit for promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof comprising: an apparatus for creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in said plant or said part thereof or in a plant development medium in electrical connection with said plant or said part thereof; said electric field established by a current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; a source for supplying an electrical current to said apparatus; and a plant development medium or a recipe therefor, said medium capable of conducting electricity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
A kit for promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant part comprising: a apparatus for creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in a plant part; said electric field established by a current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and, a source for supplying an electrical current to said apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
A kit for promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant part comprising: a apparatus for creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in a plant part; said electric field established by a current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and, a source for supplying an electrical current to said apparatus.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for disposal in a conductive plant development medium and creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in the conductive plant development medium comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electrical current generator operably linked to said first and second electrode; said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and a power supply operably linked to said generator.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for disposal in a conductive plant development medium and creating a regularly pulsed electrical field in the conductive plant development medium comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electrical current generator operably linked to said first and second electrode; said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and a power supply operably linked to said generator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first and second electrodes are separable from one another using extension means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof, comprising the steps of: inserting a portion of the plant or plant part into a plant development medium including a liquid capable of conducting electricity; sending an electrical current through the conductive plant development medium; regularly pulsing the electrical current by alternately charging and discharging a capacitor in the electrical circuit, said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and, generating a regularly pulsed electrical current in the plant or plant part thereof.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of promoting the development or maintaining the freshness of a plant or a part thereof, comprising the steps of: inserting a portion of the plant or plant part into a plant development medium including a liquid capable of conducting electricity; sending an electrical current through the conductive plant development medium; regularly pulsing the electrical current by alternately charging and discharging a capacitor in the electrical circuit, said current delivered in a range of -0.0001 to 5 volts to said medium; and, generating a regularly pulsed electrical current in the plant or plant part thereof.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of maintaining the freshness of a cut stem, comprising the steps of: creating a regularly pulsed electrical current in a liquid capable of conducting electricity; and, contacting said cut stem with said liquid.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of maintaining the freshness of a cut stem, comprising the steps of: creating a regularly pulsed electrical current in a liquid capable of conducting electricity; and, contacting said cut stem with said liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US784346A
Cited
US882699A
Cited
US1331261A
Cited
US1874207A
Cited
US3842539A
Cited
US3944916A
Cited
US4103457A
Cited
US4291125A
Cited
US4785575A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-06 | 1999-05-08 | 1999-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-06 | 2003-05-08 | 2003-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-06 | 2007-05-08 | 2007-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |