FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to horticulture equipment, and, more particularly, to an aeroponic/hydroponic system for providing a controlled environment to grow plants and an apparatus therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Recent developments in the field of horticulture have yielded new methods of growing plants. For example, hydroponics is one such method which includes growing plants without the help of soil. People may use hydroponics for indoor cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants as a hobby or as a professional activity. Various hydroponic systems are known in the art that utilize customized apparatuses for growing plants hydroponically by directly supplying nutrient fluid to root portions of the plants. Such hydroponic systems may utilize a nutrient feeding mechanism for supplying nutrient fluid to the root portions of the plants. In a typical hydroponic system, the nutrient feeding mechanism may be a container storing nutrient solution therein such that the root portions of the plants may be submerged in the nutrient solution for a hydroponic growth thereof.

Most of the hydroponic systems known in the art lack a proper nutrient feeding mechanism capable of appropriately feeding nutrient fluid to the root portions of the plants. For example, it is important that the delivery of the nutrient fluid to the root portions should neither exceed a required level, nor should the root portions be deprived of nutrient fluid. Accordingly, an appropriate nutrient feeding mechanism for delivering a controlled amount of nutrient fluid to the root portions of the plants is desirable.

Further, most of the customized apparatuses utilized in hydroponic systems known in the art are open configuration that lacks a cover arrangement for enclosing the plants. Use of such customized apparatuses may have adverse effects on the growth of the plant. More specifically, in the customized apparatuses, the plant foliage may be exposed to ambient light or noise while undergoing a dark reaction, thereby causing stress related effects on the growth of the plants. Accordingly, most of the customized apparatuses are not able to regulate the amount of light incident on the plant foliage. Furthermore, the customized apparatuses lack air regulating systems that are capable of providing fresh air for better growth of the plants. Moreover, the customized apparatuses know in the art are generally large in size, and accordingly, require more space for accommodation and involve high cost of manufacturing. Additionally, most of the customized apparatuses are immobile and are not aesthetically pleasing.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a hydroponic system for growing plants that is capable of providing a controlled amount of nutrient fluid to the plants and regulating the amount of light incident on the plants. Additionally, there exists a need for an apparatus for growing plants hydroponically that is adapted to be utilized in the hydroponic system for growing plants hydroponically such that the apparatus is compact in size, cost effective, mobile, aesthetically pleasing, and enables better growth of the plants.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system for providing a controlled environment to grow plants and an apparatus therefor, which are configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an aeroponic/hydroponic system capable of providing a controlled environment to grow plants. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for growing plants aeroponically or hydroponically that is adapted to be utilized in an aeroponic/hydroponic system.

In light of the above objects, in one aspect of the present disclosure, an aeroponic/hydroponic system for providing a controlled environment to grow plants is disclosed. The system comprises an apparatus for growing plants hydroponically (herein after referred to an apparatus). The apparatus comprises a support structure, a trough, a lid, at least one pair of baskets (which baskets may receive the plant material to be grown in the apparatus), a drive mechanism, a motor, and a control mechanism support assembly. The apparatus may further comprise sliding doors or other suitable components to form an enclosure for a controlled growing environment in which the baskets and plant material may be disposed.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus may comprise at least one climate control mechanism, such as a fan, ventilation system, air passages, ductwork and the like. It will be apparent that the at least one climate control mechanism may be adjustable and may allow the user to vary and customize the environment and conditions within the apparatus to optimize the environment for growing plants therein.

The apparatus allows for growing conditions in which a plurality of plants can be rotated about their respective axis synchronously, thus permitting growing of a number of plants at once and permitting full exposure of the entirety of all of the plants to a light and/or nutrient source. In such fashion, the growing process is optimized and improved over prior art growing apparatuses, which prior art apparatuses do not provide for rotating a plurality of plants simultaneously within an enclosed chamber. The growing conditions created by the system and apparatus disclosed herein also improves irrigation of plant roots, strengthening of plant stalks, cooling and airflow over the plants being grown, and reducing or eliminating instances of burning or over-exposure of the plants during the growing process.

These together with other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

