IP Library Granted Patent US 11,612,111
Granted Patent B1
US 11,612,111 · App. 16/774,968 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Nesting container for vertical farm

Inventors: Elaine Kung (Brooklyn, NY); Nicholas Philip Robert Barclay (New York, NY); John Neill (Tappan, NY); John James Tarter (Jersey City, NJ); Justin Robert Zabilansky (Brooklyn, NY)
Assignee: AeroFarms, Inc.
A01G9/022A01G31/04A01G31/06A01G2025/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,612,111
App. No.
16/774,968
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

The disclosed container defines (i) an “interior” configured to interact with a fluid and/or developing plants, and (ii) an “exterior” that at least partially defines a perimeter around the interior. The disclosed container may further include stacking features/elements which allow one container to be stacked/nested one upon the other. The disclosed container may further include features/elements which enable one container to be connected adjacent to the other. The disclosed container may further include (i) features/elements for delivering fluid, (ii) features/elements for draining fluid, and (iii) features/elements for supporting developing plants that are conducive to their growing within the disclosed container.

Claims (26)

1. A growing system, comprising:

a container that defines a bottom and a sidewall(s), wherein:

i. the bottom and the sidewall(s) define an interior configured to interact with a fluid,

ii. the bottom and the sidewall(s) define an exterior that at least partially defines a perimeter around the interior, and

iii. the bottom defines a surface with a drainage opening, said drainage opening facilitates fluid drainage from the container, and

wherein the bottom and a first sidewall of the sidewall(s) include a first ramp formed therein, the first ramp including a first planar top surface extending from the first sidewall and a first angled surface extending from the first planar top surface to the bottom, and the first sidewall includes a first opening extending through the first sidewall adjacent to the first planar top surface of the first ramp;

wherein the bottom and a second sidewall of the sidewall(s) include a second ramp formed therein, the second ramp including a second planar top surface extending from the second sidewall and a second angled surface extending from the second planar top surface to the bottom, and the second sidewall includes a second opening extending through the second sidewall adjacent to the second planar top surface of the second ramp;

wherein the first and second ramps are disposed in an opposing facing relationship;

wherein the interior of the container comprises a removable irrigation assembly with a first end of the irrigation assembly extending through the first opening of the first sidewall and a second end of the irrigation assembly extending through the second opening of the second sidewall; and

wherein the container is configured to engage and/or cooperate with at least one adjacent container and

wherein the container further comprises a stacking feature which enables the container to be nested one upon the other with the removable irrigation assembly positioned within the interior of the respective container.

2. The growing system of claim 1 , wherein the stacking feature includes a recessed portion and a corresponding protruding portion, wherein the recessed portion is positioned within the interior of the container and the corresponding protruding portion is positioned on the exterior of the container.

3. The growing system of claim 2 , wherein a first container is nested within a second container, such that the protruding portion of the first container engages with a surface of the second container, wherein the first container is nested a predetermined distance from the second container.

4. The growing system of claim 2 , wherein the protruding portion further defines a ledge so as to position a first container a predetermined distance from a second container when the first container is nested in contact with the second container.

5. The growing system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of ribs direct the fluid towards the drainage opening.

6. The growing system of claim 1 , wherein the bottom defines the drainage opening and the drainage opening is positioned in close proximity to the sidewall(s).

7. The growing system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second angled surfaces of the first and second ramps, respectively, are non-planar relative to the bottom, and wherein such non-planar relationship of the ramp and the bottom contributes to the rigidity and/or strength of the container.

8. The growing system of claim 1 , wherein the removable irrigation assembly includes one or more irrigation lines extending from the first opening of the first sidewall to the second opening of the second sidewall within the container, and two or more containers are nestable while fittings and/or the one or more irrigation lines remain assembled in the interior of the respective two or more containers.

9. The growing system of claim 8 , wherein the removable irrigation assembly includes two fittings, a first male fitting being oppositely positioned from a second female fitting, the first male fitting and the second female fitting are configured and dimensioned to interface with the other and the container is engageable with two adjacent containers in a coupled-line.

10. The growing system of claim 9 , wherein a first container comprising the first male fitting and a second container comprising the second female fitting are releasably attached to the other by way of the first male fitting and the second female fitting.

11. The growing system of claim 10 , wherein the first container and the second container are fluidly connected.

12. The growing system of claim 1 , further comprising a container spacing member spanning opposing sidewalls of the container and braced against opposing inner surfaces of the opposing sidewalls, the container spacing member substantially aligned with a top surface of the container, the first and second ramps, and the first and second openings, said spacing member adapted to receive and support a frame for supporting developing plants.

13. The growing system of claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a feature for supporting developing plants.

14. The growing system of claim 13 , wherein the feature for supporting developing plants is configured to receive a growth medium, a frame, a vapor barrier, and any combination thereof.

15. The growing system of claim 14 , further comprising a ledge extending the sidewall(s) inward to the interior of the container, the ledge supporting the feature for supporting the developing plants.

16. The growing system of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall(s) are tapered.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2025
From: NEW AEROFARMS, INC.
To: SIGULER GUFF AEROFARMS HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 071176/0553 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2025
From: NEW AEROFARMS, INC.
To: SIGULER GUFF AEROFARMS HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 071091/0207 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2024
From: NEW AEROFARMS, INC.
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067581/0389 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2023
From: AEROFARMS, INC.
To: NEW AEROFARMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 065435/0967 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: DREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
To: AEROFARMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062669/0666 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: KUNG, ELAINE; BARCLAY, NICHOLAS PHILIP ROBERT; NEILL, JOHN; TARTER, JOHN JAMES
To: JUST GREENS, LLC
Reel/Frame 061591/0098 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2022
From: JUST GREENS, LLC
To: DREAM HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061498/0615 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2020
From: KUNG, ELAINE; BARCLAY, NICHOLAS PHILIP ROBERT; NEILL, JOHN; TARTER, JOHN JAMES; ZABILANSKY, JUSTIN ROBERT
To: JUST GREENS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052043/0027 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62800119 · Feb 1, 2019
Cited By (3)
US 1,142,014 US 12,317,791 US 12,458,002