US 11,937,561 B2
Mobile and modular cultivation systems for vertical farming
Joel L. Cuello, Tucson, AZ (US); Yaser Mehdipour, Tucson, AZ (US); and Jack Welchert, Tucson, AZ (US)
Assigned to ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed by ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/184,285.
Application 17/184,285 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2019/048012, filed on Aug. 23, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/851,505, filed on May 22, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/723,119, filed on Aug. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/723,096, filed on Aug. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/722,436, filed on Aug. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0195847 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. A01G 9/02 (2018.01); A01G 9/24 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 9/023 (2013.01) [A01G 9/249 (2019.05)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
5. A modular cultivation system (500) comprising a growing module having an adjustable frame structure configured to support a plurality of growing trays for containing crops, wherein the growing module comprises:
a. the frame structure comprising an adjustable vertical support frame (115), a plurality of growing boards (120) coupled to the vertical support frame (115), and a plurality of lighting boards (130) coupled to the vertical support frame (115), wherein the growing boards (120) are vertically stacked in parallel, wherein one lighting board (130) is disposed above one growing board (120), and the vertical support frame comprises extendable and retractable support tubes;
b. the plurality of growing trays removably attached to the growing board (120); and
c. a plurality of light sources (135) attached to lighting board (130), wherein the light sources (135) are configured to provide lighting to the crops contained in the growing trays directly below the light sources (135);
wherein the adjustable vertical support frame (115) comprises extendable and retractable support tubes configured to be adjusted to increase a height of the vertical support frame (115), wherein adjusting the vertical support frame (115) changes spacing between the growing boards (120), wherein an angle (127) of each growing board (120) relative to the vertical support frame (115) is adjustable to an acute angle from a 90° angle, wherein an angle (137) of each lighting board (130) relative to the vertical support frame (115) is adjustable to an acute angle from a 90° angle, and wherein the growing boards and the lighting boards are configured to be adjusted independently.