US 11,690,334 B2
Hydroponic growing unit
Randy M. Goodwin, Grove City, OH (US); Robert W. Harriman, Delaware, OH (US); Bradley A. Schultz, Powell, OH (US); Jennifer D. Orsi, Santa Rosa, CA (US); Charles H. Ostman, Sebastopol, CA (US); Jay F. Perkins, Pickerington, OH (US); and John P. Cichello, II, Wooster, OH (US)
Assigned to HGCI, Inc., Las Vegas, NV (US); and OMS Investments, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by Randy M. Goodwin, Grove City, OH (US); Robert W. Harriman, Delaware, OH (US); Bradley A. Schultz, Powell, OH (US); Jennifer D. Orsi, Santa Rosa, CA (US); Charles H. Ostman, Sebastopol, CA (US); Jay F. Perkins, Pickerington, OH (US); and John P. Cichello, II, Wooster, OH (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/113,327.
Application 17/113,327 is a continuation of application No. 15/724,163, filed on Oct. 3, 2017, granted, now 10,856,479.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/403,504, filed on Oct. 3, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0153446 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. A01G 31/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 31/02 (2013.01) [Y02P 60/21 (2015.11)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydroponic growing apparatus, comprising:
a container comprising:
a bottom surface and an open top surface; and
an inner wall and an outer wall, with an internal volume disposed between the two walls, wherein the inner wall is circular in cross-section and extends from the bottom surface to the open top surface, wherein the outer wall extends along a height of the container, and wherein a bottom portion of the outer wall has a larger perimeter than a top portion of the outer wall;
a fluid reservoir within the container;
a support structure, configured to fit entirely within the container below the open top surface, comprising support beams interconnecting a plurality of openings; wherein the plurality of openings includes one centrally-located opening surrounded by peripheral openings; and
at least one cover plate configured to fit over the support structure in the open top surface,
wherein the container and the support structure define a plurality of apertures separated from the plurality of openings by the support beams, the at least one cover plate covering at least one of the plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of openings are uncovered by the at least one cover plate.