US 11,895,958 B2
Structures for growing plants
Troy McClellan, Vancouver (CA); and Ingo Mueller, Vancouver (CA)
Filed by Agriforce Growing Systems Ltd., Vancouver (CA)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,417.
Application 18/096,417 is a continuation of application No. 17/436,275, granted, now 11,582,918, previously published as PCT/CA2020/050302, filed on Mar. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/815,131, filed on Mar. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0148486 A1, May 18, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01G 9/14 (2006.01); E04H 5/08 (2006.01); E04B 7/16 (2006.01); A01G 9/24 (2006.01); E04B 1/19 (2006.01); E04B 1/24 (2006.01); E04B 1/342 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 9/14 (2013.01) [A01G 9/24 (2013.01); E04B 1/19 (2013.01); E04B 1/24 (2013.01); E04B 1/342 (2013.01); E04H 5/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structure providing an air tight building envelope for growing plants, the structure comprising:
a foundation having a first end, a second end, and opposed lateral sides;
a main support comprising two vertical members extending upwardly from the opposed lateral sides of the foundation and a horizontal member extending laterally across the foundation between top portions of the two vertical members;
a plurality of vertical supports extending upwardly from the foundation and spaced around a perimeter of the foundation;
a perimeter frame connected to top portions of the vertical supports, the perimeter frame having an outer perimeter frame and an inner perimeter frame;
an outer shell comprising:
an outer roof comprising an outer cable net supported by the outer perimeter frame and a plurality of outer roof transmissive panels coupled to the outer cable net, and
an outer wall on each of the opposed lateral sides and the first end, each outer wall comprising outer wall cables extending vertically to the outer perimeter frame and a plurality of outer wall transmissive panels coupled to the outer wall cables;
an inner shell comprising:
an inner roof comprising an inner cable net supported by the inner perimeter frame and a plurality of inner roof transmissive panels coupled to the inner cable net, and
an inner wall on each of the opposed lateral sides and the first end, each inner wall comprising inner wall cables extending vertically to the inner perimeter frame and a plurality of inner wall transmissive panels coupled to the inner wall cables; and
wherein the outer shell and the inner shell create a sealed air volume or barrier for the structure;
wherein the structure comprises an automated growing system with conveyors and channels for plants, wherein the automated growing system creates environmental conditions within the sealed air volume or barrier for the structure.