US 11,895,959 B2
Scalable and re-configurable system for indoor growing
Brandon Massay, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by Brandon Massay, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/358,400.
Prior Publication US 2022/0408659 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. A01G 9/12 (2006.01); A01G 9/24 (2006.01); A01G 9/14 (2006.01); A01G 9/02 (2018.01); A01G 9/04 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 9/247 (2013.01) [A01G 9/12 (2013.01); A01G 9/027 (2013.01); A01G 9/047 (2013.01); A01G 9/143 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for growing a plurality of plants indoors comprising
a rectangular growing sled comprised of a frame, a corrugated drainage surface, a gutter, four wheels, and a drive mechanism;
a plurality of plant support assemblies having a planar upper surface; and
a plurality of forced frames equal in number to the plurality of plant support assemblies;
wherein each of the plant support assemblies is attached to the rectangular growing sled;
wherein each of the plant support assemblies has a forced frame attached to the planar upper surface;
wherein each of the plant support assemblies has a plant-support drive wheel, connected to the drive mechanism, allowing the drive mechanism to rotate the planar upper surface around an axis orthogonal to the planar upper surface; and
wherein the drive mechanism is comprised of
a motor;
a drive shaft;
a plurality of shaft-mounted drive wheels, equal in number to the plurality of plant support assemblies, connected to, and drivingly engaged with, the drive shaft;
a plurality of drive-shaft-mounted return wheels, equal in number to the plurality of plant support assemblies, that are free to turn independently of the drive shaft;
a plurality of tensioner assemblies, equal in number to the plurality of plant support assemblies, comprised of a tensioner body and a tensioner wheel; and
a plurality of closed-loop drive belts, equal in number to the plurality of plant support assemblies,
wherein each of the plurality of closed-loop drive belts goes around a shaft-mounted drive wheel, a plant-support drive wheel, a return wheel, and a tensioner wheel;
wherein each of the plurality of closed-loop drive belts is drivingly engaged with one and only one shaft-mounted drive wheel; and
wherein each of the plurality of closed-loop drive belts rotates one and only one plant support assembly.