Grow Case V.2 - Patent # 62/162,996 - Enclosed Portable Automated Garden System - Dallas Lochrie - 5/18/2015

Invention Title
Enclosed Portable Automated Garden System

Specification:
This provisional patent application pertains to the invention of an enclosed portable
automated garden system through the means of pairing next generation light emitting diode technology
with a plant operating system that monitors all atmospheric conditions and keeps them
within perfect preset parameters for over five hundred varieties of plants. These plants will
be grown using the hydroponic method in a vertical garden configuration with the plants
on the walls, floor and ceiling utilizing a the screen of green method around a central light source
providing ten times as much growing space as regular flat gardens. The garden will be modular and
collapsible so that when disassembled it will fit in a briefcase for easy transport.
The new design can be used for the purpose of producing an economical alternative to expensive and
large home garden systems and organic produce prices. In practice the machine is growing plants
indoors hydroponically with an LED light source. In practice the device is an enclosed
garden with automated controls. The automated controls monitor the temperature, humidity,
CO2 levels, lumens, time of day, light spectrum, light cycles, exhaust timing, nutrient
dispensing, water PH, TDS, EC, temp, level, time till harvest, expected yield, cost. The
space requirement for such an installation are minimal and effects to the surrounding
environment are non existent.
Problematic with current hydroponic garden setups are their high start up costs,
reliance on expensive tooling for manufacture, inefficient lighting, large shipping
footprint, non portable, use 2-3 times more electricity, heavy and can't generate their own water.
Other problems with all current designs is they require an expensive climate controller to manage all
the atmospheric conditions. Absent from the previous patents are the combined elements that
make a complete system that can run continuously for 15 years on a single light. In
essence they are incomplete systems and require many expensive additional parts to
operate. The novel concept of this patent is that I have invented a means by which
the enclosed portable automated garden system can be easily disassembled and stored
into a small case which incorporates an integrated interface with WiFi, Bluetooth and
an app, for iOS, Android and Windows.
The enclosed portable automated garden system in the patent described above is assembled
in majority from 3D printed parts consisting of proprietary blend carbon fiber - PLA
filament polymer. As well a variety of basic electronic and mechanical components and sensors
organized into a cube shaped enclosed garden which is on castor wheels for easy movement.
Designs of prior art have shown gardens growing plants, automated systems managing climate
controls, enclosed gardens, LED grow lights and atmospheric water generators making water. By
combining the above mentioned processes along with the ability to collapse down the device to fit in a
briefcase a new machine is made.
In my patent the enclosed portable automated garden system consists of a large growing chamber.
Various poles, connectors, tubing and tiles make up the garden and its structure. A six sided liquid
cooled integrated or SS (solid state) LED light source is used to create photosynthesis for the plants.
The plants are seated on the interior walls, floor and ceiling of the enclosed garden hanging on a
SCROG for improved growing yield. The sections of the garden frame poles and tiles where they
intersect are interlocking tongue and groove slots making the enclosure light, air and water tight.
When the garden is assembled it is 24 inches wide, 60 inches tall, 24 inches deep and 16 cubic feet. The
garden will hold between 6-64 plants depending on plant size. The front of the garden will open like a
door on a refrigerator.
When we allow the enclosed portable automated garden system to have a computerized climate control
system that monitors and regulates every aspect of the garden, we have a complete system that is
portable and perpetual. The advantage of such a machine is the not needing anything but electricity to
sustain fresh produce for daily life or business. Additionally the portable function of the garden allows
for growing even in remote, unfarmable areas.
Prior art has demonstrated growing systems that require many additional parts that are difficult to
manufacture making them high in price. As such, the prior art design has been only available to affluent
customers. With our system anyone can grow over five plant varieties with some easily 3D printed
parts and handful of simple electronic components. In our first prototype a small version was made
from a commercial LED rewired into our six sided liquid cooled version. Of course our design will
allow for up to ten times more growing space per square foot than traditional flat tiered gardening. With
additional growing space comes increased productivity resulting in a cost benefit to the consumer.
Utilizing a design such as this allows the owner of this device to completely produce all their dietary
and nutritional needs with just a few units. A medium sized facility could produce an entire villages
requirements. Large numbers of units can be managed by one person with our proprietary Plant OS.
In order to attain the design goals the plant growing apparatus means consists of several
different grouping of parts, the frame with plant seats and hoses, the six sided liquid cooled integrated
led, climate controllers, the Plant OS, the briefcase reservoir-water maker.
The case and various high stress part will be made of high intensity carbon fiber PLA filament to
reduce weight. The outer appearance can be customized with custom graphic decals or clip on hinges to
attach cupboards matching the ones already in your kitchen or pantry.
Additionally enclosed portable automated garden systems can be paired in racks up to 5 high and can
be run in groups by the thousand. Each being harvested in a perpetual fashion to ensure fresh products
are always available. One unit can produce an average of 64lbs of organic produce a month at about
$0.5/lb in costs(electricity). Organic produce from popular whole markets can be in the $4/lb range, so
a significant saving is realized. Additionally it can easily be moved by the use of wheels on its
underside and fits readily through a doorway while fully assembled.
Additionally, an important element of this patent is that plants can be produced in great quantities
almost for free when the device is paired with solar panels or wind turbines or other cheap sources of
electricity. Having this added feature allows huge profits to be made if one is using the device to grow
for commercial purposes.

The prior art additionally suffers from the use of complicated systems, breakage prone parts, advanced
knowledge of horticulture, hydroponics and botany and hard to find or fabricate parts. The
disadvantage of this is that only above average intelligence people with financial means have been able
to create such self sustaining gardens. Additionally the patent described above includes an interface that
monitors temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, lumens, time of day, light spectrum, light cycles, exhaust
timing, nutrient dispensing, water PH, TDS, EC, temp, level, time till harvest, expected yield, cost and
can be monitored and controlled remotely through an app. Less infrastructure setup is need to
implement this system when to compared to any other complete automated systems. My patent is an
improvement in the overall design, implementation, aesthetic and manufacture of automated gardens
and enclosed hydroponic systems. The main points being, enclosed system with air filtration, portable,
six sided liquid cooled led light source, automated climate controls, atmospheric water generator, use
of a vortex imploder, Plant OS, collapsible fits in a briefcase, stack-able, multiple sizes, turnkey
system, easy to use, touch interface, wireless ability to control many units.
Another problem this patent addresses is the ability to self mass produce the enclosed portable
automated garden system with few tools and no machining costs, a few CAD files, circuit design, Plant
OS program, Grow Case App for iOS, Windows, Android. Several simple electronic and mechanical
components and sensors allow for a low cost with little craftsman knowledge. Through the use of
modern day inventions such as 3D printing, easy to learn CAD programs, newly paved international
trade partnerships and advancements in LED technology our product is now possible. As well our
process allows for the production of one unit by one person in 20 minutes. Additionally the majority of
the PLA used for the majority of the garden is self blended from PLA pellets and our proprietary
blends. Further benefits of this garden is the fact that it can be used in large volumes to purify air and
provide oxygen to other living beings. My improvement enclosed portable automated garden system
design can be utilized as a means of food and feed production for various industries.
Patent Drawing Descriptions 23
Corner Connector connects poles and other connectors with tiles to make the structure, grooved slots
ensure airtight seams with tiles
Corner T Connector connects poles and other connectors with tiles to make the structure, grooved slots
Cross Connector connects poles and other connectors with tiles to make the structure, grooved slots
Pole connects tiles and other connectors to make the structure, grooved slots ensure airtight seams with
tiles
Tile connects poles and other connectors with make the structure, grooved slots ensure airtight seams
Top View of Grow Case
The assembled Grow Case
Frontal View of an Open Grow Case
Frontal View of an Open Grow Case with Plants Growing
Frontal View of an Open Grow Case with Plants Growing
The Grow Case
Large Case Closed
Large Case with Reservoir Generator Open View
Large Case with Reservoir Generator Top View
Small Case Top View
Small Case with Trays Removed
Cover, Lens, Reflector Cup the cover protect the inner electronics of the Tesserac light, reflectors
amplify the light source while the lens magnifies it as well
Light Components Disassembled
Heat Sink the heat sink is a liquid cooled heat sink where water traverses all six sides of the cube heat
sink, it is 3D printed in copper
Miniaturized 5 axis printed circuit board LED driver typical LED driver circuit but printed off a 5 axis
machine wrapping the circuit board around the large inductor
Climate Control Board takes incoming signals from sensors and actuates the various utilities of the
garden (lights, fans, pumps)
Sensors inside Tesserac monitor air, light and water quality (temp, hum, pH, TDS, EC water level,
water temp, CO2, plant measurements)
Reservoir Case is the briefcase that houses the device when collapsed, doubles as a reservoir for the
garden and also atmospherically generates water
Plant Seats clip onto the interior wall of the garden and allow for medium to large size plant spaces in a
variety of mediums
Plant Clip Closed

Grow Case V.2 - Patent # 62/162,996 - Enclosed Portable Automated Garden System - Dallas Lochrie - 5/18/2015

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Grow Case V.2 - Patent # 62/162,996 - Enclosed Portable Automated Garden System - Dallas Lochrie - 5/18/2015

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Invention Title

Enclosed Portable Automated Garden System

for commercial purposes.

Patent Drawing Descriptions 23

ensure airtight seams with tiles

Top View of Grow Case

The assembled Grow Case

Frontal View of an Open Grow Case

Frontal View of an Open Grow Case with Plants Growing

Frontal View of an Open Grow Case with Plants Growing

The Grow Case

Large Case Closed

Large Case with Reservoir Generator Open View

Large Case with Reservoir Generator Top View

Small Case Top View

Small Case with Trays Removed

Light Components Disassembled

Plant Clip Closed

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