Hydroponic tower compatible gutter assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10681875-B2
Application number	US-201815943371-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2018
Priority date	Apr 2, 2018
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A gutter assembly is provided that is configured to collect water passing through a plurality of vertical hydroponic towers, the assembly minimizing leakage while simplifying gutter maintenance. The gutter assembly includes a gutter pipe from which an upper portion has been removed to form a pair of mounting ledges. The gutter assembly also includes a gutter cap that is attached to the gutter pipe via the mounting ledges using a snap fit system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gutter assembly configured for use with a plurality of vertical hydroponic towers, said gutter assembly configured to collect water flowing through said plurality of vertical hydroponic towers, said gutter assembly comprising:
a gutter pipe, wherein an upper portion of a section of said gutter pipe is removed to form a pair of mounting ledges, a first mounting ledge of said pair of mounting ledges comprised of a first pipe wall edge and a second mounting ledge of said pair of mounting ledges comprised of a second pipe wall edge; and
a gutter cap configured to rest on said pair of mounting ledges, said gutter cap comprising:
a plurality of apertures located within an upper surface of said gutter cap, said plurality of apertures configured to accept said plurality of vertical hydroponic towers; and
a fastening system configured to attach said gutter cap to said pair of mounting ledges of said section of said gutter pipe, said fastening system comprising a snap fit mechanism formed on a lower portion of said gutter cap, said snap fit mechanism further comprising a pair of inner arm members and a pair of outer nub members, said first pipe wall edge captured between a first inner arm member of said pair of inner arm members and a first outer nub member of said pair of outer nub members when said gutter cap is attached to said gutter pipe, and said second pipe wall edge captured between a second inner arm member of said pair of inner arm members and a second outer nub member of said pair of outer nub members when said gutter cap is attached to said gutter pipe.

2. The gutter assembly of claim 1 , said first inner arm member comprising a first upper arm section and a first lower arm section, and said second inner arm member comprising a second upper arm section and a second lower arm section.

3. The gutter assembly of claim 2 , wherein a first radius of curvature of a first curvilinear outer surface corresponding to said first upper arm section is equivalent to a second radius of curvature corresponding to said gutter pipe, and wherein a third radius of curvature of a second curvilinear outer surface corresponding to said second upper arm section is equivalent to said second radius of curvature corresponding to said gutter pipe.

4. The gutter assembly of claim 2 , wherein said first upper arm section is angled outwards, and wherein said second upper arm section is angled outwards.

5. The gutter assembly of claim 4 , wherein said first upper arm section is set at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to a first gutter cap mounting surface, wherein said first gutter cap mounting surface rests on said first mounting ledge when said gutter cap is attached to said gutter pipe, wherein said second upper arm section is set at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to a second gutter cap mounting surface, wherein said second gutter cap mounting surface rests on second first mounting ledge when said gutter cap is attached to said gutter pipe.

6. The gutter assembly of claim 2 , wherein said first lower arm section is angled inwards, and wherein said second lower arm section is angled inwards.

7. The gutter assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first lower arm section is set at an angle of approximately 20 degrees relative to vertical, and wherein said second lower arm section is set at an angle of approximately 20 degrees relative to vertical.

8. The gutter assembly of claim 1 , wherein said gutter pipe is cylindrical prior to removal of said upper portion of said gutter pipe.

9. The gutter assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least a second section of said gutter pipe remains whole and cylindrical.

10. The gutter assembly of claim 9 , wherein said second section of said gutter pipe is located at an end portion of said gutter pipe.

11. The gutter assembly of claim 1 , said gutter pipe fabricated from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

12. The gutter assembly of claim 11 , wherein said plastic material is opaque.

13. The gutter assembly of claim 11 , wherein said plastic material is white.

14. The gutter assembly of claim 1 , said gutter cap fabricated from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

15. The gutter assembly of claim 14 , wherein said plastic material is opaque.

16. The gutter assembly of claim 14 , wherein said plastic material is white.

Assignees

• Mjnn Llc

Inventors

• Klein Brice
• Ibrahim Alex
• Chapel Teryl

Classifications

• A01G9/247

  Watering arrangements · CPC title

• A01G9/047 Primary

  Channels or gutters, e.g. for hydroponics · CPC title

• A01G9/022

  Pots for vertical horticulture · CPC title

• A01G31/02

  Special apparatus therefor (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00) · CPC title