System and method for sanitizing objects in an indoor gardening appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12478697-B2
Application number	US-202217829402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2022
Priority date	Jun 1, 2022
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A method for sanitizing objects within a gardening appliance includes: positioning at least one object on a grow tower of the gardening appliance; during a sanitization cycle, rotating the grow tower such that the at least one object on the grow tower is exposed to an ultraviolet assembly of the gardening appliance; activating the ultraviolet assembly such that the at least one object on the grow tower is illuminated by ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet assembly; and after the sanitization cycle, removing the at least one object from the grow tower. A related gardening appliance is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for sanitizing objects within a gardening appliance comprising a cabinet, a sump disposed at the cabinet, a turntable rotatable mounted to the sump, a grow tower positioned on top of the turntable and extending from the sump to a top wall of the cabinet, the grow tower defining a plurality of apertures, a liner positioned within the cabinet to define an enclosed back portion, and an ultraviolet assembly positioned within the enclosed back portion to illuminate one or more objects with ultraviolet rays, the method comprising:
positioning at least one object on a grow tower of the gardening appliance; during a sanitization cycle, rotating the turntable to rotate the grow tower such that the at least one object on the grow tower is exposed to an ultraviolet assembly within the enclosed back portion; activating the ultraviolet assembly such that the at least one object on the grow tower is illuminated by ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet assembly; and after the sanitization cycle, removing the at least one object from the grow tower.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the at least one object on the grow tower comprises positioning the at least one object on a hook or a shelf attached at a plurality of apertures on the grow tower.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the at least one object on the grow tower comprises positioning a plurality of objects on the grow tower.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the grow tower and the cabinet collectively define a plurality of chambers; and the ultraviolet assembly is positioned at one of the plurality of chambers corresponding to the enclosed back portion.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a door is mounted to the cabinet at another of the plurality of chambers.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein:
positioning the at least one object on the grow tower comprises positioning the at least one object on the grow tower at the another of the plurality of chambers; and removing the at least one object from the grow tower comprises removing the at least one object from the grow tower at the another of the plurality of chambers.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle comprises one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an intensity of the ultraviolet assembly, and a duration of the sanitization cycle.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle is a default value, and the one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle comprises one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an intensity of the ultraviolet assembly, and a duration of the sanitization cycle.

10 . A gardening appliance, comprising:
a cabinet; a sump disposed at the cabinet; a turntable rotatable mounted to the sump; a grow tower positioned on top of the turntable and extending from the sump to a top wall of the cabinet, the grow tower defining a plurality of apertures; a liner positioned within the cabinet to define an enclosed back portion; an ultraviolet assembly positioned within the enclosed back portion to illuminate one or more objects with ultraviolet rays; and a controller in communication with the turntable and the ultraviolet assembly, the controller configured for
during a sanitization cycle, rotating the turntable to rotate the grow tower such that at least one object on the grow tower is exposed to ultraviolet assembly within the enclosed back portion of the gardening appliance;
activating the ultraviolet assembly such that the at least one object on the grow tower is illuminated by ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet assembly; and
after the sanitization cycle, removing the at least one object from the grow tower.

11 . The gardening appliance of claim 10 , further comprising a hook or a shelf attached to the grow tower at the plurality of apertures, the at least one object mountable on the grow tower at the hook or the shelf.

12 . The gardening appliance of claim 10 , wherein the grow tower and the cabinet collectively define a plurality of chambers, and the ultraviolet assembly is positioned at one of the plurality of chambers corresponding to the enclosed back portion.

13 . The gardening appliance of claim 12 , further comprises a door mounted to the cabinet at another of the plurality of chambers.

14 . The gardening appliance of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
operating a motor to rotate the grow tower to the another of the plurality of chambers at a start of the sanitization cycle; and operating the motor to rotate the grow tower to the another of the plurality of chambers at an end of the sanitization cycle.

15 . The gardening appliance of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for designating one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle based upon a user input.

16 . The gardening appliance of claim 15 , wherein the one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle comprises one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an intensity of the ultraviolet assembly, and a duration of the sanitization cycle.

17 . The gardening appliance of claim 10 , wherein one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle is a default value, and the one or more parameters of the sanitization cycle comprises one or more of a temperature, a humidity, an intensity of the ultraviolet assembly, and a duration of the sanitization cycle.

18 . A method for sanitizing objects within a gardening appliance comprising a cabinet, a sump disposed at the cabinet, a turntable rotatable mounted to the sump, a grow tower positioned on top of the turntable and extending from the sump to a top wall of the cabinet, a liner positioned within the cabinet to define an enclosed back portion, and an ultraviolet assembly positioned within the enclosed back portion to illuminate one or more grow chambers in a sealed position with ultraviolet rays, the method comprising:
positioning at least one objection at a first grow chamber in a display position; during a sanitization cycle, rotating the grow tower to move the first grow chamber to the sealed position; activating the ultraviolet assembly such that the at least one object at the first grow chamber is illuminated by ultraviolet rays of the ultraviolet assembly; rotating the grow tower to move the first grow chamber to the display position; and after the sanitization cycle, removing the at least one object from the grow tower.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein positioning the at least one object on the grow tower comprises positioning the at least one object on a hook or a shelf attached at a plurality of apertures on the grow tower.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Padron Jose Rafael
• Hartlage Kira Lynn

Classifications

• A01G9/023

  Multi-tiered planters · CPC title

• A61L2202/121

  Sealings, e.g. doors, covers, valves, sluices · CPC title

• A61L2202/122

  Chambers for sterilisation · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title