GB2037134A - Seed germinator - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for germinating seeds comprises a container for receiving water and into which the seeds are put and an air inlet pipe for coupling to an air pump extending through the container cap.

Description

SPECIFICATION Seed germinator My invention the speed seed germinator is a sim ple and inexpensive apparatus for germinating seeds before planting. Initially for the use of garden ers or anyone wishing to guarantee germination and speed the plants growth.

1. It consists of an electric air pump, in this case a tropical fish aerator which passes air through a plas tic pipe to 1,2,3 or more ordinary glass or plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off. The bottles held upside down, and the air entering the bottles via the closure caps.

2. If desired a watertankto hold the bottles where the addition of a heating element with ther mostat will, with water added to the tank, keep the water in the bottles art a more constant temperature to further assist germination.

3. Air is distributed to the bottles individually via a ganged valve. The bottles contain the seed plus water, with the addition where necessary of chemi cals-to assist germination, which can be rapid.

4. An embodiment of the apparatus is, it is port able and can easily be placed indoors in winter, where the working temperature is higher to assist germination, although it is found in practice that with this apparatus germination will take place at lower temperatures than when seed is sown in the usual way.

5. When seed is sown normally, the environment can be too cold or too warm, too dry or too wet and germination is hit or miss. With this apparatus is can be controlled.

6. In experiments the apparatus has been suc cessful with all seeds tried, including melon, cucumber, palm, sunflower, onion, pomegranate, tomato and even avocado stone. It is well known that if seed is placed in water alone it will just rot, but with this apparatus, air bubbles through the seed, the seed does not rot, but in fact germinates.

7. This invention is novel in that it is very inexpensive and easy to make. Operates at very low cost.

The seed and water is easily put in and taken out. It can be supplied in kit form for quick assembly.

8. A seed germinator comprising an apparatus which artificially copies and improves the natural process of seed germination.

9. A seed germinator according to claim 1 wherein the means comprises an electrically driven air pump, a vibratortype osclating 50 or 60 cycles per sec. of the well known fish tank variety which pumps air to the seeds through tubes.

10. A seed germinator according to claims 1 or 2 which has vessels one or more to contain not only the seeds but the addition of water and chemicals when helpful.

11. A seed germinator according to the preceding claims which has a valve or valves to distribute the air and regulate the flow to the one or more vessels containing the seed and water.

12. A seed germinator according to any of the preceeding claims which with the addition of a water filled tank to partially enclose the said vessels, will with the addition of a heater element and thermostat stabilise the temperature of the water in the said vessels to a suitable temperature.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 14 April 1980 Superseded claims: All original claims.

New or amended claims: 1. A seed germinator comprising at least one open-topped vessel, which, in use, contains water and seeds to be germinated, in suspension in the water, and which has a bottom inlet for air to be passed upwardly through the water to agitate the suspension of seeds in the water, a lower part of the vessel being defined by a wall or walls or upwardly divergent shape, and the air inlet being connected externally of the vessel by piping to an air pump, the piping extending from the pump to a height above the surface level of the water in the vessel and then to the air inlet at the bottom of the vessel.

2. A seed germinator as claimed in Claim 1 in which the piping includes an adjustable flow control valve.

3. A seed germinator as claimed in Claim 2 including a plurality of said vessels, each connected to a separate outlet of a distributor valve having a plurality of separately adjustable flow control outlets and a common inlet leading from the air pump.

4. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim having a support stand by which the or each vessel is held in an upright position.

5. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each vessel is supported in a surrounding tank of water having a water surface level lower than the open top of the or each vessel, said tank including a thermostatically-controlled heater responsive to the temperature of the water in the tank.

6. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the air pump is of an electrical vibrator type.

7. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each vessel is a bottle from which the bottom has been removed supported inverted, whereby the mouth of the bottle becomes the air inlet and the end of the bottle from which the bottom has been removed becomes the open top of the bottle, an air inlet pipe of the aforesaid piping being connected to the mouth of the bottle.

8. A seed germinator constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in any of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by The Tweeddele Press Ud..

Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1980.

Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from later filed formal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seed germinator My invention the speed seed germinator is a sim ple and inexpensive apparatus for germinating seeds before planting. Initially for the use of garden ers or anyone wishing to guarantee germination and speed the plants growth.

1. It consists of an electric air pump, in this case a tropical fish aerator which passes air through a plas tic pipe to 1,2,3 or more ordinary glass or plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off. The bottles held upside down, and the air entering the bottles via the closure caps.

2. If desired a watertankto hold the bottles where the addition of a heating element with ther mostat will, with water added to the tank, keep the water in the bottles art a more constant temperature to further assist germination.

3. Air is distributed to the bottles individually via a ganged valve. The bottles contain the seed plus water, with the addition where necessary of chemi cals-to assist germination, which can be rapid.

4. An embodiment of the apparatus is, it is port able and can easily be placed indoors in winter, where the working temperature is higher to assist germination, although it is found in practice that with this apparatus germination will take place at lower temperatures than when seed is sown in the usual way.

5. When seed is sown normally, the environment can be too cold or too warm, too dry or too wet and germination is hit or miss. With this apparatus is can be controlled.

6. In experiments the apparatus has been suc cessful with all seeds tried, including melon, cucumber, palm, sunflower, onion, pomegranate, tomato and even avocado stone. It is well known that if seed is placed in water alone it will just rot, but with this apparatus, air bubbles through the seed, the seed does not rot, but in fact germinates.

7. This invention is novel in that it is very inexpensive and easy to make. Operates at very low cost.

The seed and water is easily put in and taken out. It can be supplied in kit form for quick assembly.

8. A seed germinator constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in any of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by The Tweeddele Press Ud..

Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1980.

Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from later filed formal copy.

8. A seed germinator comprising an apparatus which artificially copies and improves the natural process of seed germination.

9. A seed germinator according to claim 1 wherein the means comprises an electrically driven air pump, a vibratortype osclating 50 or 60 cycles per sec. of the well known fish tank variety which pumps air to the seeds through tubes.

10. A seed germinator according to claims 1 or 2 which has vessels one or more to contain not only the seeds but the addition of water and chemicals when helpful.

11. A seed germinator according to the preceding claims which has a valve or valves to distribute the air and regulate the flow to the one or more vessels containing the seed and water.

12. A seed germinator according to any of the preceeding claims which with the addition of a water filled tank to partially enclose the said vessels, will with the addition of a heater element and thermostat stabilise the temperature of the water in the said vessels to a suitable temperature.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 14 April 1980 Superseded claims: All original claims.

New or amended claims:

1. A seed germinator comprising at least one open-topped vessel, which, in use, contains water and seeds to be germinated, in suspension in the water, and which has a bottom inlet for air to be passed upwardly through the water to agitate the suspension of seeds in the water, a lower part of the vessel being defined by a wall or walls or upwardly divergent shape, and the air inlet being connected externally of the vessel by piping to an air pump, the piping extending from the pump to a height above the surface level of the water in the vessel and then to the air inlet at the bottom of the vessel.

2. A seed germinator as claimed in Claim 1 in which the piping includes an adjustable flow control valve.

3. A seed germinator as claimed in Claim 2 including a plurality of said vessels, each connected to a separate outlet of a distributor valve having a plurality of separately adjustable flow control outlets and a common inlet leading from the air pump.

4. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim having a support stand by which the or each vessel is held in an upright position.

5. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each vessel is supported in a surrounding tank of water having a water surface level lower than the open top of the or each vessel, said tank including a thermostatically-controlled heater responsive to the temperature of the water in the tank.

6. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the air pump is of an electrical vibrator type.

7. A seed germinator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each vessel is a bottle from which the bottom has been removed supported inverted, whereby the mouth of the bottle becomes the air inlet and the end of the bottle from which the bottom has been removed becomes the open top of the bottle, an air inlet pipe of the aforesaid piping being connected to the mouth of the bottle.