Grow lighting support system

Abstract

Grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, wherein the grow lighting support system comprises a frame, arranged to be placed on a ground surface and arranged for supporting grow lights thereon, and a cover supported above the ground surface by the frame and arranged to define an enclosed space above the ground surface, wherein the cover is open towards the ground surface, wherein the frame is arranged for supporting the grow lights in the enclosed space for illuminating the area on the ground surface that is covered by the enclosed space, wherein the cover comprises an inflatable structure which, in inflated state, defines the enclosed space.

Description

[0001] GROW LIGHTING SUPPORT SYSTEM

[0002] The present invention relates to a grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass. The present invention further relates to a method of promoting growth of turf grass.

[0003] The system can be used to enhance the growth of various types of plants, in particular lawn grass on a ground surface on which a sport is played, such as a football or baseball field, a rugby pitch, a tennis court or a golf course.

[0004] Grass growth on a sports surface depends on different factors, such as sunlight, temperature, shade, training and match hours, and the weather. The lack of natural sunlight and temperature, in combination with wear and tear, is often a cause of poor grass quality. Since it generally takes a long time to recover the grass of such playing surfaces if the grass grows by means of light from only the sun, and since some areas of the surface may receive more sunlight than others, enhancing the grass growth with grow lights when the playing surface is not in use reduces the recovery time of the grass surface. Grow lights simulate the sun, specifically light and heat thereof, and are thereby able to enhance grass growth. Therefore, with the help of grow lights, grass can grow and recover throughout the year, such that the quality of the playing surface can be consistently ensured.

[0005] Known grow lighting systems of the type referred to as lighting rigs, which can be used for enhancing turf grass growth for a sports pitch, comprise a frame arranged to be placed on, and movable along, a ground surface and supporting grow lights thereon for illuminating the ground surface.

[0006] To date, some lighting rigs have been provided with a mechanical cover arranged to define an enclosed space above the ground surface to create a greenhouse-like environment for growing turf grass. These lighting systems with mechanical covers are prone to damage, frequent failure, costly repair and contribute excessively to the weight of the system due to the mechanical structure needed to support the cover. Furthermore, due to the required mechanical structure to support the entire cover, the size of such lighting rigs is limited. Therefore, these covered systems, which are limited in size, are ineffective in large-area applications and thus have limited application possibilities. More effective is the climate control grow lighting system developed by SGL for increasing germination and grass growth on high wear areas with difficult growing conditions. This fully enclosed system allows growth factors such as lighting, temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration to be controlled. Because of its climate control system and considerable treatment footprint, a large highly worn area can be treated effectively by regularly moving the unit to a different location within the area. Nonetheless, like the other known covered systems, the SGL system remains relatively costly.

[0007] It is thus an object of the present invention, amongst other objects, to provide an improved grow lighting support system, in particular a grow lighting support system wherein the aforesaid drawbacks are at least partially alleviated.

[0008] Hereto, a grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, is provided, wherein the grow lighting support system comprises a frame, arranged to be placed on a ground surface and arranged for supporting grow lights thereon, and a cover supported above the ground surface by the frame and arranged to define an enclosed space above the ground surface, wherein the cover is open towards the ground surface, wherein the frame is arranged for supporting the grow lights in the enclosed space for illuminating the area on the ground surface that is covered by the enclosed space, wherein the cover comprises an inflatable structure which, in inflated state, defines the enclosed space.

[0009] By providing the grow lighting support system with an inflatable structure to define an enclosed space, a greenhouse-like environment can be created wherein the cover can be maintained in an extended state by the inflated structure. Therefore, the frame supporting the cover can be simplified to minimise the weight of the system. That is, the number of frame components and the weight of the system can be significantly reduced in comparison to the known covered systems, such that a more reliable and lightweight grow lighting support system can be provided. Furthermore, such use of an inflatable structure enables the creation of larger greenhouse-like environments, such that also a grow lighting support system of a greater size can be provided with a cover to create a greenhouse-like environment covering the large area illuminated by the grow lights supported by the grow lighting support system.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the grow lighting support system, the inflatable structure is connected to the frame and is inflatable to the inflated state from a deflated state in which the inflatable structure is configured to be stored in or on the frame. Preferably, the inflatable structure is configured to be folded or rolled up in the deflated state for storing the inflatable structure. Furthermore, the inflatable structure may be arranged on top of the frame in the deflated state. This way, when inflating the inflatable structure, it can extend downwards from the frame such that the inflatable structure can be conveniently moved to its inflated state.

[0011] The inflatable structure may comprise an air inlet for connection to an air pump system for inflating the inflatable structure. The grow lighting support system may comprise the air pump system, which is then preferably supported by the frame.

[0012] According to a further preferred embodiment of the grow lighting support system, the cover is made of a transparent material for allowing sunlight to pass therethrough for providing the area on the ground surface that is covered by the enclosed space with sunlight. This allows for the use of natural and free sunlight, which can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the lighting system.

[0013] The frame may be provided with a motion mechanism arranged for moving the frame along the ground surface.

[0014] The frame may comprise an elongate body, which extends horizontally and is arranged for supporting grow lights thereon. The inflatable structure then preferably extends laterally from the elongate body on either side thereof. This way, a simple configuration can be obtained. The frame may further comprise support legs arranged at both ends of the elongate frame body to support the elongate frame body thereon, which is thereby raised from the ground surface. The support legs may be provided with said motion mechanism, which preferably comprises wheels rotatably arranged at the base of the support legs for moving the frame along the ground surface.

[0015] Further provided is a grow lighting system for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, wherein the grow lighting system comprises a grow lighting support system according to any of the embodiments described above and grow lights for promoting growth of crops, wherein the grow lights are arranged on the frame of the grow lighting support system.

[0016] According to a further aspect, a method of promoting growth of turf grass is provided, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a grow lighting system as described above on the turf grass in the inflated state of the cover; illuminating the turf grass using the grow lights of the grow lighting system. The method preferably further comprises the step of controlling at least one climate parameter in the enclosed space, preferably at least one, more preferably each, of light intensity, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration.

[0017] The grow lighting system may also be used for promoting growth of crops other than turf grass.

[0018] In the following, the grow lighting support system according to the invention is further illustrated with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 represents an isometric view of a known lighting rig;

[0020] Figure 2 represents an isometric view of a grow lighting support system according to the present invention.

[0021] In Figure 1, a known lighting rig 1’ is shown. The rig 1’ comprises a frame 2’ comprising an elongate frame body 21’, extending horizontally for supporting grow lights thereon, and a pair of support legs 22’ respectively arranged at both ends of the elongate frame body 21 ’ to support the elongate frame body 21’ thereon. The support legs 22’ are each provided with a pair of wheels 20’ at their base fortransporting the frame 2’. The lighting rig 1’ is provided with a cover 3’ defining an enclosed space 5’ above the ground surface 4’ to create a greenhouse-like environment for growing turf grass, and support members 23’ supporting the cover 3’ above the ground surface 4’.

[0022] In Figure 2, an improved lighting rig 1 is shown. The rig 1 comprises a frame 2 comprising an elongate frame body 21, extending horizontally for supporting grow lights thereon, and a support leg 22 at each end of the elongate frame body 21 to support the elongate frame body 21 thereon. The support legs 22 are each provided with a pair of wheels 20 for transporting the frame 2. The lighting rig 1 further comprises a cover 3 connected to, and supported above the ground surface 4 by, the elongate frame body 21. The cover 3 defines an enclosed space 5 above, and open towards, the ground surface 4. The elongate frame body 21 is arranged for supporting the grow lights in the enclosed space 5 for illuminating the area 41 on the ground surface 4 that is covered by the enclosed space 5. The cover 3 comprises an inflatable structure 30 which, in inflated state, defines the enclosed space 5. When deflated, the cover 3 can be stored on the elongate frame body 21.

[0023] The inflatable structure 30 comprises a plurality of inflatable elongate members 31 forming a rectangular base, and a plurality of inflatable arch-like members 32 extending from the rectangular base to define the enclosed space 5. The inflatable members 31, 32 are made of a flexible, airtight material. The inflatable structure 30 further comprises an air inlet (not shown) for connection to an air pump system for inflating the inflatable structure 30. The cover 3 further comprises a plurality of transparent sheets 33 arranged between the arch-like members 32 and the elongate members 31 to further enclose the space 5. The transparent sheets 33 allow sunlight to pass therethrough to provide said area 41 with sunlight.

[0024] The lighting rig 1 may be further provided with a climate control system (not shown) for increasing germination and grass growth on said area 41. The climate control system then allows temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration in the enclosed space 5 to be controlled. The cover 3 is maintained in its expanded state by its inflatable structure 30 formed by said inflatable members 31, 32, as opposed to by a mechanical structure like the support members 23’ of the known lighting rig 3’ shown in Figure 1. It has been found that, with an inflatable cover like the cover 3 of the lighting rig 1 shown in Figure 2, the weight and complexity of the lighting rig can be reduced. Hence, an improved grow lighting support system can be obtained.

[0025] The drawings and the above description serve to illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, wherein the grow lighting support system comprises a frame, arranged to be placed on a ground surface and arranged for supporting grow lights thereon, and a cover supported above the ground surface by the frame and arranged to define an enclosed space above the ground surface, wherein the cover is open towards the ground surface, wherein the frame is arranged for supporting the grow lights in the enclosed space for illuminating the area on the ground surface that is covered by the enclosed space, wherein the cover comprises an inflatable structure which, in inflated state, defines the enclosed space.

2. Grow lighting support system according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable structure is connected to the frame and is inflatable to the inflated state from a deflated state in which the inflatable structure is configured to be stored in or on the frame.

3. Grow lighting support system according to claim 2, wherein the inflatable structure is configured to be folded or rolled up in the deflated state for storing the inflatable structure.

4. Grow lighting support system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inflatable structure is arranged on top of the frame in the deflated state.

5. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inflatable structure comprises an air inlet for connection to an air pump system for inflating the inflatable structure.

6. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover is made of a transparent material for allowing sunlight to pass therethrough for providing the area on the ground surface that is covered by the enclosed space with sunlight.

7. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises an elongate body, which extends horizontally and is arranged for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein the inflatable structure extends laterally from the elongate body on either side thereof.

8. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is provided with a motion mechanism arranged for moving the frame along the ground surface.

9. Grow lighting system for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, wherein the grow lighting system comprises a grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims and grow lights for promoting growth of crops, wherein the grow lights are arranged on the frame of the grow lighting support system.

10. Method of promoting growth of turf grass, wherein the method comprises the steps of:- providing a grow lighting system according to claim 9 on the turf grass in the inflated state of the cover; - illuminating the turf grass using the grow lights of the grow lighting system.

11. Method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of controlling at least one climate parameter in the enclosed space, preferably at least one of light intensity, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration.

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