Portable greenhouse structure and method and apparatus for assembling same

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable greenhouse structure comprising a base in the shape of a right-polygonal cylinder having a top and a bottom, wherein the base comprises a plurality of wall panels connected along abutting edges; a hemispherical roof attached to the top of the base, wherein the hemispherical roof has a polygonal hole in the apex thereof; and a polygonal panel having the same shape as the polygonal hole, wherein the polygonal panel is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the polygonal panel sealably covers the polygonal hole when in the closed position. The present invention also provides an apparatus for joining a first panel to a second panel along abutting edges thereof, the apparatus comprising a first extrusion attached to the abutting edge of the first panel, wherein the first extrusion comprises a stem which projects away from a plane of the panel and has a panel side and a mating side; a second extrusion attached to the abutting edge of the second panel, wherein the second extrusion comprises a stem which projects away from a plane of the panel and has a panel side and a mating side; and a clamp which holds the stem of the first extrusion and the stem of the second extrusion together such that the mating side of the first extrusion is in contact with the mating side of the second extrusion.

1 . A portable greenhouse structure comprising: 
 a base in the shape of a right-polygonal cylinder having a top and a bottom, wherein the base comprises a plurality of wall panels connected along abutting edges;    a hemispherical roof having a plurality of wedged-shaped roof panels, the roof panels having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of lateral edges, the roof panels joined together along adjacent lateral edges and wherein the lower edges of the roof panels are attached to the top of the base, and wherein the top edges of the roof panels form a polygonal hole in an apex thereof; and    a polygonal panel having the same shape as the polygonal hole, wherein the polygonal panel is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the polygonal panel sealably covers the polygonal hole when in the closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  further comprising a foundation to which the bottom side of the base is attached.  
     
     
         3 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  further comprising a door in one of the wall panels.  
     
     
         4 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of vents near the bottom of the base.  
     
     
         5 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the base is between about 5 feet and about 20 feet.  
     
     
         6 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  wherein the hemispherical roof further includes one or more roof door panels containing a cutout in the lower portion of the panel to accommodate an upper part of a door.  
     
     
         7 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of wedge-shaped sections comprises between about 2 and about 20 sections.  
     
     
         8 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  wherein the hemispherical roof is geodesic and includes a plurality of polygonal facets therein.  
     
     
         9 . The greenhouse of  claim 8  wherein the hemispherical roof further comprises a plurality of elongated flat areas formed therein between the polygonal facets.  
     
     
         10 . The greenhouse of  claim 9  further comprising one or a plurality of solar cells positioned on and attached to the elongated flat areas.  
     
     
         11 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  wherein the polygonal panel automatically opens and closes according to the temperature inside the greenhouse.  
     
     
         12 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  wherein the polygonal panel is a regular pentagon.  
     
     
         13 . The greenhouse of  claim 1  wherein the base, the hemispherical roof and the polygonal panel are made with a transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material.  
     
     
         14 . The greenhouse of  claim 13  wherein the base, the hemispherical roof and the polygonal panel are made with polycarbonate.  
     
     
         15 . The greenhouse of  claim 14  wherein the base, the hemispherical roof and the polygonal panel are made with a laminated polycarbonate comprising a first sheet spaced apart from a second sheet by a plurality of ribs.