AU2004100415A4 - Watering implement - Google Patents

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "WATERING IMPLEMENT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1

TITLE

"WATERING IMPLEMENT" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention THIS INVENTION relates to a watering implement.

The invention particularly relates, but is not limited to, a watering implement suitable for the sub-soil watering of the roots of plants.

2. Prior Art It is well established that the most effective watering of (garden) plants is the watering which ensures the wetting of the sub-soil around the plant roots. The most effective watering of all is steady rainfall.

While the use of sprinklers to water plants is well known, their effectiveness is often limited as their short duration of operation, particularly in areas where sprinkling times are limited, often results in effective watering only of the upper layer(s) of the soil above the root level. This particularly occurs during drought/dry seasonal periods, when the sub-soil dries out and becomes compacted and almost impervious to the water and so the water does not effectively reach the roots.

The dry, compacted, sub-soil also minimises the ability for fertilizers liquid or slow-release fertilizers) and/or oxygen (for root aeration) to reach the plant roots for maximum plant growth.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a watering implement which enables water to be delivered to the sub-soil for effective watering of plant roots.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a watering implement which leaves holes in the sub-soil, around the plant roots, to enable fertilizers and/or oxygen to reach the roots.

It is a further preferred object of the present invention to provide such an implement which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture; can be compactly packed for transport, but easily assembled for use; and is easily operated.

Other preferred objects of the present invention shall become apparent from the following description.

In one aspect, the present invention resides in a watering implement for plants, including: a hollow handle having fitting means at one end operable for connection to a pressurised water source; a hollow head operably connected to the other end of the handle; and at least one hollow water injection member, operably connected to the head, and adapted to be inserted into a sub-soil region at, or adjacent, plant roots to allow water to be applied to the sub-soil region Preferably, a water flow controlling valve means, more preferably a ball valve, is provided on the handle to control the flow of water through the handle.

Preferably, the ball valve is provided adjacent, but downstream of, the hose fitting.

While the other end of the handle may be fixed to the head, it is preferably releasably connected thereto by, a screw-threaded, or bayonet-type, releasable (sealable) coupling.

Preferably, at least two of the watering injection means are provided on the head, preferably equally spaced apart. While the water injection means may be fixably mounted in, or formed integrally with, the head, preferably, they are releasably connectable thereto by a screwthreaded, or bayonet-type, releasable (sealable) coupling.

In a specific (non-limiting) example, the water injection means are approximately 100-200 mm, more preferably 150-160 mm, long, to enable the water to be injected to a depth of, 100-200 mm below the ground surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To enable the invention to be fully understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the assembled watering implement; FIG. 2 is a sectional side view taken on line 2-2 on FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the watering implement in use; and FIG. 4 is a sectional front view of a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The watering implement 10 has a handle 20 formed from a 4 length of aluminium tubing, eg., 700-1000 mm, more preferably, approximately 760 mm tong. A bail valve 21 is connected to one end of the handle 20 and, in turn, is connected to a hose fitting 22 adapted to receive a complementary fitting (not shown) on a hose connected, eg., to a reticulated water supply.

The other end 23 of the handle 20 is screw-threadably engaged in a threaded bore 31 in a substantially rectangular, hollow, head 30, e.g., extruded from aluminium and closed by respective end caps 32.

In a preferred example, where the head 30 has external dimensions of 25 mm x 25 mm, the top and bottom walls 33, 34 may be, 8 mm thick and the side walls 35, 36 may be, eg., 4 mm thick, so that the end 23 of the handle 20, eg., of 20 mm OD, is screw-threadably engaged with the side walls 35, 36 to increase the lateral stability between the handle and the head 30 (see FIG. 2).

Three water injectors 40, formed from 10 mm OD aluminium with a 2 mm wall thickness, are screw-threadably engaged in the bottom wall 34 of the head 30 at equal spacings. Each water injector 40 has a water nozzle 41 at its distal end to inject the pressurised water 70 into the sub-soil region 50 adjacent the root structures 61 of the plants 60 see FIG. 3. In a specific preferred embodiment, water injectors 40 are preferably 100-200 mm, more preferably, 150-160 mm long, so that the water 70 will be injected into the sub-soil at a depth of 100-200 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, some of the water 70 will flow up around the water injectors 40 to form holes 80 in the sub-soil 50 and the topsoil layer 51. When the water implement 10 is removed, fertilizer (not shown) may be dropped or washed into the holes 80 for quick transfer to the root structures 61. In addition, air entering the holes 80 will provide oxygen for the root structures 61 for improved aeration of the root structures.

The water 70, spraying from the nozzles 41, even at relatively low water pressures obtained from domestic reticulation systems, will "drill" the holes 80 in the sub-soil 50 to enable the water 70 to be effectively directed to, and dispersed through, the sub-soil For harder soil, it is preferred to use the watering implement 100 of the second embodiment of FIG. 4.

This implement has two water injectors 140 connected to the head 130.

It will be noted that, in this embodiment, the water injectors 140 are again screw-threadably connected to the bottom wall 134 of the head 130, and are releasably secured by respective lock-nuts 137. The lock-nuts 137 eliminate any tendency forthe water injectors 140 becoming accidentally unscrewed from the head 130 and also assist in ensuring a water-tight connection between the water injectors and the head.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the handle 20,120 and the water injectors 40,140 can be detached from the head 30,130 for compact packaging for transport (and for easy re-assembly for use).

However, it will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the implement may be manufactured as a unitary implement.

While manufacture from aluminium has been described as the preferred material, it will also be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that parts and/or components of the implement may be manufactured from other suitable materials, plastics materials, which may be fibrereinforced.

Similarly, the ball valve may be substituted by other suitable water flow control valve means slide valve, gate valve.

In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the pressurised water may be connected directly to the head 30,130, via the water flow control means; or via a hose or pipe extemrnal to, but attached to, the handle 20,120.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the present invention provides a simple, yet effective, implement for the effective watering of the root assemblies of plants.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

Claims (4)

1. A watering implement for plants, including: a hollow handle having fitting means at one end operable for connection to a pressurised water source; a hollow head operably connected to the other end of the handle; and at least one hollow water injection member, operably connected to the head, and adapted to be inserted into a sub-soil region at, or adjacent, plant roots to allow water to be applied to the sub-soil region

2. An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a water flow controlling valve means such as a ball valve, is provided on the handle to control the flow of water through the handle, the valve means being provided adjacent, but downstream of, the hose fitting.

3. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the other end of the handle is fixed to the head, or is releasably connected thereto by a screw-threaded, or bayonet-type, releasable sealable coupling.

4. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein, at least two of the watering injection means are provided on the head, equally spaced apart, and the water injection means are fixably mounted in the head orformed integrallywith the head, or are releasably connectable to the head by a screw-threaded, or bayonet-type, releasable sealable coupling. An implement as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the water injection means are approximately 100-200 mm preferably 150-160 mm, long, to enable the water to be injected to a depth of 100-200 mm below the ground surface. DATED this First day of June 2004. NORMAN GORDON ROBINSON and SUSAN MURTAGH By their Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY