AU595669B2

AU595669B2 - Plant pot

Info

Publication number: AU595669B2
Application number: AU82017/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pauel Sebor
Original assignee: SEBOR ENG Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SEBOR ENGINEERING Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-01-23
Filing date: 1987-12-02
Publication date: 1990-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-02
Also published as: AU8201787A

Description

59 5 669' Form

AUJSTRA[LIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number:

*~I

Lodged: 01 f 0 ,Complete Specification-Lodged: ,,'Accepted: *0 Lapsed: Published: Priority: A1% i ptiL Lm rR61ated Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name~ of Applicant: SEBOR ENGINEERING (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED Address of Applicant: Actual fnventor: 24 FRANSEN STREET,

CHANDOR,

KRUGERSDORP,

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.

PAUEL SEBOR CLEMENT HACK CO., 601 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3-004, Australia.

for the invention entitled: Address for Service: Complete Specification "PLANT POT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- PF/CPlF/2/80

I

i i~ THIS invention relates to plant pots.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is well known that an excessive amount of water should generally not be allowed to accumulate in the soil of a plant pot, since the growth of a plant within such pot can be adversely affected thereby. The excess water can lead to root rot, *9 f a and in extreme cases the excess water can lead to ,oa the death of the plant.

a.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART In cases where plants are grown in pots on a Ct r ,commercial scale, and such plants are watered on a tI regular basis via an overhead sprinkler system, a. :saucers which are provided with certain pots, are generally removed from the pots so that the water a S" can readily drain from the pots. Once a potted plant is ready to be sold, the saucer has once again to be attached to the pot. This is a time consuming operation during which the plant may be damaged.

2 r;' OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a plant pot which at least reduces the difficulties associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a drainage outlet in the form of a closable aperture located in the base of the pot, 9 removable means to close the aperture, and 9* eat least one overflow opening located a small distance above the base of the pot.

eve* The pot may include a plug for closing the closable 0 aperture. A drainage grid spaced from the base of the pot and located above the overflow opening may be provided within the pot.

The overflow opening may be in the form of an aperture located in the sidewall of the pot, the aperture acting as a weir which allows a reservoir of liquid to be retained within the pot provided.

-4F 3 3_ 1 1 1 2 1 1 11 1 the closable apei;ure is closed, the maximum level of the reservoir being determined by the height of the aperture above the base of the pot.

Alternatively the overflow opening may be an inlet to a conduit extending upwardly from an aperture in the base, the conduit acting as a weir which allows a reservoir of liquid to be retained within the pot .o provided the closable aperture is closed, the o maximum level of the reservoir being determined by the height of the inlet to the conduit above the base of the pot. The conduit may form an integral part of the pot.

o Peripheral ridges may be located on the lower surface of the base of the pot around the closable S: aperture and the mouth of the outlet from the conduit, the ridges assisting the formation of droplets of liquid, thereby preventing a film of liquid from forming on the lower surface of the base of the pot.

The drainage grid may include at least one well Sextending downwardly below the overflow opening.

-4- 1.1 *0* 0 0 @0 00 4 0* 6 6 4r The drainage grid may further include an unperforated zone, the zone being at least as wide as the inlet to the conduit, and the inlet to the conduit being located beneath the zone. Two concentric ridges may be provided on the lower surface of the drainage grid, the ridges being located one on either side of the unperforated zone and in use, preventing liquid from flowing along the lower surface of the zone and dripping into the inlet to the conduit. A spacer ridge may also be provided on the lower surface of the drainage grid, the width of the ridge being less than the diameter of the inlet to the conduit, and the ridge maintaining the grid in spaced relationship from the inlet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view from above of a first embodiment of a plant pot according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view from 5 i:I irs -i I i L. r* below of the plant pot shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the plant pot shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of a plant pot according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION SReferring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, a plant pot 1 6 Sincludes a drainage outlet in the form of a 0 closable aperture 2, an overflow opening in the form of an inlet 7 to a conduit 3, and a drainage grid 4 spaced from the base 5 of the pot 1.

te Aperture 2 is closable by means of a plug 6.

t S" Conduit 3 includes an outlet 8 in the base r Ridges 9 are provided on the lower surface of the Vt V Sc base 5 around the mouths of the outlet 8 and the aperture 2.

The drainage grid 4 includes unperforated zone drainage holes 11, and a well 14.

6 h- 1 ;I I 1 on either side of the zone 10. A spacer ridge 13 is provided on the zone 10, the spacer ridge is of narrower width than the diameter of the inlet to the conduit and is positioned so that it bisects the inlet 7 to the conduit 3.

The well 14 includes apertures 15 through which 4r 9 liquid can be drawn up into soil [not shown] in the *4 pot 1.

4 9 99 The drainage grid 4 is clipped into position within the plant pot 1 under shoulder 16.

e The base 5 is provided with a rim 17 upon which the 9, 4 pot 1 can be supported. A plurality of 94,4,9 strengthening ribs 18 are provided around the mouth of the pot 1.

Referring now to Figure 4 a plant pot indicated generally by reference numeral 20, includes a r drainage outlet in the form of a closable aperture 21, overflow openings in the form of apertures 22, 7 and a drainage grid 23 spaced from the base 24 of the pot Aperture 21 is shown closed by plug 30. The drainage grid 23, which is provided with a plurality of apertures 26, is clipped into position under shoulder 27. A well 28 is provided with slots 29 through which liquid can be drawn up into soil [not 0g shown] within the pot a In use of the pot shown in Figures 1 to 3, soil is "placed in the pot 1 in the zone above the drainage

O

grid 4, the soil obviously also fills the well 14.

A plant [not shown] is planted within the soil, and when the plant is watered, water perculates through the soil towards the drainage grid 4. Any excess It water drains through drainage holes 11. If plug 6 is in position in aperture 2, the wat3r will be .able to form a reservoir within the pot 1. The maximum level of the reservoir is determined by the height of the inlet 7 above the base 5. It can be appreciated that the conduit 3 acts as a weir, in that once the level of the reservoir reaches the height of the inlet 7, any additional water will 8 overflow from the pot 1 through the conduit 3.

The well 14 extends downwardly into the reservoir, and water can be drawn up into soil through the apertures 15 in the well 14.

The ridges 9 ensure that the water drips directly from the pot 1 and does not form a film on the base 5. If the ridges 9 were to be omitted, and the water, which carries with it particles of soil was o a o to form a film on the base 5, the base would become 9 discoloured. This could give the -pot 1 an *ft unsightly appearance when viewed from below.

*c A portion of the unperforated zone 10 is always located above the inlet 7, irrespective of the b rotational orientation of the drainage grid 4 within the pot 1. The ridges 12 perform a similar o s* function to the ridges 9, in that they prevent water from flowing along the lower surface of the zone 10 and then dripping into the inlet 7. The spacer ridge 13 rests on the top of the conduit 3 and prevents the drainage grid 4 from blocking the inlet 7.

9 The pot 1, excluding the drainage grid 4 and the plug 6, can be produced in a single moulding operation and the conduit 3 forms an integral part of the pot 1.

It can be appreciated that a plant pot according to the invention obviates the need for a separate saucer, and in fact a "saucer" is provided within the pot 1. In order to prevent water from accumulating within the pot 1, plug 6 is removed 9 othereby allowing any excess water to drain from pot o o 1 via aperture 2. This is in effect equivalent to removing a saucer from a pot. Furthermore by periodically draining the reservoir of water from l the pot, harmful accumulated soluble salts are removed from the pot.

9.

It can be appreciated that it is generally easier p* to remove the plug 6 from the pot 1 than to remove a saucer from a plant pot. Furthermore, it is generally easier and less time consuming to replace the plug 6 in position in the pot 1 than to replace t a saucer in position on a plant pot.

10 lIf Once the plant is ready for sale, the plug 6 may be placed in position in aperture 2. Thus the purchaser of the pot 1 has the option of using the pot 1 with or without the plug 6.

p 9 99.9 *9 4 *r p 9 *r d 9

P(

*4 S. 4 p p 9 4r It can be 4 is used Figures 1 reservoir pot 20, apertures It can be variations departing invention.

appreciated that the pot shown in Figure in a similar manner to the pot shown in to 3, except that the maximum level of a of water which can accumulate within the is determined by the height of the 22 above the base 24.

appreciated that many modifications or of the invention are possible without from the spirit or scope of the 54 11 -ic- -r r f- YC. c

Claims

1. A plant pot including: a drainage outlet in the form of a closable aperture located in the 'base "of the pot, removable means to close the aperture, and at least one overflow opening located a small distance above the base of the pot. e

2. The plant pot of claim 1 wherein the removable means comprises a plug.

3. The plant pot of either claims 1 or 2 including a drainage grid spaced from the base of the pot t and located above the overflow opening, the drainage grid including at least one perforated well extending downwardly below the overflow a opening.

4. The plant pot of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the overflow opening is in the form of an aperture located in the sidewall of the pot, the aperture acting a a weir which allows a reservoir of liquid to be retained within the pot provided the closable aperture is closed, the maximum level of the reservoir being determined S 12 Kd 0 00 0 o o 00 o ou 1) 0 00 I 0 0 Kr:>r S by the height of the aperture above the base of the pot.

5. The plant pot of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the overflow opening is an inlet to a conduit extending upwardly from an aperture in the base, the conduit acting as a weir which allows a reservoir of liquid to be retained within the pot provided the closable aperture is closed, the maximum level of the reservoir being determined by the height of the inlet to the conduit above the base of the pot.

6. The plant pot of claim 5 wherein the conduit is an integral part of the pot.

7. The plant pot of claim 5 or claim 6 including peripheral ridges located on the lower surface of Sthe base of the pot around the closable aperture and the mouth of outlet from the conduit, the ridges assisting the formation of droplets of Sliquid, thereby preventing a film of liquid from forming on the lower surface of the base of the pot.

8. The plant pot of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the drainage grid includes an unperforated zone, 0 0: t t C) 6 0i 13 ~YI- ii I, I0 the zone being at least as wide as the inlet to the conduit, and the inlet to be conduit being located beneath the zone.

9. The plant pot of claim 8 including two concentric ridges on the lower surface of the drainage grid, the concentric ridges being located one on either side of the unperforated zone and in use, preventing liquid from flowing along the lower surface of the zone and dripping into the inlet (*4000 to the conduit. t t T The plant pot of any one of claims 5 to 9 including a spacer ridge on the lower surface of the drainage grid, the width of the spacer ridge being less than the diameter of the inlet to the t conduit, and the spacer ridge maintaining the grid in spaced relationship from the inlet.

I i L t I

11. A plant pot substantially as described and/or Sa' illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 29th day of Septeomer, 1989 SEBOR ENGINEERING (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED By Its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia S14 C!