GB2034564A - A plant pot - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant pot comprises an open- topped container encircled by a liquid reservoir intermediate the top and bottom thereof. The sidewall of the container is provided with a plurality of holes spaced uniformly around the container and interconnecting the reservoir with the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A plant pot This invention relates to plant pots.

A conventional plant pot comprises an opentopped container with a frusto-conical side wall closed at its narrow end by a bottom wall having a central hole therein. Plants grown in such pots are normally watered by applying water to the surface of the soil in the pot. In certain cases this may result in underwatering of the plant with the result that the roots are confined to the surface layers of the soil. A plant in this condition is unable to withstand neglect because the inadequate root penetration of the soil inhibits water uptake. It is therefore recommended in these case that the plant should be watered from below by standing the pot in a reservoir of water.

Unless care is taken to remove the pot from the reservoir after a reasonable time, the soil may become waterlogged thus again causing injury to the plant.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant pot in which these disadvantages may be obviated or mitigated.

According to the present invention there is provided a plant pot comprising an open-topped containerwith a liquid reservoir adapted to admit liquid into the interior of the container at a level intermediate the top and bottom thereof.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of one embodiment of plant pot according to the invention; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view from above; Figure 3 is a part sectional side elevation on line Ill -Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a scrap section on line IV - IV of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is an underneath plan.

Referring now to the drawings a plant pot comprises an open-topped container 1 with an octagonal side wall 2 and a bottom wall 3 having a central hole 4 therein. An upper part 2a of the side wall is of uniform cross-section throughout its height whereas a lower part 2b of the side wall tapers to the bottom wall 3. The upper and lower parts 2a, b of the side wall interconnect at a level approximately mid-way between the top and the bottom of the container 1.

An upward extension 2c of the lower part 2b of the side wall forms with the lower section of the upper part 2a of the side wall a reservoir 5 which encircles the container 1 and communicates with the interior thereof through holes 6 adjacent the bottom edge of the upper part 2a of the side wall. These holes 6 are equally spaced over the periphery of the container with three holes 6 provided in each of the eight faces of the side wall 2. The twenty-four holes 6 so provided are disposed in a common plane at about said level mid-way between the top and the bottom of the container 1 and towards the bottom of the reservoir 5 (Figure 4).

In use, a plant is potted in the conventional way but is watered by filling the reservoir 5 with water which enters the container 1 through the holes 6 in the side wall 2. The reservoir 5 is replenished until the soil will accept no more water. In this way it is ensured that adequate penetration of the soil by the plant roots will occur and also overwatering is prevented by virtue of the fact that the soil will accept only a limited volume of water through the reservoir.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made in the design of the plant pot without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the side wall of the container may be of frusto-conical shape with a uniform taperfrom top to bottom thereof as in a conventional plant pot. The annular reservoir can then be provided by a ringshaped channel attached to the side wall at the level of the holes therein.

1. A plant pot comprising an open-topped container with a liquid reservoir adapted to admit liquid into the interior of the container at a level intermediate the top and bottom thereof.

2. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein at said level a side wall of the container is provided with a plurality of holes spaced uniformly around the container and interconnecting the reservoir with the container.

3. A plant pot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side wall of the container comprises a lower part extended into overlapping relationship with an upper part so as to define said reservoir.

4. A plant pot as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is of polygonal shape in plan.

5. A plant pot substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A plant pot This invention relates to plant pots. A conventional plant pot comprises an opentopped container with a frusto-conical side wall closed at its narrow end by a bottom wall having a central hole therein. Plants grown in such pots are normally watered by applying water to the surface of the soil in the pot. In certain cases this may result in underwatering of the plant with the result that the roots are confined to the surface layers of the soil. A plant in this condition is unable to withstand neglect because the inadequate root penetration of the soil inhibits water uptake. It is therefore recommended in these case that the plant should be watered from below by standing the pot in a reservoir of water. Unless care is taken to remove the pot from the reservoir after a reasonable time, the soil may become waterlogged thus again causing injury to the plant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant pot in which these disadvantages may be obviated or mitigated. According to the present invention there is provided a plant pot comprising an open-topped containerwith a liquid reservoir adapted to admit liquid into the interior of the container at a level intermediate the top and bottom thereof. The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of one embodiment of plant pot according to the invention; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view from above; Figure 3 is a part sectional side elevation on line Ill -Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a scrap section on line IV - IV of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is an underneath plan. Referring now to the drawings a plant pot comprises an open-topped container 1 with an octagonal side wall 2 and a bottom wall 3 having a central hole 4 therein. An upper part 2a of the side wall is of uniform cross-section throughout its height whereas a lower part 2b of the side wall tapers to the bottom wall 3. The upper and lower parts 2a, b of the side wall interconnect at a level approximately mid-way between the top and the bottom of the container 1. An upward extension 2c of the lower part 2b of the side wall forms with the lower section of the upper part 2a of the side wall a reservoir 5 which encircles the container 1 and communicates with the interior thereof through holes 6 adjacent the bottom edge of the upper part 2a of the side wall. These holes 6 are equally spaced over the periphery of the container with three holes 6 provided in each of the eight faces of the side wall 2. The twenty-four holes 6 so provided are disposed in a common plane at about said level mid-way between the top and the bottom of the container 1 and towards the bottom of the reservoir 5 (Figure 4). In use, a plant is potted in the conventional way but is watered by filling the reservoir 5 with water which enters the container 1 through the holes 6 in the side wall 2. The reservoir 5 is replenished until the soil will accept no more water. In this way it is ensured that adequate penetration of the soil by the plant roots will occur and also overwatering is prevented by virtue of the fact that the soil will accept only a limited volume of water through the reservoir. It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made in the design of the plant pot without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the side wall of the container may be of frusto-conical shape with a uniform taperfrom top to bottom thereof as in a conventional plant pot. The annular reservoir can then be provided by a ringshaped channel attached to the side wall at the level of the holes therein. CLAIMS

1. A plant pot comprising an open-topped container with a liquid reservoir adapted to admit liquid into the interior of the container at a level intermediate the top and bottom thereof.

2. A plant pot as claimed in claim 1, wherein at said level a side wall of the container is provided with a plurality of holes spaced uniformly around the container and interconnecting the reservoir with the container.

3. A plant pot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side wall of the container comprises a lower part extended into overlapping relationship with an upper part so as to define said reservoir.

4. A plant pot as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is of polygonal shape in plan.

5. A plant pot substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.