GB2176382A

GB2176382A - Watering device

Info

Publication number: GB2176382A
Application number: GB08514776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-06-11
Filing date: 1985-06-11
Publication date: 1986-12-31
Also published as: GB8514776D0

Abstract

A watering device is supported by a hook member 4 onto a bucket so that a piece of hose 2 leads down into the bucket 3. The other end of the hose is connected to a pump unit 1 enabling water from the bucket to be pumped through a further hose 5 to a spray nozzle supported by a carrying arm 9 which enables hanging baskets 13, for example, to be watered. The end of the hose 5 can alternatively be attached to a brush for washing cars or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to watering devices This invention is concerned with means for watering or spraying. A particular purpose for the device is to enable hanging baskets to be watered readily. Using conventional means it is difficult to water hanging baskets without mounting a ladder or the like whilst carrying a watering can or a hose connected to the mains water supply.

It is an object of this invention to provide a watering device which will facilitate the watering of hanging baskets as well as having other uses.

Accordingly this invention provides a water device comprising an electrically operated water pump provided with means for connecting the pump to an electrical supply source, first and second sections of water hose connected to the inlet and outlet of the pump, and a mounting device enabling the pump to be mounted on the exterior of a bucket with the free end of the first section of hose connected to the pump inlet positioned within the bucket.

This device, when mounted in association with a bucket of water, is entirely self-contained. It is preferred that the free end of the second section of the hose should be mounted on a carrier arm whereby the hose from which water will be pumped can be introduced readily into position to water a hanging basket without the need for the user to mount steps or the like. Ideally this carrier arm will have an extension leading generally at right angles from the part to which the hose is mounted. It is advantageous to provide that the carrier arm can be folded or telescoped or broken down into a compact condition for storage.

The free end of the second section of hose might incorporate a spray head with or without a brush member and could then be used, for example, for the purpose of washing cars, again as a selfcontained unit with the bucket of water.

The pump may be housed within a casing incorporating electrical supply batteries and/or is provided with a supply lead for connection to a battery or a transformed electrical mains supply.

Where the watering device is to be used for washing cars the pump could be connected to the car battery.

Ideally the mounting for the pump will be a bracket to fit over the lip of the bucket, and having a downward extension to project into the bucket and to which the free end of first section of the hose may be attached. This keeps the pump itself away from the water whilst holding the free end of the first section of hose down into the water.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 illustrates a watering device of this invention for watering hanging baskets; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bracket for mounting part of the watering device on the bucket; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a support arm for a hose section of the watering device; Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged details of the arm shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of parts of the pump unit of the watering device; Figure 7 shows an extension lead for the pump; and Figure 8 illustrates an alternative use of the watering device for washing cars.

The watering device shown in Figure 1 comprises a pump unit 1 whose inlet is connected to a first section of hose 2 which is led down into the interior of a bucket 3. The pump unit 1 is secured to a bracket 4 (Figure 2) which clips over the rim of the bucket 3 and which can incorporate a mounting to which the free end of the hose section 2 can be attached. A second section of hose 5 leads from the outlet of the pump unit 1 to a discharge end 6 which is held by a clip 7 (Figure 4)so as to pass through a hole 8 in the end of a carrying arm 9. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4the carrying arm 9 has an extension portion 10 which may readily be demounted by means of the interconnection arrangement 11 shown in Figure 5.The carrier arm 9 is generally L-shaped in form but at its elbow a portion 12 is bent back on itself to enable the arm 9 to be supported over the edge of a hanging basket 13. By those means the hose 5 can be left in position so that watering of the hanging basket 13 continues automatically whilst the watering device is unattended.

Features of the pump unit 1 are shown in more detail in Figure 6. An electric motor 14 is connected by hard wiring 15 to rechargeable dry cell batteries 16 and drives a gear water pump 17. An on/off switch 18 controls operation of the motor 14. A socket connector arrangement 19 enables a plug, such as the plug 20 illustrated in Figure 7, to be inserted to connect an electrical supply lead 21 to the motor 14. The end of the supply lead 21 is provided with a plug and output transformer unit which may be inserted into a standard electrical mains supply.

An alternative use of the watering device is shown in Figure 8. Here the end of the hose section 5 has a brush member 23 attached to it, the brush body having holes through which the water may pass between the bristles 24 of the brush. An electrical supply lead 25 is provided to connect the pump unit 1 to a car battery by means of clips 26. In use the pump unit 1 will pump water from the bucket 3 to the brush head 23 and washing of a car may be carried out by means of the brush and the water supplied through it.

The watering device shown in the drawings incorporates a number of advantages as compared with conventional techniques. Firstly, the combination of the watering device and the bucket of water is a self-contained system which can be taken anywhere that it is needed. The bucket can readily be recharged at any time and liquid feed can be added to the water if necessary. The watering device is particularly suited to the watering of hanging baskets and can be left unattended during watering and the ease with which watering is accomplished means that regular watering is more likely to be carried out throughout a dry season. The device is light-weight for ease of handling and can be made into a compact state for storage, for example by coiling the hose into the bucket and breaking down the extension arm 9 and fitting that into the bucket also. For use as a car washing device the apparatus delivers small quantities of clean water which is emitted from the brush continuously and the low pressure delivery avoids splashing.

Again it is easy to add wash detergent to the water in the bucket. The device can work off the car battery so no mains connection is necessary.

Claims

1. A watering device comprising an electrically operated water pump provided with means for connecting the pump to an electrical supply source, first and second sections of water hose connected respectively to the inlet and outlet of the pump, and a mounting device enabling the pump to be mounted on the exterior of a bucket with the free end of the first section of hose positioned within the bucket.

2. A watering device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting for the pump is a bracket to fit over the lip of the bucket, and having a downward extension to project into the bucket and to which the free end of the first section of the hose may be attached.

3. A watering device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the free end of the second section of the hose is mounted on a carrier arm.

4. A watering device according to claim 3, wherein the carrier arm has an extension leading generally at right angles from the part to which the hose is mounted.

5. A watering device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the carrier arm can be folded or telescoped or broken down into a compact condition for storage.

6. A watering device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the carrier arm incorporates a hook-like portion to enable the carrier arm with the attached hose section to be hooked onto a member to be watered.

7. A watering device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the free end of the second section of hose incorporates a spray head with or without a brush member.

8. A watering device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pump is housed within a casing incorporating electrical supply batteries and/ or is provided with a supply lead for connection to a battery or a transformed electrical mains supply.

9. A watering device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.