GB2253328A

GB2253328A - Watering device

Info

Publication number: GB2253328A
Application number: GB9102306A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Mcgovern
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-02
Filing date: 1991-02-02
Publication date: 1992-09-09
Also published as: GB9102306D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an irrigation device, and in particular to an irrigation device suitable for use in plant containers such as plant pots or hanging baskets. Accordingly, the invention provides an irrigation device comprising a vessel 10 having perforations 15 formed through a wall thereof and inlet orifice 20 having a smaller cross-sectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the vessel. The inlet orifice may be formed with an inlet spout which may be adjustable in length and comprises first and second elongate members 30, 35, the second member being slidable along at least a portion of the length of the first member. <IMAGE>

Description

Irritation Device This invention relates to an irrigation device, and in particular to an irrigation device suitable for use in plant containers such as plant pots or hanging baskets.

Difficulties often arise in watering plants contained in plant containers if the surface soil has become hardened. This is particularly true in hot weather when the soil can become dried out. If the surface soil is hard then, instead of seeping through the soil, the water runs off the sides of the container or sits on the surface. Thus the water does not reach the roots of the plants. This problem is particularly acute in the case of hanging baskets where plants may be planted around the sides as well as the top of the basket, and where water running off the sides may well pour onto the person watering the plants.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides an irrigation device comprising a vessel having perforations formed through a wall thereof and an inlet orifice having a smaller crosssectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the vessel.

The inlet orifice may be formed with an inlet spout.

Preferably the inlet spout is adjustable in length and comprises first and second elongate members, the second member being slidable along at least a portion of the length of the first member.

Preferably also, the inlet spout has an open end which is funnel shaped.

Preferably also, each of the perforations is partially closed by a cover member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an irrigation device comprising a vessel having perforations formed through a wall thereof and an inlet orifice having a smaller cross-sectional area than the horizontal crosssectional area of the vessel, the inlet orifice being formed with an inlet spout, wherein the vessel and spout together are of a substantially inverted mushroom shape and are suitable for location within a plant container.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which are: Fig. 1 a cross-sectional side view of an irrigation device according to the present invention located within a hanging basket; Fig. 2 a top view of the irrigation device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a partial cross-sectional side view of the irrigating device of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided an irrigation device, generally designated 5, comprising a vessel 10 of bulbous shape which is perforated over its surface with substantially equally sized and spaced holes 15. The vessel 10 is provided on an upper portion thereof with an inlet orifice 20 having a smaller cross-sectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the vessel 10.

The inlet orifice 20 is formed with an inlet spout 25 extending therefrom. The inlet spout 25 comprises first and second substantially cylindrical elongate members 30, 35. In this case the first elongate member 30 is of marginally smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the second elongate member 35 so that a first end 40 of the second member 35 can be slid over at least a portion of the length of the first member 30. The length of the spout 25 may therefore be increased or decreased by sliding the second member 35 up or down the first member 30.

A second end 45 of the second member 35 is of a substantially frustoconical funnel shape.

Referring to Fig. 3 each perforation hole 15 has a curved cover member 50 extending downwardly from an upper edge thereof.

Each cover member 50 thus partially closes the corresponding hole 15.

The vessel 10, first member 30 and cover members 50 can be suitably moulded in one piece from a plastics material such as P.V.C., as can the second member 35.

To suitably locate the irrigation device S within a hanging basket 55 the basket 55 should first be filled with soil 60 to a level corresponding to the level at which the base of the vessel 10 is to be located.

The position of the second member 35 will then be adjusted along the first member 30 until the second end 45 of the second member 35 is at the desired height. Subsequently the basket 55 will be filled with further soil 60 around the device 5 to a level just below the second end 45 of the second member 35. The second end 45 will therefore stand proud of the level of the soil 60 in order to restrict the entry of soil 60 into the vessel 10.

The device 5 would then be suitably located for use, and may be used by pouring water or liquid plant food into the vessel 10 via the funnelled second end 45 of the second member 35 of the spout 25. The water or liquid plant food will subsequently seep through the holes 15 into the soil 60 within the basket 55, the soil 60 within the basket 55 being less liable to drying out than the soil on the top surface.

During prolonged periods of use the cover member 50 on each hole 15 will restrict the ingression into the hole 15 of any roots of any of the plants (not shown) contained with the basket 55.

The embodiment of the invention hereinbefore described is given by way of example only, and is in no way meant to limit the scope of the invention. Various modifications may therefore be envisaged. In particular, the inlet orifice may be located on a side portion of the vessel rather than a top portion. Further, the first and second elongate members may be of any suitable crosssectional shape, and also that the first elongate member may be of marginally larger inner size than the outer size of the second elongate member.

Claims

1. An irrigation device comprising a vessel having perforations formed through a wall thereof and an inlet orifice having a smaller cross-sectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the vessel.

2. An irrigation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet orifice is formed with an inlet spout.

3. An irrigation device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inlet spout is adjustable in length and comprises first and second elongate members, the second member being slidable along at least a portion of the length of the first member.

4. An irrigation device as claimed in either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the inlet spout has an open end which is funnel shaped.

5. An irrigation device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the perforations is partially closed by a cover member.

6. An irrigation device comprising a vessel having perforations formed through a wall thereof and an inlet orifice having a smaller cross-sectional area than the horizontal cross-sectional area of the vessel, the inlet orifice being formed with an inlet spout, wherein the vessel and spout together are of a substantially inverted mushroom shape and are suitable for location within a plant container.