GB2304518A - Watering device - Google Patents

Abstract

A watering device 11 comprises a water container for location in the vicinity of a plant or plants to which water is to be supplied. The container has at least one aperture 17 in a wall of the container of a size such that with water in the container above the level of the aperture(s) there is a controlled release of water through the aperture(s) over a relatively long period of time. Typically the or each aperture has a projection 21 extending through it so that through the or each aperture the controlled flow is by way of a channel whose cross section is in the form of an annulus whose outer boundary is defined by the aperture and whose inner boundary is defined by the projection. The container may take the form of a C-shape enabling plants to be surrounded by the watering device.

Description

WATERING DEVICE This invention relates to a watering device.

Growing plants need a supply of water. This can be provided by directing water as a stream or as a spray onto the plant. The water can be supplied in a reservoir such as a watering can or by way of a hose. However it usually involves action by an operator and alternative methods are needed if an operator cannot attend regularly. Typically in a domestic environment if the occupants of the house are absent on holiday then any plants need to be watered by somebody else and such a person my not be readily available or may not be relied on to water the plants regularly.

Automatic systems are available used for watering. These involve the provision of supply piping from a water supply together with suitable outlet dispensers in the form on nozzles, sprinklers or controlled leakage systems and means for causing water to be periodically supplied to the system for dispensing. Such systems are widely used for horticultural applications but are expensive to install and the cost of such an arrangement may not be justifiable or possible in a domestic application.

According to the present invention there is provided a watering device in the form of a water container for location by way of a region of the container in the vicinity of a plant or plants to which water is to be supplied, the container having at least one aperture in a wall of the container at a position above the region but below a major part of the container, the aperture or apertures being of a size such that with water in the container above the level of the aperture or apertures there is a controlled flow of water through the aperture or apertures for an extended period.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the or each aperture is provided with a projection extending through it so that through the or each aperture the controlled flow is by way of a channel whose cross section is in the form of an annulus whose outer boundary is defined by the aperture and whose inner boundary is defined by the projection.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof the container is C-shaped in plan view and the or at least one aperture is provided on the inner concave face of the C shape.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention the or each aperture is provided with a closure device.

According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the watering device is substantially fabricated from plastics material.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying line drawings of a watering device of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above; and Figure 2 is a detail of a component of Figure 1.

Watering device 11 is made up of a hollow container 12 of about 1.5 litre water capacity in the form of a letter C with a central opening 10. The container has a flat lower working face 13 on which the device 11 sits when in use. Upper face 14 is substantially flat and incorporates a filler aperture 15 through which the container 12 is filled with water to a normally full level M. The aperture 15 is closed by means of a plug (not shown) which incorporates a vent so that as water flows out of the container 12 as will be described hereafter ambient atmospheric pressure is maintained within the container 12. A radial aperture A is provided to enable the container 12 to be slid around the stem or stems of a plant which is to be supplied with water for an extended period.

Concave inner face 16 of the container 12 is provided with an aperture unit 17 at a level h above the lower working face 13 and at a level H below initial water level 18 of the container 12 when full container. The aperture unit 17 is shown in more detail in Figure 2. Inner face 16 is pierced to provide the unit 17 in the form of a hole 19 with periphery 20 and a projection 21 mounted on the inner wall 16 and extending back into the hole 19 so that water flows from the interior of the container 12 through the hole 19 resulting in a flow with a cross section in the form of an annulus bounded on its outer side by periphery 20 and on its inner side by the outer surface of projection 21. Diameter D of the periphery 20 is 0.6 mm. Outer diameter d of the projection 21 is 0.5 mm.The diameters are chosen to provide a water flow such that the time for the water level in the container 12 to fall from level M to the level of the aperture unit 17 takes about three weeks.

In use the container 12 is filled with water to level M and the full container is then placed on the ground in the region of the stem of the plant to be supplied with water and is then pushed so that aperture A slides past the plant stem so as to locate the container 12 with the plant stem in the centre 10. Water then passes into the ground in the vicinity of the plant stem by way of aperture unit 17 for as long as a water head exists above the aperture.

In a further embodiment a closure device can be provided for the or each aperture corresponding to aperture unit 17 described above. The closure device is used shut off the aperture to enable the container to be filled without wasting water through the aperture and then placed in position around a plant. The closure device is then opened to allow water to flow out or the or each aperture.

If necessary individual containers according to the present invention could be coupled to one another and/or to a water tank which regulated so as to periodically refill or top up the or each container.

The container of the exemplary embodiment is C-shaped. However the invention is applicable to any shape of container. Typically a long narrow container can have aperture units corresponding to unit 17 along one or both long sides and the container can be located between rows of plants requiring irrigation. In another case the container can comprise a central section with arms extending therefrom with aperture units from the central section and from each arm to enable the container to be located in a central location with the arms extending through adjacent plants. The described embodiment dispenses water over a period of three weeks. Other embodiments can provide for shorter or longer periods.

The present invention provides a cheap and simple watering device which is readily used for providing a plant with a controlled supply of water over an extended period.

Claims (7)

1 A watering device in the form of a water container for location by way of a region of the container in the vicinity of a plant or plants to which water is to be supplied, the container having at least one aperture in a wall of the container at a position above the region but below a major part of the container, the aperture or apertures being of a size such that with water in the container above the level of the aperture or apertures there is a controlled flow of water through the aperture or apertures for an extended period.

2 A watering device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the or each aperture is provided with a projection extending through it so that through the or each aperture the controlled flow is by way of a channel whose cross section is in the form of an annulus whose outer boundary is defined by the aperture and whose inner boundary is defined by the projection.

3 A watering device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the container includes is C-shaped in plan view and the or at least one aperture is provided on the inner concave face of the C shape.

4 A watering device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each aperture is provided with a closure device.

5 A watering device as claimed in any preceding claim when substantially fabricated from plastics material.

6 A watering device as claimed in any preceding claim including an attachment means whereby the container can be coupled to another similar container or to a water supply.

7 A watering device as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.