GB2305591A

GB2305591A - Plant watering device

Info

Publication number: GB2305591A
Application number: GB9620163A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Moore Boyd Chestnutt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-27
Filing date: 1996-09-27
Publication date: 1997-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-27
Also published as: GB9519690D0; GB2305591B; GB9620163D0

Abstract

A plant watering device comprises two co-axial elongate members (10,12) in telescopic relationship, with a first member (10) having a nozzle attachment (16) having a passage (18) therethrough to be connected to a supply of fluid, and a valve 46 provided to adjust the flow of fluid through said passage (18). The two members (10,12) are prevented from rotational displacement one with the other by a bar (30) extending through aligned diametrical apertures (32,34) in both members (10,12). The apertures (32,34) in the first member (10) are of increased dimension along an axis parallel to the axes of the members (10,12) to allow limited axial movement between the members (10,12). A coil spring (36) is provided to bias the first member (10) axially against the bar (30) to open the valve. The first member (10) has support collar (40,42) to which a plant container can be attached. The second member (12) has suspension rings (44) by which the device can be suspended from a support. In use, the compression of spring 36 is determined by the weight of a container suspended from collar 40,42, such that movement of members 10,12, and thus the operation of valve 46, is controled by the wetness or dryness of growing medium in the container.

Description

PLANT WATERING DEVICE This invention relates to a plant watering device for use particularly, but not exclusively, with a suspended or hanging plant container. One of the chores in having and enjoying a hanging plant container with foliage and/or flowering plants in a growing medium is that it has to be periodically watered and fed with, for example a nutrient solution, since not only do the plants use up the water and nutrient solution but also the growing medium in the container dries out through evaporation in the atmosphere. This requires the plant container to be lifted from the support from which it is suspended, watered and fed, and then re-hung, or alternatively the container is watered and fed in situ in its suspended position.A disadvantage of the latter operation is that unless the watering and feeding is done frequently (at least daily in warm dry conditions) the growing medium may have become too dry in which case much of the water and nutrients solution simply runs through the medium. To save this possible waste of water and nutrient solution, containers have been provided with catchment trays fitted to or integral with the containers. The above chore is by either method nevertheless time consuming, particularly if there are several containers to be watered.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for automatically watering plants in one or more hanging plant containers.

Accordingly, the present invention is a plant watering device to be integrated into a plant watering system, the device comprising an elongate body for substantial upright orientation in use, the body having two co-axial elongate members in telescopic relationship, the members both being tubular with a first member having a closed upper end in which a nozzle having a passage therethrough is provided with an outer part thereof projecting outwardly to be connected to a supply of fluid and an inner part thereof projecting inwardly to convey fluid into the first member, valve means to adjust the flow of liquid through said passage, the two members being prevented from rotational displacement one with the other and being capable of limited axial movement between the members, biasing means arranged between the two members to bias the first member axially against the second member to open the valve means, the first member having support means to which a plant container can be attached and the second member having suspension means by which the device can be suspended from a support.

Preferably, the first member is an outer shorter member with an integral collar at or adjacent to its lower end, and the second member is an inner longer member with a screw-thread provided adjacent to its lower end with a collar in screw-threaded engagement thereon. The biasing means is desirably a coil spring provided around a shank of the second member with its ends abutting against respective collars on the first and second members. Movement of the collar of the second member in its screw-threaded engagement higher or lower on the shank correspondingly alters the compression of the spring.

The second member preferably has a bar extending through aligned diametrical apertures in both members with the apertures in the first member being of increased dimension at least along an axis parallel to the axes of the members.

Preferably also, the valve means to adjust the flow of liquid through said passage is a washer and a valve element located in the passage to be movable away from or towards the washer, the valve element being moved to open or close said passage by abutment against the bar when the first member is moved under or against the influence of the spring biasing respectively, the amount of movement depending on the weight of the contents of a plant container attached to said support means.

The inner part of the nozzle is beneficially provided with a seat against which the washer is moved to restrict or open flow of fluid therethrough.

Preferably further, the support means is an annulus fitted over the first member with its inner peripheral edge and margin therearound engagable against the integral collar, the annulus having two or more holes through which hooks can be passed. The suspension means desirably comprises an eye hook secured one at each end of the bar.

Alternatively, the first member may have diametrically-opposed slots in its tubular wall into which diametrically extending wing members of the second member engage such to provide the means to prevent rotational displacement between the first and second members. The first member preferably has a flange extending annularly therefrom at or near to the bottom edge thereof and a slot may be aligned with and connected to a respective slot in the first member.

Adjacent to the outer edge of each wing member an upright blind slot may be provided thereby to form a finger element which flexes inwardly relative tothe rest of the wing member. The finger elements each desirably have a protuberance at its bottom outside corner such that on the finger element being flexed inwards the wing member can pass through the respective flange slot only to be released thereafter and thereby prevent the wing member from passing back through the flange slot unless the finger element is flexed and moved through.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a plant watering device according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional of a plant watering device according to a second embodiment; and Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a plant watering device shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a plant watering device in common to both embodiments comprises an elongate body for substantial upright orientation in use. The body has two co-axial elongate members 10,12 in telescopic relationship. The members 10,12 both are tubular with a first member 10 having a closed upper end 14 in which a nozzle 16 having a passage 18 therethrough is provided with an outer part 20 thereof projecting outwardly to be connected to a supply of fluid and an inner part 22 thereof projecting inwardly to convey fluid into the first member 10. The first member 10 is an outer shorter member with an integral collar 24 at or adjacent to its lower end and the second member 12 is an inner longer member with a screw thread 26 provided adjacent to its lower end with a collar 28 in screw-threaded engagement thereon.The first member 10 has support means to which a plant container (not shown) can be attached and the second member 12 has suspension means by which the device can be suspended from a support (not shown).

Biasing means is provided to bias the first member 10 axially against the second member 30. The biasing means is a coil spring 36 provided around a shank ofthe second member 12 with its ends abutting against respective collars 24,28 on the first and second members 10,12. Movement of the collar 28 of the second member 12 in its screw-threaded engagement higher or lower on the shank correspondingly alters the setting of the compression of the spring 36. The compression of the spring 36, in use, is determined by the weight of the container and plants and growing medium such that movement of the members 10, 12 is made largely on the basis of the wetness or dryness of the medium.

Valve means are provided to adjust the flow of liquid through said passage 18.

In a first embodiment, the two members 10,12 are prevented from rotational displacement one with the other by a bar 30 extending through aligned diametrical apertures 32,34 in both members 10,12. The apertures 32 in the first member 10 are of increased dimension along an axis parallel to the axes of the members 10,12 to allow non-rotational limited axial movement between the members 10,12.

The valve means is a washer 38 and a valve element 46 located in the passage 18. The valve element 46 is a cylinder which floats in the passage 18 and is movable away from or into abutment with the washer 38 to open or close said passage 18 by abutment against the bar 30 when the first member 10 is moved under or against the influence of the spring biasing 36 respectively. The amount of movement of the element 46 is restricted by the axial length of the apertures 32, which axial length is no greater than the axial length of the element 46, and, in use, depends on the weight of the contents of a plant container attached to said support means. The inner part of the nozzle 16 is provided with a seat 17 against which the washer 38 is moved to restrict or open flow of fluid therethrough.

The support means is an annulus 40 fitted over the first member 10 with its inner peripheral edge and margin therearound engagable against the integral collar 24. The annulus 40 has two or more holes 42 through which hooks (not shown) can be passed, the hooks being provided at the end of chains secured to a plant container.

The suspension means comprises an eye hook 44 secured one at each end of the bar 30 into which a hook (not shown) can be passed, the hooks being provided at the end of chains united at their upper end in a union ring to be secured to the support.

In use of this embodiment with a plant watering device integrated into a plant watering and feeding system, as the medium in the container dries, so the biasing forces will move the first member 10 away from the bar 30 to allow fluid to flow or trickle into the medium through the second member 12. As the medium becomes fully dampened but not saturated, the first member 10 will move against the biasing to close the valve means.

In a second embodiment, in which like parts are denoted by like numerals, the first member 10 has a flange 50 extending annularly from at or near to the bottom edge thereof whereby to form with the bottom edge the integral collar 24.

Diametrically, opposed connected slots 52, 54 are provided in the flange 50 and tubular wall of the first member 10 respectively. The second member 12 has two diametrically opposed substantially rectangular wing members 56. Adjacent to the outer edge of each wing member 56 from the bottom edge upwards a blind slot 58 is provided thereby to form a finger element 60 which flexes inwardly relative to the rest of the wing member 56. The outer edge adjacent to the bottom edge of the finger element 60 has a protuberance 62 provided with an outer edge ramp 64.The length dimension of the bottom edge of each wing member including the protuberance 62 is greater than the length dimension of each slot 52 whereby when the first and second members 10, 12 are being assembled with corresponding wing members 56 and slots 52, 54 being aligned, the ramps 64 ride up the end of the respective slot due to the flexing inwardly of the finger elements 60 and after passing through the respective slots 52, the finger elements 60 cannot return therethrough without manually flexing inwardly the finger elements 60. Normally therefore, when the members 10,12 are assembled then there is only restricted axial movement between the members 10,12 determined by the abutment of the wing members 56 against the top of the slots 54 and against the flange 50.The location of the wing members 56 in the slots 54 prevents rotational displacement of the first and second members 10,12.

The valve means is a washer 38 and a valve element 66. The valve element 66 is an annular ring 68 horizontally oriented and integral on top of a cruciform support 70 formed of two diametrical bars 72 whose outer ends are rooted to the inside tubular wall of the second member 12 adjacent to the top of the member 12, the element 66 being unitary with the second member 12 and movable under the biasing of coil spring 36 towards or against the washer 38 to seat or unseat the washer 38 against the end of the passage 18.

The support means are three equispaced gusset webs 74 extending between the tubular wall of the first member 10 and the flange 50, the webs 74 similarly extending beyond the periphery of the flange 50 and thereat and each having a hole 42 through which hooks (not shown) can be passed.

The suspension means comprises an aperture 76 provided in each wing member 56 adjacent to the top outer corner and whose centre is substantially aligned with the axis of the slot 58.

The plant watering device according to this embodiment is used similarly to that as described for the first embodiment.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.

Claims

1. A plant watering device to be integrated into a plant watering system, the device comprises an elongate body for substantial upright orientation in use, the body having two co-axial elongate members in telescopic relationship, the members both being tubular with a first member having a closed upper end in which a nozzle attachment having a passage therethrough is provided with an outer part thereof projecting outwardly to be connected to a supply of fluid and an inner part thereof projecting inwardly to convey fluid into the first member, valve means to adjust the flow of liquid through said passage, the two members being prevented from rotational displacement one with the other and being capable of limited axial movement between the members, biasing means arranged between the two members to bias the first member axially against the second member to open the valve means, the first member having support means to which a plant container can be attached and the second member having suspension means by which the device can be suspended from a support.

2. A plant watering device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first member is an outer shorter member with an integral collar at or adjacent to its lower end, and the second member is an inner longer member with a screw-thread provided adjacent to its lower end with a collar in screw-threaded engagement thereon.

3. A plant watering device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the biasing means is a coil spring provided around a shank of the second member with its ends abutting against respective collars on the first and second members.

4. A plant watering device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein movement of the collar of the second member in its screw-threaded engagement higher or lower on the shank correspondingly alters the pre-set compression of the spring.

5. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone ofthe preceding Claims, wherein the valve means to adjust the flow of liquid through said passage is a washer and valve element, the valve element being moved to open or close said passage when the first member is moved, in use, under or against the influence of the spring biasing respectively, the amount of movement depending on the weight of the contents of a plant container attached to said support means.

6. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims, wherein the inner part of the nozzle is provided with a seat against which the washer is moved to restrict or open flow of fluid therethrough.

7. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims, wherein a bar extends through aligned diametrical apertures in both members with the apertures in the first member being of increased dimension at least along an axis parallel to the axes of the members.

8. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims, wherein the support means is an annulus fitted over the first member with its inner peripheral edge and margin therearound engagable against the integral collar, the annulus having two or more holes through which hooks can be passed.

9. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims, wherein the suspension means desirably comprises an eye hook secured one at each end of the bar.

10. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the first member has diametrically-opposed slots in its tubular wall into which diametrically extending wing members of the second member engage such to provide the means to prevent rotational displacement between the first and second members.

11. A plant watering device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the first member has a flange extending annularly therefrom at or near to the bottom edge thereof and a slot is aligned with and connected to a respective slot in the first member.

12. A plant watering device as claimed in Claim 10, 11, wherein adjacent to the outer edge of each wing member an upright blind slot is provided thereby to form a finger element which flexes inwardly relative to the rest of the wing member.

13. A plant watering device as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the finger elements each have a protuberance at its bottom outside comer such that on the finger element being flexed inwards the wing member can pass through the respective flange slot only to be released thereafter and thereby prevent the wing member from passing back through the flange slot unless the finger element is flexed and moved through.

14. A plant watering device as claimed in Claim 6 or anyone of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the valve element is an annular ring horizontally oriented and integral on top of a cruciform support formed of two diametrical bars whose outer ends are rooted to the inside tubular wall of the second member adjacent to the top of the second member, the element being unitary with the second member and movable under the biasing of coil spring towards or against the washer to seat or unseat the washer against the end of the passage.

15. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 6 and 10 to 14, wherein the support means are three equispaced gusset webs extending between the tubular wall of the first member and the flange, the webs similarly extending beyond the periphery of the flange and thereat and each having a hole through which hooks (not shown) can be passed.

16. A plant watering device as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 6 and 10 to 15, wherein the suspension means comprises an aperture provided in each wing member adjacent to the top outer corner and whose centre is substantially aligned with the axis of the blind slot.

17. A plant watering device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Figs 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.