GB2378633A

GB2378633A - Watering device

Info

Publication number: GB2378633A
Application number: GB0119594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Judith Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-13
Filing date: 2001-08-13
Publication date: 2003-02-19
Also published as: GB0119594D0

Abstract

The watering device includes a holder 3 with legs 6. The holder supports a bottle shaped container 1 which holds water or water with soluble fertiliser. The bottle is inverted in the stand with the neck 5 protruding at position 4. In use, the stand is pushed into the growing medium so that the bottle cap just touches the surface of the soil or compost allowing the contents to flow out under gravity. The cap 2 of the bottle can have different arrays of holes (figure 4) which enable different rates of flow from the device. The container may have an additional opening 8 with a rubber closure to facilitate the filling of the bottle.

Description

Watering system This invention relates to a watering system that includes a support for a bottle shaped water container, with a cap with holes, that allows water to flow through into the soil or compost below. It has legs to support it, so that it can water the area without supervision.

When watering pots of plants, hanging baskets, and particular specimen plants problems can arise which my device overcomes as follows :- 1. When watering pots of plants, and hanging baskets especially in dry weather, the water tends to run through the gaps in the soil or compost, and the task becomes laborious, time consuming, and wasteful of water; as more energy, time and water is used to complete the work efficiently. My device trickles water into the soil or compost gradually, without someone having to be present.

2. To water using a watering can is heavy work, and time consuming. The person has to carry the can of water, and then stand while the can empties itself at each place around the garden. People think that they have to do this so that they can judge how much water each plant needs and to have control over the watering.

My system only needs setting up once, and once the water containers are filled, the devices do the work by themselves.

3. Automatic sprinkler or watering systems are expensive and are not within everyone's budget, but my system is simple, and can be made cheaply.

4. Automatic watering systems cannot always cover every place in the garden, but my system can be used anywhere, even indoors.

5. Feeding individual plants is another laborious and time-consuming chore that can be covered by my system.

WHAT IT DOES My device delivers a chosen quantity of water gradually in small amounts into pots of plants, or hanging baskets, or to specimen plants in the garden, or indoors. It does not need supervising once the device has been properly placed. Water-soluble fertiliser can also be used to feed plants when this is required. In order to explain what it is and does, I will refer to the drawing that you will find enclosed with this description.

Accordingly this invention provides a supply of water, contained in a bottle shaped container with a support with legs, that is able to be pushed into soil or compost, so that the cap of the container is level with the top of the soil or compost.

Preferably the bottle is made from a heavy duty plastic, or unbreakable glass, suitable to the particular location; and the support is a lightweight but strong plastic, that is capable of holding the weight of the container filled with water. The material from which the invention is made may be varied according to the specific location and type of use involved.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a side view of the whole device.

FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the see-through bottle with the cap attached.

FIGURE 3 shows the support stand.

FIGURE 4 shows the bottle caps with different hole configurations.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the device comprises of 8 A see through bottle shaped container 1. A cap 2 with holes, screwed onto the neck end of the bottle 5.

8 A device 3 to hold the bottle 1, with the cap 2 attached. The device 3 has an opening 4 to allow the neck 5 of the bottle 1 to protrude. This allows the bottle 1 to stand upright with the neck 5 of the bottle down, and the cap 2 just at the level of the soil or compost.

8 The device 3 has legs 6 to penetrate the soil or compost, holding the bottle 1 upright, and in the correct place to allow the free flow of water.

8 The tops of the legs 7 are held firmly inside the bottle holder 3 to enable the complete device FIGURE 1 to be pushed firmly into the soil or compost.

8 At the uppermost surface of the bottle 1 when it is inverted, is an additional opening that may be created in larger containers with a cap to close once the bottle 1 has been filled with water. This would facilitate filling the bottle without having to lift a heavy weight.

FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the inverted bottle shaped water container 1, with the cap 2 attached. This container 1 can vary in size to suit the place to be watered. It can also be made of a material suitable to the particular circumstances of use. The materials used may be for example plastic for domestic use, and unbreakable glass for industrial or professional horticultural use. The bottle 1 is filled with fresh water from a hosepipe, or a tap. Where the container is very large, an additional opening with a rubber closure may be fitted at the top surface of the bottle 1 when it is inverted shown as 8.

FIGURE 3 shows a side view of the holder 3 with an opening 4 for the bottle 1 to protrude downwards, allowing the cap 2 of the bottle 1 to be just in contact with the soil or compost. The device has legs 6 that are pushed into the soil or compost, and are strong enough to hold the weight of the bottle 1 when it is filled with water.

FIGURE 4 shows an example of the caps 2 of the bottle containers which can have different arrays of holes to suit the particular situation and rate of watering required giving the user a range of options.

Once the device has been put into place, the water gradually flows into the soil or compost. The flow of water is regulated by the outside air pressure. As the water trickles out of the bottle, a partial vacuum is created inside the bottle, and there comes a point where the flow of water stops, and air enters the botde, causing bubbles to float upwards inside the bottle. This releases the pressure created by the vacuum, and so more water flows out again. This allows water to flow at a steady rate into the soil or compost. If a situation occurs where the soil becomes water logged, the flow of water stops. This is using the outside air pressure to hold up a column of water until such a time as the water subsides and air is able to be introduced into the bottle again. The flow of water would then continue until the supply runs out.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A watering device including a holder with legs that can be pushed into the soil or compost to the correct position to allow a bottle shaped water container that fits inside the holder to just touch the surface of the soil or compost.
2. A watering device as claimed in Claim 1 where the cap of the bottle can have different arrays of holes to enable the water to flow at different rates, giving more control to the operator.
3. A watering device as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 where the bottle and holder can be made of plastic, or glass, or unbreakable materials or metal, suitable to be able to hold the weight of water without falling over, or of a combination of these materials.
4. A watering device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 of varying sizes that can be used for domestic use, and also industrial or horticultural use.
5. A watering device as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 that can be used to deliver water, or any type of liquid, including water soluble fertiliser to a specific area by gravity using air pressure to control the flow.
6. A watering device as claimed in any preceding claim that can have an opening in the top surface of the bottle shaped container, with a replaceable rubber bung, or cap, to enable the container to be filled from above while in situ.
7. A watering device substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.