GB2393889A

GB2393889A - Liquid Supplying Device for Plants

Info

Publication number: GB2393889A
Application number: GB0315554A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Gregg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-03
Filing date: 2003-07-03
Publication date: 2004-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-03
Also published as: GB0315554D0; GB2393889B

Abstract

A device for fitting to a plant pot 10 and supplying liquid to a plant 11 in the container, comprising a reservoir 5 with liquid intake means and means to transmit liquid to a plant. The reservoir may have a lid 14, and the liquid transmitting means may be a wick 8. The liquid may be transmitted to the reservoir by a spout 1 which extends either through a hole in a side of the container or beyond the surface of growing medium held in the container. The reservoir may be placed at the bottom of the container, and may either be raised above the base of the container on spacers 7 or may have channels to allow drainage. Alternatively the device may surround the container. Also claimed is a kit of parts comprising the device.

Description

n A DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID TO A PLANT

Field of the invention

The invention relates to devices which are for supplying liquid to a plant rooted into the soil of a pot, and which are designed for retrofitting, either into the kind of pot in whose wall a hole can relatively easily be made, or into more conventional (ea. ceramic) pots.

20 Background to the Invention

Considerable research and development 1las been carried out over the years to develop systems to control the watering of plants. In large gardens for example, an underground complex canalization system is sometimes utilised to channel excess rain water into a 5 reservoir. A complex network of water jets is located at regular intervals across the garden which project a certain quantity of water through the air to rain onto a particular section of the garden. Such systems provide the necessary regular watering of the garden with minimal human work, but their complexity and scale are drawbacks for the home user. Also known is the idea of perforating a length of hosepipe so that, when water Bows through the pipe and the pipe is coiled along the ground to run amongst a succession of shrubs, a series of sprays then waters the ground around the shrubs.

This however requires an attendant to monitor the watering effectiveness as well as to turn the flow on and off.

There have been proposals for automating the watering of plant pots. One example of 5 such a proposal can be found in US patent 6,345,470 which shows a housing containing a pump used for directing water into a plant held in the pot. The operation of the pump is controlled by suitable control means which initiate watering cycles according to pre selected programmes which depend on the frequency of watering and quantity of water required by a given plant.

Again this is a relatively costly system, not likely to appeal to the domestic purchaser.

A plant pot integrating a wick for feeding a plant has been the object of a prior proposal in the market place. This system requires the customer to purchase the plant pot with its 5 watering system integral to the plant pot. There are others, with similar drawbacks in terms of cost, complexity, maintenance and/or effectiveness.

A particular objective of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of this prior proposal by presenting a device which may be retrofitted in a large variety of plant pots 20 and which would be equally suited for use in interior or exterior conditions.

Another objective of this invention is to present a device whose costs of manufacturing and price of sale are relatively low compared to the known automated systems and integral plant pot systems described above.

It is also an aim of this invention to render the system inobtrusive and versatile, particularly in terms of being retrofitted to conventional pots.

Summary of the Invention

In its broadest independent aspect, the invention provides a device for retro-fitting to a plant pot and supplying liquid to its plant; the device comprising a preferably ridded container reservoir with liquid intake means, such as a spout, extending in use therefrom

to facilitate the supply of liquid to the reservoir; the device further comprising liquid transmitting means such as a wick or wicks adapted to transmit liquid from the reservoir to the plant by capillary action, in addition to the soil into which the plant is planted, when the reservoir and its liquid transmitting means are placed in the pot, and either a hole is 5 formed through the wall to allow the spout to fill the container from outside the pot, or the spout extends to our beyond the surface of the compost or other growing medium which surrounds the plant.

This configuration permits particularly the plant to draw on demand the amount required 10 for it to flourish. It will also enable a more precise location of liquid supply to be achieved. By doing so, the plant may be nourished over an extended period of time without requiring additional watering. It achieves the advantages of the prior art

automated water supply systems whilst doing away with complex and expensive components such as pumps and electronic control systems.

The invention includes a kit of parts comprising a retro-fitting device in accordance with the invention's broadest aspect, stacked and/or packaged for point-of-sale display andlor pre-point-of-sale storage.

20 This configuration would present the product in a particularly compact form for retail in D.l.Y (Do-it-yourself) enthusiast outlets, for example as a shrink-wrapped 'flat-pack'.

Brief Description of the Drawings

25 Figure l illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a plant pot with a device embodying the invention fitted therein.

Figure 2 presents, in perspective view, the components of the device.

so Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the invention Figure 4 shows a plant pot according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows, in schematic cross-sectional view, a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Figures

5 Figure I illustrates a plant pot generally referenced 10 in which a plailt 11 with roots 12 is planted in compost 9. Located in a lower region of the pot, there is provided a reservoir 5 filled as illustrated with a liquid. The reservoir comprises mainly two portions: a circular in cross-section cylinder 13 and a lid 14 which may be either permanently sealed to the cylinder or removable therefrom in order to enable access to the interior of the reservoir lo for cleaning purposes.

Extending essentially radially outwards from the reservoir there are provided liquid intake means which are fonned from a flexible pipe 2, one extremity of which is located within the reservoir and traverses the reservoir wall through an aperture (not illustrated for clarity 15 in the figure) and the other extremity adjoining a filling spout 1 which itself traverses the pot's outer wall.

Appropriate sealing means are provided at the junctions between either the filling spout and the flexible pipe or the junction between the flexible pipe and the reservoir. These 20 sealing means may take the form of retaining nabber 'O' rings or other suitable means.

About the periphery of the reservoir between the reservoir and the pot's outer wall there is provided gravel or another free-draining material as appropriate. This allows particularly excess rain water to filter down through the compost 9 through the gravel and out through 25 drainage holes 6 located on the ground engaging face of the pot. In order to allow the flow of excess water out of the drainage holes spacers 7 are provided between the reservoir and the ground engaging face of the pot.

A number of wicks 8 are provided which extend from the water portion of the reservoir so into precise locations in the vicinity of roots 12. These wicks may be selected by the person skilled in the art from known alternatives. Advantageously, these wicks may be rot resistant, for example polyurethane based or formed from other synthetic materials which would have an enhanced longevity as compared with biodegradable wicks which

may rapidly rot in this application. In this configuration the roots 12 will, when necessary, draw the liquid primarily via the wicks which transmit water from the reservoir through a capillary action.

5 Figure 2 illustrates the components of the plant feeding device shown in Figure 1. The group of components generally referenced 15 constitute an example of the components supplied as part of a kit for retrofitting to plant pots. All that would be required to fit these components into a standard plastic or wooden pot would be to drill a hole through the wall of the pot ill order to fit filling spout 1. The flexible pipe 2 which has already lo been described in Figure 1 may terminate at its upper extremity in a threaded portion 16 for engaging a corresponding threaded portion 17 of the filling spout 1.

The arrangement of lid 14 with four wicks 8 located to each cover essentially a quarter portion of the feeding requirements of the plant.

The cylindrical reservoir 5 is destined to releasably engage lid 14 about its rim 18 and flexible pipe 2 at its aperture 19 with the aid of O rings 3.

Figure 3 presents a plant pot generally referenced 38 comprising a reservoir 39 with a So number of wicks such as that referenced 40. The device of this particular embodiment incorporates a flexible pipe 41 extending from reservoir 39 through compost area generally referenced 42 and out into the atmosphere. The flexible pipe 41 terminates at its upper region by a closure means 43 of known kind.

z5 Figure 4 illustrates a further plant pot generally referenced 20 incorporating a sufficiently hollow wall 21 for being filled with plant feeding liquid 22. A liquid intake means 23 is provided at an upper section of pot 20. A threaded lid (not illustrated in the figure) may be incorporated as a closure means to prevent any liquid escaping the pot when handling.

so A number of wicks 24 engage the inner lower region of hollow wall 21 and are arranged sufficiently in contact with the liquid to draw it through capillary action towards the roots of a plant (the plant and its roots are not illustrated in this figure for clarity). In order to

prevent any undue leakage of liquid from the wall 21 appropriate sealing means may be provided between the wicks and the wall 21 such as that illustrated and referenced 25.

Figure 5 illustrates a plant pot 26 with a reservoir 27 located within an outer wall 28 of 5 the pot 26. Reservoir 27 is equipped with a number of channels such as that referenced 29 which allow the passage of excess water from the compost area of the plant pot through the reservoir and out of the pot through drainage holes 30. In this configuration, there is no need to bypass the reservoir for these purposes about the periphery of the reservoir. It is therefore possible in this configuration to fit the reservoir snugly within the wall 28.

The figure also illustrates a retractable filling spout 31 which comprises three interlocking and radially reducing in diameter cylinder portions 32, 33 and 34 which in a telescopic action may be retracted within the dimensions of the plant pot 26.

t5 The wicks of this figure have also been modified for added practicality. Wicks such as that illustrated at 35 comprise a relatively rigid supporting line 36 which may support the wicks in position when burying the wicks in soil but allows the wicks to be sufficiently flexible to allow an operator to set their shape prior to burying. An example of shape which was not readily achievable by employing standard wicks is illustrated by wick 37.

Whilst the device has been described as a retro-fit, it could be sold new with the pot, and its potential sales outlets include DIY centres, garden centres, florists' shops, supermarkets, garage forecourts, et al. In any arrangement embodying the invention, the pipe (41 in Figure 3) could incorporate a dipstick, removable to fill the reservoir initially, but thereafter acting as a ready indicator of liquid remaining.

Gauze or mesh could be provided to stop insects and the like from entering the reservoir and/or clogging the pipe or the wicks.

Claims

r CLAIMS

1. A device for retro-fitting to a plant pot and supplying liquid to its plant; the device comprising a preferably ridded container reservoir with liquid intake means, such as a 5 spout, extending in use therefrom to facilitate the supply of liquid to the reservoir; the device further comprising liquid transmitting means such as a wick or wicks adapted to transmit liquid from the reservoir to the plant by capillary action, in addition to the soil into which the plant is planted, when the reservoir and its liquid transmitting means are placed in the pot, and either a hole is formed through the wall to allow the spout to fill the 10 container from outside the pot, or the spout extends to or beyond the surface of the compost or other growing medium which surrounds the plant.

2. A kit of parts comprising a retro-fitting device according to claim I stacked and/or packaged for point-of-sale display and/or pre-point-ofsale storage.

3. A device or a kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or drawings.

, I

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows - CLAIMS:

1. A device for retro-fitting to a plant pot and supplying liquid to its plant; the device comprising a reservoir with liquid intake means extending in use therefrom to facilitate 5 the supply of liquid to the reservoir, and a wick or wicks adapted to transmit liquid from the reservoir to the plant by capillary action, in addition to the soil into which the plant is planted, when the reservoir and its liquid are placed in the pot; characterized by the features: 10 a) that the reservoir is a ridded container which stands inside, and on the bottom of, the pot and can be removed as a unit from the pot when not in use; b) that the liquid intake means is a flexible spout which extends, in use, up to or beyond the surface of the compost or other growing medium which surrounds 15 the plant; and c) that there are a plurality of wicks each extending, in use, upwardly away from the reservoir into and through the plant-surrounding medium and towards the surface thereof.

2. A device according to Claim 1 and in which the wicks each have a generally flat

profile. 3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and in which one at least of the wicks 25 includes a relatively rigid supporting section which supports the wicks in position when burying them in the plant- surrounding medium but allows them to be sufficiently flexible to allow the operator to set their shape prior to burying.

4. A device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in 30 Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.