GB2541945A

GB2541945A - Watering Device

Info

Publication number: GB2541945A
Application number: GB1515816.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Dewar James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-09-07
Filing date: 2015-09-07
Publication date: 2017-03-08
Also published as: GB201515816D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a device 1 and method for watering a plant. The device comprises a funnel mouth 2 and a dispensing spout 3 at least 75cm long which is substantially able to support its own weight while being deformable. The spout may be extendible and may comprise one or more corrugated sections 6, 7. The invention is particularly applicable to watering Christmas trees and similar plants.

Description

Watering Device

The invention relates to a plant watering device, more particularly to a device for watering plants in situations where the watering site (e.g. pot or stand) is difficult to access. Christmas trees are a principal example .

It is well known that for plants to grow they need water. Similarly, for cut or uprooted flowers and other plants, e.g. Christmas trees, to remain fresher and aesthetically (and aromatically) more pleasing for longer, they also require the provision of water.

Watering of plants and flowers may be conducted in various ways. For outside plants a garden hose or sprinkler is often used, for example. Another option is to use a watering can. Inside, for example for a vase of flowers, water may be dispensed directly into a vase from a tap. Other approaches for inside plants may include decanting water into a pot or vase from a cup or glass, or using a specialised device with a spout extending from a reservoir (e.g. an 'indoor' watering can) .

For plants where access to the watering site is restricted or inhibited, for example due to foliage density and/or the presence of thorns/needles, however, the current options are often not practical. Spouts may still be too short or cumbersome and manoeuvrability and/or access may be limited.

It would therefore be beneficial to have a more practical tool for watering various plants.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a plant watering utensil comprising a funnel mouth and a spout for dispensing fluid from the funnel mouth, wherein the spout is 75cm or greater in length and is substantially able to support its own weight but is deformable.

To water a plant, for example a Christmas tree, the utensil spout can then be guided through plant foliage and directed towards the base from above, water can then be supplied through the funnel mouth. The relatively rigid, not naturally foldable, nature of the spout (such that the spout projects upwards if the utensil is held upside down by the funnel mouth) facilitates the positioning of the utensil since the spout can be quite forcefully propelled through plant foliage. Further, the deformable (bendable) nature of the spout means that it can nevertheless be compressed without breaking and jeopardising function, so that there can be a degree of flexibility when it comes to finding a pathway to the base. In this way a user can attend to watering from a convenient height such that he/she does not need to reach through and negotiate around branches and spines, and potentially other obstacles, at the base. For example, for a Christmas tree the greatest density of branches tends to be near the base and there is often a collection of gifts at the bottom of the tree. Further, when used with a Christmas tree the most convenient approach would likely be to have the funnel mouth resting on branches and to keep the utensil in situ as long as the Christmas tree is on display. Accordingly, by using the invention, watering a plant can be much easier and more comfortable for the operator and the likelihood of spillage is significantly reduced.

The funnel mouth may conveniently have similar material characteristics (e.g. with regard to being deformable) to those of the spout. It will be apparent to a skilled person that the shape of the funnel (e.g. whether it has rounded or straight sides) is not relevant.

Further, the spout could egually be various shapes, for example it could be circular/oval/square/triangular etc. in cross-section.

The funnel mouth and spout may form an integral piece or may be detachable. Integrated examples may be more effective by reducing the potential for water leaking around the join and also mitigating against possible detachment of the funnel and spout during installation or usage (and the undesirable spillage which could then ensue).

The spout and/or funnel may be made from, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane and/or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Preferably, the spout and/or funnel is/are made from polypropylene .

The deformable nature of the spout may also enable convenient positioning of the tip in a plant pot/stand. For example, where a pot fits relatively snugly the tip may be squeezed into the gap at the edge of the pot.

In addition to the spout's deformable/bendable quality, the spout tip may be narrower in (a) certain dimension(s) than the spout adjacent to the funnel mouth. This could be achieved in multiple ways. For example, the spout tip could be oval and thus may have a reduced width in comparison to a circular spout section closer to the funnel mouth. Alternatively, the whole perimeter of the spout could simply taper inwards (e.g. frusto-conically) to create a narrower opening. Another option may be for a portion of the spout perimeter to be of reduced length (so that the tip does not have a complete perimeter), with or without the remaining portion of the perimeter tapering inwards. A narrower spout tip may assist the appropriate positioning of the utensil end in the plant pot. Christmas tree stands, for example, often fit a tree trunk relatively snugly, and so a narrower tip may be significantly easier to fit in the stand.

Optionally the cross-sectional area of the spout lumen adjacent to the funnel mouth is 1cm2. Optionally the cross-sectional area of the spout lumen at its tip is 0.7 5 cm2.

Conveniently the spout length is 85cm or greater, more conveniently it is 100cm or greater, optionally 125cm or greater. Utensils with longer spouts may be easier to operate.

The spout may be extendible.

The funnel mouth may conveniently hold a volume of at least 50cm3.

The funnel mouth volume may be restricted to a maximum of 100cm3. In this way, any risk of the funnel tipping over (when filled) and spilling water, and potentially even breaking the spout, is mitigated.

The spout may comprise one or more corrugated portions. A corrugated portion may be any length up to the length of the spout. Conveniently, a corrugated portion may be 3cm to 6cm in length. Preferably, a corrugated portion may be 5cm in length.

In this way, by providing what may be described as (a) concertina-type hinge(s), a part or parts of the spout can be bent around branches in order to facilitate the positioning of the watering device.

There may be a corrugated portion starting between 15 and 25cm from the tip and/or starting between 3 and 6cm from the funnel mouth. The spout may preferably comprise a corrugated portion 20cm from the tip and/or 3cm from the funnel mouth. It will be understood that other locations of corrugated portions are possible and there could be a greater number of corrugated portions.

Conveniently the spout comprises a corrugated portion extending between 3 and 8cm from the funnel mouth. In this way the funnel mouth may be more easily orientated upwards, and the likelihood of spillage reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of watering a plant, the method comprising dispensing water through a utensil comprising a funnel mouth and spout for dispensing fluid from the funnel mouth, wherein the spout is 75cm or greater in length and is substantially able to support its own weight but is deformable. It will be apparent that the method of the invention may be conducted using any of the products disclosed herein.

Optionally the plant is a Christmas tree. Due to dense branches and spines and their growth patterns (as well as the consideration that there may be gifts at the base) Christmas trees can be particularly awkward to water, thus the method may be of particular use.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit, the kit comprising a watering utensil as disclosed herein and securing means, such as a cable tie, twist tie, elastic band, pipe cleaner or piece of wool, string or tinsel. The securing means can be used to secure the utensil to a plant, e.g. around a branch, stem or trunk. In this way the utensil may be more reliably secured in situ and watering may thereby be conducted more quickly and easily. For example, in cases where there is reduced density of foliage etc. at the appropriate height for the funnel mouth to rest, it may be desirable to further secure the watering device. Also, securing means could help ensure that the utensil does not sit too close to a heat source (e.g. decorative lights).

Examples of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows a utensil according to the present invention .

Figure 2 indicates how a utensil according to the present invention may be used to water a Christmas tree .

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention.

Turning to Figure 1, the watering utensil 1 comprises a funnel mouth 2 which tapers to a spout 3, which is 75cm or greater in length. The end of the spout narrows towards its tip 4 (the circle and oval annotations indicate the cross-sectional shape of the spout at the relevant locations). The length of the spout means that the utensil can be hand-held by an operator and directed downward through foliage, which may optionally involve keeping close to the principal stem/trunk of the plant or directing the utensil through foliage at an angle, e.g. from the periphery of the plant down towards its pot and the base of the plant. The relative rigidity of the spout means that it can be used to displace branches etc. Figure 2 illustrates how the device may be positioned in a Christmas tree and also how a narrowing tip 4 may facilitate its siting in the Christmas tree stand 5. Accordingly, water can be applied to a plant without the operator having to crouch near to ground level and find a passage laterally through foliage etc. To water a plant a user could decant fluid into the funnel mouth from a jug, for example.

Turning to Figure 3, another embodiment of the invention is indicated. In this embodiment the spout of the watering utensil has two corrugated portions 6 and 7. Corrugated portion 6 starts 20cm from the spout tip and corrugated portion 7 starts 3cm from the funnel mouth (distances in the Figure not being to scale). Annotations in Figure 3 indicate how the corrugated portions may bend. As may be understood with reference to Figure 2, the corrugated portion 7 may enable the funnel mouth to be orientated upwards in situations, for example, where the spout may be at an angle closer to the horizontal when exiting plant foliage (e.g. due to an obstacle).

The invention therefore enables a much more user friendly method of watering plants, and in particular Christmas trees.

Once a convenient location for the utensil has been determined a user may, if appropriate, prefer to keep the utensil in situ rather than remove it and subsequently have to reinstall it through foliage when the plant is next watered. Keeping the utensil in situ would also mean that any water which dripped from the spout should fall into the plant pot rather than onto a floor/carpet etc. To retain the utensil in situ a twist tie, or similar tool, could be used to secure the utensil to a plant's branch, stem or trunk. For example, a tie could be used to support the external 'cup' of the funnel mouth and encircle a branch. If being kept in situ it may be desirable for the utensil to be sympathetically decorated. For example, for Christmas tree use a utensil could be green and/or festively decorated.

Claims

1. A plant watering utensil comprising a funnel mouth and a spout for dispensing fluid from the funnel mouth, wherein the spout is 75cm or greater in length and is substantially able to support its own weight but is deformable .

2. A plant watering utensil according to claim 1 wherein the funnel mouth and spout are integrated.

3. A plant watering utensil according to claim 1 wherein the funnel mouth and spout are detachable.

4. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the funnel mouth does not naturally bend but is deformable.

5. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the funnel mouth and/or spout is/are made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane and/or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

6. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the spout tip is narrower in dimension than the spout adjacent to the funnel mouth.

7. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the spout is 85cm or greater in length .

8. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the spout is 100cm or greater in length.

9. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the spout is 125cm or greater in length.

10. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the length of the spout is extendible .

11. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the spout comprises one or more corrugated portions.

12. A plant watering utensil according to any preceding claim wherein the spout comprises a corrugated portion starting between 15 and 25cm from the tip and/or starting between 3 and 6cm from the funnel mouth.

13. A method of watering a plant, the method comprising dispensing water through a utensil comprising a funnel mouth and a spout for dispensing fluid from the funnel mouth, wherein the spout is 75cm or greater in length and is substantially able to support its own weight but is deformable.

14. A method according to claim 13 comprising using a utensil according to any of claims 1 to 12.

15. A method according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the plant is a Christmas tree.

16. A kit comprising a utensil according to any of claims 1 to 12 and securing means for securing the utensil to a plant.

17. A kit according to claim 16 wherein the securing means is a cable tie, twist tie, elastic band, pipe cleaner, piece of string, piece of wool or piece of tinsel.

18. A utensil, method, or kit substantially as disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings .