GB2587380A

GB2587380A - Stackable Watering Can

Info

Publication number: GB2587380A
Application number: GB1913859.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Higgins Patrick; Ferris Ian; Phelan Phillip
Original assignee: Bluumbox Ltd; Brunel University
Current assignee: Bluumbox Ltd; Brunel University
Priority date: 2019-09-26
Filing date: 2019-09-26
Publication date: 2021-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-26
Also published as: GB2587380B; GB201913859D0

Abstract

A vessel 101 is arranged to form part of a stack of vessels for collecting and storing water, wherein the vessel has an inlet and an overflow outlet, the overflow outlet is arranged so that, the vessel fills to a predetermined level before water overflows into the next vessel in the stack. The overflow outlet can be adjustable so that the fill level can be selected. The vessel maybe a watering can having a spout for pouring water. The inlet may have an inlet conduit (302 – Fig 3) and the outlet an outlet conduit (301) which may be arranged to co-operate with each other such that the conduits may be tubular, overlap and rotate, one inside the other. The conduits may have apertures (303, 304a, b, c) so that when aligned they provide a path for water to flow out of the vessel. A stack of vessels and a method of collecting rainwater using a stack of vessels is also claimed.

Description

STACKABLE WATERING CAN

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the collection of rain water for domestic use, and particularly addresses the need for ease of distribution of the collected water.

Description of Related Art

Widespread installation of water butts has become commonplace. Their use however may be less commonplace due to the inconvenience of distributing their contents. They are designed to collect rain water from adjacent roofs, to be used mainly for gardening purposes. They suffer from the major defect that if they are large enough to collect from 100 to 220 litres of water, they cannot easily be moved.

To overcome the distribution problem a tap can be fitted at the lower end of the butt and the butt raised to a height sufficient for a 10 litre watering can or bucket to be placed below the tap and filled. The filling takes time and the time gets longer as the water pressure falls each time water is drawn from the butt.

As the watering can or bucket must be carried to wherever the water is required, the general limit on size of watering cans is about 10 litres.

Another method is to fit a hosepipe directly to the butt tap but again, as the water is used, the pressure falls and the stream of water diminishes. Though the butt could be raised so that the pressure at the hosepipe remains high, the butt is then difficult to maintain and fixing the heavy butt safely becomes a concern.

Electric pumps can be used to empty the butt more easily into a hosepipe or watering can but the technology adds to the expense and a power source is required to be at hand. The cost and the energy used will be greater than if a hosepipe connected to the main water supply is used. Charges for the use of hosepipes at certain times may reverse this cost assessment, but not the energy assessment.

Wheels have been fitted to large watering butts to alleviate the problem of transferring the water from butt to final destination in larger quantities. This is an additional expense making it less suited for domestic watering cans.

As a result, even where a butt has been installed, it is easier to use a hose connected to the main water supply and accept the need to unbundle and re-bundle the hose every time even a small amount of water is required.

With the conventional butt, frequently only a portion of the water in the butt is used and much of the collected water overflows and is wasted. The potential environmental advantage and cost advantage of using the rainwater is thereby minimised.

It is an object of the invention to overcome these problems by making it convenient to collect the free water and carry it to the point of use without any transfer, by providing a means to not only collect and store a useful amount of rain water but in addition to increase the rate and convenience of manually distributing all the collected water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, there is provided a vessel arranged to form part of a stack of vessels for collecting and storing water, wherein the vessel has an inlet and an overflow outlet, where the overflow outlet is arranged so that, when filling, the vessel fills to a predetermined level before water overflows into the next vessel in the stack.

The overflow outlet may be adjustable so that the fill level can be selected by a user.

The vessel may be a watering can having a spout for pouring collected water s out of the vessel.

The vessel may have an enclosed body including an upper surface, a lower surface and sides, wherein the upper surface has an inlet aperture for filling the vessel and the lower surface has an aperture for the overflow outlet.

The overflow outlet may include an outlet conduit running from the aperture in the lower surface of the body of the vessel to a pre-determined distance from the lower surface.

The inlet aperture may have an inlet conduit. The inlet conduit may have a closure at a distance from the upper surface and perforations before the closure to direct water from the interior of the inlet conduit to its exterior.

The apertures in the upper surface and the lower surface of the body may be aligned. The inlet conduit may be arranged to cooperate with the outlet conduit.

The inlet conduit and outlet conduits may be tubular and of dimensions such that they overlap each other and are a close fit so that one may rotate within the other. The inlet conduit and the outlet conduit may have apertures such that when the apertures are aligned they provide a path for water to flow out of the vessel.

The aperture of one of the conduits is an axial slot and the other conduit includes a series of spaced apertures such that when one of the apertures is aligned with the slot of the other conduit the other apertures are not exposed to the slot. The series of apertures may be spaced radially and axially so that twisting the inlet conduit relative to the outlet conduit selects the aperture aligned with the slot.

The upper and lower surfaces of the vessel include features for engaging with a stack of similar vessels. A handle may be provided on the vessel that includes features for locking a similar vessel placed on top to the vessel.

S

In a further embodiment, a stack of vessels as described above is provided. The stack of vessels may include a base having a larger capacity for holding water than a vessel wherein overflow from the lowest vessel in the stack is arranged to fill the base. The base may include wheels for moving the stack.

In a further embodiment, a method of collecting rainwater comprises the steps of making a stack of vessels as described above and arranging for water to flow into the inlet of the top vessel.

is BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a watering can in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2a shows a stack of watering cans in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2b shows a cross section of the stack of Figure 2a.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of an overflow regulator in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a stack of watering cans in use.

Figure 5a shows a stack of watering cans on an adapted water butt.

Figure 5b shows a stack of watering cans where the butt is on wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In an embodiment of the present invention, a vessel is provided for collecting water, where the vessel can form part of a stack, so that each can in the stack is filled sequentially from a single rainwater source such as a household downpipe. In the description that follows, the vessel described is a watering can, but it may be a container without the spout of a watering can.

The rainwater is collected in several, separate but connected and typically 10 litre containers, each holding only that amount of water that can be readily carried. Each 'stack' can typically consist of from 1 to 6 'containers' stacked one upon the other.

Rainwater, accumulated from a house, bungalow, greenhouse or garage roof or similar area is fed by downpipe to the top container. When that container is full the water overflows internally to the container vertically below. The same action is repeated for each container until the bottom container is also full.

The overflow from that container is directed, via a special base unit, to a prepared drain, to the ground or elsewhere at ground level.

With this invention, overflow to the final waste point does not occur until all the containers in the stack are full The top container can at any time be removed from the stack and used as a normal watering can, i.e. carried to the point where the water is to be used. When that container is removed the next container becomes the top container 20 and is removed in turn from the stack and used as a normal watering can.

When an empty container is reached (or the bottom container has been emptied) the stack is reformed ready to be refilled by the next shower of rain. There is no need to pay heed to the unused capacity of any container as they will all be refilled automatically from the highest (first) to the lowest (last) by the next shower or downpour. A latch may be provided on a wall near the stack to stabilise the stack.

The level at which any container overflows to the next lower container can be altered by a simple adjustment within the container so that each container can be adjusted to typically hold between 5 and 10 litres of water -6 to 12 Kilograms in weight.

Empty containers can be set aside until the stack is reformed. Some of the containers may be empty or partially empty when the stack is reformed but it is not important that they be replaced in any order.

At any time an empty container can be replaced above other containers. The top container will always be refilled as soon as rainwater is available, irrespective of the water held in the lower containers. The user can therefore be sure that, after a shower, the top container is the one to use next.

As an example, if the rain is collected from a 10 square metre roof, a 5 mm shower of rain will comfortably fill a 4 container stack.

In an embodiment, and as shown in Figure 1, a watering can suitable for forming part of a stack comprises a body 101, a spout 102, a carrying handle 103 and an overflow regulator 104.

Typical dimensions for the watering can are 25cms wide x 18cms deep x 30 cms high with a maximum water level of 22.5 cms. When 'stacked' each container would 'overlap' the one below by 5 cms so that the total height for a 6 container 'stack' would be about 155 cms.

Features are provided in the body of the watering can to allow it to be included in a vertical stack of other similar watering cans, including upper sloping faces 105a, 105b and lower sloping faces 106a, 106b. Further features may be provided to lock the watering cans together such as opposing notches 107 on the lower edge of the body 101 that can received protruding features on the top of the lower watering can. This protruding feature may be provided on the hinge of the handle of the watering can so that moving the handle of the lower watering can locks and unlocks the upper watering can from the stack.

A stack of watering cans is shown in Figure 2a and 2b.

The body 101 of the watering can is enclosed and has a top surface with an aperture and a lower surface with an aperture. The apertures are aligned and arranged for the overflow regulator 104 to fit between them. When stacked, the overflow regulators of consecutive watering cans are aligned. Water entering the overflow regulator of the top watering can will fill the top watering can until the water reaches a predetermined level and then cascade into the overflow regulator of the next watering can in the stack.

An overflow regulator is shown in more detail in Figure 3. The regulator lo comprises two elements; a cylindrical outer sleeve 301 and a cylindrical inner sleeve 302, arranged so that the inner sleeve 302 is a close sliding fit within the outer sleeve 301. Each component has a lower end "V and an upper end "U" in relation to its orientation when in use, i.e. the lower end is when the watering can is in a stack ready to be filled and the lower end is the end to which water will fall towards under gravity. The outer sleeve 301 has a vertical slot 303 that provides a passage between its exterior and interior. The slot may be provided in the form of an insert, as shown. The inner sleeve has a series of orifices 304a, b, c that are spaced radially and axially apart from each other and each provide a passage between the exterior and interior of the inner sleeve 302. The location of the orifices 304a, b, c on the inner sleeve 302 is such that, when the overflow regulator 104 is assembled, any one of the orifices 304a, b, c may be aligned with the slot 303 in the outer sleeve 301 by twisting the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve and thus provide a route for water to pass from the exterior to the interior of the overflow regulator. The distance "d" between the lower end of the outer sleeve and the lower part of each orifice 304a, b or c determines the height that the water in the body of the watering can is able to reach before it overflows out of the regulator. Twisting the inner sleeve in relation to the outer sleeve therefore provides the adjustable setting for how much water is stored in each watering can.

By twisting the inner sleeve in relation to the outer sleeve so that no orifices of the inner sleeve are aligned with the slot of the outer sleeve, no water will be able to leave the watering can via its underside, which is desirable when carrying the watering can to stop water from spilling out.

The upper end of the inner sleeve 302 of the overflow regulator is blocked at a 5 distance below the upper end by an integral plate to form a cup arrangement at the upper end of the inner sleeve. The upper end of the inner sleeve is an inlet. The sides of the upper end of the inner sleeve 302 have vertical slots forming a sieve 306. Water entering the overflow regulator is prevented from flowing directly through the inner sleeve 302 and instead flows outwards 10 through the sieve 306 and cascades down the outside of the inner and outer sleeves to fill the watering can. When the water level in the can reaches the aligned slot of the outer sleeve and orifice of the inner sleeve it overflows and cascades down the inside of the outer sleeve. The lower end of the outside sleeve is the outlet.

The lower end of the outer sleeve 301 of the overflow regulator has a cap 307 with an internal thread. The lower aperture of the body of the watering can has a corresponding external thread, allowing the overflow regulator to be firmly fastened into the watering can but also to be removed for cleaning and servicing.

The upper end of the inner sleeve 302 of the overflow regulator has a cap 308 that is unthreaded. The upper aperture of the body of the watering can has a raised lip that fits under the cap 308, allowing the cap 308 of the inner sleeve 302 to twist. Stops and markings may be provided on the cap 308 of the inner sleeve to assist the use in selecting the desired fill level.

Gaskets may be provided to stop leakage Figure 2b shows the relationship between overflow regulators of the consecutive watering cans when stacked. The outlet of upper can 203 is aligned with the inlet of the middle can 202. The outlet of the middle can is aligned with the inlet of the lower can 201.

Figure 4 shows a stack being filled by hose 402 coming from a diverter 401 attached to a rainwater downpipe. The bottom of the stack is drained by a second hose 403 into a drain.

Figure 5a shows a stack of cans that drain into a butt 501. Figure 5b shows a stack of cans that drain into a butt 502 on wheels for ease of transport.

When the stack is filled with rainwater, each container will hold up to 10 litres of water, weighing about 12Kg including the weight of the container. Thus a complete stack can hold up to 60 litres of water. The overflow regulator in each watering can is arranged to supply water to the container immediately below as soon as the container is full.

If more water storage is required, a second and third stack can be mounted in 15 front of the first stack. When the containers from the front stack have been emptied the second stack is accessible and in turn the third stack. The total storage can thus be up to 180 litres.

The limits to the stack height are the physical size and strength of the user and the weight that can be supported by the lowest container.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vessel arranged to form part of a stack of vessels for collecting and storing water, wherein the vessel has an inlet and an overflow outlet, where the overflow outlet is arranged so that, when filling, the vessel fills to a predetermined level before water overflows into the next vessel in the stack.
2. The watering can of claim 1, wherein the overflow outlet is adjustable so that the fill level can be selected by a user.
3. The vessel of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the vessel is a watering can having a spout for pouring collected water.
4. The vessel of any preceding claim, having an enclosed body including an upper surface, a lower surface and sides, wherein the upper surface has an inlet aperture for filling the vessel and the lower surface has an aperture for the overflow outlet.
5. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the overflow outlet includes an outlet conduit running from the aperture in the lower surface of the body of the vessel to a pre-determined distance from the lower surface.
6. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the inlet aperture has an inlet conduit.
7. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the inlet conduit has a closure at a distance from the upper surface and perforations before the closure to direct water from the interior of the inlet conduit to its exterior.
8. The vessel of claim 7, wherein the apertures in the upper surface and the lower surface of the body are aligned.
9. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the inlet conduit is arranged to cooperate with the outlet conduit
10. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the inlet conduit and outlet conduits are tubular and of dimensions such that they overlap each other and are a close fit so that one may rotate within the other.
11. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit have apertures such that when the apertures are aligned they provide a path for water to flow out of the vessel.
12. The vessel of claim 11, wherein the aperture of one of the conduits is an axial slot and the other conduit includes a series of spaced apertures such that when one of the apertures is aligned with the slot of the other conduit the other apertures are not exposed to the slot.
13. The vessel of claim 12, wherein the series of apertures are spaced radially and axially so that twisting the inlet conduit relative to the outlet conduit selects the aperture aligned with the slot.
14. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the vessel include features for engaging with a stack of similar vessels
15. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein a handle is provided on the vessel that includes features for locking a similar vessel placed on top to the vessel
16. A stack of vessels of the type claimed in claims 1 to 15.
17. The stack of vessels of claim 16, including a base having a larger capacity than a vessel for holding water, wherein the overflow from the lowest vessel in the stack is arranged to fill the base.
18. The stack of vessels of claim 17, wherein the stack includes wheels for moving the stack.
19. A method of collecting rainwater comprising the steps of making a stack of vessels of the type claimed in claims 1 to 15 and arranging for water to flow into the inlet of the top vessel.