JP2004517632A - Tube supply system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method are provided for controlled delivery of humectant moisture to plant tissue. The insertion end of the beveled feed tube is placed in the soil near the root system of the plant. One end of the insert enclosing the wetting agent is opened to expose the wetting agent, and inserted into the hollow body through the receiving end of the supply tube. Next, a cap is detachably attached to the receiving end, and the insert is confined in the hollow body of the supply tube, thereby reducing the loss of moisture due to evaporation and preventing foreign matter or insects from entering the tube. Completely depleted inserts are replaced by removing the cap, removing the empty insert, and inserting a new insert into the hollow body of the supply tube. It is also possible to inject the wetting agent directly into the supply tube, for example from a tank or a canister. The size of the insert and the surface area of the wetting agent in contact with the soil determine the amount of water supplied to the plant and the time during which water is supplied. By adding a small amount of food preservative to the wetting agent to suppress the action of bacteria, the rate of liquefaction can be further controlled.

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the provision of moist substrates to plant tissue. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling and supplying water to plants.
[0002]
2. 2. Description of the Related Art The problem of maintaining the water content of soil so that growing plants can be maintained has long been recognized. The most common method of supplying water to soil is manual or irrigation by automatic means such as sprinkler or drip irrigation. However, manual irrigation requires a great deal of time and effort. Also, automatic irrigation systems are very expensive to install and operate.
[0003]
Wetting agents have been used to solve the problems of manual and automatic irrigation systems. The humectant releases moisture to its surroundings. Such wetting agents are described, for example, by Avera in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,640, "Moisturizing Agent". Avella's wetting agents are gel analogs that have a dry feel and are half-shaped in appearance. The humectant, while being solid, can contain about 98% moisture therein.
[0004]
The water thus confined in the individual is gradually converted to liquid water when placed in natural soil where microorganisms are present. Bacteria and other microorganisms that liquefy the encapsulated water do not penetrate the interior of the gel but act on its surface. Therefore, the liquefaction rate of the wetting agent or the like by Avera can be adjusted by changing the surface area of the wetting agent that comes into contact with the soil.
[0005]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a wetting agent supply system according to the related art. The humectant 12 is contained in the carton 10. Removing the bottom 20 of the carton allows the wetting agent to be exposed. The carton is then inserted into the hole 22 in the soil 16. The humectant, which comes into contact with the soil through the bottom of the carton, is liquefied by the action of bacteria and supplies water to the root system 18 of the plant 14. As the exposed portion of the wetting agent liquefies, the next layer of hydrogel is exposed to the bacteria and drip from the bottom of the carton. When the wetting agent has completely liquefied, the empty carton is withdrawn from the soil.
[0006]
This supply system has several problems. Cartons are not suitable for use on houseplants because they look bad. Unless the carton is pulled out, it cannot be determined whether the wetting agent in the carton has completely liquefied. Furthermore, if a new supply of humectant is desired, the carton must first be removed and replaced with a new carton. At that time, there is a possibility that the soil collapses into a hole formed by the removed carton. In that case, inserting a new carton into the hole takes time and is cumbersome.
[0007]
Some systems provide a predetermined amount of water to the plant by a "cup" (not shown) containing a humectant. After opening the cup, the cup is placed upside down on the surface of the soil so that the humectant in the cup is affected by bacteria. However, this cup also looks bad. In addition, cups are not suitable for outdoor use because they are easily knocked down by wind, rain or hail. In addition, insect nests are likely to form in moist, shaded areas that can form beneath the glass.
[0008]
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and system for supplying water to plants. In addition, it is preferable that the system be capable of easily replacing the consumed wetting agent. Furthermore, a system having an appearance that is not unsightly even when used for houseplants and flower arrangements is very good.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system and method for controlling and supplying moisture from a humectant to plant tissue, such as a plant being planted or a plant cut and decorated (flower arrangement, etc.). According to the invention, the insertion end of the beveled feed tube is placed in the soil near the root system of the plant. One end of the insert enclosing the humectant is opened to expose the humectant, and inserted into the hollow body through the receiving end of the supply tube. Next, a cap is detachably attached to the receiving end, and the insert is confined in the hollow body of the supply tube, thereby suppressing loss of water due to evaporation and preventing foreign matter or insects from entering the tube. When the insert is completely depleted, remove the cap, remove the empty insert, and replace by inserting a new insert into the hollow body of the supply tube.
[0010]
The insert preferably consists of a sausage-shaped tub with a wetting agent encapsulated in a thin plastic. However, the supply tube can be configured to receive inserts of various shapes. Also, the wetting agent can be injected into the supply tube directly from, for example, a tank or canister.
[0011]
The amount of water supplied to the plant, and the time for which water is supplied, depends on the size of the insert and the surface area of the wetting agent in contact with the soil. By adding a small amount of food preservative to the wetting agent, the action of bacteria can be suppressed and the rate of liquefaction can be further controlled.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a system and method for the controlled supply of water from humectants to plant tissue. The tubular feed system according to the present invention can be used to provide water at a predetermined amount and rate, both to planted plants and to cut and decorated plants (flower arrangements, etc.). The preferred embodiment of the present invention is best suited for providing a humectant as described in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,640. However, the invention is equally applicable to the supply of other wetting agents.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a side view of a supply tube according to the present invention. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supply tube 34 is a hollow rigid tube made of a non-corrosive material such as, for example, plastic, ceramic or glass. However, as long as the supply tube has a rigidity enough to support the wetting agent insert 30, any material or combination of materials can be used. Such materials include, but are not limited to, metals, wood, rubber, and natural or synthetic fibers. The supply tube can be formed by a method such as blow molding, injection molding, or extrusion molding.
[0014]
The insertion end 28 of the supply tube is beveled toward a cusp 36 to facilitate insertion of the tube into the soil. The insertion end of the supply tube is located in the soil near the root system of the plant (not shown). According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the feed tube is pushed deep into the soil so that only a small part of the feed tube protrudes from the soil. However, in other embodiments, the feed tube may extend out of the soil, depending on various factors such as the total length of the feed tube, the depth of the plant root system, and the amount of wetting agent to feed. You can decide.
[0015]
The insert 30 containing the humectant 32 is opened at one end (not shown) to expose the humectant and is installed through the receiving end 26 in the hollow body (not shown) of the supply tube. The beveling of the feed tube increases the surface area of the humectant that is subject to soil bacterial action.
[0016]
The cap 24 is then removably attached to the receiving end and the insert is confined within the hollow body of the supply tube. A worn insert can be easily replaced by removing the cap, removing an empty insert, and installing a new insert in the hollow body of the supply tube. It is not necessary to withdraw the supply tube from the soil to replace the inserted wetting agent.
[0017]
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the insert comprises a thin plastic tubing encapsulating a wetting agent. The thin tubing can be of various lengths and diameters depending on the application. Since the liquefaction rate of the wetting agent depends on the amount of wetting agent that comes into contact with the soil, the amount of water supplied to the plant and the time for which water is supplied are determined by the size and diameter of the insert.
[0018]
The hollow body of the supply tube has a structure for receiving an insert having a predetermined length and a straight line. In a preferred embodiment, the insert has the shape of a tub resembling sausage. In one example of the preferred embodiment, the supply tube is about 7 inches long and about 2 inches in diameter, and the tub is dimensioned to fit therein. The insert may alternatively be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, including but not limited to paper, metal, metal foil, rubber, and the like.
[0019]
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the insert and the supply tube have any shape and size. For example, the shape of the supply tube is such that it can receive a carton-shaped insert. This allows the invention to be used in conventional cartons. The supply tube can improve the appearance of the carton. Furthermore, the use of the tube-type feeding system according to the invention makes it possible to easily remove the carton and to check whether its contents have completely liquefied. And if replacement is necessary, a new carton can be easily installed in the hollow body. Further, the supply tube can be configured to receive a supply cup according to the prior art.
[0020]
In a further embodiment of the invention, the wetting material is injected directly into the supply tube. For example, wetting material stored in a tank can be replenished to the supply tube manually or automatically. This embodiment is suitable for outdoor applications such as tree planting and agriculture. Such applications require a continuous supply of water. The supply tube according to the invention can be placed in the soil during or after planting the plant. Subsequently, the supply tube can be filled and replenished by injecting the wetting material directly from the storage tank into the hollow body. In places where fixed or mobile storage tanks cannot be installed, inserts containing humectants can be used to provide a controlled supply of water to the plants.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a tube-type supply system 40 according to the present invention. The supply tube 22 has the insertion end 28 disposed in the soil 46 near the root system 48 of the plant 44. In this case, the insert 30 enclosing the wetting agent 32 is inserted into the hollow body 50 of the supply tube such that the open end 42 of the insert is subjected to bacterial action on the soil. The cap 24 is then attached to the receiving end 26 and the insert is confined within the hollow body of the supply tube. In this preferred embodiment, the cap prevents water loss due to evaporation and prevents foreign matter and insects from getting into the tube.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a process of inserting an insert in the tube type feeding system according to the present invention. In the figure, one end 42 of the tub-type insert is opened or cut, exposing the wetting agent. The insert 30 is then inserted, with the cut end 42 first, into the hollow body 50 of the supply tube 22 so that the wetting agent is subject to bacterial action on the soil. Then, a cap (not shown) is attached to the receiving end 26, and the insert is confined in the hollow body of the supply tube.
[0023]
Although the present invention has been described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, modifications, changes and variations that are obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the structure, operation and details of the invention disclosed herein.
[0024]
For example, the liquefaction rate of the wetting agent can be further controlled by adding a small amount of a food preservative to the wetting agent. This preservative can suppress the activity of bacteria and extend the time until complete liquefaction. As a preservative, sodium benzoate can be added in an amount of 0.005% to 0.05% by weight based on the amount of water.
[0025]
When used for houseplants and ikebana, it is conceivable to modify or color the supply tube or cap to improve its appearance. Also, the shape of the supply tube or cap can be made inconspicuous by shaping it in a shape or color that mimics naturally occurring objects such as stems, stumps or rocks. For example, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supply tube and cap are browned to blend into the soil color. However, the colors of the supply tube and the cap in other embodiments are arbitrary.
[0026]
Further, it is possible to use the supply tube without the cap. Such uncapped tubes may be directly filled with a wetting agent or may receive an insert enclosing the wetting agent.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a wetting agent supply system according to the related art.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a supply tube according to the present invention.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a tube type supply system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing insertion of an insert in the tube type feeding system according to the present invention.

Claims (22)

A supply tube having a receiving end and an insertion end, a supply tube having a hollow body extending from the receiving end to the insertion end, and a detachably sealing the receiving end of the supply tube. Equipped with a cap of
The supply tube has a structure for placing the insertion-side end in soil near the root system of the plant,
The hollow body receives a humectant from the receiving end, and has a structure for supplying moisture of the humectant from the insertion end by contacting the humectant with the soil from the cross section of the insertion end. A supply system for supplying water to a plant tissue, comprising: The supply system according to claim 1, wherein a wetting agent is contained in the insert, the insert having dimensions sized to be inserted into the hollow body. 3. The delivery system according to claim 2, wherein the insert in which the wetting agent is encapsulated is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin plastic tubing, paper, metal, metal foil and rubber. 4. The delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the insert containing the wetting material is substantially cylindrical. The supply system according to claim 1, wherein the wetting material is injected directly into the supply tube. The supply system according to claim 1, wherein the insertion end of the supply tube has a bevel and is pointed to facilitate insertion of the supply tube into the soil. The supply system according to claim 1, wherein the supply tube is made of plastic, ceramic, glass, metal, wood, rubber, and natural or synthetic fibers. The supply system according to claim 1, wherein the supply tube is formed by a method selected from the group consisting of blow molding, injection molding, and extrusion molding. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the wetting material comprises a food preservative. The supply system according to claim 9, wherein the food preservative is sodium benzoate contained in an amount of 0.005% to 0.05% by weight of water. A supply tube in a supply system for supplying water to plant tissue,
A tube having a receiving end and a plug-in end, and further having a hollow body extending from the receiving end to the plug-in end, and a detachably sealing the receiving end of the supply tube. Equipped with a cap,
The supply tube has a structure for placing the insertion-side end in soil near the root system of the plant,
The hollow body receives a humectant from the receiving end, and has a structure for supplying moisture of the humectant from the insertion end by contacting the humectant with the soil from the cross section of the insertion end. A supply tube for supplying water to plant tissue, characterized in that the supply tube has water. 12. The supply tube according to claim 11, wherein the insertion end of the tube is beveled and pointed to facilitate insertion of the tube into the soil. The supply tube according to claim 11, wherein the tube is made of plastic, ceramic, glass, metal, wood, rubber and natural or synthetic fibers. The supply tube according to claim 11, wherein the tube is formed by a method selected from the group consisting of blow molding, injection molding and extrusion molding. Placing the insertion end of the supply tube having a hollow body extending from the receiving end to the insertion end in the soil near the root system of the plant,
Wetting material is inserted into the hollow body of the supply tube so that it comes into contact with the soil from the cross section of the insertion end of the supply tube,
A method for supplying water to plant tissue, comprising a step of removably sealing a receiving end of a supply tube with a cap. Remove the cap from the receiving end of the supply tube,
Inject additional wetting agent into the hollow body of the supply tube,
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising returning the cap to the receiving end of the supply tube. The process of inserting the wetting agent,
Insert a wetting agent into the insert,
Expose the wetting agent by opening one end of the insert,
The method according to claim 1, further comprising: installing the insert into the hollow body from the receiving end of the supply tube so that the wetting agent exposed on the opening side comes into contact with the soil from the insertion end of the supply tube. 15. The method according to 14. Remove the cap from the receiving end of the supply tube,
Take out the empty insert contained in the hollow body of the supply tube,
Install a new insert in the hollow body of the supply tube,
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising returning the cap to the receiving end of the supply tube. A supply tube having a receiving end and an insertion end, and further having a hollow body extending from the receiving end to the insertion end, and a wetting agent provided in the hollow body,
The supply tube has a structure for placing the insertion-side end in soil near the root system of the plant,
A supply system for supplying water to plant tissue, wherein the supply tube has a structure for receiving a humectant from a receiving end and supplying moisture of the humectant from an insertion end. 19. The delivery system of claim 18, wherein a wetting agent is contained in the insert, the insert having dimensions sized to be inserted into the hollow body. 19. The delivery system of claim 18, wherein the wetting material is injected directly into the delivery tube. 19. The supply system of claim 18, wherein the insertion end of the supply tube is beveled and pointed to facilitate insertion of the supply tube into the soil.

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