US20160316644A1

US20160316644A1 - Self-watering planter assembly

Info

Publication number: US20160316644A1
Application number: US15/210,465
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael L. Conrad, JR.
Original assignee: Waterwell Planters Inc
Current assignee: Waterwell Planters Inc
Priority date: 2013-06-18
Filing date: 2016-07-14
Publication date: 2016-11-03
Also published as: US9392756B1

Abstract

A planter insert and planter insert assembly. In an embodiment, the planter insert assembly includes a planter housing with an upper portion and a bottom reservoir portion with a bottom interior surface; a tray defining a containment space for plant support media, wherein the tray is disposed within the upper portion of the planter housing, the tray having a bottom surface with a plurality of perforations allowing for insertion of at least one wicking member, the tray further having a sidewall including a bottom portion, wherein the bottom surface of the tray depends from the bottom portion of the sidewall; and a tray support disposed within the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing, the tray support having a top surface, wherein the tray is supported only by the tray support when the bottom surface of the tray is positioned on the top surface of the tray support.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/198,343 filed on Mar. 5, 2014, now allowed, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The Ser. No. 14/198,343 application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/920,988 filed on Jun. 18, 2013, now pending, and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/043,814 filed on Oct. 1, 2013, now pending.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to apparatuses and inserts used to provide water and/or other nutrient/liquid to container-grown plants, and more specifically to a self-contained and self-watering planter assembly comprising a fluid-containing planter housing (preferably downwardly tapering for a traditional look and efficient stacking during transport and storage, but not limited thereto), a tray with a bottom surface having perforations and a size that allows it to fit within (or substantially within) the upper portion of the planter housing, a tray support sized and configured to fit within the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing without taking up a large percentage of reservoir volume that could otherwise be used to hold nutrient/liquid, at least one layer of fluid-permeable material sized and positioned to cover the perforations in the tray's bottom surface and also having a hole for each wicking member used, and at least one wicking member having a minimum length dimension that allows it to extend between the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing and the tray for one-way transport of nutrient/liquid from the planter housing to the tray, with additional length and positioning that allows the wicking member (or members collectively) to provide even distribution of nutrient/liquid within the tray.
The planter housing also has at least one overfill prevention hole through its side wall that defines the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing by preventing nutrient/liquid therein from moving upwardly through tray perforations and into the plant root interior of the tray where it could over-saturate and injure plant roots. The tray also has interior lifting means near its top edge, preferably but not limited to two opposed handles configured for prompt and easy tray removal from, and replacement within, the upper portion of the planter housing with little disruption to the plants rooted in the tray. Use of the lifting members precludes the need for pliers or other grasping tools to provide a strong grip on the edges of the tray to lift it securely and in a balanced manner away from its position of use within the upper portion of the planter housing. Once the tray support (a frame insert as shown in the accompanying illustrations, or other) is placed within the planter housing, lowering of the tray into the planter housing causes it to become positioned atop the support, which preferably allows the tray to become situated imperceptibly within the planter housing's upper portion. Should a frame insert be used to support the tray and the elevation of the tray is considered too high for the type of plant used in the tray or the application, the legs of the frame insert (typically made from plastic for use in smaller planter housings) can be easily shortened (for example, by use of a cutting tool, garden shears, or a multiple scored-and-snap arrangement) to provide a lowered and more suitable tray elevation. In larger planter housings of the disclosed embodiments and according to the type of plant grown and plant growth/medium used, a tray support with a sturdier construction may be required to support the increased weight of the plants and plant growth/support medium potentially present. In outdoor applications, the fluid-permeable material positioned under the plant growth/support medium, and over the tray's bottom perforations, allows surplus rainwater entering the tray, and not immediately needed by plant roots, to enter and refill the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing via the tray's perforations and without soil infiltration into the nutrient/liquid held within the planter housing, with the at least one elongated wicking member being responsible for upward nutrient/liquid transfer from the planter housing and into the tray. Wicking members are typically presoaked prior to use to prevent delay in transfer of nutrient/liquid to the plants rooted in the tray. Also, plant roots may be in plant growth/support medium distributed directly into the tray, or in one or more drainable pots supported by the tray.
In an embodiment, the planter assembly is self-contained, low-maintenance, and provides a significantly longer self-watering time period for a plant (or plants) having roots supported in the tray than is obtainable from all known prior art self-watering systems in current use today for container-grown plants. Since the planter assembly of the disclosed embodiments is self-contained, no connections for power or water are needed for its function, expanding the number of locations where it can be used. Inspection of the water level in the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing may be conducted every few months by promptly and easily lifting and replacing the tray, with nutrient/liquid being added, or other maintenance action taken, according to need. Furthermore, in an embodiment, planter housing and tray volumes are selected to provide a nutrient/liquid-to-soil ratio between approximately 2:1 and approximately 4:1. In the most preferred embodiments, a nutrient/liquid-to-soil ratio of 4:1 is used, and the self-watering time for plants grown indoors is at least two to three months. However, longer self-watering time periods have been demonstrated for plants with low fluid requirements and planter assemblies located outdoors and situated to receive at least occasional rainwater replenishment. Applications include, but are not limited to, residential and commercial use, including hotels and other commercial buildings, hospitals, convention centers, college campuses and other educational facilities, shopping malls, lobbies, hallways and stair landings, decorative entrances to public and private buildings and other property, including parks and parking garages.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

People enjoy having plants as a part of their surroundings, but depending upon their location, container-grown plants may require a lot of maintenance. In heated and air-conditioned buildings, humidity is generally low, and more frequent watering of indoor plants is typically needed. Furthermore, indoor temperature, sunlight level, air drafts, and positioning near a door that subjects a plant to frequently changing local conditions, can have a significant effect on a plant's need for water and nutrients, and lead to additional time spent on planter monitoring and/or maintenance. Container-grown plants that are located outdoors and in patio areas can be subjected to even more variation in ambient temperature, sunlight level, and air movement, all of which will affect plant moisture requirements. In an embodiment, the disclosed planter assembly provides a means of eliminating the daily labor that would otherwise be needed to keep container-grown plants and flowers properly irrigated for optimal appearance and growth, and also provide a significantly longer self-watering time period than is obtainable from all prior art self-watering systems currently sold for container-grown plants. While irrigation devices and systems are known for container-grown plants, no device or system is known with the same structure, wicking system, a removable tray with interior lifting means near its top edge, support means for the tray having a means for prompt and easy elevation adjustment, and/or all of the other features and advantages resulting from the disclosed structure and use.
The prior art invention thought to be the closest to the embodiments disclosed herein is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2008/0303002A1 to Schmidt (Dec. 11, 2008), which also provides a means of automated irrigation for a planter. However, there are many important structural differences between the Schmidt invention and the presently disclosed embodiments, which allow the structure disclosed herein to provide advantages that the Schmidt invention cannot. Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have residential applications, one of the important considerations for the planter assembly disclosed herein relates to its self-contained use in public areas. Thus, design considerations for the embodiments disclosed herein include inconspicuous/discreet features and components that are less likely to be disturbed by the curious or unkind public, including reservoir replenishment via tray perforations instead of the exposed irrigator 30 and fill tube 52 of the Schmidt invention that in FIG. 5 of its disclosure are shown to extend above the plant/growth medium. Toward this same goal, tray lifting handles as disclosed herein are made unobtrusive and do not extend upwardly above the top edge of the tray.
In addition, the embodiment of the Schmidt invention illustrated in FIG. 5, with its plant substrate above its water supply volume, shows two vertically-oriented spacers 51 and 51′ positioned in the bottom of a planter, and a horizontally-extending plate 50 supported upon the spacers 51 and 51′ that define a bottom volume usable as a water supply volume, while the space above plate 50 holds the substrate for supporting plant roots. Without perforations in its plate 10, the Schmidt invention cannot take advantage of rainwater replenishment for its reservoir to provide extended maintenance-free use, one of the main goals of outdoor embodiments disclosed herein. The Schmidt invention also uses a moisture sensor connected to a miniature irrigator 30 that cycles water from the water supply volume to the substrate only when a minimum moisture threshold is reached. Instead, the wicking member (or members) of the embodiments disclosed herein provide even and sufficient moisture for optimal growth of plants in the tray until moisture saturation is reached, thus over-watering is prevented and at a reduced cost compared to the more complex structure of the Schmidt invention.
Furthermore, Schmidt's fill tube 52 provides a small diameter conduit for water replenishment (much less surface area than the embodiments disclosed herein provide to take advantage of rainwater replenishment for its nutrient or water-filled reservoir), and the proportion of water to substrate in the embodiment of the Schmidt invention shown in FIG. 5 is approximately 1:1. In contrast, the embodiments disclosed herein have a preferred fluid-to-soil preferred ratio is 4:1, with a minimum ratio of 2:1, which increases the length of time between inspections and maintenance. Furthermore, the Schmidt growth medium, water, spacers 51 and 51′, and horizontal plate 50 are all separate elements assembled into a planter, and each would have to be individually removed therefrom when cleaning of the planter is needed or desired, and soil and plant/root disruption would also occur. In contrast, removal and replacement of the tray and frame insert disclosed herein are fast and easy for maintenance/inspection purposes, saving material and labor cost in commercial applications, a benefit not provided by the Schmidt invention. In addition, legs of the easily height-adjustable frame insert when used in the planter housing disclosed herein to support the plant-holding tray, may be cut in a minute or less for repositioning of the tray, while dismantling the plate and spacers of the Schmidt invention would take much longer to substitute new spacers having a different configuration or size. Furthermore, the overfill prevention hole in the side of the planter housing disclosed herein defines the top of the reservoir and the maximum amount of nutrient/liquid that can be stored. In contrast, in the Schmidt invention its non-perforated plate 50 defines the top of its reservoir. No other planter assembly is known that functions in the same manner as the embodiments disclosed herein, has the same structure disclosed herein, or provides all of the important advantages of the disclosed embodiments.

SUMMARY

A summary of several example embodiments of the disclosure follows. This summary is provided for the convenience of the reader to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments and does not wholly define the breadth of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. For convenience, the term “some embodiments” may be used herein to refer to a single embodiment or multiple embodiments of the disclosure.
The embodiments disclosed herein include a planter insert. The planter insert comprises: a tray defining a containment space for plant support media, the tray having a bottom surface defining a plurality of perforations, at least one of the perforations allowing for insertion of at least one wicking member, the tray further having a sidewall including a bottom portion, wherein the bottom surface of the tray depends from the bottom portion of the sidewall, wherein excess fluid in the plant support media in the containment space exits the tray through the perforations in the bottom surface.
The embodiments disclosed herein also include a planter insert assembly. The planter insert assembly comprises: a planter housing with an upper portion and a bottom reservoir portion with a bottom interior surface; a tray defining a containment space for plant support media, wherein the tray is disposed within the upper portion of the planter housing, the tray having a bottom surface with a plurality of perforations allowing for insertion of at least one wicking member, the tray further having a sidewall including a bottom portion, wherein the bottom surface of the tray depends from the bottom portion of the sidewall; and a tray support disposed within the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing, the tray support having a top surface, wherein the tray is supported only by the tray support when the bottom surface of the tray is positioned on the top surface of the tray support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the most preferred embodiment self-watering planter assembly in an assembled configuration and showing its tray situated within the top portion of the planter housing, the top edge of the tray not extending above the top edge of the planter housing, the tray also having opposed interior lifting handles near its top edge, the planter housing having at least one overfill prevention hole through its side wall that defines a bottom reservoir portion, and one wicking members is also shown on top of a fluid-permeable material covering the tray's bottom surface.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the planter assembly in FIG. 1 showing four partially coiled wicking members each having a downwardly-extending end of sufficient length to reach the bottom interior surface of the planter housing shown at the bottom of FIG. 4, fluid-permeable material positioned under the wicking members and having four holes each used for insertion of a different wicking member, a tray having a perforated bottom surface and opposed interior lifting handles near its top edge, the tray also configured to receive the fluid-permeable material and allow the wicking members to pass through its bottom surface, a frame insert that supports the tray within the planter housing shown below it, and the reservoir in the bottom portion of the planter housing defined by at least one overfill prevention hole through its side wall.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tray in an embodiment of the disclosed planter assembly showing its substantially perforated bottom surface, opposed interior lifting handles near its top edge, and its preferred downwardly tapering and slightly concave sides that are a cost-saving feature that allow it to fit into more than one size of planter housing.

FIG. 4 is a sectioned view of the an embodiment of the disclosed planter assembly in an assembled condition and showing the tray atop the frame insert and both tray and frame insert positioned within the planter housing, with the frame insert substantially within the bottom portion of the planter housing that functions as a reservoir but with its top surface positioned above the overfill prevention hole that defines the top of the reservoir portion of the planter housing, and three wicking members positioned atop the fluid-permeable material covering the perforations in the tray's bottom surface.

Numerical references for various embodiments described herein with respect to the drawings include:

1—an embodiment of self-contained and self-watering planter assembly
2—planter housing of planter assembly 1
3—overfill prevention hole in planter housing 2 that defines the bottom portion 4 of planter housing 2 serving as a nutrient/liquid reservoir
4—bottom portion of planter housing 2 serving as a nutrient/liquid reservoir
5—upper portion of planter housing 2 in which tray 9 is situated when atop frame insert
6—interior handle or lifting member (located adjacent to the top edge 14 of tray 9)
7—wicking member (used to draw nutrient/liquid from the lower portion of planter housing 2 and move it upwardly into tray 9, it is preferably pre-soaked prior to use)
8—fluid-permeable material (one or more layers can be used to adjust the rate of gravity flow for downward travel of excess rainwater into the lower/reservoir portion 4 of planter housing 2)
9—removable tray
10—frame insert (situated in the bottom portion 4 of planter housing 2 for support of tray 9)
11—perforations in the bottom surface of tray 9 (used as drain holes for rainwater entering tray 4 that cannot be immediately used by plants, to transfer that surplus rainwater into the lower portion of planter housing 2 for later upward movement via wicking member or members 7 into tray 9)
12—hole in fluid-permeable material 8 used for insertion of a wicking member 7 (so that one of its ends remains in the bottom reservoir 4 portion of planter housing 2 and its opposite end is placed in tray 9)
13—leg of frame insert 10 (can be shortened to lower elevation of tray 9 when desired)
14—top edge of tray 9
15—top edge of planter housing 2
16—bottom interior surface of planter housing 2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 show differing views an embodiment of the disclosed planter assembly 1 which provides a significantly longer self-watering time period than is obtainable from all known self-watering and self-contained systems in current use today for container-grown plants. While FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 show tray 9 and planter housing 2, FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of tray 9. Although the illustrations accompanying this disclosure show a self-watering planter assembly 1 having a circular cross-sectional configuration and its sides downwardly tapering, and such structure is preferred for the traditional planter look and the efficient stacking during transport and storage provided, planter housing 1 may have any size or shape, including the cross-sectional configuration of a circle, rectangle, hexagon, or other regular or non-regular polygon, or an irregular arcuate perimeter configuration. In addition, the disclosed planter assembly requires no decorative enhancement, although it may be made in a variety of colors or have various decorative surface texture patterns, designs, imprinted information, decals, informational stickers, and/or other decoration or attachment desired for marketing purposes. Applications include, but are not limited to, daily self-watering of plants in and around residential homes, shopping malls, commercial buildings, hotels, convention centers, and college campuses. Advantages of the presently disclosed planter assembly 1 include structure that provides a constant/steady supply of water and fertilizer to plants, easy cleaning, no need for limitation to locations providing municipal power or water supply connections, significantly longer self-watering time periods, durable construction, and easy/prompt installation and assembly.
FIG. 1 is a side view of the an embodiment of the self-watering planter assembly 1 in an assembled configuration and shows planter assembly 1 comprising a tray 9 configured for holding plants and their growing/support medium, (or in the alternative potted plants in drainable containers) positioned within the upper portion of a planter housing 2, with the top edge 14 of tray 9 at about the same elevation as than the top edge 15 of planter housing 2. Such positioning of top edge 14 relative to top edge 15 is typical, but not critical. Although not clearly shown in FIG. 1, but shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4, planter housing 2 has a closed bottom surface 16 and side walls that define a fluid-holding bottom portion 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the planter housing 2 of planter assembly 1 has a top end with a greater width dimension than its bottom end, which is not critical, but preferred for a traditional planter look and the efficient stacking during transport and storage. FIG. 1 also shows planter housing 2 having an overfill prevention hole 3 that defines the fluid-holding capability of bottom reservoir portion 4. As shown in FIG. 4, overfill prevention hole 3 must be positioned below the interface of tray 9 and its frame (or other) support 10, so that nutrient/liquid (not shown) in the bottom reservoir portion 4 of planter housing 2 will not flow upwardly through the perforations 11 in tray 9 and saturate plant roots, potentially injuring them. Although FIG. 1 shows the outer surface of planter housing 2 unadorned, it may display color and/or textured markings, decorative patterns, and/or other decorative or informational markings. In addition, FIG. 1 shows tray 9 having opposed handles 6 situated near the top edge 14 of tray 9, which are used to remove and reinstall tray 9 in its usable position relative to planter housing 2 without the use of any grasping tools. The handles 6 should be sturdy enough to lift tray 9 while it is supporting the additional weight of plants and needed support/growth medium (not shown). The planter assembly 1 shown in FIG. 1 can also be used indoors or outdoors. Perforations 11 in the bottom surface of tray 9 are not visible in FIG. 1, as they are covered by fluid-permeable material 8. In addition, FIG. 1 shows one wicking member 7 positioned atop fluid-permeable material 8, and the hole 12 through fluid-permeable material 8, that allows the wicking member 7 shown to extend downwardly into the bottom reservoir portion 4 of planter housing 2. Although not critical, it is preferred that wicking members are presoaked in water or nutrient/liquid prior to use. Plant roots may be in growth/support medium distributed directly into the tray, or in drainable pots (not shown). The fluid-permeable material 8 is positioned under the plant support medium (not shown) held by tray 9, and allows surplus rainwater to refill the bottom reservoir portion 4 of planter housing 2 via the perforations 11 of tray 9 in outdoor applications without infiltration of plant support medium downwardly into planter housing 2. Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 1, no connections for power or water are needed for function of planter assembly 1.
In addition, the size and shape of handles 6 are not critical as long as a good grip is provided for balanced lifting of tray 9. Furthermore, in the alternative, although not shown and not preferred, it is considered within the scope of the present disclosure for handles 6 to be in the form of a continuously extending and inwardly-extending rim. Also, FIG. 1 only shows one overfill prevention hole 3 but in larger planter housings 2 more than one overfill prevention hole 3 may be used. The size and placement of overfill prevention holes 3 can also be different from that shown in FIG. 1 as long as it maximizes the fluid-holding capacity of planter housing 2 while concurrently prevents rising nutrient/liquid in planter housing 2 from blocking flow of excess rainwater (not shown) downwardly through the perforations 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) in the bottom surface of tray 9 via gravity into planter housing 2. Also, although not limited thereto, in an embodiment, the self-watering planter assembly 1 comprises a base-member-to-tray volume that is approximately 4:1, although a minimum base-member-to-tray volume of least 2:1 is also contemplated. When a 4:1 nutrient/liquid-to-soil ratio is used, the self-watering time for plants grown indoors is at least two to three months, and longer self-watering time periods have been demonstrated for plants with low fluid requirements and those planter insert assemblies located outdoors and situated to receive at least occasional rainwater replenishment. In addition to structural considerations needed for tray 9 support, the structure and materials used for planter housing 2 must also be suitable for holding fluid/nutrient for extended periods of time without warping, sagging, or other structural alteration or modification. The structure and materials used for tray 9 must also be suitable for extended exposure to fluid/nutrient without warping, sagging, or other structural alteration or modification, and those used in outdoor applications must be ultraviolet (UV) light resistant.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the planter assembly 1 in FIG. 1 that shows four wicking members 7 each having a downwardly-extending end of sufficient length to reach the bottom interior surface 16 of planter housing 2 shown in FIG. 4. The top coiled ends of the wicking members 7 shown in FIG. 2 is merely representative, and the manner in which the top portions of wicking members 7 are positioned across fluid-permeable material 8 may be different from that shown. FIG. 2 further shows fluid-permeable material 8 positioned under wicking members 7 and having four holes 12 each used for insertion of a different wicking member 7. In addition, FIG. 2 shows tray 9 having a bottom surface with multiple perforations 11. It is contemplated for each hole 12 in fluid-permeable material 8 to become aligned with a different perforation 11 in tray 9 to allow the wicking member passing through hole 12 to also pass through the bottom surface of tray 9, so that all wicking members used can extend downwardly beyond tray 9 to (or close to) the bottom surface 16 of planter housing 2. The size of perforations 11, as well as their placement/positioning in tray 2, is not limited to that shown in FIG. 2, and the perforations 11 aligned with a hole 12 may have a diameter dimension greater than other perforations 11 that are not aligned with a hole 12. FIG. 2 also shows tray 9 having opposed interior lifting handles 6 near its top edge 14 and a configuration sized and shaped to receive the fluid-permeable material 8. The frame insert 10 under tray 9 in FIG. 2 supports tray 9 while both are positioned within planter housing 2. When frame insert 10 is made of plastic, the legs 13 of frame insert 10 may be optionally trimmed to lower the elevation of tray 9 according to need using a cutting tool, such as gardening shears. In the alternative, although not shown, a scored-and-snap shortening of the legs 13 may be used to lower the elevation of tray 9 within planter housing 2. Frame insert 10 should take up minimal space within the bottom reservoir portion 4 of planter housing 2 so that a maximum amount of space within the bottom reservoir portion 4 of planter housing 2 can be used to hold nutrient/liquid for plant irrigation. However, for larger planter housings 2, a sturdier support (not shown) may be used in place of frame insert 10 to bear the additional weight of plants and their growth/support medium. Below frame insert 10, FIG. 2 shows planter housing 2 with an unadorned exterior, a preferred rounded top edge 15, and one overfill prevention hole 3. Although FIG. 2 shows planter housing 2 having only one overfill prevention hole 3 through its side wall, which is preferred, more overfill prevention holes 3 can be present and they may have differing size, shape, and elevation from that shown in FIG. 2. The elevation of overfill prevention hole or holes 3 must be determined to prevent the fluid/nutrient in planter housing 2 from blocking the downward gravity-assisted flow of surplus/excess fluid/nutrient from tray 9, through fluid-permeable material 8, and into planter housing 2.
Although FIG. 2 shows planter assembly 1 having four wicking members 7, more or less than that number can be used, each extending into planter housing 2 to draw nutrient/liquid (not shown) from planter housing 2 upwardly into soil or other plant growing medium (not shown) supported by tray 9 around plant roots (not shown). Whether one or multiple wicking members 7 are used, it is preferred that they are distributed substantially across material 8 for even distribution of nutrient/liquid to plant roots. Furthermore, the configuration and width dimension of wicking members 7 used as a part of planter assembly 1 may vary from that shown in FIG. 2. The thickness of fluid-permeable material 8, the number of layers used, and the type of fabric or other material or materials used as a part of fluid-permeable material 8 may vary according to the flow rate of nutrient/liquid needed from planter housing 2 to tray 9 to properly irrigate plants supported by tray 9. Plants may be in drainable pots supported by tray 9, or plant roots may be established in a growth or support medium (not shown) distributed within the tray-like interior surface of tray 9. In addition, in an embodiment, the disclosed planter assembly may be manufactured in several sizes to accommodate differing sizes and arrangements of container-grown plants. It is also preferred that all materials used in planter assembly 1 be non-toxic, water resistant, and unaffected by extended exposure to soil and nutrient/liquid. Resistance to breakdown from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is also a desirable material consideration for tray 9 and planter housing 2, although not critical unless outdoor applications in full sun are contemplated.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of tray 9 in an embodiment planter assembly 1 that shows its bottom surface having a plurality of perforations 11 substantially covering its bottom surface. Perforations 11 are used as drain holes for transfer of surplus rainwater entering tray 9 and not immediately usable by plants (not shown) into planter housing 2 for later upward movement in a metered fashion via a wicking member or members 7 into tray 9 that does not permit over-watering of plant roots. In contrast, one or more perforations 11 may be larger in diameter for accommodating thicker wicking members 7, if used. A hole 12 in fluid-permeable material 8 is complementary in size, shape, and alignment to that of a correspondingly positioned perforation or perforations 11 used for passage of a wicking member 7 through both components (tray 9 and fluid-permeable material 8) and into planter housing 2. Furthermore, the size, number, placement, and spaced-apart distances of perforations 11 in the bottom surface of tray 9 may vary from that shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the wall thickness, wall height, and interior volume of tray 9 may vary according to the type of plants contemplated for its use. Also, the number, location, size, and shape of handles 6 are not limited to that shown in FIG. 3. In addition, soil or plant growth support media may be mounded toward center of tray 9, although center mounding is not critical. Thus, in many embodiments of planter assembly 1 the top edge 14 of tray 9 does not extend above the top edge 15 of planter housing 2. Also in FIG. 3, the sidewalls of tray 9 appear to have a slight concave appearance, which is preferred but not critical, and helps tray 9 to fit in a greater variety of sizes of planter housings 2.
FIG. 4 is a sectioned view of an embodiment of the planter assembly 1 in an assembled condition and showing tray 9 atop frame insert 10, and both tray 9 and frame insert 10 positioned within planter housing 2. The legs 13 of frame insert 10 engage the bottom interior surface 16 of planter housing 2, and frame insert 10 is positioned substantially within the bottom portion 4 of planter housing 2 that functions as a reservoir. However, by necessity the top surface of frame insert 10 must be positioned above the overfill prevention hole 3 that defines the top of the bottom reservoir portion 4 of planter housing 2, and three of the four wicking members 7 shown in FIG. 2 are positioned atop the fluid-permeable material 8 covering the perforations 11 (visible under the front edge of fluid-permeable material 8, but unmarked) in the bottom surface of tray 9. In addition, the holes 12 through fluid-permeable material 8 are visible and marked in FIG. 4.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A planter insert, comprising:

a tray defining a containment space for plant support media, the tray having a bottom surface defining a plurality of perforations, at least one of the perforations allowing for insertion of at least one wicking member, the tray further having a sidewall including a bottom portion, wherein the bottom surface of the tray depends from the bottom portion of the sidewall, wherein excess fluid in the plant support media in the containment space exits the tray through the perforations in the bottom surface.

2. The planter insert of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one layer of fluid-permeable material covering the plurality of perforations in the bottom surface of the tray, the at least one layer of fluid-permeable material defining at least one hole allowing for insertion of the at least one wicking member, wherein each hole in the at least one layer of fluid permeable material is aligned with one of the perforations in the bottom surface of the tray.

3. The planter insert of claim 1, wherein the tray further includes at least two handles depending from the sidewall.

4. The planter insert of claim 1, wherein the tray has a circular cross-section.

5. The planter insert of claim 1, the tray further including a top perimeter surface having a perimeter, the bottom surface having a perimeter, wherein the sidewall of the tray is downwardly tapering, wherein the perimeter of the top perimeter surface of the tray is larger than the perimeter of the bottom surface of the tray.

6. The planter insert of claim 5, wherein the sidewall of the tray is concave.

7. The planter insert of claim 1, further comprising:

a tray support, the tray support having a top surface, wherein the tray is supported only by the tray support when the bottom surface of the tray is positioned on the top surface of the tray support.

8. The planter insert of claim 7, the tray support further including at least one leg positioned beneath the top surface of the tray support.

9. The planter insert of claim 8, wherein the at least one leg is a plurality of downwardly converging legs.

10. A planter insert assembly, comprising:

a planter housing including an upper portion and a bottom reservoir portion, the bottom reservoir portion having a bottom interior surface;

a tray defining a containment space for plant support media, wherein the tray is disposed within the upper portion of the planter housing, the tray having a bottom surface with a plurality of perforations, at least one of the perforations allowing for insertion of at least one wicking member, the tray further having a sidewall including a bottom portion, wherein the bottom surface of the tray depends from the bottom portion of the sidewall; and

a tray support disposed within the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing, the tray support having a top surface, wherein the tray is supported only by the tray support when the bottom surface of the tray is positioned on the top surface of the tray support.

11. The planter insert assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one layer of fluid-permeable material covering the plurality of perforations in the bottom surface of the tray, the at least one layer of fluid-permeable material defining at least one hole for allowing insertion of the at least one wicking member, wherein each hole in the at least one layer of fluid permeable material is aligned with one of the perforations in the bottom surface of the tray.

12. The planter insert assembly of claim 10, wherein the tray further includes at least two handles depending from the sidewall.

13. The planter insert assembly of claim 10, the tray support further including at least one leg positioned beneath the top surface of the tray support.

14. The planter insert assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one leg is a plurality of downwardly converging legs.

15. The planter insert of claim 10, wherein the tray has a circular cross-section.

16. The planter insert assembly of claim 10, the tray further including a top perimeter surface having a perimeter, the bottom surface having a perimeter, wherein the sidewall of the tray is downwardly tapering, wherein the perimeter of the top perimeter surface of the tray is larger than the perimeter of the bottom surface of the tray.

17. The planter insert assembly of claim 16, wherein the sidewall of the tray is concave.

18. The planter insert assembly of claim 16, the upper portion of the planter housing including a top perimeter edge having a perimeter, the bottom portion of the planter housing including a bottom perimeter edge having a perimeter, wherein the planter housing is downwardly tapering, wherein the perimeter of the top perimeter edge of the planter housing is larger than the perimeter of the bottom perimeter edge of the planter housing.

19. The planter insert assembly of claim 10, wherein the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing has a volume, wherein the containment space defined in the tray has a volume, wherein the volume of the bottom reservoir portion is at least two times the volume of the containment space.

20. The planter insert assembly of claim 10, the bottom reservoir portion of the planter housing defining at least one fluid overfill hole, wherein fluid in the bottom reservoir portion rising to a height of the at least one fluid overfill hole exits the planter insert assembly through the at least one fluid overfill hole.