US3648933A

US3648933A - Watering can

Info

Publication number: US3648933A
Application number: US120958A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward C Grotz
Original assignee: MR GARDENER ENTERPRISES Ltd
Current assignee: MR GARDENER ENTERPRISES Ltd
Priority date: 1971-03-04
Filing date: 1971-03-04
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14

Abstract

A watering can comprising of body with two spouts, one open spout and one spout with a rosette spray head; a circular handle connecting both spouts and the lower portion of both sides of the body, the handle having a hollow section connecting the open spout with an opening in the top of the handle and means for closing the hollow connection; a mounted stirring/measuring rod; and optionally a siphon drain in the rosette spray head; provides an improved garden implement for spraying and watering which permits (a) measured mixing, in the can, of additional materials including solids, powders and other liquids; (b) solid stream or spray application of the cans contents; and optionally; (c) a nodrip rosette spray head which has a materially improved resistance to rusting in the lower section of the head caused by pooling of the spray liquid after use and the loss thereof.

Description

United States Patent Grotz 1 51 Mar. 14, 1972 [54] WATERINQ CAN [72] Inventor: Edward C. Grotz, Wilmington, Del.

[73] Assignee: Mr. Gardener Enterprises Ltd., Wilmington, Del.

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 120,958

Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. Grant Attorney-Samuel V. Abramo [57] ABSTRACT A watering can comprising of body with two spouts, one open spout and one spout with a rosette spray head; a circular handle connecting both spouts and the lower portion of both sides of the body, the handle having a hollow section connecting the open spout with an opening in the top of the handle and means for closing the hollow connection; a mounted stirring/measuring rod; and optionally a siphon drain in the rosette spray head; provides an improved garden implement for spraying and watering which permits (a) measured mixing, in the can, of additional materials including solids, powders and other liquids; (b) solid stream or spray application of the cans contents; and optionally; (c) a no-drip rosette spray head which has a materially improved resistance to rusting in the lower section of the head caused by pooling of the spray liquid after use and the loss thereof.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures [52] U.S.Cl ..239/377,222/481 [51] InLCl ..A0lg25/14 [58] FieldotSearch ..222/566,478,481;239/376, 239/377, 525, 378

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 163,853 7/1955 Australia ..239/377 656,056 4/1929 France ...222/478 716,040 12/1931 France .239/377 397,317 2/1966 Switzerland ...239/376 926,640 4/1955 Germany ..239/377 38 W. 4 37 18 ff -57 llll PATENTEUHAR Y4 I972 3, 648.933

sum 1 or 2 57 III'J INVENTOR Edward C. Gro BY MUM ATTOBAZ'Y PAIENTEUMAR 14 m2 3, 648. 933

SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR Edward C. Grog B1 AT TORNEY WATERING CAN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to hand-portable watering devices and more particularly is directed to a watering can which combines means for measuring powder, solid or liquid materials into the can, means for mixing and measuring the contents of the can, alternate solid stream or spray dispensing of the cans contents, and optionally a siphon drain for the liquid which collects to form a small pool inside the lower lip of the rosette spray head.

2. Description of the Prior Art Watering cans have been known to the art for many years. Representative of the prior art cans are those disclosed for example in German Pat. No. 437,666 and French Pat. No. 716,040. However, there is a continuing need for improved watering cans which optimize the convenience of various gardening devices. Thus, for example, the watering can of this invention provides means for both solid stream and spray application of the cans contents; means for mixing other material with the liquid contents of the can; a means to reduce the corrosion of the rosette spray head; and a means to prevent dripping of retained water in the spray head when the water can is placed in an upright position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In summary this invention is directed to a watering can comprising a. a cylindrical body having a closed bottom, an open top, and openings at each of two opposite sides;

b. two spouts, one each located at opposite sides of the body and communicating with the openings at the opposite sides of the body,

one spout comprisingan unrestricted conduit, and the other spout comprising a conduit opening into a rosette spray head;

c. means fixed to the outside of said body for detachably mounting a rod, and said rod, suitable in length for stirring the contents of the body, and bearing graduated markings along its length for measuring the contents of the body; and

d. a circular shaped handle fixedly connected at opposite lower portions of the body, in the vertical plane of the openings at the opposite sides of the body;

passing up in a curved path on both sides of the body in the vertical plane of the spouts;

connecting with the spouts; and passing in a continuous arc over the top of the can said handle having an opening in its uppermost region;

closing means for said opening;

a hollow passage in communication with said opening and the interior ofa spout; and

means for intermittent interruption of said communicatron.

This invention is further directed to the above described can wherein there is a hollow tube running from just inside the lower lip of the rosette spray head back down into the body, such that a siphon effect is exerted on liquid pooling inside the lower lip of the rosette spray head.

This watering can provides a means for dispensing either a solid stream or a spray of the liquid contents of the can, means for mixing other materials with the liquid contents of the can, and optionally a means for removing retained water in the spray head and minimize reducing dripping of this water from the rosette spray head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention is more easily understood by reference to the drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the physical appearance of an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plane view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented cross-sectional view illustrating the communicating hollow handle, means for interrupting the communicating passage, and a solid material, in the form of pellets being measured into the can;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented plane view of closing means for the opening in the upper region of the handle:

FIG. 5 is a fragmented plane view illustrating a three-way pellet dispensing index as means for interrupting the communicating passageway between the top of the handle and the spout;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented cross-sectional view illustrating the rosette spray head with the optional siphon-tube in place;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented crosssectional view showing the screen-filtered siphon-tube of FIG. 6 in detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in greater detail it is seen in FIG. 1 that the watering can 10 comprises a cylindrical body 12 closed at the bottom 14 with an opening 16 at the top. An unrestricted spout 18 provides a solid stream dispenser while the second spout 20 terminates in a rosette spray head 22. The encircling handle 24 connects at opposite sides of the body in its lower region, passes up through the vertical plane of the

spouts

18, 20 and arcs over the open top 16 of the body. The opening in the top of the handle 24 is shown with a side latch 26. Also shown in the handle 24 is the knurled head 36 of a closure-three-way dispenser means 34, having a stem 37 and snapring 38, with a discharge tube 40, and a color indexing spot 47. Also shown is the optional stirring/measuring rod 54 and its holding means 56, 57.

In FIG. 2 top view,'the slide latch 26 is shown in greater detail with a latch guide way 28. The knurled head 36 is also shown more clearly with an arrow pointer 44.

In FIG. 3 is shown the hollow portion of the handle 24 with a detailed example of a solid dispensing device featuring a pellet inlet part 30 under the slide latch 26. The pellets 32 are shown being added to the liquid 33 in the can by means of the phantom outlines 32a. The 3-way dispensing means 34 includes a knurled head 36, stem 37, snapring 38, and recessed pocket 39. The pellets 32 are shown stored in the hollow handle 49 which serves as a'pellet storage area.

FIG. 4 shows a closeup top view of the top of handle 24 with the slide latch 26, latch guideway 28 and pellet inlet part 30.

FIG. 5 shows a closeup view of a dispensing means with a knurled head 36, stem 37, and recessed pocket 39. Also shown is the discharge tube 40, the indicating arrow 44 and

color indexing spots

46, 47 and 48 in the handle 24.

In FIG. 6 is shown the optional siphon-tube 50 running from just inside the lower lip of the rosette spray 22 back down through the spout 20 into the liquid 33 in the can.

In FIG. 7 the siphon-tube 50 is shown just inside the lower lip of the rosette spray head 22 with a filter screen 52 over the end of the siphon-tube 50 to prevent plugging.

The device of this invention is useful for watering plants. The device provides water either as a spray or as a solid stream. A fertilizer. water mixture can be formed and conveniently provided from the dispenser means. Alternatively, the dispenser means is in itself useful as a means of measuring a water soluble concentrated plant food pellet into water contained in the water can or the pellet can be dispensed for direct use in a potted plant.

As used in this application the rosette spray head or as it is sometimes known as a'rose spray head conotates a spray head having a plurality of orifices which permits the flow of water as a broad spray. The water escapes from this spray head as a gentle spray for application directly to the foliage as well as the roots of a plant.

The siphon containing rosette spray head is particularly useful to minimize the loss of pooled water when the water can is placed in an upright nondispensing position. For example, the

water can equipped with siphon can be used indoors where dripping from the spray head might stain or otherwise mar floors and interior structures.

The dispenser has a first setting for engaging a plant food pellet when the arrow 44 is directed towards color indexing spot 46, a second position for discharging the pellet out of the discharge tube 40 when the knurled head 36 is turned to position the arrow towards color index spot 47 and a third position for discharging the pellet directly into water contained in the can by turning the knurled head 36 towards color indexing spot 48.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clarity of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A watering can comprising a. a cylindrical body having a closed bottom, an open top,

and openings at each of two opposite sides;

b. two spouts, one each located at opposite sides of the body and communicating with the openings at the opposite sides of the body, one spout comprising an unrestricted conduit, and the other spout comprising a conduit opening into a rosette spray head;

. a circular shaped handle fixedly connected at opposite lower portions of the body, in the vertical plane of the spouts; connecting with the spouts; and passing in a continuous arc over the top of the can; said handle having an opening in its uppermost region; closing means for said opening; a hollow passage in communication with said opening and the interior of a spout; and

means for intermittent interruption of said communication.

1 2. The watering can of claim 1 wherein there is a hollow tube running from just inside the lower lip of the rosette head.

back down into the body, such that a siphon effect is exerted on liquid pooling inside the lower lip of the rosette head.

3, The watering can of claim 1 wherein this is means fixed to the outside of said body for detachably mounting a rod, and said rod, suitable in length for stirring the contents of the body, and bearing graduated markings along its length for measuring the contents of the body.

4. The watering can of claim 3 is made of metal.

5. The watering can of claim 3 can be composed of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Claims

1. A watering can comprising a. a cylindrical body having a closed bottom, an open top, and openings at each of two opposite sides; b. two spouts, one each located at opposite sides of the body and communicating with the openings at the opposite sides of the body, one spout comprising an unrestricted conduit, and the other spout comprising a conduit opening into a rosette spray head; c. a circular shaped handle fixedly connected at opposite lower portions of the body, in the vertical plane of the spouts; connecting with the spouts; and passing in a continuous arc over the top of the can; said handle having an opening in its uppermost region; closing means for said opening; a hollow passage in communication with said opening and the interior of a spout; and means for intermittent interruption of said communication.

2. The watering can of claim 1 wherein there is a hollow tube running from just inside the lower lip of the rosette head, back down into the body, such that a siphon effect is exerted on liquid pooling inside the lower lip of the rosette head.

3. The watering can of claim 1 wherein this is means fixed to the outside of said body for detachably mounting a rod, and said rod, suitable in length for stirring the contents of the body, and bearing graduated markings along its length for measuring the contents of the body.

4. The watering can of claim 3 is made of metal.