AU2005100189A4 - Pourous ceramic clay watering pot - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

O Patents Act 1990 SCOMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT IMPROVED CERAMIC CLAY POT FOR USE IN SUBTUTANIOUS WATERING 00 10 SYSTEM Traditional methods of watering have stayed in a basic form with substantial waste of water by evaporation included above ground sprinklers and drip feed sprinkler methods which rely upon pumping under high pressure. The traditional ceramic clay pot can be described as a water pitcher unglazed. The water in the traditional ceramic clay pot would seep through the porous ceramic clay surface from inside of the pot to the outside when buried underground via gravity. These traditional ceramic clay pots would have a large water capacity of between 6 and 20 litres, making them cumbersome and extremely heavy in weight and difficulty to install or remove. The traditional ceramic clay pots had to be re-filled with water manually. This invention has been specifically devised in order to improve upon the traditional ceramic clay pot to provide an improved ceramic clay pot which can be used more simply to fill and maintain the water levels required to water and hence grow plants. The difference from the traditional ceramic clay pot technology is the effective use of unique seals which provide a fully enclosed and pressurised ceramic clay pot. The pressure can be varied by application of gravity from the remote ultraviolet polyurethane storage tank, to increase or decrease water flow as required by the user. The watering system is also fully enclosed from outside influences and has minimal exposure to the air, heat or insects and reduces substantial loss of water by evaporation. The introduction of the seals makes a substantial contribution to the efficient workings of the traditional ceramic clay pot. The seal enables the new design of the traditional ceramic clay pot to operate under pressure effectively minimising evaporation and creating a network of joined sealed pressurised ceramic porous pots.

A ceramic clay pot in accordance with the invention comprises a bulb shaped moulded vessel with an extended sealed neck leading up to a rubber seal which is connected to flexible piping with a barbed fitting. The barbed fittings fit into a hole in the middle of each rubber seal, the hole on the outside is slightly smaller than the hole on the inside and provides a tapered fit when the barb is inserted fully into the hole preventing the barb from being ejected or loosened from water pressure or accidental dragging of the pipe.

00 The flexible piping is usually connected to other ceramic clay pots in the garden environment and then to a remote ultraviolet polyurethane storage tank which provides gravity feed water to the ceramic clay pots. The use of the remote ultraviolet polyurethane storage tank is to prevent any build up of pipe scum or any other bacterial contamination due its ability to attract particles in the water to the bottom and sides of the vessel therefore reducing the incidence of blockage of the porous surface of the ceramic clay pots attached to the system.

The invention prevents the breading of mosquitoes in still unused water or other still water diseases as the design is an enclosed watering system. The glazed neck design and uniquely designed rubber seal on the top of each ceramic clay pot, prevents excessive evaporation and water loss. The other benefit of the glazed neck design is that it provides easy location of the pots to any person.

The invention consists of a specially designed rubber seal which is affixed to a hole at the top of the neck or the opening of the vessel. This seal has on its outside edges a barbed shaped and when fitted into the vessels hole and sealant is applied locks into position. The rubber seal also has a hole from the top to the bottom of the seal which is tapered from the top smaller hole to the bottom larger hole. The shape of the tapper is made to receive the inserted male barbed fitting.

The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of embodiments of the invention which:tr Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved traditional ceramic clay pot 1, showing the sealed glaze neck 2, with rubber seal 3 and 4 attached with elevation 3 showing the barbed shape of the rubber seal and 4 showing the top tapered hole.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rubber seal showing the barbed shape 3, and cross section of the tapered hole from top to bottom in the rubber seal 4.

00 Figure 3 shows the pipe and barbed fitting prior to entry into the rubber seal 3 and 4 attached to the ceramic vessel.

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of the watering system in operation with the ceramic pots embedded in the soil in containers, with the glazed neck 2 exposed and piping with barbed fitting joining to the seal 3,4 and the water supply

Claims (7)

1. The traditional ceramic clay pot comprises a vessel which holds water has been innovated by creating a sealed environment under pressure which is O joined by piping with barbed fittings to the rubber seals and consequently to a water source. This invention has improve upon the traditional ceramic clay pot 00 to provide an improved ceramic clay pot which can be used more simply to fill and maintain the water levels required to water and hence grow plants. The difference from the traditional ceramic clay pot technology is the effective use Sof unique seals which provide a fully enclosed and pressurised ceramic clay c,1 pot.

2. The traditional ceramic clay pot as claimed in claim 1 has a specially designed rubber seal which is affixed to a hole at the top of the neck or the opening of the vessel.

3. The traditional ceramic clay pot as claimed in claim 1 and 2 the seal has on its outside edges a barbed shape and when fitted into the vessels hole and sealant is applied is locked into position.

4. The traditional ceramic clay pot as claimed in claim 2 and 3 the rubber seal also has a hole from the top to the bottom of the seal which is tapered from the top smaller hole to the bottom larger hole and the shape of the tapper is made to receive the inserted male barbed fitting.

The traditional ceramic clay pot as claimed in claim 1 to 4 is an innovation of the traditional ceramic clay pot as it is now sealed with a rubber seal making the watering system able to be joined together by piping and barbed fittings without exposure to the environment and under pressure.

6. The traditional ceramic clay pot can be joined in series to other similar pots making an enclosed watering system.

7. The traditional ceramic clay pot substantially as herein before described with reference to figures ito 4 of the accompanying drawings. Mark Wakeling 4 March 2005