FR2837350A1 - Plant watering system has porous cone pushed into earth, on to which annular connector is fitted which has internally threaded top, allowing disposable drinks bottle to be screwed on to it, upside-down - Google Patents

Abstract

The plant watering system comprises a porous cone (2) which is pushed into the earth. An annular connector (20) is fitted on to this with an internally threaded top (27, 28) allowing a disposable drinks bottle to be screwed on to it, upside-down.

Description

together, a piece of furniture for example.

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  INDIVIDUAL WATERING DEVICE FOR PLANTS

  The present invention relates to a connection which makes it possible: to connect a water reservoir and a porous incent which slowly passes this water so as to produce a device allowing the distributed distribution of water to plants, to near their roots, and in particular to plants

pot.

  The connector according to the invention can be adapted to most bottles in

  plastic on the market, said bottles being used as a reservoir.

  Several devices are known which seek to obtain the same result but which

  have drawbacks which make their commercial exploitation impossible.

  For example, the. fran patent, cais N 2673356 describes a stopper whose frustoconical shape allows it to be adapted to several dimensions of bottle necks

Inside of which we sink it.

  The disadvantage of this device is that to obtain a seal, the frusto-conical part must be made of semi-flexible plastic, which does not allow a good connection between the stopper and the bottle, and this, when it is full, can be driven by its weight and separate from the cap. The bottle can then be emptied at once causing flooding, which makes the device unusable in apartments, and in all cases where the user relies on the water reserve for

keep your plant alive.

  The Swiss patent N 391368 describes another example in which water is stored in a hollow body whose pointed base is stuck in the ground. The hollow body forming a reservoir and the ground part form a single non-dissociable assembly, so that it is not intended to use commercial plastic bottles, which makes the device bulky when it is to be stored, especially if we

  has a lot of plants, because you need a device for each plant.

  US Patent No. 4,300,309 describes a system similar to the above with the same drawbacks. The French patent, cais N 2252806 describes a system similar to the above with the same drawbacks and with, in addition, wicks which must participate in the distribution of water, which makes use impractical, because it is necessary to dig the earth to introduce the wicks, which makes the device irremovable, this

  which is contrary to the desired goal.

  US Pat. No. 6,128,856 describes an irrigation device comprising a plug with rotary valve associated on one side with a tube connected to a dispersion device and on the other side with a bottle which is screwed onto it. The disadvantages of this device are its complication, therefore its cost; the difficulty in obtaining the correct setting, the probable lack of reliability for a product which can be soiled with earth; and finally, only one type of bottle can be screwed into it, obliging the user to keep the bottle

adapted, therefore to clutter.

  US patent N 5896700 describes an irrigaffon apparatus comprising a water tank screwed onto a device comprising a point intended to sink into the ground to let the water flow there, a filter being interposed between the two to control the flow. The disadvantage still being the bulk and the impossibility

  to fill a large selection of commercial plastic bottles.

  o The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks.

  It indeed offers a disposifff allowing to associate a known means such as a porous cone commonly used in irrigation, with a disposable plasffish bottle. Most of the plastic bottles on the market can be suitable, which makes it possible to obtain a product which is practical to use, of a very low cost and of a

  very small footprint since we throw the bottle before storing the device.

  These advantages are decisive for the commercial success of the product.

  Indeed this product is intended to water potted plants individually during the absences of their owner. However it is not uncommon to have many potted plants (sometimes ten or more) and since it is necessary to have as many devices as plants, this product must be easy to set up, very inexpensive so you can buy a lot and easy to store

  as soon as the owner returns to take care of his plants himself.

  To achieve these results, the device according to the invention is a fitting fitted on one of its sides with a solidarisaffon means with the base of a porous cone and on the other side with two or three means of joining with the neck of a bottle; each of these two or three means being compatible with

no standard bottle screws.

  The invention will be clearly understood thanks to the description and the figures.

  Figure 1 shows an overview of a sprinkler device, consisting of a standard plastic bottle (1) and a porous cone (2) assembled by a connector (3) according to the invention The figure 2 shows an embodiment of the connector (3), seen from above and comprising two dimensions of threads compatible with two dimensions of

bottle threads.

  Figure 3 shows the same fitting seen from below.

  Figure 4 shows the same fitting seen in section.

  FIG. 5 represents the same fitting associated with the base of a cone made of porous material.

  Figure 6 shows another form of connector (3) associated with a cone.

  FIG. 7 shows another form of connector (3) associated with a cone.

  Figure 8 shows an adapter.

  The automatic individual sprinkler system for plants includes a bottle (1) intended to contain water and an enclosure (2) secured by a fitting (3) which

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  establishes between them a rigid connection allowing the flow of water from the bottle (1) to the enclosure (2) whose walls are wholly or partly made of a porous material which under the effect of pressure due to gravity lets the water flow slowly. s The connector (3), the subject of this patent application, is formed in its basic version, in a single piece of injected plastic, comprising three coaxial parts: -an intermediate part (20) in the form of a disc, having in its center a hole (24), a part (A) formed of one or two parts constituted by a hammer comprised between two cylindrical surfaces; these two parts hereinafter called cylinders, are located on one side of the disc (20) and intended to be fixed permanently to the enclosure (2), -a part (B) formed as part A of one or two cylinders; these being threaded on their inner faces, located on the other side of the disc (20) and being able

  receive by screwing, in a removable manner, a bottle (1).

  In the embodiments shown in the figures, the enclosure is formed

  by a cone (2) made of porous material such as ceramic.

  The base of the cone (2) is extended by a cylindrical part (6) intended to be

  connected to part (A), by fitting one into the other.

  In a first embodiment shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the part (A) consists of two cylinders (1 1) and (17), coaxial, integral with the disc (20) by one of their sides : - the cylinder (11) whose outside diameter is equal to the inside diameter of the cylindrical part (6) of the cone is intended to be inserted inside said part (6) of the cone. the cylinder (17) whose internal diameter is equal to the external diameter of the part

  cylindrical (6) of the cone, is intended to be fitted onto the part (6) of the cone.

  The cylinder (11) which has the smallest diameter having an equal inside diameter or

  greater than the diameter of the hole (24).

  During assembly, the part (6) of the cone is forced into the space (23) between the two cylinders (11) and (17) until its edge (22) comes into contact with the part (21) of the disc (20) located between the two cylinders. Sufficient sealing is thus obtained so that any leaks are negligible

  compared to the flow rate provided by the porous cone.

  To facilitate the introduction of the cone between the two cylinders, it is preferable that one of the two cylinders is shorter than the other, and preferably that the cylinder (11) is shorter than the cylinder (17). The cylinder (11) may for example have a length of one third of the cylinder (17). Thus, when the two parts (2) and (3) are assembled, the part (6) of the cone is positioned so that it is placed first inside the cylinder (17) which serves as a guide to lead it to space (23)

  in which it sinks until it reaches the bottom (21) of this space.

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  In the preferred embodiment of the invention the walls of the two cylinders do not have the same thickness, for example the wall of the cylinder (11) is thinner than that of the cylinder (17), and is thin enough to have flexibility, useful for

  facilitate the introduction of the part (6) of the cone inside the space (23).

  By way of nonlimiting example, we will describe below an embodiment of

the invention.

  We choose the cone shape shown in Figure 5. The cone itself has a length of about 70 mm with a slightly rounded top. The cone is extended at its base by a cylindrical part (6) about 17 mm long with the rounded edge at its end (22). The walls of the part (6) have a thickness of about 5 mm, its outside diameter is about 33 mm, and its inside diameter is about 23 mm. Is carried out by injection of PVC, a fitting (3) whose part A comprises a cylinder (17) whose internal diameter is 32.5 mm, and a cylinder (11) whose diameter

outside is 22 mm.

  The cylinder (17) has a length of 15 mm and the cylinder (11) has a length of 5 mm. The wall of the cylinder (17) has a thickness of 1.5 mm, which gives it sufficient rigidity so that the connection between the connector (3) and the cone (2) has a good hold, while the wall of the cylinder (11) is only one millimeter thick, which gives it enough flexibility to allow a certain expansion of the space (23),

  necessary to accept a tolerance on the thickness of the cone.

  The cone and connector (3) are assembled using a special device comprising a horizontal plane on which the connector (3) is placed, side A being directed upwards. A tool bearing the imprint of the cone is fixed on a drill frame and a cone is placed inside with its opening facing downwards. By lowering the tool the edge (22) of the part (6) is presented at the end of the cylinder (17), in which it initiates its penetration thanks to its rounded edge. When we continue the insertion the edge (22) arrives at the level of the cylinder (11) which is positioned well inside the part (6) thanks to the rounding and continues to effect its penetration in

  force inside the fitting (3) until the space (23) is completely occupied.

  In a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the part (A) consists of a single cylinder: either a cylinder (11) intended to be inserted inside the part (6) of the cone (FIG. 6)

  -or a cylinder (17) inside which the part (6) of the cone is introduced (Figure 7).

  In all the above cases, the diameters of the cylinders (11) and (17) are made so that there is no space between the wall or walls of the part (6) of the cone and

  the wall (s) of the cylinder (s) (11) and / or (17).

  Part B of the fitting (3) consists of one or two cylinders, preferably coaxial with all the other parts of the fitting, joined by one of their

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  ends with the intermediate disc (20), and having the threaded inner face. This or these female threads being intended to cooperate with male hietages of

  containers used as a reservoir (1).

  The part (3) shown in the figures has two different threads, one

thread (27) and thread (28).

  The thread (27), of large diameter allowing the use of large bottles, by

  example of five liters; in this case the thread (28) is not used.

  The thread (28), smaller allowing the use of a bottle of 1, I; in this case the

thread (27) is not used.

  A shoulder can be provided at the end of each thread on which comes to bear.

  The end of the neck of the bottle (1).

  But a better seal is obtained by a conventional means than anyone usually used for the caps of plastic bottles, for example a lip.

  conical circular on which the neck comes to rest.

  To increase the number of types of threads that can be used with the fitting (3), it is planned to add an adapter comprising a male threaded tip compatible with one of the two threads of the fitting (3), as would be the neck a bottle,

  and having on the other hand a different female threadc3) -

  The use of the device according to the invention described in the previous examples is particularly simple: 30. The user collects a disposable plastic bottle and fills it with water; To He covers it with the intermediate piece (3) fitted with a cone (2); He turns the unit over and pushes the cone into the ground, at the foot of the plant to be irrigated. As the device is thus maintained in a substantially vertical position, it makes a small hole with a pin at its upper part which is the bottom of the bottle.

to allow air entry.

  One of the great advantages of the invention is that the user has no calculation to do for

Use it correctly.

  It suffices to refer to the instructions to choose, from the range offered, the

  ceramic giving the necessary flow for its plant.

  He then chooses a bottle with a capacity corresponding to the amount of water

  necessary for the desired duration of watering (for example the duration of the holidays).

  The invention can propose, for example, three types of ceramic cone (2) giving three different average flow rates: 7 cl per 24 h. 20 cl per 24 h and 30 cl per 24 h.

Claims (1)

CLAIM   Fitting intended to connect together a water tank (1) and a hollow cone (2) made of porous material so as to constitute an individual automatic watering device for plants, said fitting being fixed by its side A permanently to the base of the cone (2) and receiving, by its other side B in a removable manner, a reservoir (1), characterized in that the side A and side B of the connector are connected by a circular intermediate part 20 having a hole in its center and on which are fixed, on side A, means for securing the connection with the cone, side B. one or two means for securing said connection with a reservoir (1), said means being one or two concentric rings (27) (28) and (29 carrying on their internal faces female threads corresponding to two or three male threads of commercial plastic bottle necks which can be used to form the reservoir (1), the rings being sufficiently spaced apart to leave them the wise step for the neck of the bottle to