WO1989005576A1

WO1989005576A1 - Apparatus for irrigating potted plants

Info

Publication number: WO1989005576A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/003809
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank N. Madsen, Jr.
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-24
Filing date: 1988-10-24
Publication date: 1989-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-24
Also published as: AU2928389A

Abstract

An automatic watering system for potted plants having an elevated water bottle (11), a battery operated motor (26) for controlling valve (21), and flexible irrigation tube (16) for selectively watering a potted plant (3). A multi-day battery operated timer (15) is provided for controlling motor (26).

Description

APPARATUS FOR IRRIGATING POTTED PLANTS

RELATED APPLICATIONS: This is a Continuation in Part of U.S. Application Serial No. 07/137,596, filed 24/12/87.

D E S C R I P T I O N BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field. This invention relates to an apparatus for irrigating potted plants, particularly for automatically watering potted plants using a timer for selectively discharging water to the potted soil. Background Art. Potted plants, a wide variety of different species with varying requirements for sunlight and moisture are cultivated today. Potted plants range from desert cactus to tropical trees to rain forest ferns. Maintaining an adequate and suitable environment for any particular potted plant requires some degree of care and attention by the horticulturist or gardener. Normally this is not a problem in that the horticul¬ turist or gardener will insure that the plant receives adequate sunlight and is periodically watered. It becomes a problem when the facility within which the potted plant is located is unattended for extended periods of time such as that incurred with house plants left unattended during vacation times, and, in commer¬ cial settings such as office buildings, if the plant is only periodically attended to by a maintenance crew or is located in an inaccessible location. A variety of devices have been developed to automatically water plants in such situations. One of particular interest is SHINADA, U.S. No. 4,447,983. SHINADA, U.S. Patent No. 4,447,983 teaches a sophisticated apparatus which utilizes an air pump to pressurize a water bottle for transferring water into a reservoir integral with the plant pot. A water level shut off system is utilized to meter the water flow to the pot reservoir. The devise as taught in SHINADA is complicated and requires a capital expenditure for specific, special¬ ized, pots containing reservoirs. It would not be economically justifiable or practical to re-pot all of ones plants to a device as that taught by SHINADA for purposes of taking a two-week vacation.

What is needed is a simple automatic watering system that can be easily installed and used either on a temporary basis as in the case of a vacationing home owner or more permanently as in the cases of commercial plant maintenance crews and remotely located potted plants.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an automatic watering system which is simple, inexpensive, requires no external source of power and is easy to use.

These objects are accomplished through the use of an automatic watering system which includes a water bottle held at an elevation above the potted plant. Water is discharged from the water bottle through a battery operated valve to flexible tubing through which it is transported to the potted plant. The control system provided is a battery operated timer with a multi-day clock which enables the gardener to preselect the length of watering time per day or days. The timer activates a small electric motor which drives a pinion gear through a gear reduction assembly. The pinion gear subsequently drives a rack which is connected to the valve.

The water bottle, valve, timer, motor and bat¬ teries, are all supported by a housing having a stake portion depending therefrom which can be implanted within the planter. Flexible tubing is provided at the output of the valve which can service several planted pots using multiple flexible tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a side view of an automatic waterer and planter.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of an automatic waterer without the water reservoir. Fig. 3 is a front view of an automatic waterer.

Fig. 4 is a front sectional view of an automatic waterer.

Fig. 5 is a side view of an automatic waterer.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Automatic waterer 10 is shown in Fig. 1 implanted in pot 1 containing soil 2 and plant 3. Automatic waterer 10 has a vented water bottle 11 supported by housing 12, which is in turn supported by vertical member 13. Vertical member 13 has tapered end 14 which facilitates implanting automatic waterer 10 in soil 2. Timer control 15 is provided for controlling the release of water from vented water bottle 11 and, in this preferred embodiment, has a plurality of individual timers incorporated therein, each configured to time different time periods e.g. one for timing "days" and one for timing "activation periods." Flexible tubing 16 is connected to outlet 17 and directs released water to the appropriate areas.

Referring now to Fig. 2, housing 12 is shown in cross section and is of unitary construction, and has various spaces molded therein for housing the components which make up the automatic waterer 10. Water bottle collar 18 is attached to the top of housing 12 and has an O-ring 19 for εealably receiving a water reservoir. Water enters housing 12 through inlet 20. Inlet 20 is adapted to receive a connecting hose (not shown) to connect autowaterer 10 an auxiliary water reservoir, also not shown. A linear motion actuated valve 21 is moveable between inlet 20 and outlet 17 to control water flow. Valve 21 is fitted with seal 22 to prevent inadvertant discharge and O-ring 23 to prevent water from entering the valve actuator. Valve 21 is actuated by a rack and pinion arrangement consisting of rack segment 24, which is attached to valve 21, and pinion 25, which is directly or indirectly, attached to an electric motor 26. In this preferred embodiment, a gear reduction assembly 27 is used to drive pinion gear 25 and is connected to electric motor 26. Electric motor 26 is controlled by timer control 15. Timer^' control 15 is configured to select the polarity of the current applied to electric motor 26, thereby reversing shaft rotation of the electric motor 26, and consequently, to select the direction of linear motion of valve 21. In this manner, valve 21 may be opened and closed to control water flow. A battery pack 28 houses batteries for supplying electric current to timer control 15 and electric motor 26.

Referring now to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, front panel 29 of automatic waterer 10 is shown and has a plurality of time selecting switches 30 for programming the timer controller. Bottle clamp 31 is provided to secure vented water bottle 11 to water bottle collar 18. Electric motor 26, gear reduction assembly 27, pinion gear 25 and rack segment 24 are shown in front sectional view. Valve 21, is in this preferred embodiment, cylindrical in cross section. Front panel 29 is removable to provide access to controller timer 15, electric motor 26, gear reduction assembly 27, pinion gear 25 and valve assembly 21. As is shown in Fig. 5, side panel 32 has a remov¬ able battery cover 33 attached thereto which provides access to remove and replace the batteries.

In use, automatic waterer 10 is implanted in soil 2 of pot 1. Vented water bottle 11 is filled with water or a water and food mixture. Flexible tubing 16 is then directed to the base of plant 3 or any number of plants using Y connectors and additional flexible tubing. Timer control 15 is then preset with the length of watering time per day or days. Timer control 15 automatically activates valve 21 causing it to open and allowing fluid contained in water bottle 11 to irrigate plant 3. At the end of the preset time, timer con¬ troller 15 will reverse the polarity of current to electric motor 26, causing valve 21 to close. While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

Claim No. 1. An apparatus for irrigating a plant in potted soil which is characterized by: a water bottle held at an elevation above the potted soil and plant; means for holding the water bottle at an elevation above the potted soil and plant; a valve for selectively discharging water from the water bottle to an irrigation tube; an irrigation tube for transferring discharged water from the valve to the potted soil and plant; and means for selectively operating the valve.

Claim No. 2. The automatic watering apparatus of Claim No. 1 wherein the means for selectively operating the valve is further characterized by: an electric motor; means for selectively energizing the motor; and means for converting said motor's rotational motion to a linear motion, operably connecting said motor to said valve.

Claim No. 3. The automatic plant watering ap¬ paratus of Claim No. 2 wherein the means for selectively energizing the motor is further characterized by: a battery; and a timer for selectively, electrically, connecting the battery to the motor for selectable periods of time during selectable time intervals.

Claim No. 4. The automatic plant watering ap¬ paratus of Claims 2 or 3 wherein said motion conversion means is characterized by: a pinion gear radially attached to the shaft of the motor; and a rack gear engaged with said pinion gear and operably attached to said valve for moving said valve between its open and closed positions.

Claim No. 5. The automatic plant watering system of Claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said water bottle support means is characterized by: a housing for supporting said water bottle, said valve and said irrigation tube; and a vertical support member attached to said housing for supporting said housing, said vertical member further being used for implantation into potted soil.