AU686421B2

AU686421B2 - Watering probe

Info

Publication number: AU686421B2
Application number: AU30561/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Barry Lester Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-03
Filing date: 1995-09-08
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-08
Also published as: AU3056195A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Original Comnplete Specification Roglio~In 3,2

C

~tandard Patent Inventio Tte .j W 4 .I2' '77,7' 4> 4-4-4- '4 474 7 -4444-f -4 z .7 7; 790 7, The fl~ow statement is~ a full description of this invention, including the best menthod of peffrrnin4 knoA no4e: 4 4~ 4 7- 7. A- 7 44 '-4 ~kA~AA/ '4'7 '4' 447.44~,,, '4474-4-A 747~4' 47744 4 '.7474 '4 477744 44 "77.44' 7 This invention is an improved plant watering system using the application of water beneath the surface of the soil and directly to the soil around the roots of plants.

Most garden or plant watering is done by applying water to the surface of the soil and the water then seeps down through the soil. Surface watering can be ineffective in providing adequate water to plants in some circumstances such as A) plants on sloping ground where water will run off the surface B) plants bedded with paving surrounding and close to the plants where there is inadequate soil surface area for sufficient water to penetrate. :10 Moreover surface watering can be inefficient with water wastage due to run off and due to evaporation of surface water.

t This invention, instead of applying water to the soil surface, pipes water under pressure to the soil below surface level. The water then filtrates through the soil wetting the soil S. surrounding the roots of the plants. More direct watering of the roots of the plants is achieved by this method. This system, therefore, can be a more efficient and effective Smethod ofwatering plants. It is expected that this system will encourage stronger and :i deeper root growth.

In one form of the invention a garden hose with mains water pressure is connected to the Watering Probe which may have a stop valve to shut off or allow water flow to the Watering Probe. The stop valve may be incorporated in a handle. The Watering Probe may be made of thin hollow tube ipiping, closed and pointed at the end to allow easy penetration of the soil, and with small openings along the side of the piping near the pointed end (nozzle) to allow water to escape from the piping to the soil.

The openings would be small and on the side of the piping to prevent them becoming clogged with soil. A reflector may be positioned on the Watering Probe, at soil surface level when the Probe is inserted in the soil, to prevw at any splash back of water to the operator and redirect any such water back to the soil. The reflector may be made of rubber or other flexible material.

In another form of the invention a series of probes can be inserted i sions with each probe connected to a si us allowing simultaneous watering for a um r of plants.

In another form a container of liquid, or liquid soluble, fertiliser may be attached to the 1.0 Watering Probe with a mixing valve to allow fertiliser to be added to the soil surrounding the roots of plants.

An example is illustrated in the attached drawings.

Reference symbols used in the drawings are: S; Direction of water flow A; Watering Probe nozzle B Soil C; Water reflector SD Stop valve E; Hose attached to mains water F Soil surace G; Plant roots Fig. 1 shows a cross sectional side view of the Watering Probe.

Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional side view of the soil penetrating end of the Watering Probe showing direction of water movement. It can be seen that the Watering Probe is inserted into the soil up to the level of the reflector. The water is then directed through 'the Watering Probe, out of the openings at the side of the nozzle and into the soil, RAi4l T^v 1 1 a Il ~mmxrs~

Claims

1. A plant watering device which can be connected to a water supply by hose comprising a probe which can be inserted into soil whereby water can be directed beneath the surface of the soil, such device having a stop valve to regulate the flow of water and a reflector positioned on the probe to regulate the depth of insertion of the probe into the soil and to prevent water splashing back onto the operator.

2. The plant watering device of claim 1 wherein the nozzle, or soil penetrating end of the probe, is made of hollow tube piping. 10

3. The plant watering device of any of claims 1 and 2 wherein the nozzle has water outlet holes along its side.

4. The plant watering device of any of claims 1 to 3 whereby the reflector is made of rubber.

The plant watering device of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein a hose attached to a mains water supply is connected to the device.

6. A plant watering device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. I sj:e: .e cli ~I 1~ i:: ~cM jis -3- i-L1~ ~sa~ i'~ i-_;iai:. r- ~Wbi i~~3 I-~ 1 i~~d BB~B -I 14s~1; B L Johnson 20 October 1997 !a~4::i~BO u- t~i A plant watering device is disclosed. The device consists of a handle to which a garda hose can be attached, a stop valve to regulate water flow, hollow tubing with a reflector attached to prevent water splash back to the operator and a nozzle (A) which is thin hollow tubing sealed at the end and with openings along the side walls The nozzle end of the device is inserted into the soil up to the level of the reflector and when the stop valve is opened water flows into the soil.