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GB2281492A - Plant container with built-in water reservoir. - Google Patents

Plant container with built-in water reservoir. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2281492A
GB2281492A GB9318125A GB9318125A GB2281492A GB 2281492 A GB2281492 A GB 2281492A GB 9318125 A GB9318125 A GB 9318125A GB 9318125 A GB9318125 A GB 9318125A GB 2281492 A GB2281492 A GB 2281492A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
water
receptacle
plant container
inlet hole
valve member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9318125A
Other versions
GB9318125D0 (en
Inventor
Hsian-Tzuo Chuang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CHUANG HSIAN TZUO
Original Assignee
CHUANG HSIAN TZUO
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CHUANG HSIAN TZUO filed Critical CHUANG HSIAN TZUO
Priority to GB9318125A priority Critical patent/GB2281492A/en
Publication of GB9318125D0 publication Critical patent/GB9318125D0/en
Publication of GB2281492A publication Critical patent/GB2281492A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01GHORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G27/00Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
    • A01G27/02Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots having a water reservoir, the main part thereof being located wholly around or directly beside the growth substrate

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Abstract

The container includes an outer receptacle 20, 531 and an inner receptacle 10, 50 which is smaller than the outer receptacle 20, 531 and which is provided in the outer receptacle 20, 531. The inner receptacle 10, 50 is used to grow plants therein and the inner and outer receptacles 10, 20; 50, 531 confine a water reservoir 15, 54. The inner receptacle 10, 50 has a surrounding wall that is formed with at least one water inlet hole 11, 501 to permit water in reservoir 15, 54 to flow into inner receptacle 10, 50. Receptacles 10, 20 may be transparent; they may be separate or integral. Figures 3A, 3B show flow regulators (30, 30') aligned with inlet hole 11 and having threaded valve members (32) rotatable by a tool. In Figure 5 is shown a tubular connector (60) connecting a pipe (70) from water container (80) to outer receptacle (20) and containing a valve piece (63). Figure 6 illustrates a water flow regulator utilising a water guiding member 73 and a water swellable member 74 disposed on a resilient member 751 connected to a valve member 73. <IMAGE>

Description

PLANT CONTAINER WITH BUILT-IN WATER RESERVOIR The invention relates to a plant container, more particularly to a plant container with a built-in water reservoir.
A conventional plant container for growing plants is shown in Figure 1. A main drawback arising from the use of the conventional plant container is that the plant owner usually forgets to provide water thereto regularly, thereby resulting in the death of the plants grown therein.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a plant container which can be used indoors or outdoors and which has a built-in water reservoir, thereby preventing the death of the plants grown in the plant container due to infrequent watering of the latter.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a plant container with a water flow regulator for controlling the flow of water from the built-in water reservoir to soil in the plant container.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a plant container which can be divided into several regions with different water requirements.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a plant container which can be used with a water supplying device to further reduce the frequency of watering of the plant container.
Accordingly, the plant container of the present invention includes an outer receptacle and an inner receptacle which is smaller than the outer receptacle and which is provided in the outer receptacle. The inner receptacle is used to grow plants therein. The inner and outer receptacles confine a water reservoir therebetween for receiving water therein. The inner receptacle has a surrounding wall that is formed with at least one water inlet hole to permit water in the water reservoir to flow into the inner receptacle.
In one embodiment, the plant container is provided with a water flow regulator that extends between the inner and outer receptacles and that is used to control the water flow through the water inlet hole.
In another embodiment, the plant container is provided with a water supplying device that is connected to the outer receptacle for supplying water to the water reservoir.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a conventional plant container; Figure 2A is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention; Figure 2B is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention; Figure 3A is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a water flow regulator of the third preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention; Figure 3B is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a water flow regulator of the fourth preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention;; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a partly sectional view illustrating a water supplying device of the sixth preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention; and Figure 6 is a partly sectional view illustrating an automatic water flow regulator of the seventh preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention.
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are indicated by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to Figure 2A, the first preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention is shown to comprise inner and outer receptacles 10, 20. In this embodiment, the inner and outer receptacles 10, 20 are generally cylindrical pots. The inner receptacle 10 is used to grow plants therein and has a surrounding wall which is formed with at least one appropriately-sized water inlet hole 11.
The inner receptacle 10 has a diameter which is smaller than that of the outer receptacle 20 and is provided inside the latter. The inner and outer receptacles 10, 20 confine an annular water reservoir 15 therebetween.
The water reservoir 15 is filled with water or liquid plant food that flows into the inner receptacle 10 via the water inlet hole 11. The presence of the water reservoir 15 permits infrequent watering of the plant container. A cover member 16 may be detachably or fixedly mounted on top ends of the inner and outer receptacles 10, 20 to cover the water reservoir 15, thereby minimizing the loss of liquid in the water reservoir 15 due to evaporation.
Figure 2B illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention. The second preferred embodiment is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment except that the inner and outer receptacles 10, 20 are formed integrally.
Figure 3A is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention. The plant container further comprises a water flow regulator 30 for controlling the flow of water into the inner receptacle 10 via the water inlet hole 11. In this embodiment, the water flow regulator 30 extends between the inner and outer receptacles 10, 20 and includes an internally threaded tubular valve seat 32 and a threaded valve member 31 which engages threadably the tubular valve seat 32. The outer receptacle 20 is formed with a radial opening that is aligned with the water- inlet hole 11. The tubular valve seat 32 extends from the outer receptacle 20 at the radial opening in a radial inward direction.The distal end of the tubular valve seat 32 is spaced from the surrounding wall of the inner receptacle 10 so as to confine a water channel 33 therebetween. The threaded valve member 31 has a head portion which is formed with a screw slit 34 that is accessible via the radial opening in the outer receptacle 20. The threaded valve member 31 further has a distal tapered end 311 that extends into the water channel 33. The tip of a tool (not shown) is inserted into the screw slit 34, and the tool is operated to rotate the threaded valve member 31, thereby varying the degree of extension of the distal tapered end 311 of the threaded valve member 31 into the water inlet hole 11 to control the flow of water into the inner receptacle 10. A sealing ring 35 is provided on the threaded valve member 31 adjacent to the head portion of the latter.The sealing ring 35 prevents the leakage of water from the water reservoir via the radial opening in the outer receptacle 20.
Figure 3B is a fragmentary sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention. The plant container of this embodiment also comprises a water flow regulator 30' for controlling the flow of water into the inner receptacle 10 via the water inlet hole 11.
The construction of the water flow regulator 30' is substantially similar to that of the previous embodiment except that the distal end of the threaded valve member 31' is flat and is provided with a layer of water absorbent sponge 36 that presses against the surrounding wall of the inner receptacle 10. When a tool is operated so as to rotate the threaded valve member 31' and move the latter relative to the inner receptacle 10, the degree of compression of the water absorbent sponge 36 is varied to vary correspondingly the rate of water flow into the inner receptacle 10.
Note that the inner and outer receptacles 10, 20 are preferably made of a transparent material in order to enhance the appearance of the plant container and to facilitate viewing of the position of the threaded valve member 31, 31' relative to the inner receptacle 10.
Figure 4 illustrates the fifth preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention. The plant container of this embodiment includes a generally rectangular outer receptacle 531 and a generally rectangular inner receptacle 50 formed integrally with the outer receptacle 531. As with the previous embodiments, the inner receptacle 50 is used to grow plants therein and has a surrounding wall which is formed with at least one water inlet hole 501. The lengths of the inner and outer receptacle 50, 531 are equal. However, the width of the inner receptacle 50 is smaller than that of the outer receptacle 531, thus forming water reservoirs 54 on two sides of the inner receptacle 50. The inner receptacle 50 has a bottom which is formed with a longitudinal upward partition 51 that divides the interior of the inner receptacle 50 into two regions.The plant container further comprises a partition plate 52 which has a bottom edge that is formed with a slit 520 for engaging the partition 51.
The partition plate 52 serves to further divide the interior of the inner receptacle 50 into additional regions. The bottom of the plant container is formed with a longitudinal groove 53 to facilitate mounting of the plant container on an inverted T-shaped plantsupporting platform 55.
Note that the partition plate 52 may be formed integrally with the inner receptacle 50. The partition plate 52 is further formed with at least one appropriately-sized water inlet hole 521. The location, distribution and size of the water inlet hole 521 may correspond with the water requirement for the particular region in the inner receptacle 50.
Figure 5 is a partly sectional view illustrating a water supplying device of the sixth preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention. The water supplying device includes a tubular connector 60 which confines an axial passage 61. The tubular connector 60 is mounted to a bottom portion of the outer receptacle 20 and is connected to one end of a water pipe 70. The other end of the water pipe 70 is connected to a water container 80. The tubular connector 60 and the water pipe 70 serve to communicate the water reservoir of the plant pot and the interior of the water container 80.
The tubular connector 60 has an inner wall surface which is formed with an annular groove 62. A valve piece 63 is disposed in the axial passage 61 and has a periphery which extends into the annular groove 62. The valve piece 63 has a diameter which is larger than that of the axial passage 61 but smaller than that of the annular groove 62.
Initially, the water levels in the water reservoir and in the water container 80 are kept approximately equal to prevent the valve piece 63 from blocking the axial passage 61. As the water level in the water reservoir drops, water flows from the water container 80 into the water reservoir via a gap that is formed between the periphery of the valve piece 63 and the wall surface that confines the annular groove 62.
Because the combined water-receiving capacity of the water reservoir and the water container 80 is larger than that of the previous embodiments, the need for frequent watering of the plant container is minimized further.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the seventh preferred embodiment of a plant container according to the present invention. The plant container further comprises an automatic water flow regulator 70 for controlling the flow of water into the inner receptacle 10 via the water inlet hole 11. The water flow regulator 70 includes upper and lower housing parts 71, 72. The upper housing part 71 has an upper portion which is formed with a moisture inlet 711, and an externally threaded open lower portion 712. A water guiding member 73 and a swellable member 74 are disposed inside the upper housing part 71. The water guiding member 73 is disposed on top of the swellable member 74 and is adjacent to the moisture inlet 711.
The water guiding member 73 is made of a material, such as sponge, which can guide water entering the moisture inlet 711 to the swellable member 74. The swellable member 74 is made of a liquid expansible material which expands upon absorbing some water. The lower housing part 72 has an internally threaded upper portion 721 which engages threadedly the lower portion 712 of the upper housing part 71. The lower housing part 72 is formed with a radial water inlet 722 and has a bottom which is formed with a water outlet 723. An elongated valve member 75 is disposed axially inside the lower housing part 72 and has a distal tapered end 752 and a head portion which is connected to a resilient member 751. The swellable member 74 is disposed on top of the resilient member 751. The resilient member 751 serves to pull the valve member 75 away from the water outlet 723.The water flow regulator 70 further includes a retaining unit 76 which is connected to an inner wall surface of the surrounding wall of the inner receptacle 10. The retaining unit 76 serves to retain the lower housing part 72 on the inner receptacle 10 such that the water inlet 722 of the lower housing part 72 is aligned with the inlet hole 11 of the inner receptacle 10. The retaining unit 76 has a bottom which is formed with an outlet 761.
Initially, the swellable member 74 is dry and does not apply a pushing force on the valve member 75. Soil inside the inner receptacle 10 becomes moist due to the flow of water from the water reservoir 15 through the inlet hole 11 of the inner receptacle 10, the water inlet 722 and the water outlet 723 of the lower housing part 72, and the outlet 761 of the retaining unit 76.
When the soil in the inner receptacle becomes excessively moist, water enters into the upper housing part 71 via the moisture inlet 711. The water guiding member 73 guides the water which enters into the moisture inlet 711 to the swellable member 74, thereby causing the latter to expand and urge the distal tapered end 752 of the valve member 75 to close the water outlet 723 against action of the resilient member 751.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:
1. A plant container comprising an outer receptacle and an inner receptacle which is smaller than the outer receptacle and which is provided in the outer receptacle, said inner receptacle being used to grow plants therein, said inner and outer receptacles confining a water reservoir therebetween for receiving water therein, said inner receptacle having a surrounding wall formed with at least one water inlet hole to permit water in the water reservoir to flow into the inner receptacle.
2. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer receptacles are generally cylindrical pots, and said water reservoir is annular in shape.
3. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer receptacles are integrally formed.
4. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover member mounted on top ends of the inner and outer receptacles to cover the water reservoir.
5. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a water flow regulator extending between the inner and outer receptacles for controlling water flow through the water inlet hole.
6. The plant container as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said outer receptacle is formed with a radial opening that is aligned with said water inlet hole; and said water flow regulator includes: an internally threaded tubular valve seat which extends from the outer receptacle at the radial opening in a radial inward direction, said tubular valve seat having a distal end spaced from the surrounding wall of the inner receptacle so as to confine a water channel therebetween; a threaded valve member which engages threadably the tubular valve seat and which has a head portion that is formed with a screw slit, said screw slit being accessible via the radial opening in the outer receptacle, said valve member further having a distal tapered end that extends into the water channel, said valve member being rotatable to vary the degree of extension of the distal tapered end of the valve member into the water inlet hole, thereby controlling the water flow through the water inlet hole; and a sealing ring provided on the valve member adjacent to the head portion, said sealing ring preventing leakage of water from the water reservoir via the radial opening in the outer receptacle.
7. The plant container as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said outer receptacle is formed with a radial opening that is aligned with said water inlet hole; and said water flow regulator includes: an internally threaded tubular valve seat which extends from the outer receptacle at the radial opening in a radial inward direction, said tubular valve seat having a distal end spaced from the surrounding wall of the inner receptacle so as to confine a water channel therebetween; a threaded valve member which engages threadably the tubular valve seat and which has a head portion that is formed with a screw slit, said screw slit being accessible via the radial opening in the outer receptacle, said valve member further having a flat distal end which is provided with a layer of water absorbent sponge that presses against the surrounding wall of the inner receptacle, said valve member being rotatable to vary the degree of compression of the water absorbent sponge to vary correspondingly the rate of water flow through the water inlet hole; and a sealing ring provided on the valve member adjacent to the head portion, said sealing ring preventing leakage of water from the water reservoir via the radial opening in the outer receptacle.
8. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer receptacles are transparent.
9. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer receptacles are generally rectangular in shape, said inner receptacle having a width which is smaller than that of said outer receptacle, said water reservoir being formed on at least one side of the inner receptacle, said inner receptacle having a bottom which is formed with a longitudinal upward partition and a partition plate which is mounted transversely on the partition, said partition and said partition plate dividing the interior of the inner receptacle into several regions, said plant container having a bottom surface which is formed with a longitudinal groove to facilitate mounting of the plant container on an inverted T-shaped plant-supporting platform.
10. The plant container as claimed in claim 9, wherein said partition plate is formed integrally with the inner receptacle and is formed with at least one water inlet hole.
11. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a water supplying device that is connected to the outer receptacle for supplying water to the water reservoir.
12. The plant container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said water supplying device comprises: a water container which contains water therein; a tubular connector which confines an axial passage and which is mounted to a bottom portion of the outer receptacle on one end and which is connected to said water container on the other end, said tubular connector communicating the water reservoir and the interior of the water container and having an inner wall surface which is formed with an annular groove; and a valve piece disposed in the axial passage and having a periphery which extends into the annular groove, said valve piece having a diameter which is larger than that of the axial passage but smaller than that of the annular groove.
13. The plant container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an automatic water flow regulator which includes: an upper housing part formed with a moisture inlet, said upper housing part receiving a water guiding member and a swellable member therein, said water guiding member being disposed on top of the swellable member and guiding water that enters the moisture inlet to the swellable member, said swellable member being made of a liquid expansible material; a lower housing part mounted to a lower portion of the upper housing part, said lower housing part being formed with a radial water inlet and having a bottom which is formed with a water outlet; ; a retaining unit for retaining the lower housing part on an inner wall surface of the surrounding wall of the inner receptacle such that the water inlet of the lower housing part is aligned with the inlet hole of the inner receptacle; and an elongated valve member disposed axially inside the lower housing part and having a distal tapered end and a head portion connected to a resilient member, said swellable member being disposed on top of the resilient member, said resilient member pulling the valve member away from the water outlet; whereby, when water enters the moisture inlet, said swellable member expands and urges the distal tapered end of the valve member to close the water outlet against action of the resilient member.
14. The plant container as described substantially hereinbefore with reference to Figures 2A to 6.
GB9318125A 1993-09-01 1993-09-01 Plant container with built-in water reservoir. Withdrawn GB2281492A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9318125A GB2281492A (en) 1993-09-01 1993-09-01 Plant container with built-in water reservoir.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9318125A GB2281492A (en) 1993-09-01 1993-09-01 Plant container with built-in water reservoir.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9318125D0 GB9318125D0 (en) 1993-10-20
GB2281492A true GB2281492A (en) 1995-03-08

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9318125A Withdrawn GB2281492A (en) 1993-09-01 1993-09-01 Plant container with built-in water reservoir.

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2281492A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5848494A (en) * 1996-01-31 1998-12-15 Spelt; Jacob Self-watering apparatus for plant
GB2330511A (en) * 1997-10-23 1999-04-28 Gillian Yuet Gnoh Yong Pannier style plant container
US6715233B2 (en) * 2002-01-28 2004-04-06 Planter Technology, Inc. Self-watering modular planter insert reservoir
WO2020253982A1 (en) * 2019-06-19 2020-12-24 Steffen Meier Trellis for plants, in particular in saddle-type planters

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1147851A (en) * 1966-09-19 1969-04-10 Pierre Lecat Double-walled pot for plant cultivation
GB2166635A (en) * 1984-11-13 1986-05-14 Alexander Wild Plant watering device
GB2244198A (en) * 1990-04-28 1991-11-27 Lorna Rosemary Peters Improved plant pot
GB2250171A (en) * 1990-08-01 1992-06-03 Lee Chin Hee Plant pot
WO1993008681A1 (en) * 1991-11-09 1993-05-13 Pettyfer Alan D S A plant raising device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1147851A (en) * 1966-09-19 1969-04-10 Pierre Lecat Double-walled pot for plant cultivation
GB2166635A (en) * 1984-11-13 1986-05-14 Alexander Wild Plant watering device
GB2244198A (en) * 1990-04-28 1991-11-27 Lorna Rosemary Peters Improved plant pot
GB2250171A (en) * 1990-08-01 1992-06-03 Lee Chin Hee Plant pot
WO1993008681A1 (en) * 1991-11-09 1993-05-13 Pettyfer Alan D S A plant raising device
GB2261583A (en) * 1991-11-09 1993-05-26 Pettyfer Alan D S A plant raising device.

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5848494A (en) * 1996-01-31 1998-12-15 Spelt; Jacob Self-watering apparatus for plant
US6161329A (en) * 1996-01-31 2000-12-19 Spelt; Jacob Automatic watering device for potted plants
GB2330511A (en) * 1997-10-23 1999-04-28 Gillian Yuet Gnoh Yong Pannier style plant container
GB2330511B (en) * 1997-10-23 2002-02-20 Gillian Yuet Gnoh Yong A plant container
US6715233B2 (en) * 2002-01-28 2004-04-06 Planter Technology, Inc. Self-watering modular planter insert reservoir
WO2020253982A1 (en) * 2019-06-19 2020-12-24 Steffen Meier Trellis for plants, in particular in saddle-type planters

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9318125D0 (en) 1993-10-20

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