GB2364624A

GB2364624A - Plant watering device

Info

Publication number: GB2364624A
Application number: GB0017106A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Leslie Williamson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-13
Filing date: 2000-07-13
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: GB0017106D0

Abstract

A plant watering device comprises a vessel (10) forming a reservoir for water or liquid feed, the vessel having at least one outlet nozzle (18) projecting outwardly and downwardly from it. The vessel (10) may have a supporting stake (12) projecting from it, for mounting the device in position by driving the stake (12) into the soil adjacent a plant to be watered. The vessel may be elongate in shape and have a plurality of nozzles spaced along its length (Fig 5). Each nozzle may contain a body of porous material (21). The nozzle may be detachable from the vessel by means of a thread on projecting collar 20. The nozzle may have different dimensions to alter the rate at which water is dispensed. In use the water drops from the end of the nozzle.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> The present invention relates to a device for watering plants.

Various devices have been proposed hitherto for watering plants on a continuous basis, so avoiding or reducing the need for frequent manual attention. Such devices have suffered from a number of limitations, either because they are of relatively complicated and therefore expensive construction, or complicated to use or of limited effectiveness.

I have now devised a plant watering device which is of simple construction and easy yet effective to use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a plant watering device which comprises a vessel forming a reservoir for water, the vessel having at least one outlet nozzle projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom.

In use, the device may be mounted or positioned adjacent the plant or plants to be watered. The reservoir is filled with water, or with liquid feed, which is then dispensed from the outlet nozzle or nozzles under gravity, as a succession of drops.

Preferably the or each nozzle is arranged so that the drops of water or liquid feed fall directly from its end. Preferably the or each nozzle terminates in a tubular section, arranged for the drops of water or liquid feed to fall from the end thereof.

Preferably the or each nozzle contains a body of porous material, through which the water or liquid feed permeates. Preferably the reservoir is formed as a one-piece moulding of plastics material, including the supporting stage or stakes. However, preferably the or each nozzle is detachable from the reservoir, and may be changed for a selected nozzle of different dimensions, to select the rate at which the water is dispensed. Preferably the or each nozzle

is formed with a screw-thread at its end, for coupling to a complementary screw thread on the reservoir.

The device may be arranged for free-standing adjacent the plant or plants to be watered. Instead, it may include means for mounting it in position: for example, it may have at least one supporting stake projecting from its bottom, in another example, the device may be arranged for mounting on the rim of the plant pot, in which case the reservoir may be of annular or part-annular shape and arranged to engage on the rom of the plant pot.

The reservoir may be generally spherical in shape, with a single supporting stake projecting radially therefrom. The reservoir may have a single outlet nozzle projecting from it, preferably radially.

In an alternative embodiment, the reservoir may be elongate in shape, with a number of outlet nozzles spaced apart along its length. For example, the reservoir may be generally rectangular, with the outlet nozzles projecting outwardly and downwardly from one or both sides. Preferably the reservoir has a number of supporting stakes spaced apart along its length.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of plant watering device in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side view of the plant watering device in Figure 1; F I GURE 3 i s a view of the plant watering device in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, sectional view of the plant watering device of Figures 1 to 3; and F I GURE 5 i s an isometric view of a second embodiment of

plant watering device in accordance with the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a plant watering device which comprises a hollow body 10 forming a reservoir, the body 10 having a supporting stake 12 projecting from it, for mounting the device by driving the stake 12 into the soil adjacent the plant to be watered. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, the hollow body 10 is spherical in shape and the supporting stake 12, which is pointed at its outer end 13, projects radially from the body 10. A circular opening, having an upstanding neck 14, is formed in the top of the body 10: a closure cap 16 is arranged to fit over the top of the neck 14 and is connected to the body 10 by a flexible web 17.

The hollow body 10 is also formed with a tubular outlet nozzle 18 projecting radially from it, adjacent its bottom. The axis of the tubular outlet nozzle 18 extends along a radial line at an acute angle to the axis of the supporting stake 12. Accordingly, in use, the outlet nozzle 18 thus projects downwardly in a direction which is inclined at an acute angle to the vertical. The outlet nozzle 18 is f ormed with a reduced-diameter section 19 at its outer end.

As shown in Figure 4, the outlet nozzle 18 is preferably a separate component which is screw-coupled to the body 10. In the example shown, the body 10 is formed as a one- piece moulding of plastics material, including the stake 10. The body 10 is also formed with a projecting collar 20 which is internally screw-threaded to receive the externally screw- threaded end of the nozzle 18.

Also as shown in Figure 4, a body 21 of porous material is positioned within the outlet nozzle 18, to control the rate at which water is dispensed from the device.

In use, the device is mounted adjacent a plant to be watered, by driving its stake 12 into the soil adjacent the

plant. The reservoir 10 is filled with water or liquid feed through the opening at its top, then the closure cap 16 fitted.

The water will now be dispensed under gravity through the nozzle 18. The water permeates slowly through the body 21 of porous material and is dispensed as successive drops which fall directly from the outer end of the nozzle.

It will be appreciated that the nozzle can be changed, if desired, by a nozzle of selected diameter and/or length, to control the size of drops which are dispensed, and/or the interval of time between successive drops. The porous body 21 may also be changed, in order to control the rate at which drops of water are dispensed.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a plant watering device which comprises a hollow body 30 serving as a reservoir, and generally rectangular in shape. The reservoir 30 is formed in its top with an opening having a closure cap 32. Four supporting stakes 34 project from the bottom of the reservoir and three outlet nozzles 36 project outwardly and downwardly from one side of the reservoir 30. Each of the outlet nozzles 36 is of the same construction as the nozzle 18 of the device shown in Figures 1 to 4, and is detachably mounted to the reservoir 30 in the same manner.

Claims

CLAIMS 1) A plant watering device which comprises a vessel forming a reservoir for water or liquid feed, the vessel having at least one outlet nozzle projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom. 2) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each said nozzle is arranged so that drops of water or liquid feed fall directly from its end. 3) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 2, in which the or each said nozzle terminates in a tubular section arranged for said drops to fall from its end. 4) A plant watering device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each said nozzle contains a body of porous material through which the water or liquid feed permeates. 5) A plant watering device as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged for free-standing adjacent a plant or plants to be watered.

6) A plant watering device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, including means for mounting said in position. 7) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 6, in which said mounting means comprises at least one supporting stake projecting from the bottom of said reservoir. 8) A plant watering device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, arranged for mounting on the rim of a plant pot.

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9) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 8, in which said vessel is of annular or part-annular shape and arranged to engage on the rim of said plant pot. 10) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 7, in which said vessel is generally spherical in shape with a single said supporting stake projecting radially therefrom. 11) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 10, in which said vessel has a single said outlet nozzle projecting from it. 12) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 7, in which said vessel is elongate in shape with a number of said outlet nozzles spaced apart along its length. 13) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 12, in which said reservoir has a number of said supporting stakes spaced apart along its length. 14) A plant watering device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each said nozzle is detachable from said vessel and is replaceable by a selected nozzle of different dimensions to select the rate at which water is dispensed therefrom. 15) A plant watering device as claimed in claim 14, in which the or each said nozzle is formed with a screw- thread at an end thereof, for coupling to a complementary screw-thread on said vessel. 16) A plant watering device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.