Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium – Irrigator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-20
2001-05-22
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
Irrigator
C047S048500, C047S066600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233871
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that plants need air, water, and light for growth. It is also known that plants purify air. The purification of air through plant leaves are well known. However, the role of complex biological and bacterial process of plant's root system in breaking down air polluting chemicals and suppress the growth of microbes was only became understood in recent years.
Since the energy crisis in the 70's, new homes are being built with energy efficiency in mind. To achieve this, buildings are tend to have less air circulation with the outside air and better seal around doors and windows. The result of these changes in addition to the wide spread use of plastics, paints and other synthetic materials and chemicals, the indoor air pollution have become a serious health problem. Which resulted in the so called sick air syndrome. Several air purification planters and apparatus were proposed by U.S. patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,217,696; 5,269,094; 5,351,438; and 5,433,923. These patents suggest means to improve the interaction of air with the root system of the plants. Major deficit of these designs include 1) lack of sufficient water reservoir in the planter which increases the work of maintaining the plants, 2) relatively large variation of water level within the planter which is, in many respect, an undesirable consequence of being unable to control a constant water level in the planter.
On the market everywhere, there are many kinds of the so called “self watering” planters available to the public. There are very little difference among these planters. The basic feature of these “self watering” planters is that a small water reservoir at the bottom of the planter with a water filling opening near the bottom of the planter side wall. Perforated divider separates soil with water reservoir except that there are few studs or channels in the divider which extend down into the water reservoir and all the way to the bottom of the planter so that soil in these studs or channels were able to be submerged in the water at any given water level in the water reservoir. Capillary action of the soil were able to lift water to the root system and support plant growth. The disadvantages of these “self watering” planters include 1) the size of the water reservoir is usually small and the uncontrollable water level also change with time, 2) the bottom exposed portion of the soil and the water reservoir are directly open to the ambient air through the water refill opening and thus mildew or microbes growth is a common problem.
This invention relates to a planter insert with separate water reservoir to be placed inside a planter. It is capable of maintaining a constant water level in the planter insert. Because the water reservoir is separate to the planter insert, the size of the water reservoir may be made as big as one wishes. For planter insert with very large water reservoir, it is not practical to remove the water reservoir for refill, a special design feature is provided to enable the refill in place without spilling water.
With different features in the planter inserts, the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system is maximized, thus enhances the effectiveness of air purification process by the root system. Optional lamp and circulation fan are also provided. The location of the fan is imbedded within the potting medium underneath the planter insert thus greatly reduced the vibration and noise level of the fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved planter insert for plants to be placed inside an ordinary or decorative planter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a separate water reservoir for the planter insert. The bottom of the water reservoir (when turned over and inserted into the planter becomes the top of the reservoir) is provided with a small viewing area for a water level indicator so that water level inside the water reservoir is in clear view.
It is another object of the present invention to provide and maintain constant water level in one or more planter insert(s) connected together and placed inside the same planter with a single water reservoir.
It is another object of the present invention to increase the interface surface areas between ambient air with the potting medium and the root system. The improved air circulation and the inclusion of a lamp are all means of improving the effectiveness of air purification and sterilization.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved water reservoir such that it is easier to turn over for insert to the planter without the concern of spilling.
The present invention includes an improved planter insert which has a shallow water well at the bottom of the planter insert. A water reservoir with a curved neck can be seated at the opening of the shallow water well. A constant water level is maintained inside the planter insert which is achieved by the partial vacuum created within the water reservoir and water surrounding the mouth opening of the water reservoir.
Planter inserts with different complexity may be placed inside the planter for different purposes. The simplest planter insert will help to increase the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system thus improves the breathing or circulation of air in the root system and enhance the air purification process by the root system. The second planter insert includes a circulation fan such that the circulation of air is greatly increased. The third planter insert includes a lamp and a circulation fan. The lamp using either incandescent bulb or bulb with ultra violet feature will help to disinfect the air being circulated around the bulb. The inclusion of a fan will further enhance the air circulation.
For air purification purpose, hydroponically soil-less planting is the desirable approach. Water absorbing pebbles such as expended clay and zeolite with or without activated carbon are ideal potting medium. This type of potting medium often leave many void air spaces in the potting medium and the root system and allows circulating air to be scrubbed by the wet pebble surfaces and the root system and maximizing the effect of air purification.
Conventional potting soil may also be used in this planter insert. The air purification property does reduced considerably, nevertheless, it is still better than the regular planter. Other advantages of the planter insert described earlier still apply.
The curved neck design of the water reservoir provides a unique feature which allows the water reservoir to be turned over to a predetermined angle with the liquid line inside being higher than the opening of the water reservoir without spilling any liquid after refill. This makes the non-spill insertion of water reservoir into the planter possible.
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Nguyen Son T.
Poon Peter M.
LandOfFree
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