Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium – Irrigator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-07
2001-01-23
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
Irrigator
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176038
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to apparatus and processes for maintaining a houseplant. More specifically, the invention relates to apparatus and processes for maintaining the moisture level and nutrient content of potting soil in which a houseplant is planted.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Two essentials for sustaining plant life, timely moisture and sufficient sunlight, have discouraged many from the cultivation of houseplants. The effort and exactness required for conventionally watering plants has been beyond the ability and focus of many who would otherwise enjoy the proximity and decorative value of plants. Wick devices used for low maintenance watering have thus far not proven universally satisfactory, due to the inability to optimize, direct, and modulate delivery of moisture to the houseplant. This deficiency usually results in a tendency to keep the potting soil and the houseplant too wet, a condition which can have adverse effects on the plant, e.g., root rot. Moreover, spaces with sunlight sufficient to support plant life are always at a premium indoors. When windows are available to provide sunlight, furniture often requires protection from the moist soil needed to sustain the plant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art, and provides an apparatus which achieves three desirable goals which, taken individually or together, are substantial improvements over prior art houseplant maintenance devices. A self-contained apparatus provides: directed, controllable, and low maintenance watering of a houseplant, which is modulated to the specific needs of the plant; flexibility for use in all of the conventional ways plants are mounted, hung, or set around the environment in which it is desirable to locate a houseplant; and a modularly constructed apparatus for individualization, substitution, rearrangement, and rotation of houseplants. According to the present invention, an apparatus in accordance therewith is of durable construction and amenable to low-cost manufacture, thereby making a houseplant maintenance device according to the present invention affordable for sale.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a wick for conducting a nutrient within a plant container comprises a length of core material including a first end and a second end, the core material capable of conducting said nutrient from the first end to the second end by wicking, and a casing around a portion of the core material.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a houseplant maintenance device usable with a wick device inserted into and extending from a bottom surface of a planting pot comprises a base having a housing and comprising an interior which is sealed to form a reservoir in the base for sealingly holding water therein; a top comprising an opening therein which communicates the reservoir with the exterior of the base; a track in the interior of the base, the track comprising an opening which communicates the track with the interior, the track further comprising an end and a seat, the seat located at the track end and communicating with the track; and a gasket comprising a gasket ring for supporting a planting pot therein, the gasket ring having a shape substantially similar to the base top opening; a leg extending from the gasket ring; and a foot on the leg opposite the gasket ring; wherein the foot, the track, and the track opening are sized for the foot to enter the track opening and to slide from the opening to the track seat when the gasket is partially inserted into the base interior through the base top opening.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of monitoring the moisture content of soil in a planting pot, the planting pot having a first color when substantially dry and a second color when substantially wet from moisture from the soil, comprises the steps of positioning a material immediately adjacent the planting pot, the material having a color substantially similar to the planting pot second color; and comparing the color of the material to the color of the pot.
Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 320588 (1885-06-01), Rhoads
patent: 918563 (1909-04-01), Lewis
patent: 1216642 (1917-02-01), White
patent: 1247766 (1917-11-01), White
patent: 1251552 (1918-01-01), Marks
patent: 1928810 (1933-10-01), Burford
patent: 2810235 (1957-10-01), Magid
patent: 3786598 (1974-01-01), Stadelhofer
patent: 4083146 (1978-04-01), Brankovi{acute over (e)}
patent: 4236352 (1980-12-01), Heaney et al.
patent: 5193305 (1993-03-01), Holtkamp, Jr.
patent: 6023886 (2000-02-01), Momiyama et al.
patent: 1104 (1875-01-01), None
patent: 10-127177 (1998-05-01), None
patent: 10-304783 (1998-11-01), None
patent: 10-313713 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 11-32602 (1999-02-01), None
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Carone Michael J.
Gellner Jeffrey L.
LandOfFree
Houseplant maintenance device and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Houseplant maintenance device and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Houseplant maintenance device and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2481255