Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium – Irrigator
Reexamination Certificate
1996-07-18
2001-09-18
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
Irrigator
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289632
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a plant drainage system, especially the drainage of fluid from the bottom of a plant-containing vessel. More particularly it is concerned with drainage apparatus mounted on a pot so as to provide advantageous drainage of water away from a floor or deck where the pot is standing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Plant pots come in a variety of sizes and shapes but typically have a hole or drainage portal in the bottom to allow for gravitational drainage of water, which may contain fertilizer, plant food or the like. While the drainage hole is designed to allow fluid to escape the pot, such a passive system creates several problems. Often the pot is standing on a saucer-like plate having an upstanding rim to catch and contain the water. The problem is that the drainage water stands in the plate until it evaporates, is pulled back in by capillary action, is manually removed or recycled into the topsoil of the plant.
Manual removal of the water sometimes does not occur as often as is desirable for any number of reasons, e.g. the plant owner may be absent for an extended period, may simply forget or the pot may be heavy or difficult to lift. The drainage water may therefore be left standing for a long period of time, which causes root rot, and is hygenically and esthetically undesirable. It will also be appreciated that standing water is generally detrimental for the floor, deck or other supporting surface.
Manual removal itself creates problems, since spillage sometimes occurs. Also the standing water can overfow the saucer if not removed for an extended period.
Further, it is evident that a system which eliminates the necessity for manual removal of water would be inherently desirable by reducing plant maintenance. What is needed is a plant drainage system which allows for drainage of water from the bottom of the plant so as to eliminate the water without the necessity of manual removal and to prevent the build up of standing water in undesirable areas.
One attempt to deal with the problem of standing water is a system where a reservoir of water is held below the pot with sufficient spatial communication between the pot and the reservoir. Water is drawn drawn back up into the plant soil by the capillary action of the root system. The problem with this alternative is that it is a passive system which doesn't adequately regulate the amount of moisture in the reservoir. In other words, if the system becomes saturated with water, the system will not effectively get rid of the excess water.
Another attempt is the use of a pump along with a moisture sensor in the soil, so that when the soil is sufficently dry, the pump is activated by the sensor, resulting in water being pumped back into the pot. The problem with this alternative is that it is an active system, requiring electronic and mechanical apparatus, additional expense, energy, maintenance, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems outlined above are solved by the system and apparatus provided in accordance with the present invention. That is to say, the drainage apparatus hereof serves to channel fluid gravitationally out the bottom of a pot to a preferred area away from the pot, and further provides for ease of installation, even for a pot already filled with soil or the like. The drainage apparatus in accordance with the present invention broadly includes a drainage member having a base member, a channel member and an adhesive layer. The base member has a first side and a second side, including portions defining a hole disposed between the first and second sides. The channel member is sealingly affixed to the base member, and has a first open end and a second open end disposed to define a channel, such that the first open end is in spatial communication with the hole of the base member. The adhesive layer is disposed adjacent the first side of the base member, and is suitable for adhesion to the exterior of the wall of the pot. When the hole of the base member is aligned with the portal of the vessel and the adhesive layer is attached to the wall of the vessel, the drainage member serves to provide directed fluid communication between the interior of the vessel and the second end of the channel member, so that fluid is directed from the interior of the pot to an area other than the area directly below the pot.
In preferred embodiments, the drainage apparatus is a drainage assembly which includes a hose member for further channeling the fluid away from the area directly below the pot. The drainage assembly can be mounted exteriorly of the pot, or can be mounted so the base member resides on the interior of the pot.
An adhesive layer may be omitted, and in certain embodiments its adhesive function is replaced by caulk or the like. In other embodiments, the drainage member may be mounted on the interior of the pot, without adhesive action (e.g. by utilizing a grab ring exterior to the pot) or with either an adhesive tape or caulk utilized on the interior.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4986699 (1991-01-01), Bohnhoff
patent: 5062239 (1991-11-01), Helton
patent: 5190404 (1993-03-01), Kiyokawa et al.
patent: 5448854 (1995-09-01), Hirsch et al.
patent: 1003488 (1957-02-01), None
patent: 815709 (1937-07-01), None
patent: 2384445 (1978-11-01), None
patent: 17945 (1910-01-01), None
Jordan Charles T.
Palo Francis T.
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