Plant husbandry – Plant irrigators and/or fertilizers – apparatus or method
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-09
2003-07-29
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Plant irrigators and/or fertilizers, apparatus or method
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598338
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to the field of plant husbandry. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a plant watering device having user-selectable water-delivery apertures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Plants require water and other nutrients to survive. When located in their natural settings, indigenous plants generally receive sufficient water and nutrients from their environment, which includes the soil and climatic conditions in which they grow. Cultivated plants, such as plants grown indoors in containers or outdoors in controlled beds, however, generally do not receive sufficient water and nutrients without human intervention. Humans typically must continually water and/or fertilize cultivated plants so that the plants remain viable.
One conventional method of watering cultivated plants is to provide water from a watering can, garden hose or the like. This method typically required a large amount of human interaction, unless timers, automated valves and other sophisticated and costly equipment is used. However, a typical domestic gardener who may not be able to afford such an sophisticated watering system must closely monitor watering so that the plants receive the proper amount of water. Unfortunately, the domestic gardener may not always have the time it takes to water plants in a conventional manner.
Various watering devices have been designed in an attempt to provide some of the benefits of sophisticated automated watering systems but at a lower monetary cost. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,880 to Weinblatt shows a plant watering device comprising an elongate tube insertable into the soil surrounding the roots of one or more plants. The tube includes a plurality of apertures for releasing water from inside the tube and a generally frusto-conical tip that allows the tube to be inserted easily into the soil. The outer surface of the tube includes a spiral ridge to aid inserting the tube into the soil.
The Weinblatt plant watering device also comprises an inner member that defines a chamber and is rotatably, and snugly, engaged within the tube. The inner member contains apertures that may be moved into and out of registration with the apertures of the tube by rotating the inner member. By placing the apertures of the inner member out of registration with the apertures of the tube before inserting the device into the soil, the inner member will block soil from falling into the chamber within the inner member when the device is inserted into the soil. After the device has been inserted into the soil, the inner member is rotated relative to the outer member to place the apertures of the inner member and tube in full registration with one another to allow water to flow from the chamber to the soil surrounding the device.
The Weinblatt watering device further comprises a reservoir in fluid communication with the chamber for storing an appropriate amount of water to be delivered to the plants. A timer and valve coupled to the timer are located between the reservoir and chamber for regulating the flow of water from the reservoir to the soil surrounding the device.
The Weinblatt watering device has several shortcomings. Among these are that it is relatively complex, requiring numerous components, such as the tube, inner member, timer and valve, which make the device relatively expensive. Also, the timer aid valve make the device less robust than desired, increasing the likelihood that the device will fail. In addition, the Weinblatt device is not easily customizable to different soil types, watering needs of a particular plant or location of the plant(s) relative to the plant watering device. These and other shortcomings are overcome by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a device for providing a liquid from a reservoir to a porous medium. The device comprises a dispenser for insertion into the porous medium. A chamber is defined within the dispenser, the chamber for receiving the liquid from the reservoir. At least one removable seal is located on the dispenser and is selectively removable to provide an aperture extending between the porous medium and the chamber when the dispenser is inserted at least partially into the porous medium.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of providing a liquid to a porous medium. The method comprises the step of providing a dispenser for inserting into the porous medium, wherein the dispenser defines a chamber for receiving the liquid and has at least one removable seal located between the chamber and the environment surrounding the dispenser. Then, the at least one removable seal is removed such that the chamber is in fluid communication with the environment surrounding the dispenser.
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http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds/uk/index.html, Water Wizard, printed on Jan. 8, 2001.
Buss Melvin H.
Oliver Frank F.
America's Gardening Resource, Inc.
Downs Rachlin & Martin PLLC
Nguyen Son T.
Poon Peter M.
LandOfFree
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