Patent Application
20170215355
This invention relates to systems for delivering water to plants and soil. More particularly, this invention relates to drip watering systems for delivering water to a specific area.
Irrigation systems are used in order to artificially apply water to an area where it is needed but not necessarily present. Automated and semi-automated irrigation systems enable areas of agriculture, landscaping and planting to be watered with little effort after the system is configured to deliver a necessary amount of water at a specified time. One key to an effective system is to get as much water and nutrients to the area as possible without over watering. Drip irrigation, rather than casting a wide spray or steady stream of water over a large area, deposits a low-pressure water stream to watering areas. Still though, drip irrigation systems may be inefficient if the systems drip water unnecessarily in areas where no water is needed.
An automatic drip watering system comprises a waterline and one or more drip watering devices. The one or more drip watering devices each comprise a valve, which is configured to open and drip irrigate an area when weight is applied to the drip watering device. In some embodiments, the one or more watering devices comprise a clip, hook or loop which is configured to accept one or more hanging pots and/or baskets. The clip is pulled down by the weight of the hanging pots and/or baskets and the valve opens in order to drip irrigate the hanging pots and/or baskets through one or more drip lines.
In one aspect, a drip watering system comprises one or more waterlines and a watering device coupled to the one or more waterlines and comprising one or more valves configured to open and deliver water to an area when weight is added to the watering device. The watering area is able to comprise one or more hanging pots and/or hanging baskets. In some embodiments, the one or more hanging pots are configured to hang on a clip of the watering device. In some embodiments, the system comprises one or more additional watering devices. The watering device and the one or more additional watering devices are able to couple to the same waterline. Alternatively, the watering device and the one or more additional watering devices are able to couple to a different waterline. In some embodiments, the watering device and the one or more additional watering devices independently water a different area. In some embodiments, the one or more waterlines comprise a ¼-inch drip line. In some embodiments, the watering system is grouped into multiple zones. The watering system is able to comprise a timer for starting and stopping the watering system at a predetermined time.
In another aspect, a drip watering device comprises one or more drip lines extending from the watering device and one or more valves configured to open and deliver water to an area through the one or more drip lines when weight is added to the watering device. The watering area is able to comprise one or more hanging pots and/or hanging baskets. In some embodiments, the one or more hanging pots are configured to hang on a clip of the watering device. In some embodiments, the watering device is coupled to a waterline. In some embodiments, the watering device comprises a coupling device for coupling the drip watering device with an additional object. The additional object is able to comprise one of a frame, a post, a hook, a vertical pole, and a horizontal pole.
In a further aspect, a method of drip watering comprises coupling one or more drip watering devices with one or more overhead hangers, coupling the one or more drip watering devices with one or more waterlines and adding weight to the one or more watering devices, wherein one or more valves of the one or more watering devices are configured to open and deliver water to an area when weight is added to the watering device. The watering area is able to comprise one or more hanging pots and/or hanging baskets. In some embodiments, the one or more hanging pots are configured to hang on a clip of the one or more watering devices. In some embodiments, the one or more watering devices are grouped into multiple zones. In some embodiments, a timer is programmed for starting and stopping watering at a predetermined time.
In still a further aspect, a watering valve comprises a valve body and a hanger for hanging an object; the hanger movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the valve is configured to supply water to the object when the hanger is in the open position. In some embodiments, the object comprises one of a hanging pot and a hanging basket. In some of these embodiments, the one of the hanging pot and the hanging basket is configured to hang on a clip on the watering device. In some embodiments, the watering valve comprises a coupling device for coupling the watering valve with an additional object. In some embodiments, the additional object comprises one of a frame, a post, a hook, a vertical pole, and a horizontal pole.
In another aspect, a drip watering device comprises a body, a clip, one or more drip waterlines and a valve configured to move between an open position for delivering water and a closed position. In some embodiments, the valve is moved to the open position when one of a hanging pot and a hanging basket is hung on the clip. In some embodiments, the valve comprises one or both of an inflow port and an outflow port.
In the following description, numerous details are set forth for purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without the use of these specific details or with equivalent alternatives. Thus, the presently claimed invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein. Throughout the description similar components are similarly marked in order to aid comprehension.
Embodiments are directed to a drip irrigation system for irrigating one or more zones and/or areas. The irrigation system comprises a waterline and one or more drip watering devices. The one or more watering devices comprise one or more valves which are configured to open and deliver water to an area through one or more drip lines when weight is added to the watering device. In some embodiments, the one or more watering devices comprise a clip which is configured to accept one or more hanging pots and/or baskets. The clip is pulled down by the weight of the one or more hanging pots and/or baskets and one or more valves are opened to deliver water to the one or more hanging pots and/or baskets through one or more drip lines.
Referring to
As shown in
The drip watering device 100 also comprises an upper body 110 comprising a first side 111 and a second side 113 and an aperture 115. The aperture 115 enables the drip watering device 100 to be coupled to an additional object 120. For example, in some embodiments, the drip watering device 100 is coupled to one of a wire, a frame, a post, a hook, a vertical pole, and a horizontal pole. Particularly, the drip watering device 100 is able to couple to any appropriate object that allows the drip watering device 100 to remain a sufficient height off the ground so that the one or more valves are able to open when weight is added to the device 100.
In some embodiments, a plurality of drip watering devices 100 are coupled together in order to drip irrigate multiple hanging pots, baskets, and/or watering areas. In some embodiments, the plurality of watering devices 100 are coupled to the same waterline. Alternatively, or in conjunction, a plurality of different watering devices 100 couple to a plurality of different waterlines. In some embodiments, the plurality of drip watering devices 100 are configured to independently water an area. For example, in some embodiments, only watering devices 100 that comprise a hanging plant and/or basket provide drip irrigation. Particularly, the one or more watering devices 100 are able to be grouped into multiple zones. In some embodiments, a timer is used for starting and stopping the drip watering at predetermined times. Additionally, in some embodiments, a plurality of watering devices 100 are ran according to one or more of an on/off switch, a programmable irrigation timer, one or more environmental sensors, a controller, and an irrigation system operation circuit as described in the co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/914,466, and entitled INJECTOR STYLE IRRIGATION SYSTEM, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In some embodiments, the valve 201 body is configured to connect to a ¼-inch drip line. However, the valve 201 is able to connect to any appropriately sized drip line. The valve 201 body is configured with one or more ports 231 and 233. In some embodiments, the one or more ports 231 and 233 comprise an inflow port and an outflow port.
In some embodiments, the additional object the drip watering device 200 couples to is a water supply line, hose or tube. In such an embodiment, the water input port 233 is internal and couples directly with the water supply line.
The drip irrigation system, device and method is configured to provide drip irrigation to one or more hanging pots and/or baskets in order to save time, effort and maintenance while watering a group of plants or area. Particularly, only to those devices which have pots and/or baskets to be watered provide drip irrigation. If there is no weight on the device, indicating an absence of a hanging pot and/or basket, then the watering valve remains closed and no water is provided. Particularly, water is saved by only watering those areas where it is needed. Additionally, because the drip irrigation is automatic it only needs to be set up once in order to correctly water. Accordingly, the irrigation system as described herein has many advantages.
The invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications area able to be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Specifically, it will be apparent that the design of the irrigation system is able to be implemented in many different styles and configurations. Further, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the precise structure of the device is able to be substantially varied to accommodate various styles of water sources and watering areas. Consequently, the claims should be broadly construed, consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention, and should not be limited to their exact, literal meaning.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14716516 | May 2015 | US |
| Child | 15489639 | US |
