Patent Application
20150000746
The present invention relates to a new and useful fill pipe for a plant stand (e.g. a Christmas tree stand), and to a new and useful method for using the fill pipe to continuously monitor the level of liquid in the plant stand, in a manner that does not use electronic or moving parts, and enables a user conveniently while standing to add liquid to the plant stand through the fill pipe, when the fill pipe provides a visual indication of a level of liquid in the plant stand that is below a predetermined level.
This invention also relates in general to a watering device for cut plants, more specifically, this device is an apparatus for supplying water to a plant or tree that has been severed from its root system and placed indoors where it is dependent upon artificial means for watering. In particular, this device can be applied to supply water to Christmas trees.
The fill pipe is configured to be inserted into a plant stand and to extend upward from the plant stand. The fill pipe has a lower end configured for insertion into the plant stand, with an upper portion located a convenient access and viewing height above the plant stand. The lower end of the fill pipe has two segments connected with friction-fit couplings. Either or both of these segments can be removed with or without the couplings to easily provide multiple choices of pipe length to best suit the size of the tree. Reducing or increasing the number of these segments would be a trivial change and unnecessary because the two provided are from experience optimal for any tree size likely to be used here. The fill pipe acts as a conduit through which liquid can be transmitted to the plant stand, and is mounted with a liquid level indicator on the upper portion that continuously provides a visual indication of the level of liquid in the plant stand. A sliding guide mounted adjacent to the level indicator can be set to mark the desired level of liquid in the plant stand, for comparison with the indicated level. When the fill pipe is in use with a plant stand, the fill pipe is inserted into the plant stand and the plant stand is filled with liquid through the fill pipe to at least a predetermined level shown by the liquid level indicator, and then marked by the sliding guide. The liquid level indicator continuously shows the plant stand water level and can be monitored at the discretion of the user so that liquid can be added to the plant stand through the fill pipe when the liquid level indicator shows a level of liquid in the plant stand that is below the predetermined level shown by the slide guide. Thus, the fill pipe is designed to allow a user to monitor the level of liquid in the plant stand, and add liquid to the plant stand when the liquid level is below a predetermined level, all in a manner that does not use electronic or moving parts.
In the preferred manner of use, initially the fill pipe is set in the plant stand with the liquid in the plant stand at a level set by a user, with, the level sensing tube in fluid communication with the liquid in the plant stand and the level indicator operational to provide an indication of the liquid level in the plant stand. The slide guide is then moved to a position relative to the level indicator fluid that sets the predetermined level that is thereafter used to show when liquid should be added to the plant stand. Then, the fill pipe is removed from the plant stand, the plant is inserted in the plant stand, the fill pipe is then placed in the plant stand and the plant stand filled with liquid until the liquid level indicator and guide show the level of liquid as reaching the predetermined level set by the guide. Thereafter, a user can monitor the liquid level in the plant stand, by watching the level of liquid indicated by the indicator fluid in the liquid level indicator, and adding liquid through the fill pipe when the level of liquid is below the level shown by the indicator fluid until the indicator fluid reaches the slide guide set point, showing that the stand liquid level is at the desired depth.
The present invention provides significant distinctions from the prior art. The present invention provides a rigid pipe of appropriate length inserted through and supported by the tree branches down to entry to the bottom of the water basin of the tree stand. The upper end of the fill pipe has mounted a liquid level indicator in the form of a manometer with colored indicating fluid to provide visual indication of the water level in the tree stand basin. The fill pipe is of a length such that the upper end of the fill pipe is at, or can be adjusted to, a convenient height for the user to observe the level indicator and to add water when needed through the top of the fill pipe. An important feature of the present invention is continuous indication of the water level in the tree stand so the user is informed at a glance of the need to add water to the tree stand. In this case, “indication” is separate and distinct from “alarm” or other visual or audio means of noting when a particular water level has been reached in the tree stand. The importance of this is that indication gives an ongoing and gradual sense of the water level in the tree stand, allowing the user to decide on a convenient time to add water, as opposed to an alarm which actuates at one set point and could come at any time, which, requiring immediate action, may not be a convenient time for the user, such as in the middle of the night or in the presence of company. As the season winds down, the sensitivity of the level indication allows the user to decide to allow the water level to decrease, is it will through natural evaporation or tree transpiration, while still maintaining a minimum level to keep the tree hydrated. By this means the user can minimize the amount of water to be dealt with when it is time to remove the tree from the stand, minimizing the potential for spillage. Of importance is that the level indication with this invention is accomplished without electrical or mechanical means, while virtually all other devices for this application which have any sort of level sensing device accomplish this with electrical sensors, requiring batteries, or with floats or the like, which can become clogged with debris from the tree, or with a dipstick-like device, which requires multiple insertions and withdrawals with attendant dripping of dirty water on the floor, and is difficult to read with water, which is transparent and does not adhere to the dipstick in an easily visible manner to the plastic materials normally used for these dipsticks. Another important feature is to ease the means of watering so that it can be done from a standing position without crawling under the tree with say, a sprinkling can, for which there is little room.
In the instance of Christmas trees it is particularly important to keep the tree well watered, especially considering that virtually all Christmas trees have electric lights hung upon them, which can be a source of heat or spark and result in a fire with a dry tree. Because the method and apparatus of this device makes it easier to keep the tree well watered, the combustibility problem is reduced.
The prior art is replete with examples of methods and apparatus for supplying water to Christmas trees via addition of water to the tree stand with a water basin in which they are commonly placed. Various prior art inventions of interest are as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,969 to Sokol, for an automatic water dispenser for a tree, illustrates a variation on the common Christmas tree stand and water basin. The Sokol device is specifically applicable to Christmas trees, and addresses the need for supplying water by using a reservoir incorporated into the common Christmas tree stand, supposedly to reduce frequency of fillings of the basin within the Christmas tree stand throughout the Christmas season. However, the Sokol device as illustrated does not contain significantly more water than a standard Christmas tree stand, so it is difficult to see how this improves convenience of tree watering. Indeed, the Sokol device contains no means of water level indication, makes it difficult to determine if additional water is needed, and makes it more difficult to do so due to its enclosed nature. Finally, the Sokol device requires opening a manual valve to allow water to flow from the reservoir to the bottom of the stand in contact with the Christmas Tree; this valve is at the bottom of the tree, which requires crawling beneath the tree to access it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,236 to Sands, for an automatic water dispenser for a Christmas tree, utilizes a decorative water reservoir with an electronic level sensor hung in the tree, a flexible tube from the reservoir to the tree stand basin, and a ball float arrangement at the end of the flexible tube. Because the water reservoir is hung in the tree, its size is limited so that the required frequency of water addition is not reduced significantly. The flexible tube in our experience will be difficult to insert into the tree stand, requiring careful “threading” of the tube through the tree branches, as opposed to the rigid pipe of the present invention which can be easily thrust through the tree branches while standing. The end of the flexible tube of the Sands invention of necessity contains a ball float assembly subject to the aforementioned clogging with tree debris. Finally the level sensor is electronic, requiring the use and replacement of batteries from time to time, and which, as previously stated, may easily give indication at an inconvenient time.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,304 to Thomas et al. is again specifically adapted to a means for watering Christmas trees. The Thomas device is similar to the Sands device in that a reservoir is hung from the tree branches, with a flexible tube to the tree stand water basin, again with the disadvantages of these features as described above. The Thomas device illustrates two additional embodiments. One embodiment of the Thomas device utilizes sharp edges on the basin incorporated within the common stand. The sharp edges are to be driven into the bottom of the trunk of the Christmas tree to provide a seal, and the remote funnel and fluid line is located above the location of the stand to provide for a gravity feed, or actually, a pressure feed, due to the hydrostatic pressure of the head of the funnel above the stand. A second embodiment of the Thomas device utilizes a similar hydrostatic head provided by the funnel located above the water basin incorporated within the stand, but the sealing provision of the second Thomas embodiment is provided by a funnel shaped rubber member disposed within the water basin located on the stand itself. These embodiments are necessary in the absence of a float as in the Sands device, however if the seals fail against the hydrostatic pressure of the elevated water reservoir, the water level in the stand will overflow, with attendant mess and potential for floor or floor covering damage. This potential exists with any device containing a water reservoir elevated above the tree stand.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,997 to Rial, is superficially very similar to the present invention in that it consists of a segmented rigid pipe to be inserted into the tree stand with a removable funnel at the top. The pipe segments however, are held together with a flexible cord, different and less convenient that the simple friction fit between segments of the present invention. Additionally, the Rial device has no means for level sensing or level indication as with the present invention, so it remains necessary to crawl beneath the tree to check when water is needed and between each addition of water so as to know when to stop such addition. The first embodiment of the present invention was similar to this arrangement, but with use, the absence of level indication was an obvious detriment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,838 to Denbigh is for a watering device consisting of a decorative funnel affixed to a tree branch with a flexible tube extending to the tree stand basin. This device has the attendant disadvantages of the flexible tube described above for Sands device. Also for the funnel to be supported from a sufficiently rigid branch, it of necessity must be inward into the tree to where the branches have the required thickness; the larger the funnel the further back it must be this location makes it inconvenient to access for filling water. In addition, the open funnel will collect debris naturally falling from the tree and tend to plug. Finally, the device has no means of level indication to show when water is needed or when to stop pouring.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,760 to Ambrose is for a watering device specifically adapted to Christmas trees. This device is a rudimentary funnel which is adapted to facilitate the process of supplying water to the basin incorporated within a common Christmas tree stand. This funnel is mounted on the tree trunk immediately above the tree stand. In this location it is minimally more convenient to reach than the tree stand itself. The Ambrose device is merely illustrative of one specific application of several similar within the general field covered by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,547 to Brunengo for a Christmas tree watering device consists of a rigid pipe extending through the tree branches to the stand water basin. The device has a float at the bottom of the pipe connected to a rod extending to the top of the fill pipe, which rises and falls with the float to indicate the water level in the tree stand. As stated above, any float device is subject to clogging from plant debris in the tree stand. Also, there is no means for length adjustment as the pipe cannot be cut shorter without damage to the float rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,390 to Baudier consists of a flexible conduit extending through the tree branches to the tree water basin, with a decorative bulbous funnel at the top of the tube and a float device at the bottom. The bulbous funnel incorporates a hinged lid to address to aforementioned problem of debris falling into the funnel and to improve the funnel aesthetics. Having a flexible tube, however, requires the funnel to be supported from a tree branch, again with the attendant problems described above. The float device at the bottom of the flexible conduit is arranged to strike a bell when the desired water level has been reached while pouring water from the top. It is doubtful that the float will rise with sufficient velocity to produce an audible sound when needed. Be that as it may, again with a flexible tube, the float mechanism must be secured somehow at the bottom of the tree, an inconvenient feature difficult to accomplish. And, as described above, any mechanism in the tree stand is subject to clogging. Finally, there is no level indication means to show when addition of water is required.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,390 to Luddy is similar to that of Baudier except that there is no level sensing device of any kind. The device is simply a hose with a hinged funnel affixed to the top. While the hose may be marginally easier to insert through the tree into the stand than a flexible tube, the hose is sufficiently flexible that the funnel will need to be supported from the tree branches.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,479 to Greenberg, consists of a rigid segmented pipe with a funnel, the pipe extending out horizontally and curving up to a fixed funnel, with a stand to support it. While this arrangement could be left in place, its appearance and inconvenience would appear to require that it be removed after use and replaced when needed. The inconvenience of this is obvious. In addition there is again no means to show when water is needed or to show when to stop as water is added.
Many other patents purporting to address the stated needs exist in many forms or even transmogrifications containing some version or combination of features describe above, but none exist with the combination of advantages described in the present invention, in particular a level indicator of any sort, and certainly not such with no moving parts or electronic components. In summary, it is apparent that none of the prior art references equals the apparatus and method of the present invention for supplying water to a living plant which has been severed from its root system.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings
As described above, the present invention relates to a new and useful fill pipe for a plant stand (e.g. a Christmas tree stand), and to a new and useful method for using a level indicator mounted to the fill pipe to continuously indicate and allow monitoring of the level of liquid in the plant stand, in a manner that does not use electronic or moving parts, and enables a user, at his or her convenience, to add liquid to the plant stand through the fill pipe, while standing, when the level indicator on the fill pipe provides a visual indication of a level of liquid in the plant stand that is below a predetermined level. The invention is described herein in connection with a Christmas tree stand and from that description the manner in which the principles of the invention can be used for various types of plant stands or fluid containers will be apparent to those in the art. While a Christmas tree stand is shown and described, this invention will work with any containers of various sizes and with various fluids. The lack of moving parts means the present invention is applicable to many viscous fluids or those containing particles that may clog other indicators having moveable parts. The lack of any electronic components means the principles of the present invention are applicable to volatile, flammable, or explosive liquids that may he set off by a stray spark.
The fill pipe 104 is configured to be inserted into a plant stand and to extend upward from the plant stand.
Preferably, the liquid level indicator comprises a manometer-like device consisting of two indicator tubes 108 connected at their bottom ends containing a fluid with additives to provide any or all of the following: increase visibility, reduce surface tension, reduce evaporation, and/or increase sensitivity by reduction of fluid density. The level indicator 108 is connected to a level sensing tube 120 supported in the upper portion of the fill pipe 104 with at least a portion of the level sensing tube inside the fill pipe and in hydrostatic fluid communication with the water in the plant stand through the lower end 106 of the fill pipe that is inserted into the plant stand. The liquid level indicator guide 114 is moveable relative to the level indicator to mark the predetermined level of liquid in the plant stand. The liquid reservoir of the plant stand 102 is initially filled to a level selected by a user, and the fill pipe is inserted into the plant stand with the level indicator tubes 108 operational to provide a visual image of a liquid level representative of the selected level of liquid the plant stand. The guide 114 is then moved relative to the liquid level indicator to the liquid level provided by the liquid level indicator, whereby the guide will thereafter provide the visual indication of the predetermined level to which the plant stand should be initially filled to and thereafter maintained. The bottom of the sensing tube 120 has a “multiplier” portion 122 having a larger cross sectional area than the sensing tube, which acts to enhance the sensitivity of the sensing tube to the level of liquid in the plant stand.
The components forming the fill pipe can be shipped to a user in a package 128 as shown in
Initially the indicator fluid is added to the level indicator tubes 108 to the approximate level shown in
The funnel accessory 124 and decorative end closure 126 are shown in
Components of the present invention are shown in detail in
All these length adjustments are through use of the friction fit couplings 110A and 110B; no adhesive or other device (i.e. as in Rial U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,997, discussed above) is required, although adhesive can be added by the user once the final fill pipe length is selected. When the final fill pipe length is selected the multiplier tube 122 is to be trimmed to match the selected fill pipe length less approximately ⅛ inch to keep the end of the multiplier tube 122 off the bottom of the tree stand when inserted. As the multiplier tube 122 and level sensing tube 120 are flexible, they may be stretched slightly to allow easy access for cutting with scissors or other means and will then snap back into the desired position.
Alternate means of accomplishing the claimed invention which could improve aesthetics, reduce the number of parts, and ease assembly are described below with reference to
Another alternate means of accomplishing the claimed invention could improve aesthetics, reduce the number of parts, and ease assembly is described below with reference to
Applicant believes it is useful to note the following features of the present invention;
An alternate means for manufacture of the liquid level indicator assembly would be to use molded transparent plastic such as acrylic or polycarbonate with integral tubes and mounting clips to snap onto the fill pipe without fasteners.
Thus, the foregoing description provides a new and useful fill pipe for a plant stand, and to a method of using a fill pipe to maintain a predetermined liquid level in the plant stand. With the foregoing description in mind, the manner in which a fill pipe can be configured, and used to maintain a predetermined liquid level in a plant stand, will be apparent to those in the art.
This application is related to and claims the priority of Provisional Application No. 61/840,336, filed Jun. 27, 2013, and entitled Fill Pipe for plant stand and method of using; which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61840336 | Jun 2013 | US |
