This invention relates generally to gardening accessories and relates, more particularly, to means and methods with which fertilizer and other nutrients are delivered to a plant for growth and with which the flow rate of water to the plant is controlled.
During the growth of a plant in a controlled environment, such as in a greenhouse or planter, water and plant nutrients are delivered to the plant to keep the plant vital and growing. For this purpose, a water line, such as a garden hose, can be used to conduct water from a source, such as water faucet, to the plant, and nutrients are often delivered manually to an area of the soil adjacent the plant.
It would be desirable to provide a means by which plant fertilizer or other nutrients can be delivered to the plant as water is also delivered to the plant.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system enabling plant nutrients to be delivered to the plant each time that water is delivered to the plant so that both water and nutrients are delivered to the plant simultaneously and so that the nutrients are delivered relatively evenly over a targeted area adjacent a plant or plants to be fed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system which is connectable in-line with the water supply conducted from a source and so that nutrients are delivered to the plant at a controlled, or metered, rate.
Still another object is to provide such a system enabling a user to make adjustments to the flow of water to the plant without requiring that such adjustments be made to the water flow at the source, such as at a water faucet.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a system which is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in operation.
This invention resides in a nutrient-holding and flow control system for connection in-line with the flow of water for delivery to a plant.
The system includes a receptacle having an interior into which nutrients can be positioned and including an inlet port into which water is permitted to flow into the interior of the receptacle from a source and an outlet port through which water and nutrients are permitted to exit the interior of the receptacle for delivery of water and nutrients from the receptacle to the plant. In addition, a flow controller is associated with the receptacle for permitting a user to adjust the flow rate of water through the receptacle.
Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and considering first
The stand-supported planter 24 includes a stand 26 adapted to rest upon a floor 28 or similar underlying structure and a container 30 for holding dirt or potting soil and within which plants are transplanted for growth. Briefly, the stand 26 includes a leg assembly and a center post 32 which is supported in a substantially vertical orientation by the leg assembly, and there is provided a hanger system 34 including a plurality of cables 36 for suspending the container 30 from the upper end of the center post 32 in an elevated condition above the floor 28. The container 30 is an open-topped container within which a plant is transplanted for growth, and any water or nutrients added to the interior of the container 30 to promote plant growth therein is typically added to the container 30 through the open top thereof.
It will be understood that the depicted planter 24 is intended to provide an example of a class of planters with which the nutrient-holding and flow control system in accordance with the present invention can be utilized. The planter 24 can, for example, take the form of a vertical hanging grow bag or a common hanging basket. Accordingly, the principles of the present invention can be variously applied.
The water and nutrient-delivery system 20 includes a network, indicated 40, of conduits, described herein for delivery of water to the planter 24 from a source 42. In the depicted system 20, the source 42 of water is accessible through a water faucet 44 having an externally-threaded spout 46. In addition, the system 22 includes a nutrient-holding receptacle, or receptacle means, 50 and associated flow controller, or flow control means, 52. In the depicted system 20, the receptacle means 50 and the flow control means 52 are connected in flow communication by a conduit, or hose, portion 54, but the two items 50 and 52 can be directly coupled together in accordance with the broader aspects of the present invention.
The conduit network 40 of the depicted system 20 includes the conduit portion 54 (introduced earlier) and a conduit portion 56 which extends between the nutrient-holding assembly 50 the top of the container 30. The depicted conduit portion 54 includes a vertically-disposed section which extends upwardly along the center post 32 of the stand 26 and another, or horizontally-disposed, section which extends along the floor 28. Therefore, water which is conducted from the faucet 44 to the top of the container 30 travels in sequence through the flow control means 52, the conduit portion 54, the receptacle means 50 and the conduit portion 56. Upon exiting the exit end, indicated 58, of the conduit portion 56—which end 58 is situated above the top of the container 30, the water is permitted to gravitationally flow downwardly into the container 30 where it is exposed to a plant (or plants) growing therein.
With reference to
Furthermore, the receptacle means 50 includes port means, generally indicated 102, which accommodate the attachment of a corresponding conduit portion 54 or 56 to the receptacle means 50 and to thereby permit the flow of water therethrough. More specifically, the port means 102 includes an inlet port 104 disposed on one side of the compartment 86 which permits the attachment of the exit end, indicated 106, of the conduit portion 54 to the receptacle means 50. In the depicted receptacle means 50, the inlet port 104 is sized to be received by the exit end 106 when the exit end 106 is directed endwise over the inlet port 104 to a snug-fitting relationship thereabout.
The port means 102 also includes an outlet port 108 disposed on the side of the compartment 86 opposite the inlet port 104 which permits the attachment of the inlet end, indicated 110, of the conduit portion 56 to the receptacle means 50. In the depicted receptacle means 50, the outlet port 108 is sized to be received by the inlet end 110 as the inlet end 110 is directed endwise onto the outlet port 108 to a snug-fitting relationship thereabout. If desired, the compartment 86 and the inlet and outlet ports 104 and 108 can be molded as a unitary structure out of a relatively hard plastic material. Furthermore, each of the inlet and outlet ports 104 and 108 is preferably provided with a barbed outer surface, as shown in
The removable cap 100 of the receptacle means 50 includes a platen cover portion 116 and cylindrical sidewalls 118 which extend downwardly (as viewed in
To ensure a tight seal between the surfaces of the cap 100 and the compartment 86, the receptacle means 50 preferably includes a flat washer 122 constructed, for example, of elastomeric material which is positionable along the edge of the compartment top so that when the removable cap 100 is tightened about the compartment 86, the washer 122 is tightly sandwiched between the top of the compartment 86 and the underside of the cover portion 116.
It follows that the removable cap 100 provides a user with access to the interior 82 of the receptacle means 50. For use of the system 22 (and while the flow of water through the receptacle means 50 is shut off), the cap 100 is removed from the compartment 86 and then fertilizer or other plant nutrients (which may be in solid or liquid form and, in either event, is water soluable) is placed within the interior 82 of the receptacle means 50. The cap 100 is then replaced upon the compartment 84 to cover, and thereby close, the top thereof, and the water flow through the receptacle means 50 is turned ON. As water is routed into the receptacle means 50 (i.e. through the inlet port 104 thereof), the nutrients mix with (e.g. becomes entrained by or dissolve within) the water flow so that water which subsequently exits the receptacle means 50 through the outlet port 108 carries with it the entrained or dissolved fertilizer toward the planter container 30.
As mentioned above, there is associated with the nutrient-holding receptacle means 50 flow control means, generally indicated 52, for controlling the flow of water through the receptacle means 50. In this connection and with reference to
The flow control valve 136 of the depicted flow control means 130 is a ball-type, infinitely-variable valve whose position within the body 132 of the flow control means 130 can be adjusted between a fully ON orientation (as is illustrated in solid lines in
For connection of the body 132 of the flow control means 130 to the conduit portion 54 of the conduit network 40, the body 132 includes an exit port 140 which is disposed downstream of the flow control valve 136 and in flow communication with the connector portion 134. In the depicted flow control means 130, the exit port 140 is sized to be received by the inlet end, indicated 142, of the conduit portion 54 when the inlet end 142 is directed endwise over the exit port 140 to a snug-fitting relationship thereabout. As is the case with the inlet and outlet ports 104 and 108 of the receptacle means 50, the exit port 140 is preferably provided with a barbed outer surface to enhance the securement between the port 140 and the inlet end 142 of the conduit portion 54.
Exemplary dimensions of various components of the system 20 are provided here as follows: The outer diameter of the removable cap 100 of the receptacle means 50 can be about 2.25 inches; the depth of the cap 100 can be about 1.2 inches; the wall thickness of the cap 100 can be about 0.070 inches; the outer diameter of the compartment 86 of the receptacle means 50 can be about 2.125 inches; the depth of the compartment 86 can be about 1.1 inches; each of the conduit portions 54 and 56 can be provided by a plastic hose having an outer diameter of 0.5 inches; and the ports 108, 104 and 140 (with the barbed connectors associated therewith) are sized to be snugly accepted by the conduit portions having the 0.5 inch outer diameter.
It follows from the foregoing that a water and nutrient-delivery system 20 has been described with which water and nutrients can be delivered to a planter 24. Furthermore, there is incorporated within the system 20 a nutrient-holding and flow control system 22 including a receptacle means 50 into which a user can deposit fertilizer or other plant nutrients for delivery to the planter 24 with water from a source 42 and including a flow control means 52 through which the user can control the rate of flow of water through the receptacle means 50. Thus, the receptacle means 50 and flow control means 82 provides a convenient and uncomplicated means by which water and fertilizer or other nutrients can be delivered simultaneously to the container 30 of the planter 24 at a metered rate and allows a user to control the flow rate of water through the receptacle means 50 and into the container 30 without having to control the water flow at the faucet 44.
It is envisioned that the aforedescribed system 20 is particularly well-suited for delivering liquid fertilizer (which is poured into the receptacle means 50) to the container 30 at a relatively slow rate, and provides a user with an alternative to known, more-costly greenhouse watering and feeding drip systems. In other words, because the system 20 need not involve the relatively sophisticated equipment commonly associated with greenhouse watering and feeding drip systems, such as can involve timers, nutrient barrels, water lines and pumps, the system 20 is advantageous in this respect. Furthermore, the system 20 is relatively easy to use in that fertilizer can be deposited or poured within the receptacle means within a few seconds, uses water pressure to deliver the nutrients directly to the plant, and because the nutrients are delivered to a targeted area (by way of the conduit portion 56), reduces nutrient waste.
It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions can be had to the aforedescribed embodiment 22 without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiment 22 is intended for the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.
The benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/123,773, filed Apr. 12, 2008 and entitled PLANTER ASSEMBLY FOR GROWING MULTIPLE PLANTS AND ASSOCIATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM, is hereby claimed. The disclosure of this referenced provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61123773 | Apr 2008 | US |