Patent Application
20180070542
The present invention relates to systems for delivering water to plants and soil. More particularly, the present 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. The one or more drip watering devices are able to fit around and attach to a wire, a frame, a post a hook, a vertical pole and/or a horizontal pole quickly and easily without the use of screws or other tools. In some embodiments, the one or more watering devices comprise a u-shaped recess that is configured to accept one or more hanging pots and/or baskets. Coupling the one or more hanging pots and/or baskets with the one or more watering devices opens the valve 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, the watering device comprising a first section, a second section, wherein the first section screwlessly connects to the second section to secure the watering device to an additional object, and one or more valves configured to open and deliver water to an area when weight is added to the watering device. In some embodiments, the first section snap fits to the second section to secure the watering device to an additional object. In some embodiments, the watering area comprises one or more hanging pots and/or hanging baskets. In some embodiments, the watering device comprises a u-shaped recess that is configured to accept one or more hanging pots and/or baskets. In further embodiments, drip watering system comprises one or more additional watering devices. In some embodiments, the watering device and the one or more additional watering devices are coupled to the same waterline. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the watering device and the one or more additional watering devices are coupled 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 further embodiments, the watering system is grouped into multiple zones. In further embodiments, the watering system comprises a timer for starting and stopping the watering system at a predetermined time.
In another aspect, a drip watering device comprises a first section, a second section, wherein the first section screwlessly connects to the second section to secure the watering device to an additional object, and one or more valves configured to open and deliver water to an area when weight is added to the watering device. In some embodiments, the first section snap fits to the second section to secure the watering device to an additional object. In some embodiments, the watering area comprises one or more hanging pots and/or hanging baskets. In some embodiments, the watering device comprises a u-shaped recess that is configured to accept one or more hanging pots and/or baskets. In some embodiments, the watering device is coupled to a waterline. 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 fitting one or more drip watering devices to a water line, wherein a first section of a drip watering device screwlessly connects to a second section of the drip watering device to secure the watering device to an additional object, and fit the one or more drip watering devices with a waterline, coupling one or more plants are coupled to the one or more drip watering devices and supplying water to the one or more plants. In some embodiments, the one or more plants comprise one or more hanging pots. In some of these embodiments, the one or more hanging pots are configured to hang on a u-shaped recess of the one or more watering devices. In some embodiments, the one or more watering devices are grouped into multiple zones. In further embodiments, the method comprises operating a timer for starting and stopping watering at a predetermined time.
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 drip watering devices are able to fit around and attach to an additional object quickly and easily without the use of screws or other tools. In some embodiments, the one or more watering devices comprise a u-shaped recess that is configured to accept one or more hanging pots and/or baskets. Coupling the one or more hanging pots and/or baskets with the one or more watering devices opens the valve to drip irrigate the hanging pots and/or baskets through one or more drip lines.
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The drip watering device 200 comprises one or more drip waterlines 217 and 216. The inflow drip waterline 217 connects to the port 102 and the outflow drip waterline 216 connects to the port 103, such as described above. As shown within
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In some embodiments, the valve body is configured to connect to a ¼-inch drip line. However, the valve is able to connect to any appropriately sized drip line.
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 214 is internal and couples directly with the water supply line.
In some embodiments, a plurality of drip watering devices 200 are coupled together in order to drip irrigate multiple hanging pots, baskets, and/or watering areas. In some embodiments, the plurality of watering devices 200 are coupled to the same waterline.
Alternatively, or in conjunction, a plurality of different watering devices 200 couple to a plurality of different waterlines. In some embodiments, the plurality of drip watering devices 200 are configured to independently water an area. For example, in some embodiments, only watering devices 200 that comprise a hanging plant and/or basket provide drip irrigation. Particularly, the one or more watering devices 200 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 200 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 patent application Ser. No. 13/914,466, and entitled INJECTOR STYLE IRRIGATION SYSTEM, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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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. Further, because the device is able to be secured by coupling an upper section with a lower section, the drip irrigation device is able to be quickly and securely coupled to an additional article without the use of tools and in a time efficient manner. 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.
