Patent Application
20110219685
The present disclosure relates generally to a fluid delivery system and, more particularly, a water delivery system for maintaining a constant fluid level in an open fluid reservoir.
A cut Christmas tree is customarily placed in a tree stand. The conventional tree stand has a cup or cavity located near the cut portion of the tree that is filled with water. The water helps the tree maintain internal hydration and retain its needles. A cut tree can absorb a couple of quarts a day. The water level within a tree stand requires continual attention as consumption by the tree and evaporation continuously depletes the water. Maintenance of the water level within the tree stand is a critical factor in the longevity and vitality of the tree.
An exemplary Christmas tree irrigation device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,224 (the '224 patent) issued to Weckesser on Mar. 31, 1987. The '224 patent describes a single tube continuous flow system that has two reservoirs open to the atmosphere. This system increases the flow of water from an open container, located near the tree stand, to a cavity in the tree stand. The water level in the reservoir and the water level in the tree stand pan will always be equal.
Although the fluid delivery system of the '224 patent may improve a continuous flow of water to a reservoir for cut trees, its application and benefit to fluid delivery systems may be limited. That is, the '224 patent describes an open system that utilizes an open reservoir placed on the floor near the tree. Conventional irrigation systems of this type do not keep the water in the tree stand cavity at a constant level. The result is that not all of the water in the separate open reservoir is used for irrigation, and the system requires the user to more frequently monitor and refill the open reservoir. In addition, this conventional irrigation system takes up unnecessary floor space and poses the risk of tipping over and spilling. Lastly, the open top system is also subject to evaporative loss of water, resulting in an inefficient system. As water from the tree stand pan and reservoir is consumed or evaporates, the water level in the tree stand lowers, possibly exposing the cut portion of the tree which would result in accelerated dying of the tree, even though there still may be considerable fluid in the reservoir.
The disclosed fluid deliver system is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a fluid deliver system. The fluid delivery system may include a cap configured to threadably engage the first reservoir of fluid creating an air tight seal and a tube terminal unit. The cap comprises means for securing the cap to a fixed structure or a portion of a plant and has first and second cap openings extending from the cap. The first cap opening carries fluid from the reservoir and the second cap opening carries air into the reservoir. The first cap opening having a first external nozzle and a first internal nozzle and the second cap opening having a second external nozzle and a second internal nozzle. The first and second external nozzles and the first internal nozzle have a cylindrical shape and a ribbed distal end.
The tube terminal unit comprising a first tube terminal opening and a second tube terminal opening. The first tube terminal opening having a first tube terminal nozzle and a fluid delivery outlet and the second tube terminal opening having a second tube terminal nozzle and an air intake opening. The first cap opening and the first tube terminal opening are connected by a first flexible tube and the second cap opening and the second terminal opening are connected by a second flexible tube. The second tube terminal opening has a priming bulb. The tube terminal unit comprises means for securing the tube terminal unit to a second reservoir of fluid or a lower portion of a plant.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of using a fluid delivery system comprising securing a cap, having a first and second cap opening and configured to receive a first reservoir of fluid, to a fixed structure or a portion of a plant. Securing a tube terminal unit, having a first and second tube terminal opening, to a second reservoir of fluid or a lower portion of a plant. Connecting a first flexible tube to the first cap opening and the first tube terminal opening, and connecting a second flexible tube to the second cap opening and the second tube terminal opening. The first flexible tube carries fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir and the second flexible tube carries air to the first reservoir. The first flexible tube delivers fluid to the second reservoir through the first tube terminal opening and a fluid delivery outlet. The second flexible tube delivers air to the first reservoir through an air intake opening and the second tube terminal opening. The method includes pressing a priming bulb to initiate air to travel up the second flexible tube to the first reservoir.
Nozzle apparatus 12 may include components to secure the nozzle apparatus to tree 16 and to deliver water to open reservoir 18. In one embodiment, nozzle apparatus 12 may comprise cap 20, hook 22, and closed reservoir 24. Closed reservoir 24 is shown as a common plastic soda bottle; however, for the purposes of this disclosure, closed reservoir 24 may embody any type of container for holding fluid. One skilled in the art will recognize that closed reservoir 24 may be any type of sized bottle, for example but not limited to, a soda bottle, a water bottle, a larger gallon sized beverage bottle, a bottle made from plastic, glass, synthetic resin or other desired material based on the fluid used, or any specially manufactured decorative reservoir.
Nozzle apparatus 12 creates an airtight seal with the water closed reservoir 24 and allows the closed reservoir 24 bottle to be suspended from a tree branch, above the tree stand's open reservoir 18. Nozzle apparatus 12 has first 26 and second 28 openings. First opening 26 and second opening 28 each has an internal nozzle extending in to the closed reservoir 24 and an external nozzle extending away extending away from a top portion nozzle apparatus 12. Attached to the external nozzles are first end of flexible tubes 30. Flexible tubes 30 may comprise fluid conduit 32 for the delivery of water from the closed reservoir 24 to the open reservoir 18, and air conduit 34 for the return of air (or any other fluid or gas as another application may require) to closed reservoir 24.
Tube terminal unit 14 allows for the fixed attachment of second end of flexible tubes 30. When the water level within the tree open reservoir drops below the level of air intake valve 36 (shown in detail in
Cap 20 may include first opening 26 and second opening 28 integrally formed herewith. First opening 26 comprises external nozzle 26A and internal nozzle 26B. External nozzle 26A has a cylindrical shape and a ribbed distal end. First end of fluid conduit 32 is securely fastened by a frictional engagement to the ribbed distal end of external nozzle 26A. Internal nozzle 26B has a cylindrical shape and a ribbed distal end. First end of internal fluid conduit 40 is securely fastened by a frictional engagement to the ribbed distal end of internal nozzle 26B. Second end of internal fluid conduit 40 extends the axial length of the closed reservoir 24. Second opening 28 comprises external nozzle 28A and internal nozzle 28B. External nozzle 28A has a cylindrical shape and a ribbed distal end. First end of air conduit 34 is securely fastened by a frictional engagement to the ribbed distal end of external nozzle 28A. Internal nozzle 28B has a cylindrical shape and is open to the atmosphere of the closed reservoir 24.
Tube terminal apparatus 14 may include fixing means 46 attached to first or second side wall 14A. In one embodiment, first or second side wall 14A and hook fixing means 46 are made from one integral piece. It is contemplated that fixing means 46 may comprise spikes or other sharp protrusions for securing tube terminal 14 to the trunk of the tree or other plant. In another embodiment, fastening means 46 may be separate from tube terminal apparatus 14. As shown in
In one embodiment, second opening 44 may include rubber bulb 48 between external nozzle 44A and air intake valve 36. Rubber bulb 48 may be used to prime the fluid delivery system. Pressing the rubber bulb 48 will cause air to travel up air conduit 34 and into closed reservoir 24, creating a small amount of initial pressure required to prime the system and allow water to begin to flow by gravity from the closed reservoir 24, through fluid conduit 32, out fluid delivery outlet 38, and into the open reservoir 18 until the water level rises up to air intake valve 36. Once the water lever covers air intake valve 36, air can no longer enter the closed reservoir 24 via air conduit 34, vacuum pressure builds and—prevents the flow of the water from closed reservoir 24 into the open reservoir 18. The system will continue to flow and stop as described, without need for additional priming, until closed reservoir 24 is emptied. Once closed reservoir 24 is emptied, it may then be unscrewed from cap 20, refilled with water or other fluid, and reattached to cap 20.
The disclosed fluid deliver system may be used in any application where fluid is to be transported from a closed reservoir of fluid to an open reservoir of fluid. In particular, the fluid deliver system may provide optimal fluid flow when the nozzle apparatus is installed at any distance from the tube terminal apparatus such that optimal fluid level is maintained in the open reservoir. The operation of fluid delivery system 10 will now be described.
During operation of fluid delivery system 10, closed reservoir 24 is filled with the desired fluid and then threadably attached to cap 20. Hook 22 of cap 20 is then attached to the lower branch of tree 16, or to any portion of the tree or of a free standing support structure. Tube terminal apparatus 14 is then fixed, via fixing means 46, to the tree or to the open reservoir 18. Air intake valve 36 of tube terminal apparatus 14 is place at the desired water level in open reservoir 18 and then tube terminal apparatus 14 is fixed.
After the tube terminal apparatus 14 is fixed, an initial amount if fluid is poured into open reservoir 18 just below air intake valve 36. To initiate the flow of fluid, rubber bulb 48 is primed, or pressed repeatedly. This causes air to travel up air conduit 34 and into closed reservoir 24, creating a small amount of initial pressure and allows water to begin to flow by gravity from the closed reservoir 24, through fluid conduit 32, out fluid delivery outlet 38, and into the open reservoir 18. The water level will rise up until the level fixed by air intake valve 36. Once the water lever covers air intake valve 36, air can no longer enter the closed reservoir 24 via air conduit 34, vacuum pressure builds and prevents the flow of fluid from closed reservoir 24 into the open reservoir 18. As the fluid is soaked up the tree or plant, or is evaporated, the water level will drop below air intake valve 36, air will again travel up air conduit 34 and into closed reservoir 24. The operation will repeat, without need for additional priming, until closed reservoir 24 is emptied. Once closed reservoir 24 is emptied, it may then be unscrewed from cap 20, refilled with water or other fluid, and reattached to cap 20.
