SELF-WATERING FLOWER POT

• US 3,775,904 A
• Filed: 07/06/1971
• Issued: 12/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James R. Peters
• Original Assignee: James R. Peters
• Inventors: Peters, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pulfrey, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eickholt, Eugene H.
• Application Number:
  US05/160,009
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 47/38,38.1,34.13 215/12
• US Class Current: 47/80
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/06 having a water reservoir, the main part thereof being located wholly around or directly beside the growth substrate

Abstract

A self-watering flower pot has a unitary, double-walled construction comprising an outer shell, a potting receptacle therewithin, and a water-receiving chamber in the space therebetween. A cavity and a channel both of which open downwardly, are formed in the underside of the bottom wall of the inner reeptacle, and the channel slopes upwardly from the cavity toward the inside wall to define an air flow path. The container has a sealable opening for the introduction of water into the chamber, and the bottom wall of the potting receptacle has an aperture communicating with the cavity formed therein. Water passing by capillary action into the inner receptacle from the chamber creates a vacuum in the space between the double walls; the vacuum is relieved when the potting medium is sufficiently dry to permit air to permeate and to pass through the aperture and along the air path into the water chamber, thereby allowing an additional amount of water to flow.

Claims

1. A self-watering flower pot comprising a unitary, doublewalled container with two spaced apart shell elements, each having a bottom wall and a peripheral sidewall extending upwardly therefrom with said side walls interconnected adjacent their upper ends to provide at least one water-receiving chamber in the space between said shell elements, said oontainer having an opening for water-filling access to said chamber;

and closure means normally sealing said opening against entry of air therethrough, the inner of said shell elements providing a potting receptacle and having its bottom wall configured to provide passageway defining means comprising a downwardly opening cavity spaced inwardly from said sidewall thereof, an aperture therethrough into said cavity, and a plurality of downwardly opening channels spaced about and sloping upwardly away from said cavity toward said sidewall of said receptacle to define flow paths for air from the interior of said receptacle along the outer surface of said bottom wall and into said chamber, said passageway defining means and said closeable opening of said container providing the only communication between the atmosphere and said chamber, so as to permit substantial sealing thereof.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said passageway defining means includes at least a second downwardly opening cavity substantially identical to said first-mentioned cavity and spaced therefrom;

a second aperture through said bottom wall communicating with said second cavity, and channels substantially identical to said first-mentioned channels and defining additional air flow paths that extend between said second cavity and said inside wall of said receptacle.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein a capillary member is seated in said cavity for contact through said aperture communicating therewith.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said capillary member is an open-celled sponge.

5. The container of claim 3 wherein said bottom wall of the outer of said two shell elements has an upstanding boss thereon in registry with said bottom wall, said boss contacting the underside of said capillary member and urging it partially through said aperture.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein said shells are joined to one another only at said upper ends of said sidewalls.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein said container is fabricated of a thermoplastic polymeric material.