Plant irrigation system

• US 4,805,342 A
• Filed: 06/05/1986
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard P. Marx, Wayne C. Jenkins
• Original Assignee: Richard P. Marx, Wayne C. Jenkins
• Inventors: Marx, Richard P., Jenkins, Wayne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/870,849
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 47/79, 47/48.5, 47/47, 182/150, 182/53, 182/55, 248/312, 248/242, 248/214, 248/213.2, 247/DIG. 9
• US Class Current: 47/79
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/003 Controls for self-acting watering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/02 having a water reservoir, the main part thereof being located wholly around or directly beside the growth substrate A01G27/06 takes precedence

Abstract

Plant irrigation apparatus is provided with a reservoir. Water is placed inside the reservoir filling a portion of its volume. A pressurized gas is also introduced into the reservoir. The water is forced by the gas pressure out of the reservoir through at least one outlet conduit communicating with the water in the reservoir. Water leaves the outlet conduits through at least one discharge outlet. The apparatus can include structure for hanging the apparatus from a plant grow pot. Pressure indicating structure can also be provided.

Claims

1. A plant watering apparatus for attachment about the side of a plant for providing a liquid under pressure to a plant in a grow pot at a substantially constant rate, comprising:

a closed reservoir affixed to the outside of said grow pot;

means for introducing a liquid into said reservoir, said liquid introduction means being hermetically resealable;

means about the upper portion of said reservoir for introducing a pressurized gas into said reservoir, said gas introduction means being hermetically resealable;

a pressurized gas within said reservoir;

conduit means communicating with the interior of said reservoir about the lower portion of said reservoir and extending outwardly and upwardly from said reservoir to said grow pot for delivering liquid under the pressure of said pressurized gas in said reservoir to the top portion of the plant, said conduit means having at least one discharge outlet;

means for regulating flow of liquid through said discharge outlet so as to provide a substantially constant flow rate; and

means for attaching said apparatus to the side of a grow pot.

2. The plant watering apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for introducing a pressurized gas to the reservoir is a valve communicating with the interior of the reservoir.

3. The plant watering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising pressure indicating means.

4. The plant watering apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the apparatus to a plant grow pot comprises an integral hanger with a downwardly opening hook portion adapted to engage the interior wall of the plant grow pot.

5. The plant watering apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the reservoir to a plant grow pot is slideably attached to the apparatus.

6. The plant watering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means leveling the apparatus.

8. The plant watering apparatus of claim 1, wherein the leveling arm further comprises tab portions, the notched tab portions being adapted for manual removal.

9. The plant watering apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contour of a sidewall of the reservoir substantially matches the contour of the exterior wall of a plant grow pot.

7. The plant watering apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for leveling the apparatus comprises a leveling arm adapted to abut the exterior wall of the plant grow pot.