Christmas tree watering apparatus

• US 5,243,782 A
• Filed: 05/04/1992
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shawnee L. Jones
• Original Assignee: Shawnee L. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Shawnee L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Downs, Joanne C.
• Application Number:
  US07/877,794
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 47/40.5, 47/25, 47/32, 47/48.5, 47/33
• US Class Current: 47/40.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/00 Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/089 for the upper extremity of the central stem
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/0872 comprising fire preventing means
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/008 for decorations, e.g. Christmas trees Christmas tree decorations incorporating fire extinguishing or fire prevention means A47G33/0872; blowing or snuffing out candle-flames F23Q25/00

Abstract

A Christmas tree fluid control housing includes a first valve and second valve in communication with a first conduit, wherein the first valve selectively directs water flow to a sprinkling ring mounted adjacent an upper distal end of an associated Christmas tree, with a misting ring mounted in surrounding relationship relative to the sprinkling ring operative through a timer mechanism within the fluid control housing.

Claims

1. A Christmas tree watering apparatus arranged for securement to a Christmas tree, comprising,

a first fluid conduit, and

a fluid control housing, the fluid control housing including a container fluid chamber, with the first fluid conduit directed into the container fluid chamber, and

a torroidal fluid sprinkling ring arranged for mounting adjacent an upper distal end of the Christmas tree, including a sprinkling ring conduit in fluid communication with the sprinkling ring and the container fluid chamber, and

first valve means for effecting selective fluid flow between the container fluid chamber and the sprinkling ring, with the first valve means mounted within the sprinkling ring conduit, and

a torroidal fluid misting ring mounted onto the sprinkling ring extending laterally beyond the sprinkling ring, with a misting ring conduit in fluid communication between the misting ring and the container fluid chamber, and second valve means mounted within the misting ring conduit for permitting selective fluid flow through the misting ring conduit between the container fluid chamber and the misting ring, and

the container housing includes a plurality of openings directed through the container, with the first valve means positioned adjacent the openings, and the first valve means including a valve housing, the valve housing including a valve housing floor positioned below a valve housing cavity, and a T-shaped plug directed through the valve housing floor into the sprinkling ring conduit, and wax coextensively contained within the valve housing cavity over the T-shaped plug, whereupon elevated temperature effects melting of the wax and permits removal of the T-shaped plug relative to the sprinkling ring conduit directing fluid flow through the first valve means into the sprinkling ring.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sprinkling ring includes a sprinkling ring bottom wall, the sprinkling ring bottom wall including a plurality of spray outlet ports of a first diameter, the sprinkling ring including a sprinkling ring top wall and a sprinkling ring top wall cylindrical boss extending above the sprinkling ring top wall defining a ledge between the boss and an outer periphery of the sprinkling ring, and the misting ring received on the ledge, wherein the boss is of a predetermined height and the sprinkling ring is of a thickness equal to the predetermined height, and a plurality of T-shaped pins mounted on the sprinkling ring top wall, the misting ring including a plurality of misting ring openings directed through a misting ring bottom wall, wherein the misting ring openings ar positioned exteriorly of the sprinkling ring, and a latch plate, the latch plate including a plurality of latch plate key hole openings, and each key hole opening of said key hole openings receives one of said pins, whereupon rotation of the latch plate effects securement of the pins within the openings.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including a conical positioning head mounted medially of the latch plate extending thereabove, wherein the conical positioning head is hollow to permit selective reception of an upper distal end of the Christmas tree therewithin.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the second valve means includes a second fluid conduit in communication between the second valve means and the container fluid chamber, the second valve means including a timer mechanism to permit selective opening of the valve means permitting fluid flow between the second conduit and the misting ring conduit.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including strap means for securement of the fluid control housing to the Christmas tree.