Automatic tree and/or plant waterer

• US 5,279,071 A
• Filed: 08/30/1991
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dale Mcdougall
• Original Assignee: Dale Mcdougall
• Inventors: McDougall, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COGGINS, WYNN WOOD
• Application Number:
  US07/753,042
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 47/40.5, 47/79, 47/82
• US Class Current: 47/40.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/003 Controls for self-acting watering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/1286 comprising watering means, e.g. a water reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/1293 including water feeding or water level monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/12 Christmas tree stands sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/2238

Abstract

A novel automatic tree waterer is provided herein. It is adapted to be connected to a stand which holds a tree, e.g. a Christmas tree, in an upright position. The waterer includes a hollow support base and a hollow two-piece body section. The lower body section is assembled to the support base by means of a slide coupled lip/coupling support lip to be airtight and watertight. The upper body section is assembled to the lower body section by means of male/female threads to be airtight and watertight. The upper body includes a male threaded upper neck. A hat including an inner well with interlock threads is assembled to the upper body by means of the male/female threads to be airtight and watertight. A water outlet is provided from the interior of the body section. A flow controller unit is connected to the water outlet to close the water outlet to enable filling the interior of the hollow two-piece section with water. A hose is adapted to be connected between the flow controller and the stand which holds the tree. Once the flow of water is commenced, a cyclic automatic flow of water ensues. The water will not flow unless air is allowed to enter through the tube. Thus, when the end of the tube is submerged in water, no water can flow.

Claims

1. An automatic waterer for trees or plants adapted to be connected to a stand which holds a tree in an upright position and collects water, said waterer comprising:

a hollow support base, said support base having a ceiling, a peripheral rim and an arcuate coupling support lip spaced vertically above said ceiling to provide a slot therebetween;

a lower body section, said lower body section having a lower slide-coupled lip and an upper male threaded neck, said lower body including an inner lower roof, said roof having an off-center aperture therein leading to a downwardly-sloping channel, said channel having internal threads to connect it to an externally-threaded flow controller which is connected to a hose;

said lower body section being assembled to said support base by cooperative engagement between said slide-coupled lip of said lower body section and said coupling support lip of said lower body section, thereby providing cooperative airtight and water tight interconnection;

an upper body section including an integral superposed head, said upper body section including a lower base having female threads therein and an upper neck integral with said upper head, said upper neck having male threads thereon;

said upper body being assembled to said lower body by engagement between said upper male threaded neck of said lower body section and said female threads of said upper body section with an interposed lock ring, thereby providing cooperative airtight and watertight interconnections; and

an upper hat, said has having an inner well provided with inner threads;

said upper hat being assembled to said upper body by engagement between said male threads of said upper body section and said internal threads of said hat with an interposed lock ring, thereby providing cooperative airtight and watertight interconnection;

said hose being adapted to be connected between said flow controller and said stand;

said automatic waterer operating without further power input to allow water to flow automatically from the interior of said lower body to said stand, said water flow being self-powered by means of an airlock.

2. The automatic waterer of claim 1 including a plurality of vertically-spaced-apart, transparent viewing ports forming part of said lower body and part of said upper body for visual inspection of the level of water within said upper and lower bodies.

3. The automatic waterer of claim 1 wherein said downwardly sloping channel slopes to an angle of about 45°

.

4. The automatic waterer of claim 1 wherein said flow controller is provided with a manually rotatable on/off valve for preventing automatic water flow.

5. The automatic waterer of claim 1 wherein said flow controller is provided with a push button on/off valve for preventing automatic water flow.

6. The automatic waterer of claim 1 in combination with said stand which holds a tree in an upright position, said stand including a clip to secure said hose thereto.