Automatic water supply device for potted plants

• US 5,341,596 A
• Filed: 03/30/1993
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hsin-Lin Kao
• Original Assignee: Hsin-Lin Kao
• Inventors: Kao, Hsin-Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Downs, Joanne C.
• Application Number:
  US08/040,285
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 47/71, 47/66, 47/79, 47/791, 47/81
• US Class Current: 47/79
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/04 using wicks or the like

Abstract

An automatic water supply device for potted plants is provided. The device includes a housing having a reservoir incorporated therein, the reservoir being equipped with a plurality of supporting ribs, the disk member having a plurality of draining holes formed along its periphery. An observation hole is formed through the disk member for measuring the water level of the reservoir. The disk member is further provided with a through opening formed in the center portion thereof. A water controlling sleeve, which is made from plastic material, is positioned within the central opening of the disk member. The sleeve member is formed with a passage formed through its length. The sleeve member has a first bead portion on one end and a second bead portion below the first bead portion. The distance between the first bead portion and the second bead portion is equivalent to the thickness of the disk member. The controlling sleeve further includes an outer wall portion having threads formed thereon, with a nut being screwed thereon. The sleeve further includes a plurality of clip members formed at a bottom portion thereof, and a wick member is inserted into the passage of the controlling sleeve. The wick member is projected high above said first bead portion of the controlling sleeve for insert into the drainage hole of a pot for a plant.

Claims

1. An automatic water supply device for a potted plant, comprising:

a housing having a cavity formed therein, said cavity defining a water reservoir, said cavity having a plurality of spaced upstanding rib members extending from a bottom wall of said housing;

a disk member supported by said plurality of rib members for forming a closure for said cavity, said disk member having a plurality of water entry openings formed therethrough in radially spaced relation about a peripheral portion of said disk member and an observation opening formed through said disk member for observation of a water level of said reservoir, said disk member having a centrally disposed opening formed therethrough;

a longitudinally extended water controlling sleeve having a predetermined length dimension and being formed with a through bore extending longitudinally therein, said water controlling sleeve being disposed in said central opening of said disk member, said water controlling sleeve having a first bead portion formed on a first end thereof and a second bead portion spaced from said first bead portion for capturing said disk member therebetween, said water controlling sleeve including a plurality of clip members formed on a second end thereof and an outer wall portion adjacent said second end having threads formed thereon;

a longitudinally extended wick member disposed within said through bore for transferring water from said reservoir, said wick member having a length dimension greater than said predetermined length dimension of said water controlling sleeve and having one end extending beyond said first end of said water controlling sleeve; and

,

a nut member threadedly coupled to said outer wall portion of said water controlling sleeve, whereby said plurality of clip members are radially displaced responsive to longitudinal displacement of said nut member to adjust a flow of water through said wick member.

2. The automatic water supply device as recited in claim 1 where said wick member has a cylindrical contour formed from a compressed and rolled foam sheet material.

3. The automatic water supply device as recited in claim 1 where said wick member is formed from a sponge material.

4. The automatic water supply device as recited in claim 3 where said sponge material is compressed and rolled into a cylindrical configuration.