Hygrostat and system
First Claim
1. A hygrostat adapted for burial in soil, comprising:
- a frame having a first end portion and a second end portion, and defining substantially unobstructed openings extending between the first and second end portions;
a water flow-control valve, supported by the second end portion of the frame; and
a hygroscopic element formed from a coherent synthetic polymer and arranged between the first end portion of the frame and the water flow-control valve,wherein the hygroscopic element expands and contracts upon uptake and release of water, expansion and contraction thereof controlling operation of the device water flow-control valve; and
wherein the hygroscopic element has two principal opposing surfaces that comprise a majority of the surface area thereof, the principal surfaces being exposed through the frame openings so that both principal surfaces are adapted to directly contact the soil through the frame openings upon the hygrostat being buried in soil.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hygrostat system employs a hygroscopic element of a coherent polymer suitable for burying in soil near a plant (for example, a pot-plant). The hygroscopic element directly contacts the soil and has no lost motion as it expands and contracts so that the soil does not interpose itself at the ends of the element. In one embodiment, the hygrostate system has an upper chamber shaped like an inverted cup closed by a diaphragm and a lower frame shaped like an inverted stirrup having a lower arch and having an integrally-molded upper snapping ring, which fits inside the rim of the upper chamber. The upper chamber has a water inlet/outlet spigots extending therefrom. The hygroscopic element is strip shaped and is clipped or keyed at its lower end to a key-stone protrusion formed at the bottom of the lower frame. A pair of guide rails, which serve to stiffen the hygrostat element against buckling, extend from each side thereof. The upper ends of the rails are joined together by a foot to which the upper end of the hygroscopic element is attached and attached to the diaphragm by pull-though studs. The lower ends of the rails are free to slide over the keystone, and positioned laterally adjacent thereto.
27 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A hygrostat adapted for burial in soil, comprising:
-
a frame having a first end portion and a second end portion, and defining substantially unobstructed openings extending between the first and second end portions; a water flow-control valve, supported by the second end portion of the frame; and a hygroscopic element formed from a coherent synthetic polymer and arranged between the first end portion of the frame and the water flow-control valve, wherein the hygroscopic element expands and contracts upon uptake and release of water, expansion and contraction thereof controlling operation of the device water flow-control valve; and wherein the hygroscopic element has two principal opposing surfaces that comprise a majority of the surface area thereof, the principal surfaces being exposed through the frame openings so that both principal surfaces are adapted to directly contact the soil through the frame openings upon the hygrostat being buried in soil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A hygrostat adapted for burial in soil, comprising:
-
a hygroscopic element formed from a coherent polyether block amide copolymer capable of absorbing between 50% and 150% of its own weight in water during immersion in water over a period of 24 hours at 25°
C.; anda water flow-control valve operably connected to the hygroscopic element and operable by the expansion and contraction of the hygroscopic element, wherein the majority of the hygroscopic element surface is exposed to directly contact the soil upon the hygrostat being buried.
-
Specification