Self-Watering Planter

Abstract

A self-watering planter device having an integral internal irrigation system, and method of watering allowing water to be supplied by means of standard garden water hose and existing water faucet. A plurality of said self-watering planters capable of being daisy-chained in a serial configuration to allow a single source of water from a standard water faucet and standard garden water hoses to provide irrigation water to all of said plurality of self-watering planters.

Claims

1. A self-watering planter for watering plants in said planter comprising: a) a planter container having substantially vertical sides with a distal closed bottom end and a proximal open top end; b) an integral irrigation system comprising an internal water manifold having a water input female connector and a water exit male connector for connection of standard garden water hose, and a plurality of internal water distribution channels, each of said internal water distribution channels having a distal end connected to said water manifold and a proximal end having at least one water outlet orifice, thereby providing a self-water planter having an integral water irrigation system contained therein through which water may be supplied by a single water source by means of a standard garden water hose.

2. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said planter container distal closed bottom end has at least one drainage orifice.

3. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said female end of said irrigation tube is fixedly attached to said internal water manifold.

4. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said female end is rotatably attached to said internal water manifold.

5. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said standard garden water hose is selected from the group comprising; flexible water hose, flexible lawn and garden irrigation pipe, substantially rigid lawn and garden irrigation pipe, and combinations thereof.

6. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said planter container is made of pottery material.

7. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said planter container is made of a plastic material.

8. A plurality of self-watering planters for watering plants in said plurality of self-watering planters from a single water source by means of connecting said plurality of self-watering planters to each other in a serial daisy-chain configuration, each of said plurality of self-watering planters comprising: a) a planter container having substantially vertical sides with a distal closed bottom end and a proximal open top end; b) an integral irrigation system comprising an internal water manifold having a water input female connector and a water exit male connector for connection of standard garden water hose, and a plurality of internal water distribution channels, each of said internal water distribution channels having a distal end connected to said water manifold and a proximal end having at least one water outlet orifice; thereby providing a self-water planter having an integral water irrigation system contained therein through which water may be supplied by a single water source by means of a standard garden water hose.

9. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 8 wherein, said female end of said irrigation tube is fixedly attached to said internal water manifold.

10. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 8 wherein, said female end is rotatably attached to said internal water manifold.

11. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 8 wherein, said standard garden water hose is selected from the group comprising; flexible water hose, flexible lawn and garden irrigation pipe, substantially rigid lawn and garden irrigation pipe, and combinations thereof.

12. The self-watering planter as claimed in claim 8 wherein, said planter container distal closed bottom end has at least one drainage orifice.

13. The method of watering plants contained in a plurality of self-watering planters utilizing a single water source and standard garden water hose to provide water to all of said self-watering planters.

14. The method of watering plants contained in a plurality of self-watering planters utilizing a single water source and standard garden water hose to provide water to all of said self-watering planters as claimed in claim 13 wherein, the water exit male connector of the last of said plurality of self-watering planter is sealed with a terminal end cap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a self-watering planter including the planter body, water manifold connections, and the water outlet orifices.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of FIG. 1 through section line A-A showing the water manifold integral to the planter body including the water manifold connections, the planter body sides, the planter body bottom with optional drainage orifice.

[0024] FIG. 3 show a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the planter body sides, bottom with optional drainage orifice, water manifold, and water distribution channels with water outlet orifices.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of FIG. 3 through section line B-B showing the planter body sides, planter body bottom, water manifold with water connection orifice, water distribution channels with water outlet orifices.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a plurality of planters of the present invention connected in series to allow one water line to provide water to all of them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0027] This invention was developed to provide an efficient and aesthetically pleasing method of irrigating a planter of various desired geometric configuration or plurality of planters of various desired geometric configuration requiring only a single common standard garden water hose to provide the water to all of the planters no matter the number. In addition, it was developed to allow for easy automatic planter irrigation on decks, patios, and landscaping using the available water facet and/or lawn watering system without the need for separate water and/or electrical lines to each planter.

[0028] Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is an illustrative perspective side view of self-watering planter 100 of the present invention; comprising planter container sides 1 having a proximal (top) open end 2, distal (bottom) end 3, an integral water manifold 8 (see FIG. 2) water intake 4, and water exit 5. Also shown are integral water distribution channels 7 having water distribution orifices 6.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a sectional plan view through section line A-A of FIG. 1 showing the planter container 1, container bottom end 3 with optional drainage orifice 9. Also shown is water intake 4, and water exit 5 both connected to integral water manifold 8.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative perspective top view of self-watering planter 100 of the present invention; comprising planter container sides 1 as viewed through the proximal (top) open end 2 showing distal (bottom) end 3 with an optional drainage orifice 9, an integral water manifold 8 with integral water distribution channels 7 having water distribution orifices 6.

[0031] Turning now to FIG. 4, shows a sectional plan view through section line B-B of FIG. 3 showing self-watering planter 100 having open proximal (top) end 2, distal (bottom) end 3, integral water manifold 8, integral water distribution channels 7 having water distribution orifices 6, and water intake orifice 10.

[0032] Finally FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a plurality of the self-watering planters 100 of the present invention connected in series (daisy-chained) together using connecting hoses 21 to allow a single water supply hose 20 to provide water to all of the plurality of said planters 100. It is to be appreciated that the self-watering planters of the present invention may also be connected in parallel or in any combination of series and parallel using appropriate water line configurations as are well known in the art. It is to be appreciated that the second end of the last self-watering planter of the present invention in the watering series may be left open to allow water to flow out or may be capped using a standard terminal end cap well known in the art to seal the watering system.

[0033] The use of the term of various desired geometric configuration and the like includes various planter shapes and/or styles such as, for example, circular, oval, and rectangular, as are well known in the art.

[0034] The use of the term standard garden water hose and the like includes garden water hose, and other lawn and garden irrigation piping and hose commonly sold for such uses and which is well known in the art such as, for example, standard PVC plumbing, standard ABS plumbing, low pressure poly rolled irrigation pipe, and combinations thereof. The means of connecting said well-known water supply means also being well known in the art such as, for example, slip/glue fittings, threaded fittings, compression fittings, and barbed plastic fittings.

[0035] Additionally, the self-watering planters of the present invention can be used on the same water supply system as other devices such as sprinklers, soakers, and the like as are well known in the art.

[0036] In one presently preferred embodiment all of the planter having integral water manifold system of the present invention are formed by injection molding, however other methods for forming the various parts such as, for example, extrusion, and machining, are also contemplated. All of the various parts may be constructed of the same material or of various different materials within the knowledge of those skilled in art.

[0037] In another presently preferred embodiment the planter of the claimed invention are formed of pottery using methods of production well known in the art.

[0038] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.