AUTOMATIC HOUSEPLANT WATERING DEVICE

Abstract

An automatic houseplant watering device allowing the rate of water flow or nutrient solution flow, the duration of irrigation, the time of irrigation and the number of irrigations per day to be adjusted by the user. A programmable timer controls a solenoid valve which connects a reservoir to a water distributor. The gravity outflow of water or nutrient solution is transferred from the water distributor to the planters by small size hoses. The rate of water flow or nutrient solution flow to the planters can be adjusted using small valves attached to the end of hoses. A float control valve is used on the upper part of the reservoir to supply water to the reservoir.

Claims

1) An automatic houseplant watering device comprising: a) a reservoir with a bottom, a sidewall and a lid. b) automatic refilling means to automatically refill the said reservoir. c) a solenoid valve attached to the said reservoir. d) a programmable timer connected to the said solenoid valve. e) a water distributor attached to the outlet of the said solenoid valve. f) irrigation hoses for transferring water from the said water distributor to the planters. g) flow control means attached to the said hoses to adjust the rate of water or nutrient solution flow to the planters.

2) the automatic house watering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said reservoir and the said automatic refilling means are not installed.

3) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said refilling means are attached to the said reservoir with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

4) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said solenoid valve is attached to the said reservoir with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

5) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said solenoid valve is connected to the said programmable timer with or without wires.

6) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet of the said solenoid valve is attached to the inlet of the said water distributor with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

7) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said irrigation hoses are attached to the water distributor with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

8) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said flow control means are attached to the said irrigation hoses with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

9) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said solenoid valve is attached to a water valve with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

10) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said solenoid valve is connected to the said programmable timer with or without wires.

11) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outlet of the said solenoid valve is attached to the inlet of the said water distributor with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

12) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said irrigation hoses are attached to the outlets of the said water distributor with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

13) the automatic houseplant watering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said flow control means are attached to the said irrigation hoses with or without fixing and sealing components and materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the present invention for the case where a water valve is available close enough to the planters and there is no need for the reservoir and the float control valve.

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the reservoir, its adapter, a sealing O-ring and a nut for fastening the adapter to the reservoir.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the float control valve, a gasket, a hose barb and the inlet hose.

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the solenoid valve and two hex nipples which connect the solenoid valve to the reservoir and the water distributor.

[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the timer.

[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the water distributor.

[0027] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the small valve attached to the end of the irrigation hose.

[0028] FIG. 10 illustrates another perspective exploded view of the small valve attached to the end of the irrigation hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The present invention was developed to automatically water houseplants in user's absence for an unlimited period of time. In addition, this invention was developed to enable the user to easily adjust the rate of water flow, the duration of irrigation, the time of irrigation and the number of irrigations per day. The present invention is economical and has a lower rate of energy consumption in comparison to other electromechanical houseplant watering devices or systems.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the invention 1 comprises a reservoir 10, a float control valve 60, an inlet hose 75, a solenoid valve 80, a programmable timer 100, wires 90 which connect the solenoid valve 80 to the timer 100, a water distributor 120, a plurality of irrigation hoses 150 and small valves 170 attached to the end of irrigation hoses 150 to separately control the flow of water or nutrient solution to each planter 180. FIG. 3 shows that in the case where a water valve 5 is available close enough to the planters 180 and the user does not want to use the device 1 in order to feed the planters 180 with nutrient solution, then there is no need for the reservoir 10 and float control valve 60. In this case the solenoid valve 80 can be attached to the water valve 5.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 4 the reservoir 10, includes a bottom 20, a sidewall 15 and a lid 35. The reservoir 10 has been chosen to be cylindrical but it may be in any other suitable shape such as cubic too. The reservoir 10 is preferred to be made of transparent plastic in order to be light and to reveal the height of water inside it but it can be made of other suitable materials too. There is a circular opening 30 on the upper part of the sidewall 15 which is used to attach the float control valve 60 to the reservoir 10. There is another circular opening 25 on the lower part of the sidewall 15 to attach the solenoid valve 80 to the reservoir 10. An adapter 40 whose size matches that of the lower circular opening 25, is inserted into the lower circular opening 25. An O-ring 45 and a nut 50 are applied to seal the lower circular opening 25, and fix the adapter 40 to the sidewall 15. All fittings applied to the device 1 are preferred to be made of either PVC or Polyethylene to make the device 1 as light as possible. However metallic fittings can be used too.

[0032] A float control valve 60 is attached to the reservoir 10 through the upper circular opening 30. Hence the reservoir 10 is automatically refilled in user's absence by the float control valve 60. FIG. 5 shows that a gasket 65 and a hose barb 70 are used to fix the float control valve 60 to the sidewall 15 of the reservoir 10. The hose barb 70 is also used to attach the inlet hose 75 to the float control valve 60. The other end of the inlet hose 75 should be attached to a water valve. The inlet hose 75 and all irrigation hoses 150 are preferred to be transparent and small in size (6 mm) so that they do not affect the aspect of the house, but other types of hoses can be used too.

[0033] A hex nipple 85 is used to attach the solenoid valve 80 to the reservoir 10 through the lower opening 25 and the adapter 40. FIG. 6 illustrates how two hex nipples 85 are attached to the inlet and outlet of the solenoid valve 80. The solenoid valve 80 is a normally closed valve which is capable of operating at zero pressure. The solenoid valve 80 may be operated by an AC or DC electric power source. The size of the solenoid valve 80 depends on the number of planters 180 to be irrigated, the desired duration of irrigation and the required rate of water or nutrient solution flow. According to my experience a solenoid valve of with an orifice of 15mm is capable of simultaneously watering up to ten medium size planters in about 35 seconds.

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates the programmable timer 100 which controls the solenoid valve 80. The timer 100 is applied to adjust the time of irrigation, the duration of irrigation and the number of irrigations per day. The user can easily adjust the mentioned irrigation parameters by means of programming buttons 105 provided on the timer 100. The timer 100 also includes a time display 155 and some terminals 110 to attach the wires 90 which connect the timer 100 to the solenoid valve 80 and to the electric power source. The programmable timer 100 may be operated by an AC or DC electric power source.

[0035] The water distributor 120 has been shown in the perspective exploded view in FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the water distributor 120, includes a tee 125, two to adapters 130, two hex nipples 135, two distribution bars 140 with a plurality of openings 155, some hex plugs 160 to shut the unwanted openings, a plurality of hose barbs 145 and a plurality of 6 mm irrigation hoses 150. Please note that the sizes given here for the components of the water distributor may change according to the number of planters to be watered.

[0036] An irrigation hose 150 together with a small valve 170 have been illustrated in FIG. 9. The small valve 170 is made of a hose barb 145 and a threaded cap 175 with a plurality of small openings 176 on it. Water flows through the small openings 176 of the threaded cap 175 to the planter 180. The user can adjust the rate of the water or nutrient solution flow by rotating the threaded cap 175. FIG. 10 illustrates another perspective exploded view of the small valve 170.

OPERATION

[0037] Initially the device 1 is located in a place higher than the planters 180. In order to avoid occupying the useful space of the house it is recommended to locate the device 1 at a height of 2 m to 2.2 m from the floor. The inlet hose 75 is attached to a water valve which may be far away from the device 1. Note that, since the inlet hose 75 is transparent and small in size (preferably 6 mm in diameter) even if it passes through the indoor space, it will not affect the aspect of the house. Then the reservoir 10 is filled with water by the float control valve 60. Next the timer 100 is programmed by the user to open the solenoid valve 80 at desired times of the day for desired durations. The user may add some nutrient to the water inside the reservoir 10 too. At the desired time of irrigation, the timer 100 connects the solenoid valve 80 to an electric power source which may be an AC or DC power source. In this case the solenoid valve 80 opens and the gravity force makes water or nutrient solution, flow from the reservoir 10 to the water distributor 120. The water or nutrient solution flow from the solenoid valve 80 is divided to smaller flows inside the water distributor 120 and each smaller flow of water or nutrient solution reaches a small valve 170 at the end of the irrigation hose 150. The rate of water or nutrient solution flow to each planter 180 can be separately adjusted by the user through the small valves 170 attached to the end of the irrigation hoses 150. The water or nutrient solution which flows out of the reservoir 10 during each irrigation, is automatically replaced by the inlet water through the float control valve 60.