초록 ▼

This invention is a device for automatically watering unattended houseplants with ordinary tap water. The device controls the rate of discharge of water from a reservoir by means of a replaceable multilayer sandwich-type flow control wafer, which is made of several layers of deformable gasket materi

This invention is a device for automatically watering unattended houseplants with ordinary tap water. The device controls the rate of discharge of water from a reservoir by means of a replaceable multilayer sandwich-type flow control wafer, which is made of several layers of deformable gasket material, laboratory filtration paper, and thin flexible plastic. The gasket and plastic layers contain designed patterns of through-holes and passages which force the water to flow over and through the filtration paper to control the rate of release of water from the reservoir. The design also uses the filtration paper to remove particles from the tap water which could clog the system and stop the flow. Over the course of the watering cycle the water gradually loosens the adhesive bonds between the filtration paper and the plastic, which increases the effective flow area of the filtration paper to partially compensate for the reduction in pressure head which occurs as the reservoir empties, thus keeping the water flow rate more constant over the watering cycle than it would be if controlled only by a simple orifice or filter. The watering device includes registration and compression rings which position and seal the flow control wafer, a concave funnel-like reservoir opening for filling the device in situ, and a narrow integral spike which supports the device in the plant soil and creates an open vertical passage which facilitates water penetration deep into the plant's root system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A device for automatically watering unattended houseplants, said device comprising a water reservoir having a bottom threaded exit neck with a flat lower surface, and a top filling and venting opening; a base assembly constructed of hard plastic and having a threaded join

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A device for automatically watering unattended houseplants, said device comprising a water reservoir having a bottom threaded exit neck with a flat lower surface, and a top filling and venting opening; a base assembly constructed of hard plastic and having a threaded joint which mates to said bottom threaded exit neck of said water reservoir, and having a bottom opening through which water can pass into an upper section of a narrow tapered spike which supports said houseplant watering device and allows passage of water into the soil of a houseplant; and a replaceable disk-shaped flow control wafer, which is retained between said exit neck of said water reservoir and said threaded joint of said base assembly, said flow control wafer comprising a top layer of deformable gasket material having one or more through-holes; a second layer located directly below said top layer, said second layer consisting of a sheet of thin plastic material having a pattern of one or more through-holes; a third layer located directly below said second layer, said third layer consisting of one or more sheets of filtration paper having no through-holes, in which said sheets of filtration paper may or may not be separated by a thin layer of plastic material having no through-holes and having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of said one or more sheets of filtration paper; and a fourth layer located directly below said third layer, said fourth layer consisting of a sheet of thin plastic material having one or more through-holes; so that the arrangement of said layers of gasket material, filtration paper, and plastic sheets forces the water to follow a predetermined labyrinthine path as it flows from said water reservoir into said base assembly; so that said water reservoir, base assembly, and flow control wafer, when assembled together, comprise a leak-tight, compact device capable of dispensing water to a houseplant over a predefined period of time.