Patent ID: 9516821
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: A01G

Claim Text:
1. A planter insert assembly, said planter insert assembly comprising: a tray having a bottom surface with a plurality of perforations, said tray also having a fill-tube upwardly depending from said bottom surface, said fill-tube defining a bore allowing for addition of liquid therethrough, wherein said fill-tube has an upwardly tapered configuration, wherein said fill-tube has a top end and a bottom end, wherein said top end of said fill-tube is narrower than said bottom end of said fill tube, said tray also having a wall structure upwardly depending from said bottom surface, said tray defining a containment space for plant support media, said wall structure having a top perimeter edge, said tray also having an external bottom perimeter edge, said external bottom perimeter edge defining a notch providing an inverted ledge; fluid-permeable material covering said plurality of perforations in said bottom surface of said tray and having at least one opening therethrough aligned with one of said perforations in said bottom surface; a base member made from water impenetrable material and having a closed bottom surface and an interior wall contiguous with said closed bottom surface, wherein said closed bottom surface and said interior wall of said base member define a fluid-holding interior allowing fluid collection and storage therein, said base member also having an open top end having a top perimeter edge, said base member including an interior rim projecting inwardly from said interior wall and having a top surface, said base member further having a perimeter configuration larger than that of said bottom surface of said tray, said top surface of said interior rim of said base member engaging said external bottom perimeter edge of said tray, and said top perimeter edge of said open top end of said base member engaging said inverted ledge of said tray when said tray is supported by said base member, wherein the liquid added through said bore exits said fill-tube through said bottom surface of said tray, thereby at least partially filling said base member, said base member also having at least one fluid overflow hole positioned at least in part below said interior rim; and at least one wicking member having a first opposed end and a second opposed end, with said first opposed end positioned on said fluid-permeable material and said second opposed end extending into said base member's fluid-holding interior through said one of said at least one opening through said fluid-permeable material aligned with said one of said perforations in said bottom surface of said tray, wherein said fluid-permeable material is positioned on said bottom surface of said tray to allow only fluid to move from said tray into said base member, wherein said at least one wicking member extends from said tray downwardly into said base member and draws fluid in said base member upwardly into said tray for continuous self-watering of plants supported by said tray without over-saturation of plant roots, wherein said at least one fluid overflow hole in said base member allows exit of surplus fluid in said base member.