Abstract:
Improved planter inserts to be used in conjunction with ordinary or decorative planters for growing houseplants in potting soil or hydroponically in pebbles or other potting medium for the purpose of reducing the work of maintaining the plants and improving the characteristics of purifying ambient air quality. A separate water reservoir is attached to the planter insert such that the water level in the planter insert is maintained constant at all times. The watering frequency is reduced because of the large water reservoir. Additional features may be added to the planter insert to further enhance the effectiveness of air purification by the plants. A simple planter insert is used to increase the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system. The second planter insert includes a circulation fan to increase the circulation of air through the potting medium and the root system. The third planter insert includes a lamp with or without a circulation fan. The addition of a lamp will help to sterilize the air. 
     The non-spill water reservoir can be made to turn over to nearly 180 degrees after refill without spilling its content thus making the insert of water reservoir easy. For very large planter inserts and water reservoirs, the removal of water reservoir for refill becomes impractical. A special designed feature of the improved water reservoir allows the refill of water reservoir in place without spillage. 
     A specially designed water level indicator is also provided to indicate water level within a small viewing area of the water reservoir.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/873,070 filed Jun. 11, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,017 which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known that plants need air, water, and light for growth. It is also known that plants purify air. The purification of air through plant leaves are well known. However, the role of complex biological and bacterial process of plant&#39;s root system in breaking down air polluting chemicals and suppress the growth of microbes was only became understood in recent years. 
     Since the energy crisis in the 70&#39;s, new homes are being built with energy efficiency in mind. To achieve this, buildings are tend to have less air circulation with the outside air and better seal around doors and windows. The result of these changes in addition to the wide spread use of plastics, paints and other synthetic materials and chemicals, the indoor air pollution have become a serious health problem. Which resulted in the so called sick air syndrome. Several air purification planters and apparatus were proposed by U.S. patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,217,696; 5,269,094; 5,351,438; and 5,433,923. These patents suggest means to improve the interaction of air with the root system of the plants. Major deficit of these designs include 1) lack of sufficient water reservoir in the planter which increases the work of maintaining the plants, 2) relatively large variation of water level within the planter which is, in many respect, an undesirable consequence of being unable to control a constant water level in the planter. 
     On the market everywhere, there are many kinds of the so called “self watering” planters available to the public. There are very little difference among these planters. The basic feature of these “self watering” planters is that a small water reservoir at the bottom of the planter with a water filling opening near the bottom of the planter side wall. Perforated divider separates soil with water reservoir except that there are few studs or channels in the divider which extend down into the water reservoir and all the way to the bottom of the planter so that soil in these studs or channels were able to be submerged in the water at any given water level in the water reservoir. Capillary action of the soil were able to lift water to the root system and support plant growth. The disadvantages of these “self watering” planters include 1) the size of the water reservoir is usually small and the uncontrollable water level also change with time, 2) the bottom exposed portion of the soil and the water reservoir are directly open to the ambient air through the water refill opening and thus mildew or microbes growth is a common problem. 
     This invention relates to a planter insert with separate water reservoir to be placed inside a planter. It is capable of maintaining a constant water level in the planter insert. Because the water reservoir is separate to the planter insert, the size of the water reservoir may be made as big as one wishes. For planter insert with very large water reservoir, it is not practical to remove the water reservoir for refill, a special design feature is provided to enable the refill in place without spilling water. 
     With different features in the planter inserts, the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system is maximized, thus enhances the effectiveness of air purification process by the root system. Optional lamp and circulation fan are also provided. The location of the fan is imbedded within the potting medium underneath the planter insert thus greatly reduced the vibration and noise level of the fan. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved planter insert for plants to be placed inside an ordinary or decorative planter. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a separate water reservoir for the planter insert. The bottom of the water reservoir (when turned over and inserted into the planter becomes the top of the reservoir) is provided with a small viewing area for a water level indicator so that water level inside the water reservoir is in clear view. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide and maintain constant water level in one or more planter insert(s) connected together and placed inside the same planter with a single water reservoir. 
     It is another object of the present invention to increase the interface surface areas between ambient air with the potting medium and the root system. The improved air circulation and the inclusion of a lamp are all means of improving the effectiveness of air purification and sterilization. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved water reservoir such that it is easier to turn over for insert to the planter without the concern of spilling. 
     The present invention includes an improved planter insert which has a shallow water well at the bottom of the planter insert. A water reservoir with a curved neck can be seated at the opening of the shallow water well. A constant water level is maintained inside the planter insert which is achieved by the partial vacuum created within the water reservoir and water surrounding the mouth opening of the water reservoir. 
     Planter inserts with different complexity may be placed inside the planter for different purposes. The simplest planter insert will help to increase the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system thus improves the breathing or circulation of air in the root system and enhance the air purification process by the root system. The second planter insert includes a circulation fan such that the circulation of air is greatly increased. The third planter insert includes a lamp and a circulation fan. The lamp using either incandescent bulb or bulb with ultra violet feature will help to disinfect the air being circulated around the bulb. The inclusion of a fan will further enhance the air circulation. 
     For air purification purpose, hydroponically soil-less planting is the desirable approach. Water absorbing pebbles such as expended clay and zeolite with or without activated carbon are ideal potting medium. This type of potting medium often leave many void air spaces in the potting medium and the root system and allows circulating air to be scrubbed by the wet pebble surfaces and the root system and maximizing the effect of air purification. 
     Conventional potting soil may also be used in this planter insert. The air purification property does reduced considerably, nevertheless, it is still better than the regular planter. Other advantages of the planter insert described earlier still apply. 
     The curved neck design of the water reservoir provides a unique feature which allows the water reservoir to be turned over to a predetermined angle with the liquid line inside being higher than the opening of the water reservoir without spilling any liquid after refill. This makes the non-spill insertion of water reservoir into the planter possible. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the planter insert of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 along line  2 — 2 . 
     FIG. 3 is the same cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 showing the insertion of the non-spill water reservoir of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is the cross-sectional views of non-spill water reservoir of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 along line  7 — 7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 along line  9 — 9 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 along line  11 — 11 . 
     FIG. 12 shows the operation of check valve used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     FIG. 13 shows the operation of an alternate check valve used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     FIG. 14 shows a water level indicator to be used in all water reservoirs of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows the top view of a planter  10  which could be any ordinary existing planter. As an example, FIG. 1 shows a rectangular planter  10  with three planter inserts  15  inside, the shape of this planter can be square, circular, rectangular or any other shapes and sizes. Depending on the shape and size of the planter  10 , one or more planter insert(s)  15  can be inserted into the planter. Regardless of the number of planter inserts in planter  10  there is only one water reservoir  20  needed. All planter insert(s)  15  will be sharing water supply from this common water reservoir  20 . The planter insert has an exterior shallow water well  25  at the bottom of the planter insert to receive the discharge opening mouth  30  of the water reservoir  20  (better shown in FIG.  2 ). Partial vacuum inside the water reservoir  20  and the height of the discharge opening mouth  30  will control the water line  35  in the shallow water well  25  at a constant level for as long as there is water in the water reservoir  20 . Connecting tubes  40  connect all shallow water wells  25  together. Since all planter inserts are at the same elevation, water from water reservoir  20  can be distributed to every planter insert&#39;s shallow water well  25  and maintain all water lines  35  to the same level. Small opening  45  (shown in FIG. 2) on the side wall of the planter insert  15  communicates shallow water well  25  with the interior of the planter insert thus allowing water to enter the planter insert  15  to feed the potting medium  50  and plants  55  in each planter insert  15 . Usually the side wall of planter  10  is made of material that is opaque, water level inside water reservoir  20  is hard to determine. The exposed upper end of the water reservoir  20  (the bottom of the water reservoir after turned over and inserted to the planter becomes the top exposed surface) will not have a good clear view of the full depth of water reservoir. A specially designed water level indicator can be attached to the water reservoir requiring only a relatively small transparent viewing area  60  to show the entire range of water level. The design and its operation of this water level indicator will be described later in FIG.  14 . 
     As an alternate, one single shallow water well that is large enough to receive all the planter insert(s) and the water reservoir may be used in stead of individual shallow water wells and connected with connecting tubes. The planter itself could also be acted as shallow water well as long as the drain holes (if any) in the planter are located above the desired water level line. 
     FIG. 2 is a cut away partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 along line  2 — 2  with potting medium and plants omitted from the planter insert. All planter inserts  15  in FIG. 1 are placed at the same elevation (only one planter insert is shown) and are connected through connecting tube  40  at shallow water wells. This assures that the water level line  35  at each and every planter inserts be at the same level and is maintained by water reservoir  20  at the discharge opening mouth  30 . Potting medium and plants inside each planter insert (omitted from the figure) is therefore supported with proper water supply for plant growth. 
     FIG. 3 shows the same cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 except that this figure shows how the water reservoir is inserted into the planter after water is refilled and the reservoir is partially turned over almost 180 degrees. Because of the extended curved neck feature incorporated into the design, the water reservoir  20  is capable of turning over with water level inside the water reservoir being above the discharge mouth opening without spilling any water. 
     FIG. 4 shows five cross-sectional views of the non-spill water reservoir  20  at different stages of refilling and inserting into the planter. FIG. 4-A shows that the water reservoir is turned right side up with the cap  65  removed from the body of the water reservoir  70  for refilling. A hook  75  is provided for hanging onto the planter insert. It is shown as part of the reservoir but can be a separate piece and attached to the reservoir. The cap  65  has a supporting stand  80  used to support the water reservoir and maintains the proper height of the discharge mouth opening  30  while inserted into the planter  10 . The extended curved neck  85  is also attached to the cap in this example. FIG. 4-B shows that the water is refilled and the cap  65  is attached to the water reservoir body  70  with a sealing gasket  90 . FIGS. 4-C and  4 -D show the water reservoir is turned over for insertion into the planter. Because the extended curved neck  85  has the form of a number “7”, or in the form of a letter “Z” or “S” and it is oriented correctly with the “7”, “Z” or “S” shaped curved neck in the upright position where the mouth opening end of the curved neck  85  is on the upper most location when the water reservoir is laid down flat (as shown in FIG. 4-C) before tilting further (as shown in FIG.  4 -D), water inside this water reservoir will not start to flow out as long as the tilting angle A (shown in FIG. 4-D) is less than the predetermined tilting angle. After insertion, the water reservoir is hooked to the planter insert and seated inside the planter (as shown in FIG.  2 ). And the water reservoir  20  is positioned upright as shown in FIG. 4-E where the angle B is greater than the predetermined tilting angle. Water will start to flow out and control the proper water level line  35  inside the shallow water well  25 . Water reservoir shown in FIG. 4 is just an exemplary configuration. The Water reservoir body  70  and the cap  65  could be an integral single piece with a simple refill hole for refilling or without any hole other than the discharge opening hole  30 . In this case, the refilling will be accomplished through the discharge opening hole  30 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The planter insert  15  has wavy side walls  95  against the interior of the planter side wall  100 . In this example, only one planter insert  15  is fitted inside the planter  10 . Water reservoir  20  hangs to the side wall of the planter insert with its hook  75  and its discharge opening mouth  30  is received by the shallow water well  25 . The purpose of this planter insert  15  is to provide a maximized interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system of the plant (not shown and omitted from the figure). This is achieved by utilizing any suitable forms of wavy side walls  95  of the planter insert  15  against the inside surfaces of the planter side walls  100  such that narrow air passageways  105  are formed. The wavy side walls  95  have small holes or perforations  110  (shown in FIGS.  6  and  8 ). These holes allow the breathing of the root system with ambient air in the air passageways  105 . Potting medium fill the planter insert where plant is potted (not shown). The bottom layer of the potting medium submerged under the water level line. Capillary action along with the suction of the root system carry water to the upper portion of the potting medium and therefore support the plant growth. A small transparent area  60  on the water reservoir  20  is also shown where the water level indicator may be attached. 
     FIG. 6 shows the cross-sectional view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has basically the same construction of FIG. 5 except that additional air passage partitions and an air circulation fan  120  is added. FIG. 7 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 along line  7 — 7 . The purpose of this planter insert  15  is the inclusion of a circulation fan  120  to enhance air flow in addition to maximize the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system of the plant (not shown). The wavy side walls  95  of the planter insert  15  against the inside surfaces of the planter side walls  100  formed narrow air passageways  105 . The wavy side walls  95  have small holes or perforations  110  for air to pass through. A circulation fan  120  is located at the bottom center of the planter insert  15  slightly above the water level line  35 . The use of circulation fan helps to increase air flow through the potting medium and the root system. The circulating air is than passed through the small holes or perforation  110  of the planter insert and down through the air passageways  105  to the bottom of the planter. Partition walls  115  at the bottom of the planter insert forms air inlet ducting  125 , which guides the circulating air toward the suction side  130  of the fan  120 . Discharge duct  135  guides the exhaust air to the ambient through the gaps of water reservoir  20  and the planter  10 . Potting medium fill the planter insert where the plant is potted (not shown). The bottom layer of the potting medium submerged under the water level line  35 . Capillary action along with the suction of the root system carry water to the upper portion of the potting medium and therefore support the plant growth. A small transparent area  60  on the water reservoir is also shown where the water level indicator may be attached. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has basically the same construction of FIG. 6 except that the discharge air from air circulation fan  120  is directed upward to include a lamp  140  to the discharge duct  135  along with a glass shield  145  and a lamp shade  150  in addition to maximize the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system of the plants (not shown). FIG. 9 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 along line  9 — 9 . The wavy side walls  95  of the planter insert  15  against the inside surfaces of the planter side walls  100  formed narrow air passageways  105 . The heat of the lamp will heat the air and cause the air to rise and pass through the air gap  155  between light bulb  140  and the glass shield  145 . This rise of air creates a suction at the discharge duct  135  which in turn pulls ambient air to pass through potting medium and the root system than through holes or perforation  110  and down the air passageways  105 , the air inlet ducting  125  to the discharge duct  135 . The circulation fan  120  located at the bottom of the discharge duct  135  and above the water level line  35  will enhance air circulation further. Too much air flow may cause the light bulb  140  being unable to heat the air hot enough for sterilization. Potting medium (not shown) fills the insert where the plant is potted. The bottom layer of the potting medium submerged under the water level line  35 . Capillary action along with the suction of the root system carry water to the upper portion of the potting medium and therefore support the plant growth. A small transparent area  60  on the water reservoir  20  is also shown where the water level indicator may be attached. 
     FIG. 10 shows yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention. The planter insert  15  can be in the form of any one of the pre-mentioned designs as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  5 - 9  however, the water reservoir is very large and will be set in place and not to be removed for refilling. The shape of the water reservoir as shown in FIG. 10 is in the form of a donut but can be in the forms of a rectangular, semi circular or any other suitable shape. FIG. 11 shows the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 along line  11 — 11 . When water in the water reservoir is exhausted, a refill cap  160  is removed from the refill opening  165  for refill. At this time, the partial vacuum inside the water reservoir is no longer exist and any water filled into the water reservoir will immediately tend to flow out from the discharge mouth opening  30  and flood the planter insert  15  to cause the water line  35  to rise. A special design as shown in FIG. 12 will prevent it from happening. FIG. 12-A is a simple assembly  170  to be inserted into the water reservoir  20  (FIGS. 12-B, and  12 -C) at the refill opening  165 . This simple assembly  170  has a small insert  175  in the form of an inverted cup which slide fitted and covers the discharge mouth opening  30  as shown in FIGS. 12-B and  12 -C. A flapper  180  with a bent arm  185  is attached to the small insert  175  at the hinge  190 . At the other end of the bent arm  185  is hinge mounted with a push rod  195 . The upper end of the push rod will be anchored to the refill opening  165  with any suitable means and allowed to slide up and down. A new discharge opening  200  is made on the small insert  175 . The flapper  180  is heavier than the total weight of the bent arm  185  and the push rod  195  and therefore tend to flip down while raising the bent arm  185  and push up the push rod  195  as shown in FIG. 12-B when the refill cap  160  is removed from the refill opening  165 . When the flapper  180  drops down, it covers and seals the new discharge opening  200  and stops the water from flowing out of the water reservoir during refilling. FIG. 12-C shows that when the water is refilled and the refill cap  160  is attached to the refill opening  165 . At the same time, the refill cap also pushes down the push rod  195  and tilting the bent arm to lift the flapper  180 . The lifting of the flapper uncovers the discharge opening  200  thereby allows water to flow out. Otherwise, the operation of the planter insert and the water reservoir is the same as those described in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  5 - 9 . A small transparent area  60  on the water reservoir  20  is also shown where the water level indicator may be attached. 
     FIG. 13 shows an alternate design of FIG. 12 to control water flow during water reservoir refill. FIG. 13-A shows the refill cap  160  is removed from the refill opening  165  for water refill. A three armed rock arm  205  is attached near the refill opening allowing to pivot the third arm of the three armed rock arm between two up and down positions as shown in FIGS. 13-A and  13 -B. The refill cap  160  has a concave shaped plug  210  (as shown in FIG. 13-B) which will trigger the pivoting of the three armed rock arm to pivot. When the refill cap  160  is removed from the refill opening  165 , the concave shaped plug  210  will cause the three armed rock arm to turn clockwise to the position as shown in FIG. 13-A. At this position, the third arm  215  of the three armed rock arm  205  is in the down position which lowers the stopper flapper  220  by lowering the string  225  connecting them. The stopper flapper  220  at the down position covers the discharge mouth opening  30  and therefore prevented water from flowing out of the water reservoir  20  during refill. After the water reservoir  20  is refilled and the refill cap  160  is replaced to the water reservoir, the concave shaped plug  210  will push the three armed rock arm  205  to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 13-B. In this case the third arm  215  of the rock arm  205  is in the upper position and lifting the string  225  and stopper flapper  220 . In this position, the stopper flapper uncovers the discharge mouth opening  30  and allows water to flow. The water level in the planter insert is controlled the same way as that described earlier. 
     FIG. 14 shows a water level indicator  230  of the present invention. The objective of this indicator is to show the full range of water level inside the water reservoir from a relatively small viewing area  60 , a small transparent piece of mounting surface. Attached to this small piece of surface are two guide tubes  235  and  240  (can be guide rails or any other suitable guiding structures), one for the float  245  and the other for the weight  250 . There are also a number of hoops or clamps  255  on the mounting surface  60 . A string divided into two colored sections say red section  260  and white section  265  and connected at the junction  270  connects the float  245  and the weight  250  at the two ends. The string loops around the hoops or clamps  255  in a zigzag path  275  as shown in FIG. 14 in a very small area. If the water reservoir has transparent surfaces, this water level indicator can be attached to the inside surface of the water reservoir. Otherwise, the water reservoir can have a cut opening and replaced it with the transparent piece of this water level indicator and the joint line sealed. After the water reservoir is inserted into the planter, the transparent piece  60  of the water level indicator is on the top as indicated in FIG.  14 . When the water in the water reservoir is full, the float  245  will be floated to the top and the weight  250  will sink to the bottom of the water reservoir. As water gradually leave the water reservoir and the water level start to drop, the float  245  will follow the water level and start to drop as well. The weight  250  on the other end of the string is lighter than the float and thus being pulled up and hanging in the air. The length of the string is (the combined length of red  260  and white  265  strings) properly measured so that it is always in tension between the float  245  and the weight  250 . The up and down movement of the float  245  due to the water level change also cause the junction point  270  of the two colored string to move along the zigzag path  275 . When water is full, the float is up and the red string will be showing in the zigzag path  265 . When water is nearly empty as shown in FIG. 14, the float will be near the bottom and more white string will be showing in the zigzag path. Calibration marking  280  can thus be placed on the transparent piece to indicate the true water level for the entire range of the water reservoir. This water level indicator can be applied to any one of the previously described water reservoir  20  where only the viewing areas  60  were depicted while the detailed water level indicator structures were omitted in those views. It can also be applied to any other liquid container where the viewing area is limited to a small area at one end of the container. 
     Various modifications to the depicted and described apparatus will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the forgoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment should be considered exemplary in nature and not as limiting to the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.