Abstract:
A self contained watering apparatus may be buried within the soil in a conventional decorative pot or outdoors in the ground adjacent a plant(s) to be watered. A container for water serves as the source of water and includes a tube for refilling the container. An electric pump, which may be within the container or above the container, pumps water from within the container and discharges the water through a conventional spray nozzle or drip irrigation nozzle. A battery provides electric power to the pump and a settable timer regulates the electrical connection between the battery and the pump.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to watering systems and, more particularly, to a self contained plant watering apparatus. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Plants in pots, whether indoor or outdoor, require periodic manual watering to sustain life and growth of the plant(s) in the pot. Similarly, plants outdoors require a certain amount of water as a function of the type and nature of the plant. Often, natural rainfall may be insufficient and without sufficient watering, the plants will die. To solve the problem of watering outdoor plants, various irrigation systems are used. For residential use, buried conduits discharging water through nozzles in the form of a spray or in the manner of drip irrigation are often used. More simplistic watering apparatus includes the use of a conventional hose discharging water through a stationary or rotating sprinkler. The underground watering systems generally include a timer to cause the discharge of water at periodic intervals for preset durations. The use a conventional above ground hose and sprinkler usually requires manually laying the hose, attaching the sprinkler thereto, and turning on a hose bib or the like. To cease watering, the process is reversed. These watering systems are used outdoors and no equivalent unattended watering system is available for indoor potted plants. Furthermore, outdoor plants at a location distant from a residence are generally manually watered from time to time to avoid the expense associated with a significant length of above ground or buried conduit and attendant water discharge outlets, whether of the spray or drip irrigation type. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A water container of any selected size is buried within the soil of a pot to provide a source of water for the plant(s) growing in the pot. An electric motor operated pump draws water through a conduit within the container for discharge through the outlet of a further conduit. A battery provides electrical power to the motor of the pump and a timer regulates the frequency and duration of the electrical connection between the battery and the electric motor. Thereby, the plant within the pot will be watered in accordance with a preset schedule for a period of time commensurate with the presence of water in the container. To replenish the water in the container, a fill tube in communication with the container extends above the level of the soil for this purpose. A sensor may be incorporated in the container to provide a visual or audible indication of the level of water within the container. From this description, it is evident that the watering apparatus will operate unattended for a period of time as a function of the frequency of water discharge and the water capacity of the container. 
         [0006]    For outdoor plants, the container may be buried in proximity to the plant or plants to be watered. This will alleviate the necessity for using buried or above ground conduits extending from a source of water, such as a hose bib, to the plant or plants to be watered. Furthermore, these outdoor plants will be watered unattended for a period of time commensurate with the amount of water in the container and frequency and duration of water discharge set by the timer. 
         [0007]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an unattended automatic self contained plant watering apparatus. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant watering apparatus that may be buried in indoor pots. 
         [0009]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide buried apparatus for automatically watering outdoor plants at any location. 
         [0010]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plant watering apparatus independent of any external water pipes or conduits. 
         [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive self contained plant watering apparatus. 
         [0012]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a self contained plant watering apparatus having a submersible pump. 
         [0013]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a self contained plant watering apparatus having an indicator for reflecting the quantity of water in a water container. 
         [0014]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a pot for a plant having the self contained plant watering apparatus disposed therein; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a representative cross-sectional view of the watering apparatus disposed within a pot; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a representative cross-sectional view of a self contained plant watering apparatus having a pump disposed at the bottom of a water container; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  illustrates use of a self contained plant watering apparatus disposed beneath the surface of the soil and in proximity to a plant or plants to be watered; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a variant of the invention shown in  FIG. 3A  wherein the pump is disposed within the water container; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3B  but illustrates the use of a sensor for sensing the level of water within the container. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a conventional pot  10  of the type usually used for growing plants. A container  12  is located within the pot to provide a source of water for the plants growing in the pot. Necessarily, the size of the container is selected as a function of the size of the pot and the quantity of water to be stored therein. Soil  14  is deposited in the pot to provide nourishment for plants  16  growing in the pot. It is self-evident that container  12  must be of a size small enough to provide sufficient soil within the pot for the plant(s) to grow and flourish. 
         [0023]    Referring jointly to  FIGS. 1 and 2A , further details will be described. Container  12  is expected to rest on bottom  18  of pot  10 , as illustrated. Soil  14  is deposited around the container to provide the necessary nutrients to plant  16 . A pump  30  draws water from within container  12  through a conduit  32  having an inlet  34  proximate the bottom of the container. It is to be understood that the pump is operated by an electric motor; the term pump is used herein in the sense that the electric motor and pump are a combined unit. Outflow from pump  30  is discharged through a further conduit  36  to a location above level  38  of soil  14 . The outlet of conduit  36  may include a nozzle  40  to provide a spray of water, depicted by numeral  42 . Alternatively, the nozzle may be of the type providing drip irrigation to reduce losses due to evaporation common with sprays. The discharged water, whether by spray or drip, provides the necessary water for plant  16 . It is anticipated that nutrients may be dissolved in the water in the container to assist and promote plant growth. 
         [0024]    Electrical power for the pump and its attached electric motor is provided by a battery  50  through electrical conductors  52 . A timer  54  is employed to regulate both the duration and frequency of electrical power provided to pump  30 . Thereby, the quantity and frequency of water discharged through nozzle  40  may be preset commensurate with the requirements of plant  16  and considerations of weather. 
         [0025]    After a period of time, all of water  55  within container  12  will have been consumed, or nearly so. A tube  56  is in fluid communication with the interior of container  12  and extends upwardly, preferably above level  38  to provide access to inlet  58  of tube  56 . As depicted by arrow  60 , water may be injected through inlet  58  to fill container  12 . Necessarily, the battery will have to be either replaced or recharged from time to time. 
         [0026]    By inspection, it becomes evident that plant  16  will receive a quantity of water, as necessary and set by timer  54  to avoid periodic manual watering. Thereby, soil  14  will provide the necessary moisture for an extended period of time as a function of the size of container  12  and the quantity of water contained therein. Thus, the plant watering apparatus may remain unattended for a period of time without compromising the growth and health of the associated plants. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , there is shown a plant watering apparatus similar to that shown in  FIG. 2A  except that pump  30  and its associated electric motor is mounted at the bottom of container  12 . Water discharged from the pump is directed upwardly through conduit  36  to nozzle  40  generally locatable above level  38  of soil  14 . Power for the electric motor associated with pump  30  is provided by electrical conductors  52  extending into container  12  for connection with the electric motor of pump  30 . Battery  50  and timer  54  operate in the same manner as described above to control the frequency and duration of operation of pump  30 . While nozzle  40  is depicted as providing a spray  42 , it can also include the nozzle for providing drip irrigation, as discussed above. 
         [0028]    The self contained plant watering apparatus described above is primarily directed to apparatus for use within a pot, whether indoors or outdoors. Some plants may be located outdoors at some distance from a source of water, such as a hose bib or the like. To avoid running conduit above or below ground to plants to be watered, the present invention may be employed. 
         [0029]    As depicted in  FIG. 3A , container  12  is buried in the ground, as reflected by numeral  70  and ground surface  72 . The container may be periodically filled through inlet  58  of tube  56 , as depicted by arrow  60 . Pump  30  and its associated electrical motor draws water from within container  12  through conduit  32  having an inlet  34  close to the bottom of container  12 . The pump discharges water through conduit  36  to a nozzle  40  configured to provide drip irrigation to plant  16 , as depicted by droplets  74 . Power for pump  30  is provided by battery  50 . Control of operation of the pump is provided by timer  54 . 
         [0030]    The self contained plant watering apparatus depicted in  FIG. 3A  can easily be used outdoors to provide water and other nutrients to associated plants for a period of time as a function of the size of container  12  and quantity of water  55  therein coupled with operation of timer  54 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3B  depicts a self contained plant watering system as shown in  FIG. 3A  except that pump  30  and its associated electric motor are mounted at the bottom of container  12 . Electric power is provided to the motor of pump  30  via conductors  52  extending into container  12  and interconnecting the motor of pump  30  with battery  50  and/or timer  54 . Water discharge from pump  30  is provided by conduit  36  terminated by nozzle  40 . As depicted, the nozzle may be configured to provide drip irrigation, represented by drops  74 . It is to be understood that the nozzle may provide a spray, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B. Periodic filling of container  12  may be via tube  56  having an accessible inlet  58  above ground. Such filling of water, with or without nutrients, is represented by arrow  60 . The configuration of the self contained plant watering system illustrated in  FIG. 3B  provides benefits similar to that described above with respect to the self contained plant watering system shown in  FIG. 3A . The main difference is that the pump is located within container  12  rather than exterior of container  12 , as depicted in  FIG. 3A . That is, conduit  32  shown in  FIG. 3A , extends from within container  12  to pump  30  exterior of the container while pump  30 , as depicted in  FIG. 3B , draws water from within the container and discharges the water through conduit  36  extending from the submerged pump to a location outside of the container and preferably above level  72  of ground  70 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a plant watering apparatus similar to that shown in  FIG. 3B  and described above but including a further feature. A water level sensor  80  extends into container  12  to a depth representative of low water in the container. When the water level  82  results from previous discharge of water, the sensor will generate a signal representative of water level  82 . This signal is conveyed through a conductor  84  to an alarm circuit  86 . The alarm circuit, when triggered by sensor  80 , will provide a visual indication of a low water level condition within container  12 , as represented by flashing light  88 . It is to be understood that an audible signal may be generated in place of or in combination with energization of light  88 . Upon the presence of either or both the visual or audible signals, container  12  should be filled with water through inlet  58 , as depicted by arrow  60 . It is intended that this sensor unit may also be used in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B,  3 A and  3 B.