Abstract:
The container netting system is comprised of a pot, saucer, and a net. The net is positioned around the pot and saucer to restrict the access to the interior of the saucer. The mesh openings of the net are sized to prevent a mosquito, or other bug, from accessing the water to lay eggs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/301,725 filed Mar. 1, 2016. The contents of that application are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a net used in conjunction with a pot and saucer to restrict access to the water. 
         [0005]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0006]    The invention relates to a potted plant netting system to prevent insects and animals from accessing standing water that may be present in a saucer. When watering a potted plant, excess water drains through the pot, out drainage ports, and into a saucer. In certain settings it is preferred to use a saucer to catch the excess water as opposed to allowing the excess water to drain uncontrolled. For example, indoor potted plants routinely have saucers as do potted plants in courtyards or concrete patios. However, the presence of the standing water within a saucer is problematic. Household animals such as dogs and cats may attempt to drink the water resulting in exposure to unwanted chemicals, such as fertilizer, or may inadvertently knock over the pot. More problematic is the potential for mosquitoes and other nuisance insects to lay eggs in the standing water which perpetuates the insects life cycle in an unwanted area such as indoors or within a courtyard area. The standing water in a saucer is an ideal habitat for mosquito larva and pupa as the organic material within the dirt of the potted plant provide a source of nutrition. 
         [0007]    The present solution to this problem is to physically empty the saucer by moving the pot and dumping the saucer. This has obvious drawbacks as it is labor intensive and impractical for heavy pots. A need exists to easily prevent access to the standing water without the necessity of physical movement of the pot and saucer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The potted plant netting system is necessary to help reduce the access to standing water within a saucer. The potted plant netting system consists of a net affixed to a pot where it drapes below the lip of the saucer. This creates a cavity within the saucer defined by the saucer, the pot, and a net. The net prevents mosquitoes, other insects, or animals from accessing the water through use of a physical barrier. The net remains breathable such that the standing liquid may evaporate. The net may be affixed to the plant through hook and loop fasteners or through elasticity of the net. 
         [0009]    The net has a positive effect on reduction of mosquitoes. First, it reduces the mosquito population in the localized area as it disrupts the life cycle by preventing the laying of eggs. Second, it reduces the existing population of the biting female mosquitoes as the female mosquitoes will search for sources of standing water to lay eggs. In a courtyard, backyard patio, or indoors, this will result in less biting mosquitoes and less risk to exposure to mosquito borne illnesses such as West Nile virus or Zika. The use of netting will also physically prevent an animal, such as a dog or cat, from easy access to the water. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the planter system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a view of the exterior face of the netting. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a view of the interior face of the netting. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a close-up view of the exterior face of the netting. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the pot with saucer. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a close up view of the planter system without the mess pattern. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 6  show the present planter system invention  1  comprising a pot  2 , a saucer  3 , and net  10 . The pot  2  is generally round may be any shape such as square, rectangular, or oval. The pot  2  has drainage ports to allow excess water from the pot  2  to drain out. A saucer  3  is positioned underneath the pot  2  to catch the excess water flowing out of the drainage ports. As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the saucer  3  is positioned directly under the pot  2  where the pot  2  sits on top of the saucer  3 . In some planters, wheels  4  are mounted under the saucer  3  to allow the planter system  1  to move. Attached to the exterior surface  5  of the pot  2  are several securing loops  6  of hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0017]    As seen in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 , the net  10  is generally rectangular in shape having a top portion  11 , bottom portion  12 , left portion  13 , right portion  14 , an inner face  15 , and an outer face  16 . The net  10  consists of a mesh pattern  17  having openings within the netting are of sufficient size to allow air to flow through but sufficiently small to prevent a mosquito or other targeted insect from passing through. The mesh pattern  17  is made through use of lockstitch which keeps the bottom portion  12  from fraying. In other embodiments the mesh pattern  17  may be smaller to block any desired insect such as flies, gnats, or fruit flies. The mesh pattern  17  may be square, diamond, or any other suitable shape. A strip of material  18  is positioned on the net adjacent and parallel to the top portion  11 . A decorative strip of material  19  is positioned on the net approximately equidistant between the top portion  11  and bottom portion  12  and parallel to both top and bottom portions  11 ,  12 . 
         [0018]    The top portion  11  of the net  10  is affixed to a strip of material  18 . In one embodiment the strip of material  18  is elastic. The top portion  11  of the net  10  is folded into small wedges  19  that taper towards the bottom portion  12 . These wedges  20  are commonly referred to as darts in sewing. The top portion  11 , with the wedges  20 , are attached or sewn to the strip of material  18  while the strip of material  18  is taut. The strip of material  18  is positioned on the inner face  15  of the net  10 . After the top portion  11  is attached and the strip of material is not taut, the top portion  11  of the net pulls together causing the net to appear trapezoid in shape as the left and right sides become angled. The wedges  20 , when the strip of material  18  is not taut, help prevent folds in the material when placed around a round object. 
         [0019]    Several securing hooks  21 , of hook and loop fastener, are affixed to the strip of material  18  along the top portion  11 . A connection hook  22  is affixed to the strip of material  18  along the top portion  11  proximal to the left portion  13 . A connection loop  23  is affixed to the top portion  11  of the outer face  16  proximal to the right portion  14 . 
         [0020]    The top portion  11  of the net  10  is wrapped around the exterior surface  5  of the pot  2 . The securing hooks  21  on the net  10  connect to the securing loop  6  on the exterior surface  5  of the pot  2 . The connection hook  22  connects with the connecting loop  23 . The hook and loop fasteners secure the net  10  around the pot  2  which adjoins the left portion  13  and right portion  14 . The elasticity of the strip of material  18  permit the top portion  11  of the net  10  to stretch around the pot  2 . The wedges  20  prevent the material from bunching up around the bottom of the pot  2  and saucer  3 . 
         [0021]    As seen in  FIG. 6  (the mesh pattern  17  is removed for easier view), the net  10  drapes down such that the bottom portion  12  rests below the lip  7  of the saucer  3 . The net  10  may be positioned such that the bottom portion  12  extends beyond the bottom of the saucer  8  to make the bottom portion  12  flush with the ground. The bottom portion  12  may be trimmed or cut depending on the height of the pot  2  and saucer  3 . The lockstitch of the mesh pattern  17  permits the net  10  to be trimmed without fraying. A cavity is formed between the saucer  3 , the external surface  5  of the pot  2  and the net  10 . The net  10  acts as a barrier between the cavity, and the interior  9  of the saucer  3 , and the surrounding environment. To the extent any standing water or liquid exists in the saucer  3 , the net prevents a desired animal or insect from accessing the liquid. In one embodiment the mesh pattern  17  of the net  10  is square having dimensions of 1.2 by 1.2 millimeters which is effective to block a mosquito from flying through the net  10 . The 1.2×1.2 millimeter standard is established by the World Health Organization guidelines for malaria prevention. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the size of the mesh pattern may be changed depending on the size of the insect to be blocked. Furthermore, the net may also be used to prevent an animal, such as a dog or cat from accessing any of the standing water. The mesh openings permit air flow which allows the standing water to evaporate depending on atmospheric conditions. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment hook and loop fasteners are attached directly to the inner face of the net, along the top portion. In this embodiment the strip of material is not necessary. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the elasticity of the strip of material, along with the use of fastener to adjoin the right and left portions, is sufficient to attach the net to the pot. In this embodiment, the friction of the elastic strip of material against the exterior surface of the pot is sufficient to keep the net in place. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment the netting is shaped as a sack. The bottom portion of the sack encompasses the saucer and extends up onto the exterior of the pot. The sack is attached or fastened to the pot using hook and loop fasteners, elastic strip of material, or both. 
         [0025]    The present disclosure is described above in terms of a preferred illustrative embodiment of a planter system. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative constructions of such an apparatus can be used in carrying out the present invention. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosure and the drawings, along with the appended claims.