Abstract:
A device for efficiently irrigating a number of housing assemblies containing soil and plants. The housing assemblies are vertically mounted on a support structure. An irrigation system provides a flow of water to each of the housing assemblies. Each housing assembly includes an interior shell nested within an exterior shell. The irrigation system delivers the flow of water to two different heights of soil within the interior shell. A user may adjust how water is distributed within each housing assembly by manipulating one of several valves controlling the delivery of water from a main artery to each housing assembly. Water may be selectively and adjustably delivered to a plant containing a shallow root system, or to a different variety plant containing an extended or deep root system as needed. Excess water may be drained from the interior shell and held within a cavity for reabsorption by the soil contained therein.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to provisional patent application, entitled “Highly Efficient Plant Irrigation Device,” Ser. No. 62/235,626, filed on Oct. 1, 2015, under 35 USC 119, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Technology 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the field of plant husbandry and more specifically to an irrigator receptacle for a growing medium. 
       Description of the Prior Art 
       [0003]    During periods of drought or in areas with little excess water, it is critical to optimize water used for agricultural purposes. Current irrigation methods known in the art maintain plants in the ground by saturating the ground to ensure water reaches plan roots. 
         [0004]    Problems with irrigation methods known in the art include excessive dispersal of water in the soil (i.e., waste) and evaporation. Water must pass through several inches of soil to reach plant roots, requiring amounts of water in excess of what actually reaches the plant. 
         [0005]    What is needed therefore is an apparatus and method which makes it possible to directly water the root systems of plants and thus increase the efficiency of irrigation by decreasing the amount of water necessary to adequately grow food and other plants. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The invention is an apparatus for efficient irrigation including a support structure, a plurality of housing assemblies connected to the support structure, and an irrigation system attached to the support structure and inserted into each of the plurality of housing assemblies. The irrigation system inserted into each of the plurality of housing assemblies comprises an upper irrigation pipe disposed at a first height and a lower irrigation pipe disposed at a second height within each of the plurality of housing assemblies, the first height of the upper irrigation pipe being above the second height of the lower irrigation pipe. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the each of the housing assemblies of the apparatus has an exterior shell, an interior shell that is nested within the exterior shell, and a cavity disposed between the exterior shell and the interior shell. Specifically the cavity is defined by an exterior wall of the exterior shell and an interior wall of the interior shell. The exterior shell further includes an exterior wall contour while the interior shell further comprises an interior wall contour, the exterior wall contour and the interior wall contour being configured to interact and locate the interior shell within the exterior shell. A plurality of shell feet may also be disposed between the interior shell and the exterior shell. Additionally, the interior shell comprises a plurality of drainage apertures and a plurality of handles disposed at each end. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the support structure of the apparatus has a vertical mounting bar, a plurality of horizontal mounting bars coupled to the vertical mounting bar, and a plurality of attachment points disposed on each of the plurality of horizontal mounting bars. Optionally, each of the plurality of horizontal mounting bars are coupled to the vertical mounting bar with a hinge. The support structure further includes a plurality of mounting protuberances within each of the housing assemblies, each of which are configured to interlock with the plurality of attachment points disposed on any one of the plurality of horizontal mounting bars. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the irrigation system of the apparatus of has a main artery coupled to the support structure and a plurality of angled manifolds coupled to the main artery, wherein each of the plurality of angled manifolds are orientated at an angle with respect to the main artery. In this embodiment, each upper irrigation pipe is disposed at a first height within each of the plurality of housing assemblies and is coupled to an upper end of each of the corresponding plurality of angled manifolds, while each lower irrigation pipe disposed at a second height within each of the plurality of housing assemblies is coupled to a lower end of each of the plurality of angled manifolds. Additionally, each of the plurality of angled manifolds may include an upper irrigation pipe valve disposed in its upper end and a lower irrigation pipe valve disposed in its lower end. At least one check valve may also be disposed in the main artery. 
         [0010]    In an alternative embodiment, the irrigation system further includes a main artery coupled to the support structure and an assembly hose coupled to the main artery at one end and coupled to the upper irrigation pipe and the lower irrigation pipe at its opposing end. 
         [0011]    The current invention also includes a method for efficient irrigation which includes directing a flow of water to a plurality of vertically mounted housing assemblies and by specifically directing the flow of water into an interior shell disposed within each of the plurality of vertically mounted housing assemblies. The flow of water is then directed to an upper or a lower portion of each of the plurality of vertically mounted housing assemblies and excess water is then drained from the interior shell. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment directing the flow of water into the interior shell disposed within each of the plurality of vertically mounted housing assemblies includes directing the flow of water through an angled manifold and into an upper irrigation pipe and a lower irrigation pipe disposed in each interior shell for each of the plurality of housing assemblies. In this embodiment, each upper irrigation pipe is disposed at a first height and is coupled to an upper end of the angled manifold while each lower irrigation pipe is disposed at a second height and is coupled to a lower end of the angled manifold. Additionally, selectively distributing the flow of water to an upper or a lower portion of each of the plurality of vertically mounted housing assemblies may include closing a lower irrigation pipe valve disposed in the lower end of the angled manifold, or alternatively, closing an upper irrigation pipe valve disposed in the upper end of the angled manifold as is needed. 
         [0013]    In an alternative embodiment, directing the flow of water into the interior shell disposed within each of the plurality of vertically mounted housing assemblies includes directing the flow of water through an assembly hose and into an upper irrigation pipe and a lower irrigation pipe disposed in each interior shell for each of the plurality of housing assemblies. In this embodiment each upper irrigation pipe is disposed at a first height while each lower irrigation pipe is disposed at a second height. 
         [0014]    In yet another embodiment, the method step of draining excess water from the interior shell specifically entails draining excess water from the interior shell via a plurality of drainage apertures defined in a surface of the interior shell. 
         [0015]    Finally, the method may also include collecting an excess flow of water in a cavity defined between the interior shell and an exterior shell of each of the plurality of housing assemblies and then draining said water through a drain plug disposed in the exterior shell. 
         [0016]    While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The disclosure can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1 a    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the plant irrigation system of the current invention comprising a plurality of housing assemblies of differing sizes. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1 b    is a top down view of the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0019]      FIG. 1 c    is a side planar view of the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the plant irrigation system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a frontal perspective view of the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top down view of the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the support structure used to support the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side planar view of the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a magnified view of the coupling between the irrigation system and the top most housing assembly disposed in the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a magnified perspective of the coupling between the irrigation system and the bottom most housing assembly disposed in the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of one of the plurality of housing assemblies of the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the plant irrigation system seen in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a magnified view of a portion of the support structure seen in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
       [0030]    The disclosure and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiments defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]      FIGS. 1 a -1 c   ,  2 ,  3 , and  6  illustrate perspective, partial top and side views, respectively, of a plant irrigation device  100 . In this particular embodiment, the plant irrigation device  100  comprises a mounting frame assembly  10 , and an irrigation system  60 .  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    show one embodiment of the current invention comprising three separate housing assemblies  20   a - 20   c  of differing sizes, while  FIGS. 2-11  show a separate embodiment of the current invention comprising four separate housing assemblies  20   a - 20   d  of the same size. Additionally, the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    show where each housing assembly  20   a - 20   c  comprises an upper irrigation pipe  63  and a lower irrigation pipe  64 , while  FIGS. 2-11  show for the separate embodiment that each housing assembly  20   a - 20   d  comprises at least two upper irrigation pipes  63 ,  63 ′ disposed in parallel, and at least two lower irrigation pipes  64 ,  64 ′ disposed in parallel and directly beneath the at least two upper irrigation pipes  63 ,  63 ′. 
         [0032]    The mounting frame assembly  10  includes a vertical mounting bar  11 , a plurality of mounting apertures  12  defined in the vertical mounting bar  11 , and a plurality of horizontal mounting bars  14  orientated perpendicularly with respect to the vertical mounting bar  11 . In one particular embodiment seen in  FIG. 5 , the mounting frame assembly  10  comprises a plurality of supports  13  and a plurality of hinges  72 . Each of the plurality of supports  13  in turn comprises an angled support member  13 ′ and a horizontal support member  13 ″, the horizontal support member  13 ″ being perpendicularly orientated with respect to each horizontal mounting bar  14 . The plurality of hinges  72  couple each of the horizontal mounting bars  14  to the vertical mounting bar  11 . The hinges  72  allow a user to manipulate the mounting frame assembly  10  by grabbing a selected horizontal mounting bar  14  or a housing assembly  20   a - 20   d  disposed thereon and rotating the horizontal mounting bar  14  outward or away from the remaining portions of the mounting frame assembly  10  or a structure on which the mounting frame assembly  10  is coupled. 
         [0033]    The vertical mounting bar  11  is preferably comprised of metal, metal composites, plastic, or wood and is capable of bearing the weight of horizontal mounting bars  14 , the housing assemblies  20   a - 20   d , and the irrigation system  60 . The vertical mounting bar  11  may be secured or coupled to an external support such as a wall, fence, or post through the mounting apertures  12  by means well known in the art. Each horizontal mounting bar  14  in turn has a plurality of attachment points  15  adapted to connect to the housing assemblies  20   a - 20   d . In one preferred embodiment, attachment points  15  are molded or welded v-shaped protuberances that interlock with portions of the housing assemblies  20   a - 20   d . In an alternative embodiment, each attachment point  15  is coupled to a housing assemblies  20   a - 20   d  with bolts or clamps or through direct attachment, such as welding, soldering, or adhesive. With each housing assembly  20   a - 20   d  coupled to each respective horizontal mounting bar  14 , each housing assembly  20   a - 20   d  rests on a corresponding pair of horizontal support members  13 ″ of each support  13 . 
         [0034]    Each housing assembly  20   a - 20   c  seen in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    has a total height ranging from approximately 10 inches to approximately 12 inches. In one particular embodiment seen in  FIG. 1 c   , the lowest or bottom most disposed housing assembly  20   c  in the plant irrigation device  100  comprises a first height that is larger than a second height of the middle housing assembly  20   b . In turn, the highest or top most disposed housing assembly  20   a  comprises a third height that is smaller than both of the first height of the lowest housing assembly  20   c  and the second height of the middle housing assembly  20   b . As a result, the relative size of each housing assembly  20   a - 20   c  decreases as a function of the housing assembly&#39;s  20   a - 20   c  position along the height of the vertical mounting bar  11 . In this fashion the highest housing assembly  20   a  is the smallest, thus aiding the vertical mounting bar  11  and each horizontal mounting bar&#39;s  14  ability to adequately support each housing assembly  20   a - 20   c . Alternatively, as seen in  FIG. 6 , each housing assembly  20   a - 20   d  may comprise a substantially similar size and shape. 
         [0035]    Each of the housing assemblies  20   a - 20   d  includes an exterior shell  30 , an interior shell  40 , and a cavity  50 . The interior shell  40  nests within the exterior shell  30 , thus forming the cavity  50  between the exterior shell  30  and the interior shell  40 . The exterior shell  30  comprises an exterior wall  31 , an exterior wall contour  32 , an exterior shell floor  33 , a set of exterior irrigation apertures  34   a ,  34   b , and in one embodiment, a plurality of mounting protuberances  35 . The interior shell comprises an interior wall  41 , an interior wall contour  42 , an interior shell floor  43 , a plurality of interior shell feet  44  as seen in  FIG. 9 , a set of interior irrigation apertures  45   a ,  45   b , and a plurality of drainage apertures  46  as seen in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment seen in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , each interior shell  40  comprises a handle  74  disposed at each lateral end of the interior shell  40 . 
         [0036]    As seen in  FIG. 1 b   , the exterior shell  30  has a closed, substantially elongated shape with an upper edge or lip. In one particular embodiment, the exterior shell  30  is substantially oval shaped. In another embodiment, the exterior wall contour  32  forms a concave indentation in the exterior wall  31 . In yet another embodiment, the exterior wall contour  32  forms a convex protrusion in the exterior wall  31 . A plurality of mounting protuberances  35  extend from at least one side of the exterior shell  30  to interlock with the corresponding plurality of attachment points  15 . 
         [0037]    The interior shell  40  has a closed, substantially elongated shape that is substantially identical to that of the exterior shell  30 . In one embodiment, the interior wall contour  42  forms a concave indentation within the interior wall  41 . In another embodiment, the interior wall contour  42  forms a convex protrusion within the interior wall  41 . Interactions between the exterior wall contour  32  and the interior wall contour  42  serve to locate interior shell  40  within exterior shell  30  and create the cavity  50 . The interior shell feet  44  as best seen in  FIG. 9  raise the interior shell floor  43  above the exterior shell floor  33  to allow excess water to drain into the cavity  50  from the drainage apertures  46  in the interior shell floor  43 . The interior shell  40  also drains excess water into the cavity  50  from the drainage apertures  46  in the interior wall  41 . In one embodiment, the drainage apertures  46  are located in the lower half of the interior wall  41 . In certain embodiments, the interior shell  40  may have a water-permeable, soil-impermeable lining to prevent soil egress into the cavity  50 . 
         [0038]    The cavity  50  is located between the exterior shell  30  and the interior shell  40 . In one particular embodiment, the cavity  50  has a width of approximately 1.5 inches to approximately 2.5 inches. 
         [0039]    As discussed above, the cavity  50  collects and holds the excess water introduced into the interior shell  40  which is not absorbed by the soil contained therein. As the soil or other growing matrix dries, water that is contained within the cavity  50  can be reabsorbed into the soil through the drainage apertures  46  defined within the interior shell  40 . Alternatively, the exterior shell  30  may comprise a drain plug  78  as seen in  FIG. 7  that is defined in the exterior shell floor  33  which may be opened or released at the user&#39;s discretion in order to drain any excess water from the cavity  50 . 
         [0040]    A first embodiment of the irrigation system  60  seen in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    comprises a main artery  61 , a plurality of angled manifolds  62   a - 62   c , a plurality of upper irrigation pipes  63  and lower irrigation pipes  64 , a plurality of upper irrigation pipe valves  66  and lower irrigation pipe valves  67 , at least one check valve  70 , and a plurality of overflow lines  71   a - 71   c . The irrigation system  60  is preferably made from PVC pipe, however other materials suitable for transporting fluid such as rubber, metal, and the like may be used without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0041]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the main artery  61  attaches at a first end to a water source, such as a hose or water pipe. Each angled manifold  62   a - 62   c  attaches to the main artery  61  at a different location along the main artery  61 . Each upper irrigation pipe  63  attaches to an upper end of one of the angled manifolds  62   a - 62   c . Each lower irrigation pipe  64  in turn attaches to a lower end of one of the angled manifolds  62   a - 62   c . The upper irrigation pipes  63  and lower irrigation pipes  64  are located at levels to allow water output through multiple pipe apertures  65  (not shown). In one embodiment, both the upper irrigation pipes  63  and/or the lower irrigation pipes  64  have a water-permeable, soil-impermeable covering to prevent soil egress into the upper irrigation pipes  63  and/or the lower irrigation pipes  64 . 
         [0042]    The upper irrigation pipe valves  66  and the lower irrigation pipe valves  67  are also located at upper and lower ends of the angled manifolds  62   a - 62   c , respectively. The upper irrigation pipe valves  66  and the lower irrigation pipe valves  67  control water flow out of the upper irrigation pipes  63  and the lower irrigation pipes  64 , respectively. In one embodiment, the upper irrigation pipe valves  66  and lower irrigation pipe valves  67  are ball valves that are each controlled by a separate valve control lever  68 . Rotation of the valve control lever  68  limits or cuts off water flow, allowing selective delivery of water through the upper irrigation pipe  63  and/or the lower irrigation pipe  64 . For example, if a user wishes to water a plant with a short or shallow root system within the interior shell  40 , the user manipulates the valve control lever  68  of a corresponding housing assembly  20   a - 20   c  and closes the lower irrigation pipe valve  67 , thus preventing water from flowing from the main artery  61  into the lower irrigation pipe  64 . With the lower irrigation pipe valve  67  closed, water will then only flow through the upper irrigation pipe valve  66  and the upper irrigation pipe  63 , thus providing water directly to any root system adjacently located to the upper irrigation pipe  63 . Conversely, if the user wishes to only water a deeper root system disposed near the bottom of the interior shell  40 , the user closes the upper irrigation pipe valve  66  and opens the lower irrigation pipe valve  67 , thus directing the flow of incoming water into and through the lower irrigation pipe  64 . 
         [0043]    The check valve  70  is located at an end of the main artery  61  opposite the water source. If excessive water buildup occurs within the main artery  61 , overflow lines  71   a - 71   c  (not shown) transport excess water to the cavities  50  of each of the housing assemblies  20   a - 20   c , respectively. 
         [0044]    As discussed above, the irrigation system  60  allows a user to determine the level at which a plant&#39;s roots receive water. In one embodiment, an electronic controller may be coupled to the irrigation system  60 , the electronic controller controlling water flow and any of valves in the irrigation system  60 , allowing easier control, remote control, or programmed control over the irrigation system  60 . In a further embodiment, the system may comprise multiple plant irrigation devices  100  that are interconnected with the fluid channels. In yet another embodiment, the plant irrigation device  100  the housing assemblies may be arranged in a horizontal orientation, including additional mounting frame assemblies, and additional or fewer housing assemblies as what is explicitly shown in the figures. 
         [0045]    A second embodiment of the irrigation system may be seen in  FIGS. 2-11 . In this embodiment, the irrigation system comprises a flexible or malleable assembly hose  76  coupled between each of the housing assemblies  20   a - 20   d  and the main artery  61 . Each assembly hose  76  is coupled to a means to distribute the incoming flow of water to a pair of upper irrigation pipes  63 ,  63 ′ and a pair of lower irrigation pipes  64 ,  64 ′ via a spit junction or valve as is known in the art. Each assembly hose  76  comprises a hose valve  80  as seen in  FIG. 8  for adjusting the flow of water delivered from the main artery  61  to a respective hosing assembly  20   a - 20   d . Additionally, each housing assembly  20   a - 20   d  comprises a plurality of irrigation pipe valves  82  for each of the corresponding upper irrigation pipes  63 ,  63 ′ and lower irrigation pipes  64 ,  64 ′. Each of the plurality of irrigation pipe valves  82  can be manipulated to adjust the rate or amount of water flowing into the irrigation pipe  63 ,  63 ′,  64 ,  64 ′ coupled to that specific irrigation pipe valve  82 . 
         [0046]    Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following embodiments and its various embodiments. 
         [0047]    Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the embodiments includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the embodiments is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the embodiments. 
         [0048]    The words used in this specification to describe the various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself. 
         [0049]    The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
         [0050]    Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
         [0051]    The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiments.