Watering system and method of implementing

A watering system for providing a flora-nourishing substance to flora. The system comprises a nourishment receiving and delivery mechanism for receiving and delivering the flora nourishing substance; and at least one percolation bore disposed adjacent to the flora and at least partially filled with a material for absorbing the nourishing substance.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a watering system and method of implementing it, more particularly, a system for watering flora in water-impermeable ground and a method of producing same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In some geographic areas it is difficult for trees and shrubs to receive water and fertilization naturally, due to the ground conditions.

For example, ground such as cohesive soil or other impermeable ground, which may comprise clay for example, require special watering and fertilization in order to achieve desirable growth. Climate conditions, such as those found in arid environments also contribute to natural watering difficulties. U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,436 and KR2074043 relate to such issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a watering system for watering trees, shrubs and other such flora, the system particularly suited for use in an arid climate and/or where the ground does not readily absorb or hold water.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a watering system for providing nourishment (e.g. water, fertilizer and the like) to flora, more particularly their roots. The system comprises: a nourishment receiving and delivery mechanism for receiving and delivering the flora nourishing substance; and at least one percolation bore disposed adjacent to the flora and at least partially filled with a material for absorbing the nourishing substance.

According to particular embodiments, a sleeve is disposed within each percolation bore. The sleeve has a portion partially extending downward into each percolation bore and a portion extending above the surface of the ground. The portion extending above the ground has a plurality of first debris filtering apertures; and an anchoring member snugly fitting around the portion of the sleeve extending above the surface, or otherwise attached thereto, that allows water from the drainage bore to pass therethrough.

According to particular embodiments, the watering system further comprises an insert disposed within the sleeve. The insert has a plurality of second debris filtering apertures and a precipitance floor peripherally disposed to a lower portion of the insert for collecting small debris that has breached the first debris filtering apertures.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of implementing a watering system suitable for plantable flora, comprising the steps of: digging at least one percolation bore; filling the percolation bore at least partially with an absorbent material; connecting the at least one percolation bore to a nourishment receiving and delivery mechanism; and planting the flora adjacent the percolation bore.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of implementing a watering system suitable for providing nourishment to an existing tree, comprising the steps of: digging a drainage bore; digging at least one percolation bore within the drainage bore; filling the percolation bore at least partially with an absorbent material; inserting a portion of a sleeve at least part way into the percolation bore downwardly, leaving at least a portion of the bore extended upwardly from the percolation bore; and inserting an insert within the sleeve; and disposing an anchoring member about the portion of the sleeve extending upwardly from the percolation bore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-6show embodiments of a watering system10of the present invention including: a drainage bore12; one or a plurality of spaced apart percolation bores14having sleeves16extending partway down into the percolation bores and also extending upward above the surface of the ground, which comprises a debris filtering portion17.

According to some embodiments, sleeves16have lids18with handles20(FIG. 2) and an anchoring member, such as a shielding mesh skirt22. According to other embodiments, lids18and handles20are attached to an insert (discussed below with reference toFIG. 5). Percolation bores14are generally filled with absorbent material23, such as minerals (e.g. expanded or fine perlite, vermiculite, tuff, coconut fiber or any combination thereof) for helping absorb, retain and transmit nutritional substances, such as rain water and/or fertilizer in the vicinity of the roots24of flora such as tree26.

FIGS. 2 and 3show enlarged isometric views of one of the sleeves16and shielding mesh skirt22, respectively, of the watering system10.

Referring toFIG. 2, filtering portion17of sleeve16comprises a plurality of first debris filtering apertures, such as holes30and slits32, which are typically more or less evenly distributed, to help prevent small-sized particles from infiltrating the sleeves16. Lid18is disposed on top of each sleeve16, typically integral with sleeve16for easy removal. Typically, handle20is sunken within lid18, for preventing unintended removal of the lid, for example, by passing animals, wind, hail, etc. Shielding mesh skirt22snugly fits around sleeves16(FIGS. 1,4and5) typically around filtering portion17. Shielding mesh skirt22may be made of a radiation resistant material, such as, but not limited to, dark colored plastics, for protecting the surface of the skirt from radiation, such as heat and sun, and is filled with large-sized particles (not shown), such as construction aggregates, e.g. gravel. The weight of such particles acts as an anchor preventing dislocation of the sleeves16. Shielding mesh skirt22also acts as a primary filtering element for materials such as leaves, stones, and the like. Sleeves16have mesh skirt supporting members or projections36, which are distributed about the lower part of filtering portion17for securing mesh skirt22to the filtering portion.

FIG. 5shows a cross sectional isometric view of one of the sleeves16and shielding mesh skirt22. As mentioned above, filtering portion17of sleeve16and shielding mesh skirt22help filter debris from water that has accumulated in drainage bore12(FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the system comprises an insert40disposed within filtering portion17of sleeve16. Insert40comprises a cylindrical portion38, typically having a plurality of debris filtering apertures, such as openings42; and a precipitance floor44for collecting accumulated debris. Floor44extends peripherally outward from the lower edge of cylindrical portion38and is typically sloped, but can be optionally formed as a flat base. Extending partway upward from the outer edge of floor44is a cylindrical wall45thereby forming an annular collection volume for accumulating debris. Insert40has a central opening48at its bottom wherethrough water can descend down into percolation bore14to be releasably absorbed by absorbent material23(FIG. 4).

FIG. 6shows another embodiment of the watering system providing a sleeve16covered with a shielding mesh skirt22and a removably attached insert40. Insert40has a sloped floor44having an annular wall50, a cylindrical portion38and conical filter member52. As aforementioned, floor44and wall45are used as a collection volume for accumulating debris. Typically, filter member52has a plurality of filter accommodating apertures54. Fabric, plastic or other filter means can be arranged on apertures54. It is a particular feature of the present embodiment that filter member52has a sloped shape (e.g. inverted conical shape, as shown), to direct debris downward to floor44.

It should be noted that insert40is removable for convenient removal of debris accumulated on floor44. In other embodiments, only insert40is disposed within sleeve16, yet floor44still can be individually and removably installed with the sleeve.

In summary, there are three main water filtering stages. First, shielding mesh skirt22prevents large sized particles from entering sleeve16. Second, holes30and slits32filter smaller sized debris, and openings42provide yet a third filtering stage. As a result, water that collects in drainage bore12is filtered until it eventually is temporarily stored in absorbent material23prior to migrating into the ground adjacent the roots24of the flora.

The number of bores14and the size and depth of each bore should be determined in accordance with the flora and climate conditions of the area. For example, a particularly arid area may require deeper and greater number of bores12and14to facilitate greater water accumulating efficiency.

The present watering system10may have an associated irrigation system, such as, a sprinkler or dripper system. The irrigation may carry out by reclaimed water or by the water accumulated in other drainage bores.

FIG. 7shows an alternative implementation of the watering system in accordance with the present invention. Watering system10of this embodiment comprises: a percolation bore14a; a flora nutrition conduit53; and a nutrition supply source exemplified by a nourishment or water supply tank56. Flora nutrition conduit53and water supply tank56fulfill an analogous function to drainage bores12wherein they help provide water to the percolation bore14a.

Percolation bore14ais intended to be formed prior to the planting of tree26or other such flora, and is typically located beneath at least a portion of the base of the tree. Percolation bore14atypically has a lower portion58at least partially filled with absorbent material (not visible), such as absorbent material23, for helping absorb, retain and transmit nutritional substances, such as water and/or fertilizer in the vicinity of the roots62of the tree26. An upper portion64of the percolation bore14ais filled with soil dug out from the ground during the drilling of bore14a. Optionally, flora-nourishing substances, such as, fertilizers can be added to the soil.

Nutrition conduit53can be made of any material suitable for plumbing, such as, plastic, metal, etc. that can convey a flora-nourishing substance from water supply tank56to the percolation bore's lower portion58.

Thus, this implementation also helps provide a flora-nourishing substance to flora growing in cohesive/dense, semi or fully water impermeable soil. In addition, the absorbent material60of watering system10aides proper growth for the roots62of the tree26by encouraging their growing path to a deeper and more spread area beneath ground level.

FIG. 8shows another embodiment of the watering system in accordance with the present invention that is particularly suited for irrigation of dense soil. Watering system70of this embodiment comprises: a percolation bore72; an external flora nutrition conduit74; and a nutrition supply source exemplified by a nourishment or water supply tank76. In this embodiment, flora nutrition conduit74extends downward, adjacent but external to bore72.

Percolation bore72is intended to be formed prior to the planting of tree78or other such flora, and is typically located beneath at least a portion of the base of the tree. Percolation bore72typically has a lower portion80at least partially filled with absorbent material82for helping absorb, retain and transmit nutritional substances, such as water and/or fertilizer in the vicinity of the roots84of tree78. Percolation bore72has an upper portion86, which can be filled with soil dug out from the ground during the drilling of bore72. Optionally, flora-nourishing substances, such as, fertilizers, can be added to the soil. Typically, the depth of external flora nutrition conduit74is approximately identical to the depth of upper portion86of the percolation bore72.

It should be noted that this embodiment is distinctively adapted for use in dense soils, such as, loess and marl which are characterized by two main traits. First, contrary to the soil involved in the former embodiments, this soil can readily percolate water downward. Second, the particles of this dense soil have smaller air voids therebetween, thus flora growth is limited. When irrigating the flora, using the watering system of this embodiment, conduit74transfers water to an area surrounding lower portion80of bore72. The water discharges from conduit74and penetrates downward toward the roots of the flora, while excess water accumulates at absorbent material23and if needed can flow upward in accordance with capillarity forces. Thus, space for aeration (air voids) is preserved better, while excess water is held for future need for the flora.

It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.