Abstract:
A plant pot system has at least one plant pot with side walls, an open top and a bottom wall for containing planted soil that receives a routine watering through the open top, the plant pot having two parallel rows of a number of through holes aligned circumferentially, each of the through holes being blocked by a removable closure; one or more additional pot members with the same number of through holes at levels corresponding to the through holes of the first plant pot; and at least one water leveling members for fluidly connecting any desired number of laterally disposed plant.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a plant pot. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular plant pot that can be grouped with multitudes of similar modular plant pots in fluid communications among them to automatically exchange a single water supply to any one pot with the rest of the pots in the same group minimizing wastes of daily planting water that constitutes a significant portion of water consumption in the nation. 
         [0003]    B. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    A wide variety of self watering plant pots have been patented. U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,835 to Stern describes an example of self-watering pot comprising a doubled-walled container having an irrigation chamber embedded. The irrigation chamber contains a plurality of serially arranged irrigation ducts that reside just above the soil surface. A transport channel connects the irrigation chamber to a water input pipe extending through from the container&#39;s outside wall. A regulating valve is attached to the other end of the input pipe promoting optimal plant growth and a water supply line is attached to the input side of the valve. The water supply is turned on causing water to flow from the valve, through the input line, into the transport channel, and into the irrigation chamber. Finally, the water passes through the irrigation ducts and is uniformly distributed onto the soil surface. 
         [0005]    This and other pot improvements have been made around each unit pot structure to better control the watering in its time, amount and place to release in the given pot body. However, as the national drought stricken and water conservation becomes the state of problem, there is an urgent need for an advanced approach to draw an excess potting water before it may be undesirably overflowing or over saturate the pot soil. At the same time, the solution should incur a negligible cost increase to justify the trouble of replacing the existing pots or repotting and it should be simple enough for a quick start to save water instantly. 
         [0006]    In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a modular plant pot for cooperating with neighboring pots of the same type to share a single source of water at the moment of wetting the pots. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide minor modifications to a conventional pot and to use common materials for the fluid communications between the modular pots. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A plant pot according to the present invention normally operates in a group of modular components although in its singular form the pot provides a unique advantage of controlling water to protect the plant from over watering. The pot part can be made of plastic or ceramic. 
         [0009]    The plant pot may comprise a wider open top and a narrower bottom wall for containing planted soil that receives a routine watering through the open top. Additionally, the plant pot is provided with eight round holes of which four holes are positioned circumferentially at a lower level distanced one fourth of the height of the pot from its bottom and the same number of upper round holes at about three fourths of the height of the pot from the bottom line. 
         [0010]    Arrangement of the modular pots is completely up to the imagination of a gardener who can have four such pots placed on a substantially flat surface and arranged in a rectangular pattern. A group of five pots may form a cross pattern of plants. 
         [0011]    Each pot is preferably placed to face its neighboring pot directly with reference to the holes. A straight tubular connector penetrates the respective opposing holes of the adjacent pots for evenly distribute water poured at any one of the connected pots. 
         [0012]    The connector may be made of semi-rigid material for making a watertight fitting with conventional solid materials of pots. At the time of watering, when the supplied water starts to wet the pot with the planted soil, it immediately saturates the soil and overflows through the connectors in the holes of the lateral pots. In the pot group of four, each pot will have four water holes left unused. In order to block these holes, multiple plugs are added. The plug may be made of a short length of a tube having an end extending obliquely like the slanted ends of the connector. The opposite end of the plug tube may extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Then, a disc core may be driven into the inner diameter of the plug tube to complete a plug. The plug tube may be made of cork. Alternatively, the whole plug may be made of a cork stopper sized to block the hole tightly. Conversely, a solid tube, which is elastic or a rubbery member may replace the plug tube. The plant pots have the connector connection in the sidewall of the pot. 
         [0013]    The connector having opposite ends facing the same direction such as upwards will offer a larger water inlet/outlet opened. Because the opposite ends are symmetrical the connector can&#39;t be inserted in a wrong direction into the pots. Thus, the connector provides an effective channel for transferring water from the saturated pot to the thirsty peripheral pots without regard to its lateral orientation. The connectors may be directly joined together with ease to extend the distance between the pots as needed. A filter may be plugged into each end of the connector in order to keep the interior of the connector from being blocked by outgrowth of the plant root or softened soil at watering. 
         [0014]    An arcuate connector may be additionally provided. The connector may comprise a single arch of an imaginary circle or combined radii. The arcuate connector can be used to control single pot wherein two connectors penetrate the selected lower water holes, which may be opposite or at right angle to each other within a body of pot. Alternatively, the connector may be used as a right-angle connector for laterally connecting two pots positioned obliquely. A spongy connector rod may also be provided for fluidly connecting two adjacent pots. The connector rod may comprise a sponge core and an outer shell and is terminated by symmetrically slanted edges. The outer shell may be a tube of coated paper or a thin plastic pipe cut to shape. Osmosis occurs through the connector rod resulting in movement of water to level the water volume of the two sides. 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a group of modular pots including a planted pot fluidly connected to three other pots with emptied interiors for the sake of simplicity. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the modular pots grouped in a rectangular pattern for synchronized watering according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a shorter tubular plug for blocking the water holes in the pots. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a tubular connector for connecting two opposing water holes of the adjacent pots. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows two connectors press fitted together to double the length of a connector. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a straight connector similar to the connector of  FIG. 4  also showing optional filtering means installed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a right-angle connector for laterally connecting two pots positioned obliquely. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows a single pot with two right-angle connectors used to control excess water. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of a spongy connector rod for fluidly connecting two adjacent pots. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the pot group in a cross pattern. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Similar reference numbers denote corresponding features throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a group of plant pots  10  according to the present invention is shown constructed in conventional manner except a matrix of watering holes on the sidewalls  12  of the pot  10 . 
         [0028]    The plant pot may also comprise a wider open top  14  and a narrower bottom wall  16  for containing planted soil  18  that receives a routine watering through the open top  14 . The plant pot  10  may be in the form of a deep round vessel that is provided with eight round holes of which four holes  20  are positioned circumferentially at a lower level distanced one fourth of the height of the pot  10  from its bottom. The holes  20  may be formed at the same time of molding the pot  10  or bored through the pot walls horizontally and in parallel with the bottom walls  16 . Then, the angular distance between the holes  20  becomes 45 degrees facing four different directions. Directly above the lower holes  20  are formed the same number of upper round holes  22  at about three fourth of the height of the pot  10  from the bottom line. 
         [0029]    In the illustrated example, there are four such pots  10  placed on a substantially flat surface and arranged in a rectangular pattern. As shown in  FIG. 2 , each pot  10  is placed to face its neighboring pot  10  directly with reference to the holes  20 . A straight tubular connector  24  penetrates the respective opposing holes  20  of the adjacent pots  10  to evenly distribute water poured at any one of the connected pots  10 . Simply taking a cut of a variety of tube products may make the connector  24 . It may be of a plastic or rubber material or other types of synthetic resin. A coated paper tube may be used for the connector  10  as long as it supports itself and has a good resistance against water penetration. Even an organic material of hollow bamboo cut may be used to obtain the same benefit of the invention. 
         [0030]    Considerations are necessary to make a good sealed connection between the pots. Since conventional pots are normally made from terra cotta, stone, wood or plastic material, which is rigid, a relatively soft tube material is preferred for the connector  24  to establish a tight fit into the hole  20 . Conversely, when a rigid tube is to be used for the connector  24 , each hole  20  may be lined with a soft sleeve or an elastic coating to secure a tight union between the connector  24  and hole  20  eliminating a leak of the valuable resource of water. 
         [0031]    At the time of watering, when the supplied water starts to wet the pot  10  with the planted soil  18 , it immediately saturates the soil and overflows through the connectors  24  to the holes  22  of the surrounding pots  10 . In the pot group of four, each pot  10  may be connected to two adjacent pots and have four water holes  20  left unused. In order to block these holes  20 , multiple plugs are necessary.  FIG. 3  shows a short length of a tube  26  having two cross cut edges  28 . One of the edges  28  may be cut obliquely to have an acute tip to facilitate inserting the tube  26  into the hole  20  of the pot  10 . 
         [0032]    The tube  26  may be of the same material to make the connector  24 . The tube  26  forms a plug shell into which a disc core  30  may be driven to complete a tubular plug  36 . The disc core  30  may be made of cork. Alternatively, the whole plug  36  may be made of a cork stopper sized to block the hole  20  tightly. Conversely, a solid tube, which is elastic or a rubbery member may be used as a plug  36 . 
         [0033]    The connector  24  shown in plan view in  FIG. 4  comprises a tubular body  38  having opposite ends  40  facing the same direction such as upwards. Upon insertion of the connector  24  in the pot  10  in this orientation, the connector  24  will offer a larger water inlet/outlet  40  opened due to its ends  42  facing obliquely upwards. Because the opposite ends  42  are symmetrical the connector  24  can&#39;t be inserted in a wrong direction between the front and back into the pots  10 . Thus, the connector  24  provides an effective channel for transferring water from the saturated pot to the thirsty peripheral pots without regard to its lateral orientation. The connector end  42  may have an obtuse edge  44  to handle safely and yet it is sufficiently acute to penetrate the hole  20  of the pot  10  with ease. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows that two connectors  24  are joined directly together by inserting the protruding edge  44  of the end  42  of one connector  24  into the large opening  40  of another connector  24  to lengthen the distance between the pots  10  as the plants in the pots grow to take more space. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the connector  24  is shown in cross section along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . A filter  46  may be plugged into each end  42  of the connector  24  in order to keep the interior of the connector  24  from being blocked by outgrowth of the plant root or softened soil at watering. The filter  46  maybe a screen filter in a type utilizing a rigid or flexible screen to separate sand and other fine particles out of water. Typical screen materials may include stainless steel (mesh), polypropylene, and nylon. 
         [0036]    The connector  24  may be made of a continuous supply of tubular body  38  cut obliquely to form the two ends  42  at even pitch so that every two neighboring connectors  24  are formed simultaneously with the same length and shaped ends  42 . The oblique ends  42  of the respective connectors  24  may extend along 45 degrees toward the middle of the connector  24  with reference to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body  38 . 
         [0037]    An arcuate connector  48  shown in  FIG. 7  is similarly based on a tubular body  50 . The connector  48  may comprise a single arch of a circle or combined radii. The illustrated connector  48  has a middle portion  52  of a greater radius than those of the opposite end portions  54 . Additionally, filters  56  may be installed to keep the interior of the connector  48  clean. The arcuate connector  48  may be used for different purposes. First, it can be used to control single pot  10  as shown in  FIG. 8  wherein two connectors  48  penetrate the selected lower water holes  20 , which may be opposite or at right angle to each other within a body of pot  10 . The rest of the holes  20 ,  26  remain to be blocked by plugs  36 . In order to hold the excess water, the arcuate connectors  48  are directed to face upward functioning as an extra reservoir. The angular position of the connector  48  may be set by the user who can push the connector  48  at a desired angle into the soil of the pot  10 . Over a duration of repeated watering, the soil will set the positions of the connectors  48  in the pot  10 . Alternatively, the connector  48  may have an internal bendable material such as a metal wire frame to hold the user&#39;s preferance of what position the connector  48  will remain. The filter  56  at each end of the connector  48  is optional and will prevent a foreign material from traveling in and out of the pot  10 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  shows a spongy connector rod  58  for fluidly connecting two adjacent pots  10 . The connector rod  58  may comprise a sponge core  60  and an outer shell  62  and is terminated by symmetrically slanted edges  64 . The outer shell  62  may be a tube of coated paper or a thin plastic pipe cut to shape. Osmosis is defined as the passage of water from a region of high water concentration through a semipermeable membrane to a region of low water concentration. The connector rod  58  may function as a tube that contains a semipermeable membrane, whereby the water molecules would flow from the side of watered pot to the dry pot. This flow of water, from the higher water concentration to the lower water concentration, results in movement of water to level the water volume of the two sides. 
         [0039]    Referring further to a second array of the pots in  FIG. 10 , the operation of the present invention will be described. Encircling the pot  10  in the center, four more pots may be positioned so that adjacent pots have their corresponding holes  20  or  22  face directly opposite to each other. Each of the eight holes  20  of each pot  10  is initially closed by the plug  36 . 
         [0040]    The respective pots  10  may then allow potting with a plant and soil as a normal plant pot would. Due to the plugs  36  preoccupying the inner space of the connecting holes  20 ,  22  and further into the interior of the pots  10 , placing both ends of the connectors  24 ,  48  in the pots  10  may be performed either easily before or after the potting process. 
         [0041]    Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the conservation plant pot has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.