Abstract:
An insert divider that allows a plant basket to become self watering as a solid plate portion with a wick system would separate the inner area of a plant basket, forming a lower water reservoir region and an upper plant soil region. A raised section on the solid plate portion aids in refilling water reservoir when aligned with accommodating hole in plant basket side wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to potted plants and, in particular, to a discrete solid plate insert divider which would enhance a plant basket or hanging plant basket with the benefit of having a large water reservoir that would supply water as needed to a plant for a prolonged period of time.  
         [0002]     The majority of potted plants need constant tending, especially water, seeing as there is limited soil. Either due to plant consumption or evaporation most potted plants need to be watered every other day which can make them more of a hassle than a pleasure.  
         [0003]     All plant baskets incorporate some type of water drain hole in their bottom to prevent over saturation of soil, which can suffocate a plant&#39;s roots and in general terminate the life of a plant. The main drawback of this various design is that the majority of water applied runs out the plant basket bottom.  
         [0004]     Other plant baskets have raised drain holes and incorporate a strainer creating a pocket in their basin which provides a limited pool of water in the basket bottom, but these various designs have a major shortcoming in that a plant&#39;s roots will pass through the strainer and be susceptible to airborne funguses which will sicken and in turn terminate the life of a plant.  
         [0005]     Applicant is also aware of a variety of plant baskets that incorporate the use of a secondary water basin that in some cases may be attached to a plant basket. This system in most cases promotes over watering, leading to a lack of oxygen in the soil, thus causing less than ideal conditions for growing a healthy plant.  
         [0006]     With the exception of the foregoing plant basket various strainers and secondary basin type water systems that are available, applicant is unaware of a solid plate plant basket divider having water wick system and protective water inlet shroud.  
         [0007]     Applicant accordingly believes a need exists for a plant basket divider that allows plants to become self sustaining for longer periods of time, and healthier due to having well balanced moisture/oxygen soil content.  
         [0008]     Applicant also wishes to disclose the fact that he unveiled for the first time a plant basket divider with water wick system and protective water inlet shroud, incorporated into an accommodating plant basket at the National Hardware Show in Chicago, Ill. Aug. 10, 11, 12, 2003 but has not made any market sales as of March, 2004.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In appreciation of the need for the forgoing plant basket divider and the shortcomings of available plant basket strainers and secondary basins, applicant has developed a plant basket insert divider which creates a large water reservoir within a plant basket (pot) that would promote healthier and more robust plants that need less tending.  
         [0010]     It is accordingly a primary objective of the invention to provide a means to wick or draw water from the created water reservoir to the plant soil area.  
         [0011]     It is further object of the invention to provide a divider having a raised shroud portion that would work in unison with an accommodating plant basket for refilling created water reservoir.  
         [0012]     It is further object to provide a divider that accommodates a variety of plant baskets (pots).  
         [0013]     It is still further object of the invention to provide for a divider which may be constructed as a single piece part, except for the wick system, to minimize cost.  
         [0014]     The above objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are achieved in a construction developed by applicant.  
         [0015]     The embodiment, a molded plastic plant basket divider is molded to provide a flat solid plate, wherein are one or more holes that capture a wick material, and wherefrom a snout shaped shroud projects upwardly to aid in refilling of created water reservoir.  
         [0016]     The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention, as well as its detailed construction, will become more apparent hereinafter upon reference to the following descriptions thereof with respect to the appended drawing. Before referring thereto, it is to be appreciated the following description is made by way of the presently preferred embodiment, which should not be interpreted in limitation of the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a plant basket divider.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a plant basket divider within accommodating plant basket. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view is shown of a presently preferred, plant basket divider  10 . Generally the divider  10  is formed as a single piece embodiment shaped to be compatible with an intended round plant basket  31  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]     The majority of the divider  10  is comprised of a round solid plate portion  12  wherein its center area are open holes  17  having a barbed projection  19  which work in unison to allow a section of rope  27  or other suitable absorbent material to be drawn through the plate  12  yet be captured by the barbed  1  projection  19  at an appropriate point in the overall length of the piece of rope  27 .  
         [0021]     On the outer edge  14  of the plate portion  12  is an alignment key slot  21  having an open recess  20  which would act to properly align the water shroud  24  that projects upwardly from the flat upper surface  15  and inwardly from the edge  14 , creating an open recess  2  towards the lower surface  16  of the plate portion  12  on the divider  10 .  
         [0022]     With further attention directed to  FIG. 2 , an assembly incorporates the divider  10  into an accommodating plant basket  31 .  
         [0023]     The plant basket  31  having an inner ledge  33  or step encompassing its sidewall  32  would support the divider  10 , whereupon the interior area  29  of said basket  31  is separated to form an upper soil section  34  and a lower water reservoir  35 .  
         [0024]     The water reservoir  35  would be refillable via a portal hole  37  which also acts as a water overflow hole and lies just above the ledge  33  and through the side wall  32  of the plant basket  31 . The shroud  24  on the divider  10  acts to shield the portal hole  37  from the upper soil section  34 , while providing an open recess  25  for water to be administered into the created water reservoir  3 . The shroud  24  is aligned appropriately with the portal hole  37  by the key slot  21  on the plate portion  12  of the divider  10  being engaged with a small protrusion (not shown) on the inner ledge  33  of the plant basket  31 .  
         [0025]     The divider  10 , thus having created an enclosed water reservoir  35 , which would hold several cups of water within the interior  29  of plant basket  31  would dispense water appropriately upward into the soil section  34  via absorbent rope  27 , or suitable material inserted through the solid plate portion  12 .  
         [0026]     The solid nature of the divider  10  and its application into an accommodating plant basket  31  will exclude soil and plant roots from entering the created water reservoir  35  thus preventing unhealthy conditions for growing a plant, as well as impede water evaporation from said reservoir  35 , prolonging time between plant tending.  
         [0027]     The embodiment itself is particularly molded from a polypropylene or other suitable plastic material. Such materials also find ready application with the injection molding process and have exceptional strength and durability properties.  
         [0028]     In passing, it might also be noted that the divider  10  is approximately 7 to 9 inches wide and approximately ⅛ to ¼ inches thick. The shroud  24  is approximately 2 to 3 inches tall, approximately 2 to 3 inches wide and approximately 1 to 2 inches deep. The recess  25  is approximately 1 to 2 inches deep. The hole(s)  17  are approximately ¼ to ½ inches in diameter. The foregoing dimensions are however illustrative only of a presently preferred embodiment and may be appropriately changed as necessary to accommodate a variety of different types and sizes of plant baskets  31 .  
         [0029]     It should also be noted that the preferred embodiment, if incorporated into a plant basket  31  that is overly large, may require at least one support pillar (not shown) that would project downwardly from the center area of the solid plate portion  12  lower surface  16  allowing contact with the inner base  39  of said basket  31  to aid the divider  10  in holding the overall weight of the soil section  34 .  
         [0030]     Whereas, too, the exterior edge  14  of the plate portion  12  is generally round, it may be squared as desired.  
         [0031]     While the present invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiment, it is to be appreciated that still other embodiments and modifications thereto might be suggested to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the following claims should be interpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention.