Abstract:
A drainage tray suitable for use with plant pots is configured to collect and drain away excess plant treating fluids, such as water, fertilizer and the like, that drain from the plant pot. The drainage tray has a base member with a bottom having a side wall extending generally vertically from its periphery to form a reservoir with a generally open top and closed bottom. A drainage orifice in the base member connects to a tubular member, such as a hose, to drain the excess fluids from the reservoir to a suitable disposal site away from the area of the potted plant. Support members and stabilizer members are used to facilitate use of the drainage tray. The drainage tray prevents the accumulation of fluid near a potted plant that can damage or stain the deck, floor, sidewalk or other support surface and/or cause persons to slip and fall.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses and systems for draining water away from potted plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to such apparatuses that are configured to receive and support standard plant pots that have a hole in the bottom of the plant pot to drain water from the plant. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to such apparatuses and systems that are adapted for the beneficial drainage of water away from a floor or deck where the potted plant is located.  
         [0004]     B. Background  
         [0005]     Many people place potted plants on or near a walkway, sidewalk, deck, floor, porch, patio or like places to improve the appearance of their home, office or business. Although plant pots come in a variety of different sizes and shapes, the vast majority of plant pots are configured in virtually the same way, that being a container having a hole or holes in or near the bottom of the pot as a drainage portal for the gravitational drainage of water from the plant. The drainage portals allow excess water, fertilizers, chemicals and other liquids (collectively the water and other liquids are referred to herein as “plant treating fluids”) poured into the plant soil to advantageously drain out of the pot instead of building up in the pot and harming the plant (i.e., root rot and the like). While the addition of drainage portals to the standard plant pot has solved the problems associated with the build-up of plant treating fluids in the pot, it does create problems with regard to these fluids draining on the area where the potted plant is located. For instance, it is well known that these fluids can create falling hazards for people and animals moving on or across the area at or near where the pot is located (i.e. a sidewalk or deck). In addition, fluid draining from the plant pot can cause structural damage to the deck or other location where the plant pot sits. Even if the fluid does not directly cause damage, the water or the soil, fertilizer or chemicals carried by the water can stain the sidewalk, deck or other location where the potted plant is located. As is well known, these stains can be very difficult to remove.  
         [0006]     Because of the problems with water draining directly on the location where the potted plant sits, most persons utilize a saucer-like plate or tray (i.e., a “pot tray”) to catch and contain the plant treating fluids. The typical pot tray has an upstanding rim portion that keeps a certain amount of fluid from spilling out over the rim until it either evaporates away, is pulled back into the plant pot by capillary action or is manually removed (i.e., by emptying the fluid in a sink, on the ground or back into the potted plant). Generally, however, these fluids are not manually removed from the pot tray. As a result, it is not uncommon at all for fluid to be left standing in the pot tray for some time. If the water is there when the plant is watered again, the additional drainage fluid can cause the pot tray to overflow, resulting in spillage of fluid onto the deck or other surface, creating the very problems that were intended to be avoided by using the pot tray. Another problem with standing fluid being left in the pot tray is that it provides a breeding ground for bacteria, mosquitoes and other pests. At a time when mosquitoes are known to transmit the West Nile Virus and other diseases, people generally do not want to have standing, stagnated fluid suitable for breeding mosquitoes in areas where they or their children may be walking, sitting or playing. Even if mosquitoes are not a problem, the stagnated fluid, containing fertilizer and chemicals, can damage the pot, pot tray and/or result in undesirable smells emanating from the potted plant.  
         [0007]     Due to the aforementioned problems, it has been known for some time that it is desirable to have a potted plant system that prevents fluid from spilling onto the area where the plant is located or accumulating in a pot tray. Various apparatuses and systems have been developed to facilitate drainage of fluid away from the potted plant. Most of these are passive in that they rely on the uptake of the fluid back into the plant pot by capillary action of the plant&#39;s root system. Unfortunately, this type of system does not prevent the spillage of fluid when there is too much for the underlying tray and, even when there is no spillage problem, the process is generally too slow to avoid the problems associated with standing fluid. Some systems rely on pumps or other devices to circulate the excess fluid back into the plant&#39;s soil, either at a planned interval or when the soil is measured to be dry enough to accept more water. Some of these apparatuses and systems have been the subject of patent applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,632 to Boling describes a plant drainage system that utilizes an apparatus that fits into or adjacent to the drainage portal at the bottom, underside of the plant pot. The apparatus requires a mechanism, such as blocks or a hole in the deck, to support the plant pot in a manner that allows for drainage through the bottom drainage portal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,184 to Anderson describes a jacketed nursery plant container assembly that utilizes an inner container for the plant, an exterior jacket surrounding the container and a base plate which supports the container above its bottom. One or more wicks extend through openings in the container to pull in water from the reservoir formed by the peripheral wall around the base plate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,239 to Helton and U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,149 to Johnson describe apparatuses and methods for capturing the drainage overflow resulting from the watering of hanging plants. U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,384 to Andrews describes a self-draining plant pot having filter assembly partially enclosed in a sidewall of the plant pot that drains the water down to a preselected level in the pot.  
         [0008]     Although the prior art discloses a number of plant watering or drainage apparatuses, there are certain characteristics of the known apparatuses that limit their complete acceptance, usefulness and/or cost effectiveness. For instance, it is well known that the apparatuses that do not provide for the draining away of fluid from the plant pot or pot tray are subject to the aforementioned problems with regard to fluid spillage or standing fluid. In addition, the apparatuses that are configured to allow fluid to wick into the plant pot are not configured to drain the fluid away. Those apparatuses that do provide for plant pot drainage either do not, because of their configuration, completely drain away the fluid or require a non-attractive support mechanism or holes in the floor or deck upon which the plant pot rests in order to be effective. What is needed, therefore, is a combined plant pot drainage tray that substantially transports away the plant treating fluids that drain from a plant pot and which is adaptable to a variety of different sized and configured plant pots. The plant pot drainage tray should not require any modification to the floor, deck or other location where the plant pot is utilized and be configured to allow the owner or caretaker to move the plant pot and drainage tray as needed or desired. Preferably, such an apparatus should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple to utilize and allow the owner/caretaker to relatively easily clean the drainage tray as may be necessary or desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The plant pot drainage tray of the present invention solves the problems and provides the benefits identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses a drainage tray and system particularly configured to transport plant treating fluids away from the drainage portal of a standard plant pot so as to avoid those fluids overflowing onto the deck, floor or other area where the plant pot sits and the problems associated with standing fluid in conventional pot trays. The plant pot drainage tray of the present invention can be made out of a wide variety of materials and in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. In the preferred embodiment, the plant pot drainage tray is easily moved with the plant pot, requires no modification to standard plant pots and/or to the floor, deck or other area where such the plant tray may be utilized. The preferred plant pot drainage tray is easily separated from the plant pot so the owner or caretaker can clean it as necessary.  
         [0010]     In one aspect of the present invention, the plant pot drainage tray has a base member configured with a bottom having an upwardly facing surface and a downwardly facing surface and one or more side walls that extend generally vertically upward from the periphery edge of the bottom. The bottom and the side walls form a reservoir in the base member for the collection of excess plant treating fluids or drainage fluids from the plant pot. The reservoir has a generally open top portion that is placed under the hole or other opening in the bottom of the plant pot. A drainage orifice is disposed in the base member such that the orifice inlet is disposed in the reservoir and its outlet is disposed outside of the reservoir. One end of a tubular member connects to the drainage orifice to receive the fluids from the reservoir through the outlet of the drainage orifice. The other end distributes the drainage water to the desired disposal location, such as grass, bushes, flowerbed and the like.  
         [0011]     In the preferred embodiment, the upwardly facing surface of the bottom of the base member is generally concave to facilitate flow of the fluids in the reservoir to the orifice inlet, which is preferably located at or near the bottom of a side wall with the outlet extending outwardly from the base member. Also in the preferred embodiment, the upwardly facing surface of the base member bottom has one or more upper supports that extend generally upward from the bottom to support the plant pot a spaced distance above the bottom of the base member. The upper supports can comprise a plurality of ribs in spaced apart relation that are inclined generally downward toward the center of the bottom and configured to allow flow of the fluids in the reservoir to the drainage orifice. The base member can be made out of molded plastic with the drainage orifice made integral with the base member. In an alternative embodiment, the drainage orifice can comprise a connector disposed in the base member and configured to interconnect the reservoir with the tubular member so as to drain the fluids from the reservoir. The downwardly facing surface of the bottom can have one or more stabilizer members that extend generally downward from the bottom of the base member. The stabilizer members can comprises at least an inner stabilizer member and an outer stabilizer member that are sized and configured to generally support the center of the base member bottom higher than its periphery.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved plant pot drainage tray that provides the advantages discussed above and that overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with presently available plant pot drainage apparatuses and systems.  
         [0013]     It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a plant pot drainage tray that effectively transports away plant treating fluids that drain from a plant pot through one or more drainage portals in the plant pot so as to substantially prevent spillage of fluid around the plant pot and standing fluid in the drainage tray.  
         [0014]     It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a plant pot drainage tray that is configured to receive or support plant pots of various sizes and configuration in a manner that facilitates transport of the drainage fluid away from the plant pot.  
         [0015]     It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide plant pot drainage tray having a base member with an upstanding peripheral side wall configured to support a plant pot, a drain orifice in the wall for connecting to a drainage hose suitable for transporting the plant pot drainage fluid away from the plant pot and drainage tray, and one or more angled support members on the inside bottom of the base member for supporting a pot plant inside the drainage tray.  
         [0016]     The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     In the drawings which illustrate the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the plant pot drainage tray of the present invention with a plant pot sitting inside the tray compartment;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the plant pot and plant pot drainage tray of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the plant pot drainage tray of the present invention with a plat pot sitting on top of the sides of the drainage tray;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the plant pot drainage tray of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side section view of the plant pot drainage tray of  FIG. 4  taken through lines  5 - 5 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the plant pot drainage tray of  FIG. 4  showing the hose connector opening into the tray compartment;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of one embodiment of the plant pot drainage tray of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the plant pot drainage tray of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is an isolated view of an alternative hose connector for use with the embodiment of the plant pot drainage tray of  FIG. 8 ; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a side view of an alternative usage of the plant pot drainage tray of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, and particularly with reference to the embodiments of the plant pot drainage tray of the present invention illustrated in the figures, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures and drawings are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments and represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses of the present invention are illustrated and set forth in this disclosure, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein.  
         [0029]     The plant pot drainage tray of the present invention, identified generally as  10  in the figures, is utilized with a plant pot or container  12  that is substantially filled with soil, potting medium or other material (not shown) for biologically supporting one or more plants (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 2 , a plant pot  12  suitable for use with drainage tray  10  of the present invention has a substantially vertically extending drainage portal or hole  14  in its bottom portion  16  for gravity drainage of plant treating fluids into drainage tray  10 . As is well known, the excess fluid that drains from plant pot  12  will generally carry with it soil, fertilizer, chemicals and other solid or dissolved materials from plant pot  12 . As set forth in more detail below, plant pot  12  can be received in drainage tray  10  or sit on top of drainage tray  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  respectively. To facilitate transport of the drainage fluid, and any materials carried by the fluid, away from plant pot  12  and the floor, deck, sidewalk or other area around it, the plant pot drainage tray  10  of the present invention includes a drainage orifice  18  that attaches to a generally elongated tubular member  20 . Drainage orifice  18  and tubular member  20  should have a sufficient inside diameter, in the case of a round tubular member  20 , to permit the fluid and the materials carried by it to easily flow into and through tubular member  20 . Tubular member  20  can be made into any length desirable or necessary to transport the drainage fluids a sufficient distance away from plant pot  12  and its surrounding area. Generally, it will be desired to transport the drainage fluid from plant pot  12  to a disposal site suitable for the plant treating fluids, such as any nearby grass, bushes, soil or other landscaping area that can beneficially utilize the drainage fluid.  
         [0030]     A variety of different materials are suitable for tubular member  20 , including a flexible, transparent plastic or rubber hose or such a hose that is colored to blend in with the surrounding area (i.e., a reddish-brown color for use over redwood decking). Preferably, tubular member  20  is made out of material that is suitable for use in outdoor environments, such that it will not be easily damaged by exposure to sun, rain, snow or other weather-related conditions. For instance, it is desirable that tubular member  20  be sufficiently resistant to ultraviolet light. In addition, tubular member  20  is preferably sufficiently strong such that it will not be damaged (i.e., crushed) if someone inadvertently steps on or places something on top of tubular member  20 . It is also desirable that tubular member  20  be substantially flexible to allow tubular member  20  to be directed to the desired disposal site. However, as used herein, the term “tubular member” includes tubes, pipes, hoses and the like, whether rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. Drainage orifice  18  and tubular member  20  should be cooperatively sized such that a tight seal is provided between drainage orifice  18  and tubular member  20 . In the preferred embodiment, as explained in more detail below, tubular member  20  removably attaches to drainage orifice  18  so that it may be repaired or replaced as necessary or desired.  
         [0031]     As best shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , drainage tray  10  comprises a base member  22  having a bottom  24  with a peripherally arranged, generally upstanding side wall  26  that forms an interior tray compartment or reservoir  28  having a generally open top  30  in which plant treating fluids drain from plant pot  12  through hole  14 . In one configuration, best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , base member  22  is configured in a generally circular shape. As those skilled in the art will know, base member  22  can be configured in a variety of different shapes and sizes depending on the desired shape and/or size of plant pot  12  desired to be utilized with drainage tray  10 . Alternatively, one size and shape of drainage tray  10  can be utilized for a wide variety of sizes and configurations for plant pots  12 . Base member  22  can be made out of a variety of different materials, including plastics, wood, clay, metal, composites, fiberglass and other materials that are suitable for supporting plant pot  12  as described herein. In one embodiment, base member  22  is made out of plastic material that is suitable being manufactured by molding processes. If desired, base member  22  can be made out of a material that is suitable for painting or otherwise decorating. Alternatively, base member  22  can be made out of material that is itself in a design. In a preferred embodiment, base member  22  is made out of a molded plastic that is molded in the shape, color and configuration typical of the standard clay or clay-type drainage trays. If desired, natural or colored gravel or sand can be placed inside drainage tray  10  and plant pot  12  placed on top of that gravel or sand.  
         [0032]     Bottom  24  of base member  22  has an upwardly facing surface  32  and an opposite directed downwardly facing surface  34 , as best shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  7 . In the preferred embodiment, bottom  24  of base member  22  is configured such that upwardly facing surface  32  is concaved, with the high point being at or near the center of bottom  24  and the low point being at or near the intersection of bottom  24  and side wall  26  so that any fluids in interior tray compartment  28  will gravitationally flow toward this intersection and out drainage orifice  18 . Preferably, inlet  36  of drainage orifice  18  is located at or near the bottom of side wall  26  so that excess plant treating fluids draining from plant pot  12  will gravitationally flow across the concave bottom  24  to inlet  36 , flow through orifice  18 , discharge from outlet  38  into the open first end  40  of tubular member  20  and then through open second end  42  to the desired disposal site. First end  40  of tubular member  20  is sized and configured to engage the outlet  38  of orifice  18  and second end  42  is sized and configured to discharge fluids in or on the grass, bushes, plants, trees or the like at the disposal site.  
         [0033]     In a preferred embodiment, best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , orifice  18  is molded as an integral part of base member  22  such that inlet  36  extends into reservoir  28  and outlet  38  extends outside of base member  22 , with the tubular body portion  44 , having a generally cylindrical passageway  45  in the preferred embodiment, of orifice  18  extending therebetween to allow fluid to flow from inside reservoir  28  to tubular member  20 . As known to those skilled in the art, it is preferred that inlet  36  be configured to be generally planar relative to the bottom  24  and side wall  26  of base member  22  to facilitate the flow of fluids into tubular body portion  44  and then to tubular member  20 . As also known, outlet  38  should be sized and configured to be tightly received by first end  40  of tubular member  20  or to tightly receive first end  40  so as to prevent the leakage of fluids out of the connection between tubular member  20  and orifice  18 . Although the outside surface of tubular body portion  44  can be configured to be smooth, as shown in the figures, to facilitate the connection between tubular body portion  44  and first end  40  of tubular member  20 , the outer surface of tubular body portion  44  can have one or more barbs or threads that can effectively “grab” onto the interior of first end  40  of tubular member  20 . In an alternative embodiment of the drainage tray  10  of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , orifice  18  can comprise a removable connector  46  that is disposed in an opening in side wall  26  to function as a transition component between base member  22  and tubular member  20 . Connector  46 , shown separately in  FIG. 9 , can have a fixed nut  48  that abuts the outside of side wall  26  with the outlet end  50  of tubular body portion  44  having barbs  52  thereon for grabbing onto first end  40  of tubular member  20  and a removable nut  54  that is received on threaded end  56  and tightened until it abuts the inside of side wall  26 . Threaded end  56  is inserted into the opening until fixed nut  48  abuts side wall  26  and then removable nut  54  is threaded onto threaded end  56  and tightened against the inside of side wall  26  to fix orifice  18  in place.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , certain sizes of plant pot  12  can sit inside reservoir  28 . To facilitate supporting plant pot  12  and the drainage of fluids from plant pot  12  to drainage tray  10 , the bottom  24  of base member  22  can comprise one or more upper supports  58  configured to engage the underside of plant pot  12  and support plant  12  a spaced distance vertically above bottom  24  of base member  22 . In the preferred configuration, upper supports  58  comprises a plurality of spaced apart, upwardly extending ribs  60 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 , disposed on bottom  24 . Preferably, ribs  60  do not extend entirely from the center of bottom  24  to the peripheral edge of bottom  24 , where bottom  24  meets side wall  26 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the use of an gap in the center underneath where the hole in plant pot  14  would be located and a gap at between the bottom  24  and side wall  26  interface facilitates the flow of fluids from plant pot  12  to inlet  36  of orifice  18  and into tubular member  20 . In the preferred embodiment, ribs  60  are inclined, as shown in  FIG. 5 , from their periphery end down toward the center end to better support different sized plant pots  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in some circumstances it will be preferred to support plant pot  12  on the side wall  26  of base member  22 . To facilitate such use, the upper marginal surface  62  of side wall  26  can be sized and configured to better support plant pot  12  (i.e., surface  62  can be made wider or thicker than the side wall  26  itself).  
         [0035]     To better support drainage tray  10  above the ground, deck, sidewalk or other support area where used with plant pot  12 , downwardly facing surface  34  of bottom  24  can comprise one or more stabilizer members  64  suitably sized and configured to facilitate drainage of fluids into tubular member  20  and provide a spaced distance vertically above the support area. In one configuration, shown in  FIG. 7 , stabilizer members  64  comprises a plurality of downward extending, spaced apart inner stabilizer members  66  and outer stabilizer members  68  on the downwardly facing surface  34  of base member  22  that are sized and configured to beneficially support drainage tray  10  so as to facilitate drainage of excess fluids through tubular member  50 . In the preferred embodiment, inner stabilizer members  66  extend downward further than outer stabilizer members  68  such that when plant pot  12  is placed in or on drainage tray  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the center portion of base member  22  will be kept above the periphery edge of bottom  24  to facilitate drainage of fluid to inlet  36  and the fluid flowing through tubular member  20 . Both inner  66  and outer  68  stabilizer members should be sufficiently sized (i.e., ⅛ of an inch or more) to allow the user to wash the surface under drainage tray  10  and to permit the surface to dry (i.e., air dry), particularly if the surface is a wood decking or similar material. The vertical space above the support area created by stabilizer members  64  also facilitates the placement of orifice  18  at the lowest point in reservoir  28  so that it may be fully drained through tubular member  20 .  
         [0036]     In one configuration of drainage tray  10  of the present invention, base member  22  is made out of a molded plastic material with orifice  18  made integral therewith and having a generally flat, smooth inlet  36  and a smooth outer surface for tubular body portion  44  leading to outlet  38 . The outside diameter of base member  22  can be provided in different sizes, such as eight and ten inch drainage trays  10 , to allow use with different sized plant pots. Side wall  26  can be made approximately one inch high with a upper marginal surface of ⅛th of an inch. Tubular member  20  can be a clear plastic hose approximately one foot long with an outside diameter of ⅝ths to ¾ths of an inch and an inside diameter of ½ to ⅝ of an inch, or otherwise sized to snugly fit over outlet  38  of orifice  18 . Because no pressure is generated in reservoir  28 , it is generally not necessary to utilize the barbs  52  or other grabbing mechanisms described above. As shown in  FIG. 4 , three ribs  60  can be utilized on upwardly facing surface of bottom  24  of base member  22  to support a plant pot  12 . An inner stabilizer member  66  of {fraction (3/16)} of an inch and an outer stabilizer member  68  of {fraction (3/32)} of an inch can be placed on the downwardly facing surface  34  of base member  22 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Depending on the size of plant pot  12 , it can be placed inside reservoir  28  or placed on top of upper marginal surface  62  of side wall  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 .  
         [0037]     In an alternative configuration, shown in  FIG. 8 , upper supports  58  can comprise a series of raised ring members  70  on upwardly facing surface  32  of bottom  24  that are even in height or which vary in height from the high side being near the middle of bottom  24  to the ring nearer the periphery of bottom  24  being lower. A similar ring configuration can be utilized for stabilizer members  64  on the downwardly facing surface  34  of bottom  24  to support drainage tray  10  above the support surface (i.e., deck, sidewalk, porch, etc.). As known by those skilled in the art, various other configurations are possible for upper supports  58  and/or stabilizer members  64 . In another configuration, shown in  FIG. 10 , even very large plant pots  12  can be utilized with drainage tray  10  of the present invention by utilizing one or more pot support members  72  that are sized and configured to fit under plant pot  12 . In a preferred configuration, pot support members  72  are sized and configured to hold the weight of plant pot  12  completely off of drainage tray  10 , such that drainage tray  10  is removably placed under hole  14  in the bottom portion  16  of plant pot  12 . In this configuration, drainage tray  10  can be utilized with plant pots weighing hundreds of pounds. In another configuration, pot support members  72  are sized and configured such that drainage tray  10  helps support plant pot  12  (in this configuration, drainage tray  10  is not easily removable).  
         [0038]     In use, the user of drainage tray  10  merely decides where he or she wants plant pot  12  to be located and places drainage tray  10  at that location such that it will be generally positioned under hole  14  in the bottom portion  16  of plant pot  12 . The distance to the desired disposal area for the drainage fluids that will drain from plant pot  12  is computed and a tubular member  20  of the correct diameter to connect to orifice  18  and of sufficient length is selected or cut to size. In one configuration, tubular member  20  is a clear plastic tube that is of the type that is commonly found for easy replacement if it becomes dirty, broken, clogged or otherwise undesirable to use. First end  40  of tubular member  20  is connected to the body portion  44  of orifice  18  and the second end  42  is directed to the desired disposal site for the drainage fluids. As plant treating fluids are placed inside plant pot  12 , any excess fluids will drain into reservoir  28 , flow across bottom  24  into inlet  36  or orifice  18 , out outlet  38  to the tubular member  20 , and then be disposed of away from plant pot  12 .  
         [0039]     While there are shown and described herein certain specific alternative forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to the dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use.