Abstract:
A plant watering system for providing water to any type of plant as the water is needed by the plant and which is interconnected to any standard water supply includes a water reservoir placed about ten inches from the plant&#39;s root system having an internal float system for regulating the amount of water contained within the water reservoir and the reservoir having a downwardly projecting discharge tube completely buried in the soil and the discharge tube having an aperture at its lower end through which water is automatically dispersed for permeation through the soil to the root system controlled and regulated by the float system whereby the float system keeps the reservoir full without wasting water.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains to irrigation and watering devices for shrubs, plants, trees, vineyards, fruits, etc., and more particularly pertains to a plant watering device that automatically disperses water to the root system of the plant as needed by the plant. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A number of things are required for any kind of plant life to successfully grow, blossom, reach maturity, provide shade, cover, aesthetic beauty, and sprout fruit or vegetables all for the benefit of both animal species and humanity. Certainly the basics such as adequate sunlight, freedom from diseases, insects, and pests, and the appropriate growing season are essential for proper plant growth. Perhaps most important of all is an adequate, available, appropriate amount of water as needed for that particular plant; neither too little which will stunt and kill plant growth nor too much which will also have the same effect. Since many plants, bushes, shrubs, flowers, and trees are of domesticate varieties and species, they require watering by human directed and operated means and methods. Such watering means and methods can encompass everything from hand watering plants from pitchers filled up at the kitchen sink to the use of complex irrigation systems that water many hundreds of acres of plants, bushes, trees, orchards, vineyards, landscaping flora, crops, etc. A number of impediments and hindrances are presented to the individual for providing the proper amount of water to plants, shrubs, trees, etc. on a residential or small scale. The individual must first remember to water the plants on a regular basis which, given the daily distractions of modern life is not always easy. Then the individual must not under water or, conversely, over water the plants, shrubs, flowers, trees, etc. Also, the watering of the plant(s) must be done in such a way that the water doesn&#39;t sit on the top of the soil adjacent and about the plant and evaporate before the water can sink into the soil; and, contrawise, the water must not permeate the soil in such a way that the water doesn&#39;t reach the root system. Therefore, systems or methods have been devised to water plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, orchards, vineyards, crops, etc. in a regular and systematic manner. 
         [0003]    For example, the Bates patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,352) discloses a watering device for plants that includes a reservoir and a chamber with the chamber located below ground so that water flows from the reservoir into the chamber when water drops below the level of a supply pipe connecting the chamber to the reservoir. 
         [0004]    The Reese patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,991) discloses a sub-surface irrigation method and apparatus wherein all the major components are buried beneath the ground surface. 
         [0005]    The Scragg patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,686) discloses a plant water device that includes a water holding receptacle and a porous tube inserted into the ground so that water held within the receptacle percolates through the tube into the ground. 
         [0006]    The Moss patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,692) discloses a drip or trickle irrigation system that includes a variable orifice that varies the amount of fluid flow in concert with variations in pressure of the fluid head and water supply pressure. 
         [0007]    The Sibbel patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,827) discloses a watering system that includes a plurality of watering cylinders located adjacent the plant roots with the watering cylinders connected to a water supply unit through a closed pipeline. 
         [0008]    The Tsurata patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,939) discloses an irrigation method and apparatus that includes interconnected components for drip irrigation of farms and potted plants. 
         [0009]    The Hirahara patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,034) discloses a controlled low volume irrigation system that can be used for batch or continuous time-dependent watering by the conveyance of water through holes of a plant water tubes and to the plant clusters. 
         [0010]    The Nalbandian et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,283 B1) discloses a linked-sub irrigation reservoir system that is disposed within an absorbent soil medium beneath one or more plants. 
         [0011]    The Shaw patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,664 B1) discloses a self-watering plant pot that includes a water refill light that signals when the water reservoir and/or the plant food needs refilled. 
         [0012]    The Atkinson et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,483 B1) discloses a liquid level-maintaining device that is especially suited for a plant container with a reservoir of water below the plant. 
         [0013]    The Chen patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,454 B1) discloses an apparatus and method for watering a houseplant and includes an automated plant-watering device that includes an automated timer for regulating the transference of water between planters. 
         [0014]    Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for a float-operated plant watering device that maintains the distribution of water to the root system of a plant without wasting water. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention comprehends an inexpensive, easy to operate, easy to assemble and disassemble float operated plant watering device that conserves water by dispersing to the root system of the plant only the amount of water needed by that plant at any given time thereby preventing water from being wasted. 
         [0016]    The float operated plant watering device can be interconnected to any standard water supply line such as an outdoor hose bib or outdoor spigot and includes a ground mounted water cylinder or reservoir having an upper end, a lower end, and a continuous cylindrical sidewall. A removable cap closes the upper end and laterally projecting from the sidewall adjacent the upper end is a water inlet fitting to which the end of the water hose is connected for supplying water to the internal chamber or cavity of the water reservoir. Disposed within the internal cavity of the water reservoir is a float system that includes a float switch that is pivotally mounted to an inlet tube and is responsive to and regulates that amount of water flowing into the water reservoir and the water level within the water reservoir. Thus, a flow of water is maintained to the root system but only as needed by the plant and when the water reservoir is filled with water, the float switch pivots to the close position thereby preventing water from the supply line from entering the water reservoir. As the root system absorbs water discharged from the aperture of the discharge stem, the water level in the water reservoir drops causing the float switch to pivot to the open position allowing water from the water supply line to enter and begin to fill the water reservoir. 
         [0017]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide a float operated plant watering device that automatically disperses water into the root system of the plant as needed by the plant. 
         [0018]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide a float operated plant watering device that includes a float system having a float switch that keeps the tank or reservoir of the device full without wasting water. 
         [0019]    It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide a float operated plant watering device that is designed and adapted to efficiently water landscaping. 
         [0020]    It is still yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a float operated plant watering device that can be interconnected to any standard water supply such as a standard outdoor hose bib or can be directly connected to the underground plumbing. 
         [0021]    Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a float operated plant watering device that conserves water by only delivering the amount of water that the plant requires at any given time. 
         [0022]    Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a float operated plant watering device that maintains itself and uses less water from the water source for watering the root system of plants, shrubs, trees, crops, etc. 
         [0023]    Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a float operated plant watering device that is inexpensive, easy to set up and disassemble, and maintains itself. 
         [0024]    These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the float operated plant watering device of the present invention illustrating the water tank or reservoir of the system and the water supply line in flow registration therewith; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the float operated plant watering device of the present invention taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the disposition of the float switch that allows water from the supply line to enter the reservoir; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the float operated plant watering device of the present invention taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the disposition of the float switch when water completely fills the water reservoir and no water is allowed to enter the water reservoir; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the float operated plant watering device of the present invention illustrating the disposition of the device in its operative state for providing water to the root system of the plant as needed by the plant; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the float operated plant watering device of the present invention illustrating the spatial distance and location of the water reservoir with respect to the root system of the plant. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  is a float operated plant watering device  10  that provides water  12  to a plant only as needed by the plant and thus both avoids wasting water and conserves water. The float operated watering device  10  thus provides water to the plant only as needed for that given time period by the interaction of a float switch within the device  10  and the specific level of water the device  10  holds. The float operated watering device  10  can be used for a regulated discharge of water to plants of any kind ranging from flowers, shrubs, bushes, trees, garden fruits and vegetables, landscaping flora, etc.; and while the float operated device  10  is designed for small-scale use it can be scaled up for larger plantings and large scale watering operations. 
         [0031]    Shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is representative plant  14  with the trunk  16  growing upward from the ground  18  and a root system  20  extending in all directions throughout the soil  22 . The device  10  is inexpensive, easy to set, operate, and take down and store when desired, and is made from common materials so as to reduce the cost. The device  10  is placed approximately 10 inches from the root system  20  and is set in about a four inch diameter hole with one part of the device  10  extending down into the ground  18  about one foot deep. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the device  10  can be connected to any standard water supply source or line such as an outdoor hose bib or spigot  24  with the outdoor spigot  24  of  FIG. 4  mounted to and extending from the wall  26  of the dwelling. The outdoor spigot  24  includes an open/close hand valve  28  and attached to the end or mouth of the discharge port  30  is one end of a standard water hose or tubing  32  that extends to and is secured to the device  10 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the device  10  includes an elongated cylindrical tubular-shaped water tank or reservoir  34 . The water tank  34  includes an upper end  36 , a lower end  38 , and a continuous sidewall  40  that extends between the upper end  36  and the lower end  38  and which defines an internal water holding chamber  42 . A circular floor  44  further defines the lower end  38  while a cap  46  closes off the upper end  36 ; and the cap  46  is removably securably to the upper end  36  by any conventional type of securement means such as a press fit connection or by an interengagable threaded connection. A projection  48  on the top of the cap  46  allows the individual to manually rotate or lift the cap  46  up off the water tank  34  for removal therefrom. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , integrally attached to and extending downwardly from the floor  44  of the water tank  34  is a slender, elongated discharge stem or pipe  50 . The stem  50  has an inner open end  52  that registers with the internal chamber  42  of the tank  34 , and the stem  50  includes an inner bore  54  through which the water  12  flows for eventual discharge from the device  10  to the root system  20  of the plant  14 . The stem  50  is approximately one foot long and concentric to and with the longitudinal axis of the water tank  34  and the stem  50  includes a lower stem end  56  that has a discharge or drain hole or aperture  58  having a diameter of at least 5/64 of an inch and through which water  12  flows for absorption by the root system  20  of the plant  14 . The device  10  is situated as shown by the arrow in  FIG. 5  so that the drain hole  58  at the lower stem end  56  of the stem  50  faces and opens toward the root system  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the device  10  is disposed in its operative position for automatically providing water  12  to the root system  20  as needed by the plant  14 , the stem  50  is fully buried within the ground  18 . 
         [0034]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  is a water inlet fitting or water inlet  60  that laterally projects from the sidewall  40  adjacent the upper end  36  thereof and is in flow registration with the internal chamber  42  of the tank  34 . The opposite end of the water supply line or hose  32  is removably attachable to the water inlet  60  so that water  12  from the source can flow, as needed and selectively, through the line  32 , through the water inlet  60  and into the water tank  34  when the water is turned on from the source. 
         [0035]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is a float switch  62  that is located within the internal chamber  42  and that both regulates and is responsive to the level (amount) of water  12  in the water tank  34 . The float switch  62  includes an open/close valve  64 , an arm  66  interconnected to the valve  64 , and a float ball  68  connected to the arm  66  and that rests on the surface of the water  12  within the water tank  34 . The arm  66  and float ball  68  pivot—rise and fall—concomitant with the rising or falling of the level of water  12  within the water reservoir  34 , and this pivotal action causes the valve  64  of the float switch  62  to either open or close. When the valve  64  is closed water  12  from the supply source cannot enter the internal chamber  42  of the water tank  34 , and when the valve  64  is in a range of open positions, water  12  from the supply source can enter and slowly fill the internal chamber  42  of the water tank  34 .  FIG. 2  shows the disposition of the arm  66  and the float ball  68  for opening the float valve  64  and letting water  12  slowly enter the internal chamber  42  of the water tank  34  while  FIG. 3  shows the disposition of the arm  66  and float ball  68  when the level of water  12  is at its highest thus filling the internal chamber  42  of the tank  34  and disposing the arm  66  and float ball  68  to pivot and shut off the float valve  64  so that no water  12  from the supply source can enter the internal chamber  42  of the water reservoir  34 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the device  10  in its operative disposition with the stem  50  buried within the ground  18 , the discharge hole  58  facing the root system  20  of the plant  14 , the water tank  34  extending above ground  18 , and the water supply hose or conduit  32  interconnected between the water source and the water inlet  60  projecting from the upper end  36  of the water tank  34 . For clarity water  12 —and the level of water  12 —isn&#39;t shown within the water tank  34  but the components of the float switch  62  are and thus the arm  66  and float ball  68  are shown pivoted to a disposition within the tank  34  that allows water  12  to flow down through the bore  54  of the stem  50  and out the discharge hole  58  for absorption by the root system  20  of the plant  14 . Thus, water  12  stored or held within the water reservoir  34  is discharged to the root system  20  of the plant  14  automatically and without operator intervention, and water  12  is dispersed to the root system  20  only as needed by the plant  12  thereby conserving water  12  as the float switch  62  continuously operates to maintain a full level or amount of water  12  within the water tank  34  and thus avoids wasting water. 
         [0036]    It will be understood that only the best known embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, and the invention is not limited thereto or thereby but may be subject to modifications, alterations, and variations, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the detailed description and the claims appended hereto.