Abstract:
A long-term water self-refilling plant pot is comprised of a hollow pot body, which includes a water-supplying section recessed from a top side of the pot body for accommodating a plant, a reservoir formed at the hollow space of the pot body for accommodating water, an infusion opening located on the pot body and running through the pot body for communication between the reservoir and outside, an infusion plug provided for sealing the infusion opening, at least one outfall running through an internal sidewall of the pot body for communication between the water-supplying section and the reservoir and having a diameter sufficiently large for preventing the liquid surface tension of water from sealing the outfall, and a regulating unit provided for controlling of sealing/unsealing the outfall. Thus, the plant pot can keep supplying the plant with adequate water without manual watering for a period of time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to plant pots, and more particularly to a long-term water self-refilling plant pot.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     For facilitating promotion of plant pots, an unmanned self-watering pot device has been being developed for recent years, being characterized by that the self-watering device is comprised of a table having a channel and a slot in communication with the channel, a pot having soil and a plant raised in the soil, a refill bottle having a cap and receiving water for fully pouring into the channel of the table, and a capillary wick having two ends respectively inserted into the soil of the pot and placed in the channel, such that the water in the refill bottle can flow into the channel and the slot. While the water level of the channel reaches a distal end of the cap of the refill bottle, the water in the refill bottle stops flowing into the channel and the slot and the capillary wick sucks and transports the water to the pot. While the water level of the channel lowers to be lower than the distal end of the cap, the water of the refill bottle keeps flowing into the channel and the slot to supply the plant with the water.  
         [0005]     However, such unmanned self-watering pot device includes numerous components and needs complicated production process to be structurally complex, thereby failing to effectively reduce the production cost. In addition, the device is very inconvenient for operation and maintenance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a long-term water self-refilling plant pot, which keeps supplying the plant raised therein with adequate water for a period of time without manual watering.  
         [0007]     The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a long-term water self-refilling plant pot, which is structurally simple and easy for production.  
         [0008]     The foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by the long-term water self-refilling plant pot, which is comprised of a hollow pot body having a water-supplying section, a reservoir, an infusion opening, an infusion plug, at least one outfall, and a regulating unit. The water-supplying section is recessed from a top side of the pot body for accommodating a plant. The reservoir is formed at the hollow space of the pot body for accommodating water. The infusion opening is located on the pot body, running through the pot body for communication between the reservoir and outside. The infusion plug is provided for sealing the infusion opening. The outfall runs through an internal sidewall of the pot body for communication between the water-supplying section and the reservoir and has a diameter, which is large enough to prevent the liquid surface tension of water from sealing the outfall. The regulating unit is provided for controlling of sealing/unsealing the outfall. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing an upside-down view of the present invention for infusing water.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view taken from a circle A indicated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , showing that the water is being supplied from the reservoir into the water-supplying section.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing that the regulating unit stops the water from flowing from the reservoir into the water-supplying section.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , showing that the regulating unit allows the water to flow from the reservoir through one of the outfalls into the water-supplying section.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 6 , showing that the regulating unit allows the water to flow from the reservoir through the other outfall into the water-supplying section.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention without water inside.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is another sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention with water inside.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a sectional upside-down view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention for infusing water.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a long-term water self-refilling plant pot  1  constructed according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is a hollow pot body and comprised of a water-supplying section  11 , a reservoir  13 , an infusion opening  15 , an infusion plug  17 , two outfalls  19 , and a regulating unit  21 .  
         [0022]     The water-supplying section  11  is recessed downwards from a top side of the pot body for accommodating a plant. The reservoir  13  is the hollow space of the pot body for accommodating water. The infusion opening  15  is located at a bottom side of the pot body, running through the same for communication between the reservoir  13  and outside and for infusing water therefrom by the user. The infusion plug  17  is mounted in the infusion opening  15  for sealing the infusion opening  15  to avoid the water from leakage after the user infuses the water through the infusion opening  15  into the water-supplying section  11  of the pot body. The two outfalls  19 , which are respectively an upper outfall and an lower outfall located below the upper outfall, are located at different elevation of an internal lateral sidewall  23  of the pot body, running through the internal lateral sidewall  23  and each having a 1 cm diameter, by which the outfall can prevent the liquid surface tension of the water from sealing itself, for communication between the water-supplying section  11  and the reservoir  13 . The regulating unit  21  is embodied as two drain plugs  211  respectively for sealing the two outfalls  19  to prevent the water from leakage after the user infuses the water into the pot body. Each of the outfalls  19  is defined as an outlet  191  while the drain plug  211  is unplugged from the outfall  19 .  
         [0023]     In operation, as shown in  FIG. 2 , put the pot body upside-down, unplug the infusion plug  17  from infusion opening  15 , and then infuse the water into the infusion opening  15 . After the water infusion is completed, reposition the infusion plug  17  to seal the infusion opening  15 . Reset the pot body in normal position and then unplug one of the drain plugs  211  based on the requirement of the plant for water to force the water by the air pressure to flow from the reservoir  13  into the water-supplying section  11 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , while the water level of the water-supplying section  11  gradually rises up to a lower part of the outlet  191 , the other part of the outlet  191  can be sealed by the surface tension of the water to cause the balance of pressure at two ends of the outlet  191 ; in other words, the air pressure and water gravity of the reservoir  13  above the outlet  191  are in balance with the air pressure and water surface tension of the water-supplying section  11 ; such that the water no longer flows into the outlet  191 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . While the water level of the water-supplying section  11  drops a little to enable the other part of the outlet  191  not to be sealed by the water surface tension, the water of the reservoir  13  can again flow through the outlet  191  into the water-supplying section  11  for refill. Before the water of the reservoir  13  above the outlet  191  runs out, the water level of the water-supplying section  11  keeps abutting a top end of the outlet  191 , as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]     As a whole, the primary feature of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is to employ the air pressure and the liquid surface tension to enable the elevation where the outfalls  19  are located to control the water level of the water-supplying section  11 , thereby resulting in simple structure and easy production of the whole plant pot  1 .  
         [0025]     It is to be noted that there can be more than two of the outfalls  19  together with the drain plugs  211 , which correspond to the outfall  19  in number, in the first preferred embodiment to meet different requirement of different plants for water and one of the drain plugs  211  is optionally unplugged once in operation to meet different requirement of different plants for the water level.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the long-term water self-refilling plant pot  2  constructed according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment, but having difference as follows. The plant pot  2  further includes at least one recession  14  (two recessions facing to each other in this embodiment), on which sidewall the outfall  18  is located, to define a buffer against the plant for preventing the outfall  18  from obstruction incurred by that the plant is too close to the outfall  18 .  
         [0027]     The regulating unit  21  can be alternatively a gate-like member. Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , the long-term water self-refilling plant pot  3  constructed according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment and comprised of a water-supplying section  11 ′, a reservoir  13 ′, two outfalls  19 ′, and a regulating unit  21 ′, but having difference as recited below. The two outfalls  19 ′ are the same in diameter. The regulating unit  21 ′ includes a drain gate  25 ′, an intermediate gate  27 ′, and three locating ditches, which are respectively a first locating ditch  291 ′, a second locating ditch  292 ′, and a third locating ditch  293 ′. The drain gate  25 ′ is located at an edge of an internal bottom side of the pot body, abutting the two outfalls  19 ′ and being spaced from the internal lateral sidewall  16 ′ of the pot body. The drain gate  25 ′ has its width as twice as the diameter of either of the outfalls  19 ′, having two through holes  251 ′, which are respectively an upper through hole and a lower through hole and correspond respectively to the two outfalls  19 ′. The intermediate gate  27 ′ is fitted between the drain gate  25 ′ and the internal lateral sidewall  16 ′, having a convex portion  271 ′ protruding from a lower side thereof and abutting the internal lateral sidewall  16 ′, and a through hole  272 ′ running through the internal lateral sidewall  16 ′ and located above the convex portion  271 ′. The three locating ditches  291 ′,  292 ′, and  293 + are arranged one by one in elevation and located on the internal lateral sidewall  16 ′ abutting the two outfalls  19 ′, each for engaging the convex portion  271 ′. While the convex portion  271 ′ engages the first locating ditch  291 ′, the through hole  272 ′ of the intermediate gate  27 ′ communicates respectively with the upper outfall  19 ′ and the upper through hole  251 ′. While the convex portion  271 ′ engages the third locating ditch  293 ′, the through hole  272 ′ communicates respectively with the lower outfall  19 ′ and the lower through hole  251 ′.  
         [0028]     The operational difference of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention from the first embodiment is recited below. While intending to fill the plant pot  3  with water, the user can let the convex portion  271 ′ engage the second locating ditch  292 ′ to disable the communication between the two outfalls  19 ′ and the two through holes  251 ′ and to prevent the water in the reservoir  13 ′ from leakage by the regulating unit  21 ′, as shown in  FIG. 6 . While intending to keep the water level of the water-supplying section  11 ′ at the upper outfall  19 ′, let the convex portion  271 ′ engage the first locating ditch  291 ′ to enable the through hole  272 ′ to communicate with the upper outfall  19 ′ and the upper through hole  251 ′, such that the water flows from the reservoir  13 ′ into the water-supplying section  11 ′ and the water level of the water-supplying section  11 ′ keeps abutting the top end of the upper outfalls  19 ′, as shown in  FIG. 7 . While intending to keep the water level of the water-supplying section  11 ′ at the lower outfall  19 ′, let the convex portion  271 ′ engage the third locating ditch  293 ′ to enable the through hole  272 ′ to be in communication with the lower outfall  19 ′ and the lower through hole  251 ′ and keep the water level of the water-supplying section  11 ′ abutting the top end of the lower outfall  19 ′, as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 9-10 , the long-term water self-refilling plant pot  4  constructed according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment, but having difference below. The plant pot  4  is comprised of a water-supplying section  31 , a reservoir  33 , an infusion opening  35 , an infusion plug  37 , two lateral outfalls  39 , a bottom outfall  41 , and a regulating unit  43 . The infusion opening  35  is located on a top side of the pot body. The two lateral outfalls  39  are identical to the outfalls of the first preferred embodiment in location, but each having the diameter of any size. The bottom outfall  41  runs through the internal bottom sidewall of the pot body for ensuring the water to flow into the water-supplying section  31  from the bottom side of the water-supplying section  31 . The regulating unit  43  includes two lateral drain plugs  431  and a bottom drain plug  45  respectively for sealing the lateral and bottom outfalls  39  and  41  to prevent the water from leakage from the lateral and bottom outfalls  39  and  41  while the user fills the pot body with the water.  
         [0030]     It is to be noted that there can be alternatively more than two lateral outfalls  39 , to which the lateral drain plugs  431  correspond in number and are unplugged by one once in operation, according to the requirement of different plants for water. If the plant is relatively larger in size, there can be alternatively more than one bottom outfall  41 , to which the bottom drain plug  431  corresponds in number and is unplugged by one once in operation, according to the requirement of different plants for water. The regulating unit  431  can alternatively be a gate-like member in addition to the drain plugs  431  for regulating the water level of the water-supplying section  31 .  
         [0031]     After infusing the water into the plant pot  4 , unplug one lateral drain plug  431  according to different requirement of the plant for the water and unplug the bottom drain plug  45 ; meanwhile, the water of the reservoir  33  is forced by the air pressure to flow from the bottom outfall  41  into the water-supplying section  31 ; meanwhile, the lateral outlet  391 , which is defined by the lateral outfall  39  that the lateral drain plug  431  is unplugged, is too small in diameter to let the water pass therethrough because of the liquid surface tension at the outlet  391 . While the water level of the water-supplying section  31  drops a little to expose a part of the outlet  391 , the water of the reservoir  33  flows through the bottom outfall  41  into the water-supplying section  31  for refill. Before the water of the reservoir  33  above the lateral outlet  391  runs out, the water level of the water-supplying section  31  keeps abutting the top end of the lateral outlet  391 , as shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIGS. 11-12 , the long-term water self-refilling plant pot  5  constructed according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is a hollow pot body, comprised of a water-supplying section  51 , a reservoir  53 , and an infusion opening  55 . The water-supplying section  51  is recessed from a top side of the pot body for accommodating a plant. The reservoir  53  is the hollow space of the pot body and located between a peripheral sidewall of the water-supplying section  51  and an external sidewall of the pot body for accommodating water. The infusion opening  55  is located at a bottom side of the water-supplying section  51  for communication between the water-supplying section  51  and the reservoir  53 .  
         [0033]     In operation, put the plant pot  5  upside-down, infuse the water through the infusion opening  55  into the reservoir  53 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , and then set the plant pot  5  in normal position quickly. In the meantime, the gravity forces the water of the reservoir  53  to flow toward the water-supplying section  51  to enable the water level of the water-supplying section  51  to reach a specific elevation to overflow the infusion opening  55  and then stop rising until the air pressure over the water level of the water-supplying section  51  is in balance with the gravity and the air pressure over the water level of the reservoir  53 . While the water level of the water-supplying section  51  drops a little, the water of the reservoir  53  immediately flows through the infusion opening  55  into the water-supplying section  51  for refill. The water level of the water-supplying section  51  keeps at the specific elevation, as shown in  FIG. 12 , as long as the water level of the reservoir  53  is higher than that of water-supplying section  51 .