Abstract:
An arrangement for filling watering cans ( 16 ), having a container ( 10 ) for receiving liquid, wherein the container is assigned a closable outlet and an in particular closable inlet. In this case, an effective cross section of the outlet may be larger than an effective cross section of the inlet.

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority on German Patent Application No. DE 10 2013 009 795.9 having a filing date of 12 Jun. 2013. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates to an arrangement for filling watering cans. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Typical watering cans for use in the garden have on their top side a large filling opening and a handle which extends in a curved manner over the opening. Filling the watering can from a tap or by means of a garden hose is time-consuming and/or tedious. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to create an arrangement for quicker or easier filling of watering cans. 
     The arrangement according to the invention is an arrangement for filling watering cans, having a container for receiving liquid, wherein the container is assigned a closable outlet and an in particular closable inlet. A constituent part of the arrangement is a container for receiving liquid, wherein the container is assigned a closable outlet and an in particular closable inlet. Via the inlet, the container can be filled even in the absence of a watering can. The outlet can be dimensioned such that quick filling of the watering can is possible. A common type of watering can has a volume of about 10 liters. Complete filling can take place with a sufficiently large outlet in about 10 seconds or less. The volume flow is then 1 liter per second or more. Filling takes place in a pressureless manner, that is to say only atmospheric pressure and no positive pressure bears down on the liquid column in the container. 
     According to a further concept of the invention, an effective cross section of the outlet is larger than an effective cross section of the inlet, in particular at least four times as large. Preferably, the outlet is ten times as large as the inlet or larger. A filled watering can is emptied slowly in the garden while the water flows into the container. If the watering can is empty, it can be filled again from the container in a very short period of time. 
     According to the invention, the inlet may be assigned a closure which automatically closes the inlet as soon as the liquid in the container has reached an upper liquid level or a defined quantity of liquid has flowed into the container. As a result, it is possible to connect the container to a water line that is always open, without the container overflowing. 
     Advantageously, the closure for the inlet is actuable by a float in the container. The principle for a closure, controlled by a float, of a water line is known from cisterns for toilets and does not need to be explained in more detail. 
     According to the invention, the inlet may be assigned a connection for a water line or a garden hose, in particular a plug-in coupling, preferably for a ½″ or ¾″ coupling. These are commercially customary coupling sizes for garden hoses. Of course, other sizes can also be used. 
     Alternatively, the inlet may also be connected to a downpipe for roof drainage (gutter) directly or via a line/hose. In this case, operation without a float is also possible, since the connection is pressureless. Finally, the connection to the downpipe may also be provided in addition to the connection for a garden hose or some other waterline. 
     According to a further concept of the invention, the outlet may be assigned a manually operable closure which has to be actuated only for the purpose of opening and closes again automatically, in particular after a defined quantity of liquid has run through, when the container is empty or after a defined period of time has elapsed. The principle of manual opening and automatic closing is likewise known from cisterns in toilets. As a result, operation is particularly easy. 
     Preferably, the outlet is assigned a siphon bell which closes an end opening or container opening and is liftable for the purpose of opening. The lifting of the siphon bell can take place manually via a linkage or a cable pull or by a change of pressure in the container or in some other way. The use of a siphon bell is again known in connection with cisterns for toilets. 
     The opening and closing of the outlet can take place in various ways, for example manually, pneumatically, hydraulically and/or electrically. Preferably, opening is carried out manually, while closing of the outlet takes place automatically after a defined quantity of liquid has run through, when the container is empty or after a defined period of time has elapsed. For the purpose of closing and optionally also for the purpose of opening, an electrically actuated valve can also be provided, in particular in conjunction with an electronic unit for control purposes. A time interval for example is stored in the electronic unit. The time interval starts when the outlet is opened. After the time interval has elapsed, the valve receives a signal for closing. Alternatively or in addition, a flow meter can be provided. Once a previously defined flow rate has been achieved, the valve receives a signal for closing. 
     According to the invention, the outlet may have an outflow nozzle which is configured in a curved manner such that a free nozzle opening is not located in a central upright container plane under the container but is located at a distance in front of the upright container plane. The height and width dimensions of the container define the upright container plane, which extends approximately centrally through the container. In this case, the container may have a relatively small depth (dimension perpendicular to the upright container plane). The depth may be smaller than the corresponding dimension of a watering can to be filled, on account of the curved outflow nozzle. The outflow nozzle is preferably arranged such that, while the watering can indeed stand underneath the container during filling, it is offset in an inclined manner with respect thereto, that is to say at a distance from the upright container plane. In this case, the outflow nozzle passes between the opening in the watering can and the curved handle thereof. The outlet is advantageously provided in the region of a lowest point of the container in order that no solids can accumulate in the container. Preferably, the outlet is arranged in a bottom wall of the container or in a side wall of the container close to the bottom wall. 
     According to a further concept of the invention, the arrangement may have securing means for securing to a wall. In the simplest case, holes are provided for suspending on hooks in the wall. However, height-adjustable securing means, for instance a rail having lockable slides arranged thereon, are also possible. Preferably, the slides are then assigned to the arrangement and the rail is assigned to the wall. 
     According to the invention, the container may be embodied as floor-standing model or a holder for the container may be provided, such that an outlet opening of the container, or a lower container opening, is arranged at a distance from the ground, in particular at a distance of about half a meter. The holder may be provided as a stand for standing on the ground or for leaning against and/or securing to a wall. The distance from the ground should be dimensioned such that a watering can provided for the arrangement can be positioned easily under the outlet opening. 
     Advantageously, the container functions according to the principle of a toilet cistern and is constructed in a corresponding manner, in particular with a float-controlled inlet and torrent-like emergence of the water. 
     A further subject of the invention is also an ensemble made up of an arrangement of the abovementioned type and a watering can, wherein the watering can has on its top side a filling opening, and wherein the arrangement is assigned a holding device which holds the container at a height such that an outlet opening on the container, or a lower container opening or a nozzle opening, is arranged approximately in the region of the opening for filling the watering can or thereabove. The aim is a distance of at most 1 to 2 centimeters. The watering can can then be positioned easily under the outlet opening and be moved away again after filling. Spray scarcely occurs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features of the invention can be gathered from the rest of the description and from the claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following text with reference to drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a lateral plan view of an arrangement for filling together with a watering can standing therebeneath, 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the arrangement from  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of the arrangement from  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective illustration of an arrangement for filling watering cans, 
         FIG. 5  shows a lateral plan view of the arrangement according to  FIG. 4 , 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross section of the arrangement along the line VI-VI in  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 7  shows a lateral plan view of a further embodiment of the arrangement, 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross section of the arrangement along the line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A filling arrangement for watering cans has a container  10  for receiving water. The container  10  is intended to be secured to an upright wall (not shown), for instance to an outside wall of a house. To this end, the container  10  is formed in a relatively flat manner, specifically with a small depth, in relation to height and width. The height and width in this case define an upright container plane  11  which extends approximately centrally through a lower container opening  12 . 
     An outflow nozzle  13  which is connected to the container opening  12  by way of a threaded flange  14  adjoins at the bottom of the container opening  12 . The outflow nozzle  13  is configured in an elbowed manner with a free nozzle opening as the outlet opening beneath the container opening  12  and offset with respect to the container plane  11 . 
     Beneath the container  10 , a watering can  16  is positioned on a stand  17 . On its side, the watering can has a spout pipe  18  and, above a top side  19 , a handle  20 . Underneath the handle  20 , the top side  19  is provided with an opening which is not visible in the figures. The watering can  16  is positioned on the stand  17  such that the nozzle opening  15  is directed precisely into the opening in the top side  19 . Accordingly, the watering can  16  does not stand in the upright container plane  11  but in front of the latter, see in particular  FIG. 2 . 
     In its upper region, the container  10  has on its side a connection  21 , specifically a plug connection for connecting a garden hose. Provided in a manner not shown in the interior of the container  10  is a closure for the connection  21  that acts as an inflow, in particular in conjunction with a float, such that the connection  21  closes automatically as soon as a defined water level has been reached in the container  10 . 
     The watering can  16  is filled like the water inlet in the case of a toilet cistern. The container  10  is filled relatively slowly from a garden hose. On account of the automatic closure in the region of the connection  21 , the garden hose can remain attached. The supply of water does not have to be turned off. 
     In order to let the water out of the container  10 , two variants are shown in the figures, specifically  FIGS. 4 to 6  for one and  FIGS. 7 to 8  for the other. In both variants, the lower container opening is closed by a siphon bell  22  and, in order to let out the water, the siphon bell  22  has to be lifted. According to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , a linkage having a pull lever  23  is provided for this purpose. By contrast,  FIG. 8  shows a push button  24  by way of which a pressure change is briefly generated in the container  10  such that the siphon bell  22  is briefly lifted as a result or a stored water volume is discharged in some other way. 
     By way of the pull lever  23  or the push button  24 , the lower container opening  12  is opened and the container contents pour in a torrent into the watering can  16  through the outflow nozzle  13 . The cross sections of the outflow nozzle  13  and the container opening  12  are dimensioned in a relatively large manner with respect to the connection  21 , so that approximately 0.5 to 2 liters per second of water can flow out, even more in the case of larger cross sections. With a container content of 8 to 10 liters, a conventional 1-liter watering can can be filled with a torrent of water for example within 10 seconds. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  Container 
           11  Upright container plane 
           12  Lower container opening 
           13  Outflow nozzle 
           14  Threaded flange 
           15  Nozzle opening 
           16  Watering can 
           17  Stand 
           18  Spout pipe 
           19  Top side 
           20  Handle 
           21  Connection 
           22  Siphon bell 
           23  Pull lever 
           24  Push button