Abstract:
A plant watering device comprises a pair of water absorbent shells made from natural coconut husks. Cotton pads are placed between the shells for further water storage and slow persistent release. An amount of plant nutrient and water filtering carbon material is placed within the cotton pads for disbursement to the root system of a plant. The husks and cotton pads are stacked and wrapped in a mesh material. The device is buried in a planter in close proximity to a root system of a plant.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application #61/097,387 “Watering Device for Plant Irrigation” filed in the USPTO on Sep. 16, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of plant irrigation devices and more particularly to a watering device for plant irrigation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Household plants, particularly those that are kept indoors, are susceptible to de-hydration. They must be watered at frequent intervals. Low humidity indoor environments promote the de-hydration of plants and the soil they are rooted in. Plant death by de-hydration can occur quickly if the care-taker is not attentive. This creates additional costs for the care-taker in having to replace dead plants unnecessarily. 
     There are a number of devices available to keep plants hydrated. In one example of prior art, vermiculite or similar absorbent is mixed in with soil to maintain an acceptable soil moisture content. However, the vermiculite must be mixed in the soil and this creates additional work and can be messy. Another sample of the prior art is shown in US Patent Application 2004/0025428 “Watering Device” by De Winter. This apparatus comprises a reservoir of water and a soil probe through which the water is fed to the soil. This apparatus is made of molded plastic and has plastic parts in the soil and above the soil. This makes this device obtrusive and unnatural. The need to fabricate molded parts from a suitable thermoplastic material makes this device less than environmentally benign. 
     Therefore there is a need to be able to inexpensively and naturally hydrate the root systems of plants. It would also be beneficial to hydrate and provide a nutrient to the plant at the same time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, I have provided a plant watering device. My device comprises a first outside absorbing shell, a second outside absorbing shell and a suitable amount of absorbing material sandwiched between the two outside absorbing shells. The two outside absorbing shells are for absorbing water. They act as a water reservoir to slowly release water back to the surrounding soil and to the adjacent plant roots. The two outside shells are wrapped in a mesh material. The absorbing material sandwiched between the two shells includes a predetermined amount of a nutrient for feeding plant roots. An amount of filter medium for cleansing absorbed water is also placed in the absorbing material. The shells are made from natural coconut husk fibers and the absorbing material is a natural cotton bat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the components of one embodiment of the invention prior to assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is an assembly view of one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a partially assembled invention prior to wrapping with mesh. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a partially assembled invention prior to wrapping with mesh. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of the invention being wrapped with mesh. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the invention with a label tag. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates use of the invention in a plant pot. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown one embodiment of my invention  10  which is a watering device for plant irrigation. The watering device  10  comprises a water absorbent top shell  12  and a water absorbent bottom shell  14 . Sandwiched between the top  12  and bottom  14  shells is an absorbent layer  15  suitable for carrying a plant nutrient and a water filtration medium. The plant watering device is wrapped in a mesh  20  that permits water to enter the device when charging it and to leave the device when it is discharging water into plant soil adjacent to the root structure of a plant (see  FIG. 10 ). A suitable fastener  18 , in this case, a staple, is shown to hold the mesh in an enclosing configuration and the constituent elements of the invention together. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown a diagram of the invention  10  in side view. The bottom shell  14  comprises a natural and organic absorbent material that has an inherent resistance to decay in moist and poorly oxygenated environments. In the preferred embodiment that material is coconut husk which is inexpensive and readily available. The coconut husk material is readily formed into top  12  and bottom  14  shells. As more fully explained below, these top and bottom shells are wrapped in the mesh fabric  20  and enclosed with a staple  18 . Between the top  12  and bottom  14  shells is an absorbent layer  15  for holding time release fertilizers and nutrients as well as water filtration media. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  there is illustrated a cross-sectional side view of components of an assembled sample of the invention  10  comprising a top shell  12 , a bottom shell  14  and an absorbent layer  15 . The absorbent layer  15  comprises a top cotton pad  16  and a bottom cotton pad  17 . Not shown is a centrally disposed cotton washer  19  the annulus of which contains the nutrient material and water filter media. The invention is wrapped with a mesh fabric  20  and then secured with a staple  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  there is shown in top view the constituent parts of the invention. The mesh fabric  20  is a synthetic fabric screen such as nylon or rust resistant metal screen material as might be used on a screen door. The mesh grade may be varied to suit the size of the application. Larger examples of the invention may have coarser mesh while small examples may have a finer mesh. To a certain degree, the mesh will determine the rate at which water escapes the device. 
     The top  12  and bottom  14  shells are made from coconut husks which are known for their water absorbent characteristics, resistance to rot and longevity. As well, the husks are a purely natural and organic material and their use underscores the environmentally benign nature of my invention. Elements  16 ,  17  and  19  are made from a suitable absorbent material. In a preferred embodiment,  16  and  17  are natural cotton fiber pads. Element  19  is a cotton pad with a centre portion removed to form an annulus  21  in which the nutrient and filter material are placed. The absorbent nature of the cotton acts to store water in all three cotton elements. The nutrient material is dissolved within the annulus  21  and leaches its way through the husk into the surrounding soil where it is absorbed by the plant roots. The cotton fiber can be purchased as cotton wafers or as bats. The nutrient  30  can be any suitable water soluble slow-release fertilizing agent. The filter medium  32  is charcoal and is used to cleanse the water as it is released to the plant. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown an assembly diagram of one embodiment of the invention. The dimensions of the items shown depend on the size of the device being assembled. A circular piece of mesh  20  is placed on a surface. Then the bottom shell  14  is placed in the center of the mesh. A first cotton pad  17  is placed in the centre of the bottom shell  14 . The cotton washer  19  is placed over the first cotton pad  17 . Nutrient material  30  and charcoal filter media  32  are placed within the center of the cotton washer. A second cotton pad  16  is placed over the nutrient material and charcoal. The top shell  12  is placed upon the second cotton pad  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  prior to final assembly of the device, the top shell  12 , with the other constituent parts stacked below it, is illustrated in the center of the mesh material  20  awaiting wrapping. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a partially assembled device in cross-section. The top  12  and bottom  14  coconut shells are disposed upon the mesh  20  awaiting wrapping. Placed between the shells are cotton fiber pads  16  and  17 . Between them is cotton washer pad  19  (although it is not illustrated to avoid clutter in the diagram). The nutrient material  30  is illustrated as a black dot and the filter media  32  is illustrated as a white dot. It is to be understood that these two materials are well mixed within the device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in the wrapping of the invention, the flexible mesh material is pulled tight around the top  12  and bottom shells  14  and the mesh material is gathered at the top of the device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the mesh is secured with a staple  18  shown in broken line. A tag  40  may be fixed over the staple for placement of trade-marks or instructions for use. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is illustrated a plant  50  within a pot  54  shown in cross-section. The plant root structure  52  is buried in potting soil  56 . The device  10  is first soaked in water and buried below the plant root structure  52  so that water and nutrients can disburse into the soil close to the roots. Preferably the device is near the bottom of the pot prior to planting the plant. This will keep the plant well hydrated and fed. 
     Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.