Patent Publication Number: US-2021161080-A1

Title: Flower pot saucer with a drainage system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/009,706 filed Jun. 15, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/519,971 filed Jun. 15, 2017, the contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a flower pot saucer, and more particularly, a mobile flower pot saucer having a drainage system. 
     A person trying to maintain a healthy flora display struggles with the lack of drainage and immobility of flower pot saucers. When a flower pot saucer receives too much water, the water can stagnate in the saucer, leading to rotting roots and breeding mosquitos. Conventional flower saucers often do not drain properly, either because of the lack of a drainage aperture or lack of elevation of the flower pot saucer from the ground to allow drainage. Additionally, trying to move a conventional flower pot saucer requires dragging the flower pot saucer over the ground or removing the flower pot, moving the flower pot saucer and then replacing the flower pot into the flower pot saucer. This is particularly the case when one is trying to grow healthy flora on a balcony of a high rise and you do not want water to drain on the balcony below. Therefore, needed is a flower pot saucer elevated on wheels with a proper drainage mechanism. In this way, a person trying to maintain a healthy flora display can be assured that overwatering of the flora will not cause the stagnation of water in the flower pot saucer. 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a flower pot saucer where the saucer easily and adequately drains water from the flower pot. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a flower pot saucer that can be easily moved. 
     These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A saucer for a flower pot with a drainage system has a base with a top surface, a bottom surface, an aperture, and a sidewall that extends upwardly form the outer periphery of the top surface of the base. A screen is associated with the aperture to prevent objects from passing through the aperture. 
     Connected to or molded with the bottom surface of the base is a drainage tube. The drainage tube has a first end that is axially aligned and in communication with the aperture. Preferably, the first end of the drainage tube has a diameter that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the aperture. The drainage tube narrows as it extends from the first end to a transition point to form a funnel like shape that assists with drainage. The tube has a second end with a diameter smaller than the first end that is adapted to be connected to or coupled with a conventional hose. 
     Connected to the bottom surface of the base are a plurality of spacing members such as wheels or legs. The spacing members create space for the drainage tube and the wheels provide easy mobility. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-section view along a central axis of an embodiment of the flower pot saucer; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the interior embodiment of the flower pot saucer and a side view of an embodiment of the flower pot saucer; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a bottom surface of a base of an embodiment of the flower pot saucer; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the flower pot saucer with a hose attachment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is shown a cross-section view along a central axis of an embodiment of the flower pot saucer  10 , a perspective view of the interior embodiment of the flower pot saucer  10  and a side view of an embodiment of the flower pot saucer  10 , and a perspective view of a bottom surface  12  of a base  14  of an embodiment of the flower pot saucer  10 , respectively. The flower pot saucer  10  comprises a base  14  having a top surface  16  and a bottom surface  12 . A sidewall  18  is affixed to the base  14  and extends upwardly therefrom. An aperture  20  is disposed in the base  14 . A screen  22  covers the aperture  20  and is affixed to the upper surface  16  of the base  14  along the periphery of the aperture  20 . In some embodiments, the screen  22  covers the aperture  20  and is affixed to the bottom surface  12  of the base  14 . In yet other embodiments, the screen  22  is disposed on a surface of the base  14  that defines an interior surface of the aperture  20 . 
     A spacing member  24  such as a plurality of wheels or legs affixed to the bottom surface  12  of the base  14 . The spacing member  24  creates a space between the bottom surface  12  of the saucer and the ground or floor. The plurality of wheels  24  are configured to allow the flower pot saucer  10  to be moved without lifting the flower pot saucer  10  or a flower pot  26  on the flower pot saucer  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of wheels  24  are comprised of four wheels that are configured to swivel. 
     A tube  28  configured to direct the drainage of water that flows through the aperture  20  is attached to the bottom surface  12  of the base  14 . The tube  28  has a first open end  30  and a second open end  32 . The first open end  30  being axially aligned and in communication with the aperture  20 . The tube  28  is curved so that the second open end  32  lies in a generally perpendicular plane to the first open end  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the tube  28  extends out beyond the base  14  of the flower pot saucer  10 . 
     Preferably, the drainage tube  28  and saucer  10  are a molded, one piece construction. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the first end  30  of the drainage tube  28  has a diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the aperture  20  and narrows as the tube  28  extends toward a transition point  33  to form a funnel like shape. The transition point  33  is where the drainage tube  28  transitions from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position. The diameter of the first end  30  is greater than the diameter of the second end  32 . The second end  32  is adapted to connect with or be coupled to a conventional elongated hose  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the flower pot saucer  10  with a hose attachment  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second open end  32  of the tube  28  is configured to attach to a hose  36 , further allowing drained water to be removed a distance from the flower pot saucer  10 . The plurality of wheels  24  on the bottom allow the flower pot saucer  10  to be easily moved from one location to the next, adjusting for sunlight and other factors. 
     The flower pot saucer  10  may be composed of ceramic, plastic, or any other suitable material. The flower pot saucer  10  may vary in width and height to accommodate different size flower pots. Thus, exact specifications may vary upon manufacturing. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.