Patent Publication Number: US-11382287-B2

Title: Automated plant pot assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to automated pot devices and more particularly pertains to a new automated pot device for automatically watering a plant in a plant pot. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to automated pot devices including a variety of automatic plant watering pots that include a first pot for holding water, a second pot for holding a plant that is positionable in the first pot and a pumping unit that pumps water into the second pot. In each instance an electric fluid pump is claimed as the means of pumping the water. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a first pot for containing an aqueous solution. A second pot is provided for having a plant potted therein and the second pot is insertable into the first pot. A spray bar is removably positionable in the second pot and the spray bar has a plurality of spray ports each fluidly integrated therein. A pumping unit is integrated into the first pot to pump the aqueous solution in the first pot. The pumping unit is placed in fluid communication with the spray bar when the second pot is positioned in the first pot to spray the aqueous solution onto the plant that is potted in the second pot. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an automated plant pot assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional in-use view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new automated pot device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the automated plant pot assembly  10  generally comprises a first pot  12  for containing an aqueous solution  14 . The aqueous solution  14  may be water, water and a liquid fertilizer or any other aqueous solution that is used to irrigate plants. The first pot  12  has a bottom wall  16  and an outer wall  18  extending upwardly therefrom, and the outer wall  18  has a distal edge  20  with respect to the bottom wall  16 . The outer wall  18  has an upper portion  22  flaring outwardly from a lower portion  24 , and the distal edge  20  is associated with the upper portion  22 . The upper portion  22  has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the lower portion  24 . 
     The upper portion  22  has an inside surface  26  and the inside surface  26  has a groove  28  integrated therein. The groove  28  has a lower bounding surface  30  and the lower bounding surface  30  lies on a horizontal plane. Moreover, the groove  28  is positioned adjacent to an intersection between the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  24 , and the groove  28  extends around an entire circumference of the upper portion  22 . 
     The upper portion  22  has an aperture  32  extending therethrough and the aperture  32  extends through the lower bounding surface  30  of the groove  28 . The outer wall  18  has a drain opening  34  extending therethrough to drain the aqueous solution  14  from the first pot  12 . A plug  36  is insertable into the drain opening  34  in the outer wall  18  of the first pot  12  to inhibit the aqueous solution  14  from draining from the first pot  12 . 
     A second pot  38  is provided for having a plant  40  potted therein and the second pot  38  is insertable into the first pot  12 . The second pot  38  has a basal wall  42  and a perimeter wall  44  extending upwardly therefrom, and the perimeter wall  44  has a distal edge  46  with respect to the basal wall  42 . The perimeter wall  44  has a top portion  48  flaring outwardly from a bottom portion  50  and the distal edge  46  of the perimeter wall  44  is associated with the top portion  48 . The top portion  48  has an outer surface  52  and the outer surface  52  has a ridge  54  extending outwardly therefrom. 
     The ridge  54  has a top surface  56  and a bottom surface  58 , and the bottom surface  58  lies on a horizontal plane. The ridge  54  is positioned adjacent to an intersection between the top portion  48  and the bottom portion  50 , and the ridge  54  extends around a full circumference of the top portion  48 . Moreover, the bottom surface  58  rests on the lower bounding surface  30  of the groove  28  in the upper portion  22  of the first pot  12  when the second pot  38  is positioned in the first pot  12  having the basal wall  42  of the second pot  38  being spaced from the bottom wall  16  of the first pot  12 . 
     The top portion  48  has an aperture  60  extending therethrough and the aperture  60  in the top portion  48  extends through the ridge  54 . The aperture  32  in the upper portion  22  of the first pot  12  is aligned with the aperture  60  in the top portion  48  of the second pot  38  when the second pot  38  is positioned in the first pot  12 . Additionally, the top surface  56  of the ridge  54  has a slot  62  extending downwardly therein and the slot  62  extends around a full circumference of the top portion  48 . 
     A spray bar  64  is provided and the spray bar  64  is removably positionable in the second pot  38 . The spray bar  64  has a plurality of spray ports  66  each being fluidly integrated therein. The spray bar  64  comprises a plurality of tubes  68  that each of has a first end  70  and a second end  72 . Additionally, each of the tubes  68  is curved between the first end  70  and the second end  72 . 
     The spray bar  64  includes a plurality of tee fittings  74  that each includes a pair of inlets  76  and an outlet  78  that is in fluid communication with each of the inlets  76 . The outlet  78  on each of the tee fittings  74  defines the spray ports  66  on the spray bar  64 . Each of the tee fittings  74  is structured such that the outlet  78  on a respective tee fitting  74  has a direction of flow extending along a line that is oriented perpendicular to a direction of flow with respect to each of the inlets  76  of the respective tee fitting  74 . Each of the inlets  76  is fluidly attachable to a respective one of the first end  70  and the second end  72  of a respective one of the tubes  68  such that the plurality of tubes  68  and the plurality of tee fittings  74  form a ring that is positionable in the slot  62  in the top surface  56  of the ridge  54  on the second pot  38 . Additionally, the outlet  78  on each of the tee fittings  74  is directed toward a center of the ring when the tee fittings  74  are coupled to the tubes  68 . 
     A pumping unit  80  is integrated into the first pot  12  for pumping the aqueous solution  14  in the first pot  12 . The pumping unit  80  is placed in fluid communication with the spray bar  64  when the second pot  38  is positioned in the first pot  12 . In this way the spray bar  64  can spray the aqueous solution  14  onto the plant  40  that is potted in the second pot  38 . The pumping unit  80  is actuated a pre-determined times to pump  82  a pre-determined volume of the aqueous solution  14 . In this way the pumping unit  80  can automatically water the plant  40  over an extended duration of time. 
     The pumping unit  80  comprises a pump  82  that has an intake  84  and an exhaust  86 . The pump  82  is positioned in the first pot  12  for pumping the aqueous solution  14  inwardly through the intake  84  and outwardly through the exhaust  86 . The pump  82  has a drive input  88  and the pump  82  may comprise a mechanical fluid pump or the like. The pumping unit  80  includes a control box  90  that is integrated into the outer wall  18  of the first pot  12 . The control box  90  has a forward wall  92  that is exposed with respect to the outer wall  18  such that the forward wall  92  is accessible to a user. 
     The pumping unit  80  includes a control circuit  94  that is positioned in the control box  90  and the control circuit  94  receives an on input and an off input. The pumping unit  80  includes a timer  96  that is positioned in the control box  90 . The timer  96  is electrically coupled to the control circuit  94  and the timer  96  performs a plurality of activation sequences. The pumping unit  80  includes a plurality of buttons  98  that is each movably coupled to the forward wall  92  of the control box  90 . Each of the buttons  98  is electrically coupled to the control circuit  94  and each of the buttons  98  controls operational parameters of the timer  96 . The operational parameters include a duration of time between the plurality of activation sequences and an operational duration of each of the activation sequences. Moreover, the control circuit  94  receives the on input when any of the activation sequences begins and the control circuit  94  receives the off input when any of the activation sequences ends. 
     The pumping unit  80  includes a display  100  that is coupled to the forward wall  92  of the control box  90  such that the display  100  is accessible to the user. The display  100  is electrically coupled to the control circuit  94  and the display  100  displays indicia comprising words and numbers communicating the duration of time between the activation sequences and the duration of time for operation of each activation sequence. The display  100  may comprise an LED or other type of electronic display. 
     The pumping unit  80  includes a motor  102  that is positioned within the control box  90 , the motor  102  is electrically coupled to the control circuit  94  and the motor  102  may comprise an electric motor or the like. The motor  102  is turned on when the control circuit  94  receives the on input and the motor  102  is turned off when the control circuit  94  receives the off input. Additionally, the motor  102  includes a drive output  104  extending outwardly through the control box  90 . The pumping unit  80  includes a drive shaft  106  that has a primary end  108  and a secondary end  110 . The primary end  108  engages the drive output  104  on the motor  102  and the secondary end  110  engages the drive input  88  on the pump  82 . In this way the motor  102  drives the pump  82  when the motor  102  is turned on for pumping the aqueous solution  14  through the spray bar  64  when the motor  102  is turned on. 
     The pumping unit  80  includes a supply hose  112  that is fluidly coupled between the exhaust  86  of the pump  82  and the spray bar  64  to deliver the aqueous solution  14  to the spray bar  64 . The supply hose  112  is routed through the aperture  32  associated with the first pot  12  and the aperture  60  associated with the second pot  38 . The pumping unit  80  includes a power supply  114  that is positioned in the control box  90 , the power supply  114  is electrically coupled to the control circuit  94  and the power supply  114  comprises at least one battery. 
     In use, the first pot  12  is filled with the aqueous solution  14  and the second pot  38  is positioned in the first pot  12 . The spray bar  64  is attached to the supply hose  112  and the buttons  98  are manipulated to program the timer  96 . Thus, the pump  82  is automatically turned on the water the plant  40  for a pre-determined duration of time at pre-determined intervals of time. In this way the plant  40  can be automatically watered over an extended duration of time. Additionally, the first pot  12  can be continuously refilled as necessary. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.