Patent Publication Number: US-2022232780-A1

Title: Plant pot drainage tray

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/140,535 which was filed on Jan. 22, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Many known plant pots contain one or more holes in the bottom to drain water away from the plant. Such plant pots are often used with a saucer or tray, which catches any water dripping from the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. The saucer or tray protects a surrounding surface from water damage from the pot. 
     Typically, the tray does not include means of removing excess water other than a user removing the tray from under the plant pot and dumping out the water. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a drainage tray including an easy means of removing excess water while also providing robust support for plant pots of a variety of sizes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows a plant pot with an example drainage tray. 
         FIG. 2  shows an example drainage tray. 
         FIG. 3  schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the example drainage tray. 
         FIG. 4  shows a portion of the example drainage tray. 
         FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the example drainage tray. 
         FIG. 6  shows a detail of the example drainage tray according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  shows a detail of the example drainage tray according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a drainage tray includes a sloped surface that is sloped in a slope direction from a high point to a low point. A nozzle is arranged at the low point. A plurality of ribs are arranged on the sloped surface. The ribs each include a plurality of alternating first portions that extend in a first direction and second portions that extend in a second direction. The first and second portions are joined by a plurality of bends to define a wavy shape. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, a side wall extends about a perimeter of the sloped surface. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, each of the plurality of ribs are spaced from the side wall such that water can flow between the side wall and the ribs. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the drainage tray is circular and the plurality of ribs are spaced from the side wall at a distance that is less than 10% the diameter of the drainage tray. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the plurality of ribs form a plurality of channels between adjacent ribs. The plurality of channels are oriented along the slope direction. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the plurality of ribs have a first height towards the high point of the sloped surface and a second height towards the low point of the sloped surface. The second height is larger than the first height. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the plurality of channels include alternating narrow gaps and wide gaps. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the drainage tray is circular and the wide gaps define a wide gap distance that is less than 10% the diameter of the drainage tray. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the first direction and the second direction are angled relative to the slope direction. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, a base is configured to support the drainage tray on a surface. Each of the plurality of ribs has a top edge at a uniform height relative to the base. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, base supports extend from the sloped surface in an opposite direction from the plurality of ribs to define the base. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, rib circles extend from the sloped surface in an opposite direction from the plurality of ribs. The rib circles are configured to receive support legs. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the nozzle includes one of hose barbs and threads to facilitate attachment of a hose to the nozzle. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, each rib includes at least seven bends. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a drainage tray includes a sloped surface that is sloped in a slope direction from a high point to a low point. A nozzle is arranged at the low point. A plurality of ribs are arranged on the sloped surface. The plurality of ribs form a plurality of channels between adjacent ribs. The channels are oriented along the slope direction. A side wall extends about the perimeter of the sloped surface. Each of the plurality of ribs are spaced from the side wall such that water can flow between the side wall and the ribs. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, a base is configured to support the drainage tray on a surface. Each of the plurality of ribs has a top edge at a uniform height relative to the base. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the drainage tray is circular and the widest distance between adjacent ribs is less than 10% the diameter of the drainage tray. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the drainage tray is circular. The plurality of ribs are spaced from the side wall at a distance that is less than 10% the diameter of the drainage tray. 
     In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, there are at least ten ribs. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a plant pot  11  placed on an example drainage tray  10 . The drainage tray  10  is arranged beneath the plant pot  11 , and catches water  13  that drips from a drainage hole  15  at the bottom of the pot  11 . The drainage tray  10  may also catch water overflowing from a top of the pot  11 , in some examples. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the example drainage tray  10  for use with a plant pot. The drainage tray  10  generally includes a sloped surface  12  surrounded by a side wall  14  extending around a perimeter  22  of the drainage tray  10 . In this example, the tray  10  is circular. The sloped surface  12  slopes in a slope direction  16  from a high point  30  at a first side  32  to a low point  34  at a second side  36 . A sprout or nozzle  24  is arranged in the side wall  14  at the low point  34  of the sloped surface  12 , such that water can flow down the sloped surface  12  to the spout  24 . A plurality of ribs  18  are arranged on the sloped surface  12 , and are generally oriented along the slope direction  16 . In one example, there are at least ten ribs  18 , or about twenty ribs  18 . The plurality of ribs  18  are spaced from the side wall  14  to form a gap  20  about the perimeter  22 . The plurality of ribs  18  are arranged such that water flows between the ribs  18  and along the gap  20  towards the nozzle  24 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross sectional view along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . In this example, the tray  10  is sitting on a substantially horizontal surface  40 . The surface  40  may be the ground, a deck, a table, or plant stand, for example. The base  42  of the tray  10  rests on the surface  40 . A top edge  44  of the side wall  14  extends substantially parallel to the horizontal surface  40 . As shown in this view, the sloped surface  12  is sloped relative to the base  42  and the top edge  44  of the side wall  14 . 
     Each of the ribs  18  extends in a vertical direction between the sloped surface  12  and a top edge  46 , and in a horizontal direction from an upstream end  28  to a downstream end  38 . In the illustrated example, a few of the ribs  18  have a break  51  near a center  48  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the sloped surface  12 . The upstream end  28  of the rib  18  has a first height H 1  between the sloped surface  12  and the top edge  46  and the downstream end  38  has a second height H 2  between the sloped surface  12  and the top edge  46 . The second height H 2  is larger than the first height H 1 . In the illustrated example, the top edge  46  of the ribs  18  is level with the top edge  44  of the side wall  14 . In other embodiments, the top edge  44  of the side wall  14  may extend beyond the top edge  46  of the ribs  18 . The top edges  46  of the plurality of ribs  18  extend substantially parallel to the horizontal surface  40  and provide support for a plant pot during use. In other words, the top edges  46  of the plurality of ribs  18  are spaced at a uniform height relative to the base  42  of the tray  10 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a portion of the drainage tray  10 . The ribs  18  extend along the slope direction  16 . Each of the ribs  18  is wavy, and is offset from an adjacent rib. In this way, each rib  18  forms a channel  49  with an adjacent rib  18  defined by a plurality of pockets  50 . The pockets  50  formed between two adjacent ribs  18  are interconnected along the slope direction  16 . In other words, the ribs  18  form channels  49  with alternating narrow gaps  52  and wide gaps  54 . The wide gaps  54  are the widest portion of the pocket  50 . The widest distance between ribs  18  is substantially perpendicular to the slope direction  16 . The wavy ribs  18  are arranged to permit water caught from the plant pot to flow down the sloped surface  12  between the ribs  18  toward the nozzle  24 . 
     The gap  20  provided between the plurality of ribs  18  and the side wall  14  facilitates better water flow to the nozzle  24 . The gap  20  both acts a path for water to travel down the sloped surface  12  to the nozzle  24  and serves as a manifold to distribute water to the channels  49  formed by the ribs  18 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the wavy shape of each of the ribs  18  is formed from plurality of first portions  58  that extend in a first direction  62  and a plurality of second portions  60  that extend in a second direction  64 . The first portions  58  and second portions  60  alternate along the length of each rib  18  and are joined by a plurality of bends  56  that form the wavy shape. The first direction  62  and the second direction  64  are angled relative to the slope direction  16 . In one example, the first direction  62  is substantially perpendicular to the second direction  64 . In one example, each rib  18  has at least seven bends  56 . 
     The top edges  46  of the ribs  18  provide support for a plant pot during use. The wavy arrangement of the ribs  18  provides support for a variety of different plant pot sizes. The wavy arrangement also provides a more stable support at the top edges  46  of the ribs  18  compared to an arrangement of parallel linear ribs. The tray  10  may have a diameter  65  of about 19 inches or about 25 inches, for example. Of course, other sizes may be used. The wavy ribs  18  may provide support for one large pot, or a plurality of much smaller pots. The largest gap between any two ribs  18  or the side wall  14  (i.e. gap  20 ) is the wide gap distance  54 . In one example, the wide gap distance  54  is less than 10% the diameter  65  of the tray  10 . More narrowly, the wide gap distance  54  is between 5% and 10% the diameter  65  of the tray  10 , or more narrowly between 6% and 8% the diameter  65 . Of course, other gap distances  54  may be used. 
     In one example, the ribs  18  are arranged to support a plant pot having a diameter about the same as the wide gap  54 , or smaller. Small plant pots may be arranged anywhere on the tray  10 , as the ribs  18  are spread over the entire sloped surface  12 . Accordingly, the wavy arrangement of the ribs  18  facilitates the drainage tray  10  being relatively compact by providing a support surface over a majority of the footprint of the drainage tray  10 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the example drainage tray  10 . The tray  10  may have an arrangement of base support  70  extending from the sloped surface  12  in an opposite direction from the ribs  18  to form the base  42 . The base support  70  provide support for the tray  10  to sit on a horizontal surface  40  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In one example, the side wall  14  has a plurality of feet  72  that extend downward to support the tray  10 , leaving a plurality of gaps  74  between the side wall  14  and the horizontal surface  40 . 
     The tray  10  may further include rib circles  76  extending from the sloped surface  12  in an opposite direction from the ribs  18 . The rib circles  76  are hollow cylinders configured to receive support legs  78 . In one example, the support legs are 1 inch diameter PVC piping. Of course, other materials and diameters may be used for support legs  78 . The rib circles  76  allow a user to easily insert support legs  78  of different lengths to adjust the tray  10  to a desired height. In one example there are five rib circles  76 , with one central rib circle  76  and one rib circle  76  in each quadrant of the tray  10 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the nozzle  24  of the example tray  10 . The nozzle  24  is arranged in the side wall  14  at the second side  36  near the low point  34  of the sloped surface  12 . The nozzle  24  may be substantially cylindrical. Water that flows along the sloped surface  12  exits the tray  10  by flowing out the nozzle  24 . This prevents excess water from accumulating in the tray  10  and overflowing over the side walls  14  or rising to the level of a plant pot&#39;s drainage hole  15  resting on the top edges  46 , which can be unhealthy for a plant&#39;s roots. 
     In some examples, the nozzle  24  may have a plurality of hose barbs  80  for attachment of a hose or tube. In some examples, the nozzle  24  may also have internal threads  82  at an inner diameter. In this way, the nozzle  24  can be connected to a hose or tube via a male or female connection. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another example nozzle  124  for an example drainage tray  110 . To the extent not otherwise described or shown, the tray  110  corresponds to the tray  10  of  FIG. 2 , with like parts having reference numerals preappended with a “1.” In this example, the nozzle  124  has threads  190 . The threads  190  may permit attachment of a hose, for example. 
     It should be understood that the present description is not limiting and should not be taken to represent all embodiments of the device according to this disclosure. Additionally, certain other combinations or features which may become apparent to those skilled in the art should be considered as within the scope of this disclosure.