Abstract:
A plant receptacle comprised of several compatible portions which work in unison to readily supply water as needed to a plant for several days. An upper portion of designed plant container would act to hold soil and contain an absorptive matter portion, which would protrude from its base area, and would act to wick water from a connectable lower portion which would act to encapsulate a volume of water, and when mated, a gap of sort is thus formed for refilling the created water reservoir.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention at hand is relative to plants which are restrained to a limited growing environment, in essence, to a distinct self watering plant receptacle which could sustain life to a wide variety of plants from multiple origins for an extended period of time without daily human assistance.  
         [0002]     While potted plants are virtually in every home and business throughout the world, they often times present quite a challenge seeing the vast majority of contained plants need constant tending. This holds true mainly because these minimal growing environs cannot sustain an adequate supply of water for an extended period of time.  
         [0003]     Although a variety of plant containers have been developed over the years, they have predominantly relied on the soil capacity as a means for water saturation (content).  
         [0004]     Applicant is also aware of other plant containers that have introduced water catch basins or bowls in an attempt to capture more moisture, but all rely on a plants roots to invade such areas which inevitably put a plant&#39;s livelihood in jeopardy due to several funguses which can incur, as can such designs starve a plants soil area of oxygen due to over saturation.  
         [0005]     With the exception of the foregoing plant containers, applicant is unaware of any other self watering wick type plant receptacle, other than an earlier model he developed which is under examination by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at the current time, (year 2004).  
         [0006]     Applicant accordingly believes a need exists for self watering plant receptacles which would sustain plants for prolonged periods of time, allowing them to become more self-sufficient.  
         [0007]     Applicant also wishes to disclose, previously filed is U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/797,277, filing dated Mar. 11, 2004.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     According to the present invention, a self watering plant receptacle which can sustain the life of a plant for several days between tending is provided, that comprises a container consisting of several compatible portions, an upper portion which acts to hold soil and capture an absorptive matter portion which projects through its base, while an attachable lower portion would act as an enclosed water reservoir that when mated would yield a gap of sort for refilling the established water reservoir.  
         [0009]     The absorptive matter portion of the present invention can be of a cotton type rope, sponge, compressed particle, woven material, or other absorbent substance that would draw water up from an attached lower water reservoir portion to replenish the upper soil containment portion in turn providing a plant with a steady supply of moisture for a lengthy period of time.  
         [0010]     It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a multi-piece receptacle having a lower water reservoir portion being connectable to an upper soil containment portion with a means for fastening a plant container hanger of sort.  
         [0011]     The compatible portions of the embodiment are of a molded plastic material, wherein a means of coupling the two portions is achieved, and where within, a way to capture an absorptive matter portion is accomplished, and wherefrom a hanger of sort could be attached.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment of the present invention, a series of holes in the base of the upper soil portion are introduced in order to capture an absorptive matter portion and to produce a means of attachment for the lower water reservoir portion having barbed projections extending from its sidewalls and an outward protrusion in its sidewall would in effect enable refilling of the coupled water reservoir. Also a means of connecting a plant container hanger is established.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment, a means to capture an absorptive matter portion in the base of the upper soil portion would be made by way of one or more openings having spiked projections, and a method of mating the lower water reservoir portion would be accomplished by an area of recess, or recessed points in the base of the upper soil portion for receiving protrusions on the upper region of the lower water reservoir portion enticing connection. The upper soil portion also includes a concave in its sidewall which would permit refilling of the lower water reservoir portion while connected.  
         [0014]     In yet another embodiment, the lower water reservoir portion establishes a sidewall opening or gap for refilling with water, and optional means of coupling to the upper soil portion of the receptacle.  
         [0015]     The preceding scope of the invention, will become more evident hereinafter with reference to the upcoming descriptions thereof with respect to the appended drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a self watering plant receptacle having a lower water reservoir portion including water refilling gap, connected to a compatible upper soil portion having a means for hanger attachment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the present invention wherein the upper soil portion are means for capturing an absorptive matter portion for wicking water, also coupling means for a compatible lower water reservoir portion with refilling gap, and means for optional hanger attachment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of an alternative lower water reservoir portion having a stepped sidewall wherein the upper soil portion would nestle and wherefrom is a gap for refilling reservoir with water.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of an alternative multi-part self watering plant receptacle wherein the upper soil retaining portion has accommodating means for attaching lower water reservoir portion, and also a concave in its sidewall to enable refilling of water reservoir portion.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of a formed absorptive matter portion mountable in upper soil portion of  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4 , and  6 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of another variation of embodiment of the present invention having an absorptive matter portion protruding from the base of the upper soil portion with alternative coupling means for lower water reservoir portion. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view is shown of a presently preferred, self watering plant receptacle assembly  9 . The receptacle  9  is generally constructed as a multi-piece assembly providing an upper soil portion  11  having a sizeable basin  22  for holding soil. Protruding outwardly from the uppermost extremity of sidewall  21  is a rim  16  containing pits  15  that would allow optional hanger  18  (shown in outline), attachment. On the lower extremity of the sidewall  21  are coupling joints  17  which would interact with opposite male or female counterparts formed on the upper region of the lower water reservoir portion  14  sidewall  23 , enabling connection.  
         [0023]     The reservoir portion  14  being more or less bowl shaped, produces an enclosed hollow  19  meant to contain a volume of water below the upper soil portion  11  once affixed, with the exception of an outwardly extending cupped protrusion  25 , which provides an inwardly descending open recess  20  that permits the implementation of water into the created enclosed hollow  19 , without requiring detachment. The cupped protrusion  25  would also act as an overflow outlet, ensuring over-saturation of soil, which can be fatal to a plant, will not happen.  
         [0024]     Ultimately extracting stored water from the reservoir portion  14 , and dispersing the water upwardly into the soil portion  11  is accomplished by another piece of the assembly known to be an absorptive matter portion  12 , resembling a cord or a rope as shown in  FIG. 2 , although it should be recognized the absorptive matter portion  12  may be of sponge or another suitable substance (reference  FIG. 5 ) capable of wicking water and conformable for implementation into assembly of embodiment  9 .  
         [0025]     With further attention directed to  FIG. 2 , another preferred embodiment or receptacle  28  similar to that of  FIG. 1  is shown, revealing on absorptive matter portion  12  captured in the base area  35  of the upper soil portion  31 . Openings  37  having an inwardly projecting prong  38  or serrated edge of sort, would act to restrain the absorptive matter portion  12  at a midway point of its overall length, insuring moisture absorption from any depth within the water reservoir portion  30 , and appropriate distribution into upper soil portion  31 .  
         [0026]     The amount of water draw or wick action required by the absorptive matter portion  12  would be determined by a plant&#39;s water intake, soil moisture evaporation, and also variations in overall size of the presently preferred embodiments including those in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4 , and  6 . Wherefore the quantity and size of an absorptive matter portion  12  may be adjusted accordingly.  
         [0027]     The reservoir portion  30 , being round in nature, has a flat bottom area  40 , whereat the outermost circumference, a sidewall  41  casts upwardly, ending with a lip  43 , thus forming a bowl of sort, whereby a large downwardly extending open recess  42  is created which also extends outwardly from said sidewall  41  to include an adjoining area of recess  45  developed by a semi-cupped protrusion  44  enabling a volume of water to be held.  
         [0028]     Projecting upwardly from the lip  43  of the sidewall  41  on the reservoir portion  30  are fastening hooks  47 , having an outwardly and downwardly extending resilient barbed protrusion  48 , which when introduced into the hook receiving holes  50  within the base  35  of the upper soil portion  31  would establish attachment. Although, it should be noted that the barbed end  48  on the fastening hooks  47  could be appropriately positioned to point to any side, as well as, fastening hooks  47  may yield multiple projecting barbed ends  48 , to ensure secure attachment.  
         [0029]     Once coupled, the sidewall  52  of the soil portion  31  would be flush or slightly stepped outward from the sidewall  41  of the reservoir portion  30 , allowing the open recess  45  created by the cupped protrusion  44  on the reservoir  30  to protrude outwardly from the embodiment  28  permitting water to be administered into the reservoir portion  30 , exclusively.  
         [0030]     In the base  35  of the soil portion  31 , small holes  36  may also be implemented to increase oxygen supply to the soil contained in the created basin  33 .  
         [0031]     The soil portion  31  includes a rim  53  which juts outwardly from the top of the sidewall  52  and includes indentations  55  having one or more cavities  56  for optional hanger  18  attachment. The indentations  55  residing on the top surface  58  of the rim  53 , could accordingly be situated on the outer edge  59  of the rim  53 , and may or may not include cavity  56 .  
         [0032]     With further attention directed to  FIG. 3 , an optional water reservoir portion  60  is shown, wherein the lower extremity  57  of the soil portion  31 , shown in  FIG. 2  for example, would nestle in a concave  63  formed in the sidewall  62 . The reservoir portion  60  would generally be solid in nature, having a spherical base  64 , by wherein, the outer edge  65  would turn upwardly and continue to form a sidewall  62 . At any given height the sidewall  62  would ultimately jut outwardly creating an inner ledge  67 , then turn upwardly again for a distance, creating a support wall  68  ending with a lip  69 .  
         [0033]     A descending area of recess  71  is thus formed, wherefrom the lip  69  to and including the ledge  67 , act as an area of vertical and horizontal support to cradle the upper soil portion  31 , and wherefrom the ledge  67  to the base  64 , a large volume of water can be contained for the absorptive matter portion  12  to wick water.  
         [0034]     A cup shaped protrusion  75  in the sidewall  62  establishes an added area of recess  73  which adjoins to the recess  71  to permit the implementation of water into the reservoir  60  without the removal of the upper soil portion  31 .  
         [0035]     Drainage holes  78  placed on the ledge  67  would funnel excess water out of the reservoir  60 , to overt over-saturation of soil contained in soil portion  31 .  
         [0036]     The reservoir  60  may be conformed also to handle the variable soil embodiment portions of  FIGS. 1, 4 , and  6 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of another alternative multi-piece self watering plant receptacle  80 , having an upper soil portion  81 , wherein a sidewall  86  is a depression  88  which produces an inwardly and downwardly descending area of recess  93 , that extends into and through a portion of the base  89 . Also, wherefrom the base  89  outer region, a ledge  91  of sort projects downwardly, producing an inward step  84 , from the sidewall  86 . The ledge  91  contains points of open or inward indented recess  94  on the outer face  92 , and a protruding key  95  of sort that would aid to properly align and affix the water reservoir portion  82 .  
         [0038]     The reservoir portion  82  in conjunction to the ledge  91  has inward protrusions  97  on the uppermost region  98  of the sidewall  99 , and a slot  100  having an area of open recess  102  that would work in unison with the key  95  on the soil portion sidewall  86  to ensure proper alignment of the areas of recess  94  and the protrusions  97 , for attachment.  
         [0039]     Once adjoined the step  84  would endorse a flush mating, encompassing the sidewall  99  on the reservoir portion  82 , to that of sidewall  86  of the soil portion  81 .  
         [0040]     The recess  94  may encircle the ledge  91  on the soil portion  81 , as could the protrusions  97  surround the uppermost region  98  of the water reservoir portion  82  in an effort to eliminate the key  95  and slot  100 .  
         [0041]     When coupled, the recess  93  created by the depression  88  would allow water to be dispensed into the basin  103  of the water reservoir portion  82  and be drawn upwardly into the soil portion  81 , basin  87 , by an absorptive matter portion  83  projecting from the base  89 . The absorptive matter portion  83 , containment hole (not shown) would be similar to that of opening  37  in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0042]     With further attention directed to  FIG. 5 , an isometric view of an alternative absorptive matter portion  83  is shown, consisting of a shaft  110  having uniform ends  115  wherefrom a midway point of the overall length, a protrusion  112  juts outwardly. The protrusion  112  would act to arrest further progress of the shaft  110  once either end  115  is inserted for example through an opening  37  within the base  35  of the upper soil portion  31  in  FIG. 2 , thus allowing the absorptive matter portion  83  to suitably extend upwardly and downwardly from the base  35 , so as when the water reservoir portion  30  is attached, the act of drawing water from the recess  42  upwardly into the basin  33  of the soil portion  31  to replenish moisture content of contained soil is thus accomplished. The absorptive matter portion  83  in a current form notably would be inserted though an opening  37  from the basin  33  of the upper soil portion  31 . Knowing this, the shaft portion  110  could project solely from one side of the protrusion  112  as well as multiple legs, that would be accommodated by coordinated openings  37  in the base  35  of the soil portion  31 , wherefore the protrusion  112  would act to disperse water to contained soil, from the shaft  110  or multiple legs which would reside in the recess  42  of the reservoir  30 , once affixed (although not shown).  
         [0043]     It is also pertinent that the shaft portion  110  of the absorptive matter portion  83  having a protrusion  112  may emit alternative projections at variable points (not shown) which would allow the implementation and capture into an opening  37  in the base  35  of the soil portion  31  and whereby the angle of insertion may vary.  
         [0044]     The alternative absorptive matter portion  83  would be of a sponge or a compressed type material, manufactured in a conceivable form for the implementation into  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4  and  6 , for the act of wicking water. Although, too, one particular alternative absorptive matter portion  83  is shown, and others are mentioned, it is to be appreciated a variety of wicking methods may be accommodating by appropriate forms.  
         [0045]     Lastly,  FIG. 6 , shows another self watering plant receptacle  120  like that of  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  4 , wherein the absorptive matter portion  12  extends from the base  132  of the upper soil portion  122 , and an attachable water reservoir  135  has an opening  138  in the sidewall  142  for the implementation of water, but whereas the overall shape of the receptacle  120  is square shaped.  
         [0046]     The upper soil portion  122  being square in nature has sidewalls  128  which cast upwardly from the base  132 , and, whereat an uppermost point turn outwardly and downwardly forming a rim  125 , thus creating a descending open recess  126 .  
         [0047]     A recession on the lower region of the soil portion  122  sidewalls  128  forms a trunk  130  of sort, including protrusions  133 . The protrusions  133  would adjoin into recess points  141  on the inside of sidewalls  142  of the box shaped water reservoir portion  135 . Once coupled, the step  129  would allow a flush mating of sidewalls  128  and sidewalls  142  outer surface areas, excluding an area of recess  137  formed by the opening  138 , which would allow access to implement water into the now enclosed area of recess  136 , permitting the absorptive matter portion  12  to wick water accordingly into the upper soil portion  122  of the receptacle  120 .  
         [0048]     While the present invention has been described with respect to a number of presently preferred embodiments, it is to be appreciated that still other embodiments and modifications thereto might be suggested to those of skill in the art.  
         [0049]     Accordingly, it is contemplated that the following claims should be interpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention.