Abstract:
A self-contained cut Christmas tree, or water flow deprived other tree, watering apparatus having a water storage portion and a tree surround portion fluidly connected. The tree surround houses a plurality of water injectors, which are screwed into the tree trunk once the tree surround is fixed in a tree encircling position. Water flows from the storage portion, which is disposed at a higher elevation to the tree surround disposed at a lower elevation through the injectors directly into the interior of the tree.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application pertains to a device which has a finite source of water that will deliver water to a cut tree&#39;s trunk by gravity from the source. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many prior art Christmas tree watering devices have been invented and patented over the years, but some of these include a source of a finite amount of water. Others need to be connected to a water source most of the devices are devised to deliver the water to a pan or trough for absorption through the bottom of the cut trunk and through that portion of the ball standing in the pan or trough of water. 
     Applicant was of the belief that if the water could be delivered to the interior of the tree that less water would be needed to keep the tree alive. He was also of the belief that a finite amount of water in a vessel could be used to provide a self-contained watering system for a cut tree. Optionally, by closing off the source container less water would be lost to evaporation and/or spilled on rugs or floors, it was further envisioned to put in a sight tube to give the user information as to when to refill the vessel with additional water. All of these features have been incorporated into the self-contained Christmas tree watering device of this invention. 
     It is an object, therefore, to provide a self-contained tree watering device that stores a finite amount of water and delivery of that water to the interior of the trunk through the bark. 
     It is a second object to provide the vessel of the waterer of this invention with the ability to appear as an ornament and to be capable of being hung on the tree. 
     It is a third object to provide a waterer that has a closable opening finite source vessel, and further provide a delivery tube on the storage vessel. 
     It is fourth object to provide a multi input collar that is adjustable in size such as to fit various tree trunk girths for the delivery of water. 
     It is a fifth object to provide the multi input collar with the ability to pierce the tree bark to thereby deliver water to the interior of the tree trunk. 
     These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the features, properties, the selection of components which are amplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims. 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A self-contained Christmas tree watering device that appears to be a tree ornament and hangs from the tree as if it were one. The invention includes an adjustable multi input collar that encircles the tree trunk and punctures the bark of the tree. Fluid is delivered through tubing from the storage vessel portion of the device to the multi input delivery portion for withdrawal by the tree according to the trees needs. 
     The storage portion may include a cover at the input to prevent spillage and a sight tube to indicate current water level may also be included. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a closeup perspective view of the storage portion hanging in a tree. 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but also depicting the optional features of a closure for the watering opening and a sight tube. 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the adjustable multi input portion of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a closeup view of one injector of the delivery portion of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first embodiment but without the water storage portion. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the tree surround portion of the invention in closed position. 
     FIG. 8 is a similar view but of the second tree surround in open position. 
     FIG. 9 is an inside end view of the second tree surround of this invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an alternatively configured storage portion of the apparatus hung on a tree branch. 
     FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the delivery of water to the cut tree. 
     FIG. 12 is a view of the “tree” created to test the operability of this invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a closeup plan view of an injector having a sealer bushing thereon. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning to FIG. 1, one sees the apparatus of this invention  10  in perspective. The apparatus  10  of this invention comprises two main components, the water storage vessel  11 , and a tree surround of which there are two embodiments designated  22  and  44  respectively. Each shall be described separately. 
     Vessel  11 , shown in FIG. 1, is a closed watertight container of a content in the range of about eight ounces to thirty-two ounces (one fluid quart). Vessel  11  can be hung from a branch of the tree by the hook  12 , disposed at the top thereof. This hook  12  can be welded, soldered, glued, or bolted onto the vessel using conventional techniques. Hook  12  could also be in the form of an arm or other hanger if desired. 
     In FIG. 3 the hook is attached to the vessel through a threaded opening  14  in the vessel through which the hook bolt is threadedly engaged. A nut  13  secures the threaded bolt aspect of the hook into tight engagement. 
     A nipple  15  is disposed in fluid communication with vessel  11  at the bottom thereof. It is to be understood that the nipple can be integrally formed with the vessel or attached thereto as by gluing, soldering, or welding it in position in alignment with an opening in the vessel. Thus, water in the vessel can flow down and out through nipple  15 . 
     A length of rubber or plastic tubing  16  having an interior diameter slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the nipple  15  is disposed up onto the nipple an adequate distance such that leakage is avoided. Silicone glue can be used to seal the circular opening to prevent water droplets from leaking out the top of the tubing subsequent to engagement with the nipple. The tubing length  16  can vary from a foot to several feet dependent upon the size of the tree and the location on the tree where the vessel is to be hung. The actual length of tubing  16  is noncritical. 
     While one end of tubing length  16  is disposed on the nipple, the other end is attached to a splitter  18  which divides the water flow. Such a splitter has one end connected to the tubing and a plurality of output ends, here three outputs. Splitters are easily available and are well known in the art of water drip systems. 
     Each output of the splitter  16  is itself fluidly connected to one end of a short length of tubing, called a short tubing  20 . The length of the short tubing  20  is noncritical as well and depends on the relative size of the tree. Each of the short tubing lengths  20  is connected on its opposite end to a water delivery injector  26  one of which is disposed within one of the two embodiments of the tree surround, be it  22  or  44 . 
     The reader&#39;s attention is now diverted to FIG. 4 where the first embodiment  22  of the tree surround designated  22  is seen. This unit  22  has a generally U-shaped body which is slightly flexible and with optionally inwardly extending arms  25 . A pair of aligned bores  24 , one per arm are disposed near the terminus of each arm. A threaded bolt  36  passes through the two aligned bores  24  and is retained in position by a wing nut  38  or other similar nut. As the nut is tightened, the U-shaped body is pulled into close proximity with the tree trunk. 
     At these spaced locations, as shown, there are water delivering injectors  26  disposed through bores  25  in the tree surround  22 . While three such water delivering injectors  26  are shown, more or less than three injectors can be utilized. 
     The reader is now directed to FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG.  1 . Here a closeup view of one injector (FIGS. 5 and 13)  26  is seen. Each injector employed herein in both embodiments of the tree is the same and so this discussion is pertinent to both embodiments of the tree surround. 
     Each injector  26  has an upstanding cylindrical section for engagement with the short tubing  20 , aforementioned, for fluid to enter the injector  26 . A head or nut section  27  which is used to tighten the injector into position is interposed between the upstanding section a threaded tapped shaft  32 , which shaft has an internal throughbore  33 . This throughbore  33  is in fluid communication with the upstanding cylindrical section  28 . The threaded bored shaft  32  tapers to an open end point  30  for ease of insertion into a tree trunk  67  not seen in this figure. In FIG. 11, one such tree surround is shown disposed on a tree. Water can flow from the short tube through the water injector out through its tapered point in the tree interior, when the injector is screwed into the tree trunk  67 . 
     The discussion now returns to FIG.  3 . Here a modified version of vessel  11  is seen and is designated  111 . All aspects of the basic vessel  11  are present in vessel  111 , and will not be set forth again. However, the modified vessel also includes a clear sight tube running substantially elevational of the vessel. This clear plastic or glass member allows the viewer to determine the liquid level in the vessel  111  by a mere glance. Sight tubes such as  39  are well known in the art of storage vessels and containers. 
     A door  58  is hingedly connected adjacent opening  122  to help prevent both evaporation of the contents of the vessel and accidental spillage. A two-part closure  59 ,  59 A such as two Velcro® or equal closure tabs or a two-part snap or other conventional closure can be used to retain the door  58  in a closed position. 
     The discussion now moves to FIGS. 7,  8 , and  9 . These are a top plan view of the second embodiment of the tree surround  44  in a closed position, a similar view thereof in an open position, and an inside end view open position thereof respectively. 
     This second tree surround  44  has two semicircular arms  46  connected at one end of each arm  46  by a pivot pin slide connector that permits the two respective jaws  48  to separate a slight distance laterally for enhanced rotational movement. Such pivot pin connectors are known in the art. 
     At the opposite ends of each of the two semicircular arms  46  is another connection. One end of one arm, either arm, has a pivoting threaded shaft  50  seen best in FIG. 8 and 9. The pivot pin  49 , which is disposed through the shaft, is located at the end of an armlet  52  designated in FIG.  8 . The pivot pin passes normally thought the shaft  50 , again better seen in FIG.  8 . Disposed at the end of the shaft  50  is a rotating head  54  for tightening on the shaft. Note the relative placement of the rotating head  54  in FIG. 7 wherein shaft is visible in the opening in the head, and the loose position of the head with no shaft showing as the head has been rotated counter clockwise, in FIG.  8 . 
     Designator  56  refers to the dashed lines as the location of the throughbores here two—not visible, one per semicircular arm  46  in the side edge of the tree surround  44 , for the future insertion of a water injector  26 . 
     Note specifically FIG. 9 wherein the rotating head  54  sits at the end of the threaded shaft  50 . The disposition of shaft  50  for positioning within the two parts of armlet  52  is also seen. Devices of this nature are known to the scientific community but not with the pair of openings  56  therein for the threaded or friction fit engagement of water injectors therein. 
     Once threaded or otherwise fit into the openings  53  the pivot lock pin shaft  50  is put into the armlets  42  and tightened around the tree trunk. Then the injector may be screwed into the tree trunk. The insertion of the injector into the tree requires a simple hand turning of the nut heads  27  though a Crescent® or other wrench may make the going easier. 
     In FIG. 10, an alternate shaped vessel  64  is seen. This is in the shape of a star. It has a hook  68  for mounting on a branch  69  of tree  67 . The vessel opening to receive water is designated  65 . An optional door with closure, both not seen may be employed. The nipple  66  extends from the bottom of one point of the star-shaped vessel for delivery of water to tubing—not seen, connected to the nipple  66 . 
     As can also be seen a length of tubing is directly connected to nipple  66 . A four-part splitter  70  is then connected to the opposite end of the length of tubing and from the splitter a connection is made to each of the injectors disposed within the tree surround. Note tree trunk  67  safely within the confines of the tree surround  22 . 
     In FIG. 11 a diagram to illustrate water flow is set forth. Thus, vessel  11  is seen to be connected by tubing length  16  to a splitter  22 . Splitter  44  could be positioned as a replacement. 
     Short length of tubing  20  runs to each of the three water injectors  26  which when properly tightened penetrate the tree bark into the inner core of the tree for direct delivery of water to where it is actually used, as opposed to prior art devices which bring water to a cut base of the tree. 
     The vessel used herein may be of plastic or any non-rusting metal, such as stainless steel or copper. Common ¼ inch tubing, as found in aquarium stores, may be used for the flow injector, both for the tubing length and the short lengths of tubing. 
     As to the injectors, material such as poly carbonate or stainless steel or other plastic that can be machined such as Delrin® may be employed. 
     By tightening the screw tightly the tree surround  44  will stay in place around the tree. Thus, surrounds should be able to encircle a three to an eight-inch tree trunk on average. 
     It is seen that I have created an apparatus whose vessel can be hung onto a tree branch, per the figures from which water can descend by gravity to a plurality of injectors. Thus, the water will go directly into the perineum of the tree without damaging the tree. 
     In FIG. 12, a Christmas tree was simulated by cutting a large branch  70 , from a living arbor vitae, and placing it on the stake portion (unseen) of a base  72 , much like what a person would do with a fresh cut Christmas tree. A storage portion  11  having a hook  12  thereon was placed thereon and a tree surround such as  22  or  44  was attached as previously described to branch  70 . An optional particulate filter  74  was placed in line in fluid communication with tubing  16 . The purpose of the filter is to trap small particles and to therefore prevent clogging of the water injectors. Such filters are found in the drip line irrigation art, and are placed in line in fluid communication with the water storage portion. The injectors were inserted into this simulated tree “trunk” and the intake of water was measured for this live branch. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Day 
                 Water Intake (oz per day) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 1-2 
                 10-20 
               
               
                   
                 3-7 
                 &gt;12 
               
               
                   
                  8-14 
                 5-7 
               
               
                   
                 15-21 
                 &lt;6  
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The intake is seen to decrease as the cut “tree” ages and eventually dies. The experiment was discontinued after  30  days while the branch was still taking up water and the needles thereon were still flexible and alive. 
     It is to be noted that an optional filter may be employed to prevent any small dirt particles or insects from clogging the water lines to the respective injector. 
     While the apparatus of this invention is meant primarily for the use of watering cut down Christmas trees, other uses of the apparatus are also seen. 
     For example, people who reside in apartments may have a patio but no hose line on the patio. Small living trees that can be kept in pots of up to 50 gallon size, more or less, can now be kept growing in a pot with the apparatus of this invention serving as the means for watering such a full live tree e.g., Ficus. Whereas heretofore, such person would need to bring a periodic pitcher of water from the kitchen or bath to water such a patio tree. 
     A related use would be for homeowners who reside in desert or rocky areas where irrigation pipes are not present. The use of the apparatus of this invention permits people to grow trees in areas where due to soil or climate conditions, trees normally do not thrive. 
     Since certain changes maybe made in the described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.