Abstract:
A tree watering system is disclosed. An elongated conical funnel has a large top opening, a small bottom opening, and a side aperture proximate to but spaced at a distance from the small bottom opening. An elastic ring has a diameter that corresponds to a diameter of an inner surface of the funnel between the large top opening and the small bottom opening. The elastic ring is adapted to be fitted over a water container such as an emptied wine bottle, which is then inserted into the funnel, for automatically watering a bucket of a tree stand.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Watering a tree, particularly one like a Christmas tree, that is supported in a stand and kept watered by a bowl of the stand, can be an arduous and imprecise activity. For example, Christmas trees tend to be of a pine variety, which can require substantial amounts of water to stay hydrated. Further, the amount of water required can vary based on atmospheric conditions, the length of time the tree has been in the stand, or the time since the tree has been cut from its roots. 
         [0002]    To get an accurate account of how much water is being consumed by the tree, and thus how much water is needed on a regular basis, a user must manually check the bowl of the tree stand or pot. This typically requires the user to bend down and/or crawl under the tree, and often make what is at best a guess as to the amount of water required for the tree on a regular basis. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    This document discloses a tree watering system to automatically keep a tree supplied with as much water as it needs, while obviating the need for a user to bend down and/or crawl under a tree to check whether the tree has sufficient water. 
         [0004]    In one aspect, a tree watering system is disclosed including a funnel having a top opening, and including a tube connected to a bottom opening of the funnel. The tube has an open bottom end and a side aperture proximate to and spaced at a distance from the open bottom end. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, a tree watering system includes an elongated conical funnel having a large top opening, a small bottom opening, and a side aperture proximate to but spaced at a distance from the small bottom opening. The system further includes an elastic ring having a diameter that corresponds to a diameter of an inner surface of the funnel between the large top opening and the small bottom opening. 
         [0006]    In yet another aspect, a tree watering system includes a funnel having a top opening, a tube connected to a bottom opening of the funnel, where the tube has an open bottom end and a side aperture proximate to and spaced at a distance from the open bottom end, and a container for being filled with water. The container has a size and shape to fit at least partially into the funnel, and having an outer surface to abut an inner surface of the funnel, and can be a standard 750 ml wine bottle. The system further includes a gasket adapted to fit over the outer surface of the container to create a seal between the outer surface of the container and the inner surface of the funnel. 
         [0007]    The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a tree watering system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of a tree watering system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a tree watering system in use with a tree and bowl. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates the operation of a tree watering system. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a tree watering system  100  that can be placed into a pot or bowl of a tree stand to automatically maintain the water level in the bowl and thus keep the tree supplied with as much water as it needs, as well as enable a user to check on the water supply in the reservoir container without having to bend over or crawl under the tree. 
         [0015]    The tree watering system includes a funnel  102 , a tube  104 , and a gasket  110 . As is also shown in  FIG. 2 , the gasket  110  is sized and adapted to be positioned around a part of the outer surface of a water-fillable container  112 , preferably the shoulder or other curved surface of the container  112 . The desired outer surface of the container  112  around which the gasket  110  is positioned will abut the inner wall of the funnel  102  when the container  112  is inserted into the funnel  102 . The gasket  110  creates an air-tight, hydrostatic seal between the inner wall of the funnel  102  and an outer surface of the container  112 . The gasket  112  can be a rubber band or ring that fits around the container  112 , or which can be positioned in the funnel  102  and configured to receive the container  112 . A film of petroleum jelly or other moist substance can be applied onto the gasket  110 , particularly the outer surface of the gasket  110 , to help ensure a water-tight seal between the container  112  and the funnel  102 . 
         [0016]    The funnel  102  is conical, having a large top opening and a smaller bottom opening. The funnel  102  is preferably elongated, and sized and adapted to receive the container  112  when it is filled with water and on which the gasket  110  has been placed, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The term “filled” refers to any amount of water in the container, and does not necessarily mean the container  112  is completely filled, but can be filled to any degree before the container  112  is inserted into the funnel  102 . The container  112  can be a standard rounded glass wine bottle, but in other implementations can be a rigid plastic water bottle. In preferred implementations, the container  112  has a cylindrical container area, a shoulder leading to a narrow neck, and a single opening at the end of the neck. 
         [0017]    The tube  104  is preferably elongated and cylindrical, with a top opening that is connected to the smaller bottom opening of the funnel  102 . However, the tube  104  can be of any length so as to allow positioning of the top opening of the funnel  102  to a desired height. The tube  104  further includes an open bottom end  106  that acts as an outlet for water from the container  112 , and a side aperture  108  proximate the open bottom end  106 . The side aperture  108  can also be a water outlet, but also acts as an air inlet to the tube  104  and/or funnel  102  to displace accumulated water  120 ,  122  that has been placed in the container  112  and/or funnel  102  and/or tube  104 . The side aperture  108  is positioned at a distance from the bottom opening  106  corresponding to a desired water depth in a tree container, as will be explained in further detail below. 
         [0018]    In accordance with some implementations of the system  100 , the funnel  102  includes an attachment member  103  extending from the funnel  102 , via which the system  100  can be secured to a tree by a securing mechanism  114 . In one example, the attachment member  103  includes a tab having a hole, and the securing mechanism  114  includes a wire or string. Other attachment members  103  and securing mechanisms  114  can be used. 
         [0019]    The funnel  102  and tube  104  can be made of separate components that connect together or of a unitary piece. The funnel  102  and/or tube  104  can be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material such as acrylic, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, or other appropriate materials. In some implementations, the funnel  102  and/or tube  104  are coated with a decorative design, or colored so as to blend in with a tree or to correspond to a certain holiday or season. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates the tree watering system  100  in use to provide water to a bowl  130  that supports a tree  132 . The bowl  130  may be part of a tree stand, such as a Christmas tree stand or the like. The bowl  130  is able to hold a certain amount of water to nourish the tree  132 . As illustrated, and in accordance with a preferred process, the tube  104  and funnel  102  assembly is passed down through the tree branches near to the trunk of the tree  132 , with the open bottom end  106  of the tube  104  inserted into, and contacts, the bottom of the bowl  130 . 
         [0021]    Once the tube  104  and funnel  102  assembly is so positioned, it can be secured in its position and to the tree  132  by the securing mechanism  114 . Then, the gasket  110  is stretched over the container  112 , preferably over a shoulder of the container  112  that will abut the inner surface of the funnel  102 . The gasket  110  can be moistened with water or petroleum jelly to augment the sealant characteristics of the gasket  110 . The container  112  can then be filled with water, and the container  112  with the gasket  110  can be inserted into the top opening of the funnel  102  until an air and water-tight seal between the container  112  and the inner surface of the funnel  102  is achieved. 
         [0022]    As is further illustrated with reference to  FIG. 4 , water from the container  112  will flow down the funnel  102  and through the tube  104  into the bowl  130 , rise to a level of the side aperture  108  of the tube  104 , after which the water stops flowing due to hydrostatic equilibrium between water in the system  100  and water in the bowl  130 . Pressure on water in the bowl (P 1 ) is at atmospheric pressure, while a pressure inside the container  112  is at a level less than P 1 , thereby providing a vacuum or suction to hold in water in the container  110  and the funnel  102 /tube  104 . 
         [0023]    Once water in the bowl  132  retreats below the level of the side aperture  108  due to water uptake by the tree, air is allowed into the side aperture  108  and into the funnel  102 /tube  104  and/or container  110 , which then displaces a corresponding amount of water therein, to restore the water above the level of the side aperture  108 . This process continues until all of the water originally from the container  100  is exhausted into the bowl  130 . As long as there is a proper seal between the container  110  and the inner wall of the funnel  102 , the pressure P 2  in the container will always be less than the atmospheric pressure P 1 , to hold in water by vacuum force. 
         [0024]    Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.