An Improved Watering Can.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
An Improved Watering Can.
I, GUSTAV BIRK, of 101, Kaiser-Wilhelm-strasse, Breslau, Prussia, Landscape
Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
This invention relates to a watering can which is so constructed that the water
in it can be used to the last drop, thereby avoiding expensive repairs, and that it
has no external parts except the handle.
The can can be used for watering purposes in any position either by inclining
it or turning it to one side. The water can be caused to issue either in a strong
or feeble jet as desired, and, instead of inclining the can as is necessary with those
at present in use when pouring out water, the can can be turned to one side and
the water poured out to the last drop.
All those parts of the cans in use at present and which are liable to be damaged
are dispensed with with the exception of the handle.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Figs. 1 to 4 shows one mode of constructing the watering can in four different
views one of which is a section.
Figs. 5 to 7 are three views, one in section, of another mode of making the can.
Fig. 8 shows how the can Figs. 5 to 7 can be used.
Fig. 9 shows the usual watering can.
In the arrangements shown at Figs. 1 to 7 the body of the can is made all in one
piece with perhaps the exception of the bottom which can be separately made
and fitted in place. The body W is of a wedge shape with a rounded back and
with a front and top part which is gradually tapered into the form of a spout a.
The front part of the can projects as far forward as the usual discharge pipe R.
of the ordinary can (see Fig. 9). The short spout 6 for the reception of the rose
or the prolongation pipe extends from the front part.
A large opening or mouth c is made at the upper part of the can and the sides
of this opening are bent inwards to form a rim so that when the big can (Figs. 1
to 4) is being carried about the water is prevented from splashing over.
With the exception of the handle d which can be made in any of the usual ways
there is no other part of the vessel exposed to damage.
The hoop for carrying the can, shown in the illustration Fig. 9, is dispensed
with and in lieu thereof a curved ledge or part is provided.
Owing to the simple construction of the can and the fact that its convex body W
is made in one piece the article can be easily and durably enamelled.
It is to be noted that the usual watering can, as shown at Fig. 9, is of a more
complex construction than the new can as it consists of several parts, viz., the body,
the bottom, the top part, the handle, the spout R with its flanges and stays S. etc.
With the old form of can the water enters the discharge pipe R through an

page_text: opening o at the bottom. With this arrangement it is necessary to have a long
discharge pipe as well as a stay S for supporting the pipe. These parts, as well
as the hoop-handle for carrying the can and the cover which is soldered on, are
all liable to be damaged or broken.
In the new can there no pipe R, no stay S, no hoop and no cover and the length
of the discharge pipe is reduced to a minimum. Owing to this and also to the fact
that the covering part made in one with the body W of the can it is much
simpler to make and more durable in use.
If the ordinary can is very much tilted, which is always the case when the rose
is used for watering purposes, a considerable quantity of water collects at the
upper part of the can and does not run out through the discharge pipe but is usually
splashed or thrown out through the filling opening or mouth and is thus wasted.
Owing to the fact that the new can is wedge shaped it can be completely emptied
through the proper outlet under a full pressure of water and without loss, as the
volume of water does not press against the side of the can, as with the old form of
can, but presses directly upon the outlet which is in the centre line of the can.
Owing to the freedom with which the water can be poured out of the new can, in
proportion to its size, about 10 seconds are saved, each time the can is emptied,
over the old arrangement.
When watering plants in greenhouses with the old form of can a large quantity
of water is lost owing to the fact that the discharge pipe which is obliquely fitted
to the bottom of the can cannot be brought into the horizontal position and over
the pot without the water running out. As the discharge outlet is higher up in
the new can it is possible to direct the spout freely between the top of the pot and
the head of the plant and to supply, as may be considered necessary, either a few
drops of water or a strong jet to plants which may be contained in pots arranged
in rows upon a table or rack. This is a very important feature when watering
some plants whose leaves, when flowering, or in the winter, must not be touched
with the water.
The space between the discharge pipe R and the stay S of the old can being
utilized for the purpose of holding water in the new can the latter, whilst occupy-
ing the same space, possesses a much greater capacity.
In conclusion it may be again pointed out that, with the new can, the watering
of plants can be effected no matter in what position the can is held which is not the
case with the old form of can.
The small can, whose filling mouth c is out of the centre line (see Figs. 6 and 7),
is specially suited for watering in places which are difficult of access owing to the
fact that it is of a wedge shape at the front end and that although it may be turned
over sideways it can still be completely emptied. With this shape of can, plants
which are placed upon shelves close to the roof or suspended close to the roof
(see Fig. 8) or in a corner thereof can be watered properly and without trouble even
if the space is so confined that the can has to rest with its upper side against the
roof (see Fig. 8).
The new can when being carried about is not so liable to be knocked against the
legs and the water splashed out of it as with the old form of can.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is:.
1. A watering can whose body is rounded at the back and tapered wedge-like
towards the front and whose upper part is so made as to form a discharge outlet
terminating in a spout, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. A wedge-shaped watering can whose body is rounded at the back and tapered
at the front and top and terminates in a spout adapted for the reception of roses
or prolongation pipes, substantially as herein before set forth.
3. A wedge-shaped watering can having a body whose front and top are gradually
tapered to a point which ends in a spout for the reception of roses or prolongation

page_text: pipes and whose filling mouth is made with an inwardly bent rim, substantially
as hereinbefore set forth.
4. A wedge shaped watering can having a body whose front and top are gradually
tapered towards a point which ends in a spout for the reception of roses or pro-
longation pipes and whose filling mouth is made with an inwardly bent rim and a
bent over part serving as a carrying handle, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
11
1011
1000
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.