US3754352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for watering trees and other plants
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-24
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1992-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A device for the controlled watering of trees and plants. The device includes a sealed reservoir holding a supply of water, a chamber which has porous walls in contact with the soil surrounding the roots of the tree or plant, a supply pipe connecting the chamber to the reservoir and an air pipe extending from the chamber to the atmosphere. The supply pipe is located so that water flows into the chamber from the reservoir only when the water level within the chamber drops below the lower end of the supply pipe so that only a controlled amount of water is permitted to enter the soil around the roots of the tree or plant.
Inventors
- 👤 G Bates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:22
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A device for watering a plant which has a root system embedded in the earth, comprising: a closed container having top, side and bottom walls; valve means extending through a wall of the container adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted to be connected to a source of water, the valve means including means to vent air from the container during the filling thereof; a chamber having top, side and bottom walls, the chamber extending below the container and adapted to be located in the earth adjacent the roots of the plant, at least one wall of the container having an opening the outer side of which is exposed to the earth; a porous material covering for the opening of the chamber wall; a supply pipe extending through the bottom wall of the container into the chamber, the upper end of the supply pipe opening into the lower end of the container, the lower end of the supply pipe opening into the chamber at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the opening in the chamber wall; and an air line open at one end to the atmosphere at a point above the level of the earth surrounding the plant and at its lower end to the interior of the chamber at a point intermediate the lower end of the supply pipe and the top wall of the chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
A device for watering a plant which has a root system embedded in the earth, comprising: a closed container having top, side and bottom walls; valve means extending through a wall of the container adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted to be connected to a source of water, the valve means including means to vent air from the container during the filling thereof; a chamber having top, side and bottom walls, the chamber extending below the container and adapted to be located in the earth adjacent the roots of the plant, at least one wall of the container having an opening the outer side of which is exposed to the earth; a porous material covering for the opening of the chamber wall; a supply pipe extending through the bottom wall of the container into the chamber, the upper end of the supply pipe opening into the lower end of the container, the lower end of the supply pipe opening into the chamber at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the opening in the chamber wall; and an air line open at one end to the atmosphere at a point above the level of the earth surrounding the plant and at its lower end to the interior of the chamber at a point intermediate the lower end of the supply pipe and the top wall of the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the valve means comprises a normally closed check valve mounted on a wall of the container and a nozzle adapted to enter and open the check valve, the nozzle including the means for venting and being connected to a source of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the porous material comprises fiberglass batting, support members being provided to retain the batting in the opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the air line extends upwardly through the container, the upper end of the air line being connected to the valve means, the valve means further including means normally connecting the air line to the atmosphere and operative to close the air line during filling of the container.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
236 words
A device for watering a plant which has a root system embedded in the earth, comprising: a closed container having top, side, and bottom walls; valve means extending through a wall of the container adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted to be connected to a source of water, the valve means including means to vent air from the container during the filling thereof; a chamber connected to and extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the container, the chamber being adapted to be positioned in the earth adjacent the roots of the plant and having a plurality of openings in the side walls thereof; a porous material lining the side walls of the container and covering the openings therein; a pipe extending vertically downwardly from the bottom wall of the container into the chamber, the upper end of the pipe opening into the lower end of the container and the lower end of the pipe opening into the chamber at a point intermediate the top and bottom walls thereof and not lower than the lowest of the openings in the side wall of the chamber and an air line open at its upper end to the atmosphere at a point above the level of the earth surrounding the plant, the air line extending into the chamber and terminating at a point intermediate the lower end of the pipe and the top wall of the chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
236 words
A device for watering a plant which has a root system embedded in the earth, comprising: a closed container having top, side, and bottom walls; valve means extending through a wall of the container adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted to be connected to a source of water, the valve means including means to vent air from the container during the filling thereof; a chamber connected to and extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the container, the chamber being adapted to be positioned in the earth adjacent the roots of the plant and having a plurality of openings in the side walls thereof; a porous material lining the side walls of the container and covering the openings therein; a pipe extending vertically downwardly from the bottom wall of the container into the chamber, the upper end of the pipe opening into the lower end of the container and the lower end of the pipe opening into the chamber at a point intermediate the top and bottom walls thereof and not lower than the lowest of the openings in the side wall of the chamber and an air line open at its upper end to the atmosphere at a point above the level of the earth surrounding the plant, the air line extending into the chamber and terminating at a point intermediate the lower end of the pipe and the top wall of the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device according to claim 5 wherein the air line extends upwardly through the pipe and the container, the upper end of the air line extending through the top wall of the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 5 wherein the chamber comprises a steel basket having perforated side walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 7 wherein the porous material is fiberglass and further including a wire screen supporting the fiberglass.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for supplying moisture to the roots of plants embedded in the earth, comprising: a fluid impervious member having bottom and side walls and adapted to be positioned within the earth beneath the plants; a mass of coarse aggregate substantially filling the region defined by the bottom and side walls of the fluid impervious member; a closed container having top, side and bottom walls and adapted to be positioned above the upper level of the coarse aggregate; means for filling the container with water; an open-ended supply pipe extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the container into the region defined by the fluid impervious member, the upper end of the pipe communicating with the interior of the container, the lower end of the pipe terminating at a point intermediate the bottom wall of the fluid impervious member and the top surface of the mass of coarse aggregate; a porous sleeve surrounding the lower end of the supply pipe, the region bounded by the sleeve being free of aggregate; and an air line open at its upper end to the atmosphere at a point above the level of the earTh surrounding the roots of the plants, the air line extending into the region within the porous sleeve with the lower opening of the air line positioned at a point intermediate the lower end of the supply pipe and the upper level of the aggregate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for supplying moisture to the roots of plants embedded in the earth, comprising: a fluid impervious member having bottom and side walls and adapted to be positioned within the earth beneath the plants; a mass of coarse aggregate substantially filling the region defined by the bottom and side walls of the fluid impervious member; a closed container having top, side and bottom walls and adapted to be positioned above the upper level of the coarse aggregate; means for filling the container with water; an open-ended supply pipe extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the container into the region defined by the fluid impervious member, the upper end of the pipe communicating with the interior of the container, the lower end of the pipe terminating at a point intermediate the bottom wall of the fluid impervious member and the top surface of the mass of coarse aggregate; a porous sleeve surrounding the lower end of the supply pipe, the region bounded by the sleeve being free of aggregate; and an air line open at its upper end to the atmosphere at a point above the level of the earTh surrounding the roots of the plants, the air line extending into the region within the porous sleeve with the lower opening of the air line positioned at a point intermediate the lower end of the supply pipe and the upper level of the aggregate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 9 wherein a layer of fiberglass batting is provided on the upper surface of the mass of aggregate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device according to claim 9 wherein the fluid impervious member comprises plastic sheeting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for filling the container comprises a float operated valve positioned within the container and adjacent the upper end thereof, a water line connected to the valve, and a check valve in the top wall of the container, the check valve being operative to vent air from the container during the filling thereof with water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US419242A
Cited
US588278A
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US1815676A
Cited
FR1231246A
Cited
US3067543A
Cited
FR1473290A
Cited
FR1563819A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |