Patent US3786598A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3786598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-feeding watering system for potted nursery plants
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-08-10
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1991-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of vertically-extending wick members arranged in regularly spaced rows serve to receive, impaled thereon through bottom openings, potted nursery plants. The wick members are substantially rigid except for frayed wick portions extending outwardly of their upper ends; and are of such length as to extend upwardly into the soil of the containers in the vicinity of the root systems of the plants. A plurality of horizontallydisposed water pipes through which the lower ends of the wick members extend supply water without pressure head to central wick cords within the wick members, which cords, by capillary attraction, conduct water upwardly to their frayed upper ends for distribution, also by capillary attraction, through the soil in the containers. As moisture is utilized by the growing plants, capillary attraction from the wick members serves to maintain substantially constant moisture content irrespective of the varying demands of the plants, thereby achieving optimum growth.
Inventors
- 👤 R Stadelhofer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:22
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G27/00; A01G27/005; A01G27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants the pots of which are formed with bottom openings, comprising, in combination, a plurality of upstanding wick members, each wick member comprising a substantially rigid tubular wick support member and a relatively flexible wick extending centrally through and outwardly of the upper end of said tubular wick support member said wick being fixed with respect to said wick support member, means for supplying water without pressure head to the lower ends of said wick members, whereby moisture will be carried upwardly through said wicks solely by capillary atrraction, said tubular wick support members being of such rigidity and such external diameter as to permit the impaling thereon of the potted nursery plants through the bottom openings thereof for supplying moisture throughout the soil of the potted plants through capillary attraction, said means for supplying water to the lower ends of said wick members comprising a horizontally-extending water pipe provided with spaced openings along its length through which lower end portions of said wick members extend, water supply means for continuously feeding water to one end of said pipe, and overflow means at the other end Of said pipe for draining off such quantities of water supplied to said pipe as would otherwise develop a pressure head therein, said tubular wick support members being of a synthetic thermoplastic material and said wicks being of woven strands of a synthetic thermoplastic material, the lower ends of said wicks being co-extensive with their respective wick support members and being secured thereto at their lower ends by heat welding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants the pots of which are formed with bottom openings, comprising, in combination, a plurality of upstanding wick members, each wick member comprising a substantially rigid tubular wick support member and a relatively flexible wick extending centrally through and outwardly of the upper end of said tubular wick support member said wick being fixed with respect to said wick support member, means for supplying water without pressure head to the lower ends of said wick members, whereby moisture will be carried upwardly through said wicks solely by capillary atrraction, said tubular wick support members being of such rigidity and such external diameter as to permit the impaling thereon of the potted nursery plants through the bottom openings thereof for supplying moisture throughout the soil of the potted plants through capillary attraction, said means for supplying water to the lower ends of said wick members comprising a horizontally-extending water pipe provided with spaced openings along its length through which lower end portions of said wick members extend, water supply means for continuously feeding water to one end of said pipe, and overflow means at the other end Of said pipe for draining off such quantities of water supplied to said pipe as would otherwise develop a pressure head therein, said tubular wick support members being of a synthetic thermoplastic material and said wicks being of woven strands of a synthetic thermoplastic material, the lower ends of said wicks being co-extensive with their respective wick support members and being secured thereto at their lower ends by heat welding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular wick support members are of Nylon and wherein said wicks are of Nylon cord.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower ends of said wick support members are provided with through openings to allow for the flow of water into said wicks above said heat welds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
311 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants the pots of which are formed with bottom openings, comprising, in combination, a plurality of upstanding wick members, each wick member comprising a substantially rigid tubular wick support member and a relatively flexible wick extending centrally through and outwardly of the upper end of said tubular wick support member, means for supplying water without pressure head to the lower ends of said wick members, whereby moisture will be carried upwardly through said wicks solely by capillary attraction, said tubular wick support members being of such rigidity and such external diameter as to permit the impaling thereon of the potted nursery plants through the bottom openings thereof for supplying moisture throughout the soil of the potted plants through capillary attraction, said means for supplying water to the lower ends of said wick members comprising a plurality of laterally-spaced horizontally-extending water pipes co-extensive in length and provided with spaced openings along their lengths through which lower end portions of said wick members extend, water supply means for continuously feeding water to said pipes at one end thereof, and overflow means at the other end of said pipes for draining off such quantities of water supplied to said pipes as would otherwise develop a pressure head therein, said water supply means comprising an inlet manifold interconnecting said one ends of said pipes and an outlet manifold interconnecting said other ends of said pipes, said outlet manifold comprising a drainage nipple providing for drainage of water in said pipes at a level whereat said pipes are substantially full of water, said tubular wick support members being of a synthetic thermoplastic material and said wicks being of woven strands of a synthetic thermoplastic material, the lower ends of said wicks being co-extensive with their respective wick support members and being secured thereto at their lower ends by heat welding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
311 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants the pots of which are formed with bottom openings, comprising, in combination, a plurality of upstanding wick members, each wick member comprising a substantially rigid tubular wick support member and a relatively flexible wick extending centrally through and outwardly of the upper end of said tubular wick support member, means for supplying water without pressure head to the lower ends of said wick members, whereby moisture will be carried upwardly through said wicks solely by capillary attraction, said tubular wick support members being of such rigidity and such external diameter as to permit the impaling thereon of the potted nursery plants through the bottom openings thereof for supplying moisture throughout the soil of the potted plants through capillary attraction, said means for supplying water to the lower ends of said wick members comprising a plurality of laterally-spaced horizontally-extending water pipes co-extensive in length and provided with spaced openings along their lengths through which lower end portions of said wick members extend, water supply means for continuously feeding water to said pipes at one end thereof, and overflow means at the other end of said pipes for draining off such quantities of water supplied to said pipes as would otherwise develop a pressure head therein, said water supply means comprising an inlet manifold interconnecting said one ends of said pipes and an outlet manifold interconnecting said other ends of said pipes, said outlet manifold comprising a drainage nipple providing for drainage of water in said pipes at a level whereat said pipes are substantially full of water, said tubular wick support members being of a synthetic thermoplastic material and said wicks being of woven strands of a synthetic thermoplastic material, the lower ends of said wicks being co-extensive with their respective wick support members and being secured thereto at their lower ends by heat welding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants as defined in claim 4, wherein said wick members are arranged in spaced parallel rows extending transversely of said plurality of pipes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A watering system for potted nursery plants as defined in claim 5, wherein said water supply means for continuously feeding water to said pipes comprises an upwardly-extending tubular arm communicating with said inlet manifold and a supply conduit feeding water into the upper end of said tubular arm by gravity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |