Self-watering planter and method of making same

Claim 1

A plastic, vacuum operated, automatically controlled, selfwatering planter structure, comprising: a. an inner plastic shell of a particular height having a square bottom and a U-shaped channel and defining a water fill opening, b. an outer plastic shell of identical height and having a square bottom larger than the inner shell and a free open end and defining a water level indicator opening, c. a ribbon of plastic base glue joining the top of said outer shell to said inner shell in said U-shaped channel, d. a layer of plastic base glue joining the outer bottom of said inner shell to the inner bottom of said outer shell, e. said inner shell defining openings of approximately 0.010 0.020 inch in diameter in at least three corners near said square bottom, f. a water fill opening plug in vacuum-tight engagement with said water fill opening, and g. a water level indicator plug of translucent material in vacuum-tight engagement with said water level indicator opening.

Claim 3

A method of making an all plastic vacuum operated self-watering planter having a water fill opening and water level indicator comprising the steps of: a. injection molding an inner plastic shell of a particular height having a square bottom and a U-shaped channel, b. injection molding an outer plastic shell of identical height and having a square bottom larger than the inner shell and a free open end, c. inverting the inner shell on a neutral surface and depositing a continuous ribbon of plastic base glue in U-shaped channel, d. depositing a blob of plastic base glue on the exposed bottom plate of the inverted inner shell, e. superimposing the inverted outer shell over the inverted inner shell and applying manual pressure until the open end of the outer shell bottoms in the U-shaped channel while being surrounded By the glue therein, f. simultaneously applying manual pressure to the topmost surface of the bottom plate of the inverted outer shell to cause an even flow of glue between the adjacent bottom plates, g. releasing all manual pressure before the glue firmly sets and allowing the elapse of approximately one hour before further handling of the now assembled planter structure, h. reinverting the now assembled planter structure and inserting an air pressure nozzle in said water fill opening, i. submerging the planter in clear water and holding submerged while filling with air pressure for period sufficient to observe any air bubbles indicating a leak, j. removing said planter from the water, drying and repairing detected leaks with plastic base glue, k. heating the tip of a number 9 or smaller needle, l. piercing holes of a size of 0.010 - 0.020 inch in diameter in three corners in the inner shell just above the square bottom.

Claim 4

A method of making an all plastic vacuum operated self-watering planter having a water fill opening and water level indicator comprising the steps of: a. injection molding an inner plastic shell of a particular height having a square bottom and a U-shaped channel, b. injection molding an outer plastic shell of identical height and having a square bottom larger than the inner shell and a free open end, c. inverting the inner shell on a neutral surface and depositing a continuous ribbon of plastic base glue in U-shaped channel, d. depositing a blob of plastic base glue on the exposed bottom plate of the inverted inner shell, e. superimposing the inverted outer shell over the inverted inner shell and applying manual pressure until the open end of the outer shell bottoms in the U-shaped channel while being surrounded By the glue therein, f. simultaneously applying manual pressure to the topmost surface of the bottom plate of the inverted outer shell to cause an even flow of glue between the adjacent bottom plates, g. releasing all manual pressure before the glue firmly sets and allowing the elapse of approximately one hour before further handling of the now assembled planter structure, h. reinverting the now assembled planter structure and inserting an air pressure nozzle in said water fill opening, i. submerging the planter in clear water and holding submerged while filling with air pressure for period sufficient to observe any air bubbles indicating a leak, j. removing said planter from the water, drying and repairing detected leaks with plastic base glue, k. heating the tip of a number 9 or smaller needle, l. piercing holes of a size of 0.010 - 0.020 inch in diameter in three corners in the inner shell just above the square bottom.