Device for liquid feeding of potted plants and the like

Claim 1

A device for the liquid feeding of potted plants and the like; said device comprising an open end elongated tubular reservoir element for receiving a supply of approximately one to four ounces of liquid, said element having a length such that a lower end portion thereof will be disposed in the root region of a plant when the element is embedded in the soil adjacent the plant, a closure element for the upper end thereof, and a closure and transfer element for the lower end thereof, said lower end closure and transfer element projecting upwardly within a lower end portion of the tubular reservoir element, tightly fitting the interior wall thereof, and providing a continuous exposed surface thereacross, said closure and transfer element also projecting a substantial distance beneath the lower end of the tubular element and having an elongated radially exposed surface of reduced cross sectional dimension and a lower end surface also exposed for feeding the plant and said closure element being of a liquid absortive material having the general characteristics of the tip of a felt tip pen so as to be structurally independent and receive liquid and absorb at its exposed top surface and transfer the same downwardly with the aid of gravity for absorption by the soil from its lower exposed radial and end surfaces, the top-to-bottom transfer rate through the element being such that said soil absorptive action occurs over a period of at least several days when said device is filled and embedded in soil as aforesaid.

Claim 2

A device for the liquid feeding of potted plants and the like; said device comprising an open end elongated tubular reservoir element for receiving a supply of approximately one to four ounces of liquid, said element having a length such that a lower end portion thereof will be disposed in the root region of a plant when the element is embedded in the soil adjacent the plant, a closure element for the upper end thereof, and a closure and transfer element for the lower end thereof, said lower end closure and transfer element projecting upwardly within a lower end portion of the tubular reservoir element, tightly fitting the interior wall thereof, and providing a continuous exposed surface thereacross, said closure and transfer element also projecting a substantial distance beneath the lower end of the tubular element and having an elongated radially exposed surface of reduced cross sectional dimension and a lower end surface also exposed for feeding the plant and said closure element being of a liquid absortive material having the general characteristics of the tip of a felt tip pen so as to be structurally independent and receive liquid and absorb at its exposed top surface and transfer the same downwardly with the aid of gravity for absorption by the soil from its lower exposed radial and end surfaces, the top-to-bottom transfer rate through the element being such that said soil absorptive action occurs over a period of at least several days when said device is filled and embedded in soil as aforesaid.