Self-watering planter

Claim 2

A self-watering planter for plants or the like, comprising: a water reservoir including at least one sealable opening for receiving water therein; a lid member on said water reservoir; a wick and absorbent mat disposed atop said lid member of said reservoir, said wick communicating water contained in said reservoir to said absorbent mat; and a plant container disposed atop said absorbent mat, said plant container including at least one opening formed in a base portion thereof for communicating moisture from said absorbent mat to growing media contained in said plant container, recess means on said plant container for receiving and enclosing the periphery of said lid member of said reservoir and said absorbent mat when said plant container is seated atop said water reservoir to prevent evaporation of moisture from said absorbent mat and said reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 3

The self-watering planter of claim 1 wherein said sealable opening comprises an opening formed on an outer wall of said water reservoir, said opening selectively sealed by a stopper means to prevent evaporation of water from said water reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 4

The self-watering planter of claim 1, wherein said lid member is removable and having at least one opening formed therein, said lid member disposed atop said water reservoir, said absorbent mat disposed atop said removable lid with said wick projecting through said lid opening into said water reservoir.

Claim 5

A self-watering planter for plants or the like, comprising: a water reservoir including at least one sealable opening for receiving water therein; a wick and absorbent mat disposed atop a portion of said reservoir, said wick communicating water contained in said reservoir to said absorbent mat; and a plant container disposed atop said absorbent mat, said plant container including at least one opening formed in a base portion thereof for communicating moisture from said absorbent mat to growing media contained in said plant container, recess means on said planter for receiving and enclosing the periphery of said absorbent mat when said plant container is seated atop said water reservoir to prevent evaporation of moisture from said mat and said reservoir directly to the atmosphere, said recess means including a lower rim formed as part of said base portion of said plant container and of sufficient size to cover said absorbent mat, and said sealable opening comprises at least one opening formed in said reservoir adjacent said wick and absorbent mat, said plant container including at least one complementary indentation formed along a wall thereof, whereby when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container wall are aligned, said water reservoir can be filled with water without removing said plant container from atop said reservoir, and when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container wall are not aligned, said reservoir opening is sealed to prevent evaporation of water from said water reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 6

A self-watering planter for plants or the like, comprising: a water reservoir including at least one sealable opening for receiving water therein; a wick and absorbent mat disposed atop a portion of said reservoir, said wick communicating water contained in said reservoir to said absorbent mat; and a plant container disposed atop said absorbent mat, said plant container including at least one opening formed in a base portion thereof for communicating moisture from said absorbent mat to growing media contained in said plant container, recess means on said planter for receiving and enclosing the periphery of said absorbent mat when said plant container is seated atop said water reservoir to prevent evaporation of moisture from said mat and said reservoir directly to the atmosphere, said recess means including a lower rim formed as part of said base portion of said plant container and of sufficient size to cover said absorbent mat, and said sealable opening comprises at least one opening formed in said reservoir adjacent said wick and absorbent mat, said plant container including at least one complementary indentation formed along a wall thereof, whereby when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container wall are aligned, said water reservoir can be filled with water without removing said plant container from atop said reservoir, and when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container wall are not aligned, said reservoir opening is sealed to prevent evaporation of water from said water reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 7

A self-watering planter, comprising: a water reservoir having a base, side walls, and an open top portion, said walls including at least one sealable opening for receiving a removable stopper; a lid adapted to sealingly fit over said open top portion of said water reservoir, said lid including at least one opening formed therein; an absorbent mat disposed atop said lid, and a wick disposed through said lid opening to transfer water contained in said reservoir to said absorbent mat through capillary action; and a plant container disposed atop said absorbent mat and water reservoir, said plant container having a base, side walls, and an open top portion, said plant container including: at least one opening formed in said base for communicating moisture from said absorbent mat to growing media contained in said plant container; and a rim formed as part of said container side walls and extending downwardly beyond said container base adjacent said sidewall, said rim of said container contacting said water reservoir and enclosing the periphery of said absorbent mat when said plant container is seated atop said water reservoir to prevent evaporation of moisture from said absorbent mat and said reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 8

A self-watering planter, comprising: a water reservoir having a base, side walls, and an open top portion, said walls including at least one sealable opening for receiving a removable stopper; a lid adapted to sealingly fit over said open top portion of said water reservoir, said lid including at least one opening formed therein; an absorbent mat disposed atop said lid, and a wick disposed through said lid opening to transfer water contained in said reservoir to said absorbent mat through capillary action; and a plant container disposed atop said absorbent mat and water reservoir, said plant container having a base, side walls, and an open top portion, said plant container including: at least one opening formed in said base for communicating moisture from said absorbent mat to growing media contained in said plant container; and a rim formed as part of said container side walls and extending downwardly beyond said container base adjacent said sidewall, said rim of said container contacting said water reservoir and enclosing the periphery of said absorbent mat when said plant container is seated atop said water reservoir to prevent evaporation of moisture from said absorbent mat and said reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 9

A self-watering planter, comprising: a water reservoir having a base, side walls, and an open top portion including an annular area formed about the periphery of said open top portion, said annular area having at least one sealable opening formed therein; a lid adapted to sealingly fit over said open top portion of said water reservoir, said lid including at least one opening formed therein; an absorbent mat disposed atop said lid, and a wick disposed through said lid opening to transfer water contained in said reservoir to said absorbent mat through capillary action; and a plant container disposed atop said absorbent mat and water reservoir, said plant container having a base, side walls, and an open top portion, said plant container including: at least one opening formed in said base for communicating moisture from said absorbent mat to growing media contained in said plant container; a rim formed as part of said container side walls and extending downwardly beyond said container base adjacent said sidewall, said rim of said container contacting said annular area of said water reservoir and enclosing the periphery of said absorbent mat when said plant container is seated atop said water reservoir to prevent evaporation of moisture from said mat directly to the atmosphere; and at least one indentation formed in said plant container walls, said indentation complementary with said at least one sealable opening formed in said annular area of said water reservoir, whereby when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container are aligned, said water reservoir can be filled with water without removing said plant container from atop said reservoir, and when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container are not aligned, said reservoir opening is sealed to prevent evaporation of moisture from said reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 10

A self-watering planter, comprising: a water reservoir having a base, side walls, and an open top portion including an annular area formed about the periphery of said open top portion, said annular area having at least one sealable opening formed therein; a lid adapted to sealingly fit over said open top portion of said water reservoir, said lid including at least one opening formed therein; an absorbent mat disposed atop said lid, and a wick disposed through said lid opening to transfer water contained in said reservoir to said absorbent mat through capillary action; and a plant container disposed atop said absorbent mat and water reservoir, said plant container having a base, side walls, and an open top portion, said plant container including: at least one opening formed in said base for communicating moisture from said absorbent mat to growing media contained in said plant container; a rim formed as part of said container side walls and extending downwardly beyond said container base adjacent said sidewall, said rim of said container contacting said annular area of said water reservoir and enclosing the periphery of said absorbent mat when said plant container is seated atop said water reservoir to prevent evaporation of moisture from said mat directly to the atmosphere; and at least one indentation formed in said plant container walls, said indentation complementary with said at least one sealable opening formed in said annular area of said water reservoir, whereby when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container are aligned, said water reservoir can be filled with water without removing said plant container from atop said reservoir, and when said opening in said reservoir and said complementary indentation in said plant container are not aligned, said reservoir opening is sealed to prevent evaporation of moisture from said reservoir directly to the atmosphere.

Claim 11

The planter of either claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said lid is formed integral with said top portion of said water reservoir.