US4896457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Watering apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-08-12
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Granted: 1990-01-30
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Expires: 2008-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A measured and variable quantity of water is delivered to an object requiring periodic watering when a water filled vessel is inverted and mounted or suspended above the item requiring water. The vessels constricted orifice is sealed by a rubber stopper which has two holes into one of which is inserted a tube filled with water soluable material and the other of which contains a hollow vacuum breaking tube long enough to support the entire apparatus in reasonably giving material (sand, dirt, gravel, etc.). A tripod stand is also provided to suspend the device if such giving material is not present. As the soluable material is immersed in water by inverting the device the dissolution process begins and when all of the material in the tube has dissolved the contained water is set free through the dissolutime time tube. Timed control of 1 to 15 or more days is achieved by providing filled tubes of various lengths.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence S. Pitcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:42
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G27/00; A01G27/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A watering apparatus for automatically delivering a timed rush quantity of water to a plant comprising: a continuous walled, cylindrical, inverted reservoir bottle narrowing to form a circumferential shoulder and an elongated neck having an orifice therethrough; a rubber stopper means of sufficient diameter to create a frictional, hermetic seal with the neck orifice comprising a circular rubber stopper having two through channels; a means to allow the timed rush escape of water from the bottle and contained within one of said channels; a vacuum breaking means extending through the second of said channels into the interior of the inserted reservoir bottle; and a support means to engage and hold the watering appartus proximal to and above a plant to be watered.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A watering apparatus for automatically delivering a timed rush quantity of water to a plant comprising: a continuous walled, cylindrical, inverted reservoir bottle narrowing to form a circumferential shoulder and an elongated neck having an orifice therethrough; a rubber stopper means of sufficient diameter to create a frictional, hermetic seal with the neck orifice comprising a circular rubber stopper having two through channels; a means to allow the timed rush escape of water from the bottle and contained within one of said channels; a vacuum breaking means extending through the second of said channels into the interior of the inserted reservoir bottle; and a support means to engage and hold the watering appartus proximal to and above a plant to be watered.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottle has indicia to indicate the volume of water contained within the bottle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The watering apparatus of claim 2 wherein the channels in the rubber stopper are of constant and equal diameters of sufficient dimension to create a frictional and hermetic seal with the means to allow a timed rush escape of water and the vacuum breaking means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to allow a timed rush escape to water comprises a dissolution time tube comprising a hollow, cylindrical body made of a water insoluble material which is filled with a water soluble material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The watering apparatus of claim 4 wherein the dissolution time tubes have various lengths whereby the total time needed for the dissolution of the water soluble material contained within the dissolution time tube is determined by the various dissolution time tube lengths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The water apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vacuum breaking means comprises. a hollow vacuum breaking tube having a pointed open end and a closed end; and a small aperture in the tube located at a distance from the pointed open end that is approximately equal to two-thirds of the total length of the tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The watering apparatus of claim 6 wherein the pinched, closed end is of a spade-like configuration whereby it may penetrate the soil in which a plant is growing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The watering apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vacuum breaking tube is the support means to engage and hold the watering apparatus proximal to and above a plant to be watered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support means comprises a tripod-like structure that securely engages the circumferential shoulder of the inverted bottle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottle is made of a glass material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottle is made of a plastic material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3438575A
Cited
US4121734A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |