US5099609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-watering ceramic planter
Assignee: Ceramic Creations
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Filing: 1991-01-31
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Granted: 1992-03-31
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Expires: 2011-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A self-watering system provides water through capillary action across drainage holes in the bottom of a common pot without intrusion of any wicking material into the pot or necessity for transplanting the plant from the common pot in which it was commercially vended. The common pot is placed upon a felt wick pad which substantially covers the entire surface of the bottom of the common pot. The felt pad in turn is placed on a ceramic, porous base, which serves as a wick, which supports the felt pad, and which defines a water reservoir beneath a common pot. The common pot together with the felt pad and ceramic support are placed within a decorative pot with the water reservoir defined between the decorative pot and the ceramic support. The ceramic support is made of a fired mixture of talc, Tennessee #1 clay, OM #4 clay, P-V #1 clay, Pyrex and sand.
Inventors
- 👤 Yami Yamauchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:38
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G27/00; A01G27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for self-watering a plant contained within a common pot having at least one drainage hole defined through a bottom surface thereof comprising: a felt pad for providing a wicking surface for contact with a substantial portion of said bottom surface of said common pot, said felt pad being positioned substantially outside of said common pot; a porous ceramic wick for rigidly supporting said pad within said system, for defining a reservoir for water, and for providing a wick from said reservoir to said felt pad, said ceramic wick being positioned outside and below said common pot; and a decorative pot for containing said common pot, felt pad and ceramic wick, said decorative pot hiding said common pot from view, said ceramic wick being disposed in said decorative pot, said felt pad being disposed on said ceramic wick, and said common pot being disposed on said felt pad, whereby said felt pad is kept sufficiently moist to allow capillary action of water across said wicking surface of said felt pad into said common pot without intrusion of any portion of said system into said common pot.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for self-watering a plant contained within a common pot having at least one drainage hole defined through a bottom surface thereof comprising: a felt pad for providing a wicking surface for contact with a substantial portion of said bottom surface of said common pot, said felt pad being positioned substantially outside of said common pot; a porous ceramic wick for rigidly supporting said pad within said system, for defining a reservoir for water, and for providing a wick from said reservoir to said felt pad, said ceramic wick being positioned outside and below said common pot; and a decorative pot for containing said common pot, felt pad and ceramic wick, said decorative pot hiding said common pot from view, said ceramic wick being disposed in said decorative pot, said felt pad being disposed on said ceramic wick, and said common pot being disposed on said felt pad, whereby said felt pad is kept sufficiently moist to allow capillary action of water across said wicking surface of said felt pad into said common pot without intrusion of any portion of said system into said common pot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a portion of said ceramic wick is characterized by a circumferential supporting ring, said circumferential supporting ring defining an interior reservoir beneath said ceramic wick between said common pot and said ring and providing wicking action at all levels within said reservoir to said felt pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said ceramic wick provides a rigid supporting surface in contact with a substantial portion of said felt pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 3 wherein a portion of said ceramic wick is characterized by a circumferential supporting ring, said circumferential supporting ring defining an interior reservoir beneath said ceramic wick between said common pot and said ring and providing wicking action at all levels within said reservoir to said felt pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said circumferential supporting ring defines an exterior reservoir, circumferential defined outside said ring between said ring and common pot.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for self-watering a plant contained within a common pot having at least one drainage hole defined through a bottom surface thereof comprising: a felt pad for providing a wicking surface for contact with a substantial portion of said bottom surface of said common pot; a ceramic wick for supporting said pad, for defining a reservoir for water, and for providing a wick from said reservoir to said felt pad; and a decorative pot for containing said common pot, felt pad and ceramic wick, said decorative pot hiding said common pot from view; wherein said felt pad entirely covers said bottom of said common pot; wherein said ceramic wick provides a supporting wicking surface in contact with a substantial portion of said felt pad; wherein a portion of said ceramic wick is characterized by a circumferential supporting ring, said circumferential supporting ring defining an interior reservoir beneath said ceramic wick between said common pot and said ceramic wick and providing wicking action at all levels within said reservoir to said felt pad; and wherein said circumferential supporting ring defines an exterior reservoir, circumferential defined outside said ring between said ring and common pot, wherein a notch is defined in said circumferential supporting ring permitting fluidic communication between said exterior reservoir and said interior reservoir; whereby said felt pad is kept sufficiently moist to allow capillary action of water across said wicking surface of said felt pad into said common pot without intrusion of any portion of said system into said common pot.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
253 words
A system for self-watering a plant contained within a common pot having at least one drainage hole defined through a bottom surface thereof comprising: a felt pad for providing a wicking surface for contact with a substantial portion of said bottom surface of said common pot; a ceramic wick for supporting said pad, for defining a reservoir for water, and for providing a wick from said reservoir to said felt pad; and a decorative pot for containing said common pot, felt pad and ceramic wick, said decorative pot hiding said common pot from view; wherein said felt pad entirely covers said bottom of said common pot; wherein said ceramic wick provides a supporting wicking surface in contact with a substantial portion of said felt pad; wherein a portion of said ceramic wick is characterized by a circumferential supporting ring, said circumferential supporting ring defining an interior reservoir beneath said ceramic wick between said common pot and said ceramic wick and providing wicking action at all levels within said reservoir to said felt pad; and wherein said circumferential supporting ring defines an exterior reservoir, circumferential defined outside said ring between said ring and common pot, wherein a notch is defined in said circumferential supporting ring permitting fluidic communication between said exterior reservoir and said interior reservoir; whereby said felt pad is kept sufficiently moist to allow capillary action of water across said wicking surface of said felt pad into said common pot without intrusion of any portion of said system into said common pot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said felt pad and ceramic wick have a bore defined therethrough to permit inspection of said interior reservoir.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said bore is sized to permit manual handling of said felt pad and ceramic wick.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for self-watering a plant in soil contained in a common pot having a bottom with at least one drainage hole defined therethrough, said common pot disposed in and hidden from view by a decorative pot, said system comprising: first means disposed in said decorative pot for providing a wicking action through said bottom of said common pot without intrusion of any portion of said first means into said common pot; second means disposed in said decorative pot for defining a water reservoir beneath said common pot in said decorative pot and for rigidly supporting said first means and common pot within said decorative pot; and third means disposed in said decorative pot for providing a wicking action from said water reservoir into said first means regardless of water level within said water reservoir, said third means being separate from said first means and being integral with said second means, whereby a simple, inexpensive and rugged system for self-watering said plant is provided.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for self-watering a plant in soil contained in a common pot having a bottom with at least one drainage hole defined therethrough, said common pot disposed in and hidden from view by a decorative pot, said system comprising: first means disposed in said decorative pot for providing a wicking action through said bottom of said common pot without intrusion of any portion of said first means into said common pot; second means disposed in said decorative pot for defining a water reservoir beneath said common pot in said decorative pot and for rigidly supporting said first means and common pot within said decorative pot; and third means disposed in said decorative pot for providing a wicking action from said water reservoir into said first means regardless of water level within said water reservoir, said third means being separate from said first means and being integral with said second means, whereby a simple, inexpensive and rugged system for self-watering said plant is provided.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |