US5934017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Design of planter and water reservoir/liquid bottle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-06-11
•
Granted: 1999-08-10
•
Expires: 2017-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved planter with optional inserts for growing house plants in potting soil or hydroponically in pebbles or other potting medium for the purpose of improving the characteristics of purifying ambient air quality and reducing the work of maintaining the plants. A removable see through water reservoir/liquid bottle is attached to the planter such that the water level in the planter is maintained constant at all times. The watering frequency is reduced because of the large water reservoir/liquid bottle. Three different types of inserts may be added to the planter to further enhance the effectiveness of air purification by the plants. A simple insert used to increase the interface areas of ambient air with the potting medium and the root system. The second insert includes a circulation fan to increase the circulation of air through the potting medium and the root system. The third insert includes a lamp with or without a circulation fan. The addition of a lamp will help to sterilize the air. Another advantage of this improved planter is that water at the bottom of the planter does not in direct contact with the ambient air thus greatly reduced or eliminated the growth of mildew or microbes which is a common problem in existing self watering planters on the market. The non-spill liquid bottle can be partially turned over after refill will not spill its content. This design makes pouring liquid from a bottle much less likely to spill. Therefore, the application of this type of liquid bottle can be found in many applications where spillage is a concern. Examples of its usage include water bottle for bottled water drinking fountain, motor oil, anti-freeze fluid, cooking oil, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 I-Chung Ho
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:53
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G27/00; A01G27/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for potting plants comprising: a planter with side walls and a bottom to form a container, wherein the plant can be potted using potting medium; and a removable and external to the said planter, water reservoir/liquid bottle for storing water; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is removed from the planter for refill each time when the water is exhausted; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is turned upside down for insertion to the planter after refill; and an opening hole in the said planter provides means of insertion of a mouth opening for the said water reservoir/liquid bottle; and while inserted into the planter, a constant water level up to the mouth opening of the said water reservoir/liquid bottle is maintained inside the planter for as long as there is water inside the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and the water level surrounding the mouth opening of the water reservoir/liquid bottle stops the further release of water from the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and a bottom layer of the potting medium will be in contact with water in the bottom of the planter; and capillary action of the potting medium and suction from the plant roots will lift water to upper layers of the potting medium to support plant growth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for potting plants comprising: a planter with side walls and a bottom to form a container, wherein the plant can be potted using potting medium; and a removable and external to the said planter, water reservoir/liquid bottle for storing water; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is removed from the planter for refill each time when the water is exhausted; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is turned upside down for insertion to the planter after refill; and an opening hole in the said planter provides means of insertion of a mouth opening for the said water reservoir/liquid bottle; and while inserted into the planter, a constant water level up to the mouth opening of the said water reservoir/liquid bottle is maintained inside the planter for as long as there is water inside the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and the water level surrounding the mouth opening of the water reservoir/liquid bottle stops the further release of water from the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and a bottom layer of the potting medium will be in contact with water in the bottom of the planter; and capillary action of the potting medium and suction from the plant roots will lift water to upper layers of the potting medium to support plant growth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
161 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls having multiple small holes or perforations to allow airflow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and the natural transpiration of the plant allows the draw of ambient air into the wavy air passageways which passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the potting medium and finally completes a cycle by discharging back to the ambient through the top surface of the potting medium and through the plant leaves; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the maximization of the circulation airflow without artificial enhancement with a circulation fan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
250 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls having multiple small holes or perforations to allow air flow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and a circulation fan is installed at the bottom of the insert slightly above a water level line of the planter; and partition walls at the bottom of the insert provide ducting for air to flow from the wavy air passageways to a fan inlet; and exhaust ducting guides the discharge air back to the ambient; and the circulation fan is imbedded inside the potting medium for vibration and noise attenuation; and suction of the circulation fan pulls ambient air from the top surface of the potting medium through the plant root system which passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the wavy air passageways and to a suction end of the circulation fan and completes a cycle by discharging back to the ambient through discharge ducting; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the circulation fan to have minimized resistance and maximized interface areas for air to flow through the potting medium therefore maximizing the effectiveness of the circulation fan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
271 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls have multiple small holes or perforations to allow air flow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and partition walls at the bottom of the insert provide ducting for air to flow from the wavy air passageways to an exhaust duct extended from the bottom center of the planter straight up beyond the top of the potting medium and guides the discharge air back to the ambient; and a light bulb is situated at the top of the exhaust duct; and a transparent lamp shield surrounds the light bulb thereby forcing the exhaust air to pass through a restricted air space surrounding the light bulb; and the heating of the light bulb creates an uplifting suction of air and causes a partial vacuum in the wavy air passageways and therefore pulls ambient air from the top surface of the potting medium through the plant root system and passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the wavy air passageways; and before discharging to the ambient, air is being heated by the light bulb for sterilization; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the air circulation flow through the potting medium to be maximized without artificial enhancement with a circulation fan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
311 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls have multiple small holes or perforations to allow air flow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and a circulation fan is installed at the bottom of the insert slightly above a water level line of the planter; and partition walls at the bottom of the insert provide ducting for air to flow from the wavy air passageways to a fan inlet; and exhaust ducting from an exit end of the circulation fan guides the discharge air back to the ambient; and the circulation fan is imbedded inside the potting medium for vibration and noise attenuation; and a light bulb is situated at the top of the exhaust duct; and a transparent lamp shield surrounds the light bulb thereby forcing the exhaust air to pass through a restricted air space surrounding the light bulb; and suction of the circulation fan pulls air from the top surface of the potting medium through the plant root system which passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the wavy air passageways and to a suction end of the circulation fan and completes a cycle by discharging back to the ambient through discharge ducting; and before discharging to the ambient, air is being heated by the light bulb for sterilization; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the circulation fan to have minimized resistance and maximized interface areas for air to flow through the potting medium therefore maximizing the effectiveness of the circulation fan.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for potting plants comprising: a planter with side walls and a bottom to form a container, wherein the plant can be potted using potting medium; and a removable and external to the said planter, water reservoir/liquid bottle for storing water; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is removed from the planter for refill each time when the water is exhausted; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is turned upside down for insertion to the planter after refill; and said removable water reservoir/liquid bottle prevents the spillage of water while the water reservoir/liquid bottle is turned upside down before insertion; and an opening hole in said planter provides arcuate means of insertion of a mouth opening for the said water reservoir/liquid bottle; and while inserted into the planter, a constant water level up to the mouth opening of the said water reservoir/liquid bottle is maintained inside the planter for as long as there is water inside the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and the water level surrounding the mouth opening of the water reservoir/liquid bottle stops the further release of water from the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and a bottom layer of the potting medium will be in contact with water in the bottom of the planter; and capillary action of the potting medium and suction from the plant roots will lift water to upper layers of the potting medium to support plant growth.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for potting plants comprising: a planter with side walls and a bottom to form a container, wherein the plant can be potted using potting medium; and a removable and external to the said planter, water reservoir/liquid bottle for storing water; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is removed from the planter for refill each time when the water is exhausted; and said water reservoir/liquid bottle is turned upside down for insertion to the planter after refill; and said removable water reservoir/liquid bottle prevents the spillage of water while the water reservoir/liquid bottle is turned upside down before insertion; and an opening hole in said planter provides arcuate means of insertion of a mouth opening for the said water reservoir/liquid bottle; and while inserted into the planter, a constant water level up to the mouth opening of the said water reservoir/liquid bottle is maintained inside the planter for as long as there is water inside the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and the water level surrounding the mouth opening of the water reservoir/liquid bottle stops the further release of water from the water reservoir/liquid bottle; and a bottom layer of the potting medium will be in contact with water in the bottom of the planter; and capillary action of the potting medium and suction from the plant roots will lift water to upper layers of the potting medium to support plant growth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls having multiple small holes or perforations to allow airflow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and the natural transpiration of the plant allows the draw of ambient air into the wavy air passageways which passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the potting medium and finally completes a cycle by discharging back to the ambient through the top surface of the potting medium and through the plant leaves; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the maximization of the circulation airflow without artificial enhancement with a circulation fan.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
218 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls having multiple small holes or perforations to allow air flow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and a circulation fan; and partition walls at the bottom of the insert provide ducting for air to flow from the wavy air passageways to a fan inlet; and exhaust ducting guides the discharge air back to the ambient; and suction of the circulation fan pulls ambient air from the top surface of the potting medium through the plant root system which passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the wavy air passageways and to a suction end of the circulation fan and completes a cycle by discharging back to the ambient through discharge ducting; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the circulation fan to have minimized resistance and maximized interface areas for air to flow through the potting medium therefore maximizing the effectiveness of the circulation fan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
271 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls have multiple small holes or perforations to allow air flow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and partition walls at the bottom of the insert provide ducting for air to flow from the wavy air passageways to an exhaust duct extended from the bottom center of the planter straight up beyond the top of the potting medium and guides the discharge air back to the ambient; and a light bulb is situated at the top of the exhaust duct; and a transparent lamp shield surrounds the light bulb thereby forcing the exhaust air to pass through a restricted air space surrounding the light bulb; and the heating of the light bulb creates an uplifting suction of air and causes a partial vacuum in the wavy air passageways and therefore pulls ambient air from the top surface of the potting medium through the plant root system and passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the wavy air passageways; and before discharging to the ambient, air is being heated by the light bulb for sterilization; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the air circulation flow through the potting medium to be maximized without artificial enhancement with a circulation fan.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
279 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: an insert having wavy side walls projecting against the interior surfaces of the planter side walls; and the wavy side walls and the interior surfaces of the planter side walls form wavy air passageways to allow air flow; and the wavy side walls have multiple small holes or perforations to allow air flow through the wavy side walls between the potting medium and the wavy air passageways; and a circulation fan; and partition walls at the bottom of the insert provide ducting for air to flow from the wavy air passageways to a fan inlet; and exhaust ducting from an exit end of the circulation fan guides the discharge air back to the ambient; and a light bulb is situated at the top of the exhaust duct; and a transparent lamp shield surrounds the light bulb thereby forcing the exhaust air to pass through a restricted air space surrounding the light bulb; and suction of the circulation fan pulls air from the top surface of the potting medium through the plant root system which passes through the small holes or perforations of the wavy side walls into the wavy air passageways and to a suction end of the circulation fan and completes a cycle by discharging back to the ambient through discharge ducting; and before discharging to the ambient, air is being heated by the light bulb for sterilization; and a maximized interface contact area between the potting medium and the wavy side walls enables the circulation fan to have minimized resistance and maximized interface areas for air to flow through the potting medium therefore maximizing the effectiveness of the circulation fan.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
275 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the removable external water reservoir/liquid bottle further comprises: a container for the storage of liquid with a major axis along the center line of the container; and an extended curved neck near a top end of the container; and a curved passageway along a center line of the said extended curved neck with a mouth opening communicating the interior of the water reservoir/liquid bottle with the ambient; and said curved passageway has the basic form of a number seven "7" with deviations to include the forms of the letters "Z" and "S"; and said mouth opening is located at a terminating end of an upper portion of the curved neck having the form of the number seven "7" or letters "Z" or "S"; and after filling the water reservoir/liquid bottle with liquid, the water reservoir/liquid bottle may be laid down with a bottom end of the water reservoir/liquid bottle being higher than the top end of the water reservoir/liquid bottle without spilling liquid as long as the "7" or "Z" or "S" shaped curved neck is positioned such that the curved neck having the form of the "7" or "Z" or "S" is oriented in the upright direction when the water reservoir/liquid bottle is laid down (the major axis being in the substantially horizontal direction) and the mouth opening of the curved neck having the form of "7" or "Z" or "S" is on the upper most position; and size, shape and curvature of the curved passageway determines a starting angle where a liquid inside the water reservoir/liquid bottle will begin to flow out from the water reservoir/liquid bottle.
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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) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-02-08 | 2003-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-09 | 2007-02-08 | 2007-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-09 | 2011-02-08 | 2011-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |