Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02565639 2008-11-12
AUTOMATIC WATERING DEVICE FOR HANGING BASKETS
AND PLANTER BOXES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to automatic watering devices for
plants in
containers, and, more particularly, to a gravity-actuated automatic watering
apparatus that
is capable of use with either hanging baskets or planter boxes/pots.
b. Related Art
Both hanging baskets and planter boxes require frequent watering, or else the
flowers or other plants therein will quickly wither and die. This is true in
moderate as
well as hot climates, since such containers hold a relatively small volume of
soil and are
exposed on all sides, and therefore suffer rapid loss of moisture through
evaporation.
Moreover, hanging baskets and planter boxes are frequently located under
eaves, trees or
other features that obstruct or limit their access to rain water.
The need for frequent and routine watering places a significant burden on the
homeowner or gardener. The burden is especially difficult for persons who are
subject to
busy work schedules, as well as for the elderly and persons having limited
mobility.
Moreover, the situation can become acute if the person is absent for a
significant period
of time -- when away on holiday, for example -- unless the person can enlist
the
temporary services of a neighbor, friend or family member to tend to the
watering.
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2
These difficulties have, of course, been well known, and a number of solutions
have been proposed over the years. While often effective in the sense of being
able to
achieve a degree of watering on an automatic basis, none have represented an
entirely
satisfactory solution.
Certain of these prior devices have relied on electrically-updated valves and
controls. This approach has become increasingly common in recent years,
however, it
remains prohibitively expensive to provide a valve and electric controller for
each basket
or planter box; moreover, to do so would require running not only a water line
but also an
electrical cord to each and every planter box and hanging basket. Certain
electrically-
operated systems have been developed that employ a central controller and
valve
assembly from which irrigation tubing is routed to individual destinations,
however, this
means that a multitude of tubes must be routed from their origin (typically, a
garage or
basement location) to the various plants. Moreover, most such systems employ
watering
routines that based on some form of a timer. As a result, the container
receives water on
a periodic basis regardless of whether it is needed. The rates at which
hanging baskets
and planter boxes lose moisture vary with factors (temperature, humidity, wind
speed and
so on) that fluctuate tremendously, so that water needs cannot be predicted as
a function
of time alone; a timer-based system may therefore supply water when it is not
needed or
vice-versa. The water requirement of different types of plants are often quite
specific
(some preferring wetter soil and others preferring comparatively dry
conditions) and so
over-watering and under-watering caused by a timer-based system can be not
only
wasteful but also potentially catastrophic to the health of the plants.
Electronic sensors
for determining soil moisture are known, but their potential for use in
conjunction with a
system for watering hanging baskets and planter boxes is severely restricted
by cost and
complexity.
Other automatic watering devices have been developed that do not rely on
electrical power for their operation and are therefore free from some of the
complications
noted above. However, a satisfactory solution has remained elusive.
A few such non-electric devices have relied on structures or materials having
physical characteristics that respond in some way to changes in moisture --
for example,
the swelling of a piece of wood -- but as a group such mechanisms exhibit poor
reliability
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
3
and long-term durability. Others have been actuated by changes in weight as
the amount
of water in the container increases/decreases, which offers the prospect of
far more
reliable operation, however, the mechanisms have generally been deficient for
a number
of reasons. For example, many of the gravity-operated mechanisms have been
excessively complex and/or cumbersome, so that they are too bulky and too
expensive to
be used with individual hanging baskets or boxes, especially where a yard
contains a
number of baskets or planter boxes. The bulky, visually obtrusive appearance
of many of
these devices also renders them unsatisfactory from an aesthetic standpoint.
Moreover,
many of the mechanically operated devices are intended to operate in
conjunction with an
associated reservoir (e.g., a small water tank), which is only a partial
solution, since the
homeowner must replenish the reservoir itself on a periodic basis.
A few devices have been developed that take the more effective approach of
controlling the flow of water through small-diameter tubing that can be
connected to a tap
or other pressure source and strung unobtrusively along an eave or other
support. One
example is that shown in GB 2,190,573 to Jones: the Jones device is actuated
by the
weight of a hanging basket, and uses a cylindrical, reciprocating mechanism to
control
the flow of water through tubing that leads to the plant. The device is
admirably
compact, but its construction -- using comparatively close tolerances and
components that
must be machined, cast or molded -- renders the cost excessively high and also
bodes ill
for long term reliability in a garden environment, where dirt or debris are
likely to
accumulate within the interior of the mechanism and impair its operation.
Moreover, the
Jones device is limited to use with hanging baskets, and has no capacity for
use with
planter boxes or other containers that are not suspended from an overhanging
support.
Another example, that shown by U.S. 4,241,538 to Lahr, in some respects
represents the
converse situation: Lahr employs a simple and reliable mechanism in which the
flexible
tubing is squeezed between a pair of hinged lever arms beneath a planter box,
with the
flow being controlled by an adjustable spring mounted between the outer ends
of the
arms. This device, however, cannot be used with hanging baskets, and moreover,
the
manner in which it flattens a segment of tubing between the arms renders it
somewhat
difficult to achieve fine adjustments.
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4
Accordingly, there exists a need for an apparatus for automatically watering
plants in containers that is compact and reliable in operation. Furthermore,
there exists a
need for such an apparatus that operates effectively in conjunction with
flexible, small-
diameter tubing that can be routed unobtrusively to such containers. Still
further, there
exists a need for such an apparatus that is capable of being used with both
hanging
baskets and planter boxes. Still further, there exists a need for such an
apparatus that is
capable of very fine adjustment. Still further, there exists a need for such
an apparatus
that is inexpensive to manufacture and that is durable and long-lasting in
use.
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has solved the problems cited above, and is an apparatus
for
automatically watering plants in containers by regulating the flow of water
through
flexible plastic tubing.
Broadly the apparatus comprises: upper and lower jaw members interconnected
by a horizontal pivot axis; opposing contact surfaces on said upper and lower
jaw
members that define a jaw area for receiving the flexible tubing therein; an
adjustable
spring for resiliently biasing the contact surfaces apart so as to open the
jaw area; means
for suspending a plant container from the lower jaw member on a side of the
pivot axis
opposite the jaw area; and means for supporting a plant container atop the
upper jaw
portion on a side of the pivot axis the same as the jaw area; so that in
response to an
increase of the weight of the container that is suspended from the lower jaw
member or
that is supported on the upper jaw member the members are rotated around the
pivot axis
so as to close the jaw area and pinch the flexible tubing closed, thereby
restricting the
flow of water therethrough, and so that in response to a reduction of the
weight of the
container due to water loss the members are counter-rotated by the adjustable
spring so as
to open the jaw area and allow the tubing to reopen, thereby reestablishing
the flow of
water through the tubing.
The first contact surface may comprise a comparatively broad surface for
holding
the flexible tubing generally flat thereon, and the second contact surface may
comprise a
comparatively narrow edge for pressing into the wall of the tubing so as to
pinch the
tubing closed. The first contact surface may comprise a lower surface of a web
portion of
the upper jaw member, and the second contact surface may comprise an upper
edge of a
wall portion of the lower jaw member.
The adjustable spring may comprise a leaf spring mounted to bear against the
upper jaw member, and means for adjusting compression of the leaf spring. The
means
for adjusting the compression of the leaf spring may comprise a threaded shaft
that
extends through an opening in the coil spring and an adjuster wheel that is
threaded on an
upper end of the shaft for selectively increasing or decreasing compression of
the spring
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
6
between the wheel and the upper jaw member. The lower end of the threaded
shaft may
be mounted to the lower jaw member.
The means for suspending a plant container for the lower jaw member may
comprise a depending hook member that is mounted to the lower jaw member. The
apparatus may further comprise means for suspending the upper jaw member from
an
overhanging support. The means for suspending the upper jaw member from an
overhanging support may comprise a bail member that is mounted to the upper
jaw
member on said side of said pivot axis opposite the jaw area. The means for
supporting a
plant container on the upper jaw member may comprise an upper surface of the
jaw
member.
The upper jaw member may comprise a downwardly facing channel-shaped
member having a web portion and first and second depending wall portions. The
lower
jaw member may comprise an upwardly facing channel-shaped member having a web
portion and first and second upwardly projecting wall portions that extend
parallel to and
fit within the depending wall portions of the upper jaw member. The pivot axis
may
comprise a pivot pin that extends through cooperating bores in the wall
portions of the
upper and lower jaw members.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more
fully understood from a reading of the following detailed description with
reference to
the accompanying drawings.
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
7
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic watering apparatus in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a first elevational, environmental view of the automatic watering
apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the apparatus is used with a
hanging
basket or other suspended container to provide a regulated flow of water to
the plants
therein;
FIG. 3 is a second elevational, environmental view of the automatic watering
apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the manner in which this is used with a planter
box or other
non-suspended container to provide a regulated flow of water to the plants
therein;
FIG. 4 is a side, cross-sectional view of the automatic watering apparatus of
FIG. 1, showing the components and internal mechanism thereof in greater
detail;
FIG. 5 is an end, elevational view of the automatic watering apparatus of FIG.
4,
showing the manner in which the contact areas on the upper and lower jaw
members
define a jaw area that engages the flexible tubing that is routed through the
apparatus;
FIG. 6 is a side, cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, showing the manner
in
which the jaw area of the apparatus pinches the flexible tubing closed in
response to an
increase in weight of the container;
FIG. 7 is an end, elevational view, similar to FIG. 5, showing the
relationship
between the broad web of the upper jaw member and the narrow edge of the lower
jaw
member as the tubing is pinched closed;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the lower jaw member of the automatic watering
apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the structure thereof in greater detail;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an automatic watering device in accordance
with a
second embodiment of the present invention, differing from that shown in FIGS.
1-4 in
using a leaf rather than coil compression spring; and
FIG. 10 is an elevational view of flexible tubing and connectors for supplying
water from a conventional faucet to a plurality of automatic watering devices
in
accordance with the present invention.
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
8
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
a. Overview
FIG. 1 shows an automatic watering apparatus 10 in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, the apparatus includes
upper and
lower jaw members 12, 14. The upper jaw member has an inverted channel
configuration, with a horizontal upper web portion 16 and parallel, depending
wall
portions 18a, 18b. The lower jaw member 14 also has a channel-shaped
configuration,
with a horizontal bottom web portion 20 and upwardly-extending wall portions
22a, 22b
that extend parallel to and inside the depending wall portions 18a, 18b of the
upper jaw
member. The upper and lower jaw members are connected by a transverse bolt or
pin 24
that forms a horizontal pivot axis, so that as the jaw members rotate about
the pivot axis
the wall portions thereof cooperate to develop a scissors-like action. As used
herein, the
terms "upper", "lower", and so on refer to the orientation that is shown in
the drawings
and as used for ease of understanding; however, it will be understood that the
actual
physical orientation may vary from that which is shown, e.g., the assembly may
be
employed in an orientation inverted from that shown in FIG. 2 and the
components would
consequently have a relationship inverted from that described herein.
The pivot bolt 24 is spaced somewhat from the longitudinal midpoint of the
upper
jaw member, towards a first end of the assembly that for ease of explanation
will be
referred to herein as the forward end. Proximate the opposite, rearward end of
the
assembly, the threaded shaft of a second bolt 25 extends vertically through
the web
portions of the two jaw members, the head 26 of the bolt being retained by the
web of the
lower jaw member and the threaded shaft thereof passing through an enlarged
opening
(not shown) in the web of the upper jaw member. An adjuster nut or wheel 28 is
threaded onto the upper end of the bolt 25, with a compression spring 30 being
mounted
around the shaft of the bolt between the adjuster nut and the top of the web
portion 16 of
the upper jaw member. Tightening the adjuster nut 28 thus increases the
compression of
spring 30; this in turn forces the rearward ends of the upper and lower jaw
members
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
9
together, so that at the opposite, forward end of the assembly the jaw members
are biased
apart to an open position, as shown in FIG. 1.
Coaxially aligned openings 32a, 32b are formed in the wall portions 18a, 18b
of
the upper jaw member, proximate the junctions between the wall portions and
the web
portion 16, and are sized to receive flexible plastic tubing 34 having a
predetermined
diameter (e.g., 1/8" or 3/16" plastic tubing). The tubing is inserted through
the openings
32a, 32b, in the direction indicated by arrow 36, so that it is positioned
closely against the
broad, flat lower surface of web portion 16. Positioned immediately below the
tubing, in
turn, is the upper edge 38 of the wall portion 22a of the lower jaw member, so
that the
edge 38 and web 16 form the two contact surfaces of a jaw area. As will be
described in
greater detail below, closing of the jaw area by the scissors-action jaw
members causes
the edge 38 of the wall portion to press against the tubing and pinch it
closed against the
web portion 16, thus restricting the flow of water through the tubing. The
upper edge 40
of the opposite wall portion 22b is cut back at an angle so that only the one
edge 38
contacts the tubing.
A pivoting bail 42 is mounted at the rearward end of the assembly, with its
lower
ends being received in cooperating bores 44 in the wall portions of the upper
jaw
member 12. A depending bail or hook member 46 is in turn mounted to the lower
jaw
member 14, the upper end thereof being secured to the walls of the lower jaw
member by
ends that are received in holes 49. The attachment points for both the bail
and hook
members lie well rearwardly of the horizontal pivot axis, on the side of bolt
24 opposite
the jaw area and tubing.
b. Operation
The automatic watering apparatus of the present invention has the capacity to
operate with both suspended containers such as hanging baskets and non-
suspended
containers such as planter boxes and pots.
Accordingly, FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 10 in use with a hanging basket 50. As
noted above, both the upper bai142 and depending bail 46 are positioned behind
the pivot
pin 24, i.e., to the left in FIG. 2. The bail suspends the assembly from a
hook 52 or other
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
5 fitting that is mounted to an overhanging support (e.g., an eave), while the
hoop 54 or
similar attachment on the basket is suspended from the hook portion 46 of the
apparatus.
The weight of the basket consequently exerts a tension through the hook and
bail
members 46, 42, exerting a spreading force at the rearward end of the
apparatus as
indicated by arrows 56a, 56b. This force resiliently compresses the
compression spring
10 30, so that at the forward end the upper and lower jaw members pivot
together to
generate the scissors action described above, as indicated by arrows 58a, 58b.
This in
turn closes the jaw area, causing the upper edge 38 on the lower jaw member to
compress
the flexible tubing 34 against the web of the upper jaw member, thus pinching
off flow
through the tubing.
The pinching action is more clearly shown in FIGS. 4-7. As can be seen in
FIGS. 4-5, when the jaw area is in the initial, open position, the tubing 34
is expanded
(by virtue of wall resilience and/or internal water pressure) so as to have an
open interior
passage through which water flows to the container. The tubing extends
transversely
across the broad web 16 and is contacted lightly (if at all) by the edge of
wall 22a. Then,
as is shown in FIGS. 6-7, an increase in weight (i.e., due to increased
water/moisture in
the container, causes the upper edge 38 of the wall to move towards web 16,
pressing into
the wall of the tubing and pinching the internal passage closed.
Resistance to the pivoting, pinching action of the jaw members is provided by
the
compression spring 30. The resistance can be selectively increased or
decreased by
tightening or loosening the adjuster nut 28 on shaft 25. The large-diameter
(e.g.,
approximately 1") of the nut eases its operation, even for persons having
arthritis or
otherwise limited dexterity, and also aides in making very fine adjustments.
Ease and
accuracy of adjustment is also facilitated by the use of the narrow contact
surface 38
(with the tubing being held stable by the broad surface of the web 16), as
opposed to
employing a pair of broad contact surfaces to compress the tubing.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the flexible tubing 34 is routed from the openings
32a,
32b in the upper jaw member of the apparatus to the hanging basket that is
suspended
from the hook member 46. An increase in weight of the basket due to increased
dampness of the soil will therefore increase the tension force that is exerted
against the
rearward ends of the jaw members, so that the jaw members rotate about the
pivot axis to
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
11
close the jaw area and compress the tubing, slowing or stopping the flow of
water.
Conversely, as the weight of the basket lessens due to water loss, the spring
acts to
counter-rotate the jaw members so that the pinching force is reduced and flow
is re-
established.
To set the device, the gardener attaches the hanging container as shown in
FIG. 2,
and manually adds water until an optimal dampness has been attained, taking
into
account the particular requirements of the plants that are contained therein.
The adjuster
wheel is then tightened/loosened until the flow of water from the discharge
end of the
tubing is just barely stopped. With the subsequent drying, the tension and
therefore the
pinching force on the tubing is lessened, and water passes through the
partially
constricted tubing and drips into the basket until the weight again
corresponds to the
optimal dampness. If at any point the gardener observes that the dampness of
the soil is
being maintained at a greater or lower level than desired, this is easily
rectified by
slightly tightening or loosening the adjuster wheel.
In this manner, the automatic watering apparatus of the present invention will
keep the basket or other container properly watered on an indefinite basis
without
requiring attention from the gardener. Moreover, multiple containers can be
supplied
through individual water lines (e.g., branch lines from a main feeder tube),
with the
individual watering devices being set to maintain different levels of dampness
as
appropriate for the varieties of plants in their respective containers.
FIG. 3 shows the automatic watering apparatus 10 being used with a planter box
60 or other non-suspended container that is supported by an underlying surface
62 (e.g., a
patio or deck). In this installation, the bracket and hook members are not
used and may
be dispensed with. Instead, the weight of the planter box is borne vertically
on the web
16 of the upper jaw member. Where the spacing between the bottom of the
planter box
and the underlying surface is sufficient, the forward end of the assembly 10
may simply
be inserted in the gap; alternatively, as is shown in FIG. 3, a projecting
bracket 64 may be
installed on the end of the container for transferring the vertical load into
the jaw
member. The opposite end of the planter box is supported on a suitable fulcrum
66 that
permits the box to pivot upwardly and downwardly with the working of the
apparatus 10
(although in some installations the end of the box itself may serve as the
fulcrum); a
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
12
corresponding raised, radiused bearing surface 68 (e.g., a raised ridge or
dome) is
preferably formed or mounted atop the upper jaw member for similarly
accommodating
relative pivoting motion between the jaw member and the bracket 64.
The weight of the planter box or other container 60 resting on the upper jaw
member of the watering apparatus consequently acts to force the forward ends
of the jaw
members together as indicated by arrows 70a, 70b, thereby closing the jaw area
and
developing the pinching action described above. In response, the jaw members
spread
apart at the opposite end, in the direction indicated by arrows 72a, 72b,
compressing
spring 30 in the same manner as described above. Adjustment is likewise
accomplished
in the same manner, by tightening or loosening adjuster nut 28 to increase or
decrease the
compression of spring 30.
The present invention thus provides an automatic watering apparatus that can
be
used in the same form with both suspended containers such as hanging baskets
and non-
suspended containers such as planter boxes.
c. Components
As is shown in the figures, the automatic watering apparatus 10 of the present
invention is economically constructed of low cost, durable components and
materials.
The upper and lower jaw members 12, 14 are suitably fabricated from aluminum
or other metal stock. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper jaw member 12,
with its
web and depending walls, is suitably fabricated of aluminum channel cut to a
suitable
length (e.g., 1-inch wide by 1/2-inch deep aluminum channel, cut to a length
of 2 inches)
and then drilled or punched to form the bores and openings. The bores 32a, 32b
are
preferably sized to accommodate the maximum diameter of tubing with which the
apparatus is intended to be used: For the majority of applications, 1/8"
diameter flexible
plastic tubing is eminently suitable, although it will be understood that
other sizes may be
employed in some embodiments.
The lower jaw member 14, in turn, is suitably constructed of aluminum channel
that is sized somewhat smaller than a width of the upper jaw member (e.g., 1/2-
inch wide
by 3/8-inch deep channel). As can be seen in FIG. 5, the lower jaw member is
suitably
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
13
formed from somewhat smaller channel stock (e.g., 1/2-inch wide by 1/2-inch
deep
channel), by making a series of vertical and angled cuts at the forward and
rearward ends.
At the forward end, the vertical cut defines the forward edge of the wall 22a
that extends
upwardly to the edge 38 for pinching the tubing, the other edge 40 being
formed by an
angled cut. At the rearward end, both edges 74a, 74b are cut at a sloped
angle, to avoid
interference between the upper edges of the walls 22a, 22b and the web of the
upper jaw
member. The bore 76 for the pivot bolt is suitably formed by drilling or
punching
through the wall portions in a transverse direction.
Accordingly, both the upper and lower jaw members can be formed of a durable,
low cost material -- i.e., aluminum stock -- with a series of quick cuts that
are easily
automated for production. It will be understood, however, that other suitable
materials or
techniques may be used, such as stamped, molded or cast parts, or non-metallic
(e.g.,
plastic) components, for example.
The bolt 24 that forms the horizontal pivot axis may suitably be an ordinary
bolt
for being passed through the bores, with the bores being threaded so as to
lock the bolt in
place. It will be understood, however, that many other forms of pivot pins may
be
employed, such as a roll pin or plain rod, for example.
The vertical bolt 26, in turn, may suitably be a conventional bolt that
extends
through cooperating bores in the webs of the upper and lower jaw portions,
with the head
of the bolt being secured to the lower jaw portion. In the illustrated
embodiment
(constructed of stock having the exemplary dimensions noted above), the bolt
26 suitably
has a length of about 1 1/4-inch, so that the end of its shaft projects above
the upper jaw
portion by about 1/2 - 3/4-inch; for ease of production, the pivot and
adjustment bolts
may be identical pieces, e.g., 1 1/4 x 8/32-inch machine screws.
As can be seen, the compression spring 30 that is mounted amount the bolt is
preferably formed as a conical coil spring, having a comparatively small-
diameter upper
end 76 that fits under the hub of the adjuster nut 28 and a large-diameter
lower end that
bears against the upper surface of the web portion 16 of the upper jaw member.
This
configuration has the advantage of easily accommodating changes in the angle
between
the adjuster bolt/spring and the upper jaw member, as well as enabling the
spring to
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
14
collapse substantially flat when the mat is fully tightened, as shown in FIG.
3. Moreover,
the component is durable and very economically sourced.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the compression spring may be a leaf spring
having a somewhat S-shaped configuration. The depressed end 80 of the spring
is
mounted atop the web portion 16 of the upper jaw member by a screw 82 or other
suitable fastener or attachment (e.g., a rivet or an adhesive). The raised end
84 of the
spring is positioned against the bottom of an adjuster wheel 86 and is forked,
with a slot
opening 88 for accommodating the shaft of the adjuster bolt 26. The raised end
of the
spring is preferably somewhat downcurved so as to form a convexly curved upper
surface
in the area that bears against the underside of the adjuster wheel. This has
the advantage
of forming a sliding interface that maintains a more-or-less constant area of
contact
between the adjuster wheel and raised end of the spring during pivoting
movement of the
jaw members, thus avoiding binding or increased friction between the adjuster
wheel and
the spring. It will be understood that in other embodiments still different
forms or
configurations of springs may be used, such as an elastomeric piece or live
hinge, for
example.
The adjuster nut may be a simple wing nut as shown in FIGS. 1-7 or it may be a
wheel formed of a cut, stamped or molded material (e.g., aluminum or plastic)
as shown
in FIG. 9, with a threaded bore for engaging the shaft of the bolt. As noted
above, the
adjuster nut/wheel preferably has a relatively large diameter (e.g., 1") for
ease of
adjustment. Finally, the bail members are suitably formed of steel wire bent
to shape
over a form, although again it will be understood that other suitable
materials may be
used.
d. Water Supply Tubing
FIG. 10 shows a system 90 of water supply tubing that is eminently suited to
use
with the automatic watering devices described above. It will be understood,
however,
that other forms of tubing and connectors may be utilized in the present
invention as well.
As can be seen, the system 90 includes a screw-on reducer 92 that attaches to
the
outlet 94 of a conventional garden hose faucet. The reducer has an outlet
nipple 96 that is
CA 02565639 2006-10-26
5 sized to receive the flexible tubing (e.g., 1/8-inch plastic tubing)
therein. The nipple is
formed with an external taper, over which a nut 98 is threaded and tightened
to lock the
tubing in place; the reducer is preferably formed of resilient plastic so that
it will
compress against the tubing as the preferably metal nut is tightened.
The other end of the initial tubing section 100a is attached to a plastic "T"
10 connector 102 having nipple connectors 104a-c similar to that of the
reducer and over
which additional nuts 98 are threaded is the same manner to secure the tubing.
Tubing
segments 100b-c are attached to the other legs of the "T" to form supply lines
that are
routed to desired locations in the garden. Additional "T"s and segments (e.g.,
100d-e) are
then installed proximate the containers themselves, from which the branch
segment is led
15 through the watering device (i.e., see tubing 34 above) and to the plant.
It is to be recognized that various alterations, modifications, and/or
additions may
be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts described above
without
departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.
