AU702426B2 - Bottle-wick watering system - Google Patents

Description

BOTTLE-WICK WATERING SYSTEM This invention is a watering system for plants that can make use of recycled plastic bottles or any other water-retaining vessel by providing screw-in wicks that contain fertilizer and a medium that draws the water from the bottle to the plant. Junctions and pieces that join or fit the bottles and pieces of hose or feeder tube can be used to make up a large system. The invention is also concerned with a tool that makes threaded holes in the bottles to take the screw-in wicks.

This invention uses a method that could best be described as a form of hydroculture combined with permaculture.l It works on the same principle as the *self-watering pot.. However it differs from the self-watering pot in that, instead of its own pot, it has separate nutrient wicks that will screw into recycled bottles or any other water retaining vessels. This invention also has the advantage that it can be used under the soil, and will grow a multitude of plants by the use of its various junctions. Additionally, the nutrient wick that provides water to the plant contains its own fertilizer, so that the plant is 2 nourished by both water and fertilizer.

020 No product is currently available that makes use of recycled bottles or works in this manner;nor is there a wick that is threaded so that it will screw into a bottle or other water retaining vessel such as a pipe.With its various advantages over existing products, this invention contributes to overcoming the problems of water shortage, waste, and a limited budget.

The various junctions and pieces disclosed herein can create a watering system by interconnecting recycled plastic bottles with each other. Various connectors and pieces of hose, may be used for this purpose. Some bottles serve as water storage vessels' are buried and supplied with water via feeder tubes that attach to inverted top portions of other bottles which serve as water Scollection funnels. Each buried water storage bottle serves as a well for the water that is drawn up through the bottle-wick that is threaded into the side of the storage bottle or other vessel.

A tap-holesaw invented by the applicants for the purpose can be used to make the hole in the wall of the vessel and threads it in the same action.

The screw-in bottle-wick is preferably of hollow plastic, in one or more pieces and of varying shapes and sizes, and is filled with a known wicking medium and fertilizer.

The opening of the inverted water collection bottle is preferably placed at ground level and fitted with a grate that fits inside the circumference of the .inverted bottle top to prevent fouling. The grate may contains mesh to keep out insects such as mosquitos.

44 In the simplest system a right-angled tubular junction with threaded tops at both ends connects an open-ended inverted bottle, that is fitted with a grate S-and that collects the water, with a buried water storage bottle that has a bottlewick screwed into a threaded hole made in its side by the tap-holesaw.A plant grows above the wick and draws water through the wick from the storage bottle, at the same time receiving the dissolved fertilizer that is packed in the wick.

In another form of the invention, the system can be extended to water any number of plants by use of elbow-junctions, cross-junctions and T-junctions to connect bottles and pieces of hose.The elbowjunction is of right-angled in shape, and at one end has a threaded top that screws onto the collection bottle fitted with a grate, and at the other may be barbed on the outside so that a piece of hose can fit over it.The other end of this hose fits onto one of the barbed ends of a cross-junction which has two 1800 opposite barbed arms onto which hoses can fit, and two 1800 opposite threaded tops that screw onto Rwater storage bottles Each storage bottle can have a wick screwed into a threaded hole made in its side by the tap-holesaw, and the wick then draws nourishment from the bottle to the plant.The final piece in the extended system is a T-junction that stops the flow of water.The leg of the T-junction onto which the hose fits is barbed on the outside from its end. Perpendicular to this leg, the T-bar has threaded tops at each end that screw onto storage bottles each housing a screw-in wick as previously described.

In another form of the invention, this system is extended two ways in 1800 opposite directions by using a T-junction that has a threaded top at the bottom of its leg that screws onto the collection bottle fitted with a grate. The ends of the perpendicular T-bar are barbed on the outside from each end so that a hose can be fitted onto each end .These hoses can then be connected to cross-junctions so that the system can be extended in two opposite directions .Each cross-junction connects to two storage bottles into which wicks are screwed, the threaded hole made by a tap-holesaw .Each direction of the system has the T-junction as its final piece as described in the previous example.

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In another form of the invention, one of the pieces of standard hose is fitted 20 onto a junction that connects a standard hose with feeder tubes, commonly 4 mm width. With the inclusion of a screwed bottletop that has a hollow barbed nozzle in its centre onto which a feeder tube fits, the said tubes supply water to the storage bottles that each contain a wick screwed into the threaded hole made by the tap-holesaw. This system is more effective on sloping land as it distributes water at even rates at low pressure.

The wick can be of various plastic shapes and sizes, and can fit into either a bottle or other water containing vessel, such as a pipe, by screwing into a threaded hole.The bottle-wick can be in one piece with a hollow end that has a medium such as glass wool tightly inserted to contain the fertilizer.The wick can also be sealed at the bottom after it is filled with the fertilizer and wicking A/i 21,\ medium .In other forms of the bottle-wick, it can be made in two pieces that screw together, either in the horizontal centre of the head, or between the head and the stem of the bottle wick .This construction will allow the fertilizer and wicking medium to be refilled when necessary.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which give examples of the invention.

In the drawings: 1o Figure 1 depicts a bottle-wick that screws into a plastic storage bottle or other water retaining vessel.

Figure 2 depicts the elbowjunction used to connect an inverted collection bottle portion and a storage bottle in the single plant bottle-wick watering 15 system.

Figure 3 depicts the grate that fits inside the open-end of the inverted collection bottle.

e e• 20 Figure 4 depicts the operation of the single plant watering system.

Figure 5 depicts an elbow junction that can be used in the extended watering *system, one end being adapted to screw onto a bottle and the other being barbed so that a hose can be fitted thereto.

Figure 6 depicts a cross-junction that may be used in the extended watering system.

Figure 7 depicts a T-junction that can serve as the final piece in the extended watering system.

Figure 8 depicts the operation of the extended watering system.

Figure 9 shows a T-junction that may be used to extend the system in two opposite directions.

Figure 10 depicts the junction a connects a standard hose with feeder tubes.

Figure 11 shows the bottle top that can be used to connect a feeder tube with a bottle.

Figure 12 shows the operation of the system where a standard hose is connected to feeder tubes.

Figure 13 shows a tap-holesaw used for making a hole in the side of a storage bottle and threading it.

too. Figure 14 shows the tap-holesaw when it is screwed onto an arbor.

Figure 1, shows a screw-in bottle-wick 10 that is of simple construction. It 20 comprises a hollow tubular stem 11 that is hollow and has a lower portion 12 constructed of thin perforated plastic.Around its bottom rim 13 and also in vertical strips or ribs 14, the plastic of portion 12 is solid to give it strength.

Joined to lower perforated tubular portion 12 is an upper unperforated tubular portion 15 that is externally threaded to allow the bottle-wick to be screwed into the side of a storage bottle. Joined to the top of the upper tubular portion of stem 11 is a disc-like platform 16 that supports a block of fertilzer 17 that is moulded into a semi-spherical shape. The fertilizer is covered by a fine meshed plastic screen 18 that allows the water and dissolved fertilizer to be drawn therethrough by the roots of a plant.The platform 16 sits on the side of a water storage bottle once the tubular stem 11 has been screwed therein, as shown in Figures 4, 8 and 12.The stem 11 of the bottle-wick 10 contains a A4/, wicking medium 19 and, if desired, fertilizer so water is drawn from the bottle to the plant through the fertilizer .in one form the wicking medium may be in the form of glass wool or the like that forms a bung in the bottom of stem 11.

Figure 2 depicts an elbow-junction 20 that is a hollow plastic tube 21, rightangled in shape with a screw connector 23 and 24 at each end. Elbow junction is used for the single plant system to connect an undground water storage bottle with a funnel like inverted water collection bottle portion. Connectors 23 and 24 are internally threaded to take the externally threaded portion of a standard bottle neck. Preferably, a flat rubber washer 25 fits is used in each io connector to ensure a water-tight seal with the neck of the collection or storage bottle.

S"Figure 3 shows a moulded plastic grate 30 that fits inside the circumference of the cut and open -end of a water collection bottle.The top of the grate 30 is .5 is circular in shape and could have depth of 5-7 mms.The openings of the grate are formed by a grid of plastic strips 32 at right angles to each other.These strips are perpendicular to the plane of the diameter of the circular rim which forms the side of the grate..Below the top of the grate the sides jut inwards to form a rim 34 that is adapted to rest on the cut edge of the open-topped cut 20 bottle that forms the funnel-like water collection means. Rim 34 may be approximately 3 mms wide where it joins the lower and smaller cylindrical piece 36. The diameter of this smaller cylinder 36 is such that it fits firmly inside a plastic bottle..

Figure 4 shows a watering system 40 for a single plant.This system begins with a collection bottle 41 that has had its bottom cut off and has been inverted. Its open cut end has been fitted with a grate 30 as described above.This collection bottle is then placed top-down with the grated end at ground level or slightly above so that it can collect water by such ways as rain, hosing or run-off.The right-angled elbow junction 20 with screw-couplings at both ends, described in Figure 2, is used to connect collection bottle 41 with a NRcomplete storage bottle 43 that stores the water.A bottle-wick 10 formed as describe with respect to Figure 1 is then screwed into a threaded hole made in the side of the bottle by the tap-holesaw of this invention.The storage bottle 43 and bottle-wick 10 are buried beneath a plant 44 that is nourished by the water and fertilizer drawn up through the wick.

Figure 5 shows an alternative form of elbow junction 50 that may be used to connect a length of hose and a bottle.This junction is right-angled in shape, hollow inside, and is made of plastic.One end 51 is open and barbed on the outside so that a hose fitted firmly over it will be retained in a water-tight io manner.The other end has an internally threaded coupling 52 adapted to screw onto a bottle neck.To ensure a water-tight fitting between coupling 52 and the neck of a bottle, a flexible, flat rubber washer 53 may be used.This rubber washer has a hole in the centre the same diameter as the tube to allow the flow of water.Coupling piece 52 swivels around the tube of the junction so that it can be screwed onto the bottle top without turning the junction.

Figure 6 depicts a cross junction 60 used to connect two hoses at 1800 opposite one another and two bottles, also 1800 opposite each other. Each arm 62 that connects with a hose is barbed outwards at 64 from the end so that the 2 hose (not shown) fits securely over it. Each of the other arms have internally threaded couplings 66 fitted thereto adapted to screw onto the necks of bottles as described in Figure 2.

Figure 7 depicts the T-junction 70 that forms the final piece in the extended watering system.At each end of the straight section 72 of the hollow T-bar are the threaded couplings 74 of the type previously described that each screw onto the neck of a bottle. Perpendicular to the centre of section 72 is a hollow tube 76 that is barbed outwards from its end so that the last piece of hose from one of the cross-junctions can fit over it.

Figure 8 shows an extended watering system 80.This system begins with an inverted collection plastic bottle 41 that has had its bottom cut off.Within the cut opening is fitted the meshed plastic grate 30 that prevents fouling of the water collection system, and reinforces the collection bottle 41.This bottle is then placed top-down with the grated end at ground level or slightly higher so that it can collect water.

To the threaded neck of collection bottle 41 is attached an elbowjunction described in Figure 5.The end of this elbow junction that has the threaded coupling is screwed onto the neck of bottle 41. One end of a hose 85 is pushed over the barbed end of junction 50. The other end of hose 85 is then pushed onto one of the barbed ends of a cross-junction 60.The opposing barbed end 1800 on junction 60 has a piece of hose 87 fitted over it.The other two arms of junction 60 both have threaded couplings 66 that screw onto the .i *threaded necks of opposing storage bottles 43. Hose 87 connects with the barbed end of another cross-junction 60a, and the system is extended :15 indefinitely in this way, each cross-junction 60b etc screwing onto two further :storage bottles 43.

0.-S Each storage bottle 43 has a threaded hole formed in it upper side made by the tap-holesaw (described in more detail below) and a bottle-wick 10 is .l screwed into each one of these holes.

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The system is completed by a T-junction 70, as described in Figure 7, that 0 directs the flow of water to the last pair of storage bottles. It will be seen that the cross junctions 60 connecting the ground-level collection bottle 41 with the pieces of hose and the storage bottles 43 allows the water to flow under the soil through the watering system so that it can be drawn up through the bottle wicks 10 to plants planted over the system in the soil (not shown in Figure 8).

Figure 9 shows a modified form of T-junction 90 having a screwed coupling 92 on the bottom leg of the T. Junction 90 allows the watering system to be extended in two 1800 opposite directions from one collection bottle 41. As Tbefore, junction 90 is made from plastic and is a T-shaped hollow tube.The screwed coupling 92 can connect with the neck of a collection bottle 41 while each end of the cross-arm 94 of the T is barbed for connection to a hose that is in turn connected to one of two opposing storage bottles 43.

Figure 10 illustrates a multi-port junction 100 that connects a hose with a plurality of small-diameter feeder tubes.It is a plastic hollow tube with an open end 102 and a domed or rounded shaped closed end 104.The open end 102 of the tube 100 is barbed on the outside from the end so that a standard hose fits tightly over it.The dome shaped end 102 has a number of small diameter io hollow nozzles 106 that have barbed ends so that the feeder tubes can be fitted over these nozzles.Water then flows from the standard hose, through thisjunction, and then through the feeder tubes to the bottles fitted with bottlewicks.

Figure 11 shows a plastic bottle top 110 used with the junction 100 of Figure connecting a standard hose with feeder tubes.The inside wall of the top 110 is threaded so that it can screw onto a bottle neck.In the centre of the roof of the top is a hollow nozzle 112 that allows the water to flow into the bottle.This nozzle is barbed on the outside towards the bottle top so that a feeder tube 20 can be fitted over it.

:Figure 12 shows a bottle-wick watering system 120 using small-diameter feeder tubes 122.A plastic collection bottle 41 that has its bottom cut off and a S: i meshed grate 30 fitted within its circumference, is placed neck-down with the 25 grated end at ground level or slightly higher so that it can collect water.To the neck of this ground level water-collection bottle 41 is attached an elbow junction 50, as described with reference to Figure 5. The threaded coupling 52 of this elbow junction is screwed onto the neck of the collection bottle 41.A piece of hose (not shown in Figure 12) is pushed onto the other barbed end of this elbow junction 50 and pushed onto the barbed end of a multi-port junction 100 that connects with a plurality of feeder tubes 122 via each of the nozzles on its rounded end. Feeder tubes 122 are conveniently of about 4 mm in 11 diameter. The other end of each of these feeder tubes 122 is fitted onto the barbed nozzle of a bottle top 110.Each bottle top is screwed onto the neck of a storage bottle 43 that is fitted with a bottle-wick Figure 13 shows a tap-holesaw 130 that is another feature of the present invention and makes the threaded hole in the storage bottles 43 into which the bottle-wicks of this invention are screwed.The tap-holesaw 130 is a one piece metal cup-like device similar to the conventional timber holesaws except that it is adapted to make a hole and thread it in the same action.lt is a cylindrical shape with a diameter to suit the diameter of the stem 11 of a bottle-wick its open end 132 are the saw teeth 134 that make the hole.Around the other (closed) end 136 for a length of approximately one third of the total length of the tap-holesaw are spiral ridges 138 that make the thread in the wall of the storage bottle after the hole has been cut.These ridges have flutes 140 cut vertically in four places so that swarf material can escape. The closed end 136 of the holesaw 130 has a threaded socket that will screw onto an arbor.

*e Figure 14 shows the tap-holesaw 130 after it has been screwed onto an arbor 142 which is fitted with a drill bit 144 that protrudes outwards and centrally 20 from the open end 132 of the tap-holesaw 130.The arbor 130 is screwed into a *l central threaded portion in the closed end 136 of the tap-holesaw 130.

This invention provides a system that nourishes plants and results in a substantial saving of water. It provides a useful method of recycling bottles by S 25 using them to store the water that is drawn to the plant through the bottle-wick.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:- 1 A wick device for use in a subterranean watering system for plants, the system having a water storage vessel buried beneath a plant to be watered, the wick device comprising: a hollow stem portion, at least part of said stem portion being open or perforated so that water can pass freely into the stem portion from the exterior thereof, a head portion containing or comprising solid or particulate fertilizer material, and a wick within the stem portion extending between said open or perforated part of the stem portion and said fertilizer material, said wick being adapted to convey water from the storage vessel to the fertilizer material when the stem portion is entered through an aperture formed in an upper wall of the storage vessel and when said stem portion is at least partially immersed in water contained within the vessel.

:2 A device according to claim 1 wherein said wick compries glass wool or other fibrous material, and wherein said wick protrudes from said open or perforated part of the stem portion.

3 A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said head portion is covered by a mesh adapted to retain the solid fertilizer material within the device while allowing dissolved fertilizer to pass from the device.

ooool 4 A device according to any preceding claim wherein at least an upper part of the exterior of said stem portion is screw-threaded and thereby adapted for engagement with a threaded aperature in the wall of the storage vessel.