Planter irrigation system with sand drain

Claim 2

A Planter irrigation system for a plurality of plants that allows each plant to absorb as much water as it requires for optimum growth and for removing the waste products of each plant from the vicinity of the plant comprising: a. a tray b. a water reservoir c. a water transmitting material located on said tray and covering a substantial portion of said tray, said water transmitting material covering an area sufficient so that a plurality of plants can be located thereon, said water reservoir being in fluid communication with said water transmitting material, d. drain means in communication with said water transmitting material at a point lower than said reservoir to continuously permit drainage of water therefrom, by gravity, said drain means including at least one drain mechanism, said drain mechanism including a drain conduit in fluid communication with said water transmitting material, and a drain cap having a slitted periphery, said drain conduit and drain cap being filled with sand and said drain conduit being in communication with the sand in said drain cap, said drain means permitting water to continuously drain from the reservoir whereby plants that are located on said water transmitting material will be able to absorb water while the soluble waste products of each plant are removed from the vicinity of the plant by the water continuously from the vicinity of the plant by way of the water transmitting material.

Claim 3

A planter irrigation system for a plurality of plants for providing water to each plant and removing waste products of each plant from the vicinity thereof, said system comprising: a. a tray b. a water reservoir capable of receiving and holding water delivered thereto from an external water source said reservoir having a water adding means connectable to said external water source, c. a portion of water transmitting agent across which water is laterally transmissable by capillary action, said agent being located upon said tray and covering a substantial portion of the area of said tray, said covered area being sufficient to accommodate a plurality of plants located thereon, said water transmtting agent having a portion thereof in fluid communication with water in said reservoir, said fluid communication of said water and said water transmitting agent enabling the lateral transmission of water by capillary action from said reservoir to substantially the entire area of said portion of said water transmitting agent, and d. drain means in communication with said water transmitting agent for continuously permitting water to drain from said water transmitting agent in only the region of said drain means for establishing a continuous lateral flow of water from said reservoir across said water transmitting agent to said region of said drain means, said drain means comprising at least one drain mechanism, said drain mechanism including a drain conduit in fluid communication with said water transmitting agent, a drain cap having a slitted periphery, said drain conduit and drain cap being filled with sand and said drain conduit being in communication with the sand in said drain cap, whereby plants which are located in fluid communication with said water transmitting agent may draw water from said agent, in an amount determinable by the plants, and soluble waste products of the plants may pass from the region of the plants onto said water transmitting agent, said waste products being then carried by said continuous flow of water to said drain means.

Claim 4

A planter irrigation system for a plurality of plants for providing water to each plant and removing waste products of each plant from the vicinity thereof, said system comprising: a. a tray b. a water reservoir capable of receiving and holding water delivered thereto from an external water source said reservoir having a water adding means connectable to said external water source, c. a portion of water transmitting agent across which water is laterally transmissable by capillary action, said agent being located upon said tray and covering a substantial portion of the area of said tray, said covered area being sufficient to accommodate a plurality of plants located thereon, said water transmtting agent having a portion thereof in fluid communication with water in said reservoir, said fluid communication of said water and said water transmitting agent enabling the lateral transmission of water by capillary action from said reservoir to substantially the entire area of said portion of said water transmitting agent, and d. drain means in communication with said water transmitting agent for continuously permitting water to drain from said water transmitting agent in only the region of said drain means for establishing a continuous lateral flow of water from said reservoir across said water transmitting agent to said region of said drain means, said drain means comprising at least one drain mechanism, said drain mechanism including a drain conduit in fluid communication with said water transmitting agent, a drain cap having a slitted periphery, said drain conduit and drain cap being filled with sand and said drain conduit being in communication with the sand in said drain cap, whereby plants which are located in fluid communication with said water transmitting agent may draw water from said agent, in an amount determinable by the plants, and soluble waste products of the plants may pass from the region of the plants onto said water transmitting agent, said waste products being then carried by said continuous flow of water to said drain means.

Claim 5

The planter irrigation system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of plant containers for holding plants to be grown by said system in a quantity of soil, said containers being positionable upon said water transmitting agent, said containers each comprising: a. a vessel having side walls and a bottom and having an opening in the region of said bottom, and b. a layer of glazed material for use as a further water transmitting agent and having a first side having particulate material adhering thereto, said layer being positioned adjacent one of said side walls with said first side facing inwardly in said vessel and extending into said opening.

Claim 6

A planter irrigation system for a plurality of plants for providing water to each plant and removing waste products of each plant from the vicinity thereof, said system comprising: a. a tray b. a water reservoir capable of receiving and holding water delivered thereto from an external water source said reservoir having a water adding means connectable to said external water source said water adding means comprising: i. conduit means connecting said source to said water reservoir to transmit water from said source to said reservoir, ii. an adjustable float valve means having an arm and being interposed in said conduit means to control the flow rate of water to said reservoir, and iii. means for maintaining said valve means in constant state of adjustment, comprising a spindle vertically and rotatably anchored to the bottom of said reservoir, having threads along a portion of its length and a knurled knob at its upper end, and a spring clamp adapted to be screwed onto said threads and to simultaneously engage and hold said arm of said float valve at a constant level, c. a portion of water transmitting agent across which water is laterally transmissable by capillary action, said agent being located upon said tray and covering a substantial portion of the area of said tray, said covered area being sufficient to accommodate a plurality of plants located thereon, said water transmitting agent having a portion thereof in fluid communication with water in said reservoir, said fluid communication of said water and said water transmitting agent enabling the lateral transmission of water by capillary action from said reservoir to substantially the entire area of said portion of said water transmitting agent, and d. drain means in communication with said water transmitting agent for continuously permitting water to drain from said water transmitting agent in only the region of said drain means for establishing a continuous lateral flow of water from said reservoir across said water transmitting agent to said region of said drain means, whereby plants which are located in fluid communication with said water transmitting agent may draw water from said agent, in an amount determinable by the plants, and soluble waste products of the plants may pass from the region of the plants onto said water transmitting agent, said waste products being then carried by said continuous flow of water to said drain means.

Claim 7

A planter irrigation system for a plurality of plants for providing water to each plant and removing waste products of each plant from the vicinity thereof, said system comprising: a. a tray b. a water reservoir capable of receiving and holding water delivered thereto from an external water source said reservoir having a water adding means connectable to said external water source said water adding means comprising: i. conduit means connecting said source to said water reservoir to transmit water from said source to said reservoir, ii. an adjustable float valve means having an arm and being interposed in said conduit means to control the flow rate of water to said reservoir, and iii. means for maintaining said valve means in constant state of adjustment, comprising a spindle vertically and rotatably anchored to the bottom of said reservoir, having threads along a portion of its length and a knurled knob at its upper end, and a spring clamp adapted to be screwed onto said threads and to simultaneously engage and hold said arm of said float valve at a constant level, c. a portion of water transmitting agent across which water is laterally transmissable by capillary action, said agent being located upon said tray and covering a substantial portion of the area of said tray, said covered area being sufficient to accommodate a plurality of plants located thereon, said water transmitting agent having a portion thereof in fluid communication with water in said reservoir, said fluid communication of said water and said water transmitting agent enabling the lateral transmission of water by capillary action from said reservoir to substantially the entire area of said portion of said water transmitting agent, and d. drain means in communication with said water transmitting agent for continuously permitting water to drain from said water transmitting agent in only the region of said drain means for establishing a continuous lateral flow of water from said reservoir across said water transmitting agent to said region of said drain means, whereby plants which are located in fluid communication with said water transmitting agent may draw water from said agent, in an amount determinable by the plants, and soluble waste products of the plants may pass from the region of the plants onto said water transmitting agent, said waste products being then carried by said continuous flow of water to said drain means.