Ergonomic stackable watering can

Abstract

An ergonomic stackable watering can for watering plants and flowers for example comprises a tapered reservoir having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a top opening defining a top edge of the wall, a spout extending from the reservoir so as to be in fluid communication therewith, and a handle mounted to the reservoir over a tapered hollow stem which is mounted to the bottom of the reservoir so as to extend therefrom about a hole in the reservoir. The peripheral wall further includes an enlargement for receiving a portion of the spout of a similar watering can when the watering cans are assembled in a stack. The handle of a first watering can is inserted in the stem portion of a second watering can when two such watering cans are stacked.

1 . A stackable watering can comprising:
 a reservoir defined by a bottom and a peripheral wall that extends from the bottom to a free edge of the peripheral wall; the free edge of the peripheral wall defining a top opening of the reservoir; the reservoir being tapered along a first direction generally perpendicular to the bottom; the bottom of the reservoir having an hole therein; the peripheral wall including an enlargement at the opening;   a hollow stem extending from the bottom of the reservoir, about the hole therein, to near the top opening of the reservoir; the hollow stem being tapered along the first direction;   a handle extending over the hollow stem; and   a spout extending from the reservoir so as to define an acute angle therewith and so as to be registered with the enlargement of the reservoir; the stackable watering can being a first watering can; the enlargement being configured and sized so as to receive therein at least a portion of the spout of a second watering can, which is similar to the first watering can, when the reservoir of the second watering can is inserted in the reservoir of the first watering can so as to arrange the first and second watering cans in a stack; the hollow stem of the first watering can being received in the hollow stem of the second reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spout having a bottom defining a channel that extends from the reservoir so as to be in fluid communication therewith and having a top opening which is an extension of the top opening of the reservoir; the spout having a side opening at its end opposite the reservoir and being tapered from its bottom to its opening;
 whereby, when the first and second watering cans are arranged in the stack, the spout of the second watering can being at least partially inserted in the spout of the first watering can.   
     
     
         3 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a removable spout cover which is shaped so as to conform to the spout. 
     
     
         4 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the spout cover includes a cover portion to cover at least partially the top opening of the spout and a spreader portion so mounted to the top opening as to partially close the side opening of the spout when the spout cover is mounted onto the spout. 
     
     
         5 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the spreader portion is removably mounted to the cover portion of the spout cover. 
     
     
         6 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the spreader portion of the spout cover is a first spreader portion; the stackable watering can further comprising a second removable spreader portion; the first and second spreader portions having a unique arrangement of holes therein. 
     
     
         7 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the cover portion of the spout cover includes a central recess extending substantially along its length. 
     
     
         8 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spout has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         9 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spout has a cross-section which varies along the length of the spout. 
     
     
         10 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the handle is secured to the hollow stem. 
     
     
         11 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes first and second handle portions; the first handle portion having opposite front and back sides wherein the front side facing the spout; the first handle portion is secured to at least one of the hollow stem, the peripheral wall of the reservoir and the bottom of the reservoir; the back side of the first handle portion generally defining a first angle with a first axis generally perpendicular to the bottom of the reservoir; the second handle portion extending from the first handle portion so as to generally define a second angle with the bottom of the reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first angle is between about 0 and 30 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the second angle is between about 0 and 30 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the handle has an arch shape. 
     
     
         15 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , which is one-piece. 
     
     
         16 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , generally defining a fish shape when viewed from the top. 
     
     
         17 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir defines cross-sections along an axis generally perpendicular to the bottom of the reservoir which have a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, rectangular and circular. 
     
     
         18 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the cross-sections are oval-shaped; the oval-shaped cross-sections having small and large symmetrical axes, the handle and spout being positioned along the large symmetrical axis. 
     
     
         19 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir has a volume of about 7.5 liters. 
     
     
         20 . A stackable watering can as recited in  claim 1 , comprising at least one mechanical stop extending from at least one of the bottom of the reservoir and the hollow stem for preventing jamming of the second stackable watering when first and second watering cans are arranged in the stack.