Plant Containment System Having Two-Position Valve

Abstract

A plant growing, transportation, display, and maintenance system including a plant pot and corresponding container having a selectable valve that controls the flow of liquid into and out of the container. In the “open” position, the valve allows water to pass into and out of the container in order to provide water to the contents of the plant pot resting in the container. In the “closed” position, the valve prevents any water flow into or out of the container.

Having described our invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container, comprising:
 a. providing a plant pot, having a bottom and at least one side wall extending from said bottom up to a top rim, said bottom and said at least one side wall defining an interior of said plant pot;   b. said plant pot including at least one hole located in or proximate to said bottom;   c. providing at least one wick extending from below said bottom of said plant pot, through said hole, and into said interior of said plant pot;   d. providing a container, including a bottom, and a side wall extending upward from said bottom;   e. said plant pot resting in said container, with said bottom of said plant pot being above said bottom of said container;   f. providing an overflow opening in said container;   g. providing a valve located in said overflow opening, said valve being movable between an open position in which said valve allows said liquid to flow through said overflow opening and a closed position in which said valve prevents any flow of said liquid through said overflow opening;   h. selectively opening and closing said valve in order to allow or prohibit passage of said liquid through said overflow opening; and   i. said container including a defined overflow level, said defined overflow level being a level of water resulting in said container when said container is flooded to a level above said valve, said valve is opened, and water is allowed to flow out of said container through said valve until a stable level is reached wherein no more water flows out of said container through said valve; and   j. said defined overflow level being proximate said bottom of said plant pot.   
     
     
         2 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. said container includes a central tower extending upward from said bottom; and   b. said overflow opening is located in said central tower.   
     
     
         3 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. said central tower contains an upper portion; and   b. said upper portion bears against said bottom of said plant pot.   
     
     
         4 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. said central tower includes an upper portion;   b. said upper portion of said central tower includes a horizontal surface; and   c. said horizontal surface includes said overflow opening.   
     
     
         5 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 4 , wherein:
 a. said central tower includes a support ring extending upward from said upper portion; and   b. said support ring bears against said bottom of said plant pot.   
     
     
         6 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said overflow opening includes a tapered side wall. 
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 6 , wherein:
 a. said valve includes a movable sealing plug, including,
 i. a sealing plate, with a sealing surface facing toward said horizontal surface, 
 ii. a tapered plug extending from said sealing plate toward said overflow opening, 
 iii. a cylinder extending from said tapered plug, 
 iv. a rib separating said tapered plug from said cylinder, 
 v. a retaining expansion extending from said cylinder, 
 vi. a transverse slot extending through said rib, said cylinder, and said retaining expansion, 
   b. said sealing plug being configured so that,
 i. in a first position said sealing plate is lifted off said horizontal surface and said transverse slot allows said liquid to flow through said overflow opening, and 
 ii. in a second position said sealing plate is pressed against said horizontal surface and said tapered plug seals against said tapered side wall, thereby blocking said overflow opening. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. placing said assembly of said plant pot and said container in a tray that is part of an ebb and flood irrigation system;   b. while said valve is in said open position, flooding said tray to a level that is higher than said defined overflow level of said container, whereupon water in said tray flows through said valve and into said container;   c. while said valve remains in said open position, removing said water from said tray so that a level of water within said container stabilizes at said defined overflow level.   
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising after said water within said container has stabilized at said defined overflow level, closing said valve. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said defined overflow level is below said bottom of said plant pot. 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container, comprising:
 a. providing a plant pot, having a bottom and at least one side wall extending from said bottom up to a top rim, said bottom and said at least one side wall defining an interior of said plant pot;   b. providing a container, including a bottom, and a side wall extending upward from said bottom;   c. said plant pot resting in said container, with said bottom of said plant pot being above said bottom of said container;   d. providing an overflow opening in said container controlled by a valve;   e. said valve being movable between an open position in which said valve allows said liquid to flow through said overflow opening and a closed position in which said valve prevents any flow of said liquid through said overflow opening;   f. selectively opening and closing said valve in order to allow or prohibit passage of said liquid through said overflow opening;   g. said container including a defined overflow level, said defined overflow level being a level of water resulting in said container when said container is flooded to a level above said valve, said valve is opened, and water is allowed to flow out of said container through said valve until a stable level is reached wherein no more water flows out of said container through said valve; and   h. said defined overflow level being proximate said bottom of said plant pot.   
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 a. said container includes a central tower extending upward from said bottom; and   b. said overflow opening is located in said central tower.   
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 12 , wherein:
 a. said central tower contains an upper portion; and   b. said upper portion bears against said bottom of said plant pot.   
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 12 , wherein:
 a. said central tower includes an upper portion;   b. said upper portion of said central tower includes a horizontal surface; and   c. said horizontal surface includes said overflow opening.   
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 14 , wherein:
 a. said central tower includes a support ring extending upward from said upper portion; and   b. said support ring bears against said bottom of said plant pot.   
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said overflow opening includes a tapered side wall. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 16 , wherein:
 a. said valve includes a movable sealing plug, including,
 i. a sealing plate, with a sealing surface facing toward said horizontal surface, 
 ii. a tapered plug extending from said sealing plate toward said overflow opening, 
 iii. a cylinder extending from said tapered plug, 
 iv. a rib separating said tapered plug from said cylinder, 
 v. a retaining expansion extending from said cylinder, 
 vi. a transverse slot extending through said rib, said cylinder, and said retaining expansion, 
   b. said sealing plug being configured so that,
 i. in a first position said sealing plate is lifted off said horizontal surface and said transverse slot allows said liquid to flow through said overflow opening, and 
 ii. in a second position said sealing plate is pressed against said horizontal surface and said tapered plug seals against said tapered side wall, thereby blocking said overflow opening. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a. placing said assembly of said plant pot and said container in a tray that is part of an ebb and flood irrigation system;   b. while said valve is in said open position, flooding said tray to a level that is higher than said defined overflow level of said container, whereupon water in said tray flows through said valve and into said container;   c. while said valve remains in said open position, removing said water from said tray so that a level of water within said container stabilizes at said defined overflow level.   
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising after said water within said container has stabilized at said defined overflow level, closing said valve. 
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling a flow of liquid into and out of an assembly of a plant pot and a container as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said defined overflow level is below said bottom of said plant pot.