Fill Pipe With Level Indicator for Plant Stand and Method of Using

Abstract

A new and useful fill pipe for a plant stand (e.g. a Christmas tree stand) is provided, and a new and useful method for using the fill pipe to continuously monitor the level of liquid in the plant stand, in a manner that does not use electronic or moving parts, and enables a user to add liquid to the plant stand through the fill pipe, when the fill pipe provides a visual indication of a level of liquid in the plant stand that is below a predetermined level.

1 . A method for filling a plant stand with a liquid, comprising
 a. providing a fill pipe configured to be inserted into a plant stand and to extend upward from the plant stand, the fill pipe having a lower end configured for insertion into the plant stand, with an upper portion adjustable to be located a convenient access and viewing height above the plant stand, the fill pipe being a conduit through which liquid can be transmitted to the plant stand, and a liquid level indicator in the upper portion that continuously provides a visual indication of the level of liquid in the plant stand, with a moveable guide, in a manner that does not use electronic or moving parts;   b. inserting the fill pipe into a plant stand,   c. filling the plant stand with liquid through the fill pipe, to a predetermined level indicated by the moveable guide at the liquid level indicator, and marked by a slide guide, and   d. monitoring the liquid level indicator and adding liquid through the fill pipe when the liquid level indicator shows a level of liquid in the plant stand that is below the predetermined level indicated by the moveable guide setting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid level indicator includes a fluid with additives to provide any or all of the following:
 a. increase visibility,   b. reduce surface tension,   c. reduce evaporation,   d. increase sensitivity by reduction of fluid density.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid level indicator comprises a manometer-like device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the level indicator is connected to a level sensing tube supported in the upper portion of the fill pipe with at least a portion of the level sensing tube inside the fill pipe extending to the lower end of the fill pipe that is inserted into the plant stand. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the fill pipe is initially set in the plant stand, with the liquid in the plant stand at a level set by a user, with level sensing tube in communication with the liquid in the plant stand and the level indicator operational to provide an indication of the liquid level in the plant stand, and moving the guide to a position relative to the level indicator that sets the predetermined level that is thereafter used to determine when liquid should be added to the plant stand. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid level indicator includes a guide that is moveable relative to the manometer to set the predetermined level of liquid in the plant stand, the plant stand can be initially filled to a level selected by a user, the fill pipe is inserted into the plant stand with the level indicator operational to provide a visual image of a liquid level representative of the selected level of liquid in the plant stand, and the guide is then moved relative to the level indicator to the liquid level provided by the level indicator, whereby the guide will thereafter provide the visual indication of the predetermined level to which the plant stand should be initially filled to and thereafter maintained. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing the bottom of the sensing tube with a multiplier portion having a larger cross sectional area than the sensing tube, to enhance the sensitivity of the sensing tube to the level of liquid in the plant stand. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for filling a plant stand with a liquid, comprising of a fill pipe configured to be inserted into a plant stand and extending upward from the plant stand, the fill pipe having
 a. a lower end configured for insertion into the plant stand, and   b. an upper portion configured to be located a convenient access and viewing height above plant stand when the lower end is inserted in a plant stand,   c. a fill pipe through which liquid can be transmitted to a plant stand, and   d. a liquid level indicator in the upper portion configured to continuously provide a visual indication of the level of liquid in a plant stand, in a manner that does not use electronic or moving parts.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the manometer is connected to a level sensing tube supported in the upper portion of the fill pipe with at least a portion of the level sensing tube inside the fill pipe and extending into the lower end of the fill pipe that is inserted into the plant stand. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid level indicator includes a guide that is moveable relative to the manometer to set the predetermined level of liquid in the plant stand, the plant stand can be initially filled to a level selected by a user, the fill pipe is inserted into the plant stand with the nanometer operational to provide a visual image of a liquid level representative of the selected level of liquid in the plant stand, and the guide is then moved relative to the nanometer to the liquid level provided by the nanometer, whereby the guide will thereafter provide the visual indication of the predetermined level to which the plant stand should be initially filled to and thereafter maintained. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom of the sensing tube has a multiplier portion having a larger cross sectional area than the sensing tube, to enhance the sensitivity of the sensing tube to the level of liquid in the plant stand. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus comprising a plant stand with a liquid reservoir, and a fill tube with a lower end disposed in the liquid reservoir and an upper portion extending above the plant stand to a convenient access and viewing height, the fill tube being a conduit through which liquid can be transmitted through the fill tube to the reservoir of the plant stand, and a liquid level indicator in the upper portion that continuously provides a visual indication of the level of liquid in the plant stand, in a manner that does not use electronic or moving parts. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid level indicator includes a fluid with additives to provide any or all of the following:
 a. increase visibility,   b. reduce surface tension,   c. reduce evaporation,   d. increase sensitivity by reduction of fluid density.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the liquid level indicator comprises a manometer-like device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the level indicator is connected to a level sensing tube supported in the upper portion of the fill pipe with at least a portion of the level sensing tube inside the fill pipe extending to the lower end of the fill pipe that is inserted into the plant stand. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the fill pipe is initially set in the plant stand, with the liquid in the plant stand at a level set by a user, with level sensing tube in communication with the liquid in the plant stand and the level indicator operational to provide an indication of the liquid level in the plant stand, and moving the guide to a position relative to the level indicator that sets the predetermined level that is thereafter used to determine when liquid should be added to the plant stand. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid level indicator includes a guide that is moveable relative to the manometer to set the predetermined level of liquid in the plant stand, the plant stand can be initially filled to a level selected by a user, the fill pipe is inserted into the plant stand with the level indicator operational to provide a visual image of a liquid level representative of the selected level of liquid in the plant stand, and the guide is then moved relative to the level indicator to the liquid level provided by the level indicator, whereby the guide will thereafter provide the visual indication of the predetermined level to which the plant stand should be initially filled to and thereafter maintained. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the a multiplier portion is provided at the bottom of the sensing tube, the multiplier portion including a multiplier portion having a larger cross sectional area than the sensing tube, to enhance the sensitivity of the sensing tube to the level of liquid in the plant stand. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the larger cross sectional area of the multiplier portion is configured with the following characteristics:
 a. it provides increased weight at the bottom of the sensing tube, to keep the sensing tube at the bottom of the stand reservoir;   b. its larger cross sectional area is designed to increase response of the liquid level indicator indicating fluid to change in level in the plant stand reservoir;   c. its increased cross sectional area, is also designed to reduce plugging of the end of the sensing tube by debris in the plant stand reservoir;   d. it can move as a pendulum to the lower side of the fill pipe regardless of angle of insertion, thus increasing the accuracy of the reading in the indicator tube; and   e. the decreased cross sectional area of the fill pipe relative to the multiplier tube, is designed to increase the velocity of filling water flow so that it is more effective in flushing debris from the fill pipe.