Plant pot insert

Abstract

A plant pot insert includes a water filling chamber having a fill opening to receive water, a water outlet to provide water to a water reservoir, and an overflow conduit to discharge excess water through a weep hole on a sidewall of the plant pot. The water reservoir provides water to a root system of a plant to be grown in the plant pot by capillary action. A water level sensing unit detects a water level of the water reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plant pot insert ( 1000 ) for providing water to plants grown in a plant pot ( 2000 ) having a weep hole ( 2140 ) comprising:
 a water filling chamber ( 1110 ) having a fill opening ( 1120 ) to receive water and a water outlet ( 1220 ) to discharge water to a water reservoir ( 2112 ) of a plant pot ( 2000 );   an overflow spout ( 1230 ) fixedly connected to the water filling chamber ( 1110 ) and disposed above the water outlet ( 1220 );   a water permeable separator ( 1600 ) substantially covering the water outlet ( 1220 ) and disposed between the water outlet ( 1220 ) and the water reservoir ( 2112 ) of the pot ( 2000 ) to facilitate gravity flow of water between the water filling chamber ( 1110 ) and the water reservoir ( 2112 ); and   a water level sensing unit ( 190 ) to detect a water level of the water filling chamber ( 1110 ),   wherein the overflow spout ( 1230 ) is constructed to be connected to the weep hole ( 2140 ), and   wherein excess water in the plant pot ( 2000 ) flows through the overflow spout ( 1230 ) and out of the weep hole ( 2140 ).   
     
     
         2 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the water filling chamber ( 1110 ) comprises:
 an upper chamber ( 1100 ); and   a lower chamber ( 1200 ),   wherein the upper chamber ( 1100 ) includes the fill opening ( 1120 ), and   wherein the lower chamber ( 1200 ) includes the water outlet ( 1220 ) and the overflow spout ( 1230 ).   
     
     
         3 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one riser chamber ( 1300 ) disposed between the upper chamber ( 1100 ) and the lower chamber ( 1200 ),
 wherein a lower part of the upper chamber ( 1100 ) and an upper part of the riser chamber ( 1300 ) are connected by a threaded coupling ( 1310 ), and   wherein a lower part of the riser chamber ( 1300 ) and an upper part of the lower chamber ( 1200 ) are connected by a threaded coupling ( 1320 ).   
     
     
         4 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 2 , further comprising a riser chamber ( 1300 ) disposed below the lower chamber ( 1200 ), and
 wherein the riser chamber ( 1300 ) and the lower chamber ( 1200 ) are connected by a threaded coupling ( 1330 ).   
     
     
         5 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the water outlet ( 1220 ) is a plurality of water outlets. 
     
     
         6 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the insert ( 1000 ) has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the overflow spout ( 1230 ) is upwardly slanted towards the weep hole ( 2140 ). 
     
     
         8 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the water level sensing unit ( 190 ) comprises:
 a tube ( 191 ); and   a water sensor ( 192 ) disposed inside of the tube ( 191 ),   wherein the water level sensing unit ( 190 ) is electrically connected to a light source ( 170 ).   
     
     
         9 . A plant pot insert ( 1000 ) for providing water to plants grown in a plant pot ( 2000 ) having a weep hole ( 2140 ) comprising:
 a water filling chamber ( 1110 ) having a fill opening ( 1120 ) to receive water and a water outlet ( 1220 ) to discharge water to a water reservoir ( 2112 ) of a plant pot ( 2000 );   an overflow spout ( 1230 ) fixedly connected to the water filling chamber ( 1110 ) and disposed above the water outlet ( 1220 ); and   a water permeable separator ( 1600 ) substantially covering the water outlet ( 1220 ) and disposed between the water outlet ( 1220 ) and the water reservoir ( 2112 ) of the pot ( 2000 ) to facilitate gravity flow of water between the water filling chamber ( 1110 ) and the water reservoir ( 2112 ), and   wherein excess water in the plant pot ( 2000 ) flows through the overflow spout ( 1230 ) and out of the weep hole ( 2140 ).   
     
     
         10 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the water filling chamber ( 1110 ) comprises:
 an upper chamber ( 1100 ); and   a lower chamber ( 1200 ),   wherein the upper chamber ( 1100 ) includes the fill opening ( 1120 ), and   wherein the lower chamber ( 1200 ) includes the water outlet ( 1220 ) and the overflow spout ( 1230 ).   
     
     
         11 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one riser chamber ( 1300 ) disposed between the upper chamber ( 1100 ) and the lower chamber ( 1200 ). 
     
     
         12 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 11 ,
 wherein a lower part of the upper chamber ( 1100 ) and an upper part of the riser chamber ( 1300 ) are connected by a threaded coupling ( 1310 ), and   wherein a lower part of the riser chamber ( 1300 ) and an upper part of the lower chamber ( 1200 ) are connected by a threaded coupling ( 1320 ).   
     
     
         13 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 11 , wherein the riser chamber ( 1300 ) is a plurality of riser chambers, and
 wherein the riser chamber is constructed to telescope for height adjustment of the plant pot insert ( 1000 ).   
     
     
         14 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 10 , further comprising a riser chamber ( 1300 ) disposed below the lower chamber ( 1200 ), and
 wherein the riser chamber ( 1300 ) and the lower chamber ( 1200 ) are connected by a threaded coupling ( 1330 ).   
     
     
         15 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the water outlet ( 1220 ) is a plurality of water outlets. 
     
     
         16 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the insert ( 1000 ) has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the overflow spout ( 1230 ) is upwardly slanted towards the weep hole ( 2140 ). 
     
     
         18 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 9 , further comprising a water level sensing unit ( 190 ) to detect a water level of the water filling chamber ( 1110 ). 
     
     
         19 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the water level sensing unit ( 190 ) comprises:
 a tube ( 191 ); and   a water sensor ( 192 ) disposed inside of the tube ( 191 ).   
     
     
         20 . The plant pot insert ( 1000 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the water level sensing unit ( 190 ) is electrically connected to a light source ( 170 ).