The present invention relates to an automatic supply of water for flowerpots.

Background Art

It is known that plants should be watered regularly so as not to dry out and die. This need is particularly acute when people go on vacation and, anyway, nobody is at home.

Summary of the invention

A main purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic water feeder for a flowerpot for a long period without the risk that a plant in the flowerpot lacks water.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided an automatic water feeder for flowerpots, comprising a box-shaped base acting as a flowerpot saucer having an upper side on which there are obtained at least a shaped opening adapted to house a flowerpot in a through way, and a circular opening on which a ring nut with internal thread is applied; and a water container, provided with a bottom having a hole for a float valve and a peripheral ring with external thread for screwing the container on the ring nut of the box-shaped base, and a float valve for the water container.

Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of an automatic water feeder for flowerpots, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a cross section of an automatic water feeder for flowerpots according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the automatic water feeder of Figure 1 , in which a float valve is represented;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of another example of float valve usable in the automatic water feeder according to the present invention; and - Figure 4 is a cross-section of a further example of float valve usable in the automatic water feeder according to the present invention.

Description of an embodiment of the invention

Reference is made initially to Figure 1, which is a cross section of an automatic water feeder for flowerpots according to the present invention. The automatic water feeder comprises a box-shaped base 1 and a water container 4 with float valve.

The box-shaped base 1, thus internally hollow, has an upper side in which a shaped aperture 2 and a circular opening, on which a ring nut 3 is applied, are formed. The shaped aperture 2 has shape and dimensions such as to house in a through way a flowerpot (not shown) compatible for those shape and size. Further, the upper side of the box-shaped base 1 has a circular opening on which a ring nut 3 having an internal thread is applied.

The cylindrically shaped water container 4 is provided with a bottom 5, or sealed end plate, with a peripheral ring 7. The water container 4 has a cover 12 on the top. The bottom 5 has a substantially central hole 6. The peripheral ring 7 has an external thread for screwing the container 4 in the ring nut 3 of the box-shaped base 1.

Applied in the hole 6 of the bottom 5 of the water container 4 is the above mentioned float valve. By way of example, the float valve has a seat 8, a conical shutter 9 and a float 10. The conical recess seat 8 is arranged in the hole 6 of the bottom 5 of the water container 4. Provided in the conical recess seat 8 is a passage

11 for the water in the most tapered part of the conical recess. The conical shutter 9 is associated to the conical recess seat 8 to open and close the water passage 11. In order to allow this, provided is the float 10 that is joined to the shutter conical 9 and is freely received in the box-shaped base 1. This means that the float 10 floats on the water present in the box-shaped base 1 in integral engagement with the conical shutter 9, while the latter is intended to remain in the conical recess of the seat 8. Shown in Figures 3 and 4 are further examples of float valves which per se do not require further explanation either in their structure, or in the mode of connection with the bottom of the water container. Therefore, the component parts are not marked with reference numbers.

Turning to the automatic water feeder represented in Figure 1, in its assembly, the water container 4 is mounted on the box-shaped base 1 by means of the threaded coupling between the peripheral ring 7 of the water container 4 and the box-shaped ring nut 3 of the box-shaped base 1. Supported in the box-shaped base 1 is the conical shutter 9 joined to the float 10 below the conical recess seat 8. Placed into the opening 2 formed in the upper side of the box-shaped base 1 is the flowerpot to be watered in a manner that its lower end projects inside the box-shaped base 1 below the water surface determined by the float valve.

In operation, the cover 12 is removed from the container 4 and the latter is filled with water. The water passes into the underlying box-shaped base 1 through the passage 11 until it is closed by the conical shutter 9 of the float valve. The water absorbed by the flowerpot is constantly replaced by the water coming down from the container 4 through the passage 11.

Evident are the advantages deriving from the features of the automatic water feeder according to the invention. The dimensions of the water container 4 are appropriate to the absorption of water by the flowerpot, or the flowerpots, if more shaped openings are provided on the top side of the box-shaped base 1. The autonomy of the automatic water feeder can last at least thirty days, thus preventing the plant to be manually watered every day. The water container can be chosen among various shapes and dimensions, satisfying from the ornamental point of view, in such a way that the automatic water feeder according to the invention can be inserted in different environments, such as cemeteries, offices, homes, nurseries, shopping centers, bars and other public places.