Automatic watering device for potted plants

A watering device for delivering water to a potted plant, said watering device comprising:

• hanger means for hanging from a support structure;
• a control member carried by said hanger means and including an electrical switch movable between a first position and second position for respectively turning a water supply on and off for controlled supply of water to a potted plant;
• a carrier adapted for suspended support of the potted plant;
• resilient means for movably supporting said carrier relative to said hanger means in response to the weight of the potted plant;
• and
• actuator means on said carrier for moving said control member to said first position to turn the water supply on when the weight of the potted plant reaches a predetermined minimum weight, and for permitting movement of said control member to said second position to turn the water supply off when the weight of the potted plant reaches a predetermined maximum weight;
• said actuator means comprising an actuator member carried by said carrier for vertical positional adjustment relative to said carrier, an actuator pin carried by said actuator member for vertical sliding movement with respect thereto, an adjustment screw carried by said actuator member for vertical positional adjustment with respect thereto, and a set spring reacting between said adjustment screw and said actuator pin for urging said actuator pin upwardly for operating said control member;
• said actuator member being vertically adjustable on said carrier for displacing said actuator pin to variably select a predetermined minimum weight set point at which said actuator pin moves said control member to said first position to turn the water supply on, said set spring retaining said actuator pin in operative engagement with said control member with an initial retention force sufficient to retain said control member in said first position to maintain the water supply in an on condition, said set spring extending as water is delivered to the potted plant to progressively reduce the magnitude of said retention force;
• said adjustment screw being vertically adjustable on said actuator member to variably select said retention force initially applied by said set spring to said actuator pin when the water supply is turned on, thereby variably selecting a predetermined maximum weight set point at which said retention force is insufficient to retain said control member in said first position to allow movement of said control member to said second position to turn the water supply off.

A watering device for delivering water to a potted plant, said watering device comprising:

• hanger means for hanging from a support structure;
• an electrical switch carried by said hanger means and including a contact arm movable between a closed position and a normal open position for respectively turning a water supply on and off for controlled supply of water to a potted plant;
• a carrier adapted for suspended support of the potted plant;
• resilient means for movably supporting said carrier relative to said hanger means in response to the weight of the potted plant;
• and
• actuator means on said carrier for moving said contact arm to said closed position to turn the water supply on when the weight of the potted plant reaches a predetermined minimum weight, and for permitting movement of said contact arm to said open position to turn the water supply off when the weight of the potted plant reaches a predetermined maximum weight.

A system for delivering water to a potted plant and to at least one additional plant, said system comprising:

• a water flow line for supplying water to the potted plant and to the at least one additional plant;
• flow control valve means for regulating water flow through said flow line to the potted plant and to the at least one additional plant;
• hanger means for hanging from a support structure;
• an electrical switch carried by said hanger means and including a contact arm movable between a closed position and normal open position for operating said flow control valve means for respectively turning a water supply on and off for controlled supply of water to the potted plant and to the at least one additional plant;
• a carrier adapted for suspended support of the potted plant;
• resilient means for movably supporting said carrier relative to said hanger means in response to the weight of the potted plant;
• and
• actuator means on said carrier for moving said contact arm to said closed position to turn the water supply or when the weight of the potted plant reaches a predetermined minimum weight, and for permitting return movement of said contact arm to said open position to turn the water supply off when the weight of the potted plant reaches a predetermined maximum weight.