# US 9,872,447 B2 · Automatic watering device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,447 B2 - Document ID: US9872447B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/799,332 - Filed: 2015-07-14 - Published: 2016-01-21 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-17 - Applicants: Nam S. Phang - Inventors: Nam S. Phang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872447B2 ## CPC - A01G 27/04: using wicks or the like - A01G 27/006: {Reservoirs, separate from plant-pots, dispensing directly into rooting medium} - A01G 27/008: {Component parts, e.g. dispensing fittings, level indicators} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) ## Abstract The invention relates to an automatic watering device which is self-contained, free standing, portable and easy to install. The automatic water device has at least one reservoir, at least one float, at least one conduit, and at least one base spike and enables the automatic watering device to dispense liquid at a regulated and constant rate by the principle of capillary action or wicking. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic watering device for watering plants, comprising: at least one reservoir having a body having a top portion and a bottom portion; an exit neck coupled to the bottom portion of the body of the reservoir; at least one base spike coupled to the exit neck; at least one float housed within the body of the reservoir comprising at least one wick assembly; and at least one conduit having two opposing ends, one end coupled to the at least one float and the opposing end coupled to the exit neck, wherein the automatic watering device utilizes capillary action to water the plants, wherein the at least one wick assembly includes a U-shaped tubular conduit that is positioned inside of the at least one float with one end extending through the bottom of the at least one float into the at least one reservoir, wherein the at least one float has an exit portion on a bottom surface thereof, and wherein the at least one conduit is coupled to the at least one float at the exit port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, further comprising a detachable filling cap coupled to the top portion of the body of the reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one reservoir is formed of an impermeable or non-pliant material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one base spike has hollow conical shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one base spike is detachable from the reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one float is formed of a solid mass of buoyant material or a buoyant hollow body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wick assembly comprises a wick housed within a tubular conduit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The automatic watering device of claim 7, wherein the wick is formed of cotton, fiberglass or polyester, and/or is a micro-capillary tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wick assembly is nested inside of a wick receptacle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one float comprises a plurality of wick receptacles each having at least one of the wick assemblies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the automatic watering device includes a plurality of floats in one reservoir. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit is formed of a hollow flexible coiled tubing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one base spike has punctures on an external surface thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The automatic watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one float maintains the at least one wick assembly at a constant height above a liquid level in the at least one reservoir. ### Claim 15 An automatic watering device for watering plants, comprising: at least one reservoir having a body having a top portion and a bottom portion; an exit neck coupled to the bottom portion of the body of the reservoir; at least one base spike coupled to the exit neck; at least one float housed within the body of the reservoir comprising at least one wick assembly; and at least one conduit having two opposing ends, one end coupled to the at least one float and the opposing end coupled to the exit neck, wherein the automatic watering device utilizes capillary action to water the plants, wherein the at least one wick assembly includes a U-shaped tubular conduit that is positioned inside of the at least one float with one end extending through the bottom of the at least one float into the at least one reservoir, and wherein the at least one float is formed of a hollow body that houses at least one wick receptacle, the at least one wick assembly, and a float chamber. ### Claim 16 An automatic watering device for watering plants, comprising: a reservoir; a plurality of floats housed within the reservoir, a plurality of wick assemblies, each wick assembly of the plurality of wick assemblies is housed within a respective float of the plurality of floats; a plurality of base spikes; and a plurality of conduits, each conduit of the plurality of conduits having two opposing ends, one end of each conduit being coupled to one of the plurality of floats and the opposing end of each conduit being coupled to one of the plurality of base spikes, wherein the automatic watering device utilizes capillary action to water a plurality of separate and discrete plants. ### Claim 17 A method of watering plants, comprising the steps of: providing an automatic watering device comprising: at least one reservoir having a body having a top portion and a bottom portion; an exit neck coupled to the bottom portion of the body of the at least one reservoir; at least one base spike coupled to the exit neck; at least one float housed within the body of the at least one reservoir; at least one wick assembly comprising a wick, the at least one wick assembly housed within the at least one float; and at least one conduit having two opposing ends, one end coupled to the at least one float and the opposing end coupled to the exit neck; and filling the at least one reservoir with liquid, wherein the liquid is wicked through the wick in the at least one wick assembly via capillary action and is expelled through the at least one base spike into a growing medium to water the plants, wherein the at least one wick assembly includes a U-shaped tubular conduit that is positioned inside of the at least one float with one end extending through the bottom of the at least one float into the at least one reservoir, wherein the at least one float has an exit portion on a bottom surface thereof, and wherein the at least one conduit is coupled to the at least one float at the exit port.