WO1996010906A1

WO1996010906A1 - Leak-resistant container and water reservoir

Info

Publication number: WO1996010906A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/013348
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard S. Peacock; Joe L. Peacock
Original assignee: Peacock Richard S; Peacock Joe L
Priority date: 1994-10-11
Filing date: 1995-10-10
Publication date: 1996-04-18
Also published as: AU3959295A

Abstract

A leak-resistant, open container (10) capable of retaining a substantial volume of liquid in the interior of the container regardless of the orientation. The container includes a hollow enclosure (11) with a bottom (14), a side wall (13), and a top (15) penetrated by an aperture (16) and further including a hollow open ended re-entrant structure (12) connected to the top of the enclosure around the aperture (16) and extending into the interior of the enclosure from the top a portion of the distance to the bottom. The re-entrant structure (12) forms a barrier against the flow of the retained volume of liquid through the re-entrant aperture. A method of filling the container is also disclosed.

Description

LEAK-RESISTANT CONTAINER AND WATER RESERVOIR

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a watering container for the transportation and maintenance of plants, and in its preferred embodiments more specifically relates to a leak-resistant water reservoir for transporting and maintaining live plants in a container that retains a substantial quantity of water regardless of the orientation of the reservoir. Background Art

Transportation of live potted plants to nurseries and other sales outlets has been common in the horticultural industry for many years. There are several problems associated with such transportation, including the need to provide water during transportation and the need to provide water after the plants reach their destination.

A plant grown in a pot with a substantial volume of soil can readily sustain itself for an extended period of time during transportation and after reaching its destination if ample water is applied to the soil within the pot before shipment. The soil will absorb moisture and store it for use by the plant. As the container and soil volume become smaller, less moisture can be stored in the soil and it becomes necessary to either employ rapid, and costly, means of transportation, or provide water to the plant during transportation. The problem of providing water is particularly acute with miniature plants and pots, where the pot diameter is in the range of five centimeters or less. If water is to be provided during transportation, it is necessary to either add water from an outside source or provide a reservoir of free water stored with the pot and plant during transportation. Addition of water from an outside source during transportation is normally impractical, especially for common carriers, and some form of reservoir is needed to maintain the plant during transportation. Containers that provide a water reservoir for plants, with and without separate pots, are known in the prior art, and several examples are noted below. Typically, water in the reservoir is not in direct contact with the plant or soil in which the plant is grown, but is provided through a wick. The wick, formed of a hydrophilic material, is placed with one end in the soil and the other end in the water, and provides a slow, steady supply of water to the soil. In a stable, upright orientation, the previously known container and reservoir designs perform without significant problems, but are subject to severe problems during transportation.

During transportation, and during associated handling, it is far from assured that the plant containers will be kept in a stable, upright orientation. The plant containers, typically packed in a closed carton, are commonly and regularly shaken, tipped, and even inverted during the transportation process. Under those conditions water readily and quickly leaks from containers known in the prior art, leaving the plant without water. The lack of water subjects the transported plants to significantly increased stress, from which many recover slowly or do not recover at all. Because of the susceptibility of prior art containers to loss of water during transportation, it has been very important for the plants to be watered immediately upon arrival at their destination. Immediate post-arrival care is time consuming and costly for retailers, and is often omitted or inadequately provided. Plant growers have, in the past, been unable to assure that their shipments of plants will receive water during transportation or upon receipt, and are thus unable to exercise any control over a significant cause of plant mortality and economic loss.

Although the need to provide a reservoir of water may be most acute during and immediately following transportation of, especially, miniature potted plants, there is a continuing need to supply a constant source of water for proper maintenance of plants both before and well after they have been transported, as well as for maintenance of plants that are never subjected to the stresses of transportation. There is, particularly, a need for an economical, easily used, and attractive container that effectively addresses all needs for supplying water to plants in all circumstances and situations.

The prior art has not directly addressed the problems of providing water during transportation and storage of miniature plants, but has been directed primarily at storage and watering of plants in a stationary location and stable upright orientation. Although the prior art has proven to be reasonably effective for the intended purposes, significant problems and disadvantages have remained.

U.S. Patent 3,738,060 (Jullien-Davin) discloses a Plant Support with Watering Tube Spiralling Therearound which uses a reservoir located below a flower pot to supply water to an electric driven pump. The pump forces water up a tube which spirals around a central stake about which the plant is meant to grow. The pump requires electric power which makes this concept unsuitable for transportation. Additionally, the concept is impractical and inappropriate for miniature plants and no attempt has been made to prevent spillage from the reservoir. U. S. Patent 4,219,967 (Hickerson) discloses a Flower Pot Watering Apparatus which also utilizes a reservoir located under the pot. This system, designed for the end-user, places the flower pot on top of a fabric wick which draws water from an open reservoir. If the device is tilted to one side, the pot will fall off of the reservoir and water will spill from the reservoir. Thus, no provision is made for retaining water in the reservoir in any orientation other than upright, and the particular needs associated with transportation are not addressed at all.

U.S. Patent 4,903,432 (Velagaleti et al.) discloses an Autoclavable Reusable, Sterile Plant Growth System and Method which, once more, uses a reservoir located underneath the flower pot. This apparatus is designed for laboratory use and is not concerned with the retail market's end-user. The device is designed to totally seal which makes it difficult to water, and is very complex.

U.S. Patent 4,858,381 (Walton) discloses a two part reservoir system with a closed bottom section designed to receive cut flowers in the upper section of the apparatus. A piece of floral foam is placed in the upper section in which the cut flower stems are placed. The closed bottom section has two slots through which a wick passes into the lower reservoir in order to draw water into the upper section to be received by the foam. The closed bottom stops the foam from falling into the water reservoir and serves to help retain water within the reservoir. The container allows a person to move the cut flowers from one point to another over a limited distance without spilling water. However, if this container is significantly tipped or inverted, water will spill from the container.

U.S. Patent 4,996,792 (Holtkamp, Sr.) discloses a watering container with a bevelled opening in the top wall to receive a miniature pot. The container is designed so that the top section can be easily removed for addition of water to the lower section. The concept works well when maintained in an upright orientation, but will readily allow complete water loss if tipped or inverted. U.S. Patent 5,282,335 (Holtkamp, Jr.) discloses a self-watering dish garden container for plants, which does provide a water reservoir in a lower container. The container is divided into upper and lower separable parts, and includes a planting tray, with a closed bottom, and other structures which nest in the upper portion of the container. While well suited to its purpose, when maintained in an upright orientation, the container design allows complete loss of water if the reservoir is significantly tipped or inverted, and is thus ineffective in retaining water under those conditions. Disclosure Of The Invention

The present invention provides an open leak-resistant water reservoir and container for plants, that will retain and maintain a substantial volume of water regardless of the orientation in which the container is placed. In its completed, final form the reservoir and container of the invention comprises a unitary structure with two component elements, a hollow enclosure, with a top opening, to hold and retain a quantity of water, and an open-ended re-entrant structure extending into the interior of the enclosure from the top and around the top opening. The re-entrant structure is configured to receive and frictionally retain a flower pot.

More specifically, the enclosure has a side wall, a closed bottom, and a top. The top includes a central opening or aperture, generally coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the enclosure, as the only opening to the interior of the enclosure through which water may enter or exit. The re-entrant structure has a side wall and is open at both ends and hollow through its interior. The re-entrant structure is connected to the inner surface of the top of the enclosure around the top opening and extends into the interior of the enclosure toward the enclosure bottom so as to form an open passageway between the exterior and interior of the enclosure, with the opening of the passageway disposed in the interior of the enclosure at the inner end of the re¬ entrant structure. The re-entrant structure is smaller in cross-sectional dimension than the enclosure, so that a space, i.e., a volume, remains between the side wall of the enclosure and the side wall of the re-entrant structure.

The re-entrant structure is configured and dimensioned to receive and retain a plant pot so that a portion of the pot extends into the interior of the enclosure, surrounded by the side wall of the re-entrant structure. Plant pots are typically constructed in an inverted frusto-conical configuration with a rim or flange at the top edge, though other configurations are occasionally used, and the re-entrant structure is accordingly preferably formed in an inverted frusto-conical configuration to match that common pot design. The outer surface of the pot below the rim is received in close fitting relation against the inner surface of the side wall of the re-entrant structure when the pot is inserted, with the rim of the pot received against the outer surface of the top of the enclosure, thereby frictionally retaining the pot in the container. Since the majority of the pot wall surface is in contact with the re-entrant structure, the pot is securely retained when fully inserted, but is nevertheless easily removed and replaced. A water supplying wick is typically inserted into the soil contained in a pot through a drain hole in the bottom wall of the pot, to draw water into the soil when the opposite end of the wick is immersed in water. Since the re-entrant structure of the present invention is open at both ends, the wick can readily extend from the bottom of the pot toward the bottom of the enclosure and it is unnecessary for the wick to be fed through a small opening or through a convoluted path to reach the water reservoir in the container.

Water is placed in the container of the invention through the re-entrant structure, the only passageway to the interior of the enclosure. As a direct result of the unique design of the container, with its hollow enclosure and re-entrant structure, a certain volume of water placed in the container cannot escape from the interior of the enclosure and will always be retained in that interior. As the container is tipped from vertical to a horizontal orientation, only water above a horizontal plane (imaginary) intersecting the lowest point of the inner end of the re-entrant structure may exit the container; the water below that plane is confined by the bottom, top, and side wall of the enclosure and the portion of the side wall of the re-entrant structure below that plane and has no exit path. As the container is further tipped from the horizontal to an inverted vertical orientation, only water above a horizontal plane intersecting the inner end of the re¬ entrant structure may exit, because the water below the plane is confined by the side wall and top of the enclosure and the side wall of the re-entrant structure. The water that is retained is thus always available as a reservoir for maintaining a plant.

The structure and features of the container of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description Of The Drawings

Figure 1 is a cross-sectioned elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with a quantity of liquid therein, showing a pot in place in the re-entrant structure, and showing a wick.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectioned elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as in Figure 1 , without pot and wick.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectioned side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in a tipped orientation, showing a quantity of liquid retained in the interior thereof.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectioned side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in a further tipped orientation, showing a quantity of liquid retained in the interior thereof. Figure 6 is a cross-sectioned side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in an inverted orientation, showing a quantity of liquid retained in the interior thereof.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectioned elevation view of a first alternative embodiment of the invention, showing a quantity of liquid in the interior thereof. Figure 8 is a cross-sectioned elevation view of a second alternative embodiment of the invention, showing a quantity of liquid in the interior thereof. Modes For Carrying Out The Invention

As illustrated in Figures 1 through 6, the preferred embodiment of the container of the invention, generally identified by reference numeral 10, generally comprises an enclosure 11 and a re-entrant structure 12. Enclosure 11 includes a side wall 13, a bottom 14, interconnected at its periphery to the lower end of side wall 13 in liquid tight relation, and a top 15, interconnected at its periphery to the upper end of side wall 13 in liquid tight relation. Top 15 is penetrated by a central aperture 16, which is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of enclosure 11. Re-entrant structure 12 is preferably an open ended hollow body, formed and defined by side wall 17, which has an upper end 18 and a lower end 19. The re-entrant structure is disposed in the interior of the enclosure, with upper end 18 of its side wall aligned with and extending around the periphery of aperture 16, and interconnected to top 15 of enclosure 11 in liquid tight relation. Re-entrant structure 12, in conjunction with aperture 16, provides an open passageway between the exterior and the interior of the container. In the preferred embodiment the container is a unitary construction with no separable joints, penetrations, or passageways other than aperture 16 and re-entrant structure 12 surrounding the aperture.

Although the final structure is unitary, the container is formed in two parts which are joined, and preferably permanently bonded, during manufacturing to provide a liquid tight connection. In one manufacturing approach, the enclosure bottom and a portion of the side wall is formed as one part, the top, re-entrant structure, and remaining portion of the enclosure sidewall are formed as a second part, and the two parts are joined at joint 20. Since joint 20 is formed as a permanent bond, the joint may be placed at any position along the enclosure side wall. In another approach, the enclosure bottom and complete side wall may be formed as one part, with the enclosure top and the re-entrant structure formed as the second part. The container may also be formed with the enclosure side wall, top, and re-entrant structure as one part and the enclosure bottom as the second part. Neither the location of joint 20 nor the particular technique used to form a water-tight joint are significant to the invention, and any effective part design and joining technique may be used.

In its preferred embodiment, the container of the invention is adapted and particularly suited to retain a substantial quantity of water for watering a plant growing in a pot nested into re-entrant structure 12. A typical use of the container is illustrated in Figure 1 , which shows a pot 1 in place in the re-entrant structure. A quantity of water 2 is contained within the enclosure of the container as a water reserve for the plant, and a wick 3 is shown extending between pot 1 and the water reserve. So long as a water reserve is available, water is drawn up the wick and into soil (not shown) contained in the pot to sustain a plant (not shown) growing in the soil. If no water is available to the wick, the soil will dry and the plant will suffer at least some degree of stress, potentially resulting in death of the plant.

The pot illustrated in Figure 1 is typical of the pots with which it is contemplated that the preferred embodiment of the invention will be used. Such pots include a wall with an offset rim at the upper end, extending outward to form an annular flange under the rim. As illustrated, the pot is placed in the container with the pot wall in contact with the side wall 17 of the re-entrant structure and the pot flange resting upon top 15 of enclosure 11. In the preferred embodiment the configuration and dimensions of re-entrant structure 12 are determined to match the configuration and dimensions of the pot to be received therein, so that a closely mated fit between the pot and the re-entrant structure is achieved. Because of the substantial area of contact between the pot and the re-entrant structure, the pot is securely retained without the need for additional retaining means, and yet may be readily and easily removed from the container. The secure retention of a pot in the re-entrant structure is a significant advantage provided by the invention over the prior art.

The majority of plant pots are constructed with the pot wall in an inverted frusto-conical configuration, and, accordingly, it is preferred that re-entrant structure 12 also be of frusto-conical configuration. It should be noted, however, that the configuration of the re-entrant structure is not limited to frusto-conical, and other configurations may be utilized, to match other plant pot configurations or if the container is to used without a plant pot. Any selected configuration should, however, provide for the retention of a substantial quantity of liquid, as discussed below. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the enclosure is cylindrical in configuration, so that the volume of liquid retained when the container is in a horizontal orientation is not affected by the rotational position of the container. However, a cylindrical enclosure is certainly not required, and other configurations, such as square, hexagonal, or other polygonal forms may be used. Irregular forms may also be used for the enclosure, and for the re-entrant structure, within the scope of the invention, so long as the enclosure and re-entrant structure forms cooperatively retain a substantial volume of liquid within the interior of the container as its orientation is changed.

The structure of the container of the invention assures that a substantial quantity of water will be retained in the interior of the container regardless of the orientation in which the container is placed, because the structural elements of the container cooperate to form a barrier against the flow of liquid from the container. The nature and effect of the barrier can be understood with reference to, especially, Figures 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings. Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the container in an upright position, with its longitudinal axis oriented vertically, i.e., in alignment with the earth's gravitational field, and with a quantity of water 2, having a surface 4 contained in the enclosure. The water surface defines a horizontal plane perpendicular to the earth's gravitational field.

As container 10 is tilted from vertical, as shown in Figure 4, the water flows along the bottom and side wall of the container toward the top of the container and the re-entrant structure, with the water surface remaining horizontal. As the container is tipped to a horizontal orientation, as shown in Figure 5, the water continues to flow so as to maintain the horizontal orientation of the water surface. During the tipping process, any volume of water that lies above a horizontal plane intersecting the lowest point of the lower end of the re-entrant structure will flow over the end of the re¬ entrant structure, along the inner surface of its side wall 17, and exit the container through aperture 16. However, the volume of water lying below that horizontal plane cannot exit the container and is retained in its interior. As the container is further tipped to the inverted vertical orientation shown in Figure 6, the water flows along the top of the enclosure and between the side wall of the enclosure and the side wall of the re-entrant structure. The side wall of the re-entrant structure acts as a dam to prevent the flow of water from the container through aperture 16, so that only water lying above a horizontal plane including the lower end 19 of the re-entrant structure side wall may exit the interior of the container. It is significant that the passageway through the re-entrant structure be the only path through which water may exit the interior of the container, since any other exit path will allow the container to empty. It can be readily seen that a certain volume (the retention volume) of water cannot be emptied from the container through the re-entrant structure passage even when the container is tipped or completely inverted. It can also be understood that the maximum volume of water that will always be retained is the minimum portion of the internal volume of the container lying below a horizontal plane intersecting the lower end 19 of the re-entrant structure side wall 17 as the container is tipped from upright to inverted. For effective utilization of the water retention features of the invention, it is important that the retention volume of water be sufficient to supply the needs of the plant with which the container is used through an appropriate time interval. In general, a retention volume of about ten percent or more of container volume is a substantial volume sufficient to assure availability of sufficient water for a growing plant over a reasonable time period.

The proportions of the container and re-entrant structure may be adjusted to maximize the retention volume in proportion to the total internal container volume, if desired, and a retention volume approaching fifty percent of container volume can be achieved. In practice, the dimensions and proportions of the container components will be significantly influenced by other factors. As noted above, it is preferred that the configuration and dimensions of the re-entrant structure be selected to match the configuration and dimensions of the plant pots with which the container of the invention is to be used, and plant pots are commercially produced in certain standard sizes, with standardized configurations and dimensions. The proportions and dimensions of the enclosure are similarly influenced by factors other than maximization of retention volume. For example, shipping cartons for miniature plants are standardized to a degree, and it is preferred that the enclosure component of the invention be proportioned to facilitate use of standard cartons.

A specific, but non-limiting, example can be based upon a 2.5 centimeter miniature plant; a typical miniature plant product. Such plants are generally grown in a pot with a top diameter of about 3.8 centimeters measured externally at the extreme top of the pot, a diameter just below the lip of approximately 3.2 centimeters and a bottom diameter of approximately 2.5 centimeters. The overall height is about 2.8 centimeters, and the height from the bottom of the lip, or flange, to the bottom the pot is about 2 centimeters. The dimensions of the aperture in the top of the enclosure and of the re-entrant structure are selected to match the pot, and a frusto-conical configuration is used to match the pot. The diameter of aperture 16 and upper end 18 of the re-entrant structure is about 3.2 centimeters, the diameter of lower end 19 is about 2.5 centimeters, and the distance of extension of the re-entrant structure into the enclosure is about 2 centimeters. Miniature pots are generally shipped in a master carton that holds 36 plants. The bottom of a typical master carton has circular openings of about 5.5 centimeters in diameter, each to receive and hold a container. The corresponding container height is about 5 centimeters.

For the given example, the cross-sectional dimension of upper end 18 of re¬ entrant structure 12 is about .625 times the cross-sectional dimension of enclosure 11 at its top 15, and the re-entrant structure extends into the interior of enclosure 11 about .375 times the distance between top 15 and bottom 14 of the enclosure. With the container of the invention formed in those proportions, it has been found that the retention volume of the container is substantial and is sufficient to supply the needs of the plant for a significant period of time, in excess of reasonably anticipated transportation times.

It is generally preferred that the cross-sectional dimension of the re-entrant structure at its connection to the top of the enclosure be less than about seventy-five percent of the cross-sectional dimension of the top of the enclosure. It is also generally preferred that the re-entrant structure extend into the interior of the enclosure a distance within the range of about twenty-five percent to about seventy-five percent of the distance between the top and the bottom of the enclosure, with a particularly preferred range of about twenty-five percent to about fifty percent. With the container proportions within the preferred ranges, substantial retention volumes of twenty percent to thirty-five percent of the container volume can be achieved. Although preferred, these proportional ranges for the container structure do not limit the scope of the invention, and other proportions may be used, if desired. It should, however, be recognized that, for a given enclosure, the retention volume will be reduced as the width of the upper end of the re-entrant structure approaches the width of the top of the enclosure, and/or as the lower end of the re-entrant structure approaches the bottom of the enclosure. Although the maximum volume of liquid that can be retained with the container in an inverted orientation increases as the length of the re-entrant structure increases, there is no advantage if that retention volume exceeds the retention volume with the container upright or oriented horizontally, and increasing the length of the re-entrant structure will increase the cost of the container to some degree. The maximum retention volume for the container cannot exceed the volume of the enclosure between the bottom of the enclosure and a parallel plane intersecting the lower end of the re-entrant structure, so increasing the length of the re-entrant structure may reduce the retention volume. In addition, extending the lower end of the re-entrant structure significantly beyond the bottom of a pot to be placed in the re¬ entrant structure may make wick placement more difficult and may restrain the wick from moving with the liquid as the container orientation is changed.

An alternative embodiment in which the height of the enclosure is significantly greater than its width is illustrated in Figure 7. Such an embodiment is well suited for use as a flower vase, such as a bud vase, but less appropriate as a transportation container. A second alternative embodiment, suitable for use as a vase or a plant pot container, is illustrated in Figure 8. In both instances the proportional relationships fall within the preferred ranges.

Although the container of the invention may be filled beyond the retention volume if the user does not desire to prevent the spillage of any liquid from the container, a method of filling the container with a volume of liquid equal to the retention volume is within the scope of the invention. The preferred method of filling the container of the invention with water or other liquid to the retention volume includes the steps of (1) introducing liquid to the interior of the container through the re-entrant structure with the container in an upright orientation; (2) tipping the container to an inverted orientation, allowing excess liquid to flow from the interior of the container during the tipping process; and (3) returning the container to an upright orientation. The volume of liquid then remaining in the container is the retention volume of the container.

If either or both the enclosure and/or the re-entrant structure are non-circular in cross-section, the container may be tipped to a horizontal orientation and then rotated around its longitudinal axis before it is tipped to an inverted orientation, to ensure that only the retention volume of liquid remains in the container.

The foregoing description of the preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention is illustrative and not for purposes of limitation. The invention is susceptible to various additional modifications and alternative embodiments within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir for retaining a volume of liquid with the container in any orientation comprising: a hollow enclosure having a top, a bottom, and a side wall, each of said top and said bottom and said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said enclosure having a central axis extending between said top and said bottom thereof and further having an aperture formed in and extending through said top thereof, said aperture having a periphery; and a hollow open ended inverted re-entrant structure having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a continuous side wall, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said re-entrant structure being interconnected at said upper edge to said top of said enclosure, with said upper edge extending around said periphery of said aperture adjacent thereto and projecting from said top of said enclosure toward said bottom of said enclosure, providing an extended open passageway from the exterior of said enclosure to the interior of said enclosure, with said lower edge of said re-entrant structure being located above said inner surface of said bottom of said enclosure, said side wall of said re-entrant structure forming a barrier against the flow of liquid from the interior of said enclosure to the exterior thereof along said inner surface of said side wall of said re-entrant structure and through said aperture so as to retain a substantial volume of liquid between said side wall of said re-entrant structure, said side wall of said enclosure, and said top of said enclosure when said enclosure is tilted or inverted.

2. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 1, wherein said passageway formed by said re-entrant structure is the only passageway between the interior and the exterior of said enclosure.

3. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 2, wherein said container is formed in two parts and wherein said two parts are interconnected to form a liquid tight joint therebetween.

4. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 1 , wherein said aperture and said re-entrant structure are coaxially aligned with said central axis of said enclosure.

5. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 4, wherein said re-entrant structure is of inverted frusto-conical configuration.

6. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 5, wherein said enclosure is of cylindrical configuration.

7. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 1 , wherein said container has a maximum internal container volume, and wherein said substantial volume of liquid retained is not less than about ten percent of said maximum internal container volume.

8. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 1 , wherein said re-entrant structure extends toward said bottom of said enclosure a distance within the range of about twenty-five percent to about seventy-five percent of the distance between said top and said bottom of said enclosure.

9. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 1 , wherein said re-entrant structure extends toward said bottom of said enclosure a distance within the range of about twenty-five percent to about fifty percent of the distance between said top and said bottom of said enclosure.

10. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 1, wherein said aperture has a width, said top of said enclosure has a width, and wherein the width of said aperture is less than about seventy-five percent of the width of said top.

11. The leak-resistant open container and liquid reservoir of Claim 1 , wherein a plant pot is to be removeably disposed in said re-entrant structure, said plant pot has a side wall with an outer surface, and wherein said re-entrant structure is configured and dimensioned to match the configuration and dimensions of said side wall of said plant pot such that said outer surface of said side wall of said plant pot is in contact with said inner surface of said side wall of said re-entrant structure and said plant pot is frictionally retained in said re-entrant structure when disposed therein.

12. In a container for providing a supply of water for watering a plant grown in a plant pot, the container including a bottom, a side wall and a top penetrated by an aperture, with the plant pot disposed in the aperture with a portion of the plant pot extending from the top into the interior of the container, the improvement comprising a hollow open ended inverted re-entrant structure having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a continuous side wall surrounding a hollow interior, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said re-entrant structure being interconnected at said upper edge to said top of said container with said upper edge extending around said periphery of said aperture adjacent thereto and projecting from said top of said container toward said bottom of said container with said portion of said plant pot extending into said interior of said container disposed in the interior of said re-entrant structure, said side wall of said re¬ entrant structure forming a barrier against the flow of liquid from the interior of said container to the exterior thereof through said aperture so as to retain a substantial volume of liquid in the interior of said container between said side wall of said re-entrant structure, said side wall of said container, and said top of said container when said enclosure is tilted or inverted.

13. The improvement of Claim 12, wherein said portion of said plant pot extending into said interior of said container is disposed in mating relationship with said inner surface of said side wall of said re-entrant structure such that said plant pot is frictionally but removeably retained in said re-entrant structure.

14. The improvement of Claim 12, wherein said re-entrant structure is of inverted frusto-conical configuration.

15. The improvement of Claim 12, wherein said re-entrant structure is configured and dimensioned to match the configuration and dimensions of said portion of said plant pot extending into said interior of said container.

16. The improvement of Claim 12, wherein the only passageway from the interior of said container is through the interior of said re-entrant structure.

17. A method of filling an open container, adapted to retain in its interior a substantial volume of liquid regardless of the orientation of the container, with a volume of liquid less than or equal to that substantial volume of liquid that will be retained by the container regardless of its orientation, the container being open at its top when in an upright orientation, comprising the steps of introducing liquid to said interior of said container with said container in an upright orientation; and tipping said container to an inverted orientation, allowing any volume of liquid in excess of that substantial volume of liquid that will be retained by said container in any orientation between upright and inverted to flow from said interior of said container, whereupon the volume of liquid remaining in said interior of said container is less than or equal to that substantial volume of liquid that will be retained by said container regardless of orientation.

18. The method of Claim 17, wherein the volume of liquid introduced to said container is in excess of that substantial volume of liquid that will be retained in said container regardless of orientation, and wherein the volume of liquid remaining in said container with said container inverted is equal to that substantial volume of liquid that will be retained by said container regardless of orientation.

19. The method of Claim 17, including the additional final step of returning said container to an upright orientation.

20. The method of Claim 17, wherein said container has a longitudinal axis and said container is non-circular in cross-sectional configuration, including the additional step of rotating said container around said longitudinal axis with said longitudinal axis tipped to a horizontal orientation prior to tipping said container to an inverted orientation.