WO2022204790A1

WO2022204790A1 - Watering bag with perforated lid

Info

Publication number: WO2022204790A1
Application number: PCT/CA2022/050429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bradley Douglas CATON
Original assignee: Easy Natural Products Manufacturing Ltd.
Priority date: 2021-04-02
Filing date: 2022-03-22
Publication date: 2022-10-06

Abstract

A watering bag which is constructed using a semi-rigid material. The watering bag includes a reinforced handle in an upper portion of the bag. The watering bag further includes a threaded spout in an upper portion of the bag. The spout is shaped to contain a removeable internal plug which stops liquid within the bag from leaking out of the bag. The plug is held in place by a removeable cap, which itself includes a plurality of holes. When the cap and the plug are used together, the bag is watertight. However, when the plug is removed and the cap is put onto the spout, the watering bag may be used to slowly disperse a liquid contained in the bag over an area.

Description

WATERING BAG WITH PERFORATED LID

Mi l l)

[0001] Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a watering bag with a perforated lid to allow for dispersion of a liquid contained therein.

SUMMARY

[0002] Various implementations of devices within the scope of this application each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes described herein. Without limiting the scope of the application, some prominent features are described herein.

[0003] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a watering bag which is constructed using a semi-rigid material. The watering bag may include a reinforced handle in an upper portion of the bag, such as a handle with is cut from the bag and is reinforced with a sturdy, ergonomic handle. The watering bag may further include an externally threaded spout in an upper portion of the bag. The spout may include an internal plug which stops liquid within the bag from leaking out of the bag. The plug may be held in place by a cap, which itself may include a plurality of holes. When the cap and the plug are used together, the bag may be watertight. However, when the plug is removed and the cap is put onto the spout, the watering bag may be used to slowly disperse a liquid contained in the bag over an area.

BRTEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary watering bag according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0005] FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary plug for the watering bag according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIGs. 3A and 3B illustrate an exemplary cap for the watering bag according to one aspect of the present disclosure. DESCRIPTION

[0007] Various aspects of the novel systems, apparatuses, and methods are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The teachings disclosure can, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the novel apparatuses disclosed herein.

[0008] Although aspects are described herein, many variations and permutations of these aspects fall within the scope of the disclosure. Although some benefits and advantages of the preferred aspects are mentioned, the scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to those specific benefits, uses, or objectives. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the disclosure rather than limiting.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary watering bag 100 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The watering bag 100 is made up of a watertight semi-rigid exterior surface 105. This exterior surface 105 may be made from plastic or other suitable materials. The exterior surface 105 may be of a rigidity which allows the watering bag 100 to lie flat when not filled with liquid, but to expand into a full shape, such as a rectangular shape, when filled with a liquid. The watering bag 100 may have a flat bottom or a partially flat bottom to provide more interior volume for liquid within the watering bag 100 while still allowing the bag to fold into a small shape when not filled with liquid. For example, the watering bag 100 may have an envelope bottom 120 or another folded bottom which allows the bag to unfold open to provide a larger interior volume when filled with liquid. Alternatively, the watering bag 100 may take other forms as well, such as being constructed out of a more rigid material.

[0010] The watering bag 100 includes a handle 110. The handle 110 may be formed in a hole in the exterior surface 105 of the watering bag 100. The handle 110 may be positioned at the top and center of the watering bag 100, to allow a user to carry the watering bag 100 using the handle 110. The handle 110 may be of sufficient strength to allow a user to carry the watering bag 100 with the handle 110 even when the watering bag 100 is filled with a liquid, such as water or a brine solution. The handle 110 may simply be cut out of the exterior surface of the watering bag 100, or it may also include additional elements designed to strengthen the handle 110 and to provide a more ergonomic surface for users holding the watering bag 100. For example, the handle 110 may include a hard material, such as hard plastic, which is formed around the edges of the handle 110 to provide for a more secure gripping surface. This material may be shaped to allow a user to easily grip the handle 110, such as by including ergonomic finger grooves 115 to allow for a more comfortable and secure grip on the watering bag 100.

[0011] The watering bag 100 further includes a neck or spout 125. The spout 125 may be placed in an upper comer of the watering bag 100. The spout 125 may be placed to allow the watering bag 100 to be either emptied or filled through the spout. The spout 125 may be configured to securely attached to a cap or a plug. For example, the spout 125 may be threaded on its exterior surface to allow a similarly threaded cap to screw onto the spout 125 and to form a watertight seal, thereby making the entire watering bag watertight. The spout 125 may be smooth on its interior surface, to allow a plug 200 to be placed inside it.

[0012] The watering bag 100 may further include a plug 200, as illustrated in FIGs. 2A and 2B, which may fit securely into spout 125. The plug 200 may be made from plastic and may be configured to create a seal along with the spout 125. The plug 200 may be configured to fit in the inside of the spout 125 and may be configured to lie flat with the top of the spout, to allow a cap to be screwed onto the exterior threads of the spout 125 while the plug 200 is positioned inside the spout 125 of the watering bag 100. For example, the plug 200 may include a larger lip 205, which allows it to sit inside the spout 125 without falling in, but which does not restrict a cap from screwing onto the spout 125.

[0013] The watering bag 100 may further include a perforated cap 300, as illustrated in FIGs. 3A and 3B, which may fit secured onto spout 125. The perforated cap 300 may include a threaded interior 305 which allows it to removably attach to the similarly threaded spout 125. The perforated cap 300 may include one or more perforations or holes 310 in it, which allow liquid from the interior of the watering bag 100 to exit the watering bag 100 at a desired flow rate. For example, the perforated cap may include a plurality of small holes 310 which allow liquid to flow through the holes at a relatively slow, consistent rate. The number and size of each of the plurality of holes 310 may be selected to achieve a desired liquid flow rate and may be based in part on a viscosity of the liquid, a desired flow rate, a size of the watering bag 100, and on other factors. For example, smaller and fewer holes may be used to achieve lower flow rates and for liquids with relatively low viscosity.

[0014] In one aspect, the perforated cap 300 may include between two and twenty -five holes, between five and twenty holes, or between ten and fifteen holes. In one aspect, the perforated cap may contain twelve holes. The number and size of holes 310 in the perforated cap 300 may also be selected to allow for a given size of coverage for the liquid from the watering bag 100. For example, the perforated cap 300 may include holes 310 such that the watering bag 100 can cover an area of 1,000 square feet, for example. Other areas of coverage may also be chosen, from 100 square feet up to 10,000 square feet, based on the capacity of the watering bag 100 and the flow rate of the perforated cap 300.

[0015] As shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B, one exemplary embodiment of the perforated cap 300 may include twelve holes 310 which are symmetrically distributed around the center of the cap itself. As in the illustration, the holes in the perforated cap 300 may be evenly distributed around the cap itself, such as being radially symmetrical around the center of the cap. Aside from the holes, the cap 300 may be watertight with the watering bag 100, such that liquids do not leak out from the sides of the cap and only come out through the plurality of holes 310.

[0016] The cap 300 may be configured to fit securely onto the spout 125. The cap 300 may be screwed onto the spout 125 with the plug 200 in place or screwed onto the spout 125 without the plug 200 inside the spout 125. When the plug 200 is inside the spout 125, the cap 300 may provide a watertight seal for the watering bag 100, by keeping the plug 200 securely in place and preventing any liquid from inside the bag 100 from flowing out of the bag 100. Alternatively, the cap 300 may also be screwed onto the spout 125 when the plug 200 is not in place, which will allow liquid to flow out from the watering bag 100 and through the plurality of holes 310 in the cap when the bag 100 is tilted at an appropriate angle to allow liquid to exit the bag 100. Thus, for example, if the watering bag 100 is filled with water or brine, this may allow a user to tip the bag 100 to allow the water or brine to flow through the perforated cap 300 at a flow rate dictated by the design of the holes 310 in the cap 300. [0017] The material used to make the watering bag 100 may allow the bag to expand and contract when it is filled with liquid. This may allow liquid to flow out of the watering bag 100, such as through the perforated cap, without needing an additional ventilation hole in the bag to allow for smooth, laminar fluid flow. In one alternative aspect, the watering bag 100 may include an additional hole to allow for ventilation and to provide for smooth fluid flow exiting the watering bag 100.

[0018] In one aspect, a watering bag according to the present disclosure may contain a liquid or a solid, such as a powder. For example, the watering bag may contain one or more salts inside the bag, which may have both a plug and a cap in place. A user may remove the cap and the plug from the bag, then fill the watering bag with water. This may dissolve the salts contained inside the bag to form a brine solution. The watering bag may be constructed of materials with sufficient durability to allow a user to shake the watering bag, to ensure that the salts inside the bag are dissolved into the water and form an evenly distributed brine solution. For example, the watering bag may be used to store de-ice surfaces such as sidewalks, by pouring a brine solution onto those surfaces which may melt the ice on those surfaces. In such a use, the watering bag may contain de-icing salts and water may be added to form a brine solution which is optimized to de-ice surfaces. One of skill in the art could also use such a bag for other purposes, aside from de-icing. For example, the watering bag may also have applications in agriculture or gardening, such as being used to disperse liquid fertilizer or other liquids over a desired area.

[0019] Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure can be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein can be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein. The word “exemplary” is used exclusively herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.

[0020] Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations also can be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also can be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub combination. Moreover, although features can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination can be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

[0021] The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. The method steps and/or actions can be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions can be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0022] While the foregoing is directed to aspects of the present disclosure, other and further aspects of the disclosure can be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A watering bag, comprising: a body for containing a fluid, the body comprising: a watertight exterior surface defining a cavity for containing a fluid; and a spout in fluid connection with the cavity for permitting the fluid to enter and exit the cavity; a plug removably disposed within the spout; and a perforated cap removably attached to the spout, the cap having a plurality of holes; wherein the perforated cap forms a watertight seal in the spout with the plug for preventing the flow of fluid into or out of the cavity when the plug is disposed within the spout; and wherein the plurality of holes of the perforated cap are configured to permit fluid to enter or exit the cavity at a defined rate when the plug is removed.

2. The watering bag of claim 1, further comprising a handle for carrying the bag.

3. The watering bag of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a semi-rigid material such that the body is reversibly expandable when filled with fluid.

4. The watering bag of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a rigid material, and the watering bag further comprises a vent for equalizing pressure within the cavity to provide continuous laminar flow as fluid is exiting the cavity.

5. The watering bag of claim 1, wherein the perforated cap prevents the plug from being removed while the cap is attached to the spout.

6. The watering bag of claim 1, further comprising a filling disposed within the cavity.

7. The watering bag of claim 6, wherein the filling comprises one or more soluble salts and wherein when a liquid enters the cavity, the liquid forms a solution with the one or more salts, thereby permitting the one or more salts to flow out of the cavity through the perforated cap in the solution.

8. The watering bag of claim 7, wherein the one or more soluble salts comprises a water- soluble de-icing salt.

9. The watering bag of claim 7, wherein the one or more soluble salts comprises a water- soluble fertilizer.

10. The watering bag of claim 1, wherein the defined rate provides a coverage of 100 to 10,000 square feet when the maximum capacity of non-pressurized fluid exits the cavity through the perforated cap.

11. The watering bag of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes comprises between two and twenty five holes.

12. The watering bag of claim 11, wherein the plurality of holes comprises between five and twenty holes.

13. The watering bag of claim 12, wherein the plurality of holes comprises between ten and fifteen holes.

14. A perforated cap for a watering bag, the cap comprising a cylindrical housing having: a circular face at a first end, the face having a plurality of holes; a circular opening at a second end; and a cylindrical wall connecting the first and second ends, the wall having a threaded interior for engaging with a similarly threaded spout of the watering bag to form a watertight seal, the wall defining a fluid channel between the opening and the face; wherein the holes in the face are in fluid connection with the fluid channel and configured to permit fluid to flow through the channel at a defined rate.

15. The perforated cap of claim 14, wherein the plurality of holes comprises between two and twenty five holes.

16. The perforated cap of claim 14, wherein the plurality of holes comprises between five and twenty holes.

17. The perforated cap of claim 14, wherein the plurality of holes comprises between ten and fifteen holes.

18. The perforated cap of claim 14, wherein the plurality of holes are symmetrically distributed around the center of the circular face of the cap.