Self-Draining Flower Pot with Transparent Water Level Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flower pots for hydroponics and soil cultures are often complex, voluminous, and have unreliable water level indicators, making it difficult to monitor water supply, especially for outdoor use, and are not versatile enough for various plant cultures.
Innovation Solution
A flower pot design featuring a trough-shaped outer element with a lower height than the inner element, allowing for easy filling and visual inspection of the water level, and a plug-in connection for stability, eliminating the need for mechanical water level indicators and using opaque materials for simplicity and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional water level indicators (float ball in cylindrical tube) are used, then water level can be monitored, but the design becomes complicated and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conventional float ball indicator mechanism entirely and extracts only the essential function of water level indication. Instead, it uses a simple transparent section in the side wall of the outer element that directly exposes the water level without any mechanical indicators, thereby eliminating complexity while maintaining monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical float ball indicator system with an optical/visual method. The transparent section in the side wall allows direct visual observation of the water level through light transmission, substituting mechanical movement with a static optical indicator
2Measurement precision
If conventional water level indicators are used, then water level can be indicated, but the indicator becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent section in the side wall serves itself as the indicator mechanism. The water level is directly visible through the transparent material without requiring additional components that could fail, making the system self-sufficient and highly reliable for water level indication
3Volume of moving object
If the outer element has the same height as the inner element, then the design is compact, but filling and visual inspection of water level becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only a specific section of the outer element's side wall transparent, rather than making the entire side wall transparent or changing the overall height. This localized transparency provides the necessary visual access for filling and inspection while maintaining the compact overall dimensions of the container
4Measurement precision
If transparent or translucent materials are used for the outer element, then water level is visible, but algae growth is promoted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only a specific section of the outer element's side wall transparent, rather than making the entire side wall transparent or changing the overall height. This localized transparency provides the necessary visual access for filling and inspection while maintaining the compact overall dimensions of the container
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert environment for the bulk of the outer element by using opaque or translucent materials that block light, thereby preventing algae growth. Only a small localized section is transparent to allow water level viewing, effectively creating a light-blocking environment that inhibits biological growth while maintaining necessary visibility
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a flower pot (1) comprising an inner element (2) with a cover (4) in which multiple fluid openings (8) are formed, an outer element (3) which surrounds the inner element (2) and which has a base (9), a lateral wall (10) protruding from the base (9) and a liquid storage chamber (11), the height of the lateral wall (10) of the outer element (3) being lower than the cover (4) of the inner element (2) and, at least one filling and viewing opening (12) between the inner element (2) and the outer element (3) for filling the liquid storage chamber (11) with liquid and for visually checking a level of the liquid in the liquid storage chamber (11) of the outer element (3).