Plant Pot Support Assembly with Drainage Grate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant pot solutions fail to efficiently drain excess water and prevent damage to decks and patios from water accumulation and mold growth, as they do not adequately address the issue of water retention and dust accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A plant pot support assembly comprising a saucer with a peripheral wall and a grate, where the grate is formed from interconnected circular elements allowing water and dirt to drain into a water-tight cavity, and the saucer and grate are designed to prevent slippage and support heavier pots with structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional saucer is used to collect water, then water can be contained, but water and dirt accumulate without efficient drainage, causing damage to decks and patios
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water collection function into two separate components: the saucer that collects water and the grate that filters dirt. This segmentation allows water to be efficiently drained while dirt is contained and removed, resolving the contradiction between water containment and drainage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The grate acts as an intermediary element between the plant pot and the saucer. It allows water to pass through to the saucer for drainage while blocking dirt from entering the saucer, thus preventing both water accumulation damage and dirt contamination.
2Strength
If a solid bottom grate is used to support heavy pots, then structural strength is improved, but drainage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The grate is designed with interconnected circular elements that create open spaces between them. This porous structure provides sufficient structural strength to support heavy plant pots while maintaining high drainage efficiency by allowing water to pass through the gaps.
3Quantity of substance
If the peripheral wall is made tall to contain more water, then water retention is improved, but airflow and drainage efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral wall is designed with an optimal height that provides sufficient water containment for typical plant drainage needs without being excessively tall. This partial action approach ensures adequate water retention while maintaining open space for airflow and efficient drainage, avoiding the drawbacks of overly tall walls.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The assembly effectively drains excess water and dirt, preventing damage to decks and patios while maintaining soil health by allowing for airflow and preventing water accumulation, thus addressing the need for efficient drainage and dust management.
Implementation Method 1
The grate may be configured to be placed over and retained above the peripheral wall of the saucer... The grate allows water and dirt to drop from the plant pot into the interior of the cavity
Implementation Method 2
The grate may be formed from a plurality of interconnected concentric circular elements and configured to support a plant pot on top thereof
Implementation Method 3
The saucer, in turn, may have a bottom and a peripheral wall extending from the bottom to an elevation above the bottom so as to form a water-tight cavity with the bottom
Data Source
AI summary
A plant pot support assembly comprises a saucer and a grate. The saucer, in turn, comprises a flat bottom and a peripheral wall at an elevation such that a cavity is formed. The grate is configured to be placed over the peripheral wall to enable the grate to support a plant pot, wherein water or dirt from the plant pot is accumulated in the cavity below.