Decorative irrigation and soluble product delivery system

Abstract

An article for storing and dispensing water. The article can include a housing and a plumbing system. The housing can define a cavity that is configured to hold a predetermined volume of water. The plumbing system is coupled to the housing and includes at least one delivery conduit and a system for selectively dispensing a predetermined portion of the predetermined volume of water to the at least one delivery conduit. A method for forming an article for storing and dispensing water is also provided.

1 . An article for storing and dispensing water comprising: 
 a housing defining a cavity that is configured to hold a predetermined volume of water;    a plumbing system coupled to the housing, the plumbing system including at least one delivery conduit and a means for selectively dispensing a predetermined portion of the predetermined volume of water to the at least one delivery conduit.    
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the selective dispensing means includes a quantity (x) of riser tubes that are disposed in the cavity, each of the riser tubes having a different length.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein each of the riser tubes is coupled to a valve that is coupled in fluid communication with the delivery conduit.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the quantity (x) is greater than one (1) and wherein the valves are disposed in series.  
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the selective dispensing means includes a quantity (y) of valves and wherein the quantity (y) of valves is greater than the quantity (x) of riser tubes.  
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the selective dispensing means includes a plurality of fittings and a plurality of valves, the fittings being received through the housing and being in fluid communication with the cavity, the valves being operable for selectively permitting fluid communication between an associated one of the fittings and the at least one delivery conduit.  
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the fittings are spaced vertically apart from one another.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is shaped in the form of a flower pot or a rock.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a tray member that is coupled to the housing, the tray member being adapted to hold a volume of soil at a location above the cavity.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the tray is formed of a non-porous material.  
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a housing member, a base and a gasket, the gasket being received between and sealingly engaging the base and the housing member.  
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a housing member, a base and a retainer, the base being wrapped around an open end of the housing member, the retainer sealingly coupling the base to the housing member.  
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the retainer is formed of a resilient material that is stretched over the base and the housing member.  
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the base is formed of a sheet material.  
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the sheet material is a resilient sheet material.  
   
   
       16 . A method for fabricating an article for storing and dispensing water, the method comprising: 
 providing a housing member, the housing member having a wall member and an open bottom;    coupling a plurality of fittings to the housing member, the fittings extending through the wall member;    coupling a valve to at least a portion of the fittings, the valves being operable for selectively enabling fluid communication through an associated one of the valves; and    coupling a base to the housing member to close the open bottom.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a gasket is disposed between the base and the housing member.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling the base to the housing includes stretching the base over the open end of the housing and securing the base to the wall member.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein securing the base to the wall member includes stretching a retainer over the base and the open end of the housing and threreafter releasing the retainer.