USA patent for sale. Feed plants, reduce water usage.

Detailed description

TECHNICAL DETAILS

The Fert-O-Mat is loaded with a slow release or slow dissolving plant nutrient formula in prilled or crystal form. The input end of the device attaches to any standard garden or outdoor tap (faucet) using standard threaded fittings. A garden hose or other watering system such as irrigation drip line is attached to the output end of the device using "Snap-On" fittings.

When water is drawn from the supply through the device the nutrients are slowly released into the water stream. A wide variety of nutrient release periods and formulations can be loaded into the device.

The nutrient crystals are held within the device by a novel filtering system which retains the solids within the device. The filtering system only permits nutrients to pass from the device after being dissolved into the water stream. This filter is the focus of the successful PCT application.

A vacuum breaker valve is incorporated into the device at the input end (not show in image) which prevents back flow from the device into the water supply. This valve is a mandatory fitting to new outdoor plumbing installations under some Australian Water Authority regulations. When the device is fitted to the tap it has the effect of retro fitting this valve.

In compliance with Australian Standards Association (ASA) regulations the device can not be reloaded by the end user. The vacuum breaker valve tends to act as an impediment to the water flow and therefore tends to reduce water usage. The device considerably reduces the need for packaged fertilisers because it tends to supply only the immediate needs of the plants as part of the watering procedure.

The complete FERT-O-MAT including a "Snap-On" hose fitting is less than 300 mm long and 90 mm in diameter. It weighs approximately 1.6 Kg.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Plants do not have teeth and must receive nutrients in liquid form. Therefore granulated or prilled fertilisers must first be dissolved in water before becoming available to plants. Usually dissolving takes place as a result of using garden sprinkler systems for extensive periods. Increasing restrictions are now being placed on the way plants can be watered. Many areas across Australia are becoming restricted to hand held hose watering.

This means that the correct application of dry bagged fertilisers is becoming very much a "hit and miss" affair. Gardens can frequently be seen to be seriously lacking in nutrients because dry fertilisers have not dissolved. Some are even suffering from fertiliser "burn" because there has been insufficient watering or rainfall following fertiliser spreading. Fertiliser "burn" encourages the growth and spread of fungus and diseases.

The FERT-O-MAT has brought together a number of already existing technologies to allow the injection of a complete plant food formula into hand held watering. Several plant food formulations to suit various gardens such as Native Gardens will be available. The available formulas include the vital Trace Elements and are designed to provide the plants with exactly the formula required for strong healthy growth. As the plants can immediately use all the nutrients provided, excessive fertilising is virtually eliminated.

The FERT-O-MAT has the potential to reduce water use by 20% and ground water, river and wetland nutrient pollution in urban areas by up to 40% while improving the quality of most suburban gardens.

The FERT-O-MAT is ideally suited to take advantage of the recent breakthrough technology in slow release fertilizers. Leaders in this field are the Chinese based Hanfeng Evergreen Inc. who have filed for patent for biodegradable resin-coated slow-release fertilizer technology. The patent covers proprietary coating materials and a process to produce resin-coated slow-release fertilizer products.

SIX MONTHS SUPPLY OF PLANT FOOD

A single FERT-O-MAT will supply the average home garden with all the nutrients that plants need for up to six months. The FERT-O-MAT is completely maintenance free. It simply screws on to a standard garden tap (faucet) and feeds the garden as the plants are watered. All this at a fraction of the cost of buying and spreading bagged fertilisers.

A garden hose snaps on to the outlet end. Although designed for mains scheme water the FERT-O-MAT can also be used with bore, tank and dam water supplies. We strongly recommend leaving the FERT-O-MAT fitted to the garden tap (faucet) until it is time to fit a replacement unit.