AU2010202766B2

AU2010202766B2 - Plant Hanging Bracket

Info

Publication number: AU2010202766B2
Application number: AU2010202766A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dianne Lang; Ahmed Rafiq
Original assignee: Rafiq Ind Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Rafiq Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-30
Filing date: 2010-06-30
Publication date: 2017-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-30
Also published as: AU2010202766A1

Abstract

In combination, a support structure, such as a fence, and a bracket for hanging a pot from the support structure, 5 the bracket including: an attachment member by which the bracket is coupled with the support structure; and a hanging member for supporting the pot, the hanging member having a proximal end attached to the attachment member, and a distal end from which the pot may be hung, the 10 hanging member extending, from the proximal end to the distal end, away from the support structure, and the support structure including a coupling member for receiving, and coupling with, the attachment member, the coupling member being elastically deformed by the 15 attachment member during coupling so that, once coupled together, the elastic deformation substantially resiles and the attachment member is securely retained by the coupling member. C \nrporlbRlGHMatters\MERCEDESA\2326533_1. DOC 30/06/10 1 I~i C) U-.

Description

2010202766 30 Jun2010 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent

Applicant: DEEPDISH Engineering Invention Title: Plant Hanging Bracket

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to us: 1 2010202766 15 May 2017

PLANT HANGING BRACKET

The present invention relates to brackets for hanging containers, particularly plant containers and pots. 5

Plant hanging brackets are generally used to support plants off the ground by attaching to fences, walls, trellis-work, etc. The brackets typically include a U-shaped portion that fits over and thereby secures the 10 bracket to, say, a fence. The brackets also include a body on which a plant container is hung, the body extending from the U-shaped portion and away from the fence.

While sufficient for carrying small plants and containers, 15 such brackets can suffer from a low load rating as the load is concentrated on the join between the U-shaped portion and the body. Moreover, to ensure sufficient load carrying capacity for an intended use (e.g. to support a plant that is potted in moist soil) , brackets tend to be 20 made from metal, which can make them expensive to produce.

In addition, plant hanging brackets have a tendency to become dislodged when knocked, as they are not adapted to prevent upward movement or movement parallel to the fence 25 line. Those brackets which do not so become dislodged tend to be fastened to the fence by, for example, a screw or bolt, which requires a penetration to be made in the fence that can damage the fence and make relocation of the bracket time consuming. 30

Finally, as many fences delineate the boundary between neighbouring properties, brackets which fit over the top of a fence effectively use the neighbour's side of the fence to support a plant the neighbour does not see. This 9033214_1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 2 2010202766 15 May 2017 is aesthetically undesirable, at least for the neighbour.

It is desired therefore to provide a plant hanging bracket which does not need to be received over the top of a 5 fence, and which has improved load carrying characteristics when compared with brackets heretofore known .

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a 10 bracket for hanging a pot from a support structure, the bracket including: a load bearing coupling attachment at an upper end of the bracket for attaching the bracket to a support structure; and 15 a hanging portion formed integrally with and cantilevered from the coupling attachment for supporting a pot away from the support structure when in use; the coupling attachment and hanging portion being defined by a generally planar webbing with an entire 2 0 periphery of the webbing having an integral edge that is substantially wider than the webbing in a direction normal to the plane of the webbing, thereby providing structural support against forces applied normal to the plane of the webbing. 25

In accordance with the invention, there is also provided a method for coupling a bracket with a support structure, the method including: inserting an end section of the coupling 30 attachment of the bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5 into a gap of a coupling member provided in the support structure; and applying a force to the bracket so that it pivots about the end section, causing the end section to apply a 9033214_1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 3 2010202766 15 May 2017 force to the support structure to elastically deform the support structure and thereby widen the gap so at least a portion of the end section can pass into the gap and be received in a space behind the gap, said gap narrowing 5 after the portion of the end section is received therethrough, to resile the elastic deformation.

Advantageously, preferred embodiments have a higher load carrying capacity than many previous plant hanging 10 brackets as the attachment member extends from the body along the structure, and is therefore supported by the structure .

Advantageously, the attachment member of preferred 15 embodiments is at least partially obscured from view by the corresponding portion of the structure, so that the bracket can only be seen from one side of the structure.

Preferred embodiments will now be described by way of non-20 limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a bracket with a container hanging therefrom, and which is coupled with a structure; 25

Figures 2A to 2C show various coupling systems, and a method, by which a bracket can be coupled with a structure; 30 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1; and 9033214 1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 4 2010202766 15 May 2017

Figure 4 shows a bracket coupled in a section of corrugated fencing. A bracket 10 for hanging a pot 12 on a support structure, 5 in this case a fence 14, is shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. The bracket 10 includes an attachment member 16, by which the bracket 10 is coupled with the fence 14, and a hanging member 18, for supporting the pot 12. The hanging member has a proximal end, generally designated 20, 10 attached to the attachment member 16, and a distal end 22 from which the pot 12 may be hung. The hanging member 18 extends from the proximal end 20 to the distal end 22, away from the fence 14, thereby distancing the pot 12 from the fence 14. 15

The support structure 14 includes a coupling member 24 for receiving, and coupling with, the attachment member 16. In the present case, the coupling member 24 is formed as a capping over the fence panelling 2 6, to hide the sharp 20 upper edge 28 of that panelling 26. The capping 24 is elastically deformed by the attachment member 16 during coupling, as discussed in relation to Figure 2C. Once the attachment member 16 and capping 24 are coupled together, the elastic deformation of the capping 24 substantially 25 resiles and the attachment member is thus securely retained by the capping 24.

The attachment member 16 is preferably shaped so that it occupies substantially all of the space 30 within the 30 capping 24 of the fence 14, as shown in Figure 2A. Such a tight fit ensures the bracket 10 is stable once coupled with the fence 14. To account for variations in the dimensions of the capping 24, the attachment member 16 can be shaped so as not to occupy all of the space 30 within 35 the capping 24, as shown in Figure 2B. 9033214 1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 5 2010202766 15 May 2017

The hanging member 18 includes an aperture 32 through which a wire 34, connected to the pot 12, can be inserted. The wire 34 is simply drawn through the aperture before being connected at both ends to the pot 12. As an 5 alternative to the aperture 32, a channel 36 is provided for receiving a wire 34 that has been previously connected at both ends to the pot 12. The wire 34 is simply placed over the distal end 22 of the hanging member 18 and is placed in the channel 36. 10

The attachment member 16 and hanging member 18 are defined by a generally planar webbing 38, as shown in Figure 3. The webbing 38 can resist force in the two dimensions of its plane, but is not particularly resistant to forces 15 applied perpendicular to that plane. For this reason, the bracket 10 is provided with an edge 40 which generally defines the periphery of the webbing 38. The edge 40 protrudes from the webbing 38 generally perpendicularly and provides structural support against forces applied 20 normal to the plane of the webbing 38. Advantageously, the combination of the webbing 38 and edge 40 ensure rigidity of the bracket 10 in all 3 dimensions.

In addition, as the webbing 38 is supported by the edge 25 40, and is planar, the webbing 38 can include a pattern or ornate design 42, to improve the aesthetic appeal of the bracket 10.

The attachment member 16 is coupled with the coupling 30 member 24 by inserting locking end section 44 of the attachment member 16 into the gap 4 6 defined between the coupling member 24 and panelling 26, as shown in Figure 2C . 35 By urging the distal end 22 of the hanging member 18 9033214J (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 6 2010202766 15 May 2017 downwardly and towards the fence 14, as indicated by arrow X, so as to pivot about the locking end section 44, the coupling member 24 elastically deforms outwardly (shown in dotted lines). This elastic deformation widens the gap 46 5 thus allowing the locking end section 44 of the attachment member 16 to pass into the space 30.

Once the attachment member 16 is received in the space 30, the coupling member 24 resiles the elastic deformation and 10 returns to its original position, thereby securely retaining the attachment member 16. In this regard, the locking end section 44 is wider than the remainder of the attachment member 16 in at least one dimension. This ensures that the locking end section 44 cannot simply fall 15 out of the coupling member 24 once coupled therewith, as the gap 46 returns to its original width which is smaller than the corresponding dimension of the locking end section 44. 20 The bracket 10 can be removed from the fence 14, by applying a force to the bracket 10 generally opposite that which is required to couple the attachment member 16 to the coupling member 24. A force applied in the direction required to decouple the bracket 10 from the fence 14 is 25 unlikely to occur during normal use of the bracket 10, even as a result of incidental bumps and knocks. Contrastingly, brackets which fit over the top of a fence can easily become dislodged, particularly due to incidental knocking of the bracket while inspecting plants 30 already hung therefrom.

The coupling process disclosed herein ensures a secure connection between the attachment member 16 and coupling member 24, which is sufficiently strong to sustain the 35 load of a potted plant on the distal end 22 of the hanging member 18. Therefore, no penetrations need to be made in 9033214_1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 7 2010202766 15 May 2017 the fence 14 to secure the bracket 10 thereto, and thus the fence 14 bears no evidence of its having previously been coupled with the bracket 10 if the bracket 10 is subsequently relocated. Contrastingly, many brackets that 5 fall outside of the present disclosure require penetrations to be made in the fence, so that the bracket can be securely fastened thereto. Accordingly, when it is desired that the bracket be relocated, the penetration remains in the fence. 10

As the present method of coupling the bracket 10 requires insertion of the locking end section 44 in the gap 46, the bracket 10 is particularly suitable for use with fences 14 that include a capping 24 which overhangs the panelling 15 2 6, as shown in Figure 4. Such fences 14 include capped

Colorbond® fences, and other corrugated fences. Moreover, though the bracket 10 may be moveable laterally along the fence 14, while the attachment member 16 remains within the capping 24, due to the space 30 being continuous 20 within the capping 24, this lateral movement can be restricted by using corrugated fences 14. In such circumstances, the bracket 10 can become stuck between two adjacent corrugations 50, as shown in Figure 4. 25 The fence 14, as shown in Figure 4, is also solid (i.e. it cannot be seen through). Accordingly, the attachment member 16 is not visible from the side 48 of the fence 14 opposite the bracket 10. As such, the bracket 10 will not be visible when the fence 14 is viewed from that side 48. 30 Contrastingly, brackets which fit over the top of the fence 14 are necessarily, and aesthetically undesirably, visible from both sides.

In addition, the bracket 10 is in contact with the fence 35 panelling 26 along a significant portion of the edge 40, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The breadth of the edge 40 9033214_1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 8 2010202766 15 May 2017 dictates the area of the panelling 2 6 across which a load is distributed by the bracket 10, that load resulting from a pot 12 being hung from the bracket 10. As the edge 40 is significantly broader than the thickness of the webbing 5 38, as shown in Figure 3, the load is distributed more effectively than would be the case in its absence. The edge 40 also includes a rounded base portion 52 which reduces the likelihood of high point loads being experienced by the bracket 10, as would otherwise be the 10 case if the edge 40 sharply changed direction away from the fence 14.

In particular, the highest load experienced by the bracket 10 will generally be at point Y, as shown in Figure 1. The 15 location of that point can move slightly around the base portion 52 due to slight deformation of the bracket 10 under heavy loads. This can increase the area in contact with the fence 14 and thus the area over which the load is distributed. 20

By virtue of the arrangement of the edge 40 and webbing 38, and the resultant force distribution properties, the bracket 10 can be made from weaker and/or cheaper materials than other brackets, such as injection-moulded 25 plastics.

It will be understood by persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In 30 addition, the invention may be used in combination with various support structures, including fences and trellis work, and various types of container may be hung therefrom. 35 It is to be understood that references herein to prior art 9033214 1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017 9 2010202766 15 May 2017 do not constitute an admission that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country. 5 In the claims which follow, and in the preceding description of preferred embodiments of the invention, except wherein the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 9033214_1 (GHMatters) P84532.AU 15/05/2017

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A bracket for hanging a pot from a support structure, the bracket including: a load bearing coupling attachment at an upper end of the bracket for attaching the bracket to a support structure; and a hanging portion formed integrally with and cantilevered from the coupling attachment for supporting a pot away from the support structure when in use; the coupling attachment and hanging portion being defined by a generally planar webbing with an entire periphery of the webbing having an integral edge that is substantially wider than the webbing in a direction normal to the plane of the webbing, thereby providing structural support against forces applied normal to the plane of the webbing.
2. A combination of a support structure and the bracket as claimed in claim 1; wherein the support structure includes a coupling member for receiving, and coupling with, the load bearing coupling attachment of the bracket , the coupling member being elastically deformed by the coupling attachment during coupling so that, once coupled together, the elastic deformation substantially resiles and the coupling attachment is securely retained by the coupling member.
3. The bracket according to claim 1, or the combination according to claim 2, wherein the bracket is made from injection-moulded plastic.
4. The bracket according to claim 1 or claim 3, or the combination according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the hanging portion includes a channel for receiving a wire for hanging a pot, the wire being placed over a distal end of the hanging portion and into the channel, the hanging portion further including an aperture through which a wire for hanging a pot can be inserted.
5. The bracket according to claim 1, 3 or 4, or the combination according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least a portion of the bracket rests against a planar surface of the support structure when coupled therewith, and said portion is thereby braced by the support structure when a pot is hung from the bracket.
6. A method for coupling a bracket with a support structure, the method including: inserting an end section of the coupling attachment of the bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5 into a gap of a coupling member provided in the support structure; and applying a force to the bracket so that it pivots about the end section, causing the end section to apply a force to the support structure to elastically deform the support structure and thereby widen the gap so at least a portion of the end section can pass into the gap and be received in a space behind the gap, said gap narrowing after the portion of the end section is received therethrough, to resile the elastic deformation.