AU2020100367A4

AU2020100367A4 - Decorative Cover Assembly for an Object

Info

Publication number: AU2020100367A4
Application number: AU2020100367A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Aaron Catley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-12
Filing date: 2020-03-11
Publication date: 2020-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-11
Also published as: CN212446901U

Abstract

Abstract A decorative cover assembly for an object comprising a receptacle into which the object can be placed; a basal gripping means adapted to be secured to a first portion of the receptacle; an upper gripping means adapted to be secured to a second portion of the receptacle; and a flexible coversheet that is retained and held taut by being stretched between the basal and upper gripping means wherein a portion of the coversheet is retained by way of a friction fit between the receptacle and each of the gripping means. -- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - --H I, I IG 1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a decorative cover assembly for an object, and in particular in one embodiment to a pot plat cover, which provides a decorative cover sleeve for a plant or flower pot, and in another embodiment to a decorative cover sleeve for a gift box.

BACKGROUND ART

Decorative covers for objects such as flower pots and gift boxes are known.

In particular, flower pot covers are well known, but the most common form are loose15 fitting fabric bags or rigid plastic cases that the flower pot is placed into. This loose fit is not desirable to all consumers who may prefer a more ‘streamlined’ appearance in which the cover more closely follows the contours of the flower pot.

Gift box covers are well known, most commonly being of the type where the box is 20 inserted into a cover sleeve (usually where the gift box is slid into the sleeve) or where the box otherwise encircled by a decorative cover.

The present invention provides a way for a fabric cover to be tensioned around an object, which provides a decorative appearance, and in the case of the object being a 25 plant pot, the present invention provides a different look/aesthetic compared with the loose fit prior art versions, in particular, because the fabric cover remains taught as opposed to a loose fit around the pot as in the prior art.

There are examples in the prior art of ‘non-loose fit’ flower pot covers. For example,

United States patent publication no. US 20180352753 teaches a flower pot comprising a base and a side wall, the side wall having a recess to receive an “exchangeable decorative cover sleeve”. This prior art invention is directed to a flower pot itself (albeit one that has a replaceable side wall) rather than a flower pot cover that can be retrofitted onto or provide a cover over an existing plant pot.

2020100367 11 Mar 2020

Korean utility model KR 1994-0011782 teaches a cover that has a center elastic unit that is combined to a cylindrical body, an upper elastic unit, and a lower elastic unit. However, this cover does not use interfitting rings in order to frictionally engage with the fabric covering, instead using a series of posts that engage with respective apertures or slots to hold the cover in place, and the covering itself is pleated rather than taut.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an alternate decorative cover assembly for an object that overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of previously known 10 approaches in this field, or would at least provide a useful alternative.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a decorative cover assembly for an object comprising:

a receptacle into which the object can be placed;

a basal gripping means adapted to be secured to a first portion of the receptacle;

an upper gripping means adapted to be secured to a second portion of the receptacle; 20 and a flexible coversheet that is retained and held taut by being stretched between the basal and upper gripping means wherein a portion of the coversheet is retained by way of a friction fit between the receptacle and each of the gripping means.

In the first embodiment, preferably, the basal and upper gripping means are rings that are sized and shaped to encircle a respective portion of the object receptacle, and be secured thereto.

In the first embodiment, preferably, an underside surface of the object receptacle 30 includes a channel into which a portion of the coversheet is inserted and retained.

In the first embodiment, preferably, the upper and basal gripping means connect with the object receptacle by way of frictional engagement.

2020100367 11 Mar 2020

In accordance with a second embodiment, the present invention relates to a decorative cover assembly comprising a basal gripping means having a baseplate and interlocking base member, an upper gripping means comprising a pair of upper members that interfit with one another, and a flexible coversheet that is retained and held taut by being 5 stretched between the basal and upper gripping means by being clamped within each gripping means.

Preferably, in the second embodiment, the baseplate is adapted to be retained on an underside surface of an object to which the cover assembly is to be fitted.

Most preferably, in the second embodiment, the baseplate and interlocking base member connect together by way of frictional engagement.

Preferably, in the second embodiment, the pair of upper members comprise an outer 15 member that is adapted to be retained on an upper rim of an object to which the cover assembly is to be fitted and an inner member that is adapted to fit within an opening of the object.

These and other advantages are met with the present invention, which a broad form of 20 which is set out in the “Claims” section at the end of this description, which additionally discloses optional and preferred aspects of the invention. These embodiments are not necessarily limiting on the invention, which is described fully in this entire document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of reference to the following non-limiting drawings, in which:30 FIG 1 depicts an exploded view of a decorative cover assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG 2 depicts an exploded view of the first embodiment of the decorative cover assembly of the present invention;

2020100367 11 Mar 2020

FIG 3 depicts an underside view of the receptacle for an object of the first embodiment of the decorative cover assembly shown in FIG 2;

FIG 4 depicts an exploded view of a decorative cover assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS 5a to 5c depict the second embodiment of the decorative cover assembly of the present invention in the form of a pot plant cover and show the assembly steps 10 therefore to cover a flower pot.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS 1 and 2, the present invention relates to a decorative cover assembly 1 that comprises a basal gripping means 2, an upper gripping means 3, and a flexible coversheet 4 that is retained and held taut by being stretched between the basal and upper gripping means.

The basal and upper gripping means (2, 3) are rings 5 and are made of a suitably deformable material, such as plastic. The surfaces of the rings 5 can comprise a textured surface, which may assist in retaining the flexible coversheet 4 therebetween. The textured surface may consist of striations, ridges or other deformations on the surface that increase the frictional coefficient to better grip the flexible coversheet.

The rings 5 are adapted to be secured to and retained on a receptacle 6 into which an object (which will ultimately be covered by the decorative cover assembly) is placed. In other words, in a first embodiment where the object is a pot plant, the receptacle 6 is a pot into which a smaller plant pot is placed. In a second embodiment where the object is 30 a gift box, the receptacle is a box into which a smaller gift box is placed.

As shown in FIG 3, the bottom surface of the object receptacle 6 includes a channel 7 into which the flexible coversheet 4 can be inserted (or tucked into), following which, the ring 5 shaped basal gripping means 2 is secured to the base section of the object

2020100367 11 Mar 2020 receptacle. It is also envisaged that the ring 5 shaped basal gripping means 2 may also be inserted and retained in the channel 7 in some embodiments of the invention, although it is preferred that the ring shaped basal gripping means surrounds or encircles the side surface at the base of the object receptacle.

The shape and size of the upper and basal gripping means (3, 2) substantially match the contour, shape and profile of the object receptacle 6 to which the cover assembly 1 is to be fitted in order to provide a decorative cover for the object.

For example, if the object is a substantially round plant pot, then then the object receptacle 6 will respectively be cylindrical and the upper and basal gripping means (3, 2) will be circular rings 5. However, if the object is a square plant pot or gift box, then the object receptacle 6 will respectively be substantially square shaped, and the upper and basal gripping means (3, 2) will be a square shaped ring 5.

The flexible coversheet 4 is stretched out between the upper gripping means 3 and the basal gripping means 2, and once installed is held taut stretched between the two. In order to tension the flexible coversheet 4 in this way, the coversheet is clamped between the upper and basal gripping means (3, 2) and the object receptacle 6. This clamping is 20 achieved by upper and basal means providing a ‘friction fit’ formed between the facing surfaces of the upper and basal means and the object receptacle, which secures and holds the tensioned coversheet therebetween.

In a first step, the fabric coversheet 4 is fitted into the channel 7 on the underside 25 surface of the object receptacle 6. Once the coversheet 4 has been ‘tucked into’ the channel 7, the basal gripping means 2 is then secured onto the object receptacle 6, at a position near where the coversheet has been ‘tucked into’ the channel, in order to retain the coversheet in place.

Once the basal gripping means 2 has been attached to the base of the object receptacle

6, in a second step, a portion of the flexible fabric coversheet 4 has been retained therein by way of a friction fit created between the ring shaped basal gripping means and a surface of the object receptacle.

2020100367 11 Mar 2020

In a third step, the fabric of flexible coversheet 4 that is being held by the basal gripping means 2 is pulled up and folded over the lip of the object receptacle 6 and made taut. When the coversheet 4 has a desired tension, the upper gripping means 3 is secured to the object receptacle 6, and the upper portion of the fabric of the coversheet 4 is secured 5 and retained between the upper gripping means and the object receptacle by way of a friction fit formed between the surfaces of the receptacle and the ring shaped upper gripping means.

An alternative embodiment, in which the decorative cover assembly 1a can be retrofitted 10 to a receptacle 6 such as a pot plant or gift box, is shown in FIG 4. In this embodiment, the present invention relates to a decorative cover assembly that comprises a basal gripping means of two-parts, having a baseplate 8 and interlocking base member 9, an upper gripping means comprising a pair of upper members (10a, 10b) that interfit with one another, and a flexible coversheet 4 that is retained and held taut by being stretched 15 between the basal and upper gripping means by being clamped within each gripping means.

The upper members that interfit with one another are made of a suitably deformable material, such as plastic. The interfitting surfaces of the members may comprise a 20 textured surface, which may assist in retaining the flexible coversheet therebetween. The textured surface may consist of striations, ridges or other deformations on the surface that increase the frictional coefficient to better grip the flexible coversheet.

The baseplate 8 and interlocking base member 9 are similarly formed of a suitably 25 deformable material, such as plastic. As with the upper members, the surfaces of the baseplate and interlocking base ring may comprise a textured surface, which may assist in retaining the flexible coversheet 4 therebetween. The textured surface may consist of striations, ridges or other deformations on the surface that increase the frictional coefficient to better grip the flexible coversheet.

FIGS 5a to 5c show the assembly steps of a second embodiment of the decorative cover assembly of the present invention in the form of a pot plant cover.

2020100367 11 Mar 2020

In a first step, the basal gripping means is attached to the base of the pot plant. In some embodiments of the present invention, this attachment is by simple friction fit, but in other embodiments, the basal gripping means may be attached to the base of the plant pot by way of mechanical engagement, such as by of screw attachment. This may 5 require the use of speciality plant pots that include a corresponding screw lock, so it would be preferable for the attachment to be a simple friction fit or the like.

Once the basal gripping means has been attached to the base of a pot plant, the fabric coversheet is fixed into the basal gripping means and a portion of the flexible fabric is 10 retained therein by of a friction fit created between the baseplate 8 and the interlocking base member 9 (in the form of a ring).

The upper inner member 10a (being a ring in this embodiment) is added to the top of the pot. The fabric of flexible coversheet 4 being held by the basal gripping means is pulled 15 up and over the inner ring and made taut. When the coversheet has a desired tension, the upper outer member 10b (being a ring in this embodiment) is added, and the upper portion of the fabric of the coversheet 4 is secured between the upper inner member/ring and the upper outer member/ring by way of a tension fit formed between the two upper members/rings.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to those embodiments, but may be embodied in many other forms.

In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the word “comprising” is not intended to have the exclusive meaning of the word such as “consisting only of”, but rather has the non-exclusive meaning, in the sense of “including at least”. The same applies, with corresponding grammatical changes, to other forms of the word such as “comprise”, etc.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A decorative cover assembly for an object comprising:

a receptacle into which the object can be placed;

a basal gripping means adapted to be secured to a first portion of the receptacle;

an upper gripping means adapted to be secured to a second portion of the receptacle; and a flexible coversheet that is retained and held taut by being stretched between the basal and upper gripping means wherein a portion of the coversheet is retained by way of a friction fit between the receptacle and each of the gripping means.
2. A decorative cover assembly for an object of claim 1 wherein the basal and upper gripping means are rings that are sized and shaped to encircle a respective portion of the object receptacle, and be secured thereto.
3. A decorative cover assembly for an object of claim 1 wherein an underside surface of the object receptacle includes a channel into which a portion of the coversheet is inserted and retained.
4. A decorative cover assembly for an object of claim 1 wherein the upper and basal gripping means connect with the object receptacle by way of frictional engagement.