CA2069159C - Potted plant support - Google Patents

Abstract

A rigid planar support for an individual potted plant which preserves carpet pile preventing matting, permanent carpet crush and stains. The plant pot support is comprised of a molded plastic disk having a plurality of strategically shaped, sized and located support legs which are semi-circular cavities vertically and arcuate shaped horizontally to provide maximum possible weight distribution and weight support for a heavy potted plant while distributing the weight on the support legs to minimize the pressure on the carpet pile and jute backing of carpet. The plastic material is waterproof to prevent moisture from passing through the disk to the carpet from the plant pot.

Description

v5~ " ='92 14: ~~ ~1:,L,;n, HRLE'f , ET A_. ~ nl~ ~b~~6b9 ,~, ~t l 1 P~~ PLANT SUPPOF$T
This Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application 3 07; 627,223 fled De~mbar 12, 1990 by the Applicant.
BACKGROUND OF THE iNVENTIaN
1. ~1_eld of the Invention S This invention relates generally to an apparatus for supporting a potted 7 plant, and more specifically, to an apparatus for supporting a potted pant on a carpeted 8 floor to reduce or prevent flattening, crushing or soiling of the carpet Ail~.
9 2. O~cria~tion of the Prlor Art Indoor potted plants have a tendency to degrade o~ destroy a carpeted 11 surface when the plant pot is mounted directly on the carpet, The pl2nt pot usually ~2 contains a flat bottom surface or is mounted on a fiat dish. When the full weight of the 13 plant and pot are put on the carpet, the carpet pile crushes under the load resuming in 14 unsightly carpet surface undulations and permanent indentations. Moreover, water may condense on the pot exterior or egress from bleed holes in the bottom of the pot or 16 overflowing water from a pot saucer can seep into the carpet causing rniidew and further 17 carpet damage consequently, ~5era is a substantial likelihood that even after the plant 18 pot is removed, the crushed and mildew infested carpet will net be fully restorable.
19 In U.S. Patent No. 4,833,823 issued to Edwards on May 30, 1989, there is 2fl disclosed a plant pot support which addresses the aforementioned concerns.
The .
21 Edward's patent is a vacuum formed support comprising a planar base and a plurality of 22 conical support members. The conical support members act to uniformly distribute the Y~~.~ ~ 9: '32 f 4 : .~6 1'la~.1 ~J . YiHL~Y . r f HL. ~ b 1..5 = b.:n7c~b~
i~IU. c,.:.b ,ru4 t load of a patted plant resting on the planar base such that the carpet will not be crushed 2 under the weight of the plant. The support members also senr~ to elevate the pot above 3 the upper surface of the carpet, thus creating an air lap therebetween allowing ventilation whist; limits water seepage ar'.d prevents mildew accumulation. The planar base also comprises molded structural ribs which ace integrally molded into the planar base lower 6 surface to prevent plate buckling under load.
'the Edward's invention has disadvantages in that the conical support 8 members have the tendency to distribute the load over Such a small area, that the 9 supports could damage jute backing o~~ carpet, clearly cbservable when the plant pot and accompanying support structure are relocated. Thus, the problem of providing a uniform 11 weight distribution with no car pet Juts degradation still oxists and remains to be 12 addressed.
18 The present invention addresses this concern by providing a plant pot t a support which utilizes strategically located, sized and shaped leg supports to optimize the load distribution of a potted plant in such a way as to minimize damage to the carpet by 16 creating more surface area on the legs depending upon how heavy the plant is. Also the 17 supports praduca less pressure on the jute backing preventing damage to the jute.
18 ~naliy an 'air buffer' between the carpet pile and ~e pot is created to permit evaporation.
SUMMARY O~ THE IN\(~NTIQ~I
The present inventicn Is a molded plant pot support which comprises a rigid 21 planar base member such as a circular flat disk which has a plurality of integral semi-22 circular and arcuate leg support members protruding on one side of the disk. The 05!? r '92 14:7 MRLIN. HRLEY. ET R~. ~ 613 ~6398b~ IVU. ~~a :r~~
~~i~~~~~~~ , t assembly i8 amenable to various plastic fabricating processes, such as vaarum tormin9 2 compression molding, or injection melding. The planar member has a flat upper 3 peripheral surface upon which a potted plant is mounted, Semi-circular (invertica! cross-4 section} and arcuate (horizontally) support members extend normal to the planar member's lower peripheral surface in an optimal geometric arrangement which uniformally 6 distributes the full weight of the potted plant in such a way that damage to the carpet is 7 minimized.
8 Because the semi-circular, arcuate support members have large bearing 9 surfaces, the weight is distributed across more surface area than in the Edward°s patent 4,833,823 discussed above, thus eliminating the problem of multiple hole~shaped surface 11 undulations. Ancthsr distinguishing feature of the instant invention is the structural 12 integrit)r the semi-circular and arcuate support members lend to the planar base member.
13 Each leg support acts a~ a small beam which imparts substantial stiffness to the overall 14 assembly ~liminating any poterttlal buckling of the planar base member and any requirement for supeAluous stiffening members such as the structural wings in the 18 Edward's patent which can only add additional weight and complexity.
17 ft is an obj~ct of thg invention to provide a potted plant support which 18 eliminates carpet damage caused by matting, crushing and water seepage stains.
19 it is a further object of the invention to provide a simple, efficient light weight and low cost potted plant support that is ccnvenient for home or commercial use.
21 It is stfil a further object of the invention to provide a potted plant support 22 that is amenable to low cost and high rate production.

F.95~~7'~i=~ 14:5'l ~~HLlIV,i-lHLtn. c~ m. -~ em ~c~~oo~ .~.::..~o vr.,o The invention wilt best be understood when the aforementioned is 2 addressed in conjunction with the hereineft~r detailed component description and 3 drawings.
4 BRIEF ESCRfPTION OF THE DRAWiNCaS
Figure 1 is an efevationa( view of th~ present invention resting on a Carpeted 6 surface with a plant and poi in phar;;tore.
Figure 2 is a top perspective vi~w of the invention.
8 Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the invention including the leg 9 support members.
1D Figure 4 is a perspeCive view of a leg support member Inverted for Garity).
11 Figure 5 is an eievationai vi~e~rr of a leg support member (inverted for clarity).
12 DETAfLED DESCRIPTION QF TfiE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
13 With reference to the several views of the drawing, there is depicted a potted 14 plant pot support 10 in accordance with the invention comprising a planar base member 13 74 and a plurality of support members 12.
16 Figures 2 and 3 depict a circular disk~shapad planar base member 14 17 having an upper p~ripheral surface 22 and lower peripheral surface 24, The planar base 18 member 14 has a pfurarrty of integrally molded semi~circu(ar arcuate support members 12 19 which protrude from the lower peripheral surface 24. Each support member 12 is a cavity 2d of semi-circuis~r shape of radius R2 when viewed normal (vertical) to the plane formed by 21 the disk~shaped member and is slightly arcuate having a, radius R1 as it protects normal 22 to the planar base member lower peripheral surface 24. The support members 12 are ~Q691~9 1 oriented circumferentially in three (3) radial rows at an Outer 28, intermediate 30, and inner 2 32 radius. Each row has six (6) support members i2 oriented at 60°
radials relative to 3 each other. As depicted in Figures 2 and 3, the intermediate row 33 and inner 32 radial 4 rows contain support members 12 which are oriented on coincident 60P
radials. These radials are offset by 30° from the outer radial row 28 support member radials. Since the 6 support members 12 are integrally molded with the planar base member 14, each support 7 member 12 defines a cavity 26 when the planar base member 74 is viewed looking 8 toward its upper peripheral surface 22.
9 The support members 12 serve several important functions. The serni circular and actuate geometry effectuate optimal weight distribution on a carpet pile 18 when a patted plant 16 is placed on the planar base member upper peripheral surface 12 22, as shown in Fgure 1. Each support member 12 spreads the load over a large t3 surface area which helps to minimize permanent carpet jute damage. The support !4 members 12 further function as small beams which impart stnrctural rigidity to the planar l5 base m~mber 14 thus precluding any buckling under the ~rveight of a potted plant which IB would otherwise require additional structure! supports which add weight and complexity.
! 7 The support members 12 are constructed of sufficient length that when they bear on the l9 floor surtace 20, the planar base member 14 and accompanying potted plant 16 are 19 elevated to form an air gap 34 between the planar base member lower peripheral surface ?0 24 and the carpet pile 18. The air gap 34 helps prevent mildew formation caused by ?1 water seepage or condensation in the carpet pile 18 by providing ventilation below the ?2 planar base member lower peripheral surface 24 and above the carpet pile even if a spill _. _.. ~~::,~ ~:,L. . ~.,~~, , _. ,._. , ~:.. ___~~o_ 2 fi~~5~9 occurs - evaporation can take place and water is not trapped between the planter and floor surface 13. Moreover, the support member cavities 26 function as overflow traps 3 which help to minimize carpet piss water seepage resulting from over filling the plant pot 16. It is important to note that the plant pot support 10 may be manufactured by employing various molding methods such as injection molding, compression molding or 6 vacuum forming techniques from polystyrene, polyethylene or other similar plastic.

7 the invention described herein has been shown in what is Considered th8 8 most practical embodiment. It is anticipated that departures may bs made therefrom 9 within ti-,e scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will bs impl~mented by a person skilled in the art.

Claims (5)

1. An apparatus for supporting a plant pot on a carpeted floor surface having a pile comprising:
a rigid planar member having an upper and lower peripheral surface forming a common outer perimeter and a center point; and a plurality of hollow, semi-circular, independent support feet, each foot having a pair of curved wall surfaces, each wall radially spaced from each other and concavely shaped relative to the center of said planar member, each foot tapered in vertical thickness, protruding normal to said planar member lower peripheral surface, said support feet circumferentially disposed along radials extending outward from said planar member center to predetermined positions inward of said outer perimeter, said support feet acting to minimize said planar member buckling and extending into said carpet pile to uniformly distribute the weight of said plant pot resting on said planar member upper peripheral surface thereby preventing carpet pile crushing under load, said support feet furthermore constructed of equal length sufficient to elevate said planar member and plant pot into a position above said carpet pile surface, thus creating air space which prevents carpet pile degradation from water seepage, condensation stains, mildew, and dirt.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said support members number a total of eighteen (18) which are circumferentially disposed, six (6) along an outer circumference at 60° radial intervals, and six (6) each along an intermediate and inner circumference respectively wherein the support members are mounted along coincident 60° radials which are 30° out of phase with said outer circumference support radials.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said planar member is disk-shaped.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said support feet are integrally molded parts of said planar member.

5. A plant pot support as in claim 1, wherein:

said support feet are integrally molded cavities in said planar member.