FR2781201A1 - Suspension fixture for container used in horticulture, comprises openings formed in curved top edge for flexible rods with elastic clamps that engage with tabs inside curved tip edge - Google Patents

Abstract

The fixture is used on containers that have a curved top edge that is directed outwards and creates an annular concavity that is open towards its base and is strengthened by pairs of tabs (C1-C2) that extend radially between the sections of the concavity. The fixture uses an assembly of flexible rods (T1) that are connected together at one end to a support. At the other end each one carries an elastic clamp (P1) which attaches to the top edge of the container. The top edge has an opening (15) formed in it and the elastic clamp is placed in this opening to click into engagement with the lower edge of the tabs.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the suspension of a

  container such as a horticultural pot of the type usually used by horticulturalists to grow plants, especially in greenhouses, and are then sold with the plants in stores in

large distribution.

  It relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to a horticultural pot made of molded plastic, industrially achievable at a high production rate, and the upper edge of which is provided with a curved rim which extends towards the outside of the pot delimiting a open annular concavity

down.

  In order to vary the presentation of the plants and to facilitate the transport and storage of the pots without damaging the plants, suspension devices have already been proposed involving a set of deformable rods (usually three), connected by one of their ends to a support element and each comprising at the other end a member for hooking to the

rim of the pot.

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  The support element may, for example, consist of a handle and / or a device for hooking to a fixed support structure such as, for example, a hook. The above attachment member consists, for its part, of a U-shaped clamp intended to come over the edge and at least one of the wings of which is provided with a tongue or the like capable of being snapped under the free edge

of the ledge.

  It turns out that this solution has a number of drawbacks.

  First, because it has to overlap the rim, the clamp is

  relatively bulky and unattractive.

  In addition, the positioning of the clamps (usually three in number arranged 120 from one another) is not always obvious and it may result

  an imbalance of the pot in the case where the clamps are badly arranged.

  In addition, in the hanging position the weight of the pot and its contents is exerted punctually at the contact surfaces of the clamps on the edge

lower edge.

  It is noted that, when this weight is significant (pot filled with moist earth), the clamps tend to open and deform the rim in the direction of rolling up. This deformation can gradually increase until the rim escapes the clamps and, as a result, the pot falls to the ground while overturning. This risk is all the more important since, in order to save plastic material and reduce production costs, the thickness of the pot is as small as possible and, consequently, its deformability is greater. In an attempt to eliminate this drawback, it has been proposed to stiffen the rim by providing reinforcements constituted by pairs of partitions coming from material with the pot, which extend radially in planes of cross section of the annular volume delimited by the flange. It is then advisable to arrange the

  clips in the interval between the two partitions of the same pair.

  However, this solution which, in the case where the number of partitions is large, leads to a non-negligible increase in the material cost and to a slowing down of production rates, by increasing the contact surfaces between the pot and the mold, does not eliminate not all the downsides

previously mentioned.

  In addition, the location of the pairs of partitions constituting the reinforcements is not visible from the top of the pot. To be able to properly engage the clamps,

  should lift the pot and tilt it to have a view under the rim.

  This operation is not convenient and the operator risks overturning a part.

of the soil contained in the pot.

  The invention therefore more particularly aims to eliminate these minconvantages. To this end, it proposes a suspension device for a pot of the aforementioned type, the curved edge of which is provided with at least one reinforcement, constituted by a pair of partitions which extend radially in planes of cross section of the volume. annular delimited by the rim, and at least one suspension rod, one end of which is secured to a support element, while the other

  end includes an elastic clamp.

  According to the invention, the aforesaid rim comprises, at the level of the reinforcement, at least one orifice through which the aforesaid clamp can be introduced and snap onto the

  lower edge of at least one of said partitions.

  According to a first embodiment of the invention, the above clamp may have the shape of a fork having two branches, the two 4-ends of which are folded back and constitute two returns oriented towards the inside of

the fork.

  In this case, the aforesaid partitions are connected to each other, at their upper edge, by a curved portion, arranged so as to delimit with the above orifice two passages, in which the branches of the fork can s '' engage until the returns snap under the lower edges of the above partitions, a pull on the rod then causing a self-locking of the lower edge of the partitions, in the regions

  angular formed between the partitions and the above returns.

  Advantageously, the above clamp will be designed so that it can also hang in the usual manner on the rim of the pot. In this case, the curved portion connecting the two partitions may have a curvature

similar to that of the aforesaid ledge.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, the ends of the branches of the elastic clamp may be folded so as to constitute two returns,

  oriented towards the outside of the fork.

  In this case, the aforesaid orifice may be located at the right of the space between the two partitions and have a substantially equal passage section.

to that of said space.

  The elastic clamp can then be engaged in the retracted position, through said orifice and said space, until the aforesaid returns are deployed under the lower edge of the two partitions. A pull on the rod allows self-locking of the lower edge of the partitions in the

  angular regions formed between the partitions and the above returns.

  Examples of embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which: -5 - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a horticultural pot hanging from using a hanging device; Figure 2 is a schematic axial section of the pot shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view on a larger scale showing a portion of the upper edge of the pot provided with its rim at a location o engages an elastic clamp of a suspension device; Figures 4 and 5 are sections along AA 'of Figure 3 illustrating the principle of locking the elastic clamp, Figure 4 showing the clamp in sliding contact on the domed portion connecting the two partitions of a stiffener, and Figure 5 showing the clamp in the locked position

on said partitions.

  Figure 6 is a section similar to that of Figure 4 of a variant

of the invention.

  In these examples, the horticultural pot 1 has, in its upper part, a wall 2 of substantially frustoconical shape, the upper edge of which is extended by a rim 3, coming back towards the outside, this rim 3 having a convex portion 4, having a circular section,

  then a cylindrical shape 5 which extends parallel to said wall 2.

  The lower part of the pot has a tubular wall with axial facets 6, the section of which decreases downwards. This lower part

  includes a narrowing 7 ending at the bottom 8.

  -6 - The curved portion 4 of the rim 5, comprises three flattened portions Pl to P3 located 120 from one another, and comprising fixing means intended to cooperate with three elastic clamps 10, 11, 12 equipping the ends free from the three rods T1, T2, T3 of a device for suspending the pot 1. These three rods T1, T2, T3 are connected by their other end to a part, in the form of a handle 13, surmounted by a hook 14 of so as to allow both the transport of the pot 1 thanks to the handle and its suspension on a support, by

  example a rod, thanks to the hook.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, each of the flattened parts P1 to P3 is provided with a rectangular orifice 15, situated at the level of a stiffener R formed by two vertical radial partitions CI, C2, which extend in the space included

  between the frustoconical wall 2 of the pot 1 and the cylindrical part 5 of the rim 3.

  These two partitions CI, C2 are connected to each other, in their upper part, by an angular and / or convex portion B, of circular section which has a diameter substantially equal to that of the circular section of the

ledge 3.

  This angular and / or curved portion B, the apex of which extends tangentially to a median radial axis of the orifice 15, delimits with the latter two passages PA1, PA2 through which the ends can engage

  free of the two branches of a clamp 10 of the suspension device.

  It is profiled so as to ensure a progressive separation of the two arms of the clamp, during an engagement stroke obtained by a

  continuous movement from top to bottom of the clamp.

  In this example, the clamp 10, of the standard type, has the shape of a fork with two branches BR1, BR2, the free ends of which are bent over and

  form a return RE ,, RE2 at an acute angle, towards the inside of the fork.

  The dimensions of this fork are provided so as to be able to engage and snap, both on the rim 3 of the pot 1 (in a conventional manner), and on the stiffener R. In the latter case, the two branches BR1, BR2 of the

  fork are forcibly engaged in the two passages PA1, PA2.

  During this engagement, the returns RE ,, RE2 come to slide on the convex portion B and on the partitions CI, C2 by folding back against the branches BR1, BR2 and by facilitating the spacing of the latter in a flexible and continuous manner. When the upper edges of the returns RE ,, RE2 exceed the lower edge of the partitions CI, C2, a snap is obtained: the returns RE1, RE2 which are no longer retained deploy while the branches BR1, BR2 by retracting come apply against partitions CI, C2. Traction of the rod T1 upwards then ensures the engagement of the lower edge of the partitions Ci, C2 in the angular space delimited between the branches BRi, BR2 and

returns RE1, RE2.

  At each of the pliers P1 to P3, the pot 1 is carried in two symmetrical zones, self-centered bearing on the edges of two rigid partitions C1, C2 which, due to their arrangement, are practically undeformable in bending under the effect of the tensile forces exerted by

clamps P1 to P3.

  A particularly reliable suspension is therefore obtained which is much easier to implement since the locations where the clamps P1 to P3 engage are visible and it is not possible to make an error in the

determination of these locations.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to a determined number of clamps P1 to P3 and / or of fixing means provided on the pots, it being understood that the

  number of clamps P1 to P3 may be different from that of the fixing means.

  In the example shown in Figure 6, the fixing means provided on the pot each involve a rectangular orifice O, located at the bottom of a -8 - concavity with oblique edges CB made in the curved part of the rim 3 'of the pot, in the interval between the two vertical radial partitions C ', C'2 of a stiffener connecting the frustoconical part 2' of the pot and the cylindrical part 5 '

edge 3 '.

  In this case, the elastic clamp 10 'has the shape of a fork with two branches BR'i, BR'2, the free ends of which are bent back and form an acute-angle return RE'l, RE'2 towards the outside. of the fork (and not towards

  the interior, as before).

  During the engagement of the clamp 10 'through the orifice O, the returns RE' ,, RE'2 guided first by the concavity CB, then come to slide over the partitions C ', C'2 by folding back against the branches BR ',, BR'2 and

  causing them to fold back, one towards the other.

  When, the upper edge of the returns RE '", RE'2 exceed the lower edge of the partitions C', C'2 one obtains a deployment of the clamp 10 '. A pull of the rod T'l upwards then ensures the 'engagement of the lower edge of the partitions C', C'2 in the angular space delimited between the branches BR ',, BR'2

and returns RE'l, RE'2.

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Claims (8)

  1. Device for suspending a container, the upper edge of which is provided with a curved rim (3) which extends towards the outside of the container, delimiting an annular concavity open at the bottom and which is reinforced by at least a reinforcement constituted by pairs of partitions (CI, C2 C'l, C'2) which extend radially in planes of cross section of said concavity, said device also involving suspension means comprising a set of rods deformable (T1 to T3) connected by one of their ends to a support element (13, 14) and each comprising at the other end an elastic clamp (Pl to P3) intended to come to hang on said flange, characterized in that the aforesaid rim (3) comprises, at the level of the reinforcement, at least one orifice (15, 0) through which the aforesaid clamp (P1 to P3) can be introduced and snap onto the lower edge of the minus one of said partitions (C1, C2 - C'1, C'2).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the above clamp (P1 to P3) has the shape of a fork whose two ends are folded and constitute two returns (RE'l, RE'2) at acute angle oriented towards the inside of the fork, and in that the aforesaid partitions (C1, C2) are connected to each other in their upper part by an angular and / or curved portion (B) arranged so as to delimit with the aforesaid orifice (15), two passages (PA ,, PA2) in which the branches (BR1, BR2) of the fork can come to engage, until the returns (RE1,   RE2) snap under the above partitions (C1, C2).   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the aforesaid angular and / or curved portion B is profiled so as to ensure a progressive separation of the branches of the clamp during an engagement stroke obtained by a continuous movement from the top bottom - 10-   4. Device according to one of claims 2 and 3,   characterized in that the curved portion (B) connecting said partitions (CI, C2)   has a curvature similar to that of the above rim (3).   5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends of the branches of the elastic clamp are folded so as to constitute two returns (RE ',, RE'2) at an acute angle oriented towards the outside of the fork, and in that the aforesaid orifice (O) is located to the right of the space between the two partitions (C'l, C'2) and has a section of   passage substantially equal to that of said space.   6. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the above orifice (15, O) is made in a portion   flattened (P1 to P3) of the curved portion (4) and the rim (5).   7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the aforesaid orifice O is located at the bottom of a cavity with edges   obliques CB made in the curved part of the rim 3 'of the pot.   8. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the above support element has a form of   handle (13) and / or a hook (14).