GB2029802A

GB2029802A - Display Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2029802A
Application number: GB7928751A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MUIR K
Current assignee: MUIR K
Priority date: 1978-08-17
Filing date: 1979-08-17
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: GB2029802B

Abstract

A display arrangement is defined by a series of single or multiple containers 120 joined together by linking members 30, each member 30 having an annular portion 34 which engages in a groove 25 around the base of the container 120 or one portion of it and a portion 33 which engages with the mouth 27 of a container or container portion below. The containers 120 preferably comprise either one or three moulded cylindrical receptacle portions and may be interconnected at will in the arrangement. The linking member 30 may also be utilized as a base or plinth for a container 120 which stands directly on a supporting surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display Containers This invention relates to display containers.

Clay or plastics growing pots for plants are not especially attractive, and decorative display containers in which individual pot plants can be dropped for display are generally known. It is often desired to display a number of pot plants together, and to-date this has generally meant standing a number of separate display containers side-by-side on a window sill or other display surface. The fact that the plants are displayed all on the same level does not make a display easy to arrange, or enhance the attractiveness of the display. Arrangements are known for holding separate containers in order to display a group of pot plants at different levels, but these known arrangements are generally cumbersome and obtrusive and are usually incapable of adjustment or re-arrangement to create a different shape or configuration of display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of containers particularly for holding and displaying pot plants, that is capable of adjustment and re-arrangement to provide containers at different levels and the overall shape and configuration of which can be re-arranged substantially at will.

According to one aspect of the invention a rearrangeable display container device particularly for holding and displaying plants, comprises a plurality of containers and at least one linking member adapted to be telescopically engaged between two said containers forming a vertically superposed pair of said containers to connect said containers whereby said containers may be stacked and linked in a desired arrangement.

According to another aspect of the invention a rearrangeable display container device particularly for holding and displaying plants comprises at least one single unit container comprising a base, an upstanding side wall defining an open upper end, and a downwardly opening groove in the base; at least one multiple unit container comprising a plurality of single unit containers disposed side-by-side and fixedly connected together in a predetermined orientation; and at least one linking member having a continuous side wall adapted to be engaged within a said groove in the base of any of said containers and provide a wall portion projecting therefrom, such projecting portion being adapted to be engaged within the open upper end of another said container disposed therebelow to connect and link said containers together.

A preferred arrangement of containers comprises at least one single unit container comprising a base, and upstanding side wall defining an open upper end, and a downwardly opening groove in the base; at least one multiple unit container comprising a plurality of said single unit containers disposed side-by-side and fixedly connected together in a predetermined orientation; and at least one linking member having a continuous side wail adapted to be engaged within a said groove in the base of any of said containers and provide a wall portion projecting therefrom, such projecting portion being adapted to be engaged within the open upper end of another said container disposed therebelow to connect and link said containers together.

By "unit container" is meant a container of a size to receive and house an individual potted plant in its growing pot.

A preferred point of sale pack consists of three triple unit containers, one single unit container and six linking members. Such a combination can be re-arranged in different permutations to provide a wide variety of configurations.

The linking member may also be utilized as a base or plinth for a container which stands directly on. a supporting surface.

Other features of the present invention are referred to herein below, and are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a single unit container; Figure 2 is a side view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a triple unit container; Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of the container of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an elevation of a linking member; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 7; Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of two triple unit containers being assembled one on top of the other by a linking member;; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a single unit container with a linking member fitted as a plinth; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, but showing a linking member fitted for stacking and linking; Figure 1 2 is a perspective view of an assembled arrangement of containers, to a reduced scale and Figures 13 to 1 5 illustrate respectively further possible arrangements, to a further reduced scale.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 3 show an integrally moulded rigid plastics single unit container 20 comprising a base 21 internally recessed at 22 to provide a seating for a plant pot.

An annular web portion 23 surrounds the recess 22 and an outer side wall portion 24 defines a downwardly open annular groove 25 in the base 21. The outer side wall portion 24 is continued upwardly by a cylindrical upstanding container side wall 26 having an open upper end 27.

Figures 4 to 6 show a multiple unit container 120. Illustrated is a triple unit container composed of three single unit containers 20 disposed side-by-side in a triangular arrangement and connected together along their contacting side walls. The multiple unit container 120 is preferably integrally moulded. A multiple unit container can, of course, comprise any desired number of single unit containers.

Figures 7 and 8 show a moulded rigid plastics linking member comprising a short cylinder or ring 30 having a continuous side wall formed with an annular step 32 in its outer face substantially midway of its length. The outer diameter of the wall portion 33 above the step 32 substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the side wall 26 at the open end 27 of the containers, and the outer diameter of the wall portion 34 below the step 32 substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the groove 25 in the base of the containers 20, 120 (the inner diameter of side 24). The lower edge of wall portion 34 below the step 32 is radiussed to assist entry into the groove 25 and the height of wall portion 34 is slightly more than the depth of the groove.

Figure 9 shows the principle whereby the stacking and linking containers 20, 120 can be stacked and linked and connected by use of the linking members 30. While Figure 9 shows two triple unit containers 1 20a and 1 20b, the principle is applicable to all the stacking and linking connections to be made. The lower container 1 20a has a linking member 30 fitted in each of its three base grooves to act as a plinth.

The three linking members 30 are oriented so that wall portion 33 thereof is received within the base groove 25 and the container rests on the steps 32 (see also Figure 10). The upper container 1 20h is to be disposed above and offset from container 120a. A linking member 30a is used to connect the containers 1 20a and 1 20b in an offset arrangement.Linking member 30a is oriented so that the wall portion 33 thereof is received within the open end 27 of one of the containers in unit 1 20a so that the step 32 is seated on the rim of the container, and wall portion 34 is received within the groove 25 in one of the containers in unit 1 20b (see also Figure 11 ). The wall portions 33, 34 of the linking member 30a used in this manner to connect containers one above the other are substantially a push-fit in the open end 27 and groove 25 respectively so that the containers are firmly but detachably connected.

Other containers may be added by use of further linking members until a display arrangement such as that shown in Figure 12 is obtained. The arrangement in Figure 12 is assembled from three triple unit containers 120, one single unit container 20 and six linking members 30.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement illustrated in Figure 12 can readily be separated into its component parts and reassembled to provide a great variety of alternative shapes and configurations, some of the various possibilities in this respect being illustrated in Figures 1 3 to 1 5.

The appearance of an arrangement can also be changed by rotating adjacent vertically stacked and linked unit containers relative to one another.

Further variation can be achieved by introducing for example a single unit container having an overall height one-half that of the illustrated containers 20 and 120.

The rigid plastics used is preferably A.B.S. or polypropylene.

Claims

1. A rearrangeable display container device particularly for holding and displaying plants, comprising a plurality of containers and at least one linking member adapted to be telescopically engaged between two said containers forming a vertically superposed pair of said containers to connect said containers whereby said containers may be stacked and linked in a desired arrangement.

2. A rearrangeable display container device particularly for holding and displaying plants comprising at least one single unit container comprising a base, an upstanding side wall defining an open upper end, and a downwardly opening groove in the base; at least one multiple unit container comprising a plurality of single unit containers disposed side-by-side and fixedly connected together in a predetermined orientation; and at least one linking member having a continuous side wall adapted to be engaged within a said groove in the base of any of said containers and provide a wall portion projecting therefrom, such projecting portion being adapted to be engaged within the open upper end of another said container disposed therebelow to connect and link said containers together.

3. A display container device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each said container is integrally constructed.

4. A display container device according to 3, wherein each said container is moulded in a rigid plastics material.

5. A display container device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each said container side wall is an integral wall.

6. A display container device according to Claim 5, wherein the continuous side wall of the or each said linking member is cylindrical and is formed with a step in its outer face substantially mid-way of its length.

7. A display container device according to Claim 6, wherein the outer diameter of the wall portion at one side of the step substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the container side wall.

8. A display container device according to Claim 7, wherein the outer diameter of the remaining wall portion of the or each said linking member substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the said downwardly opening groove in the base of each container.

9. A display container device according to Claim 8, wherein the height of the said remaining wall portion is slightly more than the depth of the groove.

10. A display container device according to Claim 9, wherein the free edge of the said remaining wall portion is radiussed.

11. A display container device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising one said single unit container, three said multiple unit containers each comprising three said single unit containers, and six said linking members.

12. A display container device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or a single unit container is of different height than others of said containers.

1 3. A rearrangeable display container device particularly for holding and displaying plants, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.