GB2030852A - Device for holding a plurality of plant pots - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an intersticed frame the interstices 5 of which are disposed in staggered rows and provide the locations for the pots. The interstices in both longitudinal and diagonal rows are staggered. The frame is a plastics moulding. It has indented peripheral parts 10, 11 which enable the frame to be intermeshed with a similar frame. The interstices taper axially, and the frame may be stood in alternative attitudes in which the taper is respectively upwards and downwards to support pots at alternative levels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for holding a plurality of plant pots This invention relates to a device for holding a plurality of plant pots so as to locate them in static positions, for example in nursery gardens whilst seeds and plants are growing in them, and provide a means of carrying the pots when they are to be transported from one place to another.

When pots are grouped together in greenhouses, and other places, it is usually desirable to have them arranged as closely together as possible in order to avoid wasting available space.

According to the present invention a device of the kind set forth for holding a plurality of plant pots is provided comprising an intersticed frame each interstice of which defines a location for a pot and the interstices being disposed in a plurality of rows, the interstices of adjacent rows being in staggered relationship.

The peripheral shape of the frame is preferably such that it can be assembled in close side-by-side and/or end-to-end relationship with another similar device with a minimum of space loss from one device to the other for accommodating pots. For example, the frame may have a hexagonal peripheral shape for that purpose. More particularly the frame may have indented, peripheral parts at opposite ends of the rows of interstices which enable the device to be assembled in an intermeshing relationship with another similar device with its rows of interstices continuing substantially without interrupting the rows of interstices of the other device.

The frame may have interstices of circular or polygonal, such as hexagonal, shape.

Preferably the interstices taper axially and the frame is adapted to stand in two alternative attitudes for use, in one of which the interstices taper downwards, and on the other of which the interstices taper upwards. Since plant pots normally taper downwards, by providing that the interstices taper axially and the frame can be stood in the two alternative attitudes, the pots can be supported at two different levels by the device. The difference between the levels is dependent upon the depths of the interstices. Legs may be provided on two opposite faces of the frame for supporting the frame in the alternative attitudes.

Preferably the frame is a one-piece plastics moulding. When so made the abovementioned tape of the interstices may be provided by the draft on the moulding dies.

The frame may comprise bars or slats between which the interstices are defined. Alternatively the frame structure may include a series of rings or other suitably shaped enclosures which provide the interstices. The interstices may be provided in any other convenient manner.

Two devices embodying the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the devices, Figure 2 is an end view of the device partly sec tinned on line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of several devices of the form shown in Figure 1 assembled together, Figure 4 is a plan view of the other device, and Figure 5 is a side view of that other device partly sectioned on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the device is made as a one-piece plastics moulding, preferably of polypropylene. The device comprises a frame 1 which is made up of a series of parallel longitudinal slats 2, and two series of diagonal slats 3,4 which intersect the longitudinal slats, and one another. The diagonal slats of each series are parallel and spaced similarly to the longitudinal slats. The longitudinal and diagonal slats together define longitudinal and diagonal rows of interstices 5 of regular hexagonal shape, the interstices in adjacent rows, whether longitudinal or diagonal, being equally staggered.

Small equilateral triangles 6 are defined between adjacent sides of adjacent interstices. The triangles 6 are open except for four at the four corners of a notional rectangle which are closed by webs 7 at an upper face of the frame. Four legs 8 for supporting the frame extend downwards from the four webs 7 and four further legs 9 extend upwards from the webs. Both sets of legs project similar distances from the frame. The legs are integral with the webs.

The legs do not necessarily have to be positioned as shown in the drawings but may be at any other suitable positions.

Two of the longitudinal slats 2 form opposite sides of the frame and portions of the diagonal slats form triangularly indented opposite ends of the frame, at opposite ends of the longitudinal rows of interstices 5. One indented end presents three recesses 10 and two projections 11, and the other indented end presents two recesses 10 and three projections 11.

All of the slats 2,3 and 4, are disposed on edge and, as shown in Figure 2, taper symmetrically from the upper face of the frame to a lower face of the frame. Thus the interstices increase in size laterally from the upper face to the lower face. The taper of the slats in this instance is produced by the normal draft on the moulding dies, but it may be greater if desired. In a preferred manner of moulding the device the split between the dies is at the upper face of the frame so that substantially all the cavities of the mould are in one die, only the cavities for the forming of the upper legs 9 being required in the other die.

The interstices can receive conventional plant pots of circular cross-section such as indicated at 12 in Figures 1 and 2. The slats engage the upper halves of the pots so that the pots are stably supported. With the narrower parts of the slats uppermost, as shown in Figure 2, only the upper edges of the slats engage with the pots. If the frame is turned over and stood on the legs 9, the pots, depending on their taper relative to the taper of the slats, will be fully engaged by the slats throughout the depths of the interstices, or just by the bottom edges of the slats. Because the frame can be turned over in this way for use in two different attitudes, the device can be used to support the same pots at either of two levels, the levels differing by the extent of the depths of the interstices, or it may support pots of different diameters at similar levels.

The drawings show the pots supported in the preferred manner, that is with the pots standing on the surface which supports the device. The tops of adjacent pots touch, or are only just out of contact. The frame may be stood in whichever one of its alternative positions is most appropriate for the size of the pots to be supported in order to have the pots standing on the surface. It will be seen that the pots are closely grouped together in the device and that the tops of the pots protrude into adjacent longitudinal and diagonal rows.

As shown in Figure 3, devices of the form described above may be assembled end-to-end. The dissimilar indented ends of adjacent devices intermesh so that the devices fit closely together and the longitudinal and diagonal rows of interstices continue substantially without interruption from one device to the next. Hence pots are supported with a minimum of wasted space. The straight sides of the devices enable the devices to be assembled side by side as well with minimal wastage of space. By assembly the devices side by side in the manner shown in Figure 3 with the ends of laterally adjacent devices the opposite way round, the diagonal rows of interstices continue substantially without hindrance between the devices.

In the second embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the device again is in a one-piece plastics moulding. Its frame 13 comprises two opposite, parallel side members 14, two castellated end members 15 and within the area bounded by the side and end members a series of rings 16 joined to each other by short radial vanes 17. Rings 16 adjacent to the side and end members are joined to those members. The rings are disposed in longitudinal and diagonal rows, the rings being similarly spaced in the rows, whether longitudinal or diagonal, and being equally staggered in adjacent rows, both longitudinal and diagonal. Each ring defines an interstice 18 to recieve a pot.Tricorn configurations 19 defined between adjacent rings and their connecting vanes are open except for four, 20, at the four corners of a notional rectangle which are solid and have legs 21, 22 projecting downwards and upwards from them, as in the previous embodiment.

The side members 14 and castellated end mem bers 15 are of generally slat form disposed on edge.

The rings 15 and vanes 17 are considerably shal lower and are level with edges of the side and end members, which in the attitude in which the device is shown in Figures 4 and 5 are uppermost. The inters tices 18 increase in diameter downwardly.

The end members 15 present trapezium-shaped projections 23 and recesses 24, there being three projections and two recesses at one end of the frame and two projections and three recesses at the other end.

As in the previous embodiment, and for the same purpose, the device may be used standing either on the legs 21, as shown, or upside down on the legs 22.

Again the device may be assembled end-to-end with similar devices, the indented ends intermeshing to enable the devices to fit closely together such that the rows of interstices continue substantially without interruption from one device to the next.

Whilst the carriers described are most effective in saving space wastage when used to hold pots of circular cross-section, they may also be used to hold pots of square cross-section.

Claims (14)

1. A device of the kind set forth for holding a plurality of plant pots, comprising an intersticed frame each interstice of which defines a location for a pot and the interstices being disposed in a plurality or rows, the interstices of adjacent rows being in staggered relationship.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the peripheral shape of the frame is such that the frame can be assembled in close juxtaposition with the frame of a similar device with a row or rows of the interstices of the frame in alignment with, and continuing substantially without interruption, a row or rows of the interstices of the juxtaposed frame.

3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the frame has a substantially hexagonal peripheral shape.

4. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the frame has indented peripheral parts at opposite ends of at least some of the rows of interstices, which parts enable the frame to be assembled in an intermeshing relationship with the juxtaposed frame of a similar device with those rows in alignment with, and continuing substantially without interruption, rows of the interstices of the juxtaposed frame at the ends of which the juxtaposed frame has indented peripheral parts.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the interstices taper axially and the frame is adapted to stand in two alternative attitudes for use, in one of which the interstices taper downwards, and in the other of which the interstices taper upwards, the arrangement being such that the frame can support pots at two alternative levels.

6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein legs are provided on two opposite faces of the frame to support the frame in the alternative attitudes.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the interstices are of circular shape.

8. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the interstices are of hexagonal shape.

9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the frame includes a series of connected rings or like enclosures which provide the interstices.

10. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 6, or claim 8 wherein the frame comprises bars, slots or the like between which the interstices are defined.

11. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the interstices are disposed in rows extend ing parallel to an axis of the frame and in rows extending diagonally of said axis and intersecting the first-mentioned rows, and the interstices in adja cent rows, both parallel to said axis and extending diagonally thereof, being equally staggered.

12. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is a one-piece plastics moulding.

13. A device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.