GB2052968A

GB2052968A - Suspension device for plant pots or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2052968A
Application number: GB7931173A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: POPPELMANN JOSEF POPPE
Current assignee: POPPELMANN JOSEF POPPE
Priority date: 1979-04-06
Filing date: 1979-09-07
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: FR2453085B3; DE2913906A1; FR2453085A1; DK222579A; NL8001985A

Abstract

A plastics suspension device for receptacles, especially for plastics pots and plastics containers used in horticulture, comprises a plurality of flexible rods formed at a carrier, a holder adapted to act on the rim of the receptacle being formed at the free end of each rod. Preferably, three flexible rods are formed at the carrier and the holders are formed as clamps or claws. The device allows an improved utilization of the space and heating energy in greenhouses and a better economy of the greenhouse operation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Suspension device for receptacles The invention relates to a plastics suspension device for receptacles, especially for plastics pots and containers used in horticulture.

Plastics pots are used for growing, transporting or planting purposes in horticultural firms, forest nurseries, mail order houses and in the household since they are characterized by a smaller weight, higher shock proofness, better storing properties and a lower price compared with earthenware pots. These plastics pots and container are generally disposed only in one plane since e.g. in greenhouses their arrangement on several floors of a shelf would generally impair the exposure to light of the plants disposed on the lower floors. If plant pots are arranged in greenhouses only in one plane the utilization of the space and heating energy is low, and consequently the economy is low.

It is known to suspend plastics pots in greenhouses by means of metallic wires. For this purpose the rim of the pot must be provided with several holes. One end of each of these wires is put through one of these holes and bent; the other ends of the wires are twisted together and bent to form a hook.

This procedure and the replacement of the pot in the suspension device is laborious. This suspension device does not look attractive and is not suitable for exhibition rooms.

The invention accordingly seeks to provide a suspension device for receptacles, especially for plastics pots and plastics containers used in gardening, forest nurseries, mail order houses and households, which allows the receptacles to be easily put in and taken out.

Especially, the suspension device should be suitable for different sizes and shapes of receptacle and should be produced at low cost.

Further advantages of the suspension device according to the invention are given herebelow in the specification.

According to the invention there is provided a suspension device made of plastics in which a plurality of flexible rods are formed at a carrier, and a holder adapted to act upon the rim of the receptacle is formed at the free end of each rod. Preferably, three rods are formed at the carrier. Accordingly, the whole suspension device consists of a single plastics piece which the user, e.g. in gardener's shops or in a household, can complete with a receptacle, e.g. the pot or the container, and a saucer in a time-saving manner and at low cost. The device according to the invention may be suspended on a stretched wire, a bar, a pipe or the like by means of the carrier. The suspension on bars or pipes of a greater diameter, e.g. heating pipes in greenhouses, can be achieved by means of S-hooks.In order to hang a receptacle into the device the rods are bent in such a way that the holders at their ends can be fastened at the rim in a uniformly distributed manner and can be detached at any time. The design of the holders and the type of their mounting may differ corresponding to the form of the rim of the receptacle. Generally, the device comprises three of these flexible holding rods, although devices having two or four or more rods are also possible. Owing to the flexibility of the rods the device can be adapted to different widths and shapes of pots, e.g. pots having an angular section.

Generally, the rods are of equal length if the device is provided for one pot. A device comprising four rods, however, can have two rods longer than, especially twice as long as, the other two rods. Then it is possible to suspend one receptacle at the two short rods and a second one therebelow at the two long rods. In order to achieve such a storey-type suspension the device of the invention may also comprise four rods having equal length, two of which can be lengthened by inserting separate lengthening rods into their holders, each of said lengthening rods also carrying a holder at its free end. Such a device can be used for suspending one receptacle (without using lengthening rods) or two receptacles one above the other (by using two lengthened rods).

Suitably the carrier is formed as a hook, a slotted ring or a closed ring. A slotted ring or a hook is preferred because with this design each receptacle in a row of receptacles suspended e.g. on a stretched wire can be separately taken off from the wire.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention the holders are formed as clamps in the slits of which the rim of the receptacle can be inserted. The small clamps formed at the flexible rods comprise two flaps opposite to each other. Generally, the width of the gap between the flaps of the clamp is somewhat smaller than the wall thickness of the receptacle at its rim. Due to the springiness of the clamp flaps the rim of the receptacle is squeezingly held when inserting it into the gap.

With this embodiment the rim of the receptacle is suitably provided with a bulge and the slit of each clamp is provided with an enlargement extending along the whole clamp width so that the bulge snaps into the enlargement when the rim of the receptacle is inserted into the clamp. The clamping joint between the clamp and the rim is strengthened by this engagement, i.e. the tension necessary for separating the clamping joint is substantially greater than with an embodiment without such an engagement. The clamping joints are designed in such a way that they can hold the multiple weight of the receptacle filled with earth.

With another preferred embodiment of the device of the invention the holders are formed as claws and the rim of the receptacle is at least partially bent outwardly and/or downwardly so that the claws can grip under the bent rim. This embodiment of mounting is suitable for bigger receptacles or containers having a greater weight when being filled so that a clamping joint would possibly not be tension-proof enough. Likewise, the claw joints are designed in such a way that they can hold the multiple weight of the receptacle filled with earth. As the rods are not only flexible but can also be twisted, the claws formed at their ends can be turned into the angular position necessary for gripping under the bent rim.In order to facilitate the assembly with a device having three rods which are disposed in a plane without being deformed, the claws are arranged at the ends of the rods in such a way that two of them point into the same direction and the third one points into the opposite direction (Fig. 3).

With this embodiment pairs of transverse webs are provided under the rim of the receptacle bent outwardly and/or downwardly corresponding to the number of the claws, said pairs of webs being regularly distributed along the periphery of the rim and the distance between said two webs being somewhat greater than the width of a claw. The hooking under the rim of the receptacle is then performed between two of those transverse webs with the claw grasping into the space between the webs. Thus, an undesired displacement of the claws along the rim of the receptacle is avoided, and the regular distribution of the points of claw application along the rim which is important for a stable suspension of the receptacle, is guaranteed.Furthermore, with this embodiment a plurality of lips corresponding to the number of the claws is regularly distributed along the rim of the receptacle at its periphery, and if desired, is arranged in the range between each pair of correlated webs.

These lips situated on the upper side of the receptacle rim mark the application points of the claws. If the claws are inserted at these places they grip under the rim between the transverse webs and are at the same time regularly distributed along the rim without the danger of being displaced.

Suitably with this embodiment a lug is formed at each claw overlapping the rim and, if desired, the lip. Thus, the holding of the rim of the receptacle in the claw is secured.

Especially, the claw joint cannot detach unintentionally, e.g. if a receptacle being hooked to the suspension device is not suspended but put down on a base.

With a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention a plate-shaped saucer which is provided with holes is mounted at the bottom of the receptacle at a certain distance. The holes in the bottoms of plant pots and plant containers are necessary for aerating the root pack and exchanging moisture with the environment. The purpose of the saucer is to prevent a moisture loss or a dripping through the holes and to collect water leaking out through the openings and to store it for later humidification. In order to fasten the saucer detachably at the bottom of the receptacle resilient plugs corresponding to the bottom openings are formed at the upper side of the saucer. When inserting the plugs into the holes of the bottom of the receptacle they resiliently engage the edges of the openings and fasten the saucer to the bottom.

These plugs are hook-shaped so that after having pushed the receptacle on the saucer the plugs resiliently diverge and arrest receptacle and saucer detachably. It goes without saying that the holder of the suspension device can not only be applied at the rim of the receptacle but also in a similar manner at the saucer, especially at the rim of the saucer, although with this embodiment the rods necessarily must be longer than if the holder is applied at the rim of the receptacle.

Conveniently, the rods formed at the bottom side of the carrier are parallel to each other. If the carrier is a slotted ring the attachment points of the rods are situated at the periphery of the ring close to the slot.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the device consists of an elastic resin, as e.g. polypropylene. The resilience allows one to adapt the suspension device to different shapes and sizes of receptacles as well as to provide a good clamp holding of the receptacles.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings which represents in Figure 1 the view of a first embodiment of the suspension device according to the invention; Figure 2 a side view of the suspension device shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 the view of a second embodiment of the suspension device according to the invention; Figure 4 a side view of the suspension device shown in Fig. 3; Figure 5 a perspective representation of a plant pot combined with a saucer and with the suspension device represented in Fig. 1; Figure 6 a radial cross-section through the rim of the pot with the clamp of the suspension device put on the rim, all parts being shown in an enlarged scale; Figure 7 a perspective view of a plant container with the suspension device according to the invention shown in Fig. 3; ; Figure 8 a radial cross-section of the rim of the container shown in Fig. 7 with inserted claws of the suspension device, in an enlarged scale, and Figure 9 a cross-section along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

According to the Figs. 1 and 2 the shown embodiment of the suspension device consits of a carrier 1 formed as a slotted ring with three flexible and elastic rods 2 being formed side by side at the bottom side of the carrier.

A clamp 3 is formed at the end of each rod 2 by means of which the rods 2 can be jammed at the rim of a plant pot. The embodiment of the suspension device according to the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 differs from the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 only in that claws 4 are arranged at the ends of the rods instead of clamps 3. As the plastics material of the suspension device has a certain elasticity and flexibility the rods 2 can be spread and bent so that they can act at any points of a receptacle rim of any shape.

Likewise, the slotted ring used as the carrier can be pulled apart in a way such that the slot 5 is widened and the ring can be put on a thick bar having a corresponding bearing strength.

It can be seen from Fig. 5 how the three clamps 3 of the suspension device represented in Figs. 1 and 2 are clamped on the rim of a plant pot 6 having a saucer 7 fastened to its bottom. The top edge of the rim of pot 6 is formed as a bulge 68 as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. The clamp 3 comprises a gap 3" which is generally somewhat smaller than the wall thickness of pot 6 so that when pressing the clamp 3 on the rim of the pot as shown in Fig. 6 the rim is clamped between the legs 3c of clamp 3.The clamp 3 comprises a cylindrical groove 3b extending over the entire width of the clamp at the upper end of the gap 38 When pushing the clamp 3 onto the rim of the pot the bulge 68 finally slips into the groove 3b so that the legs 3c of the clamp can flatly lie against the wall of the pot and an arrest and tight holding of the clamp on the rim of the pot is the result.

As shown in Fig. 7 the embodiment of the suspension device of the invention represented in Figs. 3 and 4 is hooked by means of the three claws 4 under the twice bent rim 88 of the plant container 8. This hooking can be more clearly seen in the sectional view of Fig. 8. The hook 4 grips into the interspace between the container wall 8 and the bent rim 8". The hook 4 comprises a projecting lug 48 which extends over the bent rim 8". The lug 48 has a nose 4b at its front end to secure a firm hooking. The horizontal part of the rim 88 has likewise a nose 8b on its upper side.Due to this profiling of the container rim and the claw the claw can be separated from the bent container rim only with considerable deformation of the lug 48 whereby elastic forces have to be overcome. Thus, the container, together with the suspension device put on as shown in Fig. 7, can also be put down on a base without the suspension device 1, 2, 4 being detached from the container 8. As can be seen from Fig. 9 a transverse wall 8c between the container wall 8 and that part of the rim 88 which is parallel to this wall is provided on both sides of the hook 4. In this manner a displacement of hook 4 along the rim 88 is avoided. The hooking points defined by the transverse walls 8c and regularly distributed along the periphery can be recognized on the upper side of the rim by the nose 8b.

With an embodiment introduced into practice the length of the rods e.g. is 28 cm, and the internal diameter of the slotted ring e.g. is 1.5 cm. The suspension device according to the invention can be produced by injection moulding and has an unlimited lifetime, e.g.

when using polypropylene as material.

The suspension device of the invention allows a spatial distribution of plant pots in greenhouses without using shelves or the like.

This results in an improved utilization of greenhouse space and energy and consequently in a higher economy of the greenhouse operation. A second field of application is the suspension of pots containing flowers and hanging plants in the household, preferably in flower windows and at room walls.

Thus, overloading of window-sills and furniture with flower-pots can be avoided. The suspension device of the invention can provide the necessary growth conditions for certain hanging plants. For this purpose attractively designed flower-pots are combined with the suspension device of the invention.

Claims

1. Plastics suspension device for receptacles, especially for plastics pots and plastics containers used in horticulture, wherein a plurality of flexible rods are formed at a carrier, and a holder adapted to act upon the rim of the receptacle is formed at the free end of each rod.

2. Device according to claim 1, in which three flexible rods are formed at the carrier.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the rods are of equal length.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the carrier is formed as a hook, a slotted ring or a closed ring.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the holders are formed as clamps in the slits of which the rim of the receptacle can be inserted.

6. Device according to claim 5, in which the rim of the receptacle is provided with a bulge and the slit of each clamp is provided with an enlargement extending over the whole clamp width so that the bulge snaps into the enlargement when the rim of the receptacle is inserted into the clamp.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the holders are formed as claws and the rim of the receptacle is at least partially bent outwardly and/or downwardly so that the claws can grip under the bent rim.

8. Device according to claim 7, in which, corresponding to the number of the claws, pairs of transverse webs are provided under the rim of the receptacle bent outwardly and/ or downwardly, said pairs of webs being regularly distributed along the periphery of the rim and the distance between the webs of each pair being slightly wider than the width of the claws.

9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, in which a plurality of lips corresponding to the number of the claws is regularly distributed on the rim of the receptacle along its periphery, and, if desired, each of the lips is arranged in the range between the two webs of a pair of correlated transverse webs.

1 0. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, in which a lug is formed at each of the claws overlapping the rim and, if desired, the lip.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which a plate-shaped saucer is fastened to the bottom of the receptacle which is provided with openings, said saucer having a certain distance from the receptacle.

1 2. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the rods formed at the bottom of the carrier are parallel to each other.

1 3. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, consisting of a resilient synthetic resin, e.g. polypropylene.

1 4. A device according to claim 1 substantially as described herein.

1 5. A device substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2 , 5 and 6, or Figs. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings and described herein with reference thereto.