GB2069804A - Plant pot holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant pot holder having a tray-like base 10, a top 14 for the base, the top having one or more apertures 15 to receive a plant pot, and a shelf 11 upstanding from the bottom of the base on which capillary matting 12 can be located to dip into a trough beside the shelf. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plant pot holder This invention relates to a plant pot holder.

At the present time, potted plants whether for planting out or not, are commonly supplied from nurseries to retail outlets in cardboard boxes or in foamed polystyrene containers. This arrangement has drawbacks because the boxes or containers are unsightly so they are normally unpacked at the retail outlet and then discarded. Further, if there is some delay in transit, or between receipt at the retail outlet and sale, then of course there is a danger of the plants drying out, or being overwatered by unskilled personel, prior to sale whereupon they will not be in good condition.

According to this invention there is provided a plant pot holder having a tray like base, a top for the base, the top having one or more apertures to receive a plant pot, and a shelf upstanding from the bottom of the base on which capillary matting can be located to dip into a trough beside the shelf.

The top and base are preferably releasablyjoined, for instance by snap fitting arrangements, while in order to avoid having to separate them to add water to the base there is preferably also a water feed hole in the top above the trough.

An open or closed topped cover is a desirable additional feature of the invention. Preferably one or both of the base and top has an outwardly directed flange and such a cover suitably rests on the flange.

The cover is preferably of transparent plastics material, the base and top preferably also being of a plastics material. The apertures in the top are preferably surrounded by funnels so as to keep appropriately sized pots securely in place.

It will be appreciated that the invention allows potted plants to be transported and displayed for sale in the holders which can have an attractive appearance, while by reason of the pots resting on the capillary matting appropriate watering from beneath can be ensured. The covers can be designed to as to allow easy and secure stacking while to give and elevated display one retail the covers can be removed and the trays mounted upon them. For any given size of base, a variety of tops can be provided with apertures of a size corresponding to plant pot sizes.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood the following description is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa sectional view of a holder of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the holder of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the holder of the invention in use.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the holder has a base 10 with an upstanding shelf 11 on which capillary matting 12 is to be located with its edges extending into a trough 13 surrounding the shelf. A top 14 with funnel apertures 15 to receive plant pots has bayonet type snap fitting connections 16 to engage apertures in an outwardly extending rim 17 on the base. Small projections are provided inside the funnel apertures to engage the pots. At 18 are water apertures in the top which are located above the trough so that water can be supplied. The size and number of funnel apertures depends on the size of the tray and of the pots to be mounted in it.

Figure 3 shows such a holder in use, with the additional feature of a closed or open topped transparent cover 30 which rests on the rim 17. This allows easy stacking of the holders, and at retail can be left in place or removed or used to support the tray.

The capillary matting can be presoaked so that overall the invention allows several packing, repacking and maintenance operations to be eliminated.

The invention is embodied both in the holder without the matting and with the matting. It is specifically mentioned that a holder having only one plant pot aperture is within the scope of the invention.

1. A plant pot holder having a tray-like base, a top for the base, the top having one or more apertures to receive a plant pot, and a shelf upstanding from the bottom of the base on which capillary matting can be located to dip into a trough beside the shelf.

2. A plant pot holder according to claim 1, wherein the base and top are releasablyjoined.

3. A plant pot holder according to claim 1 or 2, including a water feed hole in the top above the trough.

4. A plant pot holder according to claim 1,2 or3, including a cover locatable above the top.

5. A plant pot holder according to claim 4, wherein one of the base and top has an outwardly directed flange on which the cover can rest.

6. A plant pot holder according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cover is transparent.

7. A plant pot holder according to any preceding claim wherein the base and top are of plastics material.

8. A plant pot holder according to any preceding claim, including funnels surrounding the apertures in the top.

9. A plant pot holder according to any preceding claim, including capillary matting in the base.

10. A plant pot holder constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Plant pot holder This invention relates to a plant pot holder. At the present time, potted plants whether for planting out or not, are commonly supplied from nurseries to retail outlets in cardboard boxes or in foamed polystyrene containers. This arrangement has drawbacks because the boxes or containers are unsightly so they are normally unpacked at the retail outlet and then discarded. Further, if there is some delay in transit, or between receipt at the retail outlet and sale, then of course there is a danger of the plants drying out, or being overwatered by unskilled personel, prior to sale whereupon they will not be in good condition. According to this invention there is provided a plant pot holder having a tray like base, a top for the base, the top having one or more apertures to receive a plant pot, and a shelf upstanding from the bottom of the base on which capillary matting can be located to dip into a trough beside the shelf. The top and base are preferably releasablyjoined, for instance by snap fitting arrangements, while in order to avoid having to separate them to add water to the base there is preferably also a water feed hole in the top above the trough. An open or closed topped cover is a desirable additional feature of the invention. Preferably one or both of the base and top has an outwardly directed flange and such a cover suitably rests on the flange. The cover is preferably of transparent plastics material, the base and top preferably also being of a plastics material. The apertures in the top are preferably surrounded by funnels so as to keep appropriately sized pots securely in place. It will be appreciated that the invention allows potted plants to be transported and displayed for sale in the holders which can have an attractive appearance, while by reason of the pots resting on the capillary matting appropriate watering from beneath can be ensured. The covers can be designed to as to allow easy and secure stacking while to give and elevated display one retail the covers can be removed and the trays mounted upon them. For any given size of base, a variety of tops can be provided with apertures of a size corresponding to plant pot sizes. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood the following description is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa sectional view of a holder of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the holder of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the holder of the invention in use. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the holder has a base 10 with an upstanding shelf 11 on which capillary matting 12 is to be located with its edges extending into a trough 13 surrounding the shelf. A top 14 with funnel apertures 15 to receive plant pots has bayonet type snap fitting connections 16 to engage apertures in an outwardly extending rim 17 on the base. Small projections are provided inside the funnel apertures to engage the pots. At 18 are water apertures in the top which are located above the trough so that water can be supplied. The size and number of funnel apertures depends on the size of the tray and of the pots to be mounted in it. Figure 3 shows such a holder in use, with the additional feature of a closed or open topped transparent cover 30 which rests on the rim 17. This allows easy stacking of the holders, and at retail can be left in place or removed or used to support the tray. The capillary matting can be presoaked so that overall the invention allows several packing, repacking and maintenance operations to be eliminated. The invention is embodied both in the holder without the matting and with the matting. It is specifically mentioned that a holder having only one plant pot aperture is within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A plant pot holder having a tray-like base, a top for the base, the top having one or more apertures to receive a plant pot, and a shelf upstanding from the bottom of the base on which capillary matting can be located to dip into a trough beside the shelf.

2. A plant pot holder according to claim 1, wherein the base and top are releasablyjoined.

3. A plant pot holder according to claim 1 or 2, including a water feed hole in the top above the trough.

4. A plant pot holder according to claim 1,2 or3, including a cover locatable above the top.

5. A plant pot holder according to claim 4, wherein one of the base and top has an outwardly directed flange on which the cover can rest.

6. A plant pot holder according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cover is transparent.

7. A plant pot holder according to any preceding claim wherein the base and top are of plastics material.

8. A plant pot holder according to any preceding claim, including funnels surrounding the apertures in the top.

9. A plant pot holder according to any preceding claim, including capillary matting in the base.

10. A plant pot holder constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.