GB2190359A - Container assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

In an assembly of containers (such as a flower pot assembly) each container comprises a flat supporting surface and two walls, contiguous therewith and extending substantially at right angles thereto, which walls comprise connecting surfaces, which connecting surfaces are substantially flat and extend normally with respect to the plane of the base. Connecting means such as spring clips 18 are provided for connecting adjacent containers. Several types of connection means are envisaged, such as spring-clips, U- shaped clips and press-fitting connection surfaces and separate base members 6 may be positioned below the containers and serve to collect water draining from the containers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container assembly THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to improved container assemblies, and, in particular, to a flower pot assembly which can be arranged or assembled, with similar assemblies, in different styles and patterns. The invention also covers the connection methods for the containers.

The majority of flower pots on the market are of circular shape. There are also some flower pots in rhombic shapes or other kinds of shapes. When these flower pots are ar ranged or assembled together for the purpose of beautifying the environment, it is difficult or unlikely to keep them close to each other tightly. Coupled with the lack of adequate method of stabilized connection, it often results in the lack of uniformity. In other words, it is hard to create a sense of unified beauty.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide improved flower pots, and their connection method, to overcome the above mentioned problems, by creating a sense of unified beauty from the arrangement or assembly of flower pots into different patterns.

According to the present invention there is provided a container assembly comprising a flat supporting basal surface and two walls, extending substantially at right angles thereto, which walls comprise connecting surfaces, which connecting surfaces are substantially flat and extend vertically from the base of the container, and connecting means for connecting a connecting surface of a container to a similar connecting surface.

The present invention can be achieved in the following manner:The base of each flower port has a flat supporting surface (for example, a sheer flat surface, or a supporting surface composed of various points). The flower pot includes at least two completely identical walls which are parallel (or at a specific angle) to each other and are perpendicular to the supporting flat surface of the base, so as to form a connection surface for the flower pots. If the flower pots are of the same size, they may be arranged or assembled together according to the nature of the connection surface. Consequently, the goal of unified beauty may be attained.

It is necessary to make use of an adequate stabilizing connection methad to maintain such unified beauty for long periods, and also to allow re-arrangement or re-assembly of such pots when necessary.

The flower pots of the present invention can be made of the same materials as ordinary flower pots. The production method is simple and uses standard techniques.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understoad and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a flower pot, without base, in accordance with the present invention, FIGURE 2 is the side view of the flower pot of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 shows the front view of the flower pot of Figure 1 FIGURE 4 shows the overhead view of the flower pot of Figure 1; FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of a flower pot, with base, in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 6 shows a side view of the flower pot of Figure 5; FIGURE 7 shows a front view of the flower pot of Figure 5; FIGURE 8 shows an overhead view of the flower pot of Figure 5; FIGURE 9 shows a front view of the base of Figure 5;; FIGURE 10 shows a side view of the base of Figure 5; FIGURE 11 shows an overhead view of the base of Figure 5; FIGURE 12 shows an overhead view of flower pots, with bases, according to the present invention, arranged in a straight line pattern; FIGURE 13 shows a perspective view of flower pots, with bases, according to the present invention, assembled in a circular pattern; FIGURE 14 shows an overhead view of flower pots, with bases, according to the present invention, in a circular pattern; FIGURE 15 shows a perspective view of flower pots, according to the present invention, with bases, assembled in an angular pattern; FIGURE 16 shows an overhead view of flower pots, with bases, according to the present invention, in an angular pattern;; FIGURES 17 to 36 show side views of connection surfaces of some flower pots, with bases and without bases, according to the present invention; FIGURE 37 shows a perspective view of a spring clip and the corresponding spring clip depression for spring clip positioning in flower pots in which spring clips are used; FIGURE 38 shows a cross-sectional view of the outward spring clip in the spring clip depression portion of Figure 37; FIGURE 39 shows a cross-sectional view of the inward spring clip and a corresponding connection portion of Figure 37; FIGURE 40 shows a perspective view of a spring clip and the corresponding spring clip depression in the base of a flower pot of the present invention; FIGURE 41 shows a perspective view of a flower pot in accordance with the present invention, with a dual-head spring clip, and a corresponding spring clip depression for con nection;; FIGURE 42 shows a cross-sectional view of the dual-head spring clip of Figure 41 positioned in the spring clip depression of Figure 41; FIGURE 43 shows a plan view of dual-head spring clip in "H" shape; FIGURE 44 shows a plan view of dual-head spring clip in "T" shape; FIGURE 45 shows a perspective view of a dual-head spring clip positioned in the base of a flower pot according to the present invention; FIGURE 46 shows a perspective view of flower pots according to the present invention using horizontal "press-in" connections; FIGURE 47 shows a perspective view of flower pots according to the present invention using vertical "press-in" connections; FIGURE 48 shows a perspective view of flower pots according to the present invention with "press-in" connections in the bases;; FIGURE 49 shows a perspective view of flower pots according to the present invention connected with "U" clips; and FIGURE 50 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of the "U" shape connection of Figure 49.

Referring now to the drawings, figures 1 to 4 show the structure of an embodiment of a flower pot according to the present invention.

The pot bottom 3 is a flat surface or a flat supporting surface composed of various supporting points. The centre of the bottom 3 has a water outlet hole 4. The side walls of the pot include two parallel trapezoid connection surfaces 2, of identical size, perpendicular to the pot bottom 3, and two sloping surfaces linking the two trapezoid surfaces 2.

Provided that the connection surfaces are identical in size, this kind of flower pot enables the assembly of a number of flower pots into a uniform pattern displaying unified beauty.

The connection surface of this kind of flower pot is not limited to the shape of a trapezium only. Figures 17 to 26 illustrate some examples of the possible shapes of the connection surface. Any shape that is capable of displaying unified beauty and easy to make can be used for the connection surface.

Figures 5 to 11 show a flower pot according to the present invention, comprising a base 6 for retaining water. The base 6 is positioned under the flower pot to catch water leaking from an outlet hole 4 of the bottom 3 of the flower pot. The bottom 3 of this kind of flower pot has a suitable number of supporting points-the stand 10-to create a space between the bottom 3 and the base 6, to allow water to leak from the outlet hole 4. The flower pot is placed at the centre 7 of the base 6. In order to stabilize the flower pot on the base 6, the base 6 com prises a first depression 7 which exactly cor responds to the stand 10 of the pot, and thus the stand 10 fits within the first depression 7.

To enable a unified surface to be presented by the connection surfaces of both the base 6 and the flower pot, the lower portion of the connection surface 2 of the flower pot is slightly depressed 9. The height of this second depression 9 coincides with the internal height of the base 6, so the base 6 is positioned flush with the connection surface 2 of the pot to provide a smooth total connection surface 11.

Flower pots, with bases, of this kind can be connected to form a uniform and beautiful pattern, as shown in Figure 12. The connection surface is also not confined to the shape of trapezium. Figure 27 to 36 illustrate some examples of the connection surface shape of a flower pot, with a base according to the present invention. Any other beautiful and easily made shapes are suitable for the connection surface.

When it is necessary to form some irregular patterns other than a straight line (for example, an arc or angular shape), from a plurality of flower pots, the two connection surfaces of the flower pot can be made at a certain angle to each other (see Figure 13 and 14), or perpendicular to each other (see Figures 15 and 16).

It is necessary to provide an adequate method of stabilized connection between flower pots according to the present invention, so as to maintain the assembled or arranged pattern of the flower pots, for a long period, leading to the long-lasting unified beauty of the said pattern, and also to provide a method of re-arranging the flower pots, or re-assembling a given pattern at will.

The methods of stabilized connection which may be used with the flower pots of the present invention are described as below:Figures 37 to 39 show a methad of spring clip connection between flower pots according to the present invention. Figure 40 indicates a similar method of spring clip connection between base of flower ports of the present invention.

Flower pots A and B each have one connection surface which comprises a spring clip 12.

The other connection surface has spring clip depressions 13, 5 which comprise an inlet 14, 17 of the same size as, and corresponding to, the spring clip 12, and a clip-release opening 15, 16. The unit spring clip must extend to fit within the "L" shape spring clip depression 13, 5. For connection of the flower pots, the unit spring clips 12 are inserted into the inlet 14, 17 of the spring clip depression 13, 5, with sufficient force to cause the connection surfaces 2 of the two flower pots come into contact with each other. Then the spring clip 12 will hold on tightly. When the flower pots are separated, a finger or other proper tool is inserted into each of the releasing openings 15, 16, to release the two spring clips 12 simultaneously. Then the flower pots can be moved apart from each other easily. The spring clip 12 used in this kind of connection method is small in size.The clip 12 can hold the flower pots together tightly in beautiful appearance. The spring clip 12 should be made of adequate elastic material. If the pot is made of plastics material, the spring clip 12 can naturally be in uniformity with the pot. If the pot is made of porcelain, the base 6 should be made of plastic material for affixing the spring clip 12, as shown in Figure 40.

Figures 41 to 45 show a connection method for a flower pot and base according to the present invention by means of a dualhead spring clip 18. When this method is used, spring clip depressions 13, 5 are included for both connecting surfaces 13 of a flower pot and/or base according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 43 and 44 a head of a dual-head spring clip 18 is inserted into a spring clip depression 13, 5 of the flower pot and/or base. Then the other head of the spring clip 18 is inserted into the inlet 17 of a corresponding spring clip depression of another flower pot or base, and the two pots are pressed together tightly. The connection procedure is thus completed.

When the pots are to be separated, the spring clip 18 is pushed into the spring clip depression 13, 5 through the clip release opening 16, on both sides and the pots can be separated. The spring clip 18 can be removed in similar fashion, from the pot in which it is secured. The flower pots are kept together tightly in beautiful appearance using this connection method. The spring clip 18 can be made of elastic material different from that of the flower pot.

Figure 46 to 47 show the connection method of "press-in" used on a flower pot and base according to the present invention.

When this method is used, vertical or horizontal concave and convex corresponding connection surfaces are included (Figures 46, 47) on the flower pot. The convex connection surface of a flower pot may then be inserted into the concave connection surface of another flower pot, and the two flower pots are thus connected together. Separation by this connection method is also very convenient. Simply withdraw one flower pot from the "press-in" connection and the pots are separated. This kind of connection method is suitable for use with smaller flower pots of plastics material. If the pots are made of porcelain material, the connection can be made by means of a base of plastics material. The connection surfaces may also be adapted to slide-fit to each other.

Figures 49 to 50 show a connection of flower pots by means of "U" clips holding together two flower pots or their bases. A slot/depression 21 is made at the appropriate position on the inner side of a wall of each flower pot or base. After the two flower pots are placed together so that the slots 21 are opposite each other inside two touching walls, the "U" clip 22 is slid into the slots 21 to connect the pots and stabiiize the position of the connected pots. If the "U" clip is removed the pots may be taken apart. This connection method of flower pots is convenient both in separation and connection. The material of the "U" clip is not reievant to that of the flower pot.

Claims (14)

1. A container assembly comprising a flat supporting surface and two walls, which walls comprise connecting surfaces, which connecting surfaces are substantially flat and extend normally with respect to the plane of the base, and connecting means for connecting a connecting surface of a container to a similar connecting surface.

2. A container assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the floor of the container is higher than the flat supporting basal surface.

3. A container assembly according to either Claim 1 or 2, wherein the floor of the container assembly comprises an aperture for release of water.

4. A container assembly according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the assembly further comprises a base for the container.

5. A container assembly according to Claim 4, wherein at least one side of the base comprises part of a connection surface of the container.

6. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection means comprises a spring clip extending from one of the connection surfaces, and a spring clip depression corresponding to the shape of the spring clip, inlet into the other connecting surface.

7. A container assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the spring clip is affixed to the one connecting surface.

8. A container assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection means comprise a spring clip depression on a connecting surface, and a double-headed spring clip, at least one head of which corresponds to the shape of the spring clip depression.

9. A container assembly according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the container further comprises means for releasing a spring clip from the spring clip depression.

10. A container assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner surface of at least one wall, comprising a connecting surface, comprises a substantially Ushaped clip, a depression, located on the upper edge of the inner surface of the wall, corresponding with the shape of the inner surface of one prong of the substantially U-shaped clip.

11. A container assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection means comprise the connecting surfaces, which are shaped so as to releasably press-fit one into the other.

12. A container assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein connection means comprise the connecting surfaces which are adapted to releasably slide-fit into one another.

13. A container assembly substantially as described hereinbefore, with reference to, and as described in, the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.