GB2227164A

GB2227164A - Interlinked turntable support for plant pots

Info

Publication number: GB2227164A
Application number: GB8827316A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alec John Jacobs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-23
Filing date: 1988-11-23
Publication date: 1990-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-23
Also published as: GB2227164B; GB8827316D0

Abstract

A plant pot support has a number of turntables 16 on which individual flower pots 18 are mounted. The turntables 16 are all interlinked so that when one is rotated, all are rotated. This enables a whole series of plants in plant pots to be turned simultaneously to face the light. Simultaneous rotation can be achieved by the use of a continuous cord around the periphery of the turntables or by the use of a rack and pinion. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: Plant Pot Support This invention relates to a plant pot support for supporting plants in flower pots.

Plants in flower pots always tend to grow better on the side of the plant which faces the sun. In order to keep the plant from becoming lop-sided, it is known to turn the plant in its pot at regular intervals so that different sides of the plant face the sun. However this is laborious where a large number of pots have to be turned individually.

According to the present invention there is provided a plant pot support comprising a base and a plurality of turntables mounted on the base, the turntables each being capable of supporting a plant pot and being interlinked with one another so that rotation of one turntable results in rotation of all the turntables.

With this arrangement, when one plant pot is turned, all the others are turned, normally by the same amount and this substantially reduces the time taken to turn the pots.

The base can be a plank of wood or plastic material.

The interlinking can be accomplished in a number of ways.

In particular, a tensioned cord can be drawn tight around part of the periphery of each turntable so that the same cord is in frictional engagement with each turntable.

Alternatively, each turntable may carry a pinion on its lower surface and a rack can be mounted on the base so that the teeth of the rack are in engagement with the teeth of the pinions on all the turntables.

Because the turntables are in an environment where dirt, damp and fallen leaves will regularly be around, it is important that the mechanism should be sufficiently simple so that it will not be damaged by any of these causes, and that it should also be capable of standing out of doors.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plant pot support in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view; and Figure 4 is a detailed view of an alternative embodiment.

In the Figures, a base 10 in the form of a plank is mounted on a wall 12 by shelf brackets 14. Alternatively the base 10 may be supported on an existing shelf, bench or windowsill. On top of the plank, turntables 16 are mounted, and each turntable supports a flower pot 18 containing a plant 20. In the example shown, there are eight turntables but the invention extends to supports having either more or less turntables than this number. The turntables are interlinked by a tensioned cord 22.

The construction is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. Each turntable 16 is a circular disk with a peripheral groove for the cord 22. The disks are mounted on an axle 24. The axle can normally be a simple fitting as bearings are unlikely to be required. All the turntables 16 are of identical construction. Figure 3 shows the path of the cord 22 around the turntables and it will be seen that the cord crosses itself between each turntable so that when one turntable is rotated all the others rotate, but each rotates in the opposite rotational sense to its neighbours.

The cord is wound as shown in the Figures so that there is sufficient contact area between the cord and each of the turntables to produce the necessary friction to drive the turntables. The directions of rotation of the turntables are indicated by arrows 26 in Figure 3. Although the directions of rotation will be opposite, the amount of rotation of each turntable will be the same. The cord 22 will be a continuous loop which must be made tight enough so that it frictionally engages all the turntables.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 4 a small section of the support is shown, with two turntables 16a.

Each turntable has underneath it a toothed pinion 28, and a rack 30 runs the length of the plank 10 to engage with all the pinions. With this embodiment, to rotate the turntables it is simply necessary to slide the rack 30 backwards or forwards the necessary amount and this time, all the pots will turn in the same direction. A suitable guide on the plank 10 will guide the movement of the rack, and there should be sufficient movement of the rack available to enable a complete 3600 turn of each turntable to be accomplished.

All the parts of the support, including the plank 10, can conveniently be moulded in plastic, but other materials are also suitable. The support may be sold as part of a shelf kit with suitable brackets for supporting the plank 10 on a wall, as shown in Figure 1.

Claims

Claims:

1. A plant pot support comprising a base and a plurality of turntables mounted on the base, the turntables each being capable of supporting a plant pot and being interlinked with one another so that rotation of one turntable results in rotation of all the turntables.

2. A plant pot support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the turntables are interlinked by a tensioned cord or belt which is drawn tight around part of the periphery of each turntable so that the same cord is in frictional engagement with each turntable.

3. A plant pot support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each turntable carries a pinion on its lower surface and wherein a rack is mounted on the base so that the teeth of the rack are in engagement with the teeth of the pinions on all the turntables and so that movement of the rack results in rotation of all the turntables.

4. A plant pot support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base is a plank, and wherein means are included for securing the plank to a wall, with the plane of the plank being horizontal.

5. A plant pot support substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.