GB2268674A - Hanging basket. - Google Patents

Abstract

The hanging basket comprises a framework or body 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 providing a plurality of openings through which plants P may protrude; and, enclosed therein a substantially waterproof membrane 6 lining said framework or body for containing compost or soil C; and suspending means 9, 10, 11 for suspending the framework or body from a bracket. As shown, the framework has upper and lower annular members 1, 2, intermediate annular member 3 and curved members 4 having hooked portions 5 to engage over members 1, 2 and to be resiliently biased into contact therewith. Hooked portions 5 are slidable around circumference of members 1, 2 to adjust spacings. <IMAGE>

Description

Hanqina Basket The present invention relates to an improved hanging basket for holding plants.

Hanging baskets are known which comprise a generally hemispherical framework or body containing a bed of peat compost in which plants may be grown. Suspending means such as chains attached to the rim of the framework permit the basket to be hung from a suitable bracket on, for example, a wall.

A problem with such hanging baskets is that as a consequence of the hemispherical shape, there is a large surface area from which moisture may escape, and this necessitates regular watering of the hanging basket. It is frequently the case that the need to water the basket regularly is overlooked with the consequence that the basket dries out and the plants die.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved hanging basket which overcomes the aforesaid problems.

Accordingly, the first invention provides in a first aspect a hanging basket comprising a framework or body providing a plurality of openings through which plants may protrude; and, enclosed therein, a substantially waterproof membrane lining said framework or body for containing compost material or like substances; and suspending means for suspending the framework or body from a bracket mountina.

It is preferred that the framework or body is spherical or ovoidal in form and most preferably the body or framework members are arranged such that the said openings defined thereby can be varied in size to permit the insertion of the liner membrane and the compost as well as to accommodate different sizes of plant.

The framework or body may have an opening on an upper side thereof so that compost or plants can be introduced into the basket interior. The area of the said opening preferably is no more than one third of the size of the cross sectional area of the body or framework.

In one preferred embodiment, the hanging basket is spherical or ovoidal and comprises upper and lower annular members, and at least one intermediate annular member disposed between said upper and lower annular members; a plurality of curved members releasably secured to and extending between said upper and lower annular members and enclosing said intermediate annular member; and means for suspending said basket from a support mounting or bracket.

The curved members conveniently are provided with hook means for hooking over said upper and lower annular portions so as to be slidable around the circumference thereof. Preferably the curved members are of substantially uniform width along their length although this is not essential. Preferably the curved members are resilient.

The invention will now be illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a view from the side of a hanging basket according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the component parts of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from above; and Figure 4 is a sectional view along line I-I of Figure 1.

As can be seen from the Figures, the hanging basket comprises a framework formed from upper 1 and lower 2 annular members, intermediate annular member 3, and curved members 4 which extend between and are secured to the upper 1 and lower 2 annular members. The members 1 to 4 making up the framework may be formed from an appropriately tough plastics material or metal material, and advantageously are formed of wrought iron. Curved members 4 have at each end thereof hooked portions 5 which engage over annular members 1 and 2 and are resiliently biassed into contact therewith by virtue of the presence of annular member 3 and the resilient properties of the members 4. Annular member 3 is held within the framework by virtue of being compressed by curved members 4, which are resiliently biassed thereagainst.

The hooked end portions 5 of the curved members 4 enable the curved members 4 to be slid around the circumference of annular members 1 and 2, or at least a portion of the said circumference, so as to increase the spacing between adjacent pairs of said curved members 4.

In this way, it is possible to remove from and insert into the framework replacement liners, compost and plants.

The framework illustrated is demountable, and can be dismantled simply by unhooking the ends 5 of curved members 4 from the upper 1 and lower 2 annular members having first moved an adjacent pair of curved members 4 sufficiently far apart to enable the intermediate annular member 3 to be removed from the framework. When reconstructing the framework, the reverse process is employed.

As shown in Figure 4, in use the hanging basket is provided with a liner 6 formed of a suitably waterproof flexible film such as polypropylene or polyethylene. In its simplest form, the liner may simply take the form of a household waste bin liner although the liner may advantageously have a shape conforming to the inner surface of the framework. The liner 6 in use is arranged to enclose soil or compost C which may be added to the basket through the opening defined by upper annular member 1 and the neck 7 of the liner 6. Plants P may then be rooted into the compost or sown therein through the opening 7 or by piercing holes 8 in the membrane at desired locations around the surface of the framework.

In order that the hanging basket may be suspended from an appropriate supporting bracket (not shown), there is provided suspending means comprising a ring 9 and three elongate rods 10 having hooked ends 11 which engage respectively the ring 9 and the annular member 1 as illustrated.

The arrangement depicted in the drawings has several advantages with respect to conventional hanging baskets.

Firstly, as a consequence of the presence of the waterproof membrane, water loss from the hanging basket is substantially arrested, and it has been found that even under very hot and dry conditions over a period of a week, the hanging basket does not dry out. A further advantage resides in the fact that the curved members 4 may be moved apart in order to enable the membrane to be removed from the framework and a fresh membrane inserted, or to allow soil compost to be removed or added, or to enable plants to be put in place. A still further advantage is that the framework can be dismantled and requires no permanent fixtures such as screws, bolts or the like to enable it to be assembled.

The hanging basket arrangement may advantageously be presented as a kit of parts for storage and sale purposes and the present invention contemplates not only the hanging basket Per se but a kit of parts for making up into said hanging basket, with or without the liner membrane.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the hanging basket of the present invention without departing from the principles underlying the present invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims (10)

1. A hanging basket comprising a framework or body providing a plurality of openings through which plants may protrude; and, enclosed therein, a substantially waterproof membrane lining said framework or body for containing compost material or like substances; and suspending means for suspending the framework or body from a bracket mounting.

2. A hanging basket according to claim 1 wherein the framework or body is spherical or ovoidal in form.

3. A hanging basket according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body or framework members are arranged such that the said openings defined thereby can be varied in size to permit the insertion of the liner membrane and the compost as well as to accommodate different sizes of plant.

4. A hanging basket according to any of the preceding claims wherein there is an opening on an upper side thereof so that compost or plants can be introduced into the basket interior.

5. A hanging basket according to claim 4 wherein the area of the said opening is no more than one third of the size of the cross sectional area of the body or framework.

6. A hanging basket according to any one of the preceding claims which is spherical or ovoidal and comprises upper and lower annular members, and at least one intermediate annular member disposed between said upper and lower annular members; a plurality of curved members releasably secured to and extending between said upper and lower annular members and enclosing said intermediate annular members; and means for suspending said basket from a support mounting or bracket.

7. A hanging basket according to claim 6 wherein the curved members are provided with hook means for hooking over said upper and lower annular portions so as to be slidable around the circumference thereof.

8. A hanging basket according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the curved members are resilient.

9. A hanging basket substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A kit of parts for making up into a hanging basket according to any one of the preceding claims.