GB2418339A

GB2418339A - Plant pot cane holder

Info

Publication number: GB2418339A
Application number: GB0421042A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Peter Pickard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-22
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Also published as: GB0421042D0

Abstract

A plant pot cane holder includes a base 4 which fits into the bottom of a pot. A number of tubular sockets 3, each with a number of supporting wings 2, are fitted to the base. Plant support canes are fitted into the sockets. The base may contain a number of holes 1 to allow for drainage, or a series of circular score marks which may be forced through to form drainage holes. To allow for the support of varying sized canes, the sockets are fitted with inwardly facing flaps 5 which engage with the surface of the canes. Alternately the canes may be fitted with rubber washers which match the internal diameter of the sockets. The holder may be produced in varying shapes to match the shape of the plant growth container in which is it to be used.

Description

24 1 8339 Plant POT Cane Holders

Backaround

This invention concerns itself with providing support for stakes and canes in plant pots.

When a plant requires support during its growth, generally a bamboo cane or similar type of stake is used. If the plant in question is to be grown in a plant pot then the cane will also have to be put in to the pot. The main problem that occurs here is that the cane is not very well supported. Even stones, placed in the bottom of a plant pot with the soil on top, do not provide adequate support for the cane. This renders the plant and cane liable to toppling and falling over.

Statement of Invention

To overcome this problem, the present invention proposes an insert-able disc that will hold the cane/e in place at the base of the plant pot. The disc will contain a number of tubes which will hold the cane/e in place.

Advantages The insert-able disc will firmly hold any cane in place. It is preferably available in a number of sizes/shapes (circular and rectangular) and does not interfere with the natural growth of the plant, nor does it spoil the aspect of the plant pot.

This invention can be used with any type of plant pot (plastic or ceramic) .

The disc will preferably be made from tough, semi-flexible plastic (the type which is already used to make large plastic plant pots). This will give it strength and flexibility. It will preferably be produced by an injection mould process.

Varying widths of canes can be accommodated in the tubes by placing rubber washers around the canes prior to inserting them into the tubes. The placing of 2 washers on each cane provides the greatest support.

Drawings An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings:

Detailed Description

For the purposes of the description of the invention, I will make reference to the circular shaped disc. All features on this are relevant to any other shape that may be produced.

The invention provides a base upon which tubes are mounted or moulded onto. The base or disc housing the cane supports contain perforations which will naturally allow moisture and water to pass through. This is important for the normal growth of a plant in a plant pot. These perforations will preferably be score marls in the plastic which will allow the buyer to push though to provide the required number of drainage holes s/he desires.

The tubes are arranged in a cross shape "+" specifically to allow the user more freedom in positioning the cane/e in the plant pot. For example: four caries could be inserted at the end of each of the crosses, tied at the top to create a cane pyramid.

Similarly, if ordy one cane is required then it can be placed anywhere within the radius of the pot by selecting a tube and rotating the base for the desired location.

Arrow number 1 on Figure 1 shows a typical drainage hole in the base of the disc.

The tubes moulded to the base of the disc will hold the bottom of the cane/stake and will preferably be made to varying diameters, according to the size of disc. (i.e. as there are many different sizes of plant pot available the size of the discs produced will vary) The predominant diameter for the tubes is estimated to be 1 Omm for most of the different sized discs. A height of between 10cm to 15cm is envisaged for the tubes.

Arrow 3 on Figure 1 shows a tube as described above.

To add more stability to the tube, four wings are moulded at the base as shown in arrow 2 on Figure 1.

The entire disc will be made to the base diameter of various sized plant pots and will be placed at the bottom of the pot as shown in Figure 2, where arrow 1 represents the complete disc and arrow 2 represents the plant pot.

Most canes that are used for supporting plants that grow between 3-8 feet in height are generally supported by 1 Omm width bamboo canes; hence the average size of the tubes will be 10mm. To enable the use of smaller canes a selection of different sized rubber washers will be supplied with the discs so that they can be fitted as per the drawings in Figure 3 (Arrow 1 shows a washer, arrow 2 shows the cane) where a cane with washers applied is inserted into the holder.

Figure 4 shows how different shaped bases could be used to coincide with different shaped plant pots.

figure 5 shows a nree-dimensional view of the entire assembly in a plant pot. Arrow 1 shows the flow of water through the disc at a given point. Arrow 2 shows a cane held in position.

Figure 6 shows an additional concept which could be implemented either at source when the disc is moulded, or in to a more advanced model. This idea is to add a locking device to the tubes to further support and hold the canes. The tube contains 2 n', shaped flaps at opposing sides of the tube. Each of these flaps has a small lip on the top. The concept here is that the flaps are pushed inwards prior to inserting the canes and that when the canes are pushed down, they force down the flaps with them.

The lip on the top of the flap now exacts resistance on the cane due to its shape and because it has been folded inside, between the tube and the cane.

Claims

Claims 1- A device for supporting canes/stakes in plant pots.

2- An insert-able device according to claim 1, which has perforation holes in the base which will allow water to pass through.

3- An insert-able device, according to claim 2, in which the base unit contains any number and arrangement of tubes, which are designed to hold garden canes or stakes.

4- An insert-able device, according to claim 3, in which the tubes are fitted with supporting wings at the bottom of each tube and adjoining the base.

5- An insert-able device, according to claim 3, in which the tubes may contain any number of'n" shaped flaps, which fold inside the tube to provide additional support for the garden cane/stake.

6- An insert-able device, according to claim 5, in which the flaps have a "V" shaped lip at the top, which acts as a locking and securing mechanism in conjunction with the flap described in claim 5.

7- An insert-able device, according to claim 3, in which rubber washers to the diameter of the tubes can be placed around the garden canes/stakes in order to provide additional support and adhesion.

8- An insert-able device, according to all the claims above, which will be made by means of plastic injection mould.

9- An insert-able device, according to claim 8, in which the material used for manufacture is strong, flexible plastic.

10- An insert-able device, according to claims 1 through 7, which can be made of any known material or substance.

11- An insert-able device, according to claim 1, which has circular score marks in the base which can be forced through to provide irrigation/perforation holes, as described in claim
2.