GB2434292A

GB2434292A - A planter

Info

Publication number: GB2434292A
Application number: GB0523462A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Holgate; Luke Moseley
Original assignee: Glasdon Ltd; Glasdon Group Ltd
Current assignee: Glasdon Ltd; Glasdon Group Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-18
Filing date: 2005-11-18
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-18
Also published as: GB0523462D0; GB2434292B

Abstract

A planter for mounting on a railing, fence or similar structure comprises a container 10 having a base 11 and upstanding walls 12, 13 and 14. The base 11 defines a recess channel (18, fig. 2) formed therein designed to receive the top of the railing (or the like). Projecting lugs 20 are formed to extend from the end walls 14 of the container immediately above the recess channel (18, fig. 2) to lie along the top of the railing (or the like). The container can then be secured by a tie or banding strap 25 wrapping around the railing and the lug. In a second embodiment, the recess channel (18, fig. 2) is equipped with shoulders (19, fig. 2) 50 that the channel can engage different widths of railing.

Description

1 2434292

A PLANTER

The present invention relates to a planter and in particular to a planter for mounting on a rail, fence, wall or similar structure.

It is known to mount a planter for plants and flowers etc. on a top rail of a railing or the like in outdoor or indoor environments. Such planters typically comprise an elongate, rectangular container having a base wall, substantially parallel front and rear walls and end walls that combine to define an interior for receipt of soil and plants. The top of the container is generally open to provide easy access to the interior.

The container is fixed to a top rail of the supporting railing typically by means of brackets that depend from the flat base wall. The brackets are of inverted U-shape that fit over the top horizontal rail and are secured thereto by means of suitable fixings such as, for example, bolts that pass through both limbs of the bracket under the top rail. In some designs there is provided a channel in the base wall of the container, the channel tapering from top to bottom and receiving at least one bracket that defines a substantially U-shaped opening in which the rail is received, the brackets again extending beyond the bottom surface of the planter.

Planters of the kind described above are typically filled with soil, compost etc. and planted up indoors before being transported to the site for installation. The brackets are generally secured to the base wall channel before planting since, once filled, the weight of the planter makes it difficult to manipulate in such a way as to permit the brackets to be fitted easily. The presence of the brackets depending from the base wall makes it difficult for the planter to be rested in a horizontal orientation when being planted or indeed transported and so additional supports have to be provided for these purposes. Moreover, it is necessary for the installer to know in advance the size of the railing to which a particular planter is to be fitted so that the correct size of bracket can be secured to the base wall before planting.

Another problem with planters of this kind is that the weight of the filled container has to be supported on the rail by a person whilst it is secured thereto with the fixings. The application of such fixings can require some manual dexterity and thus at least two persons are generally required to install the planter. The limbs of the U-shaped brackets tend to bend inwardly when bolted and make the planter difficult to remove easily should it need to be replanted or simply transferred to a different location. This is particularly problematic as once the planter has been watered its weight is significantly increased.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid and other disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a planter for mounting on a rail or similar structure comprising a container having a base and walls upstanding from the base that define an open interior in which planting material can be received, the base defining a channel-shaped recess for receipt of the top of the rail or the like, and at least one outwardly projecting member extending from at least one of the upstanding walls adjacent to the channel-shaped recess.

The projecting member is used to secure the planter to the rail or the like. In practice, a tie fixing is wrapped around or through the projecting member and the rail to secure the planter in place. The member may project in a direction that is substantially parallel with the direction in which the recess extends.

The outwardly projecting member may define an end distal from said at least one upstanding wall, the member being configured to receive the tie fixing that passes around the member between the upstanding wall and the end. A retaining element may be provided and configured to prevent migration of the tie fixing off the end of the projecting member to a position where it is clear thereof.

The retaining element may be provided by a groove defined in a surface of the projecting member and that groove may be defined by a saddle shape in an upper surface of the member. Alternatively the retaining element is provided by a formation upstanding from a surface of the projecting member, the formation being provided at or adjacent to said end of the projecting member. The formation could be standing proud of any one of upper, lower or side surfaces of the projecting member. As a further alternative, the retaining element may be provided by a wall of an aperture defined through said projecting member.

The container may have end walls that are intersected by said recess, a projecting member extending from at least one of said end walls. The member may project outwardly from a location immediately above the recess.

The member may define a lower surface that is substantially level with a bottom surface of the channel-shaped recess.

The projecting member may be a lug and may be integral with said at least one upstanding wall.

The channel-shaped recess may be stepped or tapered or both. It may comprise a first part that is tapered from an opening of the channel so that it narrows towards the centre of the planter and a second part contiguous with the first part, there being an inward step between the first and second parts.

The container may be elongate and substantially rectangular.

There is preferably provided at least one tie for securing the planter to the railing. The planter being mounted on a railing or the like and secured thereto by the tie, which passes around the at least one projecting member and a top rail of a railing or the like.

The tie may be in the form of a banding strap.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a planter for mounting on a rail or similar structure comprising a container having a base and walls upstanding from the base that define an open interior in which planting material can be received, the base defining a channel-shaped recess for receipt of the top of the railing or the like, the channel-shaped recess being inwardly stepped.

The channel-shaped recess may have an opening, a closed bottom surface and side surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces defining said inward step to provide at least one rail support surface. The, or each, rail support surface may extend in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of the recess. Both of the side surfaces may be stepped inwardly to define rail support surfaces on opposite sides of the recess.

The channel-shaped recess may comprise a first part that is tapered from an opening of the channel so that it narrows towards the centre of the planter and a ( second part contiguous with the first part, the rail support surface being defined between the first and second parts.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a planter according to the present invention shown mounted on a railing; Figure 2 shows an end view of the planter of figure 1 depicted above two different sizes of railing top rails; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of one end of the planter of figure 1 and 2 shown in place on a railing and with a fixing band being wrapped around part of the planter to secure it to the railing.

Referring now to the drawings, the exemplary planter is double-walled elongate, generally rectangular trough-like container 10 moulded from a thermoplastics material and is designed to be mounted on a railing 17 as illustrated in figures 1 and 3 in particular.

The planter container comprises a base wall 11 upstanding from which there are opposed front and rear walls 12, 13 joined by end walls 14, the walls combining to define an open interior 15 in which soil, compost and plants can be received. The outwardly facing surfaces of the front, rear and end walls 12, 13 and 14 are curved for aesthetic appeal.

The base wall 11 defines a channel-shaped recess 18 (best seen in figure 2) that extends across the full length of the container 10 between the end walls 14 in a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the container. The recess 18 is designed to receive the top rail 16 of a railing 17 as shown in figures 1 and 3 such that the planter is supported stably thereon.

The channel-shaped recess 18 is stepped inwardly so as to divide it into a first part 1 8a that tapers inwardly slightly from its opening towards the central axis of the planter and a second part 1 8b, extending from the first part 18, but which is of reduced width. It is to be appreciated that the taper in the first part is an optional feature and indeed a recess 18 without such a taper may provide for greater stability during installation. The stepped form of the recess provides for two substantially horizontal ( shoulders 19 defined in side surfaces of the recess and which are designed to come to rest on the upper surface of a rail of the appropriate size. This shape of recess 18 allows it to be mounted on railings 17 that have different sizes of top rail 16. For example, in figure 2 the first narrow top rail 16a will be received in a friction fit in the narrow second part 1 8b of the channel recess 18 such that the top of the rail abuts the bottom of the recess, whereas the second wider top rail 1 6b would be received in the wider first part I 8a of the channel recess 18 and the shoulders would rest on the top of the rail. In the United Kingdom the dimensions of the first part and second part 1 8a, 18b can be designed to conform to the two most common railing sizes that have top rails 16 of 50mm and 70mm width respectively. Since the planter will either be supported on the rail by the horizontal bottom surface of the recess or the shoulders it is supported in a stable condition so as to allow it to be fixed in place without difficulty.

The planter container 10 is provided with integrally moulded lugs 20, one of which protrudes from each of the end walls 14 immediately above the ends of the channel-shaped recess 18. Each lug 20 extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel recess 18 and has a lower surface 21 that is substantially contiguous with the bottom surface of the recess 18 and an upper surface 22 that is generally saddle shaped so as to define an upturned end 23.

The channel-shaped recess 18 serves to divide the base wall into two "feet" 24 by which the planter can be supported on a flat surface during transport or planting.

Once planted, the planter is installed by raising it above the top of the railing 17, aligning the recess 18 with the top rail 16 of the railing 17 and then lowering it so that the rail 16 is received in the recess 18. The taper in the channel assists in guiding the rail 16 into the recess 18. The lugs 20 come to rest on or above the upper surface of the top rail 16 and the planter is secured in place at each end by a banding strap 25 that wraps around the rail 16 and the lug 20 and is secured to itself by a worm screw connection, a crimp or other means. Examples of such banding straps are JUBILEE clamps, TAMTORQUE straps. The upturned end 23 of the upper surface of the lug prevents the banding straps from being removed by lateral movement along the lug and ensures that it rests in the saddle recess of the upper surface 22.

It will be understood that other shapes of lugs could be used but it is desirable for the upper surface 22 of the lug to have a recess, groove or the like for receipt of the banding strap 25 therein.

The inside surfaces of the front and rear walls are optionally provided with ribs 26 as shown in figure 3. These allow multiple filled planters to be stacked for transportation or storage.

The double-walled moulded form of the container allows water and/plant feed to be poured into a chamber defined by a clearance between the walls. The bottom of the trough interior may be fitted with a capillary action mat that serves to draw water up from the chamber and bring it into contact with the soil in a slow release action.

The container may be provided with a watering aperture 30 by which water may be poured into the chamber and a drain aperture by which it may be drained from the chamber.

The above-described configuration provides for a planter that is relatively easy to plant and transport, and which can be mounted on a variety of railing sizes. It also provides for a simple fixing arrangement that can be used on all types and sizes of planters and railings.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described design may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the planter container can be of any convenient shape or size for mounting on a rail or a similar structure such as the top of a fence or a wall. The rail may form part of a railing as described in relation to the specific embodiment disclosed herein or may be a separate item that is fixed to a supporting wall or the ground. The rail may be in two or more lengths. Moreover, the exact profile of the channel shaped recess 18 can vary depending on the application. For example, the channel may have a continuous inward taper from its opening to its base or, alternatively, may have one or more steps, or as a further alternative, may have a combination of tapers and steps. Finally it is to be appreciated that there may be more than one component that makes up the projecting member at each end of the planter container. (

Claims

CLAIMS

I. A planter for mounting on a rail or similar structure comprising a container having a base and walls upstanding from the base that define an open interior in which planting material can be received, the base defining a channel-shaped recess for receipt of the top of the rail or the like, and at least one outwardly projecting member extending from at least one of the upstanding walls adjacent to the channel-shaped recess.

2. A planter according to claim 1, wherein the member projects in a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction in which the recess extends.

3. A planter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outwardly projecting member defines an end distal from said at least one upstanding wall, the member being configured to receive a tie fixing that passes around the member between the upstanding wall and the end.

4. A planter according to claim 3, wherein the projecting member has a retaining element configured to prevent migration of the tie fixing off the end of the projecting member.

5. A planter according to claim 4, wherein the retaining element is provided by a groove is defined in a surface of the projecting member.

6. A planter according to claim 5, wherein said groove is defined by a saddle shape in an upper surface of the member.

7. A planter according to claim 4, wherein the retaining element is provided by a formation upstanding a surface of the projecting member.

8. A planter according to claim 7, wherein the upstanding formation is provided at or adjacent to said end of the projecting member.

9. A planter according to claim 4, wherein the retaining element is provided by a wall of an aperture defined through said projecting member.

10. A planter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container has end walls that are intersected by said recess, a member extending from at least one of said end walls.

11. A planter according to any preceding claim wherein the member projects outwardly from a location immediately above the recess.

12. A planter according to any preceding claim, wherein the member defines a lower surface that is substantially level with a bottom surface of the channel-shaped recess.

13. A planter according to any preceding claim, wherein the projecting member is a lug.

14. A planter according to any preceding claim, wherein the projecting member is integral with said at least one upstanding wall.

15. A planter according to preceding claim, wherein the channel-shaped recess is stepped inwardly to define at least one rail support surface part way along the recess.

16. A planter according to claim 15, wherein the, or each, rail support surface extends in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the base of the recess. (

17. A planter according to claim 15 or 16, wherein a rail support surface is defined on opposite sides of the recess.

18. A planter according to any one of claim 15 to 17, the channel-shaped recess comprising a first part that is tapered from an opening of the channel so that it narrows towards the centre of the planter and a second part contiguous with the first part, the rail support surface being defined between the first and second parts.

19. A planter according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is elongate and substantially rectangular.

20. A kit of parts comprising a planter according to any one of claims 1 to 19 and at least one tie fixing for securing the planter to the railing.

21. A planter according to any one of claims 1 to 20 mounted on a railing or the like and secured thereto by a tie fixing, the tie passing around the at least one projecting member and a top rail of a railing or the like.

22. A planter according to claim 17, wherein the tie fixing is a banding strap.

23. A planter for mounting on a rail or similar structure comprising a container having a base and walls upstanding from the base that define an open interior in which planting material can be received, the base defining a channel-shaped recess for receipt of the top of the railing or the like, the channel-shaped recess being inwardly stepped.

24. A planter according to claim 23, wherein the channel-shaped recess has an opening, a closed bottom surface and side surfaces, at least one of the side surfaces defining said inward step to provide at least one rail support surface.

25. A planter according to claim 24, wherein the, or each, rail support surface extends in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of the recess.

26. A planter according to claim 24, or 25, wherein both of the side surfaces are stepped inwardly to define rail support surfaces on opposite sides of the recess.

27. A planter according to any one of claim 23 to 26, the channel-shaped recess comprising a first part that is tapered from an opening of the channel so that it narrows towards the centre of the planter and a second part contiguous with the first part, the rail support surface being defined between the first and second parts.

28. A planter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings