GB2462689A

GB2462689A - Plant display arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2462689A
Application number: GB0815490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Howard Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-23
Filing date: 2008-08-23
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Also published as: GB0815490D0

Abstract

A plant display arrangement(10),comprises two planar end members12with a plurality of trough members14extending there between. The trough members14are arranged in a step configuration with a front lowermost member(14A),a mid height mid position member(14B),and a rear topmost trough member(14C).Formations28may be provided on the end members12with which engagement members34on the trough members14are engagable. The formations28may comprise openings and the engagement members34may comprise resilient head members36which are larger than the openings and can be pushed there through to form a snap fit. The trough members14may be formed from planar members with fold formations between side portions30and a base portion32.Also disclosed is a kit of parts which includes a plurality of substantially planar members which are foldable and interconnectable to form a plant display arrangement.

Description

Plant Display Arrangement This invention concerns a plant display arrangement, and also a kit of parts for forming into a plant display arrangement.

It is often required to display plants for example on a patio or elsewhere in an attractive manner. A number of existing plant display arrangements are already available. Many of these are however bulky to store and/or transport. Also to provide attractive formations, a relatively complex and hence expensive structure is often required.

According to the present invention there is provided a plant display arrangement, the arrangement including a pair of substantially planar end members, and a plurality of trough members extending between the end members to define a plurality of trough shapes which can receive plants.

The arrangement may be configured such that engagement of the trough members between the end members supports the end members in an upright alignment.

Formations may be provided on the end members with which engagement members on the trough members are engageable to mount together the end members and trough members.

The formations on the end members may be configured such that the trough members extend at different heights, and the frontmost trough member may be lowest and the rearmost trough member may be highest.

The engagement members may engage with the end member formations in a snap fit. The formations may comprise openings. The engagement members may comprise resilient head members which are larger than the openings and can be pushed therethrough. The head members may be connected to the trough members by a web of a size which slidingly fits through the formation openings. An inclined surface may be provided between the head member and the web to facilitate pushing of the head member through the formation openings.

The trough members may be substantially U-shaped in cross section.

The engagement members may be provided at ends of side members of the trough members.

In a first embodiment the trough members are elongate in plan view.

In a second embodiment the trough members are arcuate in plan view.

The same end members may be usable with the trough members of the first and second embodiments.

The trough members may be formed from planar members with fold formations between side portions and a base portion.

The trough members and/or end members may be made of a plastics material.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for forming into a plant display arrangement according to any of the preceding eleven paragraphs.

The kit of parts may include a plurality of substantially planar members foldable and/or interconnectable together to form a plant display arrangement.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a front view of a first plant display arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but of a second arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a side view of a component of the arrangements of Figs. 1; 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a component of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a plain view of an alternative component of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of a component of the arrangement of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a plan view of an alternative component of the arrangement of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a side view of the component of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a more detailed view of an alternative configuration of part of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a plant display arrangement 10 with two identical end members 12 with three trough members 14 extending therebetween. The trough members are arranged in a step configuration with a front lowermost member 14A, a mid height mid position member 14B and a rear topmost trough member 14C.

The end members 12 are planar and include two feet portions 16 separated by an upwardly extending recess 18. A carrying handle in the form of an opening 20 is provided spaced above the recess 18. The end members 12 have a step configuration with a lower front portion 22 rising by two steps to a raised rear portion 26 with a mid portion 24. Mounting formations are provided on each of the portions 22, 24, 26, in the form of two spaced vertical slots 28.

The trough members 14 have a generally U-shaped configuration with two side members 30 extending from a base member 32. Engagement members 34 are provided at each end of the side members 30 which are engageable with the slots 28 to mount together the end members 12 and trough members 14.

The engagement members 34 include enlarged heads 36 joined by webs 38 to the side members 30. The engagement members 34 are of a resilient material such that the heads 36 can be pushed through the slots 28 but are in fact slightly larger than the slots 28. The webs 38 are of a size to slidingly fit through the slots 28.

The engagement members 34 and slots 28 are held together in tension by the fact that the webs 28 are slightly shorter than the thickness of the end members 12. For instance the webs may be 2.5mm long whilst the end members 12 are 3mm thick. This mounts the end members 12 and trough members 14 together in tension and provides a robust and firm structure.

Fig. 6 shows a different configuration where the trough members 14 are formed from a planar member with fold formations 40 between the side members 30 and base 32. Here different shape engagement members 42 are shown.

Fig. 2 shows a second arrangement 44 where the end members 12 extend perpendicularly to each other, with the trough members 46 extending in an arc between the end members 12. The trough members 46 are similar to the trough members 14 of the arrangement 10 except that the side members 48 are of different lengths to each other and the base 50 diverges from the shorter side member 48A to the longer side member 48B. Again engagement members 34 are provided.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a further trough member 52 usable with the second arrangement 44. Here the trough member 52 is formed from a planar member with fold formations 54 in the form of V-shaped cuts into the material of the trough member 52. Fig. 10 shows an alternative configuration of engagement member 56. Here the engagement member 56 again has a head 58 and a web 60, but on the lower end of the side of the web 60 as shown, an inclined face 62 is provided to ease fitting of the engagement member 56 through a slot 28 in the end member 12.

There are thus described plant display arrangements with a number of advantageous features. The arrangements readily click together to provide robust and attractive structures. Identical end members can be used with different trough members, and different shape trough members could be used from those shown. The arrangements can be made of any suitable material, including a wide range of plastics materials.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the end members may take a different shape or form, and a different number of trough members could be provided extending between the end members. The trough members may take a different form or shape. Different engagement arrangements could be provided between the trough members and the end members.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A plant display arrangement, the arrangement including a pair of substantially planar end members, and a plurality of trough members extending between the end members to define a plurality of trough shapes which can receive plants.
2. An arrangem&nt according to claim 1, in which the arrangement is configured such that engagement of the trough members between the end members supports the end members in an upright alignment.
3. An arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, in which formations are provided on the end members with which engagement members on the trough members are engageable to mount together the end members and IS trough members.
4. An arrangement acceding to claim 3, in which the formations on the end members are configured such that the trough members extend at different heights.
5. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the frontmost trough member is lowest.
6. An arrangement according to claims 4 or 5, in which the rearmost trough member is highest.
7. An arrangement according to any of claims 3 to 6, in which the engaging members engage with the end member formations in a snap fit.
8. An arrangement according to any of claims 3 to 7, in which the formations comprise openings.
9. An arrangement according to daim 8, in which the engagement members comprise resilient head members which are larger than the openings and can be pushed therethrough.
10. An arrangement according to claim 9, in which the head members are connected to the trough members by a web of a size which slidingly fits through the formation openings.
11. An arrangement according to claim 10, in which an inclined surface is provided between the head member and the web to facilitate pushing of the head member through the formation openings.
12. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the trough members are substantially U-shaped in cross section.
13. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the engagement members are provided at ends of side members of the trough members.
14. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the trough members are elongate in plan view.
15. An arrangement according to any of claims ito 13, in which the trough members are arcuate in plan view.
16. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 17, in which the same end members are usable with trough members according to claim 14 or with trough members according to claim 15.
17. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the trough members are formed from planar members with fold formations between side portions and a base portion.
18. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the trough members are made of a plastics material.
19. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the end members are made of a plastics material.
20. A kit of parts for forming into a plant display arrangement according to any of the preceding claims.
21. A kit of parts according to claim 20, in which the kit of parts includes a plurality of substantially planar members foldable and/or interconnectable together to form a plant display arrangement.
22. An arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
23. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
24. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.