GB2493358A

GB2493358A - A plant receptacle support frame

Info

Publication number: GB2493358A
Application number: GB201113255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Robert Knowles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-02
Filing date: 2011-08-02
Publication date: 2013-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-02
Also published as: GB2493358B; WO2013017882A1; GB201113255D0

Abstract

A frame 10 for supporting a plant receptacle above a work surface comprises a base 15 which is arranged to extend upon the work surface and a plurality of support elements 16 which are pivotally coupled to the base and are arranged to extend radially inwardly of the base to support the receptacle above the base. The base may be annular. The supporting elements 16 comprise an elongate rod having a resiliently biased clip, such as a C-shaped clip 17 or a fastener disposed at each longitudinal end thereof which permits the elements 16 to detachably couple with the base 15 and the receptacle 11. The supports can be collapsed to a horizontal position parallel with the base for storage. The frame is especially adapted for use with plant receptacles such as flower baskets or plant pots. .

Description

Plant Receptacle Support Frame The present invention relates to a plant receptacle support frame for supporting the receptacle upon a work surface.

S

It is known to hang baskets upon a wall to support flowers and plants therein, so that the flowers provide a decorative wall feature. These so-called hanging basket arrangements are typically supported upon a wall using a bracket so that the plants and flowers disposed therein can extend downwardly over a rim of the basket and also through the underside of the basket.

The baskets are typically positioned upon the wall at a height which mininiises the possibility of walking into the basket and as such it is difficult to suitably manipulate the plants and flowers within the basket or otherwise prepare the basket, while the basket is arranged in situ upon the wall. As a result, the basket is typically prepared while located upon a work surface. However, given the typical bowl shape of the baskets and the desire to encourage the plants to grow and extend through the underside of the basket, then it can be difficult to maintain a suitable orientation of the basket upon the work surface to prevent the basket from moving around and thus possibly damaging the plants, while also providing access to the underside of the basket.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a plant receptacle support frame for supporting the receptacle above a work surface, the frame comprising a base which is arranged to extend upon the work surface and a plurality of support elements which are arranged to support the receptacle above the base, wherein, the support elements are pivotally coupled to the base and are arranged to extend radially inwardly of the base.

Advantageously, the pivotal coupling of the support elements to the base enables the frame to support receptacles having various sizes and shapes. Moreover, the support frame enable a gardener for example, to access the underside of the receptacle to manipulate plants which extend through an underside of the receptacle.

The support elements are preferably reconfigurable between a storage configuration in which the elements extend in substantially the same plane as the base and a support configuration in which the elements extend out of the plane of the base to support the receptacle above the base.

S

The support elements are preferably angularly spaced around the base and are coupled at a proximal end thereof to the base. Preferably, a distal end of each of the support elements is arranged to detachably couple with the receptacle, preferably proximate an open periphery of the receptacle.

The distal ends of the support elements are preferably arranged to extend at a vertical position above the base which is radially inwardly of the base, when supporting the receptacle.

The base preferably comprises a substantially annular frame portion The support elements preferably comprise elongate frame portions and preferably comprise substantially the same length. The support elements preferably comprise a length which is comparable to a radius of the base.

The proximal end of the support elements preferable comprise resiliently biased clips which are arranged to snap-locate with the base.

Preferably, the receptacle comprises a basket.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plant receptacle support frame according to an embodiment of the present invention in a storage configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the plant receptacle support frame illustrated in figure 1 in a support configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the plant receptacle support frame illustrated in figure 1 with a plant receptacle supported therein; and, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plant receptacle support frame illustrated in figure 1, S during use.

Referring to figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a plant receptacle support frame 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention for supporting a plant pot or basket 11 for example, which is typically hung upon a wall so that the plants 12 disposed within the basket 11 can extend over the basket 11 and also extend through an underside of the basket 11. The support frame 10 enables a gardener 13 or the like to suitable support the basket 11 above a work surface 14 so that plants 12 and the like can be suitably positioned therein without the basket 11 moving around, while also minimising any damage to plants 12 which extend through an underside of the basket 11.

The support frame 10 comprises a substantially annular base frame portion 15 which is arranged to extend upon the work surface 14 and is typically sized to complise a greater diameter than the supported basket 11, to minimise any toppling of the frame 10 during use. The frame 10 further comprises a plurality of supporting elements 16 (only three of which are illustrated in the drawings) which are arranged to support the basket 11 in spaced relation to the base 15, above the work surface 14.

The supporting elements 16 separately comprise an elongate rod having a resiliently biased clip, such as a C-shaped clip 17 or a fastener disposed at each longitudinal end thereof which permits the elements 16 to detachably couple with the base 15 and the basket 11. The clips 17 further permit the respective element 16 to pivot with respect to the base 15 and the basket 11 and as such the support frame 10 is reconfigurable between a storage configuration (as illustrated in figure 1 of the drawings) in which the support elements 16 extend in substantially the same plane as the base 15 and a support configuration (as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings) in which the support elements 16 extend out of the plane of the frame 10 to support the basket 11.

The support elements 16 comprise a length comparable with the radius of the base 15 and are angularly spaced around the base 15, such that during use, the elements 16 extend upwardly from the base 15 and radially inwardly of the base 15 toward an open periphery of the basket 11, as illustrated in figure 3 of the drawings.

S

In order to suitably support a basket 11 for example, in preparing the basket 11 with foliage and/or plants 12, the support elements 16 are coupled at their proximal end to the base 15 and subsequently angularly separated around the base 15 by substantially equal distances. The distal end of each element 16 is then coupled proximate the open periphery of the basket 11 so that the basket 11 extends below the distal end of each element 16 toward the plane of the base 15, but spaced above the base 15.

The support frame 10 provides access to the underside of the basket 11 so that a gardener 13 for example, can manipulate the underside of the basket 11 and thus any plants 12 or the like which extend therethrough. Furthermore, since the support elements 16 can pivot upon the base 15, then support frame 10 can be used to support baskets 11 having different diameters and shapes.

In an alternative embodiment which is not illustrated, is envisaged that the support elements 16 may be retractably extendable so that the length of the elements 16 can be varied to further suit a particular basket 11 and/or to suitably adjust the height of the basket 11 above the work surface 14. In this respect, the support elements 16 may separately comprise a plurality of telescopic sections (not shown) which permit the length of the elements 16 to be varied.

From the foregoing therefore it is evident that the plant receptacle support frame provides a simple yet effective means of supporting a basket while preparing the basket with plants and the like.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A plant receptacle support frame for supporting the receptacle above a work surface, the frame comprising a base which is arranged to extend upon the work S surface and a plurality of support elements which are arranged to support the receptacle above the base, wherein, the support elements are pivotally coupled to the base and are arranged to extend radially inwardly of the base.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the support elements are reconfigurable between a storage configuration in which the elements extend in substantially the same plane as the base and a support configuration in which the elements extend out of the plane of the base to support the receptacle above the base.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A receptacle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support elements are angularly spaced around the base and are coupled at a proximal end thereof to the base. r</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein a distal end of each of o the support elements is arranged to detachably couple with the receptacle.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A receptacle according to claim 4, wherein the distal end of each of the support C\.I 20 elements is arranged to detachably couple with the receptacle proximate an open periphery of the receptacle.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A receptacle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the distal ends of the support elements are arranged to extend at a vertical position above the base which is radially inwardly of the base, when supporting the receptacle.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the base comprises a substantially annular frame portion 8. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the support elements comprise elongate frame portions.9. A receptacle according to claim 8, wherein the elongate frame portions comprise substantially the same length.10. A receptacle according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the support elements comprise a length which is comparable to a radius of the base.11. A receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the proximal end of the support elements comprise resiliently biased clips which are arranged to snap-locate with the base.12. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle comprises 6 a basket. (4 r (4 r</claim-text>