GB2506340A

GB2506340A - A plant container plant container assemblies and a plant container support unit

Info

Publication number: GB2506340A
Application number: GB201214213A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Moriaty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-09
Filing date: 2012-08-09
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Also published as: GB201214213D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a plant container 10, which comprises a base (12) and a wall 14 upstanding from base about the periphery of the base, so as to define a region within the base and wall for containing a plant. The wall 14 comprises a side wall part 20 which extends from the top of the plant container to the bottom of the plant container and which lies at approximately 90 degrees to the base, whereas one or more other side wall part is/are inclined upwardly and outwardly with respect to the vertical. The invention also relates to a plant container assembly (100). The invention further relates to a plant container support unit for supporting a plant container, and a plant container assembly (300).

Description

A PLANT CONTAINER. PLANT CONTAINER ASSEMBLIES. AND A PLANT

CONTAINER SUPPORT UNIT

The invention relates to a plant container, plant container assemblies, and a plant container S support unit.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved, or at least an alternative, plant container, plant container assemblies, and a plant container support unit.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container in accordance with Claim I. The plant container in accordance with Claim I is advantageous because it can be fitted to a wall in such a way that the base remains horizontal. The plant container has the typical flared shape when viewed from certain directions, for example when viewed from the front.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container assembly in accordance with Claim 3. The one or more formations on the underside of the base are not essential. The or each plant container lower connector can be arrangeable on or adjacent the bases of the plant containers, or the or each plant container lower connector can be arrangeable closer to the bases of the plant containers than the or each plant container upper connector.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container support unit in accordance with Claim 9.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container support unit in accordance with Claim 10.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container support unit in accordance with Claim 11.

Therecessintheuppersurface ofClaims9, 10 or 11 isnotessential.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container assembly in accordance with Claim 14.

Other optional and plefrifed features, of the plant container, plant container assemblies, and a plant container support unit, and advantages of said features, are set out in the dependent claims,

and the description and drawings below.

Features of the plant container, plant container assemblies, and a plant container support unit, disclosed in the claims, description and drawings can be combined in any complimentary manner, where such a combination of features would provide a working embodiment of the invention.

Embodiments of a plant container in accordance with the 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 container in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a iew of the plant container of Figure 1 from the rear and below, Figure 3 is a view of the plant container of Figure 1 from the front and below, Figure 4 is a view of the plant container of Figure 1 from above, Figure 5 is a view of the plant container of Figure 1 from below.

Figure 6 is a view of the plant container of Figure 1 from a first side, Figure 7 is a view of the plant container of Figure 1 from a second side. opposite the first side, Figure 8 is a perspective view from above of a plant container assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 9 is a perspective view from below of the plant container assembly in Figure 8, Figure 10 is a plan view from above of the plant container assembly in Figure 8, Figure 11 is a view from below of the plant container assembly in Figure 8, Figure 12 is a perspective view from above of the plant container assembly in Figure 8, with the exception of two plant containers in the foreground removed to reveal aspects of the invention, Figure 13 is a perspective view from above of the plant container assembly in Figure 12, with one of the two plant containers reinstated, Figure 14 is a perspective view from above and in front of a plant container assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 15 is a perspective view from above and in front of the plant container assembly of Figure 14, showing the parts exploded, for ease of viewing, Figure 16 is a perspective view from above and behind the plant container assembly of Figure Figure 17 is a view from below of the plant container assembly of Figure 15, Figure 18 is a close up view from below of a plant container support unit of the plant container assembly of Figure 15, Figure 19 is a close up view from above and behind of a plant container and plant container support unit of the plant container assembly of Figure 15, Figure 20 is a plan view from above of the plant container assembly of Figure 14, showing connections between plant containers and plant container support units when the parts are fitted together, Figure 21 is a close up view from below and behind of the plant container and plant container support unit of Figure 20, Figure 22 is a close up view from below and a side of the plant container and plant container support unit of Figure 20, Figure 23 is a close up view from below which shows a height adjustment means of the plant container support unit, and Figure 24 is a side view showing a height adjustment means of the plant container support unit.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7. a plant container 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a base 12 and a wall 14, the wall 14 extending upwardly from the periphery of the base 12.

Looking at Figure 4, the base 12 is approximately rectangular, with the exception of certain features, the description of which follows hereunder.

Still looking at Figure 4, the wall 14 comprises four side wall parts, a first side wall part 20, a second side wall part 22, a third side wall part 24, and a fourth side wall part 26.

S A cross section through the four side wall parts 20, 22, 24, 26 is approximately rectangular, with the exception of certain features, the description of which follows hereunder.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, a rim 28 at the upper end of the four side wall parts 20, 22, 24, 26 is also approximately rectangular, with the exception of certain features, the description of which follows hereunder.

The four side wall pails 20, 22, 24, 26 and the base 12 define a region within the plant container for containing a plant and growing medium.

The plant container 10 is designed to hold approximately two litres of compost/soil/growing medium.

Figure 3 iflustrates that the second side wall part 22 and the fourth side wall parts 26 are both inclined to the vertical, at an angle of about 10 degrees. Figure 6 illustrates that the third side wall part 24 is also inclined to the vertical, at an angle of about 10 degrees.

However, in accordance with the invention, and referring to Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7. the first side wall part 20 is arranged at approximately 90 degrees to the base, i.e. vertically. This feature allows the plant container 10 to be fitted to a wall with the base 12 in a horizontal configuration.

Referring to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the first side wall part 20 comprises a first outer wall pail 30 and a second outer wall pail 32, cross sections of which are parallel to a cross section of the third side wall part 24 at a conesponding height, Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the first side wall part 20 comprises a recessed wall part 34, a cross section of which is parallel to a cross section of the third side wall part 24 at a corresponding height.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the first side wall part 20 comprises a first connecting wall part 36, which connects the first outer wall part 30 to the recessed wall part 34, and a second connecting wall part 38, which connects the second outer wall part 32 to the recessed wall part 34.

Referring to Figures I. 4 and 5. the first side wall part 20 comprises an upper wall part 40, which extends between upper ends of the first connecting wall part 36 and the second connecting wall part 38. The depth of the upper wall part 40 corresponds to the distance between the recessed wall part 34 and a line through the first outer wall part 30 and the second outer wall part 32.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 5, the first side wall part 20 also comprises a back wall part 42, which extends between outer edges of the first connecting wall part 36 and the second connecting wall part 38.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the back wail part 42 comprises a first slot 44 and a second slot 46 (although any reasonable number of slot(s) can be employed). The first and second slots 44, 46 are designed to receive shafts of fasteners (which are not shown for conciseness), Referring to Figure 5, spaces 48 between the upper wall part 40 and back wall part 42 are designed to receive heads of the fasteners located in the slots 44, 46.

The base 12 has one or a plurality of drainage outlets 50, which are shown in Figures 2 and 3, and more completely in Figures 4 and 5. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the base 12 has eight drainage outlets 50. The Applicant envisages in another embodiment of the invention (not shown for conciseness) the plant container 10 can comprise an upper base extending across the container 10 above the base 12. The upper base can have a drainage slot(s), which sits above drainage slot(s) 50 in base 12. The flow rate through slot(s) in base 12 can be lower than the flow rate through drainage slot(s) in the upper base, so as to create a mini reservoir in the base of the container 10 for water retention.

Referring to Figures 2, 4 and 5. the plant container 10 comprses a first angled wall part 52 at junction between first side wall part 20 and second side wall part 22, and a second angled wall part 54 at junction between first side wall part 20 and fourth outer wall part 26. These angled walls 52, 54 are designed to enable multiple containers 10 to be fitted together as a cluster, as described below.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, at the front of the plant container 10, the junctions between a) the second side waH part 22 and the third side wall part 24, and b) the third side wall pr 24 and the fourth side wall pail 26, are both rounded.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the base 12 has four apertures 60 (although any reasonable number of aperture(s) can be employed), for fitting the plant container 10 to a plant container support unit (described hereinbelow).

The plant container comprises a first wall formation 70, a second wall formation 72, a third wall formation 74, and a fourth wall formation 76, all of which extend slightly below the underside of the base 12. The profile of the first, second, third, and fourth wall formations 70, 72, 74. 76 correspond to the profile of, respectively, the first, second, third and fourth side wall parts 20, 22, 24, 26. The first wall formation 70 is designed to be accommodated by a channel in an inner base part 110 described below. The second, third, and fourth wall formations 72. 74, 76 extend the same distance as the first wall formation 70. primarily so that the lowest end of the formations 70, 72, 74, 76is flat.

The plant container tO is made of Polypropylene (or another suitable material). The plant container 10 has a semi-matt, textured finish. The plant container 10 can be ultra violet (UV) treated.

In use, the plant container 10 is designed to sit on two screw fasteners fitted to a wall (or other upright surface). The screw fasteners locate in slots 44, 46, and the screw heads locate in spaces 48. The two screw fasteners are concealed behind the recessed wall part 34 of the plant container 10, and beneath the upper wall part 40 of the plant container 10, giving a clean finish. No other brackets or fittings are required to mount plant container 10 on a wall. A plant container 10 can be placed on a wall individually or plant containers 10 can be arranged in groups, In accordance with the invention, and referring to Figures 9 to 13, a plant container assembly 100 comprises a cluster of three plant containers 10. an inner base part 110 (see Figures 9 and 10), three fastening means 120 (see Figure 8). and three plant container upper connectors 130 (see Figures 8, 10 and 12).

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the inner base part 110 has a triangular form, in particular an equilateral triangle fomi.

Referring to Figure 12, the inner base part 110 comprises a raised central region 112, and three abutments 114 (only two of which are shown, the other being hidden by the plant container I 0).

The raised central region 112 has one or more drainage apertures 115. Each abutment 114 extends between a pair of vertexes of the inner base part 110. The profile of the abutments 114 matches the profile of the inside surface of the first wall formation 70 of the plant container 10.

Between adjacent abutments 114 lies a space 116. Between the raised central region 112 and each of the abutments 114 lies a channel 117. The inner base part 110 comprises three fastener apertures 118. The underside of the inner base part 110 comprises three (oval) fastener seating walls 119 for accommodating fastening means. Each abutment 114 in cooperation with the raised central region 112 of the inner base part 110, with the channel 117 therebetween, and the spaces 116 at each end of the channel 117, effectively act as three plant container lower connectors. it should be noted that three separate plant container lower connectors (like the plant container upper connectors 130) can be used instead of an inner base pail 110.

Referring to Figures 9 and 12, each of the three fastening 120 comprises an eye bolt 122 and an eye bolt ring 124.

Referring to Figures 8, 10 and 12, each plant containerupperconnector 130 comprises fourplant container retaining limbs, a first plant container retaining limb 132 (which can also be described as the plant container one inner limb), a second plant container retaining limb 134 (which can also be described as the plant container two inner limb), a third plant container retaining limb 136 (which can also be described as the plant container two outer limb), and a fourth plant container retaining limb 138 (which can also be described as the plant container one outer limb).

Limbs 132, I 34. 1 36. 138 of only two of the plant container upper connectors 130 are referenced for conciseness.

Referring to Figure 10, the first plant container retaining limb 132 is spaced from the second plant container retaining limb 134 by an angle of about 60 degrees. The second plant container retaining limb 134 is spaced from the third plant container retaining limb 136 by an angle of about 90 degrees. The third plant container retaining limb 136 is spaced from the fourth plant container retaining limb 138 by an angle of about 120 degrees. The fourth plant container retaining limb 138 is spaced from the first plant container retaining limb 132 by an angle of about 90 degrees.

Referring to Figure 10, each plant container retaining limb 132, 134, 136, 138 comprises a first side wall 140, and a second side wall 142 which faces the first side wafl. An upper wall 144 is arranged between the upper ends of the first side rall and second side wall. It will be noticed that the first side wall 140, the second side wall 142, and the upper wall 144 has a cross section resembling an upturned U shape. A channel 146 is defined between the first side wall 140, the second side wall 142, and the upper wall 144. The walls 140, 142, 144 and the channel 146 are referenced on only two of the plant container retaining limbs 134, 138 for conciseness. Bach channel 146 is designed to accommodate a side wall pail 20, 22. 24, 26 of the plant container 10.

Referring to Figure 10, each plant container upper connector 130 comprises an eye bolt ring mounting 150, arranged between the inner side wall 140 of the first plant container retaining limb 132 and the facing inner side wall 142 of the second plant container retaining limb 134.

Each eye bolt ring mounting 150 comprises a mounting base part 152. a mounting first side wall 154, and a mounting second side wall 156.

The mounting first side wall 154 extends downwardly from the side wall of the first plant container retaining limb 132. The mounting second side wall 156 extends downwardly from the side wall of the second plant container retaining limb 134. The mounting base part 152 lies substantially horizontally between mounting first side wall 154 and mounting second side wall 156. The mounting base part 152 comprises an aperture (not shown for conciseness) for the shaft of the eye bolt 122. A protrusion 158 can laterally support eye bolt ring 124.

S Referring to Figures 11 and 12, each eye bolt 122 comprises a head 170 and a shaft 172, conveniently of MS size. The top of each shaft 172 is threaded externally to receive the eye bolt ring 124, which has matching thread internally. The eye bolt 122 can be made from Polyamide.

Each plant container upper connectors 130 is arrangeable on the rims of adjacent plant containers 10 so as to fix the position of adjacent plant containers.

Each of the three fastening means 120 is fastenable through the inner base pail 110 and each of the plant container upper connectors 130, so as to secure the plurality of plant containers 10.

In particular, referring to Figures 9 to 13, the eye bolt 122 is arranged so that its head 170 is lowermost. The upstanding tip and shaft 172 of the bolt 122 pass through fastener apertures itS of the inner base part itO. Figures 9 and ii show that the head of the eye bolt 122 is a close fit inside the narrowest part of the fastener seating walls 119, so that the heads cannot turn.

Channels 117 in the inner base part 110 receive first wall formations 70 of the plant containers 10. Angled wall parts 52, 54 permit the formations 70, 72, 76 to fit in the space 116 between adjacent abutments 114.

The shaft 172 of the eye bolt 122 is then fed through the aperture in the mounting base part 152 of the plant container upper connectors 130. The height of the plant container connectors 130 is adjusted so that the channels 146 in the plant container connectors 130 fit over the top rim of each plant container 10 and accommodates the first side wall parts 20 of the plant containers 10.

The eye bolt ring 124 is then threaded onto the shaft 172 of the eye bolt 122. The fastening means 120 is secured by twisting the eye bolt ring 124 relative to the positionally limited eye bolt 122, The three plant container lower connectors defined by the inner base part 110 and each of the three plant container upper connectors 130 function as clamps under the influence of the eye bolts 122 and their corresponding eye bolt rings 124. The plant container upper connectors 130 connect the three plant containers 10 at the two top back corners of each plant container.

When fixed. the rings of the eye bolt rings 124 are uppermost for easy further modification into a "hanging clustcr" plant containcr asscmbly (similar in principlc to a hanging baskct). In particular, a chain or the like can be attached to the ring at the top of the eye bolt ring 124, and the hanging cluster can be suspended from a hook.

The inner base part 110 between the three plant containers 10 creates a fourth, central, area between the cluster plant containers 10 for planting.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inner base part 110 may omit the drainage outlets 50, and be otherwise suitably sealed, so that the fourth, central, area is capable of acting as a central water reservoir. The three plant containers 10 could be fed by a simple capillary wick' action from the central water reservoir.

It is envisaged that a plant container assembly 100 can comprise a different number of plant containers, four or more. In that event, the inner base part 110 which lies between the plurality of plant containers has a number of sides equal to the number of plant containers. For example, where four plant containers are employed, an inner base part 110 of rectangular shape is used.

In accordance with the invention, and refening to Figures 14 to 24, a plant container assembly 300 comprises three (or a plurality of) plant container support units 302, 304, 306, and a plurality of plant containers 10.

Each plant container support unit 302, 304, 306 comprises an upper surface 310 defining a recess 312 for receiving a plant container. These features are referenced only in relation to plant container support unit 302 for conciseness. The size and shape of the recess 312 corresponds approximately to the base 12 of plant container 10.

Referrhg to Figure 20, each recess 312 comprises (four) connection means 314 for connecting the base 12 of the plant container 10 to the plant container support unit 302, 304. 306. The connection means 314 can take the form of resilient snap-fit clips. The connection means 314 are designed to co-operate with the four apertures 60 in the base 12 of the plant container 10. Figure shows the relationship between the connection means 314 of the plant container support unit 304 and the four apertures 60 in the base 12 of the plant container 10 when the plant container 10 is connected to the plant container support unit 304. The connection means 314 can be unfastened from inside the plant container 10 when the plant container is empty.

Recess 312 also comprises drainage outlets 316.

Referring to Figures 16 and 17, each plant container support unit 302, 304, 306 comprises a connection means 320 at opposing ends, to enable a user to interconnect multiple plant container S support unit 302, 304. 306, and expand the assembly 300 in multiples of 20 cm. Refening to Figure 17 in particular, the connection means 320 compnses a male (dovetail) connection 322 at one end of the plant container support unit 302, 304, 306 and a female (dovetail) connection 324 at the opposing end. The dovetail joint is not visible from the top when the unit(s) is assembled.

Referring to Figures 15, 16, and 17, the plant container assembly 300 also comprises end caps 330, 332. One end cap 330 is male and one end cap 332 is female, for connecting to opposing ends of a plant container support unit 302, 304, 306. The male end cap 330 cooperates with the female connection 324. The female end cap 332 cooperates with the male connection 322. Figure 14 shows the continuous upper surfaces of the female end cap 332 and the plant container support unit 306 where the female end cap 332 cooperates with the male connection 322. The same applies where the male end cap 330 cooperates with the female connection 324.

The plant container support units 302, 304, 306 can be used on a window sill, which is often sloped to allow rain to run off the window sill away from the house. Accordingly. referring to Figures 18, 21 and 22. the underside of the plant container support unit 302, 304. 306 can comprise one or more height adjustment means 340 (two in the embodiment shown) for adjusting the height of one side, i.e. the front, of the plant container support unit 302, 304, 306.

Each height adjustment means 340 comprises a tubular part 342 with an opening lower most, and a further tubular part 344 connected to the plant container support unit by a live hinge 346. In use, referring to Figure 23, the further tubular part 344 is simply manually movable, on the pivotable live hinge 346, and placed into the tubular part 342. Looking at Figure 24, it is clear that the height adjustment means 340 can counter the effect of a sloping windowsill.

S

The length of each plant container support unit 302, 304, 306, i.e. the distance between opposing ends which receive end caps 330, 332, is approximately 20 cm, The width of a unit (i.e. the distance in the direction from the front to the back of a window sill) is approximately 15 cm. A pair of end caps will increase the length of a unit by about 5 cm. These dimensions can be varied to suit different sized window sills or other locations.

Referring to Figure 18, the underside of the plant container support units 302, 304, 306 also comprises ribs 350 which add strength and prevent warping.

The term "containcr" is interchangeable with the term "pot".

Claims

CLAIMS1. A plant container comprising a base, and a wall upstanding from the base about the periphery of the base, the base and the wall defining a region therewithin for containing a plant, S wherein the wall comprises a side wall part which extends vertically from the top of the plant container to the bottom of the plant container and which lies at approximately ninety degrees to the base, and one or more other side wall part which is/are inclined upwardly and outwardly with respect to the vertical.
2. A plant container according to Claim 1, wherein the side wall part comprises a pair of slots for receiving fastening means.
3. A plant container assembly comprising a plurality of plant containers, one or more plant container upper connectors, one or more plant container lower connectors, and one or more fastening means, each plant container comprising a base, and a wall upstanding from the base about the periphery of the base, the base and the wall defining a region therewithin for containing a plant, the wall having a rim at its upper end, the underside of the base having one or more formations, the or each plant container upper connector being arrangeable on the rims of adjacent plant containers so as to limit the movement of adjacent plant containers, the or each plant container lower connector being arrangeable on the or each formation of adjacent plant containers so as to limit the movement of adjacent plant containers, the or each fastening means being fastenable through the or each plant container upper connector and the or each plant container lower connector, so as to secure the or each plant container connector to the plurality of plant containers and to secure the plurality of plant containers together.
4. A plant container assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the plant container assembly comprises a plurality n of plant containers, and a plurality n of plant container upper connectors, and a p'urality n of fastening means.
5. A plant container assembly according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the assembly comprises an inner (base) part which lies between the plurality of plant containers and which defines the or each plant container lower connectors.
6. A plant container assembly according to Claim 5, wherein the inner (base) part defines a plurality n of plant container lower connectors.
7. A plant container assembly according to any one or more of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the or each fastening means compnses a loop, preferably an eye ring, adjacent the rims of the plant containers.
8. A plant container assembly according to any one or more of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the plant container assembly comprises a plant container in accordance with Claim 1 or 2 or a plurality of plant containers in accordance with Claim 1 or 2.
9. A plant container support unit for supporting a plant container, the plant container support unit comprising an upper surface defining a recess for receiving a plant container, the plant container support unit also comprising connection means for connecting the plant container support unit to a base of a plant container.S1 0. A plant container support unit for supporting a plant container, the plant container support unit comprising an upper surface defining a recess for receiving a plant container, the plant container support unit also comprising height adjustment means for adjusting the height of one side of the plant container support unit.ii. A plant container support unit for supporting a plant container, the plant container support unit comprising an upper surface defining a recess for receiving a plant container, the plant container support unit also comprising connection means at opposing ends, to enable interconnection of support units, preferably male connection means at one end and female connection means at an opposite end.12. A plant container support unit according to Claim Ii, wherein the plant container support unit comprises end caps for connecting to opposing ends of the plant container support unit.13. A plant container support unit according to Claim 9 and/or 10 and/or 11 and/or 12.14. A plant container assembly comprising a plant container support unit according to any one or more of Claims 9 to 13, and a plant container fitted thereto.15. A plant container assembly according to Claim 14, the plant container assembly comprising a plant container in accordance with Claim 1 or 2 fitted thereto.16. A plant confiner assembly according to Claim 15, the plant container assembly comprising a plurality of plant container support units and a plurality of plant containers.17. A plant container substantially as described herein with reference to one or more of Figures 1 to 7.1 8. A plant container assembly substantially as described herein with reference to one or more of Figures 8 to i 3.19. A plant container support unit substantially as described herein with reference to the corresponding parts of one or more of Figures 14 to 21.20. A plant container assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the corresponding parts of one or more of Figures 14 to 21.