GB2613828A

GB2613828A - A planter device

Info

Publication number: GB2613828A
Application number: GB2118232.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: O'dowd Kenneth
Original assignee: Kenneth Odowd
Current assignee: Kenneth Odowd
Priority date: 2021-12-16
Filing date: 2021-12-16
Publication date: 2023-06-21

Abstract

A planter device comprises a modular housing 99 comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections 20. The planter is arranged to receive one or more open topped tray planters 10. The tray planter has a perimetric horizontally extending lip 1; wherein the lip of the tray planter overlaps the housing when received in the housing and provides a grip means for a user to lift the planter from the housing. The corners of the sections may comprise vertically arranged cylinders 4, wherein the cylinders may be arranged with receiving sleeves 30 adapted to slide onto the cylinders of two corners

Description

A PLANTER DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a planter device, in particular a flexible planter device.

Background

Many people increasingly enjoy planting and tending gardens, plants, vegetables or flowers.

This may be in raised beds often in garden environments or for users with lesser mobility.

It can be problematic to change such plants around in beds, as may be desired by the user for aesthetic or growing purposes, as the plants will need to be displaced from the soil and replanted elsewhere with attendant difficulties and inconvenience.

This does not allow for flexibility in planting. Prior Art WO 2016 165 884 (KOPRIVA et an discloses a plant container with one or more outer containers which receive inner plant pots, the inner plant pots have a predominantly quadratic cross-section, and the outer containers have a rectangular cross-section, the longitudinal dimension of which exceeds the cross-sectional dimension of the inner plant pots.

US 5 509 232 (LAUBSCH) discloses a planting pot with separate isolated potting areas including a container having a bottom wall and a side wall extended peripherally upwards from the bottom wall to create a major potting area and an opening for allowing access to the major potting area and a plant receptacle positioned within the major potting area of the container for creating a separate minor potting area for use.

FR 2 557 760 (NATERO) relates to a modular device for planting and growing market-garden or flower plants characterised in that it consists of a growing container, formed from lateral panels which is mounted in a removable manner on a base separation partitions being uniformly spaced with respect to one another and acting as supports for the rods/stakes The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a planter device comprising a modular housing comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections and arranged to receive one or more open topped tray planters, the planter including a perimetric horizontally extending lip; wherein the lip of the planter overlaps the housing when received in the housing and provides a grip means for a user to Irft the planter from the housing.

In this way the device of the present invention enables the user to have a bed of planting that is equipped to allow easy variation and amendment of planters into and out of the device as desired.

in some embodiments the device comprises at least one outer facing covering the housing and the planter(s) received in the housing. The outer facing may comprise one or more panels for example. In this way the device may be enabled to look neat and a plurality of styles, types or materials may be envisaged to provide the outer facing.

It may be envisaged that the outer facing may be enabled to clip onto or over the housing and/or may be provided with a fixing means for fixing the facing or panels thereof to the housing.

In some embodiments the sedions comprise corner members. Such corner members may be envisaged to provide support to the sections, fixing means for the facing and/or connection between sections.

In some embodiments the corner members provide a connection means to connect sections, for example comprising connectors, for example which may provide a tolerance, interference or other robust connection means.

In some embodiments the connection means connects the sections through vertical displacement for example where the sections slide vertically together to form the connection means In some embodiments the housing comprises frame sections with lateral support members for example wherein the housing may comprise a series of members defining a frame for receipt of the planters, providing a plurality of consecutive locations for receipt thereof.

In some embodiments the sections comprise side walls. For example the sections may comprise a series of walls extending between corners. In further embodiments the sections may comprise base walls in addition or the alternative.

In some embodiments for example the sections comprise self-supporting trays, for example formed in a robust plastic material or metal or alloy, having a plurality of continuous side walls and a base wall.

In some embodiments the sections are arranged to engage corner connectors in vertical corners. In some embodiments the corner connectors are adapted to connect with more than one section at a time.

In this way the sections may be connected together at the corners, so as to form rows and further linear shapes, for example with perpendicular tums.

In some embodiments the corner connectors are displaceable from the sections, for example forming discrete parts that may be used to connect the sections to form the rows and added to corners of the sections as required to form shapes or rows.

In some embodiments the corners of the sections comprise vertically arranged cylinders, wherein the connectors are arranged with receiving sleeves adapted to slide onto the cylinders of two corners.

In some embodiments the lip of the planter comprises bracing below the lip. This spacing may be envisaged to elevate the underside of the lip from a top edge of the supporting housing thereby enabling the user's fingertips to reach under the hp and lift the planter, as well as providing structural support to the interface between the lip and the side wall of the section.

In some embodiments the housing comprises a lip to engage the lip of the planters, for example wherein the section comprises a side wall that turns through approximately 90 degrees. In this way the lip of the planter may contact the lip of the section in use.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with a planter displaced; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric exploded view of the embedment shown in Figure 1 with no planter; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric exploded view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1 with a planter in place, and a corner connector; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 shows n isometric view of a second embodiment of a planter device according to the present invention; Figure 8 shows a sketch of an isometric view of an embodiment of modular housing for the device of the present invention; And Figures 9 show an isometric view of planters for an embodiment of modular housing for the device of the present invention, and an isometric detail view of an embodiment of modular housing for the device of the present invention, respectively.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 there is shown an embodiment or a pianter device generally comprising a modular housing 99 comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections 20 and arranged to receive one or more open topped tray planters 10, the planter including a perimetric horizontally extending lip 1 wherein the lip 1 of the planter 10 overlaps the housing 99 when received in the housing and provides a grip means for a user to lift the planter from the housing.

With particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises self-supporting sections 20, comprised by open mouthed trays formed in moulded plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or similar.

The sections comprise a substantially square base wall 7 with ridges forming a diagonal crossed base, surrounded by four discontinuous ridges forming a square and four side walls 5 extending orthogonally and having corners that are continuous and set back to allow vertical part-cylinders 4, with a small segment missing at the innermost segment of the cylinder.

This enables a sliding connector 30 to slide vertically down the cylinders of the corners wherein the connectors comprise two side by side vertical cylindrical sleeves 11 with a vertical segment missing. This connection means prevents sideways movement of the sections when connected with the connectors, wherein the connectors can connect in two perpendicular lateral directions.

The pictured planter 10 comprises four tray compartments, with two vertical dividing walls 2. an a nertinetric Ho 1. Other planters may include more or less compartments.

The planters are moulded plastic such as ABS or similar The lip 1 of the planters extends beyond the side walls of the sections, where the side walls are stepped in to accommodate the vertical part-cylinders 4 at the corners. This enables the user to grip up the lip at the edges of the planter.

The planter lip 1 also has radiused edges so additionally or alternatively they overlap the part-cylindrical corners 4 so as to provide grip means at the corners.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the embodiment comprises a steel frame housing 299 and square planters 60 with braced undersides to the lips, as well as an outer fading 70 comprised of panels connected to tne nousing.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 8 the sections are interconnected using clip connector 30 shown in Figure 9b and may be clad in facing sheets so as to present a uniform appearance.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 9a, the device may comprise shallower planters, and/or subdivided planters.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing fretrn *ha. srtnne* rif invention as defined by the claims. in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims A planter device comprising a modular housing comprised of a plurality of interconnected sections and arranged to receive one or more open topped tray planters, the planter including a perimetric horizontally extending lip; wherein the lip of the planter overlaps the housing when received in the housing and provides a grip means for a user to lift the planter from the housing.
2 * A planter device according to claim 1 comprising at least one outer face covering the housing and the planter(s) received in the housing.
3 * A planter device according to claim 1or 2 wherein each planter is wholly displaceable from the housing.
4 * A planter device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the sections comprise corner members.
* A planter device according to claim 4 wherein the corner members provide a connection means to connect sections.
6 * A planter device according to claim 5 wherein the connection means is operable vertically wherein the sections slide vertically together to form the connection means.
7 * A planter device according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises frame sections with lateral support members. 8 * 9 * *
A planter device according to any preceding claim wherein the sections comprise side walls.
A planter device according to any preceding claim wherein the sections comprise self-supporting trays.
A planter device according to any preceding claim wherein the sections are arranged to engage corner connectors in vertical corners.
11 * A planter device according to claim 10 wherein the corner connectors are displaceable from the sections.
12 * A planter device according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the corner connectors are adapted to connect with more than one section at a time.
13 * A planter device according to any preceding claim wherein the comers of the sections comprise vertically arranged cylinders, wherein the connectors are arranged with receiving slccvc-z adapted to slide onto the cylinders of two corners.
14 * A planter device according to any preceding claim wherein the hp of the planter comprises bracing below the lip.* A planter device according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises a lip to engage the lip of the planters.