US20090293355A1

US20090293355A1 - Accessorized Planter

Info

Publication number: US20090293355A1
Application number: US12/131,954
Authority: US
Inventors: Rick D. Clouston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-03
Filing date: 2008-06-03
Publication date: 2009-12-03

Abstract

A planter (1) which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor. The planter (1) includes at least one rod (6) which extends upward from the bottom (2) of the planter (1). The rod (6) may be molded into the planter (1) or removably secured to the bottom (2) of the planter (1). Accessories, such as clocks, sports objects, coat hangers, temperature gauges, etc., are secured on the rod (6) as desired to match any theme or decor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to planters, more particularly, a planter which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor.
Planters are an effective way of displaying plant life and decorating an area. Currently, planters and other types of containers for plants are widely used for both interior and exterior decoration. If the user needs a planter that matches a specific theme or decor he/she only has the options of the type, size, and/or color of the planter and the type of plant to go in it.
Thus, a need exists for a planter which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor.
The relevant prior art includes the following references:


Patent No.
(U.S. unless
stated otherwise)	Inventor	Issue/Publication Date

1. 52,200	Prince		Jan. 23, 1866
2. 2,605,588	Lindstaedt	Feb. 24, 1948	Aug. 05, 1952
3. 4,102,081	Morrow	Feb. 14, 1977	Jul. 25, 1978
4. 4,635,394	Brown	Feb. 21, 1985	Jan. 13, 1987
5. 4,912,875	Tardif	Feb. 27, 1989	Apr. 03, 1990
6. 5,052,148	Sharon et al.	Aug. 28, 1990	Oct. 01, 1991
7. 5,743,044	Hopkins	Jun. 24, 1996	May 28, 1998
8. 2006/0283082	Stevenson, III	Mar. 28, 2006	Dec. 21, 2006

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an accessorized planter which:

- is capable of receiving and displaying a variety of different accessories;
- may be customized to fit any theme or decor;
- may be used with any type of planter;
- enhances the appearance of the planter;
- enhances the utility of the planter;
- enhances the appearance of any plant life displayed in the planter; and
- enhances the appearance of the host environment.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objectives by providing a planter which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor. The planter includes at least one rod which extends upward. The rod may be molded into the planter or secured to the bottom of the planter using a variety of securing means such as threads, bolts, nuts, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, etc. Accessories, such as clocks, sports objects, coat hangers, temperature gauges, etc., are secured on the rod as desired to match any theme or decor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective plan view of an accessorized planter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective plan view of a planter of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a rod and stabilizer plate removably attached to a planter with threads and a nut;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a rod and stabilizer plate removably attached to a planter with threads and a bolt;

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of a rod and stabilizer plate removably attached to a planter and held in place with dirt and rocks;

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of an accessorized planter of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of a reservoir partition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:


1.	planter
2.	bottom
3.	center hole
4.	sides
5.	upper rim
6.	rod
7.	stabilizer plate
8.	crosspiece
9.	reservoir partition
10.	bolt
11.	nut
12.	dirt and/or rocks
13.	decorative ball
14.	clock
15.	rubber ring
16.	cap
17.	baseball
18.	baseball bat
19.	baseball glove
20.	picture frame
21.	screw

With reference to FIG. 1, a front perspective plan view of a planter of the present invention is shown. The planter 1, generally includes a bottom 2 having a center hole 3, circular sides 4 and an upper rim 5. A rod 6 extends upward through the center of the planter 1 and is capably of receiving additional rods 6 to achieve any desired height. The rod or rods 6 may be strait as shown in FIG. 1 or may be decoratively shaped in designs such as a spiral as shown in FIG. 4, a baseball bat as shown in FIG. 6, a golf club, a wine rack, etc. The rod or rods may be attached together by a variety of means such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, screws, etc.
The rod 6 may be fixedly or removably attached to a stabilizer plate 7 and may be attached to the planter 1 using a variety of different methods such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, bolts, nuts, etc. Several versions of the planter 1 are disclosed showing different methods of attaching the rod 6 and stabilizer plate 7 to the planter 1.
In a first version, the rod 6 and stabilizer plate 7 are molded into the planter 1. In a second version, the rod 6 and stabilizer plate 7 rest on the inside bottom 2 of the planter 1 and are attached to the planter with a bolt 11 which passes through the center hole 3 of the planter 1 and is received by the rod 6, as shown in FIG. 4. In a third version, the rod 6 and stabilizer plate 7 rest on the inside bottom 2 of the planter 1 and are attached and held in place by adhesive and/or the weight of dirt and/or rocks 12 placed in the planter 1 on top of the stabilizer plate 7 as shown in FIG. 5. In a fourth version, the stabilizer plate 7 rests against the underside bottom 2 of the planter 1. In this version, the rod 6 passes through the center hole 3 and is attached to the planter 1 using nut 11 as shown in FIG. 3. It is therefore a primary advantage of the present invention to provide a rod 6 and stabilizer plate 7 which are capable of being used in any sized or shaped planter 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, a crosspiece 8 which provides additional attachment points for accessories may be attached the rod 6 using a variety of means such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, screws, etc.
As shown on FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, a reservoir partition 9 having perforations and made out of a water resistant material, may be attached to the rod 6 by a variety of different fastening means such as threads, nuts, bolts, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, etc. The reservoir partition 9 is placed on the rod 6 so as to created a space in between the bottom 2 of the planter 1 and the dirt and/or rocks. Water is collected in the bottom of the planter 1 in the space created by the reservoir partition 9 and provides nourishment to any plant life when needed.
A wide variety of accessories may be displayed on planter such as sports equipment, sports memorabilia, clocks, coat hangers, thermometers, picture frames, hooks, etc. The accessories may be attached to the rod 6 and/or crosspiece 8 using a variety of different means such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, screws, etc.
In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a rod 6 passes through a decorative ball 13 having a hole located through its center and the decorative ball 13 is held is place by a rubber ring 15. Above the decorative ball 13, the rod 6 passes through a clock 14 with a hole located through its center and the clock 14 is held in place by a rubber ring 15. Above the clock 14, the rod 6 passes through another decorative ball 13 having a hole located through its center and the decorative ball 13 is held is position by a rubber ring 15. The top of the rod 6 has threads to receive an additional rod 6 or a cap 16.
In a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the planter 1 is in the shape of a baseball helmet. A rod 6 extending upward through the planter 1 passes through a baseball 17 having a hole located through its center and the baseball 17 is held in position by a rubber ring 15. Above the baseball 17, the rod 6 passes through a baseball bat 18 with a hole located through its center and the baseball bat 18 is held in position by a screw 21. Above the baseball bat 18, the rod 6 passes through a baseball glove 19 which is held in position by a rubber ring 15. A picture frame 20 is attached to the baseball glove 19. Above the baseball glove 19, the rod 6 passes though another baseball 17 having a hole located through its center and the baseball 17 is held in position by a rubber ring 15. The top of the extension rod has threads to receive an additional rod 6 or a cap 16.
It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.

Claims

1. A planter comprising:

a bottom, sides, and an upper rim;

a rod attached to the bottom of the planter and extending upward;

said rod having the capability of receiving and displaying various accessories;

said rod having the capability of receiving additional rods; and

various interchangeable accessories which are attachable to the rod.

2. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

the rod is made out of the same material as the planter; and

the rod is molded into the planter.

3. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

the rod is decoratively shaped.

4. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

a stabilizer plate rests against the underside bottom of the planter and is attached to the rod;

the bottom of the planter has a center hole;

the rod passes through the center hole; and

the rod and stabilizer plate are attached and held in place by the weight of the planter.

5. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

the bottom of the planter has a center hole;

the rod passes through the center hole;

the rod has threads on the bottom and is capable of receiving a nut; and

the rod and stabilizer plate are attached to the planter with a nut.

6. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

the bottom of said planter has a center hole;

a stabilizer plate rests on the bottom of said planter;

the stabilizer plate is attached to the rod;

the bottom of the rod is capable of receiving a bolt;

a bolt passes through the center hole of the planter; and

the rod is attached to the bottom of the planter with a bolt.

7. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

a stabilizer plate rests on the bottom of said planter;

the stabilizer plate is attached to the rod; and

the stabilizer plate and rod are attached to bottom of the planter with an adhesive.

8. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

a stabilizer plate rests on the bottom of said planter;

the stabilizer plate is attached to the rod; and

the stabilizer plate and rod are attached and held in place by the weight of dirt and/or rocks placed in the planter on top of the stabilizer plate.

9. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

a plurality of rods are attached together providing additional height and attachment points for accessories.

10. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

a plurality of rods are attached together providing additional height and attachment points for accessories; and

and at least one of the plurality of rods is decoratively shaped.

11. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

a crosspiece is attached to the rod providing additional attachment points for accessories.

12. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

a reservoir partition is attached to the rod creating a space between the dirt and/or rocks and the bottom of the planter for water to be collected.

13. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

the accessories are attached to the rod and/or crosspiece by sliding the rod and/or crosspiece through holes located in the accessories; and

the accessories are held in place on the extension rod using rubber rings.

14. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

the accessories are attached to the extension rod with an adhesive.

15. The planter of claim 1 wherein:

the accessories are attached to the extension rod with screws.