Patent Application
20120267486
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable flower pot support and, more specifically, to an adjustable flower pot support having a collapsing frame assembly that engages the flower pot.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flower pots, and other decorations, such as, but not limited to, glass balls, reflective balls, clear bowls filled with marbles, and so forth, are often displayed at a raised location. Thus, initially, it is noted that “flower pot” is intended to be interpreted broadly as any pot, or a similar construct, that may be used to grow flowers, even if used for another purpose, e.g. a pot of dried flowers. The flower pots may have any shape, e.g. spherical, cubical, rectangular, etc., but are commonly an inverted, truncated cone. Such flower pots typically, but not always, have a rim about the upper portion. As shown in the figures, the flower pot is a typical inverted, truncated cone with a rim, however, the disclosed device may be used with flower pots having any shape.
The flower pot may be placed in the raised location by various devices such as, but not limited to, a floor stand, a wall mount, or a hanger assembly. A floor stand may be as simple as a table. A wall mount typically includes a hoop or platform through which, or on which, the flower pot is placed. A hanger typically includes a plurality of tension members (chains, etc.) structured to be coupled to the flower pot or coupled to a hoop through which a flower pot is placed and supported by a ceiling hook. Each type of support has a disadvantage.
A floor stand, such as a table, typically does not include a device that prevents the flower pot from being moved. As such, pets, children, or natural forces such as the wind, may cause the flower pot to be moved off the support or tipped over thereon. Other floor stands specifically designed to hold flower pots may include one or more indentations sized to accommodate a flower pot of a common size. As such, flower pots that are larger than the indentation will not fit therein, and flower pots that are smaller than the indentation may be tipped over within the indentation. That is, such stands are not structured to accommodate flower pots of different sizes. Wall mounts, typically, have a hoop or platform on which a flower pot is placed. These devices can also only accommodate flower pots within a narrow range of sizes that fit in/on the hoop/platform. Moreover, flower pots can easily be knocked off such platforms by various forces.
Two typical types of hangers include three tension members coupled to the flower pot rim or a hoop, and, a net, commonly a macramé net. Each of these has a disadvantage. If one has the tension members suspended, one must support the flower pot while attempting to couple the tension members to the rim or hoop. If the tension members are not supported, the tension members tend to decouple while one is attaching another tension member. Further, for certain plants, such as ferns, the plant may extend over the rim making the coupling between the flower pot and the tension members difficult to access. Some tension members include a resilient clip at the lower ends. These clips must be strong so as to resist becoming detached from the flower pot accidentally. This, however, means that the clips are difficult to remove when a user wants to detach the hanger from the flower pot. Net based hangers typically are not attached to the flower pot, rather, the net acts as a hammock in which the flower pot rests. As the flower pot is not attached to the hanger, the flower pot's orientation may shift and the flower pot may become tilted to the point it allows dirt or other contents to fall from the flower pot. Further, the netting, which is typically fibrous tension members (string) is more likely to be damaged by dirt and other debris infiltrating into the body of the tension member and cutting fibers.
The disclosed and claimed concept provides for a flower pot holder that does not have the disadvantages of the prior art. The flower pot holder includes a collapsing frame assembly that moves between two configurations; an open configuration and a drawn-in configuration. In the first configuration, the frame assembly is spaced from the central axis, wherein a flower pot is disposed. In the second configuration, members of the frame assembly are moved toward the central axis of the frame assembly, thereby engaging and holding the flower pot. Moreover, the force that causes the frame assembly to move from the first configuration to the second configuration is the weight of the flower pot; that is, as a user places the flower pot on the frame assembly, the frame assembly automatically moves to the second configuration to grip the flower pot. Further, the center of gravity of the moving frame assembly members are positioned so that when the flower pot is lifted, the frame assembly returns to the first configuration. Thus, the collapsible frame assembly automatically opens and closes as a user inserts/removes a flower pot.
The collapsing frame assembly utilizes generally rigid frame members. The frame members include a pivot support frame, at least one pivoting arm, and at least one flower pot support. The pivot support frame may be a hoop through which the flower pot is inserted. The pivot support frame is coupled to a fixed member, such as a floor stand assembly, a wall mount assembly and a hanger assembly. The pivoting arm has a medial pivot coupling that is pivotally coupled to the pivot support frame. Further, the flower pot support arm has an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion is disposed below the hoop. The support arm upper portion extends outwardly from the hoop. When a flower pot is placed through the hoop, the flower pot engages the pivoting arm lower portion. The weight of the flower pot causes the pivot arm to pivot bringing the pivot arm upper portion toward the flower pot. The pivot arm upper portion engages and grips the flower pot. While this embodiment is functional, and while the hoop may be made larger than typical flower pots, the size of the flower pot that may be used is still limited by the size of the hoop.
In another embodiment, which only functions with a hanger assembly as a fixed member; the pivot support frame and the flower pot support are combined into a platform, typically a circular disk. The pivot arm pivot coupling is disposed at the lower end of the pivot arm rather than at a medial location. The pivot arms are pivotally coupled to the pivot support frame/flower pot support and extend outwardly. The hanger assembly includes tension members that are coupled to the upper ends of the pivoting members. As before, when a flower pot is placed on the flower pot support, the weight of the flower pot causes the pivot arms to move inwardly until they engage and grip the flower pot.
As used herein, a “generally rigid” member means that it is structured to generally maintain its shape when exposed to force and is self supporting. A “generally rigid” member may be very rigid, such as but not limited to, a steel rod, or may be slightly flexible, such as but not limited to a thin plastic member, e.g. a disposable plastic knife. Further, a “tension member” such as a rope, chain, or thin cable, is not a “generally rigid” member.
As used herein, “spaced” and “close” are terms describing the relative distance between two elements. That is, when two elements are “close,” they are closer together than when they are “spaced,” regardless of the actual distance between the “close” and “spaced” positions.
As used herein, a “sidewall contact portion” is structured to contact a very generally vertical sidewall, i.e. a sidewall at greater than 45 degrees to horizontal. A “sidewall contact portion” may contact a flower pot rim, including the underside of the rim, but is not structured to do so.
As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs.
As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other.
As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. The fixed components may, or may not, be directly coupled.
As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” component or body.
As used herein, a “unitary pivot” is a unitary component that is structured to act like a pivot. This is accomplished by utilizing elements such as, but not limited to, living hinges or positioning a generally rigid member so that stress is applied to a localized portion of the generally rigid member causing the generally rigid member to flex at that location.
As used herein, a “pivot assembly” is any assembly having two or more components structured to create a pivoting motion.
As used herein, a component “structured to pivot” and/or a “pivot coupling” may be either a “unitary pivot” or a pivot assembly.
Flower pots are typically conical or circular in cross-section. Flower pots may, however, be any shape and square flower pots are not uncommon. The description below assumes a flower pot that is conical or circular in cross-section. As used herein, descriptive words that relate to a circle, e.g. radius, are to be interpreted broadly and are applicable to non-circular shapes.
As shown in
The at least one frame member 32 is a generally rigid member. That is, the at least one frame member 32 is not a tension member. As discussed below, the folding frame assembly 30 is structured to react to the weight of the flower pot 1 and anything contained therein. Thus, the folding frame assembly 30 is structured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration when a flower pot 1 is disposed on the folding frame assembly 30; the weight of the flower pot 1 being the force that causes the folding frame assembly 30 to move from the first configuration to the second configuration. It is further noted that the folding frame assembly 30, and more specifically, the at least one frame member 32 is structured to engage the side of a flower pot 1. That is, the at least one frame member 32 does not have to contact, or engage, the underside of the rim 4 of a flower pot 1, as is known. Thus, the at least one frame member flower pot contact portion 37 is a “sidewall contact portion” 35 as defined herein.
Generally, the folding frame assembly 30 defines a receiving space 40 for the flower pot 1. The receiving space 40 has a greater cross-sectional area, i.e. typically a greater diameter, when the folding frame assembly 30 is in the first configuration and a smaller cross-sectional area, or a smaller diameter, when the folding frame assembly 30 is in the second configuration. The at least one frame member flower pot contact portion 34 is structured to contact a flower pot 1 disposed in the receiving space 40 when the folding frame assembly 30 is in the second configuration. This means that the folding frame assembly 30 is typically structured to accommodate a flower pot 1 of any size, so long as that size is smaller than the receiving space 40 when the folding frame assembly 30 is in the first configuration.
Before discussing specific embodiments, it is noted that each embodiment recites a “pivot coupling.” A pivot coupling may be any type of “unitary pivot” or a “pivot assembly” as defined herein. Preferably, however, the pivot coupling is a simple pivot assembly having a first component, such as, but not limited to a loop/circular opening, and a second component, such as a circular rod, structured to be rotatably disposed in the loop/circular opening, as shown in
A first embodiment of the flower pot holder 10 is shown in
The at least one pivoting arm medial portion pivot coupling 70 is pivotally coupled to the pivot support frame at least one pivot coupling 62. In this configuration, the at least one pivoting arm 52 is structured to move between the two folding frame assembly 30 configurations described above and as shown in ghost (the first configuration) in
Preferably, the at least one pivoting arm 52 has a center of gravity that is disposed on the outer side of the pivot support frame 50 at least one pivot coupling 62. In this configuration, the at least one pivoting aim 52 will tend to move to a first, open configuration when the at least one pivoting arm lower end 68 is not engaged by a flower pot 1. If required, a lug 69, preferably a decorative lug, may be placed on the at least one pivoting arm 52 as needed to reposition the center of gravity.
An alternate version of the first embodiment is shown is
It is noted that, as shown, the S-shaped members 80 extend generally radially relative to the circular hoop 60A. That is, the axis of rotation for each pivot support frame pivot coupling 62A is generally tangent to the hoop 60A. While this may be the most efficient configuration, a decorative motion, e.g. an angled arcuate motion, may be created by providing a pivot support frame pivot coupling 62A wherein the axis of rotation is angled relative to the hoop 60A (not shown).
Yet another alternate version of the first embodiment is shown is
It is noted that the fixed member 20 may be selected from the group including a floor stand 200, a wall mount 202, or a hanger assembly 210. A wall mount 202 is shown in
In a second embodiment, shown in
In this configuration, the weight of each pivoting aim 52B causes each pivoting arm 52B to be pivoted about the pivoting arm lower end pivot coupling 70B away from the pivot support frame 50B. This is the first configuration. When a flower pot 1 is placed on the flower pot support 54, the weight of the flower pot 1 causes the flower pot support 54 to move downwardly away from the hanger assembly 210, which in turn causes each pivoting arm 52B to pivot about the associated pivot support frame pivot coupling 62B until each one frame member flower pot contact portion 34 engages the flower pot 1 and the folding frame assembly 30 is in the second configuration.
In a second version of this embodiment, shown in
The size of the receiving space 40 may be altered by changing the shape of the pivoting arms 52. That is, the S-shaped members 80, 80B discussed above, allow for the S-shaped members 80, 80B to be spaced from the flower pot 1 at the bottom of the folding frame assembly 30, yet curve inwardly so as to be able to contact the flower pot 1. If the pivoting arms 52 had a different shape, e.g. U-shaped (not shown), wherein the at least one pivoting arm pivot coupling 70 is disposed at the tip of one of the U-shaped member tines and the U-shaped member open end facing toward the pivot support frame 50, the receiving space 40 would be much larger as the U-shaped member upper tip would be spaced further from the pivot support frame 50 in the first configuration when compared to the S-shaped member upper end 64A in the first configuration.
With the arcuate members 90, the size of the receiving space 40 may be increased by providing each arcuate member end 92, 94 with an inwardly extending portion 96, 98. This, effectively, increases the space between the curved portion of the arcuate member 90 and the center of the folding frame assembly 30 which, in turn, increases the size of the receiving space 40. Each pivoting arm lower end pivot coupling 70C is disposed at each the arcuate member inwardly extending portion 96, 98.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.
