Patent Application
20110289837
The present invention relates to a gardening device; more particularly to a stable, elevated gardening device that provides for growing a variety of plants, including vegetables and flowering plants, in an upward and/or downward direction.
Gardening and gardening services are huge businesses in the United Sates as well as internationally. In 2008, Americans spent a total of $2.8 billion to buy seeds, plants, fertilizer, and other gardening supplies and services. Various reasons contribute to the popularity of home gardening. One of the most obvious reasons is that planting plants is aesthetically pleasing, adding beauty and warmth to a home or backyard. A properly constructed garden and landscaping can add significant value to a person's home and may even help reduce electricity related costs.
In addition to aesthetic qualities, individuals have begun to recognize other benefits of planting, particularly the growing of vegetables out of their own gardens. Over growing concerns of commercially contaminated food sources, consumers see growing their own food as a means to control safety concerns of the food they are eating. As consumers realize that growing their own food can result in improvements to food quality and taste, and cost savings as a result of lower food bills, the number of households participating in home gardening and planting is expected to rise. While planting and gardening is generally not a problem for homeowners with large plots of land, those who live on zero-lot plots or in crowded cities are not capable of planting in large, open fields, and are thus limited in their planting options.
Despite these limitations, the desire to plant under these conditions is not less than those who have large spaces for planting. Of vital importance to these living conditions is the ability to plant large varieties of plants and vegetables within limited amounts of space, and requires alternative approaches to gardening. One such approach is the use of gardening containers. As evidenced by a trip to any local home improvement or gardening establishment, there exists numerous planting container options. Many of these containers, however, are limiting. Small planters may not be as desirable because they are limiting in size and often are not very stable. Given the small size, these planters are not conducive to watering and maintenance as they are usually placed at ground level or must be secured to a fence or bench if a certain height relative to the ground is desired. While a greater number of plants can be used with large pots, the size and amount of soil required to establish healthy plants can be a limiting factor for those in tight spaces. As such, there is always a need for containers that allow for maximization of plant growth within confined spaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,994 discloses a three-dimensional decorative planter having a frame for securing a vertically disposed cultivation body. The planter has a liquid reservoir and conduit for movement of liquid from the reservoir to the cultivation body. The frame also has a trough for collecting excess liquid. The cultivation body includes culture material and filler in arrangements necessary to secure the culture material and provide watering, drainage and ventilation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,409 discloses a hanging pot containing a plurality of tubular inserts which extend through the outer wall of the pot. The hanging pot is constructed such that the root portion of the growing plants are planted within the pot and the stalks of growing plants are extended through the tubular inserts so that they hang downwardly from the pot. The tubular inserts surround the stalks or stems of the plants and protect them from breaking under their own weight as they hang downwardly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,691 discloses a support for plants and flowers, and includes a framework surrounding an upstanding central tube. The framework consists of a plurality of vertically spaced, circular rings which decrease in diameter from bottom to top. Vertical supports span adjacent rings and are spaced about the circumference of the framework. A retaining ring surrounds the bottom of the tube adjacent its bottom and has two pair of diametrically extending arms with down-turned ends to support the tube in an upright manner. A second retaining ring surrounds the tube adjacent the top of the framework. The down-turned ends of this retaining ring snap over the top of the framework to hold the framework and tube in place. Matting lines the interior of the framework to define an area within the framework which is filled with soil. Plants and flowers, therefore, can be planted in the soil through the matting. The framework can be placed in an existing flower pot or can stand alone. Accessories of various shapes, such as a sphere, can be attached to the top of the tube above the framework to increase the variety of arrangements that can be created.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,344 discloses a portable party riser, or pedestal-type stand. The party riser consists of several container-bases and a thin cylindrical rigid stem for support. The container-bases are manually connected to this stem by fitting either of the two ends of the support tightly into the appropriate socket or hub on either surface of the flange of each container-base. The structure is generally supported by a bottom container acting as the base, and resting upon a horizontal surface such as a floor or table top.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,673 discloses a gravity independent photosynthetic growing system for use in providing an environment conducive to growing plant materials under unusual conditions, such as are encountered in space or in locations isolated from sunlight. The growing system includes a stationary core assembly, a rotating drum assembly which is rotated by a motive assembly, an enclosing assembly, a growth requirements assembly and a control assembly. Illumination lamps situated in the central core provide photosynthetic radiation which is transmitted through light transmissive sector walls to be reflected inward from a surrounding cylindrical reflector into growth sectors within which the plants are grown. The growth sectors are adapted to receive seed mats, hard shell growth cases and growth bags which provide purchase for the plants. A deluxe growth requirements assembly provides controlled dispensation of flowable materials by way of pneumatically controlled flow paths. The system is adapted to further provide temperature and moisture to non-photosynthetic plants in dark zones within the stationary enclosure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,861 discloses a method and device for the growing of tomatoes and other vegetables out from the bottom of a container suspended above ground, thereby eliminating the conventional problems routinely associated with home gardening. In particular, the device allows gardening in a space efficient manner without having to routinely weed and water the plant soil. A drip well in the top of the container provides a constant source of moisture. Suspension of the container above ground eliminates the threat of ground borne insects and small animal pests without the use of pesticides and repellents.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,588 discloses a flower pot for group planting of flower plants which is mounted on a pole. The flower pot comprises a flower pot body having planting openings of which the upper part is opened. The planting openings are provided in a plurality of locations in the periphery of the body. The flower pot contains a hole in the bottom of the body for inserting the pole and a cylindrical mounting member for inserting the upper part of the pole. The bottom of the mounting member is opened and the mounting member is fixedly or removably mounted vertically around the hole. The outer face of the flower pot is covered by the group planted flower plants and not exposed when the flower pot in which flower plants have been group planted is mounted on the pole.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,600 discloses a suspended planting container. The container includes a base having an outer periphery and an aperture defining a central vegetation region. An outer wall extends upward from the periphery of the base to a top edge and defines a container region. An inner wall, surrounding the central vegetation region extends upward from the base to a top edge in the interior of the container region. A growing medium retention device is coupled to the top edge of the inner wall to permit vegetation to grow through the perforation into the central vegetation region while prevent growing medium from falling from the container region into the vegetation region.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,900 describes a hanging planter which includes a bowl-like lower portion and a ring-like upper portion, with the upper portion nesting within the rim of the lower portion to provide a plant holding assembly. The upper edge of the lower portion and lower edge of the upper portion are crenelated, with the mating edges defining a series of plant growth openings there through when the two components are assembled. The crenelations are preferably of variable depths in each section, to define at least two different levels of plant growth openings through the sides of the assembly. The upper edge of the upper portion defines a third plant growth opening for the device. The planter is suspended by a single central hanger rod which secures through the bottom of the lower portion of the container and provides a leakproof seal. A fertilizer wick is placed upon the central rod, with the wick serving to deliver fertilizer to the generally centrally disposed roots of the plants, and also to wick up water from the lower portion of the planter to the plant roots.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,022 describes an apparatus having a central support conduit with a hollow fluid passageway. A plurality of downwardly arching arms extends radially outward from the central support conduit for carrying a plant container. A mounting sleeve is carried on the central support conduit that includes a plurality of arm brackets for carrying the arms. A fluid distribution hub is carried by the central support conduit and has a chamber in fluid communication with the hollow fluid passageway, and a plurality of fluid diversion conduits extending radially outward from the chamber. A plurality of watering lines, each carrying a valve to control fluid flow through the lines, extend radially outward from the fluid distribution hub. Each watering line has a source end in fluid communication with one of the fluid diversion conduits, and a nozzle end disposed near a distal end of one of the arms for channeling fluid into the plant container.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,278 describes a planter for growing a transplanted plant upside down. The planter has a container having an interior, a bottom and a hole defined within the bottom. The planter further utilizes a retainer member which is attachable to the plant desired to be transplanted within the planter. The retainer member cooperates with the container for supporting the plant through the hole defined within the container bottom so that the root system is exposed to the interior of the container and so that the plant stem extends downwardly from the bottom of the container.
While the cited prior art teaches a variety of containers and devices that provide for the growth of plants and vegetables in either the upward or downward direction, few of these inventions teach a container that provides growth in both directions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,466 describes a method of planting utilizing a gardening system comprising an assembled center support, large base, small base and a grow box with a plurality of holes in the bottom. The system can be utilized for growing multiple types of vegetation upside down out of the bottom of the grow box. In addition, plants and vegetation can be grown upright, as well as, out of the open top of the grow box. However, the planter box used in the claimed method is limited in its structure. The planter box, as described, is limited to a single post positioned into the center in order to support the upper grow box. A disadvantage in this design is that the device can become top heavy, thereby limiting the number, types and placement of plant growth permitted in order to prevent tipping over and bowing of the container parts.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a portable, easy to assemble elevated gardening device which provides for plant growth in the upward and/or downward direction, and which is stable regardless of the plant varieties placed within the planter bed.
The instant invention describes a portable, reusable and easy to assemble elevated gardening device which is designed to allow growth of a variety of plant species. As used herein, “plant species” or “plant” is defined as any variety of living organisms belonging to the Kingdom Plantae, including but not limited to trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, and plants that produce flowers, fruits, vegetables, pods, nuts, ears, cones, or the like. The instant invention provides a device that allows the growth of plant species on patios, balconies, and various outside living areas of a home where traditional gardening space is either limited or not available. In order to maximize the limited space, the elevated gardening device provides certain types of growth, i.e. tomatoes or cucumbers, in an upside down position from the underside of the planter bed through one or more apertures, simultaneously as other plant varieties are planted in the planter bed and permitted to grow in an upward direction.
In a particular embodiment, the instant invention describes a portable and reusable gardening device and kit for providing growth of one or more plant varieties in a downward manner while simultaneously providing for plant growth in an upward direction. The device comprises a planter bed for holding one or more plants. The planter bed includes an outer wall defined by a front panel, a back panel, a right side panel, and a left side panel. The panels are constructed and arranged to partially enclose a bottom panel. Each of the side panels extend upwardly from the bottom panel. The bottom panel has at least one aperture for receipt of a plant root or stems system, and preferably, has one main center aperture and a plurality of side apertures. The portable and reusable gardening device further includes a support base having integrally formed side walls which extend in a downward manner from a first generally planer surface. The side walls are constructed and arranged to enclose an integrally formed inner cavity for receiving stabilizing materials. The integrally formed inner cavity is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a support base internal cavity cover. A second surface forms a perimeter around the first surface. A plurality of planter bed support legs are provided for support and height. The plurality of planter bed support legs have a first end constructed and arranged to be secured to and extend below the planter bed and a second end constructed and arranged to be secured to and extend above the support base. Covering the main center aperture, the plurality of side apertures, and the internal cavity of the support base are the main center aperture cover, a plurality of side aperture covers, and an internal cavity cover, respectively.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device for holding a variety of plant species.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device that allows simultaneous growth of a variety of plant species in an upward direction and a downward direction.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device which is manufactured in a plurality of parts for ease of storage.
It is a still further objective of the invention to provide an elevated gardening device which is manufactured in a plurality of parts for ease of transportation.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device which is manufactured in a plurality of parts for ease of assembly, and more particularly for ease of assembly without tools.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device which is stable under static loading.
It is a still further objective of the invention to provide an elevated gardening device in which the individual components are easy to disassemble and can be nested for greater storage flexibility.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device constructed and arranged to contain a planter bed, a support base, and a plurality of support legs for connecting the support base to the planter bed.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device in which the planter bed provides for the ability to grow plants, such as tomato plants, in a downward direction from the center of the planter bed, on four sides of the planter bed, or combinations thereof.
It is a still further objective of the invention to provide an elevated gardening device in which the planter bed contains a large planter aperture in the center in order to allow the transplantation of more mature plants within the elevated gardening device.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device in which the support base is constructed and arranged to contain an inner cavity which can be easily filled with stabilizing material in order to provide enhanced product stability.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device in which the inner cavity of the support base can be easily emptied of support stabilizing material for seasonal storage.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device in which the planter bed contains plant root holder elements which are designed to secure the plant stem and/or root systems to the planter bed.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an elevated gardening device in which the planter bed can be manipulated to provide a more convenient and desired height for watering, planting, and maintenance.
It is a still further objective of the invention to provide an elevated gardening device which is aesthetically pleasing and decorative for placement in areas of high visibility.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
a is an exploded view of the main support leg of the elevated gardening device of the instant invention;
b illustrates a fully assembled main support leg of the elevated gardening device of the instant invention;
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
Planter bed 12 is defined by an outer wall 42 made of a front panel 44, a back panel 46, a right side panel 48 and a left side panel 50. Each of the panels 44, 46, 48, and 50 extend upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom panel 52 and partially enclose the top surface 53 of the bottom panel 52. In the preferred embodiment, the planter bed is formed of, but not limited to, a suitable plastic, such as polypropylene, through the process of injection molding. Panels 44, 46, 48, and 50 contain a lipped portion 54 and a depending wall 55. The depending wall 55 extends in an upward direction from the lipped portion and has depending wall edge 56 which defines the upper perimeter of the planter bed 12. The bottom panel 52 contains a center aperture 58 sized to receive the root and/or the stem portions of one or more plant varieties. The bottom panel 52 may also contain one or more side apertures 60. The one or more side apertures 60 are preferably smaller in diameter than the center aperture 58 and may be positioned anywhere within bottom panel 52. Preferably, the planter bed 12 contains four side apertures arranged 90 degrees from the center aperture 58, thereby forming a diamond pattern around center aperture 58. In this arrangement therefore, the planter bed 12 can accommodate one large plant and four smaller plants. Having a large center aperture allows transplanting of more mature plant varieties into the planter bed 12. Covering center aperture 58 and the one or more side apertures 60 are planter bed main cover 62 and one or more planter bed side aperture cover 64.
The one or more planter bed side aperture cover 64 also contains a side wall 88 radiating in a downward direction from the top surface 90. In use, the main planter bed cover 62 and the one or more planter bed side aperture cover 64 are placed within center aperture 58 and the one or more side apertures 60 such that side walls 86 and 88 engage with the ridge 92, see
Planter bed 12 includes one or more integrally formed gussets 106 for added strength and rigidity. The gussets 106, increase the structural integrity of the planter bed by preventing the panels 44, 46, 48, and 50 from bowing or bending inwardly or outwardly and thus, adversely affecting the appearance or operation of the planter bed 12. The integrally formed gussets 106 are preferably positioned between the planter bed support leg receiving receptacle 26 and the series of alternating raised surfaces 68 and troughs 70 of the root holding element 66. In addition to gussets 106, the planter bed 12 contains ribs 107, see for example
Positioned in the center of support base 14 is an internal cavity 120 which is constructed and arranged to receive a support base cover 122. Positioned at or near the top portion of the internal cavity 120 is a ridge 124. The ridge 124 receives the side wall 126 of the support base cover 122 such that when inserted, the surface 128 of the support base cover 122 is flush with the first planer surface 116. While the internal cavity 120 is illustrated as generally circular, such shape is illustrative only and is not limiting in scope. The support base cover 122 may contain a locking member to secure the support base cover to the support base cavity, such as an interlocking tabs 130, which is constructed and arranged to engage with a locking member receiving area, such as the interlocking tab receiving area 132 positioned at or near the ridge 124 of the internal cavity 120, see
The integrally formed side walls of the planter box can be designed to taper as they extend upwardly or mirror the shape of the support base side walls. The support base side walls may be designed to taper or mirror the planter bed walls as they extend downward. In these arrangements, the planter bed 12 and support base 14 can be stored in a nested arrangement. When in the nested position, the lipped portion 54 of the planter bed 12 rests at or near position where the plurality of integrally formed side walls of the support base 14 meet the second planar surface 118 such that the depending wall edge 56 of the planter bed 12 is supported by the second planar surface 118.
One of the advantages of the instant invention is that the gardening device is portable, reusable, and can be easily assembled. As such, the instant invention can be sold as a completed unit or as a kit. The kit, for example, could include the individual components of the elevated gardening device, as described previously, including the planter bed, the base support, the plurality of support legs, the support leg connecting elements, and the plurality of covers, including the support base cover, the main cover, and the one or more planter bed side aperture covers of the planter bed.
To assemble the elevated gardening device, the support base 14 is positioned at a desirable location, preferably a flat and level surface. In order to provide enhanced stability, a suitable stabilizing material 144, such as sand, dirt, water, or gravel, is inserted into the internal cavity 120 positioned in the center of support base 14, see
To provide a desired height, the elevated gardening device 10 contains a plurality of support legs 16, preferably four. To achieve a desired height, support legs 16 can be made of several individual support legs 18 and 20, which are interconnected together to form main support leg 16.
While the plurality of support base leg receptacles 40 can be positioned anywhere along the support base 14, it is preferable that the plurality of support base leg receptacles 40 be positioned at each of the four corners of the support base 14. Such alignment provides a device that is more stable under static load, easier to load and unload the stabilizing material from the base, and provides a more stable device when plants are grown in the center of the planter bed. All four main support legs 16 are constructed to be interchangeable and press fit into the support base 14, or the planter bed 12. After assembly and insertion into the base support 14, main support legs 16 are then inserted into the bottom of planter bed 12, see
As described previously, the planter bed 12 is constructed to contain center aperture 58 and one or more side apertures 60 sized to receive the root and/or the stem portions of one or more plant varieties. If the user does not use all apertures to grow various plant varieties, apertures 58 and 60 can simply be covered with main cover 62 and the one or more planter bed side aperture cover 64, see
All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement 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 to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
This application is related to U.S. application No. 29/352,204; filed Dec. 17, 2009, entitled “Inverted Planter with Support Structure,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
