Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6665980
-
Patent Number
6,665,980
-
Date Filed
Friday, October 19, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 23, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Poon; Peter M.
- Valenti; Andrea M.
Agents
- Pauley Petersen & Erickson
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 047 65
- 047 666
- 047 71
- 047 83
- 047 39
- 047 47
- 047 4114
- 047 4101
- 047 86
- 047 87
- 248 128
- 248 146
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An apparatus, for example a stand, for supporting an object such as a house plant, with respect to a support post having a vertical axis. A container having a bottom surface which forms a receptacle is mateably engageable with a projection formed in a top surface of a drainage plate. The drainage plate is connected to an upper end portion of the support post, whereby the container is positioned with respect to the support post and aligned with the vertical axis. In one embodiment of this invention, the drainage plate is connected to an end portion of a mounting bracket, whereby the container is fixedly positioned with respect to a generally vertical surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for holding or supporting an object, such as a house plant, with respect to a support post or a mounting bracket. More specifically, this invention relates to a plant stand having a drainage plate mateably engageable with a container or pot, whereby the container or pot is centered about a vertical axis of a support post or an end portion of the mounting bracket, connected to a receiving surface of the drainage plate.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional plant containers may include a pot having a general conical shape which is positioned upon a generally flat surface or drainage piece. Some conventional plant containers are adapted to be supported by a support means having a support rod and a base which rests on a generally flat surface, for example a floor. Alternatively, other conventional plant containers are adapted to be suspended from an overhead support structure, for example a ceiling.
One disadvantage associated with conventional plant containers is that many conventional plant containers do not have a drainage piece or surface which supports the pot to maintain the pot in a desired or predetermined location on the drainage piece. Additionally, such drainage pieces may not be rigidly fastened or connected to a support base. Further, these conventional plant containers do not provide a means by which the drainage piece is connected to the pot to maintain the pot in a general vertical position with respect to the drainage piece and/or the support means, for example to prevent the pot, and/or the entire support means, from tipping over.
Another disadvantage associated with conventional plant containers is that a combination of the drainage piece and the pot cannot be used separately from the support means because the drainage piece does not have a generally flat bottom surface. Instead, the bottom surface of a conventional drainage piece usually has a connecting surface or portion which is not planar with the bottom surface. Thus, when rested upon a generally flat, horizontal surface, the drainage piece tips causing the pot to tip and at least a portion of the contents of the pot to spill.
Thus, there is an apparent need for an apparatus for supporting an object, such as a plant, having a container or pot which is mateably engageable with a drainage plate to maintain the apparatus in a vertical position, preferably to prevent tipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for supporting an object, for example a stand for supporting a plant within a pot positioned with respect to a support post.
It is another object of this invention to provide a pot which is mateably engageable with a drainage plate to maintain the pot in a vertical position with respect to a support post rigidly connected to the drainage plate.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a drainage plate having a projection which is mateably engageable with a receptacle formed in a bottom surface of a pot to align the pot with a vertical axis of a support post and prevent axial movement of the pot with resect to the drainage plate and/or the support post.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for supporting an object positioned with respect to a mounting bracket.
The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished with an apparatus, for example a plant stand, for supporting an object, such as a house plant, which includes a support post having a vertical axis. Preferably, but not necessarily, the support post is generally cylindrical along its length and has a generally circular cross-sectional area. The support post may have other suitable cross-sectional areas, such as a rectangular cross-sectional area or a triangular cross-sectional area. The support post is securely attached or connected at a bottom end portion to a base. Suitable means for connecting the support post to the base, such as a threaded connection, are well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the base has a plurality of feet, for example three or four feet, to support the apparatus.
An upper end portion of the support post is connected to a drainage plate. Preferably, but not necessarily, the drainage plate is securely connected to the support post using connecting means or a connector, such as a threaded connection. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the drainage plate has a bottom surface which forms a receiving surface. The support post is mounted within a bore formed by the receiving surface and mateably engages the receiving surface so that the frictional fit forms a secure connection. Preferably, the receiving surface extends or projects into a void or a volume formed by the drainage plate. Thus, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the drainage plate is generally flat, allowing it to rest upon a generally flat, horizontal surface.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the drainage plate further forms a projection coaxially positioned with the receiving surface and in an assembled condition is generally aligned with the vertical axis of the support post. Preferably, the projection, as well as the receiving surface, is molded or integrated with the drainage plate. Preferably, but not necessarily, the projection has a generally conical shape. The projection may have any other suitable shape. A peripheral wall of the drainage plate forms or defines a volume within which water, for example may be contained.
A container or pot having a bottom surface which forms a receptacle is mateably engageable with the projection formed by the drainage plate. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, at least a portion of the receptacle extends into a volume formed by a peripheral wall of the container. Thus, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the container is generally flat and can easily rest upon an inner surface of the drainage plate. Preferably, in mating engagement, the receptacle is generally aligned with the projection and thus is generally aligned with the vertical axis of the support post. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a center of mass of the container is fixedly positioned about the vertical axis. Thus, the apparatus stands upright without tipping and/or falling over when the container is filled with potting soil and a plant, for example.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the projection has a surface which corresponds directly with a surface of the receptacle to provide direct contact between a substantial portion of the projection and the receptacle when mateably engaged. Thus, the container is maintained in a generally central location on the upper surface of the drainage plate and is prevented from moving in a vertical direction and/or a lateral direction with respect to the drainage plate.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the container further includes at least one aperture formed by and through the bottom surface of the container to provide for drainage. Preferably, but not necessarily, a plurality of apertures are radially positioned about the receptacle. When watering a plant contained within the container, excess water can drain from the volume of the container through the at least one aperture to prevent over-watering of the plant.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the bottom surface of the container further includes at least one support wall. Preferably, a plurality of arcuate-shaped support walls extend from the bottom surface and are radially positioned about the receptacle. It is apparent that the support walls may have any suitable shape. The support walls provide stability to the container when the container is positioned upon the drainage plate and the projection is mateably engaged with the receptacle. Further, the support walls provide a means for directing the excess water, exiting the bottom surface of the container through the at least one aperture, to a periphery of the drainage plate.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant comprises a mounting bracket having a first end portion adapted for mounting the apparatus to a surface, for example a generally vertical surface such as a wall or a post. The first end portion forms at least one aperture for connecting or fastening the mounting bracket to the surface using suitable fastening means or connectors.
A second end portion of the mounting bracket is mateably engageable with the drainage plate. For example, the second end portion is mateably engageable with the receiving surface formed in or integrated with the bottom surface of the drainage plate, thus securing the drainage plate to the mounting bracket.
As discussed above in reference to preferred embodiments of this invention, the container or pot is mateably engageable with the drainage plate whereby the pot is fixedly positioned with respect to the second end portion of the mounting bracket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings show different features of an apparatus for supporting an object with respect to a support post, according to preferred embodiments of this invention, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant with respect to a support post, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2
is a partial sectional side view of a drainage plate mateably engaged with a pot, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 3
is a perspective top view of a drainage plate forming a projection, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 4
is a perspective bottom view of a pot forming a receptacle, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 5
is a bottom view of a pot forming a plurality of apertures and a plurality of support walls, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 6
is a partial sectional view of an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant with respect to a mounting bracket, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 7
is a front view of a mounting bracket, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; and
FIG. 8
is a partial sectional top view of a mounting bracket, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In preferred embodiments of this invention as shown in
FIGS. 1-5
, an apparatus, for example a stand
15
, for supporting an object such as a house plant comprises a support post
20
. Preferably, but not necessarily, support post
20
is cylindrical having a vertical axis
25
therethrough, as shown in FIG.
1
. Preferably, but not necessarily, support post
20
has a circular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of a length of support post
20
. It is apparent that support post
20
may have any other suitable cross-sectional shape. For example, support post
20
may have a rectangular cross-sectional area or triangular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the support post length.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in
FIG. 1
, a base
30
is connected to a first end portion
24
of support post
20
, for example at a lower or bottom end portion of support post
20
. Preferably, but not necessarily, support post
20
is threadedly connected to base
30
, is welded or otherwise adhered to base
30
, or is integrated with base
30
. Other suitable connecting means known to those having ordinary skill in the art may be used to securely connect support post
20
to base
30
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, base
30
has a plurality of feet
32
to further support stand
15
. Base
30
may have any suitable number of feet
32
, for example three feet or four feet, or may have enough surface area to require no feet.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, support post
20
at a second end portion
26
, for example an upper or top end portion, is mateably engageable with a drainage plate
40
. Preferably, but not necessarily, drainage plate
40
is securely engaged with support post
20
. For example, as shown in
FIG. 2
, second end portion
26
is mateably engageable with a receiving surface
42
formed in or integrated with a bottom surface
44
of drainage plate
40
, thus securing drainage plate
40
to support post
20
. In one embodiment of this invention, second end portion
26
forms a threaded connection with receiving surface
42
. Preferably, receiving surface
42
is formed in central area, for example about a center point of bottom surface
44
, to align a vertical axis of drainage plate
40
with vertical axis
25
of support post
20
.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a projection
46
is formed in a top surface
48
of drainage plate
40
and projects or extends into a void formed by a peripheral wall
50
of drainage plate
40
, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
. Projection
46
is positioned directly above receiving surface
42
and coaxially positioned with vertical axis
25
about the vertical axis of drainage plate
40
. Preferably, projection
46
, as well as receiving surface
42
, is integrated with drainage plate
40
. Preferably, but not necessarily, at least a portion of projection
46
has a generally conical shape. Projection
46
may have any suitable shape. Except for projection
46
, top surface
48
is preferably generally flat. Peripheral wall
50
has a height sufficient to maintain a volume of water within the volume formed in drainage plate
40
by peripheral wall
50
, if desired.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a container or pot
60
, containing soil for a plant, is mateably engageable with drainage plate
40
. Preferably, as shown in
FIGS. 2
,
4
and
5
, a receptacle
62
is formed in or integrated with a bottom surface
64
of pot
60
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, at least a portion of bottom surface
64
forming receptacle
62
extends or projects into a void formed by a peripheral wall
70
of pot
60
. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, projection
46
is mateably engageable with receptacle
62
. For example, at least a portion of top surface
48
forming projection
46
contacts at least a portion of bottom surface
64
forming receptacle
62
whereby pot
60
is fixedly positioned about vertical axis
25
. Thus, although pot
60
may rotate about vertical axis
25
, pot
60
is prevented from vertical movement or displacement along vertical axis
25
with respect to drainage plate
40
and/or lateral movement or displacement along a horizontal axis with respect to drainage plate
40
. In one embodiment of this invention, pot
60
is fixedly positioned on drainage plate
40
such that a center of mass of pot
60
is fixedly positioned about vertical axis
25
. The term “center of mass” describes a point at which the entire mass of a body may be considered concentrated for some purposes. Thus, pot
60
is properly positioned and balanced upon drainage plate
40
and with respect to support post
20
to prevent stand
15
from tipping and/or falling over.
Preferably, top surface
48
forms projection
46
having a height which directly corresponds to a depth of receptacle
62
formed by bottom surface
64
. Further, preferably a substantial portion of top surface
48
contacts a substantial portion of bottom surface
64
to provide sufficient frictional contact between projection
46
and receptacle
62
, to maintain pot
60
in a desired, predetermined position with respect to drainage plate
40
and/or support post
20
. For example, as shown in
FIG. 2
, top surface
48
of projection
46
directly corresponds to bottom surface
64
of receptacle
62
to provide increased frictional contact between a substantial portion of top surface
48
and bottom surface
64
.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the apparatus comprises the combination of drainage plate
40
mateably engaged with pot
60
but without support post
20
. Because receiving surface
42
extends or projects into the volume formed by drainage plate
40
, bottom surface
44
is generally flat, except for receiving surface
42
, and can rest upon any generally flat horizontal surface, for example a ledge, a table or a shelf, to support pot
60
and its contents. Pot
60
is centered and maintained in the desired position upon drainage plate
40
by the mating engagement of projection
46
with receptacle
62
.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in
FIG. 5
, pot
60
further comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of apertures
72
formed by and extending through bottom surface
64
of pot
60
. Preferably, but not necessarily, apertures
72
are radially positioned about receptacle
62
, as shown in FIG.
5
. Apertures
72
each may have any suitable shape. Preferably, apertures
72
have a generally circular shape having a suitable diameter to allow for proper water drainage. For example, if a house plant is planted within the volume formed by peripheral wall
70
of pot
60
, upon conventional watering of the plant, the excess water is drained from within pot
60
through apertures
72
and contained within the volume formed by peripheral wall
50
of drainage plate
40
.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in
FIG. 5
, pot
60
further comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of support walls
74
. Preferably, but not necessarily, support walls
74
have a generally arcuate shape and are positioned in a circumferential or radial relationship with respect to receptacle
62
, as shown in FIG.
5
. Support walls
74
may have any suitable shape. For example, support walls
74
may be generally straight or linear. Support walls
74
provide both support and stability for pot
60
, to ensure that the weight of pot
60
and its contents are evenly distributed onto top surface
48
of drainage plate
40
, and providing a means for irrigating and/or directing a movement of water, for example, through apertures
72
and between bottom surface
64
and top surface
48
to a periphery of drainage plate
40
.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in
FIGS. 6-8
, an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant comprises a mounting bracket
80
. For example, the apparatus comprising mounting bracket
80
may support a house plant with respect to a generally vertical surface such as an interior wall surface. Preferably, at least a portion of mounting bracket
80
is cylindrical. Preferably, but not necessarily, mounting bracket
80
has a circular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of a length of mounting bracket
80
. It is apparent that mounting bracket
80
may have any other suitable cross-sectional shape. For example, mounting bracket
80
may have a rectangular cross-sectional area or triangular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the mounting bracket length.
As shown in
FIGS. 6-8
, a first end portion
81
of mounting bracket
80
is adapted for mounting the apparatus to a surface. For example, as shown in
FIG. 6
, mounting bracket
80
may be securely fastened to a generally vertical surface
90
, such as an interior wall, an exterior wall or a post. It is apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, that mounting bracket
80
may be adapted to mount securely to any other surface, for example a generally horizontal surface.
As shown in
FIGS. 6-8
, first end portion
81
forms at least one, and preferably a plurality of apertures
84
for connecting or fastening mounting bracket
80
to surface
90
. Suitable fastening means or connectors, for example screws
86
, may be used for securing mounting bracket
80
to surface
90
. Other suitable connecting means known to those having ordinary skill in the art may be used to securely connect mounting bracket
80
to surface
90
.
A second end portion
82
of mounting bracket
80
is mateably engageable with drainage plate
40
. Preferably, but not necessarily, drainage plate
40
is securely engaged with mounting bracket
80
. For example, as shown in
FIG. 6
, second end portion
82
is mateably engageable with receiving surface
42
formed in or integrated with bottom surface
44
of drainage plate
40
, thus securing drainage plate
40
to mounting bracket
80
. In one embodiment of this invention, second end portion
82
forms a threaded connection with receiving surface
42
. Preferably, receiving surface
42
is formed in central area, for example about a center point of bottom surface
44
, to align a vertical axis of drainage plate
40
with a central axis of second end portion
82
.
As discussed above in reference to preferred embodiments of this invention as shown in
FIGS. 1-5
, container or pot
60
is mateably engageable with drainage plate
40
. Preferably, as shown in
FIG. 6
, receptacle
62
is formed in or integrated with bottom surface
64
of pot
60
. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, projection
46
is mateably engageable with receptacle
62
whereby pot
60
is fixedly positioned with respect to second end portion
82
.
While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments, and many details are set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described in this specification and in the claims can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of this invention.
Claims
- 1. An apparatus for supporting a plant comprising: a pot containing soil for a plant; said pot having a bottom surface forming a central receptacle, said central receptacle extending into at least a portion of a void formed by said pot; said central receptacle having a closed end and an open end; a drainage plate forming a central projection mateably engageable with said central receptacle, an inner surface of said central projection defining a closed bore and an outer surface of said central projection frictionally engaging said central receptacle; said bottom surface of said pot containing apertures in communication with said drainage plate; a support post secured within said central projection; said support post extending downwardly from said drainage plate, and said inner surface frictionally fitting with an upper portion of said support post to form a secure connection between said support post and said drainage plate.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a base connected to a bottom end portion of said support post.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support post is threadedly mateable with said closed bore.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container further comprises at least one support wall extending from said bottom surface.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one support wall has an arcuate shape.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apertures are radially positioned about said central receptacle.
US Referenced Citations (38)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1444834 |
May 1974 |
GB |