GB2135876A

GB2135876A - Plant holder

Info

Publication number: GB2135876A
Application number: GB08403995A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Spencer Ellis
Original assignee: Moulded Plastics Birmingham Ltd
Current assignee: Moulded Plastics Birmingham Ltd
Priority date: 1983-03-08
Filing date: 1984-02-15
Publication date: 1984-09-12
Also published as: GB8403995D0

Abstract

A plant holder capable of being stood on a surface and of being suspended comprises a bowl 1 for holding the plants, a container 2 in which the bowl seats and can receive water which drains from the bowl, and an elongate, upstanding, support member 3 by which the bowl and container are connected together which projects centrally from the bowl and has an attachment element 17 at its upper end for suspending the plant holder. In the preferred form the bowl and container have central parts 10, 13 of hollow conical shape which fit together, the one in the other. The lower end of the support member extends through the central parts and has fins 19 which engage with oppositely-directed abutment faces to lock the support member releasably to the central parts. Preferably the support member comprises connected sections which enable its length to be reduced for packing or storage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plant holder This invention relates to plant holders.

Holders for plants have previously been adapted either for standing on a surface or to be suspended, but not generally for both arrangements.

The present invention provides a plant holder which is capable of being stood on a surface and of being suspended, as desired.

The present invention consists in a plant holder comprising a bowl adapted to receive a plant or plants, a container in which the bowl seats and which is adapted for standing on a surface and can receive water which drains from the bowl in use, the bowl and container having interengaging parts which locate them relative to one another, and an elongate, upstanding, support member which is connected centrally to the bowl and has an attachment element at is upper end whereby the plant holder may be suspended in use.

When the plant holder is not suspended in use the container enables it to be stood on a surface for use, if desired. The support member may then serve in effect as a stake to which the plant or plants in the bowl may be tied for support.

The support member may be made detachable from the bowl and container, so that when the plant holder is supported on a surface for use the support member may be removed to leave just the bowl and the container.

The support member may be made in one piece.

However, because the support member is relatively long and making it in one piece can limit the size to which the plant holder can be reduced for packaging and storage, it is preferred that it comprises at least two sections connected together at an intermediate part of its length by a joint which enables the support member to be reduced in length. Preferably the two sections are releasably connected together at the joint. They may be connected, for example, by a spigot and socket joint, and the joint may be locked by co-operating male and female parts on the components of the joint. The two sections may alternatively be hingedly connected to enable the support member to be folded when it is not in use.

Other suitable connections may be provided between the sections, if desired.

Preferably the interengaging parts of the bowl and container are central parts of those components. The support member may be connected to the interen gaging central parts, and its lower end may have locking elements which co-operate with the central parts to secure the support member to those parts and retain the bowl and container together.

The central parts may extend up into the bowl, and may conveniently be of hollow, preferably tubular, substantially conical forms, the conical central part of the container fitting inside the conical central part of the bowl. Other hollow forms may be employed, for example cylindrical, square, rectangular or other polygonal shapes, but it is preferred that they taper upwardly at least where they mate as that assists in obtaining good location of the two components together. The lower end of the support member may extend through co-axial openings in the central parts, and the central parts may have adjacent to the co-axial openings oppositely-directed abutment faces which are spaced axially of the longitudinal axis of the support member and with which the locking elements engage to prevent separation of the bowl and container.Preferably the abutment faces and the locking elements are arranged such that the support member is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the central parts between a free position in which the locking elements are angularly displaced from the abutment faces and the support member can be passed through the openings to engage its lower end with or release it from the central parts, and a locked position in which the locking elements engage with the abutment faces.

In a preferred form the lower end of the support member is formed with fins which provide the locking elements. Where the lower end passes through co-axial openings in interengaging central parts of the bowl and container as aforesaid the lower end may have adjacent at least one of the openings a co-axial disc-shaped formation which is joined to and extends between the fins such that is closes off the opening and serves to restrain-water from running down through the central parts.

Holes may be provided at or near the bottom of the bowl for water to pass between the bowl and the container.

The container may have a flat bottom to enable it to seat on a supporting surface, or it may possibly have feet, a bead or other suitable formation or formations which enable the container to stand on a supporting surface but be raised to some extent from that surface.

Conveniently the bowl and container are of circular cross-sections, but other cross-sections are possible.

Preferably the bowl, container and support member are all made of plastics material as mouldings.

The attachment element of the support member may comprise an eye or hook. Where the support member is made of plastics material the eye or hook may be moulded integrally with the rest of the member, or with one of the sections of the member, or it may be detachably connected to the member.

One or more cross members may be provided on the support member for use in the tying-up or training of plants in the bowl. Preferably the or each cross member is detachably mounted on the support member, for example by having elements which clip on to the support member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plant holder in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a vertical central section through the plant holder; Figure 3 is a plan view of a cross member; Figure 4 is an exploded side elevation of a modified form of a support member of the plant holder, and Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of an upper end of the support member fitted with a hook.

The plant holder comprises a bowl 1, a container 2, a support member 3 and cross members 4. All of the components are made as mouldings of plastics material. Preferably the bowl and container are made of polypropylene and the support member and cross members are made of a polycarbonate.

The bowl 1 is of circular cross-section and has an upper section 5, Figure 2, with a slightly outwardly bowed wall, and a lower section 6 between which and the upper section a radially inwardly-directed step 7 is defined, and which tapers conically to a flat base 8 of the bowl. Small diameter drain holes 9 are formed in the base 8. Rising from the base 8 is a hollow, conical central part 10 which extends axially of the bowl to the level of the rim of the upper section 5. The conical central part 10 is open at its top and bottom ends.

Container 2 is also of circular cross-section. It is deeper than the lower section 6 of the bowl. Its circumferential wall tapers in a series of inwardlydirected steps 11 to its base 12 which has four equally spaced, radially-extending ribs 12' on its upper surface but is otherwise flat. The extent of the taper is similar to that of the lower section of the bowl. At the top of the container is of a diameter such that its rim is directly below the step 7 in the bowl in the assembled plant holder. Rising from the base 12 of the container is a hollow conical central part 13 which tapers similarly to the conical central part 10 of the bowl with which it mates. The conical central part 13 extends axially of the container to just above the level of the rim of the container.It has an internal annularflange 14 at its upper end, the inner diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the opening in the top of the conical central part of the bowl. Again the conical central part 13 is open at its upper end inside the annular flange 14 and at the lower end.

Purely for decorative effect, the external surfaces of the circumferential walls of the bowl and container may have a spark-eroded finish.

As will best be seen in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, in the assembled plant holder the bowl seats on the ribs 12' in the container, the tapered lower section being fully received into the container, and the upper section continuing substantially as an upward extension of the stepped circumferential wall of the container. Because the bowl seats on the ribs 12' there is a space 15 left between the base 8 of the bowl and the base proper 12 of the container. The drain holes 9 open to that space.

When the plant holder is in use surplus water poured into the bowl for watering the plant or plants can drain into the space. The bowl may possibly be provided with one or more wicks which extend into the space 15 and may take water from the space back into the bowl. The conical central part 13 of the container fits inside the conical central part 10 of the bowl.

The support member 3 is relatively stiff and for the greater part of its length is of rod form 16 of solid circular cross-section tapering gradually towards its upper end. That end is formed into an eye 17 elongated axially of the member. At its lower end portion 18 the cross-section of the support member changes to one of cruciform shape such that four equi-angularly spaced, radially-projecting fins 19 are defined. The fins 19 extend along the support member for a distance greater than the distance from the top of the conical central part 10 of the bowl to the upper surface of the base 12 of the container when the bowl and container are assembled together. Upper ends 20 of the fins slope inwardly and upwardly to meet and merge into the rod part 16 of the support member.The upper ends 20 of two of the fins which are diametrically opposed project radially attheirwidest parts a distance greater than the radius of the opening through the top of the conical central part 10 of the bowl. The other two fins project a distance at their upper ends complementary to the radius of that opening. Just below their upper ends the two first-mentioned fins each have an inward step 21, Figure 2, which reduces the projection of the fins to correspond with that of the other two fins. The steps 21 are spaced from the bottom end of the support member by a distance slightly greater than the distance of the top of the conical central part 10 of the bowl from the upper surface of the base 12 of the container when the bowl and container are assembled together.From the steps 21 all of the fins extend downwards with constant radial projection to a position spaced from the steps a distance slightly greater than the distance from the top of the conical central part 10 of the bowl to the under-surfaceoftheannularflange l4ofthe conical central part 13 of the container, when the two - components are assembled together. At that position each of the four fins is formed with an outward step 22 which extends the fin radially outwards to a radius corresponding to the internal radius of the conical central part 13 of the container at the root of the annular flange 14. From the outward steps 22 to the bottom of the support member the fins flare outwardly similarly to the downward flaring of the conical central part 13 of the container.

In the assembling of the plant holder the bowl and container are first placed together with the bowl seating inside the container and the conical central part 13 of the latter located inside the conical central part 10 of the bowl. The support member is then pushed upwards through the two conical central parts, the width of the eye 17 allowing itto pass freely through the openings in the tops of those two parts. It is pushed through until its finned lower end enters into the conical central parts and the inward steps 21 have passed through the top of the conical central part of the bowl. Diametrically-opposed grooves, not shown, are formed in the inner surface of that conical central part to allow the sloping upper ends 20 of the two inwardly stepped fins to pass through the opening in the top of the part. When the inward steps 21 are through the opening the out ward steps 22 abut against the under face of the annular flange 14 of the conical central part of the container, and the flared lower parts of the fins engage with the inside surface of the circumferential wall of that part. Once the inward steps 21 are through the opening the support member can be rotated about its axis to take the fins out of register with the grooves so that the steps then overlie the top end face of the conical central part of the bowl, and the support member is thereby locked to the bowl and container. Because of the engagement of the inward steps 21 and outward steps 22 with the top of the conical central part of the bowl and the under face of the annular flange 14 respectively the bowl and container are held securely together.

The plant holder may be suspended in use by the eye 17 of the support member, as a hanging basket, and plants in the bowl may be tied to, or trained up, the support member, if desired. The support member may be substantially hidden from view by the plants. Alternatively the plant holder may be stood on a surface, the flat base of the container providing a stable support for the plant holder. Again plants may be tied to pr trained up the support member.

The support member may be detached from the bowl and container, if not required for that purpose in the standing condition of the plant holder, the engagement of the conical central parts of the bowl and container helping to locate them positively together. When the support member is detached a plug, not shown, may be inserted in the top of the conical central part 10 of the bowl to close it off.

As mentioned and shown in the drawings, in this embodiment the cross members 4 are also provided.

They are in the form of straight round-section bars 23 with central, integral C-shaped clip portions 24, as shown in Figure 3, which snap into engagement with the rod part 16 of the support member. The grip of the clip portions 24, and the taper of the rod part retain the cross members securely in the positions in which they are set on the support member. The bars 23 are of various lengths.

Reference will now be made to the modified form of the support member shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. It is substantially similar to that which has been described except that it comprises an upper section 25 and a lower section 26 which releasably connect together end-to-end.

The two sections are of similar lengths. They are plastics mouldings and, like the one-piece support member, are relatively stiff.

The upper section 25 has an integral, elongated eye 27 at its upper end. At its lower end the section has a reduced diameter, cylindrical spigot 28 the bottom part of which is bifurcated to provide two resilient prongs 29. Each prong 29 has a radiallyoutwardly projecting nebs 30 near its end. The end of each prong below the neb 30 is chamgered. A shoulder 31 is defined between the spigot 28 and the adjoining part of the upper section.

The lower section 26 has an axial socket 32 in its upper end which is complementary to the spigot 28.

Two diametrically opposed locking openings 33 formed in the wall of the socket near its inner end are complementary to the neb 30 of the prongs 29. At its lower end portion 34 the cross-section of the lower section 26 changes to cruciform shape having four equi-angularly spaced, radially-projecting fins 35 similar to those of the support member previously described. A modification so far as this lower end portion 34 is concerned is that it has adjacent inward steps 36 near the upper ends of an opposed pair of the fins 35 a concentric, disc-shaped formation 37 of a radius similar to, or very slightly larger than, the radial projection to the intermediate portions of the fins which are joined to the formation. A similar disc-shaped formation 38 is positioned just above outward steps 39 lower down the fins.At the bottom of the lower section there is a further, concentric disc-shaped formation 40 to which flared bottom end portions 41 of the fins are joined, the formation being of similar radius to the fins at the end of the lower section.

The upper and lower sections of the support member are connected together by pushing the spigot 28 into the socket 32 until the nebs 30 spring into engagement with the locking openings 33 to hold the joint secure. The shoulder 31 abuts against the top of the lower section. The nebs 30 may be deflected inwardly by hand, or possibly by relative twisting of the upper and lower sections, to release them from the openings if it is required to disconnect the two sections.

The support member is attached to the bowl and container of the plant holder in the manner previously described. The disc-shaped formations 37, 38 and 40 serve to close off the open upper ends of the central parts of the bowl and container, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 4, and so to restrain water from running down the insides of the conical central parts during watering of plants in the bowl. Such formations may be provided on the first-described support member for that purpose also.

A hook 42 may be detachably connected to the eye 27 of the upper section, as shown in Figure 5, for suspending the support member from a ring or other suitable support. The hook is a plastics moulding of generally C-shape having a narrowly curved lower part 43 which engages in the eye 3 and a more widely curved upper part 44. The thickness of the hook is complementary to the width of the eye.

Positive, sunstantially rigid, retention of the hook in the eye is provided by trapping of the lower part 43 in the eye by means of small domed protuberances 45 and bosses 46 formed on opposite faces of the lower part and arranged to lie against the upper section 25 at opposite sides of the eye. The domed protuberances 45, which are nearest to the leading end of the lower part 43 can be pushed with interference through the eye.

It will be understood that a hook as described may also be detachably connected to the eye of the first-described support member.

A hook may be formed integrally with the upper section, instead of the eye.

Claims

1. A plant holder comprising a bowl adapted to receive a plant or plants, a container in which the bowl seats and which is adapted for standing on a surface and can receive water drains from the bowl in use, the bowl and container having interengaging parts which locate them relative to one another, and an elongate, upstanding, support member which is connected centrally of the bowl and has an attachment element at its upper end whereby the plant holder may be suspended in use.

2. A plant holder according to claim 1 wherein the interengaging parts are central parts of the bowl and container.

3. A plant holder according to claim 2 wherein the support member is connected to the interengaging central parts of the bowl and container, its lower end having locking elements which co-operate with said central parts to secure the support member to those parts and retain the bowl and container together.

4. A plant holder according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the support member is detachably connected centrally of the bowl.

5. A plant holder according to claim 3 wherein the locking elements releasably engage with the interengaging central parts thereby to enable the support member to be detached.

6. A plant holder according to claim 5 wherein the lower end of the support member extends through co-axial openings in the central parts, the parts have adjacent to the co-axial openings oppositely-directed abutment faces which are spaced axially of the longitudinal axis of the support member and the locking elements engage with the abutment faces.

7. A plant holder according to claim 6 wherein the abutment faces and the locking elements are arranged such that the support member is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the central part between a free position in which the locking elements are angularly dispaced from the abutment faces and the support member can be passed through the openings to engage its lower end with or release it from the central parts, and a locked position in which the locking elements engage with the abutment faces.

8. A plant holder according to claim 7 wherein the central parts are of hollow forms such that the central part of the container fits inside the central part of the bowl, and the abutment faces are at corresponding ends thereof.

9. A plant holder according to claim 8 wherein the central parts taper upwardly.

10. A plant holder according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein an upper end face of the tubular central part of the bowl provides one of the abutment faces, and the corresponding end of the tubular central part of the container has an internal flange an under face of which provides another of the abutment faces.

11. A plant holder according to any of claims 3 to 10 wherein the lower end of the support member is formed with fins which provide the locking elements.

12. A plant holder according to claim 11 as dependent from any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the fins have steps in outer edges thereof at which they engage with the abutment faces.

13. A plant holder according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the lower end of the support member is of cruciform cross-section whereby the fins are formed.

14. A plant holder according to claim 13 as dependent from claim 8 wherein the lower end of the support member has a portion which is tapered complementally to and is received inside the upwardly tapering central part of the container, radially outer edges of the fins at said tapered portion engaging the inside surface of the circumferential wall of that central part.

15 A plant holder according to any of claims 11 to 14 as dependent from claim 7 wherein the lower end of the support member has adjacent at least one of the co-axial openings a co-axial disc-shaped formation which is joined to and extends between the fins such that is closes off the opening and serves to restrain water from running down through the central parts.

16. A plant holder according to any preceding claim wherein the support member is made in one piece.

17. A plant holder according to any of claims 1 to 15 wherein the support member comprises at least two sections connected together at an intermediate part of its length by a joint which enables the support member to be reduced in length.

18. A plant holder according to claim 17 wherein the sections are releasably connected together at the joint.

19. A plant holder according to claim 18wherein the sections are connected together by a spigot and socket joint, and co-operating male and female parts are provided on the components of the joint whereby the joint is adapted to be locked.

20. A plant holder according to claim 19 wherein the spigot has resilient prong portions having nebs which project laterally outwardly of the spigot, and openings are formed in the surrounding wall of the socket with which the nebs engage, the nebs being urged into engagement with the openings by the resilience of the prong portions.

21. A plant holder according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment element at the upper end of the support member is an eye, and a hook is detachably connected to the eye by a lower part of the hook which engages in the eye and has retention means whereby the lower part is tapered in the eye.

22. A plant holder according to claim 21 wherein the retention means comprise bosses and domed protuberances on the lower part which are positioned to lie against the support member at opposite sides of the eye, the protuberances being able to be pushed with interference through the eye to permit the lower part to be engaged in and released from the eye.

23. A plant holder according to any preceding claim wherein the bowl has holes at or near its bottom by way of which water can pass between the bowl and the container.

24. A plant holder according to any preceding claim wherein the container has ribs on the upper surface of its base on which the bowl seats, the bowl thereby being spaced from the base of the container.

25. A plant holder according to any peceding claim wherein the bowl has at least one wick extending into the container whereby water may be taken into the bowl from the container.

26. A plant holder according to any preceding claim wherein one or more cross members are provided on the support member for use in the tying up or training of a plant or plants in the bowl.

27. A plant holder according to claim 26 wherein the or each cross member is detachably mounted on the support member.

28. A plant holder substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

29. A plant holder substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.