GB2230684A

GB2230684A - Illuminated plant holder

Info

Publication number: GB2230684A
Application number: GB9008561A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-04-13
Filing date: 1990-04-17
Publication date: 1990-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-17
Also published as: GB2230684B; GB8908373D0; GB9008561D0

Abstract

A plant holder, e.g. a plant pot 1, provides means for illumination of the plant or plants contained within the plant holder for the purpose of decorative lighting. The plant holder provides at least one light source, e.g. a plurality of incandescent bulbs 6 and 7, retained adjacent the outer edge of the plant holder, at or near the top of the plant holder. Each incandescent bulb 6 or 7 is secured and electrically supplied via a conventional bayonet type holder 4 or 5, and is enclosed by bulbous shaped enclosure means 8 or 9 retained adjacent the outer surface of the pot 1 therefore forming a cavity 22 or 23. The cavity 22 or 23 further has an aperture 10 or 11, such that substantially all the light emitted by the bulb 4 or 5 will illuminate the plant or plants contained within the plant holder. <IMAGE>

Description

Illuminated Plant Holder This invention relates to plant holders, and in particular to plant holders which provide means for illumination of the plant or plants contained within the plant holder.

Currently there is a demand from the public for interior decorative lighting for, for example, housing, offices and shopping malls. There is also a concurrent trend in decorating the interior of such buildings with indoor and/or tropical plants. An advantage provided by this invention is therefore that it combines within a single portable article means for providing each of the above decorative features.

Accordingly, the invention comprises a plant holder incorporating at least one light source such that light emitted by the light source may illuminate a plant or plants contained within the plant holder.

Preferably, the light source is retained adjacent to the outer edge of the plant holder, at or near the top of the plant holder.

Preferably also, the light source is partially enclosed by enclosure means, the enclosure means being retained adjacent to the outer edge of the plant holder in such a way as to form an aperture between the enclosure means and the plant holder, such that substantially all the light emitted by the light source is directed through the aperture towards the plant or plants contained within the plant holder.

Preferably also, the aperture is covered by a transparent or translucent cover member.

Preferably also, the cover member and/or at least part of the enclosure means are detachable from the plant holder to allow access to the light source.

Preferably also, the light source comprises at least one incandescent bulb.

The cover member preferably sealably engages the aperture to prevent water ingression into the enclosure means.

Preferably also, heat sink means are provided such that a substantial amount of any heat emitted by the light source will be absorbed by the heat sink means.

Preferably also, the electrical supply to the plurality of incandescent bulbs is electrically isolated from the interior of the plant holder.

The plant holder and enclosure means may be made from any suitable material, e.g. plastic, clay or porcelain.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view, from above and to one side, of a first embodiment of a plant holder embodying the invention, including two separate light sources; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the plant holder of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the plant holder of Fig. 1, rotated through an angle of 900 from the view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a plant holder embodying the invention, having one light source; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, from above and to one side, of a third embodiment of a plant holder embodying the invention, having one light source; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the plant holder of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a view of the plant holder of Fig. 5, rotated through an angle of 900 from the view of Fig. 6;; Fig. 8 is a view from above of the plant holder of Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 is a series of views of the plant holder of Fig. 5 showing the consecutive steps required to detach the enclosure means from the plant holder.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the first embodiment of the invention disclosed herein comprises a plant holder 1 having substantially the same internal shape and water draining means as conventional plant pots. The pot 1 however also provides horizontally extending platforms 2 and 3 on the outer surface of the pot 1 at or near the top of the pot 1. Platforms 2 and 3 are each suitable for the retention of conventional bayonet type bulb holders 4 and 5. Bulb holders 4 and 5 can then suitably retain incandescent bulbs 6 and 7 in a substantially upward vertical direction.

Enclosure means 8 and 9 are retained adjacent to platforms 2 and 3, the enclosure means having substantially bulbous upper portions 18 and 19, the level of which extends from just above the top of the pot 1 to below the level of the platforms 2 and 3.

The pot 1 in conjunction with the bulbous upper portions 18 and 19 of the enclosure means 8 and 9, therefore form cavities 22 and 23 suitable for the insertion of incandescent bulbs 6 and 7. Futher, the cavities 22 and 23 provide apertures 10 and 11, formed by the upper edge of the bulbous upper portions 18 and 19, and the upper edge of the plant pot 1. Hence substantially all the light emitted by the bulbs 6 and 7 will emanate from apertures 10 and 11.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention the enclosure means 8 and 9 further provide elongate hollow portions 20 and 21 extending from the lower part of the bulbous portions 18 and 19 to the base of the pot 1. The hollow portions 20 and 21 are substantially parallel to the outer surface of the pot 1, and thus provide enclosed channels 12 and 13 which allow the electrical supply conductors 14 and 15 to the bulbs 6 and 7 to be fed from the bayonet holders 4 and 5 down the channels 12 and 13 and out of the enclosure means 8 and 9 via holes 16 and 17 provided at or near the base of the rectangular portions 20 and 21 of the enclosure means 8 and 9.

The electrical supply conductors 14 and 15 may then be spliced together in such a way that the bulbs 6 and 7 can be supplied from a common electrical source.

The apertures 10 and 11 may each be covered by a suitable transparent or translucent cover (not shown) which should sealably engage the pot 1 and enclosure means 8 and 9 to prevent water ingression into the bayonet bulb holders 4 and 5. The covers may be lens or diffuser members adapted to provide particular lighting effects, and also may be tinted to provide coloured lighting.

In operation, incandescent bulbs 6 and 7 will emit heat. Heat sink means (not shown) may therefore be provided such that a substantial amount of this heat will be absorbed and radiated away by the heat sink means, thus reducing the amount of heating of the plant holder.

Depending upon the shape and size of the apertures 10 and 11 and enclosures 8 and 9, the covers and/or part or all of the enclosures 8 and 9 may be detachable to allow access to the bayonet holders 4 and 5 for replacement of the bulbs.

Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention substantially the same in construction and operation to the pot 1 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the pot 1' of Fig. 4 provides only one light source 7' retained by bayonet holder 5'.

Figs. 5 to 9 show a third embodiment of the invention substantially the same in construction and operation to the pot 1' of Fig. 4 except that the enclosure means 9" along with the platform 3" are detachable in one piece from the pot 1". This allows ease of replacement of the bulb 7" along with the possibility of fitting various shapes and/or colours of enclosure means 9" to the pot 1".

The enclosure means 9" are held in association with the pot 1" by means of a pair of slidable arrangements 24", 25" provided on either side of the enclosure means 9" at or near the top of the pot 1". Each slidable arrangement 24", 25" comprises a slot 26", 27" in a winged projection 28", 29", the winged projections 28", 29" being positioned at or near the top of the enclosure means, and a nipple 30", 31" projecting from the pot 1".

Fig. 9 shows how the slidable arrangements 24", 25" can be used to remove the enclosure means 9" from the pot 1". This is done by sliding the enclosure means 9" in a substantially upward direction along the slot 26" or 27" and then removing the enclosure means 9" from the outer surface of the pot 1".

The preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed hereinbefore provides a particularly simple, easily maintained, inexpensive and portable article providing the desirable property of illuminating a plant or plants with white or coloured light. It should however be appreciated that other modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, and that the invention extends to any type of plant holder, not only plant pots, made from, for example, plastic, clay or porcelain.

Obviously, the shape and configuration of the pot itself, and/or the enclosures, may be varied as may the number of lights provided.

Claims

1. A plant holder incorporating at least one light source such that light emitted by the light source may illuminate a plant or plants contained within the plant holder.

2. A plant holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is retained adjacent to the outer edge of the plant holder, at or near the top of the plant holder.

3. A plant holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light source is partially enclosed by enclosure means, the enclosure means being retained adjacent to the outer edge of the plant holder in such a way as to form an aperture between the enclosure means and the plant holder, such that substantially all the light emitted by the light source is directed through the aperture towards the plant or plants contained within the plant holder.

4. A plant holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the aperture is covered by a transparent or translucent cover member.

5. A plant holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover members and/or at least part of the enclosure means are detachable from the plant holder to allow access to the light source.

6. A plant holder as claimed in claim 2 or claim 4 wherein the light source comprises at least one incandescent bulb.

7. A plant holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cover member sealably engages the aperture to prevent water ingression into the enclosure means.

8. A plant holder as claimed in claim 4 or claim 7 wherein the cover member is a lens, diffuser member or filter adapted to provide a particular lighting effect.

9. A plant holder as claimed in claim 2 or claim 4 wherein heat sink means are provided such that a substantial amount of any heat emitted by the light source will be absorbed by the heat sink means.

10. A plant holder as claimed in claim 6.wherein the electrical supply to the at least one incandescent bulb is electrically isolated from the interior of the plant holder.

11. A plant holder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plant holder and/or enclosure means are made from plastic or clay or porcelain.

12. A plant holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.