GB2288307A - Hanging basket liner - Google Patents

Abstract

A Liner 10 for a hanging basket is made from artificial turf material shaped such that the material will conform to the shape of the basket and when fitted within the basket will conceal the constructions of the basket. <IMAGE>

Description

BASKET LINER The present invention relates to basket liners and more particularly to liners for hanging baskets which, when full, contain flowering or other herbaceous plants.

Hanging baskets normally comprise a wire mesh arrangement and it is known to line hanging baskets to retain soil within the baskets.

Traditional lining materials comprise moss which is placed to the sides and bottom of the basket. A disadvantage with moss is that it is not readily available and requires replacement each year when the basket is replanted.

The advantage of moss is that it is a natural material, it is green in colour and hanging baskets lined with such material are extremely attractive. The moss being fibrous conceals the wire structure of the basket and the effect is to enhance the effect of the flowering plants.

Because of the disadvantages of using moss, various artificial lining materials have been tried but these, though being longer lasting and more readily available, result in a most unattractive hanging basket and for this reason they are not popular.

The present invention provides a liner which though made from artificial materials is attractive and provides a liner which, as with moss, conceals the wire structure of the basket.

The present invention therefore provides a liner for a hanging basket, the liner comprising a generally circular piece of artificial turf or similar material, the material being partially segmented around its perimeter to enable the liner to be shaped to conform to the inner shape of a hanging basket.

Preferably, the artificial turf material comprises a waterproof backing with upstanding tufts of synthetic material shaped to imitate grass stems.

The upstanding tufts are preferably between 10 and 50 mm in length and more preferably are between 18 and 35 mm in length.

The generally circular piece of artificial turf comprises a series of cuts which partially segment the material, the cuts leaving intact a generally circular centre section which holds the material together.

Preferably, at the outer periphery of the material each cut is provided with a relieved portion which assists in shaping the liner to the hanging basket.

Preferably the length of the upstanding tufts are selected to ensure that the liner, when fitted with the tufted side on the outside, conceals the wire construction of the basket.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 shows in plan view a liner according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows the liner of Figure 1 on cross-section A-A; Figure 3 shows a hanging basket in plan view from above; Figure 4 shows the hanging basket of Figure 3 in vertical cross section on line B-B; Figure 5 shows the hanging basket of Figure 3 in vertical crosssection on line B-B with the liner in position, and Figure 6 shows an elevational view of a hanging basket fitted with the liner according to the present invention.

With reference now to Figures 1 and 2, the liner 10 comprises a generally circular piece of material 20 which may comprise an artificial turf material constructed with a base layer 30 in which tufts of artificial grass 40 are embedded to form upstanding strands which resemble the blades of grass.

The length of the artificial grass blades formed by tufts 40 is preferably between 10 to 50 mm with a more preferred range between 18 and 35 mm. This length, as described hereinafter, allows the artificial grass to conceal the construction of a hanging basket. The generally circular shape is divided into a plurality of partial segments 50 by cuts 52, the centre section 54 being left intact to hold the segments 50 together.

In a preferred embodiment each cut 52 is provided with a relieved portion 56 which reduces the amount of artificial grass material at the extremities of the cut and assists in the shaping of the liner to the basket.

A typical basket 100 is shown in plan view from above in Figure 3. The basket comprises a plurality of wires 110 which are welded together to form a generally hemispherical container, as shown by the cross-sectional view in Figure 4.

With reference now to Figure 5, the liner 10 is installed in a basket, as shown in Figure 3,4, with the artificial grass blades on the outside of the basket. The artificial grass blades pass through the structure of the basket and conceal the structure of the basket as shown in Figure 6 so that the basket appears to be a hemisphere of natural grass with plants 200 growing above and hanging from the basket.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the cuts 52 allow plants 220 to be inserted in positions on the side of the basket. The length of the tufts 40 will conceal the small gap required by each plant.

The material allows controlled drainage of water by being pervious to water. The backing material may preferably be latex.

The cuts 52 and relieved portions 54 allow the liner to fit a substantial number of different sizes of basket.

Though its principal use is for hanging baskets, the liner can be used to line other baskets which have a similar construction.

When fitted the artificial grass may not automatically conceal the wire frame of the basket but may be teased around the frame with a suitable implement to obtain a more natural look which conceals the wire frame and closely imitates grass.

The "grass" blades may, as described herebefore be of varying lengths. The blades effectively stand out from the basket frame and the length of the blades provides an effective shield against direct sunlight impinging on to the backing material. Thus, in extremely hot period, or in very hot climates, the basket retains it water for longer and thus requires less water and less frequent watering. In many countries such as middle and far eastern countries this is a tremendous advantage because the hanging basket will retain its water content for longer thus, for example, requiring watering only once per day. If a display in a public place has many dozens of baskets then this can be a substantial saving in labour costs as well as in water usage in countries where water is scarce.

Claims (1)

1. A liner for a hanging basket, the liner comprising a generally circular piece of artificial turf or similar material, the material being partially segmented around its perimeter to enable the liner to be shaped to conform to the inner shape of a hanging basket.

2. A liner as claimed in claim 1 in which the artificial turf material comprises a waterproof backing with upstanding tufts of synthetic material shaped to imitate grass stems.

3 A liner as claimed in claim 2 in which the upstanding tufts are preferably between 10 and 50 mm in length and more preferably are between 18 and 35 mm in length.

4. A liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the generally circular piece of artificial turf comprises a series of cuts which partially segment the material, the cuts leaving intact a generally circular centre section which holds the material together.

6. A liner as claimed in claim 5 in which at the outer periphery of the material each cut is provided with a relieved portion which assists in shaping the liner to the hanging basket.

7. A liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the length of the upstanding tufts are selected to ensure that the liner, when fitted with the tufted side on the outside, conceals the wire construction of the basket.

8. A liner substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.