GB2486188A

GB2486188A - Plant pot holder

Info

Publication number: GB2486188A
Application number: GB201020551A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Hulf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-06
Filing date: 2010-12-06
Publication date: 2012-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-06
Also published as: GB201020551D0; GB2486188B

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for holding a rimmed article such as a plant pot P comprises a fixing, such as through holes 12, for securing the apparatus to a structure W and a releasable engagement mechanism operable to releasably grip and hold the rimmed article and thereby releasably attach the rimmed article to the structure. The apparatus has a back plate 14 which has the fixing and a releasable engagement mechanism comprising a moveable frame 18 disposed about, and moveable relative to, the back plate, wherein one or more projections 20 extend from the moveable frame and are moveable with the frame into and out of gripping engagement with the rimmed article.

Description

APPARATUS

The present invention relates to an apparatus for releasably attaching articles such as plant pots, in particular but not exclusively, rimmed plant pots to a structure such as a wall, fence or drain pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically potted plants are displayed on patios, where the pots are placed on the ground. Some potted plants displayed outdoors are contained in hanging baskets or wall baskets. Such arrangements typically involve the planting of a basket which is then held in a framework or hung by a bracket. This requires the replanting of the plants from the pots in which they are originally grown (or purchased) into the more elaborate display basket. Such baskets can be heavy and difficult to manipulate because typically they are used to hold a number of plants. Furthermore, because such hanging basket arrangements are heavy they require a sturdy structural support against which they can be mounted and because they are bulky a considerable amount of room is required for them which limits the number and position that such mounted plant holders can be placed in within a domestic garden.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide a plant support for potted plants that is easily erectable and facilitates a range of positioning of potted plants.

Preferably, the plant support apparatus of the present invention also enables potted plants to be displayed upon structures that may not typically be used to display plants, thus providing a versatile supporting structure.

SUMMARY OF THE 1NVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for holding an article, preferably a rimmed article such as a plant pot, the apparatus comprising a fixing means for allowing the apparatus to be affixed to a structure and comprising a releasable engagement mechanism structured and arranged such that it is operable to releasably grip and hold a rimmed article and thereby releasably attach that rimmed article to the structure, the apparatus having a back plate which comprises the fixing means and the releasable engagement mechanism comprising a moveable frame disposed about and moveable relative to the back plate, wherein one or more projections extend from the moveable frame and are moveable with the frame into and out of gripping engagement with the article.

Preferably, the releasable engagement mechanism further comprises one or more gripping prongs connected to the back plate, structured and arranged to be resiliently biased toward the back plate such that a rimmed article is clampable between the one or more gripping prongs and the back plate.

Preferably, a guide means is provided for assisting the loading and proper location of an article within the engaging mechanism.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises two gripping prongs, each gripping prong being formed as an S'-shaped construction.

Preferably, the or each gripping prong provides a guiding means for assisting the loading and proper location of an article within the engaging mechanism, wherein the guiding means is in the form of an outwardly curving tail piece. I0

Preferably, the moveable frame is connected to the back plate by a hinge connection spaced from the one or more projections.

Preferably) the back plate is substantially rectangular and wherein the moveable frame is disposed about three sides of the back plate, the hinge connection comprising two connections) each connection disposed between the moveable frame and a side of the back plate. Preferably, each connection is a piece of material thinner than the material from which the back plate is formed.

Preferably, the one or more projections are each wedge shaped having an upper face that is disposed between about 850 and about 95° relative to the front face of the moveable frame.

Preferably, the one or more projections each has a front face that is angled between about 25° and about 350 relative to the front face of the moveable frame.

Preferably, the moveable frame is less than half as thick as the back plate and has a uniform thickness, the moveable frame being formed at an acute angle relative to the front face of the back plate.

Preferably, the apparatus is formed of plastics material. Preferably, the apparatus is a one piece moulded construction.

According to a second aspect of the invention) there is provided an apparatus comprising a fixing means for allowing the apparatus to be affixed to a structure and comprising a releasable engagement mechanism structured and arranged such that it is operable to releasably grip and hold an article and thereby releasably attach that article to a structure

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of an apparatus for holding a plant pot; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the right-hand side of the apparatus for holding a plant pot of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of the apparatus of figures 1 and 2 attached to a structure, such as a wall, and gripping a pot such that the pot is releasably attached to the wall; and Figure 4 shows a partial internal, perspective view from the front and side of the arrangement of Figure 3, showing the apparatus in gripping engagement with the pot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the plant pot apparatus are disclosed herein. lt will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. Indeed, it will be understood that the apparatus described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

The invention relates to an apparatus for releasably affixing a pot, such as a plant pot to a more permanent structure such as a wall or drain pipe. The apparatus has been developed with plant pots in mind, however it is envisaged that the apparatus may have uses beyond gardening applications and it will therefore be understood that the apparatus described herein, whilst described in reference to holding a potted plant may be suitable for releasably holding or attaching a wide variety of articles to a wide variety of supports. By way of example, the apparatus used herein could be suitable for use in displaying articles in retail outlets and/or seasonal decorations as

mere examples.

Turning now to the detailed description of the illustrated example, there is shown in Figure 1 an apparatus 10 which is suitable for releasably gripping a pot (P) as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The apparatus 10 comprises means for more permanently affixing the apparatus to a supporting structure such as wall (W) (as shown in Figures 3 and 4). The configuration of apparatus 10 makes it suitable for being attached to a wide variety of supporting structures and enables articles, such as plant pots (P) to be attached in a wide range of configurations and designs and in unusual places where previously it would have been too difficult or awkward to mount a plant (or other decorative or retail item for example). For example, the apparatus 10 is usable to affix a potted plant to a drain pipe, side of a shed, wall, fence post, table leg, decking edge. In high and low positions; preferably, but not necessarily, perfectly upright; shady spots; sunny places; many many options are available giving a gardener or other user the ability to display plants or articles in many and various creative fashions. It also enables the gardener to hide less aesthetically pleasing aspects of their garden such as drain pipes behind delightful and colourful plants and flowers.

Furthermore, because of the compact nature of the apparatus 101 the mounted article takes up no real additional space than the size of the article itself Therefore, the apparatus 10 permits potted plants (P) to be mounted in clusters or close nesting arrangement. As previously mentioned, the ease with which the apparatus 10 can be attached to a supporting structure means that articles such as potted plants can now be located in awkward spaces, such as corners, narrow strips of wall and front edges of raised beds as examples. In use for other articles, for example the display of sale items in a shop, the apparatus can be positioned to hold pots of goods, on walls, door frames, and shelf edges. It will be understood that the applications for the apparatus are numerous.

ln the illustrated example, the means of more permanently affixing the apparatus 10 to a supporting structure (W) takes the form of two preformed apertures 12a, 12b.

Preferably the apertures 12a, 12b have chamfered circumferences, each for receiving the head of a screw. The apparatus 10 is thereby attachable to a wall (W) by using two screws (not shown) threaded into the supporting structure (W).

The apparatus 10 comprises a back section 14 and a moveable frame 16. It is the back section 14 of the apparatus 10 that is more permanently affixed to a supporting structure (W) and not the moveable frame 16. This is to ensure that the moveable frame 16 remains moveable relative to the affixed back plate 14.

Attached to the back plate 14 are two gripping prongs 20a, 20b. The gripping prongs 20a, 20b are integrally formed with the back plate 14 and are coupled thereto at their upper portions, but otherwise are free of connection to the back plate 14. The gripping prongs 20a, 20b are shaped, as is most clearly illustrated in Figure 2, in a shallow S'. The gripping prongs 20a, 20b are resiliently flexible such that an article to be held by the apparatus can be pushed between the back plate 14 and gripping prongs 20a, 20b by forcing the gripping prongs 20a, 20b to move outwardly away from the back plate 14. However, the resiliently biased nature of the gripping prongs' structure causes them to try and return to their original position. This resilience assists in the gripping, pinching or sandwiching or an article between the back plate 14 and gripping prongs 20a, 20b.

Preferably, the gripping prongs 20a, 20b are provided as S'-shaped structures to encourage the resilient biasing and to encourage tight gripping of an article. The upper curve of the S' provides a pivot point for the prongs 20a, 20b to flex away from the plane of the back plate 14. The lower, returning curve of the S'-shaped prong 20a, 20b closes or lessens the gap between the gripping prong 20a, 20b and the back plate 14 to provide a greater gripping or sandwiching or pinching capability.

S

OptionaUy, the or each prong 20a, 20b is provided with an outwardly curving tail piece, 22a, 22b. The tail piece is curved in this manner to facilitate the loading of an article (P) into the apparatus 10 by providing a guide which directs the article between the prongs 20a, 2Gb and back plate 14. The article (P) being loaded into the apparatus 10 can follow this guide for easy insertion into the apparatus 10. Other means for facilitating the insertion of an article (P) into the apparatus may be provided. Alternatively, the gripping prongs 22a, 22b may have no tail pieces and may end in linear tips which are encouraged away from the back plate 14 by some other means (for example a sprung release mechanism). However, the illustrated arrangement is preferred, since it provides a simple yet effective mechanism for inserting the article (P) and for moving the gripping prongs 20a, 20b away from the back plate 14 without the need for any additional material or moving parts.

Frame piece 16 is coupled to the back plate 14 by means of two thinner pieces of material that provide living hinges, about which the moveable frame 16 can hinge.

Preferably, the moveable frame 16 is not formed in co-planar alignment with the back plate 14, but rather acutely angled relative to the back plate 14. This is illustrated best in Figure 2 where it can be seen that the rear edge of the bottom of the frame 16 is closer to the rear edge of the back plate than the rear edge of the top of the frame 16 is to the rear edge of the back plate 14.

Optionally, the back plate 14 is about 5mm thick and the frame 16 is about 2mm thick. In other words, the frame is less than half as thick as the back plate 14. The apparatus 10 is preferably formed as a one piece moulded construction where the moveable frame 16 is moulded such that its hinge connection with the back plate 14 is spaced from the front face of the back plate 14 and so that the frame 14 is of a uniform thickness and so that the front face of the frame 16 near to the top of the frame 16 is co-planar with the front face of the back plate 14. The angled nature of the frame 16 and its structure and thickness cause the frame 16 to be resiliently biased relative to the back plate. The frame 16 having a natural tendency to return to its at rest configuration which is shown in Figure 2.

The illustrated embodiment is about 40mm wide and 44mm long; the back plate 14 being about 30mm wide by 38mm long; and the frame being about 3mm wide about 38mm long and disposed about three sides of the back plate 14. The apparatus 10 as illustrated and dimensioned as described is suitable for holding pots of about 50mm to about 150mm in diameter and up to about 0.68kg in weight (once holding soil and a plant). As such the apparatus 10 is compact and strong and provides a very small versatile means of affixing a pot to a wall (W). This enables the apparatus 10 to be widely and variously deployed; easy to use and far less cumbersome than a hanging basket type arrangement. In other embodiments the apparatus 10 will be sized differently to that described and indeed for holding larger pots having a larger weight and other larger articles, a larger apparatus 10 will be provided. However, it should be understood that even a larger apparatus 10 will still be a compact device for holding an article or pot.

The frame piece 16 comprises a further engaging, damping or gripping element 20a, 20b. The further engaging element in this embodiment is provided as integrally formed projections 18a, 18b. The engaging elements 18a, lSb are provided on either side of the frame piece 16 to provide a symmetrical and steady engagement of an article (P). The engaging element projections 18a, 18b are shaped to fit beneath a rim 30 of an article (P). As such, the illustrated example has been configured specifically for rimmed articles, such as plant pots (P). However, where the apparatus is to be used with other articles, the second gripping or engaging element ISa, lSb may be shaped and/or structured in an alternative configuration. I0

Returning to the illustrated example, the engaging projections 18a, 18b provide a lip or ridge, which the rim 30 of a pot (P) can rest upon. The weight of the pot (P) may further cause the pot (P) to rest on the projection iSa, 18b. The projection ISa, iSb has a front face that is preferably angled at about 30° to about 40° relative to the plane of the frame 16. As such the projection iSa, lSb is wedge shaped. This angled aspect guides an article (P) as it is inserted into the apparatus 10.

To clamp an article (P) in the apparatus, the article (P) is steered so that the rim 30 goes behind the tail piece 22a, 22b; pushing the article 10 upwardly, causes the prongs 20a, 20b to be pushed away from back plate 14 and begins to cause the moveable frame 16 to be pushed towards the back plate 14. The frame 16 can be pushed so that its rear edge is in co-planar alignment with the rear face of the back plate 14. This creates room for the article (P) to be loaded between the back plate 14 and gripping prongs 20a, 2Gb. As the article (P) follows the contour of the projection iSa, iSb, the article is pushed away from the plane of the back plate 14 and pushes the gripping prongs 20a, 2Gb out or further out of their rest position to make room for the rimmed edge 30 of the pot (P) to pass. Once the rimmed edge 30 is pushed past the projections iSa, isb; the gripping prongs 20a, 20b try to relax into their unopened state and the frame 16 tries to relax forward into its resting state (see Figure 2). The rimmed edge 30 is thereby clamped between the back plate 14, gripping prongs 20a, 2Gb and is held in a clamped engagement by the projections iSa, iSb. The pot (P), of its own accord, cannot fall free from the apparatus 10 as it cannot move back past the projections iSa, iSb.

To release the article (P), a user pushes the top of the moveable frame 16 toward the back plate 14 and into co-planar alignment therewith. Preferably, the hinge connections between the moveable frame 16 and back plate 14 are positioned toward the lower edge of the moveable frame 16 in order to space the pivotal hinge connection from engaging ribs ISa, iSb. This allows the projections iSa, lSb to be moved out of and into engaging relationship with the rim of a pot for releasing and engaging the pot (P). As the frame pivots about the two hinge connections between the bottom of the frame 16 and back plate 14, the projections iSa, iSb are rotated slightly. This moves the top engaging edge of the triangular shaped projections iSa, iSb from a position where they are almost perpendicular to the back plate 14 to a position where they are more acutely angled relative thereto. This shifting creates enough space and enables the article (P) to be slid past the projections 18a, lSb. The rim 30 is thereby disengaged from the projections iSa, lSb. The article (P) can then be pulled or forced between the gripping prongs 20a, 2Gb by a user until the article (P) is released from the apparatus 10.

The gripping or engagement mechanism: the prongs 20a, 2Gb combined with the projections 18a, 18b together provide a releasable fixing mechanism that has been described as temporary, or less permanent than the affixing of the back plate 14 to the structure (W), Likewise, it has been aforesaid that the back plate is more permanently affixed to the structure (W). Temporary and permanent are relative terms used to describe the readily releasable attachment of an article (P) by the apparatus compared to the fixing of the apparatus 10 to the structure (W}. However, it will be understood that the means of fixing the apparatus 10 to a structure (W), may be reversible -as in the case of screw fixings) which can be unscrewed so that the apparatus 10 can be removed and if desired, reused elsewhere. It will also be understood that for certain applications the means of fixing the apparatus 10 to a structure (W) i.e. the more permanent fixing, may take the form of an adhesive, adhesive tape or other non-reusable fixing such as staples; likewise other mechanical fixings such as nails, Velcro and others may be used providing that whatever fixing is used as the more permanent fixing is suitable to bear the weight of an article (P).

The illustrated apparatus 10 is green in colour for blending in a garden environment.

The apparatus 10 of the illustrated embodiment is formed of plastics material and is a one-piece moulded construction.

It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example) the size of the apparatus 10 may take various forms relative to the size of article it is designed to hold. Likewise, the number of gripping prongs 20a, 2Gb may differ from that shown; the number, shape, configuration and arrangement of projections iSa, lSb may also take various forms which may be altered according to the type of articles to be held; their size; the environment in which the apparatus 10 is to be used and other design requirements.

The moveable frame 16 in other embodiments may be additionally provided with a tab for assisting its manipulation. For example a finger tab may extend from the upper transverse piece of the frame 16, which finger tab will assist in pivoting the moveable frame member for engagement and disengagement of an article 10.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower' do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of the following, a short slit, a frangible line or a fold line without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for holding an article, preferably a rimmed article such as a plant pot, the apparatus comprising a fixing means for allowing the apparatus to be affixed to a structure and comprising a releasable engagement mechanism structured and arranged such that it is operable to releasably grip and hold a rimmed article and thereby releasably attach that rimmed article to the structure, the apparatus having a back plate which comprises the fixing means and the releasable engagement mechanism comprising a moveable frame disposed about and moveable relative to the back plate, wherein one or more projections extend from the moveable frame and are moveable with the frame into and out of gripping engagement with the article.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the releasable engagement mechanism further comprises one or more gripping prongs connected to the back plate, structured and arranged to be resiliently biased toward the back plate such that a rimmed article is clampable between the one or more gripping prongs and the back plate.
3. An apparatus according to claim I or 2 further comprising a guide means for assisting the loading and proper location of an article within the engaging mechanism.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 comprising two gripping prongs, each gripping prong being formed as an S'-shaped construction.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the or each gripping prong provides a guiding means for assisting the loading and proper location of an article within the engaging mechanism, wherein the guiding means is in the form of an outwardly curving tail piece.
6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the moveable frame is connected to the back plate by a hinge connection spaced from the one or more projections.
7. An apparatus accDrding to claim 6 wherein the back plate is substantially rectangular and wherein the moveable frame is disposed about three sides of the back plate, the hinge connection comprising two connections, each connection disposed between the moveable frame and a side of the back plate.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each connection is a piece of material thinner than the material from which the back plate is formed.
9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more projections are each wedge shaped having an upper face that is disposed between about 85° and about 95° relative to the front face of the moveable frame.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the one or more projections each has a front face that is angled between about 25° and about 35° relative to the front face of the moveable frame.
11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the moveable frame is less than half as thick as the back plate and has a uniform thickness, the moveable frame being formed at an acute angle relative to the front face of the back plate.
12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is formed of plastics material.
13. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is a one piece moulded construction.
14. Apparatus comprising a fixing means for allowing the apparatus to be affixed to a structure and comprising a releasable engagement mechanism structured and arranged such that it is operable to releasably grip and hold an article and thereby releasably attach that article to a structure.
15. An apparatus for releasably holding a pot or other article substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.