Abstract:
A support for plants pots is defined by a tubular post with a top plate engaging a ceiling surface and a bottom base member formed by two plates interconnected at right angles engaging a floor surface. A nut and screw threaded rod allow the post to be adjusted in length and a spring engages between the nut and the post to act as a force gauge to prevent over-tightening and to apply sufficient force for stability. Two collars are mounted on the post at spaced positions along the post for vertical and rotational adjustment each carrying a plurality of outwardly extending wire hangers. The post is formed of separate pieced connected end to end by a connector formed from two plates connected at right angles by inter-engaging slots to form a longer leg which is a sliding fit and a shorter leg which is a press fit.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of Provisional Application 60/968,986 filed Aug. 30, 2007. 
     
    
       [0002]    This invention relates to a stand which can be used to support plants or similar items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,038 (Craig) issued Jul. 18, 1978, U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,708 (Freeman) issued Oct. 12, 1959 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,646 (Wolf) issued Oct. 10, 1961 disclose arrangements including a pole which can be mounted to stand vertically with various attachments carried off the pole for supporting articles such as plant pots. 
         [0004]    Devices of this type which are inexpensive to manufacture and convenient to package and ship are however not readily available. Such devices usable on a balcony by apartment residents for supporting plant pots would be valuable to allow the residents some ability to simply and conveniently store and cultivate plants. As such balconies are generally made of concrete, installing any mounting devices to the ceiling is generally difficult or commonly not allowed by the apartment owners. A post of this type can act as a space saver for conveniently mounting the articles to be carried in a single location. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is one object of the invention to provide a stand which can be supported between a floor and ceiling. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an Apparatus for supporting plants pots and the like comprising: 
         [0007]    a tubular post; 
         [0008]    a top plate attached to the post for engaging a ceiling surface or other upper abutment surface; 
         [0009]    a bottom base member attached to the post for engaging a floor or other lower support surface such as a rail of a balcony; 
         [0010]    the post being adjustable in length to bring the top plate and the bottom plate into engagement with the surfaces to hold the post vertical; 
         [0011]    a spring mounted on the post for engaging components of the post which act to force the top plate and the bottom base member apart so as to apply forces on the ceiling surface and the floor surface to hold the post tight; 
         [0012]    a plurality of collars mounted on the post at spaced positions along the post; 
         [0013]    and a plurality of generally outwardly extending wire hangers mounted on each of the collars of the post so as to extend outwardly from the post. 
         [0014]    Preferably the hangers are adjustable in angle relative to the respective collar around the post. 
         [0015]    Preferably the hangers each include a down-turned inner end for engaging into a respective receptacle of the respective collar at the post for rotation around the inner end. 
         [0016]    Preferably the collars are mounted on the post for vertical adjustment movement and 360 degree rotational movement and are located at a required vertical position on the post by a transverse locating pin within a hole in the post. 
         [0017]    Preferably the length of the post is adjustable by providing a rotatable nut engaging a threaded rod movable longitudinally of the post. 
         [0018]    Preferably the length of the post is adjustable by providing a rotatable nut engaging a threaded rod movable longitudinally of the post and wherein the spring is a helical coil spring located between the nut and an end of the post. 
         [0019]    Preferably the position of the threaded rod relative to the end of the post is selected such that the spring is partly compressed when the top plate and the bottom base member are in engagement with the ceiling surface and floor surface respectively. 
         [0020]    Preferably the threaded rod is attached to the top plate. 
         [0021]    Preferably the top plate includes screw holes. 
         [0022]    Preferably the bottom base member has four legs extending outwardly from the post for engaging the floor surface at angularly spaced positions around the post. 
         [0023]    Preferably the bottom base member is formed from two vertical planar plate portions crossing at right angles at the bottom of the tubular post. 
         [0024]    Preferably the two vertical planar plate portions crossing at right angles at the bottom of the tubular post each have two slots extending downwardly from a top edge into each of which a bottom end portion of the tubular post is inserted. 
         [0025]    Preferably the two vertical planar base plate portions crossing at right angles at the bottom of the tubular post are arranged with one having a joining slot extending from the top edge downwardly and the other having a joining slot extending from the bottom edge upwardly so that the joining slots inter-engage to hold the base plate portions crossing at right angles. 
         [0026]    Preferably the tubular post includes an upper tubular post portion and a lower tubular post portion and an insert tubular post portion all of the same diameter and arranged to be connected end to end co-axially by an inserted joining piece. 
         [0027]    Preferably the joining piece comprises a pair of joining plate portions crossing at right angles and arranged with one having a joining slot extending from the top edge downwardly and the other having a joining slot extending from the bottom edge upwardly so that the joining slots inter-engage to hold the joining plate portions crossing at right angles, the joining piece so formed having an upper piece extending into the upper tubular post portion with outer edges of the upper piece engaging as a sliding fit into the upper tubular post portion and a lower piece extending into the lower tubular post portion with outer edges of the lower piece engaging as a press fit into the lower tubular post portion to hold them end to end and co-axial. The piece which is a press fit is thus intended to remain in place and thus can be shorter because there is less tendency to twist because of the closer tolerances. The other piece is a sliding fit to be inserted during installation and therefore needs to be longer to prevent the larger tolerances from allowing twisting under load. 
         [0028]    The fact that the joining piece is formed of two plates at right angles allows the joining piece to be inserted in tubes which have a pronounced longitudinal seam since the angular orientation of the plate portions can be arranged to avoid the seam. Also the plate pieces allow a channel through the joined posts for threading of wires or the like. 
         [0029]    This joint can be used in other types of post portions for joining them end to end and is not limited to the post described hereinafter. 
         [0030]    Preferably each of the joining plate portions of the joining piece has a projecting shoulder portion projecting outwardly from the outer edge thereof to extend between the upper and lower post portions to prevent the joining piece from moving longitudinally in the post portions in the event that the frictional fit becomes loose. 
         [0031]    Preferably each of the joining plate portions has a longer end and a shorter end so that than the other of the joining plate portions where the ends each have a hole arranged such that the hole intersects the slot and the holes are aligned. This can be used to hold the post portion attached to the joint for painting or powder coat. 
         [0032]    According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for supporting plants pots and the like comprising: 
         [0033]    a tubular post; 
         [0034]    a top plate attached to the post for engaging a ceiling surface; 
         [0035]    a bottom base member attached to the post for engaging a floor surface; 
         [0036]    the post being adjustable in length to bring the top plate and the bottom plate into engagement with the ceiling and floor to hold the post vertical; 
         [0037]    a spring mounted on the post for engaging components of the post which act to force the top plate and the bottom base member apart so as to apply forces on the ceiling surface and the floor surface to hold the post tight; 
         [0038]    a plurality of collars mounted on the post at spaced positions along the post; 
         [0039]    and a plurality of generally outwardly extending wire hangers mounted on each of the collars of the post so as to extend outwardly from the post; 
         [0040]    wherein the bottom base member is formed from two vertical planar plate portions which can be connected so as to cross at right angles at the bottom of the tubular post 
         [0041]    wherein the tubular post includes an upper tubular post portion and a lower tubular post portion and an insert tubular post portion all of the same diameter and arranged to be connected end to end co-axially by an inserted joining piece; 
         [0042]    and wherein the joining piece comprises two planar joining plate portions which can be connected so as to cross at right angles and arranged with one having a joining slot extending from the top edge downwardly and the other having a joining slot extending from the bottom edge upwardly so that the joining slots inter-engage to hold the joining plate portions crossing at right angles, the joining piece so formed having an upper piece extending into the upper tubular post portion with outer edges of the upper piece engaging as a sliding fit into the upper tubular post portion and a lower piece extending into the lower tubular post portion with outer edges of the lower piece engaging as a press fit into the lower tubular post portion to hold them end to end and co-axial. 
         [0043]    The invention therefore provides a pole planter created as a space saver to hold multiple hanging plants for balcony or apartments. The pole planter can also be used in residential homes, commercial locations, on the front step, on patios or anywhere where there are two solid horizontal planes with a distance between 7.5 feet to 10 feet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0044]    One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0045]      FIG. 1  is side elevational view partly in cross-section of the stand according to the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the base of the stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of the top end only of the stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0048]      FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  are side elevational views of the joint and the components of the joint of the stand of Figure 
       
    
    
       [0049]    In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0050]    The stand for supporting plants pots includes a tubular post  10  formed by three pieces including a top piece  11 , a bottom piece  12  and a intermediate piece  13  which can be inserted to provide an increased length when required. 
         [0051]    A top plate  14  is attached to the post for engaging a ceiling surface. A bottom base member  15  is attached to the post for engaging a floor surface. A pair of collars  16  and  17  are mounted on the post at spaced positions along the post. Each comprises a sleeve  18  and a top flange  19  with a series of spaced holes  20  around the flange. Each collar carries a series of generally outwardly extending wire hangers  21  mounted on each of the collars  16 ,  17  of the post so as to extend outwardly from the post. Each wire hangers has a down-turned inner end portion  22  extending vertically through the hole so that each hanger is adjustable by rotation around the inner end in angle relative to the respective collar around the post. 
         [0052]    The collars  16 ,  17  are mounted on the post for vertical adjustment movement and are located at a required position on the post by a transverse locating pin  23  within a selected hole  24  in the post. The collars can also rotate around the post through 360 degrees. 
         [0053]    The post is adjustable in length by providing a rotatable nut  30  engaging a threaded rod  31  movable longitudinally of the post to bring the top plate  14  and the bottom base  15  into engagement with the ceiling and floor to hold the post vertical. A spring  32  mounted on the post for engaging a top bushing  33  of the post which act to force the top plate  14  attached to the rod  31  and the bottom base member  15  apart so as to apply forces on the ceiling surface and the floor surface to hold the post tight. 
         [0054]    The length of the post is adjusted by rotating the nut on the threaded rod on the post until the helical coil spring  32  located between the nut and the bushing of the post is partly compressed when the top plate and the bottom base member are in engagement with the ceiling surface and floor surface respectively. The top plate includes screw holes  14 A. 
         [0055]    The bottom base member  15  has four legs extending outwardly from the post for engaging the floor surface at angularly spaced positions around the post. The bottom base member is formed from two vertical planar plate portions  40  and  41  crossing at right angles at the bottom of the tubular post where the two vertical planar plate portions each have two slots  42  and  43  extending downwardly from a top edge  44  into each of which a bottom end portion  45  of the tubular post is inserted. 
         [0056]    The two vertical planar base plate portions cross at right angles at the bottom of the tubular post by one having a joining slot  46  extending from the top edge downwardly and the other having a joining slot  47  extending from the bottom edge  48  upwardly so that the joining slots inter-engage to hold the base plate portions crossing at right angles. 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  the upper tubular post portion and the lower tubular post portion and the insert tubular post portion all of the same diameter and arranged to be connected end to end co-axially by an inserted joining piece  50 . The joining piece comprises a pair of joining plate portions  51  and  52  crossing at right angles and arranged with one having a joining slot  54  extending from the top edge downwardly and the other having a joining slot  53  extending from the bottom edge upwardly so that the joining slots inter-engage to hold the joining plate portions crossing at right angles. The joining piece  50  so formed has an upper piece  55  extending into the upper tubular post  11  portion with outer edges of the upper piece engaging as a sliding fit into the upper tubular post portion and a lower piece  56  extending into the lower tubular post portion with outer edges of the lower piece engaging as a press fit into the lower tubular post portion to hold them end to end and co-axial. 
         [0058]    Each of the joining plate portions of the joining piece has a projecting shoulder portion  57  projecting outwardly from the outer edge  58  thereof to extend between the upper and lower post portions to hold ends of the upper and lower post portions spaced. 
         [0059]    Each of the joining plate portions has a longer end  59  and a shorter end  60  so that than the other of the joining plate portions where the ends each have a hole  61 ,  62  arranged such that the hole  62  intersects the slot  54  and the holes  61  and  62  are aligned. 
         [0060]    The pole planter is capable of holding one to eight 12 inch pots around the circumference of the pole. Also, the pole planter may be positioned in a corner and the plants hung to one side of the pole by positioning the eight swiveling brackets  4  enabling the ultimate use of space. 
         [0061]    The post has been split into two parts for packaging and transporting. The main post portion is 4.0 feet long and can be provided in lengths from 3.5 feet to 4.5 feet corresponding with the overall length needed. 
         [0062]    The stand can also be used to hang clothes to dry. For instance, shirts on a hanger may be directly hung on the brackets defined by the rods  4 . 
         [0063]    Due to the provision of the spring, the stand can be used where frost may change the dimension between the top and bottom horizontal surfaces. 
         [0064]    Thus the design has the following features: 
         [0065]    The base stand is comprised of two flat plate parts and the tube joint is also comprised of two flat plate parts for easy transportation. 
         [0066]    The swiveling hanger component is made of the flange welded or joined to a round sleeve, which also revolves 360 degrees around the stand, and is adjustable in height using holes with pin inserted, into up-right poles. 
         [0067]    The heavy duty spring has been added to the tensioning apparatus. 
         [0068]    The base is formed from the two flat metal parts, where the parts are assembled together to provide a base for the stand and four notched slots to accept the round tube. These parts are easily fitted together by hand. When downward pressure is applied to assembled planter, the four slots in the base (shown in drawings) apply vertical pressure to the tube and creates a strong and flexible joint. These also provide a crossed portion in the center which extend into the tube to firmly hold the tube. The bottom edge of the parts is recessed at the center to provide outer edge parts which engage the floor surface. Thus pressure on the floor surface can slightly distort the plate to tighten the slots and hold the tube more effectively. 
         [0069]    The joint is formed of two flat metal parts, where the two parts are assembled and welded, join the tubes together end to end. The joint is also used to extend the planter to 10 feet, by supplying an extra 2 foot long tube and joint. The joint fits snugly to one end of tube and more loosely on the opposite end, allowing easy assembly. 
         [0070]    Note: the unique design of the joint (locating on 4 points of inner diameter of tube) is based on 3 factors that it is simple and cost effective to manufacture, it is easily assembled, and provides a secure strong joint, it fits all sizes and types of tubing, meaning that when tubing is of the welded type, leaving a welded seam down the length and inside of the tube. The joint is installed by revolving the joint to a spot where it does not interfere with the welded joint. 
         [0071]    The swiveling hanger component includes the short tube and connected it to the flange that accepts the swiveling hangers. The assembled unit revolves 360 degrees around the base tube. The hangers swivel, and the assembled unit revolves by holding the short tube by hand and turned. The height of the hanger component is adjusted by using the holes provided and inserting a pin into hole. 
         [0072]    Tightening of the post between the floor and ceiling is provided by the spring which is typically 2 inches long×1″ outside diameter×½″ inside diameter. The wire is rectangular ⅛″× 3/16″. A rectangular shape, commonly found in the automotive industry, used in the rocker-valve operations in motors. 
         [0073]    After the rod is adjusted within the nut to the required length to cause the top and bottom of the post to contact the ceiling and floor respectively, the spring is compressed by further turning the nut. The spring is compressed to the required or predetermined pressure, which is sufficient to properly locate the structure while being insufficient to cause structural damage, by rotating the nut to a location on the rod fully compressing the spring and then by turning back the nut two turns in the opposite direction. This compressed state of the spring provides a number of advantages. First, when the material expands and contracts due to heat and cold, the spring reacts to balance consistent value of pressure. 
         [0074]    This arrangement using the spring to measure and control the force applied by the post between the floor and ceiling ensures that the installer, commonly an unskilled person, avoids continuing to apply screw force to a situation where damage occurs to the floor, ceiling or post. 
         [0075]    The spring is flexible and applies consistent upward pressure to the top plate. When vertical pressure is supplied to mid elevations of the pole, the pressure to the top plate is always applied to the middle of the plate, as the spring supplies pressure to the nut and stud and further to the top plate. Rather than a situation where if the components are so rigid that any side or vertical pressure to the pole would transfer pressure to one side of the perimeter of the plate. 
         [0076]    Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.