Abstract:
A panelized planter box system ( 10 ) and method which includes an upper rail ( 12 ), lower rail ( 14 ) and a group of sized side panels ( 16, 18 ) that are arranged to fit within the upper rail ( 12 ) and the lower rail ( 14 ). A group of rail corner brackets ( 30 ) is used for fastening corners of the lower rail ( 14 ) into a fixed position. The invention provides that the lower rail ( 14 ) is configured to deflect moisture from within the planter box. The invention may be customized into any number of configurations to give a clean and professional appearance in landscape architectural design projects.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Priority for this application is based on U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/554,294 filed Mar. 18, 2004, entitled Panelized Planter Box System. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a planter box and more particularly to panels and associated upper and lower rails used to form a planter box system.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Planter boxes are well known in the art and are typically used to contain plants, shrubs and other vegetation for landscape architectural applications. Most concrete planter boxes are pre-cast into standard sizes and shapes. Other types of concrete planter boxes are formed and cast on site during the construction process. Although these types of planter boxes allow for the design of custom sizes and shapes, they are expensive to manufacture and have a number of disadvantages. For example, the custom on-site type of planter boxes only have a limited number of design options available to the landscape designer which limit the overall design flexibility and types of applications available. Additionally, the prior art planter boxes such as that shown by U.S. Pat. No. 6,625,944, which is herein incorporated by reference, shows the use of panels used with joining or framing members. Systems of this type are not securely fastened together to support the weight of large trees and shrubs. Additionally, boxes of this type may only be used in light-duty applications, where the size and weight of both the plants and the manufacturing materials are not a factor. Accordingly, there is a need for a planter box system that fills the gap between the standard precast planter box and the expensive custom cast on-site planter box.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention discloses a panelized planter box system that allows for on-site assembly of almost any size and shape planter box. The planter box is constructed using a number of preformed metallic upper and lower rails. These rails work to securely hold several preformed panels that outline the walls of the planter box. The shape of the rails allows the planter box to offer a number of distinct advantages over prior art designs including drainage, structural integrity, and material preservation. The rails can be manufactured according to the size and shape of the desired planter box. In addition to its use with plants, seating benches can be mounted on an assembled planter box allowing it to be configured in a variety of ways. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention showing a typical 2 ft.×5 ft. planter box.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of panels used in accordance with the invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the upper and lower rails used in accordance with the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a close-up perspective view of the tie-down strap used with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the planter box used in the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a lower rail corner bracket as used in the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a close-up plan view illustrating the usage and position of a lower rail corner bracket in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a plan view illustrating the position of a lower rail corner bracket on an assembled lower rail in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an upper rail corner bracket in accordance with the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating the fabrication of an upper rail tab in accordance with the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating the interaction of panels, the upper rail tab, and the upper rail corner bracket in accordance with the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 12  is an elevated perspective view illustrating the interaction of a modified upper rail corner bracket and side panel in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an elevated perspective view of an assembled two-by-five-foot rectangular planter box  10  in accordance with the present invention. The lower rail  14  is on the bottom portion of the planter box and provides inward force on the bottom edge of the side panels  16 ,  18 . Similarly, an upper rail  12  rests on the upper edge of the panels  16 ,  18  and provides an inward force to the side panels. This view also shows the position of a tie-down strap  22  that works to hold the upper rail  12  to the side panels  16 ,  18  and is discussed in more detail herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the planter box  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  is a simple rectangle, the planter box of the present invention may be configured in any type of straight geometric arrangement. Once assembled, soil and plant retention is accomplished by lining the planter box  10  with a silt impermeable fabric material or the like (not shown). The fabric material acts to prevent the escape of planting materials from under the side panels  16 ,  18  while still allowing water to escape through spaces or the open bottom into the ground.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the type of wall panels  16  and  18  as used for the walls of the planter box  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . Also shown is a larger panel  20  that may be used depending on the size and shape of the desired planter box. Each of the panels  16 ,  18 ,  20  may be typically manufactured of stone, concrete or similar rigid materials which are manufactured offsite in predetermined dimensions to allow for any required shape or size variations in the planter box configuration. Typically, the thickness of a panel is approximately three inches but may vary according to any desired application.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows cross sections of the upper rail  12  and the lower rail  14 . Both the upper rail  12  and the lower rail  14  may be manufactured of sheet metal or similar materials and typically have a thickness of approximately 1/8 inch. The upper rail  12  has a “U” cross-sectional shape to hold a panel between its two side edges or tabs of the rail. The lower rail  14  has an “L” cross-sectional shape which allows rain water or other moisture to drain away from a lower edge of the panel. By moving moisture away from the rails, this shape works to prevent deterioration or rot of the materials used in the manufacture of the planter box. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this is an important advantage in freezing climates since water cannot pool and freeze in the lower rail of the panel&#39;s bottom edge. Any freezing moisture can ultimately cause breakage and failure of the overall structural integrity of the planter box  10 . As should be further evident to those skilled in the art, the rails  12 ,  14  may be cut and welded according to any desired shape of the planter box. Although straight line geometric patterns are preferred, any geometric pattern may be within the scope of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a close-up view illustrating the placement and usage of a tie-down strap  22 . The tie-down strap  22  is typically manufactured of metal and includes a fastener hole  24  at one end. The strap  22  typically is welded  26  to the upper rail  12  as shown to reduce the chance of strap failure. In order to fasten the strap  22 , a fastening screw or other type of fastener passes through the hole  24  and into the panel  18 . In practice, the tie-down strap  22  is used to prevent the upper rail  12  from being lifted off the panels, keeping them in a tightly locked configuration.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the two-by-five-foot rectangular planter box as shown in  FIG. 1 . This view shows the upper rail  12  and lower rail  14  after they have been cut and welded  28  into the appropriate shape for this planter box. This figure illustrates how the panels  16 ,  18  are arranged to form a planter box into a rectangular configuration. Since this is a relatively small planter box, as compared to boxes having many more panels, the larger panel  20  as shown in  FIG. 2  is not used.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  shows a lower rail corner bracket  30 . The lower rail corner bracket  30  is a substantially triangular configuration with holes  32  in its vertical element  34 . The bracket  30  is typically manufactured of sheet metal having a thickness of approximately 1/8 inch and is used in connection with the lower rail  14  to securely fasten each rail into a rigid position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a plurality of corner brackets  30  where the lower rails  14  are positioned in joining right angles. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the corner brackets  30  are welded  36  onto the lower rail  14  and used with fastening bolts  38 . The fastening bolts  38  are used with holes  32  to securely hold the two lower rail sections in a rigid and fixed position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top plan view of a large planter box  40  using an assembled lower rail  14  and lower rail corner brackets  30 . It will be further recognized that when planter box dimensions exceed shipping dimensions, corner brackets  30  must be used to allow for shipping and on-site assembly. In some situations, when the planter box  40  is oriented into substantially large configuration, the upper rails  32  may require a unique mounting bracket as described herein.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 9-11  illustrate an upper rail corner bracket  42  used for large and complex planter box configurations. The upper rail corner bracket  42  is typically manufactured of sheet metal having a thickness of approximately 1/8 inch and includes a top hat section  43  and one or more fastener holes  44 .  FIG. 10  shows the modifications that must be made to an upper rail section  12  in order for it to fit into an upper rail corner bracket  42 . The upper rail  12  must have a portion equaling approximately two inches of its top and outer sides removed. A metallic tab  46  that takes the form of a triangular wedge is welded  48  to an extended side  50  of the upper rail  12 . These modifications form an upper rail section  52  that is capable of being used with the upper rail corner bracket  42 . Finally,  FIG. 11  illustrates the interaction of a modified upper rail section  52  with the upper rail corner bracket  42  where the outer edge of the modified upper rail section is positioned behind the upper rail corner bracket  42 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  shows the interaction of modified upper rails  52 , an upper rail corner bracket  42 , and panels  18 . The modified upper rails are placed on the top edge of the panels  18  as shown. The upper rail corner bracket  42  is then placed with its top hat section  43  on the top edge of the panels  18 . By using the upper rail bracket  42 , the metallic tabs  46  of the modified upper rails  12  are now forceably restrained under the upper rail corner bracket  42  wherever a corner is assembled. The upper rail corner bracket  42  can then be secured to the panels  18  using screws  54  or other type fasteners. The use of the upper rail corner bracket  42  allows a large planter box be secured into a much more rigid structure allowing it to hold large amounts of soil and plant material to prevent panel wall separation.  
         [0027]     To summarize, the planter box system of the present invention allows for design flexibility without excessive cost. A landscape designer may send a drawing of the desired planter box, and the drawing can be used to determine the dimensions of the upper and lower rails  12 ,  14 . The rails would then be manufactured, and the necessary number of panels  16 ,  18 ,  20  selected. These elements would then be shipped to the job site where the planter box system would then be assembled. In an alternative embodiment, a bench or the like could then be attached to the panels if desired. The planter box is then filled with soil and plant material for a unique customized appearance.  
         [0028]     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.