Abstract:
A one-piece molded hanging plant saucer includes three pairs of opposed hook arms connected to a bowl-shaped base. Each pair of hook arms is formed by the frictional interengagement of two arms extending vertically from a living hinge formed at an extension of a generally circular planar lip extending outwardly around the upper periphery of the base. Each pair of interconnected hook arms provides a double thickness of material to increase strength of support for the hanging plant saucer. As manufactured in the molded condition, the hook arms are generally co-planar with the planar lip so that multiple saucers are readily stackable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a hanging plant saucer having hook arms to secure the hanging plant saucer to a plant pot or to a suspension system used to elevate a hanging plant above the floor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The appearance of homes, gardens, office atriums and other public places are enhanced by the appearance of hanging plants. These plants are usually suspended by a wire or chain to an elevated position above the floor. 
         [0003]    Hanging plants located in a pot must include bottom surface openings for the drainage of excess water, so as to prevent a collection of water at the bottom of the plant pot which can cause deleterious effects to the root system of the plant. Therefore, when watering hanging plants, unless an exact amount of moisture is added to the soil, sufficient to only saturate the soil, the hanging plants have a tendency to leak excess water through the bottom openings of the pot. A hanging plant saucer is therefore usually provided underneath the pot to retain excess water and prevent damage to a floor or other objects located below the hanging plant. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attractive hanging plant saucer which can be suspended from the plant pot or the suspension system supporting the plant pot, so as to collect excess water draining from the hanging plant, and which can be provided to the user at a reasonable cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    By the present invention, a hanging plant saucer for hanging plants includes a generally bowl-shaped base and three pairs of opposed hook arms which extend upwardly when each pair is connected together. The three pairs of connected hook arms can then be secured to either a plant pot of a hanging plant or to the wires or chains which suspend a plant pot in the air. 
         [0006]    The hanging plant saucer of the present invention is preferably manufactured of a relatively thin, clear thermoplastic polymer, preferably polyethylene terephalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) or other similar polymer, by a blow molding process or a thermal forming process. The pairs of hook arms extend from and are spaced equally about a generally circular planar lip formed around the periphery of the uppermost edge of the bowl-shaped base. The opposed hook arms are anchored to the planar lip by integral lip extensions and radially outwardly extending living hinges, thereby making a robust, secure connection of the hook arms to the base. 
         [0007]    The base includes a radially outwardly tapering sidewall tapering constantly and continuously radially outwardly from a generally flat bottom surface to the peripheral planar lip. The sidewall includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting ribs extending the full height of the sidewall which ribs, together with the circular planar lip, provide added strength and durability to the sidewall and to the base. 
         [0008]    The bottom surface of the saucer includes a plurality of upwardly projecting protrusions which are shaped similar to half of a football or a prolate spheroid. The protrusions extend radially, are equally spaced around the base bottom surface and are preferably six in number. Excess water draining from the plant pot is thereby collected on the bottom surface of the base. 
         [0009]    When the saucer of the present invention is manufactured, in a molded condition, the three pairs of opposed hook arms, six in total hook arms, extend in a horizontal plane coincident and integral with the circular planar lip located at the uppermost edge of the base. Each hook arm includes at least one molded connecting element for interconnecting together the hook arms of each pair. In a preferred embodiment, the molded connected elements are in the form of inter-engaging complementary-shaped sets of male projections and female recesses. The male projections on one hook arm of a pair fit into the female recesses of the other hook arm of the pair by a friction or interference fit to lock the pair of hook arms together in a position tilted radially inwardly towards a center of the base portion. Each pair of the hook arms preferably includes two male projections or two female recesses. 
         [0010]    Each hook arm also preferably includes a molded edge recess extending about substantially the entire periphery of each hook arm and a molded lateral recess. The recesses help to reinforce and rigidify each hook arm. 
         [0011]    The hanging plant saucer of the present invention is also readily stackable for shipping, storage and packaging. As manufactured in the molded condition, the three pairs of hook arms, six in total, lay flat in the plane of the circular lip. Further, the sidewall tapers outwardly with the radially inwardly projecting ribs extending the full length of the sidewall so as to allow for easy stackability. The upwardly projecting protrusions in the saucer bottom surface are also shaped and spaced for ready stackability. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a hanging plant saucer in accordance with the previously stated object which has a bowl-shaped base with a generally circular planar lip extending peripherally around the base upper edge and a plurality of hook arm pairs which, when assembled, extend upwardly from the base peripheral lip for engaging either the plant pot, or support wires or chains used for suspending the plant pot. 
         [0013]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hanging plant saucer in accordance with the preceding objects which has a plurality of pairs of opposed hook arms bent upwardly from a generally horizontal position, as manufactured in the molded condition, to a generally vertical position and assembled together, for the in use condition, by a friction or interference fit between molded connecting elements on each pair of hook arms. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hanging plant saucer in accordance with the preceding objects which has a plurality of opposed hook arm pairs extending from a base supporting a plant pot, with the base including a plurality of upward projections for elevating the plant pot above a bottom surface of the base. 
         [0015]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a hanging plant saucer in accordance with the preceding objects which has a plurality of opposed hook arm pairs extending vertically from a living hinge formed at an extension of the base peripheral lip so that a double thickness of material is provided by each pair of opposed hook arms to increase strength of support for the hanging plant saucer. 
         [0016]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hanging plant saucer in accordance with the preceding objects which is sturdy and of robust construction, yet lightweight and easy to handle and which can be readily stacked with any number of other saucers of similar design for easy transport, storage and packaging. 
         [0017]    These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the hanging plant saucer disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the hanging plant saucer according to the present invention with one pair of opposed hook arms elevated above a base of the saucer in an assembled position and two pairs of opposed hook arms shown in a molded position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the hanging plant saucer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view, similar to the view shown in  FIG. 2 , with all three pairs of opposed hook arms bent upwardly and fitted together in the assembled position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the hanging plant saucer of the present invention anchored by its hook arms to an upper edge of a plant pot suspended by wires. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a pair of opposed hook arms in accordance with the present invention, illustrating a direction of interengagement of the two hook arms into an assembled position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating the interengagement of opposed hook arms with a support chain for a plant pot to secure the plant saucer with respect to the plant pot. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0027]    With reference to the drawings, in general, and to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , in particular, a hanging plant saucer embodying the teachings of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . With reference to its orientation in  FIG. 1 , the hanging plant saucer includes a base, generally designated by reference numeral  12 , having a bottom surface  14  and an outwardly tapering sidewall  16  extending upwardly from the bottom surface  14 . A generally circular planar lip  18  extends around the periphery of the upper edge of sidewall  16 . The sidewall  16  also includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting ribs  20  as seen best in  FIG. 2 . Projecting upwardly from the bottom surface  14  are a plurality of equi-spaced protrusions  22 , which extend radially outwardly from the center of the bottom surface  14 . The protrusions  22  are generally in the shape of one-half of a football or a prolate spheroid. The protrusions  22  and especially the circular lip  18  and inwardly projecting ribs  20  aid in providing overall rigidity and stiffness to saucer base  12 . 
         [0028]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , three pairs of hook arms  24 ,  26  and  28  are shown. Hook arm pair  26 , formed of arms  26   a ,  26   b , and hook arm pair  28 , formed of arms  28   a ,  28   b , are shown in the as molded condition. In contrast, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , hook arm pair  24 , including arms  24   a ,  24   b , is shown in the assembled condition. The hook arms of each pair are attached to the planar lip  18  at their bases through lip extensions  33  which are integral with and extends outwardly from the lip  18 . While three pairs of hook arms are preferred for the present invention, four or more could also be used, or even two, depending upon the intended usage. Since the hanging plant saucer  10  is molded as one piece with the hook arms in a generally horizontal position in alignment with planar lip  18  as manufactured for ease of stackability and relative height, the spacing and length of the hook arms may become an issue if too many hook arms are employed. 
         [0029]    Each of the hook arms  24   a ,  24   b ,  26   a ,  26   b ,  28   a  and  28   b  preferably includes a molded edge recess  40  which extends about substantially the entire periphery of each hook arm. Each hook arm also includes one or more lateral recesses  42 . The recesses  40  and  42  help to reinforce and rigidify each hook arm. 
         [0030]    The hanging plant saucer  10  is molded as a single piece from a suitable thermoplastic material by any suitable molding process, thermal forming process or other suitable process as known to those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the saucer  10  is made from a clear thermoplastic material, preferably polyethylene terephalate (PET). The hook arms  24   a ,  24   b ,  26   a ,  26   b ,  28   a  and  28   b  are preferably formed in a laying flat condition co-planar with projections  33  and planar lip  18 , as shown for hook arm pairs  26 ,  28  in  FIG. 2 . The thickness of the molded thermoplastic material should be great enough to provide the necessary stiffness and rigidity to the saucer  10 , without being too great to significantly increase the cost and weight of the saucer. Hence, the thickness should preferably be no less than about 0.25 millimeters (mm), and no greater than about 1.0 mm, preferably about 0.5 mm. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , sidewall  16  of hanging plant saucer  10  preferably includes twelve inwardly projecting ribs  20  equally spaced around the periphery of the bottom surface  14  and the planar lip  18 . As shown, the ribs  20  extend from the bottom surface  14  to the underneath side of the planar lip  18 , where they are slightly tapered downwardly at  19 , which taper assists in the stackability of multiple saucers  10 . The ribs  20  have a generally curved cross-section and project approximately ¼ inch to ⅜ inch inwardly from the sidewall  16 . 
         [0032]    The bottom surface  14  preferably includes six equi-spaced radial protrusions  22 , with their outer ends preferably positioned intermediate to adjacent projecting ribs  20 . The protrusions  22  preferably project to a maximum height of approximately ⅜ of an inch above the bottom surface  14  of the base  12  to provide a space or gap above the bottom surface of the saucer for supporting a plant pot. This spacing prevents the plant pot from sitting in collected water at the bottom surface of the base and promotes the health of the plant. 
         [0033]    In addition, the three pairs of hook arms  24 ,  26  and  28  and their attaching projections  33  are also equally spaced around the periphery of lip  18 , and preferably positioned intermediate adjacent pairs of projecting ribs  20  which are intermediate an adjacent pair of protrusions  22 . This symmetry among the projecting ribs  20 , oblong protrusions  22  and hook arm pairs  24 ,  26  and  28  also adds to the structural integrity and overall rigidity of the saucer  10 . 
         [0034]    To secure the pairs of hook arms together in the assembled condition from the molded condition, use is made of molded connecting elements on each pair of opposed hook arms. In the preferred embodiment the molded connecting elements are in the form of male projections  30  and female recesses  32  which are each located respectively on one of the two arms of each pair of hook arms  24 ,  26  and  28 . With reference to  FIG. 2  and to hook arm pair  26  including arms  26   a ,  26   b , for example, each arm  26   a ,  26   b  is bent along a living hinge  34  on each side of extensions  33  towards each other, as shown schematically in  FIG. 6 . Each pair of hook arms is then assembled by fitting male projections  30  within complementary female recesses  32  by a friction or interference fit, as shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 . The exterior surface of the male projections  30  preferably has a width of approximately ⅜ of an inch and extends from one side of the hook arm for approximately ¼ of an inch. Similarly, the complementary female recesses  32  include a width of approximately ⅜ of an inch and a depth of approximately ¼ of an inch. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the three pairs of opposed hook arms  24 ,  26  and  28  are bent upwardly along living hinges  34  on each side of extensions  33  extending outwardly from planar lip  18  and are assembled together. The thus formed pairs of opposed hook arms are therefore of double thickness and provide increased strength for engaging with an upper circumferential edge  36  of a flower pot  38  by hook arm ends  26   c  and  28   c  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5 , the flower pot  38  is suspended by wires. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 7 , the pairs of opposed hook arms  26  and  28  are shown engaging chain supports  40 . Alternatively, the hook arms can engage the suspension wires shown in  FIG. 5 . The base  12  is thereby elevated with the projections  22  engaging the bottom of the flower pot. 
         [0037]    By the present invention, a robust plant saucer collects water from the bottom of a flower pot while supporting the flower pot above the bottom surface of the base. The plant saucer is alternately supported by either the flower pot or the wire or chain suspension lines which hold the flower pot in an elevated position. 
         [0038]    The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.