Support for mounting containers without requiring tools

A supporting structure for a plant or flower box, or the like, fits over the top edge of a wall, room divider, or similar device. The supporting structure includes an elongated plate and a pair of L-shaped members, each member having a flange which depends below the elongated plate. The space between the two dependent flanges fits over and embraces the top edge of a room divider or the like. The other flange of each L-shaped member lays against the elongated plate which may be attached to the bottom of the box. In one embodiment, the L-shaped members have a flange which fits through a selected one of a plurality of spaced parallel slots formed in the elongated plate and is held in place at least in part by the weight of the box. In another embodiment, the bottom of a U-shaped member is secured to an elongated plate, with no adjustment of the space between a pair of flanges formed by open arms of the U-shaped members which slip over and embrace the top of a wall of known thickness. In yet another embodiment, the two L-shaped members have different lengths so that a greater range of space adjustments may be made by reversing the positions of the L-shaped members relative to the elongated plate. In this embodiment, the elongated plate has optional mounting bolt holes for securing the L-shaped members, which are each provided with an elongated slot in a horizontal leg to receive a mounting bolt. In each embodiment, a screw extends through one of the dependent flanges in order to tighten a grip on the wall.

This invention relates to structures for supporting containers, such as 
plant or flower boxes, and more particularly to supports for mounting 
containers on top edges of walls, other room dividers or the like without 
requiring any tools or special training. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS 
Interior designers, florists, and the like, often wish to place objects on 
top of structures, such as free standing walls, or room dividers. These 
room dividers may have any of many different widths. For example, a 
conventional wall having 2.times.4 studs with wallboard on opposite sides 
may be, say, five or six inches thick. A prefabricated room divider 
supplied by a furniture company may be any thickness, such as two or three 
inches thick, for example. Other examples of room dividers and similar 
devices may have many other thicknesses. 
As a result of these and other considerations, in the past, an 
interiorscaper, for example, might use a number of brackets if he wishes 
to mount a plant or flower box on the top of a partition. However, this 
approach creates potential problems. Normally, a number of tools may be 
required to assemble the brackets or support. The assembly of brackets and 
other supporting structure may be labor intensive, expensive and 
unsightly. 
Among other considerations is the need for greater strength in the 
supporting brackets. For example, one of the conventional limitations has 
been the weight which could be supported by the brackets. To keep weight 
at a minimum, interiorscapers would place small grow pots in a planter, 
which restricted planter arrangements. With brackets having greater weight 
supporting capabilities, the separate grow pots can be eliminated and 
larger plants can be planted directly into the planter. All of this 
improvement in weight supporting capabilities should be accomplished 
without sacrifice of adjustability, ease of assembly, and the like. 
Accordingly, there is a need for an unobtrusive, supporting structure which 
almost anyone may assemble. Also, the need is to provide a support which 
is adjustable to fit across the top of almost any wall, room divider, or 
the like. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In keeping with an aspect of one embodiment of the invention, an elongated 
plate has a number of spaced parallel slots on each end. Each elongated 
plate has an associated pair of L-shaped bracket members with a first 
flange which fits through any selected one of the slots, to depend beneath 
the elongated plate. The slots which are selected provide a space between 
the two dependent flanges which is approximately equal to or slightly 
greater than the width of the wall or room divider. This way, the two 
dependent plates may embrace the wall. The other flange of each of the 
L-shaped members lies flat on top of the elongated plate where it may be 
held in place by the weight of a planter, or the like, sitting on top of 
the elongated plate. Or, in the alternative, the leverage of the L-shaped 
plates acting against a fulcrum formed by an edge of a slot holds the 
L-shaped plate in place. The first and dependent flange, which fits 
against the wall, is penetrated by a screw which may be turned to grip the 
wall. The elongated member and L-shaped brackets are preferably made by 
stamping sheet metal; however, any other suitable material may be used. 
In keeping with an aspect of another embodiment of the invention, an 
elongated plate has an aligned number (here three) of mounting holes which 
enable a bolt to pass though a hole at the center, left of center, or 
right of center positions. Two L-shaped members have flanges that fit into 
a channel formed by dependent edges of the elongated plate. Each flange 
contains an elongated slot for enabling a longitudinal adjustment of the 
position of the L-shaped member. One flange is relatively long and the 
other flange is relatively short. Hence, by selecting a single one of the 
mounting bolt holes and by selecting whether the long or short flanges fit 
on the left or right end of the elongated plate, the dependent flanges may 
be located at almost any positions, limited only by the length of the 
elongated plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows an elongated plate 20 having two sets of anchor sites in the 
form of a plurality of spaced parallel slots 22, 24 associated with and 
transverse to each end of the plate. Each longitudinal side of plate 20 
terminates in an upturned edge 21 which forms a fence at the edge of plate 
20. Any one of the slots in each of the two groups 22, 24 may be selected 
according to the width of a wall, room divider, or other device on which 
the assembled support member is to rest. For example, if the width of the 
wall 25 (FIG. 6) is "X," the slots 26, 28 will be selected because they 
are separated by a distance approximately equal to or slightly greater 
than "x." A pair of holes 29 are formed in the opposite outboard ends of 
the elongated plate 20 to provide a way of attaching the elongated plate 
to the bottom of a planter box, if necessary. 
Two L-shaped members 30 (FIGS. 2-4) are supplied and associated with the 
elongated plate 20. Each L-shaped member has a first flange 32 which is 
shaped and dimensioned to fit through any one of the anchor site slots 22, 
24 and to depend from plate 20. The other flange 34 of the L-shaped member 
30 is shaped and dimensioned to fit comfortably between the fences formed 
by upturned edges 21--21 on plate 20. 
The outer end of the first flange 32 contains a flared detent 36 which 
projects slightly above the surface of the flange 34 in order to provide a 
threaded hole. If the threaded detent 36 projects too far and does not 
pass through a slot 22 or 24, the other flange 34 may be inserted through 
the slot and then the L-shaped member is rotated into the position with 
flange 32 depending below and flange 34 laying on the plate 20. In the 
embodiment of FIG. 6, when a planter box 37 is set upon the assembly, the 
weight W (FIG. 6) of the box tends to cause the L-shaped member 30 to be 
locked in place. 
A clamp 40-42 having threaded bolt 40 is mounted in the threaded hole 
formed by the flared detent 36. On the outer end of the threaded bolt 40, 
a handle 41 enables the installer to turn the bolt. On the inner end of 
the bolt, a relatively flat clamping member 42 is positioned to grip the 
wall responsive to a turning of the bolt 40. Preferably, the handle 40 is 
removable. Or, either the handle 41 or the flat member 40 is installed on 
bolt 40 after it is threaded through hole 36. Alternatively, a 
screwdriver, or the like can turn the bolt 40. 
As best seen in FIG. 7, the clamping member 42 is covered with the hooks 44 
of a hook and loop fastener sold under the trademark "Velcro." The loops 
46 of the "Velcro" fastener are adhered to the wall. Usually, these 
"Velcro" members are secured by a self-adhesive covered by a release paper 
(not shown) until the members are installed. The easy way to make this 
installation is to peel off the release paper on the hook side and stick 
the combination on the clamping member 42. Then, the release paper is 
peeled off the loop side and the clamp is tightened against the wall, 
thereby securing the loop side 46 in a nearly perfect position. The two 
dependent flanges 32, 32 now tightly embrace and clutch the wall 25. 
In greater detail, FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the inventive 
support in use. Two of the elongated plates 20 are preferably attached to 
the bottom of planter box 37 and the box is positioned over the top edge 
of a wall 25, room divider, or other support 25. These two plates are 
separated by a distance which puts them adjacent the ends of the planter 
box 37. Of course, the invention is not limited to a use of only two 
elongated plates 20. Any suitable number of supporting elongated plates 20 
and their associated pair of L-shaped members 30 may be provided. 
The flanges 32 may be either decorative to add to the appearance of the 
planter box; or, they may be neutrally colored to minimize their 
noticeability, when in place. 
In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-11, the planter box 37 has depressions 60, 62 
formed in the lower surface of the side wall in order to receive the ends 
of the elongated plate 20. These depressions enable the ends of the 
elongated plates 20 to be approximately flush with the surface of the 
bottom wall. 
In greater detail, the planter box 37 is preferably made of molded plastic 
of any suitable shape and design, although any other suitable material may 
be used. The bottom surface 56 of the box side walls 58 has a depression 
60, 62 formed in each location where the end of an elongated plate 20 is 
to be attached to the box. Upstanding on one side of each depression is a 
thin wall 64 which has a depth d (FIG. 11) approximately equal to the 
thickness t of the end of plate 20 so that, after it is attached, the top 
surface of the plate is substantially flush with the exposed edge of thin 
wall 64 on the bottom surface 56 of the planter box side wall 58. 
An upstanding boss 66, 68 is molded in each depression 60, 62 at a location 
where it will receive mounting hole 29 (FIGS. 1 and 11) near the end of 
the elongated plate 20. Each boss has a hole 70 therein for receiving a 
bolt 72 which secures plate 20 to the planter box 37. 
The height of the boss above the floor 73 of the depression is 
approximately equal to the depth d of thin wall 64 and thickness t of the 
end of elongated plate 20. Therefore, when holes 29 in the elongated plate 
20 are in position over the bosses, the tops of the bosses will be 
approximately flush with or slightly countersunk below the surface of 
plate 20. The fit between plate and boss insures that the elongated plate 
20 is securely held in place when bolt 72 is tightened into the hole 70 of 
the boss 66 or 68. 
At least one of the L-shaped plates 32 may have a bolt 74 (FIG. 12) therein 
for tightening the support to the wall, room divider 25 (FIG. 6) or the 
like. This bolt may be constructed as bolt 40 (FIG. 6) is constructed with 
a face plate carrying a "Velcro" hook and loop fastener. It may simply 
have a slot 76 (FIG. 12) for receiving the blade of a screwdriver. Those 
skilled in the art will readily perceive other ways in which the end of 
bolt 74 may be shaped to accommodate other means for turning it. 
Sometimes the thickness of the wall or room divider 78 (FIGS. 15, 16) is 
completely predictable. For this kind of an installation, there is no need 
for the adjustments which are described above and the embodiment of FIGS. 
13-16 may be used. 
The mounting structure comprises an elongated plate 80 having a U-shaped 
member 82 with the bottom of the U spot welded or otherwise jointed 
thereto. The U-shaped member 82 has two dependent flanges 84, 86 formed by 
the arms of the U which are spaced from each other by the thickness of the 
supporting wall or room divider 78. The elongated plate 80 fits over and 
is attached to bosses 60, 62, which are essentially the same as in FIGS. 
9-11. Lock washers 88 may be supplied, either here or in any of the other 
embodiments to help secure the bolts. 
In this embodiment, preferably the loop side pieces 90 of "Velcro" hook and 
loop fasteners are fastened to the wall or room divider 78 at positions 
where the U-shaped members 82 are located. The hook side 92 of the 
"Velcro" fastener is located inside the flange 84 of the U-shaped member 
82 which confronts the fastener pieces 90 on the wall or room divider. The 
opposite flange 86 has a bolt 94 for tightening against the wall. 
FIG. 16 shows the planter box 37 of the embodiment of FIGS. 13-16 mounted 
on the wall or room divider 78. 
The embodiment of FIGS. 1-8 only requires an insertion of flange 32 into a 
selected slot 22 or 24. Thus, it is quick and easy to use. On the other 
hand, the slots 22 and 24 extend a considerable distance across the width 
of the elongated plate 20. Thus, the plate 20 has a limited strength and 
is appropriate for use with smaller planter pots. Also, the slots 22 and 
24 are spaced to give incremental adjustments which are appropriate for 
use with walls of predictable thickness. 
When these features are important, the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8 is used. 
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 17-20. This 
embodiment is designed to provide an infinite range of adjustments limited 
only by the length of the elongated plate 20a. The embodiment of FIGS. 
17-20 is important when greater strength and an infinite spacing (within 
the useful range) is important. The greater strength comes about by an 
elimination of the slots 22 and 24 extending across most of the width of 
the elongated plate. The greater adjustability comes about by providing 
two L-shaped members with flanges of different lengths, and with unbroken 
adjustment slots, and by providing a plurality of mounting holes on the 
elongated plate. 
In greater detail, the elongated mounting plate 20a has spaced parallel 
fences formed by turned down edges 21a on each of its opposite 
longitudinal sides. Optional anchor sites are provided by a plurality 
(here three) of mounting holes 200, 202, 204 formed along the length of 
elongated plate 20a. 
A pair of overlapping L-shaped members 210, 212 have adjustment slots 214, 
216 formed therein. The width of the L-shaped members is such that it fits 
comfortably between the fences formed by downturned edges 21a. The 
overlapping flanges 218, 220 of the L-shaped members have unequal lengths, 
flange 218 being relatively long and flange 220 being relatively short. 
The long and short flanges may be positioned as shown in FIG. 17; or, they 
may be reversed with long flange 218 on the right and short flange 220 on 
the left. This gives a greater variety of adjustments. 
A bolt 224 fits through the two adjustment slots 214, 216 and a selected 
one of the anchor site mounting holes 200, 202, 204. A wing nut 226 fits 
on top of bolt 224 in order to complete the assembly by securing the parts 
20a, 210, 212 between the fences 21a. Bolt 224 has a square shoulder 228 
near its head. The shoulder fits into slots 214, 216 tightly enough to 
prevent the bolt from turning when wing 226 is tightened. 
This way, by selectively placing the long flange on the left or right and 
by selecting a specific one of the mounting holes 200-204, the vertical 
flanges 230, 232 may be located almost anywhere within the useful range 
provided by the physical dimensions of the parts including the lengths of 
the adjustment slots 214, 216 and the elongated plate 20a. 
For example, FIG. 18 is drawn to show the bolt 224 going through the bolt 
hole 204 located in the right-hand position on elongated plate 20a. The 
long L-shaped member 218 is on the left so that the long adjustment slot 
214 provides a maximum travel of a dependent flange 230 on the left (Arrow 
A). The position of short flange 232 is also adjustable, but the short 
adjustment slot 216 provides a more limited travel, as compared to the 
travel of flange 230. 
FIG. 19 places the bolt 224 in the center hole 202 so that each of the 
flanges 230, 232 may have the maximum travel afforded by the lengths of 
their respective adjustment slots 214, 216. 
In FIG. 20, the positions of L-shaped members 210, 212 are reversed so that 
the long flange 230 with the maximum travel is on the right (Arrow B). 
In any of the embodiments, an irrigation unit 96 (shown in phantom in FIG. 
13) may be provided. This unit provides a drip space and enables the 
watertight planter box to supply only the amount of water which a plant 
needs over a two to three week period. An advantage of this arrangement is 
that there is no over watering. There is a convenience and a saving of 
labor, as compared to the prior art. The planter box is specifically 
designed to receive various sub-irrigation systems, which is a substantial 
advantage over previous planter boxes. 
Those who are skilled in the art will readily perceive how to modify the 
invention. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all 
equivalent structures which fall within the true scope and spirit of the 
invention.