Brackets for a frame for a garden bed

Brackets for engaging frame members of a raised garden bed have a plurality of sockets, for example, a larger socket and a smaller socket, for engaging one end of alternative supports of different diameters. The brackets are made of substantially rigid material and the alternative supports are adapted to alternative coverings of different materials for extending the growing season of plants planted within the frame of the garden bed. Brackets may either be simple straight brackets for fastening on the outside of a straight member of the frame, corner brackets having an L-shaped angle at one end, or J-shaped brackets for engaging over the top of a frame member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to raised garden beds and apparatus therefor. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Raised garden beds are well known in the art, particularly for facilitating 
cultivation on low lying ground by raising the surface level and improving 
drainage. Raised garden beds are particularly advantageous for improving 
the quality of the soil, and for increasing the length of the growing 
season. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Brackets having a plurality of sockets of different sizes for use with a 
frame for a raised garden bed are attached along sides of the frame, 
around corners of the frame, or engaged over the top edge of the frame. An 
end of a support is engaged in a socket of corresponding size in the 
bracket which may be attached to either the inner perimeter or the outer 
perimeter of the frame member. 
It is an object of the invention to provide improved brackets for 
engagement on the frame of a raised garden bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The specification of patent application Ser. No. 762,060, filed Aug. 2, 
1985, is incorporated herein by reference. 
A raised garden bed can be used with different coverings to extend the 
growing season of plants in the garden bed. An appropriate covering, such 
as clear plastic will protect the bed from frost while allowing sufficient 
light for plant growth. Seeds may be planted in the bed early in the 
spring before danger of frost has passed, and the growing season can be 
extended well into the frosty days of fall. During the summer months when 
frost protection is not needed, the supports for the garden bed may be 
used for different coverings, such as trellis netting upon which plants 
may climb or shade netting or other coverings known to one skilled in the 
art. Each bracket has a plurality of different sized sockets enabling 
different supports and coverings to be used on a bed, either at the same 
or a different time. For example, small sockets may support a lightweight 
frame covered with a light trellis for climbing plants, and larger sockets 
may support a heavier frame supporting a strong trellis or clear plastic 
protective covering. 
In order to obtain maximum versatility from a garden bed having a frame 
surrounding it, a bracket of the invention has a plurality of sockets of 
different sizes. In a bracket of the invention, for example, two sockets 
of different diameters are provided. These sockets may be 1 in. in 
diameter and 1/4 in. in diameter, for supporting heavyweight or 
lightweight frames for different types of coverings. The bracket is 
substantially rigid and is advantageously formed of either sheet metal, 
such as galvanized steel, or of plastic. 
The bracket is attached to a frame member by nails, screws, sliding 
engagement, or other means known to one skilled in the art, and supports 
for coverings for the bed are inserted in sockets by sliding the end of a 
support member into a socket of appropriate size. A suitable support 
framework may be of tent shape to be covered by a similarly tent shaped 
covering which may be a trellis, shade netting, clear plastic, etc. 
Lightweight plastic or wire hoop supports may be engaged in narrow sockets 
for supporting lightweight coverings such as clear plastic or shade 
netting. 
In making a raised garden bed, framing timber, such as 8 ft. or 12 ft. 
lengths of 2 in. by 8 in. timber, may be used to form the bed. Four such 
timbers are placed at right angles to each other with ends adjoining, to 
form a square or rectangular bed, and these framing timbers may be 
fastened together by use of corner brackets of the invention shown in 
FIGS. 1 to 4. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 in which like numerals represent like parts, 
a simple bracket 2 of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 in which a wide 
socket 4 and a narrow socket 6 are formed adjacent to each other. Bracket 
2 is nailed to frame member 8 to support a lightweight hoop 10 in narrow 
socket 6, as shown, or a different support in the wide socket. Another 
lightweight hoop 10 is supported in narrow socket 6 of corner bracket 12, 
shown in FIG. 2. Corner bracket 12 is similar to simple bracket 2 but has, 
in addition, a plate 14, clearly shown in FIG. 3, extending at right 
angles to bracket face 16 forming an L-shaped bracket. FIG. 4 shows a top 
view of corner bracket 12 engaged on the corner of a frame for a garden 
bed showing long securing nails 18 engaged through frame member 20 and 
into frame member 22, thus securing the frame members at their abutting 
ends. Shorter nails 24 are sufficient to secure the straight end of a 
bracket 12 to frame member 22. A simple bracket 2 is shown (in FIG. 4) 
along the side of frame member 22 for supporting hoops 10 in smaller 
socket 6 of each bracket. Shorter nails 24 are sufficient for securing 
simple brackets to frame members. 
FIG. 5 shows J-brackets 26 suitable for engaging over the edge of frame 
member 28. J-Brackets 26 may be engaged on either side over the top of a 
frame member, with the sockets on either the inner side or the outer side 
of the frame member. J-bracket 26 has plate 36 backing plate surface 16, 
and plate 30 is attached at right angles to plate 36. Plate 32 extends at 
right angles to plates 36, 30 so that plates 36, 30, and 32 form a 
J-shaped bracket for engaging over the top edge of frame member 28 with 
sockets 4 and 6 positioned for receiving supports. Bracket 26 may be 
securely engaged over the top of frame 28 without fastening, but for extra 
security, a nail may be driven through aperture 34 in bracket 26 and into 
frame member 28. Bracket 26 may be made by fastening a simple bracket 2 to 
a J-shaped plate, such as is formed by plates 36, 30 and 32. In use, 
plates 36 and 32 are is placed against vertical faces of member 28, plate 
30 abutting the top surface of the frame member. 
FIG. 1 shows J-brackets 26 engaged on frame members, with sockets adjacent 
the inner side of the frame members, while corner brackets 12 are used to 
secure the corners of the frame as well as being used to engage supports 
for a trellis. Simple brackets 2 may be used in place of the J-brackets 
26, but J-brackets have the advantage of being more easily moved than 
simple brackets, particularly from placement on the inner side of a frame 
filled with soil. Different types of supporting members may be engaged in 
the brackets without moving the brackets, or the brackets may be moved to 
a different location for reuse. FIG. 1 shows hoops in the J-brackets which 
may carry netting for supporting climbing plants while a plastic covering 
is needed over supports 38 as necessary. 
Brackets of the invention have many used in extending the outdoor growing 
season for plants, particularly in colder climates, such as New England. 
An example of advantageous use of brackets of the invention is in growing 
European cucumbers. European cucumbers, which are self-pollinating, are 
not normally able to be grown out-of-doors since pollination from bees or 
insects causes seed pods to form in the cucumber making it gourd-like and 
unsaleable. However, European cucumber seeds may be planted in a raised 
bed similar to the bed shown in FIG. 1. Hoops 10 are placed at intervals 
along the length of the bed engaged in J-brackets 26 (or in straight 
brackets) and the hoops are covered with a trellis netting for supporting 
the cucumbers. Supports 38, engaged in corner brackets 12 and at intervals 
along the frame, as necessary, are covered by a clear plastic tent to 
povide a growth environment for the plants free from attack by insects. 
The brackets of the invention have many other used. For non-limiting 
examples, straight or J-brackets may be attached to each end of elevated 
horizontal cross members secured to posts at a level 2-4 ft. above the 
level of the bed, to support elevated hoops (and coverings) needed to give 
tall or climbing plants, such as tomatoes or cucumbers, additional growing 
space. 
Raised beds may be planted intensively as soil in a limited area may easily 
be enriched. A rectangular raised bed, having a frame fastened with corner 
brackets of the invention, may be planted early in the spring with flower 
and/or vegetable seeds and covered with a plastic tunnel while the seeds 
develop into seedlings. As the weather warms and danger of frost passes, 
the seelings grow, and the plastic tunnel can be discarded for daytime use 
but may still be needed at night. Brackets are placed at intervals along 
the length of the side frame members. Alternatively, an inner frame or 
trellis for the plants to grow on can be supported, using the brackets, 
and the whole structure may still be covered with plastic supported on an 
outer frame at night when temperatures drop. The outer plastic covering is 
not needed in summertime, and may be replaced with another trellis to 
allow the plants to climb further, if required. 
While the invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments 
thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be 
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.