Abstract:
A plant basket hanger that allows hanging potted plants to be rotated. A hook with a snap or lock-in shaft that would mate to a hanger embodiment that has three or four long runners with clip or lock-in ends to attach to a plant basket while the upper ends of said runners form various top portions with a center hole for hook attachment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to hanging baskets for plants and, in particular, to a discrete hanger which would allow hanging plant baskets (pots) to be rotated by hand or wind. This function would enable plants to receive ample and even sunlight without the hassle of unhooking and lifting a hanging plant to turn it.  
         [0002]     It would also enable people to rotate a hanging plant also while watering for more even watering, especially on larger hanging plants.  
         [0003]     Applicant is aware of a variety of hanging basket hangers commercially marketed but none with a rotational hook implemented.  
         [0004]     Applicant did apply and receive a design patent for a snap in hook type hanger. Design patent was filed Jun. 25, 1999 and granted Jan. 30, 2001. U.S. Pat. No. D436,840 S.  
         [0005]     Applicant has since discovered after the granting of design patent number U.S. Pat. No. D436,840 S design flaws which are not feasible or able to be used for manufacture of product.  
         [0006]     Applicant has since also discovered more appropriate and feasible means to readily manufacture a product of this nature.  
         [0007]     Applicant most notably has discovered the hook if designed correctly will rotate on the hanger, and has determined a variety of ways this could be accomplished.  
         [0008]     Applicant accordingly believes a need exists for a rotational hanger for hanging plant baskets (pots).  
         [0009]     Applicant also wishes to disclose the fact that he unveiled for the first time a rotational type basket (pot) hanger for hanging plants at the National Hardware show in Chicago, Ill. on Aug. 10, 11, 12 of 2003, but has not made any market sales as of October 2003.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In appreciation of the need for the foregoing rotational plant hanger and for the short comings of available plant hangers, applicant has developed a variety of rotational hanging plant hangers which will enable a person or the wind to spin a hanging plant basket (pot).  
         [0011]     It is accordingly a primary objective of the invention to provide a snap in rotational type hook with perspective hanger embodiment.  
         [0012]     It is another objective of the invention to provide for a rotational plant basket (pot) hanger which accommodates a variety of basket (pot) styles and sizes.  
         [0013]     It is still further objective of the invention to provide for a plant basket hanger constructed as a two piece part to minimize cost.  
         [0014]     Various of the above objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are particularly achieved in a number of alternative constructions developed by applicant. In one such embodiment, a molded plastic hanger body is molded to provide a rounded flat upper base area with a centered hole where a molded plastic hook body that is molded in a hook shape and has a centered shaft with a protrusion to act as a snap and another shaft ending protrusion to act as a stopper can be pulled through the hole of the upper base area of the hanger body and be captured. From the round upper base area of the hanger body three long runners extend downward to where their ends form into rounding clips which would enable the hanger body to be connected to an accommodating plant basket (pot). In other embodiments the hook body portion comprises a protrusion or protrusions which may encompass or be intermittent on the hook shaft portion and act as a snap or lock-in system with the hook shaft end stopper protrusion. In other embodiments the hanger body portion comprises an upper flat base area with centered hole for hook body that can be formed round, triangular or square to accommodate three or four runners with appropriate runner end clips or lock-in ends compatible to capture perspective plant baskets or pots.  
         [0015]     The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention, as well as the detailed construction, will be more apparent hereinafter upon reference to the following description thereof with respect to the appended drawings. Before referring thereto, it is to be appreciated the following description is made by way of the presently preferred and alternative embodiments only, which should not be interpreted in limitation of the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. To the extent modifications or enhancements have been contemplated, they are described as appropriate.  
     
    
     BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a rotational plant basket hanger having four runners with lock-in clip ends.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of an alternative hanger body having three runners with clip ends.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of an alternative hanger body having four runners with clip ends.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of an alternative hanger body having three runners with lock-in clip ends.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of a hanger hook with collapsible lock-in shaft mountable in hanger body in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  4 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of an alternative hanger hook with stopper end and lock-in band mountable in hanger body in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 , and  4 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of an alternative hanger hook with lock-in pegs mountable in hanger body in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 , and  4 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view is shown of a presently preferred, rotational plant basket hanger assembly  10 . The assembly  10  is formed as a two piece assembly and provides a hanger body  11  and hook piece  12 . The hook piece  12  is secured permanently or semi-permanently through the centered hook receiving hole  31  on the oval top portion  14  of the hanger body  11 .  
         [0024]     Directing attention also to  FIG. 6 , the hook piece  12  in  FIG. 1  is shown separated from hanger body  11  to view the entire hook piece embodiment  150 . The hook body  28  is rounded to be compatible with circular hook receiving hole  31  on hanger body  11 .  
         [0025]     The hook embodiment  150  has a half circular or arc shaped top portion  20  of which the frontal portion ends with a rounded tip  21  while the back portion  19  curves around and drops downwardly to form a vertical shaft  22  creating an open recessed area  15  which would allow the basket hanger assembly  10  to accommodate a variety of mounting applications. The vertical shaft  22  has a protruding tapered lock-in band  23  which encircles the hook shaft  22  and works in unison with the mushroom shaped hook stopper end  29  at the base of the hook embodiment  150  to capture the hanger body  11 .  
         [0026]     The hook stopper end  29  has a curved bottom  28  with a spherical upper flat surface  27  protruding outward from the vertical shaft  22 .  
         [0027]     Mounting the hook embodiment  150  to the hanger body  11  requires the rounded tip  21  of the hook piece  12  to enter the hook receiving hole  31  from the level bottom portion  33  of the oval top  14  on the hanger body  11 . The hook piece  12  is then ultimately slid upward manually through the hook receiving hole  31  until the lock-in band  23  is above the level top portion  32  and the stopper end  29  has met the level bottom portion  33  of the oval top  14  on the hanger body  11 , thus the hook piece  12  is now attached.  
         [0028]     In  FIG. 1  the hanger body  11  has four round runners  16  which project downwardly from the level bottom portion  33  of the oval top  14  hanger body  11 . There are lock-in ends  18  at the base or end of each of the four runners  16  to attach an accommodating basket  50  securely.  
         [0029]     Each runner end  18  has a bulge  44  which acts in unison with tapered protrusion(s)  41  to securely mate hanger assembly  10  to accommodating basket rim  49 . The hanger body  11  could also incorporate alternatively preferred runner clip-type ends in  FIGS. 2, 3 , or  4  for basket attachment.  
         [0030]     The embodiments of  FIG. 1  to  7  are particularly molded from a polypropylene or other suitable plastic material. Such materials also find ready application with injection molding processes and have sufficient shape retention properties which are maintainable when exposed to ultraviolet light and heat.  
         [0031]     In passing it might also be noted that the rotational plant basket hanger assembly  10  is approximately 18 to 24 inches tall. The hook embodiment  150  is approximately 2¼ to 4 inches wide, 4 to 5½; inches tall and ¼ to ½ inch thick. The hanger body  11  will have a long and short version approximately 12-20 inches dictated by the length of the runners  16 . The oval top portion  14  is approximately 1¼ to 2 inches wide and ¼ to {fraction (3/8)} inch thick. The foregoing dimensions are however illustrative only of a presently preferred embodiment and may be appropriately changed as necessary to accommodate a variety of different types and sizes of plant baskets  50 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an isometric view is shown of another presently preferred rotational plant basket hanger body  52 . Generally the hanger body  52  has an oval top portion  53  with hook mating hole  60  like that of hanger body  11  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]     However in  FIG. 2  from the oval top portion  53 , there are three runners  65  projecting downwardly evolving into U-shaped clip ends  70  for accommodating plant basket  50 .  
         [0034]     The clip ends  70  have a radius top portion  71  dropping downwardly forming two vertical sides  72  which then hook inward and then upwardly  73  ending thereafter, creating a recessed area  76  for attachment means to plant basket rim  49  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0035]     It might also be noted that the embodiment  69  of the clip ends  70  is approximately ½ to ¾ inches wide by 1 to 1½ inches tall. The recess  76  is approximately ½ inch wide by ½ to 1 inch deep. Again, the foregoing dimensions are however illustrative only of a presently preferred embodiment and may be appropriately changed as necessary to accommodate a variety of different types and sizes of plant baskets  50 .  
         [0036]     The hanger body  52  can also incorporate the hook embodiment  150  shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0037]     Directing further attention to  FIG. 3  an isometric view is shown of another presently preferred rotational plant basket hanger body  77  having a rectangular top portion  80  with a centered circular cavity  79  for hook piece  12  shown in  FIG. 6 . The square top portion  80  has a level upper surface  81  and from the level lower portion  82  multiple runners  87  project downwardly.  
         [0038]     At the lower ends of the runners  87  are push-in clips  89  for basket attachment. The push-in clips  89  have a circular top portion  91  projecting downwardly forming two semi-vertical sides  92  with hook-shaped ends  95  which project outwardly forming a V-shaped recess area  97  to capture accommodating plant basket  50 .  
         [0039]     With attention next directed to  FIG. 4  an alternatively preferred hanger body  100  is shown having a rigid triangular top portion  102  with a level top surface  103  and level bottom surface  104 . A centered circular hole  101  which could have tapered walls  105  from top to bottom or vise versa further enabling the assembly of hook embodiment  150  in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0040]     From the triangular top portion  102  three long runners  107  stretch downwardly forming into three hook shaped ends  112  for accommodating plant basket  50 . The base point  109  of the hook-shaped ends  112  may be sharp or rounded (not shown) before turning upwards to form tips  110 . Circular protrusion  108  at the lower end of the runners  107  work in unison with hook shaped ends  112  to prevent free play once attached to accommodating basket  50 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows an alternatively preferred hook piece  125  similar to that of  FIG. 6 , but wherein the vertical shaft  135  is divided into sectional portions  145  via a cross-shaped recess  149 .  
         [0042]     The hook piece  125  has an arc-shaped top portion  130  with a frontal portion  128  ending in a rounded tip  127  while the back portion  133  curves around and downwardly to form the vertical shaft  135 , thus leaving an open recess  126  between the rounded tip  127  and vertical shaft  135  which would allow hanger assembly multiple mounting applications. The hook body  129  is round and could be chamfered to save plastic material.  
         [0043]     The vertical shaft  135  as mentioned divides into multi-sectional portions  145  by the cross-shaped recess  149  which is open from the bottom end of the hook piece  125  upwards to the projecting lock-in band portions  136 . The projecting lock-in band portions  136  work in unison with the protruding stopper ends  146  to affix the hook piece  125  to any hanger body in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  or  4 .  
         [0044]     The protruding stopper ends  146  jut out from the lower portion of the sectional vertical shaft portions  145  then taper downwards toward center forming tips  147  similar to that of an arrowhead. The semi-recessed area  142  between the projecting lock-in band portions and the top portion of the protruding stopper ends  146  which intermittently encircles the vertical shaft is where the mating hole on a hanger body is captured.  
         [0045]     To define the hook piece  125  more thoroughly, its application to the hanger body  100  in  FIG. 4  will be examined. To affix the hook piece  125  to the hanger body  100  requires the protruding stopper ends  146  at the base of the hook piece  125  be pushed into and through the hook receiving hole  101  from the upper level surface  103  of the triangular top portion  102 . On the hook piece  125  the cross-shaped recess  149  will allow the protruding stopper ends  146  which have a larger circumference than the hook receiving hole  101  to collapse inward allowing them to pass through the hook receiving hole  101  to the lower level portion  104  of the triangular top portion  102  at which time they will recoil outwards while the projecting lock-in band portions  136  halt further progress resulting in an assembled rotational plant basket hanger  50 .  
         [0046]     It should also be said a lock-in band of variable shape could be molded above the cross-shaped recess  149  to encircle the hook shaft  135  as well as, one or more protrusions appropriately placed to act in unison with the protruding stopper ends  146  to mate hook piece  125  with a hanger body (not shown).  
         [0047]     Also a Y-shaped recess on the hook shaft  135  of the hook piece  125  could also invite a collapsible shaft (not shown).  
         [0048]     Lastly,  FIG. 7  shows another alternatively preferred hook piece  160  which is similar to that of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , wherefore it has an arcing top portion  162  with a frontal rounded tip  163  and a rear portion  164  that curves downwardly to the vertical hook shaft  165 . At the base of the hook shaft  165  is a coin-shaped protruding stopper end  172  that juts outwardly from the hook shaft  165  forming an upper level surface  174  and flat bottom  175 . Positioned higher up from the stopper end  172  on the hook shaft  165  are one or more protruding lock-in tabs  167  that have a tapered top  168  and bottom portion  169 .  
         [0049]     Assembling the hook piece  160 , for example, to the hanger body  77  shown in  FIG. 3  requires the hook tip  163  to enter the hook receiving hole  79  from the bottom surface  82  of the square top portion  80  on the hanger body  77 . The hook piece  160  is ultimately slid manually upwards through the hook receiving hole  79  until the protruding lock-in tabs  167  are above the level top surface  81  of the square top portion  80  and the hook stopper end  172  has met the bottom surface  82  of the square top portion  80 . Thus the hook piece  160  is now affixed to the hanger body  77 .  
         [0050]     It should be noted that the hook receiving hole on any one of the hanger bodies shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  4  could also have tapered inner walls to more easily accommodate assembly of hook pieces shown in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 .  
         [0051]     It should also be noted that the hanger bodies shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  4  could incorporate any one of the alternatively preferred basket attachment end means represented amongst said figures.  
         [0052]     While the present invention has been described with respect to a number of presently preferred and alternative embodiments, it is to be appreciated that still other embodiments and modifications thereto might be suggested to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the following claims should be interpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention.