Abstract:
A plant hanger includes several generally C-shaped arms having apertures passing therethrough at opposite ends of each arm. The plant hanger also includes a first plurality of beads each of which has an aperture passing therethrough. The arms and the beads are secured together by a ring which passes both:
       1. through one of the apertures which pass through each of the arms; and   2. through the apertures which pass through each of the beads.
 
Lastly, the plant hanger includes at least a pair of flexible belts. Each of the belts passes through more than half of the apertures which pass through each of the arms and are located at ends of the arms furthest from the apertures through which the ring passes. Moreover, both belts pass coincidently through apertures which pass through at least two (2) of the arms, which, preferably, are located on opposite sides of the plant hanger.

Description:
CLAIM OF PROVISIONAL APPLICATION RIGHTS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/524,540 filed on Nov. 24, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to plant hangers, and, more particularly, to plant hangers assembled using rigid materials as contrasted with flexible materials such as twines or ropes. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,475 discloses a plant hanger that includes a support base comprised of a circular ring and a plurality of spokes which radiate outwardly beyond the ring and terminate in a hook. Chains connect to the hook at the end of each spoke to extend upwardly therefrom. A circular retainer ring, having a diameter which is greater than that of the support base and sufficiently large to surround the plant container, is positioned inside the chains and above the support base. The retainer ring can be positioned at various distances above the support base depending upon the height of the plant container. Ends of the chains extending above the retainer ring come together at a common juncture. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,377 discloses a plant hanger in which a plurality of thin, strong, flexible members, made from plastic, wire or the like, interconnect at a junction located beneath a plant container. An end of each member furthest from the junction includes a U-shaped hook that fits over and is secured to a rim  36  of the plant container, bending as necessary to conform to the outer shape of the plant container. A ring, connected to the thin, strong, flexible members at the junction thereof beneath the plant container, permits hanging a second plant container immediately beneath the first plant container. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,728 discloses a plant hanger assembled by securing about a plant container, or about a saucer upon which the plant container rests, several generally inverted U-shaped clips made from flat sheet material. A downwardly-facing surface of the plant container or saucer rests on a lower distal end of each clip. An upper distal end of each U-shaped clip seats against an inner surface of a plant container&#39;s or saucer&#39;s circular peripheral rim. One or a pair of apertures pierce a bight portion of each U-shaped clip near the top thereof so a bottom chain link may be affixed therein. The upper end of each of several chains are fixed into a common swivel, snap or S-type hook for attachment to a support nail or screw hook. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,937 discloses a plant hanger in which a ring joins together ends of a plurality of flexible straps join beneath a plant container. The straps extend radially outward from the ring across a base of the plant container, and then upward along an outer surface of the plant container. Upper ends of each strap are adapted for connection to a fixed support. The length of each strap is independently adjustable for varying the position of the plant container with respect to the fixed support. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials that may be packaged compactly. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials that may be shipped to a remote location via common or express carrier. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials that may be easily assembled at a remote location. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials which is easy to manufacture. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials which is economical to manufacture. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials which need not be assembled at its production facility. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials which is simple. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials which is durable. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plant hanger made from rigid materials which is easy to maintain. 
   Briefly, a plant hanger in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of rigid, generally C-shaped arms having apertures passing therethrough at opposite ends of each of the arms. The plant hanger also includes a first plurality of beads each of which has an aperture passing therethrough. The arms and the beads are secured together by a ring which passes both:
         1. through one of the apertures that passes through each of the arms; and   2. through the apertures that passes through each of the beads.
 
Lastly, the plant hanger includes at least a pair of flexible belts. Each of the belts passes through more than half of the apertures that pass through each of the arms and that are located at ends of the arms which are furthest from the apertures through which the ring passes. Moreover, both of the belts pass coincidently through apertures which pass through at least two (2) of the arms, which preferably are located on opposite sides of the plant hanger.
       

   The present invention also includes a method for assembling a plant hanger which includes the steps of:
         1. passing a ring:
           a. through apertures that pass through a plurality of rigid, generally C-shaped arms, the apertures being located at an end of each arm; and   b. through apertures that pass through each of a first plurality of beads; and   
           2. passing a pair of flexible belts through at least one aperture that passes through each of the plurality of arms.
 
The apertures through which the belts pass are located at an end of each arms furthest from the apertures through which the ring passes. Moreover, the arms having apertures passing therethrough through which the belts pass coincidently are preferably located on opposite sides of the plant hanger.
       

   These and other features, objects and advantages will be understood or apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the various drawing figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partially sectioned, elevational view of a corolla plant hanger in accordance with the present invention that is assembled by securing together distal ends of a number of C-shaped arms; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view depicting one C-shaped arm included in the corolla plant hanger depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view depicting the corolla plant hanger of  FIG. 1  such as when open and resting on a table or the ground; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred ring which passes through holes in all the C-shaped arms, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , of the corolla plant hanger, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , that are located at the base thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  depicts an corolla plant hanger in accordance with the present invention referred to by the general reference character  10 . The plant hanger  10  includes a number of rigid, generally C-shaped arms  12  that are adapted for encapsulating a plant growing in a flowerpot  14 . Approximately half of the arms  12  included in the plant hanger  10  appear in the partially sectioned view of  FIG. 1 . 
   As better illustrated in  FIG. 2 , opposite ends of each arm  12  include flared holes  22 ,  24  formed in side surfaces of each arm  12  which are preferably approximately one-half (½) inch in diameter. Other holes may also pass through the arms  12 , particularly for securing raw material for machining if a numerically-controlled carver is used in fabricating the arms  12 . Such additional holes through the arms  12  are left as a design choice. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , at the base of the assembled plant hanger  10  a stiff ring  26 , preferably metallic, passes through the holes  24  in all the arms  12 . The ring  26  also passes through approximately one-quarter (¼) inch diameter holes  32  that pass through large, spherically-shaped beads  34 . 
   The ring  26  is preferably circular and of a diameter appropriate for accommodating a particular size of planter pot. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the ring  26  is preferably a standard ring-binder type metal loop used for binding hole-punched papers. The loop spreads apart about a midpoint pivot pin  28 , and opposing hooks  29  on the open ends thereof lock together when the loop is closed. A ring  26  of the type depicted in  FIG. 4  is easily threaded through the arms  12  and beads  34  and easily closed. The ring  26  can be rotated slightly, after closing, so that both the pivot pin and hook-end closure point are hidden within opposing beads  34  for an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
   The number of beads  34  respectively disposed along the ring  26  is no less than and preferably equals the number of arms  12  included in the plant hanger  10 . Arranged along the ring  26  in this way, the beads  34  radially separate immediately adjacent pairs of arms  12  uniformly at the base of the plant hanger  10 . The flares around the holes  24  help position each of the beads  34  uniformly between a pair of the arms  12  when the base of the plant hanger  10  is compact. Use of a stiff metal ring  26  makes the base of the plant hanger  10  rigid which prevents the arms  12  at the base of the plant hanger  10  from drooping when the plant hanger  10  is hung as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
   As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , for suspending the plant hanger  10  two (2) flexible belts  38   a  and  38   b , preferably made from beaded brass pull-chain, respectively loop through one more than half of the holes  22  that pass through the arms  12  at the top of the plant hanger  10 . That is, for at least two (2) of the arms  12  which are located on diametrically opposite sides of the plant hanger  10  both of the belts  38   a  and  38   b  pass coincidently through holes  22  that pass through those arms  12 . Only one pull chain  38   a  or  38   b  passes through the holes  22  that pass through the other arms  12  included in the plant hanger  10 . 
   Each pull chain  38   a ,  38   b  also passes respectively through approximately one-quarter (¼) inch diameter holes  32  that pass through beads  34 . Similar to the base of the plant hanger  10 , the number of beads  34  respectively disposed along the belts  38   a  and  38   b  is no less than and preferably equals the number of arms  12  included in the plant hanger  10 . Arranged along the belts  38   a  and  38   b  in this way, the beads  34  separate immediately adjacent pairs of arms  12  at the top of the plant hanger  10 . 
   Each pull chain  38   a ,  38   b  also passes respectively through approximately one-quarter (¼) inch diameter holes  32  that pierce beads  34 . Similar to the base of the plant hanger  10 , the number of beads  34  respectively disposed along the belts  38   a  and  38   b  is no less than and preferably equals the number of arms  12  included in the plant hanger  10 . Arranged along the belts  38   a  and  38   b  in this way, the beads  34  separate immediately adjacent pairs of arms  12  at the top of the plant hanger  10 . 
   The belts  38   a  and  38   b  are preferably made of beaded brass pull-chain because it is strong, non-corrosive, flexible and can be cut to any desired length and easily refastened. Many other materials such as wires, strings, ropes, nylon-cables or stranded-cables can be used instead of chain for the belts  38   a  and  38   b . However, an important aesthetic consideration for the plant hanger  10  is an ability to unobtrusively re-attach ends of the belts  38   a  and  38   b  to form a closed loop. For the preceding reason, beaded pull-chains are preferred for securing ends of all arms  12  at the top of the plant hanger  10 . 
   The two (2) belts  38   a  and  38   b  operate similar to a pull-strings on a money-bag. That is, when those segments of the belts  38   a  and  38   b  which extend diametrically across the plant hanger  10  parallel to each other are drawn upward above the plant hanger  10 , ends of the arms  12  through which the holes  22  pass gather together to close up and encapsulate the flowerpot  14 . The lengths of the belts  38   a  and  38   b  extending above the plant hanger  10  may then be hung on a hook  42  included in a bracket  44  with the arms  12  tightly encapsulating the flowerpot  14 . 
   When the plant hanger  10  is closed as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the flare of the holes  22  aligns the beads  34  therewith. The flare of the holes  22  also facilitates a smooth flow of the belts  38   a  and  38   b  through the arms  12  and the holes  32  which pass through the beads  34  when closing the plant hanger  10  to encapsulate the flowerpot  14 . The beads  34  at the top of the plant hanger  10  keep the arms  12  uniformly separated when the plant hanger  10  is in its closed-up configuration. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the belts  38   a  and  38   b  may in some instances be sufficiently long that the arms  12  fall radially open when the belts  38   a  and  38   b  are removed from the hook  42  and the plant hanger  10  rests on a table or the ground. Arranged in this open configuration, the portions of the two (2) belts  38   a  and  38   b  which cross the open plant hanger  10  between diametrically opposite arms  12  are sufficiently flexible that a potted plant may be easily placed into or removed from the center of the plant hanger  10 . 
   The plant hanger  10  is preferably configured so a plant protrudes through the arms  12  to exhibit its full foliage unobstructed. To achieve this result, the arms  12  must be sufficiently long, at least twice the height of the flowerpot  14  without the plant. For larger planters, such long arms  12  present a problem for the length of the belts  38   a  and  38   b . If as depicted in  FIG. 3  the belts  38   a  and  38   b  are sufficiently long to allow the arms  12  to fall flat when a larger plant hanger  10  is opened, the belts  38   a  and  38   b  will generally be too long for hanging the plant hanger  10  on the hook  42  in its closed configuration. This difficulty is resolved by letting the hanging configuration take precedence and using belts  38   a  and  38   b  having a shorter length which does not permit the plant hanger  10  to open fully. When the plant hanger  10  is of a medium-size or larger, the arms  12  are sufficiently heavy that they hold the plant hanger  10  open in a radially balanced position and the potted plant can still pass to one side of the belts  38   a  and  38   b  where they extend in parallel across the larger plant hanger  10  between diametrically opposite arms  12 . 
   The functionality of the plant hanger  10  does not depend on a particular number of arms  12 . However, an even number of arms  12  increases balance for a plant hanger  10  assembled with a lesser number of arms  12 . A plant hanger  10  assembled with eight (8) arms  12  works well for a medium-size flowerpot  14 . A plant hanger  10  having six (6) arms  12  works well with a smaller flowerpot  14 . A larger flowerpot  14  may require twelve (12) or more arms  12  to be safely supported. It is conceivable that perhaps as many as thirty-two (32) arms  12  might be needed to encapsulate a particularly large potted plant. 
   Although unnecessary to their function, the arms  12  are preferably given an architectural sculpture on the exterior (convex) surface of their C-shape to make them visually attractive. However, as depicted in  FIG. 2  interior surfaces near the bottom of each of the arms  12  are formed with an extended foot  52  which in the closed plant hanger  10  extends radially inward toward the center of the plant hanger  10 . Collectively, when the plant hanger  10  is closed the feet  52  of all the arms  12  provide a base upon which the flowerpot  14  rests. 
   Although various different materials may be used in fabricating the plant hanger  10 , e.g. wood, aluminum, or hollow PVC-plastic, the preferred material for the arms  12  and beads  34  is solid, high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”). HDPE processes very easily and finishes nicely with a smooth sheen surface. HDPE has a life expectancy of at least 50 years, and in outdoor use survives extremes of weather and climate. 
   The configuration of the plant hanger  10  when disassembled permits compact packaging, and easy assembly at a remote location with minimal instructions. This characteristic of the plant hanger  10  greatly facilitates its sale via the Internet and its shipment to remote locations via common or express carrier, such as the United States Postal Service (“USPS”), United Parcel Service (“UPS”), Federal Express, etc. This characteristic of the plant hanger  10  also eliminates any requirement for assembly at the production facility. 
   Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, various alterations, modifications, and/or alternative applications of the invention will, no doubt, be suggested to those skilled in the art after having read the preceding disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications, or alternative applications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.