Abstract:
A planter ( 1 ) which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor. The planter ( 1 ) includes at least one rod ( 6 ) which extends upward from the bottom ( 2 ) of the planter ( 1 ). The rod ( 6 ) may be molded into the planter ( 1 ) or removably secured to the bottom ( 2 ) of the planter ( 1 ). Accessories, such as clocks, sports objects, coat hangers, temperature gauges, etc., are secured on the rod ( 6 ) as desired to match any theme or decor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to planters, more particularly, a planter which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor. 
         [0002]    Planters are an effective way of displaying plant life and decorating an area. Currently, planters and other types of containers for plants are widely used for both interior and exterior decoration. If the user needs a planter that matches a specific theme or decor he/she only has the options of the type, size, and/or color of the planter and the type of plant to go in it. 
         [0003]    Thus, a need exists for a planter which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor. 
         [0004]    The relevant prior art includes the following references: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Patent No. 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (U.S. unless 
               
               
                 stated otherwise) 
                 Inventor 
                 Issue/Publication Date 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1. 52,200 
                 Prince 
                   
                 Jan. 23, 1866 
               
               
                 2. 2,605,588 
                 Lindstaedt 
                 Feb. 24, 1948 
                 Aug. 05, 1952 
               
               
                 3. 4,102,081 
                 Morrow 
                 Feb. 14, 1977 
                 Jul. 25, 1978 
               
               
                 4. 4,635,394 
                 Brown 
                 Feb. 21, 1985 
                 Jan. 13, 1987 
               
               
                 5. 4,912,875 
                 Tardif 
                 Feb. 27, 1989 
                 Apr. 03, 1990 
               
               
                 6. 5,052,148 
                 Sharon et al. 
                 Aug. 28, 1990 
                 Oct. 01, 1991 
               
               
                 7. 5,743,044 
                 Hopkins 
                 Jun. 24, 1996 
                 May 28, 1998 
               
               
                 8. 2006/0283082 
                 Stevenson, III 
                 Mar. 28, 2006 
                 Dec. 21, 2006 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide an accessorized planter which:
       is capable of receiving and displaying a variety of different accessories;   may be customized to fit any theme or decor;   may be used with any type of planter;   enhances the appearance of the planter;   enhances the utility of the planter;   enhances the appearance of any plant life displayed in the planter; and   enhances the appearance of the host environment.       
 
         [0013]    The present invention accomplishes these and other objectives by providing a planter which may be easily customized with attachable accessories to match any theme or to fit any decor. The planter includes at least one rod which extends upward. The rod may be molded into the planter or secured to the bottom of the planter using a variety of securing means such as threads, bolts, nuts, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, etc. Accessories, such as clocks, sports objects, coat hangers, temperature gauges, etc., are secured on the rod as desired to match any theme or decor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective plan view of an accessorized planter of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective plan view of a planter of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front plan view of a rod and stabilizer plate removably attached to a planter with threads and a nut; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of a rod and stabilizer plate removably attached to a planter with threads and a bolt; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of a rod and stabilizer plate removably attached to a planter and held in place with dirt and rocks; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a front plan view of an accessorized planter of the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a reservoir partition. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1. 
                 planter 
               
               
                 2. 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 3. 
                 center hole 
               
               
                 4. 
                 sides 
               
               
                 5. 
                 upper rim 
               
               
                 6. 
                 rod 
               
               
                 7. 
                 stabilizer plate 
               
               
                 8. 
                 crosspiece 
               
               
                 9. 
                 reservoir partition 
               
               
                 10. 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 11. 
                 nut 
               
               
                 12. 
                 dirt and/or rocks 
               
               
                 13. 
                 decorative ball 
               
               
                 14. 
                 clock 
               
               
                 15. 
                 rubber ring 
               
               
                 16. 
                 cap 
               
               
                 17. 
                 baseball 
               
               
                 18. 
                 baseball bat 
               
               
                 19. 
                 baseball glove 
               
               
                 20. 
                 picture frame 
               
               
                 21. 
                 screw 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective plan view of a planter of the present invention is shown. The planter  1 , generally includes a bottom  2  having a center hole  3 , circular sides  4  and an upper rim  5 . A rod  6  extends upward through the center of the planter  1  and is capably of receiving additional rods  6  to achieve any desired height. The rod or rods  6  may be strait as shown in  FIG. 1  or may be decoratively shaped in designs such as a spiral as shown in  FIG. 4 , a baseball bat as shown in  FIG. 6 , a golf club, a wine rack, etc. The rod or rods may be attached together by a variety of means such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, screws, etc. 
         [0024]    The rod  6  may be fixedly or removably attached to a stabilizer plate  7  and may be attached to the planter  1  using a variety of different methods such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, bolts, nuts, etc. Several versions of the planter  1  are disclosed showing different methods of attaching the rod  6  and stabilizer plate  7  to the planter  1 . 
         [0025]    In a first version, the rod  6  and stabilizer plate  7  are molded into the planter  1 . In a second version, the rod  6  and stabilizer plate  7  rest on the inside bottom  2  of the planter  1  and are attached to the planter with a bolt  11  which passes through the center hole  3  of the planter  1  and is received by the rod  6 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In a third version, the rod  6  and stabilizer plate  7  rest on the inside bottom  2  of the planter  1  and are attached and held in place by adhesive and/or the weight of dirt and/or rocks  12  placed in the planter  1  on top of the stabilizer plate  7  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In a fourth version, the stabilizer plate  7  rests against the underside bottom  2  of the planter  1 . In this version, the rod  6  passes through the center hole  3  and is attached to the planter  1  using nut  11  as shown in  FIG. 3 . It is therefore a primary advantage of the present invention to provide a rod  6  and stabilizer plate  7  which are capable of being used in any sized or shaped planter  1 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a crosspiece  8  which provides additional attachment points for accessories may be attached the rod  6  using a variety of means such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, screws, etc. 
         [0027]    As shown on  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , a reservoir partition  9  having perforations and made out of a water resistant material, may be attached to the rod  6  by a variety of different fastening means such as threads, nuts, bolts, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, etc. The reservoir partition  9  is placed on the rod  6  so as to created a space in between the bottom  2  of the planter  1  and the dirt and/or rocks. Water is collected in the bottom of the planter  1  in the space created by the reservoir partition  9  and provides nourishment to any plant life when needed. 
         [0028]    A wide variety of accessories may be displayed on planter such as sports equipment, sports memorabilia, clocks, coat hangers, thermometers, picture frames, hooks, etc. The accessories may be attached to the rod  6  and/or crosspiece  8  using a variety of different means such as threads, snap means, glue, adhesive, cotter pins, hooks, screws, etc. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a rod  6  passes through a decorative ball  13  having a hole located through its center and the decorative ball  13  is held is place by a rubber ring  15 . Above the decorative ball  13 , the rod  6  passes through a clock  14  with a hole located through its center and the clock  14  is held in place by a rubber ring  15 . Above the clock  14 , the rod  6  passes through another decorative ball  13  having a hole located through its center and the decorative ball  13  is held is position by a rubber ring  15 . The top of the rod  6  has threads to receive an additional rod  6  or a cap  16 . 
         [0030]    In a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the planter  1  is in the shape of a baseball helmet. A rod  6  extending upward through the planter  1  passes through a baseball  17  having a hole located through its center and the baseball  17  is held in position by a rubber ring  15 . Above the baseball  17 , the rod  6  passes through a baseball bat  18  with a hole located through its center and the baseball bat  18  is held in position by a screw  21 . Above the baseball bat  18 , the rod  6  passes through a baseball glove  19  which is held in position by a rubber ring  15 . A picture frame  20  is attached to the baseball glove  19 . Above the baseball glove  19 , the rod  6  passes though another baseball  17  having a hole located through its center and the baseball  17  is held in position by a rubber ring  15 . The top of the extension rod has threads to receive an additional rod  6  or a cap  16 . 
         [0031]    It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.