Abstract:
A display structure that combines a support for hanging displays with a watering system. A support beam supports hanging baskets as well as holding a spraying tube to water plants hanging from said support beam.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/711,010, filed on Aug. 17, 2004, pending. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of watering systems for plants, and particularly to the field of overhead hanging plant display watering system.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Garden centers, nurseries, florists and other places where flowers, plants and trees are sold or displayed use display stands for the display of those plants. These display stands may be simply tables, but can also be designed not only to display the plants but to provide watering for those plants as well.  
         [0004]     Many garden centers, nurseries, florists, etc. use hanging displays to display their plants. Since display space is at a premium, it is often useful to combine the display stands and hanging displays.  
         [0005]     The display of plants requires frequent watering of these plants to maintain their appearance. Often, it is difficult to maintain a regular schedule of watering due to staffing, shifts, temperature and humidity fluctuations and other problems. Further, hand watering of the plants is often uneven, not only in time but in amount as well. This can lead to deterioration of the plants. Automated watering systems have been used in the past, but these tend to be expensive and complicated to operate.  
         [0006]     Overhead systems have been used in the past to periodically water plants. These systems spray or spray water over plants, produce or other items to keep such items moist and watered. These systems are used not only for watering plant displays but also in produce sections of food supermarkets. However these systems tend to be plastic perforated piping and are not used for plant displays.  
         [0007]     Self watering planters have been developed to address these issues. However, the typical self watering planter is designed for an individual plant, thus requiring special planters for each individual plant. This can be quite expensive for large displays. Also, this limits the choices available for the individual plants in regard to color, size, shape, etc. for the displays. The self watering planters must also be connected to a water supply, thus increasing the expense and limiting the arrangement of the display.  
         [0008]     Thus a need exists for a plant watering system for providing even distribution of water to plants as well as displaying the plants as well.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention provides solutions to these and other needs by providing a display structure for use in garden centers, nurseries as well as other retail centers.  
         [0010]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display structures provide a special elongated beam for supporting hanging plants. The beam also includes an integrated channel for holding a spraying tube for watering plants.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the system provides a self watering system for display structures for plants. The system of the present invention provides a watering system for an attractive display for retail and wholesale sales of plants. The system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows plants to self water and maintain themselves without the intervention of workers.  
         [0012]     The system of a preferred embodiment provides a self watering system that is clean and attractive and does not detract from the display of the plants. The self watering system is partially hidden and non-obtrusive to the customer&#39;s shopping experience.  
         [0013]     The system of a preferred embodiment is simple and does not require expensive controls or equipment that would require constant maintenance. Once the system is setup, it is simple to maintain and only occasionally requires maintenance.  
         [0014]     These and other features of the present invention are evident from the ensuing description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a display structure for plants of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates an end view of the display structure of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cut away view of the support beam of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the support beam of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the support beam of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an end view of the support beam system of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     The present invention provides a system for providing an attractive display system for plants that also allows for the watering of plants. It is to be expressly understood that the descriptive embodiments set forth herein are intended for explanatory purposes and is not intended to unduly limit the scope of the claimed inventions. Other embodiments and applications not described herein are considered to be within the scope of the invention. It is also to be expressly understood that while specific embodiments for the components of the system are discussed, other equivalents to these embodiments that perform substantially similar functions are within the scope of the claimed inventions.  
         [0022]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . The display stand  10  of this embodiment includes a rigid frame  20  having vertical members  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  mounted on a lower base stand  30 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a spraying hanging beam  200 , shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . The beam  200 , as shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 3-6 , includes an extruded aluminum elongated section  202 . The beam  200  is open on the lower end  204  to allow access to irrigation parts  206 ,  208  formed on the inside upper portion of the beam. The irrigation parts  206 ,  208  are spaced apart sufficiently to receive an irrigation pipe with nozzles. Spacers  218  prevent the irrigation pipe from being inserted too far into the beam. Detents  216  assist in preventing the irrigation pipe from accidentally dropping out of the beam. The irrigation pipe  220 , as is well known in plant and produce displays, includes a series of spaced nozzles that are sized to cause water under pressure to spray over the displays. The resilient nature of the beam and the detents  216  interact with the irrigation parts to secure the irrigation pipe in the beam, or the irrigation parts may be slightly angled inward to secure the irrigation pipe.  
         [0023]     The upper outside portion  210  of the beam  200  provides a support for hanging plants, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The structural integrity of the beam  200  is able to carry the weight of a plurality of hanging baskets filled with plants. The spraying action from the nozzles on the irrigation pipe provides water and humidity for the plants that are hung from the support beam  200 .  
         [0024]     It is to be expressly understood that the support beam has utility separately from the above described embodiments of display stands as well as the below described watering system. It may be used alone or in combination with other display mechanisms.  
         [0025]     In this preferred embodiment, the beam  200  is attached to the lower or side surface of a display case, such as display cases  90 ,  92 . This allows the support beam to support a number of hanging baskets, providing spraying and watering to those plants as well as providing spraying to plants on the display cases  70 ,  72  and  82 . The angled surfaces  212 ,  214  and the upper surface on the outer surfaces of the beam provide mounting surfaces onto the lower surface of the display cases  90 ,  92  or underneath cabinets, produce displays or many other structures.  
         [0026]     It is to be expressly understood that the beam  200  may be used in many other applications as well. For example, the beam may be secured to permanent displays or even to produce displays such as in supermarkets. The beam may also be used inside coolers or other locations where plants may be displayed. The beam may be used alone, or in combinations with other types of plant displays.  
         [0027]     The irrigation pipe and nozzles are connected to a supply pipe for providing water to the nozzles. A timer may be used to periodically supply water to the system at timed intervals.  
         [0028]     In an alternative preferred embodiment, the nozzles  222  of the irrigation pipe  220 , shown in  FIG. 5  are clipped in place either by the design of the nozzle or through detents on the beam  200  to prevent accidental displacement of the nozzles as plants are removed and replaced on the beam. The nozzles may be adjusted side to side to allow flow of the water over the plants, but in a preferred embodiment, the nozzles are prevented from moving front to back respective to a person standing in front of the display. In other embodiments, the nozzles may be removable or otherwise adjustable.  
         [0029]     The use of the system of the present invention enables the plants to be self watering in an attractive and clean environment. There is no need for special containers or special equipment beyond the system as discussed above. The system allows plants to be displayed in an attractive manner in a healthy environment without the constant intervention of workers.  
         [0030]     It is to be expressly understood that while the above described embodiment sets forth a particular embodiment, other embodiments may be used as well to provide a combination of a watering or spraying tube with a hanging plant display. For example, the beam  200  may include an external attachment for securing the spraying tube to the outside of the beam. Also, the beam may be formed from sheet metal, structural plastic, or any other suitable material.  
         [0031]     It is to be expressly understood that other embodiments of the present invention are included in the claims. The above explanatory embodiments are provided for descriptive purposes only.