Abstract:
A plant support is assembled from a plurality of interchangeable parts that can be readily assembled together to form a complete plant assembly having a desired size, in either an open or closed configuration, and to readily permit disassembly for storage or reconfiguration of the support. The plant support may be made up of various horizontal and vertical members that are configured to readily attach and detach from one another in order to form supports in various shapes and sizes such as enclosures or trellis-type supports. The vertical members are stackable and held together or joined via one or more couplers that join an upper end of one vertical member with a lower end of another vertical member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/784,253, filed May 20, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/185,769, filed Jun. 10, 2009, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to support structures, and, more particularly, to supports for garden plants and the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vegetation supports are typically made of metal wire, and include ground stakes at their lower portions for inserting into a relatively soft ground surface in order to support one or more plants growing from the surface. Typical plant supports are of a fixed size with multiple sizes of plant supports offered to accommodate different sizes of plants. Typical plant supports occupy a significant amount of space in storage, and must be purchased in various sizes to accommodate plants that can grow significantly throughout a growing season. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a plant support assembled from a plurality of interchangeable parts that can be readily assembled together to form a complete plant assembly having a desired size, in either an open or closed configuration, and to readily permit disassembly for storage or reconfiguration of the support. The plant support may be made up of various horizontal and vertical members that are configured to readily attach and detach from one another in order to form supports in various shapes and sizes, such as enclosures or trellis-type supports. 
         [0005]    According to an aspect of the present invention, a plant support assembly includes a plurality of supports having opposite end portions (such as upper and lower end portions when the supports are disposed in a generally vertical orientation). The supports comprise a plurality of stop members spaced therealong. The plant support assembly includes a plurality of non-vertical supports or cross supports or lateral supports, with the lateral supports having end portions for engaging the generally vertical supports between the stop members. At least one of the end portions of each of the lateral supports releasably engages one of the generally vertical supports between adjacent ones of the stop members. The stop members are configured to limit movement of the lateral support along the generally vertical support. 
         [0006]    Optionally, the stop members may comprise disc portions having diameters that are approximately equal to a diameter of the cross dimensions of the generally vertical support between the disc portions. Optionally, the disc portions may have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the cross dimension of the support between the spaced apart disc portions. Optionally, the upper end of the generally vertical support may include a coupler that is configured to join the upper end portion of one of the generally vertical supports to a lower end portion of another of the generally vertical supports. 
         [0007]    These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plant support assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation and partial sectional view of a vertically oriented post of the plant support assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vertical post of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a connecting rod or lateral support of the plant support assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the connecting rod of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a vertical post in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7A  is a sectional view of the vertical post of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7B  is a sectional view of another vertical post of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a connecting rod useful in conjunction with the vertical post of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9A  is a sectional view of the connecting rod of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9B  is a top plan view of an end portion of the connecting rod of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another plant support assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a support subassembly of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12A  is a top plan view of a connecting element of the plant support of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12B  is a side elevation of the connecting element of  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13A  is a top plan view of a connecting member for connecting or joining the ends of vertical posts of the plant support of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13B  is a side elevation of the connecting member of  FIG. 13A ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a pair of plant supports of  FIG. 10  stacked atop one another to form a double-height plant support in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a plant support enclosure in a parallelogram configuration having four of the subassemblies of  FIG. 11  joined together to establish a closed structure in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a five-sided plant support enclosure having five of the subassemblies of  FIG. 11  joined together to establish a closed structure in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a portion of an open-configuration plant support having a zigzag or bent pattern of supports in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of another open-configuration plant support having a generally straight alignment of supports in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a plant support assembly  10  ( FIG. 1 ) provides support for plants, such as garden plants, small trees, shrubs, potted plants, and the like, in order to keep the plants substantially elevated and spaced above a soil surface. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , plant support assembly  10  is constructed from a pair of subassemblies  12  stacked one atop the other. Each subassembly  12  is made up of a pair of vertical posts or supports  14  and at least one horizontal or non-vertical or cross or lateral bar or support or connecting rod  16  that joins the posts together. The lateral supports  16  may be clipped or snapped to the vertical posts  14  at desired locations along the post or posts  14  to form the desired or appropriate support structure configuration for the particular application of the support assembly, as discussed below. As will be more fully described below, multiple subassemblies  12  may be joined side-by-side and/or one atop the other to form different sizes and shapes of support assemblies or structures, such as straight or angled fences or trellises, and various closed forms such as polygonal shapes (when viewed from above) or the like. 
         [0031]    Vertical posts  14  are configured for use in a generally vertical orientation (such as via insertion of a lower end of the post into the support surface or ground or the like such that the post is disposed in a generally vertical orientation) include upper end portions  14   a  and lower end portions  14   b  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). Vertical posts  14  may comprise a plastic or polymeric or metallic material and may be substantially rigid so that lower end portions  14   b  are insertable into a soil surface or any other relatively soft material or growth media. For example, vertical posts  14  may comprise any suitable material, such as molded or extruded plastic or polymeric materials, fiber-filled resins, metal, wood, or the like. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , vertical post  14  is generally cross-shaped at cross-shaped sections  15 , with a plurality of spaced apart stop members or disc portions  17  disposed or formed or established along the post  14  and between the cross-shaped sections in alternating fashion along a substantial portion of the length of the post. Cross-shaped sections  15  and disc portions  17  may support vertical loads on vertical posts  14 , while also resisting bending or twisting of the post. 
         [0032]    Disc portions  17  of vertical support  14  have a greater diameter than the outer dimensions of cross-shaped sections  15  for supporting horizontal supports  16  in a manner described below. Disc portions  17  are sufficiently spaced from one another so that at least one, and optionally two or more, horizontal supports  16  may be simultaneously coupled to the vertical post  14  at a given cross-shaped section of the post between any two adjacent disc portions. In addition to supporting horizontal supports  16 , disc portions  17  provide support surfaces for vines and other climbing plants, and offer at least partial or limited vertical support for other plants that contact the disc portions. Although shown as generally round in shape, it will be appreciated that disc portions  17  may be substantially any shape, such as ellipsoidal or polygonal or the like, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0033]    Optionally, two or more posts  14  may be generally vertically stacked or joined together to form or establish a taller configuration or assembly, depending on the particular application of the plant support assembly. For example, a hollow-cylindrical coupler or barrel  30  may be positioned or formed at upper end portion  14   a  of a vertical post  14 , and may be configured to facilitate stacking of multiple plant support subassemblies  12 , such as shown in  FIG. 1 . Barrel  30  includes an upper end portion  30   a  and a lower end portion  30   b,  with the upper end portion  30   a  having an opening in its upper surface for receiving the lower end portion  14   b  of an upper vertical post, and the lower end portion  30   b  for stopping or limiting travel of the vertical post as it is inserted into the barrel. In addition, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , barrel  30  is attached or formed or molded at lower end portion  30   b  to upper end portion  14   a  of vertical post  14 . Thus, barrel  30  at an upper end portion  14   a  of a lower post may receive lower end portion  14   b  of an upper post via an interference fit to frictionally retain the lower end portion of the upper post in the barrel of the lower post. Barrel  30  may be molded or integrally formed at the upper end of a post (such as shown) or may be otherwise attached to the upper end of the post. Optionally, the barrel element may comprise a separate part or coupler that receives the upper end of a post at one end and a lower end of a post at the other end to couple the posts together. Optionally, the barrel element or stacking or joining element may comprise an angled element such that, when attached or disposed at an upper end of a generally vertical post, an upper post may be disposed or attached at the barrel element and may extend at an angle away from vertical as it extends from the barrel element and lower vertical post. Thus, different shapes may be established or configured via use of posts and cross supports (and the cross supports or non-vertical supports may have angled connectors to further enhance the versatility and adaptability of the plant support assembly to configure to almost any desired shape or form). 
         [0034]    Horizontal supports or connecting rods  16  may comprise a plastic or polymeric material and may be molded or formed with generally cross-shaped cross sections, and include releasable couplers or clips  22  ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 ) at opposite ends thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, each releasable coupler  22  comprises a generally C-shaped open-ended collar having an open end  26  for releasably receiving one of vertical posts  14  at one of the cross-shaped sections  15  of the vertical post. Each coupler  22  includes a pair of flexible opposed portions or legs  28  that cooperate to define the C-shape that generally corresponds to the outer dimensions of vertical posts  14 . Each opposed leg  28  includes an outwardly-flared portion  18   a  that facilitates releasable coupling of coupler  22  to vertical post  14  by guiding the vertical post through the open end  26  of coupler  22 , whereby opposed legs  28  initially flex apart to receive the cross-shaped section of the vertical post, and then contract or return to or toward their initial state around the vertical post to retain the cross-shaped section inside the C-shaped channel defined between the opposed legs  28 , such as shown in  FIG. 1 . Horizontal supports  16  serve to hold vertical posts  14  at a substantially fixed or stable or uniform or controlled spacing from one another, and stabilize both subassemblies  12  and support assembly  10 . Horizontal supports  16  may comprise any suitable material, such as substantially similar materials to the vertical post materials, so long as legs  28  are sufficiently strong and resilient to readily permit flexing without fracture or permanent deformation. In addition, horizontal supports  16  form support surfaces for plants or portions of plants growing upwardly along support assembly  10 , and are readily attached to and detached from vertical posts  14  for assembly and/or reconfiguration of the desired or appropriate structure, and/or storage of the individual components of the plant support assembly. 
         [0035]    When the horizontal supports  16  are coupled to vertical posts  14 , the releasable coupler  22  of each horizontal support  16  is limited or substantially precluded from sliding downward (or upward) along vertical posts  14  by the coupler  22  or opposed legs  28  contacting an adjacent one of the disc portions  17 , or by contacting another coupler  22  of another horizontal support  16  that is in contact with a disc portion  17 . Disc portions  17  thus serve to limit downward or sliding movement of releasable coupler  22  along the vertical post  14  when the supports and posts are assembled to a desired or appropriate configuration or structure. Optionally, it will be appreciated that other means of limiting or substantially precluding sliding of the couplers along the vertical posts are contemplated, such as those described below with reference to  FIGS. 6-9B , while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Optionally, for example, the opposed legs and coupler may be formed with a slot that may receive a disc portion when the coupler is attached to or clipped to a vertical post at the disc portion, whereby the disc portion may limit upward and downward movement of the coupler along the vertical post. 
         [0036]    Also, when the horizontal supports are attached to the vertical posts via the couplers  22 , the horizontal supports  16  are substantially free to rotate 360 degrees around the post  14  until positioned at a desired or appropriate orientation or angle relative to the vertical post and/or another horizontal support. Thus, the horizontal supports may be readily rotated or pivoted or swung to the desired or appropriate orientations (while the horizontal supports are attached to the vertical posts) to arrange or configure or adjust or reconfigure the horizontal supports and support assembly for the particular application of the plant support assembly. 
         [0037]    Optionally, the releasable couplers at each end of the horizontal support or cross-member may be angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the cross-member. Thus, the cross-member or support may be disposed or arranged in a non-horizontal or laterally extending orientation and may extend between two adjacent vertical posts at an angle (such as, for example, 20 degrees or 30 degrees or 45 degrees) relative to a horizontal plane, while the couplers have a generally vertical axis of the respective receiving passageway so as to facilitate coupling of the angled cross-member to the generally vertical supports or posts. Such an angled cross-member configuration may further enhance the versatility of the support assembly and/or may enhance the structural rigidity of the support assembly. 
         [0038]    Optionally, and with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7A , a vertical post  14 ′ of a plant support assembly of the present invention may include generally cross-shaped sections  15 ′ with disc portions  17 ′ spaced along the vertical post  14 ′. As shown in  FIG. 7A , disc portions  17 ′ do not extend radially past a diameter or cross-dimension of the cross-shaped portion  15 ′ of the vertical post  14 ′. Disc portions  17 ′ thus may have the same diameter as the cross-dimension of the cross-shaped portion or may have a smaller diameter than the cross-dimension of the cross-shaped portion, and thus the disc portions  17 ′ may be engaged by tabs or extensions  21 ′ ( FIG. 9B ) disposed at or inside and extending from releasable couplers  22 ′ at opposite ends of a horizontal support  16 ′ ( FIG. 8 ). Horizontal support  16 ′ may be substantially similar to horizontal support  16 , and may include one or more tabs  21 ′ extending radially inward into the channel defined by opposed legs  28 ′ of releasable couplers  22 ′. 
         [0039]    When horizontal support  16 ′ is installed at vertical post  14 ′, the radially inwardly-extending tabs  21 ′ extend into the spaces between adjacent legs or cross-elements of cross-shaped section  15 ′, and engage or rest upon an upper surface of one of disc portions  17 ′ when the support  16 ′ is disposed at a level at or near the disc portion, whereby the disc portions limit or substantially preclude further vertical movement (such as downward movement) of the horizontal support  16 ′ along the vertical post  14 ′. Optionally, a horizontal support (similar to support  16 ′ of  FIG. 8 , but lacking the radially inwardly-extending tabs  21 ′) may be prevented from sliding by modified disc portions  17 ″ disposed or formed at and spaced along a vertical post  14 ″ ( FIG. 7B ), where vertical post  14 ″ includes disc portions  17 ″ that extend radially outwardly from the outer dimensional limits of cross shaped sections  15 ″. In such an application, the upper surfaces of disc portions  17 ″ may engage the lower surfaces of the opposed legs of the releasable coupler of the horizontal support, which may or may not include radially inwardly-extending tabs at its coupler. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10-12B , another plant support assembly  110  ( FIG. 10 ) may be made up of a plurality of subassemblies  112  ( FIG. 11 ) including vertical posts or supports  114  and horizontal or non-vertical bars or supports  116 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 10 , plant support assembly  110  is assembled or configured to be generally triangular in shape when viewed from above, and includes three subassemblies  112  cooperating in a manner described below. A plurality of connecting rods or elements  118  is provided at and along an upper end of the assembly and connecting to the upper ends of the vertical posts to stabilize plant support assembly  110 . 
         [0041]    Vertical posts  114  include upper end portions  114   a  and lower end portions  114   b.  Vertical posts  114  may comprise any suitable material and may be substantially rigid so that lower end portions  114   b  are insertable into a soil surface, or substantially any other relatively soft material or growth media. Vertical post  114  may have a substantially continuous cross-shaped section in order to primarily support vertical loads while also resisting bending or twisting of the post, and may be made from extruded plastic, fiber-filled resins, and the like. The size or cross dimension of the vertical post is sized to be receivable in the couplers of the horizontal supports  116  when the supports and posts are assembled together and configured to the desired or appropriate shape of the completed plant support assembly. 
         [0042]    Horizontal supports  116  are similarly molded or formed with cross-shaped cross sections, and include a fixed coupler  120  and a releasable coupler  122  at opposite ends thereof. The couplers  120 ,  122  are configured to attach or connect the support  116  to and between a pair of posts. Fixed coupler  120  may be fixedly attached or secured to vertical post  114 , such as via snapping or molding or welding the fixed coupler to the post. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed coupler  120  is generally C-shaped to define or establish a space or passageway  124  ( FIG. 11 ) that is large enough to receive a leg  128  of a releasable coupler  122  of another support to permit attachment of a releasable coupler  122  of an adjacent subassembly  112  to the vertical post  114  at passageway  124  of fixed coupler  120 . 
         [0043]    Releasable coupler  122 , located at an opposite end of horizontal support  116  from fixed coupler  120 , is a generally C-shaped open-sided collar having an open end  126  for releasably receiving the vertical post of an adjacent subassembly, such as in a similar manner as discussed above. Each releasable coupler  122  includes a pair of flexible opposed portions or legs  128  cooperating to define the C-shape, with the legs being spaced apart and shaped to generally correspond to or to adapt to the outer dimensions of vertical posts  114 . Each opposed leg  128  includes an outwardly-flared portion  128   a  that facilitates releasable coupling of coupler  122  to vertical post  114  by guiding the vertical post through the open end  126 , whereby opposed legs  128  initially flex apart to receive the vertical post, and then contract around the vertical post to retain the horizontal support  116  at the vertical post  114 , with the post disposed or received inside the C-shaped channel defined between the opposed legs  128 , such as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0044]    When the horizontal support is attached or connected to the post, one of the legs  128  of the coupler  122  may be received in the C-shaped aperture of the fixed coupler  120  (such as shown in  FIG. 10 ) so that the horizontal supports  116  may be disposed at the same level and need not be staggered in height along the vertical posts. Releasable coupler  122  is limited or substantially prevented from sliding along vertical posts  114  by one of opposed legs  128  contacting a lower one of the legs  125  of fixed coupler  120  (with legs  125  acting as stop members), thereby preventing further downward or sliding movement of releasable coupler  122 . Optionally, it will be appreciated that other means of preventing couplers from sliding along vertical posts are possible, such as those described above with the reference to  FIGS. 6-9B . 
         [0045]    In the illustrated embodiment, a hollow-cylindrical coupler or barrel or sleeve  130  receives upper end portion  114   a  of vertical posts  114 , and is configured to facilitate attachment of connecting elements  118  in addition to optional stacking of multiple plant support assemblies  110 , such as described below. For example, sleeve  130  may receive upper end portion  114   a  of vertical post  114  via an interference fit to frictionally retain the coupler on the vertical post. Optionally, sleeve  130  may be glued or otherwise fastened to vertical post  114 . Sleeve  130  includes an upper end portion  130   a  and a lower end portion  130   b,  the lower end portion  130   b  for receiving upper end portion  114   a  of vertical post  114 , and the upper end portion  130   a  for receiving lower end portion  114   b  of another vertical post (such as shown in  FIG. 14 ) and/or for receiving a connecting member or insert  132  that facilitates attachment of connecting elements  118 . 
         [0046]    Connecting elements  118  include hollow ring portions  134  at opposite ends thereof for attachment of the elements at or near upper end portions  114   a  of vertical posts  114 . Connecting members  132  include upper flanges  132   a  and lower portions  132   b.  The lower portions  132   b  are inserted into and engage the upper end portion  130   a  of sleeve  130  to retain the connecting element  118  and insert  132  at the sleeve  130 . Connecting members  132  and hollow ring portions  134  are cooperatively sized so that lower portions  132   b  of connecting members  132  are insertable into hollow ring portions  134  of connecting elements  118 , while upper flanges  132   a  of connecting members  132  are sized so as not to pass through hollow ring portions  134 , and retain the hollow ring portions against upper end portions  130   a  of sleeves  130 . 
         [0047]    Accordingly, and as shown in FIGS.  10  and  14 - 18 , connecting elements  118  are attachable at upper end portions  114   a  of vertical posts  114  by placing hollow ring portions  134  ( FIGS. 12A and 12B ) of connecting elements  118  atop upper end portions  130   a  of sleeves  130  (stacking hollow ring portions  134  of adjacent connecting elements  118  atop one another as necessary), and retaining the hollow ring portions at sleeves  130  by inserting lower portions  132   b  of connecting members  132  through hollow ring portions  134  and into upper end portions  130   a  of sleeves  130 . To facilitate retention of connecting elements  118 , lower portion  132   b  of connecting member  132  may be sized to fit tightly within upper end portion  130   a  of sleeves  130  so as to create a frictional or interference fit. 
         [0048]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that substantially any number of subassemblies may be coupled together to form the desired or appropriate support structure or assembly, such as, for example, a fully-closed enclosure (such as a triangular-shaped structure, a square-shaped structure, or other polygonal-shaped structure), an open-ended enclosure (such as a C-shaped enclosure), or a trellis or fence structure having opposite ends. For example, three subassemblies  112  may be joined to form a plant support assembly  110  having the shape of an equilateral triangle when viewed from above ( FIG. 10 ). Optionally, two or more plant support assemblies  110  may be stacked in the manner described above with sleeves  130  of a lower support assembly  110  receiving the lower end portion of a vertical post of an upper support assembly in order to form a plant support assembly  110 ′ having increased height ( FIG. 14 ). It will further be appreciated that additional subassemblies  112  may be added to create different shapes of closed enclosures, such as, for example, a four-sided enclosure or structure  210  ( FIG. 15 ), a five-sided enclosure or structure  310  ( FIG. 16 ), or enclosures having virtually any other number of sides. Optionally, two or more subassemblies  112  may be combined or attached to one another to create an open form, such as a zigzag pattern or bent wall structure  410  ( FIG. 17 ) or a straight pattern or wall  510  ( FIG. 18 ) resembling a fence or trellis. 
         [0049]    Thus, substantially any number of subassemblies  112  may be releasably snap-fit together by joining releasable couplers  122  to the vertical posts  114  of adjacent subassemblies  112  and attaching connecting rods  118  using connecting members  132  and sleeves  130 . Plant support assemblies  110  may thus be readily assembled and disassembled and/or reconfigured by hand, without the use of tools, and may be readily disassembled and stored in a flat configuration during periods of nonuse in order to minimize storage space for the assembly components. The height of the support structure may also be readily adjusted or increased or decreased during the growing season by stacking or unstacking similarly-shaped assemblies atop one another to support growing plants. 
         [0050]    Therefore, the present invention provides a plant support structure or assembly that is readily configurable to a desired or appropriate size and shape depending on the particular application of the support assembly. The horizontal supports or cross members may be readily attached at desired or appropriate locations along the vertical posts and may be retained at the selected height along the posts, in order to provide the desired or appropriate structural rigidity of the support assembly and the desired configuration to promote climbing of the plant that the support assembly is supporting. The vertical posts and the horizontal supports may both comprise a plastic or polymeric material and may be molded to the desired shapes of the vertical posts and horizontal supports. 
         [0051]    Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.