Abstract:
A modular plant container system is disclosed for displaying and providing life support and mechanical support for live, synthetic, and rootless plants. The system includes a primary container, a subcontainer intended to contain life supporting elements such as nutrients, soil, and moisture, and a removable structure that engages with the primary container and the subcontainer to support the trunks of rootless plants such as live Christmas trees or top heavy synthetic plants. Said removable structure is configured to support a wide variety of trunk sizes be easily installed or removed from said primary container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention is containers for holding live or synthetic plants for display or sale, as well as containers that provide life support and mechanical support for plants such as Christmas trees that have been severed from their roots. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Virtually everyone has both indoor and outdoor plants in their homes or workplaces. The containers that these flora are typically sold in are plastic buckets. The plants—after purchase—are usually transferred to a more aesthetically pleasing container, which may be plastic, wood, metal, pottery, or another form of soil, moisture, and nutrient container that helps keep the plant alive. 
         [0003]    Millions of Christmas trees are severed from their roots and sold to customers who hope that they last a few weeks until the Christmas season is over. Special support mechanisms are offered with these trees to keep them upright during their intended use period. These devices typically consist of at least three horizontal struts extending from a circular frame with several screws that can be tightened to clamp the tree trunk in a substantially vertical position so the tree can remain stable on a floor. There are also various nutrient retaining solutions that are applied to the severed tree trunk to extend its useful life and keep the branches from drying out. The support mechanisms are often covered with decorative cloth or other camouflage since they are generally functional rather than aesthetic. 
         [0004]    There is also a growing supply of synthetic Christmas trees offered for sale. These trees are usually supplied with a very basic support structure that is typically shrouded with an aesthetic medium of the customer&#39;s choosing. 
         [0005]    Often, a live plant may be temporarily moved from its preferred location in a home to make room for either a Christmas tree with severed roots or a synthetic Christmas tree. After the holiday season, the Christmas tree is moved to a storage location or to the trash. 
         [0006]    There are more and more synthetic plants of many genuses being made available to fill the need for natural feeling environments with challenging plant life support resources—as well to satisfy the environmental preferences of people who just can&#39;t keep real plants alive. 
         [0007]    There is a need for a container system that can improve the aesthetic appearance of live plants for indoor and outdoor positioning, as well as provide life support for a live plant without spilling water and/or nutrient sources, and also display and provide life support for a tree with severed roots, or a top heavy synthetic plant. The present invention serves these needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved modular plant container system comprises a container having a base and a hollow enclosure extending upward from said base and being open at the top. Said first container may be formed from pieces of wood, molded from plastic, formed of metal, formed in clay, or formed from any other solid medium. Said first container may form a square, rectangular, cylindrical, or any other solid shape enclosure. Said first container is intended to provide aesthetic appeal. 
         [0009]    A second container configured to nest within said first container also comprises a base with a hollow enclosure extending upward from said base and being open at the top. Said second container may be formed from pieces of wood, molded from plastic, formed of metal, formed in clay, or formed from any other solid medium. Said second container may form a square, rectangular, cylindrical, or any other solid shape enclosure, and is not as tall as said first container, its top edge being at least several inches shorter than the upper edge of said first container when said second container is placed within said first container. Said second container is intended to provide mechanical support for a live plant with or without roots and also retain water, soil, or nutrients to provide life support for said live plant. 
         [0010]    A third container comprising a substantially “Criss-Cross” or “H” shaped space frame and a clamping system is provided which is designed to slide over a tree trunk which has been severed from its roots—such as a typically Christmas tree. Said third container may be formed from pieces of wood, molded from plastic, formed of metal, formed in clay, or formed from any other solid medium. Said third container may form a square, rectangular, cylindrical, or any other solid shape substantially “H” shaped space frame that may be clamped to said rootless tree trunk and nest within said first container. 
         [0011]    The horizontal extremities of said third container rest against the inner walls of said first container and the lower surface of said third container rests against the upper edge of said second container. The clamping mechanism of said third container is configured with at least one threadably mounted shaft penetrating said third container in a substantially horizontal plane. 
         [0012]    Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. All illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically, rather than literally or precisely. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. However, like parts do not always have like reference numerals. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example embodiment of an improved modular plant container system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the major components nested together in an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1   
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is top view schematic of the major components of an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an isometric illustration of a support frame configuration of an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4   a  is a top view schematic illustration of a support frame configuration of an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an isometric illustration of an alternative support frame configuration of an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   a  is a top view schematic illustration of an alternative support frame configuration of an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1  containing a rootless tree and life support elements. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of an improved modular plant container system of  FIG. 1  containing a rootless tree and life support elements as well as a riser. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    The attached drawing figures share common numerals where appropriate, and for simplicity and clarity certain figures have fewer numerals to avoid confusion. For example, in  FIG. 1 , only the three basic key component numerals are provided. In the remaining figures additional numerals are added as the element details of said key components require. 
         [0024]    In the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the improved container system as disclosed herein comprises three primary elements including a first container  20 , a second container  30 , and a support frame  40 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , said first container  20  has a top edge  22 , a base  24 , walls  26 , and an interior space  28 . Said first container  20  and top edge  22 , base  24 , and walls  26  may be formed of separate parts or molded as one piece. Said first container  20  may be formed from pieces of wood, molded from plastic, formed of metal, formed in clay, or formed from any other solid medium. Said first container  20  may form a square, rectangular, cylindrical, or any other solid shape enclosure. Said first container  20  is intended to provide aesthetic appeal and provide said interior space  28  within which the rest of the components disclosed herein might be placed. 
         [0025]    Also as detailed in  FIG. 2 , a second container  30  is provided which also incorporates a top edge  32 , a base  34 , walls  36 , and an interior space  38 . Said second container  30  is intended to nest within said first container  20 . Said second container may be formed from pieces of wood, molded from plastic, formed of metal, formed in clay, or formed from any other solid medium. Said second container  30  may form a square, rectangular, cylindrical, or any other solid shape enclosure, and is not intended to be as tall as said first container  20 . 
         [0026]    As presented in  FIG. 1 , and further detailed in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 4   a,  tree trunk support frame  40  is provided with a pair of x-axis arms  42  and a pair of y-axis arms  44  configured in a criss-cross manner at substantially ninety degrees to each other. Said arms  42  and  44  may be fabricated from separate pieces of solid material such as wood, metal, plastic, or any other solid material, or said arms  42  and  44  may also be formed from an extruded or molded plastic, metal, or other solid material. As further shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 4   a,  in a preferred embodiment of said support frame  40 , said arms  42  and  44  define a z-axis height sufficient to provide a tree trunk clamping zone  50 . Said clamping zone  50  includes at least one tensioning screw  46  which threadably breaches said clamping zone  50  through a mid point of said clamping area  50  through at least one threaded hole  45  in said arms  42  and  44  in a manner substantially parallel to said arms  42  or  44 . Ideally said clamping zone  50  will incorporate a plurality of said tensioning screw  46  and threaded hole  45 . 
         [0027]    For ease of design understanding in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 , said first container  20 , and second container  30  are drawn as transparent elements, whereas said tree trunk support frame  40  incorporates dashed lines to indicate hidden structural elements. 
         [0028]    The length and height of said arms  42  and  44  may be of any size provided that the extreme x-axis and y-axis edges of said arms  42  and  44  make contact with the inner walls  28  of said container  20  when said support frame  40  is resting on said top edge  32  of said second container  30  when said second container  30  is nested inside said first container  20  as presented in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 . 
         [0029]    As further detailed in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 5   a,  another embodiment of said support frame  40  may provide arms  42  located at the extreme ends of arms  44  and a pair of truncated additional y-axis arms  42   a  may be included to form said tree trunk clamping zone  50 . As further shown in  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of the support frame  40  in this configuration includes at least one tensioning screw  46  which threadably breaches said clamping zone  50  through a mid point of said clamping area  50  through at least one threaded hole  45  in said arms  42  and  42   a  in a manner substantially parallel to said arms  42 ,  42   a,  or  44 . The length and height of said arms  42  and  44  may be of any size provided that the extreme x-axis and y-axis edges of said arms  42  make contact with the inner walls  28  of said container  20  when said support frame  40  is resting on said top edge  32  of said second container  30  when said second container  30  is nested inside said first container  20 . 
         [0030]    As presented in  FIG. 6 , second container  30  is intended to provide a water and nutrients combination  52  or other life supporting compounds that may be transpired through the trunk of a rootless plant such as a Christmas Tree or other live plant  54 , which has been removed from its natural environment. 
         [0031]    As presented in  FIG. 7 , a riser  56  may be placed below said second container  30  to compensate for a shorter live plant  54  trunk. Said riser  56  is essentially identical to said support frame  40  except that it has no tensioning screw  46  installed. Said riser  56  may be smaller than support frame  40  if required or identical in size and shape if that configuration serves the height and support requirements of said live plant  54 . Said riser  56  incorporates dashed lines to indicate hidden structural elements. 
         [0032]    The parts of the modular container system presented in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7  may be injection molded, blow molded, or vacuum molded out of a plastic, formed from wood parts fastened together, welded from metal parts, cast from a variety of solid materials, or otherwise fabricated to effectively define the components and functions described herein. The shape and size of second container  30 , support frame  40 , and clamping zone  50  may be any shape and size that are appropriate for a given trunk diameter of a live plant  54 . For example, said first container  20 , second container  30 , support frame  40 , and clamping zone  50  may be tapering or non-tapering cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, truncated trapezoid, or any other geometric forms. 
         [0033]    Although both synthetic plant and Christmas Tree frames are currently offered that can hold a given amount of life supporting elements to provide life support for a Christmas Tree effectively, no prior art live plant container system has been disclosed that is configured in a modular fashion such that a decorative first container  20  housing a second container  30  containing a live plant with roots, may allow said second container  30  to be easily removed and replaced with another second container  30  and a support frame  40  combination wherein said second container  30  holds a water and nutrients combination  52 , and said first container  20 , second container  30 , and support frame  40  in combination provide mechanical support for a synthetic plant or both mechanical and life support for a rootless live plant  54 . 
         [0034]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the reader is to understand that the diagrams described herein are merely illustrative and that each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill in the art of live plant containers may similarly be incorporated as desired. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.