Patent Publication Number: US-7913452-B1

Title: Plant pot arrangement

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/380,313, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,617,632 filed Apr. 26, 2006 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the growing and caring of decorative plants, particularly, but not exclusively, to a plant stand that allows plant pots to be maintained in a cascading type arrangement. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The arranging of flowering and other plants dates back for eons. Many people have flowering plants in their gardens, offices, homes and in other places to provide color, fragrance and other pleasing sensory effects. Flowering and decorative plants can be arranged in many different types of arrangements. For example, in some arrangements, a shelf is provided where plant pot holding flowering plants can be stacked at different levels of height to provide different color contrasts and other visual pleasing affects. Other types of arrangements have multiple hanging plants or stackable plants. One particularly attractive type of arrangement is a cascading arrangement. Commonly, this is achieved by placing a pole, rod, or other supporting device into a plant pot and sliding plant pots onto that rod through their drain hole enabling the plant pots to be positioned at an angle to the pole. This arrangement is very aesthetically pleasing because the flowers and plants angle to different sides enabling the gardener to view all the different plants at once. 
     Drawbacks do exist with the cascading type arrangement. For instance, many cascading arrangements are somewhat unstable subjecting the plant pot to possible damage or rattling. In addition, watering of the cascading plants can be time consuming. The watering can must be moved from pot to pot at a variety of angles to ensure that the soil is made sufficiently damp. In addition, many cascading plant pot arrangements require that the pole be inserted all the way into the ground beneath the pots to support the cascading plant stand. Such a design prevents the cascading plant arrangement from being placed inside of a home or on a concrete or other rigid surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above described and other shortcomings with prior plant stand arrangements have been overcome with this invention. One aspect of this invention is a plant stand. The plant stand includes a base plant pot having an interior space defined therein, at least one side wall, and a bottom with a drain hole. A pole with a central lumen there through includes a plurality of perforations. The pole is inserted into the interior space of the base plant pot and into the drain hole in the base. A first brace has a first length. The first brace is mounted on the pole and is received inside of the interior space of the base plant pot. A second brace having a second length is mounted on the pole and is received inside of the interior space of the base pot. The braces contact the side wall of the base plant pot to stabilize the plant stand. The lumen and perforations in the pole are in fluid communication with the interior space of the base pot to provide watering access to a plant and soil contained in the base pot. 
     Another aspect of the invention is a plant stand. The plant stand includes a base pot defining an interior space, a side surface, and a bottom with a drain hole. A pole is inserted into the interior space of the base pot and aligned with the drain hole. The first brace has a first length and is positioned on the pole in the interior space of the base pot and engages the side surface of the base pot. The second brace has a second length positioned on the pole in the interior space of the base pot and engages the side surface of the base pot. Each of the braces contacts the side surface of the base pot to stabilize the plant stand. In addition, at least one upper pot has a side and a base defining a drain hole there through. The upper pot is mounted on the base pot with the pole extending through the drain hole of the upper pot. The base of the upper pot rests on one of the braces in the interior space of the base pot. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention is a kit for erecting a plant stand arrangement with a base pot and at least one upper pot. The kit includes a pole adapted to be inserted into the base pot that extends generally vertically upwardly. First and second braces are each adapted to be mounted to the pole in spaced relation to each other. The first and second braces also each contact an interior surface of the base pot. One of the braces is adapted to support the upper pot when the upper pot is mounted on the pole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side elevational view of a plant stand according to one embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the assembled plant stand of  FIG. 1  inserted into a base plant pot illustrated in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a plant pot arrangement obtained using the plant stand illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the plant pot arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an alternate embodiment of a plant stand wherein the plant stand includes a pole with slots defined therein to allow the supporting braces to be inserted through the pole; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a further alternate embodiment of a plant stand according to this invention wherein the plant stand includes a pole inserted through apertures in adjustable braces to allow the braces to be used with a variety of base pot sizes; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective exploded view of one of the braces of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  of another one of the adjustable braces; and 
         FIGS. 9-12  are cross-sectional views of the braces being adjusted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a plant stand  10  according to one embodiment of this invention includes a pole  12  used in combination with a first brace  14  having a first length L 1  and a second brace  16  having a second length L 2  to form the plant stand  10 . The pole  12  includes a lumen  18  longitudinally there through connected to a plurality of perforations  20  along the outer periphery  22  of the pole  12 . Fluid can travel through the lumen  18  and out of the perforations  20 . The first brace  14  and the second brace  16  each have a first aperture  24  and a second aperture  26 , respectively, therethrough. The first aperture  24  and the second aperture  26  are each of a diameter that is slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the pole  12 . Accordingly, the pole  12  with spaced ends  28 ,  28  can be inserted through the apertures  24 ,  26  of the first brace  14  and the second brace  16 . Forming the pole  12  and first and second brace  14 ,  16  out of resilient materials is advantageous since the forces applied to the pole  12 , the first brace  14 , and the second brace  16  are significant. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the plant stand  10  of  FIG. 1  has been inserted into a base plant pot  30  that is illustrated in phantom lines. The pole  12  of the plant stand  10  may not extend outside of the base plant pot  30  or may rest even with a bottom  32  of the base plant pot  30 . Alternatively, the lowermost end  28  of the pole  12  may rest on the ground supporting the pot  30  or a tray, plate or the like (not shown) under the pot  30 . The base plant pot  30  includes at least one sidewall  33  that extends upwardly from the bottom  32  at an angle so that the diameter of the base plant pot  30  is smaller adjacent the bottom  32  then adjacent to the upper rim  35  of the base plant pot  30 . The first brace  14  is placed closer to the bottom  32  of the base plant pot  30  to better conform to the smaller diameter of the base plant pot  30  in that region. Conversely, the longer second brace  16  is placed a little bit higher up on the pole  12 . The second brace  16  extends across a slightly larger diameter section of the base plant pot  30 . The base plant pot  30  generally tapers from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter at the bottom. The first brace  14  and second brace  16  therefore provide rigid support for the pole  12 . The braces  14 ,  16 , prevent lateral or radial movement of the pole  12 . Those skilled in the art will also note that the first and second braces  14 ,  16  easily slide up and down along the pole  12  until the correct location inside of the base plant pot  30  is determined by physical contact with the sidewall  33 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a plant pot arrangement  34  is illustrated. The plant pot arrangement  34  includes a plurality of plant pots  36  that are inserted over the pole  12 . The plant pots  36  each include a drain hole (not shown) in the respective plant pot bottom  37  to allow the plant pots  36  to slide over the pole  12 . As  FIG. 3  illustrates, the plant pots  36  are positioned on the pole  12  in an alternating arrangement. Each of the plant pots  36  rests on top of the upper rim  39 ,  35  of the plant pots  36  immediately below it and exerts a force against the pole  12  to maintain this angled, alternating configuration. In most embodiments, the plant pots  36  are generally heavy and formed from ceramic materials. However, the pots  30 ,  36  utilized with this invention may be formed of any material in any configuration. 
     Once the plant pot arrangement  34  is obtained, then soil (not shown) can be added into all the plant pots  36  for the plants. Alternatively, the pots  30 ,  36  could already be filled with soil prior to placing the pots  30 ,  36  over the pole  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , soil  38  is placed inside of the plant pots  36  and the base plant pot  30 . The base plant pot  30  has the bottom  32  to contain the soil  38  and a drain hole  40  to allow excess fluid, such as water, to flow out of the base plant pot  30 . The pole  12  can support the plant pots  36  without extending outside of the base plant pot  30  drain hole  40  thereby allowing the plant pot arrangement  34  to be placed upon interior floors or rigid ground. Support is provided by the first brace  14  and the second brace  16  contacting the side  33  of the base plant pot  30 . In addition, the second brace  16  increases support by contacting the side  33  of the base plant pot  30  at a larger diameter and assumes a spatial orientation of the second brace  16  orthogonal to the first brace  14 . In addition, the bottom  37  of the one of the plant pots  36  most proximal to the base plant pot  30  rests upon the second brace  16  and the rim  30  of the base plant pot  30 . This design allows for increased stability in the plant pot arrangement  34  and helps to prevent rattling and/or damage to the pots  30 ,  36 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an alternative form of the plant stand  10 ′ is shown. Identical reference numerals are used to identify identical parts already described above and the parts that are different are indicated with an (′) symbol, with the differences being readily ascertainable. The plant stand  10 ′ includes a pole  12 ′ that has slots  42  defined therethrough. Accordingly, the first brace  14  and the second brace  16  are not passed over the ends  28  of the pole  12 , but are inserted through the slots  42 . This design further increases stability since the vertical orientation of the braces  14 ,  16  create a stable I-beam-like cross section. In addition,  FIG. 5  also illustrates how the pole  12  having the lumen  18  waters the plants in the plant pot arrangement  34  simultaneously. Water enters the lumen  18  from a source, such as a hose, watering can or the like via the open upper end  28  of the pole  12 , and passes down through lumen  18  out the perforations  20  where it is spread to the pots  30 ,  36  positioned along the pole  12  in the plant pot arrangement  34 . In addition, it also provides fluid to the base plant pot  30 . One of ordinary skill will readily determine the appropriate quantity of water to use when watering the plants in the pots  30 ,  36  in this manner. A plug (not shown) may be inserted into the lowermost end  28  of the pole  12  or the lowermost end  28  may rest on the ground or other surface to inhibit the escape of water from the lowermost pole end  28 . The longitudinal ends  14   a ,  16   a  of the braces  14 ,  16  as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 5  may be tapered or sloped to correspond to the taper or slope of the base plant pot  30  sidewall  33  and provide a stable, secure support from the pole  12  and plant pots  36 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-12 , an alternative form of the plant stand  10 ″ is shown. Identical reference numerals are used to identify identical parts already described above and the parts that are different are indicated with an (″) symbol, with the differences being readily ascertainable. The plant stand  10 ″ includes a pole  12 . The first and second braces  14 ″ and  16 ″ are each adjustable in length in this embodiment and include apertures  24  and  26 , respectively. Accordingly, the first brace  14 ″ and the second brace  16 ″ are passed over the ends  28  of the pole  12  to be positioned in the base pot  30 . 
     Advantageously, the braces  14 ″,  16 ″ are each adjustable in length so that the braces and associated plant stand  10 ″ can be utilized with a variety of different base pot  30  configurations and sizes. Specifically, embodiments of the adjustable braces  14 ″,  16 ″ are shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively, and each include a pair of extensions  50  each projecting outwardly from one of the longitudinal ends of a brace member  52  in the form of a sleeve. As such, each of the extensions  50  may be adjusted in a telescopic manner relative to the associated brace member  52  so as to adjust the overall length of the brace  14 ″,  16 ″. Each of the extensions  50  includes a series of spaced sockets  54  formed on an upper face of the extension  50  and arranged linearly in a longitudinal direction of the extension  50 . A contoured end  58  is formed on each extension  50  which is compatible with the shape of an aperture sidewall  60  so that when the extension  50  is mated with the brace member  52 , the extension  50  may be inserted telescopically into the brace member  52  to mate with the sidewall  60  forming the aperture  24 ,  26  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11 . 
     The brace member  52  of each brace  14 ″,  16 ″ includes upper and lower walls  62 ,  64  spaced apart and joined together by a pair of lateral sidewalls  66 ,  66 . The walls  62 ,  64 ,  66  of the brace member  52  combine to form a sleeve configuration to telescopically receive the extensions  50  on opposite ends of the brace member  52  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . As previously mentioned, the aperture  24 ,  26  is formed in the middle of the brace member  52  to receive the pole  12  there through. The aperture  24 ,  26  is formed by the sidewall  60  extending between the upper and lower walls  62 ,  64  of the brace member  52  as shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . The brace member  52  may include a number of holes, apertures or voids  68  in a variety of shapes to minimize the weight of the member  52  and allow for the flow of water, moisture and soil, as appropriate. 
     Each brace member  52  also includes a pair of U-shaped slots  70  formed around a tab  72  cantilevered in the upper wall  62  of the brace member  52 . Projecting downwardly from a bottom face of each cantilevered tab  72  is a button  74  as shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . Each button  74  includes a tapered edge  76  oriented outwardly in a longitudinal direction on the brace member  52 . The button  74  projects below the lower surface of the upper wall  62  and is sized and configured to seat within each of the sockets  54  on the extension  50  as shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . The opposite edge  78  of each button  74  is not tapered. The tapered edge  76  allows the user to push the extension  50  inwardly in the direction of arrow A in  FIGS. 9-12  so as to collapse the extension  50  into the brace member  52  and shorten the overall length of the brace  14 ″,  16 ″ more easily. The lower wall  64  of the brace member  52  includes a number of openings  80  through which the user may insert a finger or other probe (not shown) to force the button  74  upwardly to release the button from the sockets  54  and allow the extension  50  to be pulled outwardly from the brace member  52  as shown by arrow B in  FIGS. 9-12 . 
     Advantageously, the design of the adjustable braces  14 ″,  16 ″ according to this embodiment of the invention allows for the length of the brace to be adjusted for compatibility with a variety of sizes and shapes of pots so that the plant stand  10 ″ can be utilized in a variety of environments. Additionally, while the extensions  50  will typically be equally spaced relative to the pole  12  and associated brace member  52 , this is not a requirement of this embodiment of the adjustable braces  14 ″,  16 ″. In other words, one extension  50  on each brace  14 ″,  16 ″ may be longitudinally positioned further or closer to the central aperture  24 ,  26  than the opposite extension  50  as may be appropriate for a particular installation and environment. The longitudinal ends  14   a ,  16   a  of the braces  14 ″,  16 ″ as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-12  may be contoured to correspond to the shape of the base plant pot  30  sidewall  33  and provide a stable, secure support for the pole  12  and plant pots  36 . 
     While this invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.