Patent Publication Number: US-2006005467-A1

Title: Self contained gardening unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present invention claims priority from the provisional patent application No. 60/582,309 filed on Jun. 24, 2004, entitled “Self Contained Gardening Units”. The present invention is also closely related to the copending patent application entitled “Interlocking Panels” which is being filed concurrently with the present application. Furthermore, the teachings of the provisional patent application and the copending application are herein incorporated by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates, in general, to gardening aids and, more particularly, the instant invention relates to a planter for flowers or vegetables.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Most urban consumers are not interested in growing very large gardens, but would like to grow a few of their favorite vegetables or flowers. Many such consumers have no gardening experience and have very little gardening equipment. Some urban consumers, furthermore, have no yard whatever and must restrict their gardening activities to pots and planters.  
      Furthermore, many people believe that modern farming does not always provide food having essential vitamins. Much soil used for faring is overworked, and the food is often harvested some time before it reaches the consumer&#39;s table. Vitamin pills are available, but a consumer may question whether all necessary vitamins are included, and whether vitamin pills may supply a harmfull excess of the well-known vitamins.  
      Glycoscience is a new field which is finding that there are essential sugars which may be lacking in food which is not grown locally, harvested at the peak of ripeness, and eaten soon after harvesting. It therefore appears advisable for the consumer to supplement his diet with some home grown vegetables.  
      Flavor is another issue. Commercially grown tomatoes, for example, may be a type which is selected for its durability, so the tomatoes can be picked green, shipped thousands of miles, ripen in transit, and look attractive in the grocery store. Such tomatoes are well known to lack flavor, and may lack nutrients.  
      Flowers are extremely difficult to raise and market, and as a result, prices tend to be very high. For this reason, alone, a person may wish to grow his or her own. Furthermore, a person who enjoys flowers may wish to observe the entire life cycle of the flowers as they put forth green shoots, then leaves, then buds, and then watch the buds open up into flowers.  
      The patent literature includes a number of interesting references for various types of planters. U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,070 teaches a novel combination of a conventional plant pot with one or more drain holes and a perforated conduit or tube which is placed inside the pot. The perforated conduit or tube acts as an aerating root pruner and provides air and water communication between the top and bottom of the pot.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,008 describes a vertical planting system comprising individual growing containers. The unit includes a nutrient and water diffuser box.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,843 is an umbrella planter that is for a patio table with an umbrella. The planter has an annular design which is for surrounding the pole of the umbrella.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,293 is a concrete block for incorporation into a vertical retaining wall. The block includes an upwardly directed opening which is exposed for receiving soil and plants when the block is incorporated into a wall.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,276 is a planter with a drainage spout that extends downwardly and outwardly to a drain opening horizontally displaced from the planter. It can be used on or above a porch railing and directs water away from the porch.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,700 teaches a planter comprising an outer pot enclosing a plurality of inner pots and filler soil sround the inner pots.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,233 is a self watering modular planter insert reservoir for water. Dispensation of water is controlled by a hydrophilic sensor.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,931 teaches a water retaining material which is made by burning rice hulls. The material can be included in soil to enhance the moisture retaining aspect of the soil, and would be ideal for planters.  
      It is concluded that there is a need for apparatus and methods for facilitating the planting of vegetables and flowers by persons who have few gardening skills, few tools, and little or no land.  
     INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION  
      The invention is a planter having a horticultural pan in which potting soil or other growth medium may be placed, the horticultural pan having one or more drainage holes. A drip pan lies beneath the horticultural pan, and a tube is available for draining the drip pan. Preferably, the tube may be hidden in a space beneath the drip pan. Preferably, the planter includes wheels, preferably casters, and, preferably, includes one or more handles so that it can be readily positioned. It can, for example, be moved to follow the sun, and, preferably, may be moved by a person in a wheel chair.  
      It is an objective of the present invention to provide a planter which can be used indoors or outdoors on a porch or patio.  
      It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a planter wherein soil and water may be well controlled so the planter is useable in a convalescent home or other institution.  
      It is another objective of the present invention to provide a planter which can be used indoors to give summer plants, such as tomato plants, a headstart by starting a number of plants early, before the end of the frost season, so they can be planted outdoors after the danger of frost is over.  
      It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide a planter which facilitates the placement of stakes for support of plants such as tomatoes.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide an embodiment of the planter including a mini-greenhouse to protect plants from frost.  
      It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide an embodiment of the planter having an optional heater to protect plants from frost.  
      Another objective of the present invention is to provide a planter with an optional screen to protect plants from animals such as deer and woodchucks.  
      In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention which have been generally described above, there will be various other objects and advantages of the invention that will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when the detailed description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one aspect, the invention is a planter including a horticultural pan that is for containing potting soil or other growth media for plants, the horticultural pan having at least one drain hole. A drip pan is disposed beneath the horticultural pan, the drip pan positioned to receive water from the drain hole(s) in the horticultural pan. The drip pan is connectable to a drain hose for draining the drip pan; and the planter includes a base with space for hiding the drain hose.  
      In another aspect, the present invention is a planter including a horticultural pan which is for containing potting soil or other growth media for plants, a mobile base, the mobile base comprising a plurality of wheels, and at least one handle for moving the planter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective sketch of a planter according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the planter shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the planter shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the planter shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the planter with a framework and a screen to protect the plants from deer, woodchucks, and other animals;  
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the planter shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the planter shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a base for the planter;  
       FIG. 9  is an end view of the base;  
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the base;  
       FIG. 11  is a side view of a handle for moving the planter;  
       FIG. 12  is an end view of the handle shown in  FIG. 11 ;  
       FIG. 13  is a top view of the handle shown in  FIG. 11 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a drip pan for the planter;  
       FIG. 15  is an end view of the drip pan shown in  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 16  is a top view of the drip pan shown in  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 17  is a side view of a horticultural pan for the planter;  
       FIG. 18  is an end view of the horticultural pan illustrated in  FIG. 17 ;  
       FIG. 19  is a top view of the horticultural pan illustrated in  FIG. 17 ;  
       FIG. 20  is a top view of an alternative horticultural pan having handles for moving the planter;  
       FIG. 21  is a top view of an optional mobile base for the planter;  
       FIG. 22  is a side view of the mobile base; and  
       FIG. 23  is an end view of an alternative horticultural pan with an electric heater. 
    
    
     IDENTIFYING NUMERALS EMPLOYED IN THE DRAWINGS  
     
         
         
           
               30  Planter  
               32  Base of planter  
               33  Door in side of base  
               34  Handle  
               35  Horticultural pan which contains potting soil  
               36  Hoops to support plastic for greenhouse effect  
               37  Drain holes in pan  
               38  Opening in handle  
               40  Frame for screen  
               41  Screen  
               42  Ridge or elongate indentation to stiffen base  
               44  Depression or hole to engage protuberances on handle  
               46  Bottom rim of base  
               48  Opening in base  
               50  Hole to accommodate nipple for drain tube  
               52  Protuberance to mate with depression or hole  44  on base  
               54  Protuberance to mate with depression on underside of drip pan  60   
               56  Elongate depressions for stiffness  
               60  Drip pan  
               62  Depression on underside of drip pan to engage handle  
               64  Elongate ridge for stiffness  
               66  Nipple for attachment of drain tube  
               68  Grooves for hoops  
               70  Grooves for stakes  
               80  Preferred pan with handles  
               85  Handles on pan  
               86  Elastomer grip on handle  
               90  Mobile base  
               92  Casters  
               94  Substantially vertical pivot of caster  
               100  Alternative pan having electric heater  
               102  Heater tape  
               104  Electric plug  
               106  Electric receptacle  
               108  Electric cord  
           
         
       
    
     Brief Description of the Presently Preferred and Various Alternative Embodiments of the Invention  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective sketch of a planter  30  according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a side view,  FIG. 3  is an end view and  FIG. 4  is a top view of planter  30 . Planter  30  includes a base  32  and a horticultural pan  35  which is for potting soil or other growth medium. Preferably, planter  30  also includes a handle  34 , and it may have wheels (discussed subsequently) so it can be conveniently positioned on a porch or patio. Planter  30  can be employed indoors or outdoors.  
      Preferably, base  32  has a door  33  providing access to space in base  32  for storage of gardening tools. Horticultural pan  35  has at least one drain hole  37 . Planter  30  optionally includes hoops  36 . These are to be employed early in the growing season when nights may be frosty. A transparent sheet (not shown) may be placed over the hoops to make a miniature greenhouse.  
       FIGS. 5, 6  and  7  show the planter  30  with a frame  40  which, preferably, is comprised of angle iron. Frame  40  is for support of screen  41  comprised of wire or expanded metal sheets which are to protect plants from large animals such as deer and woodchucks.  
       FIGS. 8, 9  and  10  show a side view, end view and top view of the base  32 . The side view,  FIG. 8 , shows an opening  48  where door  33  is mounted. The base  32  has the form of an inverted pan with opening  48  in its side. It rests on rim  46  and is stiffened by ridges or elongate indentations  42 . Holes or depressions  44  are for engagement with protuberances on the handle (discussed next). The base  32  has a hole  50  which is for a drain tube (discussed later).  
       FIGS. 11, 12  and  13  illustrate side, top and end views of the handle  34 . Handle  34  has an opening  38  which a person may grasp. Handle  34  has protuberances  52  on its underside which are for engaging the holes or depressions  44  on the base. Like the base, the handle  34  also has a hole  50  which is for a drain tube.  
       FIGS. 14, 15  and  16  show side, end and top views, respectively, of a drip pan  60  which rests on the handle  34 . Protuberances  54  on the upper side of handle  34  are for engagement with depressions  62  on the underside of drip pan  60 . Preferably, drip pan  60  has elongate ridges  64  which serve to stiffen the drip pan  60 .  
      A nipple  66  on drip pan  60  is for attachment of a drain tube for drip pan  60 . Preferably, nipple  66  passes through the hole  50  in the handle and the hole  50  in the base, and can be accessed from storage space in the base  32 . The drain tube is hidden in the storage space behind door  33  in base  32 . The user may place a clamp on the tube, and occasionally open door  33 , pull the end of the tube out and remove the clamp to drain the drip pan  60  through the tube.  
       FIGS. 17, 18  and  19  show side, end and top views, respectively, of the horticultural pan  35  which contains potting soil or other growth media (not shown). A number of holes  37  are shown in the bottom of pan  35 . At least one such hole is necessary for draining the pan  35 , to prevent roots from rotting. Preferably, vertical grooves  68  are on the inside wall of pan  35 , and these are for stabilizing the hoops  36  which are shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The hoops  36  are held in the grooves  68  by their own spring force.  
      Likewise, there are grooves  70  on the inside wall of pan  35 . These are for accommodating stakes such as tomato stakes. Such stakes are for the support of plants. Stakes (not shown) are held in the grooves by the pressure of soil in horticultural pan  35 .  
       FIG. 20  is a top view of an alternative horticultural pan  80  having handles  85  which are for moving the planter. Preferably, handles  85  include elastomer grips  86 . Handles  85  are intended to be useable by a person in a wheel chair.  
       FIGS. 21 and 22  illustrates top and side views, respectively, of a mobile base  90  having wheels, preferably casters  92 . Casters  92  have substantially vertical pivots  94 . The casters  92  are to make the planter easy to move. When used indoors, for example, the planter can be moved to follow the sun. A planter as described above, including base  32  can be placed on mobile base  90 . When base  32  is placed on mobile base  90 , the rim  46  of base  32  is placed so as to enclose posts  96  on mobile base  90  to prevent base  32  from sliding on mobile base  90 .  
       FIG. 23  illustrates an alternative horticultural pan  100  including a heater for protecting plants from frost. A heating tape  102 , preferably is wrapped around horticultural pan  100 , in good thermal contact with horticultural pan  100 . Power is supplied through plug  104  which is for engaging receptacle  106  on power cord  108 . For safety, a low voltage, preferably 12 volts is recommended for heating tape  102 . Following conventional electrical practice, power cord  108  would include a ten to one step down transformer (not shown) for converting household power at 120 volts to 12 volts for the heater.  
      It is notable that the planter  30  is assembled in layers, and is kept as a stable unit by the weight of soil in the horticultural pan pan  35 . The base  32  is placed on the mobile base  90 . Then the handle is placed on the base and positioned so that protuberances  52  on the handle  34  engage holes or depressions  44  on the base  32 . The drip pan  60  is then placed on the handle  34  and positioned so that protuberances  54  on handle  34  engage depressions  62 .  
      The horticultural pan  35  is then placed so its lower portion fits into drip pan  60 . When planting soil is placed in horticultural pan  35 , the entire structure becomes a stable unit because of the weight of the soil.  
      If the prefered horticultural pan  80  is employed, the handle  34  is not required. In that case, for secure engagement of the drip pan  60  to the base  32 , the base  32  would have upward protuberances rather than depressions or holes  44 . These would mate with holes or depressions  62  on the underside of drip pan  60 .  
      A planter according to the present invention may be supplied to consumers along with a preferred potting soil or other growth medium. The potting soil or medium may include a water retaining medium such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,931.  
      It is noted that, in lieu of the frame  40  and screen  41  shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , a cage comprised of interlocking panels as presented in the concurently filed patent application entitled “Interlocking Panels” may be employed to protect the plants from large animals such as deer and woodchucks.  
      Although the invention, with various preferred and alternative embodiments has been described in detail above, it should be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.