Patent Publication Number: US-2020296900-A1

Title: Mobil device for plants

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention generally relates to planters for living plants, and more particularly to a free-standing mobile device for living plants. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Living plants enhance the comfort level of people occupying a confined indoor environment that may be regulated by heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning devices providing only limited fresh air. In such a confined environment, living plants are known to remove fine airborne toxins and other volatile organic compounds from, for example, furnishings made from plastics and other artificial materials. 
     Living plants also increase the amount of oxygen in the indoor environment and remove carbon dioxide from the air, leading to improved well-being and alertness of workers and residents in such a confined indoor environment. Higher levels of carbon dioxide are known to cause headaches, fatigue, irritability, and lower mental concentration. Living plants also add humidity to the air, thereby reducing static electricity in the indoor environment. 
     When placed in front of a window, living plants may reduce energy consumption by cooling or warming the air entering the room by up to approximately 10 degrees Celsius. 
     Most living potted plants require soil and water, which add weight to the plants. These factors, among others, logistically restrict the location, size, and mobility of the individual potted plants. 
     Usually, small or medium potted living plants of varying sizes are placed on a window ledge. Large potted living plants are often placed in a fixed location on the floor because of their weight. Another way to accommodate living plants in an indoor environment is to support the plants and planting material within a support frame that is secured to a wall. Such support frames range in height from several meters (feet), to several stories. This type of living plant installation may be attached to the wall and may require computer-controlled watering, lighting, drainage, and aeration and a lift. The cost of such installations, and their regular maintenance can be very significant (e.g. in the thousands of dollars). 
     Regardless of size, potted living plants should be easily accessed and relocated, as required. 
     SUMMARY 
     A mobile device for plants is provided, comprising a vertical frame; at least one horizontal member having at least one rail for supporting at least one bin; and a horizontal base for supporting the vertical frame and at least one horizontal member. The rail provides numerous points of continuous attachment the at least one bin on either side of the rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mobile device for plants, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of the mobile device for plants through the line  2 - 2  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a detail view of region A shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the mobile device for plants shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of exemplary embodiments is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of the claims. 
     According to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the mobile device for plants  10  may be a free-standing mobile device having a vertical frame  20 , at least one horizontal member  30  extending between opposite sides of the frame  20 , for accommodating at least one plant bin  40 , and a horizontal base  60 . The base  60  may be supported by a plurality of swivel wheels  70 . The mobile plant device  10  may be placed in front of a window, as an alternative to traditional placement of living plants on a windowsill. Bins  40  may be accommodated on both sides of the mobile device  10  so that, for example, some bins may be adjacent a window while oppositely disposed bins  40  may face into a room. In another aspect the bins  40  may contain natural plants or artificial plants. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, three such horizontal members  30  are provided, each having a rail  55  capable of supporting up to five bins  40 , for a total of fifteen bins. A person of skill in the art will appreciate that a greater or lesser number of bins  40  may be accommodated depending on the size of the bins  40 , number of horizontal members,  30 , etc. In preferred embodiments, the number of bins may range from two to thirty, and preferably from four to twenty-four, and more preferably from six to eighteen. 
     Each plant bin  40  is removeable by lifting it up from horizontal member  30 , and may be returned to the horizontal member  30  by aligning a rear lip  50  thereof to the rail  55  of the horizontal member  30  and then may be dropped into place, as shown in the detail view of  FIG. 3 . Each horizontal member  30  may include a pair of rails  55 , one disposed at the front and another at the rear of the horizontal member, so that plant bins  40  may be attached on both sides of the horizontal member  30 . In cross section, the rail  55  may be in the shape of U-channel on a top surface of the horizontal member  30 . The rail  55  may be fitted and secured to the horizontal member  30  using at least one fastener such as bolt or screw. 
     The approximate weight of the plant bins with plants, soil, and water may depend on the type of soil and other components used, but in a typical installation may range from 80 lbs. to 90 lbs. 
     The mobile plant device  10  is uncomplicated to assemble as it may not require any specialized skills, or tools. Also, no electrical or plumbing connections may be required such that the living plants housed within bins  40  may only require minimal maintenance. 
     The four-swivel wheels  70  facilitate mobility of the mobile plant device  10 , such as changing orientation of the device, for example from front-to-back, or alignment of the mobile plant device  10  with internal architecture or room design, to permit even growth of the living plants in natural sunlight without any need to physically move the individual plants, or plant bins  40 . The position of the plant bins  40  is adjustable by sliding along the rail  55  of the horizontal member  30 . In embodiments, the swivel wheels may have an optional braking feature. 
     It will be appreciated that the types of living plants that may be planted in bins  40  is generally unrestricted. For example, spider plants have been used and may be effective air purifiers 
     In embodiments, the mobile device  10  may be constructed from one or more materials including but not limited to wood selected from solid wood such as pine, cherry or maple or any artificial material or synthetic material or metals selected from but not limited to steel, aluminum or other appropriate metal of material produced. 
     The mobile plant device  10  may have one or more points of assembly as desired and wherein the vertical frame  20  may be secured to the horizontal members  30  using securing elements such as screws and bolts. 
     In embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 3 , the bin  40  may include an adjustable divider  54 , that can be positioned within any of a plurality of vertical slots  57  in opposite sides of the bin  40  for separating the living plant and its growing medium from a well  56  for excess water that may be collected at the front of the plant bin  40 , while permitting the water level to be visible from the front of the plant bin  40 . In yet another aspect, the bins  40  may be colored as desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the base  60  of the mobile device  10  may contain dowels  78 , which may be made of wood, or a similarly complimentary material, that may secure the horizontal members  30  to the base  60 . 
     In another embodiment, the base  60  may be glued to the vertical frame  20  at the point of attachment to the base. 
     A person of skill in the art will understand that the mobile device for plants  10  is not limited to living space, such as homes, offices, retail stores, lobbies, schools, hospitals, and other indoor spaces or outdoor spaces as desired, and that the bins  40  may serve purposes other than to hold living plants, for example as storage bins for keys, wallets, etc. Other applications of the mobile device  10  include use as a room divider or privacy screen. Also, two or more mobile devices  10  may be placed side-by-side either unconnected, or connected with an attachment, to provide a longer continuous wall. 
     Additional embodiments and variations are possible within the sphere and scope of the appended claims.