Patent Publication Number: US-2004055212-A1

Title: Pot stand

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a stand for supporting and displaying a pot.  
       [0003] 2. Background Art  
       [0004] Potted plants are commonly utilized for decorating indoor and outdoor locations. The plant itself livens up and decorates the desired area and it may be desired to also have a decorative pot for retaining the plant. Accordingly, the prior art includes a vast assortment of pots for providing a decorative retainer for a plant. However, these decorative pots are typically formed of pottery and may be relatively expensive for the benefit they provide.  
       [0005] Additionally, it may be desired to elevate the potted plant. The elevation provides a space between the bottom of the pot and an underlying surface such that air may pass therethrough, preventing a collection of moisture underneath the pot. The collected moisture may be undesirable because it may stain the underlying support surface or may attract insects or the like. One may also desire to elevate the potted plant from a support surface such that the plant extends more readily into the sight of a viewer.  
       [0006] The prior art teaches pot stands having a cylindrical portion for extending about a lower region of a pot. The cylindrical portion provides lateral support to the lower region of the pot and includes decorative indicia for improving the appearance of the pot. The prior art also teaches pot stands having substantially elongate legs oriented in a tripod configuration for elevating the potted plant well above the support surface.  
       [0007] A need exists for a pot stand which substantially surrounds an exterior surface of the pot for imbuing an ornamental perspective to the pot, and retaining the pot, while also elevating the pot in a stable manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a pot stand having a frusto-conical primary region with an opening sized to receive and support a pot. The primary region substantially surrounds an exterior surface of the pot and has a generally skeletal structure for restraining the pot from lateral movement. The primary region provides a view to the pot through the stand and includes decorative indicia for imbuing an ornamental perspective to the pot. A generally planar base extends from the primary region for supporting a bottom surface of the pot and for creating a space between the pot and an underlying surface.  
       [0009] Another aspect of the invention is to elevate the pot a distance that is less than the overall height of the skeletal structure.  
       [0010] Other aspects of the invention may include provisions for stiffening the pot stand and stabilizing the pot. For example, an annular ring may be oriented about the opening, sized to receive an upward annular portion of the pot. Also, the primary region may include an upper collar portion including a series of stiffening members for adding rigidity to the stand opening. The pot stand may also include feet extending from the base for placement upon a generally planar support surface. The feet may be generally tubular and may extend upwards towards the opening of the primary region, adding to the skeletal structure, and providing upright support to the primary region.  
       [0011] An alternative aspect of the invention may include a handle secured to the pot stand.  
       [0012] Another alternative aspect may include a tether for suspending the pot stand.  
       [0013] These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the following description and attached drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a pot stand in accordance with the present invention, illustrated retaining a pot;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the pot stand in FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment pot stand in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment pot stand in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment pot stand in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     [0019]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment pot stand referenced generally by numeral  10 . The pot stand  10  is illustrated retaining a pot  12  in FIG. 1. Under the invention, the pot  12  may be any pot for retaining a potted plant, or the like. Commonly, terracotta pottery is utilized for potted plants. Manufacturing economy usually dictates that such pots have a generally plain, unadorned, visually unappealing exterior. Terracotta pottery is provided in an array of standard sizes. The invention contemplates that a variety of pot stands  10  may be accommodated, each sized to correspond with a standard terracotta pottery size, or any standard potted plant size for that matter. In combination with the invention, the pot is portrayed in a visually appealing manner.  
     [0020] The pot stand  10  includes a frusto-conical primary region referenced generally by numeral  14 . The primary region  14  has an opening sized to receive and support the pot  12 . Additionally, the primary region  14  substantially surrounds an exterior surface of the pot  12  for structural and ornamental purposes. The primary region  14  has a generally skeletal structure which may be formed from a plurality of tubular elements. These tubular elements may be formed of any structural material, such as plastic or metallic wire. An exemplary element pot stand  10  is formed of ten gauge steel wire.  
     [0021] The skeletal structure adequately restrains the pot  12  from lateral movement in relation to the pot stand  10 . The skeletal structure also has ornamental advantages, by providing a view to the pot  12  through the pot stand  10 . The primary region  14  includes decorative indicia referenced generally by numeral  16 . The decorative indicia  16  overlays the pot  12  and imbues an ornamental perspective to the pot  12 . The pot stand  10  accents a typical pot such that a desired ornamental perspective is generated that is pleasing to the viewer. Accordingly, an expensive pot having decorative features formed about its exterior is not required.  
     [0022] The pot stand  10  also includes a generally planar base  18  extending from the primary region  14  for supporting a bottom surface of the pot  12 . Thus, the pot  12  is supported by the pot stand  10  vertically by the base  18  and laterally by the skeletal structure of the primary region  14 . The base  18  also spaces the pot  12  away from an underlying support surface so that air may pass therethrough. This feature prevents moisture from collecting underneath the bottom surface of the pot, thus preventing mold, stains or attraction of insects.  
     [0023] The space between the bottom of the pot  12  and the support surface may be increased by the inclusion of a plurality of feet  20  extending from the base  18  for placement on the support surface. The feet  20  are spaced apart from the base  18 , thus raising the base  18 . The feet  20  also improve the stability of the pot stand  10  by resting on a limited number of contact points rather than across an uneven structural surface.  
     [0024] The feet  20  are formed to the skeletal structure and are defined by a generally tubular element much like the skeletal structure. The feet may extend upward towards the opening of the primary region  14  for providing vertical support to the skeletal structure.  
     [0025] It may be desired to provide a space between the bottom surface of the pot  12  and the underlying surface that is adequate to permit the passage of air while concomitantly not upsetting the aesthetics of the pot stand  10 . Therefore, it may be desired that the distance from the base  18  to the underlying surface created by the extending feet  20  does not exceed the overall height of the skeletal structure of the primary region  14 .  
     [0026] Primary region  14  includes an annular ring  22  oriented about the opening and sized to receive an upward annular portion or lip of the pot. For example, conventional terracotta pottery includes an annular lip formed about the periphery of its opening. The pot stand annular ring  22  may cooperate with the lip for improving the lateral support at an upwardmost region of the pot  12 . Furthermore, the primary region  14  includes an upper collar portion  24  which includes a series of stiffening members  26  for adding rigidity to the stand opening. Of course, as illustrated, the stiffening members  26  may take the shape of an ornamental feature, thus adding to the decorative indicia  16  of the primary region  14 .  
     [0027] The invention contemplates construction of the pot stand  10  by any manner known in the art for adhering a plurality of tubular members together. For example, the tubular members may be metallic and welded together for providing an overall structural assembly. Alternatively, the tubular elements may be formed of a plastic material that is either molded together or bonded together to form the pot stand  10 . It is understood that other manufacturing processes may be employed for constructing the pot stand  10 .  
     [0028] The decorative indicia  16  include a pair of diametrically opposed flower petals  28  oriented about the primary region  14 , as illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 2 . Each flower petal  28  has a pair of symmetrical leaves  30  oriented adjacent lateral sides of the flower petal  28 . The flower petal  28  may be constructed of tubular elements similar to that of the skeletal structure, providing an open view through the flower petal  28 . The leaves  30  may be formed solid to add a contrasting feature to the skeletal structure.  
     [0029] The invention contemplates providing a variety of pot stands  10  having a corresponding variety of decorative indicia  16  such that a user may have an assortment of ornamental perspectives to choose from. The alternative embodiments illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 5  include such varying decorative indicia. As in FIG. 3, a pair of openly formed and diametrically opposed butterflies  32  are included in the decorative indicia  16  of the pot stand  10 . With reference to FIG. 4, a pair of dragonflies  34  are included in the decorative indicia  16 . Similar to the butterflies  32 , the dragonflies  34  are open and diametrically opposed about the skeletal structure of the primary region  14 . Referring now to FIG. 5, the pot stand  10  is illustrated having decorative indicia  16  that includes a pair of hummingbirds  36 . The hummingbirds  36  are also open and diametrically opposed.  
     [0030] Another aspect of the invention is to provide at least one handle such that a user may transport the pot stand  10 . Referring again to FIG. 3, the pot stand  10  is illustrated having a pair of handles  38  secured to the exterior of the primary region  14 . For ergonomic purposes, the handles  38  are oriented sufficiently proximate to the opening of the primary region  14  such that the handles  38  are positioned above the center of gravity of the pot stand  10  when retaining a pot. Accordingly, the handles  38  are illustrated secured to the upper collar portion  24 . Further, the handles  38  are each pivotally secured to the primary region  14  for a range of motion relative to the primary region  14 . The range of motion of each handle  38  includes an unloaded pendant position as illustrated in solid in FIG. 3. The range of motion also includes a loaded engaged position as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3. The pivotal relationship of the handles  38  and pot stand  10  provide handles  38  that are typically suspended from the upper collar portion  24 , yet may be urged to jut above the opening for temporary ergonomic handling of the pot stand  10  and/or pot  12 . Although the pot stand  10  of FIG. 3 illustrates a pair of diametrically opposed handles  38 , any number and spacing of handles  38  is conceivable within the scope of the present invention.  
     [0031] As illustrated in FIG. 5, yet another aspect of the invention includes a tether  40  for hanging the pot stand  10  from an elevated location. The tether  40  is secured to the primary region  14  of the pot stand  10  at a pair of opposed locations, and cooperates with a support fixture illustrated in phantom and generally referenced by numeral  42  for suspending the pot stand  10 . For example, the support fixture  42  may be a trunnion or a gudgeon extending from a vertical and generally planar surface such as a wall. In this manner, the tether  40  wraps over the support fixture  42  and the pot stand  10  suspends from the tether  40  and rests against the wall. Alternatively, the pot stand  10  may be spaced away from a wall and may hang plum from a support fixture  42 , such as a horizontal structural support or a tree branch. In this alternative manner, the tether  40  would be connected to the pot stand  10  at equally spaced increments. Although the tether  40  is illustrated having two connections with the pot stand  10 , any number of connections is contemplated within the scope of the invention. For example, the tether  40  may include three connections with the pot stand  10  generally equidistantly spaced in a tripod configuration. The invention also contemplates that the tether  40  may be a chain or any suitable element for suspending the pot stand  10 .  
     [0032] In summary, the present invention provides a pot stand  10  for supporting and retaining a pot and overlaying or imbuing a decorative indicia thereabout. Thus, a cost effective manner is employed for satisfying the ornamental needs of a user when decorating with plotted plants. Furthermore, the invention utilizes structural features for providing stability to the pot and spacing the pot from an underlying support surface.  
     [0033] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.