Patent Publication Number: US-6665980-B2

Title: Plant stand

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for holding or supporting an object, such as a house plant, with respect to a support post or a mounting bracket. More specifically, this invention relates to a plant stand having a drainage plate mateably engageable with a container or pot, whereby the container or pot is centered about a vertical axis of a support post or an end portion of the mounting bracket, connected to a receiving surface of the drainage plate. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional plant containers may include a pot having a general conical shape which is positioned upon a generally flat surface or drainage piece. Some conventional plant containers are adapted to be supported by a support means having a support rod and a base which rests on a generally flat surface, for example a floor. Alternatively, other conventional plant containers are adapted to be suspended from an overhead support structure, for example a ceiling. 
     One disadvantage associated with conventional plant containers is that many conventional plant containers do not have a drainage piece or surface which supports the pot to maintain the pot in a desired or predetermined location on the drainage piece. Additionally, such drainage pieces may not be rigidly fastened or connected to a support base. Further, these conventional plant containers do not provide a means by which the drainage piece is connected to the pot to maintain the pot in a general vertical position with respect to the drainage piece and/or the support means, for example to prevent the pot, and/or the entire support means, from tipping over. 
     Another disadvantage associated with conventional plant containers is that a combination of the drainage piece and the pot cannot be used separately from the support means because the drainage piece does not have a generally flat bottom surface. Instead, the bottom surface of a conventional drainage piece usually has a connecting surface or portion which is not planar with the bottom surface. Thus, when rested upon a generally flat, horizontal surface, the drainage piece tips causing the pot to tip and at least a portion of the contents of the pot to spill. 
     Thus, there is an apparent need for an apparatus for supporting an object, such as a plant, having a container or pot which is mateably engageable with a drainage plate to maintain the apparatus in a vertical position, preferably to prevent tipping. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for supporting an object, for example a stand for supporting a plant within a pot positioned with respect to a support post. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a pot which is mateably engageable with a drainage plate to maintain the pot in a vertical position with respect to a support post rigidly connected to the drainage plate. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a drainage plate having a projection which is mateably engageable with a receptacle formed in a bottom surface of a pot to align the pot with a vertical axis of a support post and prevent axial movement of the pot with resect to the drainage plate and/or the support post. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for supporting an object positioned with respect to a mounting bracket. 
     The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished with an apparatus, for example a plant stand, for supporting an object, such as a house plant, which includes a support post having a vertical axis. Preferably, but not necessarily, the support post is generally cylindrical along its length and has a generally circular cross-sectional area. The support post may have other suitable cross-sectional areas, such as a rectangular cross-sectional area or a triangular cross-sectional area. The support post is securely attached or connected at a bottom end portion to a base. Suitable means for connecting the support post to the base, such as a threaded connection, are well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the base has a plurality of feet, for example three or four feet, to support the apparatus. 
     An upper end portion of the support post is connected to a drainage plate. Preferably, but not necessarily, the drainage plate is securely connected to the support post using connecting means or a connector, such as a threaded connection. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the drainage plate has a bottom surface which forms a receiving surface. The support post is mounted within a bore formed by the receiving surface and mateably engages the receiving surface so that the frictional fit forms a secure connection. Preferably, the receiving surface extends or projects into a void or a volume formed by the drainage plate. Thus, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the drainage plate is generally flat, allowing it to rest upon a generally flat, horizontal surface. 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the drainage plate further forms a projection coaxially positioned with the receiving surface and in an assembled condition is generally aligned with the vertical axis of the support post. Preferably, the projection, as well as the receiving surface, is molded or integrated with the drainage plate. Preferably, but not necessarily, the projection has a generally conical shape. The projection may have any other suitable shape. A peripheral wall of the drainage plate forms or defines a volume within which water, for example may be contained. 
     A container or pot having a bottom surface which forms a receptacle is mateably engageable with the projection formed by the drainage plate. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, at least a portion of the receptacle extends into a volume formed by a peripheral wall of the container. Thus, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the container is generally flat and can easily rest upon an inner surface of the drainage plate. Preferably, in mating engagement, the receptacle is generally aligned with the projection and thus is generally aligned with the vertical axis of the support post. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a center of mass of the container is fixedly positioned about the vertical axis. Thus, the apparatus stands upright without tipping and/or falling over when the container is filled with potting soil and a plant, for example. 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the projection has a surface which corresponds directly with a surface of the receptacle to provide direct contact between a substantial portion of the projection and the receptacle when mateably engaged. Thus, the container is maintained in a generally central location on the upper surface of the drainage plate and is prevented from moving in a vertical direction and/or a lateral direction with respect to the drainage plate. 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the container further includes at least one aperture formed by and through the bottom surface of the container to provide for drainage. Preferably, but not necessarily, a plurality of apertures are radially positioned about the receptacle. When watering a plant contained within the container, excess water can drain from the volume of the container through the at least one aperture to prevent over-watering of the plant. 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the bottom surface of the container further includes at least one support wall. Preferably, a plurality of arcuate-shaped support walls extend from the bottom surface and are radially positioned about the receptacle. It is apparent that the support walls may have any suitable shape. The support walls provide stability to the container when the container is positioned upon the drainage plate and the projection is mateably engaged with the receptacle. Further, the support walls provide a means for directing the excess water, exiting the bottom surface of the container through the at least one aperture, to a periphery of the drainage plate. 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention, an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant comprises a mounting bracket having a first end portion adapted for mounting the apparatus to a surface, for example a generally vertical surface such as a wall or a post. The first end portion forms at least one aperture for connecting or fastening the mounting bracket to the surface using suitable fastening means or connectors. 
     A second end portion of the mounting bracket is mateably engageable with the drainage plate. For example, the second end portion is mateably engageable with the receiving surface formed in or integrated with the bottom surface of the drainage plate, thus securing the drainage plate to the mounting bracket. 
     As discussed above in reference to preferred embodiments of this invention, the container or pot is mateably engageable with the drainage plate whereby the pot is fixedly positioned with respect to the second end portion of the mounting bracket. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings show different features of an apparatus for supporting an object with respect to a support post, according to preferred embodiments of this invention, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant with respect to a support post, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional side view of a drainage plate mateably engaged with a pot, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of a drainage plate forming a projection, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of a pot forming a receptacle, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a pot forming a plurality of apertures and a plurality of support walls, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant with respect to a mounting bracket, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a mounting bracket, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a partial sectional top view of a mounting bracket, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In preferred embodiments of this invention as shown in FIGS. 1-5, an apparatus, for example a stand  15 , for supporting an object such as a house plant comprises a support post  20 . Preferably, but not necessarily, support post  20  is cylindrical having a vertical axis  25  therethrough, as shown in FIG.  1 . Preferably, but not necessarily, support post  20  has a circular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of a length of support post  20 . It is apparent that support post  20  may have any other suitable cross-sectional shape. For example, support post  20  may have a rectangular cross-sectional area or triangular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the support post length. 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIG. 1, a base  30  is connected to a first end portion  24  of support post  20 , for example at a lower or bottom end portion of support post  20 . Preferably, but not necessarily, support post  20  is threadedly connected to base  30 , is welded or otherwise adhered to base  30 , or is integrated with base  30 . Other suitable connecting means known to those having ordinary skill in the art may be used to securely connect support post  20  to base  30 . As shown in FIG. 1, base  30  has a plurality of feet  32  to further support stand  15 . Base  30  may have any suitable number of feet  32 , for example three feet or four feet, or may have enough surface area to require no feet. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, support post  20  at a second end portion  26 , for example an upper or top end portion, is mateably engageable with a drainage plate  40 . Preferably, but not necessarily, drainage plate  40  is securely engaged with support post  20 . For example, as shown in FIG. 2, second end portion  26  is mateably engageable with a receiving surface  42  formed in or integrated with a bottom surface  44  of drainage plate  40 , thus securing drainage plate  40  to support post  20 . In one embodiment of this invention, second end portion  26  forms a threaded connection with receiving surface  42 . Preferably, receiving surface  42  is formed in central area, for example about a center point of bottom surface  44 , to align a vertical axis of drainage plate  40  with vertical axis  25  of support post  20 . 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a projection  46  is formed in a top surface  48  of drainage plate  40  and projects or extends into a void formed by a peripheral wall  50  of drainage plate  40 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Projection  46  is positioned directly above receiving surface  42  and coaxially positioned with vertical axis  25  about the vertical axis of drainage plate  40 . Preferably, projection  46 , as well as receiving surface  42 , is integrated with drainage plate  40 . Preferably, but not necessarily, at least a portion of projection  46  has a generally conical shape. Projection  46  may have any suitable shape. Except for projection  46 , top surface  48  is preferably generally flat. Peripheral wall  50  has a height sufficient to maintain a volume of water within the volume formed in drainage plate  40  by peripheral wall  50 , if desired. 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a container or pot  60 , containing soil for a plant, is mateably engageable with drainage plate  40 . Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 2,  4  and  5 , a receptacle  62  is formed in or integrated with a bottom surface  64  of pot  60 . As shown in FIG. 2, at least a portion of bottom surface  64  forming receptacle  62  extends or projects into a void formed by a peripheral wall  70  of pot  60 . In one preferred embodiment of this invention, projection  46  is mateably engageable with receptacle  62 . For example, at least a portion of top surface  48  forming projection  46  contacts at least a portion of bottom surface  64  forming receptacle  62  whereby pot  60  is fixedly positioned about vertical axis  25 . Thus, although pot  60  may rotate about vertical axis  25 , pot  60  is prevented from vertical movement or displacement along vertical axis  25  with respect to drainage plate  40  and/or lateral movement or displacement along a horizontal axis with respect to drainage plate  40 . In one embodiment of this invention, pot  60  is fixedly positioned on drainage plate  40  such that a center of mass of pot  60  is fixedly positioned about vertical axis  25 . The term “center of mass” describes a point at which the entire mass of a body may be considered concentrated for some purposes. Thus, pot  60  is properly positioned and balanced upon drainage plate  40  and with respect to support post  20  to prevent stand  15  from tipping and/or falling over. 
     Preferably, top surface  48  forms projection  46  having a height which directly corresponds to a depth of receptacle  62  formed by bottom surface  64 . Further, preferably a substantial portion of top surface  48  contacts a substantial portion of bottom surface  64  to provide sufficient frictional contact between projection  46  and receptacle  62 , to maintain pot  60  in a desired, predetermined position with respect to drainage plate  40  and/or support post  20 . For example, as shown in FIG. 2, top surface  48  of projection  46  directly corresponds to bottom surface  64  of receptacle  62  to provide increased frictional contact between a substantial portion of top surface  48  and bottom surface  64 . 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the apparatus comprises the combination of drainage plate  40  mateably engaged with pot  60  but without support post  20 . Because receiving surface  42  extends or projects into the volume formed by drainage plate  40 , bottom surface  44  is generally flat, except for receiving surface  42 , and can rest upon any generally flat horizontal surface, for example a ledge, a table or a shelf, to support pot  60  and its contents. Pot  60  is centered and maintained in the desired position upon drainage plate  40  by the mating engagement of projection  46  with receptacle  62 . 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIG. 5, pot  60  further comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of apertures  72  formed by and extending through bottom surface  64  of pot  60 . Preferably, but not necessarily, apertures  72  are radially positioned about receptacle  62 , as shown in FIG.  5 . Apertures  72  each may have any suitable shape. Preferably, apertures  72  have a generally circular shape having a suitable diameter to allow for proper water drainage. For example, if a house plant is planted within the volume formed by peripheral wall  70  of pot  60 , upon conventional watering of the plant, the excess water is drained from within pot  60  through apertures  72  and contained within the volume formed by peripheral wall  50  of drainage plate  40 . 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIG. 5, pot  60  further comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of support walls  74 . Preferably, but not necessarily, support walls  74  have a generally arcuate shape and are positioned in a circumferential or radial relationship with respect to receptacle  62 , as shown in FIG.  5 . Support walls  74  may have any suitable shape. For example, support walls  74  may be generally straight or linear. Support walls  74  provide both support and stability for pot  60 , to ensure that the weight of pot  60  and its contents are evenly distributed onto top surface  48  of drainage plate  40 , and providing a means for irrigating and/or directing a movement of water, for example, through apertures  72  and between bottom surface  64  and top surface  48  to a periphery of drainage plate  40 . 
     In one preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIGS. 6-8, an apparatus for supporting an object such as a house plant comprises a mounting bracket  80 . For example, the apparatus comprising mounting bracket  80  may support a house plant with respect to a generally vertical surface such as an interior wall surface. Preferably, at least a portion of mounting bracket  80  is cylindrical. Preferably, but not necessarily, mounting bracket  80  has a circular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of a length of mounting bracket  80 . It is apparent that mounting bracket  80  may have any other suitable cross-sectional shape. For example, mounting bracket  80  may have a rectangular cross-sectional area or triangular cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the mounting bracket length. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6-8, a first end portion  81  of mounting bracket  80  is adapted for mounting the apparatus to a surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, mounting bracket  80  may be securely fastened to a generally vertical surface  90 , such as an interior wall, an exterior wall or a post. It is apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, that mounting bracket  80  may be adapted to mount securely to any other surface, for example a generally horizontal surface. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6-8, first end portion  81  forms at least one, and preferably a plurality of apertures  84  for connecting or fastening mounting bracket  80  to surface  90 . Suitable fastening means or connectors, for example screws  86 , may be used for securing mounting bracket  80  to surface  90 . Other suitable connecting means known to those having ordinary skill in the art may be used to securely connect mounting bracket  80  to surface  90 . 
     A second end portion  82  of mounting bracket  80  is mateably engageable with drainage plate  40 . Preferably, but not necessarily, drainage plate  40  is securely engaged with mounting bracket  80 . For example, as shown in FIG. 6, second end portion  82  is mateably engageable with receiving surface  42  formed in or integrated with bottom surface  44  of drainage plate  40 , thus securing drainage plate  40  to mounting bracket  80 . In one embodiment of this invention, second end portion  82  forms a threaded connection with receiving surface  42 . Preferably, receiving surface  42  is formed in central area, for example about a center point of bottom surface  44 , to align a vertical axis of drainage plate  40  with a central axis of second end portion  82 . 
     As discussed above in reference to preferred embodiments of this invention as shown in FIGS. 1-5, container or pot  60  is mateably engageable with drainage plate  40 . Preferably, as shown in FIG. 6, receptacle  62  is formed in or integrated with bottom surface  64  of pot  60 . In one preferred embodiment of this invention, projection  46  is mateably engageable with receptacle  62  whereby pot  60  is fixedly positioned with respect to second end portion  82 . 
     While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments, and many details are set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described in this specification and in the claims can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of this invention.