Patent Publication Number: US-8978294-B2

Title: Stackable holder or planter for potted plants

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to planters for flowers and other plants. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are a variety of planters available in the marketplace for flowers and other plants. All planters have a body which defines a cavity in which potting soil is held. Most planters in the market are molded plastic. Others are made from materials such as fiber, porcelain, clay, foam, and metal. 
     Retailers have limited space in which to display products being offered for sale. Consequently, there is a preference for products that can be stacked or nested thereby providing more units in a given volume. The unit cost to ship and store products which are nested together is significantly less than the storage and shipping costs of products which cannot be nested. It is preferable that the planters can be tightly packed and condensed for transport. 
     Some potted plants may grow to be tall. Multiple tall potted plants are often displayed in a row for aesthetic purposes. Such plants may have a center of gravity that is high off the ground due to the height of the plant. Furthermore, such tall plants have more surface area against which wind may blow if such plants are displayed outdoors. Consequently, these plants may tip over, especially in moderate to high winds. A new holder for potted plants is needed which increases the stability of plants that grow to be tall. The new potted plant holder should preferably be simple and inexpensive, but sturdier than a regular plant pot and capable of being anchored to other holders for increased stability among all potted plant holders when tall potted plants are displayed in a row. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     I provide a stackable holder for plants which may receive or have a pot which can be filled with potting soil in which a flower or other plant may be grown. The holder has a top with a central opening and legs that extend from the top. In some embodiments a pot is placed in the opening in the top. The pot may be removable from the top or integrally formed with the top. The legs preferably have a curved cross-section along their length so that the holders can be stacked and nested together. 
     For those embodiments which are sold without a pot or sold with a removable pot, I prefer to provide flexible flaps on the perimeter of the opening that extend inwardly. These flaps enable the holder to receive a range of pot sizes. Adjacent flaps may be connected together along all or a portion of their length such that there is a joint between them which may be easily cut or broken to enable a larger pot to fit through the opening. 
     In those embodiments having a pot, which embodiments may be called planters, the pot has a base and at least one sidewall extending from the base to the top of the holder to define a cavity. The sidewalls and the legs are configured such that the pot can be positioned within the pot of a second planter. The base and the sidewalls of the pot extend into the cavity of the pot in the second planter, and the legs of the planter extend over the legs of the second planter. 
     The planter body may be made of plastic. A lip may extend from the interconnected sidewalls. The sidewalls may be tapered. The base, sidewalls, and legs may be an integrally formed unit. 
     I prefer to provide a plurality of connectors attached to the top, which are positioned and configured to enable two or more holders to be connected together side by side. The legs may have feet which are sized and configured to connect to and mate with feet of the second planter. The stackable planter may include a lid sized and configured to cover the cavity. The lid may be connected to the top of a sidewall. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof shown in the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a present preferred embodiment of my stackable holder. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a stackable holder of the type shown in  FIG. 1  holding a pot. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of two stackable holders of the type shown in  FIG. 1  stacked for storage and shipment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of three stackable holders of the type shown in  FIG. 1  interconnected for increased stability. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of my stackable holder which may be called a stackable planter. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of two stackable planters of the type shown in  FIG. 5  being stacked for storage and shipment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a stackable planter of the type shown in  FIG. 5  with a lid attached. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of two stackable planters of the type shown in  FIG. 7  stacked for storage and shipment. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a lid having a groove in the middle to provide a hinge or fold line. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a stackable planter of the type shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  with the lid having a groove attached and folded for storage or shipment. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of two stackable planters of the type shown in  FIG. 10  with their lids folded and being stacked for storage or shipment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third present preferred embodiment of my stackable planter having a removable body. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of a stackable planter of the type shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A present preferred embodiment of my stackable holder  1  is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . I provide a top  2  having a central opening  4  and a plurality of legs  6 . A plurality of flexible flaps  10  extend inward from the perimeter  12  of the central opening  4 . Adjacent flaps  10  may be joined together along all or a portion of their length such that there is a joint  14  between them. When a pot  8  is at least partially positioned within the central opening  4  the flaps  10  bend downward and hold the pot in place, as may be appreciated from  FIG. 2 . Preferably, the joints  14  may be thin plastic or frangible so they can be easily cut or broken, allowing a larger pot  8  to be at least partially positioned within the central opening  4 . 
     I prefer to provide a plurality of connectors  16  which are attached to the top  2 . The connectors  16  are positioned and configured to enable two or more stackable holders  1  to be connected together side by side. I also contemplate providing feet  18  on the ends of the legs  6 . The feet  18  may be sized and configured to interlock with other similar feet  18 . Such interlocking may be accomplished for instance by a tongue and groove joint, a lap joint, or other interlocking mechanism. The connectors  16  and the interlocking feet  18  allow two or more stackable holders  1  to be positioned next to each other and connected to each other for increased stability. 
     Multiple stackable holders  1  may be arranged in an interlocking row as may be appreciated from  FIG. 4 . A connector  16  on the first stackable holder may mate with and connect to a connector  16  on the second stackable holder. A connector  16  on the second stackable holder may mate with and connect to a connector  16  on the third stackable holder. Additionally or alternatively, the feet  18  of the first stackable holder may mate with and connect to the feet  18  of the second stackable holder, and the feet  18  of the second stackable holder may mate with and connect to the feet  18  of the third stackable holder. Interlocking the stackable holders in this fashion increases the stability of the stackable holders. Consequently, tall potted plants may be placed in such stackable holders and when connected together via the connectors  16  and/or the interlocking feet  18  there is a greatly decreased chance of a plant being blown over. 
     The stackable holder  1  is sized and configured so that multiple stackable holders may be stacked and nested as may be appreciated from  FIG. 3 . When so stacked and nested, the legs  6  of the first stackable holder  1  fit over the legs of the second stackable holder. I prefer to provide legs  6  with a curved cross section so that the legs  6  of the first stackable holder  1  may nest within the legs of the second stackable holder. Consequently several of these stackable holders when stacked and nested together form a very dense stack for storage and shipment. 
     A second preferred embodiment of my stackable planter  31  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . I provide a planter body  32  having a base  34 , at least one sidewall  36 , and a plurality of legs  38 . The sidewalls  36  extend from the base  34  to define a cavity  40  in which potting soil may be placed. The sidewalls  36  are preferably sloped. Each sidewall  36  has a top  42 . The legs  38  are attached to the tops  42  of the sidewalls  36 . Each sidewall  36  preferably has a lip  44  extending outward from the top  42  of the sidewall  36 . 
     I prefer to provide a generally rectangular base  34 , but of course other shapes for the base  34  are possible. Similarly, I prefer to provide four legs  38  for my stackable planter  31 , but I also contemplate any other number or configuration of legs  38 . 
     I may provide a lid  48  with my stackable planter  31   a  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The lid  48  is sized and configured to cover the cavity  40 . I prefer to provide the lid  48  as a separate component of my stackable planter  31 . However, the lid  48  may be attached to the top  42  of a sidewall  36 , as may be appreciated from  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The lid  48  may be connected to the top  42  of a sidewall  36  by for example a hinge  50 . 
     Although I prefer the lid  48  to be rigid, I contemplate that the lid  48  may be at least partially able to fold or bend. The embodiment  31   b  shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  has a lid  48  that folds. Such folding or bending may be possible by for example the presence of a groove  52  running through the lid  48 , as may be appreciated from  FIG. 9 . The groove  52  may be parallel to the top  42  of the sidewall  36  to which the lid  48  may be attached. This may allow the lid  48  to fold or bend at least partially over itself to be placed inside the cavity  40  when not in use. 
     The stackable planter  31 ,  31   a  and  31   b , is sized and configured so that multiple stackable planters may be stacked and nested as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  11 . When so stacked and nested, the planter body  32  of the first stackable planter  31  fits within the cavity of the second stackable planter, and the legs  38  of the first stackable planter  31  fit over the legs of the stackable second planter as shown in  FIG. 6 . I prefer to provide legs  38  with a curved cross section so that the legs  38  of the first stackable planter  31  may nest within the legs of the second stackable planter. Consequently, several of these stackable planters when stacked and nested together form a very dense stack for storage and shipment. 
     Stacking and nesting my stackable planter  31  is possible even when the planter  31  has the lid  48  attached to the top  42  of a sidewall  36 , as may be appreciated from  FIG. 8 . The lid  48  preferably may extend away from the cavity  40  of the one stackable planter  31  and extend between the legs of any stackable planter stacked above the one stackable planter  31 . Alternatively, if the lid  48  may flex or bend at least partially over itself, it may then be able to be stored within the cavity  40  of the stackable planter  31  as may be appreciated from  FIG. 11 . 
     A third embodiment of my stackable planter  61  may be appreciated from  FIGS. 12 and 13 . I provide a top  62  having a central opening  64  and a plurality of legs  66 . A plurality of flexible or rigid flaps  76  may extend inward from the perimeter  78  of the central opening  64 . The central opening  64  is sized and configured to receive a planter body  68 . The planter body  68  has a base  70  and at least one sidewall  72  extending from the base  70  to define a cavity  74  in which potting soil may be placed. 
     This embodiment of my stackable planter  61  allows the planter body  68  to be removed from the top  62 , as can be appreciated from  FIG. 13 . Removing the planter body  68  in this fashion allows plants to be easily swapped or repositioned, or to be easily removed from adverse weather conditions, without the need to move the entire stackable planter  61 . 
     I prefer to provide a plurality of connectors  80  which are attached to the top  62 . The connectors  80  are positioned and configured to enable two or more stackable planters  61  to be connected together side by side. I also contemplate providing feet  82  on the ends of the legs  66  away from the top  62 . The feet  82  may be sized and configured to interlock with other similar feet  82 . Such interlocking may be accomplished for instance by a tongue and groove joint, a lap joint, or other interlocking mechanism. The connectors  80  and the interlocking feet  82  allow two or more stackable planters  61  to be positioned next to each other and connected to each other with increased stability. 
     The stackable planter  61  is sized and configured so that multiple stackable planters may be stacked and nested. When so stacked and nested, the legs  66  of the first stackable planter  61  fit over the legs of the second stackable planter. I prefer to provide legs  66  with a curved cross section so that the legs  66  of the first stackable planter  61  may nest within the legs of the second holder. Consequently several of these holders when stacked and nested together form a very dense stack for storage and shipment. 
     The planter bodies, legs, and lids of all present preferred embodiments are preferably made from injection molded plastics such as polycarbonate or polyvinylchloride. For ease of molding I prefer that the embodiments with sidewalls have the sidewalls be tapered, as can be seen in  FIGS. 5-9  and  11 - 14 , rather than be perpendicular to the base. 
     The connectors  16  and  80  are shown in the drawings a curved tabs with the curvature reversed on the opposite sides of the holder or planter so that the connectors can interlock. It should be understood that other types of connectors could be used such a plug and socket or tongue and groove. Whatever connectors are used, they should be of a size and shape such that the connectors can be integrally molded with the holder or planter. Preferably the holder or planter is made from a polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride material. Other suitable plastics or composite materials could be used. 
     Although I have described and illustrated certain present preferred embodiments of my stackable holders or planters it should be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to but may be variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.