Patent Publication Number: US-2017347535-A1

Title: Nursery pot positioning device and method

Description:
The present invention relates to positioning devices, and in particular, to devices used to position nursery pots and plant containers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Nursery pots are well known and are commonly found in nurseries and other businesses that sell and/or utilize plants. For example, a movie set or television set will typically utilize many heavy plants contained in nursery pots that will need to be positioned as appropriate. 
       FIG. 7  shows a prior art nursery pot  30  containing large, heavy plant  35 . Nursery pot  30  is commonly fabricated from plastic and includes lip  31 . Lip  31  is commonly grabbed by the user and utilized to lift nursery pot  30 . 
     The soil and plant inside nursery pot  30  can be very heavy. It is a potential health hazard to lift nursery pot  30 , especially if the user is repeated tasked with lifting and maneuvering nursery pot  30 . The user can easily damage his back, knees, feet and arms. 
     What is needed is a better device for positioning nursery pots and similar plant containers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a positioning device for a plant container having a lip. The positioning device has an extension arm with a hook rigidly connected at one end and a handle rigidly connected at the other end. The positioning device is utilized to move a plant container by engaging the hook with the plant container&#39;s lip and then dragging the plant container to a predetermined position. In a preferred embodiment the plant container is a nursery pot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-2  show preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3-6  depict a preferred method for utilizing the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a prior art nursery pot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show preferred nursery pot positioning devices  10  and  20 . Positioning devices  10  and  20  are identical except for the length of extension arms  11  and  21 . The length of the extension arm may be varied depending upon the preferences of the user. For example, in one preferred embodiment extension arm  11  is approximately 20 inches ( FIG. 1 ). In another preferred embodiment handle  21  is approximately 30 inches ( FIG. 2 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , hook  12  is welded to extension arm  11  at one end of extension arm  11 . Handle  13  is welded to the opposite end of extension arm  11 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , hook  12  is welded to extension arm  21  at one end of extension arm  21 . Handle  13  is welded to the opposite end of extension arm  21 . 
     Utilization of Nursery Pot Positioning Devices 
       FIGS. 3-6  depict an illustration of the utilization of positioning device  10  to move a heavy nursery pot  30  containing plant  35 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the user has grabbed handle  13  and has moved hook  12  so that it is positioned near lip  31  of nursery pot  30 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the user has moved hook  12  upward so that it has engaged lip  31  by being between lip  31  and nursery pot  30 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a simplified side view of the image shown in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 5  user is beginning to drag nursery pot  30  leftward. In  FIG. 6  the user has continued to drag nursery pot  30  leftward. 
     Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.