Patent Abstract:
A cage protects the roots of a pond plant planted in a pot from fish and other animals. If the roots are eaten, the plant will die. The pot has a rim and the pot resides on the bottom of a pond. The pond plant has a plurality of stems and each stem has a leaf. The cage covers the top of the pot so that the fish cannot gain access to the roots. In one embodiment the cage includes two sections that are connected together and to the rim of the pot. In another embodiment the cage is a single piece. In both embodiments the leaves of the pond plant are rolled up and passed upwardly through a grid of the cage.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains generally to pond plants, and more particularly to a cage that protects a pond plant growing in a pot from fish or other animals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pond plants growing in pots are well known in the art. One such plant is the water lily. The pot is placed on the bottom of the pond and the leaves or pads of the water lily float to the surface. The fish in the pond will not eat the stems or leaves but they will dig in the dirt in the pot until they expose the roots that are much tendered that the stems and leaves and will eat the roots. This feeding will eventually kill the plant. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a cage for protecting a pond plant planted in a pot by preventing fish, turtles, or other animals from digging in the dirt in the pot and eating the roots of the plant. The cage is attached to the top of the pot. It has openings that allow the leaves and stems of the pond plant to pass to the surface. The cage comes in different sizes and shapes to accommodate various pot configurations. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the cage includes first and second sections that are removably connectable to each other and to the rim of the pot. The first section has at least one opening that is of a sufficient size to pass the leaf and stem of the pond plant, and the second section also includes at least one opening that is of a sufficient size to pass the leaf and stem of the pond plant. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the cage includes a first grid that is supported by a first plurality of legs, and a second grid that is supported by a second plurality of legs. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the first and second grids are semi-circular. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the first and second grids each have a truncated semi-circular shape, so that when the first and second sections are connected to each other and to the rim of the pot the first and second sections reside in spaced apart relationship. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the first section includes a pair of spaced apart first tabs, each of the first tabs having a hole. The second section includes a pair of spaced apart second tabs, each of the second tabs having a hole. The first and second sections are connectable by bolting the pair of spaced apart first tabs to the pair of spaced apart second tabs. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the first section includes a first rim-receiving groove, and the second section includes a second rim-receiving groove. The first and second rim-receiving grooves are shaped and dimensioned to receive the rim of the pot. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the openings of the first and second sections are of sufficient size to pass a leaf that has been rolled up. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the cage does not include two sections but rather comprises a unitary cage that is removably connectable to the rim of the pot. The unitary cage has a plurality of openings that are of sufficient size to pass the leaf and stem of the pond plant. The unitary cage includes a grid that is supported by a plurality of legs. The unitary cage is held on the rim of the pot by bolts passing underneath the rim. 
     In another embodiment, the cage cooperates with a male fish and a female fish to enhance fish roe fertilization and incubation. When a female koi is sufficiently pregnant, the male koi bumps against her knocking her roe into the water. If the male does not do this, the female can become sick and die. It is difficult for the male to knock the roe out of the female in clear water. He needs to knock the female against something. The pot and cage of the potted pond plant provide objects against which the male koi can knock the female koi. Once the roe is floating in the water, the male fertilizes it with his milt. The fertilized roe gradually settles to the bottom of the pond. But in the process, the koi usually eat all of the roe. The cage and top of the pot then provide an added benefit. If the discharged roe falls through the cage and into the pot, it is protected from being eaten. If some of the roe develops into baby fish, they are protected inside the cage and pot and are small enough to swim through the spaces in the cage out into the pond. 
     Other embodiments, in addition to the embodiments enumerated above, will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the cage and method of use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a reduced top plan view of a prior art pond plant in a pot; 
         FIG. 2  is a reduced side elevation view of the pond plant in a pot; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a cage for protecting the roots of the pond plant in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the cage installed on the top of a pot having a pond plant; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of first and second sections of the cage; 
         FIG. 7  is front elevation view of the first and second sections; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the first and second sections; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear elevation view of the first and second sections; 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the first section; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the second section; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of a leaf and stem being passed through an opening in the first section; 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the leaf and stem after they are passed through the opening in the first section; 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the cage; 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the cage; 
         FIG. 16  is a front elevation view of the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 15 ; and, 
         FIG. 18  is a side elevation view of the cage being used by a male and female fish. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are illustrated reduced prior art views of a top plan and side elevation of a prior art pond plant  500 . Pond plant  500  is planted in a pot  600  that resides on the bottom  702  of a pond  700 . Pond plant  500  has a plurality of stems  502  and each stem has a leaf  504  that floats on the surface of pond  700 . Pond plant  500  also has roots  506  that are planted in the dirt in pot  600 . Pot  600  has an open top and a top rim  602 . As previously described, because the top of pot  600  is open, fish  800  such as koi can dig in the dirt and eat the roots  506  of pond plant  500  thereby killing the plant. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are top plan and side elevation views, respectively, of a cage, generally designated as  20 , for protecting pond plant  500 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . Cage  20  is installed over the top of pot  600  to prevent fish  800  from gaining access to the roots of the plant. In the shown embodiment, cage  20  includes a first section  22  and a second section  24 . First and second sections  22 ,  24  are removably connectable to each other and to the rim  602  of pot  600  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). In the shown embodiment, first and second sections  22 ,  24  are identical and are installed in the shown opposing relationship around the rim  602  of pot  600 . 
     First section  22  includes at least one opening  26  that is of sufficient size to pass the rolled up leaf  504  and stem  502  of pond plant  500  (refer to  FIGS. 12 and 13  and the associated discussion). Similarly, second section  24  includes at least one opening  28  that is of sufficient size to pass the rolled up leaf  504  and stem  502  of pond plant  500 . When first and second sections  22 ,  24  are connected to each other and to the rim  602  of pot  600 , they form cage  20 . 
     First section  22  includes a first grid  32  having a plurality of openings that is supported by a first plurality of legs  34 . First grid  32  is substantially flat. Second section  24  includes a second grid  36  that is supported by a second plurality of legs  38 . Second grid  36  is substantially flat. In the shown embodiment, first and second grids  32 ,  36  are semi-circular. Openings  26  and  28  are squares having 2 inch sides that are small enough to prevent the passage of fish  800  yet large enough to allow passage of leaves  504  and stems  502  of pond plant  500  (also refer to  FIGS. 12 and 13  and the associated discussions). It may be appreciated that while square grids are illustrated, other types of opening configurations could also be utilized. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . Only first section  22  is shown. First section  22  includes a first rim-receiving groove  40  created by the space between cage seat  54  and flange  58 . Second section  24  has an identical groove. First rim-receiving groove  40  is shaped and dimensioned to captively receive the rim  602  of pot  600  so that cage  20  can be fixedly connected around rim  602  of pot  600 . First section  22  includes a pair of spaced apart first tabs  44  with each tab  44  having a hole  46  (see also  FIGS. 10-11 ). First section  22  is connectable to second section  24  by bolting the pair of spaced apart first tabs  44  to the pair of spaced apart second tabs  50  with bolts  52  as is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . It is noted in  FIG. 5  that holes  46  and bolts  52  are vertically aligned with flange  58 . 
       FIG. 6-9  are top plan, front elevation, side elevation, and rear elevation views, respectively, of first and second sections  22 ,  24 . First section  22  is identical to second section  24 , and as such the figures and descriptions pertaining to first section  22  also apply to second section  24 . Shown are first and second openings  26 ,  28 ; first and second grids  32 ,  36 ; first and second legs  34 , 38 ; first and second rim-receiving grooves  40 ,  42 ; first and second tabs  44 ,  48 ; first and second holes  46 ,  50 ; first and second cage seats  54 ,  56 ; and first and second flanges  58 ,  60 . 
       FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of first section  22 , and  FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of second section  24 . The two sections are shown in a relative position to be placed around rim  602  of pot  600  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Shown are first and second grids  32 ,  36 , first and second legs  34 ,  38 , first and second rim-receiving grooves  40 ,  42 , first and second tabs  44 ,  48  and first and second holes  46 ,  50 . 
     In an embodiment, cage  20  is fabricated from a polymer. In another embodiment cage  20  is shaped and dimensioned to connect to the rim  602  of a five gallon pot  600 , and has a connected diameter of about twelve inches. It may be appreciated that cage  20  can be combined with plant  500  and pot  600  to form a system for protecting a pond plant. 
       FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of first section  22  showing rolled up leaf  504  and stem  502  being passed through opening  26 .  FIG. 13  is a front perspective view after leaf  504  and stem  502  have been passed through opening  26 . Leaf  504  is rolled up to pass it through the opening because it is too large to otherwise pass through the opening. When pond plants are purchased by a consumer, they are typically full grown with large leaves. When the leaf  504  is released, it opens into its natural shape as indicated by the arrows. A leaf  504  and stem  502  can be similarly passed through opening  28  in second section  24 . In an embodiment, openings  26  and  28  are of sufficient size to pass a six inch diameter (d) leaf  504  that has been rolled up (also refer to  FIG. 1 ). A square grid opening of about 2 inches on a side is a useful size for passing such a leaf  504 . 
       FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the device, generally designated as  120 . Cage  120  includes first and second grids  132 ,  136  that have truncated semicircular shapes. When first and second sections  122 ,  124  are bolted together on the rim  602  of pot  600 , first and second sections  122 ,  124  reside in spaced apart relationship. Because of the spacing, bolts  152  can exert continuous pressure on first and second sections  122 ,  124  to hold them securely together on pot  600  around rim  602 . As defined herein, a truncated semicircular shape has a height H that is less than half of the diameter D of rim  602  of pot  600 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  are top plan and side elevation views, respectively, of a third embodiment of the cage, generally designated as  220 . Cage  220  is similar to cage  20  except that it is made as one piece. Cage  230  has a plurality of openings  226  that are of sufficient size to pass the leaf  504  and stem  502  of the pond plant  500 . Cage  230  includes a grid  232  that is supported by a plurality of legs  234 .  FIG. 17  is an enlarged cross sectional view along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 15 . A pair of bolts  252  screw into cage  220  underneath rim  602  to lock cage  220  to rim  602 . It may be appreciated that other methods of connecting cage  220  to rim  602  of pot  600  could also be utilized. 
       FIG. 18  is a side elevation view of cage  20  being used by a male  800 A and female  800 B fish. The male fish  800 A bangs the female fish  800 B against the side of the pot  600  and cage  20  causing female fish  800 B to discharge roe  802 . Some of the roe  802  floats into cage  20  and into pot  600  as indicated by the broken away area  804 . Some of the milt from the male floats with the roe into the pot where it fertilizes the roe. The fertilized roe is thereby protected by the cage  20  from being eaten by the fish. 
     In terms of use, a method for protecting a pond plant  500  includes (refer to  FIGS. 1-18 ): 
     (a) providing a pond  700  having a bottom  702 ; 
     (b) providing a pond plant  500  that is planted in a pot  600 , the pot  600  having a rim  602 , the pond plant  500  having a plurality of stems  502 , each stem  502  having a leaf  504 , 
     (c) providing a cage  20  for protecting pond plant  500  including:
         a first section  22 ;   a second section  24 ;   first  22  and second  24  sections removably connectable to each other and to rim  602  of pot  600 ;   first section  22  including at least one opening  26  that is of sufficient size to pass leaf  504  and stem  502  of pond plant  500 ; and,   second section  24  including at least one opening  28  that is of sufficient size to pass leaf  504  and stem  502  of pond plant  500 ;       

     (d) upwardly passing a leaf  504  and stem  502  through opening  26  in first section  22 ; 
     (e) upwardly passing another leaf  504  and stem  502  through opening  28  in second section  24 ; 
     (f) after (e), connecting first  22  and second  24  sections to each other so that the connected sections connect to rim  602  of pot  600 ; and, 
     (g) placing pot  600  on bottom  702  of pond  700 . 
     The method further including: 
     in (c), first section  22  including a pair of spaced apart first tabs  44 , each tab  44  having a hole  46 ; 
     in (c), second section  24  including a pair of spaced apart second tabs  48 , each tab  48  having a hole  50 ; 
     in (c), first and second sections  22 ,  24  connectable by bolting the pair of spaced apart first tabs  44  to the pair of spaced apart second tabs  50 ; 
     providing two bolts  52 ; and, 
     in (f), using bolts  52  to connect first and second sections  22 ,  24  together around rim  602  of pot  600 . 
     The method further including: 
     in (c), first section  22  including a first rim-receiving groove  40 ; 
     in (c), second section  24  including a second rim-receiving groove  42 ; and, 
     in (f), causing first and second rim-receiving grooves  40 ,  42  to captively receive rim  602  of pot  600 . 
     The method further including: 
     prior to (d), rolling up leaf  504 ; and, 
     prior to (e), rolling up the other leaf  504 . 
     The method further including, cage  20  cooperating with a male fish  800 A and a female fish  800 B: 
     in (f), when first and second sections  22 ,  24  are connected to each other and to rim  602  of pot  600 , first and second sections  22 ,  24  forming a cage  30 ; and, 
     the male fish  800 A urging the female fish  800 B into contact with the pot  500  and cage  20  causing the female fish  800 B to discharges roe  802 . 
     The method further including: 
     some of the roe  802  falling through cage  20  and into pot  600 . 
     The embodiments of the cage and method of use described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, combinations, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of that are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims. Further, nothing in the above provided discussions of the cage and method should be construed as limiting the invention to a particular embodiment or combination of embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0