Abstract:
The invention relates to a vegetable-growth device, comprising one or more supporting beams, one or more connecting elongated elements and one or more locking elements. Each supporting beam is provided with one or more recessed portions, each recessed portion having at least one slanted surface. The shape of the connecting elongated members is suitable to be housed within the recessed portion, wherein said portion is suitable to prevent an elongated member housed therein from easily disengaging therefrom. The extremity of the elongated members can be hollow, or suitable to combine with a female or with a male capping ends.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of vegetable growth. More particularly, the invention relates to a device that is adjustable and better suited to any kind of environment, regardless of whether it is placed indoors or out. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Vegetable growth, particularly for environmental and architectural purposes, is very common in domestic, public and even business surroundings. In many cases, it is preferred to place planting containers at a distance from the floor, and that can be achieved, for instance, by hanging planters, or by using furniture as a supporting surface. 
         [0003]    Nowadays, it is customary to hang planters by a chain with a hook-shaped edge, attached to the planter and held by a peg or the like. Another option is placing the planters upon a shelf or a surface of furniture. When using such methods, the options are limited according to different constraints of the room. In addition, there are some structures that allow the hanging of planters but restrict the use to a certain shape, size and placement, or require a complex assembly process. Two examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,366 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,832,147. 
         [0004]    To date, the prior art has failed to provide an efficient device and method for designing vegetable growth structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art, particularly concerning shape, size and placement of both planter and structure. 
         [0005]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention relates to a vegetable-growth device, comprising one or more supporting beams, one or more connecting elongated elements and one or more locking elements. Each supporting beam is provided with one or more recessed portions, each recessed portion having at least one slanted surface. The shape of the connecting elongated members is suitable to be housed within the recessed portion, wherein said portion is suitable to prevent an elongated member housed therein from easily disengaging therefrom. The extremity of the elongated members can be hollow, or suitable to combine with a female or with a male capping ends. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking element comprises an eccentric member. Alternatively, the locking element is adapted to produce pressure on the elongated member while said elongated member housed within recessed portions. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting beam further comprises an end unit that is provided with a clip-like arrangement adapted for grasping a rail frame of an essentially flat structure and thereby to hang the vegetable-growth device on said essentially flat structure. 
         [0009]    In another aspect the invention relates to a modular vegetable-growth system, which comprises two or more supporting beams and a plurality of connecting elongated members, wherein one or more supporting beams are connectable to a supporting surface. According to an embodiment of the invention, the supporting beams and the elongated elements can be of different lengths. 
         [0010]    In another aspect the invention relates to a clip-like arrangement suitable to be hung on a rail frame of a fence, comprising: a) two clamping members that are adapted to clasp the rail of the fence from both sides of said fence, wherein the first clamping member having an opening adapted to receive a corresponding hanging bar, and the second clamping member having an opening adapted to receive and anchor said corresponding hanging bar within its inner space; b) a hanging bar having a curved end with an inclined tip for creating an anchor effect, wherein said curved end is adapted to be inserted at first through the corresponding opening of said first clamping member and then through the corresponding opening of said second clamping member, until said inclined tip becomes anchored within the inner space of said second clamping member, thereby said hanging bar connects both clamping member together; and c) one or more screws for tightening the grasping of the two clamping members around said rail. 
         [0011]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the clip-like arrangement further comprises a mediating member for allowing hanging any suitable object on the fence, by allowing assembling said object to the hanging bar. The objects can be not only the vegetable-growth device of the present invention, but also any other type of suitable object to be hung such as flowerpots, planters, etc. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a beam provided with niches along its length, according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  shows a front view of the beam of  FIG. 1 ,  1  also showing lock members; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  shows a side view of the beam of  FIG. 1 , also showing lock members; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2C  shows a detailed view of a lock member in an open state, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2D  shows a detailed view of a lock member in a close state, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective of a connecting elongation member of a shape compatible with the niches shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of the connecting elongation member of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  shows a supporting unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4B  shows the connection of the supporting unit of  FIG. 4A  to a beam; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show end units, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A and 6C  show a planter, with hanging means, suitable for use with the invention; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 6B and 6D  show another planter, with hanging means, suitable for use with the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates the use of beams and connecting elongation members of various lengths; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  also shows the use of connecting elongation members of various lengths; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 9A-9D  show an end unit, with a screw that provides height adjustment; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a structure, according to one embodiment of the invention wherein the end unit is provided with a hook-shaped end suitable for hanging on a wall; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a beam connected to a supporting unit; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 12 and 13  schematically illustrate a structure, according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the end unit is provided with a clip-like arrangement suitable for hanging on top of a glass fence; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 14A-14C  schematically illustrate the clip-like arrangement, according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0032]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  schematically illustrate a locking method of the elongated member to the beams, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    The invention allows freedom of creation, which can be obtained by a modular structure of a vegetable-growth device, giving the user the possibility to fit the shape and size of the structure, according to the desired environment. In  FIG. 1 , a beam  101  has one or more recessed portions provided along its length such as indicated by niche  102 . The female connection  103  and male connection  104  are an example of a suitable connecting mechanism between two beams, wherein  104  and  103  are locked by pins. Screws  107  provided along the beam  101  allow the hanging of the structure on a wall, simply by affixing them to the wall. In  FIGS. 2A and 2B  the same beam  101  is seen in a front and side view, respectively. Locking elements  105 ,  106  are connected to beam  101  and are adapted to be rotated into an open state or lock state. In this example, locking element  105  is in an open state (see  FIG. 2C ) and locking element  106  is in a closed state (see  FIG. 2D ). 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a shape of an alternative connecting elongated member  301 , fit to engage the recessed portions (i.e., the niches  102 ) of two or more parallel beams  101 . End units  302  and  303  cap the connecting elongated member  301 , similarly to connections  103  and  104 . In  FIGS. 4 and 11 , the beam  101  is connected to an end unit  401  which also functions as a stand that stably supports the beam  101 . The end unit  401  is also provided with female connection  103  and male connection  104  of the beam, and may be further locked into position with it using suitable locking means (not shown). In  FIGS. 5A and 5B  the end unit is used as a base. It can be an end unit with a narrow base  501  (as shown in  FIG. 5A ) or an end unit with a wider base  502  (as shown in  FIG. 5B ), and the beam  101  is connected to those bases by the connectors  103  and  104 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show perspective views of planters  601 , which can be of in different sizes and shapes, which are provided with hanging means  602 , suited to be hung on the elongated member  301  or a beam.  FIGS. 6C and 6D  show a side view of the planters  601  of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , respectively. Optionally, other objects can also be hung with hanging means  602 , such as one or more shelves.  FIG. 7  illustrates the modularity of the structure  701  and the use of different lengths of beams  101  and connecting elongated members  301  in the same structure. The environmental restrictions shown in this figure comprise a wall  702  and a window  703 , which the modularity of the structure  701  can overcome, by using a screw  107  to attach the structure  701  to the wall  702 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  is another example of the modularity of the structure. Locking element  106  is shown at its closed state, and different lengths of connecting elongated members  301  comprise the structure  701 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 9A-9D  show an end unit  901  provided with a screw  902  suitable to generate pressure between the beam  101  and the surface with which it is in contact thereby to stabilize the structure. The end unit  901  with the screw  902  provides height adjustment by turning the screw  902  clockwise or counterclockwise.  FIG. 9A  shows a perspective view of the end unit  901 .  FIG. 9B  shows the end unit  901  connected to the beam  101 .  FIG. 9C  shows a side view of the end unit  901 .  FIG. 9D  shows the different parts of the end unit  901  that includes a base  903 , the screw  902  and the end&#39;s unit body  904  which adapted to receive the screw  902 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a structure with end units  1001 , which can conveniently be hung on a wall  1002 , a rail, a pole and the like. This figure also illustrates the hanging of the planters  601  on the connecting elongation members  301  and the fixation of the beams  101  on the wall  1002  by screws  107 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  schematically illustrates a structure with end units, which can conveniently be hung on top of a fence such as a common balcony&#39;s glass fence  1020  and the like. This figure also illustrates the hanging of the planters  601  on the connecting elongated members  301  and the alignment of the beams  101  with respect to the plane of the glass fence  1020  by one or more alignment members  1023  that act also as a spacer.  FIG. 13  schematically illustrates the structure of  FIG. 12  without the planters. In this embodiment, the end unit is provided with a clip-like arrangement  1022  adapted for grasping the rail  1021  of the glass fence  1020 , and thereby conveniently be hung on the glass fence  1020  in a fixation and secure manner. At least one alignment member  1023  is connected to the rear side of each of the beams  101 . According to an embodiment of the invention, the alignment member  1023  includes a rod  1025  that is essentially perpendicular to the beam  101  and a glass supporting element  1024 . The rod  1025  may have a fixed length or its length can be adjusted (e.g., in a screw-like manner). The glass supporting element  1024  has a flat surface adapted to be pressed against the flat surface of the glass fence  1020 . In one embodiment, the glass supporting element  1024  is provided in form of a suction cup suitable for enhancing the fixation of the beams  101  to the flat surface of the glass fence  1020 . The alignment members  1023  can be used to set the incline of the beams  101 , e.g., in cases where the thickness of the rail  1021  of the glass fence  1020  is wider than the thickness of the glass. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 14A-14B  schematically illustrate the clip-like arrangement  1022  in further details, according to an embodiment of the invention. The clip-like arrangement  1022  includes two clamping members  1121  and  1122  that are adapted to clasp or grasp a rail of a fence, for example, as shown by the rail  1021  of fence  1020  in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The inner side of each clamping member (i.e., the side that face the fence) is adapted to fit the outer form of the rail  1021 . The clip-like arrangement  1022  also includes a hanging bar  1123  having a curved end  1124  with an inclined tip  1125  (see  FIG. 14B ) for creating an anchor effect that connects both clamping member together. The curved end  1124  is inserted through corresponding openings in the clamping members  1121  and  1122 , until the inclined tip  1125  becomes anchored by an inner structure of the clamping member  1122  that corresponds to the structure of the inclined tip  1125 . In addition, one or more screws can be used to tighten the grasping of the clamping members  1121  and  1122  around the rail  1021  of fence  1020  as well as to secure them to one another. 
         [0041]    The other end hanging bar  1123  can be used to fit and connect to plurality of objects to be hung thereon, such as planter, flowerpots, and the like. For example, as shown in  FIG. 14C , a mediating member  1126  can be used to connect the other end of the hanging bar  1123  to the beam  101 . This can be implemented by any suitable connecting means, such as snap fitting, screws, etc. 
         [0042]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the modular structure includes one or more locking elements  1026  associated with the recessed portions  102 , suitable to prevent the elongated member  301  housed therein from easily disengaging therefrom, as schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . For example, the locking element  1026  may act as a wedge that upon its insertion into the gap that remains between the beam  101  and the elongated member  301  (as indicated by numeral  102 ′ in  FIG. 15A ), it produces pressure on the elongated member  301 . Alternatively, the locking element  1026  locks or secures the elongated member  301  to the beam  101  by using a snap fitting technique that provides a simple and rapid means of assembling plastic parts. For example, a molded undercut on the locking element  1026  engages a mating lip on the beam  101  (not shown).  FIG. 15B  shows the locking element  1026  in its locking position that completely fills the gap  102 ′ that is shown in  FIG. 15A . 
         [0043]    All the above description has been provided for the purpose of illustration and is not meant to limit the invention in any way. The invention presents significant advantages over the existing prior art. For example, the modularity of the structure, the variety of the shapes and the simplicity of the assembly.