Abstract:
A planter tray carriage includes a plurality of planter trays affixed to the carriage. The planter tray carriage can be operable in a plurality of states, wherein the states enable selective upright storage of the carriage or deployment of the carriage and the associated trays. The carriage includes the plurality of planter trays attached to the carriage such that the trays remain upright in each of the plurality of states.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/681,697 filed on Aug. 10, 2012 which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure is related to planter trays used to grow plants, particularly to compact storage of the trays and flexible deployment of the trays when not in storage. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art. 
         [0004]    Planter trays are used to grow and cultivate plants. Planter trays can be used by individuals, for example, permitting a person to keep a small garden on a patio or deck where ground for a normal garden is not available. Planter trays can also be used by merchants, providing plants for public purchase in a mobile container. 
         [0005]    Plants need adequate sunlight. Plants can also have particular needs and can thrive based upon selective placement at different times of day and in different weather conditions. Planters provide mobility for the person tending the plants, in that planters are small enough that they can be easily moved into sunlight or under cover. 
         [0006]    Planters can take up a lot of room, for example, making a small patio or deck difficult for a family to use. Moving a number of planters around for the benefit of the plants and then moving the plants around to make the space available for the enjoyment of people can be difficult or time consuming. 
         [0007]    A merchant can have a large number of planters in a store. Planters take up space, and a number of aisles of planters can be required to provide an adequate selection of plants for consumers to buy. Plants are delicate, and they also tend to leave a floor with a lot of debris. Dirt from the planters gets on the floor, and leaves and parts of plants can fall on the ground. Consumers can leave litter, but consumers still expect a retail store to be well kept and clean. Rows of planters can require significant labor to clean the floor and adequately water the plants. 
         [0008]    Farmers&#39; markets are events wherein local farmers bring produce and goods for consumers to buy. Farmers&#39; markets benefit from providing consumers with the impression that the produce offered is fresh and was not picked from the plant a long time ago. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    A planter tray carriage includes a plurality of planter trays affixed to the carriage. The planter tray carriage can be operable in a plurality of states, wherein the states enable selective upright storage of the carriage or deployment of the carriage and the associated trays. The carriage includes the plurality of planter trays attached to the carriage such that the trays remain upright in each of the plurality of states. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage in a horizontal, deployed state, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a planter tray from  FIG. 1  including pivoting hardware, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary side support of a planter tray carriage including a first exemplary tray holder configuration, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary side support of a planter tray carriage including a second exemplary tray holder configuration, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3C  illustrates the tray holder configuration of  FIG. 3B , in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates the planter tray carriage of  FIG. 1  in a vertical, stowed state, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a plurality of mature plants and with two planter trays removed, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a wheeled stand employed, providing a partially stowed state for the carriage, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a first flat end configuration, facilitating a vertical, stowed state, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a second flat end configuration, facilitating a vertical, stowed state, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage and a powered wall storage unit, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  illustrates a truck with exemplary planter tray carriage fixing hardware, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  illustrates a plurality of planter tray carriages for use in a retail store, including powered wall storage units and an automatic watering fixture, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a wheeled stand employed, the stand including a moving linkage assembly and a position locking device, the linkage assembly illustrated in a stowed position, in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  illustrates the planter tray carriage of  FIG. 12  with the linkage assembly illustrated in a mobile operation position, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage in a horizontal, deployed state. Configuration  10  includes planter tray carriage  20 , a plurality of planter trays  30 , two carriage wheels  40 , a handle  50 , and rear support legs  60 . Carriage  20  holds the planter trays  30  such that the planter trays can be easily moved all at once, for example, permitting a person to move four trays at a time to be in the sunlight all day. Planter trays  30  are mounted to side supports  22  of carriage  20  with pivoting tray connections such that the trays can pivot and remain upright whether the carriage is flat on the ground or if handle  50  is picked up and the carriage is at an angle. Carriage  20  can be made of a number of materials, including but not limited to wood, metal (aluminum, steel, etc. in bars, tubes, extruded rectangles, etc.), fiberglass, polymer, or other material. Trays  30  can be made of a number of different materials, including wood, clay, porcelain, metal, polymer, etc. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a planter tray from  FIG. 1  including pivoting hardware. Exemplary tray  30  is illustrated, including cavity  32  wherein dirt and plants can be placed. In an alternative use, a plurality of pots or a plurality of plastic, disposable planter trays can be placed within cavity  32 . Cavity  32  can include depressions or an insertable fixturing tray for securely holding pots in the cavity. Cavity  32  can include holes in the bottom to permit excess water to drain from tray  30 . Pivot hardware  34  is illustrated, including an exemplary pin or axle configuration that fits into a mating tray holder configuration on a planter tray carriage. The illustrated pin is exemplary, and a number of configurations are envisioned to permit trays  30  to be pivotably mounted to carriage  20 . In one embodiment, the pin can include a head wider than the axle, and mating hardware on the side supports  22  can include features to fixedly trap the head and permit the tray to rotate. The disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular pivot hardware examples provided herein. Pivot hardware  34  is illustrated near a vertical mid-point of planter tray  30 . The orientation of the pivoting tray can be controlled by gravity. The tray  30  can be bottom heavy to prevent the tray from tipping over and dumping out the dirt and plats contained therein. An optional tray weight  36  is illustrated, for example, including a non-corroding metal plate added to the bottom of tray  30 . Weight  36  permits tray  30  to sit high as compared to pivot hardware  34  and carriage  20 . In another configuration, pivot hardware  34  can be located higher on tray  30  such that more of tray  30  and the dirt therein are below the pivot hardware  34 , making tray  30  more stable in an upright position, and can eliminate the need for weight  36 . Pivot hardware can be screwed, bolted, adhered, or otherwise attached to tray  30  by any methods known in the art. In another embodiment, the trays can hang or be suspended from the carriage, for example, with wires connecting each end of a tray to the carriage. Pivoting hardware is envisioned in many forms enabling the trays to adjust as the carriage is adjusted to various states, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examples provided herein. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary side support of a planter tray carriage including a first exemplary tray holder configuration. Side support  100  of a planter tray carriage is illustrated including tray holder configuration  120  including a plurality of holes. The holes can be made directly in the material of side support  100 . Bearings or bushings can be used in tray holder configuration  120 . Trays can semi-permanently fixed with tray holder configuration  120 , for example, requiring that the planter tray carriage be unlocked or partially disassembled to remove or replace a tray. Wheel  40  is illustrated including axle  110 . A number of wheel configurations are envisioned, for example, including castor wheels or wheels directly mounted to a wheel bracket without an axle connecting the two wheels. According to one embodiment, a wheel bracket on either side of the carriage are mounted to pivot left and right, permitting the carriage to be easily maneuvered. In another embodiment, the pivoting wheel brackets can be selectably fixed, for example with foot levers or with cable controlled orientation fixing hardware connected to a hand lever near the handle of the carriage. A number of wheel configurations are envisioned, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examples provided herein. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary side support of a planter tray carriage including a second exemplary tray holder configuration. Side support  150  is illustrated including wheel  40 , axle  110 , and tray holder configuration  160 . Tray holder configuration  160  includes angled slots, wherein pivot hardware can be inserted. The angled slots can be advantageous, as the trays can be easily removed from the carriage, permitting flexibility in use of the carriage. If the plants get too big or too heavy, moving the carriage into an upright or vertical position can damage the plants or be too unwieldy for the user. By removing one or more of the trays, more room between the trays is made available and the carriage is less heavy. The angled slots can be cut directly into the material of side support  150 . In another embodiment, a metallic or polymer insert can be used in the slot to hold the pivot hardware. In another embodiment, pivot hardware such as a pin or axle can be mounted to the side support, and a mating configuration on the tray can be used, such as an upside-down U-shaped bracket. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3C  illustrates the tray holder configuration of  FIG. 3B . The exemplary angled slot  160  of side support  150  permits the tray to be held in the slot by gravity whether the carriage is in a horizontal or vertical state. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates the planter tray carriage of  FIG. 1  in a vertical state. Carriage  20  includes trays  30 . Carriage  20  is in a vertical position or upright orientation, such that the carriage can be stored in a position taking up little floor space. Trays  30  pivot in relation to carriage  20 , such that the trays remain upright. Sufficient space is left between the trays, such that plants below a certain height can sit in one tray without contacting the bottom of the tray above them. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a plurality of mature plants and with two planter trays removed. Carriage  20  is illustrated including two trays  30 , wheels  40 , and mature plants  90 . As plants  90  get above a certain height, the tray above the plant would interfere with the plant if the carriage were moved into a vertical position. In one embodiment, an empty second carriage can be employed to hold the two removed trays from carriage  20 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a wheeled stand employed, providing a partially stowed or angled state for the carriage. Configuration  200  illustrates carriage  210  including trays  30  holding mature plants  90 , wheels  40 , and support structure  220  including wheels  230 . By holding trays  30  in an angled orientation, the carriage takes up less floor space than a fully horizontal carriage. Support structure  220  can be adjustable, for example, permitting the carriage  210  to be held in a nearly vertical state but still permitting plants  90  to sit in front of the tray above them or lowered into a horizontal or nearly horizontal position, with the trays aligned to a floor surface. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a first flat end configuration, facilitating a vertical, stowed state. Configuration  300  illustrates carriage  310 . Carriage  310  includes flat end  320 , such that the carriage can be stable in a vertical position. Carriage  310  also includes wheel  40  mounted to a side support of carriage  310 . An edge  330  is configured according to design angle  340  to permit carriage  20  to be moved around by a user in a semi-horizontal state, using wheels  40  to maneuver, without edge  330  hitting the ground. The carriage can be additionally stabilized in the vertical position by wall brackets, a kick stand as is used on a bicycle or motorcycle, or by other similar devices. Edge  330  can be reinforced with a metal plate or other similar device based upon the edge being the contact point with the ground when the carriage is tipped into the vertical state. Flat end  320  can include an anti-slip tape or other rough surface feature such that a carriage positioned in the stowed or vertical position will be unlikely to slip or move relative to the floor surface beneath end  320 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a second flat end configuration, facilitating a vertical, stowed state. Configuration  400  illustrates carriage  410 . Carriage  410  includes flat end  420 , wheel bracket  430  and wheel  40 . Wheel bracket  430  extends the wheel away from the side support of carriage  410 . This permits flat end  420  to be larger and symmetrical to the side support of carriage  410 , enhancing the stability of carriage  410  in the vertical or stowed state. In another embodiment, wheel  40  can be omitted. In such an embodiment, one side of flat end  420  can be curved or include a roller device to permit the carriage to be slid across a floor surface. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage and a powered wall storage unit. Configuration  500  illustrates carriage  510  including trays  520 , wheel  40 , rear wheel  514 , and handle  512 . Motor  530  is mounted to wall  540  and is controlled by unit  532  to provide movable line  534  for raising or lowering carriage  510  to and from the vertical position. A quick release device  536  can be attached to line  534  such that carriage  510  can be easily removed from the line and moved freely. Unit  532  is one example of how motors can be controlled. Other non-limiting embodiments include control by a remote hand-held device (by radio frequency, by telecommunications network, or other similar methods) or by voice activation through a computerized controller. 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  illustrates a truck with exemplary planter tray carriage fixing hardware. A merchant can bring a plurality of planter trays or carriages loaded with trays to a farmer&#39;s market. Configuration  600  illustrates truck  610  with four sets of carriage fixing hardware  620 . Each set of carriage fixing hardware can engage a carriage  630  in a vertical state in the bed of the truck, such that truck  610  can hold four exemplary carriages. Carriage fixing hardware  620  can be configured to receive mating brackets on either side of carriage  630 , such that the carriages can be wheeled into the truck, stood up into the vertical position, and engaged to a hardware set and securely held for transport. In this way, a merchant can supply with minimal effort a number of live plants from which customers at a market can directly pick produce or purchase trays of life plants. 
         [0038]      FIG. 11  illustrates a plurality of planter tray carriages for use in a retail store, including powered wall storage units and an automatic watering fixture. Configuration  700  illustrates planter tray carriages  710 A in a vertical state and planter tray carriage  710 B in a horizontal state. The carriages are controlled by electric motors  720 A and  720 B respectively, each turning a spool device  730 A and  730 B, respectively. Lines  740 B are illustrated connected to carriage  710 B. Activation of controller  760 B controls motor  720 B, which spools or unspools lines  740 B upon spool device  730 B. An automatic watering fixture  750  can be located to apply water mist  755  to the carriages, thereby watering the plants and eliminating a need to water the plants while the respective carriages are deployed upon the floor in the horizontal state. Configuration  700  permits long rows of trays to be presented to customers for purchase, while also permitting the carriages to be stowed in the vertical state and the floor to be efficiently cleaned. 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary planter tray carriage with a wheeled stand employed, the stand including a moving linkage assembly and a position locking device, the linkage assembly illustrated in a stowed position. Planter tray carriage  810  is illustrated including side supports  820 , handle  851 , trays  830 , wheels  840 , and moving linkage assembly  850 . Moving linkage assembly  850  includes a plurality of linkage members  852 ,  854 ,  856 , and  858  connected to side supports  820 , wherein the linkage members include pivot points permitting carriage  810  to adjust between at least two positions. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 12 , carriage  810  is illustrated in a vertical or stowed position. Linkage members  856  and  858  interact with a position locking device  860  permitting one to lock assembly  850  into a desired position. Exemplary device  860  can include a threaded fastener clamping linkage members  856  and  858  together, wherein the fastener can include an enlarged nut permitting a user to easily fasten or loosen the fastener. 
         [0040]      FIG. 13  illustrates the planter tray carriage of  FIG. 12  with the linkage assembly illustrated in an angled position or mobile operation position. Carriage  810  is illustrated in an angled or mobile operation position. The carriage can be moveable in a vertical position, however, the carriage can be easier to move and less likely to tip in an angled position. In another embodiment, the wheels  840  can be caused to lock in a vertical position and unlock in an angled position. Trays  830  are permitted to pivot or rotate as disclosed herein. Moving linkage assembly  850  and position locking device  860  are illustrated adjusted to a configuration enabling the angled position. 
         [0041]    Adjustment of carriage  810  can be enabled in a number of states. In one embodiment, a carriage can be stored in a nearly upright state, for example, with an eighty degree angle to the horizontal floor surface, and then deployed in an angled state, for example, with a forty degree angle to the horizontal floor surface. 
         [0042]    Side supports are illustrated herein with fixed tray holder configurations at fixed locations. Other configurations are envisioned, for example, with side supports with multiple holes drilled along the length of the support such that a tray holding brackets can be assembled to any desired locations along the sides of the side supports, making the locations of the trays changeable. 
         [0043]    The carriage can be configured to transition between the fully vertical state and a horizontal state. In another embodiment, a carriage can be configured to transition between a nearly vertical state or diagonal state and still be used according to the methods disclosed herein. 
         [0044]    The carriages disclosed herein are discussed being operable or being configured to be used in a plurality of states or positions. These plurality of states can include a horizontal position wherein the carriage is aligned to a floor surface. The plurality of states can include a vertical position wherein the carriage is in an upright configuration. The plurality of states can include an angled position wherein the trays are configured in progressively higher positions from one end of the carriage to another. A number of states and corresponding positions are envisioned for the disclosed carriages, a carriage may be adjustable through more than two and up to an infinite number of states, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular exemplary positions disclosed herein. 
         [0045]    In one embodiment, the disclosure can include an apparatus including a planter tray carriage operable in a vertical, stowed state and an angled state. The carriage can include a plurality of planter trays, each planter tray being rectangular in shape and comprising two narrow sides and two elongated sides. The carriage can further include two carriage side supports aligned along and rotatingly connected to the narrow sides of the planter trays. The trays can be configured to rotate and maintain an upright orientation when the carriage is transitioned between the vertical state and the angled state. 
         [0046]    The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications of those embodiments. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.