Abstract:
A plant support system that is self-adjusting in height to accommodate growth of a plant, and a method of using such a system. The system includes a pole assembly having a base and first and second pole sections. The base is sized to be received in a container, the first pole section is coupled to the base of the pole assembly, and the second pole section is coupled to the first pole section so as to enable the second pole section to longitudinally extend and retract relative to the first pole section while remaining coupled to the first pole section. Features are disposed on at least the second pole section for releasably securing portions of a plant longitudinally extending alongside the pole assembly. The container is preferably supported by a turntable to rotate about its axis of symmetry.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/061,763, filed Jun. 16, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to potted plant containers of the type used to contain household potted plants. More particularly, this invention relates to a potted plant container with a support assembly that is self-adjusting in height as the plant grows. 
         [0003]    Various plant containers have been proposed that have the ability to provide vertical support for tall plants. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,258 to Schneider discloses a plant container that equipped with a rod or pole that can be threaded into female threads formed in a boss (socket) on a plate placed in the base of a container. The rod allows for additional rods to be added to increase its overall height, and allows for wedges to be placed “evenly along the length of the rod and around the periphery of the rod” for the purpose of providing locations for securing string ties along the length of the rod. Schneider also discloses the use of a rigid “plant support loop” or hooks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,342 to Ferguson discloses the use of hooks installed on a pole to support a plant, secure the plant stem or stalk, and ensure that the plant grows upwards. U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,569 to Obregon discloses a plate shaped to fit within the lower portion of a conventional pot, and a rigid rod to support the stem, stalk or trunk of a plant. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a plant support system that is self-adjusting in height to accommodate growth of a plant, and to a method of using such a system. 
         [0005]    According to a first aspect of the invention, the self-adjusting plant support system is adapted for use with a plant container having a base and a peripheral wall extending from the base to define a receptacle therein that is adapted to retain a potting material. The plant support system includes a pole assembly that defines a longitudinal axis and includes a base and first and second pole sections. The base is sized to be received in the receptacle of the container when disposed adjacent the base of the container. The first pole section is coupled to the base of the pole assembly, and the second pole section is coupled to the first pole section so as to enable the second pole section to longitudinally extend and retract relative to the first pole section while remaining coupled to the first pole section. Means is disposed on at least the second pole section for releasably securing portions of a plant longitudinally extending alongside the pole assembly. The pole assembly is adapted so that a plant that is rooted in a potting material disposed in the receptacle of the container and longitudinally extends along the pole assembly can be secured with the securing means and cause the second pole section of the pole assembly to longitudinally extend from the first pole section as the plant grows. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the invention is to provide the container as part of the plant support system. The pole assembly is placed in the container so that the base of the pole assembly is disposed adjacent the base of the container. A potting material can be placed in the receptacle of the container, and a plant can be rooted in the potting material to longitudinally extend along the pole assembly. The potting material is preferably capable of being the sole means by which the base of the pole assembly is secured within the container. 
         [0007]    Yet another aspect of the invention is a method of self-adjustably supporting a plant with the self-adjusting plant support system. The method includes rooting a plant in a potting material disposed in the receptacle of the container, securing the plant to at least the second pole section of the pole assembly with the securing means, and allowing the plant to grow longitudinally along the pole assembly, wherein as the plant grows the plant causes the second pole section to longitudinally extend relative to the first pole section. 
         [0008]    A preferred aspect of the invention is to further include means that enables the container to rotate about an axis of symmetry thereof. More preferably, the container is supported by a turntable, which may be disposed between the base of the container and a pan in which the container is placed. 
         [0009]    Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a lower pole section of a pole assembly suitable for supporting a plant within a plant container in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows an upper pole section of the pole assembly and adapted to be assembled with the lower pole section of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a base of the pole assembly and adapted to be assembled with the lower pole section of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows the lower and upper pole sections of  FIGS. 1 and 2  assembled and supporting two plants within a plant container configured in accordance with an optional aspect of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of the lower end of the plant container of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6 and 7  contain two elevational views oriented ninety degrees apart, and show a pole assembly and plant container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  represents a cross-sectional view along section line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the pole assembly and plant container of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  represents a cross-sectional view along section line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  represents a detailed cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIGS. 1 through 5  represent a first embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  represent, respectively, a lower pole section  12 , an upper pole section  14 , and a base  16  of a pole assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 4  as placed in a plant container (pot)  18 . The container  18  is represented as being of a type suitable for containing household plants, and particularly plants that tend to grow upward and benefit from lateral and vertical support. The lower pole section  12  is shown as having a lower threaded end  20  sized and adapted to thread into a threaded boss  22  on the base  16 . The end  20  of the lower pole section  12  may be locked into place on the base  16 , for example, with a locking pin (not shown) that passes through the end  20  and boss  22 . The base  16  is sized to be received in the container  18 , and more particularly to be placed adjacent a base (not shown) of the container  18 , such that a potting material  24  placed in the container  18  is able to secure the base  16  of the pole assembly  10  within the container  18 . For example, the base  16  preferably extends at least 50% and more preferably at least 75% of the diametrical width of the container  18  at its base. 
         [0021]    As represented in  FIG. 4 , the upper pole section  14  is preferably adapted to be telescopically assembled with the lower pole section  12  through an opening  40  at the upper end of the lower pole section  12 . In  FIG. 4 , at least the lower portion  36  of the upper pole section  14  is sized to be received in at least the upper portion  38  of the lower pole section  12 . In this manner, the upper pole section  14  is coaxial with the lower pole section  12  and can be longitudinally extended and retracted relative to the lower pole section  12 , enabling the length (height) of the pole assembly  10  to be adjusted to accommodate various heights of household plants. While the arrangement of  FIG. 4  is preferred, other assembly configurations are also foreseeable, such as sizing the lower pole section  12  to be telescopically received in the upper pole section  14 , or configuring the upper pole section  14  to be secured in a longitudinal channel in the exterior surface of the lower pole section  12 , etc. 
         [0022]    With the preferred telescoping configuration, the pole sections  12  and  14  can be conveniently fabricated from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe or the like. Suitable but nonlimiting dimensions for the pole assembly  10  include an outer diameter of about ¾ inch (about 2 cm) for the lower pole section  12 , an outer diameter of about ½ inch (about 1.5 cm) for the upper pole section  12 , a length of about four feet (about 120 cm) for the lower pole section  12 , a length of about three feet (about 90 cm) for the upper pole section  12 , and a diameter of about six to twenty-four inches (about 15 to 60 cm) for the base  16 . 
         [0023]    The lower pole section  12  is represented as having a number of hooks  26  placed around its perimeter and along its length. The hooks  26  are adapted to secure the leaves and/or stems of one or more plants to the pole assembly  10 , as represented by the plants  28  in  FIG. 4 . The hooks  26  are preferably provided in diametrically-opposed pairs, though other configurations are foreseeable. The upper pole section  14  is provided with a number of cords  30  near its upper end  34 . The cords  30  can be formed of fishing line or any other durable material. The cords  30  are shown equipped with clips  32  that are capable of being attached to the stems and/or leaves of a plant, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Because of the telescoping arrangement of the lower and upper pole sections  12  and  14 , the upper pole section  14  is caused to extend longitudinally from the lower pole section  12  as the plants  28  grow upward and draw the cords  30  upward therewith. The lower and upper pole sections  12  and  14  may be secured together within a pin  42  inserted into alignable holes  44  and  46  in the lower and upper pole sections  12  and  14 , respectively. 
         [0024]    The container  18  is represented in  FIGS. 4 and 5  as being adapted to rotate. For this purpose, the container  18  is shown equipped with a turntable  48  comprising bearings  50  within a retainer ring or pan  52 , which support the container  18  and enable the container  18  to rotate about its axis of symmetry. Because of the likely minimal weight of the pole assembly  10 , container  18 , potting material  24  and plants  28 , the bearings  50  can be marbles or any other suitably round and hard material that is widely available and preferably inexpensive. The turntable  48  enables the container  18  to be easily rotated, simplifying adjustments to the container  18  to allow for uniform plant exposure to sunlight. The turntable  48  is shown as being disposed between the base of the container  18  and a pan  54 , which can be of a type widely used to collect water when the plants  28  are watered. In this embodiment, the use of marbles as the bearings  50  is advantageous since marbles will not corrode when contacted by water over extended periods. 
         [0025]    In use, the pole assembly  10  can be assembled and its base  16  placed in the bottom of the container  18 , after which the potting material  24  can be placed in the container  18  and the plants  28  rooted in the potting material  24 . The plants  28  are then secured to at least the upper pole section  14  and preferably both pole sections  12  and  14  of the pole assembly  10  with the hooks  26  and cords  30 . Thereafter, as the plants  28  grow upward and longitudinally along the pole assembly  10 , the upper pole section  14  longitudinally extends from the lower pole section  112 . The base  16  of the pole assembly  10  supports the potting material  24  within the container  18 , and the potting material  24  can serve as the sole means for securing the pole assembly  10  to the container  18 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 6 through 11  represent a second embodiment of the invention, which is represented as comprising a pole assembly  110  having a similar construction to the pole assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . In view of similarities between the first and second embodiments, the following discussion of the second embodiment will focus primarily on aspects of the second embodiment that significantly differ from the first embodiment. Other aspects of the second embodiment not discussed in any detail can be, in terms of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as was described for the first embodiment. 
         [0027]    As in the first embodiment, the pole assembly  110  of the second embodiment includes a lower pole section  112 , an upper pole section  114 , and a base  116  that are placed in a plant container (pot)  118 . In addition, the lower pole section  112  has a lower threaded end  120  threaded into a threaded boss  122  on the base  116 . The end  120  of the lower pole section  112  is shown locked in place on the base  116  with a locking pin  117  that passes through the end  120  and boss  122 . The base  116  is shown received in the container  118  and located adjacent the base  119  of the container  118 , such that a potting material (not shown) placed in the container  118  secures the base  116  of the pole assembly  110  within the container  118  as previously described. 
         [0028]    As with the first embodiment, the upper pole section  114  is telescopically assembled with the lower pole section  112 , enabling the upper pole section  114  to freely longitudinally extend and retract relative to the lower pole section  112  to accommodate various heights of household plants (not shown). Again, arrangements other than the telescoping arrangement seen in  FIGS. 6 through 8  are foreseeable. In  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the upper pole section  114  is shown passing through an opening  140  defined in a cap  138  at the upper end of the lower pole section  112 . The lower pole section  112  has a number of hooks  126  bonded to its perimeter and along its length to secure the leaves and/or stems of one or more plants to the pole assembly  110 . The upper pole section  114  is provided with a number of cords  130  near its upper end  134  that are capable of being attached to the stems and/or leaves of a plant. Because of the telescoping arrangement of the lower and upper pole sections  112  and  114 , the upper pole section  114  extends longitudinally from the lower pole section  112  as a plant secured to the cords  130  grows upward, with the result that the pole assembly  110  is self-adjusting in height. The lower and upper pole sections  112  and  114  can be secured together within a pin  142  inserted into alignable holes  144  and  146  in the lower and upper pole sections  112  and  114 , respectively. The pin  142  and holes  144  and  146  can also be used to limit the retraction of the upper pole section  114  into the lower pole section  112  by inserting the pin  142  through the holes  144  only and allowing the lower end of the upper pole section to rest on the pin  142 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8 . 
         [0029]    The container  118  is again adapted for rotation with the use of a turntable  148 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 through 11 , the base  119  of the container  118  is defined to have a recess  156  ( FIG. 11 ) in which the bearings  150  and retainer ring  152  are received. The turntable  148  is disposed between the base  119  of the container  118  and a pan  154 , such that the container  118  rotates relative to the pan  154 . 
         [0030]    While the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the physical configurations of the pole assemblies  10  and  110  could differ from those shown, and materials and processes other than those noted could be used. It should also be noted that the drawings are drawn for illustrative purposes when viewed in combination with the description, and therefore are not necessarily to scale. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.