Abstract:
A planting system comprising two containers, an inner container and a complementary outer container. The outer container is placed permanently into the ground or in any desired location. The inner container is then placed into the outer container. Thereafter, the inner container can be placed into and removed from the outer container whenever desired. Flowers, plants and the like are planted into the inner container either before or after the inner container is placed into the outer container. In this manner, flowers and plants can easily be planted into inner containers while the gardener is sitting, standing or in any other comfortable position. The gardener may then easily place and replace any desired inner container into any desired complementary outer container. In addition, flowers and plants can easily be interchanged from one location to another location by replacing one inner container which contains one flower or plant from a outer container with another similar inner container which contains another flower or plant.

Description:
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/015,094, filed Jan. 29, 1998, abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a planting system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system of containers to plant flowers, plants and the like wherein different flowers and plants can be planted in different containers and can be interchanged when desired. 
     People like to beautify their homes and yards. One way to beautify one&#39;s surroundings is to plant flowers, plants and the like. However, planting and gardening may be difficult for some people because of physical limitations or a lack of time. 
     Presently, when a gardener wants to plant a flower or plant in a particular location in his yard, he must physically plant the flower or plant into the ground at that location. This generally means, to plant some flowers for example, that the gardener must kneel for a period of time, first digging a hole for the flowers, then placing the flowers into the hole, treating and replacing the soil around the flowers, and compacting the soil. 
     Additionally, the gardener must plant his plants and flowers one at a time around his yard. Again, planting a flower or plant may take a significant amount of time and effort, as described. If the gardener desires many different flowers or plants planted around his yard, he would have to spend many hours performing all of this planting. Then, if the gardener wishes to remove a plant or flower from one location and place it in another location, he must physically dig up the plant from its original location and then dig a new hole at the new location and replant the plant or flower. 
     In the alternative, the gardener may plant plants and flowers into flower pots, which are conventional and well known in the art, and place these pots around his or her yard in desired locations. However, these plants and flowers are not planted into the ground. In addition, placing pots onto the lawn causes the grass underneath the pot to turn brown and possibly die. Thus, flower pots may generally only be placed on concrete or asphalt areas, such as sidewalks, driveways or decks, or some other surface other than the grass. This limits the placement of the flowers or plants. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a planting system that allows gardeners to plant flowers and plants without needing to physically kneel on the ground for long periods of time, allows gardeners to plant many flowers and plants in less time than conventional pots and containers, and allows gardeners flexibility in placement in his or her yard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a planting system. Generally, the planting system comprises two containers: a first, inner container and a second, outer container. The inner container and the outer container may be made in a variety of shapes, designs and sizes, such as, for example, cylindrical, frustoconical, rectangular, square and triangular. The inner container is made to be slightly smaller than the outer container, such that the inner container fits snugly into the outer container. 
     During use, the outer container may be planted permanently into the ground. The outer container of the present invention is, however, not limited to being permanently planted into the ground. The outer container may be a window box or the like, or it may be placed above ground in any desired location. After the outer container is positioned, the inner container is placed into the outer container. Flowers, plants or the like are contained in the inner container and may be planted either before or after the inner container is placed into the outer container. 
     One object of the present invention is to address the need of those persons who like to garden but cannot physically kneel for long periods of time to plant flowers or plants into the ground. With the present invention, the only physical planting into the ground that the gardener needs to perform is to plant an outer container one time for any one location. He then plants flowers or plants into an inner container while sitting on the ground, sitting at a table or in any other comfortable position. Then, he simply places the inner container into the outer container, which is already planted into the ground. 
     Another object of the present invention is to address the needs of those persons who like to garden but who lack time to perform significant landscape work in their yard. With the present invention, various outer containers may be planted into the ground at different locations around the gardener&#39;s yard, and the gardener then need only plant the desired flowers or plants into corresponding inner containers and place the inner containers into the outer containers. Planting flowers or plants into the inner containers takes less time than planting them into the ground, because the gardener does not have to dig into the ground. 
     An advantage of the present planting system is that it allows the gardener to interchange one flower or plant with another without physically digging up the flower or plant from the ground. It is envisioned that the gardener may have many different outer containers and many different inner containers available for use in performing landscape work in his or her yard. As stated above, the inner containers and the outer containers may be formed in a variety of shapes. For a particular shape, however, a number of the inner containers can fit into a given outer container. Thus, the gardener may take a first inner container (with the original flowers or plants contained therein) out of a first outer container and place a second inner container (with different flowers or plants contained therein) into the first outer container. Similarly, the gardener can place the first inner container (with the original flowers or plants contained therein) into a second outer container which has a complementary shape and which is positioned at another location. Of course, a third inner container and a third outer container (and so on) may be used to allow even further variety in the placement options. With the present invention, by utilizing a number of different containers systems, plants and flowers may be rotated throughout the gardener&#39;s yard in an easy manner for variety and for a change in scenery. The placements of plants and flowers are only limited by the number of containers that the gardener has and his or her imagination. 
     Another object of the present invention is to address the need for protecting flowers and plants from flooding and freezing temperatures. With the present invention, the gardener need only remove the inner containers (with the plants or flowers contained therein) from the outer containers and place them in a place safe from the flooding or freezing temperatures. 
     Another advantage of one embodiment of the present invention is that the inner containers, as well as the outer containers, may be stacked together, or nested, in a vertical direction for easy storage and transport. In this embodiment, the inner containers and the outer containers have complementary shapes, with the inner containers being slightly smaller in diameter than the outer containers, but each are tapered from one end to the other. For this tapering, the diameters of the inner containers and the diameters of the outer containers may increase from bottom to top or, conversely, from top to bottom. Thus, the inner containers are tapered such that they fit into other inner containers and the outer containers are tapered to fit into other outer containers. Thus, the inner containers, as well as the outer containers, can be stacked together for easy storage and transport. 
     In one embodiment, the inner container has a horizontal lip protruding from its upper edge. This lip may be made aesthetically pleasing to the eye, e.g., by painting it in a faux finish of stone, marble, wood, brick and the like. The protruding decorative lip also functions as a handle to lift and lower the inner container relative to the outer container. In another embodiment, the lip can be designed to snap fit onto the top edge of the inner container for more secure placement. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes an advantageous watering system. In particular, the inner container is closed at its bottom surface and contains a capillary unit positioned at its bottom. Water can accumulate at the bottom of the inner container to form a water reservoir. When the plant or flower is dry and requires watering, capillary action will cause water to travel from the water reservoir through the capillary unit into the soil where the plant or flower is potted. Thus, with the capillary unit, the gardener can perform less frequent manual waterings. In addition, the capillary unit keeps water from being dispensed into the ground from the inner container, thereby also allowing the water to remain in the inner container to allow for the above-described capillary action and thus further allowing for less frequent manual waterings. 
     In another embodiment, the outer container includes an anchoring system. The anchoring system comprises slots located in the side wall of the outer container and anchors that are placed through those slots into the surrounding soil to anchor the outer container into the ground. 
     While the inner containers and the outer containers may be fabricated of many different materials, if the outer container is to be placed in the ground, the outer container can be made of material which is sufficiently durable to be placed into the ground year-round and is not biodegradable. 
     The present invention is directed to perennial, annual and biennial plants and flowers, as well as any other suitable plants. Perennial plants or flowers are those which can grow for many growing seasons. They bloom only once a year for a short period of time, usually a few weeks, during the spring, summer or fall, depending on the type of perennial. After the blooms fade, the green foliage of the plant or flower remains for the remainder of the year. 
     The present invention allows the gardener to move his or her perennials to take advantage of those perennials which are currently in bloom. Thus, for example, when a perennial loses its bloom, the inner container in which this perennial is planted may be removed from the outer container in which it was placed and replaced by a second inner container. A perennial which is blooming or about to bloom can be planted into the second inner container before or after this inner container is placed into the outer container. The perennial which lost its bloom (which is in the first inner container) can then be placed in a different location in the yard in another outer container for the remainder of the year. During the next growing season, the perennial in the first inner container may be replaced into the first outer container when it is in bloom. In this manner, perennials may be rotated throughout different locations in a gardener&#39;s yard to take advantage of those perennials currently in bloom. 
     Annuals are those plants or flowers which may grow for only one growing season. They generally bloom throughout the entire growing season. Biennials are those which grow for two growing seasons. Similar to perennials, the present invention allows the gardener to place and replace his annuals and biennials around his or her yard. For example, one annual may be planted in a first inner container, which itself has been placed into a first outer container. At any time thereafter, the first inner container may be removed from the outer container and placed into another outer container. In addition, a second annual may be planted in a second inner container, which itself has been placed into a second outer container. At any time thereafter, the second inner container may replace the first inner container or may be placed into other outer containers. The interchangeability of annual plants or flowers is thus only limited by the number of containers a gardener has and his or her imagination. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be better understood upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 3A through 3E depict plan views of a variety of shapes that the present invention may take; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rectangular embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rectangular embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an outer container with an anchor slot of one anchoring system that may be used in the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of one portion of the anchoring system shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of an anchor that may be used in an anchoring system with the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a capillary unit that may be used with the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of the capillary unit illustrated in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 illustrates the present invention being used in uneven terrain; and 
     FIG. 15 illustrates how the inner and outer containers of the present invention can be nested during transport or for storage. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the planting system  10 . Generally, the planting system  10  includes two containers: an inner container  12  and an outer container  20 . The inner container  12  has a bottom wall  13  and at least one side wall  16 . The outer container has at least one side wall  22  and is preferably open at the bottom. The inner container  12  and the outer container  20  are shaped such that the inner container  12  can be removably placed within the outer container  20 . During use, the outer container  20  may be planted permanently into the ground. Alternatively, the outer container  20  may comprise a window box, or may be placed above ground where desired by the gardener. 
     The outer container  20  may be placed into the ground in the following manner. First, soil is removed to form a hole in the ground. Second, the outer container  20  is placed into the hole such that the top edge  24  of the outer container  20  is generally flush with the top of the surrounding soil, or mulch or stones, depending on where the outer container  20  is planted. Next, soil is replaced around the outside of the wall  22  of the outer container  20 . In one embodiment, the system  10  includes an anchoring apparatus  30 , which is explained in further detail below. In that embodiment, once soil is placed around the outside of the wall  22  of the outer container  20 , anchors  32  are inserted through anchor slots  26  which are formed in the wall  22  of the outer container  20 . Soil may then replaced at the bottom of the outer container  20  if desired, at or near the bottom edge  25  of the outer container  20 . 
     Once the outer container is positioned, the inner container  12  is placed into the outer container  20 . Flowers, plants or the like are planted into the inner container  12  either before or after the inner container  12  is placed into the outer container  20 . Once the inner container  12  is positioned within the outer container  20 , soil may be compacted around the top edge  14  of the inner container  12  to ensure that the system  10  is firmly planted into the ground. 
     At any time thereafter, the flowers or plants in the inner container  12  may be replaced by new flowers or plants in an easy manner. In one case, the old flowers or plants are removed before removing the inner container  12  from the outer container  20 . The inner container  12  is then removed front the outer container  20 , new flowers or plants are planted in the inner container  12 , and the inner container  12  is replaced into the outer container  20 . In another case, the inner container  12  is removed from the outer container  20 , the old flowers or plants are replaced with new flowers or plants, and then the inner container  12  is replaced into the outer container  20 . In yet another case, the old flowers or plants may be removed from the inner container  12  and replaced with new flowers or plants without removing the inner container  12  from the outer container  20 . 
     The inner container  12  and the outer container  20  can be formed in any number of shapes and sizes. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the inner container  12  and the outer container  20  are cylindrical in shape. In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the inner container  12  and the outer container  20  are generally frustoconical in shape. More particularly, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the diameters of the inner container  12  and the outer container  20  generally increase from one end of the container to the other. For the inner container  12 , its diameter increases in the direction from bottom to top. For the outer container  20 , its diameter increases in the direction from top to bottom. In this embodiment, the anchoring apparatus  30  does not need to be utilized. This is because the weight of the soil bearing down on the tapered outer container  20  will tend to keep the outer container  20  in position. However, if the outer container  20  of this embodiment does shift, soil may be removed from inside and under the outer container  20  to allow the outer container  20  to be repositioned in the soil. 
     FIGS. 3A through 3E illustrate other shapes, including quare, oval and triangular, that the present invention may take. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these shapes but may take any other shape desired. The view of FIGS. 3A through 3E are plan views of the system  10  planted in or placed on the ground. In these embodiments, the outer container  20  has a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The shape of the inner container  12  is then complementary to the shape of the outer container  20  so that the inner container  12  may be removably placed in the outer container  20 . 
     In another embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner container  12  and the outer container  20  are generally box-like in shape and have square or rectangular cross-sections. FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the embodiment with a rectangular cross-section. In this embodiment, the rectangular cross-sectional area of the inner container  12  may increase from bottom to top. Conversely, the rectangular cross-sectional area of the outer container  20  may increase from top to bottom. Thus, again, the inner container  12  can be removably placed within the outer container  20 . 
     The inner container  12  and the outer container  20  of the present invention may be fabricated of any one of a variety of different materials. Generally, if it is to be planted in the ground, the outer container  20  should be comprised of a material which is sufficiently durable to withstand being planted permanently in the ground year-round. In a preferred embodiment, the inner container and the outer container are made of a plastic material. Preferably, the inner container and the outer container are an injection molded plastic, a blow molded plastic, a cold cast plastic or a styrene plastic. The inner container  12  may also be made of a different material than the outer container  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the outer container  20  includes an anchoring system  30 . FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment which includes the anchoring system  30 . The function of the anchoring system  30  is to anchor the outer container  20  into the ground. The anchoring system  30  includes a plurality of anchors  32 , and a plurality of slots formed into the wall  22  of the outer container  20 , which are called anchor slots  26 . FIG. 6 shows an anchor slot  26  formed into the wall  22 . The anchor slots  26  preferably are located near the bottom of the outer container  20 . 
     The anchors  32  can be of any desired shape and size. FIG. 7 illustrates in an exploded side view an anchor  32 , which has an upper section  33  and a lower section  37 , which is inserted through an anchor slot  26  and into the surrounding soil to anchor the outer container into the soil. The upper section  33  is located inside the outer container  20 , while the lower section  37  is located outside of the outer container  20 . The lower section  37  is generally shaped like a fin. The upper section  33  is generally triangular in shape, with one side  34  of the upper section  33  being curved inward. The side  35  of the upper section  33  which contacts the wall  22  of the outer container  20  is larger than the anchor slot  26 . The upper section  33  therefore cannot travel through the anchor slot  26 . The top edge  36  of the upper section  33  is flat, which allows the inner container  12  to rest on the top edge  36  of the anchor  32 . 
     In this embodiment, to anchor the outer container  20 , the anchor  32  is inserted through the anchor slot  26  into the surrounding soil such that the lower section  37  is inserted through the anchor slot  26  until the upper section  33  contacts the inner surface of the wall  22  of the outer container  20 . The anchors  32  are then held in place partly by the weight of the inner container  12  filled with soil and partly by the weight of the soil on the anchors  32  outside of the outer container  20 . Because the anchors  32  are held in place, the outer container  20  is also held in place. 
     FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the anchor  32 . In this embodiment, the anchor  32  is shaped like a tent stake, including a straight section  38  with a curved tip  39 . Here, to place the anchor  32 , the straight section  38  is inserted through the anchor slot  26  until the curved tip  39  contacts the inner surface of the wall  22  of the outer container  20 . The weight of the soil outside of the outer container  20  on the anchors  32  holds the anchors  32  in place, and thus holds the outer container  20  in place. 
     The anchoring system  30  also allows the planting system  10  to be restored to its appropriate position if it has shifted for any reason. For example, the outer container  20  may be left in the ground throughout the winter season in colder climates when the ground freezes. As a result of the ground freezing, the outer container  20  may shift from the position in which the outer container  20  was originally planted. In the next growing season, to restore the outer container  20  to its appropriate position or a new desired position in the same location, the anchors  32  are first removed from the wall  22  of the outer container  20 . Then, soil which is located inside the outer container  20  is removed. The outer container  20  may then be moved in a horizontal direction and/or a vertical direction to be repositioned into a desired position. Once repositioned, the anchors  32  may be reinserted through the wall  22  of the outer container to once again anchor the outer container  20  into the surrounding soil. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the top edge  14  of the inner container  12  may be flattened out in the form of a flange to form a lip  15 . The lip  15  is utilized as a handle to lift and lower the inner container  12  relative to the outer container  20 . The lip  15  may also be aesthetically pleasing. The lip  15  may have any width, design, color, texture and the like. For example, the lip  15  may be painted or molded to look like wood, straw, stone, marble or any other desired decorative finish. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the planting system  10  may also include a capillary unit  40  to allow the flowers or plants which are planted into the inner container  12  to receive water and air. The capillary unit  40  is positioned at the bottom of the inner container  12 . In one embodiment, the capillary unit  40  rests on the bottom of the inner container  12 . In another embodiment, the capillary unit  40  snaps fit into the bottom of the inner container  12 . The capillary unit  40  is comprised of an upper portion  42  which is complementary in shape to the cross-sectional shape of the inner container  12 . For example, if the inner container  12  is cylindrical in shape and thus circular in cross-section, the upper portion  42  is circular. Or, if the inner container  12  is box-like in shape with a rectangular or square cross-section, then the upper portion  42  is rectangular or square, respectively. 
     A plurality of protrusions, or legs  44 , protrude downwards from the upper portion  42  and rest on the bottom of the inner container  12 . The legs  44  are hollow such that the soil in which the plant or flower is planted (in the inner container  12 ) falls into and is contained within the legs  44 . A plurality of openings or slots  46  are formed into the upper portion  42  to allow water and air to travel through the upper portion  42 . Other openings or slits  48  are formed at the bottom of the legs  44 . These slits  48  allow water to travel by capillary action from a water reservoir  50  directly into the soil where the plant or flower is planted, as will now be explained. 
     During use of the planting system, water may accumulation the bottom of the inner container  12  to form the water reservoir  50 . In particular, water will drain down through the soil through the slots  46  in the upper portion  42  and the slits  48  into the water reservoir  50 . When the plant or flower needs water, capillary action will cause water from the water reservoir  50  to travel up through the slits  48  formed at the bottom of the legs  44  into the soil contained in the legs  44 , which is part of the soil where the plant or flower is planted in the inner container  12 . 
     In addition, an opening or slot  52  may be formed in the wall  16  of the inner container  12  below the upper portion  42 . This slot  52  is used as a water reservoir overflow drain. Thus, if too much water accumulates in the water reservoir  50 , excess water will flow through the slot  52  into the surrounding top soil. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  11 . In this embodiment, the wall  16  of the inner container  12  and the wall  22  of the outer container  20  each have a plurality of openings or holes. The holes  18  of the wall  16  of the inner container  12  are designed to align with the holes  28  of the wall  22  of the outer container  20 . Once the holes  18 ,  28  are aligned, water may travel directly from the surrounding top soil into the flowers or plants which are planted into the inner container  12 . In addition, once the holes  18 ,  28  are aligned, the roots of the flowers or plants planted into the inner container  12  may grow through the holes  18 ,  28  into the surrounding top soil. If the holes  18 ,  28  are not aligned, water may flow through the holes  28  of the outer container  20  to the wall  16  of the inner container  12  where there is no hole  18 . Instead of flowing through the holes  18 ,  28  into the flower or plant, water will tend to flow downward (due to gravity) between the inner container  12  and the outer container  20  and into the soil beneath the containers since the outer container  20  is open at its bottom. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the inner container  12  is removably secured to the outer container  20 . In this embodiment, the lip  15  snap fits onto the top edge of the outer container  20 . In another embodiment, which is illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, protrusions  70  which protrude downward from the top edge  14  or the lip  15  of the inner container  12  fit into key hole slots  72  formed into the top edge  24  of the outer container  20 . The protrusions  70  are placed into the key hole slots  72  and the inner container is twisted to interlock the inner container  12  to the outer container  20 . 
     In another embodiment, the inner container  12  is threadably secured to the outer container  20 . Generally, threads formed on one container intermesh with grooves formed on the other container. More particularly, in one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, threads  74  which are formed on the outer surface of the wall  16  of the inner container  12  intermesh with complementary grooves  76  formed on the inner surface of the wall  22  of the outer container  20 . In the alternative (not shown), the threads are formed on the inner surface of the wall of the outer container and the complementary grooves are formed on the outer surface of the wall of the inner container. In use, again, the threads intermesh with the grooves to threadably secure the inner container to the outer container. 
     Additionally, the threads and the complementary grooves may be formed on the inner container and the outer container to allow the gardener to turn the inner container in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction when placing the inner container into the outer container. Thus, in one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the threads  74  and the complementary grooves  76  are formed, respectively, on the inner container  12  and outer container  20  such that the inner container  12  may be threadably secured to the outer container  20  by turning the inner container  12  in a clockwise direction when placing the inner container  12  into the outer container  20 . In the alternative (not shown), the threads and grooves are formed in the reverse direction such that the inner container is turned in a counterclockwise direction to threadably secure the inner container to the outer container. Similarly, if the threads are formed on the outer container and the complementary grooves are formed on the inner container, the threads and grooves may be formed such that the inner container may be threadably secured to the outer container by turning the inner container in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction when placing the inner container into the outer container. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 14, the inner container  12  may be placed in different positions within the outer container  20 . In one embodiment, the inner container  12  is placed into the outer container  20  such that the top edge  14 , or the lip  15 , of the inner container  12  is flush with the contour of the ground. The outer container  20  may be placed into the ground in a variety of positions, including having the top edge  24  of the outer container  20  flush with the ground or having a section of the top edge  24  below the contour of the ground. Because the lip  15  of the inner container  12  is flattened out to form a flange, the lip  15  will rest on the top edge  24  of the outer container  20 . 
     FIG. 15 illustrates the stackable nature of the inner containers and outer containers. In one embodiment, a plurality of inner containers are all the same shape and size, and are tapered, i.e., they decrease in diameter from one end to the other. Thus, the plurality of inner containers can be nested in the vertical direction for easy storage and transport. Similarly, a plurality of outer containers may be stacked in the vertical direction for easy storage and transport. 
     Of course, it should be understood that a wide range of changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described above. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description illustrates rather than limits this invention, and that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define this invention.