Abstract:
A unitary rigid hub having a central vertical axis of symmetry; the hub further providing an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface defining at least three leg sockets wherein each one of the leg sockets is adapted for receiving a leg strut to extend the leg struts in a divergent pattern. The exterior surface defines at least one vertically oriented groove having opposing convergent side surfaces which may receive an arm strut wedged therein. Spaced apart hubs may jointly hold the arm struts in their grooves to form a bridge between them and may therefore form a network of such hubs and bridges. A water fitting within the hubs provides disbursement of water to sprinklers and water delivery tubes. The hubs may be used as a plant support wherein the plants may be watered more uniformly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application describing the same invention as two non-expired provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/937,303, filed on Jun. 26, 2007, and Ser. No. 60/962,710 filed on Jul. 30, 2007 and which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, the present application claiming date priority to the earliest filing date of Jun. 26, 2007. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
       [0005]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    1. Field of the Present Disclosure 
         [0007]    This disclosure relates specifically to garden arbors and trellises and more particularly to a modular plant supporting and watering system having spaced apart hubs mounted on legs and interconnected by horizontal strutz. 
         [0008]    2. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0009]    Greenhalgh, U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,309, discloses a sprinkling fence constructed from one or more units having at least one rail connected to at least one upright post. The rail is in the form of a pipe provided with one or more orifices arranged for dispensing water, and the like. An anchor peg, which has a post receiving socket provided with a spike-shaped, ground-engaging element, secures the post in an upright position. 
         [0010]    Nievelt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,272, discloses a device for use by gardeners in growing vines for raising tomatoes and other vine growing vegetables, consisting of a series of horizontal plates of a transparent material supported one above the other by a series of struts between the plates. The plates have central cut-out portions to provide room for vertical growth of the vine upwardly through successive plates. The plate structure is held in place by stakes embedded in the ground with their upper ends secured to the plates. 
         [0011]    Harward, U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,020, discloses a lightweight vertical support stand for a water sprinkler head that comprises a central support hub and at least five flexible elongate legs attached to the support hub. The legs are pivotally attached so that they can be positioned in an extended support position or can be gathered in a bundle for moving and storage. The support stands for the water sprinkler heads are used in an agricultural irrigation system in which lateral water conduits are provided at spaced positions across the area to be irrigated. Quick disconnect couplings are provided in the lateral conduits, and the support stands and sprinkler heads are adapted to be quickly engaged with the couplings in the lateral conduits. 
         [0012]    Stone, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,653, discloses a plant watering and feeding support system that comprises at least three upstanding tubular stakes. Each stake has a lower end thereof planted in soil. The stakes each have a part located above a ground surface of the soil which is adapted with a connector for receiving ends of tubular cross members which extend therefrom in a horizontal plane and generally join the parts of the stakes located above the ground. Therefore, a horizontal liquid distribution network is defined. A liquid poured in at least a top end of one of the stakes thus distributes to the other stakes through the distribution network and to the soil downwardly by way of the stakes through the lower ends thereof. The plant is basically supported by the cross members. The connectors are adapted to receive at their upper ends the lower ends of vertical tubes which are provided at their upper ends with further connectors. Further tubular cross members join these further connectors to provide the watering and feeding support system with a further horizontal distribution network. The number of levels of the support system is dependent upon the height of the plant and its ability to support itself. 
         [0013]    Sihold, U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,693, discloses an adjustable arbor-like umbrella construction by which the umbrella may be adapted to a variety of locations and supports real and/or artificial plants or tree branches in order to provide shade in an aesthetically pleasing manner. In an exemplary embodiment, the umbrella of the present invention includes a center pole, a central hub support atop the pole, and a plurality of lattice assemblies radiating from the support hub and being rotatably attached thereto. Each of the lattice assemblies is formed of a plurality of slats pivotally connected to one another. Since each lattice assembly may be rotated with respect to the support hub and each slat of each lattice assembly may be pivoted with respect to an adjacent slat, the umbrella can be arranged in not only a variety of circular shapes of varying diameter, but also in a multiple of non-circular shapes to accommodate its use, for example, up against a wall, around a corner, in a corner, or to suit a particular taste. 
         [0014]    Bussiere, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,176, discloses a rotary oscillating irrigation sprinkler head that is supported in a stable elevated position above the ground surface, such that the sprinkler assembly can be used on a lawn or in garden foliage. A tripod support structure is connected at its upper end to a vertical water supply pipe that connects with the sprinkler head, so that the sprinkler head has a stabilized support above the ground surface. The water supply pipe delivers a pressurized stream of water to the sprinkler head. 
         [0015]    Van Epps et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,516, discloses a portable water sprinkler system that includes a central water column assembly having a lower section, an upper section removably connected to the lower section, and a sprinkler head removably connected to the upper section. The lower section includes an outer tube formed of galvanized steel, an inner tube formed of plastic for supplying water to the upper section, and a hose connector at the lower end for receiving a hose for supplying water to the inner tube. The upper section is formed of plastic and is removably connected to the inner tube of the lower section. The outer tube of the lower section includes three connection flanges formed of galvanized steel extending outwardly from the outer tube. The portable water sprinkler system further includes first, second, and third leg members formed of galvanized steel being pivotally connected at their upper ends to the three connection flanges on the outer tube, respectively. In addition, the portable water sprinkler system includes first, second, and third horizontally disposed feet members for engaging the ground to support the sprinkler system and being connected to the lower ends of the first, second, and third leg members, respectively. The lower section further includes a second outer tube formed of galvanized steel that is slidably disposed on the inner tube. Further, the second outer tube includes three connection flanges extending outwardly from the second outer tube. 
         [0016]    Dean, U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,477, discloses a plant support and irrigation system for domestic and commercial use that is assembled without tools from two principal interlocking components, i.e., tubular members and hubs, to form modules. Modules are joined in mating relation vertically, horizontally and/or at varying angles to construct a variety of useful plant support structures including, for example, A-frames, trellises, arbors and fences and other forms of enclosures. The horizontal and/or vertical components of the modules are optionally perforated tubing making the structures capable of providing low-pressure drip or spray irrigation for the supported plants. The assembly can include connecting members of varying angles, plugs and valved hose connections configured to securely mate with one or both ends of the tubular members. 
         [0017]    Hsu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,027, discloses an adjustable sprinkler stand that includes a sprinkler mount which is supported by three support rod sets and is provided with a threaded through hole for engaging at the top end thereof with a sprinkler and at the bottom end thereof with a water supply tube in conjunction with a connection seat slidably fitted over the water supply tube. The support rod sets are adjustable and formed of an outer tube, an inner tube slidably fitted into the outer tube, and a leg tube fitted into the inner tube. The outer tube and the inner tube are provided with a locating member which is pivoted with one end of a connection rod such that other end of the connection rod is fastened pivotally to the connection seat. 
         [0018]    It is clear from Harward, Hsu, Bussiere and Van Epps et al, that stands for elevating garden sprinklers is well known in the art. Such stands may have tripod like leg arrangements and water is supplied from below by hose connections. Also well known in this field are stands such as arbors and trellises that are used for supporting plants as shown by Nievelt and Sibold. Finally, stands or like structures for supporting plants, while also providing watering are known in the art as exemplified by Dean, Stone and Greenhalgh. However, as will be pointed out in detail, the present invention clearly distinguishes over the cited art individually and in combination providing heretofore unknown advantages as described in the following summary. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
         [0020]    The present invention is an improved plant support and watering system based on a novel structural hub apparatus. The hub is a molded, stamped, machined, cast or otherwise manufactured part that is able to receive support legs for elevating the hub and its internal water processing elements. It also is able to support one end of a beam that connects the hub to another similar hub placed distally from the first one. In this manner, the hub design is able to establish watering nodes in a matrix of plant supporting structures. The prior art teaches structures for supporting plants and also for watering the supported plants; see the Greenhalgh, Stone and Dean references. However, the prior art structures fail to provide an open ended system for two dimensional expansion of the support/watering system. In contrast, the instant invention enables unlimited expansion of a support/watering system in two dimensions and with whatever shape is desired. To enable this type of expansion, the hubs provide grooves for receiving cross beams that may extend outwardly in whatever direction is desired. The hubs may be formed in any polygonal shape desired, with, for instance, four sides enabling expansion in four directions, pentagonal for five direction expansion, hexagonal for six direction expansion, and so on. Four sided hubs are illustrated herein, but other shapes are clearly within the context of the present description and claims. 
         [0021]    A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. 
         [0022]    Another objective is to provide a garden support/watering system that enables a large number of expansion configurations over a two dimensional field. 
         [0023]    A further objective is to provide such a system that is able to be assembled, disassembled and reconfigured without fasteners or tools. 
         [0024]    A further objective is to provide such a system that provides elevated garden irrigation, selectable sprinkler height, support for climbing plants and drip irrigation. 
         [0025]    A further objective is to provide such a system that may be used as a trellis, garden screen, boundary fence, cold frame, or small greenhouse structure. 
         [0026]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0027]    Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such drawing(s): 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the presently described apparatus; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hub mounted on leg struts, thereof; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the hub with upper portions of the leg struts of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a vertical section taken along cutting line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a vertical section taken along cutting line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    The above described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use. 
         [0035]    Described now in detail are three embodiments of the present invention. In a first embodiment, a square hub  10  is adapted for use with leg struts  20  and arm struts  30  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The hub  10  is formed as a one piece (unitary) rigid unit having a central vertical axis of symmetry  12  ( FIG. 6 ), an exterior surface  14  ( FIG. 4 ) and an interior surface  16  ( FIG. 5 ). The interior surface  16  is shown with four leg sockets  18 , but it may have three, four, or more leg sockets  18  wherein each one of the leg sockets  18  is adapted by its size, shape and extent, for receiving and engaging one of the leg struts  20  in compressive engagement. Longitudinal axes  18   a  of the leg sockets  18  preferably extend away from the hub  10  in a divergent pattern so that the leg struts  20  may be used for standing the hub  10  on a surface such as in a garden, with stability. The hub  10  may be constructed with three sides, four sides (shown) or more than four sides, or as a smoothly continuous conical shape, or other shape, and from any structural material that results in a rigid and durable part; not degraded by sunlight or the elements. Preferably, the hub  10  is injection molded of a high strength engineering polymer with a UV resistant co-molded additive. UV resistance may be alternately obtained by coating the molded part with a UV protective agent. The exterior surface  14  preferably has at least one vertically oriented groove  40  and preferably provides one groove  40  between each pair of adjacent leg sockets  18 , which is exemplified in  FIG. 4 . The groove  40  is defined by opposing convergent side surfaces  42 , a back surface  44  and a bottom surface  46  see  FIG. 4 . These surfaces  42 ,  44 , and  46  are arranged as shown and configured for receiving and wedgingly securing an end  32  of a horizontal arm strut  30 , as best seen in  FIG. 6 . The hub  10  further defines an aperture  50  ( FIG. 6 ) which is centered on the vertical axis of symmetry  12  and extends between the exterior  14  and the interior  16  surfaces. The exterior surface  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , may be formed with a plurality of contiguous planes or flat surfaces, but may also be formed as primarily triangular, or other polyhedron shape, or may be configured as essentially spherical. A vertically oriented tube  60  is preferably integral with the hub  10  and extends upwardly from the exterior surface  14  in alignment with the aperture  50 . A removable cap  70  may be rested over tube  60  or may be threadedly engaged with tube  60  for a more secure attachment. The tube  60  and cap  70  are functional as a closure, dust cover and gripping means as well as providing improved appearance to the hub  10 . Section  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4  is shown in  FIG. 6 . This figure show that hub  10  preferably incorporates a water fitting  80  aligned with the axis of symmetry  12  and engaged within the aperture  50 . Fitting  80  is adapted for engaging water conduits or hoses, tubes and similar devices. Such devices, as for instance a water hose (not shown) may be attached to fitting  80  at its lower end  80   a  supplying water to fitting  80 , and a sprinkler head (not shown) may be attached at its upper end  80   b  for distributing water to a garden area surrounding the hub  10 . Fitting  80  may also have laterally extending portions  80   c  for delivering water to water lines  85  ( FIG. 1 ) that may be rested on or fastened to the arm struts  30 , and may also be conducted within longitudinal grooves in the surface of the arm struts  30 , or may be conducted within the body of the arm struts  30 . Such water lines  85  may also extend along leg struts  20  to watering devices for plants. Such lines may be extended to neighboring hubs  10  feeding sprinkler heads therein as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]    In a second embodiment, the apparatus comprises the hub  10 , as described above in the first embodiment, in combination with the leg struts  20 . The leg struts  20  are preferably lengths of dimensional milled wood products, extruded plastic or metal of various cross section sized such as: 1.5″, 2″ or 4″ square. However, the leg struts  20  may also be round stock wood, plastic or metal rod or tube. The leg sockets  18  are of such size as to receive a corresponding leg struts  20  in a tight compressive fit such that the struts  20  are tightly secured, but may be removed at a later time as desired. Alternately, the legs struts  20  may be secured within the hub  10  by screws  11 , but if the strut size is matched to the sockets  18  properly, no screws  11  are necessary. Sockets  18  may be tapered or have a sequence of axially aligned reductions to accept a range of leg strut sizes. The length of the legs struts  20  may be custom cut so as to position the hub  10  at a desired vertical height above the supporting ground level when the distal end of the leg struts  20  are in contact with the ground surface. The leg struts  20  may be anchored to the ground or not. When anchored, they may be engaged by any means whatsoever, including: ground staples, stakes, concrete footings, and partial burial. 
         [0037]    In a third embodiment, the apparatus comprises a pair of spaced apart hubs  10 , each as described above in the second embodiment, i.e., mounted on leg struts  20 . The hubs  10  may be separated by any distance that is desired by the user. It is clear that more than two such hubs  10  may be configured together using the arm struts  30 . In this embodiment, a horizontally extending arm strut  30  is engaged wedgingly at its terminal ends within opposing vertically oriented grooves  40  of a pair of spaced apart hubs  10 . This forms a bridge between the hubs  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2  the arrangement of hubs  10 , joined by arm struts  30 , may be elaborate. 
         [0038]    The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element. 
         [0039]    The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. 
         [0040]    Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas. 
         [0041]    The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.