Abstract:
A flower belt comprises a belt member and a plurality of belt attachments. The belt member comprises a durable, flexible elongated body with an adjustable securing means designed to securely affix around a tree trunk. The belt member further comprises a hook attachment means which enables the securing and removably receiving the plurality of belt attachments. The hook attachment comprises hooks outwardly disposed for suspending the belt attachments.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Oct. 12, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the display of decorative plants, and in particular, to a customizable display system particularly adapted for the display of a variety of types of plants along vertical structures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants and flowers are popular means for providing natural aesthetic enhancements to homes and gardens. Often times, such plants are utilized in a variety of combinations in order to provide an expansive, colorful aesthetic appeal that enhances the value and enjoyment of a particular area. A common method for the display of plants is the use of pots or planters. Furthermore, many plants are sold in such containers in order to facilitate storage, transportation, caretaking, growth in a variety of locations, and to maintain cleanliness. Many people place such plants in pots in both indoor and outdoor environments to make planting and tending easier. 
     One (1) problem associated with the display of plants is a lack of suitable locations for plant pots. For instance, in outdoors locations distant from housing structures, there is a paucity of flat or raised surfaces which are desirable for the support and display of potted plants. Such potted plants may be hung, but it is often difficult or undesirable to do so due to lack of suitable structures, permanent damage caused to the structure, difficulty of installation, or the like. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide plant housing and display devices for vertical surfaces. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 2,967,691, issued in the name of Lehnbeuter et al., describes a flower pot holder for mounting to a vertical wall surface or the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,279, issued in the name of Dwyer, describes a plurality of flower pot holders and a mounting strap for use on a tree trunk or the like. 
     Additionally, ornamental designs for a tree mountable flower pot holders exist, particularly U.S. Pat. Nos. D 210,302, D 369,123, and D 450,624. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices result in damage to a vertical surface or structure to which they are mounted. Also, many such devices are not readily adjustable for structures of varying shape and size. Furthermore, many such devices are only adapted for a particular size or shape of potted plant. In addition, many such devices do not provide any features of customizability regarding the relative positioning and types of plants or pots supported. Accordingly, there exists a need for a vertically mountable plant display system without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a system which is adaptable for use with a variety of types and sizes of vertical structures in a manner that allows a user a wide range of adaptability to various types, sizes, and configurations of plants and plant containers. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for attaching potted plants, non-potted plants, and various other plant display methods to a verity structure such as a tree or post. The system comprises a belt member, a plurality of pocket attachments, a skirt attachment, a pocketed skirt attachment, and a plurality of sleeve attachments. 
     Another object of the present invention is to enable selectable vertical positioning of the belt member along a vertical structure. The belt member comprises a durable strap which encompasses the structure. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide secure attachment of the belt member to a variety of differently size and shaped structures via relatively adjustable hook-and-loop-type fastening portions located at opposing ends of the belt member. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a means to selectively display a potted plant along the belt member via the plurality of pocket attachments. Each pocket attachment comprises an open-topped pocket structure with an integral hook portion which allows for secure, adjustable hanging of the pocket along the belt member. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a means to encircle a lower portion of a structure in a flowered sheeting means via the skirt attachment. The skirt attachment comprises a large, flat fabric structure which is attachable to the belt member via a plurality of integral hook portions in order to provide a round, conical covering to the base of the structure between the belt and a ground surface. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an integral flowering means to the skirt attachment. The skirt surface is impregnated with seeds during a manufacturing process, thereby allowing for organic growth of flowers along a top surface of skirt once positioned about a structure. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a pocketed skirt attachment which provides an encircling flowering means similar to the skirt attachment. The pocketed skirt attachment further comprises a plurality of integrally sewn-in pockets which provide a means for the secure display of a plurality of pots or plants about the exterior of the pocketed skirt attachment. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a plurality of sleeve attachments which provide a means for the secure retention of a volume of soil and a non-potted plant for display about a structure. Each sleeve attachment is selectively securable about the belt member via an integral hook portion. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of obtaining an instance of the system, securing the belt member about a desired structure at a desired height via the hook and loop fastening portions, selectively positioning and securing a desired combination of pocket, skirt, pocketed skirt, and sleeve attachments to the belt member, selectively watering the skirt and pocketed skirt attachments to facilitate integral flowering, and selectively providing the pocket, pocketed skirt, or sleeve attachments with a desired combination of existing potted and non-potted plants in order to achieve a desired overall aesthetic appearance. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a plant belt system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a belt member  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the belt member  20  depicting placement on a tree  15 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of a pocket  30 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a plurality of pockets  30  depicting placement on the belt member  20  attached to the tree  15 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a skirt  40 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the skirt  40  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 7 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an environmental view of the skirt  40  depicting placement on the belt member  20  on the tree  15 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an environmental view of a pocketed skirt  50  depicting placement on the belt member  20  on the tree  15 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial view of the pocketed skirt  50 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an environmental view of a sleeve  60  depicting placement on the belt member  20  on the tree  15 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 12  is a section view of the sleeve  60  taken along line B-B (see  FIG. 11 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  plant belt system 
               15  tree 
               16  potted plant 
               17  non-potted plant 
               20  belt member 
               21  hook fastener 
               22  loop fastener 
               25  hook 
               26  adhesive 
               30  pocket attachment 
               31  pocket 
               32  pocket interior 
               40  skirt attachment 
               41  skirt outer surface 
               42  seed 
               43  skirt inner surface 
               50  pocketed skirt attachment 
               51  pocketed skirt outer surface 
               52  pocketed skirt pocket 
               53  sewing technique 
               54  pocketed skirt interior portion 
               55  pocketed skirt inner surface 
               60  sleeve attachment 
               61  sleeve outer surface 
               62  sleeve interior pocket surface 
               63  sleeve inner surface 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 12 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a plant belt system (herein described as the “system”)  10 , which provides a means for attaching potted plants  16 , non-potted plants  17 , or the like onto a tree  15 , a post, or other similar vertical structure to create an aesthetically pleasing displaying means to a variety of flowering plants. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the system  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The system  10  comprises a belt member  20  which provides an attachment means to a tree  15  and further enables attachment to a pocket attachment  30 , a skirt attachment  40 , a pocketed skirt attachment  50 , and a sleeve attachment  60 . The belt member  20  and attachments  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60  may comprise various measurements to accommodate various sized vertical structures. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the belt member  20  and  FIG. 3 , a front view of the belt member  20  depicting placement on a tree  15 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The system  10  comprises a belt member  20  which enables a means to encompass a portion of the tree  15  and suspend each attachment  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 . The belt member  20  is preferably fabricated from a durable nylon in various colors or patterns, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system  10 . The belt member  20  measures approximately four (4) inches in width and eight (8) feet in length, yet other measurements may be incorporated as abovementioned. The belt member  20  is wrapped around the tree  15  at a desired height and fastened via a hook fastener  21  engaging a loop fastener  22 . The hook fastener  21  is located on an exterior end surface of the belt member  20  and the loop fastener  22  is located on an opposing interior surface of said belt member  20  to provide a proper engaging means. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a rear perspective view of the pocket  30  and  FIG. 5 , a front view of the pocket  30  depicting placement on the belt member  20  attached to the tree  15 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The system  10  also comprises a plurality of pocket attachments  30  which preferably provides a means to suspend a potted plant  16  or similar plant from the belt member  20 . The pocket attachment  30  comprises a pocket  31  and a pocket interior  32  and is fabricated from a durable nylon similar to the belt member  20 . The pocket  31  comprises a cylindrical cup-shape with an open upper panel to enable placement of the potted plant  16  into the pocket interior  31 . The pocket attachment  30  is suspended from the belt member  20  via an inverted “L”-shaped hook  25 . Each hook  25  is bonded to a rear exterior perimeter surface of the pocket  31  via an adhesive  26 , yet other attachment means may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system  10 . The pocket attachment  30  is suspended from the belt member  20  via engaging the hook  25  with the upper perimeter edge of said belt member  20 . The hook  25  is preferably fabricated from a plastic, yet other materials such as metal may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a front view of the skirt  40 ,  FIG. 7 , a section view of the skirt  40  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 7 ), and  FIG. 8 , an environmental view of the skirt  40  depicting placement on the belt member  20  on the tree  15 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The system  10  further comprises a skirt attachment  40  which provides a means to envelope a base portion of the tree  15  in a flowering sheeted means. The skirt attachment  40  comprises a skirt outer surface  41  and a skirt inner surface  42  and is preferably fabricated from a biodegradable paper material. The skirt outer surface  41  and a skirt inner surface  42  measure approximately one (1) inch in thickness and eight (8) feet in length, yet other measurements may be incorporated without limiting the scope of the system  10 . The skirt outer surface  41  is impregnated with a plurality of seeds  42  which provide a flowering means to the skirt attachment  40 . The seeds  42  may comprise various flowering plant seeds which sprout outwardly from the skirt outer surface  41  once watered in a common manner. The skirt outer surface  41  is preferably impregnated with the seeds  42  during the manufacturing process to enable said seeds  42  to become embedded within said skirt outer surface  41 . The skirt attachment  40  is suspended from the belt member  20  via a plurality of hooks  25  which are attached to a lateral perimeter edge of the skirt inner surface  43  via adhesive  26  as abovementioned. The skirt attachment  40  is wrapped around the tree  15  and the hooks  25  engage the upper perimeter edge of said belt member  20  to suspended said skirt attachment  40  to said belt member  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an environmental view of a pocketed skirt  50  depicting placement on the belt member  20  on the tree  15  and  FIG. 10 , partial view of the pocketed skirt  50 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The system  10  further comprises a pocketed skirt attachment  50  which provides another attachment means to the belt member  20  to display a plurality of non-potted plants  17  or the like. The pocketed skirt  50  comprises a pocketed outer surface  51  which further comprises a plurality of pocketed skirt pockets  52 . The pocketed skirt pockets  52  are attached to the pocketed skirt outer surface  51  via conventional sewing techniques  53  and preferably enable a desired amount of non-potted plants  17  to be inserted into the pocketed skirt interior portion  54  which further enable the non-potted plants  17  to grow within each pocketed skirt pocket  52 . The pocketed skirt attachment  50  is suspended from the belt member  20  via a plurality of hooks  25  attached to an upper perimeter lateral edge of a pocketed skirt inner surface  55  via adhesives  26  as abovementioned. The pocketed skirt attachment  50  is similar in size and material to the skirt attachment  40  (see  FIGS. 6 through 8 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , an environmental view of a sleeve  60  depicting placement on the belt member  20  on the tree  15  and  FIG. 12 , a section view of the sleeve  60  taken along line B-B (see  FIG. 11 ), according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The system  10  yet further comprises a sleeve attachment  60  which provides a means of suspending non-potted plants  17  from the belt member  20 . The sleeve attachment  60  comprises a sleeve outer surface  61 , a sleeve interior surface  62 , and a sleeve inner surface  63 . The sleeve attachment  60  is suspended from the belt member  20  via a plurality of hooks  25  attached to the upper perimeter lateral edge of the sleeve inner surface  63 . The sleeve attachment  60  is wrapped around the tree  15  and the hooks  25  engage the upper perimeter edge of said belt member  20  to suspended said sleeve attachment  60  to said belt member  20 . The sleeve outer surface and the sleeve inner surface  63  form a sleeve interior pocket surface  62  to position non-potted plants  17  or the like within. The sleeve outer surface  61  and the sleeve inner surface  63  are fabricated from a biodegradable paper material, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the system  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the system  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the system  10 ; fastening the belt member  20  onto a desired tree  15  or similar vertical surface via engaging the hook fastener  21  to the loop fastener  22 ; attaching a desired attachment  30 ,  40 ,  50   60  to the belt member  20  via engaging each hook  25  with the upper perimeter edge of the belt member  20  via suspending said desired attachment  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 ; and, supporting potted plants  16  and non-potted plants  17  in a manner which is not only quick, easy, and effective, but aesthetically pleasing as well. 
     The method of utilizing the pocket attachment  30  may be achieved by performing the following steps: suspending the hook  25  on the pocket  31  onto the belt member  20  and repeating for each pocket  31 ; inserting a potted plant  16  into each pocket interior  32 ; caring for the potted plant  16  as desired; and removing the pocket attachment  30  from the belt member  20  as necessary. 
     The method of utilizing the skirt attachment  40  may be achieved by performing the following steps: suspending the hooks  25  on the skirt outer surface  43  onto the belt member  20  and wrapping the skirt attachment  40  around said belt member  20 ; watering the skirt outer surface  41  to enable growth of the seeds  42 ; and, removing the skirt attachment  30  from the belt member  20  as necessary. 
     The method of utilizing the pocketed skirt attachment  50  may be achieved by performing the following steps: suspending the hooks  25  on the pocketed skirt inner surface  55  onto the belt member  20  and wrapping the pocketed skirt outer surface  51  around said belt member  20 ; positioning a desired amount of non-potted plants  17  into a desired amount of pocketed skirt interior portions  54 ; watering each pocketed skirt pockets  52  as desired; and, removing the pocketed skirt attachment  50  from the belt member  20  as necessary. 
     The method of utilizing the sleeve attachment  60  may be achieved by performing the following steps: suspending the hooks  25  on the sleeve inner surface  63  onto the belt member  20  and wrapping the sleeve outer surface  61  around said belt member  20 ; positioning a desired amount of non-potted plants  17  into sleeve interior pocket surface  62 ; watering as desired; and, removing the sleeve attachment  60  from the belt member  20  as necessary. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.