Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates in general to a device for holding and displaying containers in which plants, vegetables, flowers or the like are planted and, in particular, to such a plant container holder which is especially suitable to be supported by or suspended from a support structure such as a chain link fence. In a preferred embodiment of the device, a container is suspended from the support rail of a chain link fence, and the device is partially inserted into the fence links to stabilize the container and position the container carried thereby in a stable, substantially horizontal, position. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various support devices or hanger assemblies have been developed whereby a container for a potted plant may be suspended from a longitudinally extending horizontal rail, such as a porch or deck rail. Such devices generally include a hook portion which engages the support rail to support or suspend the device from the rail, and a container support portion which functions to engage a container so that the container will be secured to the device. 
   In such existing devices, the stability of the support device or hanger assembly generally relies upon the weight of the container, and its contents, to stabilize the device relative to its supporting rail. It would be very desirable for plant support devices or hanger assemblies to have an increased stabilization of the supporting structure relative to the rail from which the device is suspended. In this manner, larger containers could be utilized, which would increase the loading force exerted on the supporting rail, but which could accommodate additional potting material and consequently larger and more productive plants. 
   However, an increase in the weight of the container and its contents would result in the pivoting of a container and the plant carried within the container about the supporting rail because of any offset between that portion of the supporting structure which is coupled to the supporting rail and that portion of the device which engages and supports the container. Such pivoting of the support device, or hanger assembly, about its point of contact with the supporting rail creates a decided tilt in the orientation of the container. Such a tilt creates a problem in watering the plants contained in the container and in retaining liquid, such as liquid fertilizer, therein. Because of the tilt of the container about the supporting rail it would be difficult to provide an adequate amount of moisture to the container and plant(s) contained therein. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems or disadvantages associated with the art to which the invention pertains, as will be more readily understood and fully appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objectives of the invention, together with additional features contributing thereto and advantages accruing therefrom, will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of our invention in an application environment; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of our invention to better illustrate the manner in which a portion of our invention is inserted between the links of the fence to stabilize the container supported thereon; and 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of our invention incorporating another form of container support. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a first embodiment of our invention in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a second or modified embodiment of our invention in  FIG. 3 . For convenience of illustration, like parts are identified by the same reference numerals. 
   As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , our plant container hanger  100  includes an elongated support bar  10  comprising a straight length of a rigid material, such as 3/16″ steel although a plastic material of suitable strength may be used so long as the material would be sufficient to support a predetermined size container, potting material and growing plants. One end of the support bar  10  is formed with a hook portion  15 , formed at one end, with the opposed end terminating in a straight or tapered guide portion  17 . 
   The curve of the hook portion  15  of the support bar  10  is sufficient to partially enclose a support rail from which the plant container hanger  100  is to be suspended, which in the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a top rail  5  of a conventional chain-link fence  1 . The opposed guide portion end  17  of the support bar  10  is sized to pass through diamond-shaped openings  2  of the chain-link fence  1 , which are formed by intersecting fence wires  3  which create such a pattern. In this manner, the support bar  10  is supported by the hook portion  15  from the support rail  5  and stabilized by the guide portion  17  engaging the openings  2  formed in the fence  1 . 
   While the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is used with a chain-link fence  1 , other support rails may be utilized for engaging the hook portion  15  to suspend the plant container hanger  10  such as a porch rail or the like, as well as other forms of stabilization for the free end  17  may be used, such as spaced wooden slats or the like. 
   Positioned approximately midway along the support bar  10  is a plant retaining collar  20 , which is secured to the support bar  10  for receiving and supporting therein a plant container  25 . The collar  20  is sized a predetermined diameter based upon the size of the plant container  25  which is to be received therein. For purposes of illustration, the preferred embodiment of the collar  20  which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is formed from 3/16″ steel in a diameter of approximately 11½″ for use with a conventional 5 gallon container in which plants, such as vegetables, may be planted and grown. 
   As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the collar  20  is secured to the support bar  10  at an angle such that the collar  20  extends outwardly and upwardly there from at an angle of approximately 5 degrees above the horizontal. In this manner when the hook portion  15  of the support bar  10  is positioned about the rail  5 , and the free end  17  forming the guide portion is positioned through the diamond-shaped openings  2  of the chain-link fence  1 , when the full plant container  25  is placed in the collar  20  the weight thereof will rotate the support bar  10  about the rail  5  a limited amount, and the slight angle at which the collar  20  is joined to the support bar  10  will result in the container  25  being carried in a substantially horizontal position. 
   In addition to the collar  20 , the plant container hanger  10  can be constructed to incorporate a different type of container support. As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the plant container hanger  100   a  utilizes a suspension type hanger  30  wherein a substantially horizontal container support bar  35  is formed with a hook portion  36 , to which a carrying handle  24  of a plant container  25  can be attached to suspend the container  25  from the suspension hanger  30 . To provide additional support for the container support bar  35 , an angle support  38  is secured between the support bar  10  and the horizontal container support bar  35 . Such suspension type hangers  30  can be used alone on the support bar  10  or in combination with the container receiving collar  20 . 
   While this invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to preferred embodiments, the structures of which have been disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the invention without departing from the scope of the claims. This application was prepared without reference to any particular dictionary. Accordingly, the definition of the terms used herein conforms to the meaning intended by the inventors acting as their own lexicographer, in accordance with the teaching of the application, rather that any dictionary meaning which is contrary to or different from the inventors&#39; meaning regardless of the authoritativeness of such dictionary. 
   Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments described in the specification and shown in the drawings as the best mode presently known by the inventors for carrying out this invention, nor confined to the details set forth, but that the invention will include all embodiments, modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 1