Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is an ongoing need to provide attractive containers for plants and flowers and to provide pleasing designs and to enhance the attraction of the plant and flower containers during low light conditions and after dusk. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for containing an object. The apparatus includes an opaque wall to support the object, a transparent or translucent portion spaced from the opaque wall and at least one light source positioned between the opaque wall and the portion. The apparatus can be a planter or a pot. The portion can have a design and may have a translucent portion and an opaque portion. The portion can have a raised pattern. The apparatus is preferably either injection molded, rotationally molded, blow molded or made of a polyresin and fiberglass lay up. The apparatus can be a cube or cylindrical in configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus forming a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section of an apparatus forming a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of an apparatus forming a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of an apparatus forming a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus forming a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the fifth embodiment lighted; and 
     FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the lighting of the apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a flower pot  10  defines an apparatus which forms the first embodiment of the present invention. The flower pot  10  includes a rigid frame  12  forming a cube with open sides  14  and top  16 . A container  18  fits through the top  16  and is supported on the frame  12  by edges  20  of the container. Container  18  is usually opaque. The container  18  is designed to contain earth for a plant, flower and the like. A series of panels  22  are mounted to the frame  12  over the open sides  14 . The panels are preferably transparent or translucent and can have a design  24  thereon. Within the interior of the frame  12  are mounted one or more light sources  26 , preferably low wattage 12 volt bulbs. For example, four bulbs at 10 watts each. A power cord  28  extends from the light sources  26  to a power source, such as a wall socket, to power the light sources  26 . 
     As can be readily envisioned, when the light sources  26  are lit, the light will pass through the transparent or translucent panels  22 , highlighting any design  24  formed thereon. The design  24  can be a raised pattern, a pattern formed by portions of the panel being opaque and portions being transparent or translucent, formed in the material of the panel  22 , painted on the panels or any other suitable mechanism. 
     As can be appreciated, the use of the light sources  26  will provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance or accent to a room, landscaping or the plant or flower held within the container  18 . The light sources  26  can also be used to provide illumination indoors, or an outdoor walkway in the evening, for example. While the container  18  will normally hold a plant or flower, the container can be used to hold any attractive feature, for example a rock garden and the like. 
     With reference to FIG. 2, a flower pot  40  forming a second embodiment of the invention will be described. The flower pot  40  is formed with an interior container  42  and an outer cylindrical portion  44 . A plurality of light sources  26  are mounted within the interior  46  between the portion  44  and container  42 . Again, the outer cylindrical portion  44  can be transparent or translucent. Interior container  42  is usually opaque. The cylindrical portion  44  can have designs or patterns  24  thereon in the same variety as described above for panels  22 . Being a single component, the flower pot  40  can be injection molded, rotationally molded, blow molded, or formed of a polyresin and fiberglass lay up. Preferably, the interior container  42  and outer cylindrical portion  44  are separately formed so that the light sources can be installed and the interior container  42  can be removed and reinserted within the cylindrical portion  44  as needed to repot a plant and so forth. 
     A flower pot  50  is illustrated in FIG.  3 . Flower pot  50  is formed of a single molded piece  52  which defines both the container  54  and the outer cylindrical portion  56 . A separate base  58  is secured at the bottom edge  60  of the outer cylindrical portion  56 . A plurality of light sources  26  are mounted on the base  58 , as illustrated. As with flower pot  10  and flower pot  40 , the outer cylindrical portion  56  can be provided with designs or patterns  24 . Also, the piece  52  can be injection molded, rotationally molded, blow molded, or a polyresin and fiberglass lay up as flower pot  40 . 
     A flower pot  70  is illustrated in FIG.  4 . The flower pot  70  is formed of an interior container  72  and an outer cylindrical portion  74 . Outer cylindrical portion  74  can have design  24 , which, for example, could be invisible with the light sources  26  off. 
     With reference to FIG.  5  and FIG. 7, a flower pot  90  forming a fifth is embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As with the other embodiments above, the flower pot  90  has an inner cylindrical container  92  and an outer cylindrical portion  94 . The outer cylindrical portion  94  can have a design or pattern  24  such as described in the embodiments above. FIG. 7 is intended to illustrate the effect when the light sources  26  are lit. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, a flower pot  100  forming a sixth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Again, the flower pot  100  has an interior container  102  and an outer cylindrical portion  104  with a design or FIG. 24 thereon. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates one technique for providing a pattern or symbol on a panel or outer cylindrical portion. A layer  110  of transparent or translucent material is provided with a pattern  102  formed therein. The transparent or translucent layer  110  is backed up by a mask or opaque paint layer  104 . The light source  26  shines through the layer  104  and transparent or translucent layer  110 . 
     The light sources  26  can be powered by any suitable mechanism. For example, the light sources can be powered by 120 volt AC line voltage, 12 volt AC power source, or solar cells. The design or pattern on the panels or outer cylindrical portions can be formed in many different ways. For example, the thickness of the material forming the panels or outer cylindrical portions can be varied so that it is thinner in some spots than others which provide contrast. The material of which the panels and cylindrical portions are made can itself be a marbled or mottled material to provide contrast. Paint can be applied to the inner surface of the panels and outer cylindrical portions. The pattern can be done in relief or raised. The panels and outer cylindrical portions can be painted with an opaque paint which does not show up without the lighting provided by the light sources  26 . Therefore, the flower pot will look unadorned when the light sources are unlit, but will show a distinct pattern when the light sources come on. 
     While certain embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention have been presented, it is appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Many variations, substitutions and amendments can be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Such variations, substitutions and amendments as would be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art who would be familiar with the teachings disclosed herein are also deemed to fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

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