Simulated tree trunk planter having a natural appearance and method of using same

• US 10,278,336 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeremy S. Dutt
• Original Assignee: Jeremy S. Dutt
• Inventors: Dutt, Jeremy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son T
• Application Number:
  US15/088,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/00 Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses of mushrooms A01G18/00; soilless cultivation A01G31/00; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/0291 Planting receptacles specially adapted for remaining in the soil after planting
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A simulated tree trunk planter, comprising: a simulated tree trunk such that the simulated tree trunk includes a natural appearance located on an outer surface of the tree trunk; wherein a lower end of the trunk includes a stabilizing plate operatively connected at one side to the lower end of the tree trunk and a tree anchor operatively connected at one end to the other side of the stabilizing plate; wherein the upper end of the trunk includes a simulated tree trunk planter receptacle having receptacle retainers, a receptacle lattice operatively connected to the receptacle retainers, and foliage such that the foliage is retained in place by the receptacle retainers and the receptacle lattice; and a plurality of attachment panel systems located on a section of the tree trunk, wherein a plurality of trunk attachments is secured to the tree trunk through the use of the attachment panel systems.

Claims

1. A planting container with the simulated look of a natural tree, comprising:

a simulated tree trunk having a lower end and an upper end such that the simulated tree trunk includes a natural appearance located on an outer surface of the simulated tree trunk, wherein the natural appearance makes the simulated tree trunk appear to look like a real life tree,

wherein the simulated tree trunk includes at least one electrical conduit located within an interior of the simulated tree trunk such that the at least one electrical conduit extends from the lower end to the upper end and includes electrical wiring located within the at least one electrical conduit and at least one plumbing conduit located within the interior of the simulated tree trunk such that the at least one plumbing conduit extends from the lower end to the upper end;

wherein the lower end includes a stabilizing plate operatively connected at one side to the lower end of the simulated tree trunk and a tree anchor operatively connected at one end to other side of the stabilizing plate, wherein the stabilizing plate and the tree anchor are located below a sufficient amount of terrain to assist in creating the natural appearance that makes the simulated tree trunk appear to look like a real life tree and such that any movement of simulated tree trunk will be minimized through the use stabilizing plate and the tree anchor,

wherein a width of the stabilizing plate can be adjusted and a width of the tree anchor can be adjusted;

wherein the upper end includes a simulated tree trunk planter receptacle having receptacle retainers, a receptacle lattice operatively connected to the receptacle retainers, and foliage such that the foliage is retained in place by the receptacle retainers and the receptacle lattice; and

a plurality of tree trunk planter attachment panel systems located on a section of the simulated tree trunk, wherein a plurality of tree trunk planter attachments is secured to the simulated tree trunk through the use of the plurality of tree trunk planter attachment panel systems,

wherein at least one of the plurality of tree trunk planter attachment panel systems includes an attachment panel having a first side such that the first side includes a natural appearance that is similar to the natural appearance of the simulated tree trunk, an attachment panel seal operatively connected to a second side of the attachment panel and positioned around a perimeter of the second side of the attachment panel, and an attachment box operatively connected to the simulated tree trunk and located adjacent to the second side of the attachment panel such that the attachment box contacts the attachment panel seal, wherein the attachment box includes a plurality of openings and slotted openings such that at least one of the plurality of tree trunk planter attachments can be secured to the attachment box through the use of the plurality of openings and slotted openings.

2. The planting container with the simulated look of a natural tree, as in claim 1, wherein the lower end is further comprised of:

at least one external electrical port located on the outer surface of the simulated tree trunk and operatively connected to the at least one electrical conduit;

at least one external plumbing port located on the outer surface of the simulated tree trunk and operatively connected to the at least one plumbing conduit; and

at least one drainage hole.

3. The planting container with the simulated look of a natural tree, as in claim 1, wherein the upper end is further comprised of:

a plurality of photovoltaic panels each located on one end of each of the plurality of receptacle retainers;

a battery located within the interior of the simulated tree trunk and operatively connected to the plurality of photovoltaic panels and the at least one electrical conduit; and

a timer located within the interior of the simulated tree trunk and operatively connected to the battery, the at least one electrical conduit, and the at least one plumbing conduit.

4. The planting container with the simulated look of a natural tree, as in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing plate is a circular plate.

5. The planting container with the simulated look of a natural tree, as in claim 1, wherein the tree anchor is further comprised of a plurality of teeth operatively connected at an end of tree anchor.

6. The planting container with the simulated look of a natural tree, as in claim 1, wherein the upper end is further comprised of:

a plurality of tree trunk planter receptacles having an outer surface that includes the natural appearance, wherein the plurality of tree trunk planter receptacles includes a plurality of receptacle retainers, receptacle lattice, a liquid applicator, and a plurality of planter receptacle drainage holes, wherein the receptacle lattice is operatively connected to the plurality of receptacle retainers such that foliage can be located within the plurality of tree trunk planter receptacles and retained by the plurality of receptacle retainers and receptacle lattice; and

a waterproof seal located between the plurality of tree trunk planter receptacles and the upper end of the simulated tree trunk.

7. The planting container with the simulated look of a natural tree, as in claim 6, wherein the liquid applicator is further comprised of:

a water drip hose.

8. The simulated tree trunk planter, as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of tree trunk planter attachments is further comprised of:

a street light system.

9. The simulated tree trunk planter, as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of tree trunk planter attachments is further comprised of:

a bird house attachment system.

10. The simulated tree trunk planter, as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of tree trunk planter attachments is further comprised of:

a light emitting diode (LED) lighting attachment system.