Lift apparatus for base-mounted plant

• US 20070033866A1
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Schooley, John, Henry, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US11/407,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/40.500
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/043 Transplanting devices for grasping, undercutting or transporting the root ball A01G23/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/005 Reservoirs connected to flower-pots through conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/007 Artificial trees
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/00 Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating

Abstract

An lift apparatus may include a holder and a lift mechanism. A holder may function to couple with a plant held at least partially in an opening of the base element. The base element and the plant may form a portion of a composite tree. The base element may be configured to couple to a surface. The lift mechanism may be coupled to the holder. The lift mechanism may function to move at least a portion of the holder to lift the plant out of the opening. Portions of the living plants may form branches of the composite tree.

Claims

1-275. -275. (canceled)

276. A lift apparatus, comprising:

a holder configured to couple with a plant held at least partially in an opening of a base element, wherein the plant and the base element form at least a portion of a composite tree; and

a lift mechanism coupled to the holder, the lift mechanism configured to move at least a portion of the holder to lift the plant out of the opening.

277. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus is configured to insert at least a portion of the plant into the opening.

279. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the base element is couplable to a surface.

280. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus is configured to lift the plant from the surface to a height sufficient to place the plant in the opening.

282. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to couple to the base element.

283. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus is configured to lower the plant from the opening to the surface.

284. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the plant is in a container, wherein the holder is configured to couple with the container.

285. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus is configured to move the plant from one location to another location.

286. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus comprises wheels.

287. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the base for the plant comprises the trunk of a composite tree, wherein the plant comprises a branch of the composite tree.

288. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the plant is a living plant.

291. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the plant is a living tree, and wherein the holder is configured to couple with a trunk of the living tree.

292. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the plant is a living tree, wherein the living tree is in a container, and wherein a first portion of the holder is configured to couple with the container and a second portion of the holder is configured to couple with a trunk of the living tree.

293. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the plant is a living plant, wherein a first portion of the living plant is coupled in the opening such that a second portion of the living plant extends from the opening to form a branch of the composite tree.

295. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus comprises an arm coupled to the holder.

298. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the plant is held in a container comprising one or more slots, wherein the holder comprises one or more tabs, wherein the one or more tabs are configured to pass through the one or more slots when the tabs are in a first position, and wherein the one or more tabs are configured to support the container when the one or more tabs are in a second position.

299. The lift apparatus of claim 276, further comprising an arm coupled to the base element, the arm comprising a telescoping member.

301. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift mechanism comprises an actuator configured to move the holder.

303. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus comprises a post, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to raise the post.

305. The lift apparatus of claim 276, wherein the lift apparatus is configured to lift a structure onto the base.

278. (canceled)

281. (canceled)

289. (canceled)

290. (canceled)

294. (canceled)

296. (canceled)

297. (canceled)

300. (canceled)

302. (canceled)

304. (canceled)

306-375. -375. (canceled)