Staking system for growing container

• US 20090056217A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novelty Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Clifford Fay, Frank Dipaolo, Matthew Markefka
• Inventors: FAY, CLIFFORD, DIPAOLO, FRANK, Markefka, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,966,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/70
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/12 Supports for plants; Trellis for strawberries or the like trellis-work for vines A01G17/06; stays for trees, props for vines A01G17/14
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/124 Means for holding stakes upright in, on, or beside pots

Abstract

A staking system for use with a self-watering growing container includes an outrigger structure at each longitudinal end. Each outrigger structure is mountable on the bottom of the growing container to provide stability. Two vertical stakes are attached to respective outrigger structures. Connectors at the top of each stake thus mount a horizontal stake element between the two connectors. A rim clamp secures the vertical stakes, clamping them on the lip of the plant growing container.

Claims

1. A apparatus for growing of plants comprising:

a container in which plants are grown, said container including a bottom and a surrounding wall member attached to said bottom and having a longitudinal axis;

a pair of outrigger members mounted to said bottom adjacent opposite longitudinal ends thereof, each said outrigger member including

a) opposed later feet which extend horizontally beyond opposite longitudinal sides of said bottom and which engage a base surface,

b) a longitudinal foot which extends horizontally beyond a longitudinal end of said bottom and which engage the base surface, said longitudinal foot including a means for mounting an upright therein;

a staking system for the plants grown in said container including

a) a vertical stake extending upwardly from a respective mounting means of said longitudinal feet, and

b) a horizontal stake extending above said container and mounted to said vertical stakes.

2. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 1:

wherein each outrigger member further includes a pair of pins upstanding therefrom and located underneath of said bottom of said container; and

wherein said bottom of said container includes a pair of closed end bores at each longitudinal end in which respective said pins are received to mount said container securely to said outrigger members.

3. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opposed lateral feet including upstanding walls between which said surrounding wall member of said container is laterally trapped.

4. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 1:

wherein said container includes a rim at a top of said surrounding wall member; and

wherein said staking system further includes a means for securing said vertical stakes to said rim.

5. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said opposed lateral feet including a mounting means for mounting a caster wheel thereto.

6. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 1:

wherein said vertical stakes and said horizontal stake have hollow female ends;

wherein said staking system includes a pair of connectors having male ends for connecting each respective said vertical stake to a respective end of said horizontal stake; and

wherein said connector includes a further male end to which a further element can be attached.

7. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 2, wherein said opposed lateral feet including upstanding walls between which said surrounding wall member of said container is laterally trapped.

8. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 7:

wherein said container includes a rim at a top of said surrounding wall member; and

wherein said staking system further includes a means for securing said vertical stakes to said rim.

9. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 8, wherein each said opposed lateral feet including a mounting means for mounting a caster wheel thereto.

10. A apparatus for growing of plants as claimed in claim 6:

wherein said vertical stakes and said horizontal stake have hollow female ends;

wherein said staking system includes a pair of connectors having male ends for connecting each respective said vertical stake to a respective end of said horizontal stake; and

wherein said connector includes a further male end to which a further element can be attached.