Self-rotating hanging plant support
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting and rotating a hanging plant, comprising:
- a housing;
an upper hook fixedly attached to a top surface of the housing;
a lower hook, extending from a bottom surface of the housing, for hanging and supporting a plant thereon;
a light sensing means, disposed on the outside of the housing, for detecting the amount of ambient light incident upon the housing; and
a rotary means, disposed within the housing, for periodically rotating the lower hook whenever the amount of ambient light detected by the light sensing means exceeds a threshold value, the rotary means further comprising;
a DC motor stationed within the housing;
a reduction gearing assembly, connected to an output shaft of the motor, comprising;
a pinion attached to the output shaft of the motor;
a first gear and shaft combination, meshed with the pinion;
a second gear and shaft combination, meshed with the first gear and shaft combination;
a third gear and shaft combination, meshed with the second gear and shaft combination; and
said third gear and shaft combination including a vertically disposed shaft; and
said vertically disposed shaft being rotatingly coupled to the reduction gearing assembly and connected to the lower hook; and
said lower hook being capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis of the vertically disposed shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting and rotating a hanging plant, including a housing with an upper hook fixedly attached to a top surface thereon. A lower hook extends from a bottom surface of the housing, and is for hanging and supporting a plant thereon. There is a light sensing mechanism, disposed on the outside of the housing, for detecting the amount of ambient light incident upon the housing, along with a rotary mechanism, disposed within the housing, for periodically rotating the lower hook whenever the amount of ambient light detected by the light sensing mechanism exceeds a threshold value. The rotary mechanism further includes a DC motor stationed within the housing, a reduction gearing assembly connected to an output shaft of the motor, and a vertically disposed shaft, rotatingly coupled to the reduction gearing assembly and connected to the lower hook.
20 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting and rotating a hanging plant, comprising:
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a housing; an upper hook fixedly attached to a top surface of the housing; a lower hook, extending from a bottom surface of the housing, for hanging and supporting a plant thereon; a light sensing means, disposed on the outside of the housing, for detecting the amount of ambient light incident upon the housing; and a rotary means, disposed within the housing, for periodically rotating the lower hook whenever the amount of ambient light detected by the light sensing means exceeds a threshold value, the rotary means further comprising; a DC motor stationed within the housing; a reduction gearing assembly, connected to an output shaft of the motor, comprising; a pinion attached to the output shaft of the motor; a first gear and shaft combination, meshed with the pinion; a second gear and shaft combination, meshed with the first gear and shaft combination; a third gear and shaft combination, meshed with the second gear and shaft combination; and said third gear and shaft combination including a vertically disposed shaft; and said vertically disposed shaft being rotatingly coupled to the reduction gearing assembly and connected to the lower hook; and
said lower hook being capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis of the vertically disposed shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for supporting and rotating a hanging plant, comprising:
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a housing; an upper hook fixedly attached to a top surface of the housing; a lower hook, extending from a bottom surface of the housing, for hanging and supporting a plant thereon; a light sensing means, disposed on the outside of the housing, for detecting the amount of ambient light incident upon the housing; a rotary means, disposed within the housing, for periodically rotating the lower hook whenever the amount of ambient light detected by the light sensing means exceeds a threshold value, the rotary means further comprising; a DC motor stationed within the housing; a reduction gearing assembly connected to an output shaft of the motor; and a vertically disposed shaft, rotatingly coupled to the reduction gearing assembly and connected to the lower hook; a first timing means, responsive to the light sensing means, for determining when the DC motor is to be energized; the first timing means comprising a first timing circuit which generates a first output signal, the first output signal comprising a square wave which oscillates continuously between a high and a low voltage level; and a second timing means, also responsive to the light sensing means, for controlling the duration of time that the DC motor is energized. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification