Support for mounting containers without requiring tools

• US 6,012,690 A
• Filed: 03/28/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newpro Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vista Products, Inc. (Hunter Douglas N.V.)
• Inventors: Cohen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US08/828,912
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 248/214, 248/226.11, 248/228.5, 248/228.3, 248/228.6, 248/231.41, 248/231.61, 248/231.71, 248/208, 108/47, 47/40, 47/66, 47/68
• US Class Current: 248/226.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 7/044 Hanging flower-pot holders, e.g. mounted on walls, balcony fences or the like on windows or doors A47H27/00

Abstract

A supporting structure for a flower box or the like fits over the top edge of a wall, room divider, or similar device. The supporting structure includes an elongated plate having a plurality of spaced parallel slots therein. A pair of L-shaped members, each having a first flange which may be slipped through and depend below any one of the slots, so that the space between the two first flanges fits over and embraces the top edge of a room divider or the like. The other flange of each L-shaped member lays on top of the elongated plate. In one embodiment, the weight of the flower box holds the other flange in place. The dependent first flanges have a clamping device associated therewith to secure the structure to the wall. In another embodiment, the bottom of a U-shaped member is secured to an elongated plate, with no adjustment of the space between a pair of flanges formed by open arms of the U-shaped members. This other embodiment is designed for mounting on walls having a known and fixed thickness.

Claims

1. A supporting structure for mounting a box on the top edge of a wall member, said supporting structure comprising:

(a) an elongated plate having a plurality of spaced parallel slots;

(b) means for securing said elongated plate to said box;

(c) a pair of L-shaped members each having two flanges, each of the L-shaped members being shaped and dimensioned to fit through said slots with a first of said flanges resting against said elongated plate and the other of said flanges depending from said elongated plate; and

(d) a clamping member in at least one of said other flanges for engaging said wall member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said clamping member comprises a flared detent with a threaded hole formed in each of said other flanges for receiving a threaded member which may be turned to form a clamp adapted to secure said supporting structure to said wall.

3. The structure of claim 2 and a hook and loop fastener adapted to be placed between an end of said threaded member and said wall.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first flanges are adapted to be securely held against said elongated plate by the weight of said box to secure and stabilize the position of said L-shaped members.

5. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a second elongated plate and a second pair of said L-shaped members, the first elongated plate being adapted to be mounted at one end of said box, the second elongated plate being adapted to be mounted at the other end of said box and the first pair of said L-shaped members secured to said first elongated plate and the second pair of L-shaped members secured to said second elongated plate.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein opposing longitudinal edges of said elongated plate are turned up to receive between them said first flanges of said L-shaped members, said turned up edges being spaced from each other so that said first flanges of said L-shaped members fit easily between said turned up edges.

7. A generally rectangular box having side walls and a bottom surface and a structure for supporting said box on the top of a wall member, said supporting structure comprising at least one elongated plate having a plurality of parallel slots spaced along the longitudinal dimension of said plate, a pair of L-shaped members associated with said elongated plate, said pair of L-shaped members being shaped to fit through and depend below said slots, said L-shaped members opposing each other and being adapted to embrace the top of said wall, a first flange of each L-shaped member laying between upturned edges on said elongated plate and means associated with said L-shaped members adapted to clamp said supporting structure to the top of said wall.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein each elongated plate has an associated pair of L-shaped members, said elongated plates being distributed along a length of said box.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein a hole is formed in each end of each said elongated plates to enable an attachment of said elongated plates to said box.

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein said clamping means comprises a flared detent with a threaded hole formed in a second flange of one of said L-shaped members for receiving a threaded member which may be turned for securing said supporting structure to said wall.

11. The structure of claim 10 and a hook and loop fastener adapted to be placed between said threaded member and said wall.

12. The structure of claim 9 wherein the bottom surface of said box is depressed at each location which is engaged by said elongated plates so that an exposed surface of said elongated plate is flush with said box at said locations.

13. The structure of claim 12 and a boss formed in said depression for receiving said hole formed in each end of said elongated plate, said boss including means for securing said elongated plate to said box.