Portable, mailbox-mounted, potted plant holder

• US 6,032,808 A
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David W. Henson
• Original Assignee: David W. Henson
• Inventors: Henson, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US09/220,667
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 211/85.23, 211/85.29, 211/85.31, 211/71.01, 211/113, 211/119, 47/39, 47/41.11, 248/311.2, 248/312.1, 248/315, 232/17, D 6/403, D 6/405, 294/143
• US Class Current: 211/85.23
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1209 Rural letter-boxes
• 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

An open framework is supported on a mailbox and, in turn, supports multiple flowerpots whose plants decorate the mailbox. The framework and the flowerpots are removable as a unit. The flowerpots are individually removable. The framework includes a plurality of rings for supportably engaging the flowerpots.

Claims

1. A holder for holding a flowerpot having a sidewall extending around a periphery of the flowerpot adjacent a mailbox having opposite sides, the holder comprising:

a) a main portion supported by the mailbox and having a pair of inverted generally U-shaped frame elements spaced apart along a longitudinal direction and straddling the opposite sides of the mailbox during use;

b) a suspension portion connected to the main portion and extending away from one of the sides of the mailbox, for supportably engaging the sidewall and removably suspending the flowerpot during use; and

c) an overhead handle portion extending along the longitudinal direction and connected between the U-shaped frame elements.

2. The holder according to claim 1;

and further comprising another suspension portion connected to the main portion and extending away from the other of the sides of the mailbox, for supportably engaging the sidewall of another flowerpot and removably suspending the other flowerpot during use.

3. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the suspension portion includes a ring for encircling the sidewall.

4. The holder according to claim 3, wherein the sidewall has an annular flange having a predetermined diameter, and wherein the ring has a ring diameter smaller than said predetermined diameter to hold the flange from below the flange.

5. The holder according to claim 1;

and further comprising a plurality of auxiliary suspension portions identical to the first-mentioned suspension portion, for removably suspending a corresponding plurality of the flowerpots.

6. The holder according to claim 2;

and further comprising a plurality of supplementary suspension portions identical to said other suspension portion, for removably suspending a corresponding plurality of the flowerpots.

7. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the main portion and the suspension portion are interconnected in a one-piece framework.

8. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion has two linear elements and a jog between the linear elements.

9. The holder according to claim 1, wherein each U-shaped frame element has an upper bight section extending along a curve over a top of the mailbox, and a pair of linear sections extending generally vertically downwardly away from a respective bight section.

10. A holder for holding a plurality of flowerpots, each having a sidewall extending around a periphery of a respective flowerpot, adjacent a stand-alone mailbox having opposite sides, the holder comprising:

a) a main portion supported by the mailbox and straddling the opposite sides of the mailbox during use;

b) a pair of suspension portions connected to the main portion and extending in opposite directions away from the opposite sides of the mailbox, for supportably engaging respective sidewalls of the flowerpots and removably suspending the flowerpots during use; and

c) a handle portion extending lengthwise of the mailbox, and including an overhead jog for enabling the holder to be transported.

11. The holder according to claim 10, wherein each suspension portion includes a plurality of rings for encircling the respective flowerpots.

12. A holder for holding a plurality of flowerpots, each including an annular sidewall having an annular flange extending around a periphery of a respective flowerpot, adjacent a stand-alone mailbox having opposite sides, the holder comprising:

a) a main portion supported by the mailbox and having a pair of inverted generally U-shaped frame elements spaced apart along a longitudinal direction and straddling the opposite sides of the mailbox during use;

b) a pair of suspension portions connected to the main portion and extending in opposite directions along a generally horizontal plane away from the opposite sides of the mailbox, each suspension portion including a plurality of rings for encircling the respective flowerpots and supportably engaging the respective flanges from below the respective flanges, said rings of each suspension portion being arranged in a respective row along the longitudinal direction; and

c) a handle portion connected in a one-piece construction to the main portion and the suspension portions and extending generally along the longitudinal direction, for enabling the holder to be transported.

13. The holder according to claim 12, wherein the portions are constituted of a tubular metal framework.