Display post with selectable multi-function capability

• US 6,513,284 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delbert E. Sandlin
• Original Assignee: Delbert E. Sandlin
• Inventors: Sandlin, Delbert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/501,019
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 521/05, 52/38, 521/03, 525/82, 52/40, 47/666, 47/661, 47/655, 47/39, 47/79, 248/146, 248/158, 248/159, 248/27.8, 248/176.1, 406/07, 232/39, 362/253, 362/410, 362/431
• US Class Current: 47/66.6
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1216 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/623 characterised by form or by structural features, e.g. for enabling displacement or deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0025 display surface tensioning means

Abstract

The combination of a mounting post base, a first accessory that is removably mountable in an operative position to the mounting post base to perform a first function, and a second accessory that is removably mountable in an operative position to the mounting post base in place of the first accessory to perform a second function. The first and second accessories can be selectively mounted to the mounting post base, one in place of the other, to perform a desired function.

Claims

1. In combination:

a mounting post base having an, a peripheral wall with an exposed, vertically extending peripheral surface, and a hollow chamber within the peripheral wall;

a receptacle at the external surface of the mounting post base;

a foliage in the receptacle and exposed to view outside of the receptacle;

a mail box on the mounting post base; and

a first accessory, in addition to the mail box, mounted to the exposed vertically extending, peripheral surface, that performs a first independent function.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the mounting post 19 base has a downwardly facing surface for engaging a subjacent surface to maintain the mounting post base in an operative position on the subjacent surface.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the mail box is removably connectable to the mounting post base.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first accessory comprises an information plaque.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the information plaque is removably connected to the mounting post base.

6. The combination according to either of claims 1 or 3 wherein the first accessory is removably connectable to the mounting post base.

7. The combination according to either of claims 1 or 6 wherein the first accessory is an information plaque.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein a flowable material is placed in the hollow chamber.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the flowable material is at least one of gravel, fertilizer, sand, soil, and water.

18. The combination according to either of claims 1 or 13 further comprising a second accessory mounted to the mounting post base that performs a second independent function.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein the second accessory is an information plaque.

10. In combination:

a mounting post base having an external surface, a peripheral wall, and a hollow chamber within the peripheral wall;

a receptacle at the external surface of the mounting post base;

foliage in the receptacle and exposed to view outside of the receptacle;

a first accessory on the mounting post base that performs a first function,

wherein a mail box is removably connectable to the mounting post base,

a second accessory that is removably connectable to the mounting post base,

wherein the second accessory is an information plaque,

wherein the information plaque and mail box are interchangeably and removably connected to the mounting post base at the same location.

11. In combination:

a mounting post base having an external surface, a peripheral wall, and a hollow chamber within the peripheral wall;

a receptacle for foliage at the external surface of the mounting post base; and

a first accessory on the mounting post base that performs a first function,

wherein the mounting post base comprises at least first and second releasably stackable parts that cooperatively bound at least a part of the hollow chamber.

12. In combination:

a mounting post base having an external surface, a peripheral wall, and a hollow chamber within the peripheral wall;

a receptacle at the external surface of the mounting post base;

foliage in the receptacle and exposed to view outside of the receptacle;

a first accessory on the mounting post base that performs a first function; and

a reservoir for water within the peripheral wall and a conduit for communicating water from the reservoir to the hollow chamber.

16. The combination according to either of claims 15 or 12 wherein the mounting post base has a top and bottom and the reservoir is defined by a wall structure which is exposed at the top of the mounting post base.

13. In combination:

a mounting post base having an external surface, a peripheral wall, and a hollow chamber within the peripheral wall;

a receptacle at the external surface of the mounting post base;

foliage in the receptacle and exposed to view outside of the receptacle; and

a first accessory on the mounting post base that performs a first function,

wherein the hollow chamber is in communication with the receptacle.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the foliage is live foliage and there is a supply of a planting medium extending from the hollow chamber continuously to the receptacle.

15. The combination according to claim 14 further comprising a reservoir for water within the peripheral wall and a conduit for communicating waterfrom the reservoir to the planting medium within the hollow chamber.

17. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the mounting post base comprises at least first and second releasably stackable parts that cooperatively bound at least a part of the hollow chamber.

20. In combination:

a mounting post base having a height, a peripheral wall having a polygonal shape defining a plurality of exposed flat surfaces extending over the majority of the height of the mounting post base, and a hollow chamber within the peripheral wall;

a receptacle for foliage at the external surface of the mounting post base; and

a mail box on the mounting post base,

the base comprising an enlarged bottom portion defining a surface area that is larger than the peripheral shape of the mounting post to stably support the mounting post base on a subjacent surface without penetrating the subjacent surface.

21. The combination according to claim 20 further comprising a flowable material in the hollow chamber to add weight to and thereby stabilize the mounting post base.

22. The combination according to claim 21 wherein the enlarged bottom portion is hollow and contains a quantity of the flowable material.

23. The combination according to claim 20 further comprising an accessory in addition to the mail box at one of the plurality of exposed flat surfaces.

24. The combination according to claim 23 wherein the accessory comprises an information plaque.

25. In combination:

a mounting post base having an external surface, a peripheral wall, and a hollow chamber within the peripheral wall; and

a first accessory on the mounting post base that performs a first function,

wherein the mounting post base comprises at least first and second releasably stackable parts that cooperatively bound at least a part of the hollow chamber.

26. The combination according to claim 25 wherein the first accessory comprises a mail box.