Method and apparatus for elevated stacking of planters

• US 7,832,147 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suzanne Weast
• Original Assignee: Suzanne Weast
• Inventors: Weast, Suzanne
• Primary Examiner(s): Palo; Francis T
• Application Number:
  US12/348,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20090173004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 47/39, 47/65, 47/655, 47/666, 47/82, 47/83, 47/86
• US Class Current: 47/86
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/023 Multi-tiered planters
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/024 Hanging flower pots and baskets

Abstract

A modular planter assembly formed of a base planter housing having a cavity volume for dirt or growing material defined by a surrounding vertically disposed sidewall. Smaller elevated planters are supportable above the base planter on support members extending between a pair of vertically disposed elongated members which engage passages formed in the sidewall of the base planter. The elongated members may be one piece, or formed of a plurality of component members to allow the user to lengthen them and add multiple elevated planters to the formed device.

Claims

1. A modular planter apparatus comprising:

a base planter housing having a cavity, said cavity having a cavity volume defined by a surrounding vertically disposed sidewall extending generally vertically from a bottom;

a pair of elongated passages engaged with said sidewall and extending substantially vertically from a horizontal support surface for said base planter;

a pair of elongated members, said elongated members adapted at respective first ends, for a frictional engagement within said elongated passages, said frictional engagement providing a means to support said elongated members in a substantially vertical position while concurrently engaged to said base planter;

at least one support member engaged between said pair of elongated members;

a pair of U-shaped flanges engaged upon each said support member, said flanges spaced a distance from each other;

an elevated planter housing having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending therefor to define an interior cavity;

said elevated planter having a pair of slots formed in said sidewall, said slots positioned said distance from each other whereby said U-shaped flanges are engageable with said sidewall of said elevated planter within said slots;

said sidewall of said elevated planter having a edge surrounding an opening for said interior cavity; and

a portion of said sidewall between said slots having a contact with said support member when said flanges are in an engagement with said slots; and

said engagement of said flanges with said slots positioning said elevated planter in a mounted position, a distance above said base planter.

2. The modular planter apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a U-shaped elongated connector engaged to said support member in between said U-shaped flanges;

a lip formed adjacent to said edge of said sidewall of said elevated planter;

said lip being engaged with said elongated connecter when said elevated planter is in said mounted position, thereby forming a three point mount of said elevated planter to said support member with said lip engaged with said connector a distance above said flange engagement with said slots; and

said three point engagement providing a means to prevent rotation of said elevated planter from wind or bumping when said elevated planter is engaged to said support member.

3. The modular planter apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said elongated members formed of a pair of component members;

each said component member having one end with an interior recess formed therein; and

a fitting, said fitting frictionally engageable with a said interior recess of each said component members, whereby an elongated member may be formed of two or more component members engaged with a fitting.

4. The modular planter apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising:

said elongated members formed of a pair of component members;

each said component member having one end with an interior recess formed therein; and

a fitting, said fitting frictionally engageable with a said interior recess of each said component members, whereby a said elongated member may be formed of two or more component members engaged with a fitting.

5. The modular planter apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a length of each of said elongated members is determinable by a user employing two or more component members to form said elongated members;

each said component member having one end with an interior recess formed therein; and

a fitting, said fitting frictionally engageable with a said interior recess of each said component members, whereby a said elongated member may be formed in any said length by the cooperative engagement of two or more said component members to form said elongated members.

6. The modular planter apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising:

a length of each of said elongated members is determinable by a user employing two or more component members to form said elongated members;

each said component member having one end with an interior recess formed therein; and

a fitting, said fitting frictionally engageable with a said interior recess of each said component members, whereby a said elongated member may be formed in any said length by the cooperative engagement of two or more said component members to form said elongated members.

7. The modular planter apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

at plurality of support member engaged between said pair of elongated members;

each of said plurality having a pair of said U-shaped flanges engaged upon each respective said support member, said flanges spaced a distance from each other;

each said respective pair of U-shaped flanges being cooperatively engageable with any of a plurality of said elevated planters having said slots formed in a respective sidewall; and

whereby a plurality of said elevated planters equal said plurality of support members are engageable to said support members in elevated positions above said base planter, said elevated positions being consecutively further from said support surface.

8. The modular planter apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising:

at plurality of support member engaged between said pair of elongated members;

each of said plurality of support members having a pair of said U-shaped flanges engaged upon each respective said support member, said flanges spaced a distance from each other;

each of said plurality of support members having a U-shaped elongated connector engaged to said respective support member in between said U-shaped flanges

each said respective pair of U-shaped flanges being cooperatively engageable with any of a plurality of said elevated planters having said slots formed in a respective sidewall;

each respective U-shaped elongated connector being engageable with a lip formed upon each of said plurality of elevated planters;

whereby a plurality of said elevated planters equal to said plurality of support members are engageable to said support members in elevated positions above said base planter, said elevated positions being consecutively further from said support surface; and

each of said plurality of elevated planters being engaged to a respective said support member in a three point engagement formed by said two flanges and said elongated connector.

9. The modular planter apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said cavity volume being equal to or greater than a sum of all respective said interior cavities of said elevated planters which are engaged to support members communicating between said elongated members, said cavity volume thereby providing a means to prevent tipping of said support members and said engaged elevated planters.

10. The modular planter apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising:

said cavity volume being equal to or greater than a sum of all respective said interior cavities of said elevated planters which are engaged to support members communicating between said elongated members, said cavity volume thereby providing a means to prevent tipping of said support members and said engaged elevated planters.

11. The modular planter apparatus of claim 8 additionally comprising:

said cavity volume being equal to or greater than a sum of all respective said interior cavities of said elevated planters which are engaged to support members communicating between said elongated members, said cavity volume thereby providing a means to prevent tipping of said support members and said engaged elevated planters.