Gardening components

• US 7,856,756 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven J. Caruso
• Original Assignee: Steven J. Caruso
• Inventors: Caruso, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek; Rob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes; Kristen C
• Application Number:
  US12/123,233
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 47/39, 47/83, 211/85.23, 211/182, 108/91, 108/107, 248/175, 446/108, 446/116
• US Class Current: 47/83
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/023 Multi-tiered planters
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/027 Pots connected in horizontal rows
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0078 for plants or flowers

Abstract

Systems for the construction of a variety of planting configurations are disclosed. Some of the disclosed embodiments may be equally applicable for products such as shelving systems. The systems may include various shaped troughs and support surfaces and various methods of assembling the same. The various components and resulting configurational possibilities disclosed provides the user with functionality and aesthetic possibilities never before available, and is well suited for both commercial and residential applications.

Claims

1. A kit of parts for forming a modular assembly, the kit comprising, as one or more separate parts:

a post defining an axis;

a support having spaced apart first and second ends and a trough body secured between the first and second ends of the support;

a generally ring-shaped brace comprising a halo having a central opening sized to receive the post, the halo being adapted to be supported by the post;

a first portion of the halo defined by a bent portion of the halo engageable with an end of the support, when the halo is supported by the post, for supporting the support in a first position; and

a second portion of the halo circumferentially spaced around the axis from the first portion defined by a bent portion of the halo, engageable with an end of a second support, when the generally ring-shaped brace is supported by the post, for supporting a second support in a second position;

the first and second portions each adapted to simultaneously support the first support in a first position and a second support in a second position with respect to the post.

2. The kit of claim 1, in which the post has at least three corners and the halo comprises at least three evenly spaced corners defined by bent portions of the halo for receiving the corners of the post.

3. The kit of claim 2, in which the corners of the halo open inwardly.

4. The kit of claim 2, in which the post has at least four corners and the halo comprises at least four evenly spaced corners defined by a bent portions of the halo for receiving the corners of the post.

5. The kit of claim 1, in which at least one the first portion is an outwardly extended portion of the generally ring-shaped brace defined by a bent portion of the halo.

6. The kit of claim 5, in which at least the first portion is sized and positioned to receive a support when the halo is mounted about a post.

7. The kit of claim 5, in which at least one end of the support comprises a hook adapted to engage the first portion of the halo.

8. The kit of claim 7, in which the hook has a neck extending from the support and a tongue extending generally perpendicular to the neck and received by the first portion of the halo.

9. The kit of claim 5, in which the first portion of the halo has a central portion which a neck of a hook of a support can overlie when the hook and bight portion are engaged.

10. The kit of claim 9, in which the first portion of the halo has opposed side portions that limit the circumferential travel of a tongue of a hook of a support when such a hook and the first portion of the halo are engaged.

11. The kit of claim 1, in which the first and second portions are evenly spaced about the halo.

12. The kit of claim 1, in which the post comprises four generally parallel, circumferentially spaced apart bars, further comprising a second halo securing together the four generally parallel, circumferentially spaced apart bars.

13. The kit of claim 1, in which the halo further comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, and the first, second, third, and fourth portions are centered at generally 90 degree intervals about the halo.

14. The kit of claim 1, in which the support further comprises first and second generally parallel, spaced apart bars secured together by the first and second ends.

15. The kit of claim 1, in which the trough body is extruded.

16. The kit of claim 1, in which the support comprises four generally parallel bars respectively extending from the first end of the support to the second end of the support and disposed at four corners defining a generally trapezoidal cross-section support.

17. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a second post defining an axis and having at least a first portion engageable with an end of the first support for supporting the first support.

18. The kit of claim 17, in which the second post further comprises a second portion axially or circumferentially spaced from the first portion and engageable with an end of the first support for supporting the first support.

19. The kit of claim 18, in which the second portion of the second post is at least substantially at the same level along the axis of the second post as the first portion of the second post.

20. A kit of parts for forming a modular assembly, the kit comprising, as one or more separate parts:

a post defining an axis;

a support having spaced apart first and second ends;

a generally ring-shaped brace comprising a halo having a central opening sized to receive the post, the halo being adapted to be supported by the post;

a first portion of the halo defined by a bent portion of the halo engageable with an end of the support, when the halo is supported by the post, for supporting the support in a first position; and

a second portion of the halo circumferentially spaced around the axis from the first portion defined by a bent portion of the halo, engageable with an end of a second support, when the generally ring-shaped brace is supported by the post, for supporting a second support in a second position;

the first and second portions each adapted to simultaneously support the first support in a first position and a second support in a second position with respect to the post;

in which the post further comprises at least two generally parallel bars joined in circumferentially spaced relation by the halo to form an integral assembly.

21. The kit of claim 20, in which the support has an opening adapted to receive and support a trough.

22. A kit of parts for forming a modular assembly, the kit comprising, as one or more separate parts:

a post defining an axis;

a support having spaced apart first and second ends;

a brace comprising a continuous ring having a non-circular central opening sized to receive the post, the brace being adapted to be supported by the post;

a first deviating portion of the continuous ring deviating out of line with the continuous ring and engageable with an end of the support, when the brace is supported by the post, for supporting the support in a first position; and

a second deviating portion of the continuous ring circumferentially spaced around the continuous ring from the first deviating portion, deviating out of line with the continuous ring, and engageable with an end of a second support, when the brace is supported by the post, for supporting a second support in a second position;

the first and second deviating portions each adapted to simultaneously support the first support in a first position and a second support in a second position with respect to the post.