Planter and method of manufacturing same

• US 6,360,484 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The AMES Companies Incorporated (Griffon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Depth Incorporated
• Inventors: Kreizel, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son T
• Application Number:
  US09/567,781
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 47/655, 47/71, 47/667, 47/292, 47/30, 47/661
• US Class Current: 47/65.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/02 Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes self-acting watering devices A01G27/00; hanging flower baskets, holders or containers for flower-pots A47G7/00; Glasses for cultivating flowers

Abstract

A decorative planter includes a base having upper and lower portions and a flange disposed about the outer periphery of the upper portion. The planter also includes a collar dimensioned to encompass the upper portion of the base. The collar has a mechanical interface which engages the flange such that the collar and the flange form a decorative rim about the upper portion of the planter. The present disclosure also relates to a method of forming a decorative planter which includes the steps of: a) forming a base having upper and lower portions and a flange disposed about the outer periphery of the upper portion; b) forming a collar dimensioned to encompass the upper portion of the base, the collar having a mechanical interface dimensioned to mechanically engage the flange; and c) engaging the collar and the flange to form a decorative rim about the upper portion of the base.

Claims

1. A planter, comprising:

a base having upper and lower portions;

a flange disposed about the outer periphery of said upper portion, said flange including;

a top surface which projects generally radially from the upper portion of said base and

a side overhanging lip which depends downwardly from the top surface, said side overhanging lip defining a groove therein between said side overhanging lip and said upper portion of said base;

a collar dimensioned to slide over said lower portion of said base to encompass said upper portion of said base, said collar having a mechanical interface dimensioned to mechanically engage said groove of said flange such that both said collar and said top surface of said flange form a decorative rim about said upper portion of the base.

2. A planter according to claim 1 wherein said collar mechanically engages said flange in a snap-fit manner.

3. A planter according to claim 1 wherein said groove mechanically engages a corresponding rib extending from said collar.

4. A planter according to claim 1 wherein said collar includes a brace which holds said collar in engagement against said base.

5. A planter according to claim 4 wherein said base includes a chamfered section disposed about the outer periphery thereof and said brace biases said collar against said chamfered section to secure said collar in mechanical engagement with said flange.

6. A planter according to claim 1 wherein said collar includes an outer-facing surface which is contoured.

7. A planter according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of support struts are disposed about the outer periphery of said base between said base and said flange.

8. A planter according to claim 1 wherein said flange and said collar are annular.

9. A method of forming a planter, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a base having upper and lower portions and a flange disposed about the outer periphery of said upper portion, said flange including

a top surface which projects generally radially from the upper portion of said base and

a side overhanging lip which depends downwardly from said top surface, said side overhanging lip defining a groove therein between said side overhanging lip and said upper portion of said base;

b) forming a collar dimensioned to slide over said lower portion of said base to encompass said upper portion of said base, said collar having a mechanical interface dimensioned to mechanically engage said groove of said flange such that both said collar and the top surface of said flange form a decorative rim about said upper portion of the base; and

c) engaging said collar and said flange to form a decorative rim about said upper portion of said base.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said collar mechanically engages said flange in a snap-fit manner.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the flange of said first forming step includes a lip which projects from said flange to define a groove between said flange and said lip, said groove dimensioned to mechanically engage a corresponding rib extending from said collar of said second forming step.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein said collar of said second forming step includes a brace which biases said collar against said base to hold said collar in mechanical engagement with said flange.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein said base includes a plurality of support struts disposed about the outer periphery of said base between said base and said flange.

14. A method according to claim 9 wherein one of said first and second forming steps includes a molding process.

15. A method according to claim 9 wherein said second forming step includes a molding process and said engaging step is performed prior to said collar being completely cured.