AU658467B2 - Plant pot retention - Google Patents

Description

658467 41504AU HKS:SJC:PFB P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

*eeo 'W Name of Applicant: IAN McARTHUR LASSCOCK Actual Inventor: IAN McARTHUR LASSCOCK Address for Service: .:COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: PLANT POT RETENTION Details of Associated Provisional Applications: AUSTRALIAN Patent Application No. PL0245 Dated 2ND JANUARY 1992 The following statement Is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing It known to me: 2 This invention relates to a plant pot retention method, means and arrangement.

It is conventional to provide plant pots which hold soil in which plants grow.

Unfortunately, plants growing in a pot are vulnerable to being blown over by the wind. This can result in either or both damage to the plant by striking an object and loss of soil covering the roots of the plant. Furthermore, soil spillage may cause inconvenience and time consuming cleaning demands especially for large scale commercial plant growers and sellers.

In the experience of the applicant a significant proportion of plants in pots are blown over by the wind. This has the further potential that the dish-like surface of the pot and the soil therein is not available for capturing water needed to nurture the plant. As a result the plant roots might dry out and the plant may die.

To combat this problem of drying out plant roots due to the pot being blown over nursery staff must stand-up plants in pots that have been blown over.

It would seem at first sight to be a relatively easy to ensure that plants do not V fall over when in pots and subjected to the wind. Unfortunately, taking into account the need to allow for pots of different sizes, the need to provide a solution suited for different ground substances and the economics and requirements related to handling and moving pots, there has not been an apparently useful answer which is convenient, simple to use and does nor require non-standard plant pots having substantial design modifications, Examples of the solutions attempted previously include locating the pot in a concrete block, or in a second instance providing a wire grid supported off the 25 ground into which the pot is lowered, or in a third Instance using pegs knocked into the ground and attached to the pot. Such answers are too expensive, too awkward, not suited to varying ground substances or are not sufficiently adjustable to take a variety of pots. Further, these generally do not keep the pots In a relatively close relationship to make effective use of space available or provide a visually attractive solution in use and when not in use.

The object of this present invention is to solve one or more of the above mentioned problems or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

3 According to one form of the present invention there is provided a clip adapted for connection to a plant pot of the type having one or more lowermost circumferentially located drainage holes, the clip comprising a base adapted to rest on a surface supporting the pot a tongue extending generally parallel to and above the base, the tongue being connected to the base at one end of the base; whereby the tongue is adapted for insertion into a drainage hole the clip further including a means for engagement to an elongate connecting element thereby enabling the formation a retained assembly of plant pots.

According to a further form of the present invention there is also provided a method for retaining plant pots of the type having one or more lowermost circumferentially located drainage holes including the steps of: anchoring one or more elongate connecting elements at opposing ends thereof engaging one or more clips as defined in anyone of claims 1-6 to the elongate element and inserting the tongue from each clip into a drainage hole in each plant pot to thereby form a retained assembly of plant pots.

o On a commercial application, one of the problems is to ensure that any retaining technique Is applicable to a large variety of different sizes of pots.

Most pots have apertures for drainage of water at a lower periphery. Thus the 20 tapered tongue by interengaging through a respective aperture in the pot, completes the interlockable relationship.

In preference the method Is further characterised by the elongate element or elem6nts being resilient and secured in close proximity to a surface on which the pot or pots stands, the base part of the clip or clips being inserted between the surface and the elongate element or one of the elongate elements, and the clip or clips being secured by resilient compression force between the elongate element or elements and the surface.

In preference the method Is further characterised by the elongated element or elements being resilient and secured in traut fashion between anchoring ?,30 means, each c!!p including an elorygate hook adapted to effect securing relationship to the elongate element or one of the elongate elements, and each clip being secured by the hook to the elongate element or one of the elongate elements.

Alternatively in another form of this invention there is provided a clip for attaching a plant pot to a stabiliser means including pot Interlocking means adapted to interlock with a respective part of a pot, and stabiliser interlocking means adapted to interlock with a part of a stabiliser means.

In preference the pot interlocking means is adapted to be inserted into an aperture, slot or an indent in the pot.

In preference the pot interlocking means is a tapered tongue, the dimensions of the tapered tongue being such that It provides frictional engagement with the aperture or indent in the pot.

15 In preference the pot interlocking means is a tapered tongue, the dimensions of the tapered tongue being such that It provides frictional engagement in a drainage hole of the pot.

S. In preference the clip includes a base adapted to be Inserted between the stabilliser means and a surface and secured therein by compression force exerted by the stabiliser mek. 'toward the surface.

In preference the clip has a neck extending from the base, and a tapered tongue extending from the neck across part of the base, the tapered tongue being adapted to frictionally engage at least two walls forming a drainage hole of the not.

In p, .eerence the axis of the length of the tongue and the axis of groove are substantially parallel.

i %s In preference there is a tapered lip at one side of the base, the tapered lip being adapted to provide a means of sliding the base under the elongate element without the need of using two hands.

Alternatively in another form of this invention there is provided a clip for attachlr a plant pot to an elongate stabiliser means secured to the ground by at least one anchoring means, the clip including: a base having a top and bottom, the bottom being adapted to be positioned on the ground underneath the elongate stabiliser means and the top being a..apted such that an area of the top is located under the base of the plant pot; a pot interlocking means adapted to interlock with a drainage hole of the pot; a groove across the top of the base adapted to entrap the elongate stabiliser means between the groove and base of the plant pot.

Alternatively in another form of this invention there is provided an assembly for retaining at least one plant pot to a stabiliser means including: a stabiliser means; at least one plant pot; and 'at least one clip having an Interlocking means releaseably attached to 20 one of the pots, the clip also being releasably attached to the stabiliser means.

In preference the stabilser means includes at least one elongate element secured to the ground by at one anchoring means.

Alternatively in another form of this invention there is provided an assembly for retaining at least one plant pot to a at least one elongate stabillser means including: e at least one elongate stabiliser means; at least one plant pot; and at least one clip having a base with a top and bottom, the bottom being adapted to be positioned on the upon a supporting surface underneath the elongate stabiliser means, a pot interlocking means adapted to interlock with a respective part of the pot, and a groove across the top of the base adapted to entrap the elongate stabiliser means between the groove and base of the plant pot.

In preference the supporting surface is the ground.

In preference the elongate stabiliser means are lines of wire, cord, rope or the like.

In preference the interlocking means is a tapered tongue frictionally engaged into an aperture, slot or indent in the pot.

In preference the Interlocking means is a tapered tongue frictionally engaged into a drainage hole of the pot.

In preference the elongate stabiliser means are secured in tensioned fashion in close proximity to the supporting surface, at least a part of at least one clip being between the elongate element or one of the elongate elements and the supporting surface, the clip causing the distance between the elongate element and the surface to be increased compared with the distance when the clip is not inserted, and the clip or clips being substantially held by the action of the tensioned respective elongate element.

15 Further, the invention can in a preferred form be used with many types of pots of different shapes and sizes commonly used in nurseries.

S• The invention will be better understood when described with reference to drawings in which: 'r FIG. 1 illustrates as a perspective view a plurality of plants in pots held in accordance with the invention, 4.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing in dotted outline interlocking clips providing this retention, FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through one of the pots shown in Figure 9 1, FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment, FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a clip used In accordance with the first embodiment, FIG, 6 is a bottom perspective view of a clip used in accordance with the first embodiment, FIGS. 7 and 8 are end views of a clip used In accordance with the first embodiment, FIGS. 9 and 12 are side views of a clip used in accordance with the first embodiment, FIG. 10 is an underside view of a clip used in accordance with the first embodiment, and FIG, 11 is a top view of a clip used in accordance with the first embodiment.

Referring to the drawings FIGS 1 to 12 there is shown a plurality of plant pots 1, 2, 3 and 4 each of which are identical and each of which are according to a standard design In which there is an external tapered wall to a lower 15' perimeter in which there a plurality of drain holes 5. Further, at the upper end of the pot is a broader circular rim 6.

It will be appreciated that the pots need not be identical in design or of the design Illustrated herein. The concepts and arrangements can be used with many types and designs of pots and a skilled addressee would readily appreciate changes needed for specific pot designs.

In accordance with this invention there Is an elongate element or wire 7 between anchor points 8 and 9 which thereby essentially holds the wire just above a planar support base which can be the ground or any supporting surface, Together this forms the stabilising means, 4 4 In order to keep each of the respective pots 1, 2, 3 and 4 in a retained position there Is located relative to the bottom of each of the pots, a clip 10 which has a groove 14 adapted to engage under the wire 7. The tongue 12 is of tapered shape and which is chosen in both size and position such that It will protrude into a respective drain hole 5 and to an extent as Is necessary to engage the walls defining the drain hole 5. The tongue 12 Is above a floor 13 so that the pot is thereby interlocked with respect to the clip 10 and thus with the elongate element or wire 7. In practice, two clips can be used to retain a single pot 1, 2, 3 or 4 so that these are pressed in from each side and therefore assist In restricting movement of the pot which might after a while cause the clip 10 to work its way free of the interlocking position.

The clip is more clearly shown in FIG. 5 through 12. For instance in FIG. 5 the clip 10 is shown specifically in a view Illustrating the groove 14, The lip 11 preferably has a tapered edge so that its outer edge at 15 can more easily slip under and then lift a wire w~ the clip is to be located in place, The tongue 12 has an outer end with a side 16 which Is parallel to the groove 14 to allow a simple sliding motion to release the clip 10 from the walls defining the drain hole 5. The wider base shown at 17 is so that the same tongue can be inserted more fully in a larger outlet aperture of a larger pot, This Is effective for the type of pot illustrated where the drain apertures are cut out of the rim of the base of the pot in a crenulate fashion, In a second arrangement which is not specifically described, there are two elongate elements comprising wires which are anchored at each end and located parallel one with respect to the other along a length. The pots can be secured by having four clips located Into the respective drain holes two with respect to one wire and two with respect to the other so as to provide a firm retention.

20 Referece has been made to a clip which In this Instance is molded from plastics materlal by an Injection molding process. However, a further interlocking clip comprised of a spring member In which there are two tongues which are resiliently compressable can also be used, such a clip can be Inserted Into the drain hole and interlocked behind the pot wall .Such a spring member can comprise a member made from wire, or It can be made from plastics material and there can be a further part which can Interlock in any appropriate fashion with the elongate element providing the anchorage support to a common base., While reference has been made to an Interlockable clip which has a significant advantage itn that standard plant pots can then be used, the embodiment of FIG. 4 can also be used, In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a slot molded into the bottom of the pot which can be In addition to any drain holes and the shape Is such that a wire 20 can be located up and around and then by reason of its natural resilience, pull down Into the lower end of the slot shown at 21.

The elongate element can be comprised of a single wire, or it can be comprised of cord or an element which is relatively rigid In its own right.

In a further arrangement the elongate element can be comprised of an elongate slot.

In a further arrangement there are means Integral with the clip, or associated with the clip, the means being adapted to facilitate anchoring of the clip to a support base. Such means can comprise an aperture or slot through the clip by which a screw or nail can extend, The head of the screw or nail engages a portion of the clip a lower end being anchored within the support base. Such a feature can be either in at the Interlocking of the clip with an elongate elerr.ent or It can be independent of such support interlocking means where, for instance a support tongue extends rearwardly of the clip and having a hole therethrough by which access can be gained for a screw or nail.

The invention In another preferred form Includes at least two clips engaging a pot from opposite sides each having a protruding finger extending Into a corresponding located drain hole In the side of the pot and means cooperatively anchoring respective clips to a base.

Thie Invention In a further preferred form resides In the concept of effecting an 'Interlocking with the lower most drain holes In a plant pot as a means of holding these in respect to a base for stability, 0 One of the advantages of using a clip which has a screw or other Interlocking means anchoring a respective clip to a base is that this can also act then as a security means against theft.

Claims (9)

1. A clip adapted for connection to a plant pot of the type having one or more lowermos& circumferentially located drainage holes, the clip comprising a base adapted to rest on a surface supporting the pot, a tongue extending generally parallel to and above the base, the tongue being connected to the base at one end of the base; whereby the tongue is adapted for insertion into a drainage hole, the clip further including a means for engagement to an elongate connecting element thereby enabling the formation of a retained assembly of plant pots.

2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein the tongue is a tapered tongue being wider at the point of connection to the base.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means for engagement to an elongate connecting member is adjacent the tongue and extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tongue.

4. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for engagement to a elongate connecting member include a groove formed in the base of the clip, the elongate member being adapted to reset in the groove,

5. A clip according to claim 4, wherein the elongate member is a line of wire, cord, rope or the like.

6. A clip according to either claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the groove Is located adjacent one edge of the base, the base having a downwardly Inclined surface extending from the groove to the edge of the base to thereby 25 facilitate the Insertion of the base beneath the elongate connecting member 25 thus engaging the clip. V.

7, A method for retaining plant pots of the type having one or more lowermost circumferentially located drainage holes including the steps of: anchoring one or more elongate connecting elements at opposing 11 ends thereof engaging one or more clips as defined in anyone of claims 1-6 to the elongate element and inserting the tongue from each clip into a drainage hole in each plant pot to thereby form a retained assembly of plant pots.

8. A method for retaining plant pots according to claim 7 wherein each plant pot is secured by two respective clips, the clips being arranged on opposing sides of the plant pot.

9. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 7th day of February 1995 IAN McARTHUR LASSCOCK By his Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO. 6 SS *r S S S S S S S. S S. S 5 S. S 1 S.mJ S S.. S e ABSTRACT A method, means and arrangement for securing plant pots. The invention includes wires anchored to the ground or a supporting surface, Releaseably attached to the wires are clips, the clips are also releasably attached to the plant pots. In one preferred form the clips are releasably attached to the pots by tapered tongues which frictionally engage drainage hole associated with the pots. *oo 1 0e S S r