AU701706B2 - Upside down hanging plant pot - Google Patents

Description

UPSIDE DOWN HANGING PLANT POT BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION This invention relates to a hanging plant pot designed to hang in the inverted or upside down position such that the plant grows out of the bottom of the hanging pot.

PRIOR ART Conventional flower or plant pots comprise a body or container having their upper end open and lower end closed by a wall provided with a drain opening to facilitate the drainage of water away from the soil or other growth medium contained in the pot and to avoid root damage to the plant caused by excessive water retention. In a conventional flower or plant pot, the growing plant is encouraged to grow out of the open upper end of the pot or through one or more upwardly facing or inclined openings disposed about the peripheral side walls of the pot.

"see: It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative plant pot to the above described conventional pots. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plant pot which is relatively simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture and which will allow S.o "plant foliage to grow initially through and from the bottom end of the pot.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following description and the drawing BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a container for a growing plant ."comprising a body having is upper end open and perimeter side walls terminating in an opening at its lower end or base, characterised in that the container includes a water permeable partition extending between opposed sides of the perimeter side walls to define a reservoir or compartment within the container. The water permeable partition may itself be integral with the container or may be separate thereto. It may, depending upon its location within the body of the pot also function to prevent soil escaping from the base of the pot and to retard water flow to minimise or prevent dripping. According to one embodiment, the formation comprising the partition may be disposed at the upper reaches of the inside of the body of the pot to define upper and lower compartments. The upper compartment may comprise a reservoir for containing water or other nutrient medium, and the lower compartment constitutes a container for soil or other plant growth medium, such as potting mix. The opening at the lower end of the container constitutes an aperture for the growing plant to extend therethrough and to grow in a direction downwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the container.

In one broad form the present invention comprises: a hanging plant pot for a growing plant comprising a body defining an internal space which receives and retains a plant growing medium and having an upper end opening through which water can be poured and a lower open end through which a plant may grow and perimeter side walls forming at least one internal compartment and tapering towards an opening at the lower end; characterised in that the container includes a formation at the lower open end projecting into the internal space which prevents egress of said plant growing medium through said lower open end and retards or prevents egress therethrough of water poured through said upper open end, so the pot will not drip; wherein lower open end is arranged such that the growing plant extends through the lower open end initially in a direction downwardly and then outwardly and about the outside of the said pot.

In another form the present invention comprises: a hanging plant pot for a growing plant comprising a body having an upper end opening through which water can be poured and a lower end through which a plant may be grown and perimeter side walls tapering towards the opening at the lower end, characterised in that said container includes at said upper end a water permeable partition extending between opposed sides of the perimeter side walls to form integral and contiguous upper and lower compartments within said container, said upper and lower compartments being in communication via said water permeable partition, wherein said upper compartment constitutes a reservoir for containing water, said lower compartment constitutes a container for soil or other plant growth medium and said oplning at the lower end of the container allowing the growing plant to extend therethrough and to grow at least initially in a direction downwardly and outwardly about the outside of the pot from the lower end.

In its broadest form the present invention compris as., a hanging plant pot for growing a plant through a lower end opening, the pot including: a body portion defining an internal space which receives and retains a plant growing medium,upper and lower open ends which define said internal space in said body portion, wherein the diameter or width of said open ends is less than the maximum width or diameter of said body portion; means in or on the body portion to enable langing of the pot, an internal water permeable formation in the bodN portion near one or other of said open 0 ends projecting into said internal space which is capable of retaining said growing medium in said internal space and/or retarding flow of water through said space and introduced via said upper open end; wherein the pot allows said plant foliage to grow initially downward through the lower open end then upward and about the outsid of the body of the pot.

In another broad form the present inventiol comprises: S* a hanging plant pot for growing a plant through a lower open end including: a body portion defining an internal space which receives and retains a plant growing medium, and including upper and lower open end; in said body portion wherein the diameter or width of said open ends i: less than the maximum width or diameter of said body portion: means in or, on the body portion to enable hangin; of the pot; an internal water permeable formation on the body portion near one or other of said open ends projecting into the internal space and c; tpable of retaining said growing medium in said internal space and/or retarding flow of water introduced via said upper open end, 23 Nov 98 16:40 Walsh Associates 61 2 47762091 p.

through said space; wherein the opening in the lower open end of the pot is small enough to allow retention of said medium within said body but large enough to allow planting of a plant via said lower opm end and to allow foliage of said plant to grow initially downward through the lower open end then upward and about the outside of the body of the pot.

This invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to th( accompanying drawing, wherein figure 1 depicts a cross-sectioned side elevational view of a plant pot according to one embodiment of the present invention, in the inverted hanging position and with a plant growing through the lower open end of the pot.

A detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing follows but it should be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made to thf embodimaet without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

4o.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a hanging plant pot 1 the peripheral side walls of which provide an upper reservoir 2 adapted to contain water 3, and a lower compartment 4 which contains soil or other plant growth medium 5, and from which a growing plant 7 extends through a relatively large aperture in the base of the pot 6, being of a size sufficient to encourage plant growth therethrough but not too large such as to cause the soil or other growth medium to fall out, i.e. after the growing plant 7 has established itself in the aperture.

Because of the need to encourage plant growth through the apertured base 6, the diameter of this aperture is significantly larger than the diameter of the drainage hole normally found in the bottom of a conventional plant pot. Preferably, the shape and configuration of the upside down pot is such that the "belly" of the pot is of a diameter greater than the diameter of either the reservoir 2 or the apertured base of the pot 6.

•The interior surface 8 of the pot is preferably textured in such a manner as to assist in the retention of soil or other growth medium in the pot and to assist the root system of the plant •o.o.i to attach itself to the interior surface 8. The inclusion of internal rides or flanges also facilitates retention of sufficient quantities of water or other nutrient medium in close proximity to the root system of the growing plant to encourage plant growth, as opposed to a conventional plant pot where the aperture is an aid only to rapid drainage of the pot.

A hanging device 9 is attached adjacent to the upper end of the pot to facilitate the hanging of the pot from any convenient means. In this embodiment the hanging device 9 is a threaded eye bolt which extends through an aperture 11 in the partition 10 which separates the body of the hanging plant pot 1 into upper and lower compartments 2 and 4. In other embodiments of the invention not illustrated, the hanging device consists of looped wires which are threaded through a plurality of apertures, spaced adjacent to peripheral rim 2 of the water reservoir.

In order to establish a growing plant in the pot, the pot is inverted from its upside down growing position with the rim of the reservoir 2 serving as a "foot" to support the pot on the ground, with the apertured end 6 being uppermost. In those embodiments of the invention where the partition 10 is not integral with the pot, it is placed in situ to bridge the space between opposed side walls of the pot and to separate the pot into two compartments. The hanging device 9 is attached to the pot.

The uppermost compartment, in this case 4, is packed with soil or other plant growth medium, and a suitable plant 7 is embedded in the soil with its foliage extending up through the aperture 67. The plant is watered and is allowed to establish itself in the soil for several days, following which the pot is inverted with the reservoir 2 and the hanging device 9 uppermost.

Watering of the plant 7 is then effected by means of adding water to the open-ended reservoir 2, whereby water then seeps down into the soil compartment 4 via apertures and pores 11 in the partition 10. Such a reservoir provides a natural watering device for the •potted plant 7 when hung in the upside down or inverted position as illustrated in Figure 1, the water seeps down into the soil or other growth medium and is absorbed for the purpose .eo.o S"of watering the plant and maintaining a suitable moisture content within the soil or other S o growth medium. Maintaining of the moisture content of the soil also assists in its retention within the upside down pot and/or reduces the possibility of the soil becoming dislodged and falling out through the apertured base 6.

The lower contour of the side walls may be formed so as to retard or prevent the flow of water through apertured base 6 so that the pot will not drip during normal and adequate watering. This may be done by means of a lip or like protrusion on the inner wall of the pot near apertured base 6.

The upside down plant pot according to the invention can be fabricated from clay which is shaped and kiln fired before installation of the hanging device. Alternatively, the pot may be fabricated from ceramics or from plastics material, either by injection or rotary moulding, or from any other material suitable for containing soil or other plant growth medium.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications or alterations to the invention described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.

*.e THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1 A hanging plant pot including: a body portion defining an internal space which rn ceives and retains a plant growing medium, and including upper and lower open ends in said body portion wherein the diameter or width of said open ends is less than the maximum width or diameter of said body portion; means in or, on the body portion to enable hanging of the pot; an internal water permeable formation on the bodv portion near one or other of said open ends projecting into the internal space and capable of retaining said growing medium in "oo* said internal space and/or retarding flow of water introduced via said upper open end, through said space; wherein the opening in the lower open end of the pot is small enough to allow retention of said medium within said body but large enough to allow planting of a plant via said lower open end and to allow foliage of said plant to grow initially downward through the lower open end then upward and about the outside of tho body of the pot.

2. A hanging pot according to claim 1 when 'in said internal water permeable formation forms a reservoir at the upper open end and definL,.s an opening through which water introduced into said reservoir passes before penet rating said growing medium.

3. A hanging pot according to claim 2 where in the water permeable formation is integral with the body portion of the pot and is formed by a rib or lip connected to the wall.

4. A hanging pot according to claim 3 wherein the means to enable hanging of the pot includes holes in a wall portion at the upper open end of said pot.

A hanging pot according to claim 1 wherein said water permeable formation includes ridges or flanges which facilitate medium retentio 1 and retard egress of water through the lower end opening through which said plant grow,;.

6. A hanging pot according to any one of the forgoing claims wherein the body portion of the pot includes at least one narrow waist portion.

Claims (10)

1. 7. A hanging pot according to claim 6 wherein the growing of the plant foliage through the lower end causes the pot to appear upside dov n.
2. 8. A hanging plant pot which in use is suitable for enabling growth of plant foliage through a lower open end: the pot comprising a body including a wall defining an internal space which receives and retains a plant growing medium, the body having an upper open end through which water can be poured and a lower open end through which said plant foliage may grow, said side walls tapenng towards said lower open end, characterised in that the body includes a water permeable formation near the lower open end which projects into said internal space and which prevents egress of said plant growing medium through said lower open end and retards egress therethrough of water poured through said upper open end, so the pot will not drip; wherein the growing plant extends through the lower open end initially in a direction downwardly and then outwardly and about the outside of the said pot.
3. 9. A hanging plant pot for a growing plant comprising: a body having an upper end opening through which water can be poured and a lower end through which a plant may be grown and perimeter side walls tapering towards the opening at the lower end; characterised in that said container includes near said upper end a water permeable formation extending between opposed sides of the perimeter side walls to form integral and contiguous upper and lower compartments within said container, said upper and lower compartments being in communication via said water permeable formation, wherein said upper compartment constitutes a reservoir for containing water, said lower compartment constitutes a container for soil or other plant growth medium and wherein said opening at the lower end of the container is small enough to allow retention of said medium within said body but large enough to allow planting of a plant via said lower open end to allow plant foliage to extend therethrough and to grow at least initially in a direction downwardly and outwardly about the outside of the pot from the lower end. A hanging plant pot according to claim 8 or 9 whercin said water retarding 27 Nov 98 11:02 61 2 47762091 p. 4 27 Nov 98 11:02 61 2 477GE091 p.4 formation comprises a rib or lip on the inner surface of and integral with said side walls.
4. 11. A hanging plant pot according to claim 9. wherein the water permeable formation is integral with the container.
5. 12. A hanging plant pot according to claim 8 or claim 9, further comprising attachment means adjacent the upper end of the container for hanging or suspending the container.
6. 13. A hanging plant pot according to claim 12 wherein the attachment means are secured to the water permeable formation.
7. 14. A hanging plant pot according to claim 13 wherein the inner surface of the lower compartment includes means to facilitate the retention of the soil or other plant growth medium and/or to facilitate establishment of the root system of the growing plant. A hanging plant pot according to any one of the preceding claims, fabricated from clay or ceramics material or from plastics material.
8. 16. A method of growing a plant from a pot including: a body portion defining an internal space which receives and retains a plant growing medium and including upper and lower open ends in said body portion, whercin the diameter or width of said open ends is less than the maximum width or diameter of said body portion; means in or on the body portion to enable hanging of the pot; an internal water permeable formation on the body portion near one or other of said open ends projecting into the internal space and capable of retaining said growing medium in said internal spaceand/or retarding flow of water through said space introduced via said upper open end, wherein the opening in the lower open end of the pot is small enough to allow retention of said medium within said body but large enough to allow planting of a plant via said lower open end and allowing pot in use is oriented such that it allows said plant foliage to grow initially downward through the lower open end then upward and about the outside of the body of the pot; the method comprising the steps of: a) filling an internal space in the pot with a pl:mt growing medium a) filling an internal space in the pot with a plant growing medium b) inserting the plant into the medium or intrc(ducing the root ball of a plant into the pot via said open end opening; c) inverting the pot and suspending it so that I he plant foliage is able to grow initially downwardly and outwardly through an opening in the lower end of the pot.
9. 17. A method for growing a plant from a pot comprising a body having an upper end opening through which water can be poured and a lower end through which a plant may be grown and perimeter side walls tapering towards the opening at the lower end; characterised in that said container includes near -;aid upper end a water permeable formation oo extending between opposed sides of the perimeter side walls to form integral and contiguous upper and lower compartments within said contailer, said upper and lower compartments i being in communication via said water permeable formation, wherein said upper O .o compartment constitutes a reservoir for containing water, said lower compartment constitutes a container for soil or other plant growth medium and said opening at the lower end of the container allowing the growing plant to extend th( rethrough and to grow at least initially in a direction downwardly and outwardly about the ou tside of the pot from the lower end; the method comprising the steps of; a) filling an internal space in the pot with a plant growing medium b) inserting the roots of a plant into the medium; or introducing the root ball of a plant into the pot via said lower end opening, c) inverting the pot and suspending it so that 1 he plant foliage is able to grow initially downwardly and outwardly throu{,h an opening in the lower end of the pot.
10. 18. A hanging pot for a growing a plant substa ntially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the drawing. DATED this 27th day of November 1998. MEA SOURIS BY Her Patont Attorneys WALSH ASSOCIATES 9eO*O@ 0 -S S 0 S S S S 59 S S S S. C* e S S S *0 S S S. 9 S S 4* 0* Sb A S S 905550 S S. S. 595 S S 55 ABSTRACT A hanging pot for a plant suitable for potting is disclosed. The pot is one which can be hung by means of an installed hanging device in an upside down position such that the plant grows through an opening at the bottom of the pot and is watered through an opening at the top of the pot. 004 e 0 *0 4 0 0 1 0$ 0 0 a 0 a *a *0 0 00