FLOWER POT HOLDER

Abstract

A container holder for removably suspending a container, such as a flower pot, to a vertical structure. The container holder comprises a vertical structure securing member configured to frictionally engage the vertical structure and a container supporting member configured to support therein the container, the container supporting member being connected to the vertical structure securing member. In use, the weight of the supported container ensures the frictional securing of the container holder to the vertical structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority based on provisional application No. 61/803,654 filed on Mar. 20, 2013, which is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a flower pot holder.

BACKGROUND

Flower pot holders have been devised over the years for the vertical placement of flowers pots using various securing devices or mechanisms.

However, there is a need for a flower pot holder that can be easily removably secured to a pole or other vertical structure without requiring the penetration of the surface of the vertical structure with nails, spikes or bolts, or the use of complex securing devices or mechanisms.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a container holder for removably suspending a container to a vertical structure, comprising:

a vertical structure securing member configured to frictionally engage the vertical structure; and

a container supporting member configured to support therein the container, the container supporting member being permanently or removably connected to the vertical structure securing member;

wherein weight of the supported container ensures the frictional securing of the container holder to the vertical structure.

The present disclosure also provides a container holder as above, wherein the container supporting member is removably connected to the vertical structure securing member via a male and a female connectors, the male connector being positioned on one of the container supporting member and the vertical structure securing member and the female connector is positioned on another of the container supporting member and the vertical structure securing member.

The present disclosure further provides a container holder as above, wherein the vertical structure securing member includes a rear and a front portions connected by a central portion. One or both of the rear and front portions may be made of a flexible material and/or made of a material having a high friction coefficient and/or be provided with a machined contact area and/or for frictionally engaging the vertical structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flower pot holder in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of flower pot holder of FIG. 1 illustrating the engagement of the pot support member to the vertical structure securing member, being shown positioned on a vertical structure.

Similar references used in different Figures denote similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flower pot holder for removably suspending pots containing flowers or other plants to a vertical structure, for example a pole, column or post, in a removable and height adjustable fashion.

Referring to FIG. 1, the flower pot holder 10, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, generally comprises a vertical structure securing member 12, for securing to a vertical structure, removably connected to a pot supporting member 22, for supporting a flower pot.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the vertical structure securing member 12 is composed of an elongated body 13 forming rear 16 and front 18 portions joined by a central portion 14.

The rear 16 and front 18 portions are shaped so as to conform to the general shape of the vertical structure 40 it is intended to be secured to (best seen in FIG. 2) in an open loop configuration so as to be easily attached to and removed from the vertical structure 40. It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments the rear 16 and front 18 portions may be, for example, curved, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal or any other shape conforming to the cross-section of the vertical structure 40. In a further alternative embodiment, sections of the rear 16 and front 18 portions may further be flexible or hinged in order to conform to a range of vertical structure 40 cross-section dimensions,

The front 18 portion includes a female connector 20 configured to slidingly receive, in the A direction, a corresponding male connector 24 of the pot supporting member 22, the male connector 24 extending generally outwardly and perpendicularly from the body 23 of the pot supporting member 22. It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments connector 20 may be the male connector while connector 24 may be the female connector or that other types of connector systems or mechanisms may be used. In a further alternative embodiment, the pot supporting member 22 may be integral with the vertical structure securing member 12.

In the illustrative embodiment the central portion 14 joins the rear 16 portion at an angle α of 92°, while the front portion 18 joins the female connector 20 (or male connector 24 in the embodiment where it is the male connector 24 that is positioned on the vertical structure securing member 12) is at an angle β of 120°. The angles of the rear 16 and front 18 portions with respect to the central portion 14 and the female connector 20, respectively, provide for the abutting of the female connector 20 to the surface of the vertical structure 40 in a generally parallel configuration so that the body 23 of the pot supporting member 22 remains in a generally horizontal position with respect to the ground 1. It is to be understood that the length of each portions 16, 14, 18 of the structure securing member 12 and/or angles α and β may be varied in order to accommodate vertical structures 40 of various diameters.

The body 23 of the pot supporting member 22 generally forms a loop of a geometry corresponding to the general shape of the circumference of the flower pot 30 and is of a diameter inferior to the top part or rim 32 of the flower pot 30 (see FIG. 1). In the illustrative embodiment this shape is circular but it is to be understood that other shapes are possible such as, for example, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, etc. In an alternative embodiment, the body 23 may be adjustable in diameter.

In use, the vertical structure securing member 12 is engaged on the vertical structure 40 such that the rear portion 16 abuts an upper contact point 42 on a surface of the vertical structure 40 and the front portion 18 abuts a lower contact point 44 on an opposed surface of the vertical structure 40. The weight of the flower pot 30, when supported by the pot supporting member 22, ensures that the flower pot holder 10 remains frictionally secured to the vertical structure 40. By lifting the weight of the flower pot 30, the flower pot holder 10 releases its frictional grip and can easily be moved along the vertical structure 40 in order to adjust its height and/or orientation. As soon as the weight of the flower pot 30 is let go, the flower pot holder 10 once again frictionally secures itself to the vertical structure 40.

In an alternative embodiment, the rear 16 and/or front 18 portions may be provided with a machined contact area or a material having a high friction coefficient for frictionally engaging the vertical structure 40.

In a further alternative embodiment, the flower pot holder 10 may be provided with multiple vertical structure securing members 12 and/or pot supporting members 22 in order to provide for various shapes and sizes of vertical structures 40 and/or flower pots 30.

It is to be understood that the flower pot holder 10 may readily be used to suspend other types of pots or containers.

Although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity and by way of an illustrative embodiments and examples thereof, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A container holder for removably suspending a container to a vertical structure, comprising:

a vertical structure securing member configured to frictionally engage the vertical structure; and

a container supporting member configured to support therein the container, the container supporting member being connected to the vertical structure securing member;

wherein weight of the supported container ensures the frictional securing of the container holder to the vertical structure.

2. The container holder of claim 1, wherein the container supporting member is removably connected to the vertical structure securing member.

3. The container holder of claim 2, wherein the container supporting member is removably connected to the vertical structure securing member via a male and a female connectors, the male connector being positioned on one of the container supporting member and the vertical structure securing member and the female connector is positioned on another of the container supporting member and the vertical structure securing member.

4. The container holder of claim 1, wherein the vertical structure securing member includes a rear and a front portions connected by a central portion.

5. The container holder of claim 4, wherein at least one of the front and the rear portions is made of a flexible material.

6. The container holder of claim 4, wherein at least one of the front and the rear portions is connected to the central portion through a hinge.

7. The container holder of claim 4, wherein at least one of the front and the rear portions is provided with a machined contact area for frictionally engaging the vertical structure.

8. The container holder of claim 4, wherein at least one of the front and the rear portions is made of a material having a high friction coefficient for frictionally engaging the vertical structure.

9. The container holder of claim 4, wherein the front and the rear portions form an open loop.

10. The container holder of claim 4, wherein the front and the rear portions are shaped so as to conform to the general shape of the vertical structure.

11. The container holder of claim 4, wherein the central portion joins the rear portion at an angle and the front portion joins one of the female and the male connector positioned on the vertical structure securing member at an angle.

12. The container holder of claim 11, wherein the central portion joins the rear portion at an angle of 92° and the front portion joins the one of the female and the male connector positioned on the vertical structure securing member at an angle of 120°.

13. The container holder of claim 1, wherein the container supporting member is in the form of a closed of a geometry corresponding to the general shape of the circumference of the container and is of a diameter inferior to a top part of the container.

14. The container holder of claim 1, wherein the container supporting member is adjustable in diameter.

15. A kit for removably suspending a container to a vertical structure, comprising:

At least one a vertical structure securing member configured to frictionally engage the vertical structure; and

a plurality of container supporting members, each of the container supporting members being configured to support therein an associated container shape and diameter, the container supporting member being removably connectable to the vertical structure securing member;

wherein weight of the supported container ensures the frictional securing of the container holder to the vertical structure.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the plurality of container supporting members are removably connectable to the vertical structure securing member via a male and a female connectors, the male connector being positioned on one of the plurality of container supporting members and the vertical structure securing member and the female connector is positioned on another of the plurality of container supporting members and the vertical structure securing member.

17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the vertical structure securing member includes a rear and a front portions connected by a central portion.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein at least one of the front and the rear portions is made of a flexible material.

19. The kit of claim 17, wherein at !east one of the front and the rear portions is connected to the central portion through a hinge.

20. The kit of claim 17, wherein at least one of the front and the rear portions is provided with a machined contact area for frictionally engaging the vertical structure.

21. The kit of claim 17, wherein at least one of the front and the rear portions is made of a material having a high friction coefficient for frictionally engaging the vertical structure.

22. The kit of claim 17, wherein the front and the rear portions form an open loop.

23. The kit of claim 17, wherein the front and the rear portions are shaped so as to conform to the general shape of the vertical structure.

24. The kit of claim 17, wherein the central portion joins the rear portion at an angle and the front portion joins one of the female and the male connector positioned on the vertical structure securing member at an angle.

25. The container holder of claim 24, wherein the central portion joins the rear portion at an angle of 92° and the front portion joins the one of the female and the male connector positioned on the vertical structure securing member at an angle of 120°.