Below ground plant pots and plant servicing

Abstract

A nested two-piece Plant Potting Assembly consists of a strong and durable Outer Pot that is substantially permanently installed below ground level such that its open side rim is substantially at ground level and rest of its body is below the ground level. The easily removable Inner Pot contains soil and plants. Multiples of such assemblies installed below ground level in desired patterns present a pleasing and easily serviceable garden.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/727,789, filed 2005 Oct. 18, confirmation number 1927, by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION,—FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to gardens created with installation of two-piece, nested, Plant Pot Assemblies, each consisting an Inner Plant Pot and an Outer Plant Pot. The Plant Pot Assemblies are installed below ground level, for cultivating plants. For a casual observer walking by or driving by the garden, the plants in the Plant Pot Assemblies forming the garden, will appear as though they are a part of the garden's ground soil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION, PRIOR ART

Nested plant pots, consisting of outer pots and inner pots containing soil and plants, are readily available. These plant pot assemblies are placed directly on ground or above ground on ledges, or they may be hung in any suitable manner. Other patented prior art in gardening is stated below:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,134, by Hans J. B. Brokamp, 15 Jul. 1980, describes a modular planting box system, wherein the box contains ribs and channels on its vertical walls which nest into each other in a complementing fashion when multiples of the box systems are assembled next to each other. The system is above ground level.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,568, by Martin J. Quinn, 16 Jul. 1996, describes self-indexing landscape modules that include multiple projections on side and back walls so as to index modules when they are stacked. These modules are stacked above ground.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,892, by Tsugio Nakamura, 10 Oct. 1978, describes molded synthetic resin nursery boxes that are connectable structures having compartmentalizing grids. This system describes interconnected boxes permanently installed inside ground.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,834, by Thomas L. Ripley, 24 Oct. 2000, describes a horticultarally diverse and integrated garden system comprising multiples of integrate-able modules.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,378, by Ibrahim F. Helmy, 22 Aug. 1989, describes modular landscaping system usable when making shrubbery and flower beds for making ground surface surrounding bed plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION, OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the invention presented in this patent application are as follows:

• 1. Having the plants of a garden in individual Plant Pot Assemblies installed below ground level gives the gardener better control on growing the plants, without sacrificing the appearance given by plants directly cultivated in the ground's soil.
• 2. The soil in an individual Inner Plant Pot can be adjusted to be the most suited soil per the requirements of the plants of the particular Inner Plant Pot, in contrast to the ground soil or soil in other adjacent Inner Plant Pots of the garden.
• 3. Each Plant Pot Assembly and its plants can be individually fertilized per the requirements of the plants of the particular Inner Plant Pot.
• 4. Each Individual Plant Pot Assembly can be watered specifically with the controls necessary for the particular plants, rather than watering the entire ground soil, as would be required normally with plants in the ground.
• 5. When each individual Plant Pot Assembly is fertilized and watered per the required controls, the benefits of the delivered services mentioned are received by the plants of the particular Inner Plant Pot, rather than their dispersion and dissipation into the surrounding soil, which would occur, in the case of normal gardening.
• 6. Since the Inner Plant Pots' placement location inside Outer Plant Pots can be changed at will by moving and switching, required amounts of sun and shade for the various plants can be controlled as desired.
• 7. Since the Inner Plant Pots' placement location can be changed at will by moving and switching, the appearance of the garden can be altered at will.
• 8. Since the Inner Plant Pots' placement location can be changed at will by moving and switching, Inner Plant Pots may be loaned to or borrowed from others as and when desired.
• 9. Weeds and pests of each Plant Pot Assembly can be better controlled because these nuisances are minimized, and localized to individual Plant Pot Assemblies, since the Inner and Outer Plant Pots will act as barriers to the ground soil and other Plant Pot's soil.
• 10. Any Inner Plant Pot can be serviced away from its normal resting pocket of the Outer Plant Pot. Say,—it can be serviced in the garage or on the patio, or at the local nursery, et cetera, by simply moving it to the desired location.
• 11. Any Inside Plant Pot with its plants can be temporarily moved inside the residence, or the establishment's structure and be located in a different type of decorative Outside Plant Pot, thus beautifying the interior of the residence or the establishment.
• 12. In winter time of colder regions, Inside Plant Pots with their plants can be moved into the protective environment of the residence, the establishment, or a green house where the gardener may continue to cultivate the plants all year round.
• 13. In winter time, new plants may be cultivated in Inside Plant Pots in the protective environment of the residence, the establishment, or a green house. When the weather is sufficiently warm, the Plant Pots with newly cultivated plants can be directly transferred to the particular garden's Outside Plant Pots.
• 14. Garage sales may be conducted of Inside Plant Pots with plants, for exchange or money.
• 15. Local nurseries may provide year-round climate controlled plant cultivating areas for local people to pursue their gardening hobbies year round.
• 16. It is likely that garden maintaining service industries will expand their services to also maintaining Inside Plant Pot's plants,—by removing Inside Plant Pots, replacing them with new, fertilizing off-site, weeding off-site, et cetera.
• 17. Institutions and businesses will find beautifying their landscapes with below ground Plant Pot Assemblies, as a more economical and effective way of enhancing the looks of their premises.
• 18. Governments will realize the benefits of below ground Plant Pot Assemblies when they are used to line highways and streets.

SUMMARY

The presented invention utilizes below ground Plant Pot Assemblies, where each Plant Pot Assembly consists of an easily removable and serviceable Inside Plant Pot, and a semi-permanent but re-usable, and sturdy Outside Plant Pot. The Outside Plant Pot is installed below ground, with its open side rim substantially at ground level.

In accordance with the presented invention, by installing the below ground Plant Pot Assemblies, not only a good garden becomes economical and easily achievable, its servicing becomes less burdensome as well as pleasurable. The appearance of the garden will mimic a normal garden where plants are a part of the ground soil. Also, the garden will result in having clean and defined edges with its adjacent lawn, which incidentally is difficult to achieve in a conventional garden cultivated in the ground's soil.

DRAWINGS, FIGURES

FIG. 1 Plant Pot Assembly, square shaped

FIG. 2 Plant Pot Assembly, trapezium shaped

FIG. 3 Open side view of Outside Plant Pot, square shaped

FIG. 4 Bottom side view of Outside Plant Pot, square shaped

FIG. 5 Bottom side view of Inside Plant Pot, square shaped

FIG. 6 Open side view of Inside Plant Pot, square shaped

FIG. 7 Open side view of Outside Plant Pot, trapezium shaped

FIG. 8 Bottom side view of Outside Plant Pot, trapezium shaped

FIG. 9 Open side view of Inside Plant Pot, trapezium shaped

FIG. 10 Bottom side view of Inside Plant Pot, trapezium shaped

FIG. 11 Sectioned view of an assembly of Outside and Inside Plant Pots

FIG. 12 Row of Plant Pot Assemblies

FIG. 13 Row of Plant Pot Assemblies installed below ground along a house

FIG. 14 Zig-zag patterned Plant Pot Assemblies, installed below ground

FIG. 15 Top view of Patterned square and trapezium shaped Plant Pot Assemblies

FIG. 16 Elevation view of patterned Plant Pot Assemblies of FIG. 15

FIG. 17 Outside Plant Pot, rectangular shaped

FIG. 18 Inside Plant Pot, rectangular shaped

FIG. 19 Plant Pot Assembly, rectangular shaped

FIG. 20 Cover for an Outside Plant Pot

FIG. 21 Outside Plant Pot with installed Cover

FIG. 22 Nested, Inside and Outside Plant Pots, round shaped

FIG. 23 Outside Plant Pot, round shaped

FIG. 24 Inside Plant Pot, round shaped

DRAWINGS, REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 30 Outside Plant Pot, square shaped
• 32 Inside Plant Pot, square shaped
• 32 Outside Plant Pot, trapezium shaped
• 34 Inside Plant Pot, trapezium shaped
• 38 Drain Hole at Outside Plant Pot, typical
• 40 Anti-skid protrusions at Outside Plant Pot, typical
• 42 Drain Hole at Inside Plant Pot, typical
• 44 Planting pot soil inside Inside Plant Pot
• 46 Tool or finger access gap to lift Inside Plant Pot
• 48 Bottom of Inside Plant Pot resting on floor of Outside Plant Pot
• 50 Lawn
• 52 Ground soil below lawn
• 54 Ground soil
• 56 Ground soil
• 58 Recessed underside of Cover for Outside Plant Pot
• 60 Finger or tool access slot at Cover
  Description and Operation, Below Ground Plant Pots and Plant Servicing:

A below ground Plant Pot Assembly is an assembly of a durable Outer Plant Pot with an Inner Plant Pot containing soil and cultivated plants. The Outer Plant Pot is substantially permanently installed below ground, with its open side rim substantially at ground level. The Inner Plant Pot's bottom rests on the floor of the outer pot. When a number of these are installed in the ground to form a garden, the appearance of the garden would substantially be that of a normal plant garden in the ground soil. However, the easily removable Inner Plant Pots with plants makes servicing the plants and the garden easy.

FIG. 1 is a typical below ground Plant Pot Assembly, square in shape. 30 is the Outer Plant Pot. It generally will be made of durable and strong material, such as concrete, clay, resin, et cetera. It is expected to be substantially permanently installed in the ground. 32 is a square shaped Inner Plant Pot containing soil and plants.

FIG. 2 is a typical below ground Pant Pot Assembly, trapezoidal in shape. 34 is the Outer Plant Pot, trapezoidal in shape. 36 is the trapezoidal Inner Plant Pot with soil and plants.

FIG. 3 is an open side view of square shaped Outer Plant Pot. FIG. 4 is an underside view of the same showing the anti-skid legs 40 of the pot. Anti-skid legs will resist the shifting of Outside Plant Pots after their installation in the ground. 38 is a typical drain hole for fluids. It is shown slightly elevated from the floor of the pot. With such elevated location of the drain hole, the outer pot will tend to retain a small amount of the drained liquids from the inner pot, so as to supplement any future lack of moisture to the plants.

FIG. 5 is an under side view of square shaped Inner Plant Pot. 42 is a typical fluid drain hole substantially at the floor of the pot. FIG. 6 is an open side view of the same, showing filled soil 44 in the pot.

FIG. 7 is an open side view of trapezium shaped Outer Plant Pot. FIG. 8 is an underside view of the same showing the anti-skid legs of the pot. FIG. 9 is an open side view of trapezium shaped Inner Plant Pot. FIG. 10 is an underside view of the same.

FIG. 11 is sectioned view of a Plant Pot Assembly without any soil or plants. 46 is finger access gap to lift off the Inner Plant Pot. 48 indicates that the Inner Plant Pot and its contents bear down their weight upon the floor of the Outer Plant Pot, transmitting all the force directly to the ground in an efficient path.

FIG. 12 shows a series of Plant Pot Assemblies patterned in a row. FIG. 13 shows a row of Plant Pot Assemblies in a row installed below ground along the wall of a residence. 50 is the lawn in front of the residence and 52 is the soil below the lawn.

FIG. 14 shows Plant Pot assemblies in a zig-zag pattern. 54 is the ground soil surrounding the Plant Pot assemblies. FIG. 13 shows how a lawn's edge can butt directly with the Plant Pot Assemblies. With Plant Pot assemblies, many varieties of shapes of gardens are possible.

FIG. 15 is the top view of square and trapezoidal shape Plant Pot Assemblies arranged in a circular pattern with an additional square pattern of four square assemblies centrally located. FIG. 16 is an elevation view of the Plant Pot Assemblies. 56 is the ground soil, indicating how all the Plant Pot Assemblies are installed below ground.

FIG. 17 shows a rectangular Outer Pot, and FIG. 18 shows a complementing rectangular Inner Pot. FIG. 19 is an assembly of rectangular Outer and Inner Pots.

FIG. 20 shows a cover for the open side of an Outer Pot. FIG. 21 shows an Outer Pot covered, for the duration that its Inner Pot has been removed.

FIG. 22 is a nested assembly of below ground Inner and Outer Plant Pots, round in shape. FIG. 23 is an Outer Plant Pot, round in shape. FIG. 24 is an Inner Plant Pot, round in shape.

Accordingly, Plant Pot assemblies can be created with a variety of shapes, such as square, trapezoidal, rectangular, round, et cetera. From the above descriptions it can be deduced that below ground Plant Pot Assemblies of different shapes can be installed in a multitude of locations (residences, businesses, institutional buildings, parks, roads, highways, et cetera) for beautification or any other environmental reasons. Any convenient method of plant cultivation in the Inside Plant Pots may be utilized.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Creating a garden or a landscape of plants using below ground Plant Pot Assemblies is a novel way of growing plants. For gardening enthusiasts, this idea allows year round gardening, with better control of plant cultivation. It is envisioned that complementing and supporting service industries will be created when a growing demand for below ground Plant Pot Assemblies grows. It is also envisioned that, with new construction of any type of buildings, residential or business, the Outer Pots can be cast as integral parts of the structure's concrete bases. Thus, in the development of the landscape around new structures, development of gardens will be rapid and convenient.

Claims

1. In a set comprising two nested pots, one being the outer pot and the other being the inner pot, wherein said inner pot is removable from said set, and said outer pot is installable in ground, substantially permanently, in such a manner that said outer pot's open side rim is substantially at ground level, whereby said inner pot is available to be filled with soil to cultivate plants.

2. The set of claim 1 wherein said nested pots are substantially square in shape in their top view.

3. The set of claim 1 wherein said nested pots are substantially rectangular in shape in their top view.

4. The set of claim 1 wherein said nested pots are substantially trapezoidal in shape in their top view.

5. The set of claim 1 wherein said nested pots are substantially circular in shape in their top view.

6. The set of claim 1 wherein each pot contains a plurality of drain holes, and wherein said outer pot's drain holes are at a higher elevation than said inner pot's drain holes, whereby a certain amount of fluid can be retained by said set.