Planter with Support Arm

Abstract

A planter with a support arm that can be attached to many types of surfaces. The planter can be used in a car or other location and is held in place by an attached support arm. The support arm can attach to a windshield, metal surface, or fabric surface. In addition, the planter can be used to hold items such as candy or other small objects.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

Priority of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. EV768477225US filed on Feb. 17, 2006 is claimed.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to containers supported by an attached arm. More particularly, the invention relates to containers suitable for holding material and having an adjustable support arm that permits attachment to an adjacent surface.

Decorative and functional apparatus often serve as desirable or useful accessories in many environments. These apparatus are often placed in a manner that they are supported by a shelf, floor, or other stable surface and maintain their position by virtue of gravity. Such apparatus may be designed to contain material that may be organic or inorganic, edible or inedible, functional or merely aesthetic. Items may include, as examples, potted plants placed on shelves, fishbowls placed on a desk or mantle in a home or office, jars of candy placed on a dashboard of a car, and many others.

Many situations arise, however, where items as are known in the prior art are unable to provide for adequate placement or support of the apparatus as desired by the user. Inadequacies may be caused, as examples, when an apparatus cannot be placed in a manner that provides adequate protection against vibration or movement that would damage or render unusable the apparatus or materials contained within the apparatus; or when the apparatus cannot be conveniently placed in a location where the light, humidity, or aesthetic properties of the apparatus or its contents are set to greatest advantage according to the preferences of the user; or when no support by gravity alone will permit adequate placement of the apparatus as desired by the user.

SUMMARY

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a planter with support arm. Briefly, and in general terms, the invention is directed to an apparatus for holding an object adjacent to a surface, comprising a container suitable for containing the object; and a supporting structure having a first end and a second end. Wherein, the first end is fixedly, removably attached to the container. The second end is attached to the surface via a holding device and the container receives support only from the supporting structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a planter;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of a planter;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the support arm with a suction cup;

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the support arm with metal prongs that insert into fabric; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the support arm with a magnet

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT(S)

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in some aspects, the supported structure comprises a container 10 suitable for holding materials, which may include plants, edible items, decorative items, personal items, or otherwise. The supported structure 12 may be constructed of any suitable material known in the art, including various ceramics, clay, metal, glass, resin, fiberglass, composites, and a multitude of different plastics. A material may be chosen as desired to provide strength, transparency, opacity, low cost, durability, or other characteristics as required for the particular uses to which an embodiment will be put.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the support structure 12 has proximal end 16 and distal end 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the support structure 12 connects to a support arm 24. Support arm 24 may be removably attached or permanently attached to the supported structure. Support arm 24 may be of a fixed position, flexible, resilient, or otherwise, as required for the particular uses to which an embodiment will be put.

The proximal end 28 of support arm 24 may be attached to the supporting structure 12 by any means known to those skilled in the art, including by mechanical fastening of various types, including brackets, bolts, screws, hooks, latches, or other mechanical means; by adhesives of any type; by suction; or otherwise.

The distal end 26 of the support arm 24 comprises a means of attaching the support arm 24 to a surface. The distal end 26 may be removably attached or permanently attached to the surface. The distal end 26 may be attached to the surface by any means known to those skilled in the art, including by mechanical fastening of various types, including brackets, bolts, screws, hooks, latches, or other mechanical means; by adhesives of any type; by suction; by prongs; by magnet; or otherwise.

The support arm 24 may be of any length and of any cross-sectional size as may be required for the uses intended for a specific embodiment, as determined by those skilled in the art. The support arm 24 may be constructed of metal, resin, fiberglass, composites, and a multitude of different plastics. The support arm may also be constructed of a combination of materials as needed to provide the required characteristics for a particular embodiment, such as strength, flexibility, absorption of vibrations, or otherwise.

The support arm 24 may be attached directly to the supported structure 12 as set forth above, or may be attached to a bracket or similar means for attachment on the supported structure.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, shown in FIG. 3, the supported structure comprises a plastic or resin container 10 having an attachment bracket 34 on one side. The support arm 24 comprises a flexible arm 38 having a fastener suitable for fixedly, removably engaging the attachment bracket 34 on the container 10 and a suction cup 42 on the distal end 26 suitable for fixedly, removably attaching to a smooth surface (not shown). In this embodiment, the apparatus may be used to hold a small plant, edibles, or other objects in a position desired by a user that would not be possible using prior art devices. For example, on the inside of a vehicle windshield; or adjacent to the surface of a window such that a plant was positioned for more optimal light, humidity, or other growth conditions that traditional placement without the present apparatus would permit; or adjacent to a surface where no other supporting structure such as a shelf was available for the container, but where passersby could enjoy the view of a plant, or take candy from a container, or see a notice attached to a structure; or otherwise.

These devices can be located on any type of vehicle, such as cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, ATVs, as well as non-motorized vehicles. The devices can be attached or connected to any surface of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Attachment bracket 34 on the side of container 10 is connected to support arm 46. Distal end 50 of support arm 46 is suitable for fixedly, removably attaching to a fabric surface (not shown) such as a cubicle wall by means of two metal prongs 52. More or less prongs may be used with the same result.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Attachment bracket 34 on the side of container 10 is connected to support arm 54. Distal end 55 of support arm 54 is suitable for fixedly, removably attaching to a metal surface (not shown) be means of magnet 62.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding an object adjacent to a surface of a vehicle, comprising a supported structure; and a supporting structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the supported structure, the second end is attached to the surface, and the supported structure receives support only from the supporting structure.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supported structure comprises a container.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supporting structure attaches to the surface by means of a suction device.

4. An apparatus for holding an object adjacent to a surface of a vehicle, comprising a container suitable for containing the object; and a flexible supporting structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly, removably attached to the container, the second end is attached to the surface via a suction device, and container receives support only from the supporting structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the container is a pot and object is a plant.

6. An apparatus for holding an object adjacent to a surface, comprising a container suitable for containing the object; and a supporting structure having a first end and a second end wherein, the first end is fixedly, removably attached to the container the second end is attached to the surface via a holding device and the container receives support only from the supporting structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the holding device is a magnet.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the holding device can be inserted into a fabric surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the container is a pot and object is a plant.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the container is a pot and object is a plant.