Adjustable Flowerpot Support Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a pot containing a plant is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a hub having attached support legs which radially extend outwards from the hub. Moveably attached to each support leg is an adjustable bracket constructively configured to grip the outer surface of the pot.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/982,088 filed on Feb. 27, 2020 and incorporates by reference into this document this application in its entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to support apparatus for pots and other containers, and more particularly, to an adjustable flowerpot support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of potted plants during wind gusts or other external forces

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many potted plants are sold each year to people desiring a floral presentation without the need to permanently plant the flower in garden soil. For example, many potted annuals (for example, chrysanthemums, commonly referred to as mums) are sold each year during the late summer and fall months as an inexpensive and temporary floral decoration to give the homeowner's landscape instant color. Usually, these potted annuals are conveniently displayed in their respective plastic pots either on top of the garden, lawns, soil or other softscape surfaces or on top of sidewalks, walls, patios, tabletops, or other hardscape surfaces. These plants remain in their pots for a short duration until usually the first frost, after which their flowers begin to wilt and the plant perishes, at which time the owner usually disposes of both the plant and pot.

During the time that the potted plants are being presented, they become susceptible to being toppled over by strong wind gusts, especially during the storm prone late summer and early fall seasonal transitional months. The flowers and their respective stems present a significant wind load, and the potted plants are easily and frequently toppled by wind gusts. This requires the homeowner to attend to each plant to re-establish their upright position and may require the homeowner to pick-up soil which has been displaced from the pot by the toppling over action of the plant. This is a time consuming and potentially dirty task for the homeowner. On many occasions, the toppling over of the

plants onto either the softscape or hardscape surfaces may significantly damage the potted plant breaking stems and flowers in the toppling process.

Additionally, shrubs and small trees are most often transported from the nursery to the homeowner's home in a pot or similar container for later permanent planting in soil. However, the planting of the individual potted shrubs and/or trees can be delayed and may occur days or even weeks after the delivery of the plants at the homeowner's residence. This delay between the delivery of the potted plant and the actual in-ground planting of the shrubs or small trees makes these potted plants also susceptible to wind gusts or other forces which may topple the respective plants, often damaging the fragile stems, branches and/or flowers.

Previous attempts to maintain the upright (vertical) position of potted plants during wind gusts or other external forces (such as animals rubbing against the potted plants) generally relied upon large support structures which usually involved a vertical array of extending legs or other means to support the potted plant. The extending legs of the supporting structure may be manufactured from metal rods which are welded together and/or assembled using conventional fasteners. Frequently these support structures are designed to maintain the vertical position of the plant only by supporting the plant with attachments or structures affixed to the pot itself or to the pot soil, making the potted plant still susceptible to wind gusts. Furthermore, the configuration and placement of a large obtrusive support structure may distract from the visual beauty offered by plant.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,132 granted to Fournier of St. Louis, Mo. teaches a plant support structure comprising interlocking horizontal and vertical members. This support structure is large, difficult to assemble and fails to provide a structure which prevents potted plants from toppling over in the presence of wind gusts.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,461 granted to Hirschman of Silver Spring, Md. teaches an improved plant support device for holding a plant vertical in a pot. Unfortunately, this invention only provides a support structure for supporting the plant with the supporting apparatus attached to only the pot. The pot and plant combination are still susceptible to being toppled over by wind gusts.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,561 granted to Warren of Montverde, Fla. teaches a vertical plant stand comprising a pot which can be supported by burying a vertical member into the ground with supporting legs. This plant stand does not adjustably accommodate pots of different diameters or shapes and requires a multitude of support members.

Other common support structures used to prevent the toppling over of potted plants are concrete planters. Concrete planters are heavy and are usually installed on a hardscape surface which can support the combined weight of the planter and plant. Concrete planters, because of their weight, usually do not lend themselves to being installed on tables or other pieces of patio furniture. A range of concrete planters of various sizes and styles is available from several companies including, for example, Campania International Inc. of Pennsburg, Pa.

Most of these previous plant support structures are complicated to install, expensive to manufacture (which does not lend itself to supporting inexpensive plants such as mums or other annuals), and do not provide for easy installation for garden, lawn, soil or other softscape surface presentations or for patio, sidewalk, table tops or other hardscape surface presentations. Furthermore, many of these previously disclosed pot support structures do not accommodate pots of different shapes, such as oblong and rectangular shaped pots, and are not pot size adjustable. Also, concrete planters may also weigh over one hundred pounds in some cases. Additionally, the obtrusive nature of these large support structures may distract from the ambience created by the plant itself.

Thus, there is a need for a flowerpot support apparatus which is easy to install, versatile, inexpensive, pot size and pot shape adjustable, small and unobtrusive, lightweight (tabletop installable) and which prevents the potted plant from being toppled over by wind gusts or other external forces for either softscape or hardscape surface presentations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The deficiencies of the prior art are overcome in the present invention by providing an apparatus which is inexpensive and maintains the upright position of potted plants by supporting the pot itself (and thereby the contained plant) in the presence of external toppling forces such as those exerted by wind gusts. The present invention further provides an apparatus which is easy to install and maintains the upright position of potted plants placed on softscape surfaces such as garden, soil, or lawn surfaces, or on hardscape surfaces such as patios, wood surfaces, tabletops, walls, or sidewalks or other pot supporting surfaces. The present invention also provides a non-obtrusive adjustable apparatus which can accommodate different sized pot diameters and shapes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a pot supporting apparatus comprising four support legs radially extending from, and removeably affixed to, a central hub. The legs are preferably rectangular shaped tubes having a rectangular shaped top slot longitudinally extending the full length of each leg.

Each vertical wall of the hub has formed a protruding support leg insert which may be slide-ably inserted into the rear end of a supporting leg. With all the protruding leg inserts inserted into their respective supporting legs, the top surfaces of the legs and hub form a flat pot supporting surface for supporting the pot and plant combination.

The apparatus further comprises an L-shaped pot support bracket having a rectangular shaped horizontal and vertical member with the vertical member formed on the front top surface of the horizontal member.

The horizontal member is constructively configured to be slide-ably insertable into the front interior portion of the support leg with the vertical member further configured to extend upwards through the slot of the leg. The front of the horizontal member is inserted into the front of the leg with the vertical member positioned closest to the hub (and therefore the pot). The rear portion of the horizontal member has a conventional thumbscrew accepting insert vertically positioned and through the horizontal member.

The vertical member is constructively configured to have a cylindrically shaped upper end which further has a concentrically aligned cylindrical cavity for accepting an adhesively attached conventional hemispherical rubber or other type of bumper.

To secure the pot to the support apparatus, all brackets are first slide-ably inserted into the front of their respective legs having the hemispherical surface of each bumper facing the outer surface of the pot. The thumbscrew of each bracket is unscrewed and upwardly positioned to enable the easy insertion of each bracket into their respective leg. The potted plant is then centrally placed on the top surfaces of the legs and hub.

With the pot resting on the top surface of pot support apparatus, each bracket is then slide-ably and forcibly moved forward and positioned against the outer surface of the pot compressing the rubber bumper and gripping the outer surface of the pot. With each bracket forcibly positioned, the respective thumbscrew of each bracket is then downwardly screwed into each insert.

Screwing each thumbscrew into the insert engages the bottom surface of the thumbscrew with the top surface of the inside bottom surface of the leg and forces the top surface of the horizontal member to make frictional contact with the bottom inside top surface of the respective supporting leg thereby affixing the bracket to the leg.

With the pot concentrically placed on the top surface of the legs and hub and all brackets inserted into their respective legs, moving the brackets forcibly inwards towards the pot and affixing each bracket to their respective leg causes the hemispherical surface of each bumper to forcibly and compressively grip the outer surface of the pot.

The pot is affixed to the support apparatus by the combined and cooperating vise-like gripping action of the brackets. With the deformable (hemispherical or other shaped) rubber bumpers, pots having straight, or inside or outside vertically sloped surfaces may be securely held by the vise-like gripping action of the brackets. Furthermore, having each bracket individually adjustable accommodates pots of various diameters and shapes. Other non-deformable gripping bumpers may also be substituted for the deformable bumpers.

To release and remove the pot from the support apparatus, each thumbscrew is unscrewed which frees the respective bracket. Each bracket may now be slide-ably moved backwards away from the pot releasing the gripping action of each bracket allowing the potted plant to be lifted and removed from the pot supporting apparatus.

Therefore, to overcome the shortcomings of the current plant support technology, a new apparatus for securing potted plants in an upright position are provided.

A basic object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for maintaining a pot in an upright position in the presence of external forces. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for maintaining a potted plant in an upright position in the presence of external forces.

Yet another object is to provide an improved support apparatus for maintaining a pot in an upright position in the presence of external forces which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved support apparatus for maintaining a pot in an upright position in the presence of external forces which is easily moved from one location to another.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a versatile support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a small, lightweight, and unobtrusive support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a small, lightweight, and unobtrusive support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant in the presence of wind gusts and is tabletop installable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant placed on a supporting surface in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant placed on a softscape supporting surface in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant placed on a hardscape supporting surface in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant placed on a supporting surface in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pot size adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant placed on a softscape supporting surface in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant placed on a hardscape supporting surface in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus which accommodates pots of various shapes and sizes for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a conically shaped pot in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a rectangular shaped pot in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of an irregularly shaped pot in the presence of wind gusts.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable support apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a potted plant straddling both a hardscape surface and a softscape surface in the presence of wind gusts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer following a review of the specification and drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the invention. As an example, the term pot generally refers to any type of container or the like, and the term potted plant generally refers to a pot containing a plant which is being cultivated and displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawing are the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a side elevation of the first embodiment of the invention supporting a flowerpot on a hardscape surface.

FIG. 2B is a side elevation of the first embodiment of the invention supporting a flowerpot on a softscape surface having barbed stakes penetrating the soil.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a support leg of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a support leg illustrating the cross-sectional profile of a support leg of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the hub illustrating the four protruding inserts of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a side-squeeze snap latch formed on each insert and the rear of each support leg for quickly attaching and detaching the support legs to the hub.

FIG. 5A is a perspective front view of the pot support bracket further illustrating the horizontal and vertical members and thumbscrew thereof of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B is a perspective rear view of the pot support bracket of the first embodiment of the invention further illustrating a connecting buttress between the horizontal and vertical members.

FIG. 5C is a perspective front view of the pot support bracket illustrating the cavity for accepting the rubber bumper of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5D is a partial side elevation view of a compressed rubber bumper engaging an outwardly sloped pot surface of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5E is a partial side elevation view of a compressed rubber bumper engaging an inwardly sloped pot surface of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5F is a cross-sectional view of a metallic bumper having extending prongs configured for engaging a sloped pot surface of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the end cap of a support leg of the invention of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the end cap of a support leg having a barbed stake for anchoring the pot in soil of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the second embodiment of the invention supporting a flowerpot on a hardscape supporting surface.

FIG. 9A is a perspective rear view of a pot support bracket of the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9B is a perspective front view of a pot support bracket of the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a modified second embodiment of the invention having only a slot for guiding the modified pot support bracket.

FIG. 10B is a perspective rear view of the modified pot support bracket of the modified second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention illustrating a detached pot support bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the present invention is directed to an adjustable flowerpot support apparatus 10 which maintains the upright position of a flowerpot 12 containing a plant 13 during wind gusts or other external forces for either hardscape and/or softscape installations. FIG. 2A particularly illustrates the pot support apparatus 10 resting on a hardscape surface 11a (for example, a patio surface or tabletop), and FIG. 2B particularly illustrates the pot support apparatus 10 resting on a softscape surface 11b (for example, a lawn or garden surface).

The invention includes four identical support legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d and perpendicularly arranged around and radially extending from a supporting and accommodating hub 25 and further extending past the outside bottom perimeter 21 of pot 12. It is noted that three support legs could be used, or even one or two support legs if the pot is externally supported for example, by a wall or other fixed structure.

The rear ends of legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d are affixed to the hub 25 by conventional push-in tree clip fasteners (barbed rivets) 26a (not shown) and 26b, 27a and 27b (not shown), 28a and 28b (not shown), and 29a (not shown) and 29b respectively. The conventional push-in rivets 26a and 26b, 27a and 27b, 28a and 28b, and 29a and 29b may be removed allowing the respective supporting legs to be disassembled from the hub 25 thereby decreasing the footprint of the flowerpot support apparatus. This may be beneficial for storing or minimizing the shipping volume of the apparatus 10.

Inserted into the front ends of legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d are identical end caps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d respectively for hardscape support surfaces as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A. For softscape support surfaces, end caps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d are replaced by end caps 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d (not shown) respectively as shown in FIG. 2B. The end caps 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d are identical in all respects to end caps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d except for the corresponding protruding soil penetrating barbed stakes 276a, 276b, 276c and 276d (not shown) respectively as illustrated in FIG. 2B.

End caps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d of FIG. 2A (and end caps 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d of FIG. 2B) may be affixed to the front of support legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d by conventional push-in tree clip fasteners 31a (not shown) and 31b, 32a and 32b (not shown), 33a and 33b (not shown), and 34a (not shown) and 34b respectively. These clip fasteners may be easily removed and reused for exchanging the respective end caps to accommodate either hardscape or softscape support surfaces, or for minimizing the footprint of the apparatus 10 for storage. Examples of push-in tree clips are the XT series of tree clip fasteners manufactured by Essentra Components located in Forest Park, Ill. Other types of fasteners may be used in place of the push-in tree clip fasteners (such as conventional clevis pins along with cotter pins, screws etc.). End caps are more fully disclosed with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Moveably inserted into the front of the support legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d are pot support brackets 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, respectively. As specifically shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pot support brackets 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d (not shown) have been forcibly pushed inwardly thereby gripping the outer surface 14 of flowerpot 12. Wind gusts and other externally applied forces are prevented from toppling pot 12 (and thereby any contained plant 13) by the combined and cooperating vice-like gripping action of pot support brackets 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, the leveraged support of legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d radially extending past perimeter 21, and the hub 25.

For clarity, the following discussion refers specifically to support leg 20a with the understanding that this discussion also applies to all three additional and identical support legs 20b, 20c and 20d.

Referring now additionally to FIG. 3A, leg 20a is formed from a rectangular shaped tube 30 having a left side wall 35, an oppositely disposed right-side wall 40, bottom wall 45, bottom surface 46 of bottom wall 45, top wall 50, top surface 53 of top wall 50, lower inside surface 51 of top wall 50 and front-end surface 52. Formed through the top wall 50 and extending the entire length of leg 20a is a longitudinal slot 55 having width 60.

Formed at the vertical midpoint of and through each side wall 35 and 40 at the front of leg 20a are horizontal, concentric, and oppositely positioned holes 65 and 70, respectively. Similarly formed at the vertical midpoint of and through each side wall 35 and 40 at the rear of leg 20a are horizontal, concentric, and oppositely positioned holes 75 and 80, respectively. The configuration of leg 20a forms a guiding channel for the pot support bracket 22a as more fully disclosed in reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C.

FIG. 3B illustrates the cross-sectional contiguous profile 98 of the front-end surface 52 of leg 20a and is defined by bottom horizontal edge line 82, left lower vertical edge line 84, left upper horizontal edge line 86, left upper vertical edge line 88, right upper vertical edge line 90, right upper horizontal edge line 92, right lower vertical edge line 94 and includes horizontal line 96 which spans across slot 55 on the top surface 53 of leg 20a.

Leg 20a may be manufactured from UV stabilized and water impervious plastic or aluminum or other material which is suitable for the outdoor environment.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a perspective view of hub 25 is shown having a solid square center shaped body 100 having side vertical surfaces 102a, 102b, 102c (not shown and opposite side vertical surface 102a) and 102d (not shown and opposite side vertical surface 102b), top square surface 104 and bottom square surface 106 (not shown and opposite top surface 104). Formed on each side surfaces 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d of body 100 are identical, integral, and outwardly protruding support leg inserts 105a, 105b, 105c and 105d respectively.

For clarity, the following discussion refers to insert 105a but is applicable to the other identical inserts 105b, 105c and 105d.

The outside cross-sectional contiguous boundary profile 110 of insert 105a is defined by edge lines 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 and 126. The outside cross-sectional contiguous boundary profile 110 of insert 105a is identical to the cross-sectional boundary contiguous profile 98 of leg 20a so that the insert 105a of hub 25 may be slide-ably inserted into the rear of leg 20a.

The bottom surface 106 of hub 25 is planar coincident with the bottom surface 46 of leg 20a. The bottom surfaces 106 and 46 of the hub 25 and support leg 20a combination respectively form a flat surface for supporting the pot support apparatus 10 (and therefore indirectly the pot 12 and the plant 13) on flat hardscape surfaces.

Similarly, the top surface 104 of hub 25 is planar coincident with the top surface 53 of the supporting leg 20a. The top surfaces 104 and 53 of the hub 25 and supporting leg 20a combination respectively form a flat surface for supporting the bottom of the pot 12 (and therefore also the contained plant 13). Thus, the top surfaces of the support legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d and the hub 25 form a flat pot supporting surface to support pot 12.

Insert 105a has further through hole 130 positioned to be concentric with holes 75 and 80 of support leg 20a when insert 105a is inserted into the rear interior of leg 20a. Push-in fasteners 26a and 26b are forcibly inserted into concentrically aligned holes 75, 80 and 130 to affix leg 20a to hub 25. The push-in fasteners 26a and 26b may be manually removed to separate leg 20a from hub 25. The hub 25 and support leg 20a may also be constructively configured to have the push-in fasteners 26a and 26b replaced with a conventional hinge (not shown) thereby hinging support leg 20a to hub 25.

The hub 25, and in particular the inserts 105a, 105b, 105c and 105d, and the rear of each of the respective support legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d may be further constructively configured to have formed a conventional side-squeeze buckle like snap latch 109 for quickly and easily attaching (and detaching) each support leg to the hub 25 as shown in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4B further illustrates the side-squeeze snap latch 109 having (a) the insert 105a constructively configured to have the female part 107a of the latch 109 and (b) the rear of leg 20a constructively configured to have the male part 107b of the latch 109.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, an L-shaped pot support bracket 22a is shown having a horizontal member 152 having a top surface 160 comprised of top surfaces 160a, 160b and 160c. Vertical member 154 is formed on the front of top surface 160b.

The cross-sectional profile 155 of horizontal member 152 is defined by bottom horizontal edge line 162, left lower vertical edge line 164, left upper horizontal edge line 166, left upper vertical edge line 168, upper horizontal edge line 170, upper right vertical edge line 172, upper right horizontal edge line 174, and lower right vertical edge line 176.

The cross-sectional profile 155 is identical to the cross-sectional contiguous profile 98 of leg 20a so that the front of bracket 22a can be slide-ably inserted into the front of leg 20a.

Vertical member 154 is formed on the front top surface 160b of horizontal member 152 having a front surface 180 and rear surface 182. Vertical member 154 is constructively configured to extend through slot 55 of leg 20a. The cylindrically shaped upper end 185 of vertical member 154 further has a cylindrically shaped cavity 186 having a bottom surface 188 constructively configured to concentrically accept a conventional rubber or rubber like hemispherical shaped bumper 190, or other types of bumpers.

The vertical member 154 may further be constructively configured to be fix-ably extendable in the vertical direction to accommodate tall pots 12.

The upper end 185 of vertical member 154, and in particular cavity 186 may also be constructively configured to hold non-hemispherical shaped deformable rubber or rubber like bumpers. For example, the bumper 190 may be replaced with a conventional circular-cone, cylindrical-concave, push-in or other shaped rubber or rubber like bumpers.

Examples of hemispherical and other shaped rubber bumpers are manufactured by 3M Company of St. Paul, Minn. and marketed as 3M Bumpon™ Protective Products. Examples of rubber and rubber like push-in bumpers are manufactured by Heyco Products, (a subsidiary of PennEngineering & Manufacturing Corporation of Danboro, Pa.).

The horizontal length of the upper end 185 may also be constructively configured to be fix-ably extendable (in a direction towards the pot 12) for accommodating large diameter pot saucers.

Bumper 190 has a deformable and high coefficient of friction hemispherical elastic surface 192 and a flat adhesive surface 194 (not shown) and is positioned within cavity 186 having the adhesive surface 194 in contact with the bottom surface 188 of cavity 186 and the hemispherical surface 192 projecting outwards from the front surface 180 in a direction towards the pot 12.

The hemispherical bumper 190, and in particular the hemispherical surface 192, accommodates a large range of sloped outer surfaces 14 of pot 12 including vertical and off vertical (both outwardly and inwardly) sloped surfaces. FIGS. 5D and 5E illustrate the bumper 190 compressively deformed to accommodate outwardly and inwardly sloped outer pot surface 14 respectively. Other deformable or non-deformable shaped bumpers may similarly accommodate different sloped outer pot surfaces.

Other materials may be used for the bumpers to forcibly grip the outer surface 14 of pot 12. For example, hard plastic or metal bumpers having extended prongs or other means to grip the outer surface 14 of the pot 12 may be used. FIG. 5F illustrates a metal bumper 191 having extending metal prongs 193 to grip the outside surface 14 of pot 12. The ends 195 of the prongs 193 generally conform to a hemispherical surface contour 197. The upper end 185 would then be constructively configured to hold these types of bumpers.

A buttress 196 projects rearward from the rear surface 182 of vertical member 154 to the top surface 160b of horizontal member 152. Buttress 196 supports vertical member 154 and provides for a reactionary force to any external forces applied to the bumper 190. Such external forces may include the force exerted by the pot 12 onto the hemispherical bumper 190 as the support bracket 22a is forcibly pushed up against the outer surface 14 of pot 12. Other external forces include wind gusts and the like acting on the pot and/or plant.

Horizontal member 152 further has a vertical through hole 202 (not shown) located on surface 160b and rearward of and in line with buttress 196 for accepting a conventional internally threaded screw insert 204. An example of a threaded screw insert is the “SI” brand of inserts manufactured by PennEngineering of Danboro, Pennsylvania. A knurled thumbscrew 206 having threaded end 208 is threaded into the insert 204 and may have its threads extend past the bottom surface 210 (not shown) of horizontal member 152.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a perspective rear view of supporting leg end cap 23a for hardscape surfaces is shown having a solid rectangular center shaped body 240 having rear vertical surface 240a, left side vertical surface 240b, front side vertical surface 240c (not shown) and right-side vertical surface 240d (not shown), top surface 242 and oppositely disposed bottom surface 244. The body 240 is constructively configured to have the surfaces 240b, 242, 240d and 244 planar coincident with the respective matching outside surfaces of leg 20a when inserted into the interior of leg 20a, thereby forming a contiguous flat bottom surface and flat top surface. The planar coincidence of the bottom surfaces of leg 20a, hub 25 and cap 23a provides a flat surface for supporting the pot support apparatus 10 on a hardscape surface 11a.

Formed on the rear vertical surface 240a is outwardly protruding insert 248. Insert 248 has a rear cross-sectional profile 250 defined by bottom horizontal edge line 252, left lower vertical edge line 254, left upper horizontal edge line 256, left upper vertical edge line 258, upper horizontal edge line 260, upper right vertical edge line 262, upper right horizontal edge line 264, and lower right vertical edge line 266. Profile 250 is the same as the cross-sectional profile 98 of leg 20a so that the insert 248 may be slide-ably inserted into the front of leg 20a.

End cap 23a further has a horizontal through hole 270 positioned to be concentrically aligned with holes 65 and 70 when end cap 23a is fully inserted into the front interior of leg 20a. Removable push-in fasteners 31a and 31b are forcibly inserted into aligned holes 65, 70 and 270 to affix end cap 23a to leg 20a. Other conventional fasteners may be used to hold end cap 23a to support leg 20a.

For hardscape presentations, the pot support apparatus 10 may further have double-sided adhesive tape or other mating material fasteners (such as Velcro hook and loop fasteners) sandwiched between the bottom flat surfaces of support legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d and hub 25 combination and hardscape surface 11a. Examples of double-sided adhesive tapes are manufactured by Essentra Components (previously mentioned above). The pot support apparatus 10 may therefore be anchored to the hardscape surface 11a which prevents both sideways and vertical movement of the pot 12. Alternately, conventional “easy peel & stick” felt, or rubber pads or feet may be installed on the bottom flat surfaces of the pot support apparatus (such feet are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) to prevent horizontal sliding of the pot support apparatus 10 along the hardscape surface 11a.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, a perspective view of supporting leg end cap 24a for softscape surfaces 11b is shown having a solid rectangular center shaped body 271 having bottom surface 274 and outwardly protruding insert 272. Insert 272 has a horizontal through hole 273 positioned to be concentrically aligned with holes 65 and 70 when end cap 24a is fully inserted into the front interior of leg 20a. Removable push-in fasteners 31a and 31b are forcibly inserted into aligned holes 65, 70 and 273 to affix end cap 24a to leg 20a. Other conventional fasteners may be used to hold end cap 24a to support leg 20a.

Body 271 and insert 272 of end cap 24a are identical to body 240 and insert 248 respectively of end cap 23a. Formed on the bottom surface 274 and protruding vertically downward from body 271 is a barbed stake 276a having an outside surface 278 and a pointed end tip 280. A barb 282 is formed on the outside surface 278 of stake 276a.

For softscape presentations and with end cap 24a attached to leg 20a, stake 276a is forcibly inserted into the soil thereby anchoring the support leg 20a with the holding action of barb 282. Although only one barb 282 is shown in FIG. 6B, additional barbs may be added on the surfaces of stake 276a.

For softscape presentations, end caps 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d replace end caps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d respectively. The barbed stakes prevent both sideways and vertical movement of the pot support apparatus 10 for softscape surfaces 11b. Also, the hub 25 may be constructively configured to have or accommodate a barbed stake (not shown) extending from the bottom surface 106 for insertion into the softscape surface.

Some applications may require the pot support apparatus 10 to be positioned onto both hardscape 11a and softscape 11b surfaces. For example, the pot support apparatus 10 may be positioned having two support legs positioned on a hardscape surface 11a (sidewalk) and the remaining two support legs positioned on a softscape surface 11b (grass). The versatility of having the end caps 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d independently interchangeable with end caps 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d respectively allows the pot support apparatus 10 to be placed on different hardscape surface 11a and softscape surface 11b.

To support a potted plant, it is first assumed that all legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d have been inserted into the hub 25. Bracket 22a is then first inserted into the front of support leg 20a having bumper 190 facing inwardly towards the hub 25. With bracket 22a properly positioned inside support leg 20a, the remaining brackets 22b, 22c and 22d are then similarly inserted into the front of their respective legs. With all of the brackets inserted into their respective legs, the desired hardscape and/or softscape accommodating end caps are then inserted into and fixed to the front of their respective legs with their respective push-in rivets. The pot support apparatus 10 is then positioned on the chosen softscape and/or hardscape surface.

The potted plant is then centrally positioned on top of legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d and hub 25. The bracket 22a is then moveably pushed towards the pot 12 until the bumper 190 forcibly grips the outside surface 14 of pot 12 compressing the hemispherical bumper 190.

At this point, the thumbscrew 206 is tightened and the bracket 22a is affixed to support leg 20a by the force exerted by the tightened thumbscrew 206 against the top surface of bottom wall 45, and the frictional engagement of the surfaces 160a and 160c against the lower inside surface 51 of wall 50.

The other brackets 22b, 22c and 22d are similarly and forcibly moved towards the pot 12 and their respective thumbscrews tightened thereby forcibly gripping the outer surface 14 and affixing the pot 12 (and the contained plant 13) to the legs 20b, 20c and 20d respectively and hub 25.

Other means may be used to moveably affix bracket 22a to support leg 20a. For example, a rachet comprising (1) a linear rack having upwardly positioned asymmetrical teeth and affixed to the inside top surface of the bottom wall 45 and (2) a cooperating pawl integral with bracket 22a may be constructively configured to allow unimpeded movement of bracket 22a towards the outer surface 14. Once the pawl engages the teeth of the rack, any motion of the bracket 22a away from outer surface 14 is prevented thereby affixing bracket 22a to the support leg 20a.

The cooperative vice-like gripping action of all the brackets 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d in combination affixes the pot 12 to the respective support legs 20a, 20b 20c and 20d and hub 25. The pot 12 is now securely affixed to the pot support apparatus 10.

Additionally, having legs 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d extend beyond the outside bottom perimeter 21 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) of pot 12 and along with the brackets 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d respectively gives additional leveraged support to pot 12. Also, having the brackets 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d independently adjustable permits pots of various shapes to be supported including square, oval, and oblong shaped pots and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a second embodiment of the adjustable flowerpot support apparatus 300 is illustrated.

Pot support apparatus 300 comprises four integral and identical support legs 305, 310, 315 and 320 which are perpendicular to each other and radially extend from a central hub 325. Central hub 325 is integral with the support legs 305, 310, 315 and 320 but may be constructively configured along with the legs 305, 310, 315 and 320 to be remove-ably attached to, or hinged to, the support legs as previously described in reference to FIG. 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

For clarity, the following discussion refers specifically to support leg 305 and to support bracket 375 with the understanding that this discussion also applies to all three additional and identical support legs 310, 315 and 320, and to all three identical brackets 380, 385 and 390 respectively.

Formed on the top surface 335 of support leg 305 is a rectangular shaped guiding groove 330 for guiding the L-shaped pot support bracket 375 along the longitudinal (length wise) direction of support leg 305. The bottom surface 340 of rectangular groove 330 further has formed an oval shaped slot 345 which vertically extends through leg 305. The width of slot 345 accepts the threaded portion 465 of thumbscrew 460 (see FIG. 9A).

Affixed to the front end 355 and the bottom surface 350 of leg 305 is rectangular shaped support foot 360 having a self-adhering rubber like pad 365. Rubber pad 365 prevents sliding motion of pot support apparatus 300 on hardscape surface 11a. Felt pads or the like (as previously mentioned) may also be used in place of or in combination with pad 365 to prevent sliding of the pot support apparatus across a hardscape surface 11a. Other means may be used to physically attach the leg 305 to hardscape surface 11a. Support foot 360 is affixed to support leg 305 by conventional means.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 9A and 9B, bracket 375 is shown having a horizontal member 400 and a vertical member 405 which is formed on the front of top surface 402 of horizontal member 400.

The horizontal member 400 is constructively configured to be freely inserted into groove 330 so that bracket 375 can be slide-ably positioned and guided within the groove 330.

Vertical member 405 has a front surface 410 and rear surface 415. The cylindrically shaped upper end 420 of vertical member further has a cylindrically shaped cavity 425 having a bottom surface 430 (not shown) constructively configured to concentrically accept a conventional hemispherical shaped rubber like bumper 435. Cylindrical shaped cavity 425 is similar to cylindrically shaped cavity 186 shown in FIG. 5C.

Bumper 435 has a deformable and high coefficient of friction hemispherical shaped surface 440 and a flat adhesive surface 445 (not shown) and is positioned within cavity 425 having the flat adhesive surface 445 in contact with the bottom surface 430 of cavity 425. The hemispherical surface 440 projects outwards from front surface 410 and in a direction towards the pot 12. The hemispherical bumper 435 and other shaped bumpers previously mentioned accommodates a large range of outside sloped surfaces 14 of pot 12 including vertical and off vertical (both outwardly and inwardly) sloped surfaces (as previously illustrated in FIGS. 5D and 5E).

A buttress 450 projects rearward from the rear surface 415 of vertical member 405 to the top surface 402 of horizontal member 400. Buttress 450 supports vertical member 405 and provides for a reactionary force to any external forces applied to the bumper 435. Such external forces may include the force exerted by the pot 12 onto the hemispherical bumper 435 as the bracket 375 is forcibly pushed up against the outer surface 14 of pot 12. Other external forces may include wind gusts and the like acting on the pot and/or plant.

Horizontal member 400 further has a clearance through hole 455 (not shown) located on top surface 402 and rearward of and longitudinally in line with buttress 450 for accepting a conventional knurled thumbscrew 460. The knurled thumbscrew 460 has a threaded lower portion 465 which threads into the conventional square shaped locking nut 470.

Other conventional means for guiding bracket 375 along the support leg 305 may be used. For example, FIG. 10A illustrates a pot support apparatus 300a similar to pot support apparatus 300 but having a modified support leg 305a, a modified pot support bracket 375a and a modified hub 325a. Support leg 305a only has a through slot 345a and does not have a corresponding guiding groove 330 of support leg 305.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the bracket 375a is further constructively configured to have a downwardly extending vertical guide pin 466 from the front bottom surface of horizontal member 400a for engaging the slot 345a. Both the horizontal member 400a and vertical member 405a of bracket 375a have been configured to accommodate the modified support leg 305a.

The combination of having the threaded lower portion 465 of thumbscrew 460 along with the pin 466 protruding through the slot 345a forms a guide for bracket 375a of support leg 305a eliminating the need for the guiding groove 330 of support leg 305.

Support leg 305a, along with support legs 310a, 315a and 320a, are remove-ably attached to hub 325a with screws 472, 474, 476 and 478 respectively.

To support a potted plant placed on top of support apparatus 300, bracket 375 is first top inserted into groove 330 having bumper 435 facing inwardly towards the outside surface 14 of pot 12. With bracket 375 properly seated into groove 330, the threaded portion 465 of thumbscrew 460 protrudes through slot 345 and the locking nut 470 is then manually threaded onto the threaded portion 465 but not tightened at this instance. Bracket 375 is then slide-ably pushed towards the pot 12 until the bumper 435 forcibly engages and grips the outside surface 14 of pot 12 compressing the hemispherical bumper 435. At this point, the thumbscrew 460 is tightened and the bracket 375 is affixed to support leg 305 by the compressive force of the tightened thumbscrew 460 and nut 470 combination.

The other brackets 380, 385 and 390 are similarly and independently moved towards the pot 12 forcibly engaging pot surface 14 and their respective thumbscrew and nut combination tightened thereby forcibly gripping and affixing the pot 12 (and the contained plant 13) to the legs 310, 315 and 320.

The cooperative vice-like gripping action of the brackets 375, 380, 385 and 390 in combination affixes the pot 12 to the respective support legs 305, 310, 315 and 320 and hub 325. The flowerpot 12 is now securely affixed to the pot support apparatus 300. With the support legs 305, 310, 315 and 320 protruding past the outside bottom perimeter 21 of pot 12 gives additional leveraged support for pot 12.

A generally similar procedure is used for supporting a potted plant using support apparatus 300a.

Additionally, for softscape surface presentations support foot 360 may be constructively configured to include a barbed stake 276a as previously disclosed in reference to FIG. 6B. Hub 325 may also be constructively configured to have or accommodate a downwardly projecting barbed stake.

Other embodiments of the present invention are further possible. For example, yet another third embodiment of the adjustable flowerpot support apparatus 500 is illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

The adjustable flowerpot support apparatus 500 comprises identical support legs 530, 535, 540, and 545, and associated pot support brackets 505, 510, 515 and 520 respectively and hub 550. The support legs 530, 535, 540, and 545 radially extend from, and are integral with, hub 550. As previously disclosed, support legs 530, 535, 540, and 545 and hub 550 may be constructively configured to allow the separation and disassembly of the support legs 530, 535, 540, and 545 from hub 550, or the support legs 530, 535, 540, and 545 may be hinged to the hub 550.

Again, for clarity the following discussion refers to support leg 530 and pot support bracket 505 with the understanding that this discussion applies to the other three identical support legs 535, 540, and 545 and respective pot support brackets 510, 515 and 520.

The front outer vertical surface 585 of support leg 530 has two horizontal and parallel holes 590 and 595. Thumbscrews 605 and 610 are horizontally threaded into the outer vertical surface 615 and outer vertical surface 620 (opposite surface 615) of support leg 530, respectively.

Bracket 505 has a rectangular shaped horizontal member 560 and an integral vertical member 575. Member 560 has two parallel, horizontal, and integral rods 565 and 570 extending outwards from member 560 in a direction towards the hub 550. Rods 565 and 570 are concentric with holes 590 and 595, respectively. Vertical member 575 is similar to vertical member 405 of bracket 375 having a hemispherical bumper 580 positioned to face towards hub 550.

To support pot 12 containing plant 13 placed on top of support apparatus 500, rods 565 and 570 are inserted into their respective holes 590 and 595 of support leg 530 until bumper 580 is compressively forced against the outer surface 14 of pot 12. Thumbscrews 605 and 610 are then tightened affixing rods 565 and 570 respectively to support leg 530 thereby affixing bracket 505 to support leg 530. The other brackets 510, 515 and 520 are similarly inserted into their support legs 535, 540 and 545 respectively and forcibly positioned against and gripping the outer surface 14 of pot 12. The thumbscrews of each bracket 510, 515 and 520 are then similarly tightened.

The cooperative vice-like gripping action of all the brackets 505, 510, 515 and 520 in combination affixes the pot 12 to the respective support legs 530, 535, 540 and 545 and hub 550. The pot 12 is now securely affixed to the pot support apparatus 500. Further, the pot support brackets 505, 510, 515 and 520 may be constructively configured to extend past the outside bottom perimeter 21 of pot 12 as previously disclosed.

It is understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiment can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, the previously described embodiments all comprised four similar support legs radially extending from a hub. The number of supporting legs may be increased or decreased and/or may be of different lengths without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, only one support leg may be used if the pot is supported with another structure.

As another example, each bracket and respective support leg may be constructively configured to allow the attachment of an extension spring having the first end of the extension spring affixed to the bracket and the second end of the extension spring affixed to the rear of the support leg. Manually moving the bracket outwards away from the hub stretches the extension spring and applies a hub directed force onto the bracket. With the pot placed on top of the support apparatus, the hub directed force causes the bracket to forcibly grip the outer surface of the pot. Similarly, a compression spring attached to the bracket and to the front of the support leg may also be used to provide a hub directed force onto the bracket. Thus, the bracket is spring-ably biased to the support leg and constructively configured to grip the pot.

The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a pot comprising:

a hub;

a support leg attached to the hub; and

a bracket moveably affixed to the support leg and constructively configured to grip the pot.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support leg radially extends from the hub.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bracket is constructively configured to grip the outside surface of the pot.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support leg is removably attached to the hub.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support leg is attached to the hub with a hinge.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support leg is attached to the hub with a side-squeeze snap latch.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pot contains a plant.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support leg is constructed from plastic.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support leg has an interchangeable end cap.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the end cap is constructively configured to have a barbed stake.

11. An apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a pot resting on a surface comprising:

a hub;

a support leg attached to the hub and affixed to the surface; and

a bracket moveably affixed to the support leg and constructively configured to grip the pot.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the support leg is affixed to the surface using mating material fasteners.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the support leg is affixed to the surface using Velcro hook and loop fasteners.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the support leg is affixed to the surface using double sided adhesive tape.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the support leg has an interchangeable end cap.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the end cap is constructively configured to have a barbed stake.

17. An apparatus for maintaining the upright position of a pot comprising:

a hub;

a support leg attached to the hub; and

a bracket spring-ably biased to the support leg and constructively configured to grip the pot.