Flower Pot Mounting Assembly

Abstract

A flower pot mounting assembly for mounting a flower pot to a hand rail includes a gripping unit that is positionable to extend substantially around a hand rail of a deck railing such that the gripping unit is secured to the hand rail. A stem is coupled to and extends upwardly from the gripping unit. A spike is positionable on the stem such that the spike extends upwardly from the stem thereby facilitating the spike to pass through a drain hole in a flower pot. In this way the flower pot is secured to the hand rail to inhibit the flower pot from being blown over by wind.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to mounting devices and more particularly pertains to a new mounting device for mounting a flower pot to a hand rail. The device includes a gripping unit that can be positioned to extend substantially around a hand rail of a deck rail. The device includes a stem extending upwardly from the gripping unit. The device includes a spike that is positionable on the stem such that the spike is vertically oriented. In this way a flower pot can be positioned on the gripping unit such that the spike extends through a drain hole in the flower pot. Thus, the flower pot is secured to the hand rail such that the flower pot is inhibited from being blown over by wind.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to mounting devices including a flower pot securing device that includes an annular ring that is attachable to a hand rail and a stem that is disposed in the annular ring that the annular ring surrounds the flower pot and the stem extends through a drain hole in the flower pot. The prior art discloses a potted plant holder that includes a shaft and a blade attached to the shaft which can be driven into soil in a flower pot. The prior art discloses a golf bag holder that includes a spike and pivotal foot plate to push the spike into the ground. The prior art discloses flower pot holder that includes a support bracket with a foot that can be secured to a vertical surface and a plurality of pegs that each extend into a respective hole in a flower pot. The prior art discloses a rail post mounting device that includes a sleeve that is slidable into a hollow rail post and an accessory item extending upwardly from the sleeve.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a gripping unit that is positionable to extend substantially around a hand rail of a deck railing such that the gripping unit is secured to the hand rail. A stem is coupled to and extends upwardly from the gripping unit. A spike is positionable on the stem such that the spike extends upwardly from the stem thereby facilitating the spike to pass through a drain hole in a flower pot. In this way the flower pot is secured to the hand rail to inhibit the flower pot from being blown over by wind.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a flower pot mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a right side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stem and a spike of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new mounting device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the flower pot mounting assembly 10 generally comprises a gripping unit 12 that is positionable to extend substantially around a hand rail 14 of a deck railing 16 such that the gripping unit 12 is secured to the hand rail 14. The gripping unit 12 has a series of bends 18 integrated into the gripping unit 12 to define a central panel 20, a pair of end panels 22 each extending downwardly from the central panel 20 and a pair of lower panels 24 each extending away from a respective one of the end panels 22. Each of the end panels 22 is positioned on opposing sides of the central panel 20 with respect to each other and each of the end panels 22 lies on a plane that is perpendicularly oriented with a lower surface 26 of the central panel 20. Each of the lower panels 24 is distally oriented with respect to the central panel 20 and each of the lower panels 24 extends toward each other. Additionally, each lower panel 24 lies on a plane that is oriented parallel to the lower surface 26 of the central panel 20.

The lower surface 26 of the central panel 20 rests on a top surface 28 of the hand rail 14 and each of the end panels 22 abuts a respective one of a first lateral surface 30 and a second lateral surface 32 of the hand rail 14. Additionally, each of the lower panels 24 rests against a bottom surface 34 of the hand rail 14. The hand rail 14 may comprise a deck rail, of either a composite material or wood, such as a 2×4 or other dimensional lumber that is commonly employed in the construction of outdoor decks in residential construction. Furthermore, the hand rail 14 may be oriented such that a widthwise axis of the hand rail 14 lies on a horizontal plane.

A stem 36 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the gripping unit 12. The stem 36 is positioned on an upper surface 38 of the central panel 20 and the stem 36 is centrally positioned on the upper surface 38. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 7, the stem 36 may have a cylindrical shape and the stem 36 may have a threaded outer surface 40. A spike 42 is provided and the spike 42 is positionable on the stem 36 such that the spike 42 extends upwardly from the stem 36. In this way the spike 42 can pass through a drain hole 44 in a flower pot 46 thereby securing the flower pot 46 to the hand rail 14 to inhibit the flower pot 46 from being blown over by wind. The flower pot 46 may be a terra cotta flower pot, for example, or any other type of flower pot commonly employed for growing flowers or other types of cultivated plants. The spike 42 has a bottom end 48 and a top end 50; the bottom end 48 has a well 52 extending toward the top end 50 which receives the stem 36 and the top end 50 tapers to a point. A bounding surface 54 of the well 52 may be threaded for threadably engaging the threaded outer surface 40 of the stem 36. The spike 42 may have a length ranging between approximately 7.5 cm and 12.5 cm.

A saucer 56 is included which has a basal wall 58, an outer wall 60 angling upwardly from the basal wall 58 and a lip 62 extending outwardly from the outer wall 60. The outer wall 60 extends around a perimeter 64 of the basal wall 58 and the outer wall 60 angles outwardly from a center of the basal wall 58. The lip 62 extends away from a distal end 66 of the outer wall 60 with respect to the basal wall 58 and the lip 62 lies on a plane that is oriented parallel with an upper surface 68 of the basal wall 58. The basal wall 58 has a hole 70 extending through the upper surface 68 and a lower surface 72 of the basal wall 58 and the hole 70 is centrally positioned on the basal wall 58. The basal wall 58 is positionable on top of the central panel 20 of the gripping unit 12 having the spike 42 extending upwardly through the hole 70. In this way the flower pot 46 can rest on the upper surface 68 of the basal wall 58 to contain water that drains from the flower pot 46.

In an alternative embodiment 74 as is most clearly shown in FIG. 6, the gripping unit 12 comprises a pair of side panels 76 that each has an upper edge 78, a lower edge 80 and an outwardly facing surface 82 extending between the upper edge 78 and the lower edge 80. Each of the side panels 76 has a lip 84 extending away from the lower edge 80 such that the lip 62 on each of the side panels 76 is directed toward each other. Each of the side panels 76 rests against a respective one of the first lateral surface 30 and the second lateral surface 32 of the hand rail 14 having the lip 62 on each of the side panels 76 abutting the bottom surface 34 of the hand rail 14. In this way the gripping unit 12 can be attached to the hand rail 14 when the hand rail 14 is oriented such that the widthwise axis of the hand rail 14 lies on a vertical plane.

Continuing in the alternative embodiment 74, a disk 86 is provided which has a lower surface 88 and an upper surface 90. The upper edge 78 of each of the side panels 76 is attached to the lower surface 88 of the disk 86 such that the disk 86 rests upon the top surface 28 of the hand rail 14 thereby facilitating the flower pot 46 to rest on the upper surface of the disk 86. A pair of gussets 92 is each of the gussets 92 is coupled between the lower surface 88 of the disk 86 and a respective one of the side panels 76 thereby enhancing a load bearing capacity of the disk 86 with respect to the flower pot 46. The alternative embodiment 74 includes a cone 94 that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the upper surface 90 of the disk 86. The cone 94 is centrally positioned on the disk 86 thereby facilitating the cone 94 to extend into the drain hole 44 in the flower pot 46 thereby securing the flower pot 46 to the disk 86. In this way the cone 94 inhibits the flower pot 46 from being blown over by the wind.

In use, the gripping unit 12 is positioned around the hand rail 14 such that the stem 36 is directed upwardly. In this way the spike 42 can be attached to the stem 36 such that the spike 42 is vertically oriented. The flower pot 46 can be positioned on the gripping unit 12 such that the spike 42 extends through the drain hole 44 in the flower pot 46. In this way the flower pot 46 is secured to the hand rail 14 thereby inhibiting the flower pot 46 from being blown over by wind. The alternative embodiment 74 facilitates the gripping unit 12 to be positioned around the hand rail 14 when the hand rail 14 is oriented such that the widthwise axis of the hand rail 14 lies on a vertical plane.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A flower pot mounting assembly for securing a flower pot to a deck railing, said assembly comprising:

a gripping unit being positionable to extend substantially around a hand rail of a deck railing such that said gripping unit is secured to the hand rail;

a stem being coupled directly to and extending upwardly from said gripping unit; and

a spike being positionable on said stem such that said spike extends upwardly from said stem thereby facilitating said spike to pass through a drain hole in the flower pot thereby securing the flower pot to the hand rail wherein said spike is configured to inhibit the flower pot from being blown over by wind.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

said gripping unit has a series of bends being integrated into said gripping unit to define a central panel and a pair of end panels each extending downwardly from said central panel and a pair of lower panels each extending away from a respective one of said end panels;

each of said end panels is positioned on opposing sides of said central panel with respect to each other, each of said end panels lying on a plane being perpendicularly oriented with a lower surface of said central panel;

each of said lower panels is distally oriented with respect to said central panel, each of said lower panels extending toward each other, each of said lower panels lying on a plane being oriented parallel to said lower surface of said central panel;

said lower surface of said central panel rests on a top surface of the hand rail;

each of said end panels abuts a respective one of a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface of the hand rail; and

each of said lower panels rests against a bottom surface of the hand rail.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said stem is positioned on an upper surface of said central panel, said stem being centrally positioned on said upper surface.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spike has a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end having a well extending toward said top end, said well insertably receiving said stem, said top end tapering to a point.

5. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a saucer having a basal wall, an outer wall angling upwardly from said basal wall and a lip extending outwardly from said outer wall, said outer wall extending around a perimeter of said basal wall, said outer wall angling outwardly from a center of said basal wall, said lip extending away from a distal end of said outer wall with respect to said basal wall, said lip lying on a plane being oriented parallel with an upper surface of said basal wall, said basal wall having a hole extending through said upper surface and a lower surface of said basal wall, said hole being centrally positioned on said basal wall, said basal wall being positionable on top of said central panel of said gripping unit having said spike extending upwardly through said hole thereby facilitating the flower pot to rest on said upper surface of said basal wall wherein said saucer is configured to contain water that drains from the flower pot.

6. A flower pot mounting assembly for securing a flower pot to a deck railing, said assembly comprising:

a gripping unit being positionable to extend substantially around a hand rail of a deck railing such that said gripping unit is secured to the hand rail, said gripping unit having a series of bends being integrated into said gripping unit to define a central panel and a pair of end panels each extending downwardly from said central panel and a pair of lower panels each extending away from a respective one of said end panels, each of said end panels being positioned on opposing sides of said central panel with respect to each other, each of said end panels lying on a plane being perpendicularly oriented with a lower surface of said central panel, each of said lower panels being distally oriented with respect to said central panel, each of said lower panels extending toward each other, each of said lower panels lying on a plane being oriented parallel to said lower surface of said central panel, said lower surface of said central panel resting on a top surface of the hand rail, each of said end panels abutting a respective one of a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface of the hand rail, each of said lower panels resting against a bottom surface of the hand rail;

a stem being coupled directly to and extending upwardly from said gripping unit, said stem being positioned on an upper surface of said central panel, said stem being centrally positioned on said upper surface;

a spike being positionable on said stem such that said spike extends upwardly front said stem thereby facilitating said spike to pass through a drain hole in the flower pot thereby securing the flower pot to the hand rail wherein said spike is configured to inhibit the flower pot from being blown over by wind, said spike having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end having a well extending toward said top end, said well insertably receiving said stem, said top end tapering to a point; and

a saucer having a basal wall, an outer wall angling upwardly from said basal wall and a lip extending outwardly from said outer wall, said outer wall extending around a perimeter of said basal wall, said outer wall angling outwardly from a center of said basal wall, said lip extending away from a distal end of said outer wall with respect to said basal wall, said lip lying on a plane being oriented parallel with an upper surface of said basal wall, said basal wall having a hole extending through said upper surface and a lower surface of said basal wall, said hole being centrally positioned on said basal wall, said basal wall being positionable on top of said central panel of said gripping unit having said spike extending upwardly through said hole thereby facilitating the flower pot to rest on said upper surface of said basal wall wherein said saucer is configured to contain water that drains from the flower pot.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said gripping unit comprises a pair of side panels each having an upper edge, a lower edge and an outwardly facing surface extending between said upper edge and said lower edge, each of said side panels having a lip extending away from said lower edge such that said lip on each of said side panels is directed toward each other, each of said side panels resting against a respective one of the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface of the hand rail having said lip on each of said side panels abutting the bottom surface of the hand rail.

8. A flower pot mounting assembly for securing a flower pot to a deck railing, said assembly comprising:

a gripping unit being positionable to extend substantially around a hand rail of a deck railing such that said gripping unit is secured to the hand rail, said gripping unit having a series of bends being integrated into said gripping unit to define a central panel and a pair of end panels each extending downwardly from said central panel and a pair of lower panels each extending away from a respective one of said end panels, each of said end panels being positioned on opposing sides of said central panel with respect to each other, each of said end panels lying on a plane being perpendicularly oriented with a lower surface of said central panel, each of said lower panels being distally oriented with respect to said central panel, each of said lower panels extending toward each other, each of said lower panels lying on a plane being oriented parallel to said lower surface of said central panel, said lower surface of said central panel resting on a top surface of the hand rail, each of said end panels abutting a respective one of a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface of the hand rail, each of said lower panels resting against a bottom surface of the hand rail;

a stem being coupled directly to and extending upwardly from said gripping unit, said stem being positioned on an upper surface of said central panel, said stem being centrally positioned on said upper surface;

a spike being positionable on said stem such that said spike extends upwardly front said stem thereby facilitating said spike to pass through a drain hole in the flower pot thereby securing the flower pot to the hand rail wherein said spike is configured to inhibit the flower pot from being blown over by wind, said spike having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end having a well extending toward said top end, said well insertably, receiving said stem, said top end tapering to a point;

wherein said gripping unit comprises a air of side panels each having an upper edge, lower edge and an outwardly facing surface extending between said upper edge and said lower edge, each of said side panels having a lip extending away from said lower edge such that said lip on each of said side panels is directed toward each other, each of said side panels resting against a respective one of the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface of the hand rail having said lip on each of said side panels abutting the bottom surface of the hand rail; and

a disk having a lower surface and an upper surface, said upper edge of each of said side panels being attached to said lower surface of said disk such that said disk rests upon the top surface of the hand rail thereby facilitating the flower pot to rest on said upper surface of said disk.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a pair of gussets, each of said gussets being coupled between said lower surface of said disk and a respective one of said side panels thereby enhancing a load bearing capacity of said disk with respect to the flower pot.

10. The assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a cone being coupled to and extending upwardly from said tipper surface of said disk, said cone being centrally positioned on said disk thereby facilitating said cone to extend into the drain hole in the flower pot thereby securing the flower pot to said disk wherein said cone is configured to inhibit the flower pot from being blown over by the wind.