DE9211558U1

DE9211558U1 - Plant pots

Info

Publication number: DE9211558U1
Application number: DE9211558U
Authority: DE
Original assignee: Plastics Designers & Consultants Zug Ch GmbH
Current assignee: Plastics Designers & Consultants Zug Ch GmbH
Priority date: 1992-08-27
Filing date: 1992-08-27
Publication date: 1992-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2002-08-28

Claims

Kaiser-Friedrich-Ring 70 D-4000 DÜSSELDORF 11

PATENT ATTORNEYS

&eegr;&Ggr;&Rgr;&iacgr;,.&iacgr;&Ngr;&Ogr;. At.EX.ST ENGER

■ EMP b. fiNS.·WOLFRAM WATZKE

dW-'mg. &EEgr;&Eacgr;VN&Iacgr;. J. RING EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS

Our sign:

92 0688

Date:

2 ⁶- Aug, 19922 ⁶ - Aug, 1992

Plastics Designers & Consultants GmbH,
Untermühleweg 7, CH - 6302 Zug

Plant pots

The invention relates to a plant pot with four corner posts and side parts that detachably connect them to one another, as well as a base arranged between the side parts and the corner posts.

The invention is therefore based on a plant pot that can be assembled from several parts, as is known for use in the garden, for example. The individual parts of such plant pots are usually attached to one another using screws. The disadvantage of these known plant pots is that they consist of many individual parts and assembly and disassembly can only be carried out with the help of tools. Furthermore, although it is possible to use these known plant pots to mark off a terrace or garden area, for example, these plant pots offer neither a visual nor a wind shield for the partitioned off area.

Based on this, the invention is based on the object of creating a plant pot that can be easily assembled in the manner of a modular system and that can be used as a privacy and/or wind protection.

As a technical solution to this problem, it is proposed that the corner posts are designed as hollow profiles and that two side parts, each with two corner posts, are formed in one piece.

Preferably, the corner posts are arranged in one piece at the ends of two side parts of the same length. In a plant pot designed in this way, two corner posts are formed in one piece on each of the two side parts. This reduces the number of individual parts and connection points, so that easier assembly and disassembly and greater stability is achieved than with plant pots whose corner posts have to be connected to two side parts using fastening elements.

In order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the individual parts, it is proposed that the side parts and the corner posts are connected to one another via plug-in connections. In a preferred design of the plant pot, the plug-in connections consist of keyhole-shaped recesses in the corner posts and undercut cams arranged on the front sides of the side parts to be connected to the corner posts. By using such plug-in connections, it is possible for the individual parts of the plant pot to be easily put together without the use of tools and the user does not need to have any extensive manual skills.

The side wall sections of the corner posts with the recesses for the cams are preferably arranged between two webs running parallel to the side parts to be accommodated. The side wall sections have a distance from the interior of the hollow profile of the corner post that corresponds to the insertion depth of the cams. This ensures that, when assembled, the cams of the side parts inserted through the recesses do not protrude into the hollow profile of the corner post. In order to protect the plug connections from dirt and damage from the outside,

Upper edges of the front sides of the

Side parts projections arranged over the cams

protrude and engage in recesses in the side wall sections.

Preferably, the upper and lower edges of the side parts have bars bent inwards at right angles. While the upper bar has a protective function so that the narrow and sharp-edged upper edges of the side parts are not located on the side facing the user, the lower bar serves as a support surface for the floor. In order to firmly connect the floor to the side parts and to give the entire system greater rigidity, at least two lower bars of the side parts each have at least one hole penetrating the bar, into which pins molded onto the outer edge of the underside of the floor engage.

In addition to these connections between the floor and the side panels, the corners of the floor can have recesses for the corner posts to ensure a positive connection between the floor and the corner posts.

To prevent the base from sagging, the base has at least one indentation that ends in the plane formed by the lower ends of the corner posts. This indentation allows the base of a fully assembled and planted plant pot to rest on the surface, which significantly reduces the pressure and buckling forces acting on the base and thus also on the lower webs of the side parts.

In a preferred embodiment of a plant pot according to the invention, extension posts can be inserted into the hollow profiles of the corner posts via molded plug-in parts.

Finally, it is proposed that a wall is arranged between two posts. This makes it possible for a plant pot according to the invention to extend at least one side wall upwards by inserting extension posts into the corner posts of the plant pot and a wall arranged between the extension posts. Such a wall, designed for example as a woven grid, can take on the function of a visual and/or wind protection. Two corner posts and a wall in between can be designed as one piece according to a preferred embodiment. In a one-piece design, the extension posts can have an H-shaped profile and the plug-in parts can have a double H-shaped profile.

The wall arranged between the extension posts has a straight lower end strip and a convex upper end strip, which increase the torsional rigidity of the wall. To ensure a positive connection between the wall and the side part arranged under the wall, the lower end strip of the wall has a downward-facing nose that overlaps the upper web of the side part.

Preferably, at the upper end of the H-shaped profiled extension posts, pins are arranged in the middle, which serve to accommodate a closing element, such as a ball.

In an alternative embodiment, both the extension posts and the plug-in parts are designed as hollow profiles. This design as hollow profiles makes it possible for several extension posts and plug-in parts to be plugged into one another and thus several walls to be arranged one above the other. For this purpose, the lower walls have two straight end strips. On the upper straight

The end strip has a nose angled upwards on one side, which overlaps the lower end strip of the wall above it. These design and variation options mean that walls of any height can be inserted into the corner posts.

To make it easier to join the plug-in parts to the corner posts or extension posts, the plug-in parts have bevels on their free ends.

Finally, in a further embodiment, it is proposed that the extension posts have a U-profile that is open inwards and upwards on at least one side over the entire free length for inserting a wall. These walls that are inserted into the U-profiles can be made of plastic, glass, metal or wood, for example. With this embodiment, it is also possible for several extension posts to be inserted into one another and several walls to be arranged one above the other.

The hollow profiles of the extension posts that are open at the top and the corner posts that are not equipped with extension posts are preferably closed using end elements.

In a preferred design of the plant pot, at least the side parts, the base, the extension posts and, in the case of a one-piece design of the extension posts and wall, the wall as well, consist of a plastic molded part. Such plastic molded parts are easy and inexpensive to manufacture, have a low weight and are also weatherproof.

A plant pot designed according to this technical teaching has the advantage that the entire construction is a

A modular system that can be assembled without the use of tools and is also easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Further details and advantages emerge from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which three preferred embodiments of a plant pot designed according to the invention are shown. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 a plant pot in assembled state with

one-piece wall in perspective view;

Fig. 2 a side part with moulded corner posts, partially in plan view;

Fig. 3 the same side part partially in front view;

Fig. 4 a side part without corner posts along the line

IV-IV in Fig. 5 cut in cross section;

Fig. 5 the same side part partially in side view;

Fig. 6 the same side part along the line VI-VI in

Fig. 4 sectioned detail in plan view;

Fig. 7 shows a floor in detail in plan view;

Fig. 8 the same soil along the line VIII-VIII in

Fig. 7 partially cut in cross section;

Fig. 9 an extension post of a first embodiment with molded wall and plug-in part in a shortened representation (with partial horizontal section through the extension post and the plug-in part) in front view;

Fig. 10 the same extension post along the line

X-X in Fig. 9 cut in side view;

Fig. 11 a modular extension post

a second embodiment with a molded, two-part wall and plug-in parts in a shortened representation in front view;

Fig. 12 the same extension post along the line

XII-XII in Fig. 11 cut in longitudinal section;

Fig. 13 an extension post of a third embodiment in plan view;

Fig. 14 the same extension post in detail

in side view;

Fig. 15 an extension post according to Fig. 11 with

partial wall in plan view;

Fig. 16 a closing element in side view;

Fig. 17 an extension post according to Fig. 9 with a section of the wall in plan view and

Fig. 18 a closing element in longitudinal section.

The plant pot shown in a perspective view in Fig. 1 consists essentially of four corner posts 1, four side parts 2 and two extension posts 3 and a wall 4 arranged between these extension posts 3. In a plant pot designed according to the invention, two side parts 2 are formed in one piece with two corner posts 1 each. As can be seen from Fig. 2 and 3, the corner posts 1 are formed on the ends of the relevant side parts 2.

The side parts 2 without corner posts 1 are connected to the side parts 2 with molded corner posts 1 via plug connections 5. The plug connections 5 shown in Figures 3 and 5 consist of keyhole-shaped recesses 6 in the corner posts 1 designed as hollow profiles 7 and undercut cams 8 arranged on the front sides of the side parts 2 to be connected to the corner posts 1. The recesses 6 for the cams 8 are located in side wall sections 9 of the corner posts 1, which are arranged between two webs 10 running parallel to the side parts 2 to be accommodated. In order to prevent the cams 8 inserted through the recesses 6 from protruding into the interior of the hollow profile 7 of the corner posts 1, the side wall sections 9 are arranged at a distance a from the interior of the hollow profile 7 of the corner posts 1, which corresponds to the insertion depth of the cams 8. This ensures that the interior of the hollow profiles 7 of the corner posts 1 is completely available for receiving the extension posts 3.

In order to protect the plug connections 5 from dirt and damage from the outside, the upper edges of the front sides of the side parts 2 having the cams 8 have projections 11 that protrude beyond the cams 8 and engage in recesses 12 of the side wall sections 9.

As can be seen from Fig. 4, the upper and lower edges 13, 14 of the side parts 2 have webs 15, 16 bent inwards at right angles. The lower web serves to accommodate a base 17, which closes off the plant pot at the bottom and rests positively between the side parts 2 and the corner posts 1. In order to fix the base 17 on the lower webs 16 and to increase the torsional rigidity of the connected parts, the lower webs 16 have holes 18 into which pins 19 formed on the outer edge of the underside of the base 17 engage. The base 17 is designed at the corners so that it rests positively on the corner posts 1.

In order to prevent the base 17 from bending downwards when the plant pot is filled with soil and flowers, the base 17 has at least one indentation 20 that ends in the plane formed by the lower ends of the corner posts 1. Thus, the base 17 can be supported downwards via the indentations 20, whereby the pressure and buckling loads for the base 17 and the lower webs 16 of the side parts 2 are reduced.

The side parts 2 can also be provided with indentations 21, as shown in Fig. 4, in order to increase the rigidity of the side parts 2.

The connection between extension post 3 and corner post 1 shown in Fig. 1 is made, as can be seen from Fig. 9 and 11, via plug-in parts 22 formed on the extension post 3, which can be inserted into the hollow profiles 7 of the corner post 1.

The wall 4 arranged between two extension posts 3 is designed as a woven grid 23 in the illustration according to Fig. 1.

- 10 -

In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 9 and 10, the extension post 3 has an H-shaped profile 24 and the plug-in part 22 has a double H-shaped profile 25. At the upper end of the extension post 3, a cross-shaped pin 26 is formed in the middle, onto which a closing element 27, for example a ball 29 consisting of two half-shells 28, can be placed.

The wall 4, which is formed in one piece with the H-shaped profiled extension post 3, has a straight lower end strip 30 and a convex upper end strip 31, which increases the torsional rigidity of the woven grid 23. The lower end strip 30 has a downwardly angled nose 32 on one side, which overlaps the upper edge 13 of the side part 2 arranged under the wall 4. The upper end strip 31 is approximately I-shaped in cross section.

In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 11 and 12, both the extension posts 3 and the plug-in parts 22 are designed as hollow profiles. This design of the extension posts 3 as hollow profiles enables several extension posts 3 to be plugged into one another using plug-in parts 22 and thus several walls 4 connected to these extension posts 3 can be arranged one above the other. Fig. 11 shows an abbreviated representation of two extension posts 3 that can be plugged into one another and each of which is provided with walls 4. In this arrangement of several walls 4 one above the other, the lower walls 4 each also have an upper straight end strip 33 so that the lower end strip 30 of the wall 4 arranged above can rest positively on the lower wall 4. In order to enable two walls 4 to be joined together without leaving any gaps, the upper straight end strip 33 has a

- 11 -

upwardly directed nose 34, so that in the assembled state on one side the downwardly bent nose 32 of the lower end strip 31 overlaps the upper end strip 33 of the lower wall 4 and on the other side the upwardly bent nose 34 of the upper end strip 33 overlaps the lower end strip 31 of the upper wall 4.

The joining of the plug-in parts 22 with the corner posts 1 or further extension posts 3 is facilitated by the inlet slopes 35 formed on the free end of the plug-in parts 22.

According to the third embodiment shown in Fig. 13 and 14, the extension posts 3 can have a U-profile 36 that is open inwards and upwards on at least one side over the entire free length, into which various walls 4 can be inserted from above. These walls 4 that can be inserted into the U-profiles 36 can consist of a wide variety of materials, since they are not formed in one piece with the extension posts 3 as shown in Fig. 9 and 11 and therefore have to consist of the material of the extension posts 3.

The hollow profiles of the extension posts 3 as well as the corner posts 1 not provided with extension posts 3 can be closed with closure elements 27.

A plant pot designed according to this technical teaching can be assembled in a simple manner using the plug connections 5. For assembly, the cams 8 of the side parts 2 are inserted into the recesses 6 of the side wall sections 9 of the corner posts 1 and then the base 17 between the side parts 2 and the corner posts 1 is placed on the lower webs 16 of the side parts 2. If the plant pot is to be equipped with a

- 12 -

If the garden is to be provided with a privacy screen, wind protection or a climbing wall for plants, for example, a wall 4 formed in one piece with two extension posts 3 only needs to be inserted into the hollow profiles 7 of the corner posts 1 via the plug-in parts 22.

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List of reference symbols

1 Corner post 31 End strip 2 Side panel 32 Nose 3 Extension post 33 End strip 4 Wall 34 Nose 5 Plug connection 35 Inlet slope 6 Recess 36 U-profile 7 Hollow profile 8th cam a Distance 9 Side wall section 10 web 11 head Start 12 Recess 13 Top edge 14 Bottom edge 15 web 16 web 17 Floor 18 drilling 19 Pen 20 Imprinting 21 Imprinting 22 Plug-in part 23 Woven mesh 24 Profile (H-shaped) 25 Profile (double H-shaped) 26 cone 27 Closing element 28 Half shell 29 Bullet 30 End strip

- 14 -- 14 -

Expectations

1. Plant pot with four corner posts (1) and side parts (2) that detachably connect them together, as well as a base (17) arranged between the side parts (2) and the corner posts (1),

characterized,

that the corner posts (1) are designed as hollow profiles (7)

that two side parts (2) each with two corner posts (1) are formed in one piece.

2. Plant pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the corner posts (1) are arranged in one piece at the ends of two side parts (2) of the same length.

3. Plant pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the side parts (2) and the corner posts (1) are connected to one another via plug connections (5).

4. Plant pot according to claim 3, characterized in that the plug connections (5) consist of keyhole-shaped recesses (6) in the corner posts (1) and undercut cams (8) arranged on the front sides of the side parts (2) to be connected to the corner posts (1).

5. Plant pot according to claim 4, characterized in that side wall sections (9) of the corner posts (1) with the recesses (6) for the cams (8) are arranged between two webs (10) running parallel to the side parts (2) to be accommodated.

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6. Plant pot according to claim 5, characterized in that the side wall sections (9) have a distance (a) from the interior of the hollow profile (7) of the corner posts (1) which corresponds to the insertion depth of the cams (8).

7. Plant pot according to claim 6, characterized in that projections (11) projecting beyond the cams (8) are arranged on the upper edges of the end faces of the side parts (2) having the cams (8) and engaging in recesses (12) in the side wall sections (9).

8. Plant pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper and lower edges (13, 14) of the side parts (2) have webs (15, 16) bent inwards at right angles.

9. Plant pot according to claim 8, characterized in that at least two webs (16) of the lower edges (14) of the side parts (2) each have at least one bore (18) penetrating the web (16).

10. Plant pot according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that the base (17) has pins (19) formed on the outer edge of the underside, which engage in the holes (18) in the webs (16).

11. Plant pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (17) has at least one indentation (20) which ends in the plane formed by the lower ends of the corner posts (1).

12. Plant pot according to claim 8, characterized in that the base (17) rests on the lower webs (16) of the side parts (2) and

that the corners of the floor (17) are recessed for the corner posts (1).

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13. Plant pot according to claim 1, characterized in that extension posts (3) can be inserted into the hollow profiles (7) of the corner posts (1).

IA. Plant pot according to claim 13, characterized in that the extension posts (3) can be inserted into the hollow profiles (7) of the corner posts (1) via molded-on plug-in parts (22).

15. Plant pot according to claim 13, characterized in that a wall (4) is arranged between two extension posts (3).

16. Plant pot according to claim 13, characterized in that the extension posts (3) have an H-shaped profile (24) and the plug-in parts (22) have a double H-shaped profile (25).

17. Plant pot according to claim 15, characterized in that the wall (4) is designed as a woven grid (23).

18. Plant pot according to claim 15, characterized in that the wall (4) has a straight lower end strip (30) and a convex upper end strip (31), the lower end strip (30) having on one side a downwardly directed nose (32) which overlaps the upper edge (13) of the side part (2) arranged under the wall (4).

19. Plant pot according to claim 16, characterized in that a pin (26) for receiving a closing element (27) is formed centrally on the upper end of the H-shaped profiled extension post (3).

20. Plant pot according to claim 13, characterized in that both the extension posts (3) and the plug-in parts (22) are designed as hollow profiles.

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21. Plant pot according to claims 15 and 20, characterized in that several walls (4) can be plugged into one another by means of extension posts (3) and plug-in parts (22).

22. Plant pot according to claim 21, characterized in that an upper end strip (33) of the wall (A) has an upwardly bent nose (34) on one side.

23. Plant pot according to claim 13, characterized in that the plug-in parts (22) of the extension posts (3) have run-in slopes (35) at their free ends.

24. Plant pot according to claim 13, characterized in that the extension posts (3) have, at least on one side over the entire free length, a U-profile (36) open inwards and upwards for inserting a wall (4).

25. Plant pot according to claim 24, characterized in that the walls (4) consist of plastic, glass, metal or wood.

26. Plant pot according to claims 1 and 20, characterized in that the hollow profiles of the corner posts (1) and the extension posts (3) are closed with closing elements (27).

27. Plant pot according to claims 1, 13 and 15, characterized in that the side parts (2), the base (17), the extension posts (3) and the walls (4) preferably each consist of a plastic molded part.

ST/HR/mg