GB2483070A - Bracket for a plantpot - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket for holding a plantpot comprises a circular band 101 for receiving a plantpot, or saucer of a plantpot; at least one arm 102 extending from the circular band and having an aperture 103 to receive a bolt. A pair of arms maybe provided which meet to form a peak, a square section 104 having the aperture being positioned at the peak and being at an angle of 90°to one of the arms. A t-slot bolt and a nut may be used to affix the bracket to a greenhouse glazing bar, the user placing the t-slot bolt through the aperture, and then positioning the head of the t-slot bolt in a t-track cavity running through the length of the glazing bar. Alternatively the bracket maybe fitted to a wall or fence using alternate fastening means.

Description

A bracket to hold a plant pot

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to brackets to hold containers for plants.

[2] Often, plants are contained and displayed in plant pots, or flower pots. Seedlings and cuttings are planted in pots to allow them to grow.

[3] The number of plant pots a gardener may have, and therefore the number of plants, seedlings and cuttings, is necessarily restrained by the amount of suitable space available in which to keep them. Many such pots are positioned on top of walls or on shelving in greenhouses, but once this space has been used completely, very few options are left.

Some gardeners place plant pots on the floor, but often these are often knocked over, spilling soil and potentially damaging the plant.

[4] Means of providing more space for plant pots are known in the art. G899l2442 to Ebanks discloses a suspended greenhouse for plant pots containing seedlings and cuttings that can be hung from a ceiling. Though this does provide an additional platform on which to store plant pots, it requires a significant amount of space in which it can hang. Such space is not always readily available, and consequently it would be beneficial to have a means for positioning individual plant pots in smaller available spaces.

[5] US6971204 to Gibney discloses a bracket for an individual plant pot that is wrapped around an existing vertical support, such as an umbrella pole. Whilst this does provide a means of utilising existing small spaces for the storage and display of plant pots, the nature of most existing vertical supports in gardens makes it impossible to use.

Glazing bars in greenhouses are one of the most common vertical supports found but, as each of these already has solid glass panels connected to each side, it is impossible to wrap a bracket completely around the glazing bar without breaking the glass or completely dismantling the greenhouse.

The potential use for the invention is thus very limited.

[6] Glazing bars in greenhouses often comprise an open cavity through their centre, accessible from the front, in a similar style to a t-track. It would be beneficial to have a bracket that would be affixed to the glazing bar utilising this accessible cavity, such that the user does not have to dismantle the greenhouse or break the glass to position the bracket.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[7] It can be seen by the forgoing that a need has arisen for a bracket to hold individual plant pots that can be positioned on existing vertical supports such as glazing bars in greenhouses, particularly utilising the t-track cavities running through them. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a bracket.

[6] To this end, disclosed is a bracket to hold a plant pot, comprising: a circular band to receive a plant pot, or the saucer of a plant pot; at least one arm extending from the circular band and comprising an aperture to receive a bolt; a t-slot bolt and a nut.

[9] To affix the bracket to a greenhouse glazing bar, the user places the t-slot bolt through the aperture to receive a bolt, and then positions the head of the t-slot bolt in the t-track cavity running through the length of the glazing bar, at the height desired for the bracket. The nut is tightened onto the bolt with the arm of the bracket held between the nut and the bolt. A plant pot may then be positioned in the bracket or, alternatively, a saucer for a plant pot rested upon it.

[10] Alternatively, the bolt may be used to affix the bracket to other vertical supports such as fence posts and walls.

[11] An advantage of the present invention is that it allows the user to position individual plant pots is small available spaces.

[12] A further advantage is that it allows the user to position brackets for plant pots on the glazing bars in greenhouses, without having to break the glass of the greenhouse or dismantle the greenhouse to install them.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [13] The invention can be better understood-with reference to the following drawings, in which: [14] Figure one shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[15] Figure two shows a view of two such preferred embodiments of the invention in place on a greenhouse glazing bar.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment

[16] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in figures one and two where like numerals refer to like components, a bracket to hold a plant pot is disclosed, comprising: a circular band 101 to receive a plant pot, or the saucer of a plant pot; at least one arm 102 extending from the circular band 101 and comprising an aperture 103 to receive a bolt; a t-slot bolt 201 and a nut 202.

[17] The circular band 101 is formed of a rigid, strong material that will not break or snap under the weight of a plant pot, for example, a plastic such as polyethylene terephtha late.

[18] The circular band 101 should be of a diameter sufficient to hold the required plant pot or plant pot saucer.

For example, if the bracket was required to hold a plant pot saucer with an 11cm diameter, the circular band 101 should also have an 11cm diameter. It is therefore envisaged that the bracket may be provided in a range of sizes, whereby the circular band 101 is provided in a range of diameters, to allow for size variations in plant pots and plant pot saucers.

[19] The arm 102 extending from the circular band 101 is ideally formed from the same strong, rigid material as the circular band 101. Two such arms 102 are shown in the drawings, extending from opposite ends of the circular band 101 and coming together to form a triangular shape. At the peak of the triangle created by the two arms 102, there is shown a square section 104 at a 90° angle to the point of the triangle. This square section 104 comprises the aperture to receive a bolt. Any alternative position for the aperture 103 to receive a bolt may also be used and, similarly, any suitable number of arms may be provided as required.

[20] The t-slot bolt 201 should be of a size sufficient to fit into the t-track cavity in greenhouse glazing bars 203.

The head of the bolt 201 should be of a size and shape suitable for it to easily slot into the t-track cavity when vertical, and yet be unable to be removed when twisted into a horizontal position. As there may be variation in the sizes of greenhouse glazing bars 203, the size of the t-slot bolt 201 provided may also vary.

[21] The nut 202 should be the correct size to fasten the bracket in place between the nut 202 and the t-slot bolt 201.

[22] Further bolts and screws of different may also be provided, so that the bracket may be screwed onto fence posts and walls.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23) The user places the t-slot bolt 201 through the aperture 103 to receive a bolt. The user then positions the head of the t-slot bolt 201, aligned in a vertical position, in the t-track cavity running through the length of the glazing bar 203 at the height desired for the bracket. The nut 202 is tightened onto the bolt 201 with the arm 102 of the bracket held between the nut 202 and the bolt 201. As the nut 201 is tightened, the head of the t-slot bolt 201 is twisted from a vertical position to a horizontal position, holding it in place. A plant pot may then be positioned in the circular band 101 or, alternatively, a saucer for a plant pot rested upon it.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A bracket to hold a plant pot comprising: a circular band to receive a plant pot or the saucer of a plant pot; at least one arm extending from the circular band and comprising an aperture to receive a bolt; a t-slot bolt and a nut.
2. 2. The bracket of the preceding claim comprising two arms extending from said circular band, each beginning on opposite ends of said circular band and coming together to form a triangular shape.
3. 3. The bracket of the preceding claim comprising a square section comprising said aperture to receive a bolt, positioned at the peak of said triangular shape formed from said arms extending from said circular band and at a 900 angle to said peak.
4. 4. The bracket of any preceding claim where said circular band is provided in a range of diameters.
5. 5. The bracket of any preceding claim where a range of different screws and bolts are provided in addition to said t-slot bolt and said nut.