WO2005058103A1

WO2005058103A1 - Plant stand

Info

Publication number: WO2005058103A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/005213
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Bowler; Alan Vaughan
Original assignee: Gardman Ltd
Current assignee: Gardman Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-13
Filing date: 2004-12-10
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2006-06-13
Also published as: GB0328941D0; GB0427101D0; GB2408929A

Abstract

A plant stand comprising a plant support (being for example a plant holder or a plant container), is provided. The stand is provided with at least one leg for spacing the plant support from the ground, and includes collapsing means for moving the leg between an in-use position, and a collapsed or folded position, which can be used for storage and transport of the stand. There is further provided locking means to releasably retain the leg in the in-use configuration. In this way, the stand can be transported and stored in a collapsed configuration which significantly reduces the amount of space needed.

Description

PLANT STAN D

The present invention relates to a stand, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a plant stand.

Plant stands are generally used in gardens and patio areas for displaying shrubs, plants and flowers. They may include a planter for containing soil and compost, or the plants may be contained within their own pots. Often, the plant stands themselves serve a decorative function and are designed to be decorative so as to appeal to the eye.

However, the decorative features of conventional stands compromise the ease of transportation and storage of the stands and can also result in an increased weight. These add to the transportation costs. In addition, the plant stands can be awkward shape which makes them difficult to display in a retail outlet.

The object of the present invention is to provide a plant stand which obviates or mitigates the above described problems and/or which provides improvements generally.

According to the invention, there is provided a plant stand comprising a plant support (being for example a plant holder or a plant container) , and at least one leg for spacing the plant support from the ground; the stand further comprising means for moving at least one leg in relation to the support wherein the leg is moveable between an in-use position, for normal use of the stand, and a collapsed or folded position, which can be used for storage and transport of the stand.

In this way, the stand can be transported in a collapsed or folded position. This significantly reduces the amount of space required to transport the stand, and the storage space required either in the warehouse of a retail outlet. In addition the stand may be stored in this configuration in the user's shed or garage.

In an embodiment of the invention, a stand when in its collapsed configuration may be nestable with one or more additional collapsed stand. In this way, the stands conveniently stored and transported in this way as the space required by the stacked or nested stands is kept to a minimum.

The support or holder for the plant may comprise a base portion. The leg is preferably connected to the base.

In an embodiment, the locking member is pivotally connected to the leg is engageable with the support. Because the locking member is pivotally connected to the leg, it may be collapsed simultaneously as the leg is being collapsed. Alternatively, the locking member may be pivotally connected to the support and it may be engageable with the leg. This provides an alternative arrangement to provide locking of the leg in the upright position.

In an embodiment, the collapsing mechanism comprises a member for releasably locking the leg in the upright position. In this way, the leg is securable in the upright position and the leg is prevented from inadvertently collapsing .

In a preferred embodiment, the locking member extends between the leg and the support. This allows the leg to be located and secured in an upright position whilst providing secure locking and a simple mechanism which is also appealing to the eye. An important advantage of the locking mechanism as herein described is that the locking member remains connected to the stand whilst the leg is in a collapsed position. This allows the leg to be secured in the upright position whilst also avoiding the need to provide additional components which are later added to the stand to secure the leg.

This is advantageous as both collapsing and erection of the stand can be achieved without the use of any tools and without fitting or refitting of loose components. This has the advantage that the product may be used and assembled by users with limited "DIY" skills.

In addition, the collapsing mechanism is arranged such that the stand provides a strong and stable construction which can be safely moved whilst erected but which can, nevertheless, be folded up for storage or transport if required .

In an embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a receiving member for receiving and locating the locking member. The receiving member may be located on the base of the support.

Preferably, the locking member is biased towards the receiving member when the leg is in an approximate upright position. This ensures that the locking member securely engages the receiving member. In addition, the biasing action ensures that the user is reassured that the locking member cannot inadvertently slip out, or otherwise removed from the receiving member, without the use of a limited amount of force.

In another embodiment, the locking member is biased in relation to the receiving member such that upon engagement with the receiving member, the exertion of force away from the receiving member is required to disengage the locking member .

In an embodiment, the locking member may be pivotally connected to the support in such a way that the locking member is biased towards the receiving member. In another embodiment of the invention, the locking member may be shaped or configured such that the shape or configuration of the locking member provides the bias towards the receiving member.

In yet another embodiment the receiving members may be in the form of slots, the slots being adapted to receive the locking member.

In a further embodiment the support or holder may be adapted to receive at least one plant receptacle or plant container. The support may partially enclose the receptacle.

In an embodiment, the stand may be configured as a cradle or a crib. Cradles or cribs are generally considered popular in gardens and patio areas .

In another embodiment of the invention, the stand may comprise one or more decorative elements, the design and configuration collapsing mechanism being in keep with the decorative elements of the stand. The mechanism is of a suitable configuration and the mechanism is arranged such that the overall appearance of the stand is not compromised by the presence of the collapsing mechanism.

As the collapsing mechanism is in keeping with the decorative elements of the stand, the overall appearance of the stand appealing to the eye, and the collapsing mechanism does not detract from the aesthetics of the stand.

In an embodiment, the support may comprise ornamental or decorative elements which enhance the eye appeal of the stand. In addition, or alternatively, the leg may comprise ornamental elements and/or decorative elements which allow the stand to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

In a preferred embodiment, the leg has one or more feet. The feet may comprise ornamental elements. The leg may further have one or more arms. The arms may be pivotally connected to the support. The arms may comprise further ornamental and/or decorative elements.

In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a pair of legs . Each leg may comprise a pair of feet to support the legs from the ground. Each leg may further comprise a pair of arms which are pivotally connected to the support.

In an embodiment, the stand or parts thereof comprise a wire material such as a plastics wire material or a metal wire material. In a preferred embodiment, the stand is manufactured exclusively from a metal wire material.

A metal wire material provides important eye. appeal whilst stands can be economically manufactured of this material. Metal wire stands are also of a light weight which provides efficient and convenient transportation of the stand. The metal wire material preferably comprises wire material of an approximate circular cross-section.

However, the stand according to the invention may also comprise metal wire material of alternative cross-sections and notably metal wire material of a square cross section. The latter metal wire material has the important advantage that it can be more efficiently and conveniently welded to form the stand as described herein.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plant stand supporting a plant container according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the legs of the plant stand of Figure 1 in an upright, locked position; and

Figure 3 presents the legs of the plant stand of Figures 1 and 2 in a collapsed, folded position .

The plant stand 10 comprises a support or holder 14 for supporting a plant container 12 from the ground. The stand 10 further comprises a pair of legs 16, 18 which space the plant support 14 form the ground. The legs 16, 18 each comprise a pair of feet 20, 21, 22 and 23 which engage with the ground. The legs 16, 18 further comprise respective pairs of arms 24, 25 and 26, 27 which are pivotally connected to the support by. means of pivots 28, 29 and 30, 31.

Ornamental elements in form of "curls" 50, 52 are provided on the legs 16, 18 to increase the eye appeal and overall decorative effect of the stand 10. The feet 20, 21 and 22, 23 are essentially formed by the curled ornamental elements 32. The legs 16, 18 are secured in place by means of locking members 34, 36. The locking members 34, 36 are each respectively pivotally connected to the respective legs 16, 18 on one end by means of pivots 38, 40. The support comprises receiving members in the form of slots 42, 44 which are configured to receive the end portions 46, 48 of the locking members 34, 36.

The locking members 34, 36 are mounted on the legs 16,18 in such a way that upon engaging with the slots 42, 44, the locking members are biassed towards the slots 42, 44. To collapse the stand 10, the biassing force of the locking members 34,36 is overcome by the user by pulling the locking members 34,36 away from the slots 42,44 to allow the locking members 34,36 to disengage from the receiving slots 42,44.

The stand 10 is manufactured from a wire metal material. The wire metal is of an approximate square cross section. This allows efficient and secure welding to form the structure of the stand 10.

In use, the legs 16,18 of the stand 10 are erected by folding the legs upwards in an upright position. The locking members 34, 36 are then mounted in the receiving members 42, 44 to securely lock the legs 16, 18 in the upright position (as shown in Figure 3) . The stand 10 is then ready for use.

After use, to facilitate transport and/or storage, the locking members 34,36 are pulled away from the slots 42,44 to unlock the locking members 34,36. The legs 16, 18 are then collapsed in such a way that they are in an approximate parallel position relative to the base of the support 14. The locking members 34,36 are then also approximately substantially parallel to the base of the support 14.

This allows the stand 10 to be conveniently transported or stored whereby the stand 10 occupies minimum space. The collapsed stand 10 can further be nested with additional collapsed stands so as to limit the space required by the stands .

It is evident that the stand as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings may be used for a wide range of purposes which are not necessarily limited to the use as a plant stand. Furthermore, it is evident that the shape and configuration of the stand may vary depending on aesthetic requirements and the use of the stand.

Claims

1. A plant stand comprising a plant support, and at least one leg connected to the plant support for spacing the plant support from the ground; the stand further comprising collapsing means for moving at least one leg in relation to the support between an in-use position, for normal use of the stand, and a collapsed or folded position for storage and transport of the stand.

2. The plant stand according to claim 1 further comprising a locking member for releasably retaining the leg in the in-use configuration.

3. The plant stand according to claim 2 wherein the locking member is pivotally connected to the leg and engageable with the support.

4. The plant stand according to claim 2 wherein the locking member is pivotally connected to the support and engageable with the leg.

5. The plant stand according to any one of claims 2 to

4 wherein the locking member extends between the leg and the support.

6. The plant stand according to any one of claims 2 to

5 wherein the support comprises a receiving member for receiving and locating the locking member.

7. The plant stand according to claim 6 wherein the receiving member is located on the base of the support.

8. The plant stand according to claim 7 wherein the locking member is biassed towards the receiving member when the leg is its in-use configuration.

9. The plant stand according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the locking member is biassed in relation to the receiving member such that upon engagement with the receiving member, the exertion of force away from the receiving member is required to disengage the locking member.

10. The plant stand according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the receiving members is provided by a slot, the slot being adapted to receive the locking member.

11. The plant stand according any one of the preceding claims wherein the plant support comprises a base portion.

12'. The plant stand according to claim 11 the at least one leg is connected to the base.

13. The plant stand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support comprises a pair of legs, each leg comprising a pair of feet to support the legs from the ground.

14. The plant stand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the leg comprised one or more arms, pivotally connected to the support.

15. The plant stand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plant support is adapted to receive at least one plant receptacle or plant container.

16. The plant stand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stand is configured as a cradle or a crib .

17. The plant stand according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support and or the at least one leg comprises ornamental and/or decorative elements to enhance the eye appeal of the stand.

18. A plant support substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.