GB2186775A

GB2186775A - Plant container and method of mounting thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2186775A
Application number: GB08604186A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Beverley Cornford
Original assignee: APPLEBY CORNFORD Ltd
Current assignee: APPLEBY CORNFORD Ltd
Priority date: 1986-02-20
Filing date: 1986-02-20
Publication date: 1987-08-26
Also published as: GB8604186D0

Abstract

This invention relates to plant containers for mounting on partition walls. A plant container 1 comprises a rectangular box having two parallel oblong faces 2 and opening end faces 3. A base for the container connects all faces 2 and 3. At least one fixing means 11 is connected to the base and comprises a plate 5 having parallel side flanges 6 depending downwardly from the base. Opposing clamp plates 9 are mounted to the flanges in an adjustable manner so that the clamp plates can be urged into contact with a partition wall 10 to fixedly mount the container 1 on the partition wall. In a modification the base of the container defines an upwardly extending groove which fits over the top edge of the partition wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plant container and method of mounting therefor This invention relates to plant containers, and in particular to the mounting of such containers on partition walls.

Open plan office arrangement has become popular partly for economic reasons and partly because employers have realised the advantages of having a pleasant working environment. One of the techniques for improving the working environment is to have a number of plants located around the office. Naturally, office space is at a premium and consequently the provision of plants must utilise space efficiently. In open plan offices, working areas are defined by either movable or fixed low to high level partition walls. Thus, it is preferable to mount plants or their containers onto the partition wall. Hitherto, this has involved fixing shelves to the partition wall. However, the containers intrude into the defined working area and take up shelf space also either damage the partition wall or recessitate more stable and strong partition walls.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for mounting plant containers on partition walls which does not necessarily involve damage to the partition wall, and in particular mounts the plant container in a manner intruding into a defined working area less than hitherto known methods.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method for mounting plant containers on partition walls comprising: providing a plant container wherein a lower portion thereof includes fixing means; attaching the fixing means to an upper edge portion of said wall to fixidly mount the container abreast the wall to extend either side thereof. Consequently, the plant container can be mounted on top of the partition wall so that it does not extend into the working area defined by the partition wall. Advantageously, the plant container is then viewable from both sides of the partition wall thereby producing enhancement of the working environment on both sides of the wall.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a plant container for mounting on a partition wall comprising a container member; and fixing means having clamp surfaces for ciamping to an upper portion of said wall, the fixing means being provided on a lower portion of said container member so that, in use, the member extends either side of the partition wall onto which the fixing means is clamped. This container can therefore present the plants therein to both sides of the partition wail thereby saving on the number of containers required to enhance the office appearance. In addition, the use of clamp surfaces avoids the necessity to damage the partition wall so that the partition wall does not need to be strengthened.Finally, the container so mounted does not extend significantly into the areas defined by the partition walls and does not take up valuable shelf or wall space.

In one embodiment of the invention, the container member and fixing means are integrally formed together. This makes for a particularly cost-effective plant container moulded from plastics. Alternatively, the fixing means can comprise adjustable opposing clamp surfaces mounted to a link member connected to the base of the container member. This allows the use of the plant container on different size partition thicknesses.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a plant container embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a further plant container embodying the present invention located immediately above a partition wall.

Referring to Fig. 1, a plant container 1 comprises a rectangular box having two- parallel oblong faces 2 and opposing end faces 3. A base for the container connects all faces 2 and 3 and at the same time defines an internal groove 4 extending parallel to and above the length of the side walls 2. The width W of the groove 4 is sufficient to allow a partition wall to tightly enter into the groove. Both the width and the length L of the groove 4 are sufficient so that a partition wall entering into the groove 4 is in effect firmly gripped so that the container 1 is fixedly located on the top of the partition wall. Soil can then be placed into the container so as to receive plants.

An alternative embodiment of the plant container is shown in Fig. 2. Common components in both Figs. 1 and 2 are identified by common numerals. Once again, the container 1 includes side walls 2 and end walls 3, however there is no internal groove in the base of the container. Instead, a fixing means II comprising a plate 5 is affixed to the base of the container 1. The plate 5 includes parallel side flanges 6 depending downwardly therefrom to form a pi shape. Each side flange includes a threaded aperture for receiving a bolt 7. The thread end of each bolt is affixed to a clamp plate 9 between the two flanges whereas the bolt end remote from the clamp plates include normal adjusting knobs 8. Consequently, when the container is located above a partition 10, the bolts 7 are unscrewed sufficient so that clamp plates 9 can pass either side of the partition wall 10. By suitable adjustment of the bolts 7, the clamp plates 9 can be urged into contact with the partition wall so as to fixedly mount the container 1 on the partition wall. It will be apparent that sufficient number of fixing means 11 must be provided along the length of the container 1 in order to securely mount the container onto the partition wall 10. With the container mounted in this position onto the partition wall, the container can be filled with soil for receiving plants.

It will be apparent that a number of different fixing means can be provided to mount the container on top of the partition wall. The container is mounted on top of the wall so as to extend either side thereof advantageously presenting the foliage in the container to viewers either side of the wall.

Claims

1. A plant container for mounting on a partition wall comprising: a container member; and fixing means having clamp surfaces for clamping to an upper portion of said wall, the fixing means being provided on a lower portion of said container member so that, in use, the member extends either side of the partition wall onto which the fixing means is clamped.

2. A plant container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container member and fixing means are integrally formed together.

3. A plant container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container is formed from plastics material.

4. A plant container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixing means comprises adjustable opposing clamp surfaces mounted on a link member fixedly connected to the base of said container member.

5. A plant container for mounting on a partition wall substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.