GB2448923A - A stackable planting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A planting system in which pots are stackable one upon another, and in which pots from adjacent stacks are connectable by means of a series of ties. The pot 1 has a plurality of apertures 6 each fitted with a removable mouth insert 5. A crown 10 is adapted to fit on the wider end 1A of the pot, while a crown 20 of narrower diameter is integrally moulded to the narrower end 1B of the pot. This enables the pots to be stacked vertically. Removable discs of a large diameter 30 and a small diameter 40 are adapted to be received within the relevant crowns to allow for pots to be stacked top to top and bottom to bottom (see figure 3). Removable ties 50 are provided to connect the upper end of one pot to the lower end of another pot in an adjacent stack. Each tie has a first end with a ring 51 of a large diameter and a second end with a smaller ring 52.

Description

Title: Kit to Create Structure for Growing Plants The present invention

relates to a kit to create a structure for growing plants.

It is known to provide a plant pot which has apertures around its surface out of which plants can grow. Such a pot provides a decorative feature in igarden supporting a number of plants in the same pot.

it is a6u known to create a wail from building blocks, each block containing soil and having apertures around its surface out of which plants can grow. Such blocks can be stacked on top of each other to increase the height of the wall, but they are not tied together laterally. The resultant wall is visually uninteresting.

The invention seeks to provide a kit to create a structure for growing plants which can vary in shape and size to provide an interesting decorative feature in a garden.

According to the present iriventknt there is provided a kt to create a structure for growing plants, said kit comprising singly or in combination: a) at least one pot, each having an upper open end and a lower sealed end, the lower end of one pot being connectable to the upper end of an adjacent pot, and each pot having a plurality of apertures in its surface through which plants can grow when a growing medium is placed in the pot, and b) a plurality of ties, each tie having first and second ends to connect together laterally first and second adjacent pots and/or first and second adjacent stack of pots.

Preferably each tie connects the upper or lower end of one first pot to the upper or lower end of an adjacent second pot. Preferably each first and second end of a tie is a ring which engages on an annular component on the upper or lower end of a pot.

Preferably each pot is a tube with a removable disc at one lower end to form a pot tower sealed end. Preferably the disc projects from the pot lower end to engage with the open end of a second pot when stacked on a second pot.

Preferably cueb tube is a tapered tube, and twi:, different sizes of discs are provided to fit in the narrow end of the tapered tube or the wide end of the tapered tube whereby the tapered tube can be orientated tapering upwards or downwards. Preferably a crown is provided at each end of the tube to receive a disc, and each crown being shaped to inter-engage with the crown on the end of an adjacent tube. Preferably the crown has an annular shoulder as a component to receive a ring of a tie.

Preferably each pot aperture has a mouth with a projecting lip. Each mouth may be in the form of a rcmovabk inscri which cngages in a hole in a pot wall. Preferably each insert can be rotated 1800 relative to the hole in a pot wall so that the projecting lip is a lower lip depending on the orientation of the pot.

Each pot may be moulded in two halves. Connection means may be provided to connect two halves of a pot together.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a pot, Figure 2 shows an assembled view of a pot, and Figure 3 shows a structure created by eight pots of the type shown in Figure I. Referring to Figures I and 2 there is shown a pot 1.

Pot I is formed from two plastics moulded tapered tube components 2A,2B. Tube components 2A,23 are releasably connectable together by connection means in the form of flexible fingers with lugs 3 at one narrow end of tube 2A which engage in slots 4 in the wider end of tube component 28.

Poti hasawidererici lAandariarrowend lB.

Pot I can be filled with a growing medium (not shown). A plurality of apertures are provided in the surface of pot I my means of removable mouth inserts 5 which engage in holes 6 in the surface of pot I. Each mouth 5 has a projecting lip SA and four flexible fingers with lugs 5B which reliably secure the mouth insert to a hole 6. Each mouth insert 5 can be rotated 3800 relative to the hole 6 in a pot wall so that the projecting lip 5A is a lower lip depending on the orientation of the pot. Plants in the pot can grow through a mouth insert with the projecting lower lip preventing growing medium such as soil from falling out of the mouth insert.

A crown 10 of a first wider diameter is adapted to sit on the wider end IA of pot I. Crown 10 has flexible fingers with lugs II which engage with slots 7 adjacent the end IA of pot I. Crown 10 has scalloped end 12 which can inter-engage with the scalloped end of a crown lOon an adjacent pot (see Figure 3). Crown 10 has a peripheral shoulder 13.

A CroWn 20 of a second narrower diameter is integrally moulded on the narrower end ill of pot I. Crown 20 has scalloped end 22 which can inter-engage with the scalloped end of a crown 20 on an adjacent pot (see Figure 3). Crown 20 has a peripheral shoulder 23.

A removable disc 30 of a first wider diameter is adapted to be received within the scalloped wall of crown 10 with a friction fit to seal a pot end IA. Disc 30 is thick enough to project from the crown 10 at pot end IA to engage with the crown 10 on an open end of a second pot when stacked below a second pot. Disc 30 may be formed from two moulded halves 30A,30B.

A removable disc 40 of a second narrower diameter is adapted to be received within the scalloped wall of crown 20 with a friction fit to seal a pot end I B. Disc 40 is thick enough to project from the crown 20 at pot end lB to engage with the crown 20 on an open end of a second pot when stacked on a second pot. Disc 40 may be formed from two halves 40A,40B.

Removable ties 50 are provided to connect the upper or lower end of one first pot to the upper or lower end of an adjacent second top. Each tie has a first end with a ring 51 of a larger diameter to engage with the peripheral shoWder!3 of crown JO, and has second end with a ring 52'to engage the peripheral shoulder 23 of crown 20. Each shoulder 13 or 23 can take more than one tie ring (see Figure 3) As shown in Figure 3 a structule can be created using eight pots of the type shown in Figure I. The posts are stacked vertically on one another and pots or stacks of pots arc tied laterally together using ties 50. In some instances the crowns 20 on two narrow ends I B of pots are inter-engaged. In another instance the crowns tO on two wider ends IA of pots I are inter-engaged.

Also some of the pots are orientated tapering inwards towards the top and other orientated tapering outwards towards the top. The mouth inserts are orientated so that the projecting lip is a lower lip.

It is envisaged that a kit of all the parts thow in Figures I and 2 could be purchased as a package. Multiples of kits could be purchased to allow a person to create a structure (i.e. eight kits would be purchased to make the structure of Figure 3). Numerous different shapes of structures could be designed depending on the number of kits purchased. Also a person could purchase at first a few kits and make a first structure, and at a later date more kits could be purchased and the first structure disassembled and a new second larger structure could be created. Also components of a kit could be sold individually.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described ahove.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. I. A kit to create a structure for growing plants, said kit comprising singly or in combination: a) at least one pot, each having an upper open end and a lower sealed end, the lower end of one pot being connectable to the upper end of an adjacent pot, and each pot having a plurality of apertures in its surface through which plants can grow when a growing medium is placed in the pot, and b) a plurality of ties, each tie having first and second ends to connect together laterally first and second adjacent pots and/or first and second adjacent stack of pots.
2. 2. A kit according to claim I, wherein each tie connects the upper or lower end of one first pot to the upper or lower end of an adjacent second pot.
3. 3. A kit according to claim I or 2, wherein each first and second end of a tie is a ring which engages on an annular component on the upper or lower end of a pot.
4. 4. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein each pot is a tube with a removable disc at one lower end to form a pot lower sealed end.
5. 5. A kit according to claim 4, wherein the disc projects from the pot lower end to engage with the open end of a second pot when stacked on a second pot.
6. 6. A kit awvunliug Lu claim 4 or 5, whereiu each tube is a tapered tube, and two different sizes of discs are provided to fit in the narrow end of the tapered tube or the wide end of the tapered tube whereby the tapered tube can be orientated tapering upwards or downwards.
7. 7. A kit according to claim 4, 5, or 6, wherein a crown is provided at each end of the tube to receive a disc, and each crown being shaped to inter-engage with the crown on the end of an adjacent tube.
8. 8. A kit according to claim 7, wherein the crown has an annular shoulder as a component to receive a ring of a tie.
9. 9. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein each pot aperture has a mouth with a projecting lip.
10. 10. A kit according to claim 9, wherein each mouth may be in the form of a removable insert which engages in a hole in a pot wall.
11. I I. A kit according to claim 10, wherein each insert can be rotated 1800 relative to the hole in a pot wall so that the projecting lip is a lower lip depending on the orientation of the pot.
12. 12. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein each pot may be moulded in two halves.
13. i3. A kit aciurding Lu Uaiin 12, wItreiii uiiuvtiOis means are)iovided to connect two baves of a pot together.
14. 14. A kit to create a structure for growing plants substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.