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False bottom insert assembly for a planter container

a planter container and insert technology, applied in the field of planter inserts, can solve the problems of insufficient mass, excessive labor, and unfavorable planter life, and achieve the effect of reducing the amount of soil, effective maintaining plant life in a viable state, and low cos

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-08-17
MANISCALCO KRISTINE ANN +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The solution reduces the overall mass of oversized planter containers by minimizing excess fill materials and provides a readily available moisture source, enhancing root health and extending watering intervals.

Problems solved by technology

Notably, the plant life that is placed or potted in oversized planter containers often have relatively shallow root systems when compared to the depth of the oversized planter container and thus require only modest amounts of soil adjacent the rim of the oversized planter container.
Furthermore, oversize planter containers, when empty, typically have sufficient mass to safely provide effective errant vehicle barricades.
Completely filling oversized planter containers with soil, rock, and other fill materials often makes the oversized planter container unwieldy and exceedingly difficult to transport requiring costly heavy-duty equipment or machinery and the services of heavy equipment operators.
By use of such a shroud, the planter may readily be provided with a dressed appearance and the planter itself, being completely hidden by the shroud can be manufactured without the normal lip structure and thus susceptible to a matched steel die single molding operation.
From a review of these patents and other prior art generally known in the relevant art, it will be seen that the prior art does not teach a container insert or insert assembly designed for use in combination with an oversized planter pot or oversized planter container for creating a false bottom in the same wherein the container insert assembly comprises a container insert or soil support platform, a support spacer member, and an optional moisture-receiving tray.
More specifically, it will be seen that that the prior art does not teach a soil support platform comprising a substantially planar superior support surface, a substantially planar inferior support surface, a peripheral support ridge, a plurality of support ribs, and a plurality of matter-receiving apertures.
Further, it will be seen that the prior art does not teach an optional moisture-receiving tray for capturing and retaining excess moisture that may drain from the matter-receiving apertures of the soil support platform.
In this regard, it is noted that the prior art does not teach a moisture-receiving tray comprising a superior moisture-collecting tray surface, an inferior tray surface, a peripheral tray surface or rim, and a plurality of tray ribs.

Method used

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  • False bottom insert assembly for a planter container
  • False bottom insert assembly for a planter container
  • False bottom insert assembly for a planter container

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

embodiment no.1

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT No. 1

[0073] A first alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns a container insert or insert assembly that is substantially identical to the preferred embodiment of the present invention except for several structures. The soil support platform of the first alternative embodiment comprises a container insert or soil support platform and an optional moisture-receiving tray. The first alternative embodiment of the soil support platform is also preferably constructed of reground polystyrene and preferably comprises substantially planar superior support surface 21 as illustrated in FIG. 18; substantially planar inferior support surface 22 as illustrated in FIG. 19; peripheral support ridge 23 as illustrated in FIG. 19; a plurality of support ribs 24 as illustrated in FIG. 19; and a plurality of matter-receiving apertures 25 as illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. Unlike the preferred embodiment of soil support platform 20, however, inferior support surface ...

embodiment no.2

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT No. 2

[0076] A second alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns an insert assembly that is substantially identical to the preferred embodiment of the present invention except for inclusion of an additional key component. In the second alternative embodiment of the present invention, the insert assembly comprises soil support platform 20 as earlier described, optional moisture-receiving tray 40 as earlier described, and, in addition, at least one support spacer member 60 as generally illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 8-10. It is noted that planter containers have widely discrepant dimension specifications. In fact, dimension variance often exists even among individual planter containers within the same model grouping. With this fact in mind, it is contemplated that support spacer member 60 functions to serve as means for enabling users to more effectively position a false bottom at a select container periphery as well as means for enabling users to form ...

embodiment no.3

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT No. 3

[0080] A third alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns an insert assembly that is substantially identical to the first alternative embodiment of the present invention except for the addition of the support spacer member 60 component as described hereinabove. It will be understood that support spacer member 60 is a component that does not structurally interfere with the moisture-receiving tray and thus it is believed that no further description is necessary here as it is within the ordinary skill of those in the pertinent art to simply add together the components of the first alternative embodiment and the support spacer member as earlier described.

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PUM

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Abstract

An insert assembly is used in combination with a planter container for creating a false bottom therein. The assembly essentially comprises a support platform for supporting a soil-bound plant, an optional spacer member for supporting the support platform, and an optional moisture-receiving tray for collecting and retaining excess moisture emanating from the support platform and the spacer member via the soil. The platform comprises a peripheral support surface that engages either the container or the spacer member for supporting the support platform at the chosen false bottom level in the planter container. Support ribs are integrally formed to the platform to increase its load bearing potential. The spacer member may be utilized as an optional structure to adjust for variable container dimensions and the moisture-receiving tray may be installed at the user's election to maintain a moisture source in inferior adjacency to the support platform.

Description

PRIOR HISTORY [0001] This is a Divisional Patent Application claiming priority to pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 655,921, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Sep. 5, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to an insert or an insert assembly for use in combination with containers so as to create a false bottom therein. More particularly, the present invention relates to a planter insert or a planter insert assembly, which when inserted into an oversized planter container, creates a false bottom therein. The present invention thus provides users with a means to make more efficient use of oversize planter containers by reducing the need for excess container fill material and thus reducing overall container mass. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0003] Gardening is an activity that continues to grow in popularity providing a source of personal satisfaction, providing aesthetic pleasure, the opportunity for relief from dai...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A01G9/02
CPCA01G9/02
Inventor MANISCALCO, KRISTINE ANNMANISCALCO, JOHN JEFFREY
Owner MANISCALCO KRISTINE ANN