Modular support structure for potted plants

Abstract

The present invention is enclosed in the area of potted plant displays. In particular, it is directed to modular, adjustable and expandable structures for holding potted plants. The purpose of the object of the present invention thus includes to assemble a modular structure with limitless range of display, horizontally and vertically, to provide a practical and aesthetic arrangement of several potted plants that can be adapted to different locations, whether it is assembled indoors or outdoors.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] MODULAR SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR POTTED PLANTS

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is enclosed in the area of potted plant displays, in particular to modular, adjustable and expandable structures for holding potted plants.

[0005] PRIOR ART

[0006] Several arrangements can be used to support and display plants in both aesthetic and practical manner to ensure adequate exposure to sunlight and to provide facilitated access for watering. Tree-shaped supports are often used to display several plant containers to maximize indoor space, allowing plant containers to be arranged vertically in stacked branches on several levels that radiate from a central support pole.

[0007] Gardening walls are another way to display plants by stacking plants and maximizing horizontal space.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,475 discloses a modular structure that supports plant containers in a tree configuration.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,485 discloses a vertical planter structure, or gardening wall, comprising several stackable blocks that interlock and form multiple planting spaces to display plants in several vertical levels, while also being able to further extend the gardening wall horizontally.

[0010] However, both tree-like supports and gardening walls are limited regarding the range of display. Tree-like supports require a central pole to support the branches that hold the plant containers, and are not able to extend the display in the horizontal plane. Gardening walls may be able to extend the display in both vertical and horizontal plane upon installation, however, are not versatile to further change the configuration of the display after installation.

[0011] The proposed invention innovatively provides a solution for such problems.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is an object of the present invention a modular support structure comprising:

[0014] - at least one surface anchoring module adapted to provide an anchoring point to an anchoring surface;

[0015] - at least one platform module containing a plurality of holes; - at least one platform-to-platform connection module, said module having a sandwich-like configuration consisting in a top and bottom layer and a middle groove adapted to connect at least two adjacent modules in the same horizontal plane, wherein top and bottom layer contain a plurality of aligned holes and wherein the holes of platform-to-platform connection modules and the holes of adjacent modules are interlocked in the same horizontal plane and aligned to form at least one combined hole.

[0016] Such structure therefore provides a plurality of holes to support plant containers not limited to the number of holes in a single platform, wherein several modules can be attached and provide additional holes to support plant containers.

[0017] The interlocking mechanism between different modules provide a limitless array of possible configurations to adapt to the space available for the plant display, whether it is placed indoors or outside.

[0018] Moreover, several anchoring modules may be used to provide additional support to the extending plant display structure, if necessary.

[0019] In addition to the platform modules that can be interlocked to extend the plant display structure in the horizontal plane, it is also an object of the present invention the use of vertical connection modules to connect different modules, anchoring and / or platform modules, to further extent the plant display structure in the vertical axis and provide new points of horizontal extension in different vertical levels.

[0020] The modular support structure can be assembled in several configurations and is not limited to any of its described embodiments.

[0021] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates the screwable base anchoring module (2.1).

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates a platform module (3), comprising a plurality of holes (7).

[0024] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a three-hole (7) platform-to-platform module (4), comprising a top layer (4.1) and bottom layer (4.2).

[0025] Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a three-hole platform-to-platform module (4), comprising a top layer (4.1), a bottom layer (4.2) and middle groove (4.3) to interlock to an adjacent module. Figure 5 illustrates the wall anchoring module (2.2), comprising a hole to interlock to other modules and a hole (7.3) intended for a fixing element to anchor the module to a wall.

[0026] Figure 6 illustrates a suspension module (6), comprising a closed loop (12) to thread a wire or cable (13) and connect the module to a hanging surface, e.g. ceiling.

[0027] Figure 7 illustrates an anchoring module (2) comprising a protruding spike (9) to bury in a given surface.

[0028] Figure 8 illustrates a vertical connection module (5), comprising connection ports (10) at the extremities.

[0029] Figure 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular support structure (1) for potted plants.

[0030] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a wall-fixed embodiment of the modular support structure (1) for potted plants.

[0031] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a suspended embodiment of the modular support structure (1) for potted plants.

[0032] Figure 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the modular support structure (1) for potted plants.

[0033] Figure 13 is a perspective view of another wall-fixed embodiment of the modular support structure (1) for potted plants.

[0034] Figure 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the modular support structure (1) for potted plants.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The more general and advantageous configurations of the present invention are described in the Summary of the Invention. Such configurations are detailed below in accordance with other advantageous and / or preferred embodiments of implementation of the present invention.

[0037] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the connection mechanism of interlocking the holes (7) comprised in the edges of platform modules (3) into the middle groove (4.3) of the platform-to-platform connection module (4), in a sandwich manner, allows the alignment of the holes in both modules forming a shared hole (7.2) to hold a plant container. This feature allows the continuous display of plant containers between different modules, maintaining the even spacing of all plant containers displayed along the same horizontal plane, regardless of the module that hold the containers.

[0038] Moreover, the fact that the holes (7) have the same dimensions in platform modules (3), wall-anchoring modules (2.2) and platform-to-platform connection modules (4), allow a tight fit of the connection ports (10) of vertical connection modules (5) into the holes of each module (7), thus allowing a vertical extension of the modular support structure (1), wherein as the support structure is extended in the horizontal plane, one or more vertical connection ports (10) may be attached to the platform modules (3) either to add a new plant display level upwards or to provide additional support to the structure when connected downwards to an anchoring module (2), therefore providing an additional anchoring point to the overall structure.

[0039] In another relevant aspect, the wall anchoring modules (2.2) can be fixed into a vertical wall, as the module has an L-shape comprising a hole (7) that is aligned with a horizontal plane to connect to other modules and has a smaller hole (7.3) in the perpendicular facet that will face a vertical wall, wherein a fixing element such as screws, nails or compatible elements can be drive through said hole into the vertical wall. Alternatively, the wall anchoring module may comprise a suction cup (7.4) as fixing element located in the perpendicular facet that will face a vertical wall, wherein such module is fixed to the wall by pressing it against the wall as the vacuum generated between the suction cup and the wall holds the module in place. This feature allows the addition of several anchoring points to the modular structure (1) in a vertical wall, thus supporting the vertical and horizontal extension of said modular structure. The technical effect of the addition of one or more anchoring point in a vertical wall is that the modular support structure may be suspended from the ground, wherein all anchoring points for the support of the overall structure are in a vertical wall.

[0040] In addition to the previous aspect, the present invention comprises also suspension modules (6) comprising an outer edge, an inner protruding lid and a closed loop (12) in the center of the lid and on the opposing side of the outer edge. The outer edge of the suspension module has a larger radius than the holes (7) of other modules, while the inner protruding lid can fit inside the holes of other modules, thus closing said hole (7) with that lid. Once the hole (7) is closed by the lid, a wire or cable (13) can be threaded through the closed loop (12) and connected to a hanging surface, e. g. the ceiling, thus supporting the structure through tension forces of said wire or cable (13) and through the outer edge surface, which prevents the platform modules to fall once the suspension module (6) is secured by the wire or cable (13) to a hanging surface.

[0041] The modular support structure may also comprise multi-level platform modules (3.2) containing a plurality of holes (7) arranged in at least two different horizontal planes, thus allowing plant containers in the same module to be displayed in different vertical levels, thus providing a subtle aesthetic effect to fill the empty space between the horizontal planes defined by the platform modules (3). When several multi-level platforms (3.2) are combined through the platform-to-platform connection modules (4), the overall support structure may display a plurality of plant containers gradually increasing or decreasing their height of display in a continuous manner, as the structure simultaneously extends horizontally and vertically.

[0042] In addition to the previous features, the modular support structure (1) may also comprise platform modules (3) containing a base element (11) in the center of said module that can stand on top of a flat surface without the use of additional fixing elements, such as screws or nails. Said platform modules containing a base may provide support to the overall structure standing on surfaces that should not be drilled or punctured by providing a wide flat surface that is held in place by the weight of the several plant containers displayed in said platform module (3).

[0043] The modular support structure (1) may also comprise modules containing holes (7) with different radius to fit larger plant containers, therefore allowing different plant containers to be displayed in the same modular support structure (1).

[0044] DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Subsequently, several embodiments of the present invention are presented.

[0046] Figure 9 shows the typical assembly of the modular support structure (1), comprising at least one base anchoring module (2.1) that can be fixed on the ground, at least one vertical connection module (5) wherein the connection ports (10) at the extremities fit in an opening (8) of the base anchoring modules (2.1) on one end and fit inside the holes (7) of at least one platform-to-platform connection modules (4) on the other end. At least one platform module (3) then connects to the structure by interlocking a hole (7) of said platform module (3) in the middle groove (4.3) of a platform-to-platform connection module (4), forming a combined hole (7.2). The assembly in a tree-like structure then allows the display of several plant containers, one in each hole (7, 7.2) available.

[0047] Figure 10 shows a wall-mount assembly of the modular support structure (1), comprising at least one wall anchoring module (2.2) that can be fixed on vertical surfaces by suction cups (7.4), as illustrated, or by other fixing elements, and comprises at least one vertical connection module (5) wherein the connection ports (10) at the extremities fit into the hole (7) of the wall anchoring module (2.2) on one end and fit inside the holes (7) of platform-to-platform connection modules (4) on the other end. Several platform modules (3) then connect to the structure by interlocking a hole (7) of said platform module (3) in the middle groove (4.3) of the platform-to-platform connection modules (4), forming a combined hole (7.2). The assembly in a wall mounted tree-like structure then allows the display of several plant containers, one in each hole (7, 7.2) available.

[0048] Figure 11 shows a cable-suspended assembly of the modular support structure (1), comprising at least one suspension module (6) that fits in the connection port (10) of a vertical connection module (5), capping the bottom of the tubular vertical module (5). Facing the inside of the tube that consist the vertical connection module (5) is the closed loop (12) that is threaded by a cable (13) that goes through the tubular structure of the vertical connection modules (5) and through a holed top cap (14), connecting the structure to an elevated hanging surface like the ceiling or a beam-like structure. Several platform-to-platform modules (4) then connect to vertical connection modules (5) and to several platform modules (3) by interlocking a hole (7) of said platform module (3) in the middle groove (4.3) of the platform-to-platform connection modules (4), forming a combined hole (7.2). The assembly of a cable-suspended tree-like structure then allows the display of several plant containers, one in each hole (7, 7.2) available.

[0049] Figure 12 shows an assembly of the modular support structure (1), comprising at least one base anchoring module (2) containing a protruding spike (9) that can be buried on the ground, at least one vertical connection module (5) wherein the connection ports (10) at the extremities fit in the opening (8) of the base anchoring module (2) on one end and fit inside the holes (7) of at least one platform-to-platform connection modules (4) on the other end. At least one platform module (3) then connects to the structure by interlocking a hole (7) of said platform module (3) in the middle groove (4.3) of a platform-to-platform connection module (4), forming a combined hole (7.2). The assembly in a tree-like structure then allows the display of several plant containers, one in each hole (7, 7.2) available.

[0050] Figure 13 shows a wall-mount assembly of the modular support structure (1), comprising two wall anchoring modules (2.2) that can be fixed on vertical surfaces by a fixing element, connected to two vertical connection modules (5) wherein the same connection ports (10) fit into the holes (7) of the wall anchoring modules (2.2) and the platform-to-platform connection modules (4) simultaneously. Several platform modules (3) then connect to the structure by interlocking a hole (7) of said platform module (3) in the middle groove (4.3) of the platform-to-platform connection modules (4), forming a combined hole (7.2). The assembly in a wall mounted tree-like structure then allows the display of several plant containers, one in each hole (7, 7.2) available. A cap (15) fits the holes of fixing element, thus covering the fixing element supporting the structure.

[0051] Figure 14 shows an assembly of the modular support structure (1), comprising more than one anchoring module (2), each base anchoring module connected to a vertical connection module (5) wherein the connection ports (10) at the extremities fit into the base anchoring modules (2) on one end and fit inside the holes (7) of at least one platform-to-platform connection modules (4) on the other end. A platform module (3) is connected to several platform-to-platform connection modules (4), extending the array of available holes (7) in the same horizontal plane. Two multi-level platform modules (3.2) are simultaneously connected to each other and to the vertical connection modules (5) by platform-to-platform connection module (4), thus forming a subtle slope in which several plant containers may be displayed at different horizontal planes. In addition, the assembly comprises platform (3) and platform-to-platform connection modules (4) containing larger holes (7, 7.2) to fit larger plant containers. The assembly in a continuous modular structure then allows the display of several plant containers, one in each hole (7, 7.2) available.

[0052] Of course, the preferred embodiments shown above are combinable, in different possible configurations, being the present invention not limited to the embodiments previously described.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A modular support structure (1) comprising:- At least one anchoring module (2) adapted to provide an anchoring point to an anchoring surface;- At least one platform module (3) containing a plurality of holes (7);- At least one platform-to-platform connection module (4) , said module having a sandwich-like configuration consisting in a top (4.1) and bottom (4.2) layer and a middle groove (4.3) adapted to connect at least two adjacent modules in the same horizontal plane, wherein top and bottom layer contain a plurality of aligned holes (7.1) and wherein the holes of platform-to-platform connection modules and the holes of adjacent modules are interlocked in the same horizontal plane and aligned to form at least one combined hole (7.2).

2. A modular support structure (1) according to claim 1 comprising at least one vertical connection module (5) comprising two connection ports (10) at the extremities, said connection ports being configured to connect anchoring (2), platform (3) or platform-to-platform connection modules (4) in the same vertical axis.

3. A modular support structure (1) according to claim 2 wherein said vertical connection port (10) is adapted to fit in a hole (7) of a platform module (2).

4. A modular support structure (1) according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said vertical connection port is adapted to fit in an opening (8) of the anchoring module (2).

5. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims wherein the anchoring surface is the ground or a vertical wall.

6. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims wherein the adjacent modules are anchoring modules (2) and / or platform modules (3).

7. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims comprising attaching means adapted to attach an anchoring module (2) to a surface.

8. A modular support structure (1) according to claim 7 wherein the attaching means are one or a combination of the following means: glue, screws and nails.

9. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims wherein the anchoring module (2) further comprises attaching means, said attaching meanscomprising a protruding spike (9) adapted to fix the anchoring module (2) to an anchoring surface.

10. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims wherein the platform module contains at least one base element (11) adapted to provide support on a surface.

11. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims comprising a multi-level platform module (3.2) containing a plurality of holes (7) arranged in at least two different horizontal planes.

12. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims wherein the platform module (3) contains holes with different sizes.

13. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims comprising a suspension module (6) adapted to provide a connection to a hanging surface, said hanging surface being different from the ground or vertical wall.

14. A modular support structure (1) according to claim 13 wherein the suspension module (6) contains a loop (12) and wherein the hanging surface is a ceiling or a beam.

15. A modular support structure (1) according to any of the previous claims wherein the holes (7) in the platform modules (3) or platform-to-platform connection modules (4) are adapted to fit potted plants or other containers.

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