Planter

Abstract

The disclosure provides a planter that comprises a tubular body with body sidewalls tapering between a minor base and a major base, the major base being open into a liquid impermeable planting space of the tubular body; a soil tray having a tray base with tray sidewalls extending towards a peripheral shoulder that is wider than said base, at least portions of one or both of the tray sidewalls and the tray base being formed with liquid passage apertures, the soil tray being disposable within the planting space at a nesting position in which said peripheral shoulder faces the minor base, and at a planting position in which said peripheral shoulder faces the major base, and at the nesting position, the peripheral shoulder of the soil tray extends below the tray base when disposed at the planting position; and a perimeter adapter attachable to a portion of said soil tray, whereby when the soil tray is at the planting position, said perimeter adapter bears against an inside wall surface of the body sidewalls.

Description

[0001] PLANTER

[0002] TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure concerns planters.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below:

[0006] - US7,278,238

[0007] - US11,445,666

[0008] Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0009] BACKGROUND

[0010] US7,278,238 discloses 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 moisturereceiving tray may be installed at the user's election to maintain a moisture source in inferior adjacency to the support platform.

[0011] US11,445,666 discloses a planter and planter stack are described. The planter includes a planter pot configured to be nestable with other such planter pots. The planter pot includes a base, a planter sidewall integrally formed on the base and extending upwards towards a rim, and a hollow support pillar formed on the base and extending substantially vertically upwards with a drain opening at the top of the hollow support pillar in communication with an exterior side of the base. The planter further includes a removable riser configured to be nestable with other such removable risers. The removable riser includes a plate supported by an interior of the planter sidewall by an interference fit, and an aperture configured to accept a corresponding hollow support pillar.

[0012] GENERAL DESCRIPTION

[0013] The present disclosure is directed to a planter that comprises:

[0014] - a tubular body with body sidewalls tapering between a minor base and a major base, wherein the major base is open into a liquid impermeable planting space of the body;

[0015] - a soil tray having a tray base with tray sidewalls extending towards a peripheral shoulder wider than said tray base, at least portions of one or both of the tray sidewalls and the tray base are formed with liquid passage apertures; and wherein the soil tray is disposable within the planting space at a nesting position and at a planting position, wherein at the nesting position said peripheral shoulder faces the minor base and at the planting position said peripheral shoulder faces the major base, and further wherein at the nesting position the peripheral shoulder of the soil tray extends below the tray base when disposed at the planting position; and

[0016] - a perimeter adapter attachable to a portion of said soil tray, whereby when the soil tray is at the planting position said perimeter adapter bears against an inside wall surface of the body sidewalls.

[0017] The tubular body can assume any shape, such as cylindric (having a round / oval cross section), polygonal, etc.

[0018] The term ‘ liquid passage apertures' as used herein denotes apertures facilitating liquid flow from one surface to another, however said apertures being sufficiently small to prevent soil passage therethrough.

[0019] Any one or more of the following features, designs and configurations can be associated with any one or more of the aspects of the present disclosure, individually or in various combinations thereof: • The planter can comprise a planting basin extending into the planting space of the planter’s body, wherein said planting basin comprises a basin base extending within the planting space;

[0020] • The planter can be configured for planting within the planting space when the planter is positioned on the minor base, or within the planting basin when the planter is positioned on the major base;

[0021] • The planting basin can be utilized when the planter is supported upright over the major basis;

[0022] • When the planter is positioned over the minor base, a bottom portion of the planting space defines a liquid accumulation space (i.e. a liquid reservoir);

[0023] • The planting basin at the minor base can be double walled, with a liquid accumulation space extending between side walls of the tubular body and walls of the planting basin;

[0024] • One or more liquid draining ports can be disposed at the planting basin, defining a liquid flow passage between the planting space of the body and said planting basin;

[0025] • The one or more draining ports can be sealable;

[0026] • The planter can be supported at an upright orientation with either the minor base or the major base supportable over a ground surface;

[0027] • The planter can be supported at an upright orientation with either the planting space or the planting basin being at an operative position, facing upwards;

[0028] • The tubular body can be selectively utilized with either (i) the minor base supportable over a ground surface and the planting space being at an operative position facing upwards, or (ii) the major base supportable over said ground surface and the planting basin being at an operative position facing upwards;

[0029] • One or both of the minor base and the major base can comprise a peripheral ground-engaging lip;

[0030] • The planter can be configurable for nesting within a like planter, such that a nested planter is nested in a nesting like planter;

[0031] • At a nested position, a minor base of the nested planter can extend between the basin base and the major base of the nesting planter; • At a nested position, the soil tray of a nested planter can be nestingly disposed between the nested planter and the nesting planter;

[0032] • At the nesting position, the tray base of a nested soil tray can extend in proximity with the basin base of the nested planter;

[0033] • At the planting position the tray base can extend in proximity with, or bare over, a base of the planting basin;

[0034] • The perimeter adapter can be attachable to the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray;

[0035] • The perimeter adapter can comprise two or more adapter segments attachable to the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray, wherein said adapter segments are configurable to gap an annular space extending between an inside wall surface of the of the body sidewalls and a portion of said soil tray;

[0036] • The adapter segments can have an L-shape;

[0037] • The perimeter adapter segments can attach to the peripheral shoulder of the soil tray;

[0038] • The perimeter adapter segments can snapingly attach to the peripheral shoulder of the soil tray;

[0039] • One or more of the perimeter adapter segments can comprise liquid passage apertures;

[0040] • At the nesting position the perimeter adapter segments can be disposed at a space extending below the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray;

[0041] • At the nesting position the perimeter adapter segments can be disposed at the liquid accumulation space;

[0042] • The soil tray can have a cross section shape corresponding to a cross section shape of the tubular body;

[0043] • The tray sidewalls of the soil tray can taper from the peripheral shoulder towards the tray base;

[0044] • The tray sidewalls can be straight or stepped;

[0045] • The tray side walls can have a cross section similar to a cross section of the planting basin;

[0046] • At least the tubular body can be made of injection molded polymeric material; • The liquid passage apertures can have any shape (e.g. round, polygonal, elongate, etc.) or have a labyrinth pattern;

[0047] • A radial edge of the perimeter adapter can be adjusted to increase or decrease the effective cross section of the planter;

[0048] • At the planting position, the perimeter adapter can extend substantially level (horizontal);

[0049] • The planter can be configured with a liquid level indicator for providing indicia correlating with liquid level within the liquid accumulation space;

[0050] • The liquid level indicator can be detachably attachable at an outside face of the tubular body;

[0051] • A side wall of the planter’s body can comprise an opening for externally attaching thereto a liquid level indicator, being in liquid flow communication with the liquid accumulation space within the tubular body;

[0052] • At the nested position the liquid level indicator can be detached and disposed at a space extending below the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray;

[0053] • The major base and the minor base can extend coaxially along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

[0054] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0056] Fig- 1 is a top perspective view of a planter according to an example of the present disclosure, the planter positioned over its minor base;

[0057] Fig. 2A is a vertical section along line 2A - 2A in Fig. 1;

[0058] Fig. 2B is a vertical section along line 2B - 2B in Fig. 1;

[0059] Fig. 2C is an enlargement of the portion marked 2C in Fig. 2B;

[0060] Fig. 2D is a bottom perspective view of a portion of a minor base of the planter;

[0061] Fig- 3 is an exploded perspective view of the planter of Fig.1;

[0062] Fig. 4A is a top perspective view of a soil tray used in conjunction with the planter subject of the present disclosure; Fig. 4B is a vertical section through line 4B - 4B in Fig. 4A;

[0063] Fig. 4C is an exploded view of Fig. 4A;

[0064] Fig. 5A is a perspective view illustrating nested planters according to the present disclosure;

[0065] Fig. 5B is a vertical section along line 5B - 5B in Fig. 5A;

[0066] Fig. 5C is an enlargement of the portion marked 5C in Fig. 5B;

[0067] Fig. 5D is a planar (horizontal) section along line 5D - 5D in Fig. 5A;

[0068] Fig. 6A is a vertical section through a planter comprising a soil tray according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0069] Fig. 6B is an enlargement of the portion marked 6B in Fig. 6A;

[0070] Fig. 7A illustrates the planter utilizing the planting space, positioned on its minor base; and

[0071] Fig. 7B illustrates the planter utilizing the planting basin, positioned over the major base.

[0072] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0073] Attention is directed to Figs. 1 to 4C, showing a planter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] Planter 10 has a tubular body 12, which in the illustrated example has a rectangular cross section, though it is appreciated that the planter’s body can have other cross section shapes, e.g. round, ovel or other polygonal shapes (not shown). Body 12 is typically made of polymeric material, manufactured by molding.

[0075] Body 12 has a major base 16 and a coaxial minor base 18 extending along a longitudinal axis X of body 12 (in all figures, except for Fig. 7B, the planter is illustrated positioned over its minor base 18). Major base 16 is open into a liquid impermeable, major planting space 20 of body 12, with body sidewalls 22 tapering between said major base 16 and minor base 18. Notably, both major base 16 and minor base 18 have a lip 21 whereby the body can be supported thereover.

[0076] Minor base 18 has a planting basin 30 extending into the planting space 20 of the planter’s body. The planting basin 30 comprises a basin base 32 extending within the planting space 20 of the body 12. The planting basin 30 has a tapering inside wall 36 forming a double-walled configuration defining a liquid accumulation space or liquid reservoir 38 that extends between sidewalls 22 of the tubular body 12 and walls 36 of the planting basin 30. Whilst in the illustrated example planter 10 comprises a planting basin 30 at the minor base 18, it is appreciated that the planter can be utilized regardless the provision of said planting basin 30, i.e. when a bottom portion of the planting space 20 serves as a liquid accumulation space (liquid reservoir) for said major planting space 20.

[0077] It is appreciated that planter 10 can be selectively utilized at first position when it is disposed over the minor base 16 and planting takes place within the planting space 20 (Fig. 7A), or at a second position, at which the planter 10 is positioned upside-down, namely supported on a ground surface over major base 16, with planting taking place within planting basin 30 (Fig. 7B). Notably, the planting space of planting basin 30 is significantly smaller than that of major planting space 20, with no liquid reservoir defined therein.

[0078] When it is desired to utilize major planting space 20, a soil tray 40 is used in order to support soil received within the major planting space 20 thereabove. In such a configuration, a space below said soil tray 40 is soil-free and can function as the liquid accumulation space (liquid reservoir).

[0079] Soil tray 40, typically made of injected polymer material, has a rectangle cross section with side walls 42 tapering from peripheral shoulder 46 towards a tray base 48 (both having a rectangle shape as well). It is seen that at least portions of tray base 48 and peripheral shoulder 46 are formed with liquid passage apertures 52. It is, however, appreciated that also portions of side walls 42 can be also formed with liquid passage apertures (not shown). The arrangement is such that liquid passage apertures 52 are dimensioned to facilitate only liquid flow from one surface to another, however said apertures being sufficiently small to prevent soil passage therethrough. Said liquid passage apertures 52 can have any shape (e.g. round, polygonal, elongate, etc.) or have a labyrinth pattern.

[0080] Attachable to the peripheral shoulder 46 is a perimeter adapter 60, comprising four L-shaped adapter segments 62, each fitted with a shoulder coupling recess 64 and being attachable thereto by sliding displacement in direction of arrow 66 into snaping engagement at a corner of peripheral shoulder 46. Portions of adapter segments 62 comprise liquid passage apertures 57. The arrangement being such that once attached, said perimeter adapter 60 is configurable to gap an annular space extending between an inside wall surface 23 of the of body sidewalls 22 and peripheral boundary portion of said soil tray 40, as see, e.g., in Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C and 6B. Accordingly, at a so called ‘planting position’ once perimeter adapter 60 is attached to peripheral shoulder 46 of soil tray 40, lateral edges of perimeter adapter 60 bear against inside wall surface 23 of the sidewalls 22, supporting the soil tray 40 within planting space 20, thereby partitioning the planting space between a soil zone extending above oil tray 40 and a liquid accumulation space 38. Notably, at the planting position, the peripheral shoulder 46 extends horizontally within the body 12.

[0081] At this planting position (‘first planting position’) a major portion of the planting space 20 can be filled with soil, and irrigation liquid accumulates within liquid accumulation space 38, such that plants can draw liquid as may be required for growth.

[0082] At a bottom portion of sidewall 22 there is a niche 70 with an aperture 72 extending into liquid accumulation space 38, comprising a threaded boss 74 (best seen in Fig. 2C) extending within the liquid accumulation space 38. A liquid level 80 having a transparent body, is attachable within niche 70 by a hollow tube 81 extending into liquid accumulation space 38, and secured thereto by a nut 82 fastened over threaded boss 74. The arrangement being such that liquid level within liquid accumulation space 38 is indicated at liquid level 80 by communicating vessels phenomenon.

[0083] Planter 10 is configurable for nested stacking, useful for space saving storage and shipping. Accordingly, the tapering body 12 of planters 10, facilitates such nesting, though not while soil tray 40 is assembled and functionally positioned within planting space 20. Hence, in order to maximize nesting, soil tray 40 can be disposed within planting space 20 at a nesting position (Figs. 5A to 5D), wherein at said nesting position said peripheral shoulder 46 faces the minor base 18 (as opposed the planting position wherein said peripheral shoulder 46 faces the major base 16). At the nesting position, the peripheral shoulder 46 of the soil tray 40 extends at a level Ls below level Lp of the tray base 48 (Fig. 5C) when disposed at the planting position (namely, wherein Lp > Ls).

[0084] In the illustrated example, at the planting position, tray base 48 of soil tray 40 is disposed slightly above basin base 32 (or may rest thereabove as illustrated in the example of Figs. 6A and 6B). However, at the nesting position, the peripheral shoulder 46 of the soil tray 40 extends below level LB of basin base 32 (Fig. 5C).

[0085] Furthermore, in order to maximize nesting, at the nesting position adapter segments 62, as well as liquid level 80 and fastener nut 82 are all receivable stacked over one another within liquid accumulation space 38 (as can best be seen in Figs. 5C and 5D), at a fashion not interfering with nesting of soil tray 40 (even at its inverted, nesting position).

[0086] Reverting to Fig. 2D, it is seen that wall 36 of planting basin 30 is formed with one or more liquid draining ports 90 providing a liquid flow passage between the planting space 20 (in fact between liquid accumulation space 38) and said planting basin outside space of major planter for draining excess liquid. The draining port 90 is sealable by a removable stopper 92. It is appreciated that the one or more liquid draining ports 90 can be a-priori concealed and may be opened at user’s choice, e.g. by boring, drilling, punching, etc. at pre-designated locations.

[0087] Turning now to Figs. 6A and 6B, there is illustrated a slightly different embodiment of soil tray 40’, wherein like elements to those of Figs. 1 to 5B are designated with same reference numbers as discussed herein before, however with a (‘) indication. The main difference between embodiments resides in the stepped shape of side walls of soil tray 40’, having a first tapering wall portion 42A and a second tapering wall portion 42B, with an intermediate soil support 49 (also comprising tiny liquid passage apertures 52’). The arrangement in the example illustrated here is that at the first planting position (i.e. utilizing major planting space 20’) a surface of base tray 48’ rests above basin base 32’.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A planter comprising: a tubular body with body sidewalls tapering between a minor base and a major base, the major base being open into a liquid impermeable planting space of the tubular body; a soil tray having a tray base with tray sidewalls extending towards a peripheral shoulder that is wider than said base, at least portions of one or both of the tray sidewalls and the tray base being formed with liquid passage apertures, the soil tray being disposable within the planting space at a nesting position in which said peripheral shoulder faces the minor base, and at a planting position in which said peripheral shoulder faces the major base, and at the nesting position, the peripheral shoulder of the soil tray extends below the tray base when disposed at the planting position; and a perimeter adapter attachable to a portion of said soil tray, whereby when the soil tray is at the planting position, said perimeter adapter bears against an inside wall surface of the body sidewalls.

2. The planter of claim 1, wherein a planting basin extends from the minor base into the planting space, wherein said planting basin comprises a basin base extending within the planting space.

3. The planter of claim 2, wherein the planter is configured for planting within the planting space when the planter is positioned on the minor base, or within the planting basin when the planter is positioned on the major base.

4. The planter of claim 2 or 3, wherein the planting basin at the minor base is double walled, with a liquid accumulation space extending between the body sidewalls and walls of the planting basin.

5. The planter of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein one or more liquid draining ports are disposed at the planting basin to define a liquid flow passage between the planting space and said planting basin.

6. The planter of claim 5, wherein the one or more draining ports are sealable.

7. The planter of any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein at the planting position, the tray base extends in proximity with, or bares over, a base of the planting basin.

8. The planter of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the tubular body can be selectively utilized with either (i) the minor base supportable over a ground surface and the planting space being at an operative position facing upwards, or (ii) the major base supportable over said ground surface and the planting basin being at an operative position facing upwards.

9. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a bottom portion of the planting space defines a liquid accumulation space.

10. The planter of claim 9, comprising a liquid level indicator for providing indicia correlating with liquid level within the liquid accumulation space.

11. The planter of claim 10, wherein the liquid level indicator is detachably attachable at an outside face of the tubular body.

12. The planter of claim 10 or 11, wherein at least one of the body sidewalls comprises an opening for externally attaching thereto the liquid level indicator, the liquid level indicator being in liquid flow communication with liquid accumulation space within the tubular body.

13. The planter of claim 12, wherein at the nested position, the liquid level indicator is detached and disposed at a space extending below the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray.

14. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein one or both of the minor base and the major base comprises a peripheral ground-engaging lip.

15. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 14, configurable for nesting within a like planter, such that a nested planter is nested in a nesting like planter.

16. The planter of claim 15, wherein at a nested position, the minor base of a nested planter extends between the basin base and the major base of the nesting planter.

17. The planter of claim 15 or 16, wherein at a nested position, the soil tray of a nested planter is nestingly disposed between the nested planter and the nesting planter.

18. The planter of claim 17, wherein at said nesting position, the tray base of the soil tray of the nested planter extends in proximity with the basin base of the nested planter.

19. The planter of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein at the nesting position, the perimeter adapter segments are disposed at a space extending below the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray.

20. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the perimeter adapter is attachable to the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray.

21. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the perimeter adapter comprises two or more adapter segments attachable to the peripheral shoulder of said soil tray, wherein said adapter segments are configurable to gap an annular space extending between an inside wall surface of the of the body sidewalls and a portion of said soil tray.

22. The planter of claim 21, wherein the one or more adapter segments have an L- shape.

23. The planter of claim 21 or 22, wherein the perimeter adapter segments are attachable to the peripheral shoulder of the soil tray.

24. The planter of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the perimeter adapter segments are snapingly attachable to the peripheral shoulder of the soil tray.

25. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein one or more of the perimeter adapter segments comprises liquid passage apertures.

26. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the soil tray has a cross section shape corresponding to a cross section shape of the tubular body.

27. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the tray sidewalls taper from the peripheral shoulder towards the tray base.

28. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the tray sidewalls are straight or stepped.

29. The planter of any one of claims 2 to 28, wherein the tray sidewalls have a cross section similar to a cross section of the planting basin.

30. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein at least the tubular body is made of injection molded polymeric material.

31. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein a radial edge of the perimeter adapter is adjusted to increase or decrease the effective cross section of the planter.

32. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein at the planting position, the perimeter adapter extends substantially horizontally.

33. The planter of any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein the major base and the minor base extend coaxially along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

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