Modular tree-like structure for holding potted plants
AssigneeFounder Plastics, Inc.
InventorChor Joseph Ho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular, tree-like structure for holding or hanging potted plants is suitable as an indoor flower/herbs stand. A base on casters supports a height adjustable central stem. The central stem is assembled using a coupling device having means rotatably connecting a plurality of branch arms with brackets, or flower basket hooks, for supporting a plurality of potted plants in a horizontally tiered arrangement and un-obstructing tree configuration. The combination of various length/size brackets in a multi-tier arrangement which can rotate independent from the central stem, allows for an increased number of potted plants to be adequately displayed on a given floor surface.
Claims25
In a display tree-like structure of the type having a stem made of a plurality of end-to-end connected stem elements and a plurality of branches for holding objects, a multi-purpose coupling device for connecting two consecutive stem elements, comprising:
- a stem connector having a lower plug and an upper plug joined by a stopping ring, said stopping ring extending at the exterior of said stem connector between said plugs;
- a first branch support comprising a smaller base and a larger base connected by an inner and an outer wall, said outer wall defining a frusto-conical body, said inner wall forming an axially aligned cylindrical bore, said first branch support further comprising a friction ring extending radially inwardly within said axially aligned cylindrical bore and comprising a first and a second friction surface, wherein said first friction surface is defined in a mating plane containing said larger base and is configured to engage said stopping ring of said stem connector while allowing rotation of said first branch support about said stem connector,
- a plurality of branch arm connectors;
- and
- a plurality of V-shaped slots and associated pockets formed in said frusto-conical body for receiving the branch arm connectors supporting said plurality of branches.
In a display tree-like structure of the type having a stem made of a plurality of end-to-end connected stem elements and a plurality of branches for holding objects, a multi-purpose coupling device for connecting two consecutive stem elements, comprising:
- a stem connector having a lower plug and an upper plug joined by a stopping ring, said stopping ring extending at the exterior of said stem connector between said plugs;
- a first branch support comprising a smaller base and a larger base connected by an inner and an outer wall, said outer wall defining a frusto-conical body, said inner wall forming an axially aligned cylindrical bore defined by an inner wall, a friction ring extending radially inwardly within said axially aligned cylindrical bore configured to engage said stopping ring of said stem connector while allowing rotation of said first branch support about said stem connector,
- a plurality of branch arm connectors;
- a plurality of V-shaped slots and associated pockets formed in said frusto-conical body for receiving the branch arm connectors supporting said plurality of branches;
- and
- a stem element having an internal diameter configured to receive at least a portion of said stem connector, wherein each plug has a tapered outer wall and an annular cross-section increasing towards said stopping ring until an external diameter D is provided proximate to said stopping ring, the diameter D being substantially equal to the internal diameter of said stem element such that at least a portion of said stopping ring is configured to engage with said stem element when said stem connector is received in said stem element, wherein said axially aligned cylindrical bore has a diameter D2, and is sized to slide over said upper plug until a friction surface of said friction ring becomes in registry with a contact surface of said stopping ring.
In a display tree-like structure of the type having a stem made of a plurality of end-to-end connected stem elements and a plurality of branches for holding objects, a multi-purpose coupling device for connecting two consecutive stem elements, comprising:
- a stem connector having a lower plug and an upper plug joined by a stopping ring, said stopping ring extending at the exterior of said stem connector between said plugs;
- a first branch support comprising a smaller base and a larger base connected by an inner and an outer wall, said outer wall defining a frusto-conical body, said inner wall forming an axially aligned cylindrical bore defined by an inner wall, a friction ring extending radially inwardly within said axially aligned cylindrical bore, wherein said axially aligned cylindrical bore has a diameter D2 sized to slide over said upper plug until a friction surface of said friction ring becomes in registry with a contact surface of said stopping ring while allowing rotation of said first branch support about said stem connector,
- a second branch support mounted on top of and in symmetry with said first branch support;
- a plurality of branch arm connectors;
- and
- a plurality of V-shaped slots and associated pockets formed in said frusto-conical body for receiving the branch arm connectors supporting said plurality of branches, wherein said friction ring is formed adjacent to said large base and has a diameter D3 less than D2 and D3 greater than D, and wherein a diameter D1 of said stopping ring is smaller than said diameter D2 for enabling rotation of said branch support around said stem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.