FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plant display system, in particular to those suited for the indoor retail sector.

INTRODUCTION

Hanging baskets and containers for plants are well known and are extensively used today within homes and buildings and also outside with support of the plant from a ceiling inside or a porch overhead. Such devices are an effective showy way of displaying plant life and lend themselves to the effective decoration of an area.

The hanging baskets described in US5077936 and US20090212187 are typical of prior art hanging baskets. The baskets described are held by suspending means at three positions on the top half of the basket. However, these suffer the drawback that they use up more space than is necessary and are not suited or designed for stacking in a vertical arrangement.

The need exists for a plant display system which is safe to use and easy to maintain particularly in a retail setting where space is at a premium and several plant arrangements need to be displayed in a small area.

This invention relates to a plant display system suitable for multiple plant containers in which the suspending means extends through the plant container, said suspending means being secured on an upper surface such as an indoor ceiling and on a lower surface such as an indoor floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying a plant, comprising

a plant container;

suspending means; and

lighting means

wherein the plant container is held on the suspending means and the suspending means passes through an opening on the upper half of the plant container and through a peripheral surface on the lower half of the plant container. Preferably the plant container is designed so that liquid leakage out of the plant container is prevented during watering or applying plant nutrients. In one embodiment, the plant container is comprised of material which prevents liquid leakage from the plant container. The plant container may comprise ceramic material; clay material; plastic material; transparent material and/or biodegradable material. The plant container can also be used to display plants which are not requiring heavy usage of water or nutrients. In such cases, the plant container could be made of a porous material and/or woven.

The choice of suspending means is important depending on the particular purpose of the user. In one embodiment, the suspending means is substantially rigid and has the capability to remain upright. The rigid suspending means may be a pole comprised of metal or plastic. In another embodiment, the suspending means is flexible and does not have the capability to remain upright. The flexible suspending means can be a chain or a rope which may comprise metal, rubber and/or plastic.

The choice of lighting means is important and will have a decisive outcome on plant performance. In one embodiment, the lighting means is an LED light arranged above the plant container. The lighting means is preferably at a pre-determined wavelength optimized for plant growth. The distance between the lighting means and the growing plant is also optimized.

The suspending means passes through an opening on the upper half of the plant container and through a peripheral surface on the lower half of the plant container. A typical example of this arrangement of the suspending means and plant container is shown in Figure 1.

In one embodiment, the plant container is slideably attached to the suspending means. The mechanism for slideably attaching the plant container to the suspending means is designed to ensure the safety of the user and ease of maintenance of the plant display system. The plant container can be suspended using a clasp or other attaching means situated below the plant container and on which the plant container sits, thereby preventing the plant container from sliding down to the bottom of the suspending means. The attaching means may also be located inside the plant container. This can be via a screw or similar attaching means which serves to tighten a channel within the plant container which surrounds the suspending means.

The suspending means may be secured to a surface above and below the plant container. The suspending means should be secured to minimize the risk that the plant container falls to the ground and potentially injures the user. In one embodiment, the suspending means is securely attached to an upper surface only. Preferably, the suspending means is securely attached to both an upper surface and to a lower surface. The upper surface may be an indoor ceiling and the lower surface may be an indoor floor or similar fixed upper and lower surfaces. In embodiments where the suspending means is rigid, the suspending means can be released via a releasing mechanism such as a clip or hook from the upper surface whilst maintaining the plant container in substantially the same position.

The apparatus of the present invention may also comprise a further container which is held within the plant container, said further container also being suitable to hold a medium for growing a plant. The further container could be a conventional plant pot adapted for use in the apparatus of the invention. The further container would be adapted to accommodate the suspending means, for example by having a centrally located channel through which the suspending means can pass. The purpose of this adaptation would be to allow the simultaneous removal of the plant container and further container from the suspending means, and would help minimize contact or soiling of the suspending means by the growing means that supports growth of the plant. The further container may be comprised of different material from the plant container.

The medium or growing means for growing the plant is critical for optimizing plant growth or flower bloom. In one embodiment, the suspending means is entirely surrounded along at least part of its length by growing means in the plant container. The suspending means may be adapted to deliver water and/or nutrients to the growing means in the plant container. The delivery of water and/or nutrients can be automated or controlled remotely, for example if there are a large number of apparatuses to be simultaneously maintained in a retail setting, thereby making the support of plant growth less labor intensive. In another embodiment, the growing means is suitable for hydroponic plant growth.

The kind of lighting means used is essential for optimized plant growth. The lighting means may comprise one or more LED elements arranged above the plant container. In another embodiment, the lighting means comprises low voltage GRO lighting. In each case, the wavelength of the lighting is carefully controlled such that plant growth is optimized. In one embodiment, 50% more blooms and 3 times the coverage of typical plants can be obtained with GRO lighting.

The positioning of the lighting means is important for optimized plant growth and performance. The position of the lighting means is preferably adjustable. In one embodiment, the lighting means is arranged by suspending on a chain or another suitable light suspending means above the plant container. In one embodiment, every plant container comprises its own light sensor, which in some cases has an automatically adjustable height position above the plant container.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is capable of accommodating multiple plant containers that are stacked on the suspending means, preferably in vertical alignment and preferably each being adapted to accommodate the suspending means. It is envisaged that the apparatus of the invention should be adapted for easy maintenance. It will often be desirable to change the plant or the growing means in the plant container. In one embodiment, it is possible to add and remove a container from the suspending means without disturbing the position of the other containers located on the same suspending means.

The suspending means can have a closed display position and an open maintenance position, for example as shown in Figure 2A and 2B, respectively. The open maintenance position can have a partially dismantled suspending means, thereby facilitating the easy removal of plant containers from the suspending means.

The suspending means can be dismantled at two or more seams. The seams may be at any position on the suspending means. In one embodiment, the suspending means is capable of accommodating one or more plant containers above and below the seams. Preferably, the plant containers and their attaching means do not cover the seams.

In some embodiments, it would be possible to maintain the location of a plant container on the suspending means below the lowest seam and add or remove a plant container located above without having to move the lower plant container. In these embodiments, the suspended means is secured to a lower surface which may be in the form of a base to provide stability. Accordingly, when the suspending means is rigid, the lower plant container can be held in substantially the same position when the suspending means is in the open maintenance position. Likewise, it would be possible to maintain the location of a plant container on the suspending means above the highest seam, hinge, or joint and add or remove a plant container located below without having to move the higher container. In some embodiments, the seams could be replaced by a hinge or a joint. A hinge or joint arrangement would enable the user to remove a plant container by dismantling the suspending means at one position.

In one embodiment, the plant container can rotate about its Y-axis, preferably by continual rotational movement in one direction of the suspending means, and optionally with simultaneous movement of the lighting means. Movement of the plant container on its Y-axis can be facilitated by electric motor-driven rotational movement of the suspending means. In some embodiments, the plant container is permanently attached to the suspending means. The plant container can be fused or attached to the suspending means by welding or by magnetic force, for example. A plant container for use in the apparatus according to the present invention is adapted to receive suspending means. The plant container typically comprises a channel for receiving the suspending means wherein said channel is aligned with an hole on the bottom periphery of the plant container. The suspending means can pass through the channel and through the hole on the bottom periphery of the plant container. The channel may extend substantially through the whole plant container. The channel may serve to at least partially separate a medium or growing means for growing a plant from the suspending means. This prevents the medium or growing means from interacting or otherwise being in contact with the suspending means. The channel may be a central conduit.

The plant container can be held at variable positions on the suspending means. Typically, the plant container is held on the suspending means by an attaching means such as a clasp or a clip. The attaching means is typically positioned below the plant container. In other embodiments, the plant container is fused to the suspending means, for example by welding.

An apparatus is provided, wherein the plant container is replaced by a display table. The table is suitable for holding multiple plant containers of the invention as shown in Figure 4 and 5. This arrangement could be desirable if a retail store wants to move the plant containers from the apparatus of the invention and display the plants next to one another.

The above description is presented to illustrate certain embodiments of the invention. It should in no way be construed, however, as limiting the broad scope of the invention. One skilled in the art can readily devise many variations and modifications of the principles disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Referring to the figures,

Figure 1 shows an apparatus of the invention 10, with a plant container 12 held on a chain suspending means 14 and LED light lighting means 16 arranged above the plant container. The chain 14 is securely attached to surfaces above and below the apparatus. The chain 14 is secured to an indoor ceiling by a hook which is attached to a small recess in the ceiling (not shown). The chain 14 passes through a channel formed through the center of inner disc 22. The outer circumference of inner disc 22 engages and is held in place by the inner circumference of outer disc 24. Outer disc 24 is held in place on the indoor ceiling by 4 conventional screws. Inner disc 24 has a second channel through which passes a light suspending means for LED light 16 arranged above the plant container 12. Chain 14 passes through the middle of the opening or circumference 17 of plant container 12. Chain 14 continues its passage through the plant container and exits through a hole on the bottom periphery of the plant container 12 above clasp attaching means 18. The diameter of the upper end of clasp 18 is wider than the diameter of the hole on the bottom periphery of plant container 12. Clasp 18 has a central channel through which chain 14 passes, said channel aligning with the hole on the bottom periphery of the plant container 12. Chain 14 passes through the bottom of clasp 18 downwards towards the floor and through a central channel in large disc 26. The chain is secured by a hook which is attached to a small recess in the floor (not shown).

Figure 2(A) shows an apparatus of the invention 39 in a closed display position. The rigid suspending means 40 is a hollow metal pole. Male and female ends of the hollow metal pole 40 are connected together at upper seam 42 and lower seam 44. A flower plant is placed in the plant container which is located between upper seam 42 and lower seam 44; (B) shows an apparatus of the invention 45 in the open maintenance position, suitable for removing a plant container from the suspending means. The rigid suspending means is a hollow pole. Part 48 of the hollow pole is detached at the top end by disconnecting the top male end seam from the corresponding female end seam 49, said female end seam being located at the bottom of the indoor ceiling secured upper section of the hollow pole. Part 48 of the hollow pole is also detached at the bottom end by disconnecting the bottom female end seam 44 from the corresponding male end seam, said male end seam being located at the top of the floor secured lower section of the hollow pole. The bottom female end seam 44 and corresponding male end seam can be replaced with a hinge or joint (not shown) so that part 48 can move off the upright position as shown by arrow 46, whilst remaining attached to the floor secured lower section of the hollow pole.

Figure 3(A) shows an apparatus of the invention 50 having a plant container holding a flower plant; (B) shows an apparatus of the invention having a plant container 12 holding a flower plant 20 located at a higher position on the suspending means compared with the plant container of Figure 3(A). Movement of the plant container up the suspending means is facilitated by the release of the clasp attaching means 18, movement of the plant container 12 in the upwards direction by the user to the desired height and re-attachment of the clasp attaching means 18 under the plant container 12. Figure 4 shows an alternative plant display apparatus having a circular table 30 held on suspending means which passes through a channel located proximate to the middle of table 30 and held in position by an attaching means located below the table 30. A smaller circular surface 28 is placed on table 30. Smaller circular surface 28 has carved out regions in which each plant container 12 holding flower plant 20 can be held in place under lighting means 16.

Figure 5 shows an alternative plant display apparatus having a circular table 30 held on suspending means which passes through a channel located proximate to the middle of table 30 and held by an attaching means located below the table 30. A small circular surface 32 is held a distance of 2cm above table 30 by a hollow metal tubing which surrounds the suspending means and extends through the channel of small circular surface 32 and the channel of table 30. A hollow cylindrical shape which partly encloses the area above small circular surface 32 is held in position by rigid supports 34 which extend upwards from small circular surface 32 attached to an upper surface, having plant pots arranged on the table and wherein an area above the table is partly enclosed by a hollow cylindrical shape 36.