Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial number 62/824,974, filed on March 27, 2019.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to hangers, such as those used to hang potted plants from the eaves of a house, or a fence.

Background of the Invention

[0003] In the prior art there are systems for hanging a potted plant. One such system is depicted in U.S. Patent No. D644,144 (the“Ί44 Patent”). In the Ί44 Patent, three specially designed rods each have a spherical end and a gripping end. The spherical end engages with a slotted ring, which in turn engages with a hook. Each spherical end resides in a corresponding slot formed in a top surface of the ring, and each rod extends through a radially oriented slot that extends from an outer edge of the ring toward the hook. When the hook is installed on the ring, the spherical ends are prevented from leaving the ring. The gripping end of each rod has opposing fingers that may be used to grip a pot, which may contain dirt and the roots of a plant.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. D630,125 (the 125 Patent”) depicts a system for hanging a potted plant. In the Ί25 Patent, four rods are integrally formed with a ring, and each of the rods has an integrally formed clip formed on a distal end of the rod. A hook may be caused to engage with the ring, and each of the clips may be caused to engage with an upper-edge of a pot. In this system, the hook is permitted to rotate relative to the ring, but the rods are not permitted to rotate relative to the ring or the pot.

[0005] Although these prior art systems may be used for hanging a potted plant, they have disadvantages. For example, the spherical end of the rod shown in the’ 144 Patent creates a stress concentration location in the area where the cylindrical rod flares to create the sphere. The weight of the hanging potted plant is supported axially along the rods and supported from the spheres, and torque forces applied to the potted plant (such as by wind) are also transmitted via the rods and to the spheres in the area where the cylindrical rod flares to create the sphere. Similar stress-concentration issues are presented by the system described in the‘125 Patent at the location where the rods join the ring. Such stress concentrations result in a reduction in the useful life of these prior art systems, or a need to augment the materials used in these prior art systems thereby increasing costs, or both.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The invention may be embodied as a hanger-system having a plurality of strands, a plurality of clips, a plurality of posts, an anchor-piece, and a hook. Each clip is attached to an end of one of the strands, and each post is attached to a different end of one of the strands.

The anchor-piece has a plurality of holes, and each post extends through one of those holes in a manner that allows the post to rotate relative to the anchor-piece. The hook extends through a hole in the anchor-piece in a manner that allows the anchor-piece to rotate relative to the hook.

[0007] The strands may be flexible or rigid. The strands may be cords or wires.

[0008] The clips are able to engage a pot or a basket. Such a pot or basket may be used to contain the roots of a plant, such as a flowering plant.

[0009] The holes through which the posts extend may be annularly located on the anchor- piece. The hole through which the hook extends may be centrally located on the anchor- piece.

[0010] An appendage of the hook may extend through the anchor-piece, and a screw or rivet may be used to engage an appendage of the hook, and thereby hold the hook relative to the anchor-piece. The hook may be held relative to the anchor-piece in a manner that permits the anchor-piece to rotate relative to the hook.

Brief Description Of The Drawings [0011] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and the subsequent description. Briefly, the drawings are:

Figure 1 A is a perspective view of a hanger-system that is in keeping with

the invention;

Figure IB is a different perspective view of the hanger-system depicted in

Figure 1A;

Figure 2A is a front view of the hanger-system depicted in Figures 1 A and

IB;

Figure 2B is a side view of the hanger-system depicted in Figure 2A;

Figure 2C is a top view of the hanger-system depicted in Figure 2A;

Figure 2D is an enlarged view of the area identified as“2D - - 2D”

identified in Figure 2B;

Figure 3 is a front view of the hook, anchor-piece, and a portion of two

strands depicted in Figure 2A;

Figure 4 is a top view of the hook and anchor-piece depicted in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the area identified as“5 - - 5” in Figure 2B;

Figure 6 depicts a strand and a different type of clip that may be used in an

embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7A is a perspective view of a post, which is partially depicted in

Figure 1A, Figure IB, and others of the drawings;

Figure 7B is a side view of the post depicted in Figure 7A;

Figure 7C is a partially cross-sectioned side view showing the anchor-piece

and two posts, one of which has been assembled to the anchor-piece;

Figure 8 is an exploded front view of the hook, anchor-piece, and nut; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the hanger system attached to a pot. Further Description of the Invention

[0012] The invention may be embodied as a hanger system 10 for a pot 12 or basket, such as those used to support a plant above the ground. Such systems may be attached to the eaves of a house, or an angle-iron that has been mounted to a fence.

[0013] Figures 1A and IB are perspective drawings depicting a hanger-system 10 that is in keeping with the invention. The hanger-system 10 has a hook 15, an anchor-piece 20, a plurality of strands 25 and clips 30. In use, the hook 15 may engage a ledge or a receiving ring 75 that is attached to a house or fence. The clips 30 may engage the pot 12 or a basket.

[0014] The invention may be implemented with three or more strands 25: in the drawings, four strands 25 are shown. Each strand 25 has a first end 26 that is connected to a resiliently- flexible clip 30 and a second end 27 that is connected to a post 35. The posts 35 may each be rotatably engaged with the anchor-piece 20. The strands 25 may be flexible cords or wires.

If the strands 25 are flexible cords, the cord-material may be able to twist and flex. If the strands 25 are made of flexible wires, the wires may be able to flex, but may be relatively less likely to twist than a corded-material.

[0015] From Figure IB it will be noticed that the second end 27 of each strand 25 is surrounded by and attached to one of the posts 35. Such a connection between a strand 25 and a post 35 may be formed using an adhesive that has been placed in the receiving cup 36 of the post 35. In this manner, the strand 25 does not directly contact the anchor-piece 20. Each post 35 may each have a rounded edge 37 near the location where the strand 25 enters the post 35. In use, the strand 25 may rub against the rounded edge 37 and thereby prevent unnecessary wear of the strand 25, thus extending the useful life of the strand 25.

Alternatively, the post 35 and strand 25 may be formed as a single, integrated piece. Or, the strand 25 and clip 30 may be formed as a single, integrated piece. Or, the post 35, strand 25 and clip 30 may be formed as a single, integrated piece.

[0016] Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C show respectively a front view, side view, and top view of the hanger-system 10. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a top-portion of Figure 2A. Figure 4 shows (among other things) that the anchor-piece 20 provides a plurality of annularly positioned apertures 40, each aperture 40 being sized to receive one of the posts 35 via a snap-connection. The snap-connection may be formed by inserting one of the posts 35 into one of the apertures 40, and then pressing the post 35 into the aperture 40 so that a ridge 38A on the post 35 may be made to move beyond a corresponding ridge 21 of the anchor-piece 20, and/or made to move into a groove 22 formed in the anchor-piece 20, thus holding the post 35 and preventing the post 35 from easily leaving the anchor-piece 20. Another ridge 38B on the post 35 may be included so that the post 35 is kept in a desired position relative to the anchor-piece 20. Each post 35 may be engaged with the anchor-piece 20 via a snap- connection that permits the post 35 to rotate with respect to the anchor-piece 20.

[0017] Figures 3 and 4 depict the hook 15 engaged with the anchor-piece 20. The hook 15 may have an appendage 16 that extends into a central aperture 23 in the anchor-piece 20. A distal end of the appendage 16 may have a threaded surface 17 to which a threaded nut 50 may be engaged so that the hook 15 is held relative to the anchor-piece 20 while also allowing the hook 15 to rotate relative to the anchor-piece 20. Alternatively, the appendage 16 may fit to a groove in the anchor-piece 20, thereby holding the hook 15 securely to the anchor-piece 20 via a snap-connection between the hook 15 and anchor-piece 20 that permits the anchor-piece 20 to rotate with respect to the hook 15.

[0018] Figure 5 shows one of the clips 30. Each clip 30 may have a u-shaped portion 31 and two opposing hook-portions 32 located on a distal arm 33 of the u-shaped portion 31. Each u-shaped portion 31 may be connected to a different one of the strands 25 via a receiving extension 34. In use, a rim 55 of the pot 12 or basket may be pressed between each hook- portion 32 so that the u-shaped portion 31 flexes to allow a rim 55 of the pot 12 (or basket) to pass between the opposing hook-portions 32. Once the rim 55 passes beyond the hook- portions 32, the hook-portions 32 move toward their original positions, thus capturing and holding the rim 55 within the area surrounded by the u-shaped portion 31.

[0019] Extending from the u-shaped portion 31 may be a receiving extension 34 providing an area into which an end of a strand 25 may be inserted and then secured. The inserted end of the strand 25 may be secured within the receiving extension 34 by an adhesive. [0020] Figure 6 depicts another type of clip 30 that may be used. The clip 30 depicted in Figure 6 has a hook-portion 32 that can be forced away from an arm 33 to permit a rim 55 of the pot 12 or basket to be captured within the u-shaped portion 31.

[0021] To assemble such a system, the appendage 16 of the hook 15 may be inserted through central aperture 23 in the anchor-piece 20, and a nut 50 may be threaded onto the appendage 16, or a rivet may be inserted into the appendage 16. The nut 50 (or head of the rivet) is larger in diameter than the central aperture 23 in the anchor-piece 20 and secured to the appendage 16 so that the hook 15 is held loosely to the anchor-piece 20, and thus the anchor- piece 20 is permitted to rotate relative to the hook 15.

[0022] In use:

(a) a ring 75 having a threaded base 77 may be screwed into a fence or the eaves of a house. Other types of hardware may be used in lieu of a ring 75, for example, a hook may be used. Such hardware, including but not limited to a ring 75 or hook, is sometimes referred to herein as the“supporting hardware”;

(b) the clips 30 may be engaged with a rim 55 of the pot 12 or basket in which dirt and a plant reside; and

(c) the hook 15 may be caused to engage and be supported from the supporting hardware 75.

In this manner, the pot 12 or basket may be held above the ground in order to better display the plant that resides in the pot 12 or basket.

[0023] The connection between the hook 15 and the anchor-piece 20 permits the anchor- piece 20 to rotate relative to the hook 15. Also, the connection between each post 35 and the anchor-piece 20 permits each post 35 to rotate relative to the anchor-piece 20. Consequently, a rotational force that is applied to the pot 12 (or basket) will force the anchor-piece 20 to swivel relative to the hook 15. Also, because the posts 35 are permitted to rotate relative to the anchor-piece 20, rotational forces applied to each strand 25 may be reduced, for example, during efforts to attach the clips 30 to the pot/basket, or when a torque is applied to the pot 12 (or basket), such as when wind acts on the pot/basket. [0024] Having provided a description of embodiments of the invention, the following statements are provided in order to more completely describe the invention.

[0025] Statement #1: A hanger-system, comprising:

a plurality of strands;

a plurality of clips, each clip attached to one of the strands;

a plurality of posts, each post attached to one of the strands;

an anchor-piece having a plurality of holes, wherein each post extends through one of the holes in a manner that allows the post to rotate relative to the anchor-piece; and a hook extending through one of the holes in the anchor-piece in a manner that allows the anchor-piece to rotate relative to the hook.

[0026] Statement #2: The hanger-system of Statement #1 wherein the strands are flexible.

[0027] Statement #3: The hanger-system of Statement #1 or Statement #2, wherein the strands are cords.

[0028] Statement #4: The hanger-system of Statement #1 or Statement #2, wherein the strands are wires.

[0029] Statement #5. The hanger-system of Statement 1, Statement 3, or Statement #4, wherein the strands are rigid.

[0030] Statement #6. The hanger-system of any of the preceding Statements, wherein the clips are configured to be able to engage a pot or basket.

[0031] Statement #7. The hanger-system of any of the preceding Statements, wherein the holes through which the posts extend are annularly located on the anchor-piece.

[0032] Statement #8. The hanger-system of any of the preceding Statements, wherein the hole through which the hook extends is centrally located on the anchor-piece.

[0033] Statement #9. The hanger-system of any of the preceding Statements, further comprising a screw or rivet engaging an appendage of the hook and holding the hook relative to the anchor-piece. [0034] Although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.