Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-04-03
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
C047S066100, C052S012000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209260
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a planter box and, more specifically, to a planter box for adorning cemetery monuments.
Loved ones and friends of deceased persons commonly memorialize their gravesites with flowers, flags and the like. Prior holders for such memorial items include hooks, brackets and receptacles of various types usually supported by a tripod or harness attachable to a gravestone. Examples of such holders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,145,847; 3,164,343; 3,326,504 and 3,511,461. However, the prior devices have suffered from various faults including, for example, relatively high cost, difficult mounting requirements, minimal use flexibility, and inability to accommodate live plants.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved device for use in memorializing gravesites.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a cemetery planter including a box having a first box portion with a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, an end wall and an open end, and a second box portion with a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, an end wall and an open end; the open end of the first box portion being received by the open end of the second box portion during sliding engagement therebetween. Also included are a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart U-shaped brackets substantially parallel to the end walls and substantially conforming to the front, back and bottom walls of the box portions; each U-shaped bracket having one end defining an inwardly directed first hook portion for engaging an upper front edge of the box and an opposite end defining an inwardly directed second hook portion for engaging an upper rear edge of the box and the first and second hook portions being shaped to receive pairs of overlapped front and back wall portions of the slidably engaged first and second box portions. A mounting mechanism facilitates attachment of the box to a support surface. The sliding engagement allows length adjustment of the box while the first and second hook portions provide stability and guidance.
According to certain features of the invention, each opposite end further defines an outwardly directed third hook portion; the mounting mechanism includes a first L-shaped bracket having a first length portion substantially parallel to the end wall of the first box portion and a transverse second length portion substantially parallel to the back wall of the first box portion; and a second L-shaped bracket having a first length portion substantially parallel to the end wall of the second box portion and a second length portion substantially parallel to the back wall of the second box portion. The first length portions attach to, respectively, the first and second box portions and the second length portions engage a back surface of a cemetery monument.
According to other features of the invention, the end walls have an upper edge defining an outwardly extending lip; and each of the first and second length portions has an upper edge defining an outwardly directed shoulder portion for engaging a different one of the lips. The lips and shoulder portions facilitate attachment of the first length portions to the first and second box portions.
According to still other features of the invention, each of the lips and shoulder portions have aligned openings, at least some of which are slots substantially parallel to end side walls, attachment is made by screws received by the aligned openings.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the mounting mechanism includes a plurality of mechanisms each securable to the mounting surface and defining a receiving portion for receiving one of the outwardly directed third hook portions. The hook portions simplify attachment of the box to the mounting surface.
According to certain features of the above embodiment, each mounting mechanism includes a mounting plate defining a projecting eye forming the receiving portion and openings for receiving fasteners. The eye facilitates attachment of the mounting plates to the box and the openings facilitate attachment of the plates to the mounting surface.
According to yet another feature of the invention, each mounting mechanism further includes a second plate having holes aligned with the openings in the mounting plate. The first and second plates straddle individual rungs when the box is mounted on a metallic railing.
According to additional features, the holes are defined in outwardly projecting portions of the second plate and the plates are secured together by screws projecting through aligned pairs of the opening and holes.
According to a further feature of the invention, the box includes a plurality of wedge shaped members having upper wall portions attachable to the bottom walls of the first and second box portions. The wedge shaped members facilitate leveling of the box when mounted on a monument having a sloped base.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2477509 (1949-07-01), Burgesser
patent: 4553356 (1985-11-01), Peper
patent: 4553357 (1985-11-01), Pepper
patent: 4640045 (1987-02-01), Nesbitt et al.
patent: 4776544 (1988-10-01), Williams
patent: 5320319 (1994-06-01), Winger et al.
patent: 5519966 (1996-05-01), Cassette
patent: 5687510 (1997-11-01), Basista
patent: 5943820 (1999-08-01), O'Connell
patent: 5953859 (1999-09-01), Cochran et al.
patent: 6125593 (2000-10-01), Randolph
patent: 6134843 (2000-10-01), Tregear
Jakel Kevin
Jarcho Harold G.
Poon Peter M.
Surette Jeffrey J.
Toupal John E.
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