Supports – Stand – Receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-16
2001-05-29
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Receptacle
C248S156000, C108S157100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237881
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the field of garden utility articles and is particularly concerned with a convertible flower pot holder/garden table.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recent trends toward increased leisure activities has led to a concomitant increase in garden leisure activities. Two of the most popular garden activities include gardening per se, that is taking care of plants and using the garden as a setting for meals or other social gatherings.
The prior art is replete with various articles specifically designed to be used either as flower pot holders for supporting flower pots in a predetermined level above the ground surface and garden tables for allowing support of articles such as meal plates and the like. While the prior art plant supporting structures and tables are relatively effective in performing their respective tasks, to have both structures available means that two separate articles are required. The prior art has failed to show structures which could be used for selectively performing either a flower pot holding function or a conventional table function. Consequently, intended users must purchase both a flower pot holder and a garden table which leads to high purchase cost and a relatively large storage space. In certain geographic areas, gardens can only be accessed for leisure activities during a relatively short period of time. For example, in some northern regions, gardens are literally covered with ice and snow during the winter season and, consequently, garden articles such as flower pot holders and garden tables must be stored indoors in order to withdraw them from the detrimental effects of being exposed to cold temperature and snow during several months.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structure which may be readily converted from a flower pot configuration to a garden table configuration without requiring any special tooling or manual dexterity.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a convertible flower pot support and table wherein the structure has an aesthetically pleasing configuration.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a convertible flower pot support and table designed to accommodate flower pots of various sizes and configurations.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a convertible flower pot support and table which may be secured to the ground.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a convertible flower pot support and table comprising a base; an upper support member; at least one leg extending between the base and the upper support member; the upper support member having an aperture located therein, a wall surrounding the aperture; and a table top having an upper surface and a lower surface, a connecting ring extending downwardly from the bottom surface, the connecting ring being configured and sized to frictionally engage the wall surrounding the aperture to thereby retain the table top in position.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided, in combination, a structure comprising a base; an upper support member; a plurality of legs extending between the base and the upper support member; the upper support member having an aperture located therein, a wall surrounding the aperture, a plurality of protrusions on the wall; a table top having an upper surface and a bottom surface, a connecting ring extending outwardly from the bottom surface, the connecting ring being configured and sized to fictionally engage the protrusions on the wall surrounding the aperture; and a flower pot having a bottom wall and a side wall, the side wall being sized to fit within the aperture in the upper support member whereby the side wall of the flower pot will engage the protrusions on the wall surrounding the aperture.
The convertible flower pot support and table may be formed of any suitable material, with a preferred material being a molded plastics material. Such materials are well known in the art and need not be detailed herein. The unit may be molded in several parts and connected together by suitable means such as ultrasonic welding or alternatively, may be mechanically connected together to provide a more compact device for storage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1806123 (1931-05-01), Smith
patent: 2360420 (1944-10-01), Hill
patent: 2861764 (1958-11-01), Fisher
patent: 3648659 (1972-03-01), Jones
patent: 4266748 (1981-05-01), Dalton
patent: 4850564 (1989-07-01), Padin
patent: 5966868 (1999-10-01), Cox
Baxter Gwendolyn
Fincham Eric
King Anita M.
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