Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-15
2001-04-24
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3636)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
C047S065700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219967
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to plant holders and, more particularly, to plant holders in pot form which retain soil and the plant therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pots for holding plants are well known and are made from a variety of materials. In this respect, the following U. S. patents disclose a number of different materials used for plant pots: 4,031,663, 4,043,077, 4,320,596, 4,346,532, and 5,450,691. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,663 discloses a planter made from wood. Wood is primarily an organic material and is susceptible to decomposition and destruction in the presence of moisture and microscopic organisms. In this respect, it would be desirable if a pot for plants were provided that is not made from wood.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,077 discloses a plant pot that includes degradable plastic, another organic material, for durability. In this respect, it would be desirable if a pot for plants were provided that is not made from degradable plastic.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,596 discloses a plant pot that is made from concrete. U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,532 discloses plant pots made from ceramics. U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,691 discloses a support for plants made from metal. Each of the inorganic materials concrete, ceramics, and metal may provide durability that organic materials do not provide. However, the long-range durability of such plant pots made from concrete, ceramics, and metal may not be certain. The long-range durability depends upon specific formulations of the materials and the specific conditions that were employed in making the pots from the materials. Rather than have plant pots made from materials whose durability has not been proved through the test of time, it would be desirable if a pot for plants were provided that is made from material that has proved durable over long periods of time. In addition, it would be desirable if a pot for plants were provided using natural materials that do not have to be formulated, mixed, and fabricated by man.
Still other features would be desirable in a pot for plants. For example, to assure that plants in pots are not easily tipped or blown over, it would be desirable if the pots were made from relatively dense material to provide a relatively low center of gravity of the plant/pot combination. Also, to assure that plants in the pot do not get water logged, it would be desirable if a plant pot were provided that has a drain channel in the bottom of the pot for excess water to drain out.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use pots for plants, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a plant pot which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) is not made from wood; (2) is not made from degradable plastic; (3) is made from material that has proved durable over long periods of time; (4) uses natural materials that do not have to be formulated, mixed, and fabricated by man; (5) is made from relatively dense material; and (6) has a drain channel in the bottom of the pot for excess water to drain out. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique natural rock planter apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a rock planter apparatus which includes a receptacle made from rock material. The receptacle includes a top receptacle portion and a bottom receptacle portion. A plant-reception well opens at the top receptacle portion and extends downward toward the bottom receptacle portion. The plant-reception well has a well diameter. A drainage channel extends from a bottom portion of the plant-reception well through the bottom receptacle portion. The drainage channel has a channel diameter, and the well diameter is greater than the channel diameter. Preferably, the receptacle is made from natural rock material. The plant-reception well can be cylindrical in shape, and the drainage channel can also be cylindrical in shape. The rock planter apparatus of the invention can be used for receiving plants directly or for receiving potted plants.
A base member can be provided upon which the receptacle can be placed. The base member can include a drainage bevel in registration with the drainage channel of the receptacle.
A second plant-reception well is provided in the receptacle. The second plant-reception well opens at the top receptacle portion and extends downward toward the bottom receptacle portion. The second plant-reception well has a second well diameter. A second drainage channel extends from a bottom portion of the second plant-reception well through the bottom receptacle portion. The second drainage channel has a second channel diameter, and the second well diameter is greater than the second channel diameter.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining two preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved planter apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved planter apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved planter apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved planter apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such planter apparatus available to the buying public.
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved planter apparatus which is not made from wood.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved planter apparatus that is not made from degradable plastic.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved planter apparatus which is made from material that has proved durable over long periods of time.
Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved planter apparatus that uses natural materials that do not have to be formulated, mixed, and fabricated by man.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved planter apparatus which is made from relatively dense material.
Yet another
Carone Michael J.
Downs Joanne C.
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