Plant husbandry – Receptacle for growing medium – Hanging support
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-20
2001-05-15
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Receptacle for growing medium
Hanging support
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230440
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotating display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rotatable display device that is suspendable from a ceiling and allows a planter to be rotatably suspendable therefrom and which includes a shallow and bowl-like lower housing, a shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing that is replaceably attached to the shallow and bowl-like lower housing, a top hanger assembly that extends upwardly from the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing and suspends the rotatable display device from the ceiling and provides a means for grabbing the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing when the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing is to be removed from the shallow and bowl-like lower housing, a rotatable plate that is contained in, and rotatable relative to, one of the shallow and bowl-like lower housing and the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing, a bearing assembly that rotatably connects the rotatable plate to the other of the one of the shallow and bowl-like lower housing and the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing, a large and horizontally-oriented driven gear that is fixedly attached to, for rotation with, the rotatable plate, a bottom hanger assembly that extends downwardly from, and rotates with, one of the rotatable plate and the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear for rotatably suspending the planter therefrom, a motor contained in the other of the one of the shallow and bowl-like lower housing and the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing for rotating the rotatable plate, a motor shaft that extends from the motor, a small and horizontally-oriented motor driver gear that is fixedly attached to the motor shaft for rotation therewith and is contained in the shallow and bowl-like lower housing wherein the small and horizontally-oriented motor driver gear is smaller than, and is rotatably operatively connected to, the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear, so that when the motor shaft rotates, the small and horizontally-oriented motor driver gear rotates, which in turn rotates the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear, which in turn rotates the rotatable plate and the bottom hanger assembly which is suspended from the one of the rotatable plate and the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear, and which in turn rotates the planter suspendable therefrom.
Several existing schemes address the idea of rotating a plant, either hanging or table top, for the purpose of displaying or for affording uniform exposure to a light source.
These schemes, however, provide no provisions for developing sufficient torque from a small battery powered motor to effectively rotate a large hanging plant or provisions to limit the acceleration rate of the plant so as to reduce “swirling.” No address has been made to the limited power or the frictional and compressive loads presented on the articulating surfaces or for provisions for a user to adjust the rotation rate. No effort has been made to address the need to easily access a hanging plant with a removably secured spring loaded hook or has an individual addressed the multi-functional capability of serving as both a hanging plant rotator or a table top rotator depending upon the particular needs of the user.
Numerous innovations for rotatable display devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention in that they do not teach a rotatable display device that is suspendable from a ceiling and allows a planter to be rotatably suspendable therefrom and which includes a shallow and bowl-like lower housing, a shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing that is replaceably attached to the shallow and bowl-like lower housing, a top hanger assembly that extends upwardly from the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing and suspends the rotatable display device from the ceiling and provides a means for grabbing the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing when the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing is to be removed from the shallow and bowl-like lower housing, a rotatable plate that is contained in, and rotatable relative to, one of the shallow and bowl-like lower housing and the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing, a bearing assembly that rotatably connects the rotatable plate to the other of the one of the shallow and bowl-like lower housing and the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing, a large and horizontally-oriented driven gear that is fixedly attached to, for rotation with, the rotatable plate, a bottom hanger assembly that extends downwardly from, and rotates with, one of the rotatable plate and the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear for rotatably suspending the planter therefrom, a motor contained in the other of the one of the shallow and bowl-like lower housing and the shallow and inverted bowl-like upper housing for rotating the rotatable plate, a motor shaft that extends from the motor, a small and horizontally-oriented motor driver gear that is fixedly attached to the motor shaft for rotation therewith and is contained in the shallow and bowl-like lower housing wherein the small and horizontally-oriented motor driver gear is smaller than, and is rotatably operatively connected to, the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear, so that when the motor shaft rotates, the small and horizontally-oriented motor driver gear rotates, which in turn rotates the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear, which in turn rotates the rotatable plate and the bottom hanger assembly which is suspended from the one of the rotatable plate and the large and horizontally-oriented driven gear, and which in turn rotates the planter suspendable therefrom.
For Example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 243,808 to Helm teaches the ornamental design for a hanging container for potted plants.
Another Example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 244,013 to Perkins teaches the ornamental design for a hanging container for rooting plants.
Still Another Example, U.S. Pat. No. Des 258,206 to Bourke teaches the ornamental design for a rotatable plant container unit.
Yet Another Example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,634 to Dedolph teaches a rotary plant growth accelerating apparatus for increasing plant yields by effectively removing the growing plants from the constraints of gravity and increasing the plant yield per unit of space. The apparatus includes a plurality of cylindrical plant beds supported radially removed from a primary axis of rotation, with each plant bed being driven about its own secondary axis of rotation and simultaneously moved in a planetary path about the primary axis of rotation. Each plant bed is formed by an apertured outer cylinder, a perforated inner cylinder positioned coaxially therewith, and rooting media disposed in the space therebetween. A rotatable manifold distributes liquid nutrients and water to the rooting media through the perforations in the inner cylinders as the plant beds are continuously rotated by suitable drive means.
Still Yet Another Example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,978 to Fleming teaches a method for growing plants from seeds or small seedlings wherein the latter are first planted in open tray-like containers that are secured to an elongated rotatable module or core support about its longitudinal axis of rotation. The core support with its containers is moved at a slow speed through a controlled, growth enhancing environment as it also rotates at a constant rate. An apparatus for accomplishing the method comprises a continuous chain means driven by first drive means at a constant rate and to which are attached a series of module supports that are simultaneously rotated by second drive means as they are moved along through a controlled environment. Each module support provides a mounting frame for retaining a plurality of removable plant containers or trays for growing plants or seedlings.
Yet Still Another Exampl
Jordan Charles T.
Miller, P.L Richard L.
Palo Francis T.
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