IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0625477
(2015-02-18)
|
등록번호 |
US-9149006
(2015-10-06)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Patent Analysis Research Tech. Systems
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
15 |
초록
▼
A modular planter assembly having plural U-shaped planting containers including plural male open ends, drain holes in a bottom portion thereof and an underneath male drain channel, plural connectors having U-shaped cavities at each end and an underneath drain cavity with seal means disposed therein.
A modular planter assembly having plural U-shaped planting containers including plural male open ends, drain holes in a bottom portion thereof and an underneath male drain channel, plural connectors having U-shaped cavities at each end and an underneath drain cavity with seal means disposed therein. The male open ends are secured within the U-shaped cavities and the drain channels are secured within the drain cavity of the connectors. Plural U-shaped end caps having U-shaped cavities with an underneath drain cavity with seal members disposed therein. Opposite male ends are secured within the end cap cavities and the male drain channel is secured within the drain cavity of the end caps forming a single planter assembly with a continuous drain channel to a drain adapter in the end caps to release excess water there from. Plural U-shaped brackets disposed about the containers to support and attach to an elevated wall structure.
대표청구항
▼
1. An improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly comprising: a plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units; each U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit includes a pair of vertica
1. An improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly comprising: a plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units; each U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit includes a pair of vertically extending side wall members, a bottom wall member interconnecting the pair of vertically extending side wall members at its lower ends, the pair of vertically extending side wall members and the bottom wall member define a pair of male U-shaped securing ends with spaced apart securing holes disposed along the pair of vertically extending side wall members and an open top end;a plurality of spaced apart drain holes being disposed in each bottom wall member;an elongated male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channel extending downward and underneath each of the bottom wall members along its entire length and being in drain communication with the plurality of spaced apart drain holes;a plurality of U-shaped bracket means for conforming to and receiving therein the elongated male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channel to achieve stabilization for the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units when the plurality of U-shaped bracket members are removably attached to a wall structure for elevating the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit above a floor or ground surface;a plurality of U-shaped connectors, each having a female U-shaped securing end at opposite ends thereof, each U-shaped connector has a bottom wall member with a downward extending female semi-circle or C-shaped drain channel extending downward and underneath each of the bottom wall members of the U-shaped connectors;a U-shaped seal member with a downward extending male semi-circle or C-shaped portion with a drain opening there through being configured to seal within the U-shaped securing ends of the plurality of U-shaped connectors and the male semi-circle or C-shaped portion being received within each of the downward extending female semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels of the plurality of U-shaped connectors when each of the elongated male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels are slidably received within each respective female semi-circle or C-shaped drain channel of the plurality of U-shaped connectors and each of the male securing ends of the U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units are simultaneously slidable into a sealing engagement with the downward extending male semi-circle or C-shaped portion of the U-shaped seal member to join the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units and the plurality of U-shaped connectors together, whereby an effective drainage will communicate through each of the elongated male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels, each of the female semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels and each drain opening of each of the male semi-circle or C-shaped portions of the U-shaped seal member to a remote drain location. 2. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units and the plurality of U-shaped connectors being connected together to form a single continuous and unitary device. 3. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of U-shaped bracket means includes a plurality of U-shaped and spaced apart bracket members disposed about and supporting the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units. 4. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped and spaced apart bracket members includes a pair of vertically extending side leg members with one side leg member being shorter than the other side leg member, a bottom leg member interconnecting the pair of vertically extending side leg members at its lower ends and the bottom leg member having a central portion with a semi-circle or C-shaped cavity extending downward there from to conform to and receive therein each of the elongated male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels to support and stabilize the plurality of molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units. 5. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped and spaced apart bracket members includes at least one single U-shaped bracket member with a fastening hole disposed in an upper end of the longer side leg member of the at least one single U-shaped bracket member for receiving a fastening member there through to secure the longer side leg member to at least one of the plurality of molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units. 6. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped and spaced apart bracket members includes at least one U-shaped bracket member with an L-shaped leg member connected to a top end of the longer side leg member of the at least one U-shaped bracket member defining a hook-like member that will secure the at least one U-shaped bracket member across a top surface of a wall structure for elevating the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units above a floor or ground surface. 7. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of U-shaped and spaced apart bracket members includes at least a pair of U-shaped bracket members defining a double U-shaped bracket unit with a horizontal leg member connected between a top end of a longer side leg member of each of the pair of U-shaped bracket members defining a support wall member for lying across the top surface of the wall structure for supporting a plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units disposed on opposite sides of the wall structure and elevating them above a floor or ground surface. 8. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 1, the plurality of U-shaped connectors further includes a plurality of different angular shaped coupling connectors for coupling the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units at their U-shaped securing ends. 9. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of different angular shaped coupling connectors having angular configurations selected from the group consisting at least of 22°, 90° and 180°. 10. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of different angular shaped coupling connectors includes a pair of inner and outer upstanding or vertically extending side walls, a bottom inner wall that interconnects the inner upstanding or vertically extending side walls at its lower ends, a bottom outer wall that interconnects the outer upstanding or vertically extending side walls at its lower ends, each of the U-shaped securing ends having a U-shaped cavity formed between the inner and outer upstanding or vertically extending side walls, the bottom inner wall, the bottom outer wall and the downward extending female semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels, the U-shaped cavity having a selected depth defined by a back wall portion between the inner and outer upstanding or vertically extending side walls, the bottom inner wall, the bottom outer wall and the downward extending female semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels. 11. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 10, wherein each of the U-shaped cavity securing ends of the plurality of different angular coupling connectors receives a respective one of the U-shaped seal member therein, each of the U-shaped cavity securing ends having a pair of vertically extending side wall leg portions, a bottom horizontal wall portion that interconnects the pair of vertically extending side wall leg portions at its lower ends and the bottom horizontal wall portion having a central portion defining a downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped portion having an opening there through. 12. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 11, wherein the U-shaped seal member is fully inserted into the respective U-shaped cavity securing ends when the vertically extending side wall leg portions and the bottom horizontal wall portion engages the back wall portion of the respective U-shaped cavity securing ends, and when the downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped portion of the seal member is sealingly received within the female semi-circle or C-shaped cavity of each one of the plurality of different angular shaped coupling connectors. 13. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 12, wherein the female semi-circle or C-shaped cavity of the plurality of different angular shaped coupling connectors having a first larger dimension and the male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels of the plurality of molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units having a second smaller dimension that will easily and sealingly slide into the first larger dimension of the female semi-circle or C-shaped cavity of the plurality of different angular shaped coupling connectors when the U-shaped cavity securing ends of the plurality of molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units are fully inserted into the U-shaped cavity securing ends and in abutting engagement with the back wall portion of the plurality of different angular coupling connectors and an end of the semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels of the plurality of molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units is fully inserted into sealing and abutting engagement with the male semi-circle or C-shaped downward extending portion of the U-shaped seal member. 14. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 2, wherein the single continuous and unitary device comprising the plurality of connected U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units has a pair of drain end caps sealingly connected to close off two of the U-shaped securing ends of the single continuous and unitary device. 15. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 14, wherein each of the pair of drain end caps includes a common top wall of a front wall face and a rear wall face, a pair of U-shaped upstanding or vertically extending inner side walls at opposite sides thereof and connected to the rear wall face at the common top wall, a lower bottom inner wall that interconnects the plurality of upstanding or vertically extending inner side walls at its lower ends and at a lower end of the rear wall face, a pair of U-shaped upstanding or vertically extending outer side walls at opposite side thereof and connected to the front wall face at the common top wall, a lower bottom outer wall below the lower bottom inner wall that interconnects the plurality of upstanding or vertically extending outer side walls at its lower ends and the common top wall of the front wall face at its upper end to form a single molded cap member. 16. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 15, wherein the pair of U-shaped upstanding or vertically extending inner and outer side walls each having a rear end that extends rearward and outward of the front and rear wall faces defining a female U-shaped cavity there between, the U-shaped cavity extends from the front and rear wall faces to the rear ends of the pair of U-shaped upstanding or vertically extending inner and outer side walls, the selected depth of the female U-shaped cavity having the back wall portion near the rear ends of the pair of U-shaped upstanding or vertically extending inner and outer side walls that interconnects with the front and rear wall faces that is at least equal to the height of the pair of U-shaped upstanding or vertically extending inner and outer side walls and the lower bottom outer wall below the bottom inner wall that forms a bottom boundary wall for the female U-shaped cavity. 17. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 16, wherein the lower bottom outer wall of the female U-shaped cavity of each of the drain end caps has a central downward extending portion with a female semi-circle or C-shaped configuration forming a female channel portion that extends substantially along the entire length of the lower bottom outer wall of the female U-shaped cavity below the bottom inner wall to the back wall portion of the drain end caps. 18. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 17, wherein each female U-shaped cavity of the drain end caps being adapted to receive a U-shaped seal member having a pair of upstanding side wall leg portions and a bottom interconnecting leg portion with a central downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped shaped portion having an opening there through, the U-shaped seal member is fully inserted into each female U-shaped cavity of the drain end caps when the pair of upstanding side wall leg portions and the bottom interconnecting leg portion engages the back wall portion of each female U-shaped cavity and the downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped portion of the U-shaped seal member of a smaller dimension is sealingly and tightly received within the female semi-circle or C-shaped drain female channel portion of the end caps of a larger dimension to the back wall portion of each female U-shaped cavity, each of the male securing ends of the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units is fully inserted and into abutting engagement with the U-shaped seal member of the end caps and at least a pair of spaced apart and aligned fastening holes being disposed in the upstanding or vertically inner and outer side walls of the end caps that receives at least a pair of fastening members that will be received there through to secure the male securing ends of the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units within the end caps' U-shaped cavity and compressing the seal member therein and within the female semi-circle or C-shaped female channel portion of the end caps when each male semi-circle or C-shaped channel of the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units is fully inserted into the female semi-circle or C-shaped female channel portion of the drain end caps, thereby preventing leakage within the U-shaped of cavity of each of the drain end caps and within the semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels of the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units and the drain end caps. 19. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 17, wherein each of the drain end caps further includes a threaded opening through the front and rear wall faces at a lower end thereof, the threaded opening being in flow communication with the female semi-circle or C-shaped female channel portion of the drain end caps, the plurality of spaced apart drain holes and the plurality of drain channels of the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units and the semi-circle or C-shaped cavity of each of the plurality of different angular coupling connectors being connected together as a continuous flow communication drain passage via a drain adapter connected to the end caps to evacuate excess water from the plurality of connected U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units to a desired location to prevent unwanted water accumulation to a floor or ground surface. 20. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 19, wherein a drain adapter is adapted to be threaded into the threaded opening of the end caps, the drain adapter having a first front threaded end surface of a first dimension on a front end, a second rear threaded end surface of a second dimension being smaller than the first dimension, a nut member being positioned behind the first front threaded surface, a solid stop member being disposed between the second rear threaded surface and the nut member and a drain opening that extends through the drain adapter from the first front threaded end surface to the second rear threaded end surface, the nut member being a little larger than the first front threaded end surface so that a tool means or a user's hand can easily grasp an outer surface of the nut member to easily thread the drain adapter into and out of the threaded opening, whereby, when the drain adapter is threaded into the threaded opening and the solid stop member butts up against the lower central wall portion downward extending surface of the front wall face, to give a user an indication that the drain adapter has been fully inserted and tightened to the required degree within the threaded opening to thereby eliminate over tightening and the damaging of the smaller dimensioned rear threaded end and the threaded opening, as well as providing an effective threaded sealing arrangement to prevent leakage. 21. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 20, wherein the first front threaded end surface of the first dimension of the drain adapter includes a protective drain cap with a handle member on a front face of the drain cap to allow a user or different types of tool means to easily grasp in order for the drain cap to be easily threaded on or unthreaded from the first front threaded end surface, a tool aperture being disposed in a center portion of the handle member for allowing the different types of tool means to be inserted therein so that the drain cap can be easily threaded on or unthreaded from the first front threaded end surface, and a back end of the drain cap being threaded about the first front threaded end surface, whereby, the back end of the drain cap will abut the drain adapter nut member giving a user an indication that the cap is fully engaged and tightened to a required degree, which will eliminate over tightening and the damaging of the first front threaded end surface and the threaded back end of the drain cap. 22. The improved molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional unit assembly according to claim 2, wherein all components of the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter or flower box sectional units defining the single continuous and unitary device are made of a material selected from the group of polymer type materials consisting of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), or Ethylene Propylene (EP), other known plastics, hard rubber-like material and made of a material selected from the group of metal materials consisting at least of aluminum and stainless steel. 23. A molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device adapted for containing plants or vegetation therein, the molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device comprising: a plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter containers; each of the U-shaped containers includes a pair of upstanding side wall members, a bottom wall member interconnecting the pair of upstanding side wall members at its lower ends, an open top end, the pair of upstanding side wall members and the bottom wall member defining a pair of U-shaped male open securing ends with spaced apart securing holes disposed along the pair of upstanding side wall members adjacent the male open securing ends;a plurality of spaced apart drain holes being disposed in each bottom wall member;a bottom surface of each of the plurality of U-shaped containers include male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels that extend downward and underneath the bottom wall member along its entire length and being in drain communication with the plurality of spaced apart drain holes;a plurality of coupling connectors each having a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall connected to the plurality of side walls, an open top end and a pair of opposite open ends defining a double-walled female U-shaped cavity formed in the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall at each opposite open end, a central portion of the bottom wall below the double-walled female U-shaped cavity defining a downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped female cavity at each opposite open end along its entire length;a first U-shaped seal means having a configuration with a portion that conforms to and is inserted into the double-walled female U-shaped cavity against a back wall portion therein and another portion that conforms to and is inserted into the downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped female cavity; andthe U-shaped male open securing ends are adapted to be slidably inserted into the double-walled female U-shaped cavities of the coupling connectors and into sealing engagement with the seal means portion disposed therein and the male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels of the plurality of U-shaped containers are adapted to be slidably inserted into the female semi-circle or C-shaped female cavities and into sealing engagement with the another portion of the seal means disposed therein for connecting the plurality of U-shaped containers together to form a single continuous elongated modular E-Z planter assembly. 24. A molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device according to claim 23, wherein each U-shaped male open securing ends at opposite ends of each U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter containers are closed off by a pair of drain end caps, each of the pair of drain end caps includes a front face and a rear face, a pair of upstanding side walls connected to the front and rear faces, a bottom wall connected to the pair of upstanding side walls, the front and rear faces defining a female double-walled U-shaped cavity extending rearward of the front and rear faces and a downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped drain cavity, and a second U-shaped seal means having a configuration with a portion that conforms to and is inserted into the double-walled female U-shaped cavity against a back wall portion of each of the drain end caps and another portion that conforms to and is inserted into the downward extending semi-circle or C-shaped drain cavity of each of the drain end caps. 25. A molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device according to claim 24, wherein the opposite U-shaped male open securing ends are adapted to be slidably inserted into the double-walled female U-shaped cavities of the drain end caps and into sealing engagement with the second seal means portion disposed therein and the male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channels of the plurality of U-shaped containers are adapted to be slidably inserted into the semi-circle or C-shaped drain cavities of the drain end caps and into sealing engagement with the another portion of the second seal means disposed therein for connecting the plurality of U-shaped containers together to form the single continuous elongated modular E-Z planter assembly. 26. A molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device according to claim 25, wherein each of the drain end caps includes an adapter means having a drain hose attached thereto and adapted to be removably attached to a drain opening disposed at a selected location on the front face thereof and in flow communication with the semi-circle or C-shaped drain cavities of the drain end caps, the spaced apart drain holes and the male drain channels of the plurality of the U-shaped containers being configured to constantly drain excess water from the plurality of the U-shaped containers to a desired location for recycling an even distribution of water back to the plurality of the U-shaped containers when required. 27. A molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of U-shaped and spaced apart brackets means being disposed about the plurality of U-shaped containers, each of the plurality of U-shaped and spaced apart bracket means includes a pair of vertically extending side leg members with one side leg member being shorter than the other side leg member, a bottom leg member interconnecting the pair of vertically extending side leg members at its lower ends and the bottom leg member having a central portion with a semi-circle or C-shaped cavity extending downward there from to conform to and receive therein the male semi-circle or C-shaped drain channel to support and stabilize the single continuous elongated modular E-Z planter assembly. 28. A molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device according to claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart brackets means includes: at least one single U-shaped bracket member including a fastening hole disposed in an upper end of the other side leg member of the at least one single U-shaped bracket member for receiving a fastening member there through to secure the other side leg member to at least one of the plurality of U-shaped molded and elongated modular planter containers;at least one second U-shaped bracket member including an L-shaped leg member connected to a top end of the other side leg member of the at least one second U-shaped bracket member defining a hook-like member that will secure the at least one U-shaped bracket member across a top surface of a wall structure for supporting and elevating the single continuous elongated modular E-Z planter assembly above a floor or ground surface; andat least one third U-shaped bracket member including at least a pair of U-shaped bracket members defining a double U-shaped bracket unit with a horizontal leg member connected between a top end of each of the other side leg members of the pair of U-shaped bracket members defining a support wall member for lying across the top surface of the wall structure for supporting a separate single continuous elongated modular E-Z planter assembly on opposite sides of the wall structure and elevating them above a floor or ground surface. 29. A molded and elongated modular E-Z planter device according to claim 23, wherein all components of the single continuous elongated modular E-Z planter assembly are made of a material selected from the group of polymer type materials consisting of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), or Ethylene Propylene (EP) other known plastics, hard rubber-like material and made of a material selected from the group of metal materials consisting at least of aluminum and stainless steel. 30. A modular planter assembly comprising: a plurality of U-shaped holding units, each having a pair of side walls with open male ends and a bottom wall with a plurality of spaced apart drain holes therein, an elongated male drain channel disposed underneath the bottom wall and in flow communication with the spaced apart drain holes and the pair of side walls having a decorative design disposed thereon;a U-shaped seal means having a pair of vertically extending side legs and a bottom connecting leg with a central downward extending sealing portion;a plurality of different angular shaped coupling connectors, each having U-shaped cavities at opposite securing ends thereof and a lower female drain receiving cavity extending downward there from for receiving and securing the U-shaped seal means side legs and the central downward extending sealing portion in the U-shaped cavities and in the lower female drain receiving cavity with the open male ends being inserted into each of the U-shaped cavities at the opposite securing ends for compressing the U-shaped seal means therein to form a single unit;a plurality of U-shaped bracket means, each having a lower central cavity portion for supporting and receiving the elongated male drain channels of the U-shaped holding units therein, at least one of the plurality of bracket means having a portion being secured to the U-shaped holding units, at least a second one of the plurality of U-shaped bracket means including a portion for securing to a wall structure, and at least a third one of the plurality of U-shaped bracket means including a pair of U-shaped bracket members with a support leg connected to an upper portion of the pair of U-shaped bracket members for extending across a wall structure and supported thereon to secure the modular planter assembly on opposite sides of the wall structure; anda pair of drain end caps, each including a front face, a rear face and a pair of side walls extending outward from the front and rear faces at a back side defining a U-shaped double wall cavity extending to a back wall portion therein with a downward extending drain cavity, and the front face has a drain opening in flow communication with the downward extending drain cavity for receiving a drain adapter therein with a drain hose attached thereto for constantly draining excess water from the modular planter assembly; andeach drain end cap receives the U-shaped seal within the U-shaped cavities therein and the downward extending sealing portion being received in the drain cavity of the drain end caps and the open male ends of the plurality of U-shaped holding units being inserted into abutting engagement with the U-shaped seal means and secured by fastening means therein, the male drain channels of the plurality of holding units are slidably fitted into the lower female drain cavities of the different angular shaped coupling connectors and into abutting and sealing engagement with the central downward extending sealing portion disposed therein forming a continuous drainage channel to the drain hose of the drain adapter for releasing excess water from the plurality of spaced apart drain holes of the modular planter assembly via the drain hose to a desired location and back to the modular planter assembly with an even amount of distributed water thereto when needed.
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