Abstract
Method and apparatus for a semi-circular bracket for holding plants or the like having a plurality of receptacles for receiving the stems of a plurality of radially extending arms or the like wherein the plant bracket has a base with planar portions thereon for use in mounting the bracket either on a wall or about a central pole by using a separate mounting plate. The semi-circular bracket has a plurality of receptacles therein configured for use with set screws to hold the ends of the arms in the receptacle so that the limbs cannot fall out of the receptacles.
Claims
1. A method for mounting a bracket for supporting potted plants, comprising the steps of: a) providing a plurality of curved limbs; b) providing the bracket, the bracket having a semi-circular portion and first and second planar portions extending outwardly from ends of said semi-circular portion; c) providing a plurality of spaced pairs of parallel walls extending radially outward from an outer surface of said semi-circular portion, each corresponding pair of parallel walls forms a receptacle therebetween, the receptacles receive said limbs between the corresponding pairs of parallel walls, each pair of parallel walls having inwardly directed flange portions extending perpendicular from distal ends thereof to define opposing L-shaped walls, wherein an opening is defined between distal ends of each pair of inwardly directed flange portions to partially enclose a corresponding limb in each of said receptacles; and d) mounting the first and second planar portions of the bracket on a wall or pole; e) inserting a threaded set screw through each said opening between said inwardly directed flange portions of each pair of parallel walls and threading each set screw into a corresponding limb to secure the limbs in the receptacles.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the openings extend vertically along a front of the bracket.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the distal ends of said inwardly directed flange portions of said pairs of parallel walls provide a stop for a head of each set screw when a corresponding set screw secures the corresponding limbs in each receptacle respectively.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of positioning the pole along an inner surface of said semicircular portion, attaching said first and second planar portions to a mounting plate on an opposite side of said pole.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receptacles are generally square shaped.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of disposing the first and second planar portions opposite each other about 180 degrees apart on a periphery of the semi-circular portion.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second planar portions of said bracket are generally rectangular shaped.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of forming the first and second planar portions to be flush with the wall.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.
(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention shown mounted on a pole.
(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention shown attached to a section of a wall.
(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken from FIG. 4 as indicated.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
(7) With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings. 10 present invention 12 wall bracket 14 receptacle 16 base plate 18 fastener 20 radially extending limbs/arms 22 curled end 24 plant chain 26 circular ring 28 pot for plant 30 set screw 32 base of limbs/arms 34 aperture 36 pole 38 mounting plate 40 section of wall 42 planar section 44 opening 46 head of fastener 48 aperture 50 semi-circular cutout 52 hex set screw
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
(8) The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims. FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate the present invention wherein a wall bracket for hanging plants is disclosed and which is generally indicated by reference number 10.
(9) Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown the present invention 10 including a wall bracket 12 having a plurality of receptacles or sockets 14 wherein the bracket has a base plate 16 along with fasteners 18 for attaching the base plate to a structure. Also shown is a plurality of limbs or arms 20 wherein some arms are of a type with a curled end 22 therein upon which pots with plants 28 can be hung using chains 24 with hooks or the like along with at least one type arm with a circular ring 26 for receiving a pot 28 therein which pot can contain flowers. Also shown in FIG. 2 are a plurality of set screws 30 for use in attaching the base 32 of the limbs into the receptacles 14 so as to secure the radially extending limb or arm 20 into its respective receptacle 14. It can be seen that each set screw 30 goes through an aperture 34 which is expected to be threaded. The bases 32 may be placed in the receptacles 14 from above or below the receptacles and held in place by the set screws 30, 52.
(10) Turing to FIG. 3, therein is shown the wall bracket 12 mounted onto an upstanding pole 36 or the like wherein the bracket 12 is attached to the pole using a mounting plate 38 wherein the fastener 18 passes through apertures 48 in both the mounting bracket and the mounting plate so as to attach the bracket 12 about the pole 36. Also shown is the base plate 16. Alternatively, pole 36 could also be replaced by any square or rectangular shaped upright member such as a fence picket.
(11) Turning to FIG. 4, therein is shown the mounting bracket 12 being easily attachable to a wall section 40 largely due to a planar or flat section 42 built into the base plate 16 of the mounting bracket 12 so that the planar section is flush with and therefore conforms with the section of the wall 40 and wherein fasteners 18 are used to attach the bracket to the wall section by having the fasteners pass through apertures 48 in the mounting bracket. This is a major advantage of the present invention 10 in that the mounting bracket is attachable to a section of a wall 40.
(12) Turning to FIG. 5, therein is shown the wall bracket 12 showing an opening 44 on the front of each square-shaped socket or receptacle 14 which is provided to allow the set screw 30 to pass through the opening to be screwed into the radially extending limbs/arms 20 so as to attach the limb securely in the receptacle of the present invention 10. Also shown is the head 46 of the set screw. An alternative screw 52 is also shown being a hex socket set screw (allen screw) not having a head thereon. Also shown are apertures 48 in the planar section 40 of the present invention 10 which allows fasteners 18 (not shown) to be passed through the present invention as has been previously described. Also shown is a semi-circular or cutout area 50 of the bracket 12 which is provided to allow the bracket to receive a pole therein so as to be attached to a pole as previously disclosed. The semi-circular area 50 provides additional length between planar areas 42 for accommodating a plurality of receptacles 14. The set screws 30 are provided so that is the limbs 20 are placed into the sockets 14 from the bottom they will not fall out when bumped. Conventional brackets have allowed for limbs 20 to be placed in the bottoms of their sockets 14 from below so that a cantilever effect caused by gravity held the limbs in place, however, if the limbs were bumped the limbs could fall out of the sockets due to their weight pulling them downwardly which is a major disadvantage of the prior art. However, the present invention 10 overcomes this problem by securing the limbs 20 inside the receptacles 14 by using a set screw 30, 52 thereby preventing the limbs from falling out of the receptacles in any situation. Note that opening 44 is sized and shaped to receive the threaded portion of the set screw 30 therein while the outer surface also provides a rest for the head portion 46 of the fasteners. Alternatively, the set screw 52 can extend completely through the limb 20 so that the screw tip bears against the surface/wall of the semi-circular cut-out 50 so as to secure the limb inside the receptacle 14.
(13) A summary of the present invention 10 is provided and may make reference to FIGS. 1-5 wherein a bracket 12 for supporting potted plants 28 is disclosed, the bracket being usable for mounting on a wall 40 including the bracket having a semi-circular portion 50 and first and second planar portions 42; a plurality of integrally formed receptacles 14 on the semi-circular portion, the receptacles being capable of receiving the bases of radially extending arms 20 and disposing the semi-circular portion between the first and second planar portions; and, configuring the first and second planar portions for mounting the bracket on the wall. Also, providing openings 44 on the receptacles, wherein the openings are vertically disposed on a front of the bracket. Also, configuring the radially extending arms to receive set screws 30, 52 or the like for securing the arms in the receptacles. Also, passing the set screws through the openings and into the radially extending arms. Also, sizing the openings to provide a stop for a head 46 of the set screw as the set screw secures the arm in the receptacle. Also, extending the receptacles from the top to the bottom of the receptacles and wherein the receptacles are square shaped. Also, disposing the first and second planar surfaces opposite each other about 180 degrees apart on a periphery of the semi-circular portion and wherein the bracket 12 is rectangular shaped.
