Abstract
A portable planter box especially adapted to be usable either in a commercial or residential environment, providing ease of access and internal irrigation. The device is adapted to be utilized in a minimum amount of space, and to be movable from one space to another. The planter box is uniquely designed to permit stacking and may be collapsed to permit ease of storage and transport to multiple locations.
Claims
1. A portable planter box, comprising: a. an open-top box portion having a bottom panel and at least three side panels; b. at least three legs to elevate the box portion off the ground; c. an internal watering line; d. at least two of the side panels adapted to receive support members; e. a flexible cover member adapted to interfit with the support members to cover and substantially enclose the box portion.
2. The portable planter box of claim 1, wherein adjacent edges of side panels and bottom panel are provided with means to permit the side panels to fold upon the bottom panel.
3. The portable planter box of claim 2 wherein the bottom panel is provided with means to permit the bottom panel to be folded in half.
4. The portable planter box of claim 1, wherein adjacent side panels are interconnected with one another and to a bottom panel with slidable male/female members to permit disassembly of the planter box.
5. The portable planter box of claim 1, wherein said legs are removable from the bottom panel.
6. The portable planter box of claim 1, wherein said legs are provided with casters to enable movement of the planter box.
7. The portable planter box of claim 1, wherein the corners of planter boxes are adapted to be removably intermitted with corners of planter boxes removably affixed above or below the planter box.
8. The portable planter box of claim 1, wherein the planter box is provided with an internal watering system comprising watering lines to distribute water throughout the planter box.
9. The portable planter box of claim 7, wherein fittings are provided on the distal ends of the watering lines such that watering systems of adjacent planter boxes may be ![text missing or illegible when filed]()
.
10. The portable planter box of claim 1, wherein multiple planter boxes are removably affixed to one another.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the planter box of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 1A is an enlargement of the foot of the planter box of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an expanded view of one embodiment of the planter box of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the planter box of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a view of the irrigation apparatus of the planter box of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the planter box of the present invention with a cover member affixed.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of yet another embodiment of the planter box of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates, generally, an exemplary portable planter box 10 of the present invention. The Figures in toto represent a number of embodiments of the present invention, and should not be interpreted as illustrating every conceivable or possible embodiment of the invention. The scope of the invention should be limited solely by the scope of the Claims appended hereto. In this FIG. 1, there is illustrated a bottom panel 20 and four side panels 22, 24, 26 and 28. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom panel 20 may be provided with one or more drain holes 30 to remove excess water. At least one of the side panels of the planter box 10 is provided with an orifice 32 within which is affixed a watering apparatus (described later). The planter box 10 may be provided with at least three legs 34, and preferably four, to elevate the planter box above the ground.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the planter box is a square or rectangular box with four side panels; however it is contemplated that the planter box would be just as effective if provided with three side panels, or five or more side panels. The planter box is preferably provided with a bottom panel 20 having dimensions typical of those utilized in commercial environments, such as 4048. Such dimensions are typical of pallets utilized in the harvesting, transport, and storage of agricultural products.
[0024] In order to more easily package, ship and store the planter box of the present invention, the box is preferably capable of being collapsed and/or disassembled. In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the end panels 26, 28 and side panels 22, 24 may be provided with means, such as hinge 38 to enable end panels to be hinged to the bottom and folded thereupon, as illustrated by arrow 42. The bottom panel may be provided in mated halves 50, 52, and likewise provided with a hinge 58 to enable the two halves to be folded one upon the other as illustrated at arrows 54, 56. Similarly, side panels may be hinged, as at 40, enabling the side panels to be hingably folded onto the bottom.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment to that illustrated in FIG. 2. Rather than hinge side panels 22, 28 to each other and to the bottom panel 50, the adjacent side and end panels may instead be provided with mating male/female members 60, 62 along their periphery that may slidably engage with one another, or which snap securely together. Likewise, the side panels may be provided with mating members 64, 66 which secure the side panels to the bottom panel. In yet another embodiment the two bottom panels 50, 52 may be hinged or slidably engaged 68, 70 to one another. Plants grown in the planter box of the present invention may be watered manually by the owner, or they can be watered by a watering system as exemplified at 80 in FIG. 4. An exemplary watering system will comprise at least one fitting 82 on the distal end of the watering system to interfit with an aperture 32 in a side wall 26, and is positioned within the box and either on top of or within the soil in the planter box. The fitting 82 may be constructed with, for example, a typical hose bib 84 to interfit with a conventional residential hose. The watering system may comprise an elongate member 86 with one or more lateral members 88, and may be provided with fittings 82, 84 at both ends of the elongate member 86. Any means of distributing water within the soil-filled box may be utilized and are well known, such as drip apertures 90.
[0026] Growing seasons in most locales are restricted at the early and late portions of the growing season; this season can be extended if plants are provided shelter from ambient coot air. In FIG. 5, box 10 is provided with a cover member 92 having reduced or no air permeability. When exposed to direct or indirect sunlight the cover member 92 will act to retain heat within the soil and box and thereby extend the growing season for plants therein. The cover member 92 is preferably supported by support members 94, which may be comprised of metal, plastic or other deformable material. In a preferred embodiment, at least two of the opposing side walls 22, 24 are provided with receiving slots 96 to removably receive the ends of support members 94. The slots 96 may comprise voids in the rigid structure of the side walls or may be may be molded into or secured to the upper edge region of the side walls.
[0027] In order to make the planter box relatively portable, the legs 34 of the invention may be provided with casters 98 which may be removably affixed to the leg or permanently affixed to the legs.
[0028] Multiple planter boxes of the present invention may be adapted to be removably affixed adjacent to one another, either side-by-side or end-to-end. In this manner the planter boxes may be secured and made available for larger scale and more efficient production of foodstuffs.
[0029] The descriptions and drawings of the present invention are presented herein for purposes of illustration only. There are undoubtedly numerous minor modifications that could be made to the invention disclosed herein that will be within the scope of the invention. The specific metes and bounds of the invention should be deemed to be delineated solely by the scope of the Claims appended hereto.
