Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
FALSE BOTTOM INSERT ASSEMBLY FOR AN OVERSIZED PLANTER CONTAINER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an insert or an insert assembly for
use in
combination with containers so as to create a false bottom therein. More
particularly, the
present invention relates to a planter insert or a planter insert assembly,
which when
inserted into an oversized planter container, creates a false bottom therein.
The present
invention thus provides users with a means to make more efficient use of
oversize planter
containers by reducing the need for excess container fill material and thus
reducing
overall container mass.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Gardening is an activity that continues to grow in popularity providing a
source of
personal satisfaction, providing aesthetic pleasure, the opportunity for
relief from daily
stresses, and a number of other benefits unique to any given gardener. A great
deal of
gardening activity is geared toward embellishing the traditional landscape or
ground-level
plantings. An increasing number of gardeners, however, are discovering the
advantages
of gardening in planters, containers, and raised beds, which practice is often
referred to as
"container gardening." These container gardening styles can be adapted to make
gardening easier for older gardeners or individuals with physical
disabilities. Container
1
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
gardening is also adaptable for gardening in a small backyard, an apartment
patio, or on
the grounds of a retirement home or hospital. Further, so-called container
gardening is
often practiced with larger sized planter containers or oversized planter
containers, which
may typically be found in and around shopping malls or along streets adjacent
buildings.
Oversized planter containers often serve the double function of providing
public areas and
other suitable environs with decorative surroundings as well as provide
buildings and
passersby with an added measure of safety. In this last regard, it is noted
that oversized
planter containers are often intended as vehicular barricades to thwart errant
traffic from
entering walkways and the like.
Notably, the plant life that is placed or potted in oversized planter
containers often
have relatively shallow root systems when compared to the depth of the
oversized planter
container and thus require only modest amounts of soil adjacent the rim of the
oversized
planter container. Furthermore, oversize planter containers, when empty,
typically have
sufficient mass to safely provide effective errant vehicle barricades.
Completely filling
oversized planter containers with soil, rock, and other fill materials often
makes the
oversized planter container unwieldy and exceedingly difficult to transport
requiring costly
heavy-duty equipment or machinery and the services of heavy equipment
operators.
Container garden enthusiasts may thus find cost savings in the ability to
reduce soil needs as
well as other costly fill materials and services in gardening with oversized
planter
containers.
When considering container gardening, it is often helpful to look to prior
disclosures
to ascertain the state of the art. In this regard, it is noted that different
types of planter
containers and devices for use in combination therewith are disclosed in the
prior art. Some
2
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
of the more pertinent prior art relating to planter containers and the
assorted devices is
described hereinafter.
United States Patent No. 866,449 ('449 Patent), which issued to Feist,
discloses a
Jardiniere. The '449 Patent teaches a jardiniere having a body with
transversely disposed
bars in the lower portion thereof, said bars having their ends embedded in the
wall of said
body and being adapted to support a potted plant within said body. In another
embodiment, the jardiniere comprises transversely disposed bars in the lower
portion
thereof, a block supported on said bars and adapted to support a potted plant
thereabove.
United States Patent No. 2,140,932 ('932 Patent), which issued to Avery,
discloses a Pot or Container. The '932 Patent teaches a planter insert
comprising an
upper band section and a lower section formed from flexible material, which is
formed to
adapt into a planter or frustoconical shape for raising seedlings. When
seedlings are
transferred to a permanent site, the insert member is destined to disintegrate
in the soil.
United States Patent No. 2,463,719 ('719 Patent), which issued to Schackett et
al.,
discloses an Interchangeable Plant and Flower Receptacle. The '719 Patent
teaches a
flower receptacle comprising a inner supporting means positioned on opposite
side walls,
the upper surface of said supporting means being positioned below the upper
level of said
receptacle, a plurality of frames formed to support said flower carrying means
and
adapted to rest on said supporting means, said supporting means being U-shaped
in cross-
section and having drainage apertures in the horizontal faces thereof
permitting drainage
into said receptacle of excess water poured on plants in said flower carrying
means, each
of said frames having laterally extending latch members at opposite sides
thereof, the
distance between the inner faces of said latch members being arranged so as to
cause said
3
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
latch members to be in contacting relation only with the inner walls of said U-
shaped
member to form predetermined vertical openings communicating with said
drainage
apertures.
United States Patent No. 3,475,858 ('858 Patent), which issued to Flannigan,
discloses a Planter Shroud and Planter. The '858 Patent teaches a shroud for a
planter of
the type employed in malls for towns and cities. The shroud is in the form of
a hollow
body with an open bottom for positioning over the planter, the top of the
shroud including
an inwardly and downwardly directed lip defining a central opening through
which the
plant in the planter extends when the shroud is positioned over the planter.
By use of
such a shroud, the planter may readily be provided with a dressed appearance
and the
planter itself, being completely hidden by the shroud can be manufactured
without the
normal lip structure and thus susceptible to a matched steel die single
molding operation.
United States Patent No. 4,173,098 ('098 Patent), which issued to Smith,
discloses a Planter. The '098 Patent teaches a receptacle having an
imperforate bottom
with a perforated, horizontal wall spaced upwardly from the bottom and
dividing the
receptacle into upper and lower compartments. Tubes project through the
perforated wall
and extend upwardly above the upper edge of the receptacle and downwardly to
the
bottom of said receptacle. Lower end portions of the tubes below the
horizontal wall are
also perforated. The upper compartment is adapted to receive soil and the
lower
compartment receives excess water which evaporates through the tubes and keeps
the soil
moist.
United States Patent No. 6,125,579 ('579 Patent), which issued to Pavelka,
discloses a Drainage Disk and Reservoir System for a Planter. The '579 Patent
teaches a
4
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
disk shaped insert for use in conjunction with an elevated bottom drain in a
plant
container. The disk rests on the drain to create a water reservoir below the
disk.
Excessive water is permitted to escape the container through the drain. The
soil is held
above the reservoir by the disk.
From a review of these patents and other prior art generally known in the
relevant
art, it will be seen that the prior art does not teach a container insert or
insert assembly
designed for use in combination with an oversized planter pot or oversized
planter
container for creating a false bottom in the same wherein the container insert
assembly
comprises a container insert or soil support platform, a support spacer
member, and an
optional moisture - receiving tray. More specifically, it will be seen that
that the prior art
does not teach a soil support platform comprising a substantially planar
superior support
surface, a substantially planar inferior support surface, a peripheral support
ridge, a
plurality of support ribs, and a plurality of matter-receiving apertures.
Neither does the
prior art teach a support spacer member as a means for enabling users to more
effectively
position a false bottom at a select container periphery as well as a means for
enabling
users to form a false bottom in planter containers having open mouth or inner
container
diameter dimensions that greatly exceed the dimensions of the soil support
platform. In
this regard, it is further noted that the prior art does not teach a support
spacer member
comprising a substantially planar superior spacer surface, a substantially
planar inferior
spacer surface, a sloped outer peripheral surface, a sloped inner peripheral
surface, a
horizontal spacer thickness, and a platform support ridge.
Further, it will be seen that the prior art does not teach an optional
moisture -
receiving tray for capturing and retaining excess moisture that may drain from
the matter
5
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
- receiving apertures of the soil support platform. In this regard, it is
noted that the prior
art does not teach a moisture - receiving tray comprising a superior moisture -
collecting
tray surface, an inferior tray surface, a peripheral tray surface or rim, and
a plurality of
tray ribs.
The prior art thus perceives a need for a container insert or insert assembly
designed for use in combination with an oversized planter pot or oversized
planter
container for creating a false bottom in the same. In this regard, the prior
art perceives a
need for a container insert or insert assembly designed for use in combination
with an
oversized planter pot or oversized planter container to increase the
efficiency of soil
usage. In this regard, it is contemplated that the prior art perceives a need
for a false
bottom insert for oversized planter containers that will function to reduce
the need to
have excess stone, excess soil, or other types of excess fill material in
those portions of an
oversized planter container where root systems of plant life may not reach.
The prior art
thus perceives a need for a soil support platform comprising a substantially
planar
superior support surface, a substantially planar inferior support surface, a
peripheral
support ridge, and a plurality of support ribs for supporting soil in an
elevated position
above a container bottom. Further, it is contemplated that the prior art
perceives a need
for a false bottom insert assembly that will function to reduce the resulting
mass of an
oversized planter container when excess stone, excess soil or other types of
excess fill
material are placed into the container.
Further, the prior art perceives a need for a false bottom insert assembly
that
enables users to more effectively position a false bottom at a select
container periphery as
well as a false bottom that enables users to form a false bottom in planter
containers
6
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
having open mouth or inner container diameter dimensions that greatly exceed
the
dimensions of the soil support platform. In this regard, the prior art
perceives a need for
a support spacer member comprising a substantially planar superior spacer
surface, a
substantially planar inferior spacer surface, a sloped outer peripheral
surface, a sloped
inner peripheral surface, a horizontal spacer thickness, and a platform
support ridge.
Further the prior art perceives a need for a false bottom insert assembly
comprising a plurality of matter-receiving apertures. More specifically, the
prior art
perceives a need for a false bottom insert assembly that enables the user to
prevent root
rot by allowing excess moisture to drain from soil - bound root systems
through moisture
drain apertures in the insert assembly. Alternatively, the prior art perceives
a need for an
optional moisture - receiving tray usable in combination with a soil support
platform and
the support spacer member for capturing and retaining excess moisture from the
matter -
receiving or moisture drain apertures of the soil support platform. In this
regard, it is
noted that the prior art perceives a need for a moisture - receiving tray that
comprises a
superior moisture - collecting tray surface, an inferior tray surface, a
peripheral tray
surface or rim, and a plurality of tray ribs. The prior art thus perceives a
need for a
moisture - receiving tray that operates to provide a readily available
moisture or water
source for plant species requiring relatively large amounts of moisture. Still
further, the
prior art perceives a need to provide a false bottom insert assembly that
provides a readily
available moisture source for plants requiring less moisture, thus enabling
the user to
increase the interval time between watering episodes.
7
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a low cost,
container
insert or insert assembly designed for use in combination with an oversized
planter
container for creating a false bottom in the same. In this regard, it is an
object of the
present invention to provide a container insert or insert assembly designed
for use in
combination with an oversized planter container that will enable the user to
decrease the
amount of soil needed to effectively maintain plant life in a viable state. It
is a further
object of the present invention to provide a false bottom insert for an
oversized planter
container that will function to reduce the need to have excess stone, excess
soil, or other
types of excess fill material in those portions of an oversized planter
container where root
systems of plant life may not reach.
Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a soil
support
platform that comprises a substantially planar superior support surface, a
substantially
planar inferior support surface, a peripheral support ridge, and a plurality
of support ribs
for supporting soil in an elevated position above an oversized planter
container bottom.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a false bottom
insert assembly
that will function to reduce the overall mass of an oversized planter
container when
excess stone, excess soil or other types of excess or unnecessary fill
material are placed
into the containers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a false bottom
insert
assembly that enables users to more effectively position a false bottom at a
user -
selected or select container periphery. Further, it is an object of the
present invention to
8
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
provide a false bottom insert assembly that enables users to form a false
bottom in a
planter container having a mouth or inner container diameter dimension that
greatly
exceeds the dimensions of the superior support surface of the soil support
platform. In
this regard, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a
support spacer
member comprising a substantially planar superior spacer surface, a
substantially planar
inferior spacer surface, a sloped outer peripheral surface, a sloped inner
peripheral
surface, a horizontal spacer thickness, and a platform support ridge that is
designed to
engage the container at the select container periphery and receive and support
the soil
support platform.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a false bottom
insert
assembly comprising a plurality of matter - receiving apertures. More
specifically, it is
an object of the present invention to provide a false bottom insert assembly
that enables
the user to prevent root rot by allowing excess moisture to drain from soil -
bound root
systems through moisture drain apertures in the insert assembly. Still
further, it is an
object of the present invention to provide an optional moisture - receiving
tray usable in
combination with a soil support platform and the support spacer member for
capturing
and retaining excess moisture from the matter - receiving or moisture drain
apertures of
the soil support platform. In this regard, it is a further object of the
present invention to
provide an optional moisture - receiving tray comprising a superior moisture -
collecting
tray surface, an inferior tray surface, a peripheral tray surface or rim, and
a plurality of
tray ribs. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
moisture - receiving
tray that operates to provide a readily available moisture source in inferior
adjacency to
the root systems of plants requiring relatively large amounts of moisture.
Further, it is an
9
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
object of the present invention to provide a readily available moisture source
in inferior
adjacency to the root systems of plants requiring lesser amounts of moisture
to effectively
enable the user to increase the interval time between watering episodes.
To achieve these and other readily apparent objectives, the present invention
provides a container insert or an insert assembly designed for use in
combination with an
oversized planter pot or oversized planter container for creating a false
bottom in the
same. The container insert assembly comprises a container insert or soil
support
platform, a support spacer member, and an optional moisture - receiving tray.
The soil
support platform comprises a substantially planar superior support surface, a
peripheral
support ridge, a plurality of support ribs, and a plurality of matter-
receiving apertures.
The peripheral support ridge comprises a sloped peripheral support surface and
a
peripheral support rim. The peripheral support surface is that portion of the
peripheral
support ridge that lies intermediate the superior support surface and the
peripheral
support rim and engages either the container or the support spacer member for
supporting
the soil support platform at a level adjacent the select container periphery.
It will be understood that by placing soil or other matter atop the soil
support
platform, the soil support platform becomes more fixedly wedged in place at a
level
adjacent the select container periphery. The support ribs are integrally
formed to the
inferior support surface to provide the soil support platform with additional
load bearing
structure to withstand the various forces acting upon the soil support
platform at any
given point in time. The inferior support surface further comprises a tray
support
structure. The tray support structure is concentric within peripheral support
ridge and
comprises tray-supporting means for supporting the optional moisture -
receiving tray.
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
The matter - receiving apertures are spaced intermediate the support ribs and
extend from the superior support surface to the inferior support surface. The
matter -
receiving apertures may be defined by at least one moisture drain at least two
tie strap -
receiving apertures. In this last regard, it is contemplated that the insert
assembly further
comprise manual removal means for enabling a user to manually remove the soil
support
platform from engagement with either the select container periphery or the
support spacer
member. The manual removal means is preferably defined by at least one tie
strap
looped through the tie strap - receiving apertures.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features,
elements, and
advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or apparent from, the following
description and the
accompanying drawing figures.
11
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features of our invention will become more evident from a consideration
of
the following brief description of patent drawings, as follows:
Figure No. 1 is a cross sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the
false
bottom insert assembly inserted in an oversized planter container supporting a
soil - bound
plant.
Figure No. 2 is an exploded top perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of
the false bottom insert assembly.
Figure No. 3 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the false bottom insert
assembly as shown in Figure No. 2.
Figure No. 4 top plan view of the preferred soil support platform.
Figure No. 4(a) is a cross sectional view side view of one latch member -
receiving
notch of the soil support platform as shown in Figure No. 4.
Figure No. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the soil support platform as
shown in
Figure No. 4.
Figure No. 6 is a bottom plan view of the soil support platform as shown in
Figure
No. 4.
Figure No. 7 is a cross sectional side view of the preferred moisture -
receiving tray
attached to the preferred soil support platform.
Figure No. 8 is a cross sectional side view of the support spacer member of an
alternative embodiment of the false bottom insert assembly.
12
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
Figure No. 9 is a bottom plan view of the support spacer member shown in
Figure
No. 8.
Figure No. 10 is a top perspective view of the support spacer member shown in
Figure No. 8.
Figure No. 11 is a top perspective view of the moisture - receiving tray of
the
preferred embodiment of the false bottom insert assembly.
Figure No. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the moisture - receiving tray
shown in
Figure No. 11.
Figure No. 13 is a cross sectional side view of the moisture - receiving tray
shown
in Figure No. 11.
Figure No. 14 is a bottom plan view of the moisture - receiving tray shown in
Figure
No. 11.
Figure No. 15 is a cross sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of
soil
support platform inserted in a first alternative planter container.
Figure No. 16 is a cross sectional side view of the soil support platform
shown in
Figure No. 15 inserted in a second alternative planter container.
Figure No. 17(a) is a perspective view of the soil support platform shown in
Figure
No. 4 with a tie strap looped through tie strap - receiving apertures in a
lowered position.
Figure No. 17(b) is a perspective view of the soil support platform shown in
Figure
No. 17(a) with the tie strap shown in an elevated position.
Figure No. 18 is a top perspective view of an alternative soil support
platform.
Figure No. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the soil support platform shown
in
Figure No. 18.
13
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
-,
Figure No. 20 is a cross sectional exploded side view of first, second, and
third
alternative nestable support spacer members.
Figure No. 21(a) is a cross sectional side view of the first alternative
nestable
support spacer member shown in Figure No. 20.
Figure No. 21(b) is a top plan view of the first alternative nestable support
spacer
member shown in Figure No. 21(a).
Figure No. 22(a) is a cross sectional side view of the second alternative
nestable
support spacer members shown in Figure No. 20.
Figure No. 22(b) is a top plan view of the second alternative nestable support
spacer
member shown in Figure No. 22(a).
Figure No. 23(a) is a cross sectional side view of the third alternative
nestable
support spacer member shown in Figure No. 20.
Figure No. 23(b) is a top plan view of the third alternative nestable support
spacer
member shown in Figure No. 23(a).
Figure No. 24 is an exploded top perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of
the false bottom insert assembly.
Figure No. 25 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the alternative
embodiment
of the false bottom insert assembly shown in Figure No. 24.
Figure No. 26 is a cross sectional side view of the alternative embodiment of
the
false bottom insert assembly shown in Figure No. 24 in an assemble state.
Figure No. 27 is a cross sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of
the false
bottom insert assembly.
14
= CA 02541628 2006-04-03
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention
concerns a container insert or insert assembly 10 as generally illustrated in
an assembled
state in Figure No. 1. As can be seen from an inspection of Figure No. 1,
insert assembly
is designed for use in combination with an oversized planter pot or oversized
planter
container 100 and creates a false bottom 105 in the same. Planter container
100 is further
illustrated in Figure Nos. 2 and 3. As earlier described, false bottom 105 is
primarily
designed to make more efficient use of soil. In this regard, it is
contemplated that false
10 bottom 105 enables the user to place lesser, more plant specific, amounts
of soil 107 into
planter containers such as planter container 100. In other words, plants do
not necessarily
require the maximum soil depth as attainable in an oversize planter container
and thus
only require superficial amounts of soil adjacent the rim of planter container
100 as is
generally shown in Figure No. 1.
By thus providing false bottom 105, the present invention cuts down on soil
use
as well as container mass, thus saving added soil cost and manual effort to
transport a
given planter container. It is contemplated that users of large planter
containers having at
least a 16 - inch diameter circular opening at the mouth or upper rim of the
planter
container may benefit the most from use of insert assembly 10. In this last
regard, it is
contemplated that a planter container having at least a 16 - inch diameter
circular
opening at the mouth or upper rim of the container may be characterized as an
oversized
planter container. Though it is noted that some plants may comprise root
systems that
utilize the maximum soil depth of an oversize planter container, the user may
elect to
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
place plants having root systems requiring minimal soil depth in an oversized
planter
container for aesthetic or other reasons and thus false bottom 105 effectively
reduces soil
quantity needs. It is contemplated that a planter container having the noted
minimal
specifications can often be quite unwieldy when filled to capacity with soil
and/or other
fill materials and it is for this reason that a 16 - inch diameter planter
container is here
specified as being representative of the smaller sized of the oversized
planter containers.
It should be further noted that the present invention might be easily adapted
for
use with planter containers having lateral cross sectional shapes other than
those of
circular configuration. For example, planter containers having rectangular
shaped lateral
cross sections are common as are planter containers having more specifically
square
shaped lateral cross sections. As illustrated in Figure Nos. 1, 2, and 3,
planter container
100 may be envisioned having a circular lateral cross section. For purposes of
descriptive brevity, planter container 100 has been illustrated as being
representative of
planter containers in general. The reader should thus bear in mind that insert
assembly 10
might be easily adapted for use with planter containers having varied shapes
and sizes.
Planter container 100 may be constructed from any suitable planter container
material. Preferably, however, planter container 100 comprises a container
bottom 101
as illustrated in Figure Nos. 1 and 3; a container rim 102 as illustrated in
Figure Nos. 1
and 2; and a substantially uniform sloped inner container surface 103 as
illustrated in
Figure Nos. 1 and 2. Optionally, planter container 100 may further comprise a
drain
aperture 110 in container bottom 101 as illustrated in Figure No. 3. It will
be seen from a
further inspection of Figure No. 1, that in the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention, inner container surface 103 is sloped such that the angle of
inclination from
16
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
vertical is uniformly in the range of about 12 -15 . It will be further noted
that inner
container surface 103 preferably extends uniformly from container bottom 101
to
container rim 102. Intermediate container bottom 101 and container rim 102 is
a select
container periphery 104 as referenced in Figure No. 1. Select container
periphery 104
represents that region of planter container 100 where insert assembly 10
creates false
bottom 105. As can be seem from a general consideration of Figure No. 1, false
bottom
105 significantly reduces the quantity of soil 107 needed to maintain plant
life or a plant
106 in a viable state. As earlier described, the root system 106(a) of a plant
106 may not
require a soil depth as great in magnitude as that of the depth of planter
container 100.
As illustrated in Figure No 1, root system 106(a) has sufficient soil depth
with which to
maintain plant 106 in viable state. It will thus be understood that false
bottom 105
successfully fulfills its function of making more efficient use of soil 107.
In the preferred embodiment, insert assembly 10 preferably comprises a
container
insert or soil support platform 20 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 1- 4, 5 - 7,
17(a), 17(b),
24, 25, and 27; and an optional moisture - receiving tray 40 as illustrated in
Figure Nos. 1
- 3, 7, 11 - 14, and 27. Soil support platform 20 is preferably constructed of
reground
polystyrene, but may also be constructed from polyethylene, polypropylene, or
other
similar materials. Soil support platform 20 preferably comprises a
substantially planar
superior support surface 21 as illustrated in Figure No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 17(a),
and 17(b); a
substantially planar inferior support surface 22 as illustrated in Figure No.
5; a peripheral
support ridge 23 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 1, 3, 5, and 7; a plurality of
support ribs 24
as illustrated in Figure Nos. 3 and 6; and a plurality of matter - receiving
apertures 25
17
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
four of which are referenced in Figure No. 2; three types of which are further
illustrated
in Figure Nos. 4 and 6; and three types of which are referenced in Figure No.
17(b).
Peripheral support ridge 23 preferably comprises a sloped peripheral support
surface 26 as referenced in Figure Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 17(a), and 17(b); and a
peripheral
support rim 27 as referenced in Figure Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7. As can be seen
from an
inspection of the noted figures, peripheral support surface 26 is that portion
of peripheral
support ridge 23 that extends intermediate superior support surface 21 and
peripheral
support rim 27 and in the preferred embodiment has a container - engaging
depth. From
an inspection of Figure No. 1, it will be seen that the peripheral support
surface 26
engages inner container surface 103 at select container periphery 104.
Preferably,
peripheral support surface 26 has a uniform sloped angle of inclination from
vertical
ranging from about 12 - 15 to match the angle of inclination of inner
container surface
103. Thus when soil support platform 20 is inserted into planter container
100, peripheral
support surface 26 snugly wedges soil support platform 20 in place under its
own weight.
It will thus be seen that peripheral support surface 26 is in removably wedged
engagement with select container periphery 104 and that the container insert
or soil
support platform 20 thus forms false bottom 105 in the oversized planter
container 100 at
select container periphery 104.
Preferably select container periphery 104 is a substantially uniform measured
distance from container rim 102, the preferred measured distance ranging from
about 6 to
8 inches. By so providing, false bottom 105 may yield a soil depth of about 6
to 8 inches,
which depth provides most types of plant life with sufficient life sustaining
soil. It is
appreciated, however, that the end user may desire various soil depths as well
as various
18
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
types of planter containers having varied angles of inclination from vertical.
Soil support
platform 20 may thus be manufactured in various sizes with sloped peripheral
support
surfaces of varying degrees to accommodate the various desires of end users.
Given a
planter container having a circular horizontal cross section and a 16 - inch
inner diameter
at the container rim and having a sloped inner container surface having an
angle of
inclination from vertical of about 12 -15 , it is contemplated that a soil
support platform
as described having a 12 -inch diameter at the superior support surface will
form a false
bottom in the given planter container about 6 - 8 inches from the container
rim. It is
further contemplated that given an inner container surface having an angle of
inclination
from vertical of about 12 -15 , an increase in diameter of a circular soil
support
platform 20 of about 3/4 inch will result in a false bottom 105 that is raised
approximately
2 - 3 inches. In other words, if a soil support platform having a 12 - inch
diameter were
replaced with a soil support platform having a 123/4 - inch diameter, the
effective false
bottom would be raised from about 6 - 8 inches below the container rim to
about 3 - 6
inches from the container rim.
It will be understood that by placing soil 107 and plant 106 or other matter
atop
soil support platform 20, soil support platform 20 is more fixedly wedged in
place at
select container periphery 104. Reground polystyrene is thus the preferred
load bearing
material for soil support platform 20 insofar as it has relatively low cost,
yet has
sufficient rigidity to withstand the various forces acting upon soil support
platform 20
both under its own weight and additionally when matter is supported by it.
To improve the support characteristics of soil support platform 20, however,
support ribs 24 are integrally formed to inferior support surface 22 and are
substantially
19
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
equally spaced from one another. As can be seen from an inspection of Figure
No. 6,
support ribs 24 are radially aligned from a center portion on inferior support
surface 22.
Given the circular horizontal cross section of soil support platform 20,
support ribs 24
may comprise a peripheral support rib, the peripheral support rib being
concentric within
peripheral support ridge 23 and connecting the radially aligned support ribs
24. It is
noted that given a differently shaped soil support platform, the arrangement
of support
ribs 24 may vary. For example, if a square shaped horizontal cross section of
the soil
support platform is desired, support ribs 24 may be aligned in a grid or a
joist like pattern.
Support ribs 24 provide soil support platform 20 with additional load bearing
structure to
withstand the various forces acting upon soil support platform 20 at any given
point in
time.
Inferior support surface 22 preferably further comprises a tray support
structure
31 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7. Tray support structure 31
is concentric
within peripheral support ridge 23 and has a tray support depth substantially
equal in
magnitude to the container - engaging depth of peripheral support surface 26.
Tray
support structure 31 comprises tray - supporting means described in more
detail below.
Matter - receiving apertures 25 may preferably be spaced intermediate support
ribs 24 as generally illustrated in Figure No. 6 and extend from superior
support surface
21 to inferior support surface 22. Matter - receiving apertures 25 may
preferably be
defined by at least one moisture drain aperture 28 as further illustrated in
Figure Nos. 2,
4, and 6. Additionally, matter - receiving apertures 25 may be further defined
by at least
two tie strap - receiving apertures 29 as illustrated in Figure No. 4. In this
last regard, it
is contemplated that insert assembly 10 further comprise manual removal means
for
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
enabling a user to manually remove soil support platform 20 from engagement
with inner
container surface 103. In this regard, the manual removal means are preferably
defined
by a tie strap 30 as generally illustrated in Figure Nos. 17(a) and 17(b). The
user may
feed tie strap 30 through adjacent tie strap - receiving apertures 29 and loop
the tie strap
ends together. For purposes of clarity, a free - floating looped tie strap 30
is illustrated
adjacent soil support platform 20 as illustrated in Figure No. 17(a).
Excellent results
have been achieved using the described tie strap structures. Tie straps are
inexpensive
and provide a highly effective means for enabling a user to manually remove
soil support
platform 20 from engagement with inner container surface 103. Tie strap 30 may
be
pulled to or positioned in a superior or elevated position and a user's
fingers may operate
to lift soil support platform 20 from engagement with inner container surface
103 as
generally depicted in Figure No. 17(b). Before placing soil 107 or other
materials atop
soil support platform 20, tie strap 30 may be pushed to or positioned in an
inferior
position so as to help eliminate the possibility of root system entanglement
therewith as
generally depicted in Figure No. 17(a).
Optionally, insert assembly 10 further comprises moisture - receiving tray 40
for
collecting moisture that may drain from moisture drain aperture(s) 28. It
should be noted
that moisture - receiving tray 40 not only functions to collect moisture from
moisture
drain aperture(s) 28 and other matter - receiving apertures 25, but also
retains moisture in
an elevated position relative to container bottom 101. It is contemplated that
various root
systems, and thus the plant, may fare better provided with a constant source
of moisture.
Moisture - receiving tray 40 thus serves the function of collecting and
retaining moisture
in inferior adjacency to false bottom 105 so as to provide evaporative
moisture to soil 107
21
= CA 02541628 2006-04-03
as desired by the user. Should the user decide not to install moisture -
receiving tray 40
for whatever reason, the user may simply keep moisture - receiving tray 40 in
storage or
remove moisture - receiving tray 40 from attachment to soil support platform
as
hereinafter described.
Moisture - receiving tray 40 preferably comprises a superior moisture -
collecting
tray surface 41 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 1, 2, 7, 11, and 13; an inferior
tray surface 42
as illustrated in Figure Nos. 1, 3, 7, 12, 13, and 14; a peripheral tray
surface or rim 43 as
referenced in Figure Nos. 2, 3, and 11 - 14; and a plurality of tray ribs 44
as illustrated in
Figure Nos. 3, 12, and 14. Moisture - receiving tray 40 has preferable
moisture -
collecting depth ranging from about 0.6 inches to at most about 1.5 inches. It
is
contemplated that moisture - collecting depth greater in magnitude than 1.5
inches may
hold too great an amount of moisture, which may tend to decrease the
effectiveness of
insert assembly 10.
Notably, peripheral tray rim 43 comprises insert attachment means for
removably
attaching moisture - receiving tray 40 to soil support platform 20. The
earlier noted tray
- supporting means are preferably defined by at least two, but preferably
four, latch
member - receiving notches 45 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 2, 4, 4(a), and 6;
and the
insert attachment means are preferably defined by at least two, but preferably
four, tray
support latch members 46 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 2, 3, and 11 - 14.
Latch member -
receiving notches 45 are formed in tray support structure 31 such that tray
support
structure 31 further comprises tray support lips 47 as illustrated in Figure
No. 4(a) and 7.
Tray support latch members 46 are thus removably insertable into the latch
member -
receiving notches 45 and supportable on tray support lips 47 for removably
attaching
22
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
moisture - receiving tray 40 to the container insert or soil support platform
20. Moisture
- receiving tray 40 in preferably structured such that peripheral tray surface
43 is
concentrically adjacent within tray support structure 31 when moisture -
receiving tray
40 is removably attached to soil support platform 20.
Similar to support ribs 24, tray ribs 44 are integrally formed to inferior
tray
surface 42 and are substantially equally spaced from one another. As can be
seen from
an inspection of Figure Nos. 12 and 14, tray ribs 44 are radially aligned from
a center
portion on inferior tray surface 42. Given the circular horizontal cross
section of soil
support platform 20 and moisture - receiving tray 40, tray ribs 44 may
comprise a
peripheral tray rib 48 as referenced in Figure Nos. 1, 3, 7, and 12 - 14, the
peripheral tray
rib connecting the radially - aligned tray ribs 44. It is noted that given a
differently
shaped soil support platform 20 and moisture - receiving tray 40, the
arrangement of tray
ribs 44 may vary. For example, if a square shaped horizontal cross section of
the soil
support platform and moisture - receiving tray is desired, the tray ribs may
be aligned in
a grid or ajoist like pattern. Tray ribs 44 thus provide moisture - receiving
tray 40 with
additional load bearing structure to withstand the various forces acting upon
moisture -
receiving tray 40 at any given point in time.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT NO. 1
A first alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns a container
insert
or insert assembly that is substantially identical to the preferred embodiment
of the
present invention except for several structures. The soil support platform of
the first
alternative embodiment comprises a container insert or soil support platform
and an
23
' CA 02541628 2006-04-03
optional moisture - receiving tray. The first alternative embodiment of the
soil support
platform is also preferably constructed of reground polystyrene and preferably
comprises
substantially planar superior support surface 21 as illustrated in Figure No.
18;
substantially planar inferior support surface 22 as illustrated in Figure No.
19; peripheral
support ridge 23 as illustrated in Figure No. 19; a plurality of support ribs
24 as
illustrated in Figure No. 19; and a plurality of matter - receiving apertures
25 as
illustrated in Figure Nos. 18 and 19. Unlike the preferred embodiment of soil
support
platform 20, however, inferior support surface 22 omits tray support structure
31 as can
be generally seen by comparing Figure Nos. 3 and 6 (with tray support
structure 31) with
Figure Nos. 19 and 26 (without tray support structure). In this regard, the
alternative soil
support platform is referenced by 20(a) in Figure Nos. 18, 19, and 26.
It is contemplated that inferior support surface 22 may comprise a peripheral
support rib, the peripheral support rib being concentric within peripheral
support ridge 23
and connecting the radially or otherwise aligned support ribs 24. Further,
matter -
receiving apertures 25 are defined by at least two, but preferably four, latch
member -
receiving apertures as generally referenced at the superior openings of
notches 45 in
Figure Nos. 2 and 4, and as specifically illustrated in Figure Nos. 17(a),
17(b), 18, and 19
being referenced by 45(a). In Alternative Embodiment No. 1, latch member -
receiving
apertures 45(a) are medially adjacent to the peripheral support rib or
medially adjacent
peripheral support ridge 23 as generally depicted in Figure No. 19. It is
contemplated
that the insert attachment means of the moisture - receiving tray are defined
by
comprising at least two, but preferably four, tray support latch members (not
illustrated).
It is thus contemplated that the tray support latch members are removably
insertable
24
. CA 02541628 2006-04-03
through the latch member - receiving apertures 45(a) for removably attaching
the
moisture - receiving tray to the soil support platform. The peripheral tray
rim of the
moisture - receiving tray is thus concentric within the peripheral support rib
or peripheral
support ridge when the moisture - receiving tray is removably attached to the
soil support
platform. The first alternative embodiment of the present invention thus
provides the
manufacturer with means to avoid having to construct tray support structure 31
with latch
member - receiving notches 45. Instead, latch member - receiving apertures
45(a)
directly extend from superior support surface 21 to inferior support surface
22.
Further, the first alternative embodiment of the present invention provides
the
manufacturer with means to avoid having to construct moisture - receiving tray
40 with
tray support latch members 46. Alternatively, by adding support latch members
to the
superior rim surface of the moisture - receiving tray 40 and by simply
providing latch
member - receiving apertures 45(a) in the soil support platform for receiving
the support
latch members, an alternative means for removably attaching the moisture -
receiving
tray to the soil support platform is provided.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT NO. 2
A second alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns an insert
assembly that is substantially identical to the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention except for inclusion of an additional key component. In the second
alternative
embodiment of the present invention, the insert assembly comprises soil
support platform
20 as earlier described, optional moisture - receiving tray 40 as earlier
described, and, in
addition, at least one support spacer member 60 as generally illustrated in
Figure Nos. 2,
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
3, 8 - 10. It is noted that planter containers have widely discrepant
dimension
specifications. In fact, dimension variance often exists even among individual
planter
containers within the same model grouping. With this fact in mind, it is
contemplated
that support spacer member 60 functions to serve as means for enabling users
to more
effectively position a false bottom at a select container periphery as well as
means for
enabling users to form a false bottom in planter containers having open mouth
or inner
container diameter dimensions that greatly exceed the dimensions of the
superior support
surface of the soil support platform.
Support spacer member 60 is also preferably constructed from reground
polystyrene and is formed to preferably comprise a substantially planar
superior spacer
surface 61 as illustrated in Figures Nos. 2, 8, and 10; a substantially planar
inferior spacer
surface 62 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 3, 8, and 9; a sloped outer
peripheral surface 63 as
illustrated in Figure Nos. 8 - 10; a sloped inner peripheral surface 64 as
illustrated in
Figure Nos. 8 and 10; a horizontal spacer thickness, and a platform support
ridge 65 as
illustrated in Figure Nos. 8 - 10. It will be understood that superior spacer
surface 61 is
preferably substantially parallel with inferior spacer surface 62, and that
inner peripheral
surface 64 is concentric within the outer peripheral surface 63. It should be
further
understood that platform support ridge 65 is integrally formed to inner
peripheral surface
64 and extends medially or in a medial direction from inferior spacer surface
62.
Notably, inner peripheral surface 64 has a platform - engaging depth that
coincides with
the container - engaging depth of soil support platform 20 as comparatively
shown in
Figure Nos. 7 and 8. For purposes of the present alternative embodiment
description, the
container - engaging depth may perhaps more precisely be referred to as a
spacer
26
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
member - engaging depth since in Alternative Embodiment No. 2, soil support
platform
20 directly engages support spacer member 60 and not container 100. When
inserted into
a planter container, outer peripheral surface 63 is in removably wedged
engagement with
the select container periphery substantially as earlier described with respect
to the
peripheral support surface 26 and the select container periphery. In this
alternative
embodiment, however, peripheral support surface 26, when inserted into support
spacer
member 60, is in removably wedged engagement with inner peripheral surface 64
and
peripheral support rim 27 is in removably seated engagement with platform
support ridge
65. As earlier noted, the spacer - engaging depth preferably coincides with
the platform
- engaging depth such that superior support surface 21 is substantially
coplanar with
superior spacer surface 61. Thus, it will be understood that soil support
platform 20 and
support spacer member 60 together form a substantially planar false bottom in
the
oversized planter container at the select container periphery.
In order to achieve a proper false bottom location at the select container
periphery, which, as earlier specified, is preferably 6 - 8 inches from the
container rim,
the horizontal spacer thickness preferably has a magnitude ranging from .25 to
5 inches.
Horizontal spacer thicknesses of varying magnitudes will allow the user to
select from a
variety of support spacer members 60 to achieve the desired false bottom
location for a
given oversized planter container. It is further contemplated, however, that
given an
inner container surface having an angle of inclination from vertical of about
12 -15 , an
overall increase in diameter of a circular support spacer member 60 of about
3/4 inch will
result in a false bottom 105 that is raised approximately 2 - 3 inches. In
other words, if a
support spacer member having a 14 - inch diameter were replaced with a support
spacer
27
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
member platform having a 143/4 - inch diameter, the effective false bottom
would be
raised from about 6 - 8 inches below the container rim to about 3 - 6 inches
from the
container rim.
Optionally, support spacer member 60 may comprise a dentate or toothed outer
peripheral surface 63(a) as generally illustrated in Figure Nos. 2, 3, and 10
to reduce the
amount of material used in construction of support spacer member 60, thus
further
reducing manufacturing costs. Excellent results have been obtained using the
dentate
outer peripheral surface 63 as shown and described. Additionally, it is
contemplated that
outer peripheral surface may comprise a plurality of moisture - receiving
apertures 66,
three of which are referenced in Figure No. 9, to allow excess moisture to
drain from the
false bottom to the true container bottom adjacent the inner container
surface.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT No. 3
A third alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns an insert
assembly that is substantially identical to the first alternative embodiment
of the present
invention except for the addition of the support spacer member 60 component as
described hereinabove. It will be understood that support spacer member 60 is
a
component that does not structurally interfere with the moisture - receiving
tray and thus
it is believed that no further description is necessary here as it is within
the ordinary skill
of those in the pertinent art to simply add together the components of the
first alternative
embodiment and the support spacer member as earlier described.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT NO. 4
28
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
A fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns a container
insert or insert assembly for use in combination with a planter container 200
as illustrated
in Figure No. 15. It will be seen from an inspection of Figure No. 15 that
planter
container 200 comprises a container bottom 201, a container rim 202, an outer
container
surface 204 and a non-uniform inner container surface 203. Similar to inner
container
surface 103, inner container surface 203 extends from container bottom 201 to
container
rim 202. However, inner container surface 203 comprises an inner container
ledge 210
intermediate container bottom 201 and container rim 202 as further illustrated
in Figure
Nos. 15 and 16.
A container insert or a soil support platform 220 for creating a false bottom
205 in
oversized planter container 200 may thus be rested upon inner container ledge
210. Soil
support platform 220 preferably comprises a substantially planar superior
support surface
221 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 15 and 16; a substantially planar inferior
support surface
222 as illustrated in Figure Nos. 15 and 16; a peripheral ledge - engaging
support as
generally referenced in Figure Nos. 15 and 16 at 223; a plurality of support
ribs (not
shown); and a plurality of matter-receiving apertures (not shown). The
peripheral ledge -
engaging support preferably comprises a peripheral support rim 227 as
illustrated in
Figure Nos. 15 and 16, but, notably, does not comprise a peripheral support
surface. In
this regard, it should be noted that soil support platform 220 does not
necessarily engage
inner container surface 203 since soil support platform is supported by inner
container
ledge 210 at peripheral support rim 227.
For further load - bearing support, the support ribs of soil support platform
220
may be integrally formed to inferior support surface 222 and further may be
substantially
29
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
equally spaced from one another. Further, the matter - receiving apertures are
preferably
spaced intermediate the support ribs and extend from superior support surface
221 to
inferior support surface 222 and may be defined substantially as earlier
described.
It will thus be seen that the fourth alternative embodiment of the present
invention
contemplates a soil support platform that is virtually identical to soil
support platform 20
of the preferred embodiment. It should again be noted, however, that the
peripheral ledge
- engaging support of soil support platform 220 does not necessarily require a
sloped
peripheral support surface. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention,
soil
support platform 220 rests upon inner container ledge 210 via peripheral
support rim 227,
the peripheral support rim being in removably seated engagement with inner
container
ledge 210. Container insert or soil support platform 220 thus forms false
bottom 205 in
oversized planter container 200 at inner container ledge 210.
It should be noted that other features such as the manual removal means are
virtually identical as in the preferred embodiment since those components do
not
structurally interfere with the fourth embodiment as described. Further,
moisture -
receiving tray 40 may be utilized in combination with soil support platform
220 as it is
contemplated that soil support platform 220 may comprise tray support
structure 31
substantially as earlier described. Further, similar to the preferred
embodiment, false
bottom 205 is preferably spatially located a substantially uniform measured
distance from
container rim 202, the measured distance preferably ranging from about 6 to 8
inches for
the reasons earlier stated. In this regard, it should be noted that inner
container ledge is
preferably located a certain measured distance from container rim. The
vertical distance
from superior support surface 221 to peripheral support rim 227 may be on the
order of
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
fractions of an inch and thus the measured distance from inner container ledge
210 to
container rim is in the range of 6+ - 8+ inches at the manufacturer's
election.
Outer container surface 204 may either comprise a uniform outer container
surface as generally illustrated in Figure No. 15 or a non-uniform outer
container surface
as generally illustrated in Figure No. 16. Given the non-uniform outer
container surface,
outer container surface 204 may optionally comprise an exterior container
overhang 206
as illustrated in Figure No. 16. It is contemplated that container overhang
206 is laterally
adjacent to and structurally coincides with inner container ledge 210.
Container
overhang 206 thus forms an exterior structural marker for identifying the
approximate
spatial location of inner container ledge 210. Further, container overhang 206
may serve
additional functions; for example as means for enabling a user to more easily
lift planter
container 200 for transportation purposes.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT No. 5
A fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention concerns a container
insert
or insert assembly for use in combination with planter container 200 and as
described
under the heading, Alternative Embodiment No. 4. The fifth embodiment thus
contemplates use of the moisture - receiving tray and associated structures as
described
with reference to Alternative Embodiment No. 1, but for use in combination
with planter
container 200. That is, unlike the preferred embodiment of soil support
platform 20,
inferior support surface 222 of the fifth alternative embodiment omits tray
support
structure 31. It is believed that one with ordinary skill in the pertinent art
could easily
combine the soil support platform and moisture-receiving tray notions as
described under
31
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
the heading Alternative Embodiment No. 1 with planter container 200 as
described under
the heading Alternative Embodiment No. 4, taking note of the absence of
necessity for a
sloped peripheral support surface. It will be recalled that soil support
platform 220 rests
upon inner container ledge 210 via peripheral support rim 227 and thus the
sloped
peripheral support surface 26 of soil support platform 20 may be omitted in
the fifth
embodiment.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT NO. 6
A sixth alternative embodiment of the present invention expands upon the
concepts and structures as described in connection with Alternative Embodiment
No. 2.
In this regard, it is contemplated that at least support spacer member be
further defined by
a plurality of nestable support spacer members as referenced at 70, 80, and 90
and as
generally depicted in Figure Nos. 20 - 27, inclusive. As will be seen from an
inspection
of Figure Nos. 20 - 27, nestable support spacer members are essentially
identical save for
the overall size dimensions. In other words, nestable support spacer member
has an outer
diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of nestable support
spacer
member 80. In turn, nestable support spacer member 80 has an outer diameter
that is
substantially equal to the inner diameter of nestable support spacer member
90. Nestable
support spacer member has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the
select
container periphery so that when nested together, nestable support spacer
members 70,
80, and 90 and the soil support platform form a false bottom at the select
container
periphery.
32
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
As has been noted, planter containers have widely discrepant dimension
specifications, the dimension variance often existing even among individual
planter
containers within the same model grouping. With this fact in mind, it is
contemplated
that nestable support spacer members 70, 80, and 90 function to serve as means
for
enabling users to more effectively position a false bottom at a select
container periphery
as well as means for enabling users to form a false bottom in planter
containers having
open mouth or inner container diameter dimensions that greatly exceed the
dimensions of
the superior support surface of the soil support platform.
Nestable support spacer members 70, 80, and 90 are each also preferably
constructed from reground polystyrene and are formed to preferably comprise
substantially planar superior spacer surfaces 72, 82, and 92 as respectively
illustrated in
Figures Nos. 20, 26, and 27; substantially planar inferior spacer surfaces 73,
83, and 93 as
respectively illustrated in Figure Nos. 20, 25, 26, and 27; sloped outer
peripheral surfaces
74, 84, and 94 as respectively illustrated in Figure Nos. 20, 24, and 25;
sloped inner
peripheral surfaces 75, 85, and 95 as respectively illustrated in Figure No.
20; a
horizontal spacer thickness, upwardly extending structure support ridges 71,
81, and 91
as respectively illustrated in Figure Nos. 20, 24, 26, and 27; downwardly
extending
structure support ridges 76, 86, and 96 as respectively illustrated in Figure
Nos. 20, 25,
26, and 27; and ridge - receiving grooves 77, 87, and 97 as respectively
illustrated and
referenced in Figure No. 20.
It will thus be seen from an inspection of Figure No. 20 that ridge -
receiving
grooves 77, 87, and 97 are respectively intermediate the upwardly extending
structure
support ridges 71, 81, and 91 and sloped inner peripheral surfaces 75, 85, and
95. In this
33
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
regard, it will be further noted that ridge - receiving groove 77 has a
slighter larger width
than either ridge - receiving groove 87 or ridge - receiving groove 97. It
should be noted
that only the inner most support spacer member, which, as illustrated and
referenced, is
support spacer member 70, comprises a ridge - receiving groove 77 having
sufficient
width to snugly receive peripheral support ridge 23 of the support platform.
In this last
regard, the reader is directed to Figure Nos. 26 and 27. There it will be
noted that
peripheral support ridge 23 of an alternative soil support platform is snugly
received by
ridge - receiving groove 77 in Figure No. 26 and the peripheral support ridge
23 of soil
support platform 20 is snugly received by ridge - receiving groove in Figure
No. 27.
Ridge - receiving grooves 87 and 97 are designed to respectively receive
downwardly extending structure support ridges 86 and 96 when the given support
spacer
members are nested together as is further generally illustrated in Figure Nos.
26 and 27.
It will thus be understood that a plurality of nestable support spacer members
may thus be
nested together to enable the user to form a false bottom at a select
container periphery.
It will be understood that superior spacer surfaces 72, 82, and 92 are
preferably
substantially parallel with inferior spacer surfaces 73, 83, and 93, and that
inner
peripheral surfaces 75, 85, and 95 are concentric within the outer peripheral
surfaces 74,
84, and 94. Notably, inner peripheral surfaces 75, 85, and 95 each have a
platform -
engaging depth that coincides with the spacer member - engaging depth of the
given soil
support platform as comparatively shown in Figure Nos. 26 and 27. When
inserted into a
planter container, outer peripheral surface 94 is in removably wedged
engagement with
the select container periphery. In this alternative embodiment, however,
peripheral
support surface 26, when inserted into support spacer member 70, is in
removably
34
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
wedged engagement with inner peripheral surface 75 and peripheral support rim
27 is in
removably seated engagement with ridge - receiving groove 77. The spacer -
engaging
depth thus preferably coincides with the platform - engaging depth of each
support
spacer member such that superior support surface 21 is substantially coplanar
with
superior spacer surfaces 72, 82, and 92. Thus, it will be understood that soil
support
platform 20 or an alternative soil support platform and support spacer members
70, 80,
and 90 together form a substantially planar false bottom in the oversized
planter container
at the select container periphery.
In other words, it is contemplated that the presently described embodiment
will
comprise at least one nestable support spacer member, each nestable support
spacer
member comprising a substantially planar superior spacer surface, a
substantially planar
inferior spacer surface, a sloped inner peripheral surface, a sloped outer
peripheral
surface, a horizontal spacer thickness, an upwardly extending structure
support ridge, and
a downwardly extending structure support ridge. The superior spacer surface or
surfaces
being parallel with the inferior spacer surface or surfaces and the inner
peripheral surface
or surfaces being concentric within the outer peripheral surface or surfaces.
The
upwardly extending structure support ridge is preferably integrally formed to
the inner
peripheral surface and thus forms a ridge - receiving groove intermediate the
upwardly
extending structure support ridge and the inner peripheral surface. The
peripheral
support ridge of the given soil support platform is removably engaged with the
ridge -
receiving groove. The downwardly extending structure support ridge is
integrally formed
to the outer peripheral surface, which outer peripheral surface is removably
engaged with
a select sloped surface selected from the group consisting of the inner
container surface
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
(if just one support spacer member is being utilized) and an inner peripheral
surface of a
further support spacer member (if more than one support spacer member is being
utilized). In the latter case, the downwardly extending structure support
ridge of the first
support spacer member is removably engaged with the ridge - receiving groove
of the
further support spacer member. It will thus be seen that the soil support
platform and at
least one support spacer member together in series form a substantially planar
false
bottom in the oversized planter container at the select sloped surface or
select container
periphery of the inner container surface.
In order to achieve a proper false bottom location at the select container
periphery, which, as earlier specified, is preferably 6- 8 inches from the
container rim,
the horizontal spacer thickness preferably has a magnitude ranging from .25 to
5 inches.
For a circular support spacer member the horizontal spacer thickness is
preferably about
.375 inches. By inserting one support spacer member, the horizontal thickness
will
provide an increase in false bottom diameter of about .75 inches and thus
enable the user
to elevate the false bottom about 2- 3 inches toward the container rim as
earlier
described. Optionally, each of the support spacer members 70, 80, and 90 may
comprise
ribbed inner peripheral surfaces 75, 85, and 95 as is generally illustrated in
Figure Nos.
24 and 25 and as referenced at 100. It is contemplated that the ribbed inner
peripheral
surfaces 75, 85, and 95 may enable the manufacturer to reduce the amount of
material
used in construction of support spacer members 70, 80, and 90, thus further
reducing
manufacturing costs. It is contemplated that given a preferred horizontal
thickness of
.375 inches, each rib should have a width (contributory to the overall
horizontal
thickness) of about .25 inches, thus leaving the wall thickness as referenced
at 101 in
36
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
Figure No. 24 with an thickness of about .125 inches. Excellent results have
been
obtained using the ribbed inner peripheral surfaces 75, 85, and 95 as shown
and
described. It is noted that be including ribbed inner peripheral surfaces 75,
85, and 95
will effectively result in a plurality of matter - receiving cavities as
referenced at 102 in
Figure No. 20, 21(b), 22(b), 23(b), 26, and 27 around the perimeter of the
false bottom.
The matter - receiving cavities may thus serve as soil retaining pockets
through which
excess moisture may drain from the false bottom to the true container bottom.
It will be further understood the primary structural difference between
support
spacer members 70, 80, and 90 are the overall size dimensions (albeit support
spacer
member 70 comprises structurally enlarged ridge - receiving groove 77 as
earlier
described) as may be generally seen from an inspection of Figure Nos. 21(a)
through
23(b). It should be noted that while the three nestable support spacer members
70, 80,
and 90 have been described and illustrated, it is contemplated that additional
nestable
support spacer members may be added to the series of nestable spacer members.
It is
believed within the ordinary skill of those in the art to take the information
as described
herein and expand upon the same so as to nest more or less than three nestable
support
spacer members together so as to form the false bottom at the select container
periphery.
It will be seen that the present invention further provides a low cost,
container insert
or insert assembly designed for use in combination with an oversized planter
container
for creating a false bottom in the same. In this regard, it will be further
seen that the
present invention provides a container insert or insert assembly designed for
use in
combination with an oversized planter container that will enable the user to
decrease the
37
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
amount of soil needed to effectively maintain plant life in a viable state. It
will be further
seen that the present invention provides a false bottom insert for an
oversized planter
container that will function to reduce the need to have excess stone, excess
soil, or other
types of excess fill material in those portions of an oversized planter
container where root
systems of plant life may not reach.
Still further, it will be seen that the present invention provides a soil
support
platform that comprises a substantially planar superior support surface, a
substantially
planar inferior support surface, a peripheral support ridge, and a plurality
of support ribs
for supporting soil in an elevated position above an oversized planter
container bottom.
Further, it will be seen that the present invention provides a false bottom
insert assembly
that will function to reduce the overall mass of an oversized planter
container when
excess stone, excess soil or other types of excess or unnecessary fill
material are placed
into the containers.
It will be further seen that the present invention provides a false bottom
insert
assembly that enables users to more effectively position a false bottom at a
user -
selected or select container periphery. Further, it will be seen that the
present invention
provides a false bottom insert assembly that enables users to form a false
bottom in a
planter container having a mouth or inner container diameter dimension that
greatly
exceeds the dimensions of the superior support surface of the soil support
platform. In
this regard, the present invention provides a support spacer member comprising
a
substantially planar superior spacer surface, a substantially planar inferior
spacer surface,
a sloped outer peripheral surface, a sloped inner peripheral surface, a
horizontal spacer
38
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
thickness, and a platform support ridge that is designed to engage the
container at the
select container periphery and receive and support the soil support platform.
It will be further seen that the present invention provides a false bottom
insert
assembly comprising a plurality of matter - receiving apertures. More
specifically, it will
be seen that the present invention provides a false bottom insert assembly
that enables the
user to prevent root rot by allowing excess moisture to drain from soil -
bound root
systems through moisture drain apertures in the insert assembly. Still
further, it will be
seen that the present invention provides an optional moisture - receiving tray
usable in
combination with a soil support platform and the support spacer member for
capturing
and retaining excess moisture from the matter - receiving or moisture drain
apertures of
the soil support platform. In this regard, it will be seen that the present
invention
provides an optional moisture - receiving tray comprising a superior moisture -
collecting tray surface, an inferior tray surface, a peripheral tray surface
or rim, and a
plurality of tray ribs. Thus, it will be seen that present invention provides
a moisture -
receiving tray that operates to provide a readily available moisture source in
inferior
adjacency to the root systems of plants requiring relatively large amounts of
moisture.
Further, it will be seen that the present invention provides a readily
available moisture
source in inferior adjacency to the root systems of plants requiring lesser
amounts of
moisture to effectively enable the user to increase the interval time between
watering
episodes.
While the above description contains much specificity, this specificity should
not
be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an
exemplification
of the invention. For example, it will be noted that matter - receiving
apertures 25 are
39
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
defined as structure capable of receiving a broad variety of matter as
directed
therethrough, including, but not limited to, moisture, soil, members, straps
or other means
for manual removal. Further, as has been described above, the general concept
of a
moisture - receiving tray, suspendable in inferior adjacency to the soil
support platform
may be practiced by a variety of means. The specified means for supporting the
moisture
- receiving tray in inferior adjacency to the soil support platform as
disclosed and
described herein have proven to be cost effective and functionally sound. This
is not to
suggest that other means do not exist. It is thus contemplated that the
general concept of
providing an optional moisture - receiving tray for use in combination with a
soil support
platform as described is taught by the present invention and thus so long as a
moisture -
receiving tray is formed for use in combination with a soil support platform
substantially
as described, it is believed that the spirit of the present invention is
practiced.
Further, as described under the heading ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT No. 6, it is
contemplated that more than one support spacer member may be utilized in
tandem with
one another. That is, a first support spacer member having dimensions for
engagement
with an inner container surface at the desired false bottom level may first be
inserted into
a planter container substantially as described herein. Then, a second support
spacer
member having dimensions for engagement with the first support spacer member
may be
inserted into or nested within the first support spacer member. In this
fashion, it is
contemplated that a plurality of concentric support spacer members may be
nested
together thus effectively forming an outer perimeter of a false bottom. As
earlier
described, the outer perimeter of the resulting false bottom may comprise
matter -
receiving cavities should the manufacturer elect to construct the several
support spacer
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
members with ribbed inner peripheral surfaces. To complete the false bottom, a
soil
support platform would be removably engaged with the last support spacer
member
added. It is further contemplated that a support spacer member resembling a
grid like
pattern could also be formed for insertion in a planter container at a desired
depth from
the container rim. A plurality of soil support platforms could then be
inserted to fill the
grid like pattern and thus complete a false bottom in the planter container.
So long as the
false bottom is formed utilizing the components as described herein, it is
believed that the
spirit of the present invention is practiced.
Further, it is contemplated that the peripheral support ridge of the support
spacer
member may simply comprise a peripheral support ledge and need not comprise a
ridged
structure as perhaps most clearly shown in Figure No. 10 at 65. Rather, while
the peripheral
support ridge of the support spacer member may be preferably configured as a
tongue-like
structure for insertion in the groove-like structure 23(a) adjacent peripheral
support ridge 23
as referenced at 23(a) in Figure No. 7, it is contemplated that a support
ledge will function to
serve as a seat upon which peripheral support rim 27 may rest. Referencing
Figure No. 8, it
should be understood that peripheral support ridge 65 may be removed at
inferior spacer
surface 62 such that inferior spacer surface 62 terminates at the junction of
inferior spacer
surface 62 and peripheral support ridge 65, thus providing sufficient
structure upon which to
seat peripheral support rim 27. It should be noted, however, that peripheral
support ridge,
provides a more secure seat for the soil support platform and thus it is
recommended that the
invention be practices as earlier described herein.
Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to a
preferred
embodiment and several described alternative embodiments, it is not intended
that the novel
41
CA 02541628 2006-04-03
assembly be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be
included as
falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the
following claims
and the appended drawings.
42
