Plant stand

Claim 2

A portable plant stand comprising:

Claim 3

a tapered support column including two opposed side sections with a center section extending perpendicularly between and supporting the side section, the center and side sections being formed and interconnected such that the support column has a generally H-shaped horizontal cross section, the center and side sections being formed such that the support column tapers upwardly and inwardly from the bottom to the top of the support column;

Claim 4

a tapered support column including two opposed side sections with a center section extending perpendicularly between and supporting the side section, the center and side sections being formed and interconnected such that the support column has a generally H-shaped horizontal cross section, the center and side sections being formed such that the support column tapers upwardly and inwardly from the bottom to the top of the support column;

Claim 5

at least one plant-holding shelf removably mounted on the support column, said plant-holding shelf having a central aperture therein that fits over the top of the tapered support column such that at least a portion of the shelf at the outer periphery of the aperture engages the outer side of the tapered support column at a predetermined position along the tapered support column, the shelf being supported at such position by wedging engagement of the shelf with the outer side of the tapered support column.

Claim 6

at least one plant-holding shelf removably mounted on the support column, said plant-holding shelf having a central aperture therein that fits over the top of the tapered support column such that at least a portion of the shelf at the outer periphery of the aperture engages the outer side of the tapered support column at a predetermined position along the tapered support column, the shelf being supported at such position by wedging engagement of the shelf with the outer side of the tapered support column.

Claim 7

A portable plant stand formed of easily interconnectable flat components comprising: a tapered support column including: a flat vertical center member having upwardly and inwardly tapered side edges on opposite sides thereof; two flat opposed side members having parallel inner and outer surfaces and upwardly and inwardly tapered side edges on opposite sides thereof, the inner surfaces being opposed to each other and engaging the tapered side edges on opposite sides of the center member approximately half-way between the side edges of the side members, such that the support column has a generally H-shaped horizontal cross-section, the side members being supported by said center member and being inclined inwardly and upwardly when so supported such that the outer surfaces thereof are inwardly and upwardly inclined; and interlocking means for releasably fitting the side members against the center member such that lateral movement of the center member with respect to the side members is restrained when the center member is in supporting engagement with the opposed side members; at least two plant-holding shelves removably mounted on the support column, each said plant-holding shelf having a rectangular central aperture therein that fits over the top of the tapered support column such that the portions of the shelf opposite the inclined outer surfaces of the side members engage said inclined outer surfaces, each shelf having an aperture of a different size such that the shelf is supported at a different position along the support column, the engagement between the shelves and the support column exerting an inward force on the opposed side members that is sufficient to hold the side members in fitting engagement with the center member with no more than a single threaded screw fastener interconnecting each side member with the center member, the shelves each having a plurality of plant-holding opening means around the periphery thereof for holdng potted plants, each shelf including a brace member attached to the underside of the shelf at the edge of the central aperture adjacent the outer surface of each side member, said brace members reinforcing the stability of the shelf on the support column; and a base support attached to the outer surface of each side member at the bottom end thereof and extending outwardly past the side edges of the side member, the base supports enhancing the stability of the support column.

Claim 8

A portable plant stand formed of easily interconnectable flat components comprising: a tapered support column including: a flat vertical center member having upwardly and inwardly tapered side edges on opposite sides thereof; two flat opposed side members having parallel inner and outer surfaces and upwardly and inwardly tapered side edges on opposite sides thereof, the inner surfaces being opposed to each other and engaging the tapered side edges on opposite sides of the center member approximately half-way between the side edges of the side members, such that the support column has a generally H-shaped horizontal cross-section, the side members being supported by said center member and being inclined inwardly and upwardly when so supported such that the outer surfaces thereof are inwardly and upwardly inclined; and interlocking means for releasably fitting the side members against the center member such that lateral movement of the center member with respect to the side members is restrained when the center member is in supporting engagement with the opposed side members; at least two plant-holding shelves removably mounted on the support column, each said plant-holding shelf having a rectangular central aperture therein that fits over the top of the tapered support column such that the portions of the shelf opposite the inclined outer surfaces of the side members engage said inclined outer surfaces, each shelf having an aperture of a different size such that the shelf is supported at a different position along the support column, the engagement between the shelves and the support column exerting an inward force on the opposed side members that is sufficient to hold the side members in fitting engagement with the center member with no more than a single threaded screw fastener interconnecting each side member with the center member, the shelves each having a plurality of plant-holding opening means around the periphery thereof for holdng potted plants, each shelf including a brace member attached to the underside of the shelf at the edge of the central aperture adjacent the outer surface of each side member, said brace members reinforcing the stability of the shelf on the support column; and a base support attached to the outer surface of each side member at the bottom end thereof and extending outwardly past the side edges of the side member, the base supports enhancing the stability of the support column.

Claim 9

A portable plant stand according to claim 2 wherein the plant stand includes three plant holding shelves and is mounted on a rotatable base.

Claim 10

A portable pland stand comprising: a tapered support column including: a vertical center section having upwardly and inwardly tapered side edges on opposite sides thereof; two opposed side members having relatively wide inner and outer surfaces with relatively narrow side edges on opposite sides thereof, the inner surfaces being opposed to each other and engaging opposite tapered side edges of the center section at a position on the inner surfaces between and spaced inwardly away from the side edges of the side members, forming a generally H-shaped horizontal cross sectional support column the side members being inclined upwardly and inwardly against the center section such that the outer surfaces form upwardly and inwardly inclined outer sides of the support column; and interlocking means for releasably fitting the side members against the center section such that lateral movement of the center section with respect to the side members is restrained when the opposed side members are fitted against the opposite side edges of the center section; and at least one plant-holding shelf removably mounted on the support column, said plant-holding shelf having a central aperture therein that fits over the top of the tapered support column such that at least a portion of the shelf at the outer periphery of the aperture engages the outer surfaces on the side members of the support column at a predetermined position along the support column, the shelf being supported at such position by such engagement, said shelf when so positioned exerting an inward force on the opposed side members so as to hold the side members in engagement with the center section.

Claim 11

A portable pland stand comprising: a tapered support column including: a vertical center section having upwardly and inwardly tapered side edges on opposite sides thereof; two opposed side members having relatively wide inner and outer surfaces with relatively narrow side edges on opposite sides thereof, the inner surfaces being opposed to each other and engaging opposite tapered side edges of the center section at a position on the inner surfaces between and spaced inwardly away from the side edges of the side members, forming a generally H-shaped horizontal cross sectional support column the side members being inclined upwardly and inwardly against the center section such that the outer surfaces form upwardly and inwardly inclined outer sides of the support column; and interlocking means for releasably fitting the side members against the center section such that lateral movement of the center section with respect to the side members is restrained when the opposed side members are fitted against the opposite side edges of the center section; and at least one plant-holding shelf removably mounted on the support column, said plant-holding shelf having a central aperture therein that fits over the top of the tapered support column such that at least a portion of the shelf at the outer periphery of the aperture engages the outer surfaces on the side members of the support column at a predetermined position along the support column, the shelf being supported at such position by such engagement, said shelf when so positioned exerting an inward force on the opposed side members so as to hold the side members in engagement with the center section.

Claim 12

A portable plant stand according to claim 4 wherein the center section and side members are flat members and are interconnected such that the center section engages at right angles the inner surfaces of the side members approximately half-way between the side edges thereof, the side edges of the side members being tapered upwardly and inwardly.

Claim 13

A plant stand according to claim 5 wherein the aperture in the shelf is rectangular and is formed such that the edge of the shelf at opposite sides of the rectangular aperture engage the outer surfaces of the opposed side members, with the corners of the rectangular aperture engaging the side edges of the opposed side members, the shelf being supported on the tapered column by a wedging action of the shelf downwardly onto the tapered support column.

Claim 14

A plant stand according to claim 6 wherein the plant-holding shelf includes a plurality of opening means therein for holding potted plants.

Claim 15

A portable plant stand according to claim 7 wherein the interlocking means comprises spaced cleats attached to the inner surface of each side member adjacent the mid-points thereof between the side member side edges, the spaced cleats being formed so as to be located at opposite sides of each side edge of the center section and prevent the center section from lateral movememt with respect to the side members when the center section is in supporting engagement with the side members.

Claim 16

A plant stand according to claim 8 wherein the shelf rests securely on the support column without the need of fasteners to fix the shelf in place.

Claim 17

A plant stand according to claim 9 wherein the center section includes a handle opening at the top end thereof and the plant stand includes at least two plant-holding shelves, with the shelves having different sized central apertures such that the shelves are supported at different positions along the support column.

Claim 18

A plant stand according to claim 4 wherein the center section and side members are formed and interconnected in such a manner that each side member requires no more than a single screw fastener to fasten the side to the center section in order to provide a sturdy plant stand at least when the plant-holding shelf is in place.