US4896456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plant supporting system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-08
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Granted: 1990-01-30
•
Expires: 2008-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A system for growing plants against a vertical wall such as a fence, partition between apartment balconies or the like. Each support is an integrally formed member with an elongate support portion and a U-shaped hook-portion which fits freely and removably about an upper horizontal portion of the wall. The elongate support portion has a number of vertically spaced-apart openings which access a longitudinal channel formed in the surface of the elongate support portion which rests against the wall. A number of receptacles are provided to receive soil. Each receptacle has a pair of horizontally spaced-apart hooks which can be releasably secured in any one of the openings formed in the supports. The spacing between the supports is fixed solely by securing receptacle between the supports. No fasteners are required to secure the system to the wall, and the system can be readily assembled and disassembled without tools.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Grant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:06
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/02; A01G9/022; A01G9/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A modular, horizontally-adjustable plant growing system adapted for use against a vertical wall having an upper horizontal wall portion, the plant growing system comprising: individually movable supports arranged in a plurality of horizontally adjacent pairs, each support comprising a hook portion fitted removably about the upper horizontal wall portion thereby suspending the support in a generally vertical orientation and comprising an elongate support portion having a multiplicity of vertically spaced-apart connector portions; a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle having a bottom, a sidewall and an open top which are shaped to receive and retain soil, each receptacle having at least one pair of horizontally spaced-apart complementary connector portions, each complementary connector portion being shaped to mate with any one of the connector portions associated with the supports to releasably secure the associated receptacle at various selectable vertically spaced-apart positions relative to the supports; and, each adjacent pair of supports being connected by at least one of the receptacles such that all the supports are joined together by the receptacles, the spacing between each adjacent pair of supports being fixed solely by securing the receptacles to the supports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A modular, horizontally-adjustable plant growing system adapted for use against a vertical wall having an upper horizontal wall portion, the plant growing system comprising: individually movable supports arranged in a plurality of horizontally adjacent pairs, each support comprising a hook portion fitted removably about the upper horizontal wall portion thereby suspending the support in a generally vertical orientation and comprising an elongate support portion having a multiplicity of vertically spaced-apart connector portions; a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle having a bottom, a sidewall and an open top which are shaped to receive and retain soil, each receptacle having at least one pair of horizontally spaced-apart complementary connector portions, each complementary connector portion being shaped to mate with any one of the connector portions associated with the supports to releasably secure the associated receptacle at various selectable vertically spaced-apart positions relative to the supports; and, each adjacent pair of supports being connected by at least one of the receptacles such that all the supports are joined together by the receptacles, the spacing between each adjacent pair of supports being fixed solely by securing the receptacles to the supports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 1 in which each of the connector portions associated with each of the supports comprises a hole formed in the elongate support portion and in which each of the complementary connector portions associated with the receptacles comprises a hook shaped to fit into the hole and receive an adjacent portion of the elongate support portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 1 in which the multiplicity of connector portions associated with each elongate support portion are defined by a longitudinal groove formed in one surface of the elongate support portion normally proximate to the wall when the associated hook portion is fitted over and about the upper horizontal wall portion and by a multiplicity of openings formed in an opposing surface of the elongate support portion and each accessing the longitudinal groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 3 in which the at least one pair of complementary connector portions associated with each receptacle is a pair of hooks, each hook being shaped for insertion through any one of the multiplicity of openings associated with each elongate support portion into the associated longitudinal channel.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
19 words
The system of 4 in which each of the receptacle is integrally formed with the associated pair of hooks.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
19 words
The system of 4 in which each of the receptacle is integrally formed with the associated pair of hooks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 5 in which each support members is integrally formed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
A modular, horizontally-adjustable plant growing system adapted for use against a vertical wall having an upper horizontal wall portion, the plant growing system comprising: individually movable supports arranged in a plurality of horizontally adjacent pairs, each support comprising a hook portion fitted removably about the upper horizontal wall portion thereby suspending the support in a generally vertical orientation and comprising an elongate support portion having a multiplicity of vertically spaced-apart connector portions; a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle having a bottom, a sidewall and an open top which are shaped to receive and retain soil, each receptacle having at least one pair of horizontally spaced-apart complementary connector portions, each complementary connector portion being shaped to mate with any one of the connector portions associated with the supports to releasably secure the associated receptacle at various selectable vertically spaced-apart positions relative to the supports; and, each support being connected to each horizontally adjacent support by at least one of the receptacles such that all the supports are joined together by the receptacles, the spacing between each adjacent pair of supports being fixed solely by securing the receptacles to the supports.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
A modular, horizontally-adjustable plant growing system adapted for use against a vertical wall having an upper horizontal wall portion, the plant growing system comprising: individually movable supports arranged in a plurality of horizontally adjacent pairs, each support comprising a hook portion fitted removably about the upper horizontal wall portion thereby suspending the support in a generally vertical orientation and comprising an elongate support portion having a multiplicity of vertically spaced-apart connector portions; a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle having a bottom, a sidewall and an open top which are shaped to receive and retain soil, each receptacle having at least one pair of horizontally spaced-apart complementary connector portions, each complementary connector portion being shaped to mate with any one of the connector portions associated with the supports to releasably secure the associated receptacle at various selectable vertically spaced-apart positions relative to the supports; and, each support being connected to each horizontally adjacent support by at least one of the receptacles such that all the supports are joined together by the receptacles, the spacing between each adjacent pair of supports being fixed solely by securing the receptacles to the supports.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
40 words
The system of 7 in which each of the receptacles is integrally formed with the associated at least one pair of complementary connector portions and in which each support members is integrally formed with the associated multiplicity of connector portions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
40 words
The system of 7 in which each of the receptacles is integrally formed with the associated at least one pair of complementary connector portions and in which each support members is integrally formed with the associated multiplicity of connector portions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |