U.S. patent application number 11/691728 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for device and method for supporting objects in a level position on sloped terrain.
Invention is credited to William Marsh, Mark McJunkin, Mary C. Miller, Charles Rayside, Natalie Sharp.
Application Number | 20070228231 11/691728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38557399 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070228231 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sharp; Natalie ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Device and Method for Supporting Objects in a Level Position on
Sloped Terrain
Abstract
Support devices and methods are provided for enabling the level
placement of objects, such as a potted plant, on inclined surfaces,
such as a hill or other sloped terrain. The support device includes
an elongated upper member which comprises an upper surface, the
upper member having a soil insertion end portion and a load end
portion which is distal the soil insertion end portion; a first
lower member which comprises a first lower surface; and a first
connecting member which connects the load end portion of the
elongated upper member to the first lower member, wherein the
support device is effective to transfer the force from an article
loaded onto the upper surface through the first connecting member
to the first lower surface.
Inventors: |
Sharp; Natalie; (Blue Ridge,
GA) ; Marsh; William; (Blue Ridge, GA) ;
McJunkin; Mark; (Atlanta, GA) ; Rayside; Charles;
(Blue Ridge, GA) ; Miller; Mary C.; (Rochester,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP
999 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E.
ATLANTA
GA
30309
US
|
Family ID: |
38557399 |
Appl. No.: |
11/691728 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60885926 |
Jan 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
60743875 |
Mar 28, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 7/041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/148 |
International
Class: |
A47G 23/02 20060101
A47G023/02 |
Claims
1. A support device for level placement of an article on sloped
terrain, comprising: an elongated upper member which comprises an
upper surface, the upper member having a soil insertion end portion
and a load end portion which is distal the soil insertion end
portion; a first lower member which comprises a first lower
surface; and a first connecting member which connects the load end
portion of the elongated upper member to the first lower member,
wherein the support device is effective to transfer the force from
an article loaded onto the upper surface through the first
connecting member to the first lower surface.
2. The support device of claim 1, wherein the upper surface is
substantially planar.
3. The support device of claim 1, wherein the first lower surface
is substantially planar.
4. The support device of claim 1, wherein the upper surface and the
first lower surface are each planar and are substantially parallel
to one another.
5. The support device of claim 1, wherein the soil insertion end
portion of the elongated upper portion is tapered.
6. The support device of claim 1, wherein the soil insertion end
portion of the elongated upper portion comprises one or more
barbs.
7. The support device of claim 1 wherein the load end portion of
the elongated upper portion comprises a strike plate.
8. The support device of claim 1, wherein the first connecting
member comprises a reinforcement flange.
9. The support device of claim 1, wherein the upper member, first
connecting member, and first lower member are an integrally formed
unitary structure.
10. The support device of claim 9, wherein the unitary structure
comprises a polymer or a metal.
11. The support device of claim 1, wherein the upper member
comprises a T-shaped cross-section.
12. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a second lower
member which comprises a second lower surface; and a second
connecting member which is offset from first connecting member and
which connects the load end portion of the elongated upper member
to the second lower member, wherein the support device is effective
to transfer the force from an article loaded onto the upper surface
through the first and second connecting members to the first and
second lower surfaces.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper surface at the load
end portion of the upper member comprises a lip or backstop.
14. A support device for level placement of an article on sloped
terrain, comprising: an upper member which comprises an elongated
plate which has a tapered soil insertion end and an opposing end
and an upper support surface therebetween, a reinforcement flange
running the length of the elongated plate on the side of the
elongated plate which is distal to the upper support surface, and a
strike plate located at the opposing end of the elongated plate; a
rigid connecting member which is integral with and extends at an
angle from the reinforcement flange of the upper member; and a
lower plate member connected to the end of the rigid connecting
member distal to the upper member.
15. The support device of claim 14, wherein the reinforcement
flange tapers toward the soil insertion end of the elongated
plate.
16. The support device of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement
flange comprises one or more barbs.
17. The support device of claim 14, which is made of a
thermoplastic or thermoset polymer.
18. The support device of claim 14, wherein the lower plate member
is triangular shaped with the apex pointing in the same direction
as the tapered soil insertion end of the elongated plate of the
upper member.
19. A method of level placement of an article on sloped terrain
comprising: providing a support device which comprises (i) an
elongated upper member which comprises an upper surface, the upper
member having a soil insertion end portion and a load end portion
which is distal the soil insertion end portion; (ii) a first lower
member which comprises a first lower surface; and (iii) a first
connecting member which connects the load end portion of the
elongated upper member to the first lower member inserting the soil
insertion end portion of the support device into soil of the sloped
terrain with the first lower surface at least partially inserted
into or resting on the soil, such that the upper surface is secured
in a substantially level orientation; and placing the article on
top of the upper surface of the upper member of the support
device.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the article is a potted
plant.
21. (canceled)
22. The method of claim 19, wherein the device further comprises
(iv) a second lower member which comprises a second lower surface,
and a second connecting member which is offset from first
connecting member and which connects the load end portion of the
elongated upper member to the second lower member, and wherein the
step of inserting the soil insertion end portion of the support
device into the soil further comprises having the second lower
surface at least partially inserted into or resting on the soil.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/743,875, filed Mar. 28, 2006, and U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/885,926, filed Jan. 22, 2007. These
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is generally in the field of support devices,
and more particularly in the field of methods and devices for
installation on sloped terrain to provide a relatively level
surface on which to support other articles such as potted plants or
the like.
[0003] Supporting objects, such as an article of manufacture, on
inclined surfaces presents problems not encountered when supporting
objects on level surfaces. Most objects have a center of gravity
that is located directly above the base of the object. When such an
object is placed on a level surface, it remains stable because the
force of gravity is transferred vertically into the ground below.
When such an object, however, is placed on an inclined surface, the
center of gravity becomes offset from the base of the object. As a
result of this offset, the force of gravity creates a rotational
force, i.e., a torque, which makes the object likely to tip over.
It would therefore be useful to provide a device and method that
substantially reduces or eliminates the rotational forces created
when an object is placed on an inclined surface.
[0004] Objects that have reduced bases and/or raised centers of
gravity are particularly unstable when placed on inclined surfaces.
A non-limiting example of such an object is a potted plant. Pots
used for plants typically have a round base of a reduced diameter
that flares upward to a round opening with a larger diameter. These
pots are filled with potting soil centered above the base of the
pot, and a plant whose bulk is above the opening of the pot.
Unfortunately, this high center of gravity and reduced base makes
the potted plant very susceptible to tipping over when placed upon
an inclined surface. It would therefore be useful to provide a
device and method that can support a potted plant or other article
on an inclined surface.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Support devices and methods are provided for enabling the
level placement of objects on inclined surfaces. In one aspect, a
support device is provided for level placement of an article on
sloped terrain, in which the device includes an elongated upper
member which comprises an upper surface, the upper member having a
soil insertion end portion and a load end portion which is distal
the soil insertion end portion; a first lower member which
comprises a first lower surface; and a first connecting member
which connects the load end portion of the elongated upper member
to the first lower member, wherein the support device is effective
to transfer the force from an article loaded onto the upper surface
through the first connecting member to the first lower surface. In
one embodiment, the support device may further includes a second
lower member which comprises a second lower surface; and a second
connecting member which is offset from first connecting member and
which connects the load end portion of the elongated upper member
to the second lower member, wherein the support device is effective
to transfer the force from an article loaded onto the upper surface
through the first and second connecting members to the first and
second lower surfaces.
[0006] The upper surface may be substantially planar. Alternatively
or additionally, the first lower surface (or the second lower
surface, or both) may be substantially planar. The upper surface
and the lower surface(s) may each be planar and substantially
parallel to one another. The upper surface at the load end portion
of the upper member may include a lip or backstop.
[0007] The soil insertion end portion of the elongated upper
portion may be tapered. It also may include one or more barbs. The
load end portion of the elongated upper portion may include a
strike plate.
[0008] The upper member, the connecting member, the lower member
each may include one or more reinforcement flanges. In one
embodiment, the upper member has a T-shaped cross-section.
[0009] The upper member, first connecting member, and first lower
member may be an integrally formed unitary structure. The unitary
structure may include polymer or metal materials of
construction.
[0010] In one embodiment, a support device for level placement of
an article on sloped terrain is provided that includes (a) an upper
member which comprises (i) an elongated plate which has a tapered
soil insertion end and an opposing end and an upper support surface
therebetween, (ii) a reinforcement flange running the length of the
elongated plate on the side of the elongated plate which is distal
to the upper support surface, and (iii) a strike plate located at
the opposing end of the elongated plate; (b) a rigid connecting
member which is integral with and extends at an angle from the
reinforcement flange of the upper member; and (c) a lower plate
member connected to the end of the rigid connecting member distal
to the upper member. In one case, the reinforcement flange tapers
toward the soil insertion end of the elongated plate. The
reinforcement flange may include one or more barbs. The support
device may be made of a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. In one
embodiment, the lower plate member is triangular shaped, preferably
with the apex pointing in the same direction as the tapered soil
insertion end of the elongated plate of the upper member.
[0011] In another aspect, methods are provided for level placement
of an article on sloped terrain. In one embodiment, the method
includes the steps of (a) providing a support device which
comprises (i) an elongated upper member which comprises an upper
surface, the upper member having a soil insertion end portion and a
load end portion which is distal the soil insertion end portion;
(ii) a first lower member which comprises a first lower surface;
and (iii) a first connecting member which connects the load end
portion of the elongated upper member to the first lower member;
(b) inserting the soil insertion end portion of the support device
into soil of the sloped terrain with the first lower surface at
least partially inserted into or resting on the soil, such that the
upper surface is secured in a substantially level orientation; and
(c) placing the article on top of the upper surface of the upper
member of the support device. In another embodiment, the device
further includes (iv) a second lower member which comprises a
second lower surface, and a second connecting member which is
offset from first connecting member and which connects the load end
portion of the elongated upper member to the second lower member,
and step (b) further includes having the second lower surface at
least partially inserted into or resting on the soil. In a
preferred embodiment, the article is a potted plant or container
for container gardening.
[0012] In another embodiment of methods of using the support
devices, two or more support devices are provided, and the soil
insertion end portions of the two or more support devices are
inserted into the soil at adjacent positions, and the article is
placed onto the upper surfaces of the two or more support
devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
support device as it may be used to support a pot.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear, perspective view of one embodiment of the
support device.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of the support device of FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a rear, perspective view of another embodiment of
the support device, which has a reinforced support structure.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a front, perspective view of still another
embodiment of the support device.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Support devices and methods have been developed for
supporting objects that are to be maintained in a substantially
vertical or upright position while being positioned on an inclined
surface, particularly a sloped soil surface. These support devices
and methods may be used to eliminate, or at least substantially
reduce, the rotational forces created when an article is placed on
an inclined surface. These support devices and methods allow
articles with reduced bases and/or raised centers of gravity to be
placed upright on an inclined surface. The support devices are
particularly suitable for securing flower pots, gardening pots, and
other articles in a vertical position on terrain that is not level
but sloped in at least one direction. For example, the terrain may
be a natural or landscaped hill. The support devices generally can
be installed in a variety of different types of soils, clays, and
the like.
[0021] The Support Devices
[0022] In one aspect, a support device is provided for level
placement of an article on sloped terrain which device includes (a)
an elongated upper member which comprises an upper surface, the
upper member having a soil insertion end portion and a load end
portion which is distal the soil insertion end portion; (b) a first
lower member which comprises a first lower surface; and (c) a first
connecting member which connects the load end portion of the
elongated upper member to the first lower member. The support
device is effective to transfer the force from an article loaded
onto the upper surface through the first connecting member to the
first lower surface.
[0023] The upper member may include at least one reinforcement
flange. In one embodiment, the flange extends substantially the
length of the member on the lower side of the member, distal to the
upper surface. It may be tapered. It may be integrally connected
with the connecting member. This flange should aid in stabilizing
the installed the support device in the ground, resisting device
rotation or horizontal shifting.
[0024] In one embodiment, the upper surface may be substantially
planar, such that a rigid article can rest stably when placed onto
the upper surface. The upper surface may extend the length of the
upper member or may be provided only at the load end portion of the
upper member. In various embodiments, the upper surface may have a
circular, triangular, or rectangular in shape. The upper surface
may be smooth or rough, and may have a texture or pattern (e.g., an
array of dimples, ridges, nodules, etc.) for aesthetic purposes
and/or to enhance frictional engagement of the upper surface in
contact with articles resting thereon. The upper surface, the lower
surface, or both, may be planar or non-planar. Examples of
non-planar surfaces include surfaces having a convex, concave, or
corrugated shape.
[0025] In one embodiment, the upper member includes a lip or
backstop useful for preventing articles placed on the upper surface
from sliding off of the end of the support device. The backstop may
be part of the strike plate, which described below.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the support device includes a
strike plate, which provides a surface upon which to hammer (e.g.,
with a sledge hammer or mallet) to aid a user in installing the
device into the ground surface. The strike plate may be a
substantially flat plate that is perpendicular to the length of the
elongated upper member and normal to the direction of insertion of
the device into soil. The strike plate may be of essentially any
shape. It should be rigid and integral with or firmly attached to
the upper member, to the connecting member, or to both the upper
member and the connecting member.
[0027] The strike plate may include letters, numbers, designs, or
other ornamental or communicative features, which can be observed
on the installed support device. Alternatively, an auxiliary
ornamental device may be hung onto or otherwise attached to the
strike plate following installation of the support device in the
sloped terrain.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the soil insertion end portion of
the elongated upper portion has tapered or pointed end, to
facilitate insertion of the upper member into soil. In other
embodiments, the soil insertion end may be blunt. In one
embodiment, the soil insertion end may be designed to have multiple
prongs, or points, so as to resemble a fork or skewer. The soil
insertion end portion may include one or more barbs, which may help
resist retraction of the elongated member from the soil, helping
secure the support device once it has been inserted to the desired
depth.
[0029] The connecting member should be rigid enough to transfer a
load from the upper member to the lower member with no or
negligible deformation. The connecting member may be straight,
angled, or curved. In one embodiment, it includes one or more
reinforcement flanges. The reinforcement flanges may be tapered.
The reinforcement flanges may extend the full or a partial length
of the connecting member. The connecting member reinforcement
flange may taper toward or away from the lower member. The
connecting member may be integral with the strike plate.
[0030] The lower member may be in any of a variety of shapes that
is effective to stably transfer a vertical load to the soil
immediately beneath the lower surface of the lower member, whether
resting on or at least partially insert into the ground. In one
embodiment, the lower plate member is triangular shaped with the
apex pointing in essentially the same direction as the insertion
end of the elongated plate of the upper member. In one embodiment,
the first lower surface is substantially planar. In a preferred
embodiment, the upper surface and the first lower surface are both
planar and are substantially parallel to one another.
[0031] In another embodiment, the support device includes two or
more lower members and associated connecting structures. For
example, the device may include a second lower member which
comprises a second lower surface, and a second connecting member
which is offset from first connecting member and which connects the
load end portion of the elongated upper member to the second lower
member. In such an embodiment, the support device is effective to
transfer the force from an article loaded onto the upper surface
through the first and second connecting members to the first and
second lower surfaces. This embodiment typically would be more
stable than embodiments having a single lower plate, and may be
necessary or desirable for stably supporting very large or heavy
articles.
[0032] In still another variation, a single support device may be
designed to include two or more upper members and one or more lower
members.
[0033] The support device can be made using conventional
manufacturing techniques, depending of the materials of
construction that are selected. In various embodiments, the support
device may be made of materials selected from polymers, graphite,
fiberglass, metals, alloys, wood, or combinations thereof. For
example, the support device may be made of a thermoplastic or
thermoset polymer. The support device may be formed of a composite
material, such as a polymeric material reinforced with particles or
fibers dispersed therein. The material(s) of construction should be
insect- and weather-resistant, and/or coated with a suitable paint,
lacquer, or other protective finish.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the support device is a unitary
structure, such that the upper member, first connecting member, and
first lower member are integrally connected. In one embodiment, the
support device is made by a molding process, such as injection
molding of a polymeric material. In another embodiment, the support
device is made from separately formed components that are welded or
fastened together.
[0035] In one particular embodiment, the support device for level
placement of an article on sloped terrain includes (a) an upper
member that includes (i) an elongated plate, which has a tapered
soil insertion end, an opposing end, and an upper support surface,
(ii) a reinforcement flange running the length of the elongated
plate on the side of the elongated plate which is distal to the
upper support surface, and (iii) a strike plate located at the
opposing end of the elongated plate; (b) a rigid connecting member
which is integral with and extends at an angle from the
reinforcement flange of the upper member; and (c) a lower plate
member connected to the end of the rigid connecting member distal
to the upper member. In one case, the reinforcement flange of the
upper member tapers toward the soil insertion end of the elongated
plate. In another case, the rigid connecting member also has a
reinforcement flange.
[0036] In one embodiment, the length of the upper member and the
area of the upper surface are substantially greater, respectively,
than the length of the lower member and the area of the low
surface. In other embodiments, however, it may be desirable to
provide that the length of the lower member(s) or the area(s) of
the lower surface(s) are substantially equal to or greater than the
length of the upper member or the area of the upper surface.
Generally, the surface area of the lower surface should be great
enough to distribute the weight of the supported object without
causing the lower member to sink vertically into the ground. In one
exemplary embodiment of the support device, the upper member has a
length from 4 to 30 inches, the lower member has a length from 0.5
to 12 inches, and the connecting member provides a device height
(i.e., distance from upper surface to lower surface) from 2 to 14
inches. Other sizes and designs are envisioned.
[0037] The support devices can be further understood with reference
to the non-limiting embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through
7.
[0038] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pair of support devices 100 installed
(inserted) into a sloped ground 150. A pot/planter 160 is sitting
in a level position on top of the support devices. One, two, three,
or more of the support devices may used, depending, for example,
upon the sizes of each support device and the object(s) to be
supported.
[0039] Details of support device 100 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and
4. The support device 100 includes an elongated upper member 102
which has planar upper surface 104 and lower member 110 which has
planar lower surface 112. The upper member and lower member are
joined by a connecting member 114. The upper member includes a soil
insertion end portion 106 and a load end portion 108. The upper
member 102 also includes a reinforcement flange 122 which extends
underneath the upper, planar portion of the member. At the load end
portion of the upper member 102, the reinforcement flange is
integrally connected to connecting member 114. The upper member
also includes a plurality of barbs 116 in the solid insertion end
portion 106. The support device 100 further includes a strike plate
118 which is positioned to provide a backstop 120 for the upper
surface 104.
[0040] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the support device. The
support device 200 includes upper member 202, connecting member
214, lower member 210, and strike plate 218. The upper member,
which has a T-shaped cross-section, includes a reinforcement flange
222, which is integral with connecting member 214. Lower member 210
includes a triangular shaped lower surface 212. The connecting
member 214 includes a reinforcement flange 224.
[0041] Another embodiment of the support device is shown in FIGS. 6
and 7. Support device 300 includes upper member 302, a pair of
connecting members 314a,b with corresponding lower members 310a,b
and strike plate 318. The upper member 302 is composed of an
elongated part 340 and a disk part 342. The disk is circular, but
can be in essentially any shape. These two parts may be integrally
formed or separately formed and then attached together by welding,
fasteners, or the like. The elongated part 340 has an inverted
V-shape cross-sectional shape. The elongated part 340 of the upper
member 302 includes a soil insertion end portion 306 and a load end
portion 308. The soil insertion end portion includes barbs 316. The
disk part has an upper surface 304 on which an object can be
placed. (The elongated part also can be used, in part, to hold an
object.) The strike plate 318 includes a backstop 320.
[0042] Methods of Using the Support Devices
[0043] In one aspect, a method is provided for the level placement
of an article on sloped terrain. One embodiment of the method
includes the steps of (a) providing a support device which
comprises (i) an elongated upper member which comprises an upper
surface, the upper member having a soil insertion end portion and a
load end portion which is distal the soil insertion end portion;
(ii) a first lower member which comprises a first lower surface;
and (iii) a first connecting member which connects the load end
portion of the elongated upper member to the first lower member;
(b) inserting the soil insertion end portion of the support device
into soil of the sloped terrain with the first lower surface at
least partially inserted into or resting on the soil, such that the
upper surface is secured in a substantially level orientation; and
then (c) placing one or more articles on top of the upper surface
of the upper member of the support device. In one example, the
article is a potted plant. In a preferred method, the lower member
is fully or partially inserted into the inclined surface.
Alternatively, the lower member can be placed on top of the
inclined surface. The method is essentially the same when the
support device includes two or more lower members.
[0044] In one embodiment of the method, one or more of the support
devices are inserted into terrain that is sloped at an angle
between about 0.degree. and about 90.degree.. In a preferred
embodiment of the method, the terrain is sloped at an angle between
about 30.degree. and about 60.degree.. In another preferred
embodiment of the method, the terrain is sloped at an angle of
about 45.degree..
[0045] In a variation of this method, two or more of the support
devices are provided, the soil insertion end portions of the two or
more support devices are inserted into the soil at adjacent
positions, and the article is placed onto the upper surfaces of the
two or more support devices. A result of this method is illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0046] To secure the support device into sloped terrain, such as a
hill, a user levels and positions the insertion end of the upper
member and the lower member(s) against the ground and then applies
an insertion force to the load end of the upper member (e.g.,
against the strike plate, if present) and/or to the connecting
member. The insertion force may be manually applied (e.g., by the
user's hand or foot) if the soil is loose, and/or the insertion
force can be applied with the aid of a hammer, mallet, or the like,
particular if the soil is hard.
[0047] Essentially any object or article may be supported on the
support device following its installation into the inclined
surface. In preferred embodiments, suitable objects includes flower
pots and containers for container gardening to fruits, vegetables,
herbs, and the like. The support devices also can be used in
various other landscaping applications. For instance, the support
devices may be stages and spaced in positions to create terraced or
interspersed designs, or multiple support devices may cooperate
with a flat support such as a board, plank, or similar object to
create steps for traversing the inclined surface or to create a
larger flat surface for holding additional objects.
[0048] Publications cited herein and the materials for which they
are cited are specifically incorporated by reference. Modifications
and variations of the methods and devices described herein will be
obvious to those skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed
description. Such modifications and variations are intended to come
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *