U.S. patent application number 12/896087 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-05 for tapered planter box.
Invention is credited to Stephen E. Gretz.
Application Number | 20120080343 12/896087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45888877 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120080343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gretz; Stephen E. |
April 5, 2012 |
TAPERED PLANTER BOX
Abstract
A tapered planter box includes a bottom surface extending in a
plane and a plurality of sides extending upward from the bottom and
defining an interior. Each of the plurality of sides tapers outward
from the interior at a taper angle. Each of the plurality of sides
includes a first plank extending along a longitudinal axis. The
longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to the plane of the
bottom surface. The first plank has a body and a tapered dovetail
extending therefrom along the longitudinal axis. The tapered
dovetail includes an outer trapezoidally shaped surface having a
first size and an inner trapezoidally shaped surface having a
second size, larger than the first size. The dovetail on the first
plank on each side interconnects with the dovetail on the first
plank on an adjacent side.
Inventors: |
Gretz; Stephen E.;
(Elverson, PA) |
Family ID: |
45888877 |
Appl. No.: |
12/896087 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/423 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/423 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/50 20060101
B65D085/50 |
Claims
1. A tapered planter box comprising: a bottom surface extending in
a plane; a plurality of sides extending upward from the bottom and
defining an interior, each of the plurality of sides tapering
outward from the interior at an oblique angle, each of the
plurality of sides comprising: a first plank extending along a
longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis extending generally
parallel to the plane of the bottom surface, the first plank having
a body and a tapered dovetail extending therefrom along the
longitudinal axis, wherein the tapered dovetail comprises an outer
trapezoidally shaped surface having a first size and an inner
trapezoidally shaped surface having a second size, larger than the
first size, wherein the dovetail on the first plank on each side
interconnects with the dovetail on the first plank on an adjacent
side.
2. The planter box according to claim 1, further comprising a
second plank located on top of the first plank, the second plank
having a second plank body, the second plank body being longer than
the first plank body by a distance of about 2 h(tan .alpha.),
wherein his a distance from the top of the first plank to the top
of the second plank and a is the oblique angle.
3. The planter box according to claim 1, wherein the body of the
first plank has an end and wherein the tapered dovetail and the end
form an acute angle.
4. The planter box according to claim 1, wherein the first plank
body on one of the plurality of sides has the same length as the
first plank body on an adjacent side.
5. The planter box according to claim 1, wherein one of the
plurality of sides comprises a bottom plank engaging the bottom
surface, the bottom plank being about one half as high as the first
plank.
6. The planter box according to claim 5, wherein the one of the
plurality of sides comprises a top plank, the top plank being about
one half as high as the first plank.
7. The planter box according to claim 1, wherein the dovetail has a
free end extending at an angle of 90 degrees plus the oblique angle
from the longitudinal axis.
8. A tapered planter box comprising: a bottom surface extending in
a plane; a first side extending upward at an oblique angle from the
bottom surface, the first side tapering outward from the bottom
surface, the first side comprising: a first plank extending along a
longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis extending generally
parallel to the plane of the bottom surface, the first plank having
a body and a tapered first dovetail extending therefrom along the
longitudinal axis; and a second side adjacent the first side and
extending upward at the oblique angle from the bottom surface, the
second side comprising: a lower plank having a body and a tapered
lower dovetail extending therefrom, the lower dovetail being
located below the first dovetail; and an upper plank located above
the lower plank, the upper plank having a body and a tapered upper
dovetail extending therefrom, the upper dovetail being located
above the first dovetail.
9. The tapered planter box according to claim 8, wherein the
tapered first dovetail is generally trapezoidally shaped and having
a first side extending from the first plank body at a first angle
relative to the longitudinal axis and a second side extending from
the first plank body at a second angle to the longitudinal axis,
different from the first angle.
10. The tapered planter box according to claim 8, wherein the first
plank body further comprises an outside surface and an end face,
wherein the end face extends obliquely relative to the outside
surface.
11. The tapered planter box according to claim 8, wherein the
maximum length of the top plank body is about 2 h(tan .alpha.)
longer than maximum length of bottom plank body, wherein h equals
the vertical height of the top plank and a equals the oblique
angle.
12. The tapered planter box according to claim 8, wherein the first
plank body is trapezoidally shaped.
13. A tapered planter box comprising: a first side constructed from
a first plurality of planks lying in a first plane at an oblique
angle .alpha. from a vertical, wherein one of the planks on the
first side has a height h, a maximum body length L, and has a first
side dovetail extending outwardly from each end of the body, and
wherein an adjacent plank of the first side has the height h and a
maximum length about (L+2 h(tan .alpha.)); and a second side
adjacent to the first side, the second side being constructed from
a second plurality of planks, wherein the second plurality of
planks is equal to the first plurality of planks plus one and
wherein each of a lowest and a highest of the second plurality of
planks has a height about h/2.
14. The tapered planter box according to claim 13, wherein the
first side dovetail further comprises a top surface extending
obliquely relative to the first plane.
15. The tapered planter box according to claim 13, wherein the
second side lies in a second plane at the oblique angle .alpha.
from the vertical.
16. The tapered planter box according to claim 15, wherein the
first side dovetail has an end that extends parallel to the second
plane.
17. The tapered planter box according to claim 13, wherein the
second side comprises a second side plank having a maximum body
length L.
18. The tapered planter box according to claim 17, wherein one of
the second side planks comprises a second side dovetail
interlocking with the first side dovetails of the first plurality
of planks and the adjacent plank.
19. The tapered planter box according to claim 13, wherein each of
the first plurality of planks have a trapezoidally shaped body.
20. The tapered planter box according to claim 19, wherein each of
the second plurality of planks have a trapezoidally shaped body.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29/363,394, filed on Jun.
9, 2010 is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a tapered planter box that
is constructed from individual planks having tapered dovetail ends
that interlock with adjacent planks on either side.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Dovetail joints are commonly used in carpentry because of
their strength. A typical dovetail joint is formed by cutting
dovetails in one piece of wood and corresponding pins in another
piece of wood, and then sliding the pins between adjacent
dovetails, forming a joint. One drawback to this method of
construction, however, is that, while the joint is strong in the
direction along which the dovetails extend, the joint is not as
strong in the direction along which the pins extend.
[0004] It would be beneficial to provide a dovetail joint design
that provides a strong connection in more than one direction.
SUMMARY
[0005] Briefly, the present invention provides a tapered planter
box comprising a bottom surface extending in a plane and a
plurality of sides extending upward from the bottom and defining an
interior. Each of the plurality of sides tapers outward from the
interior at an oblique angle. Each of the plurality of sides
comprises a first plank extending along a longitudinal axis. The
longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to the plane of the
bottom surface. The first plank has a body and a tapered dovetail
extending therefrom along the longitudinal axis. The tapered
dovetail comprises an outer trapezoidally shaped surface having a
first size and an inner trapezoidally shaped surface having a
second size, larger than the first size. The dovetail on the first
plank on each side interconnects with the dovetail on the first
plank on an adjacent side.
[0006] Additionally, the present invention provides a tapered
planter box comprising a bottom surface extending in a plane and a
first side extending upward at an oblique angle from the bottom
surface. The first side tapers outward from the bottom surface. The
first side comprises a first plank extending along a longitudinal
axis. The longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to the plane
of the bottom surface. The first plank has a body and a tapered
first dovetail extending therefrom along the longitudinal axis. The
planter box also has a second side adjacent the first side and
extending upward at the oblique angle from the bottom surface. The
second side comprises a lower plank having a body and a tapered
lower dovetail extending therefrom. The lower dovetail is located
below the first dovetail. An upper plank is located above the lower
plank. The upper plank has a body and a tapered upper dovetail
extending therefrom. The upper dovetail is located above the first
dovetail.
[0007] Further, the present invention provides a tapered planter
box comprising a first side constructed from a first plurality of
planks lying in a first plane at an oblique angle a from a
vertical. One of the planks on the first side has a height h, a
maximum body length L, and has a first side dovetail extending
outwardly from each end of the body. An adjacent plank of the first
side has the height h and a maximum length about (L+2 h(tan
.alpha.)). A second side is adjacent to the first side. The second
side is constructed from a second plurality of planks The second
plurality of planks is equal to the first plurality of planks plus
one. Each of a lowest and a highest of the second plurality of
planks has a height about h/2.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the invention, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings certain
embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood,
however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings, the same
reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements
throughout the several figures. In the drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tapered planter box
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tapered planter box of FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the tapered planter
box of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the tapered planter box
of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a standard plank used
to build the tapered planter box of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the plank of FIG. 5,
taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the plank of FIG. 5, taken
along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a bottom plank used to
build the tapered planter box of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] In describing the embodiments of the invention illustrated
in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of
clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to
the specific terms so selected, it being understood that each
specific term includes all technical equivalents operating in
similar manner to accomplish similar purpose. It is understood that
the drawings are not drawn exactly to scale. In the drawings,
similar reference numbers are used for designating similar elements
throughout the several figures.
[0018] The following describes particular embodiments of the
present invention. Referring to the figures in general, a planter
box 100 having tapered sides according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Planter box
100 is constructed from a plurality of planks having dovetail
joints at either end. The planks are stacked in alternating fashion
to form a structurally sound configuration with interlocking
dovetail joints at each corner.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, a base 110 is located at the bottom of
planter box 100 and extends in a plane P. Base 110 may be
constructed from a single sheet of material (not shown), or from a
plurality of base planks 112. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, feet 114
may be located under base 110 to lift base 110 from ground G. Feet
114 may be constructed from steel or other suitable material. In an
exemplary embodiment, base planks 112 of base 110 are aligned
relative to feet 114 such that feet 114 support base planks 112
from underneath.
[0020] Planter box 100 includes four walls 120, 122, 124, 126 that
extend upwardly from base 110 and define an interior of planter
100. Walls 120 and 124 are identical and walls 122 and 126 are
identical. For simplicity of description, only walls 120 and 122
will be described. Walls 120, 122 are tapered outward from the
vertical by an oblique angle .alpha. (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). In
an exemplary embodiment, angle .alpha. is about 10 degrees,
although those skilled in the art will recognize that angle .alpha.
may be other degrees. The outer surface of each wall 120, 122 forms
a plane P1, P2, respectively. Each of planes P1, P2 extends at
oblique angle .alpha. away from the vertical such that the top
opening of planter 100 is larger than base 110 of planter 100.
[0021] Walls 120, 122 are interconnected with each other through
dovetail joints at the intersection of walls 120, 122. The dovetail
joints provide a strong interlocking connection so that a
horizontal force from the inside of planter 100 will not dislodge
walls 120, 122.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, wall 122 is constructed from a
total of four planks 130. A bottom plank 132, which engages base
110, and a top plank 134 are generally about one half the height of
remaining planks 136, 138. This allows for interlocking of planks
130 to form walls 120, 122. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, wall 120 is
constructed from a total of three planks 140, 142, 144, each of
which is the same height of planks 136, 138. Planks 136, 138, 140,
142, 144 are generally referred to as "standard planks," because
each of these planks has generally similar characteristics. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that wall 120 may have more than
four planks and that wall 122 will have more than three planks, but
it is also recognized that wall 122 will have one plank more than
wall 120.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, plank 136, which is representative of
planks 138, 140, 142, 144, is shown. The description of planks 138,
140, 142, 144 is the same as that for plank 136. For simplicity of
description, plank 136 is broken into two distinct portions: (1) a
plank body 150, which is identified by the portion of the plank in
FIG. 5 with the horizontal cross-hatching; and (2) a dovetail, or
tail 154, located at either end of the plank body 150, which is
identified by the portion of plank 136 in FIG. 5 with the vertical
cross-hatching. Each tail 154 extends along a longitudinal axis
A.sub.L.
[0024] Plank 136 has a plank body 150 having a height "h", a
maximum length "L" as measured along the top of plank 136, a
minimum length "l" as measured along the bottom of plank 136, and
the longitudinal axis A.sub.L that extends parallel to the top and
bottom of plank 136 as well as to the plane of bottom surface 110,
and halfway between the top and the bottom of plank 136. The length
L is about 2 h(tan .alpha.) longer than the length l for plank 136.
The maximum length L of plank 136 is about the same length as the
minimum length l of the plank stacked on top of plank 136. Plank
136 also has a plank end face 152 at either end. Plank body 150 is
a trapezoid in shape, with the top and bottom of plank 136 being
parallel to each other, with the end faces 152 extending at the
taper angle .alpha. relative to longitudinal axis A.sub.L. Plank
136 also has an outside surface 160 and an inside surface 162
(shown in FIG. 6). Outside surface 160 and inside surface 162 are
parallel to each other.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 7, end face 152 is not perpendicular to
either outside surface 160 or inside surface 162, but is oblique
from being perpendicular by an angle .PSI.. When taper angle
.alpha. is about 10 degrees, angle .PSI. is about 1 degree 40
minutes. For a taper angle .alpha. that approaches 0 degrees, angle
.PSI. also approaches 0 degrees and for a taper angle .alpha. that
increases above 10 degrees, angle .PSI. increases as well. Angle
.PSI. must be greater than zero to accommodate the taper of walls
120, 122 from the vertical. If, for example, one were to cut an
imaginary first plane across planter 100 that is parallel to the
ground G, the angle between adjacent sides 120, 122 would be 90
degrees. If, however, one were to cut an imaginary second plane
across planter 100 that is perpendicular to inside surface 162 of
plank 136, the angle between adjacent sides 120, 122 along the
second imaginary plane is greater than 90 degrees by angle
.PSI..
[0026] Referring back to FIG. 5 as well as to FIG. 6, each dovetail
154 comprises a trapezoidally shaped outer surface 164 having a
first size and a trapezoidally shaped inner surface 166 having a
second size, larger than the first size. Dovetail 154 extends
outwardly from end face 152 of plank body 150 and forms an acute
angle .gamma. with respect to end face 152. In an exemplary
embodiment, angle .gamma. equals about 70 degrees. Additionally,
each tail 154 has angles .beta. and .delta. relative to
longitudinal axis A.sub.L, with angle .beta. not equal to angle
.delta.. In an exemplary embodiment, angle .beta. equals about 10
degrees and angle .delta. equals about 30 degrees. Generally, the
sum of angle .beta. and angle .delta. is approximately equal to
2(90-.gamma.).
[0027] Dovetail 154 includes a tail end face 156 that extends in a
plane. The plane of tail end face 156 is parallel to the plane of
plank end face 152. End face 156 also extends at an angle of 90
degrees plus the oblique taper angle .alpha. from the longitudinal
axis A.sub.L. Dovetail 154 also has a top surface 158 that extends
obliquely relative to outer surface 164 and a bottom surface 159
that also extends obliquely relative to outer surface 164. Both top
surface 158 and bottom surface 159 also extend obliquely to
longitudinal axis A.sub.L.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, end face 156 is trapezoidal shaped, with
the smaller of the parallel sides located on the outside of planter
100 and with the larger of the parallel sides located on the
interior of planter 100. In an exemplary embodiment, an angle
.lamda. formed by outer surface 164 and top surface 158 is about
110 degrees and an angle .sigma. formed by inner surface 166 and
top surface 158 is about 70 degrees. Additionally, an angle .lamda.
formed by outer surface 164 and bottom surface 159 is about 110
degrees and an angle .sigma. formed by inner surface 166 and bottom
surface 159 is about 70 degrees.
[0029] For ease of manufacturing, base 110 is generally
rectangular, and is sized such that plank 136 is the same length as
plank 142 and plank 138 is the same length as plank 144. This
reduces the amount of adjustments necessary to tooling during
manufacture of each individual plank 136, 142 and 138, 144,
respectively.
[0030] In the exemplary embodiment shown, planks 136 are stacked on
top of each other with a minimal space between vertically adjacent
plank bodies. In an exemplary embodiment, a space of about 1/32
inch (about 0.08 centimeters) is maintained. This spacing ensures
proper mating of the dovetails between adjacent sides.
[0031] Walls 122 and 126 are started first by laying bottom plank
132 on base 110 so that bottom plank 132 spans all of base planks
112. Optionally, an interior portion 170 of bottom plank 132 may be
rabbetted out so that the bottom of bottom plank 132 is flush with
the bottom of base 110. If so, bottom plank 132 must have a height
slightly larger than h/2 to compensate for the thickness of base
110. Alternatively, bottom plank 132 may just be laid across the
top of base 110. In either embodiment, the bottom of bottom plank
132 is mitered at the taper angle .alpha. as shown in FIG. 8 in
order to start the taper of walls 122 and 126.
[0032] Walls 120 and 124 are then started by laying plank 140
across bottom plank 132 such that dovetail 154 of plank 140 engages
and interlocks with dovetail 154 of bottom plank 132 as shown in
FIG. 1. Planks 136, 142, 138, 144, and 134 are then laid, in that
order, building planter 100 to a height of three planks 136.
[0033] The alternation of plank laying between walls 120 and 122
builds up planter 100 and provides strength at the dovetail joints
that is not provided with standard dovetail joinery using single
element sidewalls.
[0034] By way of example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, plank 142 on
side 120 has a dovetail 142a and plank 136, which is lower than
plank 142 on side 122, has a dovetail 136a located below dovetail
142a. Plank 138, which is above plank 142 on side 122, has a
dovetail 138a located above dovetail 142a. Dovetails 136a and 138a
engage and interlock with dovetail 142a to prevent plank 142 from
being pushed outward from planter 100 due to forces that may be
exerted against plank 142 from inside planter 100, such as, for
example, by soil that is insert into planter 100 after
assembly.
[0035] To secure planks 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144 together,
a pair of spaced apart holes are drilled downward through planks
134, 138, 136, and 132 as well as through base 110 and each foot
114. The holes may be drilled in each plank independently, or all
at the same time. A carriage bolt 180 is inserted through the holes
and secured with a nut (not shown) underneath foot 114. Optionally,
handles 182 or other decorative elements may be affixed to the top
of plank 134 and secured to planter 100 via carriage bolts 180.
[0036] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 1, ends of top plank 134 may be
chamfered to match the slope of the top surface of plank 144. Such
a chamfer is for aesthetic purposes and may be omitted if
desired.
[0037] The oblique angle of taper angle .alpha. requires additional
consideration of the interlocking arrangement of the dovetails that
is not required during the construction of prior art structures
having vertical walls, such as, for example, log cabins. For
example, in order for the top surface 158 of dovetail 154 on wall
120 to properly interlock with the lower surface 159 of an adjacent
dovetail 154 on wall 122, as described above, multiple cuts at
various oblique angles must be made. For planks made from wood
stock, this requires the special jigs be prepared for each cut, as
will be recognized by those skilled in the art. The jigs must be
set at different angles for each cut in order to arrive at the
desired taper angle .alpha. for both the body end face 152 and the
dovetail end face 156 as well as angles .PSI., .beta., .delta.,
.gamma., .sigma., and .lamda..
[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, ends of each tail 154 are
co-planar with the adjacent side. Optionally, the ends of each tail
154 can be extended beyond the plane of the adjacent side to add a
decorative touch to the planter. For example, the ends of each tail
154 can extend about one eighth inch beyond the plane of the
adjacent side.
[0039] When the interior of planter box 100 is filled with soil,
the weight of the soil pushes planks 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142,
144 outward from the interior of planter box 100 such that the tail
of each plank pushes against the tails of the upper and lower
planks on each adjacent side, further strengthening the joints.
[0040] While the figures show planter box 100 having a generally
rectangular base, those skilled in the art will recognize that a
planter box constructed according to the present invention may be
alternatively shaped, such as, for example, generally square
shaped. Further, while the figures show planter box 100 having four
tapered sides, those skilled in the art will recognize that a
planter box constructed according to the present disclosure may
have an alternative even number of sides, such as, for example, six
or eight tapered sides.
[0041] While an exemplary embodiment of planter box 100 is
constructed from wood planks, those skilled in the art will
recognize that planter box 100 may be constructed from other
materials, such as, for example, a composite or a synthetic
material that is cut or formed into appropriate lengths according
to the formulae and angles described above.
[0042] While the principles of the invention have been described
above in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be clearly
understood that this description is made only by way of example and
not as a limitation of the scope of the invention.
* * * * *