STRUCTURE TO HANG FLOWER POTS ONTO BALCONY RAILINGS AND THE LIKE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure to hang flower pots onto balcony railings and the like.

[0002] The known state of the art is represented by structures realized with pieces of welded metal or plastic suitable to support prevalently the so-called rectangular flower pots. FR 2 796 540 A discloses a structure according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] A known type of metal structure is composed of a parallelepiped cage open on the upward side in order to insert the pot which has to be placed on a horizontal subbase previously oriented inside the cage. From the small sides of the cage two shaped, hooked hangers are extending in order to reach and engage the handrail. The connection between the small cage sides and the hangers is realized in such a way that it is possible to adjust the distance wanted between pot and railing. In fact, each small side of the cage is engaged to the corresponding hanger by means of a pair of winged screws to unloose in order to effect the wanted adjustment and, then, to tighten in order to fix this adjustment. The lower part of the cage is maintained distanced from the railing stakes by means of a fix dog applied to the perimetrical cage rim turned towards the railing.

[0004] A known type of plastic structure is realized together with the pot which is also plastic moulded. This structure is composed of a pair of hangers for hooking onto a handrail, to be applied on the small sides of the upper rectangular flower pot rim, and of an adjustable distance piece of plate type protruding from the flower pot front turned towards the railing.

[0005] Particularly, the adjustment of this protusion is made by means of fastening or loosening of a screw which is positioned on the outer side of the flower pot opposite the railing.

[0006] The principal inconvenience of the first structure type is recognizable in the difficulty for the end user to effect the wanted adjustment and in the high production and assembling costs caused by the screw adjustment system. Furthermore, this structure is unsuitable because of the metal pieces forming the cage. In fact, even if the pieces are coated with a cover paint of good thickness often you find uncovered metal ends causing wounds, even deep wounds, on the user's arms, f.ex. when he is doing the adjustment operations, the introduction of the flower pot, or fixing the structure to the railing.

[0007] The principal inconvenience of the second structure type is in the high costs for realizing the mould and in the complexity of the mechanic connection between the distance plate and its respective adjustment screw.

[0008] The main aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned inconveniences of the known state of the art realizing a structure to hang flower pots on a blacony railing or the like according to claim 1, which allows, particularly, an easy and promptly praticable regulation of the distance between pot and railing, reducing to a minimum the costs for realization of the structure. Preferred features of the structure are set out in the dependent claims.

[0009] Within the scope of this aim, one object of this invention consists in setting up a structure which obviates injury risk for the user during handling.

[0010] This task, as well as these and other objects appearing afterwards, is obtained by a structure for hanging flower pots on a balcony railing or the like according to the attached principal claim.

[0011] Further features and advantages of this invention will result apparent from the description of one form of realization preferred, illustrated as indication but not as limitation, in the attached three drawings, where:

• figure 1 represents a side view of the structure, according to the invention, with a rectangular flower pot positioned, sectioned according to a vertical plane;
• figure 2 represents a side view, as the above figure 1, with the structure hooked onto the handrail of a balcony railing;
• figure 3 represents a sectional front view of structure and pot, as in the preceding figure, according to the vertical plane of trace III - III of figure 2;
• figure 4 represents a plan view of the underside of structure and pot as in the preceding figures.

[0012] With reference to the attached figures, and initially to figure 1, the structure 5 to hang flower pots 6 onto a balcony railing 7 and the like is composed first of all of a cage 8 to contain minimum one flower pot 6 of rectangular type. This cage 8 is fit for hooking on the handrail 9 of the balcony railing 7. In fact, this cage 8 is composed of one pair of metal pieces 10, shaped like an "S" laid down on one side. The shape of these metal pieces 10 determines for each of them one pair of curves with almost squared angles, one of which turned upwards and the other downwards, indicated by reference numbers 11 and 12. In the curve 11 is inserted the flower pot 6 and positioned, whereas the curve 12 is engaged by the handrail 9. Appropriately, the flower pot 6, on the outer surface 13 of the bottom 14 is equipped with one pair of preformed grooves 15 which receive the horizontal portions of the metal pieces 10 as shown in the figures 3 and 4. Furthermore, the structure 5 is equipped with adjusters, globally indicated by reference number 16, which allow the user to adapt, as he wants, the distance of the hanging flower pot 6 from the railing 7. In this case, these adjusters 16 are formed by a distance element 17 having a central part 18 leaning against the stakes 19 of the railing 7 and the terminal parts 20 fitted into a preformed recess 21 of the flower pot 6. As it results specially in figure 4, the distance element 17 may be formed, indifferently, like an arch or according to the perimeter of an isosceles trapezoid without the upper base. One other characteristic of the distance piece 17 consists in the fact that it is elastically deformable in order to allow the fitting into and out from the recess 21 by means of a light pressure on the terminal parts 20. As regards recess 21 it is obtained centrally on the outer surface 13 of the bottom 14 and is extended lengthwise to both sides beyond the metal pieces 10 which, therefore, have the function to keep in position from below the terminal parts 20 of the distance element 17. Another peculiarity of the recess 21 consists in the fact that it forms an opening 22 on the edge 23 of the flower pot 6 realized between the bottom 14 and the side 24 of the pot 6 turned towards the balcony railing 7. Through this opening 22 the distance element 17 juts out. Still an other peculiarity about the recess 21 has to be founded in the opposed lateral sides 25 which are formed like steps in order to serve as engagement housings 26 for the terminal parts 20 of the distance element. In this way, engaging the terminal parts 20 in the housings 26, the most distant from the opening 22, it is obtained that the distance element 17 is completely contained inside the recess 21. In the same way, engaging the terminal parts 20 in the housings 26 most near to the opening 22 it is obtained the maximum jut of the distance element 17 from the flower pot 6. And again, engaging the terminal parts 20 in the middle housings 26 it is obtained middle juts of the distance element 17 from the pot 6. Finally, the recess 21 is preferably conformed like the shape of the distance element 17.

[0013] As it has been noticed, the structure for hanging flower pots onto a balcony railing and the like achieves the present aim and objects as it permits, on the one hand, to effect a very simple adjustment of the pot distance from the railing and, on the other hand, to reduce the production costs to a minimum because it is neither necessary to use systems equipped with screws and the like, nor to make complicated moulds forming rectangular flower pots. Furthermore, the possibility to house the distance element inside the recess does not disturb the flower pot piling, thus obtaining further cost savings both for warehouse and for shipment.

[0014] Finally, the considerable reduction of metal pieces used to form the cage, compared with the existing metal cages, lowers by far the injury risk.

[0015] In the practised realization the materials used, the forms, the dimensions and the execution details may be different from these here indicated, but technically equivalent to these.

Claims

1. Structure (5) to hang flower pots (6) onto balcony railings (7) and the like comprising a cage (8) containing minimum one flower pot (6) to be hooked onto the handrail (9) and equipped with adjusting means (16) to adapt the distance of the pot (6) from the railing (7), said adjusting means (16) comprising at least one distance element (17) inserted in a preformed recess (21) in the mentioned pot (6), said distance element (17) comprises a central part (18) for leaning against the stakes (19) of the mentioned balcony railing (17), characterised in that said distance element (17) further comprises terminal parts (20) fitted into said recess (21), said recess (21) comprising opposed lateral sides (26) in order to serve as engagement housings (26) for the terminal parts (20) of said distance element (17).

2. Structure (5), according to the foregoing claim, characterized by the fact that said cage (8) comprises at least one pair of metal pieces (10), shaped like an "S" laid down on one side, to form two curves with almost squared angles, one of which is turned upwards and house the flower pot (6) and the other is engaged by said handrail (9).

3. Structure (5), according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said flower pot (6) comprises on the outer bottom surface (13) one pair of preformed grooves (15) which receive the horizontal portions of the mentioned metal pieces (10).

4. Structure (5), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said distance element (17) is formed like an arch or according to the profile of an isosceles trapezoid without the upper base.

5. Structure (5), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said distance element (17) is elastically deformable.

6. Structure (5), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said recess (21) is obtained centrally on the outer bottom surface (13) of the mentioned flower pot (6).

7. Structure (5), according to claim 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that said recess (21) is extended lengthwise to both sides of said pair of metal pieces (10) so that said pair of metal pieces (10) Keeps said distance element (17) fitted into said recess (21).

8. Structure (5), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said recess (21) composes an opening (22) on the edge (23) formed by said pot bottom (14) and pot side (24) turned towards said railing (7) and through this opening (22) said distance element (17) juts out.

9. Structure (5), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said opposed lateral sides (25) are formed like steps.

10. Structure (5), according to claim 8 and 9, characterized by the fact that engaging said terminal parts (20) in housings (26) the most distant from said recess opening (22), then said distance element (17) is contained in said recess (21), and engaging said terminal parts (20) in the housings (26) most near to said opening (22), then said distance element (17) assumes the maximum jut from the pot (6) and, finally, engaging said distance element (17) in the middle housings (26), then said distance element (17) assumes middle juts.

11. Structure (5), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said recess (21) is conformed approximately like the distance element (17).

Ansprüche

1. Anordnung (5) zum Aufhängen von Blumenkästen (6) an Balkongeländern (7) und Ähnlichem, enthaltend einen Käfig (8), der mindestens einen Blumenkasten (6) zum Aufhängen an dem Handlauf (9) enthält und mit Einstellmitteln (16) ausgestattet ist, um den Abstand des Blumenkastens (6) von dem Geländer (7) anzupassen, wobei das Einstellmittel wenigstens ein Abstandselement (17) enthält, welches in eine vorgeformte Aussparung (21) des Blumenkastens (6) eingesetzt ist, und wobei das Abstandselement (17) weiterhin ein Mittelteil (18) zur Anlehnung an die Stäbe des Balkongeländers (7) enthält, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Abstandselement (17) weiterhin Endstücke (20) aufweist, die in die Aussparung (21) eingepasst sind, wobei die Aussparung (21) gegenüberliegende Querseiten (25) enthält, die als Aufnahmen (26) für die Endstücke (20) des Abstandselements (17) dienen.

2. Anordnung (5) nach dem vorstehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Käfig (8) wenigstens ein Paar Metallteile (10) in der Form eines auf einer Seite liegenden "S" enthält, um zwei Kurven mit annähernd rechten Winkeln zu bilden, wovon eine nach oben gerichtet ist und den Blumenkasten (6) umfasst und der andere mit dem Handlauf (9) im Eingriff ist.

3. Anordnung (5) nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Blumenkasten (6) an der äußeren Unterseite (13) ein Paar vorgeformte Aussparungen (15) enthält, welche die horizontalen Teile der Metallteile (10) aufnehmen.

4. Anordnung (5) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Abstandselement (17) wie ein Bogen oder entsprechend dem Profil eines gleichschenkligen Trapezes, ohne die obere Grundlinie, geformt ist.

5. Anordnung (5) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Abstandselement (17) elastisch verformbar ist.

6. Anordnung (5) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich die Aussparung (21) zentral an der äußeren Unterseite (13) des Blumenkastens (6) befindet.

7. Anordnung (5) nach den Ansprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich die Aussparung (21) längs zu beiden Seiten der Metallteile des Metallteilepaares (10) erstreckt, so dass das Metallteilepaar (10) das Abstandselement (17) in der Aussparung (21) festhält.

8. Anordnung (5) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aussparung (21) eine Öffnung (22) an der Kante (23) aufweist, die durch die Blumenkastenunterseite (14) und die zum Geländer (7) hinweisende Blumenkastenseitenwand (24) gebildet wird, und dass das Abstandselement (17) durch diese Öffnung (22) herausragt.

9. Anordnung (5) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die gegenüberliegenden Querseiten (25) stufenförmig ausgebildet sind.

10. Anordnung (5) nach den Ansprüchen 8 und 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass wenn die Endstücke (20) in die von der Öffnung (22) am weitesten entfernten Aufnahme (26) eingreifen, das Abstandselement (17) in der Aussparung (21) aufgenommen ist, dass wenn die Endstücke (20) in die der Öffnung (22) am naheliegendsten Aufnahme (26) eingreifen, das Abstandselement (17) den maximalen Abstand von dem Blumenkasten (6) annimmt, und dass wenn die Endstücke (20) in mittlere Aufnahmen (26) eingreifen, das Abstandselement (17) einen mittleren Abstand annimmt.

11. Anordnung (5) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aussparung (21) ungefähr an das Abstandselement (17) angepasst ist.

Revendications

1. Structure (5) pour suspendre des pots (6) de fleurs sur des rambardes (7) de balcon et similaires, comprenant un casier (8) contenant au moins un pot (6) de fleurs, destiné à être accroché sur la main courante (9) et équipé de moyens de réglage (16) pour adapter la distance entre le pot (6) et la rambarde (7), lesdits moyens de réglage (16) comprenant au moins un élément d'écartement (17) inséré dans un évidement préformé (21) ménagé dans ledit pot (6), ledit élément d'écartement (17) comprenant une partie centrale (18) destinée à s'appuyer contre les poteaux (19) de ladite rambarde (7), caractérisée en ce que ledit élément d'écartement (17) comprend en plus des parties terminales (20) insérées dans ledit évidement (21), ledit évidement (21) comprenant des faces latérales opposées (25) destinées à servir de logements (26) d'engagement pour les parties terminales (20) dudit élément d'écartement (17).

2. Structure (5) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisée par le fait que ledit casier (8) comprend au moins une paire de pièces métalliques (10), conformées en S posé sur un côté, pour former deux courbes à angles presque droits, dont l'une est orientée vers le haut et reçoit le pot (6) de fleurs, et l'autre est engagée par ladite main courante (9).

3. Structure (5) selon la revendication 2, caractérisée par le fait que ledit pot (6) de fleurs comprend, sur la face inférieure extérieure (13), une paire de rainures préformées (15) qui reçoivent les portions horizontales desdites pièces métalliques (10).

4. Structure (5) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que ledit élément d'écartement (17) est conformé en arc ou selon le profil d'un trapèze isocèle sans la base supérieure.

5. Structure (5) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que ledit élément d'écartement (17) est élastiquement déformable.

6. Structure (5) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que ledit évidement (21) est ménagé centralement sur la face inférieure extérieure (13) dudit pot (6) de fleurs.

7. Structure (5) selon la revendication 1 et la revendication 2, caractérisée par le fait que ledit évidement (21) s'étend longitudinalement aux deux côtés de ladite paire de pièces métalliques (10) de façon que ladite paire de pièces métalliques (10) maintienne ledit élément d'écartement (17) inséré dans ledit évidement (21).

8. Structure (5) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que ledit évidement (21) comprend une ouverture (22) sur l'arête (23) formée par ledit fond (14) du pot et le côté (24) du pot orienté vers ladite rambarde (7), et que ledit élément d'écartement (17) fait saillie à travers cette ouverture (22).

9. Structure (5) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que lesdites faces latérales opposées (25) sont conformées en gradins.

10. Structure (5) selon les revendications 8 et 9, caractérisée par le fait qu'en engageant lesdits parties terminales (20) dans les logements (26) les plus distants de ladite ouverture (22) de l'évidement, ledit élément d'écartement (17) est alors contenu dans ledit évidement (21), et qu'en engageant lesdites parties terminales (20) dans les logements (26) les plus près de ladite ouverture (22), ledit élément d'écartement (17) adopte alors la projection maximale depuis le pot (6) et, enfin, qu'en engageant ledit élément d'écartement (17) dans les logements médians (26), ledit élément d'écartement (17) adopte alors la projection intermédiaire.

11. Structure (5) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait que ledit évidement (21) est conformé approximativement comme ledit élément d'écartement (17).

Drawing