IP Library Granted Patent US 11,678,613
Granted Patent B2
US 11,678,613 · App. 17/173,522 · Granted Jun 20, 2023

Railing mountable horticultural container

Inventors: Drew Keeble (Twinsburg, OH); Mark Wilkinson (Twinsburg, OH)
Assignee: THE HC COMPANIES, INC.
A01G9/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,678,613
App. No.
17/173,522
Granted
Jun 20, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A horticultural container for attaching to a railing, including a planter body, at least one leg extending downward from the planter body, and a connecting device. The planter body rests on top of the top rail of the railing, while the legs straddle the top rail. The connecting device attaches to each leg below the top rail, and receives balusters of the railing.

Claims (28)

1. A horticultural container assembly, comprising:

a planter body defining a chamber, wherein the planter body has an open top;

a first leg and a second leg, each extending downward from the planter body, and spaced and shaped to straddle a top rail of a railing; and

a connecting device configured to attach to each of the first and second legs by extending through a passage between adjacent balusters of the railing, wherein the connecting device has a longitudinal axis, and is comprised of at least a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first and second arms are interconnected by a member traversing the longitudinal axis; and

wherein the first and second arms are spaced to receive at least one baluster of the railing therebetween, and form at least one notch with the member traversing the longitudinal axis.

2. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the planter body, first leg, and second leg are monolithic.

3. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first leg and second leg are hollow and the hollow legs combine with the planter body to form an interior volume of the horticultural container.

4. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the notch is configured to trap at least one baluster of the railing between the arms.

5. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a growing medium or a plant located within the chamber.

6. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first and second legs is spaced to fit both a top rail and a top of a baluster.

7. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting device is continuous from the first leg to the second leg.

8. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting device is separable from the first leg and the second leg.

9. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting device is connected to the first leg and the second leg by snap fit, friction fit, interference fit, or fastenerless connection.

10. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the member are monolithic.

11. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm is perpendicularly connected to a first side of the member, and the second arm is perpendicularly connected to a second side of the member.

12. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting device comprises a water reservoir with an open top fluidly connected with the chamber of the planter body.

13. The horticultural container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first leg and second leg have holes at a bottom end of each respective leg, the connecting device is capable of holding liquid, and the liquid is capable of passing from the connecting device into the first and second leg through the holes at the bottom of each leg.

14. A railing-mountable horticultural container assembly, comprising: a planter having a planter body with an open top, a first leg, and a second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg extending downward from respective sides of the planter body, and the first leg and the second leg spaced apart to straddle a top rail of a railing, and wherein lower ends of each of the first leg and the second leg has a first fastener part; and

a connecting device configured to retain the planter to the railing, the connecting device having a first arm and a second arm that are spaced apart to receive a baluster of the railing therebetween and the connecting device having a member extending below the top rail and between and connected to each of the first arm and the second arm, wherein:

the first arm, the second arm, and the member are monolithic in construction,

each of the first arm and the second arm has a second fastener part, and

the second fastener part of the first arm mates with the first fastener part of the first leg and the second fastener part of the second arm mates with the first fastener part of the second leg to attach the connecting device to the planter.

15. The railing-mountable horticultural container assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the planter body, the first leg, and the second leg are monolithic.

16. The railing-mountable horticultural container assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the connecting device is detachable from the first leg and the second leg.

17. The railing-mountable horticultural container assembly according to claim 14 , wherein each mating pair of the first fastener part and the second part form a snap fit, a friction fit, an interference fit, or a fastenerless connection.

18. The railing-mountable horticultural container assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the connecting device comprises a water reservoir that retains water in each of the first arm, the second arm, and the member below the top rail.

19. The railing-mountable horticultural container assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the water reservoir receives water that drains from the planter.

20. The railing-mountable horticultural container assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the water reservoir is fluidly coupled with the planter to supply water to the planter.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2023
From: THE HC COMPANIES, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 064552/0280 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: THE HC COMPANIES, INC.
To: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064455/0907 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: THE HC COMPANIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064457/0257 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2022
From: THE HC COMPANIES, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 061279/0167 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2021
From: KEEBLE, DREW; WILKINSON, MARK
To: THE HC COMPANIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 055818/0437 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62976748 · Feb 14, 2020
Related Publication 20210251154A1 · Aug 19, 2021