GB2438819A

GB2438819A - Adjustable window box

Info

Publication number: GB2438819A
Application number: GB0612469A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Alan Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-28
Filing date: 2006-06-23
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Also published as: GB0612469D0; GB0513036D0

Abstract

The window box comprises two parts 1 and 2, each part having at least two open sides. The first part cooperatively engages with the second part with the remaining open side providing access to an interior volume. The two parts may slide with respect to each other and may have ridges 13 and indentations 14 which engage the parts together. The parts may also be fixed by means of a lug 15 and opening 16 located on the bases of the two parts.

Description

CONTAINER

The invention relates to an adjustable container for growing flowers adjacent to or on a windowsill, in particular an adjustable window box.

Window boxes are well known, and generally comprise a plastic, wooden or metallic container either for placing on a windowsill, or for attachment adjacent to the base of a window, in which plants are grown in soil held within the window box.

Window boxes arc provided in many sizes to correspond to the variety of windows they are required to fit. However, many windows are not of a standard size, and so it may not be possible to acquire a suitably sized window box for a particular window. In addition, when placing young plants in a window box it might be desirable to use a small window box, moving them to a larger window box as the plants grow and additional soil and space is required. This requires the use of two or more window boxes, and movement of soil and plants between them.

According to the present invention these problems are overcome by providing a window box in which the available interior volume is adjustable.

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a container comprising a first part and a second part, each part comprising a base, a short side and two long sides, a further short side and top being open, the first part cooperatively engageable with the second part through respective open sides to provide a container with an open top, a base, two long sides and two short sides, the open top providing access to an interior volume.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first part of the adjustable window box according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a first and second part engaged together to form an adjustable window box according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a long side of the window box of Figure 2 in a fully contracted state, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a long side of the adjustable window box of Figure 2 in a frilly extended state, Figure 5 shows a cross-section of a side view of the window box of Figure 2, Figure 6 (a) and (b) show a cross-sectional end view of a first and second part respectively of the window box of Figure 2, Figure 7 (a) shows a side view of a lower section of the base of each part, and Figure 7 (b) shows a top view of a portion of the base of respective parts adjacent each open end, including an opening in the first part and lug in the second part.

Figure 1 shows a component part 1 of the two parts 1, 2 of an adjustable window box according to one embodiment of the present invention. Each part 1, 2 comprises a base 5, two long sides 7 and one short side 8 with one open side 10 and an open top 11, the area of the base 5 being less than the area of the open top 11 SO that the long sides 7 slope inwardly towards the base 5 from the open top 11. The remaining short side 10 of the substantially rectangular part is open. While the two parts arc of a comparable size, the first part 1 is slightly smaller than the second part 2 so that the sides and base of the first part can fit within the sides and base of the second part through the open sides 10.

Further, the long sides 7 of the slightly smaller first part 1 extend above the long sides 7 of the second part 2 and include a channel defining top portion 3 providing a track within which a lip 4, provided at the top of respective long sides of the second part, fits and slides within to guide and secure the two parts together.

As also seen in Figure 2, each of the first 1 and second 2 parts further include additional engagement means 13, 14 on the base 5 and long sides 7 which comprise transverse ridges 13 provided at intervals on the exterior surface of the base 5 and long sides 7 of the first part 1 and indentations 14 provided at intervals on the interior surface of the base 5 and long sides 7 of the second part 2, as shown in more detail in Figure 5. The ridges 13 and indentations 14 of the respective sides are arranged such that the ridges of the first part fit into respective indentations in the second part thereby engaging the two parts together.

Figure 2 shows the two parts of Figure 1, the ridges 13 of the first part fitting into the indentations 14 of the second part thereby engaging the two parts together and forming the adjustable window box according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The ridges 13 of the first part are adapted to slide past the indentations 14 of the second part when force is exerted to push the parts together or pull them apart, and further adapted to retain the two parts in a particular configuration with respect to each other when the force is removed, the ridges 13 of the first part fitting securely into respective indentations 14 of the second part.

In addition, the lip 4 of the second part is moveably retained within the channel delineating portion 3 of the first part to form a sliding track arrangement such that any force exerted on the two parts to adjust their position with respect to each other causes the two parts to move with respect to each other to a desired configuration.

Figure 3 shows the two parts of the window box of Figure 1 pushed together to form an adjustable window box in its most contracted state. Figure 4 shows the two parts of the window box of Figure 2 pushed together to form an adjustable window box in its most extended state.

The two parts of the window box may further be positioned at any intermediate position between the most contracted and most extended state to provide a window box of a desired size, as shown in Figure 2.

As seen in Figure 5, the ridges 13 of the first part I fit into the indentations 14 of the second part 2, retaining the window box in a desired configuration. Force exerted on the two parts to push the parts together or pull them apart urges the ridges out of the indentation to slide along the surface of the second part until a desired configuration is achieved.

Figures 6 (a) and (b) show a cross-sectional end view of respective parts of the adjustable window box showing the channel delineating top portion 3 of the first part 1 and the lipped top portion 4 of the second part 2, the arrangement being such that the lip of the second part 2 fits within the channel of the first part 1.

Figure 7 (a) shows a foot 17 positioned on an exterior surface of the base 5 of each of the first 1 and second 2 parts of the window box. Each foot may be positioned at a corner of the window box, or may comprise a bar which extends along the width of the short end 8 of each of the first and second parts, and may contain openings. Each foot may be a moulded portion of the base 5 or short side 8, or may be an additional part attachable to the respective parts of the window box.

Figure 7 (a), and also Figure 7 (b), further shows an opening 16 on the base of the first part I and a lug 15 on the base of the second part 2, the lug 15 extending away from the base 5 towards the open top 11. The lug 15 and opening 16 are positioned adjacent the open side 10 of the respective parts such that, with the adjustable window box in its most extended state, the lug 15 is received into the opening 16 and acts to retain the two parts together.

In use, a user may push the two parts together, or pull them apart, until the window box is a desired size. The window box may then be filled with soil and plants and placed in a suitable position. Alternatively, the user may push the two parts together until the most contracted configuration is reached, providing the smallest interior volume, and place soil in the interior of the box, and plants to grow.

The box may then be placed on a window ledge or other surface resting on its base 5 or preferably on feet, 17, positioned on the base of each part adjacent short ends 8. Alternatively the box may be attached adjacent a window ledge or other feature.

As the plants grow and require more soil and more room the interior volume of the window box may be increased as required by pulling the component first and second parts apart, urging the ridges of the first part out of the indentations of the second part and further urging the lip of the top portion of the second part to slide within the channel of the top portion of the first part, until the desired internal dimension is reached and the force is removed. While the parts are being pushed together or pulled apart lug 15 on an internal surface of the base of the second part slides against the external surface of the base of the first part, until, with the window box at its most extended, the lug 15 fits into opening 16 in the base of the second part, fixing the two parts together.

Further soil may then be added to the box. The window box may be varied in size in this way and may increase in size in stages, until the lug 15 fits into opening 16 and the maximum dimension desired or possible is achieved.

The lip and channel features maintain a fit between the two parts sufficiently tight that water leakage from the window box, resulting from watering plants within the window box, is minimized. When the user wishes to stop using the window box, for example in the winter, the contents may be removed and the box parts pushed together to a minimum dimension for storage. The window box in its contracted state is easily stackable with other such window boxes by means of the sloping sides, and ridges/indentations, for storage until required again.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, the area of the base may not be less than the area of the top, as the sides may not slope from the open top to the base, but the box may have a cross-section which is square, or hexagonal or other shape.

The engagement means 13,14 may be provided on only one long side, or only on both long sides or only on the base, may comprise longitudinal rather than transverse ribs, or the ridges may be formed on the interior surface of the first part and engage with indentations on the exterior surface of the second part, the first part in this case being larger then the second part. The two parts may engage one with another by means other than ridges and indentations.

The top portion of the two parts may co-operatively engage with each other by means other that the channel and lip sliding track arrangement.

The lug 15 and opening 16 may be positioned on long sides 7 of respective parts as well as, or instead of, on the base 5. The lug may be positioned on the base of the inner, first part and may extend away from the base towards an opening in the outer, second part. There may be more than one lug 15 and opening 16.

The first and second parts may not be rectangular as shown in the drawings, but may have curved short ends 8.

Claims

CLAiMS 1. A container comprising a first and a second part, each part

having at least two open sides, the first part cooperatively engageable with the second part through respective open sides, with the remaining open side of each part cooperatively providing access to an interior volume.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 further comprising four closed sides, and wherein said four closed and two open sides of respective first and second parts each form a rectangle, the closed sides forming a base and three sides, the open sides comprising a fourth side and a top.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the three closed sides include a short side and two long sides, wherein one of the open sides comprise a further short side, and wherein the first part is cooperatively engageable with the second part through respective open short sides, such that the respective open tops cooperate to provide a container with an open top, the container further comprising a base, two long sides and two short sides, the open top providing access to an interior volume.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first part is smaller than said second part.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first part includes a shaped lip around said open top forming a channel.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second part includes a lip around said open top which fits into said channel.

7. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second parts include engagement means to engage the parts together.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said engagement means comprise ridges on said first part and indentations in said second part, thc arrangement being such that said ridges are engagable with said indentations to slidably fix said parts together.

9. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said closed long and short sides slope inwardly from the open top to the base.

10. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said first and second parts include at least one foot.

11. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first part includes an opening and said second part includes a lug, said lug engageable with said opening to fix said first and second parts together.

12. Use of a container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims for growing plants.

13. Use of a container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims as a window box.

14. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the

accompanying description.