Potting table

Abstract

An apparatus for use in potting plants includes a tray upon which potting materials may be placed. The tray has a generally planar base portion with a peripheral edge. A support mechanism is secured relative to the upper surface of the tray and is rotatable about a rotation axis. A plate structure sized to support a plant receptacle is supported on the support mechanism for common rotation therewith. In one form of the invention, a rim extends upwardly from an upper surface around a majority of the edge so that a gap exists in the rim. In another form of the invention, the plate structure has a retaining element positioned to engage the support mechanism to resist radial displacement during rotation. The tray may include a handle. The rotational axis may be offset from the center of the tray to provide a work area for placing the potting materials.

1 . Apparatus adapted to support a plant receptacle and potting materials for a plant to be potted in the plant receptacle, comprising: 
 (A) a tray adapted to be placed on a support surface for supporting potting materials thereon and including 
 (1) a generally planar base portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral edge and  
 (2) an upstanding rim portion extending upwardly from and around a majority of the peripheral edge of said base portion, said rim having a gap formed therein;  
   (B) a support mechanism secured relative to the upper surface of said base portion and rotatable about a rotational axis that is generally perpendicular to said base portion; and    (C) a plate structure adapted to be supported on the support mechanism for common rotation therewith when in a supported state, said plate structure sized and adapted to support a plant receptacle thereon for common rotation therewith whereby the plant receptacle may be rotated relative to said tray.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said base portion is generally polygonal in shape with said base portion and said rim portion having common vertices.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the gap is located at one of said vertices.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said tray includes a tray handle disposed proximate to said rim portion.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said tray is constructed of a material including plastics, masonite and lexan.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said rim portion is formed as an upturned extension of said base portion.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said base portion has a central axis extending perpendicularly from the upper surface thereof and wherein the rotational axis of said support mechanism being generally parallel to and offset from the central axis, said plate structure and base portion being sized such that, when said plate structure is in the supported state, the upper surface of said base portion has an exposed working area that is sufficiently sized to allow access to potting materials placed thereon.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said plate structure has a lower plate surface adapted to engage said support mechanism and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, said plate structure being removably supported on said support mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said plate structure includes a lip extending upwardly of the upper surface and surrounding a peripheral plate edge.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said lip is formed and sized to allow said support plate to be inverted and place over said support mechanism thereby to enclose said support mechanism for storage in a stored state.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10  including means for retaining said support plate in the stored state.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  including at least one magnet disposed on one of said platform and said plate structure, said magnet operative to help retain said plate structure on said platform when in both the supported and stored states.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said plate structure includes a retaining element disposed on the lower surface and positioned to engage said support mechanism thereby to resist radial displacement of said plate structure relative to said rotational axis.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  including a plurality of retaining elements in the form of posts adapted to nestably receive said platform.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said retaining element is defined by at least one magnet disposed on one of said platform and said plate structure, said magnet operative to help retain said plate structure on said platform when in the supported state.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said support mechanism includes a platform affixed to said support mechanism and adapted to support said plate structure.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said platform is formed as a flat disc.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said plate structure including centering marks on an upper surface thereof.  
   
   
       19 . Apparatus adapted to support a plant receptacle and potting materials for a plant to be potted in the plant receptacle, comprising: 
 (A) a generally planar base having an upper surface and adapted to be placed on a support surface and to support potting materials thereon;    (B) a support mechanism secured to said base and rotatable about a rotational axis that is generally perpendicular to said base; and    (C) a plate structure having an upper surface and a lower surface and adapted to be removably supported on the support mechanism for common rotation therewith, said plate structure including at least one retaining element disposed on the lower surface thereof and positioned to engage said support mechanism thereby to define a supported state and to resist radial displacement of said plate structure relative to the rotational axis, the upper surface of said plate structure being sized and adapted to support a plant receptacle whereby the plant receptacle may be rotated relative to said base.    
   
   
       20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said tray includes a tray handle disposed on an edge of said base portion.  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said support mechanism includes a platform affixed to said support mechanism and adapted to support said plate structure.  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said base has a central axis extending perpendicularly from the upper surface thereof and wherein the rotational axis of said support mechanism is generally parallel to and offset from the central axis, said plate structure and base being sized such that, when said plate structure is in the supported state, the upper surface of said base has an exposed working area that is sufficiently sized to allow access to potting materials placed thereon.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said plate structure is generally configured as a circular dish including a lip extending upwardly and outwardly from a central dish portion.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein said lip is formed and sized to allow said support plate to be inverted and place over said support mechanism thereby to enclose said support mechanism for storage in a stored state.  
   
   
       25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24  including means for retaining said support plate in the stored state.  
   
   
       26 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  including a plurality of retaining elements in the form of posts adapted to nestably receive said platform.  
   
   
       27 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said retaining element is defined by at least one magnet disposed on one of said platform and said plate structure, said magnet operative to help retain said plate structure on said platform when in the supported state.  
   
   
       28 . Apparatus adapted to support a plant receptacle and potting materials for a plant to be potted in the plant receptacle, comprising: 
 (A) a generally planar base having a peripheral edge and adapted to be placed on a support surface, said planar base having a central axis extending perpendicularly from an upper surface thereof;    (B) a support mechanism secured to said base and rotatable about a rotational axis that is generally parallel to and offset from the central axis of said base; and    (C) a plate structure having an upper plate surface, a lower plate surface and a surrounding plate edge, said plate structure adapted to be supported on the support mechanism in a supported state for common rotation therewith and sized to support a plant receptacle thereon whereby the plant receptacle may be rotated relative to said base, said plate structure and said base being sized such that, when said plate structure is in the supported state, the upper surface of said base has an exposed working area that is sufficiently sized to allow access to potting materials placed thereon.    
   
   
       29 . Apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said base is a tray including an upstanding rim extending upwardly from and around said peripheral edge, said rim having at least one gap formed therein.  
   
   
       30 . Apparatus according to  claim 29  wherein said tray is rectangular having vertices wherein said gap is formed at at least one of said vertices.  
   
   
       31 . Apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said tray includes a tray handle affixed to said rim and located distal to said rotational axis.  
   
   
       32 . Apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said support mechanism includes a bearing adapted to provide said rotation about said rotational axis and a platform affixed to said support mechanism and adapted to support said plate structure.  
   
   
       33 . Apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said plate structure includes a lip extending upwardly and outwardly from a surrounding plate edge.  
   
   
       34 . Apparatus according to  claim 33  wherein said lip is formed and sized to allow said support plate to be inverted and place over said support mechanism thereby to enclose said support mechanism for storage in a stored state.  
   
   
       35 . Apparatus according to  claim 34  including means for retaining said support plate in the stored state.  
   
   
       36 . A method for potting a plant comprising: 
 (A) providing a tray that includes a rotatable support mechanism thereon;    (B) supporting a receptacle for a plant on the rotatable support mechanism;    (C) placing potting materials and tools onto a working area located on an upper surface of said tray;    (D) positioning a plant in said receptacle; and    (E) transferring potting materials from the work area to the receptacle thereby to pot said plant in said receptacle.