Attachment device for plant container catch tray

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide means for attaching a catch tray to a hanging plant container. An attachment device comprises two engaging members. The first engagement member includes a U-shaped engagement structure and a plurality of spaced-apart interlock features in combination with an elongated interconnect structure thereof. The second engagement member includes a U-shaped engagement structure and an elongated interconnect structure attached to the U-shaped engagement structure. The elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged with the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member. The elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member includes an interlock structure selectively engageable with each one of the spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member thereby enabling a distance between the U-shaped engagement structure of the first engagement member to be selectively adjustable with respect to the U-shaped engagement structure of the second engagement member.

1 . An attachment device, comprising: 
 a first engagement member including a U-shaped engagement structure and a plurality of spaced-apart interlock features in combination with an elongated interconnect structure thereof; and    a second engagement member including a U-shaped engagement structure and an elongated interconnect structure attached to the U-shaped engagement structure, wherein the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged with the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member and wherein the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member includes an interlock structure selectively engageable with each one of said spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member thereby enabling a distance between the U-shaped engagement structure of the first engagement member to be selectively adjustable with respect to the U-shaped engagement structure of the second engagement member.    
   
   
       2 . The attachment device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member includes a tubular portion;    the plurality of spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member are within a wall of the tubular portion of the first engagement member; and    the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged within the tubular portion of the first engagement member.    
   
   
       3 . The attachment device of  claim 2  wherein each one of said spaced-apart interlock features includes an aperture extending through a wall of the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member.  
   
   
       4 . The attachment device of  claim 1  wherein the interlock structure is an integrally formed portion of the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member.  
   
   
       5 . The attachment device of  claim 1  wherein the interlock structure of the second engagement member includes a spring loaded member.  
   
   
       6 . The attachment device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the U-shaped engagement portion of the first engagement member resides on a first side of a longitudinal reference plane; and    the U-shaped engagement portion of the second engagement member resides on the first side of the longitudinal reference plane when the interlock structure is engaged with any one of said spaced-apart interlock features.    
   
   
       7 . The attachment device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member includes a tubular portion;    the plurality of spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member are within a wall of the tubular portion of the first engagement member;    the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged within the tubular portion of the first engagement member;    each one of said spaced-apart interlock features includes an aperture extending through a wall of the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member;    the interlock structure is an integrally formed portion of the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member;    the U-shaped engagement portion of the first engagement member resides on a first side of a longitudinal reference plane; and    the U-shaped engagement portion of the second engagement member resides on the first side of the longitudinal reference plane when the interlock structure is engaged with any one of said spaced-apart interlock features.    
   
   
       8 . A hanging basket plant container assembly, comprising: 
 a plant container having an open end and a closed end;    a catch tray positioned over the closed end of the plant container;    a hanging device attached to the plant container and configured for extending over the open end of the plant container; and    a plurality of discrete attachment devices engaged between the plant container and the catch tray for securing the catch tray to the plant container, wherein each one of said attachment devices includes a first engagement member having an engagement structure engaged with the plant container and a second engagement member engaged with the catch tray.    
   
   
       9 . The hanging basket plant container assembly of  claim 8  wherein a length of each one of said discrete attachment devices is adjustable.  
   
   
       10 . The hanging basket plant container assembly of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the engagement structure of the first engagement member is engaged over an edge of the open end of the plant container; and    the engagement structure of the second engagement member is engaged over a lip-portion of the catch tray.    
   
   
       11 . The hanging basket plant container assembly of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the engagement structure of the first engagement member includes a plurality of spaced-apart interlock features in combination with an elongated interconnect structure thereof;    the interconnect structure of the first engagement member is attached to the engagement structure of the first engagement member;    the second engagement member includes an elongated interconnect structure slideably engaged with the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member; and    the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member includes an interlock structure selectively engageable with each one of said spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member thereby enabling a distance between the U-shaped engagement structure of the first engagement member to be selectively adjustable with respect to the U-shaped engagement structure of the second engagement member.    
   
   
       12 . The hanging basket plant container assembly of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member includes a tubular portion;    the plurality of spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member are within a wall of the tubular portion of the first engagement member; and    the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged within the tubular portion of the first engagement member.    
   
   
       13 . The hanging basket plant container assembly of  claim 12  wherein each one of said spaced-apart interlock features includes an aperture extending through a wall of the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member.  
   
   
       14 . The hanging basket plant container assembly of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the engagement structure of the first engagement member includes a U-shaped portion that resides on a first side of a longitudinal reference plane; and    the engagement structure of the second engagement member includes a U-shaped portion that resides on the first side of the longitudinal reference plane when the interlock structure is engaged with any one of said spaced-apart interlock features.    
   
   
       15 . The hanging basket plant container assembly of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the engagement structure of the first engagement member is engaged over an edge of the open end of the plant container;    the engagement structure of the second engagement member is engaged over a lip-portion of the catch tray;    the engagement structure of the first engagement member includes a plurality of spaced-apart interlock features in combination with an elongated interconnect structure thereof;    the interconnect structure of the first engagement member is attached to the engagement structure of the first engagement member;    the second engagement member includes an elongated interconnect structure slideably engaged with the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member;    the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member includes an interlock structure selectively engageable with each one of said spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member thereby enabling a distance between the U-shaped engagement structure of the first engagement member to be selectively adjustable with respect to the U-shaped engagement structure of the second engagement member;    the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member includes a tubular portion;    the plurality of spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member are within a wall of the tubular portion of the first engagement member; and    the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged within the tubular portion of the first engagement member;    each one of said spaced-apart interlock features includes an aperture extending through a wall of the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member;    the engagement structure of the first engagement member includes a U-shaped portion that resides on a first side of a longitudinal reference plane; and    the engagement structure of the second engagement member includes a U-shaped portion that resides on the first side of the longitudinal reference plane when the interlock structure is engaged with any one of said spaced-apart interlock features.    
   
   
       16 . A hanging basket kit, comprising: 
 a catch tray; and    a plurality of discrete attachment devices, wherein each one of said attachment devices includes a first engagement member having a U-shaped engagement structure and a plurality of spaced-apart interlock features in combination with an elongated interconnect structure thereof and includes a second engagement member having a U-shaped engagement structure and an elongated interconnect structure attached to the U-shaped engagement structure, wherein the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged with the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member and wherein the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member includes an interlock structure selectively engageable with each one of said spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member thereby enabling a distance between the U-shaped engagement structure of the first engagement member to be selectively adjustable with respect to the U-shaped engagement structure of the second engagement member.    
   
   
       17 . The hanging basket kit of  claim 16  wherein: 
 the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member includes a tubular portion;    the plurality of spaced-apart interlock features of the first engagement member are within a wall of the tubular portion of the first engagement member; and    the elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged within the tubular portion of the first engagement member.    
   
   
       18 . The hanging basket kit of  claim 17  wherein each one of said spaced-apart interlock features includes an aperture extending through a wall of the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member.  
   
   
       19 . The hanging basket kit of  claim 18  wherein: 
 the U-shaped engagement portion of the first engagement member resides on a first side of a longitudinal reference plane; and    the U-shaped engagement portion of the second engagement member resides on the first side of the longitudinal reference plane when the interlock structure is engaged with any one of said spaced-apart interlock features.    
   
   
       20 . The hanging basket kit of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a plant container having an open end and a closed end, wherein the catch tray is positionable over the closed end of the plant container; and    a hanging device attachable to the plant container and configured for extending over the open end of the plant container