Tool for handling hanging basket

Abstract

Disclosed are tools for handling hanging baskets to provide improved ability to handle hanging baskets of different sizes. The tool includes a bowl for holding the hanging basket and a pole or a connector for a pole so that hanging baskets above one's reach can be handled. The bowl preferably includes one or more support components for supporting the weight of the hanging basket. The bowl preferably includes one or more stabilizing component for reducing or minimizing motion of the hanging basket in the bowl (e.g., while raising or lowering the hanging basket). The bowl preferably includes one or more reinforcing components for reinforcing the bowl (e.g., located near a rim of the bowl and/or near a base of the bowl).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool for handling a hanging basket comprising:
 i. a bowl for holding the hanging basket comprising a support component that is sufficiently rigid for supporting the hanging basket while lifting and moving the hanging basket;   ii. a connector component adapted for attaching the bowl to a rod so that an axis of the rod and an axis of the bowl are the same;   wherein the bowl includes a rim portion near a top of the bowl, a base portion at or near a bottom of the bowl, and one or more middle portions between the base portion and the rim portion, wherein each of the one or more middle portions extend a circumference of the bowl;   wherein the bowl includes a plurality of openings in the bowl for observing the positioning of the bowl around the hanging basket, including side openings on a side of the bowl.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes a stabilizing component for
 a. increasing a static friction between the bowl and the hanging basket; and/or   b. applying a compressive force from the bowl to the hanging basket; and   a pole connected to a bottom of the bowl for reaching the hanging basket.   
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein
 i) the support component is molded (e.g., injection molded) from a polymeric material; and   ii) the bowl has a circular circumference at the rim and at the one or more middle portions.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the support component includes a polymeric material having a secant modulus of about 100 MPa or more (as measured according to ASTM D 882 at 1% secant in the machine direction). 
     
     
         6 . The tool of any of  claim 1 , wherein the connection component is internally threaded for receiving an externally threaded end of the pole. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 6 , wherein the connection component is positioned at the center of the bottom of the bowl. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 6 , wherein the bowl has a central axis extending from a center of the bottom of the bowl to a center of the top of the bowl, wherein an angle between the central axis and the length direction of the pole is about 0° to about 20°. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the bowl is resistant to impact. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes the pole attached to the bowl, wherein the pole is an extension pole so that the length of the pole can adjust by about 15% or more. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A tool for handling a hanging basket comprising:
 i. a bowl for holding the hanging basket comprising a support component that is sufficiently rigid for supporting the hanging basket while moving the hanging basket and a stabilizing component for increasing a static friction between the bowl and the hanging basket;   ii. an extension pole; and   iii. a connector attached to a bottom of the bowl for connecting the bowl to the extension pole.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein the stabilizing component and or the support component includes one or more raised portions proximate to a center portion of the bowl for receiving a pot having a bottom with a raised portion; wherein a side wall of the raised portion stabilizes the hanging basket by limiting any lateral movement of the hanging basket in the bowl. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the bowl includes one or more reinforcing components connecting and reinforcing a generally vertical side wall of the bowl with a generally horizontal wall of the base portion. 
     
     
         28 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is further characterized by one or any combination of the following:
 i. the bowl has rotational symmetry or axial symmetry;   ii. the tool includes a telescoping pole including two or more sections.   iii. the tool includes a telescoping pole extending a length of about 1.5 m or more;   iv. the bowl includes a stabilizing component includes a surface formed of a material having a coefficient of about 0.45 or more;   v. the stabilizing component includes a surface formed of a thermoset rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer;   vi. the stabilizing component includes a surface formed of a thermoset rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore A hardness of about 87 or less, preferably about 75 or less, and most preferably about 70 or less;   vii. the stabilizing component includes an elastomeric polymer selected from the group consisting of a EPDM, a EPR, a SBR, a BR, isoprene, a SBS, an ethylene α-olefin copolymer (E-B, E-O, E-H), or an ethylene copolymers with an acrylate; or   viii. the stabilizing component includes a surface layer that is attached to or adhered to a wall of the bowl;   ix. the bowl has a generally concave interior;   x. the bowl is configured to receive multiple size pots of hanging baskets;   xi. an interior of the bowl has two or more generally horizontal shelves for receiving pots of different sizes;   xii. the bowl has a sufficient elasticity so that the bowl opens upon contact with the bottom of the pot and exerts a compressive force on the pot at regions of contact;   xiii. the bowl includes a first polymeric material having a first hardness and a second polymeric material having a second hardness less than the first polymeric material, wherein the first polymeric material has a hardness of about 87 Shore A or more, or about 90 Shore A or more;   xiv. the bowl includes regions formed of a first polymeric material and regions formed of a second polymeric material; or   xv. the bowl includes a bottom portion having 30 or more flexible protrusions aligned generally vertically for receiving a portion of a wall of a pot.   
     
     
         29 . A kit including the tool of  claim 1 , wherein the kit including
 i) two or more interchangeable bowls having different diameters; or   ii) two or more interchangeable poles having different lengths.   
     
     
         30 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein a combined area of the openings is 30% or more of the total surface area of the bowl. 
     
     
         31 . The tool of  claim 30 , wherein the tool includes 6 or more spaced apart ribs connecting an inner wall and an outer wall at the rim portion. 
     
     
         32 . The tool of  claim 31 , wherein the tool includes 4 or more spaced apart ribs inside the bowl, each connecting a bottom of the bowl with a wall of the bowl. 
     
     
         33 . The tool of  claim 31 , wherein the tool includes ribs below the bottom of the bowl. 
     
     
         34 . The tool of  claim 33 , wherein the bowl has impact resistance so that it does not crack when dropped onto a concrete surface at a height of 10 feet. 
     
     
         35 . A method of handling a hanging basket having a hook and holding a plant comprising steps of:
 placing a bowl of a tool under a hanging basket located on an overhead bowl;   lifting the hanging basket from with the tool; and   moving the hanging basket with the tool;   wherein the tool includes a pole connected to the bowl, and the bowl has side openings for viewing the hanging basket.