Apparatus for supporting plants
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to plant growth techniques and more particularly to an apparatus for supporting plants. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many plants have the tendency to grow in nonvertical directions when vertical growth is desired. To assist plants in growing vertically, many devices employ a vertical mast upon which the plant can grow. However, these devices are unstable when the weight of the plant due to nonvertical growth is too great for the vertical mast to support. It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus that can support the weight of the plant during growth. 
     From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for an apparatus that can support vertical growth of plants. A need has also arisen for an apparatus that provides stability and support for increasing plant weight and plant growth in nonvertical directions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for supporting plants is provided which substantially eliminates or reduces disadvantages and problems associated with conventional plant support devices. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supporting plants that includes a base plate having a vertical channel and a plurality of horizontal channels. A vertical rod passes through the base plate and within the vertical channel to provide vertical support for plant growth. Each horizontal channel has a horizontal rod to increase the stability of the base plate and structural support for the apparatus. 
     The apparatus of the present invention provides various technical advantages over conventional plant support devices. For example, one technical advantage is increased support for vertical plant growth. Another technical advantage is in using an expandable base plate to provide structural support and overcome the tendency of plants to grow in nonvertical directions. Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an apparatus for supporting plants; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a telescopically adjustable horizontal rod; 
     FIGS. 3A-B illustrate a diagram of an end plate assembly for the apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of aperture spacing for the horizontal and vertical rods of the apparatus; 
     FIGS. 5A-D illustrate possible placement of the apparatus within a plant container; 
     FIGS. 6A-B illustrate alternate configurations of a base plate of the apparatus; and 
     FIGS. 7A-B illustrate formation of the apparatus into a trellis configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram of an apparatus 10 for supporting plants. Apparatus 10 includes a base plate 12 having a vertical channel 14 and four horizontal channels 16, 18, 20, and 22. Though shown with four horizontal channels, base plate 12 may have any number of horizontal channels. Vertical channel 14 is enclosed by walls 24, 26, 28, and 30 wherein each wall has a plurality of apertures therethrough. Vertical channel 14 receives a hollow vertical rod 32 having a plurality of apertures therethrough corresponding to the apertures within side walls 24, 26, 28, and 30 of vertical channel 14. A plurality of pins 34 are used to secure vertical rod 32 within vertical channel 14. Each horizontal channel 16, 18, 20, and 22 has sidewalls with a plurality of apertures therethrough. Though not shown, horizontal channels 16, 18, 20, and 22 may be similarly surrounded by side walls as vertical channel 14. Hollow horizontal rods 36, having apertures corresponding to the apertures within each sidewall, lay within each horizontal channel 16, 18, 20, and 22. Each horizontal rod 36 may be identical to vertical rod 32. A plurality of pins 34 are used to secure each horizontal rod 36 within each horizontal channel 16, 18, 20, and 22. End plates 38, having apertures corresponding to the apertures of horizontal rods 36, connect to each horizontal rod 36 by a plurality of pins 34 and attaches to a specific structure such as an inside of a container or a stake. 
     In use, vertical rod 32 extends a predetermined distance into soil in a vicinity of a plant and extends a predetermined distance above the soil, through vertical channel 14 of base plate 12. Pins 34 secure vertical rod 32 within vertical channel 14. Base plate 12 can be placed on the soil or buried a predetermined distance below the surface of the soil. Horizontal rods 36 having unique predetermined lengths are placed within each horizontal channel 16, 18, 20, and 22. Horizontal rods 36 can be cut to the desired length or be telescopically adjustable to a desired position. FIG. 2 shows a telescopically adjustable horizontal rod 36 or vertical rod 32 for use in apparatus 10. Pins 34 secure each horizontal rod 36 at an appropriate telescopic length. Pins 34 further secure each horizontal rod 36 within each horizontal channel 16, 18, 20, and 22. Each end plate 38 also attaches to each horizontal rod 36 by pins 34. Each end plate 38 may then be used to connect to a structure near a location of base plate 12. 
     FIGS. 3A-B are a diagrams of end plate 38. End plate 38 includes an end plate channel 40 and an end piece 42. End plate channel 40 has a plurality of apertures corresponding to apertures within each horizontal rod 36 such that pins 34 can be used to attach end plate 38 to horizontal rod 36. End piece 42 may have a pivot connection 44 to end plate channel 40. Pivot connection 44 between end piece 42 and end plate channel 40 may be accomplished by a ball and socket configuration as shown in FIG. 3A or through a hinge type assembly as shown in FIG. 3B. End piece 42 may have an adhesive backing to allow end piece 42 to attach to a structure within the vicinity of base plate 12 at an appropriate angle as determined by pivot connection 44. Pivot connection 44 facilitates placement of end plate 38 at various acute angles in order to provide maximum support upon adherence to a nearby structure such as an interior wall of a container holding a plant or a stake in a field environment. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagram of vertical rod 32 and the positioning of apertures therethrough. Though described in conjunction with vertical rod 32, the aperture positioning may equally apply to each horizontal rod 36. Each surface of vertical rod 32 has two columns of apertures extending the entire length of vertical rod 32. The apertures within each column are spaced a distance D from each adjacent aperture within the corresponding column. Apertures between columns on the same surface are spaced a distance 0.5 D from adjacent apertures on a separate column. Apertures between opposing surfaces are aligned to allow pin 34 to pass through both opposing surfaces. Apertures of a column within an adjacent surface are spaced 0.25 D from corresponding holes of corresponding columns in an adjacent surface. 
     For example, on East surface 49 (and an opposing West surface), column 50 has apertures spaced a distance D from each other and column 52 has apertures spaced a distance D from each other but offset a distance 0.5 D from adjacent apertures in column 50. North surface 54 (and an opposing South surface) has a column 56 with apertures spaced a distance D from each other and a column 58 with apertures spaced a distance D from each other but offset by a distance 0.5 D from adjacent apertures in column 56. Further, apertures in column 58 of North surface 54 are offset a distance of 0.25 D from corresponding apertures in column 52 of East surface 49. Similarly, apertures in column 56 of North surface 54 are offset a distance 0.25 D from corresponding apertures in column 50 of East surface 49. 
     By offsetting the apertures as described above, an increase in integral strength can be provided as compared to a single row of holes without any offset between adjacent surfaces. This concept provides additional strength to horizontal rods 36, serves to provide more strength to base plate 12, and allows for the sizing of horizontal rods 36 to the nearest 0.25 D by simply rotating horizontal rod 36. The apertures within each vertical rod 32 and horizontal rods 36 also provide areas within which a plant can latch onto during growth. Vertical channel 14, horizontal channels 16, 18, 20, and 22, and end plate 38 have aperture positions corresponding to the aperture positions of vertical rod 32 and horizontal rods 36 to allow pins 34 to pass through each properly aligned surface. 
     FIGS. 5A-D depict diagrams showing the flexibility and positioning of base plate 12 within a container 60. Base plate 12 is positioned in the vicinity of a plant 62 and vertical rod 32 and horizontal rods 36 are placed in base plate 12 as desired. The length of horizontal rods 36 are determined based on the position of base plate 12 within container 60 such that end plate 38 can adhere to the interior of container 60. As shown in FIGS. 5A-D, the length of horizontal rod 36 within each horizontal channel is adjusted according to a desired position of base plate 12 within container 60. The flexibility of apparatus 10 allows for support to be given to a plant no matter where it may be located. 
     FIGS. 6A-B depict different configurations for base plate 12. Base plate 12 has been described as having four horizontal channels but further support may be provided through the use of additional horizontal channels. FIG. 6A employs a base plate 12 having eight horizontal channels while FIG. 6B shows a base plate having a six horizontal channel configuration. The use of an increasing amount of horizontal channels serves two primary purposes. The first is to allow more flexibility in installing horizontal rods in order to achieve more acute intersections of the horizontal rods with the interior surface of a container. The second purpose is to provide additional resistance to deviations from the vertical by providing more surface material on the bottom of the horizontal portion of the base plate and any extensions thereof. 
     FIGS. 7A-B depict a trellis configuration for apparatus 10. FIG. 7A shows apparatus 10 with base plate 12 and vertical rod 32 in a standard configuration within container 60. FIG. 7B shows a trellis arrangement constructed from two base plate 12 assemblies each having a vertical rod 32. The trellis configuration allows for the support of multiple plants along both a vertical and horizontal support structure. 
     In summary, an apparatus for supporting plant growth includes a base plate having a vertical channel and a plurality of horizontal channels. A vertical rod extends through the vertical channel and attaches to the base plate by a plurality of pins. Horizontal rods are attached by pins within each horizontal channel to extend the support base for the apparatus. An end plate may attach to each horizontal rod and connect to a structure near a location of the base plate to provide additional support. 
     Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for supporting a plant that satisfies the advantages set forth above. Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.