Patent Application
20080302792
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container for holding flowers, pencils, art supplies, or other items, and more particularly, relates to a container that can easily be personalized.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In the past, containers have been formed of a number of different materials having different various advantages and disadvantages. Glass, crystal, and clear plastic containers have been used for containers having a traditional appearance. Colored glass, opaque plastics, and decorator fabrics or designs over glass or plastic have been used for more contemporary containers. However, containers that are adaptable in design to fit in with various décor at various times are not well known. What is needed is a container that can hold wet or dry items, such as fresh flowers, dried flower arrangements, candles, or other elements, but that can be easily modified to have a different appearance based on where and when the container will be used.
For example, a bride may wish to have fresh flowers on each table at her wedding, and may wish to have the flowers and the vase coordinate with other prevalent color schemes at the wedding or reception. However, a particular color or hue may not be available in vases, or may be available only at a prohibitively high price. Using containers of the present invention, the bride may use the container as a vase, and may coordinate the container with the linens, flowers, or bridesmaids dresses by modifying each container with the preferred color.
Furthermore, continuing with the example above, once the wedding is over, the containers may be modified again to match the décor of a living room, kitchen, bathroom, or other location. If the containers are owned by a florist or rental outlet, the containers can be modified to match the preferred color or theme of subsequent events with ease.
The container of the present invention comprises a transparent or translucent exterior portion, a waterproof interior liner portion, and a connection portion. The invention may additionally include a base portion. A number of sizes, shapes, and materials may be used in the construction of such a container, as dictated by the desired end result and intended use. The container thus allows a user to modify the external appearance of the container by inserting material between the external portion and the internal portion. The container obtains a “finished” look by use of the connection portion.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:
The container 10 of the present invention, as seen in
Container 10 also includes a connection portion 16, which has an outer sidewall 16a, an inner sidewall 16b, and a top side 16c. Connection portion 16 can be shaped to have a flat top side 16c, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the space between external portion 12 and internal portion 14 defines a décor-displaying portion 15. Decor-displaying portion 15 is preferably large enough to permit insertion of decorative elements other than 2-dimensional elements such as photographs, papers, and the like. Rather, décor-displaying portion 15 is large enough to permit insertion of 3-dimensional elements such as shells, feathers, buttons, and so forth. The diameter of external portion 12 is thus at least 1 inch greater than the diameter of internal portion 14 so that a distance of at least ½ inch between portions 12 and 14 is created when portion 12 is inserted within portion 12. When a larger space is required for larger décor, the provision of an even wider-diameter external portion 12 to fit around internal portion 14 is contemplated.
External portion 12 can be made of glass or a glass-like material, can be transparent or translucent, and can be designed in a variety of shapes. For example, though the embodiment shown in
Internal portion 14 can be constructed of clear, translucent, or opaque plastic. Internal portion 14 should be constructed of a waterproof material, so that container 10 can be used as a vase or planter. Internal portion 14 should also be constructed of a durable material, so that it can be used in the kitchen as a utensil holder, in the bathroom as a toothbrush holder, or in the workshop or office as a paintbrush or pen/pencil holder. Finally, internal portion 14 should be constructed of a rigid material, so that when it is inserted within external portion 12, it can hold the decorative materials placed between internal portion 14 and external portion 12 against the inner side 12b of external portion 12 for viewing.
In a preferred embodiment, external portion 12 is constructed of glass or a similarly attractive material so that décor-displaying portion 15, once constructed and with decorative elements inserted, is not defined by the material of external portion 12, but rather by the elements within portion 15. Similarly, in decorative situations in which internal portion 14 may be seen from the exterior of container 10, such as when the chosen decorative elements are transparent or do not fully fill décor-displaying portion 15 such that internal portion 14 is not completely obscured, glass or a similarly attractive material is preferred.
Connection portion is preferably separate from external portion 12 and internal portion 14 and, as mentioned, can be shaped in a variety of ways and constructed of a variety of materials. For example, connection portion 16 can be constructed of metal or plastic or any other appropriate material; can be embossed with horizontal or vertical ridges for decoration and gripping; and can be sized to fit loosely or securely over the top side 12c of external portion 12 and the top side 14c of internal portion 14.
Connection portion 16 may vary in size such that inner side 16b is substantially longer or shorter than outer side 16a as desired for decorative or utilitarian reasons. If desired, connection portion 16 could be provided with an adhesive layer such as, for example, on inner side 16b, so that a particular decorative configuration could be made tamper-proof or water-proof.
In use, the decorator removes connection portion 16 and inserts decorative elements between external portion 12 and internal portion 14, in décor-displaying portion 15. Depending on the decorative elements to be inserted, the decorator may wish to remove internal portion 14 from external portion 12 and either decorate outer side 14a of internal portion 14 or inner side 12b of external portion 12. For example, a decorator may wish to insert a strip of wallpaper between internal portion 14 and external portion 12 that matches or coordinates with the wallpaper of the room in which the container 10 will be used. As previously noted, materials that can be inserted in décor-displaying portion 15 may include generally 2-dimensional elements such as swatches of fabric or wallpaper, strips of wrapping paper, sections of maps, napkins, photographs, wedding invitations, and so forth, or may include generally 3-dimensional elements such as feathers, buttons, shells, sand, glitter, seeds, trinkets, memorabilia, and so forth. In the event that generally 3-dimensional elements are chosen, the decorator will probably choose to leave internal portion 14 within external portion 12 during the insertion of elements and “fill” décor-displaying portion 15 rather than decorating the interior of exterior portion 12 or decorating the exterior of interior portion 14.
Once the decorative elements are in place and internal portion 14 is seated within external portion 12, the decorator puts connection portion 16 in place. If desired, external portion 12 may then be placed on a base 18. Base 18 may be designed to match connection portion 16 in material and design, or may be of a variety of suitable materials. For example, base 16 could be made of wood, metal, plastic, or glass.
It should be apparent that a number of ways of carrying out the inventive idea are possible, and all such ways should be considered within the scope of the invention. For example, internal portion 14 and connection portion 16 have been described as separate elements, but could be made integral with one another such that connection portion 16 would comprise a lip or flange around the topmost edge of internal portion 14. While this application has attempted to show and describe at least one preferred embodiment in detail, the drawings provided and the detailed description are in no way meant to limit the invention.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/648,886, filed Feb. 1, 2005 and U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 11/343,309, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60648886 | Feb 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11343309 | Jan 2006 | US |
| Child | 12194181 | US |
