Decorative single-use wreath

Abstract

A single-use wreath foundation for use in constructing a single use wreath is constructed of a primary frame member having a lower section, a secondary frame member attached to the lower section, a foam covering over at least a part of the primary frame member, and a plant material holder supported by the secondary frame member. The secondary frame member may be in the shape of a wire basket, or the secondary frame member may be in the shape of a loop that is substantially perpendicular to the primary frame member, with the primary frame member including a downwardly extending lower section, with the holder being supported by the horizontal loop and lower section. The holder may be a container or a block of foam. The secondary frame member may also be at least partially covered with a foam covering.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a decorative wreath of the type used at funerals and other occasions requiring only a single-use wreath, and in particular to a wreath that can be economically produced while offering flexibility in the manner in which the wreath is decorated. The invention is also directed to a foundation for such wreathes.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Reusable wreathes are often used to decorate the home or other location in celebration of various holiday seasons, such as Christmas or Halloween. Wreathes are also used to commemorate solemn occasions, such as a death in the family. While wreathes for the former type are often reused from season to season, wreathes of the latter type are normally used only once. The present invention relates to wreathes of this latter type, referred to herein as disposable or single-use wreathes.

Single-use wreathes of the type contemplated by the present invention are not limited in use to funerals, but find uses in a variety of circumstances where it would be uneconomical to use a reusable wreath having a more durable construction. The supports of single-use wreathes may be decorated by professional florists or others engaged in the business of supplying wreathes, or may be decorated by an individual as a craft item. The kinds of materials that may be used in decorating single-use wreathes is not limited to floral materials, and may include other artificial and natural plant materials, and decorative items.

Generally, single-use wreathes are comprised of a base to which natural or artificial plant material, or a combination thereof, can be attached. The base, which is usually formed of rigid plastic foam, e.g., Styrofoam, may be in various shapes, most commonly a ring shape. An internal wire frame is encased within the foam to provide support and strength. In the case of a foam ring, for example, the frame may be comprised of one or more wire rings sized to extend along the axis of the foam ring. The frame may include a hanger, generally in the form of a hook or loop, at the upper end of the frame for use in attaching the wreath to an easel, wall, etc.

The ways in which single-use wreathes may be decorated are limited. Generally, the type of decoration is limited to the skill of the wreath builder in positioning various types of artificial and/or natural plant material around the foam ring. There is a need for greater scope in single-use wreath decoration, and in particular a need for a means of incorporating live plant material with a source of water into the wreath construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a single-use wreath that includes a container or holder to hold natural plant material, alone or in combination with artificial plant material, while still being economical in its manufacture.

Generally, the preferred single-use wreath of the present invention is comprised of a wire frame, a foam covering over a part of the frame, and a plant holder supported by the frame, the combination of these components being referred to herein as the single-use wreath foundation. The wreath foundation after the foam is decorated with natural and/or artificial plant material is referred to herein as a single-use wreath.

More specifically, the single-use wreath frame is comprised of a primary frame member having a lower section, a secondary frame member mounted onto the lower section of the primary frame member, a first foam covering over at least a part of the primary frame member, and a plant material holder supported by at least the secondary frame member, and preferably by both frame members.

The primary frame member may be in the form of a wire loop having a downwardly extending lower section that serves to support the holder. The loop may be formed of a single wire or multiple strands. In most instances the loops will be circular. However, it is to be understood that the loops may be rectangular, oval, triangular, or of another shape.

The primary frame member is at least partially covered with a foam material for use in attaching plant material, e.g., by pins that are inserted into the foam to secure the plant material to the foam. For example, all of the primary frame member may be covered with foam except for the lower section that receives the holder. The foam may be Styrofoam or hydrophilic foams marketed under the trademarks “Oasis” and “Aqua Foam.” The foam may, for example, be in the shape of a loop or ring with a circular cross-section.

The frame may be comprised of a primary frame member in the form of a loop that is substantially vertical when the wreath is positioned for display and a secondary frame member attached adjacent the lower part of the primary frame member so that the secondary frame member is substantially perpendicular to the primary frame member, i.e., horizontal when the primary member is vertical. This secondary frame member may be in the form of a loop having a configuration corresponding to the outer dimensions of the holder side walls.

The holder forming a part of the single-use wreath foundation may be formed of a variety of materials and configured in different ways, so long as the holder is capable of supporting plant material. The plant material holder is preferably comprised of a continuous side wall and a bottom wall that together define a plant material receiving chamber with an open top. The chamber may be watertight so that water can be provided for natural plant material or may include a foam block of the type commonly used by florists to facilitate positioning of the natural and/or artificial plant material, e.g., a hydrophilic foam block. The holder is preferably supported adjacent the bottom of the frame by both the lower section of the primary frame member and by the secondary frame member.

Preferably, the holder is in the form of a vase or container having a rear wall, a front wall, side walls joining the rear and front walls, and a bottom wall. The rear wall is desirably of a greater height than the front wall, so that the open top of the holder tilts toward the front of the wreath, providing a larger surface area and greater visibility of plant material in the holder. The holder may also include a perforated removeable cover that fits over the open top, with the plant material being inserted through openings in the cover into the holder chamber. Preferably, the cover includes a plurality of first openings of one dimension and a plurality of opening of a second, smaller dimension to facilitate insertion of material of different stem sizes.

With this construction, when the preferred holder is inserted into the preferred frame, intended herein to refer to the combination of the primary and secondary frame members, the holder rear wall engages the back of the secondary frame member, the holder front wall engages the front of the secondary frame member, and the holder bottom wall is supported on the lower section of the primary frame member. The holder bottom wall may include a slot on its lower surface into which the lower section of the primary frame member is inserted to secure the holder in place.

Alternative wreath form constructions are contemplated by the present invention. For example, the frame may support a block of foam without an exterior container or vase. Also, the part of the frame support that holds the vase or foam block may be of different constructions, e.g., a basket-type frame, to support vases or blocks that contain a large amount of water. When using a foam block, the block and wreath ring can both be formed of Styrofoam, a hydrophilic foam, or another type of foam, or the block and ring can be formed of different types of foam. Also, instead of forming the plant holder section separately from the ring portion of the wreath, the two sections can be formed integrally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wreath of the present invention with a part of the floral material removed for illustration purposes, and the plant holder mounted on the frame.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the wreath of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred frame construction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another frame construction.

FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment with a block of foam held in a wire basket.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wreath basket of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in which the plant holder is integral with the wreath ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred wreath support of the invention is comprised of a frame, generally 10, into which is mounted a plant holder, generally 12. Frame 10 is encased in rigid foam 14. Frame 10 includes a generally vertical section 16 that projects downwardly at its lower end, and a generally horizontal frame section having a front section 18 and a rear section 20. When mounted within the frame sections, holder 12 has a front side against front section 18 and a rear side against rear section 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, frame 10 may be comprised of a pair of wire loops 30 and 32, with the lower end of loop 30 being turned rearwardly and horizontally to form rear section 20 and the lower end of loop 32 being turned forwardly and horizontally to form front section 18. The bottom frame element 34 is joined to loops 30 and 32 by end rings 36. As best shown in FIG. 3, bottom frame element 34 fits within a groove 38 in the bottom wall of holder 12.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative frame 40 that extends downwardly beneath the diameter of the circular frame, to form bottom frame element 42. A pair of looped sections 44 and 46 in frame 40 hold horizontal frame member 48. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art from these two examples that there are various ways of forming and joining the frame components to create a frame area for receiving and securing holder 12 in place.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which wreath support, generally 50, includes a basket-type frame 52 to support a block of foam 54 instead of a vase. It will be understood, however, that basket-type frame 52 can also be used to hold a vase of the type illustrated and described in the preferred embodiment. For example, when using vases that contain a large amount of water, the basket-type frame can provide additional support, preventing distortion of the wreath support. Foam block 54 and wreath ring 56 can be of the same or different material. For example, both the ring and block can be of Styrofoam or a hydrophilic foam, or the ring or block can be of Styrofoam, while the other part is of a hydrophilic foam. Generally, it is desirable to construct the part of the wreath to which live plant material is attached from hydrophilic foam.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which wreath support, generally 60, is formed with an integral ring 62 and plant holder 64. Frame 66 is encased within ring 62 and holder 64.

While the wreath supports of the foregoing examples are shown with the holder at the bottom of the wreath supports, it will be understood that the wreath supports may be oriented in different ways, depending on the manner in which the wreath is decorated. Also, the wreath form can include more than one holder, with the holders being positioned at different locations around the ring.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A single-use wreath foundation comprising: a) a primary frame member having a lower section; b) a secondary frame member mounted onto the lower section of said primary frame member; c) a first foam covering over at least a part of said primary frame member; and d) a plant material holder supported by at least one of said frame members.

2. The foundation of claim 1, wherein primary frame member is circular.

3. The foundation of claim 1, wherein said foam covering has a circular cross-section.

4. The foundation of claim 1, wherein said holder includes a plant material receiving chamber with an open top.

5. The foundation of claim 1, wherein said primary frame member is a wire loop.

6. The foundation of claim 1, wherein said secondary frame member is substantially perpendicular to said primary frame member.

7. The foundation of claim 1, wherein said holder has a rear wall, a front wall, side walls joining the rear and front walls and a bottom wall.

8. The foundation of claim 1, further including a second foam covering over at least a part of said secondary frame member.

9. The foundation of claim 1, further including plant material covering at least a part of said foam, and plant material supported by said holder.

10. A single-use wreath foundation comprising: a) a primary frame member having a lower section; b) a wire basket mounted on said primary frame member lower section; c) a first foam covering over at least a part of said primary frame member; and d) a plant material holder supported by said basket.

11. The foundation of claim 10, wherein said basket is at least partially covered with a second foam covering.

12. The foundation of claim 10, wherein said holder is a block of foam.

13. The foundation of claim 10, wherein said primary frame member is a wire loop having a downwardly extending lower section.

14. The foundation of claim 10, wherein said wire basket includes a loop substantially perpendicular to said primary frame member.

15. The foundation of claim 11, wherein first foam covering and said second foam covering are integrally formed.

16. A single-use wreath foundation comprising: a) a primary frame member having a downwardly extending lower section; b) a secondary frame member attached to said lower section, said secondary frame member being substantially perpendicular to said lower section; c) a first foam covering over at least a part of said primary frame member; and d) a plant material holder supported by said primary and secondary frame members.

17. The foundation of claim 16, wherein said holder is supported on said lower section and within said secondary frame member.

18. The foundation of claim 17, wherein said secondary frame member is an open rectangle and said holder includes front, back and side walls abutting said secondary frame member, and a bottom wall supported on said lower section.

19. The foundation of claim 16, wherein said secondary frame member is at least partially covered with a second foam covering.

20. The foundation of claim 16, further including plant material covering at least a part of said first foam covering and plant material supported by said holder.