Device for displaying and preserving bouquets of flowers

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which is used to display and preserve individual bouquets of flowers, whereby said flower(s) is/are held in place at the device's central vertical axis.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371, of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP03/09394 with an international filing date of Aug. 8, 2003, which claims priority to European Application No. EP 02 078 626.5, filed on Sep. 4, 2002, and is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

European Patent No. EP 0828 446 discloses a device for the presentation of bouquets, consisting of a collapsible support, several panels, a connection wrapped around the panels, a watertight sheet, a first fixation of the device, and a second fixation of the device consisting of a ribbon.

European Patent No. EP 0881 167 discloses a receptacle for bouquets of flowers, consisting of a circular base element, from which multiple elongated elements extend.

The purpose of the present invention is the quick presentation of a bouquet of flowers in a vertical position and the preservation of this bouquet by introducing water through an orifice located in the upper part of the device.

Another purpose of the invention is to create stability for all kinds of bouquets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention is a device for the presentation and preservation of bouquets of flowers, as well as a device for packaging and preserving bouquets of flowers.

The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention as well as embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood when referring to the following figures:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device with three identical triangles, whose common side is the device's central vertical axis, corresponding to the right-angle side of the triangles.

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 with a V-shaped opening at a top of the device.

FIG. 3 shows a base element of the first embodiment in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the device in FIG. 1 with the base element affixed to a circular base.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention with two half-cones in an open position and connected by a hinge.

FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment in FIG. 5 with the two half-cones in a semi-open position and connected by a hinge.

FIG. 7 shows the second embodiment in FIG. 5 with the two half-cones in a closed position.

FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment in FIG. 5 with the two half-cones in a closed position containing a bouquet, and wrapped with a watertight sheet.

FIG. 9 shows a geometrically conical device including, at its base, several elongated elements and an intermediate part having a collar and upper tabs.

FIG. 10 shows a geometrically conical device with a complete opening.

FIG. 11 shows a geometrically conical device with a partial opening.

FIG. 12 shows a device having a half-cone with a male means of closure.

FIG. 13 shows a device having a half-cone with a female means of closure.

FIG. 14 shows an unassembled outside support.

FIG. 15 shows an assembled outside support.

FIG. 16 shows a watertight pocket.

FIG. 17 shows the watertight pocket.

FIG. 18 shows the assembled device, with two tabs folded back.

FIG. 19 shows the assembled device with a single tab folded back.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

First Embodiment of the Present Invention

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the first embodiment of the present invention is a device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers, which allows the flower(s) to be held at the level of the device's central axis (11). The device includes three or more identical triangles (10), which have the central vertical axis (11) of the device as their common side, corresponding to the right angle side of the triangles, thus forming a geometrically pyramidal figure. A base element (13) corresponds to the pyramidal figure having three or more branches of identical length, which join at the central axis (11) of the device and form an identical angle between them where the flower stems, when tied up with a first connection, are speared onto the top (14) of the device. A watertight sheet can be placed under the base element (13). The watertight sheet converges towards the center top (14) of the device and is held by a second connection, such as a ribbon, to keep the watertight sheet around the bouquet. This arrangement allows the introduction of water through an orifice located in the upper part of the device. The top of the geometrically pyramidal figure can also include a V-shaped opening (15). The opening (15) allows the insertion of the first connection that holds the flower stems together. The device can also include a circular base (16), or one that is square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal, or trapezoidal attached to the base element (13).

Second Embodiment of the Present Invention

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the second embodiment of the present invention is a device that allows bouquets to be assembled by high-yield machines. This device is used for presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers, allowing the flower(s) to be kept at the level of the device's central axis. In a closed position, the device includes a flat circular base element, two half-cones (17) assembled with or without a hinge (18) or a fold, wherein the hinge (18) or fold represents the diameter of the base element. When the device is in the closed position, the device includes a conical body corresponding to the juxtaposition of two flat parts (19) of the two half-cones (17), a male (20) and female (21) means of closure, such as clips, on the two half-cones (17) in the central area of the cone, and upper tabs (22) at the top of the cone that adapt to the volume of the bouquet. A watertight sheet (23) is placed under the base element, which converges toward the central upper part of the device. The watertight sheet (23) is held in place by a connection, such as a ribbon, holding the watertight sheet (23) around the bouquet. This arrangement allows the introduction of water through an orifice (24) located in the upper part of the device. This device can be made of recyclable thermoformed or injected plastic material or of water-resistant cardboard or of any other material, and can have openings in the lower part of the cone.

Third Embodiment of the Present Invention

As shown in FIG. 9, a third embodiment of the present invention is again a device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers allowing the flower(s) to be held at the level of the device's central axis. The device is a geometrically conical figure having a base (25) with multiple lower elongated elements (26) that come together with the central vertical base axis. The device also includes an intermediate part having a solid conical body (28) that is slit over its width and a conical collar (29) that is slit over its width and integral with the body of the device, such that the two slits are stacked to allow better adaptation of the device to a large volume of flowers. The device also includes an upper part having multiple elongated upper tabs (30) at the top of a cone that meet the central vertical axis of the device, where the upper tabs (30) can serve as holding teeth for an attachment.

Fourth Embodiment of the Present Invention

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is a device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers, allowing the flower(s) to be held at the level of the device's central axis. The device is a geometrically conical figure that may or may not include a base element (34) having a raised rim (35) relative to the perimeter. Multiple elongated elements (36) extend from the rim (35) and have a wide lower extremity (37) and a narrow upper extremity (38) more or less triangular in shape. The elongated elements (36) are integral with the rim (35) and rise in the direction of the central vertical axis of the base element (34). In the upper part of the device, two collars (39 and 40) are affixed on the elongated elements (36), wherein the upper collar (39) has a perimeter that is lower than the lower collar (40) to allow better stability of the device and vexation of enclosures, which may contain water. The device can be partially open if only the two collars (39 and 40) have an opening. The device can be completely open if, at the same time, the two collars (39 and 40) have an opening (62) and the raised rim (35) also has an opening (61). The device has a male connection (41) and a female connection (42). The device can include two half-cones, which can open or close in the upwards direction, and may or may not have a base element.

Fifth Embodiment of the Present Invention

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 19, a fifth embodiment of the present invention is a device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers that allows the flower(s) to be held at the level of the device's central axis. The device includes a juxtaposition of two supports: an outer support (54) and a watertight pocket (58). The outer support (54) is conical in shape and includes a base element, male (55) and female (56) connections on the cone's wall, and two tabs (57) in the upper part of the cone. The watertight pocket (58) also includes two tabs (59) with openings (60) in their upper part. The watertight pocket (58) slides into the inside of outer support (54) and attaches to the outer support (54) by penetrating the two tabs (57) of the outer support (54) into the two openings (60) of the watertight pocket (58). The tabs (57 and 59) can be folded back.

Most of the above embodiments can be surrounded with a watertight sheet placed under the base element that converges toward the central top of the device and is held by a second connection, such as a ribbon, in order to hold the watertight sheet around the bouquet. This arrangement allows introduction of water through an orifice located in the upper part of the device.

Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers allowing the flowers to be held at the level of a central vertical axis of the device, comprising: at least three triangles having, as a common side, a central vertical axis of the device, which is also the right angle side of the triangles, thereby forming a geometrically pyramidal figure; a base element corresponding to the geometrically pyramidal figure, the base element having at least three sides of equal length which meet at the central axis of the device, the sides having equal angles between them; a watertight sheet placed under the base element, which converges towards the central top of the device, wherein the watertight sheet is held by a first connection so as to hold the watertight sheet around the bouquet; wherein, the introduction of water is allowed through an orifice located at the upper part of the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises more than three triangles.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the base element corresponds to a geometrically pyramidal figure that has more than three sides of equal length which meet at the central axis of the device.

4. The device of claim 1, the geometrically pyramidal figure further comprising a V-shaped opening which allows insertion of a second connection holding the stems of the flowers together.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the base is either circular, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or trapezoidal.

6. A device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers allowing the flowers to be held at the level of a central vertical axis of the device, comprising: a circular base element in a closed position; two half-cones assembled at their base with a hinge, wherein the hinge represents the diameter of the base element, a body in the shape of a cone corresponding to the juxtaposition of two flat parts of the two half-cones when the device is in the closed position; a male and female means of closing the two half cones; upper tabs at the top of the cone; a watertight sheet placed under the base element, which converges towards the central top of the device, wherein the watertight sheet is held by a first connection so as to hold the watertight sheet around the bouquet; and wherein, the introduction water is allowed through an orifice located at the upper part of the device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the upper tabs at the top of the cone can serve as holding teeth for a connector.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is made of recyclable plastic material.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is made of water-resistant cardboard.

10. A device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers allowing the flowers to be held at the level of a central vertical axis of the device, comprising: a geometrically conical figure having, at its base, multiple lower elongated elements which meet at a central vertical axis of the base and which keep the device in a vertical position; an intermediate part having a solid conical body that is slit widthwise and a conical collar that is slit widthwise and integral with the body of the device, wherein the two slits are stacked to allow better adaptation of the device to a large volume of flowers; an upper part having multiple elongated upper elements which meet at the central vertical axis of the device.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the upper tabs at the top of the cone can serve as holding teeth for a connection.

12. A device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers allowing the flowers to be held at the level of a central vertical axis of the device, comprising: a geometrically conical figure having a base element; a raised rim around a perimeter of the geometrically conical figure at a lower extremity of the device; multiple elongated elements extending from the raised rim and to a narrow upper extremity of the device; wherein the multiple elongated elements are integral to the raised rim and rise in the direction of a central vertical axis of the base element; an upper collar affixed to the multiple elongated elements at the upper extremity of the device; and a lower collar affixed to the multiple elongated elements at the upper extremity of the device, wherein the upper collar has a perimeter that is smaller than the lower collar.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a partial opening, wherein the lower collar and upper collar have openings.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising a complete opening, wherein the lower collar and upper collar have openings and the raised rim has an opening.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising corresponding male and female connections.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the geometrically conical figure comprises two half-cones having a base element.

17. A device for the presentation and preservation of individual bouquets of flowers allowing the flowers to be held at the level of a central vertical axis of the device, comprising: a conically-shaped outer support having a base element, male and female connections on a wall of the outer support, and two tabs in an upper part of the outer support; a watertight pocket having two tabs, the two tabs having openings in their upper parts; wherein the watertight pocket slides inside the outer support; wherein the watertight pocket attaches to the outer support by the two tabs of the outer support penetrating the two openings of watertight pocket.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the two tabs of the watertight pocket and the two tabs of the outer support are capable of folding back.