Patent Application
20130270398
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to floral displays, and more particularly to a device for supporting cut or artificial flowers in vases.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
It is difficult to hold a cut flower or an artificial flower on a stem erect in a vase when the upper open end of the vase is large in comparison with the diameter of the flower stem. The tendency is for the flower to lie against the rim of the vase rather than to stand vertically. The prior art is replete with devices that can be placed in or on a vase to support one or more stemmed flowers in a desired arrangement. Vases have been designed with a relatively small diameter circular opening for holding a single, long-stemmed rose generally vertical. Similarly, and as shown in the Tweddell U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,936, vase inserts have been designed to accommodate a flower bouquet. Here, a semi-rigid insert has a plurality of holes arranged in a predetermined pattern, allowing long-stemmed flowers to be inserted through the holes and into a vase to support the flowers in a desired arrangement. Similarly, the Wimp, Jr. published U.S. application 2003/0089033 discloses a flower organizer for supporting a plurality of long-stemmed flowers in a desired arrangement in which a flat, heart-shaped card is perforated by a plurality of holes along the perimeter of the card, each for receiving a stem of a long-stemmed rose or other bloom therein. The card is designed to rest atop a vase and, in this way, the flowers are made to stand vertically with respect to the vase. Because the heart-shaped card can shift relative to the vase, the desired pattern will not be maintained.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,452 to Mattecci describes a floral arranging aid for holding flowers in a vase where the aid comprises a vase top cover of plastic or cardboard having a plurality of partially scored apertures that can be readily pierced by a flower stem. The cover has an adhesive on its undersurface for adhering it to the top of a vase. When the apertures are populated, the card, resting atop the vase is easily visible and detracts from the overall appearance of the floral presentation.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to improve upon the prior art by providing a way to support a long-stemmed flower in a vertical orientation in a vase whose open upper end is much greater in area than the cross-sectional dimension of the flower stem to be displayed.
In accordance with the present invention, an insert of a foam sponge material and having a predetermined thickness is shaped to correspond to a predetermined cross-sectional shape of a vase below its open top. When compressed, the foam sponge material will fit within the top opening of the vase and will self-expand to support itself with respect to the interior wall of the vase proximate its open upper end. The foam sponge insert is provided with an aperture extending through its thickness dimension and a slit, also through the thickness dimension, extends from the peripheral edge of the insert to the aperture. This allows a stem of at least one flower to be passed through the slit into the aperture to be supported upright upon insertion of the foam sponge insert into the open top of the vase.
The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals in the several views refer to corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings,
While for illustrative purposes only, the vase is shown as having a circular profile, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foam flower support collar 10 can be shaped to conform to vases having oval or polygonal cross-sectional shapes as well.
In
Again, without limitation, the sponge material 18 may range in thickness, preferably between 0.5 inch to 2.0 inch and, as mentioned, would be shaped to correspond to the interior cross-sectional contour of the vase with which it is to be used. Because the stem of the flower is captured in the aperture 20, and the aperture 20 is generally centrally located, the flower will be supported upright in the center of the vase once the collar 10 containing the stem of the flower is inserted into the open top of the vase.
The foam sponge material itself may comprise polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene or any other suitable resilient polymer.
A further benefit afforded by the flower support collar 10 is that when it is appropriately placed within the vase in the manner described, it not only supports the associated flower in a vertical orientation, but also limits evaporation of water commonly used in a vase to prolong the original condition of the flower over time.
This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.
