Not Applicable.
This invention relates to a flower web for engaging and covering a regular or irregularly shaped opening of an open container such as a vase.
Time is a valuable asset and anything that can improve the utilization of time in an ethical and cost effective manner is of benefit to mankind. The traditional way of floral arranging, i.e. arranging plants or flowers in a container such as a flower vase, involves skill and dexterity. Not everyone can quickly and effortlessly arrange flowers in a flower vase. Some people suffer from arthritis and/or neurological disorders that make it difficult and/or uncomfortable to arrange flowers in a flower vase. Thus, there is a strong need for an apparatus or device that can assist in the arrangement of flowers in a container such as, but not limited to, a flower vase.
U.S. Publication No. 20020184818, published Dec. 12, 2002 to Linda Roskin, describes a device and method for preparing a vase or other container to receive a floral arrangement. The device includes a grid cover that is placed around the open end of a vase or similar container. The grid cover has a flat top surface and a peripheral wall that extends downwardly from the edge of the top surface. The grid cover is described as being made of elastomeric material and is said to be initially smaller than the open top of the vase. The grid cover is stretched over the open top of the vase, wherein the peripheral wall of the grid cover passes over the edge of the vase's open top and retains the stretched grid cover element in place. A plurality of openings is distributed throughout the top surface of the grid cover. As the grid cover is stretched over the top of a vase, the openings become positioned across the open top of the vase. Despite being made of elastomeric material, it is difficult to fit the Roskin '818 device tightly over irregularly shaped vase openings without leaving unwanted gaps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,452, issued Jun. 2, 1998 to Matteucci et al., describes a floral arranging aid for holding flowers in a vase. The '452 device comprises a vase top cover of plastic or cardboard having a plurality of partially scored apertures that are opened by a flower stem. The apertures are arranged in rows and columns that are coded so that each aperture is located at a junction. The '452 device further comprises at least three tabs extending from the periphery of the '452 vase cover. The '452 device is not suitable for tight fitting over an irregularly shaped open top vase.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,143, issued to Reynolds et al., describes an adjustable frog in which the size of the openings for receiving the flowers is adjustable. The frog is a flower holder in which the supported articles may be firmly clamped in their relative positions. The frog may be used with a bowl or vase or independently of such receptacles. The frog is substantially three-dimensional in construction with a consequent impact on likely manufacturing costs.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
A flower web for organizing flowers in a regular or irregularly shaped open top of a vase. The flower web includes inner and outer loops and a plurality of flower dividers. The inner and outer loops share a common center and a common horizontal plane. The plurality of flower dividers are of generally elongated appearance and are in contact with the inner loop and extend radially outward from the inner loop such that the flower dividers intersect and contact the outer loop to define a first plurality of apertures between the inner and outer loops. The plurality of flower dividers extend radially outward for a predetermined distance beyond the outer loop, wherein the flower dividers are at least partly made of a malleable material such that said flower dividers can be selectively bent to fit the flower web around a vase with a regular or irregularly shaped open top.
In another embodiment, the flower web includes flower dividers of general planar cross-section and an underside with an adhesive coating. An optional peelable strip can be used to cover the adhesive coating.
It should be understood that the attached figures are intended to be merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
This invention relates to a flower web 100 for engaging and covering a regular 120 (see, e.g.,
The flower web 100 is intended for use in organizing or arranging plants 160. The terms “apparatus for organizing plants 100” and “flower web 100” are hereinafter regarded as equivalent terms. The term “flowers” is intended in a liberal sense and is intended to cover flowering and non-flowering plants, both natural and artificial plants (i.e., man made flowering or non-flowering plants).
Referring to
It should be understood that the inner and outer loops 180 and 200 can adopt any suitable concentric configuration such as, but not limited to: concentric circles, concentric ovals, concentric squares, concentric rectangles, and regular or irregular concentric polygons. Examples of inner, and outer loops 180 and 200 configured as concentric polygons include, but are not limited to: regular or irregular pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal concentric inner and outer loops. Concentric inner and outer loops in the form of concentric inner and outer oval shaped loops 180a and 200a are shown in
Still referring to
The flower dividers 220 are at least partly made of a malleable material such that the flower dividers 220 can be selectively bent by hand, e.g., by the hands of a flower shop worker (not shown), to fit the flower web 100 around a regular or irregularly shaped open top 120 of a flower container such as a vase 140.
In another embodiment, the flower web 100 includes flower dividers 220 of general planar cross-section and an underside 260 with an adhesive coating 280. A peelable strip 300 optionally covers the adhesive coating 280.
In a further non-limiting embodiment, the flower web 100 includes moveable clips 320 (see
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/621,531, filed Oct. 25, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20060096171 A1 | May 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60621531 | Oct 2004 | US |