Patent Application
20100146740
Historically corsages have been worn as fashion accessories during formal occasions. Corsages are traditionally pinned to the front portion of a dress or suit near the shoulder. Corsages are attached using straight pins, which can often result in injury to the corsage wearer because there is no protective covering over the sharp end of the straight pin.
Using the traditional straight pin attachment method, the stem of the flower or flowers of the corsage is damaged when the straight pin is pushed through the stem of the flower. The stem can also be bent or broken as the result of accidental contact with the corsage. Through the natural movements of the corsage wearer, the stems can bend or break as a result of the straight pin attachment method.
Over at least several decades, attempts have been made to achieve replacements for the conventional long straight corsage-mounting pins. The inventor does not know of an alternative corsage mounting apparatus that provides both structural support and protection to the stems of the flowers of the corsage and protection to the wearer from the pins used to attach the corsage. The inventor does not know of any corsage holders that can be sealed at one end such that it can hold liquid.
The invention is a single elongated tubular shaped piece of plastic or metal, referred to as the tubular support body, which is attached to a safety pin. By tubular, the inventor means a thin-walled structure in the shape of a tube, being substantially cylindrical with a hollow opening passing throughout the length of the structure. The tubular support body has an inner and an outer diameter, which varies depending on the size and quantity of the flower stems being used in the corsage, but typically does not exceed an inner diameter of more than one inch.
The tubular support body is typically open on both ends, but the inventor also envisions an alternative embodiment of the invention where one of the ends is closed such that the only opening to the inside of the tubular support is through the top. By having only one open end, the corsage wearer can prevent leakage from the flower stem.
The said safety pin envisioned by the inventor utilizes a rotating clasp that is rotated when the user intends to remove or replace the pin. A safety pin that is compressed to remove and replace the pin under the clasp on the head of the pin could also be used in the invention, but is more difficult to use than the rotating clasp type of safety pin.
The invention is used to create a corsage by having the person making the corsage insert a flower stem or stems, depending on the appearance of the corsage, into the hollow interior of the tubular support body. Flower stems can be inserted in one or both openings in the tubular support body depending on the desired appearance of the corsage. The inventor envisions using floral tape wrapped along the length of the flower stems and the length of the tubular support body to secure the corsage flowers.
As previously described, the invention is an improved corsage mounting apparatus. In the following description of the invention, florist is intended to mean any person using flowers, either real or fake, to create a corsage with the described invention. The word corsage encompasses both corsages and boutonnieres and any device used to secure flowers to the body of a person.
In the preferred embodiment, the improved corsage mounting apparatus is used to secure at least one flower 30 to the wearer of said at least one flower 30. The stem(s) of the at least flower 30 pass through the internal cavity of the elongated tubular support body 20, which is accessible through either end of the elongated tubular support body 20. At least one flower 30 can be placed in both ends of the apparatus at the same time for a fuller corsage depending on the preferences of the user. In the preferred embodiment, the stem(s) of the at least one flower 30 are secured to the elongated tubular support body 20 by wrapping the stem(s) with florist tape 50 (best seen in
The number of flowers 30 attached to the apparatus can vary greatly depending on the choices of the florist.
The above described embodiments are merely examples of the invention as envisioned by the applicant. They are in no way intended to limit the claims set forth below.
