Patents by Inventor Donald L. O'Connell

Donald L. O'Connell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5943820
    Abstract: A holder for supporting flower arrangements has first and second compartments for receiving first and second water retaining foam blocks. When mounted on the holder, the first foam block has a top surface which is parallel to the bottom wall of the first compartment. The second compartment has a bottom wall which intersects the bottom wall of the first compartment at an angle greater than zero, and the second foam block has a top surface which is inclined at such angle relative to the top surface of the first foam block so that the holder can be mounted on a support with surfaces intersecting at an angle and both surfaces will be covered. Stems of flowers can be inserted orthogonally into the top surfaces of both the foam blocks to provide that flowers extend from the holder vertically and at such angle relative to the vertically extending flowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Donald L. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 5693380
    Abstract: A holder for water absorbing blocks in which articles requiring moisture, such as flowers, can be inserted for display purposes. The holder includes a back member with peripheral walls forming a cavity in which the blocks are inserted and a receptacle at the lower end and outside a wall of the back member for receiving a retaining water from the block members which flows over the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Donald L. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 5393112
    Abstract: A formed unitary display device includes at least two concentric and stepped arcuate ledges for receiving and holding various fruits, nuts and other articles. The unitary display device also includes a rupturable top planar surface, which prior to rupture serves as an additional display surface. Upon rupturing of the panel, a lip surrounding the ruptured area serves as a support for various containers fitting therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Donald L. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 4058929
    Abstract: A holder for one or more foam blocks for supporting flower arrangements for use in association with a support for mounting the holder substantially vertically, as on an easel, comprises one or more hollow tray-like base members each having outer side walls, substantially vertical inner side walls, and upper and lower bottom walls forming one or more water-confining compartments for supporting one or more foam blocks. The foam blocks are of configurations substantially fitting the compartments and certain of the compartment walls have protruding ribs for preventing engagement of the foam blocks therewith. Each of the receptacle compartments has at least one aperture at the junction of the upper bottom wall and the lowermost side wall, as when mounted on an easel, for draining excess water from the blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: Floral Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 4004367
    Abstract: A decorative holder for supporting flower arrangements comprises a flat decorative backing piece having an opening therein and a substantially water-confining receptacle fitting in and extending through the opening for supporting a foam block and having a radially outwardly extending rim engaging the upper surface of the backing piece. The receptacle is double-walled and includes one or more apertures in its upper wall to drain excess water from the foam block supported therein. The receptacle has a plurality of radially inwardly extending ridges for frictionally engaging the foam block to retain it in a desired position in the receptacle. Alternatively or in addition to the retaining ridges, there may be provided a stirrup to engage the foam block and detachably engaging apertures in the rim of the receptacle. Further, there is provided a retaining ring which frictionally engages the receptacle beneath the backing piece and also engages its under surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Floral Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 3962825
    Abstract: A holder for a foam block for supporting flower arrangements comprises a hollow tray-like base member forming a water-confining receptacle for supporting a foam block. The upper wall of the receptacle has one or more apertures for draining excess water from the foam block into the receptacle. To this end, such upper wall has a central drainage aperture and a plurality of ridges extending radially from the aperture to support the block and sloping toward the aperture to facilitate drainage. The holder further includes means for holding the foam block in a position to be supported by the base member. This holding means may be in the form of a plurality of elongated fastening members or stirrups shaped to engage the upper face and the side faces of the foam block to support it laterally. The upper wall of the base member has a plurality of perforations adjacent the opposite sides of a foam block disposed thereon and the lower extremities of the stirrups detachably engage such perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: Floral Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. O'Connell