ARTIFICIAL FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

An artificial floral arrangement and method for its production are described. A liner is inserted into a mold container having a continuous inner side wall with a lower edge and a bottom wall. A wrap, such as one or more artificial leaves or other plant components, is wrapped around the container inner side wall, and secured in place by placing an adhesive moldable binder into the container at the interface of the wrap and bottom wall. A floral support, which may be of the same composition as the binder, is placed inside the container, and floral material is inserted into the support. The stand-alone floral arrangement made up of the wrap, binder ring, floral support and floral material, is then removed from the container and the liner stripped away. The floral arrangement can be displayed without a container, reinserted into the mold container, or placed in a different container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to artificial floral arrangements, and in particular to artificial floral arrangements within a transparent vase or other container whereby the arrangement can be removed for cleaning, or for placement in a different container.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Artificial floral arrangements are created in a large variety of designs to have the appearance of natural cut flowers and plants. In some arrangements, the artificial floral material, e.g., stemmed flowers or leaves is placed in a glass or plastic vase or other container to simulate freshly cut flowers or foliage. In order to arrange the floral material within the vase, the lower part of the vase is often filled with a floral support, such as floral foam. When a transparent container is used, a decorative support, such as marbles, stones or clear acrylic simulating water, can be used. The lower ends, e.g., stems, of the floral material are then inserted into the support material and arranged in an aesthetic manner.

Artificial floral arrangements, unlike natural floral arrangements which must be discarded after a few days, may maintain their original appearance for several years. During this time, however, the arrangement and the vase become dusty and dirty, requiring cleaning. Prior arrangements, however, make it difficult or impossible to thoroughly clean the arrangement and vase without at least partially destroying the arrangement. Also, over time, the vase may be damaged requiring replacement or the owner may simply wish to display the floral arrangement in a different vase.

Therefore, there is a continuing need for an artificial floral arrangement, and method of making such arrangement, that provides a pleasing appearance, especially within a transparent container, but which can be removed from the container for cleaning or other purposes, and then replaced in the original container or transferred to another container. Floral arrangements having these properties must also be easily created by the professional or amateur floral arranger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the artificial floral arrangement is created by first placing a liner, such as a flexible plastic sheet inside a molding container, i.e., the container in which the floral arrangement is to be created, so that the liner covers the bottom and at least the lower portion of the continuous side wall of the container. A flexible wrap is then wrapped around the inside of the lower portion of the container side wall adjacent the container bottom wall.

A moldable and hardenable adhesive binder, such as a pasty mix of cellulosic material, glue and water is then pressed against the decorative wrap at the interface of the wrap and the bottom wall of the container to secure the decorative wrap in place. After the binder has hardened, a support is positioned inside the container, and artificial flowers or plant leaves, collectively plant material, are inserted into the floral support.

The floral arrangement comprised of the wrap, binder ring, floral support and floral material held together by the binder and floral support are then removed from the mold container and the liner is stripped away. The resultant stand-alone floral arrangement can be placed in a display container, or displayed without a container.

Several variations of this general method are possible. For example, in one embodiment, the mold container and the display container are the same container, i.e., the floral arrangement, after stripping away the liner, is placed back in the original container. In another embodiment, the floral arrangement is removed from the original mold container and, after the liner is removed, placed in a different container, i.e., the display container for display.

The binder material and the floral support can be of the same material or of different materials. For example, a first amount of an adhesive binder can be packed in the container to bind the wrap in position, and then additional binder material of the same composition can be placed in the container, with the floral material being inserted into the additional binder material before the additional binder material hardens. Alternatively, the floral support can be of a different composition, such as a mixture of the original binder material and florist foam. A weight can also be placed in the container, e.g., beneath the floral support.

The wrap can be made of various materials, so long as the wrap is flexible enough to wrap around at least a portion of the container inner side wall. More than one wrap can be used to completely wrap around the inner wall. The wrap can be a flexible strip of paper, plastic, or cloth. The strip can be generally rectangular.

The binder material may be comprised of wood particles, e.g., sawdust or other finely divided wood dust, intimately mixed with a water-based adhesive or binder, and water to form a paste that may then be stored in a plastic bag, jar or other waterproof container for an extended period prior to use. In order to more closely approximate the color of natural dirt, the composition may also include a colorant, such as a water-based latex paint. Other ingredients, such as fungicides and other biocides, may also be included in the composition. While various water-based adhesives can be used so long as the desired adhesion is achieved, the preferred water-based adhesive is so-called white glue. A suitable binder material is currently sold under the trademark Durt® by Jefferson Group Inc, dba/New Growth Designs of Greenville, N.C. for potting artificial plants.

When the floral arrangement is placed in a transparent container, e.g., a glass vase with a downwardly tapered side wall, a decorative wrap is preferably used. For example, the wrap preferably simulates a floral component, such as a leaf. In this alternative, one or more molded plastic leaves are wrapped around the inner wall of the container and held in place by the binder. The leaves, for example, may he elongated with a central stem that is positioned horizontally.

In this embodiment, the artificial floral arrangement of the invention is contained within a transparent vase or other transparent container having a continuous inner side wall with a lower edge and a bottom wall joining the lower edge of the inner wall. At least one artificial leaf having an outer face and an inner face is positioned around the inner wall adjacent the bottom wall, the outer face contacts the vase inner wall.

The leaf or leaves are held in place by a hardened binder, e.g., a mixture of cellulosic material and a water-soluble glue. Artificial floral material is held by a support within the vase. Preferably, the support is made of the same material as the binder and is adhered to the binder to form an integral plug.

The floral arrangement of the present invention has several advantages over prior art floral arrangements contained in vases or other transparent containers. The present arrangement, in addition to providing an attractive display, can be easily removed from the container without damage since the components of the arrangement are held together by the binder and floral support, while the leaves contacting the vase are not attached to the vase. As a result, the vase and the arrangement can be easily cleaned and the arrangement replaced into the original vase, or into a new vase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a molding container with a wrap around the inner side wall of the vase adhered in place by a binder.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a molding container with a wrap around the inner side wall of the vase adhered in place by a binder.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a molding container with a wrap around the inner side wall of the vase adhered in place by a binder, and a floral material support in the center of the vase.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of a vase with floral material inserted into the floral material support.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the floral arrangement in a transparent vase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the drawings, the floral arrangement of the present invention is created in a molding container 10 having a continuous side wall 12 and a bottom wall 14. Container 10 is first lined with a flexible liner 16, e.g., a waterproof plastic sheet. A wrap 20 is positioned around the inside of side wall 12 with its lower edge adjacent bottom wall 14. It is not necessary for all parts of the edge of wrap 20 to completely contact bottom wall 14.

Adhesive, moldable binder 22 is then pressed against at least the lower part of wrap 20 to mold wrap 20 against wall 12 and secure wrap 20 in position. Binder 22 may be in a ring shape with an open center. Moldable floral support 24 is then pressed into the center of container 10 and into contact with binder 22 and wrap 20. Binder 22 and support 24 may be of the same or different compositions.

While support 24 is still moldable, floral material 30 is inserted into support 24 and arranged as desired. After binder 22 and support 24 have hardened, normally at least 48 hours, the floral arrangement, i.e., the combination of wrap 20, binder 22, support 24 and floral material 30, along with liner 12 are removed from container 10 and liner 12 is removed. If desired, a weight 32 can be inserted into the lower part of the arrangement for increased stability.

The floral arrangement is self-supporting with wrap 20 being adhered to the continuous outer wall of binder 22, and can then stand-alone without a container, or it can be inserted in transparent display container 40 as shown in FIG. 5. It will be understood that molding container 10 can also serve as display container 40.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of making an artificial floral arrangement comprising the steps of:

a) providing a mold container having a continuous inner side wall with a lower edge and a bottom wall joining the lower edge of the inner wall;

b) inserting a liner into the container to cover the container bottom and at least the lower portion of the continuous side wall;

c) wrapping a wrap around the container inner side wall adjacent the container bottom wall;

d) placing an adhesive moldable binder into the container at the interface of the wrap and the container bottom wall to secure the wrap in position;

e) positioning a floral support inside the container;

f) inserting floral material into the floral support to form a floral arrangement comprised of the wrap, binder ring, floral support and floral material;

g) removing the floral arrangement and liner from the container; and

h) removing the liner from the floral arrangement.

2. The method of claim 1, further including inserting the floral arrangement into a display container.

3. The method of claim 1, further including reinserting the floral arrangement into the mold container after removal of the liner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hinder is a mixture of cellulosic material and glue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wrap is an artificial floral component.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the floral component is at least one artificial leaf.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said binder and said support have the same composition.

8. A method of making an artificial floral arrangement displayed in a container comprising the steps of:

a) providing a mold container having a continuous inner side wall with a lower edge and a bottom wall joining the lower edge of the inner wall;

b) inserting a liner into the container to cover the container bottom and at least the lower portion of the continuous side wall;

c) wrapping a wrap around the container inner side wall adjacent the container bottom wall:

d) placing an adhesive moldable binder into the container at the interface of the wrap and the container bottom wall to secure the wrap in position;

e) positioning a floral support inside the container;

f) inserting floral material into the floral support to form a floral arrangement comprised of the wrap, binder ring, floral support and floral material;

g) removing the floral arrangement and liner from the container;

h) removing the liner from the floral arrangement; and

i) placing the floral arrangement in a display container.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the binder is a mixture of cellulosic material and glue.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the wrap is an artificial floral component.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the floral component is at least one artificial leaf.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said binder and said support have the same composition.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the mold container is the display container.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the display container is transparent.

15. A stand-alone artificial floral arrangement comprised of: a bottom wall contacting the bottom wall;

a) an adhesive moldable binder having a continuous side wall and an inner cavity;

b) a wrap extending around the binder side wall and adhered thereto;

c) a floral support within the binder cavity; and

d) artificial floral material inserted into the floral support.

16. The floral arrangement of claim 15, wherein said binder comprised of cellulosic material and a water-soluble adhesive.

17. The floral arrangement of claim 15, wherein the wrap is comprised of an artificial plant component.

18. The floral arrangement of claim 17, wherein the wrap is at least one artificial leaf.

19. The floral arrangement of claim 15, inserted into a transparent container.

20. The floral arrangement of claim 15, wherein said binder and said support are of the same composition.