Handheld Bouquet Container

Abstract

An assembly for displaying a flower bouquet that includes a container for holding the flower bouquet and a stand for supporting the container in a substantially upright position. The container is composed of three parts. A tube holds the stem of the flowers with the base of the tube providing hydration to the cut flower stems for a long-lasting bouquet. The top of the tube has a plurality of uniquely shaped, bouquet supporting segments of varying flower design that complements the fresh flowers that are placed in the vase.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation In Part of co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 13/564,233 filed Aug. 1, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to floral arrangement and floral design. More particularly, the present invention concerns a novel handheld bouquet container.

2. Description Of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,841 issued to Ghiotti on Mar. 8, 2005 discloses a hand-held floral bouquet holder that comprises a handle, a collar and a body connected to the handle and the collar. The body is configured to define a volume. A removable material is positioned in the volume and a cage is arranged such that an edge of the cage contacts the collar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By way of brief summary, the present invention concerns an assembly for displaying a flower bouquet that includes a container for holding the flower bouquet and a stand for supporting the container in a substantially upright position. The container is composed of three parts. A tube holds the stem of the flowers with the base of the tube providing hydration to the cut flower stems for a long-lasting bouquet. The top of the tube has a plurality of uniquely shaped, bouquet supporting segments of varying flower design that complements the fresh flowers that are placed in the vase.

With the forgoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a slip-resistant vase for holding fresh cut flowers that is small enough to fit comfortably in the palm of the hand.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and optimize the freshness of cut flowers while also being economical, decorative and colorful. In one form of the invention, the vase can be color coordinated with the flowers chosen by the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bouquet container that can support various arrangements of flowers that make up a bouquet, with predetermined height and positioning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flower holder that not only securely holds the stems of the flowers at varying heights, but also provides a small watertight container for keeping the arrangement fresh and, therefore, prolongs the life of the bouquet.

Another object of the invention is to use the bouquet container to create an attractive and unique appearance of the bouquet in order to enhance the beauty of color of the flowers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bouquet holder and cooperating stand that is attractive in appearance and can be conveniently used to display a flower bouquet made up of the plurality of flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally perspective, exploded view of one form of the handheld bouquet container of the invention, showing the closure cap assembly open and separated from the container body.

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged generally perspective view of the closure cap assembly of the form of the handheld bouquet container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a generally perspective view of the handheld bouquet container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, generally perspective view of the body portion of the handheld bouquet container broken away to show the internal construction of the body portion.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the upper portion of the handheld bouquet container shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the handheld bouquet container shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a generally perspective view of an alternate form of the invention that comprises a bouquet holder and a cooperating stand for supporting the bouquet holder.

FIG. 8 is a generally perspective view of the cooperating stand for supporting the bouquet holder.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the bouquet holder.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the bouquet holder.

FIG. 11 is a generally perspective, exploded view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4, one form of the handheld container assembly of the present invention is there illustrated and generally designated by the numeral 14. Assembly 14 comprises a body portion 16 having an upper portion 18, a lower portion 20 having an internally threaded opening 22 (FIG. 4), and a gripping portion 24 located intermediate the upper and lower portions. Upper portion 18 has a top opening 26 that communicates with an internal chamber 28 that is formed within body portion 16. Internal chamber 28 is provided with circumferentially spaced striations 28a that function to hold in place the flowers contained within handheld container assembly (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). Best seen in FIG. 5, body portion 16 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, generally petal shaped segments 30. Petal shaped segments 30 can be configured to replicate the petals of the flowers contained within handheld container assembly, as for example, sunflowers, daisies, amaryllis, lilies, iris and zinnias. Body portion 16 also includes an upraised, generally planar indicia-receiving area 32 upon which suitable indicia, such as the florist's name, address or trademark can be imprinted or engraved.

Removably connected to lower portion 20 is an externally threaded lower assembly 34 that, when connected to lower portion 20, sealably closes opening 22. A unique feature of the invention resides in the provision of a generally cylindrically shaped, water absorbing sponge 36 that extends from the top 34a of the threaded portion into internal chamber 28 of body portion 16. When cut flowers are positioned within internal chamber 28, sponge 36 functions to effectively hydrate the flower stems. A rubber washer 38 which is located proximate the external threads 40 of the lower assembly, sealably engages the lower end of body portion 16. Lower assembly 34 includes a generally hemispherical end 34b.

In using the handheld container assembly of the invention, after the flower bouquet “FB” (FIG. 1) is cleaned of leaves or any thorns, it is inserted into the upper portion 18 via top opening 26. Preferably, the stems of the bouquet are pushed downwardly through the bottom opening 22 so that they can be trimmed to the proper length. This done, the sponge 36 is wetted and the lower assembly 34 is connected to the upper portion 18 so that the flower stems reside in engagement with the sponge. During use, the strategically located gripping portion 24 permits safe and easy transport of the container and an upstanding ridge 42 provided around top opening 26 (FIG. 4) provides stability to the flowers during transport.

The handheld container assembly of the invention can be molded from any suitable semi-rigid plastic material in various colors and can be of various sizes, depending on the use that is to be made of the container. For example, the height can be from 10 to 12 inches, the top diameter can be from 5 to 10 inches, and the bottom diameter can be from 1 to 1.5 inches.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, an alternate form of the present invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 50. This alternate form of the invention here comprises an assembly for displaying a flower bouquet that comprises a container 52 for holding the flower bouquet and a cooperating stand 54 for supporting the container 52 in the substantially upright configuration shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Container 52 is similar in some respects to the handheld container assembly previously described herein and like numerals are used in FIGS. 9 through 11 to identify like components. Container 52 here comprises a generally cylindrically shaped body 56 having an internal chamber 58, an upper portion 60 having a flower stem receiving opening 60a and a lower threaded portion 62. Extending upwardly and outwardly from upper portion 60 of container 52 is a plurality of circumferentially spaced, bouquet supporting, actinomorphic segments 64. Each actinomorphic segment 64 comprises a lower portion 64a, an upwardly curved, tapered central portion 64b and a downwardly curved, tapered upper portion 64c.

Threadably connected to the lower portion 62 of the body 56 is a threaded lower assembly 66 that functions to close the open, lower threaded portion 62 of the body 56. Lower assembly 66 includes a generally cylindrically shaped, water absorbing sponge 36 that extends into internal chamber 58 of body 56. As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention, when the stems of cut flowers are positioned within internal chamber 58, sponge 36, when wetted, functions to effectively hydrate the flower stems.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 11, each of the bouquet supporting actinomorphic segments 64 is connected to the upper portion 60 by any suitable means.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings, stand 54, which functions to support the container 52 in a substantially upright position, includes a base 70, an angularly upward extending leg 72 connected to the base and a top wall 74 that is connected to the angularly upward extending leg 72 and extends substantially parallel to the base 52. Angularly upward extending leg 72 is provided with an aperture 76 and top wall 74 is provided with an aperture 78. Apertures 76 and 78 telescopically receive the body of said container in the manner depicted in FIG. 7. To provide additional rigidity to the stand, a generally vertically extending reinforcement panel 80 spans the angularly upwardly extending leg 72 and the base 52.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An assembly for displaying a flower bouquet comprising a container for holding the flower bouquet, said container comprising:

(a) a generally cylindrically shaped body having an internal chamber, an upper portion having a flower stem receiving opening and a lower portion;

(b) a plurality of circumferentially spaced, upwardly and outwardly extending bouquet supporting segments connected to said upper portion of said body portion, each said segment comprising a lower portion, a upwardly curved, tapered central portion and a downwardly curved, tapered upper portion; and

(c) a lower assembly connected to said lower portion of said body, said lower assembly including a sponge extending into said internal chamber of said body portion of said assembly.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a stand for supporting said container in a substantially upright position.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said lower portion of said body of said container has an opening and in which said lower assembly closes said opening in said lower portion.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 3 in which said lower portion of said body of said container is threaded.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said lower assembly of said container is threaded and is removably connected to said lower portion of said body of said container.

6. An assembly for displaying a flower bouquet comprising:

(a) a container for holding the flower bouquet, said container comprising: (i) a generally cylindrically shaped body having an internal chamber, an upper portion having a stem receiving opening and a lower portion; (ii) a plurality of circumferentially spaced, upwardly and outwardly extending bouquet supporting actinomorphic segments connected to said upper portion of said body portion, each said actinomorphic segment comprising a lower portion, a upwardly curved, tapered central portion and a downwardly curved, tapered upper portion; and (iii) a lower assembly connected to said lower portion of said body, said lower assembly including a sponge extending into said internal chamber of said body portion of said assembly; and

(b) a stand for supporting said container in a substantially upright position, said stand including a base, an angularly upward extending leg connected to said base and a top wall connected to said angularly upward extending leg.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 6 in which said top wall of said stand is substantially parallel to said base.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 6 in which said angularly upward extending leg and said top wall of said stand are each provided with an aperture to telescopically receive said body of said container.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 6 in which said lower portion of said body of said container has an opening and in which said lower assembly closes said opening in said lower portion.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 9 in which said lower portion of said body of said container is threaded.

11. The assembly as defined in claim 10 in which said lower assembly of said container is threaded and is removably connected to said lower portion of said body of said container.

12. An assembly for displaying a flower bouquet comprising:

(a) a container for holding the flower bouquet, said container comprising: (i) a generally cylindrically shaped body having an internal chamber, an upper portion having a flower stem receiving opening and a lower portion; (ii) a plurality of circumferentially spaced, upwardly and outwardly extending bouquet supporting actinomorphic segments connected to said upper portion of said body portion, each said actinomorphic segment comprising a lower portion, a upwardly curved, tapered central portion and a downwardly curved, tapered upper portion; and (iii) a lower assembly connected to said upper portion of said body, said lower assembly including a sponge extending into said internal chamber of said body portion of said assembly; and

(b) a stand for supporting said container in a substantially upright position, said stand including a base, an angularly upward extending leg connected to said base and a top wall connected to said angularly upward extending leg and extending substantially parallel to said base, each of said angularly upward extending leg and said top wall of said stand being provided with an aperture to telescopically receive said body of said container.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 12 in which said stand for supporting said container further comprises a generally vertically extending reinforcement panel spanning said angularly upwardly extending leg and said base.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 12 in which said lower portion of said body of said container has an opening and in which said lower assembly closes said opening in said lower portion.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 14 in which said lower portion of said body of said container is threaded.