Support boards for holding decorative corsages and garters

Abstract

A sturdy, lightweight support board for attaching an arrangement of flowers, ribbons, bells, lights, trinkets, and stuffed animals, for wearing on special occasions. The board has parallel slots for inserting and securing elastic, which can be pinned onto the front of clothing. An optional second set of parallel slots provides an additional attachment point for large arrangements. A longer piece of elastic can be inserted into the parallel slots, forming a loop for allowing the arrangement to be “worn” on a wearer's arm. A pair of holes on the upper edge of the support board are used for inserting the ends of a ribbon for hanging the arrangement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a support board for holding flowers and decorative materials, and for holding means for wearing the support board.

[0002] On special occasions, women and men have often chosen to pin flowers on their clothing, as corsages and boutonnieres. While a straight pin might hold a single rose, it would not be adequate to hold the increasingly elaborate corsages, called “mums”, that women customarily wear for homecoming and other celebrations. In addition, since narrow lapels are unable to support homecoming floral arrangements, men have taken to wearing them attached to decorative garters, worn around the upper arm (and called “garters”). In both instances, a typical arrangement no longer uses only a chrysanthemum, pipe cleaners, and a few ribbons. Instead, one, two, or three silk chrysanthemums are arranged with numerous charms, trinkets, bells, ribbons, streamers, twinkling lights, and even small stuffed animals.

[0003] Presently, the only support structures available are pieces of flimsy cardboard. To provide means of “wearing” the arrangement, a ribbon is typically glued or stapled onto the cardboard, and then pinned onto the front of a woman's dress. Similarly, for a man, a decorative garter is glued or stapled to the back of the cardboard holding the arrangement.

[0004] Needless to say, the cardboard provides little support for the arrangement and is subject to bending and tearing. Stapling the ribbon or garter can be unattractive and ineffective. The pins used to attach the ribbon to a dress may be visible and may allow the arrangement to swing too freely or to become unbalanced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The problem and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, which provides a strong, yet lightweight support board for attaching an arrangement of flowers, ribbons, charms, trinkets, bells, lights, and stuffed animals. Each support board is shaped according to the size and shape of the arrangement it will hold. Pairs of horizontal parallel slots are cut through the support board. A short piece of elastic is threaded through a pair of the slots and secured. The elastic is then pinned to the front of the wearer's dress. A second set of parallel slots can be provided for an additional attachment point to provide security and balance for a large arrangement. Alternatively, a long piece of ruffled elastic is threaded through the pair of vertical slots and secured, forming a loop for wearing the arrangement as a “garter”. A pair of holes are cut through the support board along the upper edge for threading the ends of a ribbon for hanging the “mum” or “garter”.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide sturdy, yet lightweight, support for elaborate floral arrangements.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support which cannot be torn or bent under the weight of the arrangement.

[0008] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a support which allows the creation of a balanced, secure, and durable floral arrangement.

[0009] It is also an object of the present invention to proved a support board which can be simple to construct in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the floral arrangement it will hold.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a support which can be easily attached to clothing without damaging it.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a support with slots for threading attachment means, and holes for threading hanging means.

[0012] Other advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are front elevational views of the support boards used for holding decorative corsages (or “mums”).

[0014] FIGS. 4 and 5 are front elevational views of the support boards used for holding decorative “garters”.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front side of a support board set on a flat surface (not shown), with the elastic and the hanging ribbon in place.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the back side of a support board set on a flat surface (not shown), with the elastic and hanging ribbon in place.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the back side of a support board set on a flat surface (not shown), with the elasticized garter and the hanging ribbon in place.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a back elevational view of the support board holding a decorative corsage.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the decorative corsage held by the support board.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] In FIGS. 1 through 5, different shapes and sizes of the support board of the present invention are shown. The support boards, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are made from foam board, which has a foam core with heavy paper backing on both surfaces (generally {fraction (1/16)} to ¼ inch thick). Foam board is lightweight, yet sturdy enough to hold elaborate “mums” and “garters”. The foam board can be cut into various shapes and sizes, such as the circular shapes in FIGS. 1 and 4, the oval shapes in FIGS. 2 and 5, and the heart shape in FIG. 5.

[0021] The circular support board I in FIG. 1 is used to hold a single “mum”. The support board 1 is approximately 5 to 6 inches in diameter, with a pair of horizontal slots 10, 11, each approximately 1 to 1½ inches long, spaced parallel to each other, ½ to 1 inch apart. The slots 10, 11 are used for holding a piece of elastic (not shown). Two small holes 12, 13, spaced 2 to 2½ inches apart along the upper edge of the support board 1, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown). Both the slots 10, 11 and the holes 12, 13 can be formed by a die cutter, or stamping process.

[0022] The oval support board 2 in FIG. 2 is used to hold a double “mum”. Typically, two silk chrysanthemums are the main features of the arrangement. The support board 2 is approximately 5 to 6 inches wide and 8 to 10 inches long, with two pairs of horizontal slots 20, 21, and 22, 23, each approximately 1 to 1½ inches long, each of the slots spaced parallel to each other, ½ to 1 inch apart, each set of two spaced approximately 3 to 4 inches apart. Each pair of slots 20, 21 and 22, 23 is used for holding a piece of elastic (not shown). Two small holes 24, 25, spaced 2 to 3 inches apart along the upper edge of the support board 2, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0023] The heart-shaped support board 3 in FIG. 3 is used to hold a triple “mum”. Typically, three silk chrysanthemums form the basis of the triangular arrangement. The support board 3 is approximately 8 to 10 inches across, with two pairs of horizontal slots 30, 31 and 32, 33, each approximately 1 to 1½ inch long, each of the slots spaced parallel to each other, ½ to 1 inch apart, each set of two approximately 3 to 4 inches apart. Each pair of slots 30, 31 and 32, 33 is used for holding a piece of elastic (not shown). Two small holes 34, 35, spaced 2 to 3 inches apart along the upper edge of the support board 3, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0024] The circular support board 4 in FIG. 4 is used for a “garter” displaying a single chrysanthemum (or stuffed animal). The support board 4 is approximately 5 to 6 inches in diameter, with a pair of vertical slots 40, 41, each approximately 1 to 1½ inches long, spaced parallel to each other, ½ to 1 inch apart. The slots 40, 41 are used for holding the ends of an elasticized ruffled garter (not shown). Two small holes 42, 43, spaced 2 to 2½ inches apart along the upper edge of the support board 4, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0025] The oval support board 5 in FIG. 5 is used to hold a double “mum” for a “garter”. The support board 5 is approximately 5 to 6 inches wide and 8 to 10 inches long, with a pair of vertical slots 50, 51, each approximately 1 to 1½ inches long, spaced parallel to each other, ½ to 1 inch apart. The slots 50, 51 are used for holding the ends of an elasticized ruffled garter (not shown). Two small holes 52, 53, spaced 2 to 3 inches apart along the upper edge of the support board 5, are used for holding the ends of a hanging ribbon (not shown).

[0026] FIG. 6 shows the front side 1a of a support board 1, with means for attaching the support board 1 to a wearer, and means for hanging or displaying it. A short piece of elastic 60 has been threaded through horizontal slots 10, 11 and its ends secured together at attachment point 61. The ends 62a, 62b of a hanging ribbon 62 have been inserted through holes 12, 13, and tied together to form knot 63. Alternatively, each end 62a, 62b of the hanging ribbon 62 can be knotted separately, glued, or otherwise attached to the support board 1 on side 1a. Typically, the “mum” arrangement will be attached to the front side 1a of the support board 1.

[0027] FIG. 7 shows the back side 1b of the support board 1 shown in FIG. 6. The short piece of elastic 60 protrudes through horizontal slots 10, 11. It can be pinned onto a wearer's dress using a safety pin. The hanging ribbon 62 extends from holes 12, 13. It can be used for carrying the “mum” and for hanging it on a nail in order to display it. Alternatively, for a very large arrangement, the hanging ribbon 62 can be hung around the wearer's neck.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows the back side 4b of a support board 4, with means for attaching the support board to a wearer, and means for having or displaying it. The ends of an elasticized garter 70 have been threaded through vertical slots 40, 41 and secured on the front side 4a (not shown) of the support board 4. The garter 70 can be pulled over the wearers upper arm to display the arrangement. A hanging ribbon 71 extends from holes 42, 43.

[0029] FIG. 9 shows the back side 2b of a support board 2 holding a double “mum”. The back of a fancy ribbon 80 encircling the support board 2 can be seen. Two short pieces of elastic 81, 82 protrude through horizontal slots 20, 21 and 22, 23. The larger arrangement can be balanced and secured to a wearer's dress by using a safety pin with each piece of elastic 81, 82. The hanging ribbon 83 can be used to carry or display the arrangement.

[0030] FIG. 10 shows a completed double “mum” floral arrangement 90. The double “mum” completely obscures the front side 2a of the support board 2 to which it is attached. The hanging ribbon 91 can be used to carry or display the arrangement 90. The finished “mum” 90 can be quite large—up to nine inches wide, and two to four feet high, including streamers 92.

Claims

1. A support for a decorative arrangement comprising:

a flat body having a circular perimeter and further having a pair of parallel slots, each slot having two sides and two ends;

a short length of elastic having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one of the slots, both ends then being secured to each other.

2. The support of claim 1 wherein the flat body further has a pair of spaced-apart holes disposed between the perimeter of the body and one side of one of the slots, and which further comprises:

a length of ribbon having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one of the pairs of holes and formed into a knot.

3. The support of claim 1 wherein the flat body is made from foam board.

4. A support for a decorative arrangement comprising:

a flat body having a perimeter and further having two pairs of parallel slots, each slot having two sides and two ends, the pairs of slots disposed with the first ends of the first pair of slots aligned with the second ends of the second pair of slots;

two short lengths of elastic, each length of elastic having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one of the slots in each pair, both ends then being secured to each other.

5. The support of claim 4 wherein the flat body further has a pair of spaced-apart holes disposed between the perimeter of the body and the first side of one of the slots of each pair, and which further comprises:

a length of ribbon having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one of the pairs of holes and formed into a knot.

6. The support of claim 4 wherein the perimeter of the body has a shape selected from oblong and heart-shaped.

7. The support of claim 4 wherein the flat body is made from foam board.

8. A support for a decorative arrangement comprising:

a flat body having a perimeter and two surfaces, and further having a pair of parallel slots, each slot having two sides and two ends;

an elongated length of elastic having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one of the slots, both ends then being secured to each other on one surface of the body, leaving an open loop of elastic on the second surface of the body.

9. The support of claim 8 wherein the flat body further has a pair of spaced-apart holes disposed between the perimeter of the body and the first end of each of the slots, and which further comprises:

a length of ribbon having two ends, each of the ends being inserted through one of the pairs of holes and formed into a knot.

10. The support of claim 8 wherein the perimeter of the body has a shape selected from circular and oblong.

11. The support of claim 8 wherein the flat body is made from foam board.