VASE

Abstract

A vase is provided comprising a top containing portion having a base, and detachable bottom portion that is removeably connected to the base of the top portion.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/377,299, filed on Aug. 26, 2010, and incorporates such provisional application in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to vases, and in particular, to a vases having a detachable portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vases for holding cut flowers are available in various shapes and designs. Vases may be circular, oval, rectangular, square or irregular in cross-section, or alternatively, may comprise an irregular shape, or may assume the shape of a known item or character, as long as the shape does not impact on the function of the vase to hold flowers, dry flowers, artificial flowers, green fiolage, plants, or to function as a decorative stand alone piece. Likewise, the vase may be made out of a variety of materials, may be transparent, translucent or opaque, and may incorporate any design or design feature to enhance the aesthetics thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel vase has now been developed which has a detachable bottom portion that permits the design features of the vase to be adapted to the surroundings.

Thus, in one embodiment, a vase is provided, comprising a top containing portion having a base, and detachable bottom portion that is removeably connected to the base of the top portion.

This and other embodiments of the invention will become apparent in the detailed description that follows by reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vase in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vase of FIG. 1 in detached form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A vase is provided. The vase comprises a top containing portion having a base, and detachable bottom portion that is removeably connected to the base of the top portion.

The top containing portion of the vase is formed to function as a container suitable to hold any item or items. In one embodiment, the top containing portion may be used to hold cut flowers, dry flowers, artificial flowers, foliage of any kind, reeds, plants or other decorative items such as candles, beads, pebbles, etc. The top containing portion, thus, includes an open mouth through which the tops of flowers or other items extend and a base so as to contain water and the stems of the flowers and the like. The top containing portion of the vase may assume any suitable shape, for example, circular, oval, rectangular, square or irregular in cross-section, or alternatively, may comprise an irregular shape, a tapered shape, or may assume the shape of a known item or character, as long as the shape does not impact on the function of the top portion to hold items.

Although the top portion comprises an open mouth, it may be designed to receive a cover or lid, e.g. by threading or a lip formed along the upper edge of the upper portion. Thus, the cover could be a screw-on cover or lid, or a cover that snaps into place over a lip formed in the upper edge of the upper portion.

The bottom portion is connected to the base of the top portion. The bottom portion may assume any shape suitable to support the vase in an upright position and also a shape that is connectable to the base of the top portion. Thus, the top of the bottom portion is adapted to permit the connection of the top and bottom portions of the vase. In one embodiment, the top of the bottom portion may correspond to the base of the top portion in order to permit the connection thereof.

The bottom portion of the vase is removeably connected to the base of the top portion by any suitable means of connection as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. For example, the top edge of the bottom portion may be adapted to correspond to the base of the upper containing portion. In one embodiment, the top edge of the bottom portion may be shaped to fit within the base of the top portion, e.g. comprising an indent or ledge, or shaped to fit over the base of the top portion, e.g. comprising a lip, to connect the top and bottom portions. Alternatively, the base of the top portion may be shaped to fit into or fit around, the top of the bottom portion. To provide a tight connection, the base of the top portion and/or the top edge of the bottom portion, may include or be coated with a material that will enhance the connection thereof, for example, an appropriate adhesive, rubber or other suitable material. Alternatively, the base of the top portion and the top edge of the bottom portion may be threaded so as to threadingly engage. In another alternative, the bottom portion may be fastened to the top portion using a fastener, e.g. a clip, band, or other molded fastening piece. The fastener may be made out of any appropriate material, e.g. metal, ceramic, glass, plastic or other synthetic material. The fastener may additionally be formed to complement the aesthetics of the vase.

The top portion of the vase may be made out of any material appropriate for a vase, e.g. a material able to retain water, such as glass, ceramic, plastic, metal, stainless steel, crystal, stoneware, or the like.

The bottom portion of the vase may be made out of a variety of materials. It may be made out of material traditionally used to make a vase, e.g. such as glass, ceramic, plastic, metal, stainless steel, crystal, stoneware and the like. Alternatively, the bottom portion may be made out of another type of material, e.g. wood. In this regard, the bottom portion may be made of the same material as the top portion of the vase. Alternatively, the top and bottom portions may be made of different material. Thus, the top portion may be made of a first material and the bottom portion may be made of a second material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the top portion of the vase is made of a material that is translucent or opaque, such as ceramic, while the bottom portion of the vase is made of a transparent material, such as plastic or glass. In this embodiment, the stems of the flowers, dry flowers, artificial flowers, fiolage, reeds or plants, held in the top portion, if present, are hidden by the walls of the top portion. The transparent bottom portion may then contain any decorative item or items. These may include decorative stones, shells, glass balls, dried flowers, figurines, candles, pictures, etc. The bottom portion can readily be removed to change the item(s) therein to match with changing dé cor in a room, or to update the item, e.g. in the case of a picture.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vase 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown. The vase 10 comprises a top portion 20 and a bottom portion 30. The top portion includes an open mouth 22 and a base 24. The bottom portion 30 is formed to connect with the base 24 of the top portion 20, and includes an indented ledge 32 that will fit into a lip formed in the base 24 of the top portion 20.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein. Variations of the invention which are within the scope of the appended claims are also intended.

Claims

1. A vase comprising a top containing portion having a base, and detachable bottom portion that is removeably connected to the base of the top portion.

2. A vase as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is connected to the top portion by corresponding threading formed in the bottom portion and the base of the top portion.

3. A vase as defined in claim 1, wherein the top and bottom portions are made of the same material.

4. A vase as defined in claim 1, wherein the top portion is made of a first material and the bottom portion is made of a second material.

5. A vase as defined in claim 4, wherein the first material is translucent or opaque.

6. A vase as defined in claim 4, wherein the second material is transparent.

7. A vase as defined in claim 4, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramic, plastic, metal, stainless steel, crystal and stoneware.

8. A vase as defined in claim 4, wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramic, plastic, metal, stainless steel, crystal, stoneware and wood.

9. A vase as defined in claim 4, wherein the top portion is made of ceramic and the bottom portion is made of glass.

10. A vase as defined in claim 4, wherein the first material is translucent or opaque, and the second material is transparent.

11. A vase as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is shaped to connect to the top portion.

12. A vase as defined in claim 11, wherein the bottom portion comprises a ledge that fits into the base of the top portion.

13. A vase as defined in claim 1, wherein the top and bottom portions are connected by a fastener.