Forever Loved Flowers
The present invention is a floral arrangement and the like made of a hard, durable substance, like metal, stone, composite, or otherwise, that can be used as a permanent decoration on gravestones, burial plaques, or in any other location where a permanent floral or other decorative arrangement may be desired. The arrangement can include twigs, mosses, grasses, flags, or any other object that can be included in a floral arrangement, all of which can be made of the same hard, durable substance as the flowers themselves. Such an invention will allow the user to place an attractive, permanent display on gravestones, burial plaques, or other locations. It will eliminate the need to replace or remove natural or silk floral displays that have lost their luster. The present invention can achieve the aesthetic look of natural or silk flowers, thus achieving permanence and avoiding costly replacements or unattractively aged arrangements.
This Nonprovisional Utility Patent Application claims the benefit of Provision Patent Application No. 62/259,236, filed on Nov. 24, 2015, on behalf of the same inventor of this current Nonprovisional Patent Application, Patricia Ann Safriet.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIXNot applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe inventor developed the idea of her current invention after noticing and experiencing a problem that she had become all too familiar with. People often wish to honor and commemorate their loved ones who have passed away by placing flowers on their tombstones or at other places where their remains are interred. It is not uncommon for people to place fresh flowers on the graves of their loved ones, whether directly on their graves or tombstones, or, oftentimes, in a vase that may be affixed to their gravestone or other burial marker. The problem with fresh flowers, though they are beautiful, is that they are expensive, simply do not last, and soon become an unsightly decoration that must be removed. One can somewhat alleviate the short-lived nature of a natural floral arrangement through the use of silk or plastic flowers, which can look quite natural. However, even such replacements for the real thing deteriorate overtime, especially when exposed to the elements, and themselves must be replaced.
The inventor got her inspiration for a permanent, beautiful memorial, that can withstand the elements, from outdoor statues and sculptures that are often made of metal. Such statues and sculptures can be made to look quite realistic, detailed, and beautiful through readily known manufacturing techniques, like computer numeric control or casting. The inventor thought to herself that floral arrangements for use on burial monuments or markers could be made in the same way. Such floral arrangements could be detailed, even seemingly delicate, and could withstand the passage of time and the destructive effects of the elements. Floral arrangements, cast in metal or some other hard, durable substance can come in infinite varieties and in many different sizes. They can range from a single flower, or a few flowers, affixed to a grave marker, monument, or crypt door to elaborate floral arrangements than can be permanently affixed to an existing vase or urn on a grave marker or monument. The arrangements can also be attached to, or can be made as an integral part of, new vases or urns that can be affixed to grave markers or monuments. Flowers made of metal or other hard, durable substances can be a permanent fixture on the grave markers or monuments of loved ones, honoring their memories while avoiding the appearance of unsightly decorations, or the need to periodically replace such decorations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention discloses a new device that can be used as a permanent decoration on gravestones, grave markers, crypts, or in any other location where a permanent floral or other decorative arrangement may be desired. The preferred embodiment of said device is a floral arrangement of a similar design to natural or silk floral arrangements. Instead of being comprised of natural cut flowers or silk flowers, the present invention is comprised of a hard, durable, substance. Said substance can be metal, can be stone, can be a composite material, or can be any other type of hard, durable substance that maintains its form over time. Said floral arrangement can be of any design that can be imagined, much like a natural or silk floral arrangement. The floral arrangement can be in a vase or urn, made of a similar material as the floral arrangement, or can be on or in another type of container, like a saddle container that is made of a similar material as the floral arrangement and is placed atop a gravestone or other type of marker. The floral arrangement can also be mounted on, or in, an urn or vase that is already part of an existing burial monument or other structure. The present invention is not limited to devices that contain only flowers but includes any other type of objects that can be included in a floral arrangement, like twigs, grasses, moss, or even flags and banners, all of which can be made of the same hard, durable substance as the rest of the arrangement and the container for the arrangement.
The present invention will be described by presenting a more detailed description of the attached drawings of some of the embodiments of the invention. Each of the components of the invention, including the floral arrangement 1 or flowers 10, the vase or urn 2, mounting brackets 5, baseplate 8, flag 12 or banner, ring 14, bow 16, and the saddle container 4, basket 11, or other type of container, can be comprised of a hard, durable, substance. Said substance can be metal, can be stone, can be a composite material, or can be any other type of hard, durable substance that maintains its form over time. The preferred embodiment of the invention is made of metal and can be manufactured using techniques that are well known in the art, like through the use of machine tools operated by computer numeric control. If the components are made of metal or other substance that can hardened after cooling or setting, said components can also be formed by die casting or any other method that is known in the art for forming hard, durable objects from metals or other substances that harden after cooling or setting. If the components are made of stone, they can be sculpted by mechanical or manual methods that are known in the art, like through the use of machine tools operated by computer numeric control.
The means of mounting the baseplates 8 to the urns or vases 2 in
The attached figures and the descriptions thereof are meant to be illustrative, but not limiting. The arrangements can contain other objects in addition to, or in place of, flowers, like fruit, twigs, plants, leaves, or other decorative objects that can be used in place of floral arrangements for decorative or memorial purposes. Also, embodiments of the present invention can be mounted in ways that are different than those described but are obvious or are well-known in the art. Also, the present invention can be modified to fit many different styles of grave monuments, including, but not limited to, gravestones, grave markers, and crypts or mausoleums. Also, use of the present invention need not be limited to use on burial monuments but can be used anywhere that one might want to erect a memorial, like in a park, on a fountain, or anywhere that one might want to place a permanent floral or other decorative arrangement.
Claims
1. A permanent decorative arrangement comprising:
- decorative elements comprised of a hard, durable, substance.
2. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:
- decorative elements comprised of metal.
3. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:
- a decorative element that comprises flowers.
4. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:
- a container; and
- a decorative element that comprises flowers inside said container.
5. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 4 further comprising:
- brackets protruding downward from the front and rear edges of said container.
6. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 4 further comprising;
- drainage holes in the lower portion of the sides of said container.
7. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 4 further comprising:
- a container that is a saddle container.
8. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 4 further comprising:
- a container that is a vase or urn.
9. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 4 further comprising:
- a container that is a basket.
10. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 4 further comprising:
- a baseplate affixed to the bottom of said container.
11. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 10 further comprising:
- holes for screws in said baseplate.
12. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:
- a baseplate; and
- a decorative element affixed to said baseplate.
13. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 12 further comprising:
- a decorative element that comprises flowers.
14. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 12 further comprising:
- a decorative element that comprises a flag or banner.
15. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 12 further comprising:
- decorative elements that protrude vertically from said baseplate.
16. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 12 further comprising:
- holes for screws in said baseplate.
17. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 12 further comprising:
- a round baseplate that is equal in circumference to the opening of an existing vase or urn.
18. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 12 further comprising:
- a round baseplate that has a smaller circumference than the opening of an existing vase or urn.
19. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:
- a ring; and
- a decorative element comprising flowers on the top portion of said ring.
20. The permanent decorative arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:
- a decorative element that comprises flowers; and
- a bow around said flowers.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 23, 2016
Publication Date: May 25, 2017
Inventor: Patricia Ann Safriet (Kingston, TN)
Application Number: 15/359,714