Plant husbandry – Flower holder – Receptacle top supported
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-02-20
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Flower holder
Receptacle top supported
C047S041010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189261
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to floral arranging devices, and, more particularly, to a flexible floral arranging grid for placement on top of a vase, or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
As is well known, a novice in the art of floral arrangements must struggle or ask for help when arranging flowers in a vase or another container, so as to offer a symmetrical and pleasing arrangement. Many types of devices have been proposed to aid both the novice and the professional in arranging flowers and other items in a pleasing and artistic arrangement. Examples of prior art devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,262 to Uhl, U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,673 to Shupe et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,461 to Aldrich, U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,237 to Specht, U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,184 to Cosentino, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,820 to Aquino. These known devices include non-flexible domes or grids, flower foam, bucket lids with a number of openings therein to hold bouquets of flowers, pliable layers over openings and a cantilever workholder having a support with removable, flexible lines held taught therein.
In particular, the '262 patent to Uhl includes a non-flexible grid having an outer annular rim which is positioned over and affixed to an associated container so as to be secured in place on the container when a floral arrangement is placed within the grid. This device, however, is not flexible and is not adapted to be used with containers, other than the container for which it is specifically designed.
While the prior art devices disclosed in the above-mentioned patents provide improvements in the art, there still exists a need in the art for a simple, less costly and easy-to-use, flexible and adjustable device which can be used by an expert and/or a novice to easily complete a floral arrangement in place on a vase, or the like, and which may also be used to hold the arrangement in place while changing water, and remove the floral arrangement from a container, to enable the ends of the stems of the arrangement to be snipped for better water absorption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified floral arrangement device. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved flexible floral arranging device. It is another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved flexible floral arranging device which provides symmetrical guides and support for individual flower stems no matter what their size. It is yet another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved flexible floral arranging device in the form of a grid, which will hold a floral arrangement in place when removed from a vase, or when changing water. And, it is still another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved floral arranging device having a flexible grid formed from flexible elements having a soft outer coating which accommodates different sized floral stems, and both holds and supports the same in position within a container, or when removed from the container.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by providing a flexible grid arrangement constructed from a plurality of flexible individual elements having a soft or fluffy outer coating which protects delicate stems and holds them in place by friction. The improved device of the present invention is adapted to be bent over, or to be supported in the open top of different size containers. The device of the present invention is also useful when removing an arranged floral bouquet from a container to keep the bouquet intact so that the ends of stems held therein may be snipped for better water absorption, and to keep the arrangement in place when adding or changing water.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1260042 (1918-03-01), Pullman
patent: 1491926 (1924-04-01), Rosenwald
patent: 1562992 (1925-04-01), Schling
patent: 1973868 (1934-09-01), Field
patent: 2126766 (1938-08-01), Gerbermann
patent: 2193727 (1940-03-01), Jouffray
patent: 2900760 (1959-08-01), Tupper
patent: 3170875 (1965-02-01), Swett
patent: 3447262 (1969-06-01), Uhl
patent: 3457673 (1969-07-01), Shupe et al.
patent: 3760460 (1973-09-01), Myers
patent: 4331721 (1982-05-01), Ayers
patent: 4958461 (1990-09-01), Aldrich
patent: 4964237 (1990-10-01), Specht
patent: 5127184 (1992-07-01), Cosentino
patent: 5142820 (1992-09-01), Aquino
patent: 5347752 (1994-09-01), Black
patent: 5375370 (1994-12-01), Zimmerman
patent: 5477637 (1995-12-01), Aldrich
patent: 5758452 (1998-06-01), Matteucci et al.
patent: 694275 (1996-01-01), None
patent: 2626158 (1989-07-01), None
Carone Michael J.
Gellner Jeffrey L.
O'Neill James G.
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