WO1990003107A1

WO1990003107A1 - Flexible vase

Info

Publication number: WO1990003107A1
Application number: PCT/US1989/004123
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald E. Weder
Original assignee: Highland Supply Corporation
Priority date: 1988-09-26
Filing date: 1989-09-21
Publication date: 1990-04-05
Also published as: KR900701149A; AU4342389A; CA1320069C

Abstract

A flexible vase (10) for holding a floral grouping (24) made by forming a sheet of material into a container (14) having an upper end (16) and a lower end (18) with an object opening (20) extending through the upper end and extending a distance through the container. The object opening is sized and shaped for receiving a portion of a floral grouping. The container includes a plurality of overlapping folds (22) contributing to the rigidity of the container for cooperating in tending to maintain the formed shape of the container.

Description

FLEXIBLE VASE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flexible vase for holding floral groupings.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a method for making a flexible vase for holding floral groupings made by a process comprising the steps of forming a sheet of material into a container having an upper end and a lower end with an object opening extending through the upper end and extending a distance through the container, the object opening being sized and shaped for receiving portions of the floral grouping, the container having a plurality of overlapping folds contributing to the rigidity of the container for cooperating in tending to maintain the formed shape of the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a flexible vase which is constructed in accordance with the present invention and diagrammatically showing a floral grouping contained therein. Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a flexible vase constructed in accordance with the present invention and also diagrammatically showing a floral grouping contained therein. Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Shown in Figure 1 and designated therein by the general reference numeral 10 is a flexible vase which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 10 comprises a container 14 having an upper end 16 and lower end 18. An object opening 20 is formed through the upper end 16 of the container 14 and the object opening 20 extends a distance through the container 14. The object opening 20 does not intersect the lower end 18 and the lower end 18 preferably is a closed lower end.

The present applicant is the owner of U. S. Patent No. 4,773,182 (and corresponding applications filed in other countries, including

Canadian Patent Application No. 480,882 filed May 7, 1985 and EPO Patent Application 85106169.7 filed May 20, 1985) entitled "ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM" wherein there is described a process for forming a flower pot cover or other such object wherein a sheet of material was placed between a male and a female mold. The molds were brought together with the sheet of material therebetween for forming the flower pot cover. The disclosure of U. S. Patent No. 4,773,182 and the corresponding applications are hereby incorporated specifically herein by reference.

The container 14 is formed by placing a sheet of material between the two molds in a manner like that described before in Applicant's aforementioned U. S. Patent. The sheet of material is formed into the container 14 as the molds are brought together with a sheet of material placed therebetween. The container 14 includes a plurality of overlapping folds 22 diagrammatically shown in Figure 1. The overlapping folds 22 may be sealed by heat sealing overlapping portions of the sheet of material or by adhesively connecting overlapping portions of the sheet of material or combinations thereof.

The container 14 may also include means for reinforcing the sheet of material for cooperating with the overlapping folds to maintain the container 14 in the formed shape. For example, wires 23 may be disposed between two laminated sheets of material so that the wires 23 cooperate with the overlapping folds 22 in maintaining the formed shape of the container 14.

In one preferred embodiment, the sheet of material is constructed from a relatively thin film of a substantially non-shaped sustaining processed organic polymer film. The term "processed organic polymer film" as used herein means a man-made resin such as a polypropylene as opposed to naturally occurring resins such as cellophane. A processed organic polymer film is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable when used as a package in accordance with the present invention) , as might be the case with paper or foil. The processed organic polymer film is a substan¬ tially linearly linked processed organic polymer film and is a synthetic linear chain organic polymer where the carbon atoms are substantially linearly linked. Such films are synthetic polymers formed or synthesized from monomers. Further, a relatively substantially linearly linked processed organic polymer film is virtually waterproof which may be desirable in many applications which is not the case with an untreated paper, for example, unless the paper is treated with a water resistant coating or impregnated with a water resistant material or laminated with such water resistant material. It also should be noted that some papers, such as long fiber papers, are substantially resistant to tearing (substantially non-tearable when used as a package in accordance with the present invention) . In addition, a relatively thin film of a substantially linearly linked processed organic polymer does not substantially deteriorate in sunlight. Processed organic polymer films having carbon atoms, both linearly linked and cross linked, and some cross linked polymer films, also may be suitable for use in the present invention provided such films are substantially flexible, can be made in a sheet-like format for forming into the package 10 of the present invention. A decorative pattern, such as a solid color and/or an embossed pattern, and/or other decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the inner surface and/or the outer surface of the container 14. The flexible vase 10 may be constructed of a single sheet of material or a plurality of sheets of material. When constructed of a plurality of sheets of material, each sheet of material has a thickness in a range of from less than about 1.0 mil to about 2.5 mils. However, the upper limit on the thickness of each sheet of material could be as high as 20.0 mils depending on the type of material selected. Further, the resulting package has a thickness in a range of from less than about 1.0 mils to about 2.5 mils which could be as high as 20.0 mils depending upon the number of sheets of material utilized and the type of materials selected. The flexible vase 10 is constructed from the flexible sheet of material so that the flexible vase 10 maintains an overall flexible nature, yet the flexible vase 10 is rigid enough to maintain the formed shape for functioning as a vase for holding a floral grouping, such as the floral grouping 24 diagrammatically shown in Figure 1. The flexibility of the vase is caused by the selection of the material from which the sheet of material has been constructed together with the thickness of the sheet of material. The flexible vase 10, when formed in the manner described before, may be flattened and reshaped to substantially its original shape.

The term "floral grouping" as used herein means arrangements of cut fresh flowers, artificial flowers and other fresh and/or artificial plants, and such arrangements may include other secondary plants or floral materials which add to the aesthetics of the overall floral grouping.

Shown in Figure 2 is a modified flexible vase 10a consisting of a container 14a which is formed substantially like the container 14 described in detail before, except the container 14a includes a skirt 26 which is formed on the upper end 16a and extends generally about the outer periphery of the upper end 16a. The skirt 26 extends generally outwardly from the upper end 16a.

Changes may be made in the various parts, elements and assemblies as described herein, or in the steps of the methods described herein, or in the sequence of the steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for making a flexible vase for holding floral groupings made by a process comprising the steps of: forming a sheet of material into a container having an upper end and a lower end with an object opening extending through the upper end and extending a distance through the container, the object opening being sized and shaped for receiving portions of the floral grouping, the container having a plurality of overlapping folds contributing to the rigidity of the container for cooperating in tending to maintain the formed shape of the container.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the container has a thickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mil to about 20.0 mils.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein each sheet of material has a thickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mil to about 20.0 mils.

4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the container has a thickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mil to about 2.5 mils.

5. The method of Claim 1 wherein each sheet of material has a thickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mil to about 2.5 mils.

6. The method of Claim 1 wherein each sheet of material is defined further as being constructed of a processed organic polymer film.

7. The method of Claim 1 wherein the sheet of material is defined further as being constructed of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of foil, cellophane, paper or processed organic polymer film.

8. ^" The method of Claim 1 wherein the container is defined further to include a skirt extending a distance outwardly from the upper end of the container.

9. The method of Claim 1 wherein the overlapping folds of the container are defined further as being sealed.

10. The method of Claim 1 wherein the sheet of material is defined further as being constructed of a flexible material so the formed container is flexible.

11. The method of Claim 10 wherein the container may be flattened and reshaped to substantial- ly its original shape.

12. The method of Claim 1 defined further as comprising reinforcing the sheet of material with reinforcing means for cooperating with the overlapping folds to maintain the container in the formed shape.

13. The method of Claim 12 wherein the reinfor- cing means comprises a plurality of wires,