US20090049743A1

US20090049743A1 - Two Sided Reversible Vase

Info

Publication number: US20090049743A1
Application number: US11/841,392
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Richard Lewis, Jr.
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-20
Filing date: 2007-08-20
Publication date: 2009-02-26

Abstract

A flower arranging vase for displaying a single stem flower extending out one direction of the vase, or by turning the vase over one-hundred-and-eighty degrees displaying multiple stems of an entire bunch of flowers extending out the other end of the vase. The two-sided reversible vase is achieved through two separate compartments for containing water.

Description

This invention relates generally to containers for displaying fresh cut flowers and dried floral arrangements. More specifically it relates to vases used for holding one or more cut flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many different profiles or shapes of vases that provide a method of retaining the flowers in a body of water. Typically there are two general types of vases. First are those vases that are made to hold one single stem of a flower such as a long stem rose, French tulip, or sunflower for example. The second are those vases that are made to hold a group, or commonly called a bunch of flowers. A bunch of flowers, of one type of plant, typically contains 12 stems or a dozen, a dozen roses for example.
There are many flower holders or vases that are made with narrow openings to display one stem of a flower. Conversely there are many flower holders or vases that are made with wide openings to display multiple stems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to allow the displaying of either a single stem flower, in the appropriate volume of water and standing upright, or to allow the displaying of a bouquet of flowers with multiple stems, in the appropriate volume of water and standing upright, within the same vase.
Another object accordingly is to provide a vase, which now serves the functions of two separate vases within one vase, thus eliminating the need for the viewer to have two separate vases.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The key component of the design is the configuration of the two different water volume compartments in conjunction with a shape that allows for having two usable sides to display flowers.
Referring to the drawings in greater detail the reference number 12 represents the vase in the present invention. The vase being made of glass FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8, 13, ceramic, plastic, metal, wood, elastomeric rubber or other materials used to hold flowers and water.
The vessel includes a center tube 14 with a bottom wall 15 which is accessible from an opening 16 on one side formed by a lip 17 that is connected to the outer tube 18, which leads to the opening on the other end of the vase 19.
When the vase is used to display a single stem 20, as in FIG. 1, the top contains the small opening 16, where water is added 21, and the bottom has the large opening 19.
When the vase is used to display multiple stems of flowers 22, as in FIG. 2, the top contains the large opening 19, where water is added 23, and the bottom has the small opening 16.
The curved side, as in FIG. 4, provides a smaller diameter middle area 24 than the opposing ends 25. The narrower middle provides for a circumference that a person can wrap there hand around to turn the vase over to switch between displaying a single stem FIG. 1 or multiple stems FIG. 2. The narrow middle also provides for well balanced weight distribution when water is in the vase FIGS. 1, 21 and FIGS. 2, 23.
When displaying multiple stems of flowers, as in FIG. 2, the curved side 18, narrow in the middle 24 and wide on the top and bottom 25, in combination with the center tube 14 pushes the multiple stems of flowers 22 outward from the center and apart from each other creating more distance between the blossoms. The effect is a larger more open, less crowded, appearance for displaying multiple flower blossoms.
FIG. 8 is a photograph of two samples of the invention embodied in borosilicate glass material with flowers. On the right portion of the image is the invention in the single stem 20 use position and one the left is the invention in the multiple stem 22 use position.
While certain features of this invention have been shown and described there are two alternate examples that embody the spirit of the invention as shown in FIG. 9 through FIG. 14.
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 describe the first alternate shape. The shape includes a tapered center tube 26 with a bottom wall 27 which is accessible from an opening 28 on one side formed by a lip 29 that is connected to the outer tube 30, which leads to the opening on the other end of the vase 31.
FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the first alternate shape showing the outer wall 30 or tube in this embodiment is straight and tapered. FIG. 12 is a section drawing detailing the shape including a tapered center tube 26 with a bottom wall 27 which is accessible from an opening 28 on one side formed by a lip 29 that is connected to the outer tube 30, which leads to the opening on the other end of the vase 31. The outer wall 30 and tapered center 26 in this embodiment are straight and tapered to allow for the stacking FIGS. 13, 32.
Stacking or nesting the invention FIGS. 13, 32 reduces the space required for storage and subsequently reduces the shipping costs in this embodiment of the reversible vase.
FIG. 14 is a section drawing of the invention embodied in second alternate shape whereas both the freshwater containment areas remain separate, one for a single stem flower 33 and the other for multiple stems of flowers 34. Both water areas are open and facing in the same top direction 35.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in use with a single stem flower.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in use with multiple stems of flowers.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view taken on line A-A of FIG. 3 with the multiple stem compartments facing up.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the invention viewing the opening for a single stem flower.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the invention viewing the opening for multiple stems of flowers.
FIG. 7 is a photograph of the invention embodied in borosilicate glass material without flowers, on the right is the invention in the single stem use position and one the left is the invention in the multiple stem use position.
FIG. 8 is a photograph of the invention embodied in borosilicate glass material with flowers.
FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of the invention, embodied in an alternate shape, viewing the opening for multiple stems of flowers.
FIG. 10 is a perspective drawing of the invention, embodied in an alternate shape, viewing the opening for a single stem flower.
FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, embodied in an alternate shape, of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a side cross sectional view taken on line A-A of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a perspective drawing of the invention, embodied in an alternate shape, as shown in FIG. 9, whereas the vase can be stacked for reduced shipping costs.
FIG. 14 is a side cross sectional view taken on line A-A of FIG. 11, embodied in an alternate shape, whereas both the freshwater containment areas are still separate, one for a single stem flower and the other for multiple stems of flowers, but are facing in the same direction.

Claims

1. A flower arranging vase, comprising in combination, two compartments for containing freshwater, whereas one compartment is smaller and in the center with an opening facing one direction and a second compartment around the said smaller compartment with a larger opening facing the opposite direction of the smaller opening, whereby a single stem flower can be located in the said center, or by turning the vase over one-hundred-and-eighty degrees, displaying multiple stems of flowers.