AU2003225330A1 - Flower arrangement accessories - Google Patents

Description

WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT ACCESSORIES FIELD OF INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to flower arrangement accessories, and has particular application to accessories for flower arrangements formed with the assistance of flower arranging apparatus disclosed in our co-pending International Patent Application No. PCT/AU01/00450, the specification 5 of which is incorporated herein by reference, and in this application, reference will be made to such application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such use. BACKGROUND ART Flowers and such like may be arranged as bouquets, bunches, posies or the like and sometimes have additional decorative foliage, and even sometimes decorative items such as balloons 10 on sticks and the like. Flowers are often given as a gift for a special occasion and/or to communicate affection, and such social intercourse is sometimes accompanied by other gifts. Such other gifts are often sold and given separately, and there has been no convenient way to package such other gifts with a flower arrangement. In this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "flower arrangement" is to be understood to include any assembled arrangement of flowers, including 15 posies, bunches, bouquets, sheafs, wreaths and single stems, and may include ribbons, balloons, and other decorative items which may be added. Furthermore, in the context of a flower arrangement, the terms "item" and "elongate item" are to be understood to include flowers, greenery, and the stalks or stems thereof, as well as any of the aforementioned decorative items used to constitute a bunch, unless the meanings are clearly not appropriate in the context in which the terms are used. 20 Additionally, the flower arranging apparatus described in our abovementioned International Patent Application No. PCT/AU01/00450 will be referred to hereinafter as "the flower holding disc". The present invention aims to provide one or more flower arrangement accessories which alleviate one or more of the abovementioned problems or at least provide an alternative to the current tradition of gifting. Other objects and advantages may hereinafter become apparent from the 25 following description. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a flower arrangement accessory including: WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -2 a sheet of substantially flat, water permeable material; one or more penetrations through said sheet and remote from the perimeter of said sheet, one of said penetrations being adapted to receive therethrough a flower arrangement; and characterised in that said sheet includes on one face thereof a water resistant coating. In another aspect, this invention resides broadly in a flower arrangement accessory including: 5 a sheet of substantially flat, water permeable material; a penetration through said sheet and remote from the perimeter of said sheet and adapted to receive therethrough a flower arrangement; a water resistant coating applied to said sheet includes on one face thereof, and an extension portion extending in one or more directions away from said penetration a 10 distance sufficient and being of a size sufficient to bear or receive on one face thereof a token. The token may be in the form of a message and/or greeting, and may include if desired a small gift box or the like or an adhesive pad for the attachment of same. Suitably, the sheet is formed from substantially rigid material, such as cardboard (which is preferred) or stiffened textile material and the coating is formed from a plastics lamination on the 15 single face of the sheet. Preferably, the sheet includes decorations, such as decorative markings, decorative colouration, decorative ornaments attached thereto or the like, and the perimeter is shaped to an aesthetic outline. In exemplary form, the sheet is adapted for use with the flower holding disc. If desired, the sheet may include further penetrations about the penetration (the "main penetration") adapted to receive therethrough the flower arrangement, said further penetrations being 20 adapted to receive therethrough a ribbon or similar strip of textile material to form a decoration about the main penetration. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in an accessory for a flower arrangement including: a container for containing one or more items; WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -3 one or more penetrations through said container and remote from the perimeter of said container, one of said penetrations (the main penetration) being adapted to receive therethrough a flower arrangement; and characterised in that said main penetration includes engagement means for engaging the flower holding disc for arranging a bunch of flowers comprising a sheet of substantially flexible 5 material; a plurality of penetrations through the sheet adapted to receive therethrough elongate items of the bunch of flowers to be arranged, gripping means operatively associated with each penetration whereby one or more elongate items may be passed through one or more of the penetrations and gripped thereby with a predetermined force, the penetrations being reinforced against failure of the flexible material about the penetration by one or more round aperture operatively associated with 10 each penetration whereby the flower arrangement be operatively associated with said container. The size of the aperture is selected to accommodate the stems of a bunch of flowers insertable therethrough. In a preferred form, the main penetration is selected to from the sizes of 60 mm and 80 mm across. The preferred height of the container is 10 mm for containing gift items like jewellery, for chocolates, between 10 mm and 70 mm. For other gifts, generally the height could be from 10 15 to 130 mm. It will be appreciated that the aperture size is preferably selected such that the orifice to the aperture can co-operate with the flower arranging disc described herein. In such form, there are preferably sizes selected to accommodate different size flower arrangements, including, but not limited to, posies, bunches and bouquets. In another aspect, the present invention resides broadly in an accessory for providing an 20 aperture through a container, including two interconnecting parts, a socket part and an insert part insertable into said socket part, at least on of said parts having a wall portion circumscribing a central bore and arranged such that an insert portion of the insert part is sized to engage with a receiving portion of the socket part such that the parts may be operatively connected to one another with their respective bores in substantial alignment, and remote from said insert and receiving portions, each 25 said part having container engagement means for engaging with respective walls in each of a base and a lid of the container when an orifice is cut therein. Preferably, each part includes the wall portion and the outer face of part of the wall portion or the insert part is engageable with the inner face of part of the wall portion engages with the socket part. In such form, the accessory when operatively engaged with the lid and base of the container 30 provides an aperture through the container embodied by the bore through the respective parts of the WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -4 accessory. The bore is preferably circular in section, and preferably is provided in a range of sizes, such as, for example, in 10 mm incremental diameters from 20 nmm to 70 mm. This form of accessory could be manufactured from, for example, plastics, metal or cardboard, or a combination of same, selected to be compatible with the material from which the container is constructed. The container engagement means is preferably in the form of a flange adapted to be 5 adhesively attached to the inner face of the walls of the lid and base, and the insert and receiving portions may be arranged to accommodate various lengths of bore to suit a range of different sized containers. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in an accessory for a flower arrangement including: 10 an elongate rod of a length and cross-section selected for incorporation in the flower arrangement, said rod having two ends, one of said ends including attachment means; embellishment means for embellishing said flower arrangement, said embellishment means including complementary attachment means for operative attachment of said embellishment means to the end of said rod having said attachment means. 15 Preferably, the rod is formed from plastics material to imitate the form of a flower stem or the like, or is formed to be aesthetically compatible with a flower or foliage stem. It is also preferred that the attachment means includes a ball-and-socket type joint wherein the socket for receiving the ball is arranged on one end of the rod, and the ball be sized to fit into the socket with an interference fit, and arranged at a suitable attachment location on the embellishment means. In such form, the rod 20 and the embellishment means may be operatively attached to one another by inserting the ball into the socket, the relative sizes of the ball and the socket being selected to provide a "snap fit". The length of the rod is preferably selected such that a single length is suitable for a posy, two lengths are suitable for a bunch, and three lengths art suitable for bouquet. It is also preferred that the ball-and socket type joint includes abutment means, such as a shoulder about the stem connecting the ball to 25 the embellishment means, which engages with the perimeter of the socket when the parts are snapped together. Thus attached, the parts may pivot relative to one another about an elongate axis substantially in alignment with the rod, but not substantially bend about the axis or nutate with respect to one another.

WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -5 The embellishment means may be in the form of a clamp or container for holding and/or containing an object or item, such as a greeting card, confectionery, jewellery, novelty item, such as a balloon, or the like. The embellishment means when attached to the rod may then be incorporated into a flower arrangement by inserting the rod through the gripping means of the flower holding disc. The flower arranging disc may further be incorporated with a container having a penetration 5 extending therethrough as hereinbefore described. It will be appreciated that the flower arranging accessories of the present invention may be used with conventional flower arranging aids, such as friable solid foams, wire frames, ceramic beads or the like by insertion of the rod into or through the aid. In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a method of forming a flower arrangement 10 including: providing the flower holding disc as herein described; selecting one or more flower arranging accessories as herein described; selecting cut flowers, foliage and/or decorative items to make up the flower arrangement; inserting the cut flowers, foliage and/or decorative items one or more at time through the one 15 or more penetrations in the flexible sheet until the flower arrangement is completed; and passing the flower arrangement through the main penetration of the accessory for operative association with bunch of flowers. If desired, the flower arrangement may include an laminated sheet of card, the apertured container and the embellishment means may be operatively associated with a flower holding disc. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the following drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of a circular flower holding disc according to the invention 25 having elongate penetrations aligned radially and terminating each of eight radially oriented slits; WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -6 Figs. 2 is a pictorial view of a circular flower holding disc similar to that of Fig. 1 but with a larger diameter; Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of a circular flower holding disk similar to that of Fig. 2, but having eight further penetrations arranged radially beyond the elongate penetrations and aligned radially therewith; 5 Fig. 4 is a pictorial view of a circular flower holding disc similar to that of Fig. 3, but with a smaller diameter; Fig. 5 is a pictorial view of a circular flower holding disc similar to that of Fig. 3, but having twelve further penetrations instead of eight; Fig. 6 is a pictorial view of a circular flower holding disc similar to that of Fig. 5, but 10 having a larger outside diameter, the twelve further penetrations arranged along a larger pitch circle diameter, and a circular break-out line or weakening interposed radially between the elongate penetrations and the further penetrations; Figs. 7 and 8 are pictorial views of the component parts of the flower holding disc of Fig. 6; 15 Fig. 9 is a face view of the component part of the flower holding disc of Fig. 7 with a partly installed ribbon led through some of the further penetrations; Fig. 10 is a face view of the flower holding disc of Fig. 5 with a ribbon led through the further apertures; Fig 11 is a pictorial view of a heart-shaped card as an accessory for a flower arrangement 20 according to the invention; Fig. 12 is a pictorial view of the card of the card of Fig. 11 in an open attitude; Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic pictorial sectional view of part of a card similar to that of Figs. 11 and 12; Fig. 14 is a pictorial view of a card being circular as an alternative shape to the card of 25 Figs. 11 to 13; WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -7 Fig. 15 is a pictorial view of a card having a circular penetration according to the invention and a message portion; Fig. 16 is a pictorial view of a circular container according to the invention; Fig. 17 is a pictorial view of the container of Fig. 16 with the flower holding disc engaged with the lid; 5 Fig. 18 is a pictorial view of the container of Fig. 16 with the flower holding disc engaged with the base; Fig. 19 is a pictorial view of a triangular container according to the invention; Fig. 20 is a pictorial view of the container of Fig. 19 with the flower holding disc engaged with the lid; 10 Fig. 21 is a pictorial view of the container of Fig. 19 with the flower holding disc engaged with the base; Fig. 22 is a pictorial view of a heart-shaped container according to the invention; Fig. 23 is a pictorial view of the container of Fig. 22 with the flower holding disc engaged with the lid; 15 Fig. 24 is a pictorial view of the container of Fig. 22 with the flower holding disc engaged with the base; Fig. 25 is a pictorial view of a square container according to the inventions Fig. 26 is a pictorial view of a hexagonal container as an accessory for a flower arrangement according to the invention; 20 Fig. 27 is an exploded view of another circular container as an accessory for a flower arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 27a is a pictorial view on an alternative insert for the container of Fig. 27; Fig. 28 is a pictorial view of aperture accessory for providing an aperture through any one of the containers shown in Figs 16 to 27; WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -8 Fig. 29 is a pictorial view showing use of the container of Fig. 27 with a flower arrangement in accordance with the invention; Fig. 30 is a pictorial view of a bunch of flowers incorporating any one of the discs of Figs. 1 to 7, the container of Fig. 20 or Fig. 21, the card of Fig. 15 and a gilft tag and lollypop of Fig. 40 (as further exemplified in Fig. 45); 5 Fig. 31 is a pictorial view of a rod and cap as part of an accessory for a flower arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 32 shows in pictorial view an alternative rod and cap in curved form as part of an accessory for a flower arrangement according to the invention; Figs. 33 to 41d show alternative embellishment accessories for attachment to the rod 10 and/or cap of Figs. 31 and 32; Fig. 42 is a sectional side view of a container having wrapped chocolates attached to a flower holding disc according to the invention with accessories of Figs. 35 or 36 and part of a wrapping inserted through the penetrations; Fig. 43 is an exploded pictorial view of the container of Fig. 42; 15 Fig. 44 is a pictorial view of the flower arranging disc with the wrapped objects of Fig. 41 operatively attached to rods in accordance with the invention; Fig. 45 collectively shows in pictorial view a variety of accessories according to the invention assembled from the parts shown of Figs. 31 to 41d; Figs 46 and 47 are sectional views showing alternative means of joining the rods of Fig. 20 31; Fig. 48 is a side view showing diagrammatically the joint in the rod of Fig. 31; Figs. 49 and 50 show a photograph holder and the use of the rod of Fig. 31 with the photograph holder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 The five circular flower arranging discs 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 each have the eight slits shown typically at 16 extending radially from a central penetration 17 and each slit WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -9 terminates in an elongate penetration shown typically at 18 for preventing tearing of the slits. The elongate penetrations are aligned radially. In the example shown at 11, the disc is the same as example 10, but the peripheral edge is of a larger diameter. The example shown at 12, which may be considered as a "floral card disc", is the same except it has a larger circular penetration shown typically at 19 spaced radially outward from each elongate penetration. In such form, the wrapping 5 paper around the outside of a bunch of flowers the stalks of which are inserted through the central aperture is less likely to be crushed. The material between the elongate penetrations and the larger circular penetrations may yield to open the slits up further, providing a softer encirclement of the bunch, and still provide tear prevention beyond the larger circular penetrations. In the example shown at 13, the outer peripheral edge is of a similar diameter to that of Fig. 1. In the example 10 shown at 14, there are twelve evenly spaced larger circular penetrations similar to those shown in examples 12 and 13, except that the pitch circle diameter is larger and the larger penetrations do not necessarily line up radially with the slits. In such form, ribbon may be passed through the aperture in loops without having to cut or tie the ribbon and create an additional decorative effect if desired. In the example 15 shown in separate parts and together in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the disc is larger 15 (but scaled down to appear much the same size as the other discs) and has the eight slits terminating in the elongate penetrations in a similar fashion to example 14. However, the larger circular penetrations are provided in an annular portion 20 separated from a break-out portion 21 by a break out line 23 which may be used to assist in separating the break-out portion from the annular portion shown separately in Figs. 8 and 7 respectively. The annular portion has a large central aperture 22 20 sized to 60 or 80 mm through which the stalks of a bunch of flowers may pass. The larger circular penetrations in examples 12, 13, 14, and 15 may be used, for example, to thread ribbon or the like through to enhance the appearance of a bunch of flowers assembled with the aid of example 10 or 11. The break-out portion may be the same dimensions as example 10, or may be larger or smaller. The threading of the ribbon 25 is performed for example by passing a 25 length of ribbon through each larger penetration as shown partially threaded in Fig. 9 and fully threaded and tied off as shown in Fig. 10 by passing through a loop of ribbon, in each case leaving a loop shown typically at 24 between each larger penetration. The heart shaped card 40 shown in Figs. 11 to 13 has a penetration 45 passing through a front piece 41, the penetration being filled in by the flower arranging disc 10 or 12 in a back piece 42, 30 the front and back pieces being joined together along a fold line 43 for folding down into a card as WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -10 shown in Fig. 12 by holding the front and back pieces which respect one another in the direction of arrow 49. In the sectional view shown in Fig. 13, the penetration through front piece is reinforced by a reinforcing ring 44. The circular card 46 has its circular disc 10 or 21 offset from centre from its card portion 47. The irregular shaped card 50, a "gift tag card", shown in Fig. 15, has an annular portion 51 with a 5 circular penetration 55 therethrough and a message portion 52 connected to the annular portion by way of connecting portion 53. The message portion includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive patch or strip 54 to permit a message card or the like, or alternatively, a small package, to be attached to the card. The circular container 60 shown in Fig. 16 has a lid 62 and a base 61 each having a centrally 10 located penetration 65 extending therethrough to provide an annular shaped channel. When the parts are placed together as shown, an annular cavity is provided in which objects may be contained. A flower arranging disc 10 shown in Figs. 17 and 18 may be operatively associated with the lid and/or the base, closing off the penetration at the top and/or bottom of the container. The penetration is preferably sized to provide an interference fit for the flower arranging disc and preferably includes 15 a lip or shoulder around the periphery of the penetration at or near the bottom and/or top of the container. In similar fashion, the triangular container 63 shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, the heart shaped container 64 as shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24, or the square container 73 or the hexagonal container 74 shown in Figs. 25 and 26 respectively may be provided with a correspondingly shaped cavity for 20 containing one or more small objects. In the case of the hexagonal container shown in Fig. 26, the internal bore 68 of the penetration is hexagonal in shape and has a flange 69 extending inwardly therefrom to provide a circular orifice or opening into which the flower arranging disc may be inserted. The alternative circular container 70 shown in Fig. 27 has a lid 71 and base formed of clear 25 plastics material and an insert 72 through which the penetration 75 extends. The insert has eight depressions shown typically at 76 for receiving a gift item or object, one of which is shown typically 77, the flower arranging disc 10 being provided at the lower end of the penetration to be operatively associated with the base. The alternative insert 78 shown in Fig. 27a has a larger number of smaller and differently shaped depressions than that shown in Fig. 27. The alternative circular container of WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -11 Fig. 27 can be used with a bunch of flowers to provide the flower arrangement in accordance with the invention as shown in Fig. 29. The aperture accessory 160 may be used to provide an aperture through any one of the container of Figs. 16 to 27 and including two interconnecting parts, a socket part 66 and an insert part 67 inserted into the socket part. Each part has an annular flange 56. The socket part has a 5 cylindrical socket portion 57 extending from the flange and a central bore 59 therethrough. The central bore continues on through a cylindrical insert portion 58 extending from the flange of the insert part such that when a portion of the insert part inserted into a portion of the socket part, the flanges are held apart and substantially parallel to one another. The flanges are fixed or attached to the lid and base of a container such that the insert and receiving portions provide the aperture through 10 the container by virtue of the central bore passing therethrough. The bunch of flowers 80 shown in Fig. 30 is stretched along the axes of the stems of the flowers to show the elements incorporated therein. The bunch includes a number of flowers shown typically at 81 wrapped collectively about their stems 83 in a cellophane wrap 82 supported in the flower holding disc 10 by having their stems passing through the penetrations in the disc. The stems 15 collectively also pass through the penetration in the card 15, the triangular container 63, and the annular sheet 20 which also has a ribbon 25 installed as hereinbefore described. Additionally, a round floral card disk 85 is provided with the end portions of the stems passing through its central penetration. The ends 86 of the stems are immersed in water contained in the cellophane wrap. In addition to the flower holding disc 10, any one of the other appropriate discs of Figs. 3 to 7, or those 20 described in our aforementioned International Patent No. PCT/AU01/00450 may be used. The two straight rods 96 shown in Fig. 31 has a ball 91 on the upper end 93 which is sized to fit into a socket 92 in the lower end 97 of another similar rod or an accessory described hereinafter. The two curved rods 98 shown in Fig. 32 are the same as the straight rods in all respects except for their curvature, but are shown formed from several shorter pieces joined together. It will be 25 appreciated that unitary or piece construction are alternative forms which may be provided. Various embellishment accessories are shown in Figs. 33 to 41d. A multilobial card 105 is shown in Fig. 33 having a central hole 106 through which the ball of the rod may be inserted. If desired, the ball may also be inserted into the socket in the base of another rod or another embellishment accessory described herein, the central hole being sized to be a relatively tight fit 30 around a shoulder on the neck of the ball (described hereinafter) and smaller than the diameter of the WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -12 rod such that it may be retained at the upper end of the rod. The multilobial outer periphery may also be used for a flower holding disc 104 having the central penetration and slits in similar form to those shown in Figs 1 to 6 and 8, and in addition thereto, four peripheral elongate holes 103, generally elongate in the radial direction, spaced at even distance and angular spacing around the disc. An adhesive connector 107 is shown is Fig. 34 being elongate in the same direction as the rod and having 5 a portion 102 for receiving a name tag, confectionery or the like, two ribbon fixing locations 101, and a gift card slot 100 near its distal end through which, for example, a card, or the end of a balloon, may be inserted for retention therein. In Figs. 35, 35a and 36 are shown three cup shaped embellishment accessories, each having an adhesive connector at their respective bases. A small confectionery clip 108 is shown in Fig. 35, a large confectionery clip 108a is shown in Fig. 35a and in Fig. 36, each 10 having the socket 92 in the lower end thereof In Figs. 37 and 37a, an elongate container 110 and a spheroidal container 111 are provided. Each has a clear plastics receptacle 112 and 113 respectively. The elongate clear plastics receptacle is connectible to a container support 114 by an interference fit or threaded connection, and the spheroidal clear plastics receptacle is connectible in similar fashion to a wider container support 115. 15 An egg crown 116 as shown in Fig. 38 is made to fit into either of the cup-shaped embellishment accessories and includes five upstanding lobes shown typically at 117 by way of a lower lip 118 sized to provide an interference fit with the upper periphery the respective one of the cup-shaped embellishment accessories. The clamp assembly 120 shown in Fig. 39 has two jaws at 123 made from a wire frame 20 construction hinged at a hinge connector 124 for pivotal movement towards and away from one another, and are biased to close towards one another. The hinge connector is connected to a clamp support 125 on a joining piece 126 having the socket 92 at its lower end. The clamp support and joining piece are connected to one another by way of a disc portion (hidden from view) on the joining piece having an aperture therethrough or a concavity on each face into which complementary 25 inwardly directed opposed protrusions (also hidden from view) extend to permit pivoting of the joining piece with respect to the hinge support in the direction of arrows 128. The card, confectionery and balloon holder 140 shown in Fig. 40 includes a circular body portion 141 having a slit 142 extending inward from the edge of one side part-way across the body an terminating in a rounded penetration 143. Four holes shown typically at 144 are arranged about 30 the body spaced inward from the edge about, but not directly opposite the slit, and each has a tube WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -13 shown typically at 145 with a slit shown typically at 146 extending from the distal end part way along the length of each tube coaxially along the outermost part of the circumference such that there is a hole at each end of the tube. A confectionery accessory may be supported in association with the card and confectionery holder by inserting the rod through one of the holes. Alternatively, a balloon maybe inflated and held in place by inserting the opening through one of the holes to be held in the 5 slot. The confectionery accessory includes a wrapped lollipop, chocolate or the like described hereinafter operatively attached to the upper end of the rod. The wrapped chocolate 148 shown in Fig. 41 has its wrapper 149 arranged with its edges about the stem of the confectionery cup 108 described in relation to Fig. 35 above, the edges being tied together with a tie 147. The photoframe clamp 95 shown in Fig. 41a has a fold or hinge 94 permitting the two halves 10 to be folded in the direction of arrow 90 to be snapped together as shown. A slot 99 is provided in the end remote from the socket to receive a photoframe described hereinafter. A claw assembly 119 is shown in Fig. 41b has four fingers shown typically at 127 extending outward and upward from a support portion 129 with a socket therein. The fingers are of resilient material permitting clamping of an object of larger dimension than the space between the fingers to be held therein. A photograph 15 or card holder 121 is shown in Fig. 41c having a split or coiled ring 134 of spring metal mounted in a ring support 135 with a socket therein. A chocolate bar holder 122 is shown in Fig. 41d having an adhesive strip 107 as described in relation to other embellishment accessories, mounted to an elongate resting portion 136 extending from a ledge portion 137, both of which are integrally formed with a mounting portion 138 with a socket therein. 20 The confectionery container 130 shown in Figs. 42 and 43 has a base 131 fitted with a lid 132. The base includes an internal lip for supporting a flower arranging disc 133 having a plurality of penetrations comprising eight slits extending radially from a common intersection point and rounded holes terminating the slits. Twelve wrapped chocolates (eleven only shown in Fig. 43 in order to show the configuration of the penetrations) are fixed to the flower arranging disc by inserting 25 the stem of the wrapped chocolate assembly through one of the penetrations as shown. All of the wrapped chocolates are shown on one side of the disc, but it will be appreciated that alternative arrangements could be devised in which the wrapped chocolates are disposed on either side of the disc. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 44, seven wrapped chocolates are attached to the end of a respective rod which is then passed through a respective penetration in the flower arranging disc. Of 30 course, many arrangements may be constructed using the accessories of the present invention, some examples of which are shown collectively in Fig. 45.

WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -14 The means of connecting the embellishment accessories to the rod maybe alternatively by the ball and socket shown in Fig. 46 and described above, or a threaded connection as shown in Fig. 47. In the case of the ball and socket joint, the ball 91 is connected to one end of the rod by a neck 150, a shoulder 151 which extends a small distance axially from the flat end 152. The socket 92 has two snap locations 154 inwardly from two pinches or necks 155, the orifice of the socket being aligned 5 with an annular face 153 which is sized to abut against the flat end 152 of the ball half of the joint. The orifice of the socket is surrounded by a bevel 158. The rod is also of hollow form, preferably formed of green coloured plastics material or the like. In the alternative shown in Fig. 47, the ball and socket are replaced with a threaded spigot 156 and a threaded socket 157, the shoulder, flat end and annular face being of similar configuration so that the joined pieces will substantially align with 10 one another. In both cases, a relatively rigid joint can be provided between the meeting parts as shown in Fig. 48 in which it can be seen that a square section groove 159 is formed circumferentially about the joint to accommodate a penetration in the flower arranging disc. The photograph holder 170 shown in Fig. 49 has a substantially rectangular windowed front face 161 surrounded by a frame and a solid back face 162 connected thereto by a fold 163 along the 15 base line of the frame. Extending from a central upper portion of the frame is a tag portion 165 having an aperture 164 passing therethrough sized to engage with the shoulder of the ball half of the joint such that it may be supported on a rod as shown in Fig. 50. Of course, any one of the alternative embellishments of Figs. 34 to 39 may be placed connected to the top of the rod. The alternative photograph holder 171 shown in Fig. 49a has a substantially rectangular 20 windowed front face 166 surrounded by a frame and a solid back face 167 connected thereto by a hinge 168 along part of the base line of the frame. The alternative photograph holder is attached to the end of a rod by the photoframe clamp 95 shown in Fig. 41a, there being several locations shown typically at 172. Although the invention has been described with reference to several examples, it will be 25 appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by following claims.

Claims (15)

1. An accessory for a flower arrangement including: a container for containing one or more items; one or more penetrations through said container and remote from the perimeter of said container, one of said penetrations (the main penetration) being adapted to receive therethrough a flower arrangement; and characterised in that said main penetration includes engagement means for engaging the flower holding disc for arranging a bunch of flowers comprising a sheet of substantially flexible material; a plurality of penetrations through the sheet adapted to receive therethrough elongate items of the bunch of flowers to be arranged, gripping means operatively associated with each penetration whereby one or more elongate items may be passed through one or more of the penetrations and gripped thereby with a predetermined force, the penetrations being reinforced against failure of the flexible material about the penetration by one or more round aperture operatively associated with each penetration whereby the flower arrangement be operatively associated with said container.

2. An accessory for providing an aperture through a container, including two interconnecting parts, a socket part and an insert part insertable into said socket part, at least one of said parts having a wall portion circumscribing a central bore and arranged such that an insert portion of the insert part is sized to engage with a receiving portion of the socket part such that the parts may be operatively connected to one another with their respective bores in substantial alignment, and remote from said insert and receiving portions, each said part having container engagement means for engaging with respective walls in each of a base and a lid of the container when an orifice is cut therein.

3. An accessory according to Claim 2, wherein each part includes the wall portion and the outer face of part of the wall portion or the insert part is engageable with the inner face of part of the wall portion engages with the socket part.

4. An accessory according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the container engagement means is in the form of a flange adapted to be adhesively attached to the inner face of the walls of the lid and base, and the insert and receiving portions are arranged to accommodate various lengths of bore to suit a range of different sized containers. WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -16

5. An accessory according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the size of the aperture is selected to accommodate the stems of a bunch of flowers insertable therethrough.

6. An accessory for a flower arrangement including: an elongate rod of a length and cross-section selected for incorporation in the flower arrangement, said rod having two ends, one of said ends including attachment means; embellishment means for embellishing said flower arrangement, said embellishment means including complementary attachment means for operative attachment of said embellishment means to the end of said rod having said attachment means.

7. An accessory according to Claim 6 wherein the rod is formed from plastics material to imitate the form of a flower stem or the like, or is formed to be aesthetically compatible with a flower or foliage stem.

8. An accessory according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the attachment means includes a ball and-socket type joint wherein the socket for receiving the ball is arranged on one end of the rod, and the ball be sized to fit into the socket with an interference fit, and arranged at a suitable attachment location on the embellishment means.

9. An accessory according to any one of Claims 6 to 8 wherein the length of the rod is selected such that a single length is suitable for a posy, two lengths are suitable for a bunch, and three lengths art suitable for bouquet.

10. A method of forming a flower arrangement including: providing the flower holding disc as herein described; selecting one or more flower arranging accessories as hereini described; selecting cut flowers, foliage and/or decorative items to make up the flower arrangement; inserting the cut flowers, foliage and/or decorative items one or more at time through the one or more penetrations in the flexible sheet until the flower arrangement is completed; and passing the flower arrangement through the main penetration of the accessory for operative association with bunch of flowers. WO 03/094674 PCT/AU03/00558 -17

11. A flower arrangement accessory including: a sheet of substantially flat, water permeable material; one or more penetrations through said sheet and remote from the perimeter of said sheet, one of said penetrations being adapted to receive therethrough a flower arrangement; and characterised in that said sheet includes on one face thereof a water resistant coating.

12. A flower arrangement accessory including: a sheet of substantially flat, water permeable material; a penetration through said sheet and remote from the perimeter of said sheet and adapted to receive therethrough a flower arrangement; a water resistant coating applied to said sheet includes on one face thereof, and an extension portion extending in one or more directions away from said penetration a distance sufficient and being of a size sufficient to bear or receive on one face thereof a token.

13. A flower arrangement accessory according to Claim 12, wherein the token is in the form of a message and/or greeting.

14. A flower arrangement accessory according to Claim 13, wherein the token includes a small gift box or the like or an adhesive pad for the attachment of same.

15. A flower arrangement accessory according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the sheet includes further penetrations about the penetration (the "main penetration") adapted to receive therethrough the flower arrangement, said further penetrations being adapted to receive therethrough a ribbon or similar strip of textile material to form a decoration about the main penetration.