GB2321189A

GB2321189A - Collapsible vase

Info

Publication number: GB2321189A
Application number: GB9701611A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Susan Marion Rudolf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-17
Filing date: 1997-01-27
Publication date: 1998-07-22
Also published as: GB9700987D0; GB9701611D0

Abstract

A container (10) for the display of flowers, plants and the like comprises support means defining a basal area and a liquid impermeable receptacle having at least one side wall and a base (16). The upper edge(s) of the side wall(s) (12, 13, 14, 15) define a top of the container. The receptacle comprises one or more openings (11) in or adjacent the top of the container and the basal area is greater than the cross sectional area of the top of the container. The container further comprises folding means enabling the container to be reduced in size to a folded state and to be expanded, for use, wherein the folding means comprises a plurality of pleats or hinges along the length of the receptacle side wall(s) and in the receptacle base.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE VASE The invention relates to a collapsible vase or container for lowers, plants and the like.

Vases and other containers for flowers and plants tend to be quizs bulky and take up a lot of storage space. In hospitals and similar institutions patients or residents f:requently receive flowers and plants during their say. Since storage space is usually very limited, here is often an inadequate supply of vases and pots for such flowers and plants.

Furthermo:re in such institutions nurses generally have many more important duties than washing up used vases.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible vase or container which can be stored or transported in a flat or folded condition and expanded for use when required, and which may be disposable.

According to the invention there is provideda container for he display of flowers, plants and the like comprising support means defining a basal area and a liquid impermeable receptacle having at least one side wall ;9nd a base, the upper edges of which side wall(s) define a top of the container, the receptacle having one or more openings in or adjacent the top of the container, wherein the basal area is greater than the cross sectional area of the top of the container, and further comprising folding means enabling the container to be reduced in size to a folded state aid to be expanded, for use.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of a vase according to t]le present invention in its expanded form for use; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vase of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a pictorial representation of the vase of Fig. 1 in a partially reduced form for storage; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an alternative side wall for the vise of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a pictorial representation of an alternative va:;e in its expanded form; Fig. 6 is a pictorial representation of the vase of Fig. 5 in is reduced form; Fig. 7 is a pictorial representation of another alternative va:;e in its expanded form; Fig. 8 is a pictorial representation of yet another altern;ltive vase.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a vase 10 having an opening 11 in the top thereof for receiving flowers or plants. In this embodiment, the vase 10 has two pairs of opposing side walls 12, 13 and 14, 15 and a base 16 worming a watertight receptacle. The base 16 has a greater surface area than the top of the vase so that elch side wall 12, 13, 14, 15 is of a generally trapezoidal shape. Each of the side walls 14, 15 has a folding line 17 shown in chain dot lines along the length thereof. Base 16 also has folding lines 18 also shown in chain dot lines. The vase 10 is made from any suitable waterproof sheet-like material, such as waxed folding board, a polymeric material or the like. It can be semi-rigid or rigid.

If the materiaL is rigid, the folding lines may be in the form of scores or hinges.

The vase 10 can be folded to a substantially flat condition for storage by pushing the side walls 14, 15 inwards so tha- they fold inwardly along the folding lines 17. As :;ide walls 14, 15 fold, side walls 12, 13 move closer towards each other until the vase 10 is folded flat as shown in Fig. 3. Simultaneously the base 16 is folded up inside the resulting "flat pack".

Obviously the -olding lines 17 in the side walls 14, 15 or those 18 in the base 16 may be arranged so that either one or lzoth of the sides 14, 15 or the base 16 fold outwardly rather than inwardly. This may result in a flatter "flat pack" depending on the material used to make the vase 10, but it would have a greater surface area. To expand the vase 10, the side walls 12, 13 are pulLed away from each other. Once the vase 10 is filled with water or earth, this lends rigidity to the vase 10 and prevents it from folding up again whilst in use. Furthermore, as the base 16 has a larger surface area than the top, this provides stability to t]le vase 10 and it cannot easily be knocked over i: use. When the flowers are removed, the water can be emptied out and the vase 10 washed and refolded for storage. If the vase 10 is made of a relatively cheep material it can be disposable, thereby saving on washing.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the side walls 14, 15 may have a fan like pleated configiration as shown in Fig. 4. Thus instead of folding along the single folding line 17 on each wall 14, L5, the walls 14, 15 are pleated and can be folded along the pleats. However, when fully expanded the walls 14, 15 may be planar.

In a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the vase 20 has an open ended frusto-conical receptacle 21 for receiving the water or earth, and a plurality of elongate support means or legs 22. The receptacle 21 comprises a waterproof flexible material such as waxed paper or canvas having side walls 23 and a base 24. At regular intervals around the receptacle 21, the upper ends of the legs 22 are attached to the side walls 23 in a similar manner to that of a traditional oriental fan. The lower ends of the legs 22 project below the side walls 23. In the expanded position shown in Fig. 5, the legs 22 splay outwardly from the circular opening 25 for receiving flowers, plants and the like, to form a stable base fo the vase 20, the free ends of the four legs defining he basal area of the vase. Again once filled, the weight of the water or earth will help to ensure that the legs 22 remain splayed and the vase 20 stable.

Fig. 6 shows the folded condition of the vase 20 wherein the side walls 23 are folded between the legs 22 and the baste 24 folds outwardly within the boundary defined by the legs 22. An elastic band or ring can be slid over the ends of the legs 22 to maintain the folded condition during carriage or storage.

Although only four legs 22 are shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the vase 20 may have any number from three upwards. A greater number of legs 22 will result in greater stability of the vase 20 and will look aesthetically pleasing. In an alternative embodiment of this vase 20, additional support ribs may be provided just in the receptacle 21 alone which would assist in the chase of the folding operation and provide greater rigidity to the vase 20. Such ribs would also have an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

As a further alternative, the base 24 may not be flat and could be in the form of an inverted cone pointing downwardly between the legs 22. This would make the folding operation easier. In another variation of the vase 20, the receptacle 21 need not be frusto-conical, but the side wills 24 between the legs 22 may be trapezoidal.

In yet another variation of this vase 20, the receptacle 21 may extend all the way along the legs 22- so that the base 24 rests on the supporting surface when in use.

Fig. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the vase of the present invention. In this vase 30, there is a continuos; frusto-conical side wall 31 having a pleated configuration, wherein the pleats get wider as they extend from the opening 32 to the base 33. When expanded the pleats partially remain and the expansion is restricted by the dimensions of the base 33. During the folding operation, the base 33 is pushed up inside the vase 30 and the side walls 31 fold into an approximately cylindrical configuration similar to tha- of figure 6. An elastic band or the like could be slipped over the end adjacent the base 33 to maintain the vase 30 in its folded configuration. In this embodiment, the spines of the folded pleats lend rigidity to the vase 30 in the longitudinal direction, so that the material used need not be particuLarly rigid in its own right.

Fig. 8 illustrate yet another embodiment of the vase. In this vase 40, support means 41 are provided in the form of two rigid sheets of card or plastic or the like joined together at their upper edges to an annular mouth 42 of the receptacle 43 which hangs down between the support means 41 when the vase 40 is in its expanded position. To limit the extent to which the support means 41 can be opened, the side walls of the receptacle 43 may be attached on either side to each support 4L at one or more points. Alternatively a folding or flexible strut or tie 44 (or a plurality thereof) may connect the lower ends of the two support means 41. In his embodiment of the vase the basal area of the va:3e is the area defined by the four corners 45 of he two rigid sheets.

In the foregoing examples some of the features described with reference to one or more of the embodisents can be applied to other embodiments of the vase, e.g. the direction of folding in all cases could be altered where possible. The extent of folding may be complete or only partial and similarly the extent of expansion may be complete or partial.

The vase of the present invention may be made of a very cheap material to be disposable. Equally if they are likely to be washed and retained and stored for further use, e.g. alfresco parties, garages, cheap restaurants etc. they could be of a slightly more expensive mate:-ial such as rigid plastic.

The vases are not only practical, but can also be designed to hae a very aesthetic appeal e.g. the pleated effect. They can also be brightly coloured or printed.

In the embodiments of the invention which have legs or struts, the strutts may be of rigid plastic, wood or possibly even metal. Essentially they must be rigid and not buckle once the receptacle is filled.

In another embodiment of the invention one or more side wall:; may have holes in the side for receiving the plants instead of, or as well as, the upper opening. Thus, the vase may have a very narrow opening in its upper surface, merely to enable the vase to be filled with water or the like.

In another embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that the inner surface of the material of the side walls is impregnated with a plant feed, so that once filled this dissolves and helps to keep the flowers or plants alive for longer.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container for the display of flowers, plants and the like comprising support means defining a basal area and a liquid impermeable receptacle having at least one side wall and a base, the upper edges ef which side walls define a top of the container, the receptacle having one or more openings in or adjacent the top of the container, wherein the basal area is greater than the cross sectional area of the top of the container, and further comprising folding means enabling the container to be reduced in size to a folded state alld to be expanded, for use.

2, A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the side wall is continuous and defines a frusto-conical receptacle.

3. A contains as claimed in claim 1 in which there are a plurality of interconnected side walls.

4. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support means is the base of the receptacle.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support means comprise 3 or more legs e: < tending longitudinally from the top of the container along the side wall(s) of the receptacle in which the basal area is defined by the lower ends of the legs.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 as dependent on any of claims L to 3 in which the legs project beyond the base of thts receptacle and define by their lower ends the basal area.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the support means comprise a pair of planar members joined at their upper ends to the top of the receptacle.

8. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one or more apertures are provided in the side wall(s) of the receptacle.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle is made of a rigid or semi-:rigid polymeric material.

10. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the receptacle is made of waxed paper or card.

11. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the recelztacle is made of a foiled plastic material.

12. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle further includes suppo:-t struts.

13. qe container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which an inner surface of the receptacle is impregnated with plant food.

14. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding clans in which the folding means comprise a plurality of fold lines along the length of the receptacle side walls and in the receptacle base.

15. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claiins in which the folding means include pleats in the 'side walls.

16. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 in which the folding means comprise a plurality of hinges along the length of the receptacle side walls and in the receptacle base.

17. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A container for the display of flowers, plants and the like comprising support means defining a basal area and a liquid impermeable receptacle having at least one side wall and a base, the upper edge(s) of which side wall(s) define a top of the container, the receptacle having one or more openings in or adjacent the top of the container, the basal area being greater than the cross sectional area of the top of the container, and further comprising folding means enabling the container to be reduced in size to a folded state and to be expanded, for use, wherein the folding means comprise a plurality of pleats or hinges along the length of the receptacle side wall(s) and in the receptacle base.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, comprising a continuous side wall defining a frusto-conical receptacle.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which there are a plurality of interconnected side walls.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support means comprise 3 or more legs extending longitudinally from the top of the container along the side wall(s) of the receptacle to project beyond the base of the receptacle, in which the basal area is defined by the lower ends of the legs.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which one or more apertures are provided in the side wall(s) of the receptacle to receive in use flowers, plants or the like.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle is made of a rigid or semi-rigid polymeric material.

8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the receptacle is made of waxed paper or card.

9. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 in which the receptacle is made of a foiled plastic material.

10. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which an inner surface of the receptacle is impregnated with plant food.