GB2373723A

GB2373723A - Flower arrangement support

Info

Publication number: GB2373723A
Application number: GB0108965A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jay Spicer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-10
Filing date: 2001-04-10
Publication date: 2002-10-02
Also published as: GB0108965D0

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting a flower arrangement comprises a frame 10 to which flower containers in the shape of letters can be attached. The frame comprises horizontal bars 13, 14 each provided with a recess 20 in the rear surface so as to receive spring clips on the containers by snap-fit engagement.

Description

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SUPPORT APPARATUS This invention relates to flower arrangement support apparatus of the type comprising shaped containers adapted for holding water-absorbing foam material and attachable to a supporting structure to display a design in an upstanding orientation, the foam material in use receiving flower stems so that the design is seen in the form of a mass or array of flower heads. For the purpose of this specification, the container may be in the form of a shape, for example a heart, anchor or cross shape, or a letter, whereby the design may be in the form of a shape or a word or a combination thereof. Typically, such designs are used for memorial or funeral wreaths.

It is already known to provide flower holders comprising troughs for receiving foam material and mounted on longitudinal support members; the troughs may be pre-formed to a desired shape or letter or made up from a plurality of interconnectable trough portions.

The holders may be mounted in adjacent relationship on the support members to form a word or message from holders in the form of letters.

Hitherto, it has been commonplace either to secure the holders to the support members using adhesive pads or, alternatively, by using some form of mechanical clip. However, the clips typically used have not been readily disengagable from the support members, with the result that it is difficult to vary the spacing or order of the holders during assembly of the word or message and, furthermore, that there has been a tendency to discard the complete assembly once it has been used.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a support apparatus of the type described comprises a supporting structure and a plurality of shaped containers attachable to the supporting structure, in which the supporting structure comprises horizontally-disposed bar members and the shaped containers include attachment means which are snap-engageable with the bar members. Preferably, either the bar members or the attachment means include recesses and the other of the bar members and the attachment means include protrusions which are complementary to the recesses and engage therein when the containers are attached to the bar members, to provide additional grip and positional stability as between the bar members and shaped containers when mutually engaged.

The bar members are spaced apart and the attachment means of the containers are correspondingly spaced apart to be in registration with the bar members in use. The ends of the bar members may be received in spacer elements arranged to hold the bar members the desired distance apart. Preferably, the spacer members are pivotably attached to foot members, whereby the spacer members and hence the bar members may be allowed to lie flat or, alternatively, may adopt an upstanding disposition. The pivot means may comprise means for incremental pivotal adjustment, whereby a desired angle of elevation may be selected.

The bar members preferably have a curved cross-sectional circumference and the recesses are formed in the rear of the bar members and comprise longitudinal grooves preferably having an upper wall which is at least radially-disposed, if not even being angled to provide an overhang to the groove whereby the corresponding protrusion formed on the attachment means is positively engaged in the groove when in the mutually engaged condition.

Preferably, the bar members are oval in cross-sectional shape with the major diameter substantially parallel to the plane of the shaped containers when attached thereto.

The attachment means preferably comprise resilient hook members shaped and dimensioned so as to be a snug fit over at least about 50% of the circumference of the bar members when mutually engaged therewith. Where the bar members include recesses, for example as longitudinal grooves, the hook members are provided, preferably at their remote or distal ends, with a corresponding protrusion which may comprise, for example, an inwardly-directed tongue or barb and, optionally, an outwardly-directed release tab or lever for enabling the tongue or barb to be disengaged from the recess. At their inner or proximal ends, the hook members may be formed with a standing or body part for attachment to the back of the shaped containers. Where the bars are of oval cross-sectional shape, the intermediate parts of the hook members follow in curvature a paraboloid shape corresponding with the minor radius of the bars, whereby the contact surface between the bars and hook members is increased compared with an arcuate profile, and the protrusions at the distal ends of the hook members correspond with a groove formed in the major-radius part of the bars remote from the side adjacent the shaped containers.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled apparatus with the letters MUM shown in dashed outline ; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the longitudinal support bars; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of a clip for holding the letter shapes to the support bars.

With reference firstly to Figure 1, the apparatus shown generally at 10 consists essentially of end sub-assemblies 11,12 with horizontal support bars 13,14 spanning between them.

Each end assembly includes a foot member 15 and an arm 16 pivotably attached to the foot member at 17. The pivotable joint 17 includes internally-disposed upstanding peg members attached to the arm on opposite sides of the pivot axis, the peg members in use engaging with internal projections formed on the inner circumferential surface of the boss 18 of the foot member, whereby the arm 16 can be incrementally pivoted between a position in the same plane as the foot member 15, whereby the letters would lie essentially horizontal, and a selection of upstanding positions, the arm being maintained in a selected position by engagement between the peg members and an appropriate internal projection.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the support bars 13,14 are oval in cross-section and are formed with a longitudinal groove 19 with a radial wall 20. The support bars are press-fitted on mating formations at the respective upper and lower ends of the arms 11,12 with the grooves 19 facing towards the rear.

The letters are formed from flowers for display purposes, the stems of which are inserted in blocks of foam material contained in the shaped containers. Attached to the rear surface of each container are two bracket members as shown in Figure 3, vertically spaced-apart according to the spacing of the bars 13,14 on the arms 11,12. As shown, the bracket members have a base or body part 31 for attachment to the rear of the containers and a paraboloid arm 32 with a reinforcement gusset 33. At the remote or distal end of the arm 32 is an inwardly-directed tongue 34 for engagement, in use, in groove 19 of the support bars, and a release tab 35.

In use, the containers are fitted to the support bars by snap-engagement of the arms 32 over the upper surface of the support bars, the tongues engaging in the grooves. The letters are thereby held stably and securely but can readily be removed either for adjustment purposes or to return the component parts of the assembly to stock for re-use on another occasion.

The preferred material from which the apparatus is fabricated is ABS plastics material.

Claims

Claims 1. Support apparatus for a flower arrangement, the apparatus comprising a supporting structure and a plurality of shaped containers attachable to the supporting structure, in which the supporting structure comprises horizontally-disposed bar members and the shaped containers include attachment means which are snap-engageable with the bar members.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which either the bar members or the attachment means include recesses and the other of the bar members and the attachment means include protrusions which are complementary to the recesses and engage therein when the containers are attached to the bar members.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the ends of the bar members are received in spacer elements arranged to hold the bar members the desired distance apart.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the spacer members are pivotably attached to foot members.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the pivot means comprises means for incremental pivotal adjustment.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the bar members have a curved cross-sectional circumference and the recesses are formed in the rear of the bar members and comprise longitudinal grooves having an upper wall which is at least radially-disposed.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the bar members are oval in cross-sectional shape with the major diameter substantially parallel to the plane of the shaped containers when attached thereto.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the attachment means comprises resilient hook members shaped and dimensioned so as to be a snug fit over at least about 50% of the circumference of the bar members when mutually engaged therewith.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which the hook members are provided at their remote or distal ends, with a corresponding protrusion which comprises an inwardly-directed tongue or barb.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, in which the protrusion comprises an outwardly-directed release tab or lever for enabling the tongue or barb to be disengaged from the recess.
11. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which the hook members are provided at their inner or proximal ends with a standing or body part for attachment to the back of the shaped containers.
12. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the intermediate parts of the hook members follow in curvature a paraboloid shape corresponding with the minor radius of the bars, whereby the contact surface between the bars and hook members is increased compared with an arcuate profile, and the protrusions at the distal ends of the hook members correspond with a groove formed in the major-radius part of the bars remote from the side adjacent the shaped containers.
13. Support apparatus for a flower arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 1 to 3.