GB2381448A

GB2381448A - Attaching flower base to stand

Info

Publication number: GB2381448A
Application number: GB0219095A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Carter
Original assignee: SMITHERS OASIS UK Ltd
Current assignee: SMITHERS OASIS UK Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-02
Filing date: 2002-08-16
Publication date: 2003-05-07
Also published as: GB0126368D0; GB0219095D0

Abstract

A flower base 12 is attached to the rails 8a, 8b of a support frame 4 by means of attachment members 20, which allow it to be slid along the rails. Each attachment member consists of a bayonet (not shown) or screw threaded part 22 for securing to the base 12 and a part 24 with resiliently deformable arms 26a, 26b which snap-fit into place on the rail. A closure member 28 may also be provided. The flower base 12 has a part 14 of polystyrene or polyurethane foam to which the attachment members 20 are secured, and a part 16 of open-celled phenolic foam into which flower stems may be inserted. The flower base 12 may be shaped in the form of a letter, and arranged with others on the frame to spell out a word. The attachment members allow the letters to be adjusted in position.

Description

Title: Floral Support Assembly Description of Invention This invention is concerned with floral support assemblies, particularly but not exclusively as are used to provide a display of flowers in the form of a specific article, or to display a particular sentiment, or to spell out a name.

It is common, for example, at flower shows, for the name of a company to be spelled out by flowers: similarly, it is common at times of celebration to provide a display, commemorating the event being celebrated, such as"Jubilee" or HR", in flowers.

As another example, at funerals it is frequently desired to provide a display of flowers indicating the name of the deceased person, or their relationship with the mourner, or it may be desired to show an association with the life of the deceased person.

To provide for such displays it is conventional to utilise a floral support assembly comprising at least one base member which comprises a body of plastic foam, and a frame upon which the base member may be supported. The base member will be provided in an appropriate shape, and will be secured to the support member, and flower stems will be inserted into the foam of the base member, desirably hiding the base member from view. Where the plastic foam is water retentive, this extends the life of the display of flowers.

One method conventionally utilised to secure the base member to the frame involves the use of adhesive or"velcro"pads. Another method which has been used involves the use of short lengths of wire secured to the base member, and by which the base member may be secured to the frame, conveniently by twisting the wire around parts of the frame.

Two problems have been appreciated in the devising of the present invention as follows: a) firstly, where the floral support assembly comprises a plurality of base members mounted on the frame, it may subsequent to the insertion of the flowers into the base member be desirable to re-arrange the relative positions between the base members, to provide an optimum display; and b) secondly, in most cases it is very important to ensure that the display retains its form despite the passage of possibly lengthy periods of time, which might involve subjecting the floral support assembly to movement, vibration, knocks etc. , and over which it may be necessary to re-water the base member, to extend the life of the flowers.

Particularly at funerals, considerable distress may be caused if during the funeral service, part of the display loses its integrity, as may happen if one of the base members moves upon the frame to which it is secured.

It is thus one of the various objects of this invention to provide a floral support assembly, which will retain its integrity over an extensive period of time.

According to this invention there is provided a floral support assembly comprising: a) a base member comprising plastic foam ; b) a frame upon which the base member may be supported; and c) attachment means for mounting the base member on the frame; wherein the attachment means comprises an attachment member comprising a first part which may be secured to the base member, and a second part which may be mounted on the frame in a manner such as to permit limited relative movement between the base member and the frame.

The relative movement may be provided by sliding the frame through the attachment means. Alternatively the two parts of the attachment means can

move relative to each other, or the base could move relative to the attachment means.

Preferably the second part is adapted to snap-fit onto the frame.

Preferably the second part comprises at least one resiliently deformable arm enabling the attachment member to be snap-fitted onto the frame, such as onto a rail of the frame. Preferably the second part comprises two arms which may grip the frame in a manner whereby relative movement therebetween is restrained.

The first part preferably comprises a bayonet or screw thread, enabling it to be connected to the base wherein it will be retained, by a simple combination of linear and rotational movement.

Preferably the base member comprises a first parts to which the attachment member may be secured, and a second part carried by the first part, into which second part flower stems may be inserted.

Thus, the first part may be of a stiffer material, such as polystyrene or polyurethane foam, and the second part may be of lighter weight material, preferably water-absorbent material, such as open-celled phenolic foam.

Conveniently the two parts may be formed by cutting from sheet material, and adhesively secured together.

Preferably the attachment means comprises two attachment members for each base member whereby the base member may be secured to the frame at two spaced positions providing a stable mounting for the base member on the frame. Thus, where the frame comprises spaced, parallel rails, the attachment means may comprise attachment members secured to the base member at positions which enable each attachment member to be mounted on one of the rails.

If desired, the attachment member may comprise a closure member, enabling it to be mounted on the frame in a manner such that removal therefrom is rendered difficult.

According to this invention there is also provided an attachment means for use in floral support assembly of the type comprising a base member comprising plastic foam, and a frame upon which the base member may be supported, the attachment means comprising an attachment member comprising a first part which may be secured to the base member and a second part which may be mounted on the frame in such a manner as to permit limited relative movement between the base member and the frame.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, a floral support assembly which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational of the floral support assembly; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a base member of the floral support assembly; FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of an attachment member; and FIGURES 4 and 5 are views of a modified attachment member, which may be utilised in the performance of this invention.

The floral support assembly which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is in its general arrangement conventional, and comprises, in conventional manner, a frame 4 comprising two end frame members 6 (only one of which is shown in the drawings) between which elongate hollow rectangular rails 8a and 8b extend.

Each frame member comprises feet zu 7b which enable the frame to be mounted on a support surface.

The floral support assembly comprises a base member 12 (Figure 2) formed to a desired shape, and comprising a first part 14, conveniently of relatively stiff polystyrene foam, and a second part 16, conveniently of low

density phenolic foam. In conventional manner, the two parts may be cut from sheet material, and secured together by adhesive.

The base member is secured to the frame by attachment means comprising a plurality of attachment members 20 (Figure 3), each comprising a first part 22 and a second part 24, conveniently integrally moulded from plastics material. The first part 22 is conveniently provided with a broad screw thread, and the second part 24 is adapted to be interfitted with the frame, as will hereinafter be described.

Since the separation of the rails 8a and 8b is known, the base member may be provided with markings indicating the position at which the securing members 22 may be mounted, as is shown in Figure 2. A desired number of attachment members 20 may be utilised, and in the embodiment illustrated conveniently three, which will be inserted into the part 14 of the base member, and screwed into position. When in the appropriate rotational position, the second parts 24 of the attachment members may be clipped onto the rails 8a and 8b, as is shown in Figure 1, retaining the base member in position on the frame.

Preferably the part 24 of the attachment members comprise generally parallel arms 26a, 26b which are inclined slightly towards one another, but are capable of being resiliently moved apart, as the attachment member is snap-

fitted onto the rail. In this way the arms 26 2612 will resiliently grip the rail, , 26b will resiliently grip the rail, restraining movement of the attachment members along the rails, but permitting specifically desired movement, as may be necessary to adjust the position of the base member on the frame.

If desired, flowers may be mounted on the part 16 of the base, by inserting the stems into the foam material, and on completion the assembly may be mounted on the rails, and adjusted into a desired position.

Alternatively, the base member may be first mounted on the frame, and flower stems inserted into the part 16, and the assembly then moved into a desired position.

Particularly where the floral support assembly comprises a plurality of such base members (such as when a name is spelled out), subsequent to the completion of the mounting of the flowers, the relative positions of the base members may be adjusted into the most desirable position.

By the use of the invention, subsequent to completion of positioning of the base members on the frame, little tendency for the individual base members to move is encountered, which could otherwise cause, particularly in the case of a funeral, embarrassment There is shown in Figure 4 a modification of the attachment member, similarly comprising a screw-thread portion 22, but of which the second part 24 comprises a member 28 connected to the arm 26b be a live hinge, and which may be mounted between an open position and a closed position (shown in Figure 5) in which it embraces one of the rails, thereby securely to retain its associated base member in position on the frame, conveniently being retained in its closed position by inter-fitting formations 29g, 29b, It will of course be appreciated that the number of attachment members utilised to secure the base member on the frame will be dependant upon the shape of the base member, or the weight thereof.

In the present specification"comprises"means"includes or consists of" and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A floral support assembly comprising: a) a base member comprising plastic foam; b) a frame upon which the base member may be supported; and c) attachment means for mounting the base member on the frame; wherein the attachment means comprises an attachment member comprising a first part which may be secured to the base member and a second part which may be mounted on the frame in such a manner as to permit limited relative movement between the base member and the frame.

2. A floral support assembly according to claim 1 wherein the relative movement is provided by sliding the frame through the attachment means.

3. A floral support assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the second part is adapted to snap-fit onto the frame.

4. A floral support assembly according to claim 3 wherein the second part comprises at least one resiliently deformable arm.

5. A floral support assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the second part comprises two arms.

6. A floral support assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the first part is connected to the base by a combination of linear and rotational movement.

7. A floral support assembly according to Claim 6 in which the first part comprises a bayonet thread.

8. A floral support assembly according to Claim 6 in which the first part comprises a screw-thread.

9. A floral support assembly according to any preceding claim in which the base member comprises a first part, to which the attachment member may be secured, and a second part carried by the first part, into which flower stems may be inserted.

10. A floral support assembly according to Claim 9 wherein the first part is of a stiffer material and the second part is of a lighter weight material.

11. A floral support assembly according to Claim 10 wherein the first part is made of polystyrene or polyurethane foam and the second part is made of a open-celled phenolic foam.

12. A floral support assembly according to any preceding claim in which the attachment means comprises two attachment members for each base member.

13. A floral support assembly according to Claim 12 wherein the frame comprises spaced parallel rails and the attachment members are secured to the base member at positions which enable each attachment member to be mounted on one of the rails.

14. A floral support assembly according to any one of Claims 12 and 13 in which the attachment member comprises a closure member.

15. A floral support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. An attachment means for use in floral support assembly of the type comprising a base member comprising plastic foam, and a frame upon which the base member may be supported, the attachment means comprising an attachment member comprising a first part which may be secured to the base member and a second part which may be mounted on the frame in such a manner as to permit limited relative movement between the base member and the frame.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.