GB2459579A - Handle for bouquets and posies - Google Patents

Abstract

A pre-formed handle structure for a bouquet or posy has an elongate vessel 3 that serves both as a handle for holding a finished bouquet or posy and as a receptacle for receiving one or more of flower stems 1 , natural greenery and artificial decoration 2 . The vessel 3 has a first closed end and a second open end. Secondary artificial decoration 6 , 7 is mounted to the vessel about the opening at the second end to provide a decorative framework and/or support for the flower stems, natural greenery and/or decoration received in the vessel. The vessel may be double-walled, comprising an outer vessel 9 and an inner vessel 8 , with the secondary artificial decoration 6 , 7 mounted between the two vessels to protrude from and about the open end. The secondary decoration may comprise an arrangement of crystal stems comprising crystal mounted on wire.

Description

BOUOUETS AND POSIES

This disclosure relates to bouquets, especially but not limited to bridal bouquets, and posies.

Bouquets, especially bridal bouquets, and posies, whether formed of natural or artificial materials, commonly comprise an arrangement in which the stems or the like are bound together to form a rigid stub typically of around 10cm in length enabling the user to hold their bouquet in front of them.

Heretofore bridal bouquets have generally had to be made on the day from fresh flowers and greenery. More recently, some brides have chosen similarly shaped bouquets made entirely from crystals mounted on wire stems. Crystal bouquets are reusable.

Brides choosing a crystal bouquet either had to choose between a selection of preformed bouquets or to have one made especially to their requirements at additional cost.

There is a need for additional choice in the construction of bouquets and posies and, in particular, for brides wishing crystals in their bouquet.

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a pre-formed handle structure for a bouquet or posy, comprising: an elongate vessel serving both as a handle and as a receptacle for receiving one or more of flower stems, natural greenery and artificial decoration; the vessel having a first closed end and a second open end; and secondary artificial decoration being mounted to the vessel about the opening at said second end to provide a decorative framework andlor support for said one or more of flower stems, natural greenery and artificial decoration.

The secondary decoration preferably comprises an arrangement of crystals mounted on wire.

As can readily be appreciated, a preformed handle structure of this kind enables a bride to choose a basic crystal framework for her posy in the form of a preformed handle structure, and to combine this with a selected centrepiece for the bouquet which may be formed of crystals or of any available fresh flowers.

The vessel is preferably double-walled, comprising an outer vessel and an inner vessel, with the secondary decoration mounted between the two vessels to protrude from and about the open end. Alternatively, the handle may be single walled with the secondary decoration bound to the outside of the vessel so as to protrude from and about the open end thereof.

Embodiments of preformed handle structures are described hereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a bunch of fresh flower stems adapted to form a centerpiece for a bouquet; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a similar bunch of crystal stems; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of preformed handle structure; Fig. 4 schematically illustrates the method of construction of the handle structure ofFig.3; Fig. 5 is an exploded view of an entire bouquet incorporating a second embodiment of handle; Fig. 6, which is partly in section, schematically illustrates a complete bouquet with a centrepiece of fresh flowers; Fig. 7 shows a structural wire suitable for forming a teardrop structure for a bouquet; and Fig. 8 illustrates a fmished teardrop tail for a bouquet.

Bouquets may be formed, as explained below, to include fresh stems of flowers I andlor natural greenery, or entirely from artificial decoration such as crystal stems 2 formed by stringing crystals to florists wire, as explained in the Example hereinbelow.

A simple preformed handle structure may be made from an elongate, generally cylindrical vessel 3 suitably formed of plastics and having a first closed end 4 and a second open end 5. A plurality of crystal stems 6 are arranged around the outside of the vessel 3 and bare wires 7 forming the ends of the stems are bound to it with satin ribbon (not shown) to hide the wires and hold them in place. As a result, the crystal stems 6 extend around and beyond the open end 5 of the vessel as shown in Figs, 3 and 4.

In an alternative structure, illustrated in exploded view in Fig. 5, the vessel 3 is double walled, comprising an inner vessel 8 and an outer vessel 9. In this case, the bare wires 7 for the crystal stems 6 are fixed between the two vessels so that they again extend beyond and around the opening at the open end of the vessel. Either stems of fresh flowers I or crystal stems 2 may be mounted as desired in the inner vessel. Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the finished result with the crystal stems 6 serving as a framework and support for the fresh flower stems 1 forming a centrepiece for the bouquet.

Bridal bouquets commonly incorporate a long tail in a generally teardrop shape.

This can readily be incorporated in bridal bouquets constructed in accordance with the present teachings. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, bent wires 10 (Fig. 7) having a short end 11 and a trailing end 12 may be strung with crystals 13 (Fig. 8) along the trailing end in the manner described in the Example below. The several short ends 11 of a plurality of wires 10 with trailing ends 12 of different lengths, some of which may be branched, are bound together to form a pre-formed teardrop tail 14 as shown in Fig. 8. This may be used alone as the centrepiece of a bouquet employing a preformed handle as shown in Fig. 4 or Figs. and 6 by inserting the bound-together short ends 11 into the vessel to form an entirely crystal bouquet, or may be combined with fresh flowers, for example stems of orchids overlying the crystal teardrop tail, with both flower stems and the bound-together short ends 10 being inserted into the open end of the vessel to form a more elaborate centrepiece for the bouquet.

Many other variations are possible. Indeed, the primary advantage of pre-formed handle structures in accordance with the present teachings is that they are adaptable to readily provide variations of bouquets at the choice of the user. Although the description herein is largely concerned with crystals, other forms of artificial decoration may be substituted. However, crystal is preferred since it has the ability to absorb and reflect colour so that a bride may mix and match colours, shades and tones together with flowers of her choice to achieve a bouquet that coordinates with any chosen theme.

A preformed handle, perhaps with a co-ordinating teardrop tail can be pre-ordered or hired for the occasion and combined with a centrepiece of fresh flowers at a cost over all of significantly less than a traditional floral bouquets made up on the day of a wedding and delivered to the bride too late for any change to be made. If the bride purchases the crystal bouquet, whether or not it is augmented with fresh flowers on the day, they are left with an attractive crystal arrangement that they can keep in their crystal cabinet to remember their special day, whereas with a floral bouquet, attempts at preservation are expensive and often unsatisfactory and short lived.

It will be appreciated that the illustrations herein are schematic only and that the use of florists wire mounting crystals or other artificial decoration enables the wire to be arranged to produce the most pleasing effect.

The construction of bouquets in accordance with the present teachings is further illustrated by the following non-limiting Example.

Example

The following are required to make a posy: * 80 x 33cm lengths of 0.6mm florists' wire divided into two lots, one of 60 and one of 20 * 30 x 3mm, 80 x 4mm, 80 x 5mm and 50 x 8mm bicone crystals, available under the Swarovski� Trademark * 2 x plastics vessels, 110mm in length, one being 15mm wide, the other being 25mm wide * Silicone washers of various sizes A length of wire is doubled in half, and a 3mm crystal is slid along the wire from one end of the wire to the bend. The crystal is held and the two wire portions are twined for about 1cm to fix the crystal in place. This is repeated with a 4mm crystal, then twined for I.5cm, a 5mm crystal, then twined for 2cm, an 8mm crystal and then twined to the end. This produces a single crystal stem. These steps are repeated to produce 80 stems.

The small plastics vessel is bound with florists' tape, the purpose of which is to prevent the stems sliding out of position. 30 of the stems are arranged around the smaller vessel with bare wires running down the outside of the vessel and the portions of the stems bearing crystals extending beyond the open end of the vessel. Using a rubber band to hold the stems temporarily in position, the bare wires are bound to the vessel starting at the closed end and ending at the open end. A further 20 stems are overlaid around the bound stems with their crystal bearing ends extending further outwardly than the first 30 stems and also bound in place with florists' tape. When a handle of the kind illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is required, this structure may simply be fmished with satin ribbon.

However, and particularly for larger or heavier bouquets, I prefer to use a double walled arrangement. In this case, prior to binding with satin ribbon, the above construction is pushed into the larger vessel. The florists' tape may be sufficient to prevent the inner vessel and bound crystal stems from sliding out but a little glue may be added. The outer vessel is then bound with florists' tape and then with satin ribbon, the florists' tape serving to prevent the ribbon sliding off the outer vessel. Additional glue may be used.

The remaining crystal stems are bound together with florists' tape and inserted into the inner vessel with a silicon washer to firmly hold the bound stems in place, and complete a posy.

To form a teardrop bridal bouquet as opposed to a generally round posy, a 30 cm length of 20mm gauge florists' wire is bent at right angles at about 12 cm from one end to provide a short end and a trailing end, as shown in Fig. 7. 50 more crystal stems are wired one at a time to the trailing end to create a tail. If the central bunch of crystal stems is removed from the inner vessel of the above described posy, and the tail substituted, the result is a teardrop shaped bridal bouquet, entirely formed from crystal stems.

In addition or instead, several crystal extensions may be provided by taking 66cm lengths of florists' wire and threading crystals to them in the manner described above to form long crystal stems. These longer lengths with their additional weight can be hooked into the central vessel and held in place by the central bunch of crystal stems or the tail, and, in part because of their added weight tend to trail below the shorter crystal stems and sway as the bride walks carrying her bouquet by the handle.

Flower stems may be added to or substituted for crystal stems within the inner vessel.

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1. A pre-formed handle structure for a bouquet or posy, comprising: an elongate vessel serving both as a handle and as a receptacle for receiving one or more of flower stems, natural greenery and artificial decoration; the vessel having a first closed end and a second open end; and secondary artificial decoration being mounted to the vessel about the opening at said second end to provide a decorative framework and/or support for said one or more of flower stems, natural greenery and artificial decoration.
2. 2. A handle structure according to Claim 1, wherein the secondary decoration comprises an arrangement of crystal stems, each comprising crystals mounted on wire.
3. 3. A handle structure according to Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the vessel is double-walled, comprising an outer vessel and an inner vessel, with the secondary decoration mounted between the two vessels to protrude from and about the open end.
4. 4. A handle structure according to Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the vessel is single walled with the secondary decoration bound to the outside of the vessel so as to protrude from and about the open end thereof.
5. 5. A teardrop shaped crystal-based trailing bridal bouquet comprising: a handle structure according to Claim 2 or to Claims 3 or 4 when appendent to Claim 2, a tail preformed from a plurality of crystal stems and having at least one stem at its proximal end bent substantially at right angles to the remainder of the stem, the said proximal end(s) being received in said open end optionally together with one or more of crystal stems, greenery and fresh flowers overlying said tail.
6. 6. A bouquet or posy comprising a handle structure according to any of Claims 1 to 4, together with one or more of flower stems, natural greenery and artificial decoration received in said vessel through its open end.
7. 7. A bouquet or posy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
8. 8. Substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings, a pre-formed handle structure for a bouquet or posy.