US2982051A

US2982051A - Flower holder

Info

Publication number: US2982051A
Application number: US723205A
Authority: US
Inventors: Julia E Wheelock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-03-24
Filing date: 1958-03-24
Publication date: 1961-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1978-05-02

Description

FLOWER HOLDER an. E. Wheelock, rose/2 Oak St., Beloit, Wis. Filed Mar. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 723,205 Claims. or. 47-41 This invention relates to a device for supporting flowers and the like in a vase.

An important object of this invention is to provide a flower holder which is adjustable in size and shape to enable me of the same in vases of difierent size and configuration.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a fiowerholder which is formed of hexagonal mesh wire and which is shaped and arranged so as to enable axial and radial expansion or contraction of the same for use in different size vases, and in which the ends of the hexagonal mesh wire are protectively enclosed to avoid injury to the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flower holder which can be economically fabricated and which is simple and efficient in use.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewv through a flower holder constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown mounted in a vase;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the flower holder and vase;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a piece of the wire mesh employed in the flower holder, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of a modified form of vase and illustrating the flower holder reshaped to conform to the vase of Fig. 4.

The flower holder of the present invention is primarily adapted for use with relatively long stemmed flowers and the like to provide support therefor at two spaced points along the stem. In general, the flower holder comprises an enclosed body or cage 9 formed of hexagonal wire mesh and which is constructed and arranged so as to enable the same to be radially and axially expanded or contracted or reshaped for use in different vases. It is an important feature of the present invention that the flower holder can'be reshaped by hand for use in either tall or shallow vases, and also in vases which are circular, rectangular or oblong in configuration.

The flower holder is formed from a generally rectangular section of hexagonal wire mesh having a mesh size preferably of the order of one inch. As is conventional,

such hexagonal wire mesh, as woven, includes transverse rows of entwined wire portions herein designated 10a- 10g inclusive, with the entwined wire portions in each row staggered with respect to the entwined wire portions in the adjacent rows and interconnected by diagonally extending wire portions 11. Preferably, the section of hexagonal wire mesh is cut so that one row, designated 10a, of the entwined wire portions is disposed at one end of the section and another row, herein designated 10g, is disposed at the other end of the section. The side edges tics. atcnt j extending wire portions along at least one edge of thesection of wire mesh could be cut at a point spaced outwardly from the entwined wire portions at that side to thereby provide a tie wire or clamp which is integral with the section of wire mesh. The end portions of the rolled section are arched inwardly toward the axis thereof, the

rows

10a and 10g of entwined wire portions at each end of the body converging relative to each other and terminating with their inner ends spaced radially outwardly from the axis of the rolled section to define an enclosed wire mesh body or cage 9.

In accordance with the present invention, the radially inner ends of the rows of entwined

wire portions

10a and 10g are rigidly secured together to prevent distention of the ends of the body when the central portion thereof is radially expanded or contracted. In addition, the ends of the entwined wire portions are protectively enclosed to prevent injury to the user. Preferably, the ends of the rows of entwined

wire portions

10a and 10g are attached to an annular member, to provide an axial opening in the body for the reception of the stems of flowers and the like. As herein shown a clamp ring consisting of a grommet 13 and washer 14 is provided at each end of the body. The inner ends of the rows oferitwined portions Ida and 10g are interposed between the respective washer and grommet and the grommet thereafter crirnped over in the form of a roll 13a on top of the washer to firmly clamp the ends of the entwined wire portions therebetween. In order to facilitate assembly of the grommet and washer at each end of the mesh body or cage, the longitudinal scam in the mesh body is preferably left open for the reception of an anvil (not shown) for supporting the grommet during the crimping'operation. The'longitudinal scam in the body is thereafter secured together by the aforementioned bands 12.

As illustrated herein, the enclosed mesh body is generally cylindrical in configuration with inwardly curved ends and as such is specifically shaped for use in a relatively tall vase 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The flower holder is relatively light in weight and in order to properly support the flowers in the vase, the holder is preferably arranged to engage the sides of the vase at least at spaced points therearound to prevent movement of the holder Within the vase. This can conveniently be achieved by inserting the holder into the vase and then pressing on the end of the holder to thereby radially expand the same suflicient to provide relatively firm contact between the holder and vase.

The disclosed flower holder can also be formed into different shapes, either when initially fabricating the same or in subsequent use thereof. Since the ends of the mesh body are constrained against distention and as the body is formed of deformable and expansible hexagonal mesh wire, the body can be radially and axially expanded or contracted to form different shapes. For example, the body 9 of Figure 1 can be axially compressed as shown in Fig. 4 and radially expanded for use in relatively shallow vases. Moreover, if the vase is oblong or square in configuration, the flower holder can be reshaped to an oblong or square configuration to conform to the vase. For very large receptacles, a plurality of the wire mesh flower holders may be provided and disposed in end to end relation in tall vases or nested side-by-side' relation in relatively shallow vases. Although the flower holder is adaptable to various different sizes and shapes, it is contemplated that the holder be made in several different sizes for use in very small as well as very large vases or receptacles.

I claim:

1. An adjustable flower holder for use in vessels of difierent size and shape comprising, a piece of hexagonal mesh wire shaped in the form of a tube having the end portions arched inwardly toward the axis of the tube to substantially close the ends of the tube and define a hollow mesh body adapted to support flower stems extended therethrough, said piece being formed of a. deformable Wire which can be readily bent by hand, and means rigidly securing the ends of the inwardly'extending end portions together to prevent distention ofthe ends of the body when the central portion thereof is radially expanded or contracted to thereby enable shaping of the body for use in different vessels.

2. An adjustable flower holder for use in vessels of different size and shape comprising, a piece of hexagonal mesh wire shaped in the form of a tube having the end portions arched inwardly toward the axis of the tube to substantially close the ends of the tube and define a hollow mesh body adapted to support flower stems extended therethrough, said piece having the side edges secured together and being formed of a deformable wire which can be readily bent by hand, and an annular member secured to the inwardly extending end portions at each end of the body and having a diameter which is small as compared to that of the body to define a central opening and to prevent distention of the ends of the body when the central portion thereof is radially expanded or contracted to thereby enable shaping of the body for use in different vessels.

3. An adjustable flower holder for use in vessels of different size and shape comprising a piece of hexagonal mesh wire having a plurality of rows of entwined wire portions, the entwined wire portions in each row being staggered with respect to the entwined portions of adjacent rows and interconnected therewith by diagonally extending wire portions, the piece being shaped in the form of a tube having the end portions arched inwardly toward the axis of the tube to substantially close the ends thereof and define a hollow mesh body, the body having one of said rows of entwined wire portions adjacent each end and the entwined portions in the end rows extending generally radially inwardly toward the axis of the body, said piece being formed of a deformable wire which can be readily bent by hand, and means rigidly securing the inwardly extending entwined portions at each end of the body together to prevent distention of the ends of the body when the central portion is expanded or contracted for fitting into the vessel, said body being adapted to radially expand when the pressure is applied to the ends thereof to facilitate fitting of the holder snugly in the vessel.

4. An adjustable flower holder for use in vessels of different size and shape comprising a piece of hexagonal mesh wire having a plurality of rows of entwined wire portions, the entwined wire portions in each row being staggered with respect to the entwined portions of adjacent rows and interconnected therewith by diagonally extending wire portions, the piece being shaped in the form of a tube having the end portions arched inwardly toward the axis of the tube to substantially close the ends thereof and define a hollow mesh body, the body having one of said rows of entwined Wire portions adjacent each end and the entwined portions in the end rows extending generally radially inwardly toward the axis of the body, said piece being formed of a deformable wire which can be readily bent by hand and having the side edges thereof secured together, and an annular member secured to the inwardly extending end portions at each end.

of the body and having a diameter which is small as compared to that of the body to define a central openingv and to prevent distention of the ends of the body when the central portion is radially expanded or contracted for fitting into a vessel.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said annular member comprises an eyelet grommet and washer assembly, the ends of the entwined portions at the ends of the body being interposed between the washer and grommet to be protectively encased thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS