US3577647A

US3577647A - Flower-encapsulating apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: US3577647A
Application number: US825753A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mike S Shimooka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-19
Filing date: 1969-05-19
Publication date: 1971-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-04

Abstract

Apparatus and method for encapsulating flowers, particularly orchids, in plastic, comprising mounting a flower on a jig assembly that holds it in its natural-appearing shape, and sinking the assembly in an alcohol solution to dehydrate the flower so that it can be encapsulated in plastic.

Description

United States Patent Mike S. Shimooka P.0. Box 11184, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 825,753

May 19, 1969 May 4, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented FLOWER-ENCAPSULATING APPARATUS AND METHOD 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

us. Cl 34/9,

' 271/30 rm. Cl F26b 3/00 Field of Search... 34/9, 60

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,906,636 9/1959 Hoivik Primary ExaminerJohn J. Camby Attorney-Lindenberg, Freilich and Wasserman ABSTRACT: Apparatus and method for encapsulating flowers, particularly orchids, in plastic, comprising mounting a flower on a jig assembly that holds it in its natural-appearing shape, and sinking the assembly in an alcohol solution to dehydrate the flower so that it can be encapsulated in plastic.

PATENIEU HAY 41971 v I INVENTOR. MIKE SH/MOQKA? FLOWER-ENCAPSULATING APPARATUS AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus and methods for the preservation of flowers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many objects can be encapsulated in a block of clear plastic to preserve and display them, and also to provide an attractive paperweight or other useful objects. Flowers are objects that would benefit especially from such encapsulation, inasmuch as they decay rapidly and are easily injured if not well protected, and because their beauty would provide especially attractive paper weights and other objects if they could be successfully encapsulated. Among the many types of flowers, the orchid could benefit especially well, inasmuch as it is especially beautiful and is representativeof particular geographical areas, such as the state of Hawaii, so that it can serve as a souvenir for visitors. p

Major difficulties in encapsulating flowers in clear plastic or the like are that the flowers degenerate when they are embedded in plastic, typically turning gray, and that they do not maintain their natural shape. Maintenance of shape is especially difflcult in the case of large, delicately curved flowers such as orchids, which are easily deformed and which appear highly unnatural when deformed.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an economical method and apparatus therefor for encapsulating flowers, which results in the flower having a natural-appearing configuration in the encapsulating matrix.

Another object is to provide apparatus for use in preparing flowers, particularly orchids, for encapsulation, which enables economy in the use of materials, standardization of mold parts, and economical mass production.

In accordance with the present invention, a flower and encapsulating method and apparatus therefor are provided which enable the encapsulating of flowers so that theyappear natural. The method comprises mounting a flower on ajig and sinking them in a dehydrating fluid such as alcohol. The assembly is then removed from the fluid, the fluid is dried off, and the now-rigid flower is encapsulated in a clear material such as a clear plastic matrix.

In one embodiment ofthe invention, the jigincludes a lower member for supporting the flower and an upper member for gently sinking the normally buoyant flower. The upper jig member is constructed of many independent sections, and of a material which is flaccid, or limp, when soaked in a dehydrat ing fluid. This allows the upper jig member to press down gently on all upper regions ofthe flower so that the outer ends of the petallike parts do not curl and the flower is retained in its natural configuration. The dehydrating material is an alcohol, and the upper jig member is constructed of light cardboard which becomes flaccid in alcohol. The upper jig member includes a central portion and numerous separate arms radiating from the central portion, the arm gently holding down all of the'petals and sepals which would otherwise tend to curl up in the alcohol. The lower jig comprises a platform for holding up the petals and sepals and a central hole for receiving the central portion of the flower from which the petals and sepals radiate.

In another embodiment of the invention, a single jig member is used, and a flower is fastened to it to prevent the flower from rising in the dehydrating solution. The jig has upwardly extending-flanges that hold certain petallike parts of the flower in a curved configuration that prevents upward curling oftheir ends.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS joaquim orchid which it is adapted to'hold; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, with a vanda joaquim orchid therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The encapsulation of flowers in accordance with this invention is accomplished by immersing a fresh flower in a dehydrating fluid such as alcohol and drying off the alcohol. The dehydration preserves the flower and makes it stifi so that it holds its shape during the molding of a clear plastic matrix around it. The rigid dehydrated flower can be placed in a mold and a clear plastic resin matrix is injected into the mold to surround the flower so it is embedded therein. The mold can be of a size and shape for use of the object as a paperweight that displays the flower. The embedding of the rigid, dehydrated herefore.

4 In accordance with the invention, a rigid, dehydrated flower having a natural-appearing configuration is produced by immersing a fresh flower in a dehydrating fluid such as alcohol while supporting the flower in a jig assembly to hold it in a natural-appearing configuration. After dehydration, the jig assembly with the now-rigid flower is removed from the dehydrating fluid, the flower is removed from the jig assembly, and the dehydrating fluid is allowed to evaporate from the flower. The flower is then surrounded with a liquid plastic for encapsulation.

FIG. I illustrates the process and apparatus used in dehydrating an orchid I0 of a type generally referred to as the dendrobium. The immersion is accomplished by the use of a lower jig 12 which supports the flower from below, and an upper jig. 14 which presses down gently on the flower to prevent it from rising in the alcohol. A lower jig support 16 elevates and maintains the shape of the lower jig. An operator grasps the rim of the jig support with a tweezers I8, and lowers the apparatus into a dehydrating bath 22 such as a solution containing a butyl alcohol, to remove moisture from the flower. After the flower has become dehydrated, he removes the assembly from the solution, removes the flower from the jig assembly, and places the flower on a tray to dry.

FIG. 2 illustrates the lower and upper jigs l2, l4 and the dendrobium orchid I0 which they support during the dehydration process. The dendrobium I0 comprises a cup-shaped center portion 24 and a stem 26 extending downwardly from a location near the center portion. This orchid has six petallike parts, including three

petals

28, 30, 32 and three

sepals

34, 36, and 37, which radiate from the center portion. The lower jig I2 comprises an open central cylindrical portion 38 and a plurality of arms 40 radiating out from the top of it. The cylindrical portion of the lower jig receives a downwardly protruding center portion 24 and stem 26 of the orchid so that the petals and sepals are supported on the arms 40 without deforming downwardly to the level of the center portion.

The upper jig I4 is similar to the lower jig, it also having an open central cylindrical portion 42 with a plurality of arms 44 radiating from it. The upper jig is constructed of a light material which is stiff when dry but flaccid, or limp, in the dehydrating fluid, such as paper. When the orchid has been placed on the lower jig 12, the upper jig 14 may be placed on top of the orchid. The upper jig 14 is light so it'does not substantially deform the flowers configuration. When the jig assembly, with the orchid therein, is gently immersed in the alcohol dehydration bath, the arms 44 of the upper jig become limp and they droop down to generally follow the contours of the orchid. The petals and sepals generally tend to rise in the alcohol and their ends tend to curl, and if they were not held down by a generally evenly applied pressure, they would extend upward at a greater, unnatural angle, and their ends would curl up. However, the limp arms 40 of the upper jig hold down the outer ends of the petals and sepals so they retain their natural configuration. The arms 44 are light enough so that they 'do not actually flatten the petals and sepals, but they do prevent local areas, particularly the ends, from acquiring an excessive upward curvature. After the jig assembly is removed from the alcohol and the orchid is removed from the jig assembly, the jig members are dried and may be reused.

Both upper and lower jigs can be produced from paper or light cardboard by cutting a sheet of it into strips that are joined only along one edge portion. The lower jig I2 is made more rigid than the upper jug 14 by using stiffer paper or two or more plies of the same paper material. After cutting the sheet into strips, it is rolled and glued to form a cylinder, with the edge portion where the strips are joined forming the

center

38 or 42 of the jig and the strips forming the

arms

40 or 44 thereof. The multiarm configuration of the jigs prevents entrapment of air by the jigs, which assures that they sink in the alcohol bath even though they are light. The multiarm form of the upper jig and its flaccidity in the dehydration fluid also assures the application of light pressure on the orchid at all regions thereof, the arms generally following the natural configuration of the orchid, and there being only limited areas between the arms which are free of such pressure. The stiffness of the upperjig, prior to immersion in alcohol, facilitates its placement on the orchid so that the arms will lie on all regions thereof.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate a lower jig which is especially adapted for use in dehydrating a type of orchid known as the vanda joaquim. The vanda joaquim 50 has a cup-shaped center portion 52, a stem 54 extending from a position near the periphery of the center portion, and

petals

56, 58, 60 and

sepals

62, 64, 66 radiating from the center portion. The vanda joaquim orchid is formed differently from the dendrobium, in that the stem 54 extends from a position near the level of the petals and sepals, and in a direction angled away from the center portion as well as downwardly. Furthermore, in its natural-appearing configuration, the petal 56 curves up to a position substantially above the level of the inner ends of the

sepals

62, 64 on either side of it, while on the other side of the flower the

petals

58, 60 and sepal 66 curve up together. It is desirable to hold the vanda joaquim in this general configuration, inasmuch as a more flattened shape would result in an unnatural appearance.

As shown in the FIGS., the jig 68 comprises a base portion 70 with upwardly extending

flanges

72, 74 on opposite sides of the base. A large central aperture 76 in the center of the base is provided to receive the cup-shaped center portion of the orchid, and a smaller aperture 78 is provided to receive the stem 54. When the vanda joaquim orchid is positioned in the lower jig, with the center in the aperture 76 and the stem in the aperture 78, the outer end of petal 56'rests on flange 72 while the

petals

58, 60 and sepal 66 rest on flange 74. The

other sepals

62, 64 rest on the

base portions

80, 82, below the level of the flanges. The orchid is held to the lower jig by attaching a pin 84 or other fastener to the portion of the stem 54 which extends below the base, as shown in FIG. 5. In addition, a pin 86 is inserted through the lip petal 56 and through the base 70. Thus, the stem 54 which extends from an inner end of the sepals 66 is held down to the base and the lip petal 56 is held to the base. The sepal 66 and petal 56 lie over the

other petals

58, 60 and

sepals

62, 64 to hold them down, so all major portions of the orchid are held down.

The flower has a small degree of stiffness even when initially immersed in the alcohol bath, which causes each of the petals and sepals to remain in a close-to-natural form so long as the major portions of the flower are held down. The outer ends of the petal 56 and sepal 66 are prevented from curling down substantially, because of the

flanges

72, 74. The upward sweep in which petal 56 and sepal 66 are held by the flanges tends to prevent upward curling of their ends. Accordingly, a vanda joaquim held in the manner of FIG. 5 can be immersed in an alcohol bath without an upper jig on top it. In order to reduce the possibility of trapping air bubbles under the base 70, a pair of

holes

88, 90 are provided therein to allow air to escape so the jig can sink.

The jig 68 can be easily made from ordinary paper cups, by cutting off the sides a small distance from the bottom, and flattening part of the sides to form the

base portions

80, 82.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents. I claim: I. A method for encapsulating a flower which includes a plurality of petallike parts including a first part that lies on top of portions of adjacent petallike parts comprising:

mounting said flower in a jig that supports it substantially in a natural-appearing configuration, including holding down said first petallike part to a portion of said jig which lies below it; v immersing said flower and jig in a dehydrating fluid; removing dehydrating fluid from said flower; and embedding said flower in' an encapsulating matrix, whereby to revent. excessive upward movement of said first and said adjacent petallike parts. 2. A method for encapsulating a flower comprising: mounting said flower in a jig that has a base portion for providing upward support to said flower, said base portion having an aperture for receiving the stem of said including inserting said stem through said aperture and applying fastening means to a portion of said stem which projects through said aperture to prevent withdrawal of said stem from said aperture;

immersing said flower and jig in a dehydrating fluid;

removing dehydrating fluid from said flower; and

embedding said flower in an encapsulating matrix.

3. A method for encapsulating a flower comprising:

placing said flower on a first jig member, and placing a second jig member of material which is flaccid in a predetermined dehydrating fluid on said flower so that portions of said second member can droop to bear against outer portions of petallike parts of said flower;

immersing said flower and jig in a dehydrating fluid;

removing dehydrating fluid from said flower; and

embedding said flower in an encapsulating matrix.

4. In the encapsulating of a flower with petallike parts extending from a downwardly protruding center portion by embedding said flower in a substantially transparent resin matrix, the improvement comprising immersing said flower in a dehydrating fluid while supporting at least some of said petallike parts at a level above the lower level of said downwardly protruding center por- Mon.

5. The improvement described in claim 4 wherein:

said flower has a stem extending downwardly from the level of said petallike parts; and including projecting said stem through an aperture in a jig to hold down said flower so that at least some of said petallike parts rest on said jig, and attaching a fastener to a portion of said stem opposite said petallike parts.

6. The improvement described in claim 4 including placing a jig member of a material, which is substantially stiff when dry and flaccid when wetted with said dehydrating fluid, on Up of said flower to press down on at least some of said petallike parts.

7. Jig apparatus for holding a flower during immersion in a fluid comprising:

a first member for supporting petallike parts of said flower. said member including a centralportion with a recess for receiving the cup-shaped center portion of said flower at a level below the petallike parts; and

a second member for placement on top of a flower to hold it against said first member.

8. The jig apparatus described in claim 7 wherein said second member includes jig portions for bearing against outer petallike portions of said flower, said jig portions constructed of a material which is substantially flaccid in said fluid.

9. The jig apparatus described in claim 7 wherein said second member comprises a central portion and a plu' rality of arms extending out from said central portion, said arms constructed of material which is substantially limp when in said fluid. l0. Jig apparatus for holding a flower with a downwardly projecting center portion during immersion in a fluid'comprising a member having a base for supporting at least some of the petallike parts of said flower, walls forming an aperture at a central portion of said base. for receiving said center portion of said base for receiving said center portion of said flower, and a raised platform portion spaced outwardly from said aperture for holding an outer portion of at least one of said petallikepartsat a level above portions of other petallike parts. I l l. The jig apparatus described in claim 10 including means defining a second aperture in said base for receiving the stem "of said flower, whereby to enable the fastening of a projecting stem portion to hold down said flower.

Claims

2. A method for encapsulating a flower comprising: mounting said flower in a jig that has a base portion for providing upward support to said flower, said base portion having an aperture for receiving the stem of said flower; including inserting said stem through said aperture and applying fastening means to a portion of said stem which projects through said aperture to prevent withdrawal of said stem from said aperture; immersing said flower and jig in a dehydrating fluid; removing dehydrating fluid from said flower; and embedding said flower in an encapsulating matrix.
3. A method for encapsulating a flower comprising: placing said flower on a first jig member, and placing a second jig member of material which is flaccid in a predetermined dehydrating fluid on said flower so that portions of said second member can droop to bear against outer portions of petallike parts of said flower; immersing said flower and jig in a dehydrating fluid; removing dehydrating fluid from said flower; and embedding said flower in an encapsulating matrix.
4. In the encapsulating of a flower with petallike parts extending from a downwardLy protruding center portion by embedding said flower in a substantially transparent resin matrix, the improvement comprising immersing said flower in a dehydrating fluid while supporting at least some of said petallike parts at a level above the lower level of said downwardly protruding center portion.
5. The improvement described in claim 4 wherein: said flower has a stem extending downwardly from the level of said petallike parts; and including projecting said stem through an aperture in a jig to hold down said flower so that at least some of said petallike parts rest on said jig, and attaching a fastener to a portion of said stem opposite said petallike parts.
6. The improvement described in claim 4 including placing a jig member of a material, which is substantially stiff when dry and flaccid when wetted with said dehydrating fluid, on top of said flower to press down on at least some of said petallike parts.
7. Jig apparatus for holding a flower during immersion in a fluid comprising: a first member for supporting petallike parts of said flower, said member including a central portion with a recess for receiving the cup-shaped center portion of said flower at a level below the petallike parts; and a second member for placement on top of a flower to hold it against said first member.
8. The jig apparatus described in claim 7 wherein said second member includes jig portions for bearing against outer petallike portions of said flower, said jig portions constructed of a material which is substantially flaccid in said fluid.
9. The jig apparatus described in claim 7 wherein said second member comprises a central portion and a plurality of arms extending out from said central portion, said arms constructed of material which is substantially limp when in said fluid.
10. Jig apparatus for holding a flower with a downwardly projecting center portion during immersion in a fluid comprising a member having a base for supporting at least some of the petallike parts of said flower, walls forming an aperture at a central portion of said base for receiving said center portion of said base for receiving said center portion of said flower, and a raised platform portion spaced outwardly from said aperture for holding an outer portion of at least one of said petallike parts at a level above portions of other petallike parts.
11. The jig apparatus described in claim 10 including means defining a second aperture in said base for receiving the stem of said flower, whereby to enable the fastening of a projecting stem portion to hold down said flower.