Abstract:
An insert for a vase, the insert for receiving the stem of an ornament, such as a flower. The insert has a cylindrical base member that is of a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the vase and has fins or ribs extending outward therefrom such that the ribs interfere and bend when the insert is inserted into the vase. The insert is made of a pliable or elastomeric material and the base member has channels adapted to receive stems thereinto.

Description:
[0001]    This is a patent application that claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/445,377, filed Feb. 22, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Vase and insert assemblies, more specifically, a vase and insert assembly comprising an elastomeric, foam-free, particulate-free, insert in an OEM vase. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vase and insert assemblies are known in the art. They are often used at graveyards for placing flowers, flags, balloons or the like adjacent the grave of a loved one. 
         [0004]    Typical prior art vase and insert assemblies comprise a vase made of a durable substance, such as heavy plastic, metal or glass, typically in the range of about 2 to about 10 inches high. The typical prior art vase receives a foam or particulate insert. The foam inserts are shaped to fit in the lower portion of the inner volume defined by the vase, frictionally engaging the inner walls thereof. The foam breakably receives the stem of a flag or a flower, to provide stability to the flag or the flower within the vase. The foam insert will hold the stems generally vertically within the inner volume of the vase with the stems engaging the foam and the foam engaging the base to provide some stability to the flower, insert, and vase combination. 
         [0005]    Particulate matter, such as an assemblage of pebbles or the like, may fill up the lower portion of an inner volume of a vase. Stems, flags or the like may then be inserted into the particulate matter to provide stability for the object within the vase. 
         [0006]    Both of these prior art methods for achieving stability of an elongated member within a vase are, at least initially, satisfactory. Moreover, they are fairly inexpensive to make and assemble. However, over time, the foam based insert will degenerate due to exposure to the elements. This can cause quite a mess, as the foam itself breaks up and small chunks can scatter about a gravesite creating an unsightly situation. On the other hand, particulate matter can easily spill out of the vase, especially one that is overturned. As with the foam, spilled particulate or foam chunks can help destroy an otherwise peaceful setting desired at a gravesite or in a cemetery. 
         [0007]    Much time has been spent by the cemetery workers cleaning up foam chunks and particulate matter from gravesites. This time makes the landscaping and presentation of a cemetery more expensive. 
         [0008]    There exists a need for a vase and insert assembly that achieves stability for elongated members engaged therewith; that is to say, there is a need for providing a durable insert and vase assembly, wherein the insert is capable of snugly receiving a vertical, elongated support member, such as a flower stem or a flagpole. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS 
       [0009]    An insert for a vase, the insert for receiving the stem of an ornament, such as a flower. The insert has a cylindrical base member that is of a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the vase and has fins or ribs extending outward therefrom such that the ribs interfere and bend when the insert is inserted into the vase. The insert is made of a pliable or elastomeric material and the base member has channels adapted to receive stems thereinto. 
         [0010]    Applicant provides, in a preferred embodiment, a thermal plastic elastomer adapted to be inserted into or engaged with a vase. The insert has a cylindrical top member with a multiplicity of stem receiving holes therein, typically the holes having a diameter of less than the stem they are intended to hold. 
         [0011]    A cylindrical base, typically having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the top member, extends vertically downward from a lower surface of the top member. The base includes a multiplicity of channels therein, each channel in communication with one each of the multiplicity of stem receiving holes in the top member. 
         [0012]    The base is finned, having a multiplicity of fins extending outward from the typically cylindrical surface thereof, typically with the removed end such that it is less than the diameter of the top member. The fins have a relatively narrow root thickness compared to their width and therefore provide some flexibility. The fins are dimensioned to receive the inner walls of the stem in frictional engagement therewith, typically folded over or bent somewhat, so as to provide both frictional component and an elastic component for maintaining the insert within the base, 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of Applicant&#39;s vase and insert assembly holding the stems of flowers therein. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates the insert of Applicant&#39;s device in a side perspective view, with the vase removed therefrom. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top elevational view of the insert of Applicant&#39;s assembly. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a top elevational view of the insert of Applicant&#39;s assembly with cut perimeters in holes. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom perspective view o he insert of Applicant&#39;s vase and insert assembly. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view showing the side and bottom of the insert. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of Applicant&#39;s device. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top elevational cross-sectional view of the insert illustrating the manner in which the fins may bend to help stabilize the insert with respect to the inner walls of the vase. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of one way in which the top member engages the base member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Applicant is seen to provide a vase and insert assembly  10 . Vase and insert assembly  10  is comprised typically of an OEM or standard off-the-shelf vase  12  along with Applicant&#39;s insert  14 . That is to say. Applicant&#39;s insert  14  is designed and configured, as more fully set forth herein, for receipt into a standard vase, such as those supplied by Thompson Monuments, 5″×9″ turned vase; BSS Granite Monument, code M-vase01; and Eaton Brothers Corp., Lifetime vase. 
         [0023]    Applicant&#39;s insert  14  is typically comprised of one-piece molded Sanoprene® polyethylene or other suitable material, which may be elastomeric. It is designed to frictionally and typically compressively engage the inner walls of the lower surface of an OEM or other vase, as set forth in more detail herein. Vase  12  is seen to have an inner volume  12   a  and an upper perimeter  12   b.  Vase  12  may have a height of H, typically in the range of about 4 to about 6 inches. The diameter across the upper perimeter  12   b  of the vase  12  may be in the range of about 2 to about 6 inches. 
         [0024]    Turning now to insert  14 , it is seen to generally comprise a disc-shaped top member  16 . Top member  16  is seen to have top surface  16   a,  a bottom or lower surface  16   c,  and an outer perimeter  16   b,  between the two spaced apart planar circular top and bottom surfaces  16   a / 16   c.  A base member  18  is seen to be generally cylindrical, with a diameter typically smaller than the diameter of the top member  16 . Base member  18  is integrally engaged to and typically molded with top surface  16   a.  Base member  18  has a lower surface  18   a  at the removed and spaced apart from where base member  18  engages top member  16 . 
         [0025]    Radially spaced from the cylindrical outer walls of base member  18  is a multiplicity, typically of between about 3 to about 9 of ribs  20 . It is seen that lower surface  18   a  of base member  18  includes channels  26  (see  FIG. 4 ).  FIG. 4  illustrates that channels  26  are open to and communicate with expandable receiving holes  24 / 24   a  that are provided in the top member  16  for receiving stems or support members therethrough. 
         [0026]    For example, it may be seen in  FIG. 3  that there are six expandable receiving holes  24  in top member  16 . Moreover, the pattern of the six is equi-angular about a centrally located receiving hole  24   a.  Typically, the circumferentially spaced receiving holes  24  are equidistance about halfway between the central receiving hole  24   a  and the perimeter  16   b  of top member  16 . 
         [0027]    Turning back to  FIG. 2 , it is seen that a multiplicity of ribs or fins  20  are spaced trending longitudinally downward and there may be, for example, preferably six ribs. These ribs are flexible and typically do not join the lower surface  16   c  of top member  16 . Instead, there is a small gap  25  between lower surface  16   c  and ribs  20 . Ribs  20  have a root thickness  20   a  and width  20   b,    20   b &gt;&gt; 20   a  by at least about 3:1. This provides flexibility. This flexibility allows ribs to bend or fold when insert  14  is placed in vase  12  as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0028]    Part of the novelty and advantages of Applicant&#39;s design come from the pliability and/or elastomeric nature of both ribs or fins  20  and expandable receiving holes  24 / 24   a.  In the former, flexibility lies in both the geometry of the ribs and the pliable nature of the material. Likewise, in the latter, while the diameter of each of the holes may be in the range of about ⅛-¼ inch, the expandable material is capable of receiving stems ST, typically up to two or three times the at rest diameter and to fixedly retain them in a generally vertical position as best seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of channels  26  is approximately the same as the reasonable expandable limits of receiving holes  24 / 24   a,  such expandable limit being expandable without rupture. Thicknesses for top member  16  may be about ¼ inch or preferably in the range of about ⅛ to ⅜ inches, so as to assist in providing sufficient vertical support to stems. The term “self-healing” or “self-sealing” may be used for expandable receiving holes  24 / 24   a,  wherein they substantially expand, with insertion of a stem therein, to at least about twice their diameter and wherein they retract to their original size upon removal of the stem therefrom. 
         [0030]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the diameter of the top of vase  12  is typically less than the diameter of top member  16 . Thus top member  16  will rest on or near the upper perimeter of the vase. Moreover, at least a part of the inner volume is typically less than the diameter across the tips of the ribs or fins  20  as seen in  FIG. 4 . This geometric arrangement allows the underside  16   c  to be supported vertically on the top perimeter of vase  12 , while fins or ribs with their thin geometry will bend or fold over for more secure engagement with the inner walls of vase  12 . Applicant also provides balloon (or other device) engaging bosses  22 , hereto, which are generally rectangular and project upward from adjacent the outer perimeter of the top surface of top member  16 . These may include a hole  22   a  therethrough. The function of these is to tie off balloons by threading the balloon line through the hole and tying it off. Balloons are typically filled with helium and will float away unless secured. Typically vases don&#39;t include secure engagement means, so Applicant provides the same, in conjunction with the ability to support stems or the like as set forth herein. 
         [0031]    There are a number of suitable materials that may provide sufficient elasticity for use in a preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s present invention. Elastomeric rubber may be used in the construction of insert  14 . A more preferred elastomeric rubber is thermal plastic elastomer (TPE), and a most preferred is the thermal plastic elastomer known as Sanoprene®. Another material a bit stiffer than Sanoprene® is polyethylene. 
         [0032]    The single hole in the center  24   a  and the surrounding six holes  24  provide for the availability to put a single stem in the center, three in line or four at corners of a rectangle. 
         [0033]    The dimensions set forth below are generally applicable to a small, medium, and large base as indicated. The dimensions and number and arrangement of holes may vary. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Diameter of 
                 Length of 
                 Number of 
                 Arrangement 
               
               
                   
                 Top Member 
                 Base 
                 Holes 
                 of Holes 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Small 
                 about 3″ 
                 about 3″ 
                 7 
                 1 × 6 
               
               
                 Medium 
                 about 4″ 
                 about 3″ 
                 7 
                 1 × 6 
               
               
                 Large 
                 about 5″ 
                 about 3″ 
                 7 
                 1 × 6 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0034]    Fins  20  may have a root thickness of  20   a  and a width  20   b.  The tip or outer edges of the ribs come out to about the edge of top member  16  in one embodiment. In other embodiments, ribs may extend beyond or not reach the perimeter. Diameter D R  (see  FIG. 4 ) is the maximum diameter across the widest points of opposing ribs and is sufficient to engage the inner walls of the vase at least at some point. For odd numbers of ribs, non-opposed, two times the radius from the center of top member  16  to the outer tip of a rib is generally sufficient to engage at least some interior walls of the vase in a bending or flexing manner. Thus, 2 R is usually at least about ½ inch greater than the narrowest diameter of the inner walls of the vase. The ribs are typically set equiangular about the base. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  illustrates that walls adjacent the perimeter of holes  24 / 24   a  may be sliced, typically radially, all the way down to the channel These cuts  25  provide flexibility so adjacent walls may grasp the members insert thereinto. Cuts  25  are especially helpful when stiffer materials, such as polyethylene, are used. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5A  illustrates that transverse cuts  27  or gaps may be made across the longitudinal axis of ribs  20  so as to assist in bending.  FIG. 5A  also illustrates that, in an alternate embodiment, the top of the base member may form the top of the insert  14  with channels receiving stems directly.  FIG. 5A  also illustrates that ribs  20  may have a longitudinally tapered portion  29  for ease of insertion into the vase. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6A  illustrates the manner in which channels  26  may extend up into top member  16 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , insert  14  is dimensioned so that ribs  20  bend when encountering at least some of the interior walls of the vase. It is seen that in a preferred embodiment, ribs are tapered from root to tip (other shapes, such as rectangular, may be used), for ease of insertion into vase. While the top and base are shown to be cylindrical, any suitable shape may be used, including polygonal. The diameter of the base will typically be less than the narrowest portion (smallest diameter) of the inner walls of the base and the diameter of the insert including the ribs will be greater than the narrowest portion of the inner walls. 
         [0038]    Although the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention&#39;s particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alterations, modifications, and equivalences that may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.