Abstract:
A vessel which have advantages of a flower-vase, a flower-arranging vase, a plant-pot, and an artificial-flower basket, and can extensively be utilized for the interior and exterior decorations. It is possible to keep the vessel in full bloom of flowers all the year round to provide blooming services for households and business concerned.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a vessel which can be used as an interior decoration and exterior decorative articles as well. More particularly, the invention relates to a vessel capable of along with flower arrangements, occupying an expansive area of a building by way of beautifully harmonizing the vessel with elaborate flower arrangements for brightening indoor and outdoor environments. 
     Conventionally, a flower-vase, a flower-pot, a flower-arranging vase, an artificial-flower vase, and other vessels are used for accommodating flowers as a single unit. Most of the flower-pots are unglazed in a certain form, and yet, each of them is monochromatically colored in a dark tone. Recently, some of the flower-pots are produced via deformation of pottery. Plastic vases and glass vases are used for flower-vases as a single unit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventive idea is originated in order to newly create an original work by way of conceiving how to beautifully express flowers and vessels or how to properly harmonize vessels with flowers. In other words, it was conceived to be quite important to see that flowers can always be blooming in vessels all the year round and yet flowers are freely and simply replaceable so that beautiful cubic space can be created by the spatial arrangement and effect of the flowers and vessels in combination to create a cubic space. “Cubic space” is meant to indicate the broad space of a building such as a front entrance, the sides or ceilings of a theater hall, or a hotel lobby or hallway (typically Japanese-style hotels and theaters). When the vessel for flower arrangement, according to the present invention, is placed in one of these types of broad spaced areas, the vessel and flower arrangements are then harmonized with the lights in the hall to produce an overall aesthetic visual effect. 
     The present invention has been achieved to fully satisfy the above requirements as a result of intensive study for harmonizing flower and vessels so that vessels can be utilized for interior and exterior decorations. 
     The vessel related to the present invention incorporates advantages of a flower-vase, a flower-arranging vase, a flower-pot, and an artificial flower basket. An object of the invention is to provide a vessel in which flowers, plants, or artificial flowers are replaced freely, and the use thereof can be changed freely. It is another object of the present invention to provide a vessel which can express the state of blooming flowers in vessels throughout the year by setting artificial flowers to the outside of the vessels. It is also possible to express cubic space by way of beautifully harmonizing flowers with the vessels. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a vessel of which height can be adjusted while being suspended. 
     Accordingly, the vessel related to the present invention incorporates advantages of a flower-vase, a flower-arranging vase, a flower-pot, and an artificial-flower vase. The vessel related to the invention makes it possible to freely replace uses of flowers, plants, or artificial flowers. The inventive vessel comprises an upper container and a lower container in order to set artificial flowers to the outside or peripheral of the upper and lower containers. Artificial flowers are freely replaceable per season to enable the vessel to be always filled with blooming flowers throughout the year. 
     Form of the upper container or lower container of the vessel is optionally determined, which for example includes spherical form, conical form, cylindrical form, prism, and polyhedron or the like. Prism and polyhedron have the sectional view of triangle, quadrangle, hexagon, octagon, dodecagon, or the like. 
     The accompanying drawings exemplify an inversely-coned circular vessel and an inversely-coned octagonal vessel, whereby the vessel and flowers can express beautifully harmonized cubic space. When suspending the vessel, transparent and solid fishing lines are used. Suspending tools should also be as much transparent as possible. 
     The upper container of the inventive vessel can externally accommodate artificial flowers, whereas natural flowers can be accommodated inside of the upper component by setting a water-stopper to the lower container. When using the vessel as a flower-vase, soil and fertilizer are stored inside of the vessel for the plant to be provided. When feeding water to the plant, excessive water is pooled inside of the lower container. When using artificial flowers, artificial flowers are inserted into holes formed below the upper container. 
     When setting the inventive vessel inside and outside of houses, the vessel is suspended in space or secured onto a base. 
     The present vessel can be made from any materials known those skilled in the art, such as synthetic resin, glass, pottery, and metal. It is also possible to superficially decorate the vessel with pattern, picture, or coloring, or adhered with seal. 
     When using the inventive vessel in broad space or outside of a building, height of the vessel can properly be adjusted by applying a winding device. It is also possible to specially suspend advertisements or commercial messages between a plurality of flower vessels suspended on both sides. The vessels can also be utilized to promote a variety of events and other uses. When using the flower vessel in the fixed condition, the vessel is secured onto a solid base. 
     At night, artificial-flower-set portions of the upper or lower containers can be illuminated to beautifully show off flowers. Of a variety of illuminating means, it is also practicable to set bulbs to tip portions of photo-conductive fibers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS.  1 (A) and  1 (B) are a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the vessel placed on a vessel-fixing base. 
     FIG. 2 is sectional views of the inventive vessel according to another embodiment of the invention, in which 
     FIG.  2 (A) represents a state of flowers  10  set inside of the vessel filled with water  11 , where the lower figure illustrates the lower container  2 , and 
     FIG.  2 (B) is a sectional view of a stopper  32 , a fixture used when natural flowers are arranged, which has a needlepoint holder  3  at the top portion, a shaft  5  capable of vertically moving an upper screw, and a packing  6  for sealing water, where a lower screw of the shaft  5  is secured to the lower container  2 . 
     FIG. 3 is sectional views of the inventive vessel according to another embodiment of the invention, in which 
     FIG.  3 (A) represents a state of a plant  12  implanted in the vessel filled with soil and fertilizer  13 , where the lower figure illustrates the lower container  2 , and 
     FIG.  3 (B) is a sectional view of a stopper  32  fixable solely in the case of feeding water, which comprises a filter  14 , a water-discharger  15 , and a shaft  5 . 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the inventive vessel according to another embodiment of the invention, in which 
     FIG.  4 (A) represents a state of artificial flowers  16  inserted in the vessel, where the lower figure illustrates the lower container  2 , and 
     FIG.  4 (B) illustrates a plurality of through-holes for inserting artificial flowers. 
     FIG. 5 is sectional views of the inventive vessel according to another embodiment of the invention, in which 
     FIG.  5 (A) represents a state of a pair of flower-implanted vessels respectively being suspended on both sides from ceiling  18  via a winding device  22 , where a display panel  21  is set between the vessels; 
     FIG.  5 (B) shows an octagonal flower vessel  30  of a downwardly-tapered, truncated cone shape, and also the containers  1  and  2  are planted with flowers while being suspended. 
     FIG. 6 is sectional views of the inventive vessel according to another embodiment of the invention, in which 
     FIG.  6 (A) is a side view of set of containers and a stand which can be used at home and in the office; 
     FIG.  6 (B) is a back view and 
     FIG.  6 (C) is a plain view of the stand for flower arrangement shown in FIG.  6 (A); 
     FIG. 7 is a lateral view of the flower-vessel fixing base according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a lateral view of the flower-vessel fixing base according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a lateral view of the flower-vessel fixing base according to a still further embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the accompanying drawings, practical forms for embodying the flower-vessels related to the invention are described below. FIGS.  1 (A) and  1 (B) are the front and cross-sectional views, respectively, of the fully assembled flower vessel  30  according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG.  1 (A) illustrates a completely-assembled flower vessel  30  which can be downwardly or upwardly suspended. A flower-vessel fixing base  9  can be used in a theater or a hotel, both optimally Japanese-style. The reference numeral  1  designates an upper container,  2  is a lower container, and  5  designates a shaft. Availing of the shaft  5 , the upper vessel  1  is interconnected to the lower vessel  2  via a fixing nut  4 . A multi-needle flower base  3  is secured to the upper container  1 . In order to secure the shaft  5 , screw of the lower portion of the multi-needle flower base  3  is threaded, where the lower portion of the multi-needle flower base  3  is screwedly engaged with the shaft  5 . A rubber-made water-sealing packing  6  is set to the lower portion of the shaft  5  in order to seal water stored in the upper vessel  1  by vertically moving the shaft  5 . Screw at the lower portion of the shaft  5  is threaded. The upper container  1  and the lower container  2  are respectively secured by a fixing nut  4  of the lower vessel  2 . Artificial-flower-illuminator-fixing unit  7  is secured to the upper vessel  1 . Artificial flowers and illuminators, or artificial flowers or illuminators are respectively set to the fixing unit  7 . Artificial flowers are also set to the other artificial-flower illuminator-fixing unit  8 . Flower-vessel fixing base  9  secures the inventive vessel  30  thereto. 
     The sectional view shown in FIG.  2 (A) represents a state of flowers being implanted in the inventive vessel  30 , where the upper container  1  is filled with water. The sectional view designates the state in which artificial flowers are set to the external peripheral portions of the upper container  1  and the lower container  2 . Illuminators are also set to the external peripheral portions of the upper container  1  and the lower container  2  so that flowers  10  can be illuminated. 
     FIG.  2 (B) is a sectional view of a stopper  32 , a fixture to be used when natural flowers are arranged, which has a needlepoint holder  3  at the top portion, a shaft  5  capable of vertically moving an upper screw, and a packing  6  for sealing water, where a lower screw of the shaft  5  is secured to the lower container  2 . 
     The sectional view shown in FIG.  3 (A) represents a state of using the inventive vessel  30  as a plant-pot, where the interior of the upper vessel  1  is filled with fertilizer and soil. A water-filter  14  is set to the lower container  2 . A water-discharger  15  is secured to the lower container  2 . The water-discharger  15  is connected to the lower container  2  via the shaft  5 . When feeding water to the plant  12 , the lower container  2  functions as a water-pool. 
     FIG.  3 (B) shows a stopper  32 , a fixture to be used when natural flowers are arranged, which stops falling soil and fertilizer filled in the upper container  1  to the lower container  2  and comprises a filter  14  and a water-discharger  15  having holes for draining water. 
     The sectional view shown in FIG.  4 (A) represents a state in which artificial flowers  16  are secured by way of inserting them into lower portions of the upper container  1 . Flower-fixing unit (stopper)  32  can be used in conjunction with a plant fixing unit when utilizing the vessel  30  as a plant-pot. 
     FIG.  4 (B) shows a stopper  32 , a fixture to be used when artificial flowers are arranged, which has a plurality of holes for inserting artificial flowers. Since artificial flowers vary in thickness of their stems, the stopper  32  may have three sizes of holes. 
     FIG.  5 (A) exemplifies utilization of broad space inside and outside of a building. The flower-vessel  30  is secured by a rotary fixing tool  19  secured to the ceiling  18 . The rotary fixing tool  19  downwardly suspends or upwardly suspends the flower-vessel  30  via a winding device  22  secured to the building. FIG.  5 (A) represents the circular flower vessels  30 , which are respectively suspended downwardly. FIG.  5 (B) shows an octagonal flower vessel  30  of a downwardly-tapered, truncated cone shape, and also the containers are planted with flowers while being suspended. 
     The invention also provides such a flower vessel  30  as the one shown in FIG.  6 (A). In this flower vessel  30 , the upper vessel  1  is secured to a flower-vessel-fixing base  9 . The fixing base  9  comprises a ring  40  which secures the upper container  1  thereto and is capable of vertically moving itself against a slidable body  39  by way of loosening a screw  38 , another ring  42  that can be stabilized on a desk or a table, and a frame  44  secured to the ring  42 . The upper vessel  1  and the lower container  2  are superficially painted with figures of butterflies. By preparing such fancy vessels  30 , beautiful decoration can be materialized by properly harmonizing flowers, plants, or artificial flowers with the vessels  30 . Figures painted on the upper and lower containers  1  and  2  of the flower vessel  30  may also include birds aside from butterflies. Alternatively, blank surface may be provided for the upper and lower containers  1  and  2 . Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the frame  44  for supporting the vessels  30  may be made of pipes. Likewise, as shown in FIG. 8, such a vessel solely consisting of the upper container  1  may be set to the fixing base  9 . Further, as shown in FIG. 9, reinforcing members  46  and  48  may also be provided for the fixing base  9 . 
     The shaft  5  of the vessel  30  is connected to the upper container  1  by the stopper  32 . The bottom of the shaft  5  is fixed by the nut  4 . Thus, the shaft  5  functions as a connector for combining the upper container  1  and the lower container  2 . The shaft  5  can be fixed by screwing or ruggedly fitting the shaft  5  to the upper container  1 . Alternatively, the stopper  32  can be inserted into the upper container  1  without being fixed, thereby the lower container  2  may be suspended from the upper container  1 . The distance between the upper container  1  and the lower container  2  can be changed optionally by screwing the shaft  5  along the groves of the nut  4 , which is fixed to the lower container  2 , or by screwing the nut  4  along the groves of the shaft  5 . 
     The vessel  30  of the present invention can be used as a flower-arranging vase, a plant pot, and an artificial-flower basket by replacing the various kinds of stoppers  32  fixed at the top part of the shaft  5 , e.g., those with a multi-needle flower base  3 , a water dischager  15 , or holes for artificial flowers  17 . The use of the vessel  30  of the present invention can also vary without changing the type of the stopper  32 . 
     Practical forms for embodying the invention have thus been fully described by referring to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the scope of the vessel incorporating advantages of flower-arranging vase, flower-pot, and artificial basket related to the invention is not solely limited to those shown in the accompanying drawings, but the invention can also be implemented via any form other than those which have been exemplified above. 
     For example, sectional form of the vessel is not solely limited to circular form or octagonal form cited above, but any other form may also be introduced. Objective use of the inventive vessel incorporating advantages of flower-arranging vase, flower-pot, and artificial flower basket is not solely limited to flowers, plant, and artificial flower basket, but the inventive vessel may also be applied to other uses. It should also be understood that the scope of the invention is not specifically restricted insofar as the vessel related to the invention comprises the upper and lower vessels which are respectively capable of disposing flowers, plants, or artificial flowers in and around the periphery of the upper and lower vessels themselves. 
     Technical scope of the invention also includes such forms added with a variety of improvements, modifications, and changes, based on knowledge of those skilled in the art within a scope that does not deviate from the essentials of the invention.