Decorative assembly for a floral grouping

A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
Not Applicable. 
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to decorative assemblies for floral 
groupings and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a 
decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a sheet of material 
disposed about a floral holding material with a crimped portion formed in 
the sheet of material for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in 
position about the floral holding material to provide a decorative 
covering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the general reference numeral 10 is a 
sheet of material constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
The sheet of material 10 has an upper surface 12, a lower surface 14 and 
an outer periphery 16. 
The sheet of material 10 is constructed from any suitable flexible material 
that is capable of being wrapped or extended about a floral holding 
material 18 (FIG. 2) in the manner described below. Preferably, the sheet 
of material 10 is constructed of a material selected from a group of 
materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural or synthetic or 
combinations thereof), denim, burlap, polymer film or cling material or 
combinations thereof. 
The term "polymer film" as used herein means any polymer film. For example, 
but not by way of limitation, one polymer film is a polypropylene film. 
Another example of a polymer film, but not by way of limitation, is 
cellophane. 
The sheet of material 10 has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to 
about 30 mils. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 has a thickness in a 
range from about 0.1 mil to about 5 mils. 
The sheet of material 10 may be any shape and a circular shape is shown in 
FIG. 1 only by way of example. The sheet of material 10, for example only, 
may be square or rectangular or any other geometric shape such as heart 
shaped. 
The sheet of material 10 may be constructed of a single layer of material 
or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of materials. Any 
thickness of the sheet of material 10 may be utilized in accordance with 
the present invention as long as the sheet of material 10 is wrappable 
about the floral holding material 18, as described herein. Additionally, 
an insulating material such as bubble film, preferably as one of two or 
more layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for 
the item wrapped therein. The layers of material comprising the sheet of 
material 10 may be connected together or laminated or may be separate 
layers. 
A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern, and/or 
other decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the upper surface 
12 and/or the lower surface 14 of the sheet of material 10 or portions 
thereof including, but not limited to, printed designs, coatings, colors, 
flocking or metallic finishes. The sheet of material 10 also may be 
totally or partially clear or tinted transparent material. 
"Cling wrap or material" as used herein means any material which is capable 
of connecting to the sheet of material and/or itself upon contacting 
engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappable about an item 
whereby portions of the cling material contactingly engage and connect to 
other portions of the wrapping material for generally securing the sheet 
of material wrapped about at least a portion of the item. This connecting 
engagement is preferably temporary in that the wrapping material may be 
easily removed without tearing same, i.e., the cling material "clings" to 
the wrapping material providing wrapping material which remains securely 
connected to and about the wrapped item until the wrapping material is 
removed therefrom. 
The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, from 
polyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad.RTM., First Brands 
Corporation, Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, in 
part, depend upon the thickness of the sheet of material utilized, i.e., 
generally, the thicker and therefore heavier sheet of material may require 
a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The cling material will 
range in thickness from less than about 0.2 mil to about 10 mils, and 
preferably less than about 0.5 mil to about 2.5 mils and most preferably 
from less than about 0.6 mil to about 2 mils. However, any thickness of 
cling material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention 
which permits the cling material to function as described herein. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the floral holding material 18 has an upper end 20, a 
lower end 22 and an outer peripheral surface 24. The floral holding 
material 18 shown in FIG. 2 is spherically shaped, although the floral 
holding material 18 may be any shape desired in any particular 
application. The floral holding material 18 is constructed of a material 
capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping 26 and holding or 
supporting the floral grouping without any pot means such as a separate 
flower pot for example. 
The floral holding means 18 may be the type of material commonly referred 
to in the art as floral foam or Oasis.TM., or may be soil artificial soil, 
or other earth composition so long as the material is capable of holding 
its predetermined shape and capable of receiving and supporting the floral 
grouping 26 without any additional pot means. The floral holding material 
18 may be capable of receiving and holding water for supplying water to 
the floral grouping 26. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the floral grouping 26 has a stem end 28 and a bloom 
end 30. A portion of the stem end 28 of the floral grouping 26 is extended 
into the floral holding material 18. The bloom end 30 of the floral 
grouping 26 extends a distance above the floral holding material 18. 
"Floral grouping" as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificial 
flowers, a single flower, other fresh and/or artificial plants, or other 
floral materials and may include other secondary plants and/or 
ornamentation which add to the aesthetics of the overall floral grouping. 
As mentioned before, the floral holding material 18, as shown in FIG. 2, is 
generally spherically shaped. A flat portion (not shown) may be formed on 
the lower end 22 of the floral holding material 18 so that the floral 
holding material 18 may be supported more easily on a flat surface such as 
on a table (not shown) for example. 
The sheet of material 10 is disposed adjacent the floral holding material 
18 with the upper surface 12 of the sheet of material 10 being disposed 
adjacent the outer peripheral surface 24 of the floral holding material 
18. In this position, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet of material 10 is 
extended about and covers a substantial portion of the floral holding 
material 18 leaving the upper end 20 of the floral holding material 18 
substantially uncovered so that the floral grouping 26 extends outwardly 
from the upper end 20 of the floral holding material 18. 
In this position, a crimped portion 32 is formed in the sheet of material 
10 near the upper end 20 of the floral holding material 18. The crimped 
portion 32 is formed by crimping together portions of the sheet of 
material to form the crimped portion 32. The crimped portion 32 extends a 
distance inwardly toward a central portion of the floral holding material 
18. The crimped portion 32 preferably extends circumferentially about the 
upper end 20 of the floral holding material 18, although the crimped 
portion 32 could be formed only in portions of the sheet of material 10 
thereby forming circumferentially spaced apart crimped portions if desired 
in a particular application. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the crimped portion 32 is formed by placing a band 34 
about a portion of the sheet of material 10 with the band 34 gathering or 
bringing together portions of the sheet of material 10 pulling portions of 
the sheet of material 10 toward a central portion of the upper end 20 of 
the floral holding material 18 to form the crimped portion 32. 
The term "band" as used herein means any material which may be secured 
about an object, such bands commonly being referred to as elastic bands or 
rubber bands and also includes any other type of material such as a string 
or elastic piece of material, non-elastic piece of material, a round piece 
of material, a flat piece of material, a ribbon, a piece of paper strip, a 
piece of plastic strip, a piece of wire, a tie wrap or a twist tie or 
combinations thereof or any other device capable of gathering the sheet of 
material 10 to removably or substantially permanently form the crimped 
portion 32 and secure the crimped portion 32 formed in the sheet of 
material 10. The band also may include a bow if desired in a particular 
application. 
A portion of the sheet of material 10 near the outer periphery 16 thereof 
extends a distance above and beyond the crimped portion 32 to form a skirt 
36 (FIG. 2) extending circumferentially about the upper end 20 of the 
floral holding material 18 and circumferentially about the floral grouping 
26. The sheet of material 10 secured about the floral holding material 18 
in the manner just described provides a decorative covering 38. The sheet 
of material 10 and the floral holding material 18 together with the means 
for forming the crimped portion 32 comprise a decorative assembly 40. 
In one preferred embodiment, the band is automatically placed about the 
sheet of material 10 using any one of a number of commercially available 
automatic or semi automatic banding machines such as the automatic shaping 
machine Model No. Power 260 available from Clements Industries, Inc., 
South Hackensack, N.J., or the machine Model No. Model BMNS Side Bender 
available from Saxmayer Corporation, Blissfield, Minn. (MN), for example. 
In this last mentioned embodiment, the floral holding material 18 with the 
sheet of material 10 extended thereabout is placed in the banding machine 
and the banding machine is activated to automatically place the band 34 
about the sheet of material 10. 
A system for automatically placing a band about a sheet of material 
disposed about a flower-pot is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,623,807 and 
5,761,879, both entitled "BAND APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A BAND ABOUT A 
SHEET OF MATERIAL AND A POT" and assigned to the assignee of the present 
invention and one disclosure of the letters application specifically is 
incorporated herein by reference. This system can be utilized for 
automatically placing the band 34 about the sheet of material 10 in 
accordance with the present invention. 
In one other embodiment, the sheet of material 10 is placed about the 
floral holding material 18 and then placed in a holding device of the type 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,202, entitled "METHOD AND APATUS FOR 
WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING WITH WATER HOLDING AND RELEASING MATERIAL", and 
assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which 
specifically hereby is incorporated herein by reference. This device 
includes a band holder. After the floral holding material 18 with the 
sheet of material 10 extended thereabout is placed in the holding device, 
the operator then takes a band from the band holder and pulls it over the 
holding device and onto the sheet of material 10. 
Embodiment of FIG. 3 
Shown in FIG. 3 is a modified decorative assembly 40a comprising the sheet 
of material 10a wrapped about a modified floral holding material 18a. The 
floral holding material 18a is constructed exactly like the floral holding 
material 18 shown in FIG. 2 and described in detail before, except the 
floral holding material 18a has a generally rectangularly shaped cross 
section as compared to the circular shaped cross section shown in FIG. 2 
with respect to the floral holding material 18. 
The sheet of material 10a is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 
10 except the sheet of material 10a may be rectangularly shaped. 
The sheet of material 10a is extended about the floral holding material 18a 
and the crimped portion 32a is formed in the sheet of material via the 
band 34a in a manner exactly like that described before in connection with 
the sheet of material and the floral holding material 18 shown in FIG. 2. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 
Shown in FIG. 4 is a modified floral holding material 18b which is 
constructed exactly like the floral holding material 18 shown in FIG. 2 
and described in detail before, except the floral holding material 18b is 
in the shape of a solid basket. 
Shown in FIG. 5 is a sheet of material 10b which is constructed exactly 
like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 and described in detail 
before, except the sheet of material 10b is disposed or extended about the 
floral holding material 18b. A crimped portion 32b is formed in the sheet 
of material 10b via a band 34b for cooperating to hold the sheet of 
material 10b in position about the floral holding material 18b to provide 
the decorative covering 38b. 
The decorative assembly 40b is constructed and operates exactly like the 
decorative assembly 40 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described in detail 
before, except the sheet of material 10b is extended about the floral 
holding material 18b having a basket like shape as opposed to a spherical 
shape or rectangularly shaped cross section like the floral holding 
material 18 or 18a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 
Shown in FIG. 6 is a modified sheet of material 10c which is constructed 
exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 and described in 
detail before, except the sheet of material 10c has a closure bonding 
material 42 disposed thereon. More particularly, the closure bonding 
material 42 is disposed on the upper surface 12c of the sheet of material 
10c and the closure bonding material 42 is spaced a distance 44 from the 
outer periphery 16c of the sheet of material 10c. The closure bonding 
material 42 extends circumferentially about the sheet of material 10c. The 
closure bonding material 42 is spaced a distance radially from a central 
portion of the sheet of material 10c. It should be noted that, although 
the closure bonding material 42 is shown in FIG. 6 in the form on a 
continuous strip of closure bonding material 42, the closure bonding 
material 42 may be in the form of spots or spaced apart strips and the 
spots or strips may be of any geometric shape desired in a particular 
application. 
The term "bonding material" as used herein means an adhesive, preferably a 
pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where the bonding material is 
a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on the adjacent 
surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging with the cohesive 
material. The term "bonding material" also includes materials which are 
heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacent portions of the material 
must be brought into contact and then heat must be applied to effect the 
seal. The term "bonding material" as used herein also means a heat sealing 
lacquer which may be applied to the sheet of material and, in this 
instance, heat also must be applied to effect the sealing. The term 
"bonding material" as used herein means any type of material or thing 
which can be used to effect the bonding or connecting of the two adjacent 
portions of the material or sheet of material to effect the connection or 
bonding described herein. 
Shown in FIG. 7 is a floral holding material 18c which is constructed 
exactly like the floral holding material 18a shown in FIG. 3 and described 
in detail before. 
In operation, the sheet of material 10c is extended about a portion of the 
outer peripheral surface 24c of the floral holding material 18c. The 
crimped portion 32c is formed in the sheet of material 10c by crimping 
together portions of the sheet of material 10c near the closure bonding 
material 42 and forming overlapping portions of the sheet of material with 
the overlapping portions being substantially bonded via the closure 
bonding material 42 to form the crimped portion 32c. The crimped portion 
32c will cooperate to hold the sheet of material 10c about the floral 
holding material 18c to provide the decorative covering 38c in a manner 
exactly like that described before with respect to the crimped portion 32c 
formed with the band 34 shown in FIG. 2, except in this instance the 
crimped portion 32 is formed by bringing together and bonding portions of 
the sheet of material 10c via the closure bonding material 42. The closure 
bonding material 42 is positioned on the upper surface 12c of the sheet of 
material 10c so that the crimped portion 32c is positioned above the upper 
end 20c of the floral holding material 18c, shown in FIG. 7. 
The crimping of the sheet of material 10c may be accomplished by hand or 
with a machine or device. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 
Shown in FIG. 8 is a modified sheet of material 10d which is constructed 
exactly like the sheet of material 10c shown in FIG. 6, except the sheet 
of material 10d also includes a first pot bonding material 46 which 
extends circumferentially about a portion of the sheet of material 10d. 
The first pot bonding material 46 is spaced a distance from the closure 
bonding material 42 and spaced a distance from a central portion of the 
sheet of material 10d. The sheet of material 10d also includes a second 
pot bonding material which is disposed on the upper surface 12d of the 
sheet of material 10d with the second pot bonding material 48 covering a 
central portion of the sheet of material 10d. 
Shown in FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a floral holding material 18d which 
is constructed exactly like the floral holding material 18a shown in FIG. 
3 and described in detail before. The sheet of material 10d is extended 
about the floral holding material 18d and the crimped portion 32d is 
formed in the sheet of material 10d in a manner exactly like that 
described before in connection with the sheet of material 10c shown in 
FIG. 7. 
The first pot bonding material 46 is disposed on the sheet of material 10d 
and positioned thereon so that, when the sheet of material 10d is wrapped 
or extended about the floral holding material 18d, the first pot bonding 
material 46 is disposed adjacent a portion of the outer peripheral surface 
24d near the upper end 20d of the floral holding material 18d. The portion 
of the sheet of material 10d with the pot bonding material 46 thereon is 
bondingly connected to the outer peripheral surface 24d of the floral 
holding material 18d for further cooperating to hold the sheet of material 
10d extended about the floral holding material 18d. In addition, the 
second pot bonding material 48 is positioned on the sheet of material 10d 
so that the second pot bonding material 48 engages a portion of the lower 
end 22d of the floral holding material 18d and is bondingly connected 
thereto for still further cooperating to hold the sheet of material 10d 
extended about the floral holding material 18d to form the decorative 
covering 38d. 
The closure bonding material 42 and the pot bonding materials 46 and 48 may 
be disposed on the upper surface or the lower surface or both of the 
sheets of material 10 described herein or in any of the other positions 
described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,629, entitled "METHOD AND APATUS 
FOR FORMING A DECORATIVE COVER", owned by the Assignee of the present 
invention, the disclosure of which specifically hereby is incorporated 
herein by reference. 
The present invention particularly is useful for providing a decorative 
covering using a sheet of material constructed of a material which is 
non-shape-sustaining. Non-shape-sustaining means that the material may be 
shaped about the form of the floral holding material, but the sheet of 
material will not hold that shape and will relax back into substantially 
the non-formed shape unless held in the formed shaped by some means such 
as the forming of the crimped portion in the sheet of material. By 
comparison, a shape-sustaining sheet of material would be a material such 
as a metal foil for example which may be formed about the floral holding 
material and which will substantially maintain the formed shape. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 10-13 
Shown in FIG. 10 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 60 constructed in 
accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 60 comprises a 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 wrapped about a floral holding 
material 64 and secured about the floral holding material 64 by a band 66. 
As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 62 and the floral holding material 64 cooperate to 
define a reservoir 68 in the flexible vase 60. Thus, to store floral 
groupings, such as cut flowers 70 having stem portions 72 and bloom 
portions 74, the stem portions 72 of the cut flowers 70 are disposed into 
the reservoir 68 of the flexible vase 60 and the reservoir 68 is then 
filled with a suitable fluid, such as water 76. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 may be of any shape such as a 
square as shown in FIG. 11, or a rectangle or any other geometric 
configuration. Further, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 may be 
constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the 
same or different types of material as long as at least one of the sheets 
of material, preferably the sheet of material disposed substantially 
adjacent the floral holding material 64 is impermeable to a fluid, such as 
water. When utilizing more than one layer of material as the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 62, the sheets of material may be connected 
together, laminated or maintained as separate sheets of material. The 
thickness of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 can vary widely, 
the only requirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
62 have sufficient strength so that the flexible vase 60 formed from the 
floral holding material 64 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 
is capable of holding water disposed in the reservoir 68 of the flexible 
vase 60 and to permit the flexible vase 60 to be transported and 
displayed, and that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 be 
wrappable about the floral holding material 64 as described in detail 
hereinafter. 
While the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 has been shown in FIG. 11 
as a single sheet of material, it should be understood that a pad of 
sheets of fluid impermeable material 62 may be utilized to enhance 
assembly of a plurality of flexible vases 60, or a roll of fluid 
impermeable material 62 may be provided so that sheets of the fluid 
impermeable material 62 can readily be obtained by cutting a sheet of 
material from the roll of material or by providing perforations in the 
roll of material to facilitate removal of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 62. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 is disposed about the floral 
holding material 64 to form a decorative cover 78 about the floral holding 
material 64. The decorative cover 78 extends a distance above the floral 
holding material 64 such that an upper end portion 80 of the floral 
holding material 64 remains substantially uncovered by the decorative 
cover 78. Thus, when a floral grouping such as cut flowers 70 is 
positioned within the reservoir 68 of the flexible vase 60, an upper 
portion of the stem portions 72 and the bloom portions 74 of the cut 
flowers 70 extend outwardly from the upper end portion 80 of the floral 
holding material 64. 
A crimped portion 82 can be formed in the decorative cover 78 near the 
upper end portion 80 of the floral holding material 64. The crimped 
portion 82, which extends a distance inwardly, can be formed by crimping 
together portions of the decorative cover 78. The crimped portion 82 can 
also be formed by placing the band 66 about a portion of the decorative 
cover 78, in which case the band 66 gathers or brings together portions of 
the decorative cover 78 and pulls portions of the decorative cover 78 
toward the upper end portion 80 of the floral holding material 64 to form 
the crimped portion 82 substantially as shown. 
The term "band" as used herein means any material which may be secured 
about the decorative cover 78 to secure the decorative cover 78 about the 
floral holding material 64 and/or to provide additional decorative 
features to the decorative cover 78. Such bands are well known in the art 
and include elastic or rubber bands, string, ribbon, bows, paper strips, 
plastic strips, wire, tie wraps, twist ties and combinations thereof or 
any other device capable of gathering the decorative cover 78 to form the 
crimped portion 82 and thereby secure the decorative cover 78 about the 
floral holding material 64 or to enhance the decor of the flexible vase 
60. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 may also have a bonding material 
84 disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposed portions of the 
decorative cover 78 forming the crimped portion 82. More particularly, the 
bonding material 84 may be disposed on at least one of an upper surface 86 
or a lower surface (not shown) of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
62 so as to be disposed a distance radially from a central portion of the 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 62. It should be noted that, although 
the bonding material 84 is shown in FIG. 11 in the form of a continuous 
strip, the bonding material may be in the form of spots or spaced apart 
strips and the spots or spaced apart strips may be of any geometric 
design. 
The bonding material 84 is desirably a pressure sensitive adhesive or a 
cohesive. However, it is to be understood that the term bonding material 
84 also includes heat sealing, a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied 
to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 and which requires heat to 
effect the bonding, or any other type of material which may be used to 
effect bonding of adjacently disposed portions of the decorative cover 78 
defining the crimped portion 82. 
Referring more specifically to FIG. 12, the floral holding material 62 
comprises a substantially frusto-conical shape-sustaining support member 
88 (also referred to herein as the shape-sustaining support member 88). 
The shape-sustaining support member 88 has an open upper end 89, an open 
lower end 90 and a peripheral sidewall 92 defining an internal chamber 94 
extending between the open upper end 89 and the open lower end 90 which 
serves as the reservoir 68 of the flexible vase 60. To prevent puncture of 
the decorative cover 78 formed about the shape-sustaining support member 
88 by the stem portions 72 of the cut flowers 70, a base member 96 is 
disposed across at least a portion of the open lower end 90 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 88 for restricting movement of the stem 
portions 72 of the cut flowers 70 through the open lower end 90 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 88. 
The shape-sustaining support member 88 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible 
material 98 (FIG. 13) which has sufficient flexibility to permit the sheet 
of flexible material 98 to be formed into the shape-sustaining support 
member 88, which also has sufficient strength to provide the required 
shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining support member 88 and 
is sufficiently water resistant to prevent deterioration of the 
shape-sustaining support member 88 when contacted with a fluid, such as 
water. The thickness of the sheet of flexible material 98 can vary widely, 
the only requirements being that the sheet of flexible material 98 have 
sufficient strength and flexibility to satisfy the above requirements. 
Materials possessing the above-identified properties which may be used as 
the sheet of flexible material 98 for fabrication of the shape-sustaining 
support member 88 are polymeric materials, metals, water-repellent 
cardboards and the like. 
While the sheet of flexible material 98 has been shown as an individual 
sheet of material, it should be understood that sheets of flexible 
material 98 can be stacked so that each individual sheet of the flexible 
material could be removed from the stack and shaped into the desired 
configuration of the shape-sustaining support member 88; or, the sheets of 
flexible material 98 could be in the form of a roll of material in which 
perforations outline the configuration of each sheet of flexible material 
98. 
The sheet of flexible material 98 has an upper side 100 having a centrally 
disposed recess 102, a lower side 104, a first end portion 106 and a 
second end portion 108 which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible 
material 98 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. An extension 
member extends outwardly from the lower side 104 of the sheet of flexible 
material 98, the extension member being sized and configured such that 
forming the sheet of flexible material 98 into the shape-sustaining 
support member 88 and positioning the extension member substantially 
adjacent the open lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining support member 88, 
the extension member defines a base member 96 for the shape-sustaining 
support member 88 which extends across at least a substantial portion of 
the internal chamber 94 of the shape-sustaining support member 88. The 
base member 96 is connected to the lower side 104 of the sheet of flexible 
material 98 (substantially as shown), and the base member 96 is provided 
with a circular configuration. The size or dimensions of the base member 
96 can vary widely. That is, the base member 96 can be provided with a 
diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the open lower end 90 of 
the shape-sustaining support member 88 so that when the sheet of flexible 
material 98 is formed into the configuration of the shape-sustaining 
support member 88 and the base member 96 is folded to be disposed 
substantially adjacent the open lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining 
support member 88, the base member 96 extends across the open lower end 90 
of the shape-sustaining support member 88 substantially as shown in FIG. 
12; or, the base member 96 can be provided with a diameter less than the 
diameter of the open lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining support member 
88 so that when the sheet of flexible material 98 is formed into the 
configuration of the shape-sustaining support member 88 and the base 
member 96 is folded so as to be disposed substantially adjacent the open 
lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining support member 88, the base member 96 
extends across only a portion of the open lower end 90 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 88; or, the base member 96 can be provided 
with a diameter greater than the diameter of the open lower end 90 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 88 so that when the sheet of material 98 
is formed into the configuration of the shape-sustaining support member 88 
and the base member 96 is folded so as to be disposed substantially 
adjacent the open lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining support member 88, 
the base member 96 extends beyond the portion of the peripheral sidewall 
92 of the shape-sustaining support member 88. 
The sheet of flexible material 98 is further provided with a connector 
assembly 110 for connecting the first end portion 106 of the sheet of 
flexible material 98 to the second end portion 108 of the sheet of 
flexible material 98 when the sheet of flexible material 98 is formed into 
the shape-sustaining support member 88 configuration substantially as 
shown in FIG. 12. The connector assembly 110 comprises a male connector 
112 disposed along the upper side 100 of the sheet of flexible material 98 
and a plurality of female connectors 114 disposed in the second end 
portion 108 of the sheet of flexible material 98 such that at least one 
female connector 114 is adapted to matingly receive the male connector 112 
and thereby connect the first end portion 106 of the sheet of flexible 
material 98 to the second end portion 108 of the sheet of material 98. 
The plurality of female connectors 114 are spatially disposed slits 
provided in the second end portion 108 of the sheet of material 98 so that 
each of the female connectors 114 is alignable with the male connector 112 
when the first end portion 106 of the sheet of flexible material 98 is 
disposed over the second end portion 108 of the sheet of flexible material 
98 during formation of the shape-sustaining support member 88. Thus, upon 
inserting the male connector 112 into a selected female connector 114, the 
circumferential dimensions of the shape-sustaining support member 88 can 
be varied. 
While the sheet of flexible material 98 has been illustrated as having only 
one male connector 112, it should be understood that a plurality of the 
male connectors 112 could be disposed along the upper side 100 of the 
sheet of flexible material 98 for mating engagement with the female 
connectors 114 formed in the second end portion 108 of the sheet of 
flexible material 98. Further, the configuration of the male connector 112 
can vary widely, the only requirement being that the male connector 112 be 
adapted to matingly engage and be connected to the female connector 114 so 
that the first end portion 106 of the sheet of flexible material 98 can be 
securely connected to the second end portion 108 of the sheet of flexible 
material 98 so as to form the shape-sustaining support member 88. 
To stabilize cut flowers 70 within the internal chamber 94 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 88 (i.e. the floral holding material 64 of 
the flexible vase 60), or to provide a flared neck portion about the open 
upper end 89 of the shape-sustaining support member 88, a plurality of 
finger members 116 are formed in the sheet of flexible material 98 about 
the centrally disposed recess 102 formed in the upper side 100 of the 
sheet of flexible material 98. The finger members 116, which extend 
inwardly into the sheet of flexible material 98 from the centrally 
disposed recess 102, desirably have a rounded or arcuate distal end 118. 
Thus, the finger members 116 can be easily and quickly pressed inwardly 
into the open upper end 89 of the shape-sustaining support member 88 so as 
to engage the stem portions 72 of cut flowers 70 disposed within the 
internal chamber 94 of the shape-sustaining support member 88, or the 
finger members 116 can be flared outwardly and thereby provide a flared 
neck portion about the open upper end 89 of the shape-sustaining support 
member 88. 
Embodiments of FIGS. 14-18 
Shown in FIG. 14 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 120 constructed in 
accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 120 comprises a 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 wrapped about a floral holding 
material 124 and secured about the floral holding material 124 by a band 
126. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 122 and the floral holding material 124 
cooperate to define a reservoir 128 in the flexible vase 120. Thus, to 
store floral groupings, such as cut flowers 70 having stem portions 72 and 
bloom portions 74, the stem portions 72 of the cut flowers 70 are disposed 
into the reservoir 128 of the flexible vase 120 and the reservoir 128 is 
then filled with a suitable fluid, such as water 76. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 is substantially identical in 
construction to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 hereinbefore 
described with reference to FIG. 11. Thus, the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 122 may be of any shape such as a square, or a rectangle or any 
other geometric configuration. Further, the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 122 may be constructed of a single layer of material or a 
plurality of layers of the same or different types of material as long as 
at least one of the sheets of material, preferably the sheet of material 
disposed substantially adjacent the floral holding material 124 is 
impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizing more than one layer 
of material as the sheet of fluid impermeable material 122, the sheets of 
material may be connected together, laminated or maintained as separate 
sheets of material. The thickness of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 122 can vary widely, the only requirements being that the sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 122 have sufficient strength so that the 
flexible vase 120 formed from the floral holding material 124 and the 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 is capable of holding water 
disposed in the reservoir 128 of the flexible vase 120 and to permit the 
flexible vase 120 to be transported and displayed and that the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 122 be wrappable about the floral holding 
material 124 as described in detail hereinafter. 
It should be understood that a pad of sheets of fluid impermeable material 
122 may be utilized to enhance assembly of a plurality of flexible vases 
120, or a roll of fluid impermeable material 122 may be provided so that 
sheets of the fluid impermeable material 122 can readily be obtained by 
cutting a sheet of material from the roll of material or by providing 
perforations in the roll of material to facilitate removal of the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 122. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 is disposed about the floral 
holding material 124 to form a decorative cover 130 about the floral 
holding material 124. The decorative cover 130 extends a distance above 
the floral holding material 124 such that an upper end portion 132 of the 
floral holding material 124 remains substantially uncovered by the 
decorative cover 130. Thus, when a floral grouping such as cut flowers 70 
is positioned within the reservoir 128 of the flexible vase 120, an upper 
portion of the stem portions 72 and the bloom portions 74 of the cut 
flowers 70 extend outwardly from the upper end portion 132 of the floral 
holding material 124. 
A crimped portion 134 can be formed in the decorative cover 130 near the 
upper end portion 132 of the floral holding material 124. The crimped 
portion 134, which extends a distance inwardly, can be formed by crimping 
together portions of the decorative cover 130. The crimped portion 134 can 
also be formed by placing the band 126 about a portion of the decorative 
cover 130, in which case the band 126 gathers or brings together portions 
of the decorative cover 130 and pulls portions of the decorative cover 130 
toward the upper end portion 132 of the floral holding material 124 to 
form the crimped portion 134 substantially as shown. 
As previously stated, the term "band" as used herein means any material 
which may be secured about the decorative cover 130 to secure the 
decorative cover 130 about the floral holding material 124 and/or to 
provide additional decorative features to the decorative cover 130. Such 
bands are well known in the art and include elastic or rubber bands, 
string, ribbon, bows, paper strips, plastic strips, wire, tie wraps, twist 
ties and combinations thereof or any other device capable of gathering the 
decorative cover 130 to form the crimped portion 134 and thereby secure 
the decorative cover 130 about the floral holding material 124 or to 
enhance the decor of the flexible vase 120. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 may also have a bonding 
material (not shown) disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposed 
portions of the decorative cover 130 forming the crimped portion 134. The 
bonding material (not shown) may be disposed on at least one of an upper 
surface or a lower surface (not shown) of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 122 so as to be disposed a distance radially from a central 
portion of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 122; and the bonding 
material may be in the form of a continuous strip, spots or spaced apart 
strips and the spots or spaced apart strips may be of any geometric 
design. 
Referring now to FIGS. 15-18, the floral holding material 124 comprises a 
shape-sustaining support member 140 having an open upper end 142, an open 
lower end 144 and a peripheral sidewall 146 defining an internal chamber 
148 extending between the open upper end 142 and the open lower end 144. 
The shape-sustaining support member 140 is fabricated of a sheet of 
flexible material 150 (FIG. 16) which has sufficient flexibility to permit 
the sheet of flexible material 150 to be formed into the shape-sustaining 
support member 140, which has sufficient strength to provide the required 
shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining support member 140 and 
which is sufficiently water-resistant to prevent deterioration of the 
shape-sustaining support member 140 when contacted with a fluid such as 
water. The thickness of the sheet of flexible material 150 can vary 
widely, the only requirements being that the sheet of flexible material 
150 have sufficient strength and flexibility to satisfy the above 
requirements. 
The sheet of flexible material 150 has an upper side 152 having a centrally 
disposed recess 154, a lower side 156, a first end portion 158 and a 
second end portion 160 which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible 
material 150 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. The sheet 
of flexible material 150 is also provided with a connector assembly 162 
for connecting the first end portion 158 of the sheet of flexible material 
150 to the second end portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 150 so 
that the sheet of flexible material 150 can be formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 140. 
The connector assembly 162 comprises a male connector 164 extending from 
the upper side 152 of the sheet of flexible material 150 so as to be 
disposed in close proximity to the first end portion 158 of the sheet of 
flexible material 150. A plurality of female connectors 166 are formed in 
the second end portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 150 such that 
at least one female connector 166 is adapted to matingly receive the male 
connector 164 and thereby connect the first end portion 158 of the sheet 
of flexible material 150 to the second end portion 160 of the sheet of 
flexible material 150 and thus provide the shape-sustaining support member 
140 shown in FIG. 15. 
The male connector 164 is provided with a substantially mushroom or button 
shaped head portion 168 and a shank portion 170. The plurality of female 
connectors 166 are a plurality of slits spatially formed in the second end 
portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 150 so that each of the 
female connectors 166 is alignable with the male connector 164 when the 
first end portion 158 of the sheet of flexible material 150 is disposed 
over the second end portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 132 
during formation of the shape-sustaining support member 140. Thus, upon 
inserting the head portion 168 of the male connector 164 into a selected 
female connector 166, the circumferential dimensions of the 
shape-sustaining support member 140 can be varied. 
While the sheet of flexible material 150 has been illustrated as having 
only one male connector 164, it should be understood that a plurality of 
male connectors 164 could be disposed along the upper side 152 of the 
sheet of flexible material 150 for matingly engaging the female connectors 
166 formed in the second end portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 
150. Further, while the male connector 164 has been depicted as having a 
mushroom or button shaped head portion 168, it should be understood that 
the configuration of the male connector 164 can vary widely and the head 
portion 168 of the male connector 164 could be in the shape of an arrow, 
or any other geometric configuration which is adapted to matingly engage 
and be connected to the female connectors 166 so that the first end 
portion 158 of the sheet of flexible material 150 can be securely 
connected to the second end portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 
150 so as to form the shape-sustaining support member 140. 
To prevent puncture of the decorative cover 130 formed about the 
shape-sustaining support member 140 by the stem portions 72 of a floral 
grouping, such as cut flowers 70, a base member 172 is disposed about the 
open lower end 144 of the shape-sustaining support member 140 
substantially as shown in FIG. 17. The base member 172 is provided with an 
upwardly extending lip 174 to assist in stabilizing the base member 172 
relative to the shape-sustaining support member 140. 
FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of a base member 176 for the 
shape-sustaining support member 140. In this embodiment, the base member 
176 is provided with an inwardly tapered peripheral sidewall 178 for 
matingly engaging a lower portion of the interior surface of the 
peripheral sidewall 146 of the shape-sustaining support member 140. That 
is, the base member 176 is sized such that the base member 176 can be 
disposed within the open lower end 144 of the shape-sustaining support 
member 140 substantially as shown in FIG. 18. 
The base members 172 and 176 depicted in FIGS. 17 and 18 can be connected, 
if desired, to the shape-sustaining support member 140 to enhance 
stability and water tightness of the internal chamber 148 formed in the 
shape-sustaining support member 140. Any suitable means can be employed 
for connecting the base members 172 and 176 to the shape-sustaining 
support member 140, such as an adhesive, cohesive, pressure sensitive 
adhesive and the like. 
Embodiments of FIGS. 19-36 
Referring now to FIGS. 19-21 , a floral holding material 180 which, when 
wrapped with a sheet of the fluid impermeable material such as the sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 62 hereinbefore described, provides a 
flexible vase having a configuration similar to the flexible vase 60 shown 
in FIG. 1. The floral holding material 180 comprises a shape-sustaining 
support member 182 having an open upper end 184, an open lower end 186 and 
a peripheral sidewall 188 defining an internal chamber 190 extending 
between the open upper end 184 and the open lower end 186. 
The shape-sustaining support member 182 is fabricated of a sheet of 
flexible material 192 (FIGS. 20-21) which has sufficient flexibility to 
permit the sheet of flexible material 192 to be formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 182, and which also has sufficient 
strength to provide the required shape-sustaining properties to the 
shape-sustaining support member 182 and is sufficiently water-resistant to 
prevent deterioration of the shape-sustaining support member 182 when same 
is contacted with a fluid, such as water. The thickness of the sheet of 
flexible material 192 can vary widely, the only requirement being that the 
sheet of flexible material 192 have sufficient strength and flexibility to 
satisfy the above requirements. Any material possessing the 
above-identified properties can be used in the fabrication of the sheet of 
flexible material 192. 
The sheet of flexible material 192 has an upper side 194 having a centrally 
disposed recess 196, a lower side 198, a first end portion 200 and a 
second end portion 202 which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible 
material 192 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. 
The sheet of flexible material 192 is further provided with a connector 
assembly 204 (FIG. 20) for connecting the first end portion 200 of the 
sheet of flexible material 192 to the second end portion 202 of the sheet 
of flexible material 192 when the sheet of flexible material 192 is formed 
into the shape-sustaining support member 188. The connector assembly 204 
comprises a plurality of male connectors 206 formed in the first end 
portion 200 of the sheet of flexible material 192 so as to be disposed in 
close proximity to the upper side 194 of the sheet of flexible material 
192 and a plurality of female connectors 208 formed in the second end 
portion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 such that at least a 
portion of the female connectors 208 are adapted to matingly receive the 
male connectors 206 and thereby connect the first end portion 200 of the 
sheet of flexible material 192 to the second end portion 202 of the sheet 
of flexible material 192 to provide the shape-sustaining support member 
shown in FIG. 19. 
The male connectors 206 of the connector assembly 204 are a plurality of 
spatially disposed studs or bosses which extend upwardly from an upper 
surface 210 of the sheet of flexible material 192; and the female 
connectors 208 are a plurality of apertures formed in the second end 
portion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 which are adapted to 
matingly receive and frictionally engage the male connectors 206 so that, 
upon inserting the male connectors 206 into the female connectors 208, the 
first end portion 200 of the sheet of flexible material 192 can be 
securely connected to the second end portion 202 to form the 
shape-sustaining support member 182. It should be noted that by providing 
a plurality of female connectors 208 spatially disposed along the second 
end portion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192, insertion of the 
male connectors 206 into selected female connectors 208 permits one to 
vary the circumferential dimensions of the shape-sustaining support member 
182. 
To stabilize cut flowers or other floral arrangements within the internal 
chamber 190 of the shape-sustaining support member 182, a plurality of 
finger members 212 are formed in the sheet of flexible material 192 about 
the centrally disposed recess 196 formed in the upper side 194 of the 
sheet of flexible material 192. The finger members 212, which extend 
inwardly into the sheet of flexible material 192 from the centrally 
disposed recess 196 substantially as shown, desirably have a rounded or 
arcuate distal end 214. Thus, the finger members 212 can be easily and 
quickly pressed inwardly into the open upper end 184 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 182 so as to engage the stem portions of 
cut flowers or other floral arrangements disposed within the internal 
chamber 190 of the shape-sustaining support member 182, or the finger 
members 212 can be flared outwardly and thereby provide a flared neck 
portion about the open upper end of 184 of the shape-sustaining support 
member 182. 
Referring now to FIG. 21, another embodiment of a connector assembly 220 
for interconnecting the first end portion 200 and the second end portion 
202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 to form the shape-sustaining 
support member 182 is illustrated. The connector assembly 220 comprises a 
plurality of male connectors 222 formed in the first end portion 200 of 
the sheet of flexible material 192 so as to be disposed in close proximity 
to the upper side 194 of the sheet of flexible material 192; and a 
plurality of female connectors 224 formed in the second end portion 202 of 
the sheet of flexible material 192 such that at least a portion of the 
female connectors 224 are adapted to matingly receive the male connectors 
222 and thereby connect the first end portion 200 of the sheet of flexible 
material 192 to the second end portion 202 of the sheet of flexible 
material 192 to provide the shape-sustaining support member 182 shown in 
FIG. 19. The male connectors 222 are a plurality of spatially disposed 
studs or bosses which extend upwardly from the upper surface 210 of the 
sheet of flexible material 192; and the female connectors 224 are a 
plurality of spatially disposed studs or bosses which extend upwardly from 
the upper surface 210 of the sheet of flexible material 192 and which have 
a centrally disposed recess 225 formed therein adapted to matingly receive 
the male connectors 222. The plurality of female connectors 224 are 
spatially disposed along the second end portion 202 such that a portion of 
the female connectors 224 are adapted to matingly receive the male 
connectors 222. Thus, upon inserting the male connectors 222 into selected 
female connectors 224, the circumferential dimensions of the 
shape-sustaining support member 182 can be varied. 
Referring now to FIGS. 22 and 23, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 230 is shown. The floral holding material 230 comprises a 
shape-sustaining support member 232 having an open upper end 234, an open 
lower end 236 and a peripheral sidewall 238 defining an internal chamber 
240 extending between the open upper end 234 and the open lower end 236. 
The shape-sustaining support member 232 is fabricated of a sheet of 
flexible material 242 (FIG. 23) which has sufficient flexibility to permit 
the sheet of flexible material 242 to be formed into the shape-sustaining 
support member 232. 
The sheet of flexible material 242 has an upper side 244 having a centrally 
disposed recess 246, a lower side 248, a first end portion 250 and a 
second end portion 252 which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible 
material 242 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. The sheet 
of flexible material 242 is further provided with a connector assembly 254 
for connecting the first end portion 250 of the sheet of flexible material 
242 to the second end portion 252 of the sheet of flexible material 242 
when the sheet of flexible material 242 is formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 232. 
The connector assembly 254 comprises a male connector 256 and a plurality 
of female connectors 258. The male connector 256 is formed in the upper 
side 244 of the sheet of flexible material 242 so as to be substantially 
adjacent the first end portion 250 of the sheet of flexible material 242; 
and the plurality of female connectors 258 are formed in the second end 
portion 252 of the sheet of flexible material 242 such that at least one 
of the female connectors 258 is adapted to matingly receive the male 
connector 256 and thereby connect the first end portion 250 of the sheet 
of flexible material 242 to the second end portion 252 of the sheet of 
flexible material 242 and thus provide the shape-sustaining support member 
232 shown in FIG. 22. The plurality of female connectors 258 are spatially 
disposed slits provided in the second end portion 252 of the sheet of 
flexible material 242 so that each of the female connectors 258 is 
alignable with the male connector 256 when the first end portion 250 of 
the sheet of flexible material 242 is disposed over the second end portion 
252 of the sheet of flexible material 242 during formation of the 
shape-sustaining support member 232. Thus, upon inserting the male 
connector 256 into a selected female connector 258, the circumferential 
dimensions of the shape-sustaining support member 232 can be varied. 
While the sheet of flexible material 242 has been illustrated as having 
only one male connector 256, it should be understood that a plurality of 
male connectors 256 can be disposed along the upper side 244 of the sheet 
of flexible material 242 for mating engagement with the female connectors 
258 formed in the second end portion 252 of the sheet of flexible material 
242. Further, the configuration of the male connector 256 can vary widely, 
the only requirement being that the male connector 256 be adapted to 
matingly engage and be connected to the female connectors 258 so that the 
first end portion 250 of the sheet of flexible material 242 can be 
securely connected to the second end portion 252 of the sheet of flexible 
material 242 and thereby form the shape-sustaining support member 232. 
To stabilize a floral grouping, such as the cut flowers 70 (FIG. 1), within 
the internal chamber 240 of the shape-sustaining support member 232, a 
plurality of slots 260 are provided in the sheet of flexible material 242 
substantially as shown. The slots 260 extend radially from the centrally 
disposed recess 246 formed in the upper side 244 of the sheet of flexible 
material 242. Thus, the slots 260 provide open recessed areas for 
insertion of floral groupings (such as stem portions of cut flowers) 
therethrough for stabilizing same relative to the open upper end 234 of 
the shape-sustaining support member 232. 
The spatially disposed slots 260 also define a plurality of finger members 
262 which extend from the open upper end 234 of the shape-sustaining 
support member 232. Thus, if desired, the finger members 262 can be easily 
and quickly pressed inwardly into the open upper end 234 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 232 so as to engage a portion of the 
floral arrangement disposed within the internal chamber of the 
shape-sustaining support member 232 and thereby stabilize the floral 
arrangement, or the finger members 262 can be flared outwardly and thereby 
provide a flared neck portion about the open upper end 234 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 232. 
Referring now to FIG. 24, another embodiment of a floral holding material 
266 is shown. The floral holding material 266 comprises a shape-sustaining 
support member 268 having an open upper end 270, an open lower end 272 and 
a peripheral sidewall 274 defining an internal chamber 276 extending 
between the open upper end 270 and the open lower end 272. The 
shape-sustaining support member 268 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible 
material 278 (FIG. 25) which has sufficient flexibility and strength to 
permit the sheet of flexible material 278 to be formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 268. 
The sheet of flexible material 278 has an upper side 280 having a centrally 
disposed recess 282, a lower side 284, a first end portion 286 and a 
second end portion 288 which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible 
material 278 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. The sheet 
of flexible material 278 is further provided with a connector assembly 290 
for connecting the first end portion 286 of the sheet of flexible material 
278 to the second end portion 288 of the sheet of flexible material 278 
when the sheet of flexible material 278 is formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 268. 
The connector assembly 290 comprises a male connector 292 disposed on an 
upper surface 294 of the sheet of flexible material 278 and a female 
connector 296 formed along a portion of a lower surface 298 of the sheet 
of flexible material 278. The male connector, which is provided with a rib 
configuration, extends along at least a portion of the sheet of flexible 
material 278 such that the male connector 292 is disposed on the surface 
294 of the sheet of flexible material 278 in close proximity to the upper 
side 280 of the sheet of flexible material 278 and extends between the 
first end portion 286 and the centrally disposed recess 282. The female 
connector, which is a generally channel-shaped connection, is disposed on 
the lower surface 298 of the sheet of flexible material 278 in close 
proximity to the upper side 280 of the sheet of flexible material 278 and 
extends between the centrally disposed recess 282 and the second end 
portion 288 of the sheet of flexible material 278. Thus, upon forming the 
sheet of flexible material into the configuration of the shape-sustaining 
support member as shown in FIG. 24, the rib portion of the male connector 
292 is snapped into the channel portion of the female connector 296 so as 
to securely connect the first end portion 286 of the sheet of flexible 
material 278 to the second end portion 288 of the sheet of flexible 
material 278 and thereby provide the shape-sustaining support member 268 
as shown in FIG. 24. 
Referring now to FIG. 26, a floral holding material 300 is shown. The 
floral holding material 300 comprises a shape-sustaining support member 
302 having an open upper end 304, an open lower end 306 and a peripheral 
sidewall 308 defining an internal chamber 310 extending between the open 
upper end 304 and the open lower end 306. The shape-sustaining support 
member 302 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible material 312 which has 
sufficient flexibility and strength to permit the sheet of flexible 
material 312 to be formed into the shape-sustaining support member 302. 
The sheet of flexible material 312 (FIG. 27) is provided with a 
substantially semi-circular configuration and has an upper side 314 having 
a centrally disposed recess 316, a lower side 318, a first end portion 
320, a second end portion 322, an upper surface 324 and a lower surface 
326. The flexible sheet of material 312 is also provided with a connector 
assembly 328 for connecting the first end portion 320 of the sheet of 
flexible material 312 to the second end portion 322 of the sheet of 
flexible material 312 when the sheet of flexible material 312 is formed 
into the shape-sustaining support member 302. 
The connector assembly 328 comprises a first strip of a cohesive 330 
disposed substantially adjacent the upper side 314 of the sheet of 
flexible material 312 so as to extend along at least a substantial portion 
of the distance between the centrally disposed recess 316 formed in the 
upper side 314 and the first end portion 320 of the sheet of flexible 
material 312, and a second strip of a cohesive 332 disposed on the lower 
surface 326 of the sheet of flexible material 312 so as to be disposed 
near the upper side 314 thereof and along a substantial portion of the 
upper side 314 between the centrally disposed recess 316 formed in the 
upper side 314 and the second end portion 322 of the sheet of flexible 
material 312. Thus, when the first end portion 320 of the sheet of 
flexible material 312 is disposed over the second end portion 322 of the 
sheet of flexible material 312 and the first and second strips of cohesive 
330, 332 are brought into contact, the first end portion 320 of the sheet 
of flexible material 312 is connected to the second end portion 322 of the 
sheet of material 312 to provide the shape-sustaining support member 302. 
It should be noted that while the connector assembly 328 has been shown as 
a first strip of cohesive 330 and a second strip of cohesive 332, such 
cohesives are not restricted to being in strip form but can be in the form 
of dots, segments or any other desired configuration. 
Referring now to FIGS. 28 and 29, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 336 is shown. The floral holding material 336 comprises a 
shape-sustaining support member 338 having an open upper end 340, an open 
lower end 342, and a peripheral sidewall 344 defining an internal chamber 
346 extending between the open upper end 340 and the open lower end 342. 
The shape-sustaining support member 338 is fabricated of a sheet of 
flexible material 348 having sufficient flexibility and strength to 
provide the desired shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining 
support member 338. 
The sheet of flexible material 348, which has a substantially semi-circular 
configuration, is provided with an upper side 350 having a centrally 
disposed recess 352, a lower side 354, a first end portion 356, a second 
end portion 358 and an upper surface 360. The sheet of flexible material 
348 is further provided with a connector assembly 362 for connecting the 
first end portion 356 of the sheet of flexible material 348 to the second 
end portion 358 of the sheet of flexible material 348 when the sheet of 
flexible material 348 is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 
338. 
The connector assembly 362 comprises a first strip of a cohesive 364 and a 
second strip of a cohesive 366. The first strip of cohesive 364 is 
disposed on the upper surface 360 of the sheet of flexible material 348 so 
as to be disposed substantially adjacent the upper side 350 of the sheet 
of flexible material 348; and the first strip of cohesive 364 extends 
between the centrally disposed recess 352 and the first end portion 356 of 
the sheet of flexible material 348. Similarly, the second strip of 
cohesive 366 is disposed on the upper surface 360 of the sheet of flexible 
material 348 so as to be disposed substantially adjacent the upper side 
360 of the sheet of flexible material 348; and the second strip of 
cohesive 366 extends between the centrally disposed recess 352 and the 
second end portion 358 of the sheet of flexible material 348. Thus, when 
the sheet of flexible material 348 is formed into a substantially conical 
configuration, the first strip of cohesive 364 is brought into contact 
with the second strip of cohesive 366 so that the first and second end 
portions 356 and 358 of the sheet of flexible material 348 are connected 
and the sheet of flexible material is formed into the shape-sustaining 
support member 338. 
Referring now to FIG. 30, a floral holding material 370 is shown. The 
floral holding material 370 comprises a shape-sustaining member 372 having 
an open upper end 374, an open lower end 376 and a peripheral sidewall 378 
defining an internal chamber 380 extending between the open upper end 374 
and the open lower end 376. The shape-sustaining support member 372 is 
fabricated of a sheet of flexible material 382 (FIG. 31) having sufficient 
flexibility and strength to permit the sheet of flexible material 382 to 
be formed into the shape-sustaining support member 372. 
Referring more specifically to FIG. 31, the sheet of flexible material 382 
has an upper side 384 having a centrally disposed recess 386, a lower side 
388, a first end portion 390 and a second end portion 392 which cooperate 
to provide the sheet of flexible material 382 with a substantially 
semi-circular configuration. The sheet of flexible material 382 is further 
provided with a connector assembly 394 for connecting the first end 
portion 390 of the sheet of flexible material 382 to the second end 
portion 392 of the sheet of flexible material 382 when the sheet of 
flexible material 382 is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 
372. 
The connector assembly 394 comprises a first strip of cohesive 396 disposed 
along an upper surface 398 of the sheet of flexible material 382 such that 
the first strip of cohesive 396 is disposed substantially adjacent the 
upper side 384 of the sheet of flexible material and extends a substantial 
portion of the distance between the centrally disposed recess 386 formed 
in the upper side 384 of the sheet of flexible material 382 and the first 
end portion 396 thereof. The connector assembly 394 further comprises a 
second strip of cohesive 400 disposed on the upper surface 398 of the 
sheet of flexible material 382 such that the second strip of cohesive 400 
is disposed substantially adjacent the upper side 384 of the sheet of 
flexible material 382 and extends a substantial portion of the distance 
between the centrally disposed recess 386 formed in the upper side 384 of 
the sheet of flexible material 382 and the second end portion 392 thereof. 
Thus, when the first end portion 390 of the sheet of flexible material 382 
is disposed over the second end portion 392 of the sheet of flexible 
material 382 and the first and second strips of cohesive 396 and 400 are 
brought into bonding engagement, the sheet of flexible material 382 is 
formed and secured in a substantially frusto conical shape-sustaining 
member 401 substantially as shown in FIG. 32 wherein the portions of the 
first and second end portions 390 and 392 of the sheet of flexible 
material 382 are bondingly connected by the first and second strips of 
cohesive 396 and 400 and extend outwardly therefrom to form a flap portion 
402 substantially as shown in FIG. 32. To secure the outwardly extending 
flap portion 402 to the peripheral sidewall 378 of the shape-sustaining 
support member 372, the connector assembly 394 further comprises a strip 
of adhesive 404 disposed along a lower surface 406 of the sheet of 
flexible material 382 so as to be spatially disposed from the second strip 
of cohesive 400, substantially as shown in FIG. 31. Thus, when the flap 
402 is moved adjacent a portion of the peripheral side wall 378 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 372, the adhesive 404 bondingly connects 
the flap 402 to the adjacently disposed portion of the peripheral sidewall 
378 of the shape-sustaining support member 372 to provide the 
shape-sustaining support member 372 with the configuration shown in FIG. 
30. 
Referring now to FIGS. 33 and 34, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 450 is shown. The floral holding material 450, when wrapped with 
a sheet of fluid impermeable material, provides a flexible vase similar to 
the flexible vase 120 shown in FIG. 14. The floral holding material 450 
comprises a shape-sustaining support member 452 having an open upper end 
454, an open lower end 456 and a peripheral sidewall 458 defining an 
internal chamber 460 extending between the open upper end 454 and the open 
lower end 456. A plurality of pleats 461 are formed in the peripheral 
sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452. The pleats 461 
extend from the open upper end 454 of the shape-sustaining support member 
452 and terminate a distance from the open lower end 456 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 452. 
The shape-sustaining support member 452 is fabricated of a sheet of 
flexible material 462 (FIG. 34) which has sufficient flexibility to permit 
the sheet of flexible material 462 to be formed into the shape-sustaining 
support member 452, sufficient strength to provide the required 
shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining support member 452 and 
sufficient water-resistance to prevent deterioration of the 
shape-sustaining support member 452, when the shape-sustaining support 
member 452 is contacted with a fluid, such as water. The thickness of the 
sheet of flexible material 462 can vary widely, the only requirement being 
that the sheet of flexible material 462 have sufficient strength and 
flexibility to satisfy the above requirements. 
The sheet of flexible material 462 has an upper side 464 having a centrally 
disposed recess 466, a lower side 468, a first end portion 470 and a 
second end portion 472 which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible 
material 462 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. A plurality 
of score lines 474 are formed in one surface, such as an upper surface 478 
of the sheet of flexible material 462, and extend radially from the 
centrally disposed recess 466 formed in the upper side 464 of the sheet of 
flexible material 462, in the direction of the first end portion 470, the 
lower side 468 and the second end portion 472 substantially as shown. The 
score lines 474 permit the formation of the pleats 461 in the peripheral 
sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452 by permitting 
portions of the peripheral sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support 
member 452 to be folded over an adjacently disposed portion of the 
peripheral sidewall 458. Thus, by forming pleats 461 in the peripheral 
sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452, the diameter of 
the open upper end 454 can be selectively reduced, if desired. The pleats 
461 formed in the peripheral sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support 
member 452 can be secured in a stable position by cohesive disposed along 
each side of the score lines 474 provided in the sheet of flexible 
material 462 such that when the pleats 461 are made by folding the sheet 
of flexible material 462 along the score lines 474, the pleats 461 are 
bondingly connected to an underlying portion of the peripheral sidewall 
458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452. It should be understood 
that the bonding of the pleats 461 to the underlying portion of the 
peripheral sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452 can be 
achieved in any suitable manner, such as with tape, staples, or any other 
connecting means well known in the art. 
The sheet of flexible material 462 is further provided with a connector 
assembly 480 for connecting the first end portion 470 of the sheet of 
flexible material 462 to the second end portion 472 of the sheet of 
flexible material 462 so as to form the shape-sustaining support member 
452 substantially as shown in FIG. 33. The connector assembly 480 
comprises a male connector 482 and a plurality of female connectors 484. 
The male connector 482 extends from the upper side 464 of the sheet of 
material 462 so as to be disposed in close proximity to the first end 
portion 470 of the sheet of flexible material 462; and the plurality of 
female connectors 484 are formed in the second end portion 472 of the 
sheet of flexible material 462 substantially as shown. The female 
connectors 484 are spatially disposed along the second end portion 472 of 
the sheet of flexible material 462 such that at least one female connector 
484 is adapted to matingly receive the male connector 482 and thereby 
connect the first end portion 470 of the sheet of flexible material 462 to 
the second end portion 472 and thus provide the shape-sustaining support 
member 452 shown in FIG. 33. 
The male connector 482 is provided with a shank portion 486 and a 
substantially arrow-shaped head portion 488. As previously stated, the 
female connectors 484 are spatially disposed along the second end portion 
472 of the sheet of flexible material 462 so that each of the female 
connectors 484 can be aligned with the male connector 482 when the first 
end portion 470 of the sheet of flexible material 462 is disposed over the 
second end portion 472 of the sheet of flexible material 462 during 
formation of the shape-sustaining support member 452. Thus, upon inserting 
the head portion 488 of the male connector 482 through a selected female 
connector 484, the circumferential dimensions of the shape-sustaining 
support member 452 can be varied. 
While the sheet of flexible material 462 has been illustrated as having 
only one male connector 482, it should be understood that a plurality of 
male connectors 482 could be disposed along the upper side 464 of the 
sheet of flexible material 462 so as to extend between the centrally 
disposed recess 466 formed in the upper side 464 of the sheet of flexible 
material 462 and the first end portion 470 of the sheet of flexible 
material 462. Further, the configuration of the male connector 482 can 
vary widely, the only requirement being that the male connector 482 be 
adapted to matingly engage and be connected to the female connectors 484 
so that the first end portion 470 of the sheet of flexible material 462 
can be securely connected to the second end portion 472 of the sheet of 
flexible material 462 to form the shape-sustaining support member 452 
depicted in FIG. 33. 
Referring now to FIG. 35, another embodiment of a floral holding material 
490 is shown. The floral holding material 490, when wrapped with a sheet 
of fluid impermeable material as hereinbefore described, provides a 
flexible vase having a substantially rectangular configuration. The floral 
holding material 490 comprises a shape-sustaining support member 492 
having a partially open upper end 494, an open lower end 496 and a 
plurality of sidewalls 498 defining an internal chamber 500 extending 
between the partially open upper end 494 and the open lower end 496. It 
should be noted that while the shape-sustaining support member 492 has 
been illustrated as having four sidewalls 498, the number of sidewalls 498 
can vary and the number of sidewalls 498 will determine the geometric 
configuration of the shape-sustaining support member 492. For example, if 
the shape-sustaining support member is provided with three sidewalls, the 
shape-sustaining support member will have a substantially triangular 
configuration; whereas if the shape-sustaining support member is provided 
with five sidewalls, the shape-sustaining support member will have a 
substantially pentagonal configuration. The shape-sustaining support 
member 492 is further provided with a plurality of substantially 
triangular shaped tabs 502 disposed along the open upper end 494 which, 
when pressed inwardly as shown, stabilize a floral arrangement, such as 
cut flowers, within the internal chamber 500 formed within the 
shape-sustaining support member 492. 
Referring more specifically to FIG. 36, the shape-sustaining support member 
492 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible material 504 which has sufficient 
flexibility to be formed into the shape-sustaining support member 492, 
sufficient strength to provide the required shape-sustaining properties to 
the shape-sustaining support member 492 and sufficient water resistance to 
prevent deterioration of the shape-sustaining support member 492 when 
contacted with a fluid, such as water. The thickness of the sheet of 
flexible material 504 can vary widely, the only requirement being that the 
sheet of flexible material 504 have sufficient strength and flexibility to 
satisfy the above requirements. 
The sheet of flexible material 504 has an upper side 506, a lower side 508, 
a first end portion 510 and a second end portion 512. The plurality of 
triangular tabs 502 extend from the upper side 506 of the sheet of 
flexible material 504 substantially as shown. The substantially 
triangularly shaped tabs 502 are provided with a plurality of spatially 
disposed apertures 513 so that when the sheet of flexible material 504 is 
formed into the shape-sustaining support member 492 and the tabs 502 are 
pressed inwardly into the open upper end 496 of the shape-sustaining 
member 492, the stem portion of a floral grouping (not shown) can be 
disposed through the apertures 513. A score line 514 is provided along the 
upper side 506 of the sheet of flexible material 504 so as to be disposed 
between the upper side 506 of the sheet of flexible material 504 and the 
triangularly shaped tabs 502 for permitting the triangularly shaped tabs 
502 to be pressed inwardly into the open upper end 496 of the 
shape-sustaining member 492 substantially as shown in FIG. 35. The 
triangularly shaped tabs 502 may be provided with a plurality of floral 
grouping receiving openings 513 for stabilizing a floral grouping disposed 
therethrough relative to the shape-sustaining support member 492. In 
addition, the sheet of flexible material 504 is provided with three 
vertically extending score lines 516 for permitting the sheet of flexible 
material 504 to be folded to form the sidewalls 498 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 492. 
The sheet of flexible material 504 is further provided with a connector 
assembly 518 for connecting the first end portion 510 of the sheet of 
flexible material 504 to the second end portion 512 thereof so as to form 
the shape-sustaining support member 492. The connector assembly 518 
extends along at least a portion of the first end portion 510 so as to be 
disposed substantially adjacent an edge thereof and is adapted to connect 
to the second end portion 512 of the sheet of flexible material 504 to 
form the shape-sustaining support member 492. Any suitable means can be 
employed as the connector assembly 518, including the connecting 
assemblies heretofore described. However, especially desirable results can 
be obtained wherein the connector assembly 518 is a strip of adhesive 520 
which extends along the first end portion 510 of the sheet of flexible 
material 504 between the upper side 506 and the lower side 508 thereof 
substantially as shown. It should be understood that while the connector 
assembly 518 has been shown as a strip of adhesive 520 extending between 
the upper side 506 and the lower side 508 of the sheet of flexible 
material 504, the adhesive can be in the form of spaced apart strip 
segments, dots, or any other geometrical configuration. The only 
requirement of the bonding material or any other suitable connector 
assembly employed in combination with the sheet of flexible material 504 
is that the bonding material or connector assembly be adapted to securely 
connect the second end portion 512 to the first end portion 510 of the 
sheet of flexible material 504 to form the shape-sustaining support member 
492. 
Referring now to FIGS. 37 and 38, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 530 is shown. The floral holding material 530 can be wrapped with 
a sheet of the fluid impermeable material, such as the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 62 hereinbefore described, to provide a flexible vase 
similar to the flexible vase 60 in the manner hereinbefore described. The 
floral holding material 530 comprises a preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 532 having an open upper end 534, an open lower end 536 and a 
peripheral sidewall 538 defining an internal chamber 540 extending between 
the open upper end 534 and the open lower end 536. A plurality of score 
lines, such as score lines 542 and 544, are formed in the peripheral 
sidewall 538 and extend between the open upper end 534 and the open lower 
end-536 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 532. The score 
lines 542 and 544 permit a portion of the peripheral sidewall 538 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 532 to be folded over an 
adjacently disposed portion of the peripheral sidewall 538 substantially 
as shown in FIG. 38 to reduce the diameter of the open upper end 534 the 
open lower end 536 and the internal chamber 540 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 532. The overlapped portion or pleat 546 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 538 can then be secured in a stable 
position by strips of cohesive 548 disposed along each side of the score 
lines 542 and 544 provided in the peripheral sidewall 538 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 532. It should be understood that the 
bonding of the overlapped portion or pleat 546 formed in the peripheral 
sidewall 538 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 532 to the 
underlying portion of the peripheral sidewall 538, while being illustrated 
with the use of strips of cohesive, can be achieved in any suitable 
manner, such as with an adhesive, tape, staples, or any other connecting 
means well known in the art. 
Referring now to FIG. 39, another embodiment of a floral holding material 
550 for use in forming a flexible decorative vase is illustrated. The 
floral holding material 550 comprises a preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 552 having an open upper end 554, an open lower end 556 and a 
peripheral sidewall 558 defining an internal chamber 560 extending between 
the open upper end 554 and the open lower end 556. Because the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 552 is formed of a substantially rigid 
material, creases 562 and 564 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 558 of 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 when the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 552 is flattened for transportation and 
storage substantially as shown in FIG. 40. Since it is desirable to expand 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 to its substantially 
original configuration for use in the construction of a flexible vase, and 
because creases 562 and 564 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 558 of 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552, it is necessary to 
provide a mechanism 565 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 552 in its expanded configuration when the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 552 has been flattened for transportation 
and storage. 
The mechanism 565 comprises an elastic member, such as an elastic band 566, 
which is attached to the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 
substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 thereof so as to extend 
between the creases 562 and 564 formed in the peripheral sidewall 558 of 
the preformed shape-sustaining member 552 substantially as shown. Since 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is in its normal 
expanded condition prior to flattening, the elastic band 566 is placed 
under tension or stretched during flattening of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 552. Thus, when it is desired to use the 
flattened preformed shape-sustaining support member 552, one merely 
removes the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 from its 
shipping or storage carton (not shown) and allows the elastic band 566 to 
contract or resume its unstretched condition whereby the flattened 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is moved to its original 
configuration substantially as shown in FIG. 39. 
Referring now to FIGS. 41 and 42, another embodiment of a mechanism 569 for 
stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 in its 
expanded configuration is illustrated. In this embodiment, a first tab 570 
having a length greater than the radius of the open lower end 556 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is connected to a portion of 
the peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 552 so as to be substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 of 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552; and a second tab 572, 
also having a length greater than the radius of the open lower end 556 of 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is connected to a 
portion of the peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 552 so as to be disposed opposite the first tab 570 and 
substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 552 substantially as shown. When 
assembling the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 for use, one 
applies sufficient pressure along the creases 562 and 564 formed in the 
peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
552 so that the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is moved 
from the flattened storage position (FIG. 42) to an original expanded 
position (FIG. 41). Thereafter, the first and second tabs 570, 572, which 
are provided with connectors 574 and 576, respectively, can be 
interconnected via the connectors 574 and 576 so that the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 552 is maintained in a configuration 
substantially as shown in FIG. 41. 
Referring now to FIGS. 43 and 44, another embodiment of a mechanism 577 for 
stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 in its 
expanded configuration is illustrated. In this embodiment, a first tab 578 
having a length greater than the radius of the open lower end 556 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is connected to the 
peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
552 so as to be substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552; and a second tab 580, also 
having a length greater than the radius of the open lower end 556 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is connected to the 
peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
552 so as to be substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 substantially as shown. 
The mechanism 577 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 552 further includes a strip of substantially non-elastic material 
582 having a length substantially equal to the diameter of the open lower 
end 556 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552. The strip of 
material 582 is connected at one end 584 to the peripheral sidewall 558 of 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 so as to be disposed 
between the creases 562 and 564; and an opposed second end 586 of the 
strip of material 582 is connected to the peripheral sidewall 558 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 between the creases 562 and 
564. Thus, the strip of material 582 is substantially normally disposed to 
the first and second tabs 578 and 580 substantially as shown. The first 
and second tabs 578 and 580 are provided with connectors 588, 590, 
respectively, so that the first and second tabs 578 and 580 can be 
connected via the connectors 588 and 590 when the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 552 is moved from its substantially 
flattened storage position (FIG. 44) to the expanded position (FIG. 43). 
Thereafter, the interconnected first and second tabs 578 and 580 are 
connected to a medial portion of the strip of material 582 by a connector 
592 illustrated by phantom line in FIG. 43. 
Referring now to FIGS. 45 and 46, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 594 for use in forming the flexible decorative vase is 
illustrated. The floral holding material 594 comprises a preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 596 having an open upper end 598, an open 
lower end 600 and a peripheral sidewall 602 defining an internal chamber 
604 extending between the open upper end 598 and the open lower end 600. 
Because the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 is formed of a 
substantially rigid material, creases 606 and 608 are formed in the 
peripheral sidewall 602 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
596 when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 is flattened 
for transportation and storage substantially as shown in FIG. 46. Since it 
is desirable to expand the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 
to its substantially original configuration for use in the construction of 
the flexible vase, and because creases 606 and 608 are formed in the 
peripheral sidewall 602 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
596, it is necessary to provide a mechanism 610 for stabilizing the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 in its expanded 
configuration when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 has 
previously been flattened for transportation and storage. 
The mechanism for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
596 in its expanded configuration is illustrated as comprising a plurality 
of ring members 612 and 614. In this embodiment, when it is desirable to 
assemble the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 by selectively 
moving the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 from a flattened 
storage position (FIG. 46) to an expanded position for use as a floral 
holding material (FIG. 45), the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
596 is expanded and thereafter the ring member 612 is positioned adjacent 
the peripheral sidewall 602 of the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 596 so as to be disposed near the open lower end 600 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 and the ring member 614 is 
positioned adjacent the peripheral sidewall 602 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 596 so as to be disposed near the open 
upper end 598 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 
substantially as shown in FIG. 45. The ring members 612 and 614 can be 
stabilized along the peripheral sidewall 602 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 596 by any suitable means, such as by 
frictional engagement or by application of an adhesive or cohesive. If 
desired, the ring members 612 and 614 can be used in conjunction with the 
mechanisms 565, 569 and 577 hereinbefore described for stabilizing the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 in the expanded position. 
Referring now to FIGS. 47 and 48, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 620 is illustrated. The floral holding material 620 comprises a 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 having an open upper end 
624, an open lower end 626 and a peripheral sidewall 628 defining an 
internal chamber 630 extending between the open upper end 624 and the open 
lower end 626. Because the preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 
is formed of a substantially rigid material, creases 632 and 634 are 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 628 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 622 when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 
is flattened for transportation and storage substantially as shown in FIG. 
48. Since it is desirable to expand the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 622 to its substantially original configuration for use in the 
construction of a flexible vase, and because the creases 632 and 634 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 628 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 622 tend to distort the expanded configuration of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 622, it is necessary to provide 
a mechanism 636 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 622 in its expanded configuration. 
The mechanism 636 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 662 in its expanded configuration comprises a locking tab 638 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 628 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 622 which is selectively movable into a portion of the 
internal chamber 630 defined by the peripheral sidewall 628 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 622. 
The locking tab 638 is formed by providing a pair of substantially parallel 
horizontally disposed slits 640 and 642 formed in the peripheral sidewall 
628 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 622. Thus, when the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 is expanded from a flattened 
storage position (FIG. 48) to an expanded position for use as the floral 
holding material 620, the locking tab 638 is forced inwardly into the 
internal chamber 630 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 
so as to stabilize the preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 in 
its expanded position substantially as shown in FIG. 47. 
Referring now to FIGS. 49 and 50, a floral holding material 650 for use in 
forming a flexible-decorative vase is illustrated. The floral holding 
material 650 comprises a preformed shape-sustaining support member 652 
having an open upper end 654, an open lower end 656 and a peripheral 
sidewall 658 defining an internal chamber 660 extending between the open 
upper end 654 and the open lower end 656. Because the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 652 is formed of a substantially rigid 
material, creases 662 and 664 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 658 of 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 652 when the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 652 is flattened for transportation and 
storage substantially as shown in FIG. 50. Since it is desirable to expand 
the preformed shape-sustaining support member 652 to its substantially 
original configuration for use as the floral holding material 650, and 
especially when used in the construction of a flexible vase, and because 
creases 662 and 664 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 658 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 652, it is necessary to provide 
a mechanism 665 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 652 in its expanded configuration. 
As shown in FIG. 50, a circumferentially disposed groove 668 is formed in 
the peripheral sidewall 658 of the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 652 so as to be disposed substantially intermediate the open upper 
end 654 and the open lower end 656 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 652. An elastomeric member 670 (FIG. 49) is positioned 
within the groove 668 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 652 in its normal expanded position. It should be noted 
that while the groove 668 has been shown as being disposed substantially 
intermediate the open upper end 654 and the open lower end 656 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 652, the groove 668 can be 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 658 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 652 at a variety of positions. Further, if desired, more 
than one groove 668 can be formed in the peripheral sidewall 658 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 652 and the number of 
elastomeric members 670 will correspond to the number of grooves 668 
formed therein. 
Referring now to FIG. 51, another embodiment of a floral holding material 
674 is illustrated. The floral holding material 674 comprises a preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 676 having an open upper end 678, an open 
lower end 679, a peripheral sidewall 680 defining an internal chamber (not 
shown) which extends between the open upper end 678 and the open lower end 
679. The preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 is thus 
substantially identical in construction to the preformed shape-sustaining 
member 596 hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 45 and 46. 
Because the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 is formed of a 
substantially rigid material, creases such as crease 682 are formed in the 
peripheral sidewall 680 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
676 when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 is flattened 
for transportation and storage. Since it is desirable to expand the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 to its substantially 
original configuration for use as the floral holding material 674, it is 
desirable to provide a mechanism 684 whereby the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 676 can be stabilized in its original 
expanded configuration. 
Thus, the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 is provided with a 
substantially double frusto conical cone-shaped stabilizer 686 having an 
outwardly flared lower portion 688 and an outwardly flared upper portion 
690. The outwardly flared lower portion 688 of the double frusto conical 
cone-shaped member 686 is disposed over a portion of the peripheral 
sidewall 680 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 
substantially adjacent the open upper end 678 thereof such that the 
outwardly flared upper portion 690 extends above and outwardly from the 
open upper end 678 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 
substantially as shown. Thus, the double frusto conical cone-shaped 
stabilizer 686, when disposed over an upper end portion of the peripheral 
sidewall 680 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676, 
stabilizes the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676 in its 
expanded position. 
Referring now to FIGS. 52 and 53, a floral holding material 696 is 
illustrated. The floral holding material 696 comprises a preformed 
shape-sustaining member 698 having an open upper end 700, an open lower 
end 702 and a peripheral sidewall 704 defining an internal chamber 706 
extending between the open upper end 700 and the open lower end 702. The 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 698 is formed of a substantially 
rigid member having sufficient memory such that the preformed 
shape-sustaining member 698 can be moved between a flattened condition 
(FIG. 53) and an expanded position (FIG. 52). Since it is desirable to 
flatten the preformed shape-sustaining member 698 for transportation and 
storage, and since the preformed shape-sustaining member 698 is formed of 
a material having sufficient memory to restore the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 698 to its expanded position, a locking 
assembly 708 is provided for maintaining the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 698 in a flattened condition during transportation and 
storage. 
The locking assembly 708 comprises a male connector 710 and a female 
connector 712. The male connector 710 is disposed along a portion of the 
peripheral sidewall 704 so as to be opposite the position of the female 
connector 712 such that upon connecting the male connector 710 to the 
female connector 712, the preformed shape-sustaining member 698 is secured 
in a folded position substantially as shown in FIG. 53. The male connector 
710 is illustrated as a lug or stud 714 which extends from the peripheral 
sidewall 704 of the preformed shape-sustaining member 698 and into the 
internal chamber 706 of the preformed shape-sustaining member 698. The 
female connector 712 is an aperture 716 formed in the peripheral sidewall 
704 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 698 and positioned so 
as to matingly receive the lug or stud 714 when the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 698 is moved to its folded position. 
Referring now to FIGS. 54 and 55, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 720 is illustrated. The floral holding material 720 comprises a 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 having an open upper end 
724, an open lower end 726 and a peripheral sidewall 728 defining an 
internal chamber 730 extending between the open upper end 724 and the open 
lower end 726. Because the preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 
is formed of a substantially rigid material, creases 732 and 734 are 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 722 when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 
is flattened for transportation and storage substantially as shown in FIG. 
55. Since it is desirable to expand the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 722 to its substantially original configuration for use in the 
construction of a flexible vase, and because the creases 732 and 734 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 722 tend to distort the expanded configuration of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 722, it is desirable to provide 
a mechanism 736 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 722 in its desired expanded configuration. 
The mechanism 736 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 722 in the expanded configuration (FIG. 54) comprises a first tab 
738 formed in the peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 722 and a second tab 740 formed in the 
peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
722 such that the first and second tabs 738 and 740 are laterally aligned, 
and a distal end 742 of the first tab 738 and a distal end 744 of the 
second tab 740 terminate at the crease 734 formed in the peripheral 
sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustaining member 722. That is, the 
first tab 738 is defined by a pair of substantially parallel, horizontally 
disposed slits 746 and 748 and a substantially vertically disposed slit 
(not shown) in the peripheral sidewall 738 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 722; and the second tab 740 is defined by 
a pair of substantially parallel, horizontally disposed slits 752 and 754 
and the substantially vertically disposed slit (not shown). 
When assembling the preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 for use, 
one applies sufficient pressure along the creases 732 and 734 formed in 
the peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 722 so that the preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 is 
moved from the flattened storage position (FIG. 55) to an expanded 
position (FIG. 54). Thereafter, the first and second tabs 738 and 740, 
which are provided with connectors, i.e. slits 752 and 754 near their 
respective distal ends 742 and 744, can be interconnected via the slits 
752 and 754 so that the preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 is 
secured in a configuration substantially as shown in FIG. 54. 
Referring now to FIGS. 56-58, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 760 is shown. The floral holding material 760 comprises a 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 762 having an open upper end 
764, an open lower end 766 and a peripheral sidewall 767 defining an 
internal chamber 768 extending between the open upper end 764 and the open 
lower end 766. Because the preformed shape-sustaining support member 762 
is formed of a substantially rigid material, creases 770 and 772 are 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 767 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 762 when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 762 
is flattened for transportation and storage substantially as shown in 
FIGS. 57 and 58. Since it is desirable to expand the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 762 to its substantially original 
configuration for use in the construction of a flexible vase, and because 
the creases 770 and 772 formed in the peripheral sidewall 766 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 762 tend to distort the expanded 
configuration of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 762, it is 
necessary to provide a mechanism 774 for stabilizing the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 762 in its desired expanded configuration. 
The mechanism 774 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 762 in its expanded configuration comprises a locking tab 776 
formed in the peripheral sidewall 767 of the preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 762. 
The locking tab 776 is formed by a pair of substantially parallel 
horizontally disposed slits 778 and 780 and a substantially vertically 
disposed slit 782 formed in the peripheral sidewall 766 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 762. The vertical slit 782 extending 
between the horizontally disposed slits 778, 780 is provided along the 
crease 772 formed in the peripheral sidewall 766 of the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member as a result of flattening the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 762 for transportation and storage. A 
distal end 786 of the locking tab 776 is provided with a slit 788 formed 
near the distal end 786 of the locking tab 776 via one of an upper edge or 
a lower edge of the locking tab 776. A slit 790 is formed in the 
peripheral sidewall 766 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 
762 in close proximity to the crease 772; and the slit 790 is adapted to 
matingly receive the distal end 786 of the locking tab 776 so that the 
slit 788 formed near the distal end 786 of the locking tab 776 can be 
matingly engaged and secured to the peripheral sidewall 776 adjacent the 
slit 790 substantially as shown. Thus, to stabilize the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 762 in its substantially original 
configuration for use in the construction of a flexible vase as shown in 
FIG. 56, the locking tab 776 is positioned across a portion of the 
internal chamber 768 adjacent the slot formed by formation of the locking 
tab 776 and the distal end 786 is positioned through the slit 790 such 
that the locking tab 776 is connected to the portion of the peripheral 766 
adjacent the slit 790 substantially as shown. 
Referring now to FIGS. 59 and 60, a floral holding material 800 is shown. 
The floral holding material 800 comprises a preformed shape-sustaining 
support member 802 having an open upper end 804, an open lower end 806 and 
a peripheral sidewall 808 defining an internal chamber 810 extending 
between the open upper end 804 and the open lower end 806. A plurality of 
circumferentially extending perforations 812 are formed in the peripheral 
sidewall 808 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 802 so as to 
be spatially disposed relative to each other and from the open upper end 
804 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 802 substantially as 
shown. Thus, the overall height of the preformed shape-sustaining support 
member 802 can readily be reduced by tearing or cutting the preformed 
shape-sustaining support member 802 along a selected one of the 
circumferentially extending perforations 812. 
Referring now to FIGS. 61-63, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 820 is illustrated. The floral holding material 820 comprises a 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 822 having an open upper end 
824, an open lower end 826 and a peripheral sidewall 828 defining an 
internal chamber 830 extending between the open upper end 824 and the open 
lower end 826. A circumferentially disposed groove 832 is formed in the 
peripheral sidewall 828 so as to be disposed near the open upper end 824 
of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 822. An elastic band 834, 
which is in a stretched condition, is positioned within the 
circumferentially disposed groove 832 substantially as shown in FIGS. 61 
and 62. 
When utilizing the floral holding material 820, stems 836 of a floral 
arrangement 838 are disposed into the internal chamber 830 of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support member 822 via the open upper end 824 
of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 822. When the stems 836 
of the floral arrangement 838 have been properly positioned, the elastic 
band 834 is removed from the circumferentially disposed groove 832 formed 
in the peripheral sidewall 828 of the preformed shape-sustaining member 
822 and positioned about a portion of the stems 836 extending above the 
open upper end 824 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 822 
substantially as shown in FIG. 63. Because the elastic band 834 is in a 
stretched condition when disposed within the circumferentially disposed 
groove 832, contraction of the band 834 about the stems 836 of the floral 
arrangement 838 secures the floral arrangement 838 in a substantially 
stable position when a sheet of flexible material (not shown) is wrapped 
about the preformed shape-sustaining support member 822 in the manner 
hereinbefore described to provide a flexible vase. 
Referring now to FIG. 64, a plurality of preformed shape-sustaining support 
members, such as the preformed shape-sustaining support members 822 are 
illustrated supported in a dispenser 840 to facilitate storage of the 
preformed shape-sustaining support members 822, as well as to provide easy 
access to the preformed shape-sustaining support members 822. While the 
dispenser 840 is illustrated as containing the preformed shape-sustaining 
support members 822, it should be understood that any of the preformed 
shape-sustaining members hereinbefore described can likewise be disposed 
within a dispenser. Dispensers suitable for dispensing preformed 
shape-sustaining support members as hereinabove described are well known 
and have been used heretofore for dispensing cups. Thus, no further 
description of the dispenser 840 is believed necessary. 
Referring now to FIG. 65, another embodiment of a floral holding material 
842 which can be employed in the fabrication of a flexible vase as 
hereinbefore described is illustrated. The floral holding material 842 
comprises a preformed shape-sustaining support member 844 having an open 
upper end 846, an open lower end (not shown) and a peripheral sidewall 848 
defining an internal chamber 850 extending between the open upper end 846 
and the open lower end (not shown). A plurality of apertures 852 are 
provided in the peripheral sidewall 848 so as to be disposed about the 
peripheral sidewall 848 substantially as shown. Each of the apertures 850 
is adapted to receive a stem portion (not shown) of a floral grouping for 
stabilizing the floral grouping relative to the floral holding material 
842. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 66-68 
Shown in FIG. 66 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 854 constructed in 
accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 854 comprises a 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 wrapped about a floral holding 
material 858 and secured about the floral holding material 858 by a band 
860. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 856 and the floral holding material 858 
cooperate to define a reservoir 862 in the flexible vase 854. Thus, to 
store floral groupings, such as cut flowers 864 having stem portions 866 
and bloom portions 868, the stem portions 866 of the cut flowers 864 are 
disposed into the reservoir 862 of the flexible vase 854 and the reservoir 
862 is then filled with a suitable fluid, such as water. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 may be of any shape, such as a 
rectangle as shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, or a square or any other geometric 
configuration. Further, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 may be 
constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the 
same or different types of material as long as at least one of the sheets 
of material, preferably the sheet of material disposed substantially 
adjacent the floral holding material 858, is impermeable to a fluid, such 
as water. When utilizing more than one layer of material as the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 856, the sheets of material may be connected 
together, laminated or maintained as separate sheets of material. The 
thickness of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 can vary widely, 
the only requirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
856 have sufficient strength so that the flexible vase 854 formed from the 
floral holding material 858 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
856 is capable of holding water disposed in the reservoir 862 of the 
flexible vase 854 and to permit the flexible vase 854 to be transported 
and displayed, and that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 be 
wrappable about the floral holding material 858 as described in detail 
hereinafter. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 is disposed about the floral 
holding material 858 to form a decorative cover 870 about the floral 
holding material 858. The decorative cover.870 extends a distance above 
the floral holding material 858 such that an upper end portion 872 of the 
floral holding material 858 remains substantially uncovered by the 
decorative cover 870. Thus, when a floral grouping, such as cut flowers 
864, is positioned within the reservoir 862 of the flexible vase 854, an 
upper portion of the stem portions 866 and the bloom portions 868 of the 
cut flowers 864 extend outwardly from the upper end portion 872 of the 
floral holding material 858. 
A crimped portion 874 can be formed in the decorative cover 870 near the 
upper end portion 872 of the floral holding material 858. The crimped 
portion 874, which extends a distance inwardly, can be formed by crimping 
together portions of the decorative cover 870. The crimped portion 874 can 
also be formed by placing the band 860 about a portion of the decorative 
cover 870, in which case the band 860 gathers or brings together portions 
of the decorative cover 870 and pulls portions of the decorative cover 870 
toward the upper end portion 872 of the floral holding material 858 to 
form the crimped portion 874 substantially as shown. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 may also have a bonding 
material (not shown) disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposed 
portions of the decorative cover 870 forming the crimped portion 874. More 
particularly, the bonding material may be disposed on at least one of an 
upper surface or a lower surface (not shown) of the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 856 so as to be disposed a distance radially from a 
central portion of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856. The 
bonding material, which can be in the form of a continuous strip or spots 
or spaced apart strips or of any geometric design is desirably a pressure 
sensitive adhesive or a cohesive. However, if desired, the crimped portion 
874 of the decorative cover 870 could be connected by the use of heat 
sealing, a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied to the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 856 and which requires heat to effect the bonding, or 
any other type of material which may be used to effect bonding of 
adjacently disposed portions of the decorative cover 870 defining the 
crimped portion 874. 
Referring more specifically to FIGS. 67 and 68, the floral holding material 
858 is a substantially frusto conical shape-sustaining support member 876 
(FIG. 66) (which is also referred to herein as the shape-sustaining 
support member 876) formed of a sheet of flexible material 878 which has 
sufficient flexibility to permit the sheet of flexible material 878 to be 
formed into the shape-sustaining support member 876, which also has 
sufficient strength to provide the required shape-sustaining properties to 
the shape-sustaining support member 876 and which is sufficiently water 
resistant to prevent deterioration of the shape-sustaining support member 
876 when contacted with a fluid, such as water. The shape-sustaining 
support member 876 formed from the sheet of flexible material 878 is 
identical in construction to the shape-sustaining support member 140 
hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 15. The sheet of flexible 
material 878 is disposed on the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 in 
a preselected location such that, upon forming the sheet of flexible 
material 878 into the shape-sustaining support member 876, the 
shape-sustaining support member 876 is substantially centrally positioned 
on and secured to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856. 
The sheet of flexible material 878 has an upper side 880 having a centrally 
disposed recess 882, a lower side 884, a first end portion 886 and a 
second end portion 888 which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible 
material 878 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. The sheet 
of flexible material 878 is connected to the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 856 so that, upon forming the sheet of flexible material 878 into 
the shape-sustaining support member 876, the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 856 can be easily wrapped about the shape-sustaining support 
member 876 to form the flexible vase 854. The lower side 884 of the sheet 
of flexible material 878 may be connected to the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 856 by a strip of tape 890 or other suitable bonding 
means substantially as shown in FIG. 67, or the sheet of flexible material 
878 may be connected to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 by an 
adhesive 892 disposed between the sheet of flexible material. 878 and the 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 such that the adhesive 892 extends 
along a central portion of the sheet of flexible material 878 between the 
centrally disposed recess 882 formed in the upper side 880 of the sheet of 
flexible material 878 and the lower side 884 of the sheet of flexible 
material 878 as shown in FIG. 68. 
The sheet of flexible material 878 is further provided with a connector 
assembly 894 for connecting the first end portion 886 of the sheet of 
flexible material 878 to the second end portion 888 of the sheet of 
flexible material 878 when the sheet of flexible material 878 is formed 
into the shape-sustaining support member 876. The connector assembly 894 
comprises a male connector 896 disposed along the upper side 880 of the 
sheet of flexible material 878 and a plurality of female connectors 898 
disposed in the second end portion 888 of the sheet of flexible material 
878 such that at least one female connector 898 is adapted to matingly 
receive the male connector 896 and thereby connect the first end portion 
886 of the sheet of flexible material 878 to the second end portion 888 of 
the sheet of flexible material 878 and thus provide the shape-sustaining 
support member 876. 
Once the shape-sustaining support member 876 has been formed, the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 856 is then extended about a peripheral 
sidewall (not shown) of the shape-sustaining support member 876 to provide 
the flexible vase 854 shown in FIG. 66. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 69-70 
Shown in FIG. 69 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 902 constructed in 
accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 902 comprises a 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 wrapped about a floral holding 
material 906. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 and the floral holding material 
906 cooperate to define a reservoir 908 in the flexible vase 902. Thus, to 
store floral groupings, such as cut flowers (not shown) stem portions of 
the cut flowers are disposed into the reservoir 908 of the flexible vase 
902 and the reservoir 908 is then filled with a suitable fluid, such as 
water. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 is shown as having a 
configuration of a square. However, it should be understood that the sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 904 may be of any shape such as a rectangle 
or any other geometric configuration. Further, the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 904 may be constructed of a single layer of material 
or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of material as 
long as at least one of the sheets of material, preferably the sheet of 
material disposed substantially adjacent the floral holding material 906 
is impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizing more than one 
layer of material as the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904, the 
sheets of material may be connected together, laminated or maintained as 
separate sheets of material. The thickness of the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 904 can vary widely, the only requirements being that 
the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 have sufficient strength so 
that the flexible vase 902 formed from the floral holding material 906 and 
the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 is capable of holding water 
disposed in the reservoir 908 of the flexible vase 902. The sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 904 is disposed about the floral holding material 906 
to form a decorative cover 910 about the floral holding material 906. The 
decorative cover 910 extends a distance above the floral holding material 
906 such that an upper end portion 912 of the floral holding material 906 
remains substantially uncovered by the decorative cover 910. 
A crimped portion 914 is formed in the decorative cover 910 generally above 
the floral holding material 906 substantially as shown in FIG. 69. The 
crimped portion 914 is formed by crimping together portions of the 
decorative cover 910 and the crimped portions 914 can be secured together 
by a bonding material, such as a plurality of strips of an adhesive or 
cohesive 916 as illustrated in FIG. 70. 
Referring now to FIG. 70, the floral holding material 906 comprises a 
shape-sustaining support member 918 formed of a base 920 and a plurality 
of radially extending arms 922. The radially extending arms 922 are 
connected to the base 920 such that the radially extending arms 922 can be 
pivoted in an upward direction. For example, score lines 923 can be 
provided between the base 920 and the radially extending arms 922 to 
facilitate the desired pivotal movement of the radially extending arms 
922. It should be understood that while the shape-sustaining support 
member 918 is illustrated as having four radially extending arms 922, the 
number of radially extending arms 922 can vary and the number of radially 
extending arms 922 will depend on the configuration of the flexible vase 
902. That is, three or more radially extending arms 922 can be used in the 
formation of the shape-sustaining support member 918. 
The base 920 and the radially extending arms 922 are formed of a flexible 
material, such as a plastic material, waterproof cardboard and the like. 
The base 920 and at least a portion of the radially extending arms 922 
near a distal end portion 924 of the radially extending arms 922 are 
secured to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 so that the base 
920 is substantially centrally disposed thereon. The sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 904 is gathered about the base 920 to provide an 
excess amount of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 about the 
base 920 such that when the radially extending arms 922 are moved to an 
upwardly extending position to provide the shape-sustaining support member 
918 with a predetermined configuration, the excess of the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 904 prevents the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
904 from tearing or becoming disconnected from the radially extending arms 
922. Once the radially extending arms 922 have moved to an upwardly 
extending position as shown in phantom in FIG. 69, a connector assembly 
925 is connected to the distal end portion 924 of each of the radially 
extending arms 922 so that the radially extending arms 922 are 
interconnected and stabilized in the upright position. 
The connector assembly 925 comprises a stud or shank 926 formed on the 
distal end portion 924 of each of the radially extending arms 922 and a 
flexible strap member 928 having a plurality of spatially disposed 
openings 930 formed therein such that, in a connected position, each of 
the studs or shanks 926 provided on the distal end portion 924 of the 
radially extending arms 922 are disposed in an opening 930 of the strap 
member 928. 
To form the flexible vase 902 shown in FIG. 69, one selectively moves the 
radially extending arm 922 to a properly disposed position and thereafter 
secures the flexible strap member 928 to the studs 926 on the distal end 
portion 924 of each of the radially extending arms 922. By selectively 
moving the radially extending arms 922 in an upward position, the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 904 is formed about the shape-sustaining 
support member 918 (i.e. the base 920 and the radially extending arms 
922). The distal end portions 924 of the radially extending arms 922 are 
then interconnected by the flexible strap member 928 and the crimped 
portion 914 is formed in the decorative cover 910 by crimping together 
portions of the decorative cover 910 whereby the crimped portions 914 are 
secured together by the bonding material 916 disposed on the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 904. 
The bonding material 916 is shown in FIG. 70 as a plurality of arcuate 
shaped strips positioned on the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 so 
as to be disposed in close proximity to the distal end portion 924 of each 
of the radially extending arms 922. However, it should be understood that 
the bonding material 916 can be in the form of a continuous strip as shown 
in FIG. 11, or as a plurality of spatially disposed spots. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 71-72 
Shown in FIG. 71 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 932 constructed 
in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 932 comprises 
a sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 wrapped about a floral holding 
material 936. The sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 and the floral 
holding material 936 cooperate to define a reservoir 938 in the flexible 
vase 932. Thus, to store floral groupings, such as cut flowers (not 
shown), stem portions of the cut flowers are disposed into the reservoir 
938 of the flexible vase 932 and the reservoir 938 is then filled with a 
suitable fluid, such as water. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 is shown as having a 
substantially square configuration. However, it should be understood that 
the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 may be of any shape, such as a 
rectangle or any other geometric configuration. Further, the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 934 may be constructed of a single layer of 
material or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of 
material as long as at least one of the sheets of material, preferably the 
sheet of material disposed adjacent the floral holding material 936, is 
impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizing more than one layer 
of material as the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934, the sheets of 
material may be connected together, laminated or maintained as separate 
sheets of material. The thickness of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 934 can vary widely, the only requirements being that the sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 934 have sufficient strength so that the 
flexible vase 932 formed from the floral holding material 936 and the 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 is capable of holding water 
disposed in the reservoir 938 of the flexible vase 932. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 is disposed about the floral 
holding material 936 to form a decorative cover 940 about the floral 
holding material 936. The decorative cover 940 extends a distance above 
the floral holding material 936 such that an upper end portion 942 of the 
floral holding material 936 remains substantially uncovered. 
A crimped portion 944 is formed in the decorative cover 940 generally above 
the floral holding material 936 substantially as shown in FIG. 71. The 
crimped portion 944 is formed by crimping together portions of the 
decorative cover 940 formed of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 
and the crimped portions 944 are secured together by a bonding material, 
such as an adhesive or cohesive 946 as illustrated in FIG. 72. 
Referring now to FIG. 72, the floral holding material 936 comprises a 
shape-sustaining support member 948 formed of a base 950 and a plurality 
of substantially parabolically shaped radially extending arms 952. The 
radially extending arms 952 are connected to the base 950 such that the 
radially extending arms 952 can be pivoted in an upward direction. It 
should be understood that while the shape-sustaining support member 948 is 
illustrated as having four substantially parabolically shaped radially 
extending arms 952, the number of radially extending arms 952 can vary and 
the number of radially extending arms 952 will depend on the configuration 
of the flexible vase 932. That is, three or more substantially 
parabolically shaped radially extending arms 952 can be used in the 
formation of the shape-sustaining support member 948. The base 950 and the 
radially extending arms 952 are formed of a flexible shape-sustaining 
material, such as a plastic material, water-proof cardboard and the like. 
The base 950 and a distal end portion 954 of each of the radially 
extending arms 952 are secured to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
934 so that the base 950 is substantially centrally disposed thereon. The 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 is provided with a gathered 
portion 955 of the fluid impermeable material 940 between the base 950 and 
the distal end portions 954 of the radially extending arms 952 such that 
when the radially extending arms 952 are moved to an upwardly extending 
position during formation of the shape-sustaining support member 948, the 
excess of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 prevents the sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 934 from tearing or becoming disconnected 
from the radially extending arms 952. Once the radially extending arms 952 
have been moved to an upwardly extending position as shown in phantom in 
FIG. 71, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 is crimped above the 
distal end portions 954 of the radially extending arms 952 such that the 
bonding material disposed on the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 
substantially adjacent the distal end portions 954 of the radially 
extending arms 952 bonds the crimped portion 944 and the distal end 
portions 954 of each of the radially extending arms 952 so as to secure 
the radially extending arms 952 in the desired upright position. 
When it is desired to provide a stack of sheets of fluid impermeable 
material 934 having the shape-sustaining support member 948 disposed 
thereon in a non-assembled condition, one can readily utilize a release 
material disposed between each of the sheets of fluid impermeable material 
934 forming the stack to ensure that the bonding material 946 does not 
adhere to an adjacently disposed sheet of fluid impermeable material 934, 
thereby enhancing removal of individual sheets of fluid impermeable 
material 934 from the stack of such materials. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 73-74 
Shown in FIG. 73 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 960 constructed 
in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 960 comprises 
a sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 wrapped about a floral holding 
material 964. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 and the floral holding material 
964 cooperate to define a reservoir 968 in the flexible vase 960. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 may be of any shape, such as a 
square as shown in FIG. 74, a rectangle, or any other geometric 
configuration. Further, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 may be 
constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the 
same or different types of material as long as at least one of the sheets 
of material, preferably the sheet of material disposed adjacent the floral 
holding material 964, is impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When 
utilizing more than one layer of material as the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 962, the sheets of material may be connected 
together, laminated, or maintained as separate sheets of material. The 
thickness of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 can vary widely, 
the only requirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
962 have sufficient strength so that the flexible vase 960 formed from the 
floral holding material 964,and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 
962 is capable of holding water disposed in the reservoir 968 of the 
flexible vase 960 and to permit floral groups disposed in the flexible 
vase 960 to be transported and displayed, and that the sheet of fluid 
impermeable material 962 be wrappable about the floral holding material 
964 as described in detail hereinafter. 
While the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 has been shown in FIG. 74 
as a single sheet of material, it should be understood that a pad of 
sheets of fluid impermeable material 962 may be utilized to enhance 
assembly of a plurality of flexible vases 960, or a roll of fluid 
impermeable material 962 may be provided so that the sheets of fluid 
impermeable material 962 can readily be obtained by cutting a sheet of 
material from the roll of material or by providing perforations in the 
roll of material to facilitate removal of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 962. 
Referring now to FIG. 74, the floral holding material 964 comprises a 
plurality of substantially triangularly shaped support members 972 secured 
to an upper surface 974 of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 
with a suitable bonding material (not shown). The triangularly shaped 
support members 972 cooperate to provide the floral holding material 964 
with a substantially square shaped outer periphery 976 which is disposed a 
distance 978 from an outer periphery 980 of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 962. Thus, a substantially square-shaped opening 982 is provided 
between the triangularly shaped support members 972. 
To secure the triangularly shaped support members 972 in an upwardly 
extending position to provide the configuration of the flexible vase 960, 
a bonding material 984 is disposed on the upper surface 974 of the sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 962 so as to extend along a portion of a 
first and a second side 986 and 988 of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 962 and substantially adjacent a portion of the outer periphery 
980 of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962, and a distance 990 
from the adjacently disposed triangularly shaped support members 972; and 
a bonding material 992 is disposed on the upper surface 974 of the sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 962 so as to extend along a portion of a 
third and fourth side 994 and 996 of the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 962 and substantially adjacent a portion of the outer periphery 
980 of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962, and a distance 998 
from the adjacently disposed triangularly shaped support members 972. The 
bonding material 984 and 992 permits the gathering of the portion of the 
sheet of fluid impermeable 972 disposed above the triangularly shaped 
support members 972 when same are moved to an upwardly extending position 
to provide the floral holding material 964 of the flexible vase 960 
substantially as shown in FIG. 73. 
The bonding material 984 and 992 is desirably a cohesive. However, it 
should be understood that staples, brads, ribbons elastic bands, ties and 
the like can be used to secure the triangularly shaped support members 972 
in the desired form of the floral holding material 964. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 75-77 
Shown in FIG. 75 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 1000 constructed 
in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 1000 comprises 
a sheet of fluid impermeable material 1002 wrapped about a floral holding 
material 1004 and secured about the floral holding material 1004 by a band 
1006. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 1002 and the floral holding material 1004 
cooperate to define a reservoir 1008 in the flexible vase 1000. Thus, to 
store floral groupings, such as cut flowers 1010 having stem portions 1012 
and bloom portions 1014, the stem portions 1012 of the cut flowers 1010 
are disposed into the reservoir 1008 of the flexible vase 1000 and the 
reservoir 1008 is then filled with a suitable fluid, such as water. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 1002 which is substantially 
identical in construction as the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 
hereinbefore described in detail with reference to FIG. 11, is disposed 
about the floral holding material 1004 to form a decorative cover 1018 
about the floral holding material 1004. The decorative cover 1018 extends 
a distance above the floral holding material 1004 such that an upper end 
portion 1020 of the floral holding material 1004 remains substantially 
uncovered by the decorative cover 1018. Thus, when a floral grouping such 
as cut flowers 1010 is positioned within the reservoir 1008 of the 
flexible vase 1000, an upper portion of the stem portions 1012 and the 
bloom portions 1014 of the cut flowers 1010 extend outwardly from the 
upper end portion 1020 of the floral holding material 1004. 
A crimped portion 1022 can be formed in the decorative cover 1018 near the 
upper end portion 1020 of the floral holding material 1004. The crimped 
portion 1022 can be formed by crimping together portions of the decorative 
cover 1018. The crimped portion 1022 can also be formed by placing the 
band 1006 about a portion of the decorative cover 1018, in which case the 
band 1006 gathers or brings together portions of the decorative cover 1018 
and pulls portions of the decorative cover 1.018 toward the upper end 
portion 1020 of the floral holding material 1004 to form the crimped 
portion 1022 substantially as shown. The sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 1002 may also have a bonding material (not shown) disposed 
thereon for connecting adjacently disposed portions of the decorative 
cover 1018 forming the crimped portion 1022. 
Referring more specifically to FIG. 76, the floral holding material 1004 
comprises a substantially frusto conical shape-sustaining support member 
1024 (also referred to herein as the shape-sustaining support member 
1024). The shape-sustaining support member 1024 has an open upper end 
1026, an open lower end 1028 and a peripheral sidewall 1030 defining an 
internal chamber 1032 extending between the open upper end 1026 and the 
open lower end 1028. The floral holding material 1002 further comprises a 
flexible bag 1034 disposed within the internal chamber 1032 of the 
shape-sustaining support member 1024, the flexible bag 1034 and the 
internal chamber 1032 cooperating to define the reservoir 1008 of the 
flexible vase 1000. 
The shape-sustaining support member 1024 is fabricated of a sheet of 
flexible material 1036 (FIG. 77) which has sufficient flexibility to 
permit the sheet of flexible material 1036 to be formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 1024 and which also has sufficient 
strength to provide the required shape-sustaining properties to the 
shape-sustaining support member 1024. The thickness of the sheet of 
flexible material 1036 can vary widely, the only requirements being that 
the sheet of flexible material 1036 have sufficient strength and 
flexibility to satisfy the above requirements. Examples of materials 
possessing the above-identified properties which may be used as the sheet 
of flexible material 1036 for fabrication of the shape-sustaining support 
member 1024 are polymeric materials, metals, waterproof cardboards and the 
like. 
The sheet of flexible material 1036 has an upper side 1038 having a 
centrally disposed recess 1040, a lower side 1042, a first end portion 
1044 and a second end portion 1046 which cooperate to provide the sheet of 
flexible material 1036 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. 
The flexible bag 1034 is desirably secured to an upper surface 1048 of the 
sheet of flexible material 1036 with a suitable bonding material such that 
when the sheet of flexible material 1036 is formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 1024, a lower end or bottom wall 1050 of 
the flexible bag 1034 is substantially aligned with the open lower end 
1028 of the shape-sustaining support member 1024 and an upper end portion 
1052 of the flexible bag 1034 extends outwardly from the open upper end 
1026 of the shape-sustaining support member 1024 substantially as shown in 
FIG. 76. 
The sheet of flexible material 1036 is further provided with a connector 
assembly 1054 for connecting the first and second end portions 1044 and 
1046 of the sheet of flexible material 1036 when the sheet of flexible 
material 1036 is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 1024 
substantially as shown in FIG. 76. The connector assembly 1054 comprises a 
male connector 1056 disposed along the upper side 1038 of the sheet of 
flexible material 1036 and a plurality of female connectors 1058 formed in 
the second end portion 1046 of the sheet of flexible material 1036 such 
that at least one female connector 1058 is adapted to matingly receive the 
male connector 1056 and thereby connect the first end portion 1044 of the 
sheet of flexible material 1036 to the second end portion 1046 of the 
sheet of material 1036. 
The plurality of female connectors 1058 are illustrated as spatially 
disposed slits provided in the second end portion 1046 of the sheet of 
material 1036 so that each of the female connectors 1058 is alignable with 
the male connector 1056 when the first end portion 1044 of the sheet of 
flexible material 1036 is disposed over the second end portion 1046 of the 
sheet of flexible material 1036 during formation of the shape-sustaining 
support member 1024. Thus, upon inserting the male connector 1056 into a 
selected female connector 1058, the circumferential dimensions of the 
shape-sustaining support member 1024 can be varied. 
Once the sheet of flexible material 1036 has been formed with the 
shape-sustaining support member 1024 as described above, the sheet of 
water impermeable material 1002 is then wrapped about the shape-sustaining 
support member 1024 to provide the flexible vase 1000. It should be noted 
that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1002 can be bondingly 
connected to the sheet of flexible material 1036 in the manner 
hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 67 and 68. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 78-80 
Referring now to FIG. 78, another embodiment of a flexible vase 1060 
constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The 
flexible vase 1060 comprises a sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062 
wrapped about a self-erecting floral holding container 1064. The sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 1062 and the self-erecting floral holding 
container 1064 cooperate to define a reservoir 1066 in the flexible vase 
1060 which is capable of holding a fluid, such as water. The sheet of 
fluid impermeable material 1062 is substantially identical in construction 
as the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 herein before described in 
detail with reference to FIG. 11. 
The sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062 is disposed about the floral 
holding container 1064 to form a decorative cover 1068 about the floral 
holding container 1064 which extends a distance above the floral holding 
container 1064 such that an opening 1070 formed in an upper end 1072 of 
the floral holding container 1064 remains substantially uncovered by the 
decorative cover 1068. 
A crimped portion 1074 can be provided in the decorative cover 1068 near 
the upper end 1072 of the floral holding container 1064. The crimped 
portion 1074 can be formed by crimping together portions of the decorative 
cover 1068 and, if desired, the crimped portion can be connected with a 
suitable bonding material such as a cohesive 1075 (FIG. 80). The crimped 
portions 1074 can also be found by placing a band (not shown) about a 
portion of the decorative cover 1068 in which case the band gathers or 
brings together portions of the decorative cover 1068 to form the crimped 
portion 1074. 
Referring now to FIGS. 79 and 80, the self-erecting floral holding 
container 1064 is illustrated in a collapsed position disposed on the 
sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062. The self-erecting floral holding 
container 1064 comprises a top member 1076, a bottom member 1078, a 
plurality of wall members (only one being designated by the reference 
numeral 1080), a bracket 1082 and a plurality of elastic members (only one 
being designated by the reference numeral 1084). 
Each wall member 1080 has a top hinge 1086, a wall hinge 1088 and a bottom 
hinge 1090. Each top hinge 1086 allows the corresponding wall member 1080 
to pivot with respect to the top member 1076. Each wall hinge 1088 allows 
the corresponding wall member 1080 to bend outward and define an upper 
wall section 1092 and a lower wall section 1094. Similarly, each bottom 
hinge 1090 allows the corresponding wall member 1080 to pivot with respect 
to the bottom member 1078 of the floral holding container 1064. 
With this construction, the floral holding container 1064 may assume an 
erected position (FIG. 78) when an external force applied to the top 
member 1076 is removed and a flat position (FIGS. 79 and 80) when an 
external force is applied to the top member 1076. In the erected position, 
the floral holding container 1064 is suitable for receiving a floral 
grouping, such as cut flowers. In the storage position, the wall members 
1080 of the floral holding container 1064 are collapsed such that the 
floral holding container 1064 is substantially flat (FIG. 79). In the 
storage position, the top member 1076 and the bottom member 1078 of the 
floral holding container 1064 are moved together and each upper wall 
section 1092 closely overlays the corresponding lower wall section 1094. 
Each elastic member 1084 extends between a corresponding one of the wall 
members 1080 and the bracket 1082 to suspend the bracket 1082 within the 
floral holding container 1064. The bracket 1082 has a bracket opening 1096 
which may be any suitable size and shape for allowing a floral grouping to 
be disposed into the floral holding container 1064. 
Each elastic member 1084 may be connected to the bracket 1082 and the 
corresponding wall member 1080 in any appropriate manner known in the art. 
Further, each elastic member 1084 may be connected to the upper wall 
section 1092, the lower wall section 1094, or both the upper and lower 
wall sections 1092 and 1094 of the corresponding wall member 1080. 
The elastic members 1080 and the bracket 1082 cooperate to bias the floral 
holding container 1064 into the erected position (FIG. 78). Under an 
external force to overcome the bias of the elastic members 1080, the 
floral holding container 1064 may be collapsed into the flat storage 
position (FIGS. 79 and 80) wherein the wall members 1080 moves outward at 
the wall hinges 1088 and the elastic members 1084 are moved to a stretched 
condition so that the floral holding container 1064 is moved to the 
collapsed position. 
When the external force (i.e. a bias-overcoming influence) is removed, the 
elastic members 1084 return to the unstretched condition and cause the 
floral holding container 1064 to move to the erected position. The sheet 
of fluid impermeable material 1062 is then wrapped about the floral 
holding container 1064 to produce the flexible vase 1060 shown in FIG. 78. 
It should be noted that a quantity of the floral holding containers 1064 
having a sheet of the fluid impermeable material 1062 secured to the 
bottom member 1078 as illustrated in FIGS. 79 and 80 can be compressed 
into the flat storage position, stacked and shipped, or stored in a 
suitable shipping box. Further, one of the floral holding containers 1064 
having the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062 secured to the bottom 
member 1078 of the floral holding container 1064 may be stored in the flat 
storage position within a sleeve similar to a phonograph record album 
cover. 
The floral holding container 1064 having the sheet of fluid impermeable 
material 1062 secured thereto may be maintained in a box or shelving 
having a plurality of mail-slot shelves. When withdrawn from the mail-slot 
shelf, the floral holding container 1064 automatically assumes the erected 
position and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062 can be wrapped 
about the floral holding container 1064 to provide the flexible vase 1060. 
It should be appreciated that any suitable devices known in the art may be 
used for the elastic members 1084 as the means for biasing the floral 
holding container 1064 into the erected position. Such devices include, 
but are not limited to, rubber bands, coiled springs and flat springs. 
Further, the top member 1076, the bottom member 1078 and the wall member 
1080 of the floral holding container 1064 may be constructed of a wide 
variety of materials, such as paper, cardboard, wood, metal, polypropylene 
and various types of natural and synthetic materials, provided, such 
materials have enough rigidity to sustain the floral holding container 
1064 in the appropriate shape for the erected position. 
Embodiment of FIGS. 81 and 82 
Shown in FIG. 81 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 1110 constructed 
in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 1110 comprises 
a floral holding material 1112 disposed within a flexible bag 1114 formed 
of a fluid impermeable material which functions as a decorative cover for 
the floral holding material 1112. As will be more fully described 
hereinafter, the flexible bag 1114 and the floral holding material 1112 
cooperate to define a reservoir 1116 in the flexible vase 1110. The 
flexible bag 1114 extends a distance above the floral holding material 
1112 such that an upper end portion 1118 of the floral holding material 
1112 remains substantially uncovered by the flexible bag 1114. Thus, when 
a floral grouping such as cut flowers (not shown) is positioned within the 
reservoir 1116 of the flexible vase 1110, a portion of the floral grouping 
extends outwardly from the upper end portion 1118 of the floral holding 
material 1112 and an outer top margin 1120 of the flexible bag 1114. 
The flexible bag 1114 is provided with a bottom panel 1122 that is 
preferably formed by a plurality of panel sections which are joined along 
with lateral edges of the side panel forming the flexible bag 1114 in 
order to form bellows that conform to the shape of a lower end 1124 of the 
floral holding material 1112. The side panels of the flexible bag 1114 
then provide a more tubular bag sidewall which can extend upwardly from 
the bottom panel 1122 to terminate at the outer top margin 1120 of the 
flexible bag 1114. A fastener (not shown) can then be placed about the 
flexible bag 1114 so as to be disposed above the upper end portion 1118 of 
the floral holding material 1112 such that the upper end portion 1118 of 
the floral holding material 1112 remains substantially uncovered by the 
flexible bag 1114. If desired, a bonding material such as an adhesive or a 
cohesive may be disposed on an inner or outer surface of the flexible bag 
1114 so that a portion of the flexible bag 1114 can be crimped in the 
manner hereinbefore described. 
The floral holding material 1112 comprises a shape-sustaining support 
member 1122 having an open upper end 1124, an open lower end 1126, and a 
peripheral sidewall 1128 defining an internal chamber extending between 
the open upper end 1124 and the open lower end 1126. The shape-sustaining 
support member 1122 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible material 1130 
(FIG. 82) which has sufficient flexibility to permit the sheet of flexible 
material 1130 to be formed into the shape-sustaining support member 1122 
and which also has sufficient strength to provide the required 
shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining support member 1122. 
The thickness of the flexible sheet of material 1130 can vary widely. The 
only requirement being that the sheet of flexible material 1130 has 
sufficient strength and flexibility to satisfy the above requirements. 
The sheet of flexible material 1130 is secured within the flexible bag 1114 
by a bonding material, such as a plurality of strips of adhesive 1132. A 
portion of the bag is gathered between the adhesive strips 1132 such that 
when the flexible sheet of material 1130 is formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 1122, the flexible bag 1114 extends 
substantially uniformly thereabout. 
The flexible sheet of material 1130 has an upper side 1134 having a 
centrally disposed recess 1136, a lower side 1138, a first end portion 
1140, and a second end portion 1142, which cooperate to provide the sheet 
of flexible material 1130 with a substantially semi-circular 
configuration. The sheet of flexible material 1130 is further provided 
with a connector assembly 1144 for connecting the first and second end 
portions 1140 and 1142 of the flexible sheet of material 1130 when the 
sheet of flexible material 1130 is formed into the shape-sustaining 
support member 1122, substantially as shown in FIG. 81. 
The connector assembly 1144 comprises a plurality of spatially disposed 
male connectors 1146 and a plurality of spatially disposed 5 female 
connectors 1148 adapted to matingly receive the male connectors 1146 when 
the first end portion 1140 of the sheet of flexible material 1130 is 
disposed over the second end portion 1142 of the sheet of flexible 
material 1130. The plurality of male connectors 1146 extend between the 
centrally disposed recess 1136 and the first end portion 1140 of the sheet 
of flexible material 1130 such that the male connectors 1146 are disposed 
in close proximity to the portion of the upper side 1134 of the sheet of 
flexible material 1130. The plurality of female connectors 1148 extend 
along the second end portion 1142 of the sheet of flexible material 1130 
such that the female connectors 1148 are adapted to matingly engage the 
male connectors 1146 when the first end portion 1140 of the sheet of 
flexible material 1130 is disposed over the second end portion 1142 
thereof. 
The male connectors 1146 are desirably a plurality of stud like members 
which extend upwardly from an upper surface 1150 of the sheet of flexible 
material 130 and the plurality of female connectors 1148 are desirably 
provided with a recessed portion (not shown) adapted to matingly receive 
the stud-like members of the male connectors 1146. Such connector 
assemblies are well known in the art. Thus, no further details concerning 
the male connectors 1146 and the female connectors 1148 are believed 
necessary. 
To assemble the flexible vase 1110, the flexible sheet of material 1130 is 
manipulated so that the first end portion 1140 of the sheet of flexible 
material 1130 overlays the second portion 1142 thereof and the male 
connectors 1146 are aligned with selected female connectors 1148. 
Thereafter, the male connectors 1146 are pressed into mating engagement 
with the female connectors 1148 so that the flexible sheet of material 
1130 is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 1122 within the 
flexible bag 1114. Thus, a one step operation is provided for constructing 
the flexible vase 1110. 
Referring now to FIGS. 83 and 84, another embodiment of a floral holding 
material 1160 is shown which can be used to construct a flexible vase 
similar in configuration to the flexible vase 120 hereinbefore described 
with reference to FIG. 14. The floral holding material 1160 comprises a 
shape-sustaining support member 1162 having an open upper end 1164, an 
open lower end 1166 and a peripheral sidewall 1168 defining an internal 
chamber 1170 extending between the open upper end 1164 and the open lower 
end 1166. The shape-sustaining support member 1162 is fabricated of a 
sheet of flexible material 1172 (FIG. 84) which has sufficient flexibility 
to permit the sheet of flexible material 1172 to be formed into the 
shape-sustaining support member 1162. 
The sheet of flexible material 1172 has an upper side 1174 having a 
centrally disposed recess 1176, a lower side 1178, a first end portion 
1180 and a second end portion 1182 which cooperate to provide the sheet of 
flexible material 1172 with a substantially semi-circular configuration. 
The sheet of flexible material 1172 is further provided with a connector 
assembly 1184 for connecting the first end portion 1180 of the sheet of 
flexible material 1172 to the second end portion 1182 of the sheet of 
flexible material 1172 when the sheet of flexible material 1172 is formed 
into the shape-sustaining support member 1160 as shown in FIG. 83. 
The connector assembly 1184 comprises a plurality of first tabs 1186 and a 
plurality of second tabs 1188. The first tabs 1186 are formed along a 
peripheral portion of the sheet of flexible material 1172 such that the 
first tabs 1186 extend along the first end portion 1180 and the second end 
portion 1182 of the sheet of flexible material 1172 substantially as 
shown; and the second tabs 1188 extend about the centrally disposed recess 
1176 found in the upper side 1174 of the sheet of flexible material 1172. 
To form the sheet of flexible material 1172 into the shape-sustaining 
support member 1160 (FIG. 83) for use in the construction of a flexible 
vase, the first end portion 1180 of the sheet of flexible material 1172 is 
positioned over the second end portion 1182 of the sheet of flexible 
material 1172 such that at least a portion of the first tabs 1186 formed 
along the first end portion 1180 of the sheet of flexible material 1172 
are aligned with and disposed adjacent a portion of the first tabs 1186 
found along the second end portion 1182 of the sheet of flexible material 
1172 and a portion of the second tabs 1188 found along one side of the 
centrally disposed recess 1176 overlap and are aligned with a portion of 
the second tabs 1188 found along a second side of the centrally disposed 
recess 1176. At least a portion of the aligned first tabs 1186 and at 
least a portion of the aligned second tabs 1188 are bent or extended in an 
inwardly direction (FIG. 83) so as to connect the first end portion 1180 
of the sheet of flexible material 1172 to the second end portion 1182 of 
the sheet of flexible material 1172 and thereby provide the 
shape-sustaining support member 1162 substantially as shown in FIG. 83. 
Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the various 
components, elements and assemblies described herein and changes may be 
made in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in 
the following claims.