Abstract:
The present invention relates to stands for flower arrangement and for storage of bouquets. The present invention is particularly directed towards an assembly stand for flower arrangement having multiple stations for maintaining bouquet holders stable during design and assembly of flower arrangements. The stand can also be used for storage and transport of the bouquets. The stand contains a frame and a top surface having openings thereon attached to the frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to stands for flower arrangement and for storage of bouquets. The present invention is particularly directed towards an assembly stand for flower arrangement having multiple stations for maintaining bouquet holders stable during design and assembly of flower arrangements. The stand can also be used for storage and transport of the bouquets.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Most florists who assemble bouquets and floral arrangements use a bouquet holder. The holders are usually an open plastic or wire frame encasing a plastic core which accepts insertion of flower stems and ends of other bouquet materials. The holders can have straight or slanted handles and can be decorative. Other holders, commonly referred to as a “pew bow,” are designed to be hung over the back of a church pew or similar support, and can have box-shaped flower mounting frames. Examples of holders are shown, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,464 to Cumby, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,813 to Hendrix.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Therefore, the present invention provides a light, compact, and foldable stand for arranging a plurality of bouquets simultaneously. Furthermore, the stand of the present invention can also be used to store the bouquets and for delivery. Thus, the present invention provides a stand for maintaining holders stable during bouquet arrangement and for storing the finished bouquets, all in one light, compact, and foldable apparatus.  
         [0004]     The stand of the present invention contains a frame and a top surface attached to the frame. The frame preferably has foldable legs extending away from the top surface. The top surface contains a plurality of openings into which bouquet holders are placed to initiate the bouquet arrangement. The handle of the bouquet holder slides into one of the opening of the top surface while the cylindrical upper section of the holder is retained on top of the opening. In this arrangement, the stand holds the bouquet holder in place so that the floral designer can add flowers and decorations to the bouquet holder to create a bouquet. With the multiple openings of the present invention, one or more floral designers can simultaneously create a plurality of bouquets with ease and cut production time.  
         [0005]     It is one object of the present invention is to provide a light, compact, and foldable stand for holding flower bouquets during arrangement, storage, and delivery. Another object of the present invention is to provide a stand for flower arrangement that is capable of supporting a plurality of flower bouquet arrangements simultaneously.  
         [0006]     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view of the bouquet arrangement stand;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the top view of the top surface; and,  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  shows the top view of the frame. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0010]     Referring to the drawings, the bouquet stand  100  of the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The stand  100  contains a frame  102  and a top surface  104 . The top surface  104  has a plurality of openings  106  therein. Each opening  106  bores completely through the top surface  104  to accommodate the bouquet holder therein.  
         [0011]     The stand  100  is designed to be placed on a surface, such as a table, counter, floor, or the like. The flowers (or other plant or matter that is arranged) can then be arranged within the openings  106 . The stand  100  raises the flowers off the table so that the flowers are generally in an upright position raised off the table. The stand allows the user to arrange the flowers in a hands-free operation, so that the user need not hold the flowers as they are being arranged within the opening. Preferably, the openings  106  are used with a bouquet holder that is positioned within the openings  106 . The bouquet holder makes it easy to assemble the flowers and to remove the assembled bouquet from the opening  106  upon completion. However, the openings  106  can be used to arrange flowers without the use of a bouquet holder or the like and the flowers can rest directly on the table.  
         [0012]     The openings  106  are sized such that the bouquet holder (and its handle, if any) can pass therethough while retaining the upper portion of the holder. Thus, the openings preferably have a diameter smaller that that of the upper portion of the bouquet holder. In an embodiment of the present invention, each opening has a diameter of about 2 to about 4 inches, most preferably about 2 inches. The openings are preferably arranged in a line (linear) extending along the length of the stand  100 . This configuration allows for efficient, assembly-typed bouquet arrangement.  
         [0013]     In the preferred embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stand has about 2 to about 12 openings, more preferably about 3 to about 7 openings, and most preferably about 4 openings. The openings  106  are sufficiently spaced apart so that the finished bouquets do not touch each other. To this end, the distance separating one opening from another is about 5 to about 8 inches, preferably about 6 to about 7 inches. However, it should be appreciated that the stand can have any number of openings that is suitable for one or more bouquet designers to simultaneously arrange multiple bouquets. In addition, the stand  100  can have a single opening for arranging a single bouquet.  
         [0014]     Further to the preferred embodiment, the openings  106  are arranged linearly at approximately the center of the top surface  104 . However, the openings  106  can be offset with one another, or positioned towards the sides or corners of the top surface  104 . In addition, the top surface  104  can have any suitable size and shape, and need not be rectangular in shape. Likewise, although the openings  106  are circular in accordance with the preferred embodiment, the openings  106  can have any size and shape.  
         [0015]     Turning to  FIG. 3 , the frame  102  is shown having four sides  108 ,  110 ,  112 , and  114 . In a preferred embodiment, the four sides  108 ,  110 ,  112 , and  114  are constructed of PVC pipes, preferably having 0.5 inch inner diameter, which are connected at the corners  116  of the frame  102  with 90° angle fittings  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 . The frame  102  can be made of any materials; however, because it can get wet during the bouquet arrangement, it is preferred that the material be waterproof and resistant to water damage. It is also desirable that the material be durable, and relatively lightweight so that it can be easily moved. Polymeric materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, polyethylene (PE), etc., are most desirable since it does not deteriorate when exposed to water and since it is light.  
         [0016]     In an embodiment of the present invention, the frame  102  contains legs  126  for supporting the stand  100  during operation and for stacking of the stands during bouquet storage and delivery. The legs  126  are mounted on the frame  102  extending downwardly from the top surface  104 . The legs  126  are sized so that the bouquet holder hangs freely within the opening  106 . The legs  126  should be sufficiently long so that the holder does not touch the surface on which the stand  100  is placed. Preferably, the legs  126  are about 6 inches to about 12 inches, and most preferably about 7.5 inches, in length, so that the stand  100  can be placed on a table. The legs, however, can be longer if the stand  100  is to be placed on the floor.  
         [0017]     The legs  126  are also preferably foldable so that the stand  100  can be folded flat for storage when not in use. This is accomplished by attaching the leg  126  to a swivel T-fitting on the frame  102 . The fittings allow the legs  126 , in a closed position, to fold up into the plane of the frame so that the stand is flat and can easily be stored. In an open position, the legs  126  extend downwardly from the top surface  104  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and are approximately perpendicular to the plane of the top surface  104 . In the open position, the legs also allow one stand  100  to be stacked on top of another stand  100  for bouquet storage and delivery. Alternatively, the legs can be removably fitted into the corner pieces  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 .  
         [0018]     The top surface  104  is attached to the frame to form a working surface. The user can keep tools on the top surface  104 , such as scissors, tape, twine, or the like. The top surface  104  also catches any flower pieces that are cut during the arrangement, and can be quickly and easily cleaned, especially once the floral arrangements are removed. As a working surface, the top surface  104  can be used as a surface for cutting flowers, holding vases and the like, and for other related work such as hammering, fastening. In addition, tools and supplies can be stored on the top surface  104 , or on the table top beneath the top surface  104  of the stand  100 .  
         [0019]     The attachment of the top surface  104  to the frame  102  can be by fasteners, such as screws, rivets, glue, or combinations thereof. The top surface  104  can be made of any materials; however, because it can get wet during the bouquet arrangement, it is preferred that the material be waterproof and resistant to water damage. It is also desirable for the top surface  104  to be relatively lightweight, easy to clean, durable, and resistant to cuts and breaking. Polymeric materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, polyethylene (PE), plexiglass, acrylic, etc., are most desirable. The most preferred material is flexiglass. Those materials do not deteriorate when exposed to water, are lightweight, and are durable. The flexiglass top surface  104  can conveniently attach to the PVC pipe frame  102  by screws  128  located at the four corners of the top surface  104 .  
         [0020]     Since the stand  100  is lightweight (under 3 pounds), it is portable. The stand  100  can be used to arrange the bouquets, store the bouquets in a refrigerator, and to transport the bouquets in a vehicle to the recipient. The stand  100  holds the flowers, so that production time is drastically reduced, and the user need not worry about the flower holder tipping over, such as might occur with a vase. The openings  106  also securely hold the flowers (or the flower holder, or a vase or the like), so that the user need not worry about the flowers (or holder) slipping out. The stand  100  elevates the flowers or bouquet holder so that the flowers or bouquet holder do not touch the surface of the table on which the stand  100  is placed, which facilitates arrangement of the flowers.  
         [0021]     Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the various embodiments shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.