Abstract:
The present invention is a small vase that serves as a static name card holder. The vase is lightweight, reusable, and can be removably attached to the edge of a drinking glass, wine glass, or similar utensil. Used in this manner, the current invention will tastefully and attractively, in a floral setting, display the names of people seated around a table.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed toward a name car holder that can be attached to the upper edge of a drinking glass or similar thin-edged item. The current invention is further capable of supporting narrow-stemmed items, particularly flowers, for display.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to the field of stationary name card holders, particularly for static display. The invention further relates to floral display items, and to holders with tabs for attachment to larger items, particularly to the edges of drinking vessels.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Static and portable name card holders are well known in the prior art. An example is described by Hickman, Sr. in U.S. Design Pat. No. 314,015, which teaches a clip-on plastic holder for name tags.  
         [0006]     Name tag and card holders that additionally support or attach to stemmed flowers or the like are less prevalent. Wasilko describes an upright bottom display holder capable of holding a multitude of cards and having a top portion insertable into a center sleeve and capable of holding flower stems. Carroll shows a stand with a base that holds a card and a sleeve for a vial that can hold a flower stem. Slavik describes a holder for greeting cards with an attachment device for connecting the holder to one or more flowers.  
         [0007]     Prior art card holders do not combine the function of presenting a card and a flower arrangement as an integral part of a table setting. Such a function would be useful because there would be fewer items to set onto the table, yet each table setting could have an individual place holder and flower arrangement. Individual arrangements and cards could also be delivered to a table while attached to a beverage class, reducing the number of separate items to be carried to the table.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is comprised of a receptacle having an attachment tab for placement over the rim of a beverage glass or other thin-walled item, having integrally attached slot holder tabs for cards, and having a separate insertable mesh grid that may optionally be set into the center of the receptacle for holding a flower arrangement or other items with thin stems. The receptacle and mesh grid are comprised of molded plastic, which may be of any color, and which are formed in the shape of a multi-petal flower.  
         [0009]     An object of the present invention is to provide a card and flower holder that can be placed on the rim of a beverage glass as part of a table setting.  
         [0010]     Another object of the present invention is to reduce the number of separate items carried to and placed on a table, yet providing for separate individual place arrangements for each table setting.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  Perspective view of the present invention in use  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  Perspective view of the present invention showing the insertion grid  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  Top view of the present invention  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  Side view of the present invention showing the over-rim attachment tab  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  Top view of the insertion grid for the present invention  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  Side view of the insertion grid for the present invention  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  Perspective view of the insertion grid for the present invention  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  Top view of the present invention showing detail of cutaway views  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  Detail cutaway view for Section A-A of the present invention  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  Detail cutaway view for Section B-B of the present invention  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  Detail cutaway view for Section C-C of the present invention  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  Side view of present invention showing over-rim attachment tab  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  Detail of over-rim attachment tab of the present invention  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  Side view of present invention showing frontal view of over-rim attachment tab 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a representative illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in use. The invention is shown with the receptacle being attached over the rim of a beverage glass by means of the over-rim attachment tab ( 10 ) and with a name card inserted into the two sets of card holder tabs ( 20 ). One or more flowers may be placed in the receptacle for display. The wine glass is shown in shade and is not a part of the present invention.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view from the side closest to the name place card holder tabs ( 20 ). In this representation, the petals ( 30 ,  50 ) around the rim of flower receptacle can be seen clearly. The shapes of the petals shown are for illustration purposes only. A multitude of petal shapes can be made. The entire receptacle is made of molded plastic in any of a multitude of colors. Two sets of name place card holder tabs are attached on one side of the top rim ( 20 ). Each set is a pair of tabs closely spaced to admit the width of a name card. An optional plastic mesh grid ( 40 ) may be inserted into the center of the receptacle, resting approximately midway into the cone-shaped receptacle ( 15 ).  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 3 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown from a top view. At the center, the plastic mesh grid ( 40 ) can be seen set approximately midway into the neck of the receptacle ( 15 ). Thin-stemmed items, such as flowers, can be inserted into the receptacle through the mesh grid in order to create an upright display. The receptacle is rimmed by petals ( 30 ,  50 ) made as an integral part of the molded plastic receptacle. The petal tips ( 31 ,  51 ) bend slightly downward, represented by the line at the tip of each petal. The petal configuration is illustrative only, as a multitude of petal shapes are possible. Two sets of name place card holder tabs ( 20 ) are attached at one side of the petal rim. The placement of these holder tabs is specifically determined so that the channels of each holder are linear to each other and so that the holder tabs are set sufficiently close to each other as to hold upright a card having a length of 0.75 inches at a minimum.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention from its side whereon the over-rim attachment tab ( 10 ) is seen from the side. From this view, the receptacle can be seen to consist of a cone-shaped base ( 1 ) with a rim of petals ( 30 ,  50 ) that bend slightly downward at the tips ( 31 ,  51 ). The petals and base are comprised of an integral piece of molded plastic.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 5 through 7  show various aspects of the optional plastic mesh grid ( 40 ) that may be set into the receptacle base. In  FIG. 5 , the plastic mesh grid is shown from a top view. This grid is comprised of a circular shape so that it will fit into the cone base of the receptacle. The diameter of the circular shape is determined by the size of the cone, such that the mesh grid can be inserted only midway into the cone, thus leaving space in the cone center below it. The preferable size of the mesh grid is approximately 0.4 inches in diameter. The mesh grid is cut from a pre-fabricated plastic mesh sheet comprised of squares, and thus when the circular shape is cut out, the circular shape contains five square holes while the squares on each corner are sliced in half ( 41 ). The result is a cross-shaped grid having arcing cross ends ( 42 ). In its preferable form, the square holes of the mesh grid ( 43 ) have four equal sides that are approximately 0.075 inches in length. The solid plastic mesh ( 44 ) is preferably approximately 0.06 inches in width.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away side view of the plastic mesh grid showing the square hole ( 43 ) at the center of two solid mesh sections ( 44 ). From this view, the plastic mesh grid can be seen in its preferable thickness to be approximately 0.06 inches.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  illustrates the plastic mesh grid insert of the present invention from a perspective view. The plastic mesh insert is shown with five square holes ( 43 ), arcing cross ends ( 42 ), and four squares sliced in half ( 41 ).  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is again shown from a top view. However, this figure shows the sections of the present invention that are displayed in the detailed views that follow in  FIGS. 9 through 13 . The detailed views illustrate the present invention from several aspects, which differ each from the other as further explained in the following description. It can also be seen from this top view that in this particular embodiment of the petals around the rim of the receptacle, the tips of the petals create a circle. However, the larger petals ( 50 ) with flattened curves bend downward to a lesser extent than do the thinner petals ( 30 ), creating a varietal effect when viewed from a side or perspective angle, as will be apparent in the next figures. The plastic mesh grid has been removed from the center of the receptacle base for purposes of making the illustration less complex. The name place card holder tabs ( 20 ) are attached to the petal rim on one side of the receptacle so that the channels in the holder tabs ( 21 ) are linear for purposes of holding a name place card upright when inserted into the holder tabs.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross sections of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken from top through to bottom, ie longitudinally.  FIG. 9  shows a cross section taken through thinner petals ( 30 ), near the over-rim attachment tab ( 10 ). Said tab is shown in cross section. The conical angle of about 24° formed by the cone of the flower is clearly seen.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is also a cross section of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, again longitudinally. This differs from  FIG. 9  in that the cut is taken through the centerline of broader petals ( 50 ), at about a 45° angle counterclockwise from the cut of  FIG. 9 . In this case, the over-rim attachment tab ( 10 ) is hidden on the back side of the flower vase as shown.  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of a narrow section of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, from an angle which includes one set of the name place card holder tabs ( 20 ).  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, from an angle which includes the over-rim attachment tab ( 10 ) on the left side of the vase. The invention is shown upright, in the same position as is preferred during use.  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  is a detailed view of the over-rim attachment tab ( 10 ).  
         [0038]      FIG. 14  is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, from an angle which includes the over-rim attachment tab ( 10 ) directly in front of the vase. In this view, the invention is shown sideways.  
         [0039]     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or manner.