Abstract:
An erectable and/or collapsible stone casket plaque easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object is described. Methods of forming and using erectable and/or collapsible stone casket plaque easels are provided. In addition, collapsible and/or erectable floral easel kits for headstones and for caskets are also described.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/692,688, filed Jun. 21, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The presently disclosed invention relates generally to stone and casket plaque easels for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the presently disclosed invention relates to methods of shipping a stone and casket plaque easel, methods of using a stone and casket plaque easel, methods of storing a stone and casket plaque easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a stone and casket plaque easel.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     Stone and casket plaque easels are used in the floral, funeral and headstone industries to support and display flower sprays atop caskets and/or headstones. Current stone and casket plaque easels are cumbersome making them difficult to ship, store, and transport due to their awkward, bulky nature. Stone and casket plaque easels are usually constructed of materials such as, for example, steel. Such stone and casket plaque easels do not have the ability to readily dissemble or collapse into a position that is compact and easily manageable. Typically, for example, the legs of current stone and casket plaque easels are in a fixed (erected) position (for example, the prior art stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 1 ) making it impossible to dissemble or collapse the stone and casket plaque easel for shipment, transportation and/or storage.  
         [0007]     Currently, florists attach floral sprays to current stone and casket plaque easels by affixing the spray to or placing the spray on a central support member of the easel. The easel must then be transported in a fixed erect position to a designated location for placement on a headstone/plaque and/or casket. After a funeral visitation or service in the funeral home or chapel, the current stone and casket plaque easel is removed in the fixed, erect position for transportation. The easel is then transported to the cemetery where the easel is placed atop a casket for use again during a grave side service or as a decoration at the grave site after the service. These stone and casket plaque easels are frequently transported to various ceremonies and recycled for subsequent use. The transportability of current stone and casket plaque easels is therefore not maximized because of the bulky nature of these easels.  
         [0008]     Further, shipping and/or freight costs currently reflect the cumbersome nature of shipping current stone and casket plaque easels. For example, depending on the freight zone, freight costs may range from 9.26% to 36.14% of the total manufacturing costs. This is because current stone and casket plaque easels are produced in a factory and shipped to a designated location in the fixed, erected position. Shipping these types of stone and casket plaque easels is costly due to the large amount of space that the current stone and casket plaque easels require. A stone and casket plaque easel that is fully or partially collapsible would dramatically decrease shipping costs, for example, fully or partially collapsible stone and casket plaque easels may reduce freight costs by up to 75% when compared to the freight costs of current non-collapsible stone and casket plaque easels.  
         [0009]     Warehousing space must also be maximized to accommodate storage of such stone and casket plaque easels. For example, when arriving at a distributorship or flower shop, current stone and casket plaque easels require the manufacturer, distributor or florist to provide an excessive and unnecessary amount of storage space for these non-collapsible easels.  
         [0010]     It is to this end that there is a need in the industry for a fully or partially erectable or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel that overcomes the disadvantages and defects of current stone and casket plaque easels, and that is compact, easily transportable, and less expensive to ship and store. It is to such a stone and casket plaque easel that the present invention is directed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention is directed to a fully or partially erectable or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel for holding a floral object. In one embodiment, the stone and casket plaque easel has at least two leg members, each of the leg members having a first end and a second end, the central portion of each of the leg members being connected to a support member for supporting and/or holding a floral object such as, for example, a floral spray wherein the leg members are moveable from an erect position to a collapsed position wherein the leg members occupy a lesser volume of space and further wherein the at least two legs are self-erecting from the collapsed position to the erect position. The stone and casket plaque easel of the present invention may be erectable, collapsible, erectable and collapsible, semi-erectable, semi-collapsible, semi-erectable and semi-collapsible, self-erecting, self-collapsing, self-erecting and self-collapsing, semi-self-erecting, semi-self-collapsing and/or semi-self-erecting and semi-self-collapsing.  
         [0012]     Additionally, the present invention relates to methods of shipping an erectable or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel, methods of using an erectable or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel, methods of storing an erectable or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel, methods of placing a floral object on an erectable or collapsible easel, and methods of displaying a floral object on or about an erectable or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stone and casket plaque easel found in the prior art.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel of the present invention in the erect position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a second perspective view of the embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 2A  in the collapsed position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a third perspective view of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 2A  in the erect position having a floral object placed thereon.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 2A  placed on a headstone.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2E  is a perspective view of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 2A  placed on a casket.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel of the present invention in the erect position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a second perspective view of the embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 3A , in the collapsed position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel of the present invention in the erect position.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a second perspective view of the embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 4A , in the collapsed position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel of the present invention in the erect position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5B  is a second perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 5A , in the collapsed position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel of the present invention in the erect position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6B  is a second perspective view of the embodiment of the erectable and/or collapsible stone and casket plaque easel shown in  FIG. 6A  in the collapsed position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways which would be plain to one of ordinary skill in the art given the present specification and drawings appended hereto. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0028]     All of the embodiments of the stone and casket plaque easel described herein may be fully erectable and/or collapsible, semi-erectable and/or semi-collapsible, self-erectable and/or self-collapsible, semi-self-erectable and/or semi-self-collapsible, and combinations thereof. Further, all of the embodiments of the stone and casket plaque easel described herein may be erectable without being collapsible and vice-versa.  
         [0029]     The terms “erectable”, “erect”, or “assembled” are synonymous herein and mean that the stone and casket plaque easel is deployed fully for use as intended, i.e., placement on or over a headstone, plaque or casket for display of a floral object. The terms “collapsible”, “collapsed”, or “dissembled” are synonymous herein and mean that the stone and casket plaque easel is positioned such that at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable of being positioned in or are positioned in a fully or partially collapsed position. The term “fully erectable” as used herein means that at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable of being positioned in or are positioned in the erect position. The term “partially erectable” or “semi-erectable” as used herein means that one of the plurality of leg members of the stone and casket plaque easel is in a fully erected position or any number of the plurality of leg members are in a partially erected position.  
         [0030]     Any of the embodiments of the stone and casket plaque easel described herein may be fully or partially collapsible. The term “fully collapsible” as used herein means that at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable of being positioned in the fully collapsed position. The term “partially collapsible” or “semi-collapsible” as used herein means that one of the plurality of leg members is in a fully collapsed position or any number of the plurality of leg members are in a partially collapsed position. Also, the stone and casket plaque easel may be reversibly erectable or irreversibly erectable (i.e., once erected, the stone and casket plaque easel may not be collapsed and/or vice-versa). It should also be understood that the stone and casket plaque easel  10  may only be capable of erecting yet not collapsing, collapsing yet not erecting, and both erecting and collapsing.  
         [0031]     The term “floral object” as used herein will be understood to include any floral object which can be placed on a stone and casket plaque easel such as, but not limited to, a floral grouping, a floral decoration, a wreath, potted plants, foam shapes (for example, a cross, words (i.e., mom), a flag), non-floral objects such as, for example, a photograph, a piece of artwork, a flag or any other object that is capable of being displayed on a stone and casket plaque easel.  
         [0032]     The term “floral grouping” as used herein refers to a single flower, foliage, a botanical item, a propagule, cut flowers, and/or other fresh and/or artificial plants or floral materials, including secondary plants, growing potted plants having a root portion and/or other ornamentation which adds to the aesthetic qualities of the overall floral grouping. The term “floral grouping” as used herein may also refer to a “floral grouping”, as defined above, which is disposed within a pot or a flower pot.  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2C , designated generally by the reference numeral  10  is a stone and casket plaque easel. The stone and casket plaque easel  10  has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the stone and casket plaque easel  10  has a first leg member  20  and a second leg member  30 . The stone and casket plaque easel  10  also includes a support member  40  for supporting and/or holding a floral object  50 , as shown in  FIG. 2C .  
         [0034]     The first leg member  20  has a first end  60 , a second end  70 , and a central portion  80 . Each end of the first end  60  and the second end  70  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  90  and  100 , respectively, for supporting each end of the first leg member  20 . The second leg member  30  has a first end  110 , a second end  120 , and a central portion  130 . Each of the first end  110  and the second end  120  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  140  and  150 , respectively, for supporting each end of the second leg member  30 . It should be understood that the surface engaging members  90 ,  100 ,  140 , and  150  may be eliminated from the stone and casket plaque easel  10  without destroying the intended function thereof. That is, in one embodiment, the surface engaging member  90 ,  100 ,  140 , and  150  are used to support the stone and casket plaque easel  10  when positioned on a substrate, such as the ground. However, when the stone and casket plaque easel  10  is positioned on top of a headstone or casket as described herein, the surface engaging members  90 ,  100 ,  140 , and  150  may be eliminated without destroying the intended function of the invention.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the leg members may be constructed of a unitary piece of material such as, for example, flattened aluminum rod. However, it should be understood that the leg members of the present invention may be constructed of materials such as, for example, steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, or any other suitable material. Further, the material may be flexible or rigid.  
         [0036]     Alternatively, the first leg member  20  and the second leg member  30  may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member  20  and the second leg member  30  are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member  20  and the second leg member  30  are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.  
         [0037]     The leg members may have any size diameter, width, or profile dimensions and/or any length that is desired and useful for the particular use the stone and casket plaque easel  10  is put. In general, however, the stone and casket plaque easel  10  will have a height of from about 1″ to about 6″, more preferably a height from about 1″ to about 4″, and most preferably a height from about 1″ to about 3″.  
         [0038]     The surface engaging members are generally in contact with a substrate (not shown) to thereby support and hold the stone and casket plaque easel  10  in a position suitable for use to support a floral object. The substrate may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, a platform, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting the stone and casket plaque easel  10  thereon. It should be understood that the surface engaging members may be eliminated without altering the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0039]     Each embodiment of the stone and casket plaque easel  10  described herein could be used with or without anchoring materials known in the art to prevent the stone and casket plaque easel  10  from moving or tipping. The anchoring materials may be connected to the surface engaging members or alternatively be an extension of the leg members. Examples of anchoring materials include, but are not limited to, adhesive, cohesive, spikes (metal or plastic), rubber feet or pads, combinations thereof, or any other materials capable of anchoring the stone and casket plaque easel  10  to the substrate. The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non-integrally with the stone and casket plaque easel  10  and may be constructed of the same or different material as the stone and casket plaque easel  10 .  
         [0040]     The support member  40  for supporting and/or holding the floral object  50  may be formed of the same material as the leg members (i.e., aluminum) or may be formed of a different material than the leg members such as, for example, any of the materials discussed above. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the support member  40  is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first end  160 , a second end  170 , a first side  172 , a second side  174 , a first surface  180 , and a second surface  190 . Though the support member  40  shown in  FIG. 2A-2B  is substantially rectangular in shape, it should be understood that the support member  40  may be shaped in any manner to substantially conform to the shape of the casket and/or plaque. The support member  40  includes a first lip member  200  and a second lip member  220  for ease of connecting and/or disconnecting the leg members to the support member  40  for erecting and/or collapsing the stone and casket plaque easel  10 .  
         [0041]     The first lip member  200  and the second lip member  220  are located on the second surface  190  of the first end  160  and the second surface  190  of the second end  170 , respectively, of the support member  40 . The first lip member  200  and the second lip member  220  each include a retaining area  230  and  240 , respectively, for retaining a portion of each leg member therein when each leg member is connected to the support member  40 . The first lip member  200  and the second lip member  220  may be flexible or substantially flexible so as to bend outwardly away from the second surface  190  to facilitate engagement with the plurality of legs.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 2B , when inserting each respective leg member into its respective retaining area, the user may need (although not necessary) to create a separation between the distal end of the lip member and the second surface  190  of the support member  40  for insertion of the leg member into its respective retaining member. Further, when dissembling the leg members from the support member  40  for transportation, shipment, or storage, the lip members must be separated from the support member  40  to remove each leg member from its respective retaining area ( FIG. 2B ).  
         [0043]     The first lip member  200  and the second lip member  220  may be unitary in construction with the support member  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B , or the lip members may be formed separately from the support member  40 . The lip members may also be constructed of the same material as the support member  40 , or the lip members may be constructed of a different material than the support member  40 .  
         [0044]     Shown in  FIG. 2D , the first leg member  20  and the second leg member  30  are positioned about a portion of a headstone  400  such that the first end  60  and the second end  70  of the first leg member  20  are positioned on opposing sides of the headstone  400  and the first end  110  and the second end  120  of the second leg member  30  are positioned on opposing sides of the headstone  400  thereby supporting the support member  40  on the headstone  400  for display of the floral object  50  thereon.  
         [0045]     Shown in  FIG. 2E , the first leg member  20  and the second leg member  30  are positioned about a portion of a casket  500  such that the first end  60  and the second end  70  of the first leg member  20  are positioned on opposing sides of the casket  500  and the first end  110  and the second end  120  of the second leg member  30  are positioned on opposing sides of the casket  500  thereby supporting the support member  40  on the headstone  400 .  
         [0046]     It should be understood that any of the embodiments of the casket and plaque easel described herein may be positioned on a headstone or casket in the same manner as described above in relation to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A-2E  for display of the floral object  50  thereon.  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3B , designated generally by the reference numeral  10   a  is a stone and casket plaque easel. The stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  has a first leg member  20   a  and a second leg member  30   a . The stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  also includes a support member  40   a  for supporting and/or holding a floral object (not shown).  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the first leg member  20   a  and the second leg member  30   a  are each formed from a unitary piece of material. However, it should be understood that the first leg member  20   a  and the second leg member  30   a  may each be formed from more than one piece of material, if desired. The first leg member  20   a  has a first end  60   a , a second end  70   a , and a central portion  80   a . The first end  60   a  includes a first member  62   a  and a second member  64   a  such that the first member  62   a  and the second member  64   a  are spaced in a substantially parallel relationship. The second end  70   a  includes a first member  72   a  and a second member  74   a  joined by a central member  76   a . The first end  60   a  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  90   a  and  92   a  for substantially supporting the first member  62   a  and second member  64   a , respectively. The second end  70   a  is substantially L-shaped wherein the central member  76   a  is positioned for substantially supporting the second end  70   a . The central portion  80   a  includes a first portion  82   a  and a second portion  84   a.    
         [0049]     The second leg member  30   a  has a first end  110   a , a second end  120   a , and a central portion  130   a . The first end  110   a  includes a first member  112   a  and a second member  114   a  such that the first member  112   a  and the second member  114   a  are spaced in a substantially parallel relationship. The second end  120   a  includes a first member  122   a  and a second member  124   a  joined by a central member  126   a . The first end  110   a  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  132   a  and  134   a  for substantially supporting the first member  112   a  and second member  114   a , respectively. The second end  120   a  is substantially L-shaped wherein the central member  126   a  is positioned for substantially supporting the second end  120   a . The central portion  130   a  includes a first portion  136   a  and a second portion  138   a.    
         [0050]     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the leg members may be constructed of a unitary piece of material such as, for example, 16 gauge wire. However, it should be understood that the leg members of the present invention may be constructed of materials such as, for example, steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, or any other suitable material. Further, the material may be flexible or rigid.  
         [0051]     Alternatively, the first leg member  20   a  and the second leg member  30   a  may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member  20   a  and the second leg member  30   a  are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member  20   a  and the second leg member  30   a  are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.  
         [0052]     The leg members may have any size diameter, width, or profile dimensions and/or any length that is desired and useful for the particular use the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  is put. In general, however, the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  will have a height of from about 1″ to about 6″, more preferably a height from about 1″ to about 4″, and most preferably a height from about 1″ to about 3″.  
         [0053]     The surface engaging members are generally in contact with a substrate (not shown) to thereby support and hold the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  in a position suitable for use to support a floral object. The substrate may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, a platform, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  thereon. It should be understood that the surface engaging members may be eliminated without altering the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0054]     Each embodiment of the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  described herein could be used with or without anchoring materials known in the art to prevent the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  from moving or tipping. The anchoring materials may be connected to the surface engaging members or alternatively be an extension of the leg assemblies. Examples of anchoring materials include, but are not limited to, adhesive, cohesive, spikes (metal or plastic), rubber feet or pads, combinations thereof, or any other materials capable of anchoring the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  to the substrate. The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non-integrally with the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  and may be constructed of the same or different material as the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a.    
         [0055]     The support member  40   a  for supporting and/or holding the floral object may be formed of the same material as the leg assemblies (i.e., steel) or may be formed of a different material than the leg members such as, for example, any of the materials discussed above. As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the support member  40   a  is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first end  160   a , a second end  170   a , a first side  172   a , a second side  174   a , a first surface  180   a , and a second surface  190   a . Though the support member  40   a  shown in  FIG. 3A-3B  is substantially rectangular in shape, it should be understood that the support member  40   a  may be shaped in any manner to substantially conform to the shape of a casket and/or plaque (not shown) on which it is placed. The first end  160   a  of the support member  40   a  includes a first lip member  200   a  and the second end  170   a  of the support member  40  includes a second lip member  230   a  for ease of connecting and/or disconnecting each leg member to the support member  40   a  for erecting and/or collapsing the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a.    
         [0056]     The first lip member  200   a  and the second lip member  220   a  are located on the second surface  190   a  of the first end  160   a  and the second end  170   a , respectively, of the support member  40   a . The first lip member  200   a  defines a first retaining area  202   a  and a third retaining area  204   a  for retaining a portion of the first portion  82   a  and the second portion  84   a , respectively, therein for connecting the leg assembly  20   a  to the support member  40   a  and to further permit rotation of the first leg member  20   a  between an expanded position and a collapsed position when the first leg member  20   a  is connected to the support member  40   a.    
         [0057]     The second lip member  220   a  defines a first retaining area  222   a  and a fourth retaining area  224   a  for retaining a portion of the first portion  136   a  and the second portion  138   a , respectively, therein for connecting the leg assembly  30   a  to the support member  40   a  and to further permit rotation of the second leg member  30   a  between an expanded position and a collapsed position when the second leg member  30   a  is connected to the support member  40   a . Though the lip members are shown located on the second surface  190   a  of the support member  40   a , it should be understood that the lip members may be located on any portion of the support member  40   a  such that the lip members are capable of retaining a portion of each of the respective leg members therein. The lip members of the present invention may be flexible or substantially flexible so as to bend outwardly away from the second surface  190   a  to facilitate engagement with a portion of each respective leg member. Rotation of each leg member within its respective lip member permits the stone and casket plaque easel  10   a  to form an open profile on one side of the easel  10   a  thus requiring less packaging space as well as permitting snap action of the easel  10   a  in either the collapsed or erected position.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 3B , when inserting a portion of each leg member into its respective retaining area, the user may need (although not necessary) to create a separation between the distal end of the lip member and the second surface  190   a  of the support member  40   a  for insertion of a portion of the leg member into its respective retaining area.  
         [0059]     The lip members of the present invention may be unitary in construction with the support member  40   a , as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , or the lip members may be formed separately from the support member  40   a . The lip members may also be constructed of the same material as the support member  40   a , or the lip members may be constructed of a different material than the support member  40   a.    
         [0060]     As shown in  FIG. 3B , when collapsing the leg members for transportation, shipment, or storage, the leg members may be rotated inwardly toward a center portion  42   a  of the support member  40   a . However, it should be understood that the leg members may be collapsed in any manner that permit transportation, shipment, or storage of the easel  10   a.    
         [0061]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4B , shown therein is an easel  10   b  similar in purpose to the embodiment described in  FIGS. 3A-3B . However, in  FIGS. 4A-4B , the stone and casket plaque easel  10   b  has a first leg member  20   b  and a second leg member  30   b . The stone and casket plaque easel  10   b  also includes a support member  40   b  for supporting and/or holding a floral object (not shown). A support member  40   b  includes a first lip member  200   b  and a second lip member  240   b  located on opposing ends of the support member  40   b . The first lip member  200   b  is located on a second surface  190   b  of a first end  160   b  of a support member  40   b . The second lip member  240   b  is located on the second surface  190   b  of a second end  170   b  of the support member  40   b . Though the lip members are located on the second surface  190   b  of the first end  160   b  and the second end  170   b  of the support member  40   b  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , it should be understood that the lip members may be located on any portion of the support member  40   b  such that the lip members are capable of retaining a portion of the leg assemblies therein.  
         [0062]     The first lip member  200   b  defines a first retaining area  202   b  for retaining a portion of the first leg member  20   b  therein for connecting the first leg member  20   b  to the support member  40   b  and to further permit rotation of the first leg member  20   b  between an expanded position and a collapsed position when the first leg member  20   b  is connected to the support member  40   a.    
         [0063]     The second lip member  240   b  defines a second retaining area  242   b  for retaining a portion of the second leg member  30   b  therein for connecting the second leg member  30   b  to the support member  40   b  and to further permit rotation of the second leg member  30   b  between an expanded position and a collapsed position when the second leg member  30   b  is connected to the support member  40   b . Rotation of each leg member within its respective lip member permits the stone and casket plaque easel  10   b  to form an open profile on one side of the easel  10   a  thus requiring less packaging space as well as permitting snap action of the easel  10   a  in either the collapsed or erected position.  
         [0064]     The lip members of the present invention may be unitary in construction with the support member  40   b , as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , or the lip members may be formed separately from the support member  40 . The lip members may also be constructed of the same material as the support member  40   b , or the lip members may be constructed of a different material than the support member  40   b.    
         [0065]     As shown in  FIG. 4B , when collapsing the leg members for transportation, shipment, or storage, the leg members may be rotated inwardly toward a center portion  42   b  of the support member  40   b . However, it should be understood that the leg members may be collapsed in any manner that permit transportation, shipment, or storage of the easel  10   b.    
         [0066]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5B , designated generally by the reference numeral  10   c  is a stone and casket plaque easel. The stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  has a first leg member  20   c  and a second leg member  30   c . The stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  also includes a support member  40   c  for supporting and/or holding a floral object (not shown).  
         [0067]     The first leg member  20   c  has a first end  60   c , a second end  70   c , and a central portion  80   c . Each end of the first end  60   c  and the second end  70   c  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  90   c  and  100   c , respectively, for supporting each end of the first leg member  20   c . The second leg member  30   c  has a first end  110   c , a second end  120   c , and a central portion  130   c . Each of the first end  110   c  and the second end  120   c  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  140   c  and  150   c , respectively, for supporting each end of the second leg member  30   c.    
         [0068]     As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the leg members may be constructed of a unitary piece of material such as, for example, flattened aluminum rod. However, it should be understood that the leg members of the present invention may be constructed of materials such as, for example, steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, or any other suitable material. Further, the material may be flexible or rigid.  
         [0069]     Alternatively, the first leg member  20   c  and the second leg member  30   c  may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member  20   c  and the second leg member  30   c  are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member  20   c  and the second leg member  30   c  are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.  
         [0070]     The leg members may have any size diameter, width, or profile dimensions and/or any length that is desired and useful for the particular use the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  is put. In general, however, the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  will have a height of from about 1″ to about 6″, more preferably a height from about 1″ to about 4″, and most preferably a height from about 1″ to about 3″.  
         [0071]     The surface engaging members are generally in contact with a substrate (not shown) to thereby support and hold the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  in a position suitable for use to support a floral object. The substrate may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, a platform, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  thereon. It should be understood that the surface engaging members may be eliminated without altering the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0072]     Each embodiment of the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  described herein could be used with or without anchoring materials known in the art to prevent the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  from moving or tipping. The anchoring materials may be connected to the surface engaging members or alternatively be an extension of the leg members. Examples of anchoring materials include, but are not limited to, adhesive, cohesive, spikes (metal or plastic), rubber feet or pads, combinations thereof, or any other materials capable of anchoring the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  to the substrate. The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non-integrally with the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c  and may be constructed of the same or different material as the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c.    
         [0073]     The support member  40   c  for supporting and/or holding the floral object may be formed of the same material as the leg members (i.e., aluminum) or may be formed of a different material than the leg members such as, for example, any of the materials discussed above. As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , the support member  40   c  is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first end  160   c , a second end  170   c , a first side  172   c , a second side  174   c , a first surface  180   c , and a second surface  190   c . Though the support member  40   c  shown in  FIG. 5A-5B  is substantially rectangular in shape, it should be understood that the support member  40   c  may be shaped in any manner to substantially conform to the shape of the casket and/or plaque. The support member  40   c  further includes a first lip member  192   c  defining a first retaining area  255   c  and a second lip member  194   c  defining a second retaining area  265   c.    
         [0074]     The support member  40   c  includes a pair of slit members ( 200   c ,  220   c ,  230   c , and  240   c ) located at each of the first end  160   c  and the second end  170   c , respectively, for ease of connecting and/or disconnecting the leg members to and/or from the support member  40   c  for erecting and/or collapsing the stone and casket plaque easel  10   c . Each end further includes a central member ( 250   c  and  260   c ) for supporting the central portion  80   c  and  130   c  of each leg member. The slit members  200   c  and  220   c , and the central member  250   c  cooperate to further define the first retaining area  255   c . The slit members  230   c  and  240   c , and the central member  260   c  cooperate to further define the second retaining area  265   c.    
         [0075]     As shown in  FIG. 5B , when connecting each respective leg member to the support member  40   c , the user may need (although not necessary) to create a separation between each central member ( 250   c  and  260   c ) and the respective abutting slit members for insertion of the leg member by moving the respective slit members in one direction and the respective central member in an opposing direction to permit the first leg member  20   c  to be positioned in the first retaining area  255   c  and the second leg member  30   c  to be positioned in the second retaining area  265   c . Further, when dissembling the leg members from the support member  40   c  for transportation, shipment, or storage, the central members must be separated from the slit members in the same manner described above to disconnect each leg member from the support member ( FIG. 5B ).  
         [0076]     The lip members may be constructed of the same material as the support member  40   c , or the lip members may be constructed of a different material than the support member  40   c.    
         [0077]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A-6B , designated generally by the reference numeral  10   d  is a stone and casket plaque easel. The stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  has a first leg member  20   d  and a second leg member  30   d . The stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  also includes a support member  40   d  for supporting and/or holding a floral object (not shown).  
         [0078]     The first leg member  20   d  has a first end  60   d , a second end  70   d , and a central portion  80   d . Each end of the first end  60   d  and the second end  70   d  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  90   d  and  100   d , respectively, for supporting each end of the first leg member  20   d . The second leg member  30   d  has a first end  110   d , a second end  120   d , and a central portion  130   d . Each of the first end  110   d  and the second end  120   d  is substantially L-shaped having surface engaging members  140   d  and  150   d , respectively, for supporting each end of the second leg member  30   d.    
         [0079]     As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , the leg members may be constructed of a unitary piece of material such as, for example, flattened aluminum rod. However, it should be understood that the leg members of the present invention may be constructed of materials such as, for example, steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, or any other suitable material. Further, the material may be flexible or rigid.  
         [0080]     Alternatively, the first leg member  20   d  and the second leg member  30   d  may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member  20   d  and the second leg member  30   d  are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member  20   d  and the second leg member  30   d  are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.  
         [0081]     The leg members may have any size diameter, width, or profile dimensions and/or any length that is desired and useful for the particular use the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  is put. In general, however, the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  will have a height of from about 1″ to about 6″, more preferably a height from about 1″ to about 4″, and most preferably a height from about 1″ to about 3″.  
         [0082]     The surface engaging members are generally in contact with a substrate (not shown) to thereby support and hold the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  in a position suitable for use to support a floral object. The substrate may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, a platform, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  thereon. It should be understood that the surface engaging members may be eliminated without altering the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0083]     Each embodiment of the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  described herein could be used with or without anchoring materials known in the art to prevent the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  from moving or tipping. The anchoring materials may be connected to the surface engaging members or alternatively be an extension of the leg members. Examples of anchoring materials include, but are not limited to, adhesive, cohesive, spikes (metal or plastic), rubber feet or pads, combinations thereof, or any other materials capable of anchoring the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  to the substrate. The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non-integrally with the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  and may be constructed of the same or different material as the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d.    
         [0084]     The support member  40   d  for supporting and/or holding the floral object may be formed of the same material as the leg members (i.e., aluminum) or may be formed of a different material than the leg members such as, for example, any of the materials discussed above. As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , the support member  40   d  is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first end  160   d , a second end  170   d , a first side  172   d , a second side  174   d , a first surface  180   d , and a second surface  190   d . Though the support member  40   d  shown in  FIG. 6A-6B  is substantially rectangular in shape, it should be understood that the support member  40   d  may be shaped in any manner to substantially conform to the shape of the casket and/or plaque. The support member  40   d  further includes a first lip member  192   d  defining a first retaining area  194   d  and a second lip member  196   d  defining a second retaining area  198   d.    
         [0085]     The support member  40   d  includes a pair of slit members ( 200   d  and  220   d , respectively) located at a central portion of each of the first end  160   d  and the second end  170   d , respectively, for ease of connecting and/or disconnecting the leg members to the support member  40   d  for erecting and/or collapsing the stone and casket plaque easel  10   d  thereby creating upper members  230   d  and  232   d  and lower members  234   d  and  236   d  on each end of the support member  40   d  and cooperating to define the first retaining area  235   d  on the first end  160   d  of the easel  10   d  for placement of the first leg member  20   d  therein and the second retaining area  237   d  on the second end  170   d  of the easel  10   d  for placement of the second leg member  30   d  therein. Though each slit is shown at the central portion of each end, it should be understood that the slit may be located anywhere along each end of the support member  40   d.    
         [0086]     As shown in  FIG. 6B , when connecting each respective leg member to the support member  40   d , the user may need (although not necessary) to create a separation along each slit for insertion of the leg member by moving the upper member  230   d  and the lower member  234   d  of the first lip member  192   d  in opposing directions to permit the first leg member  20   d  to be positioned in the first retaining area  194   d  and moving the upper member  232   d  and the lower member  236   d  of the second lip member  196   d  in opposing directions to permit the second leg member  30   d  to be positioned in the second retaining area  198   d . Further, when dissembling the leg members from the support member  40   d  for transportation, shipment, or storage, the slits may be separated to disconnect each leg member from the support member ( FIG. 6B ) in the same manner as described above.  
         [0087]     Each leg member may be supported and braced by each of the upper and lower members located on each end of the support member  40   d . The upper and lower members may be constructed of the same material as the support member  40   d , or the upper and lower members may be constructed of a different material than the support member  40   d.    
         [0088]     While methods of collapsing and methods of erecting the stone and casket plaque easel have been described herein, it is to be understood that other methods of collapsing the easels of the present invention will be evident to a person having ordinary skill in the art and therefore, such additional methods of collapsing and methods of erecting the stone and casket plaque easel are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0089]     The various embodiments of the stone and casket plaque easel described herein in  FIGS. 1-6 , may be further shipped and/or stored. To ship the various embodiments of the stone and casket plaque easel described herein in  FIGS. 1-6 , the plurality of legs of the stone and casket plaque easel may be collapsed as described hereinabove; the stone and casket plaque easel may then be placed into a shipping container such as, for example, a box or crate, and the easel may be shipped to a predetermined location. Further, the various embodiments of the stone and casket plaque easel described herein in  FIGS. 1-6 , may be placed into a storage area for an indefinite period of time wherein the plurality of legs are collapsed so as to store the easel in a storage area for an indefinite period of time.  
         [0090]     It is also to be understood that the present invention also encompasses any embodiments described herein or modifications thereof with the skill of a person in the art. For example, any of the embodiments of the stone and casket plaque easel described herein may be self-erecting, self-collapsing, self-erecting and self-collapsing, semi-self-erecting, semi-self-collapsing, or semi-self-erecting and semi-self-collapsing. Also, any of the embodiments of the present invention described herein may be made so that no more than one assembly must be accomplished to maintain the easel in the erect position, semi-erect position, collapsed position, or semi-collapsed position.  
         [0091]     Changes may be made in the construction and operation of the various components, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps or sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.