Abstract:
The container of the present invention provides a container with a décor-displaying exterior. The container comprises a transparent exterior portion, a waterproof interior liner portion, and a connection portion. The invention may additionally include a base portion. A number of sizes, shapes, and materials may be used in the construction of such a container, as dictated by the desired end result and intended use. The container thus allows a user to modify the external appearance of the container by inserting material between the external portion and the internal portion. The container obtains a “finished” look by use of the connection portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/648,886, filed Feb. 1, 2005 and U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 11/343,309, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a container for holding flowers, pencils, art supplies, or other items, and more particularly, relates to a container that can easily be personalized. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In the past, containers have been formed of a number of different materials having different various advantages and disadvantages. Glass, crystal, and clear plastic containers have been used for containers having a traditional appearance. Colored glass, opaque plastics, and decorator fabrics or designs over glass or plastic have been used for more contemporary containers. However, containers that are adaptable in design to fit in with various décor at various times are not well known. What is needed is a container that can hold wet or dry items, such as fresh flowers, dried flower arrangements, candles, or other elements, but that can be easily modified to have a different appearance based on where and when the container will be used. 
         [0006]    For example, a bride may wish to have fresh flowers on each table at her wedding, and may wish to have the flowers and the vase coordinate with other prevalent color schemes at the wedding or reception. However, a particular color or hue may not be available in vases, or may be available only at a prohibitively high price. Using containers of the present invention, the bride may use the container as a vase, and may coordinate the container with the linens, flowers, or bridesmaids dresses by modifying each container with the preferred color. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, continuing with the example above, once the wedding is over, the containers may be modified again to match the décor of a living room, kitchen, bathroom, or other location. If the containers are owned by a florist or rental outlet, the containers can be modified to match the preferred color or theme of subsequent events with ease. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The container of the present invention comprises a transparent or translucent exterior portion, a waterproof interior liner portion, and a connection portion. The invention may additionally include a base portion. A number of sizes, shapes, and materials may be used in the construction of such a container, as dictated by the desired end result and intended use. The container thus allows a user to modify the external appearance of the container by inserting material between the external portion and the internal portion. The container obtains a “finished” look by use of the connection portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]    Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of a second embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment show in  FIG. 1 , shown in use and with an optional base portion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    The container  10  of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 1 , includes a cylindrical external portion  12 , an internal portion  14  designed to fit within portion  12 , and a connection portion  16 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , external portion  12  has an outer side  12   a , an inner side  12   b , and a top edge  12   c . Internal portion  14  likewise has an outer side  14   a , an inner side  14   b , and a top edge  14   c . Both external and internal portions  12 ,  14  also have a bottom side,  12   d ,  14   d , which allows portions  12 ,  14  to contain materials. Outer side  14   a  of internal portion  14  faces inner side  12   b  of external portion  12  when container  10  is put together, and bottom side  14   d  of internal portion  14  sits atop bottom side  12   d  of external portion  12 . 
         [0015]    Container  10  also includes a connection portion  16 , which has an outer sidewall  16   a , an inner sidewall  16   b , and a top side  16   c . Connection portion  16  can be shaped to have a flat top side  16   c , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or can be shaped to have a rounded top edge  16   c , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, the space between external portion  12  and internal portion  14  defines a décor-displaying portion  15 . Decor-displaying portion  15  is preferably large enough to permit insertion of decorative elements other than 2-dimensional elements such as photographs, papers, and the like. Rather, décor-displaying portion  15  is large enough to permit insertion of 3-dimensional elements such as shells, feathers, buttons, and so forth. The diameter of external portion  12  is thus at least 1 inch greater than the diameter of internal portion  14  so that a distance of at least ½ inch between portions  12  and  14  is created when portion  12  is inserted within portion  12 . When a larger space is required for larger décor, the provision of an even wider-diameter external portion  12  to fit around internal portion  14  is contemplated. 
         [0017]    External portion  12  can be made of glass or a glass-like material, can be transparent or translucent, and can be designed in a variety of shapes. For example, though the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4  shows a cylindrical shape, external portion  12  could be a rectangular prism, triangular prism, or other shape. The shape of external portion  12  is only limited by the ability of internal portion  14  to fit within external portion  12  and hold decorative items in décor-displaying portion  15 . 
         [0018]    Internal portion  14  can be constructed of clear, translucent, or opaque plastic. Internal portion  14  should be constructed of a waterproof material, so that container  10  can be used as a vase or planter. Internal portion  14  should also be constructed of a durable material, so that it can be used in the kitchen as a utensil holder, in the bathroom as a toothbrush holder, or in the workshop or office as a paintbrush or pen/pencil holder. Finally, internal portion  14  should be constructed of a rigid material, so that when it is inserted within external portion  12 , it can hold the decorative materials placed between internal portion  14  and external portion  12  against the inner side  12   b  of external portion  12  for viewing. 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, external portion  12  is constructed of glass or a similarly attractive material so that décor-displaying portion  15 , once constructed and with decorative elements inserted, is not defined by the material of external portion  12 , but rather by the elements within portion  15 . Similarly, in decorative situations in which internal portion  14  may be seen from the exterior of container  10 , such as when the chosen decorative elements are transparent or do not fully fill décor-displaying portion  15  such that internal portion  14  is not completely obscured, glass or a similarly attractive material is preferred. 
         [0020]    Connection portion is preferably separate from external portion  12  and internal portion  14  and, as mentioned, can be shaped in a variety of ways and constructed of a variety of materials. For example, connection portion  16  can be constructed of metal or plastic or any other appropriate material; can be embossed with horizontal or vertical ridges for decoration and gripping; and can be sized to fit loosely or securely over the top side  12   c  of external portion  12  and the top side  14   c  of internal portion  14 . 
         [0021]    Connection portion  16  may vary in size such that inner side  16   b  is substantially longer or shorter than outer side  16   a  as desired for decorative or utilitarian reasons. If desired, connection portion  16  could be provided with an adhesive layer such as, for example, on inner side  16   b , so that a particular decorative configuration could be made tamper-proof or water-proof. 
         [0022]    In use, the decorator removes connection portion  16  and inserts decorative elements between external portion  12  and internal portion  14 , in décor-displaying portion  15 . Depending on the decorative elements to be inserted, the decorator may wish to remove internal portion  14  from external portion  12  and either decorate outer side  14   a  of internal portion  14  or inner side  12   b  of external portion  12 . For example, a decorator may wish to insert a strip of wallpaper between internal portion  14  and external portion  12  that matches or coordinates with the wallpaper of the room in which the container  10  will be used. As previously noted, materials that can be inserted in décor-displaying portion  15  may include generally 2-dimensional elements such as swatches of fabric or wallpaper, strips of wrapping paper, sections of maps, napkins, photographs, wedding invitations, and so forth, or may include generally 3-dimensional elements such as feathers, buttons, shells, sand, glitter, seeds, trinkets, memorabilia, and so forth. In the event that generally 3-dimensional elements are chosen, the decorator will probably choose to leave internal portion  14  within external portion  12  during the insertion of elements and “fill” décor-displaying portion  15  rather than decorating the interior of exterior portion  12  or decorating the exterior of interior portion  14 . 
         [0023]    Once the decorative elements are in place and internal portion  14  is seated within external portion  12 , the decorator puts connection portion  16  in place. If desired, external portion  12  may then be placed on a base  18 . Base  18  may be designed to match connection portion  16  in material and design, or may be of a variety of suitable materials. For example, base  16  could be made of wood, metal, plastic, or glass. 
         [0024]    It should be apparent that a number of ways of carrying out the inventive idea are possible, and all such ways should be considered within the scope of the invention. For example, internal portion  14  and connection portion  16  have been described as separate elements, but could be made integral with one another such that connection portion  16  would comprise a lip or flange around the topmost edge of internal portion  14 . While this application has attempted to show and describe at least one preferred embodiment in detail, the drawings provided and the detailed description are in no way meant to limit the invention.