Patent Publication Number: US-8122631-B2

Title: Funeral flower

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     One of the traditional rites performed during Hmong funerals is a ceremonial burning of symbolic Joss paper intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Historically, this Joss paper is spread throughout the location of the funeral ceremony. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an ornamental funeral flower. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of component parts of an ornamental funeral flower. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of component parts of an ornamental funeral flower. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a sheet of Joss paper. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a folded sheet of Joss paper. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a further folded sheet of Joss paper. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a further folded sheet of Joss paper. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a further folded sheet of Joss paper. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a sheet of Joss paper folded to form a petal. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of a petal cut to form two petals. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a portion of an ornamental funeral flower. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a portion of the ornamental funeral flower of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of another ornamental funeral flower. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of another ornamental funeral flower. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a portion of another ornamental funeral flower. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     Example embodiments described herein relate to ornamental flowers that can be used during ceremonies, such as during traditional Hmong funeral ceremonies. 
     In one aspect, an ornamental funeral flower includes a base, a riser fixedly attached to the center of the base, and support members extending from the riser to the edge of the base. The flower also includes an attachment layer attached to one or more of the base, riser, and support members, and petals fixedly attached to the attachment layer. 
     In another aspect, a method of making an ornamental funeral flower includes: providing a base; attaching a riser to said base; extending a plurality of support members from the riser to the base; draping an attachment layer over said base, riser, and support members; and attaching a plurality of petals to said attachment layer. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments described herein relate to ornamental flowers that can be used during ceremonies, such as during traditional Hmong funeral ceremonies. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example ornamental funeral flower  2  is shown. In this embodiment, the funeral flower  2  is made up of a plurality of petals  4 . 
     In one embodiment, each petal  4  is made of Joss paper, though other suitable materials may be used. If the material used to create each petal  4  is Joss paper, the ornamental flower provides a way to incorporate the symbolic Joss paper into an organized, aesthetically-pleasing decoration. When Joss paper is used, each petal  4  is made from a single sheet of Joss paper and is folded to mimic the appearance of a flower petal. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the example ornamental funeral flower  2  is made using a base  6 , a riser  8 , and a plurality of support members  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the riser  8  is placed at approximately the geometric center of the base  6  and fixedly attached to the base  6 . The riser may be fixedly attached the base in a number of ways. For instance, either adhesives or mechanical fasteners may be used to accomplish this attachment. In one embodiment, this attachment is accomplished using a thermoplastic adhesive resin or “hot glue,” though other adhesives may be used. In another embodiment, the riser  8  is stapled to the base, though other mechanical fasteners may be used. 
     Each support member  10  extends from the front face of the riser  8  to the outer edge of the base  6 . Any number of support members may be used, but the number necessary will likely depend on a number of factors, such as the size of the ornamental funeral flower  2  and the density of petals  4  incorporated on the face of the flower. In one embodiment, the support members  10  are made of cellophane tape, but other materials, such as wire or string, may be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an attachment layer  12  is draped over and fixedly attached to base  6 , riser  8 , and support members  10 . The attachment layer  12  may be made of any of a variety of materials. In one embodiment, the attachment layer  12  is made of paper, such as masking paper or wrapping paper, but other suitable materials may be used. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a plurality of petals  4  are fixedly attached to the attachment layer  12  so that the flower  2  takes the appearance of a flower. The number of petals  4  attached to attachment layer  12  will vary depending on the desired size of the flower  2  and the desired density of petals  4 . 
     The petals  4  may be attached to the attachment layer  12  in a variety of ways, such as adhesives or mechanical fasteners. For instance, thermoplastic adhesive resin or “hot glue” may be used, but other adhesives may also be appropriate. Alternatively, the petals  4  may be stapled to the attachment layer  12 , but other mechanical fasteners may be appropriate. 
     In one embodiment, each petal  4  attached to the attachment layer  12  is made of Joss paper. A sheet  14  of Joss paper is shown in  FIG. 4 . Each sheet  14  of Joss paper has a decorated side and an undecorated side. To form the sheet  14  of Joss paper into a petal  4 , the sheet is folded along line A-A so that the undecorated side faces out. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a sheet  14  of Joss paper after it is folded as described above. To continue forming the petal  4 , the sheet is next folded along line B-B on each of its edges so that the edges of the sheet  14  flare out as depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts a sheet  14  of Joss paper after it is folded as described above. To continue forming the petal  4 , the sheet  14  is next folded along line C-C so the sheet  14  appears as depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a sheet  14  of Joss paper after it is folded as described above. To continue forming the petal  4 , the sheet  14  is next folded along lines D-D and E-E so that the sheet  14  appears as depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts a sheet  14  of Joss paper after it is folded as described above. To continue forming the petal  4 , the sheet  14  is inverted and partially folded inside-out so that the sheet  14  appears as depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 9  depicts a petal  4  folded and formed. After being folded in this manner, the petal  4  can be attached to the attachment layer  12  as described above. To complete the ornamental funeral flower  2 , a plurality of petals  4  are formed as described above and attached to the attachment layer. 
     In some examples, the petal  4  can be cut so that the petal  4  can be used to form multiple petals. For example, the petal  4  can be cut along line F-F to form two petals  32 ,  33  that can be attached to the flower  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , some of the petals  42  are placed on the flower  2  without cutting the petals  42 . These petals  42  extend across the top of the flower  2  to form two petals. Other petals  44  are cut and placed on the sides of the flower  2 . The petals  42 ,  44  are attached using one or more of the methods described above, such as hot glue. 
     The ornamental funeral flowers may take any shape as desired by a customer. In one embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the flower  2  may be formed in the shape of a heart. In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the flower  2  may take the shape of a circle. Other shapes, such as squares, rectangles, octagons, etc. can be used. 
     In other examples, the flowers can include other ornamentation, such as a photograph holder  62  shown in  FIG. 14 . The photograph holder  62  can be affixed to the flower to hold a photograph. 
     Petals of different shape, size, and/or color can be used. For example, as shown in  FIG. 15 , petals  72  are formed of a first type of paper, and petals  74  are formed of a second type of paper. Other configurations are possible. 
     The ornamental funeral flowers can be formed in a variety of sizes. In some embodiments, the flowers are generally between 1-6 feet in diameter. In other examples, the flowers are at least 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, or 5 feet. In another example, the flowers are less than 6 feet, less than 5 feet, or less than 4 feet in diameter. In some examples, the flowers are 3-5 feet in diameter. Other sizes are possible. 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limiting. Various modifications and changes that may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.