Patent Abstract:
A monument arrangement display device including a base having a plurality of spring tabs and at least one leg assembly being adjustingly retained by at least one of the plurality of spring tabs.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/917,197, entitled “A MONUMENT STRADDLE ASSEMBLY”, filed May 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a monument display device, and, more particularly, to a monument display device that attaches to the monument. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A cemetery monument or headstone is typically anchored or placed upon a concrete foundation and includes lettering and/or illustrations carved into the monument. The shapes of cemetery monuments are rather diverse, yet the typical monument usually includes at least two substantially vertical opposite surfaces. 
         [0006]    It is common for those wishing to honor the departed to put various temporary items to honor the departed proximate to the monument. These items are often placed on the ground adjacent to the monument and do thereby cause cemetery maintenance problems, particularly relating to the maintenance of the grass or shrubbery growing in the cemetery. In order to control this phenomenon many cemeteries have regulations that may prohibit the positioning of flower arrangements and the like on the ground. These sorts of regulations then essentially only permit the memorial items to be placed upon the monument itself or on the foundation on which the monument sets. Typically the foundation extends only a short distance from the base of the monument thereby essentially limiting the placement of memorial items onto the monument itself. 
         [0007]    Since the monuments are typically made of stone, there is no easy way to attach a memorial item directly to the headstone. 
         [0008]    What is needed in the art is an effective inexpensive device to attach a memorial display to a cemetery monument. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a monument display device that attaches, in a removable manner, a memorial display to the cemetery monument. 
         [0010]    The invention in one form is directed to a monument arrangement display device including a base having a plurality of spring tabs and at least one leg assembly being adjustingly retained by at least one of the plurality of spring tabs. 
         [0011]    An advantage of the present invention is that it can be removably attached to a cemetery memorial. 
         [0012]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the base can be utilized with two separate sets of legs to grip either the front/back of the monument or the two sides of the monument. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the base provides eyelets to which the display, such as a floral display, may be easily connected without the use of adhesives or other floral mounting techniques. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cemetery monument having an embodiment of the memorial display device of the present invention attached thereto; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectioned end view of the monument display device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the monument display device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of the monument display device of  FIGS. 1-3  showing an alternate set of attachment legs. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown a monument arrangement device  10  positioned on a monument  12  with a floral arrangement  14  attached thereto. Monument  12  is illustrated as having vertical sides as well as vertical front and back allowing monument display device  10  to be arranged using either legs that interact with the sides or the front/back of monument  12 . Monument arrangement display device  10  includes a base  16  having either legs  18  or  20  extending therefrom. Base  16  is configured to accommodate either legs  18  extending from the sides of base  16  or legs  20  extending from the front/back of base  16 . The choice of which set of legs used is based upon the shape of monument  12  and on the preferences of the installer. 
         [0021]    Base  16  includes a peripheral edge  22  that is bent up from the main plane of base  16 . Base  16  additionally includes mounting tabs  24  having holes  26 , spring tabs  28 , aligned in a longitudinal direction  30  and in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal direction  30 . Spring tabs  28  are offset so that one pair will accommodate one of legs  18  or  20  while another set of spring tabs  28  are positioned to accommodate another leg  18  or  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Holes  32  are positioned in peripheral edge  22  to accommodate sections of legs  18  or  20  as they enter base  16 . Holes  32  co-act with spring tabs  28  to retain legs  18  or  20  to base  16 . 
         [0022]    Spring tabs  28  have a shaped portion, which may be semi-circular to interact with a corresponding shape of at least a section of legs  18  or  20 . While the shape is illustrated as being circular or semi-circular in nature any other shape is also possible. 
         [0023]    Base  16  is formed from a flat piece of material, one particular choice being metal, such as stainless steel. The forming process includes the cutting and the bending of the various portions of base  16 . For example, peripheral edge  22  includes holes  32  that are cut through the material prior to being bent to form peripheral edge  22 . Similarly mounting tabs  24  and spring tabs  28  are cut during a cutting process, which may be a stamping operation and then are subsequently formed, which may take place in a forming die. Spring tabs  28  are cantilevered from a portion of base  16  and depend upon the natural resiliency of the material to function as retaining devices for legs  18  or  20 . For example, legs  18  are inserted through corresponding holes  32  with sections of legs  18  being directed through corresponding shaped portions of a pair of spring tabs  28  and then extends adjacent to another set of spring tabs, which are used to retain the opposite leg. Sections of legs  18  that extend across base  16  are substantially parallel with each other and can be adjusted inwardly and outwardly by the person installing monument display device  10  on monument  12 . Holes  26  in mounting tabs  24  allow for the use of connecting fasteners, such as wire that can be passed through holes  26  to thereby retain floral arrangement  14  to base  16 . Alternatively, mounting tabs  24  may be utilized to interact with a Styrofoam base floral arrangement to retain the Styrofoam base of floral arrangement  14 . 
         [0024]    Legs  18  and  20  respectively include an inwardly angled portion  34  and  38  that provides a resilient springy interaction between base  16  and legs  18  or  20 . The interaction allows for a compressive force to be applied against monument  12  putting legs  18  and  20  in a combination of linear and angular tension that causes the section of legs  18  or  20  extending into base  16  be further held in position. Inward angle  34  of leg  18  and inward angle  38  of leg  20  may be approximately similar. Cross-sectional shape  36  of leg  18  and cross-sectional shape  40  may be identical each corresponding to the curved portions of spring tabs  28  so that the interaction between holes  32  that are shaped to accommodate cross-sectional shapes  36  or  40  and tabs  28 , provide for a secure connection of mounting display device  10  to monument  12 . In the case of legs  18  holes  32  are actually slots that accommodate the parallel sections of legs  18  that extend in opposite directions, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In a like manner separate holes to accommodate legs  20  may be utilized as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0025]    The present invention advantageously interacts with the top of a monument to secure a desired display thereto. A coating over the end of legs  18  or  20  may be applied, such as a plastic material to prevent marring of the stone and to increase the gripping ability of the assembly. Further, a cushion or non-marking pad may be positioned on the bottom side of base  16  to further the utility of device  10 . 
         [0026]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4