Abstract:
Novel methods, apparatus and kits to provide a new presently-untapped market for state-of-the-art artificial flowers presently sold only as part of artificial plant assemblies that include artificial stems, branches, leaves, etc., the invention comprising various novel improved means, as well as kits including such means, for attaching such artificial flowers to non-blooming (pre-bloom, post-bloom or never-bloom) live vegeation having live stems, branches, leaves, etc., to simulate blooming thereof, for easy care-free instant yard beautification, said kits being devoid of artificial plant stems, branches, leaves, etc.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/164,741, filed Nov. 12, 1999. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to gardening/landscaping and the like, and more particularly to methods, apparatus and kits for attaching artificial flowers to any pre-bloom, post-bloom or never-bloom live vegetation (growing plant life with live stems, branches and leaves) to resemble blooming live vegetation, such use of artificial flowers being already known in U.S. Patent prior art such as Brown, Jr. 2,514,177 (1950), Flynn 3,137,610 (1964) and Kingston 6,058,648 (2000). 
   The prior art also teaches patentability of non-relevant kits for use of artificial flowers, as in U.S. Patents to Garry 5,733,612 (1998), Litwin et al 4,600,612 (1986) and Deraney 6,017,596 (2000). 
   Kingston and Deraney refer to “the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.” (emphasis added), which attest to the worldwide extent of the flourishing live-looking artificial flowers/plant industry. 
   Other known U.S. Patent prior art, over which this invention is distinguished, is as follows:
         A. E. Decamp U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,766 (1961)   Gallo U.S. Pat. No. 3,309,258 (1967)   Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,467 (1992)   Weitz U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,301 (1989)   Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,565 (1993)   A. Abramson U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,619 (1962)   Kise U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,476 (1969)   J. I. Adler, U.S. Pat. No. Jr. 2,984,036 (1962)   A. E. Decamp U.S. Pat. No. 2,881,545 (1959).       

   Since artificial-bloom vegetation is sold in the same stores as live-bloom vegetation, they obviously satisfy independent markets. However, it is also very important to note that artificial flowers are sold not separately, but as part of an artificial plant assembly, such as a vine or a plant main stem or trunk having leaves and flower stems attached thereto, there being no conversion kit available, for example. 
   The specific structures of artificial plants and flowers may vary, but a common feature (for purposes of manufacturing and assembly economy, even as between different plant assemblies, to simplify parts inventory and manufacture/assembly procedures) is a straight (free of sharp bends) and uniform-cross section plastic stem frictionally insertable through leaf and flower passages therefor. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Almost every yard, whatever the size, has non-blooming live vegetation of some kind (wild bushes and vines, sturdy weeds, tree sprouts, pre-bloom or post-bloom plants, etc.) during some part of the growing season that could be quickly, easily and inexpensively beautified by attachment of artificial flowers thereto. It is believed that use of artificial flowers with live vegetation may actually enhance the real flower appearance of artificial flowers. 
   Some of the objectives and advantages of the invention are as follows:
         (a) Experimentation has shown that the live look of non-blooming live vegetation (never-bloom, pre-bloom or post-bloom) can be used to support artificial flowers, and most strangers will believe such to be live flowers, even on close inspection thereof.   (b) Use as in (a) above on non-blooming live vegetation involves no initial cost, except for the artificial flowers, and minimal maintenance and care, or no care.   (c) Artificial blooms endure the entire growing season, or even year around, as desired, and bloom types and/or colors can be easily located and/or changed as desired.   (d) The invention contemplates no or minimal structure changes in prior art artificial flowers per se presently marketed as artificial plants, so that a new conversion market can be supplied with existing artificial flower structures.   (e) The invention contemplates a unique easy gardening landscaping method implemented by marketing (as in a kit) of artificial flowers devoid of artificial support therefor (main and flower stems, branches and/or leaves) for use with live non-blooming vegetation, to serve an additional market not presently served, for additional industry sales volume and savings to the consumer, who doesn&#39;t need or want the artificial support members, but needs additional flowers for larger live bushes, etc.   (f) Artificial flowers are advertised as “washable” and are easily applied to and removed from live vegetation, for storing, cleaning and/or change to different yard locations as yard live vegetation changes, and for year-to-year variety.   (g) Artificial flowers allow pre-bloom and post-bloom application to short-time blooming bushes (lilac, forsythia, etc.) and permits any desired bloom color, during the entire growing season.   (h) Yard color provided by artificial flowers does not require a true match of flowers to the live vegetation leaves. For example, an artificial tulip tree bloom can be applied to a lilac or forsythia live bush, especially for, but not limited to, more remote peripheral yard areas where such details cannot even be detected, the bloom presence and color being the important feature.   (i) With non-blooming live vegetation, instant yard color is provided and retained, in deep shade areas, without need for watering, fertilizing, use of pesticides, etc.   (j) Instead of frictionally/slidably receiving the free end of the plastic stem of an artificial plant assembly, the socket or passage in the base of the artificial flower can receive, or the flower base can be formed to include, as in an artificial flower kit, means such as a pin, clip or other adapter means, for fastening the prior art artificial flowers to live vegetation stems or branches of varying shape and size against loosening or dropping off caused by the elements, such as rain, wind, heat, etc., and any flower that does drop off can be simply replaced.   (k) The real-looking artificial flowers can be modified as follows for increased yard enjoyment, as around a deck, patio or other area:
           (i) made of glow-in-the-dark material or   (ii) made to include a receptacle (see  FIGS. 2 ,  2   a  and  2   b ) for liquid scents, liquid hummingbird food and/or animal repellant.   
           (l) Another modification of the invention comprises elongated support means similar to a soft copper wire having slidably assembled thereon, or attached thereto, a plurality of individual artificial flowers that can be positioned wherever desired along the wire, so that artificial flowers can be repeatedly assembled on, and removed from, live vegetation in the manner of a string of lights on a Christmas tree, the diameter and color of the support means being such as to be substantially invisible on live vegetation with leaves, the flexibility of the support means being such as to permit twisting thereof around small live branches to retain the flowers thereon in any desired position, the support means being devoid of any artificial stems, branches or leaves.   (m) The invention is specially beneficial for gardeners who are seniors (a growing population segment and market) or handicapped who can add yard color without excessive exertion, etc.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic elevational view illustrating the elements of a typical prior art artificial blooming plant assembly. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary portion of  FIG. 1 , in cross-section on the plane of line  2 — 2  in the direction of the arrows. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2  illustrating a flower receptacle. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a fragmentary portion of  FIG. 2   a  wherein the receptacle is a separate element. 
       FIG. 2   c  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the plane of  FIG. 2  illustrating tapered passage artificial flower attachment means. 
       FIG. 2   d  is an elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating a pin attachment means. 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the pre-assembly flower petal element of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view similar to  FIG. 3  of the leaf portion of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a separate pin adapter element assembled in an artificial flower embodying the invention. 
       FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are enlarged fragmentary perspective views, partly in cross-section, of a separate clip adapter assembled in an artificial flower embodying the invention.  FIG. 6   b  illustrates the clip engaging a live vegetation branch when spreading of jaws  52  ceases. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are views similar to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , but illustrating integral pin ( FIG. 7 ) and clip ( FIG. 8 ) means for attaching artificial flowers to live vegetation. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of a modification of the invention wherein a plurality of artificial flowers  22  are supported on a wire-type support to be applied to live vegetation. 
       FIG. 10  is an elevational view of a live non-blooming vegetation bush,
         some of the artificial flowers being separate as in FIG.  1  and others being connected by wire-type means as shown in FIG.  9 .       
       FIG. 11  is a diagramatic illustration of the contents of a conversion kit embodying the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a typical prior art artificial simulated blooming plant  10  assembled (apparently by hand) from molded plastic and fabric parts including a main stem  12  having a pointed end  14  adapted to be inserted into the ground  16  and a plurality (only three are shown, but five or more are common) of integral flower and leaf stems  18  to each of which leaf members  20  and an artificial flower (silk, for example)  22  are attached. 
     FIG. 2  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the artificial flower  22  and its attachment to an artificial flower stem  18  in a manner so that the assembled flower can be easily removed from and replaced on the stem  18  as a unit, conveniently without separation of the flower parts described below. 
   Typically, the flower  22  per se is assembled by placing the silk petal member  24  with the central opening  26  over the first tubular member  28  and then retaining the petal member in place by inserting the second tubular member  30  downwardly through the petal opening  26  and through the tubular member  28 . The plant assembly is completed by inserting each artificial flower stem  18  through any desired number of leaf members  20  and finally through tubular member  30  of a flower  22 . 
   Tubular member  30  may have other live flower details, such as the simulated stamen  32 , to enhance a live look. 
   The leaf members  20  are designed, assembled and applied like the flowers  22 , in that the  FIG. 4  three-leaf silk cutout  34  (similar to the five-petal cutout  24  of  FIG. 3 ) has a central opening  26  and is retained by tubular members similar to members  28  and  30  of  FIG. 2 , so that the flower stem  18  can be inserted through the member  30 . However, details of the leaf members  20  are not important, since the invention contemplates no use of any artificial leaves that could differ from the live vegetation leaves. 
   It is important to note that the artificial flower stem  18  of  FIG. 2  can, instead, in practice of the invention, be a same-size cut free end of a live vegetation stem or branch  19 , as shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
   It has been discovered that the above prior art artificial flower structure conveniently enables practice of the invention with little or no structural changes, thus virtually eliminating concerns of redesign, manufacture, testing, cost studies and the many other questions normally involved in commercialzation of inventions. 
   In  FIG. 2   a , member  30  is formed with an integral cup-like receptacle  31  for materials such as scents, liquid hummingbird food, animal repellant, etc. In  FIG. 2   b , the cup-like receptacle  33  is formed by a separate member  35  frictionally retained in prior art passage  38 . Receptacles  31  and  33  are more easily cleaned and refilled than a full-size hummingbird feeder, as recommended by bird experts to protect the birds against diseases caused by deteriorated food. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  2   a  and  5 - 7 , tubular members  28  and  30  together provide a “base”  36  for the flower  22 , as referred to above and in the claims, the passage  38  through member  30  being the referenced “passage or socket” receiving the stem  18  of plant  10 . Obviously, the specific flower structure details can vary, but a main object of the invention is to provide a kit to facilitate use and increase sales of prior art artificial flowers that are already in production for use in artificial plants, whatever the flower design may be. 
   Obviously, a straight pin attaching means  37  (preferably one with a suitable head enlargement  39  and included in a kit) can be inserted loosely through the much larger through passage  38  and into the live stem or branch  46 , but the push pin-type adapter  40  may be preferred not only for assembly convenience, but more importantly for stability of the flower attachment by body  42 . Pin  37  may be inserted through the passage  60  of  FIG. 6   a  or the passage  60   a  of  FIG. 2   c , where the diameter of live stem  19  is too small for frictional engagement. Also, pin  37  with safety head  39 , may be merely manually forced through the artificial flower in any direction/position and into or through a live branch as shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   d.    
     FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  illustrate a separate clip-type adapter  40   a , which may be a molded plastic part having a first portion  50  adapted to be frictionally inserted into passage  38  (or socket  38   a ) and a second portion comprising a pair of resilient jaws  52 , preferably having teeth  54  or other gripping surface and adapted to be spread sufficiently to grip a live stem or branch  46  of substantially variable shape and size (unlike the uniform shape and size of the artificial stem or branches  18  for insertion into a same-size passage  38 ) to secure the artificial flower  22  thereon when the jaws are released. 
   While the jaws  52  could be formed to extend axially from the first portion  50 , as in  FIG. 8 , the non-parallel or angular relationship of portion  50  and the jaws  52  might provide a greater degree of best-positioning of the artificial flower  22  on the live vegetation  46 , especially on lower-growing vertical live vegetation stems or branches that will be viewed from above. 
   Incidentally, combining artificial flowers with non-blooming live vegetation is not limited to outdoor gardening—it can be practiced with live house plants for similar reasons, to enhance the live look of artificial flowers, for a live flowering plant look, possibly with a scent, per  FIG. 2   a  or  2   b.    
   Although combining artificial flowers with live vegetation is known, the crowded art leaves room for improvement as to how it can best be accomplished, for which reference is made to  FIGS. 5-8 ,  9  and  10  illustrating several novel prior art-compatible options, particularly adapted for, but not limited to, use of artificial flowers having a base with a passage to receive an artificial stem. 
   In  FIGS. 5 ,  6   a  and  6   b , the flower through-passage  38 , or the closed-end  41  (in some flowers) socket  38   a  in  FIG. 2   c  are already available to frictionally receive either the free end of a live vegetation stem ( 19  in  FIG. 2   a ) or a separate adapter attaching means ( 40  in  FIG. 5  or  40   a  in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b ) for connecting the artificial flower to a live vegetation stem or branch. 
   More specifically, adapter attaching means  40  in  FIG. 5  comprises a plastic or other body  42  frictionally engaged in passage  38  or socket  38   a  ( FIG. 2   a ) having a pin  44  extending therefrom (in the manner of a bulletin board push pin) for insertion into the live vegetation stem or branch  46  having a shape or size preventing frictional insertion thereof directly into passage  38  or socket  38   a . Body  42  and pin  44  may be axially off-set, as shown at  44   a.    
     FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate integral pin  53  and clip  56  means for attaching artificial flower  22  to live vegetation  46 , as distinguished from the separate pin and clip means  40  and  40   a , respectively, of FIG.  5  and  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b . That is, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the attachment adapter means  40  and  40   a  are separate members received in passage  38  of the prior art tubular member  30 , while in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the pin  53  and clip  56  are formed as integral parts of tubular member  30  per se, a simple optional design change that can be included in any prior art artificial flower structure to eliminate separate adapter members  40  and  40   a  and make the flower attachment means self-sufficient. It is noted that the  FIG. 8  structure permits the prior art assembly of artificial flowers by inserting tubular member  30  downwardly through tubular member  28 . 
   Further, while pin and clip flower attaching means are described above, other convenient means are possible, such as the wire-type means of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , for example. Another means is the  FIG. 7  well-known simple and very inexpensive twist tie  55 , with or without the passage  57  formed through tubular member  30 , to snugly attach an artificial flower of any design or structure to a live vegetation branch  46 . Obviously, other acceptable means may be possible. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates schematically wire-type support of a plurality of artificial flowers  22  for application of the flowers, as on a live vegetation larger bush, generally in the manner of a string of Christmas tree lights. Here, again, it is preferable to minimize design changes to prior art artificial flowers. Thus, in  FIG. 9 , an elongated wire-like support  58 , which can be made of any suitable material such as soft metal or plastics, etc., preferably wire that retains a shape to which it is bent, connects a plurality of artificial flowers  22  of any design or structure, frictionally and slidably along support  58 , which extends through a passage  60  formed in each flower base  36  (the transverse passage  60  through the assembled tubular members  28  and  30  in  FIG. 6   a , for example), as shown schematically in  FIG. 9 , whatever the specific flower base  36  design may be. Alternatively, clip adapters, such as those already described above, or any other suitable attaching means may be employed to connect flowers  22  to support  58 , which is very important for attaching flowers where desired on the live vegetation, unlike the fixed position of Christmas tree lights on the electrical cord. It is understood that base  36  of  FIG. 9  can include any or all of the base structures of drawing  FIGS. 2-8 . 
   The important properties and function of the support  58  are described in Item (l) above—it must be capable of being twisted/wound around a small live branch (as at  59  of  FIG. 9 ) to hold a flower location thereon, which is not possible with the relatively large and stiff electrical conductor wires of Christmas tree lights. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates live vegetation, such as a bush  62 , to which some flowers  22  are applied/attached by an elongated wire-type support  58 , other flowers  22  being attached individually, where desired or needed, for whatever reason, as by the above described separate or integral pin or clip adapters. The support  58 , which is purposely made visible to illustrate the invention, would, of course, be hidden from view within a leafy live vegetation bush, just as the proposed pin, clip or other adapters would be. 
   It is important to note that the cross-referenced U.S. Provisional Patent Application included color photograph drawing Figures of non-blooming tree sprout, lilac, forsythia, lily, house plant and other unidentified live vegetation converted to very live-looking blooming vegetation in accordance with the invention, such photographs not being included in the drawings hereof, to avoid the added costs and possible other requirements/complications of U.S. and foreign applications. 
   One of such photographs vividly evidenced the unnecessary cost to a consumer to acquire artificial flowers  22  of  FIG. 1  for attachment to non-blooming live vegetation by scavenging the same from artificial vegetation such as plant  10  and discarding the unwanted main stem  12 , stems  18  and leaves  20 , which comprise at least half of the artificial plant material. A kit comprising the invention solves the above problem. 
   The mere and obvious lack of a conversion kit, as proposed and claimed herein, strongly suggests patentability of an unfulfilled need, in view of recorded unpaid testimonials of amateur gardeners to whom the invention was explained in confidence after their amazement at the pleasing simulated blooming of private-yard experimental use of the invention, despite mismatch of the artificial flower and the live vegetation leaves. 
   It must be appreciated that, in order to illustrate details of the invention, 
     FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  are substantially enlarged, as compared to the roughly-measured dimensions of typical artificial flower molded plastic parts, which indicates the minute details of which state-of-the-art plastic molding or other processes are capable:
         member  30 —length ⅜″, O. D. ⅛″, I. D. {fraction (2/32)}″   member  28 —length {fraction ( 3 / 16 )}″, O. D. {fraction (5/32)}″, I. D. ⅛″   stamen  32 —length&gt;1″, width&lt;{fraction ( 1 / 32 )}″       
     FIG. 2   c  illustrates a tapered passage  38   b  to frictionally receive either a uniform-diameter artificial flower stem  18  of an artificial plant assembly  10  at the upper smaller passage diameter (or a same-diameter live stem or branch), or a range of larger-diameter live vegetation stems or branches  19  tightly wedged into the tapered passage  38   b  from the larger-diameter lower end thereof. 
   It is emphasized that the invention contemplates sale of artificial flowers alone (as in a kit, for example) without artificial stems, branches or leaves, but with one or more alternative (including or in addition to a flower base passage) integral and/or separate attaching means (such as a pin, clip, wire-type elongated support, twist tie, tapered passage or other suitable means) and copyrighted instructions for securing the artificial flower(s) to non-blooming live vegetation to simulate live blooming vegetation.  FIG. 11  is a diagramatic illustration of the contents of a conversion kit comprising the invention, the attachment means of which may be a commercially available prior art straight pin or tie, for example. 
   In other words, while no single drawing figure illustrates all of the integral and/or separate attaching means illustrated in the drawings, it is intended and apparent that an artificial flower and/or a conversion kit can include any one or a combination of or all of such attaching means, or some other equivalent attaching means, along with copyrighted instructions for use thereof, to solve the following problems: The prior art drawing figures illustrate typical straight and uniform-diameter stems to be frictionally engaged in like-diameter passages in the flower base and leaf members. However, live vegetation plants, bushes, etc., have stems and branches of varying shapes and dimensions (too small or much too large) that cannot be frictionally engaged in, or even inserted into, the prior art flower passages—thus, the need for the various disclosed attaching means, as in a kit, each of which alone may be sufficient for most attaching situations, but all or some combination of which will most likely suffice. 
   A Conversion kits embodying the invention are intended to contain artificial flowers alone and novel or prior art attaching means that are or may be needed for conversion, and to not contain what is obviously not needed (artificial stems, branches, and leaves, etc.), all in a single complete handy do-it-yourself package. It is apparent that a new market can be easily and naturally developed by any and all artificial flower manufacturers, whatever their specific artificial flower structures might be, to the mutual benefit of manufacturers and consumers alike. However, a kit embodying the invention may simply comprise only a plurality of artificial flowers of any design or structure, without artificial stems, branches or leaves, to be attached in any way by the consumer, as by a tie or straight pin, and instructions for use of said kit. 
   It is apparent that as used herein and in the claims, the terms “artificial flower” and “artificial flowers” mean a flower or flowers alone, devoid of any other artificial plant parts such as vines, stems, branches, leaves, etc., obviously not needed for conversion of non-blooming live vegetation to simulated-blooming live vegetation. 
   Although the invention and certain embodiments thereof have been disclosed and described in such clear and concise terms as to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the same, including the methods, apparatus and kits for combining artificial flowers with non-blooming live vegetation, it is to be understood that other embodiments and modifications may be possible within the scope of the invention, and no limitations are intended, except as recited in the appended claims.