Patent ID: 7082714

Claim:
A vessel for enabling a decorative display of floral arrangements and like items utilizing a reservoir of liquid for providing visual effects, with the items placed within the reservoir and extending upwardly out of the reservoir, the vessel comprising: an outer wall extending circumferentially around an essentially vertical axis and axially between a basal end and an uppermost rim spaced vertically above the basal end; and an inner wall extending circumferentially around the axis and spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall to establish an essentially annular container for containing the reservoir of liquid, up to a predetermined level, between the outer wall and the inner wall, the container including an opening between the rim and the inner wall such that items placed within the reservoir will extend upwardly through the opening; the inner wall extending axially between the basal end and an uppermost mouth spaced axially upwardly from the uppermost rim to establish an essentially annular upper vertical section in the inner wall extending vertically beyond the uppermost rim of the outer wall and an essentially annular lower vertical section, the upper vertical section being flared radially outwardly relative to the outer wall; the lower vertical section of the inner wall extending between the basal end and the upper vertical section and including an inner chamber coaxial with the container for the reception of a light source at a location vertically below the predetermined level of the reservoir of liquid; the outer wall and the inner wall being constructed of a light-transmitting material for transmitting light from the light source radially through the inner wall, the outer wall and the container between the inner wall and the outer wall, while the flared upper vertical section conducts heat from the chamber and from the container and dissipates the heat vertically above the opening to shield the opening, and any items extending through the opening, from the heat conducted from the chamber along the flared upper vertical section of the inner wall; and a basal member at the basal end, the basal member supporting the vessel and including a platform within the inner chamber and adjacent the basal end.