US2759285A - Floral display - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1956 c. E. BUSSERT 2,759,285

FLORAL DISPLAY Filed April 25, 1955 J2 INVENTOR.

6 fiussmfi UnitedStat-es Patent 2,759,285 "nromrnrsrmv -Clarence Bussert, Melrose:Park, Ill. Kppliatlon'Api-il 23, 1953,- swarm. 350,657

vz Claims. remains My invention relates to the decorative arts and includes among its objects and advantages an improvement in appearance and durability in the type of display disclosed in my Patent 2,601,658 of June 24, 1952.

Figure l is a principally sectional View of an almost mature rose, with a mounting stem according to the invention in position to be assembled with it;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same parts, assembled;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the upper end of the mounting stern; and

Figure 4 is a view of an assembled display.

Displays according to my prior patent above mentioned, are of great beauty and of outstanding durability so far as decomposition or discoloration of the liquid or solid contents of the globe is concerned. They are also reasonably resistant to mechanical shock, although this is one aspect of the structure that leaves something to be desired. Some roses have a very stiff, firm stem. Others have a weak stem. Quite often, a rose having a beautiful, large head, but having a weak stern, does not lend itself to artistic arrangement, and must therefore be discarded. We have found that in all cases, whether the stem be firm or weak, there is one vulnerable spot where the head easily snaps off, or breaks off, from the stem; this is the top end of the stem, just below the calyx.

Rotation of the display about a vertical axis by the user is a common occurrence, and is often done with a quick movement. Because the mass of liquid is spherical, it does not rotate, and the resultant twisting and bending action on the stem of the flower is much more severe than casual consideration would lead one to expect. Similarly, if the packaged displayis quickly inverted in handling, an even more violent twisting, or bending, or both, is imposed on the plants by the inertia of the liquid.

After extended study, I have found that in a rose at the blooming stage of its life cycle, not only the calyx but substantially the entire perianth, including the lower parts of the corolla, still remains in a woody structural condition of suflicient mechanical strength to make such a mounting procedure as I have disclosed herein, effective and durable.

According to the invention, I truncate the perianth just above its union with the stem proper by a clean cut in a transverse plane. This leaves a downwardly directed plane face 10, above which lies a relatively strong structure 12, including the calyx and the lower part of the corolla. Near the top of this relatively rigid mass is a small region 14 containing the stamens and carpels, which are just beginning their stage of most rapid growth. The stamens and carpels have relatively little mechanical strength, but the structure below them has been found to be durable and effective in the assembly disclosed.

After truncating the perianth, I use a mechanical drill to fashion a bore 16 up the axis of the perianth. This can be done quickly wtih an ordinary drill, and the diameter of the bore should be substantially equal to the minimum diameter of the threaded staif 18, so that the tPatented Aug. 7 2'1, :1 956 threads 20 0f the :statf will fashion grooves for themselves in ithe :periph eny of the here, but, except for tlii's groovingraction, the standard does not wedge in the bore or .tenduossplit *the' :perianth. The standard l8 has threads .20 throughout the major 'porti on df its leng'th and a rsuitablapointed entry end at 22. Backer the threaded portion it is' -reduced in diameter todefine a shank 24, which vis received-in the m'airi' tubtilar reach -26, with the ishoulder at the=end 1 of the shank 2min abutzment'with'ithe end of the ='tubular reach E6. 'T he' shaiik 24 is' cemente'd into the =re'achi26 rw'ith"a conventional plastic solvent;

After thew'rriechanic'al'assembly been completed, the flower proper may be coated as described in my Patent 2,601,658. I prefer to form the reach 26 of suitable plastic, which is readily available in various colors and is made of a green color substantially duplicating the color of the natural stem. Such an artificial stem results in a great increase in the mechanical strength of the finished assembly of Figure 4 and also permits much greater standardization and variety of designs in the finished, assembled display of Figure 4. The bending strength of the staff 26 is many times greater than that of the original stem. Twisting forces at the joint are transmitted into the perianth over :a large area so that the mechanical strength of the union between stem and flower is also many times greater.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated the conventional, transparent glass globe 28 filled with liquid and closed by the base 30. The stems 26 may be thrust into the spongy base 32, and because they are strong and uniform, the operator experiences much less difficulty in correct assembly with substantially no breakage of stems. Furthermore, in a display including a plurality of coated flowers 34, it is practical and effective to set into the same spongy base material 32, a few sprays 36 of coated natural foliage. When this is properly done, it requires very close inspection to detect the artificiality of the stems 26. Even this artificiality can be further concealed by aflixing a few small, nautral leaves 38 to the stems 26.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service by employing one or more of the novel features herein disclosed or equivalents thereof. For instance, the artificial stem may consist of one piece, tubular or solid, with the threads and point molded or machined. It may also be made of wood, brass, or any other material compatible with the liquid used in the bowls. is also of value by itself for display, without immersion. As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim the following subject matter:

1. A floral display comprising, in combination: a transparent, hermetically sealed container defined by surfaces of revolution with respect to a central, normally vertical axis; a liquid filling, substantially filling the space in said container; and a plurality of display flowers mounted in fixed, predetermined positions in said liquid; each display flower comprising an elongated stem of color and dimensions substantially duplicating a natural stem; said stem being artificial and tubular and of mechanical strength many times greater than a natural stern; a natural flower cut oif near the base of the perianth; said stern having a threaded portion entering said perianth along its axis, with the structure of the perianth distorted to the extent of the grooves occupied by the threads, but otherwise in original, undistorted condition; said assembled flower structure having an overall protective coating; and natural leaves attached to said artificial stem in positions approximating the configuration of the natural plant; certain of said flowers being oflset laterally away from the vertical axis of said container, whereby rotation of The structure illustrated in Figure 2 said container about a vertical axis exposes the flower structure to a bending load as well as a twisting load.

2. A floral display comprising, in combination: a transparent sealed container defined chiefly by surfaces of revolution with respect to a central, normally vertical axis; a liquid filling substantially filling the space in said container; and a display inside said container otfset away from the vertical axis of said container, whereby rotation of said container exposes the display structure to a bending load; said display comprising a natural flower with its natural stem amputated, and an artificial stem of greater mechanical strength than the natural stem; said artificial stem supporting the natural flower and being anchored at its lower end; said flower having a central axial bore extending up from the bottom and formed by removal of the natural flower structure; said artificial stem having an upper end adapted to fit snugly in said preformed hole with negligible distortion of the encircling flower structure; said upper stem end being threaded; the diameter of the preformed hole being substantially equal to the minimum diameter of said threaded end; whereby the distortion of the flower structure is limited to the formation of a helical groove receiving the threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,540,637 Kratzel June 2, 1925 1,990,407 Kamrass Feb. 5, 1935 2,075,327 Abrams Mar. 30, 1937 2,140,022 Martin Dec. 13, 1938 2,350,268 Zuckerman May 30, 1944 2,514,177 Brown July 4, 1950 2,601,658 Bussert June 24, 1952

Images