US3458384A - Artificial foliage mounting - Google Patents

Description

.Fufly 29, 1969 H. RADUS v ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE MOUNTING Filed March 24, 1967 'rlllli III! United States Patent 3,458,384 ARTIFICIAL FOLIAGE MOUNTING Harvey Radus, 59 Dorchester Road, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 Filed Mar. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 625,688 Int. Cl. AOln 3/00 US. Cl. 161-27 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Foliage mounting including a flexible frame element, a plurality of foliage elements connected thereto, and means to detachably attach the frame element to a support.

This invention releates generally to the florists art and more particularly to improved foliage mounting.

It is known in this art to take artificial plants or portions thereof, to form the same into clusters, and to secure them individually upon a support to produce a grouping or spread. While beautiful, decorative effects may be obtained in this manner, considerable skill and time are required.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide novel and useful structure whereby beautiful, decorative artificial foliage mounting is obtained yet only a minimum of skill and time of the user is required.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of structure of the class described which is highly adjustable and adaptable to accommodate to varying shapes and contours of support so that an aesthetically pleasing, and full and complete covering of foliage having blanket-like characteristics results.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination flexible frame element, a plurality of foliage elements and securing means, which may be manufactured in large scale at low cost with consequent Wide sale and use.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the flexible frame element and frame attaching means denuded of foliage elements.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in exploded schematic form.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing one foliage element prior to assembly with the flexible frame element, and a corner fastening pin.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view, partly in section, showing four foliage units secured to a support.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of another modification.

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a prior art construction.

In accordance with the invention as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 to 5 inclusive, the artificial foliage mounting unit, generally indicated by reference character 10, compn'ses broadly a frame element 12, a plurality of foliage elements 14, and means 16 to detachably attach the frame element 12 to a support 20.

The frame element 12 is preferably in the form of an open grid 22 having first spaced and parallel frame members 24, and second spaced and parallel frame member 26 arranged at right angles with respect to the members 24. The spaces 28 reduce weight. Disposed at the intersections of the members 24 and 26, with the exception of the corners 30, 31, 32, and 33 the frame element 12 is provided with a multiplicity of upstanding projections 36. The projections 36 are molded integrally with the frame element 12. Frame element 12 in the outermost of the frame members 26 is provided with a plurality of holes, and in particular corner holes 38 and inner holes 40.

The foliage elements 14 are generally substantially identical so that a detailed description of one will sufiice for all. As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, a plurality of foliage members 44 include a stem 46 which is provided with an orifice 48. The orifices 48 are adapted to be detachably engaged by the ends 50 of the prongs 52 of the cluster member 54. Cluster member 54 is provided with an orifice 56 through which is incompletely downwardly passed a fastening pin 58 forming a part of the means 16 for detachably attaching the frame element 12 to the support 20. The fastening pin has an elongated shank 60, a point 62, a head 64, upper barbs 66 and lower barbs 68.

The frame element 12 and the pins 58 are preferably colored to blend with the foliage elements 14 so that where desired a natural appearance is produced.

The frame element 12 is composed of flexible material so that it may be changed in shape to conform to a particular support on which it is placed (see FIGURE 5). The frame element 12 is preferably molded of synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, synthetic or natural rubber, or other materials having similar characteristics.

The fastening pins 58 are preferably colored to match the frame element and may be made of similar materials except that the pins 58 are rigid. Thus, they may be molded of polystyrene or they may be metal with a plastic cladding or veneer.

A foliage element 14 is assembled by selectively pressing the prongs 52 so that the ends 50 pass through holes 48 on foliage members 44, two of the foliage members 44 are shown connected in FIGURE 4. The pin 58 before it enters orifice 56 may have its head 64 arranged with a stem 46 by just passing through an orifice 48, and the connection shown in the center of FIGURE 4 will result. Thus, the cluster member 54 may carry five foliage members 44.

Thus, for final assembly, foliage elements 14 are located at every intersection of a frame member 24, with a frame member 26. At all positions except the corners 30 through 33, inclusive, the central orifice 56 is engaged upon a projection 36, while at said corners the fastening pins 58 are assembled as shown in FIGURE 4 and they are passed downward through the holes 38 just as seen in FIGURE 2.

As finally assembled, it will be seen that the covering of a support such as the support 20- is a rapid and convenient operation since the units 10 may be placed right next to each other, resulting in a complete covering. Where, for example, the support 20 is polystyrene foam, or similar material, the fastening pins 58 are easily inserted and they hold each unit 10 in place. Where the shape of support is irregular, or an additional connection is required, auxiliary pins 70 may be utilized by passing them down through the holes 40.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 6, the fastening pins 158 are formed integral with the frame element 112 and the heads become integral projections 136. Thus, all of the foliage elements can be preassembled on the frame element and the pins 158 go into the support as the unit is put in place.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 7, the fastening pins 258 have integral flanges 274 and 276. The lower flange 274 snaps through a hole 238 retaining the pin 258 on the frame element 212. This modification therefore also enables the complete assembly of the foliage elements on the frame element 212 and the pins 258 can penetrate the support 20 as the foliage unit is put into place on the support.

The term foliage is intended to include flowers, plants, leaves and similar decorative configuration.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

I claim:

1. Artificial foliage mounting construction comprising: a support; a plurality of foliage elements; a flexible frame element composed of flexible material so that it may be changed in shape to conform to the support, of molded resin or other material having similar characteristics; said frame element including a first set of spaced and parallel frame band members and a second set of a plurality of spaced and parallel frame band members arranged at an angle with respect to said first set, forming an open grid; a plurality of upstanding projections integral with said frame element and disposed at the intersections of said frame band members; a number of said plurality of artificial foliage elements being detachably connected to said upstanding projections above said frame element; said frame band members having a plurality of holes; fastening pins having a head above said frame element and a shank extending down through said holes and frictionally engaged in said support thereby holding said frame band members in place on said support; the remainder of said plurality of artificial foliage elements being detachably connected to the heads of said pins.

2. Structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the fastening pins are integral with the frame element.

3. Structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the fastening pins have integral flanges disposed above and below and engaging said frame element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1957 Michel 248--27.8 8/1967 Davis 47-41.12

RAY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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