[0001] This invention relates to a vase for holding cut flowers or flowers or a plant growing
in a pot.
[0002] Vases for flowers or plants are usually of glass, pottery or rigid plaftics material
and are of a variety of shapes and sizes. Particularly in the case of glass and pottery
vases, they are of a substantial weight and care has to be taken to ensure that they
are not damaged either when they are in use or when they are being stored between
periods of use.
[0003] According to the present invention, a vase for holding flowers or a plant is characterised
in that it comprises a light-weight container formed of cardboard or the like and
having an open end, a bag positioned in the container, the bag being formed of waterproof
material and having an open mouth positioned such that, when the container is arranged
with the open end uppermost, the bag serves to receive liquid introduced into the
container through the open end thereof.
[0004] The bag and the container are formed of lightweight materials and so the vase is
light in weight and can readily be handled without risk of damage. Furthermore, the
materials are such that they are cheap to provide and, consequently, the cost of the
vase is low as compared with similar vases of glass, pottery or rigid plastics material.
[0005] In use, cut flowers are arranged in the vase with their stems extending into the
bag which contains water for the flowers. In the case of flowers or a plant growing
in a pot, the pot is of cheap and unattractive appearance and is placed in the vase
with the pot within the bag. When the plant is watered, as is necessary at regular
intervals, excess water drains out of the pot and is retained in the bag.
[0006] The container is conveniently of non-waterproof paper or cardboard and is given an
attractive appearance both in shape and pattern and ornamentation applied to its outer
surface.
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of invention, the container with the bag inside
it is collapsible for storage purposes. Such vases are arranged in their collapsed
state, thus taking up the minimum of space, when they are not being employed for their
intended use. The vases can be transported and stored in large numbers while requiring
the minimum of space. When the vases are required for use, they are restored to their
non-collapsed state. The concept of a collapsible vase allows a collapsed vase to
be included with each bouquet of flowers despatched from a florift. The recipient
of the bouquet simply has to restore the vase to its non-collapsed state and it is
then ready to receive the flowers from the bouquet and a quantity of water to keep
the flowers fesh and in good condition.
[0008] A collapsible vase may have the container which is of non-waterproof cardboard or
thin plastics material provided with a plurality of creases extending in the direction
of its length and arranged to divide the container into an even number of panels.
To collapse the vase it is folded flat along a pair of opposite creases.
[0009] It is convenient for the container to have a base and, in the case of a container
divided into panels, each panel conveniently has a hinged tab at one end, the tabs
being such that pairs of tabs can be arranged in interlocking relation when the vase
is to be used.
[0010] The bag is conveniently of a thin-walled plastics material so that the bag is flexible
and can be accommodated inside the collapsed container. Alternatively, the bag can
be of metal foil, such as aliminium foil or paper-metal foil laminate.
[0011] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vase with a part removed to show the interior thereof;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the vase in its collapsed state; and
Figure 3 is a plan from beneath the vase.
[0012] A vase suitable for receiving a quantity of cut flowers or flowers or a plant growing
in a pot comprises a container (1) formed of thick paper or cardboard. The paper or
cardboard is not treated in any way to render it waterproof. The container has an
open end (3) and it conveniently has a base (5) at the opposite end.
[0013] The shape of the container can be of any suitable form, for example, frusto-conical
or hexagonal cross-section. To ensure that the container is fairly stable when it
is stood on the base, it is convenient for the container to taper downwardly from
the open end to the base. The outside of the container can carry any desired ornamentation,
advertising material, etc.
[0014] A bag (7) having an open mouth (9) is positioned inside the container and it is permanently
secured, as by a layer of adhesive around the outside of the mouth of the bag, to
the inside of the container. The bag is of a waterproof material so that it can readily
contain a quantity of water.
[0015] The bag is conveniently of a thin plastics material, although a metal foil, such
as aluminium foil or a laminate of paper with a metal foil could be employed.
[0016] In use, the container is arranged with the open end uppermost and a quantity of water
is introduced through the open end of the container into the bag where it is retained.
As the water is not in contact with the container, the container is not damaged in
any way by the water. Cut flowers can then be introduced into the vase with their
stems resting in the bag (7). Alternatively, a pot containing growing flowers or a
plant can be positioned inside the bag.
[0017] The container may be manufactured with a base (5) which does not permit the container
to be readily collapsed in order to reduce its volume. However, it is advantageous
for the container to be readily collapsed and easily restored to it.s opened out condition.
[0018] In the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3, the container initially comprises a
tube 15 of cardboard or self-supporting plastics material of tapered form and open
at both ends. The tube has six creases (17) extending in the direction of its length
to define six equal panels (18). Each panel has a tab (19) hinged to it at its lower
end and each tab has a transverse slit (21) extending for approximately half its width
close to its lower end.
[0019] A bag (not shown in Figures 2 and 3) is secured, as described with reference to Figure
1, within the container and the bag is sufficiently flexible to allow the container
to be flattened along an opposite pair of creases (17) so that three of the panels
(18) lie closely upon three other panels, as shown in Figure 2. In this collapsed
state the vase takes up a minimum of space.
[0020] To assemble the vase, the outer creases (17), shown in Figure 2, are pressed inwardly
to separate the two groups of panels. The two tabs on a pair of opposite panels are
interlocked together with the slot (21) on one tab passing into the slit (21) on the
other tab. This is repeated for a second pair of opposite tabs and, finally, it is
repeated for the tabs (19A and 19B) on the remaining pair of opposite panels. The
interconnected pairs of tabs constitute the base of the container.
[0021] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, which is not illustrated, the bag
is made in the form of a bellows so that it is axially expansible and contractible.
The container cannot be collapsed while the bag is within it but, after removing the
bag from the container, both the bag and the container can be collapsed.
1. A vase characterised in that it comprises a container (1) formed of light-weight
material and having an open end (3), a bag (7) positioned in the container, the bag
being formed of waterproof material and having an open mouth (9) positioned such that,
when the container is arranged with the open end uppermost, the bag (7) serves to
receive liquid introduced in the container through the open end (3) thereof.
2. A vase as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the bag is permamently secured
around the edge of the mouth to the inside of the container.
3. A vase as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the bag is of plastics material.
4. A vase as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the bag is of metal foil.
5. A vase as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the container with
the bag inside it is collapsible for storage purposes.
6. A vase as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the container is of non-waterproof
paper or cardboard or self-supporting plastics material.
7. A vase as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the container has a plurality
of creases extending in the direction of its length and arranged to divide the container
into an even number of panels.
8. A vase as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that each panel has a hinged tab
at one end, the tabs being such that they can be arranged in interlocking relation
to form a base for the container when the container is in use and arranged in non-
interlocking relation when the container is collapsed.
9. A vase as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the bag is axially expansible
and contractible and, on removal of the bag from the container, both the container
and the bag are collapsible for storage purposes.
10. A vase as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the bag is expansible and
contractible in a bellows-like manner.