Flexible vase

Abstract

A decorative assembly having a shape-sustaining support member and a decorative cover. The shape-sustaining support member defines an internal chamber and has a plurality of pleats extending from an open upper end and terminating a distance from an open lower end thereof. The shape-sustaining support member is constructed of a semi-circular sheet of flexible material having a plurality of score lines extending radially from a centrally disposed recess. When the sheet of flexible material is formed into the shape-sustaining support member, the score lines assist the formation of the pleats. The decorative cover is formed from a sheet of fluid impermeable material disposed about the shape-sustaining support member. The decorative cover cooperates with the internal chamber of the shape-sustaining support member to define a reservoir for confining liquid when the decorative cover is disposed about the shape-sustaining support member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . (Currently Amended) A decorative assembly, comprising: 
 a shape-sustaining support member having an open upper end, an open lower end and a peripheral sidewall defining an internal chamber extending between the open upper end and the open lower end of the shape-sustaining support member, the peripheral sidewall having a plurality of pleats extending from the open upper end of the shape-sustaining support member and terminating a distance from the open lower end thereof, the shape-sustaining support member comprising a substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material having an upper side containing a centrally disposed recess, a lower side, a first end portion, a second end portion and a plurality of score lines formed in at least one surface of the semi-circular shaped sheet of material and extending radially from the centrally disposed recess in the direction of the first end portion, the lower side and the second end portion such that, upon forming the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material into the shape-sustaining support member and connecting the first end portion to the second end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material, the shape-sustaining support member so formed is provided with a substantially frusto conical configuration;    a decorative cover formed from a sheet of fluid impermeable material disposed about the shape-sustaining support member, the sheet of fluid impermeable material being sized such that when the decorative cover is formed about the shape-sustaining support member from the sheet of fluid impermeable material a portion of the decorative cover extends a distance above the open upper end of the shape-sustaining support member, the decorative cover formed from the sheet of fluid impermeable material cooperating with the internal chamber of the shape-sustaining support member to define a reservoir for confining liquid when same is disposed about the stem portion of flowers supported within the internal chamber of the shape-sustaining support member; and    a securing element for securing the decorative cover about the shape-sustaining support member while maintaining at least a portion of the open upper end of the-shape-sustaining support member substantially uncovered by the decorative cover.    
     
     
         2 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the securing element is a band.  
     
     
         3 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pleats formed in the peripheral sidewall of the shape-sustaining support member are bonded to an underlying portion of the peripheral sidewall.  
     
     
         4 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material is constructed of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         5 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material further comprises at least one male connector provided on the first end portion and at least one female connector provided on the second end portion thereof whereby, upon forming the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material into the shape-sustaining support member and engaging the at least one male connector with the at least one female connector, the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material is connected to the second end portion thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material further comprises at least one male connector extending from the upper side of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material so as to be disposed in close proximity to the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material and a plurality of female connectors spatially disposed along the second end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material whereby, upon forming the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material into the shape-sustaining support member, at least one of the female connectors matingly receives the male connector and thereby connects the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular sheet of material to the second end portion thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material further comprises a male connector extending from the upper side of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material so as to be disposed in close proximity to the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material and a plurality of female connectors spatially disposed along the second end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material whereby, upon forming the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material into the shape sustaining support member, a selected female connector matingly receives the male connector and thereby connects the first end portion of substantially semi-circular sheet of flexible material to the second end portion thereof whereby the circumferential dimensions of the shape-sustaining support member is varied depending on the female connector selected to matingly receive the male connector.  
     
     
         8 . The decorative assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each of the female connector of the connector assembly comprises a slit formed in the second end portion of the sheet of flexible material.  
     
     
         9 . The decorative assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the male connecter comprises a shank portion and a head portion.  
     
     
         10 . The decorative assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the head portion of the male connector is substantially arrow-shaped.  
     
     
         11 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the securing element forms a crimp in the decorative cover upon disposing the securing element about the decorative cover.  
     
     
         12 . A floral holding material comprising: 
 a shape-sustaining support member having an open upper end, an open lower end and a peripheral sidewall defining an internal chamber extending between the open upper end and the open lower end thereof, the peripheral sidewall having a plurality of pleats extending from the open upper end of the shape-sustaining support member and terminating a distance from the open lower end of the shape-sustaining support member, the shape-sustaining support member found of a substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material having an upper side containing a centrally disposed recess, a lower side, a first end portion, a second end portion and a plurality of score lines formed in at least one surface of the semi-circular shaped sheet of material and extending radially from the centrally disposed recess in the direction of the first end portion, the lower side and the second end portion such that, upon forming the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material into the shape-sustaining support member and connecting the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material to the second end portion thereof, the shape-sustaining support member so formed is provided with a substantially frusto, conical configuration.    
     
     
         13 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material is constructed of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         14 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of the pleats formed in the peripheral sidewall of the shape-sustaining support member are bonded to an underlying portion of the peripheral sidewall.  
     
     
         15 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein, the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material further comprises at least one male connector provided on the first end portion thereof and at least one female connector provided on the second end portion thereof whereby, upon forming the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material into the shape-sustaining support member and engaging the at least one male connector with the at least one female connector, the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material is connected to the second end portion thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein, the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material further comprises at least one male connector extending from the upper side thereof so as to be disposed in close proximity to the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material and a plurality of female connectors spatially disposed along the second end portion thereof whereby, upon forming the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material into the shape-sustaining support member, at least one of the female connectors matingly receives the male connector and thereby connects the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular sheet of material to the second end portion thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein, the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material further comprises a male connector extending from the upper side thereof so as to be disposed in close proximity to the first end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material and a plurality of female connectors spatially disposed along the second end portion of the substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of material whereby, upon forming the substantially circular shaped sheet of flexible material into the shape-sustaining support member, a selected female connector matingly receives the male connector and thereby connects the first end portion of substantially semi-circular shaped sheet of flexible material to the second end portion thereof whereby the circumferential dimensions of the shape-sustaining support member is varied depending on the female connector selected to matingly receive the male connector.  
     
     
         18 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein the female connector of the connector assembly comprises at least one slit formed in the second end portion of the sheet of flexible material.  
     
     
         19 . The floral holding material of  claim 18  wherein the male connecter comprises a shank portion and a head portion.  
     
     
         20 . The floral holding material of  claim 19  wherein the head portion of the male connector is substantially arrow-shaped.