Decorative assembly for a floral grouping

Abstract

A decorative assembly for a floral grouping wherein the decorative assembly includes a floral holding material and a sheet of fluid impermeable material. The floral holding material is a preformed shape-sustaining support member movable between a flattened condition and an expanded condition. A stabilizing member or assembly is connected to the preformed shape-sustaining support member for stabilizing and maintaining the preformed shape-sustaining member in the expanded condition.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A decorative assembly for supporting a floral grouping, the decorative assembly comprising: 
 a preformed shape-sustaining support member selectively movable between a flattened condition and an expanded condition, in the expanded condition the preformed 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 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member having oppositely disposed creases formed thereon, each of the oppositely disposed creases extending substantially from the open upper end of the preformed shape-sustaining support member to the open lower end thereof for permitting the preformed shape-sustaining support member to be disposed in the flattened condition for storage and transportation, the preformed shape-sustaining support member further having a stabilizing member for stabilizing and maintaining the preformed shape-sustaining support member in the expanded condition;    a sheet of fluid impermeable material disposed about the preformed shape-sustaining support member to provide a decorative cover for the preformed shape-sustaining support member, the sheet of fluid impermeable material sized so that when the decorative cover is formed about the preformed shape-sustaining support member, a portion of the decorative cover extends a distance above the open upper end of the preformed shape-sustaining support member, the decorative cover cooperating with the internal chamber of the preformed shape-sustaining support member to define a reservoir for confining a liquid; and    a securing element for securing the decorative cover about the preformed shape-sustaining support member while maintaining at least a portion of the open upper end of the preformed shape-sustaining support member substantially uncovered by the decorative cover.    
     
     
         2 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1  wherein the preformed shape-sustaining support member is provided with a substantially frusto-conical configuration when the preformed shape-sustaining member is in the expanded condition.  
     
     
         3 . The decorative assembly of  claim 2  wherein the stabilizing member comprises an elastic member having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first end portion of the elastic member connected to the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member so as to be disposed substantially adjacent one of the creases formed in the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member and the opposed second end portion of the elastic member connected to the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member so as to be disposed substantially adjacent the oppositely disposed crease formed in the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining member so that when the elastic member is placed under tension, the preformed shape-sustaining support member is moved to the flattened condition and upon removal of tension on the elastic member, the preformed shape-sustaining support member moves to the expanded condition.  
     
     
         4 . The decorative assembly of  claim 3  wherein the preformed shape-sustaining support member is constructed of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         5 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1  wherein the preformed shape-sustaining support member is constructed of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         6 . The decorative assembly of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizing member comprises an elastic member having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first end portion of the elastic member connected to the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member so as to be disposed substantially adjacent one of the creases formed in the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member and the opposed second end portion of the elastic member connected to the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member so as to be disposed substantially adjacent the oppositely disposed crease formed in the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining member so that when the elastic member is placed under tension, the preformed shape-sustaining support member is moved to the flattened condition and upon removal of tension on the elastic member, the preformed shape-sustaining support member moves to the expanded condition.  
     
     
         7 . The decorative assembly of  claim 6  wherein the preformed shape-sustaining support member is constructed of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         8 . A floral holding material comprising: 
 a preformed shape-sustaining support member selectively movable between a flattened condition and an expanded condition, in the expanded condition the preformed 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 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member having oppositely disposed creases formed thereon, each of the oppositely disposed creases extending substantially from the open upper end of the preformed shape-sustaining support member to the open lower end thereof for permitting the preformed shape-sustaining support member to be disposed in the flattened condition for storage and transportation, the preformed shape-sustaining support member further having a stabilizing member for stabilizing and maintaining the preformed shape-sustaining support member in the expanded condition.    
     
     
         9 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein the preformed, shape-sustaining support member is provided with a substantially frusto-conical configuration when the preformed, shape-sustaining member is in the expanded condition.  
     
     
         10 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein the stabilizing member comprises an elastic member having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first end portion of the elastic member connected to the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member so as to be disposed substantially adjacent one of the creases formed in the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member and the opposed second end portion of the elastic member connected to the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining support member so as to be disposed substantially adjacent the oppositely disposed crease formed in the peripheral sidewall of the preformed shape-sustaining member so that when the elastic member is placed under tension, the preformed shape-sustaining support member is moved to the flattened condition and upon removal of tension on the elastic member, the preformed shape-sustaining support member moves to the expanded condition.  
     
     
         11 . The floral holding material of claim  14  wherein the preformed shape-sustaining support member is constructed of a polymeric material.  
     
     
         12 . The floral holding material of  claim 12  wherein the preformed shape-sustaining support member is constructed of a polymeric material.