Collapsible stone and casket plaque easel

Abstract

An erectable and/or collapsible stone casket plaque easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object is described. Methods of forming and using erectable and/or collapsible stone casket plaque easels are provided. In addition, collapsible and/or erectable floral easel kits for headstones and for caskets are also described.

1 . A method of forming a collapsible floral easel for a headstone, comprising: 
 providing a support member having a first flexible lip member defining a first retaining area and a second flexible lip member defining a second retaining area;    positioning a first leg member in the first retaining area such that the first leg member is detachably connected to the support member, the first leg member having a first end and a second end;    positioning a second leg member in the second retaining area such that the second leg member is detachably connected to the support member, the second leg member having a first end and a second end; and    positioning the first leg member and the second leg member about a portion of the headstone such that the first end and the second end of the first leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the headstone and the first end and the second end of the second leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the headstone thereby supporting the support member on the headstone.    
   
   
       2 . The collapsible floral easel of  claim 1  wherein the step of positioning the first leg member in the first retaining area further comprises moving a distal end of the first lip member away from the support member to permit a portion of the first leg member to be positioned into the first retaining area and the step of positioning the second leg member in the second retaining area further comprises moving a distal end of the second lip member away from the support member to permit a portion of the second leg member to be positioned into the second retaining area.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of detaching the first leg member and the second leg member from the support member by removing the first leg member from the first retaining area and removing the second leg member from the second retaining area.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first leg member and the second leg member are removed from the support member by moving a distal end of the first lip member away from the support member to permit the first leg member to be removed from the first retaining area and moving a distal end of the second lip member away from the support member to permit the second leg member to be removed from the second retaining area.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first flexible lip member further defines a third retaining area and the second lip member further defines a fourth retaining area and wherein the step of positioning the first leg member further comprises positioning a first portion of the first leg member in the first retaining area and a second portion of the first leg member in the third retaining area and wherein in the step of positioning the second leg member further comprises positioning a first portion of the second leg member in the second retaining area and a second portion of the second leg member in the fourth retaining area so that the second leg member may rotate between an expanded position and a collapsed position.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first flexible lip member includes a central member, a first slit member positioned on one side of the central member and a second slit member positioned on an opposing side of the central member so as to cooperate to define the first retaining area and the second flexible lip member includes a central member, a first slit member positioned on one side of the central member and a second slit member positioned on an opposing side of the central member so as to cooperate to define the second retaining area, and wherein the step of positioning the first leg member in the first retaining area further comprises moving the first slit member and the second slit member of the first flexible lip member in one direction and the central member of the first flexible lip member in an opposing direction to permit the first leg member to be positioned in the first retaining area and wherein the step of positioning the second leg member in the second retaining area further comprises moving the first slit member and the second slit member of the second flexible lip member in one direction and the central member of the second flexible lip member in an opposing direction to permit the second leg member to be positioned in the second retaining area.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first flexible lip includes an upper member and a lower member formed by a first slit member positioned in a central portion of the first flexible lip member so as to cooperate to define a first retaining area and the second flexible lip member includes an upper member and a lower member formed by a second slit member positioned in a central portion of the second flexible lip member so as to cooperate to define a second retaining area wherein the step of positioning the first leg member in the first retaining area comprises moving the upper member and the lower member of the first flexible lip member in opposing directions to permit the first flexible leg member to be positioned in the first retaining area and wherein the step of positioning the second leg member in the second retaining area further comprises moving the upper member and the lower member of the second flexible lip member in opposing directions to permit the second flexible leg member to be positioned in the second retaining area.  
   
   
       8 . A method of forming a collapsible floral easel for a casket, comprising: 
 providing a support member having a first flexible lip member defining a first retaining area and a second flexible lip member defining a second retaining area;    positioning a first leg member in the first retaining area such that the first leg member is detachably connected to the support member, the first leg member having a first end and a second end;    positioning a second leg member in the second retaining area such that the second leg member is detachably connected to the support member, the second leg member having a first end and a second end; and    positioning the first leg member and the second leg member about a portion of the casket such that the first end and the second end of the first leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the casket and the first end and the second end of the second leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the casket thereby supporting the support member on the casket.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of positioning the first leg member in the first retaining area further comprises moving a distal end of the first lip member away from the support member to permit a portion of the first leg member to be positioned into the first retaining area and the step of positioning the second leg member in the second retaining area further comprises moving a distal end of the second lip member away from the support member to permit a portion of the second leg member to be positioned into the second retaining area.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of detaching the first leg member and the second leg member from the support member by removing the first leg member from the first retaining area and removing the second leg member from the second retaining area.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first leg member and the second leg member are removed from the support member by moving a distal end of the first lip member away from the support member to permit the first leg member to be removed from the first retaining area and moving a distal end of the second lip member away from the support member to permit the second leg member to be removed from the second retaining area.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first flexible lip member further defines a third retaining area and the second lip member further defines a fourth retaining area and wherein the step of positioning the first leg member further comprises positioning a first portion of the first leg member in the first retaining area and a second portion of the first leg member in the third retaining area and wherein in the step of positioning the second leg member further comprises positioning a first portion of the second leg member in the second retaining area and a second portion of the second leg member in the fourth retaining area so that the second leg member may rotate between an expanded position and a collapsed position.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first flexible lip member includes a central member, a first slit member positioned on one side of the central member and a second slit member positioned on an opposing side of the central member so as to cooperate to define the first retaining area and the second flexible lip member includes a central member, a first slit member positioned on one side of the central member and a second slit member positioned on an opposing side of the central member so as to cooperate to define the second retaining area, and wherein the step of positioning the first leg member in the first retaining area further comprises moving the first slit member and the second slit member of the first flexible lip member in one direction and the central member of the first flexible lip member in an opposing direction to permit the first leg member to be positioned in the first retaining area and wherein the step of positioning the second leg member in the second retaining area further comprises moving the first slit member and the second slit member of the second flexible lip member in one direction and the central member of the second flexible lip member in an opposing direction to permit the second leg member to be positioned in the second retaining area.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first flexible lip includes an upper member and a lower member formed by a first slit member positioned in a central portion of the first flexible lip member so as to cooperate to define a first retaining area and the second flexible lip member includes an upper member and a lower member formed by a second slit member positioned in a central portion of the second flexible lip member so as to cooperate to define a second retaining area wherein the step of positioning the first leg member in the first retaining area comprises moving the upper member and the lower member of the first flexible lip member in opposing directions to permit the first flexible leg member to be positioned in the first retaining area and wherein the step of positioning the second leg member in the second retaining area further comprises moving the upper member and the lower member of the second flexible lip member in opposing directions to permit the second flexible leg member to be positioned in the second retaining area.  
   
   
       15 . A method of forming a collapsible floral easel for a headstone, comprising: 
 providing a support member having a first lip member defining a first retaining area and a second lip member defining a second retaining area;    positioning a first leg member having a first end and a second end in the first retaining area so that the first leg member may rotate between an expanded position and a collapsed position;    positioning a second leg member having a first end and a second end in the second retaining area so that the second leg member may rotate between an expanded position and a collapsed position;    rotating the first leg member and the second leg member to the expanded position; and    positioning the first leg member and the second leg member about a portion of the headstone such that the first end and the second end of the first leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the headstone and the first end and the second end of the second leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the headstone thereby supporting the support member on the headstone.    
   
   
       16 . A method of forming a collapsible floral easel for a casket, comprising: 
 providing a support member having a first lip member defining a first retaining area and a second lip member defining a second retaining area;    positioning a first leg member having a first end and a second end in the first retaining area so that the first leg member may rotate between an expanded position and a collapsed position;    positioning a second leg member having a first end and a second end in the second retaining area so that the second leg member may rotate between an expanded position and a collapsed position;    rotating the first leg member and the second leg member to the expanded position; and    positioning the first leg member and the second leg member about a portion of the casket such that the first end and the second end of the first leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the casket and the first end and the second end of the second leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the casket thereby supporting the support member on the casket.    
   
   
       17 . A collapsible floral easel kit for a headstone, comprising: 
 a support member having a first flexible lip member defining a first retaining area and a second flexible lip member defining a second retaining area;    a first leg member having a first end, a second end, and a central portion, wherein the central portion is slidably insertable into the first retaining area such that the first end and the second end of the first leg member are positionable on opposing sides of the casket; and    a second leg member having a first end, a second end, and a central portion, wherein the central portion is slidably insertable into the second retaining area such that the first end and the second end of the second leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the casket.    
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 17  wherein the first flexible lip member extends from a first end of the support member and the second flexible lip member extends from an opposite second end of the support member.  
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 17  wherein the central portion of the first leg member is shaped to mate with the first retaining area and the central portion of the second leg member is shaped to mate with the second retaining area.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 19  wherein the central portion of the first leg member has a rectangular cross-section and the central portion of the second leg member has a rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       21 . The kit of  claim 17  wherein the first leg member is slidably removable from the first retaining area and wherein the second leg member is slidably removable from the second retaining area.  
   
   
       22 . A collapsible floral easel kit for a casket, comprising: 
 a support member having a first flexible lip member defining a first retaining area and a second flexible lip member defining a second retaining area;    a first leg member having a first end, a second end, and a central portion, wherein the central portion is slidably insertable into the first retaining area such that the first end and the second end of the first leg member are positionable on opposing sides of the headstone; and    a second leg member having a first end, a second end, and a central portion, wherein the central portion is slidably insertable into the second retaining area such that the first end and the second end of the second leg member are positioned on opposing sides of the headstone.    
   
   
       23 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the first flexible lip member extends from a first end of the support member and the second flexible lip member extends from an opposite second end of the support member.  
   
   
       24 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the central portion of the first leg member is shaped to mate with the first retaining area and the central portion of the second leg member is shaped to mate with the second retaining area.  
   
   
       25 . The kit of  claim 24  wherein the central portion of the first leg member has a rectangular cross-section and the central portion of the second leg member has a rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       26 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the first leg member is slidably removable from the first retaining area and wherein the second leg member is slidably removable from the second retaining area.