Versatile 2-piece floral bouquet holder

Abstract

A multi-functional 2-piece bouquet holder that shortens the time required to construct a floral bouquet and provides dual uses for the floral portion and the handle portion. The 2-piece hand-held floral bouquet holder comprises a handle portion and a head portion that are releasably connected together. The handle portion includes a replaceable re-hydration cartridge that allows for selected re-hydration of the flowers in the bouquet. When the head portion is not attached to the handle, the head portion can be attached to an adjustable stand, a storage unit or to a display unit. The adjustable stand assists in construction of the floral bouquet by allowing the florist to place the head portion in any desired position. The present bouquet holder also includes an attachment device that allows functional accessories to be added to the bouquet. A full line of accessories can also be provided for attachment to the bouquet. The storage unit allows for safe refrigerated storage of the head portions/floral bouquets and uses a minimal amount of refrigeration space. The display unit allows a head/floral portion to be displayed on tables or other flat surfaces.

1 . A versatile and multi-functional 2-piece bouquet holder that is adapted for holding and hydrating a floral bouquet, the bouquet holder comprising:
 a head portion, the head portion having an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper section includes an external structure and an internal medium for holding and hydrating the floral bouquet, and wherein the lower section includes a first half of an attachment mechanism; and,   a handle, the handle having a top portion and an interior, wherein the top portion of the handle includes a second half of the attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism allowing the top portion of the handle to be releasably attached to the lower section of the head portion, and wherein the interior of the handle houses a hydrating solution that can selectively be used to re-hydrate the internal medium and the floral bouquet.   
   
   
       2 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism is a screw mechanism and wherein the first half of the mechanism acts like a bolt and the second half of the mechanism acts like a nut. 
   
   
       3 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , wherein the lower section of the head portion includes a hydrating tube that extends from a bottom of the head portion to the internal medium, the hydrating tube providing a conduit between the hydrating solution in the handle and the internal medium. 
   
   
       4 . The bouquet holder of  claim 3 , wherein the hydrating solution in the handle is housed within a hydration cartridge, the hydration cartridge comprising a container for holding the hydrating solution and a long tip that is connected to a top of the container, wherein the tip of the cartridge extends through the hydrating tube of the head portion and wherein the tip includes a break-off portion that can be selectively broken by a user thereby allowing the hydrating solution to travel to and re-hydrate the internal medium and the floral bouquet. 
   
   
       5 . The bouquet holder of  claim 4 , wherein a length of the hydration cartridge is longer than a length of the handle and a bottom the hydration cartridge extends out of an open bottom of the handle, wherein the user breaks the break-off portion of the tip by pressing on the bottom of the hydration cartridge, and wherein the handle and the hydration cartridge include complementary indent and detent portions that allow the cartridge to snap-lock in place upon insertion in the handle and that allow the cartridge to be removed from the handle by pulling on the bottom of the hydration cartridge. 
   
   
       6 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further includes one or more materials that have been added to an exterior of the handle to decorate the handle. 
   
   
       7 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a stand that assists in decoration of the head portion, the stand comprising a base and at least one support arm, a terminal end of each support arm includes the second half of the attachment mechanism, thereby allowing temporary attachment of a head portion, and wherein each support arm on the stand is adjustable in height and is able to be bent to different angles thereby allowing a florist to construct the floral bouquet with optimal viewing of insertion points. 
   
   
       8 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit for storing one or more head portions in a refrigerator, the storage unit comprising a storage container that holds an amount of hydrating solution, including water, the storage container having circular openings in a top of the container that accomodate the head portions, wherein the hydrating tube in each head portion touches the hydrating solution in the container, and wherein the top of the storage unit includes at least one re-fill opening that allows the container to be re-filled with hydrating solution. 
   
   
       9 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit for displaying one or more head portions on a flat surface, the display unit comprising a display container that holds an amount of hydrating solution, including water, the display unit having one or more openings in a top of the unit that accomodate the one or more head portions, wherein the hydrating tube in each head portion touches the hydrating solution in the container, and wherein the top of the display unit includes at least one re-fill opening that allows the container to be re-filled with hydrating solution. 
   
   
       10 . A multi-functional handle that is adapted for connection to a head portion of a 2-piece bouquet holder, the handle comprising:
 a cylindrical body, the body having a top, a bottom, cylindrical sides and an interior, the top of the cylindrical body includes an attachment mechanism that allows for attachment to the head portion, and the interior of the body stores a hydrating solution that can selectively be transferred to the head portion to re-hydrate a floral arrangement of the head portion.   
   
   
       11 . The multi-functional handle of  claim 10 , wherein the hydrating solution stored in the handle is housed within a replaceable hydration cartridge that can be inserted into, and removed from, the handle via an opening in the bottom of the handle, the hydration cartridge having a tip that extends through the top of the handle when the cartridge is inserted in the handle. 
   
   
       12 . The multi-functional handle of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical sides of the handle are decorated with one or more decorative materials, and wherein the tip of the hydration cartridge includes a break-off portion that when broken by the user allows the hydrating solution to travel through the tip of the container and into the head portion. 
   
   
       13 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment device, including washer-type and cone-type devices, the attachment device having a circular shape and a hollow center that facilitates securing the attachment device to the bouquet holder, the attachment device also having a connector that allows accessories to be attached to the bouquet holder. 
   
   
       14 . The bouquet holder of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment device includes two connectors and hinges are used as the connectors, and wherein each hinge is connected to a leg, the hinges allowing each leg to flex between a closed position wherein each leg is held flush against the handle, and an open position wherein an un-connected end of each leg extends a limited distance from the handle allowing the two legs to be used as a stand that supports the bouquet holder. 
   
   
       15 . The bouquet holder of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment device is used to connect at least one accessory, including a strap and a pouch, to the bouquet holder. 
   
   
       16 . The bouquet holder of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises an external portion that surrounds the lower section of the head portion, the external portion having a generally ring shape that allows it to be secured between the head portion and the handle, wherein the external portion allows for additional decoration of the head portion. 
   
   
       17 . The bouquet holder of  claim 16 , wherein the external portion that surround the lower section of the head portion is made of one or more materials, including fabric, mesh, plastic, and wettable foam. 
   
   
       18 . A natural look bouquet handle that is adapted for connection to a handle of a bouquet holder, the natural look bouquet handle allowing the bouquet holder to take on the look of a bouquet of flowers with un-cut stems, the natural look bouquet handle having a top, a bottom, being generally tubular in shape and comprising:
 a decorative outer cover;   a hollow central passageway that allows for insertion of the handle of the bouquet holder;   a notch at the top that is designed to catch on a top of the handle of the bouquet holder; and,   a recess in the bottom that allows for insertion of flower stems.   
   
   
       19 . The natural look bouquet handle of  claim 18 , wherein the recess in the bottom of the handle extends around an exterior of the bottom so that the recess forms a ring around the bottom thereby allowing stems to protrude in a circular pattern from the bottom of the handle. 
   
   
       20 . The natural look bouquet handle of  claim 18 , wherein the recess in the bottom of the handle is a female type connector that allows for connection of the handle to a male type connector.