Floral easel

Abstract

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to an erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel.

1 . A self-erecting floral easel for holding a floral object, comprising:
 at least two legs, each of the legs having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the legs being associated at a joining assembly, wherein the legs are moveable from an open position to a second position wherein the legs occupy a lesser volume of space in the second position and further wherein the at least two legs are self-erecting from the second position to the open position; and   a splay assembly capable of holding the legs in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The self-erecting floral easel of  claim 1 , further comprising a floral object support member capable of holding the floral object adjacent to the floral easel. 
     
     
         3 . The self-erecting floral easel of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining member capable of holding the at least two legs in the collapsed position, the retaining member attached to one of the at least two legs. 
     
     
         4 . The self-erecting floral easel of  claim 3 , wherein the retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one of the leg members, a groove, a slot, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A floral easel for holding a floral object, comprising:
 a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, the first end of each of the first and second legs intersected with one another to form an angle to define a vertex, each of the first and second legs moveable with respect to one another about the vertex such that the first and second legs are moveable from a collapsed position to an opened position and from an opened position to a collapsed position, in the collapsed position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs disposed substantially adjacent one another, in the opened position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs spaced a distance from each other, the second side of the first leg being capable of engaging a substrate; and   a floral object support member capable of holding the floral object adjacent to the floral easel, the floral object support member connected to the second end of the second leg.   
     
     
         6 . The floral easel of  claim 5 , wherein the floral easel further comprises a retaining member capable of holding the first and second legs in the collapsed position, the retaining member attached to the second leg. 
     
     
         7 . The floral easel of  claim 6 , wherein the retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one of the leg members, a groove, a slot, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The floral easel of  claim 5 , wherein the angle between the first and second legs is an acute angle. 
     
     
         9 . The floral easel of  claim 5 , wherein the angle between the first and second legs is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         10 . A method of shipping a floral easel, comprising the steps of:
 providing a floral easel for holding a floral object, the floral easel comprising:
 a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, the first end of each of the first and second legs intersected with one another to form an angle to define a vertex, each of the first and second legs moveable with respect to one another about the vertex such that the first and second legs are moveable from a collapsed position to an opened position and from an opened position to a collapsed position, in the collapsed position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs disposed substantially adjacent one another, in the opened position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs spaced a distance from each other, the second side of the first leg being capable of engaging a substrate; 
 a floral object support member capable of holding the floral object adjacent to the floral easel, the floral object support member connected to the second end of the second leg; and 
 a retaining member capable of holding the first and second legs in the collapsed position, the retaining member attached to the second leg; 
   moving the first and second legs of the floral easel into the collapsed position;   retaining the first and second legs in the collapsed position by engaging the legs with the retaining member;   placing the floral easel into a shipping container; and   shipping the container containing the floral easel to a predetermined location.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the angle between the first and second legs is an acute angle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the angle between the first and second legs is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one of the leg members, a groove, a slot, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a floral easel, comprising the steps of:
 providing a floral easel for holding a floral object, the floral easel comprising:
 a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, the first end of each of the first and second legs intersected with one another to form an angle to define a vertex, each of the first and second legs moveable with respect to one another about the vertex such that the first and second legs are moveable from a collapsed position to an opened position and from an opened position to a collapsed position, in the collapsed position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs disposed substantially adjacent one another, in the opened position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs spaced a distance from each other, the second side of the first leg being capable of engaging a substrate; 
 a floral object support member capable of holding the floral object adjacent to the floral easel, the floral object support member connected to the second end of the second leg; and 
 a retaining member capable of holding the first and second legs in the collapsed position, the retaining member attached to the second leg; 
   disengaging the retaining member from engagement with the first and second legs;   erecting the floral easel to the opened position whereby the second side of the first leg engages the substrate;   attaching the floral object to the floral object support member; and   displaying the floral object on the floral easel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the angle between the first and second legs is an acute angle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the angle between the first and second legs is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one of the leg members, a groove, a slot, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A method of storing a floral easel, comprising the steps of:
 providing a floral easel for holding a floral object, the floral easel comprising:
 a first leg and a second leg, each of the first and second legs having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, the first end of each of the first and second legs intersected with one another to form an angle to define a vertex, each of the first and second legs moveable with respect to one another about the vertex such that the first and second legs are moveable from a collapsed position to an opened position and from an opened position to a collapsed position, in the collapsed position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs disposed substantially adjacent one another, in the opened position at least a portion of each of the first and second legs spaced a distance from each other, the second side of the first leg being capable of engaging a substrate; 
 a floral object support member capable of holding the floral object adjacent to the floral easel, the floral object support member connected to the second end of the second leg; and 
 a retaining member capable of holding the first and second legs in the collapsed position, the retaining member attached to the second leg; 
   moving the first and second legs of the floral easel into the collapsed position;   retaining the first and second legs in the collapsed position by engaging the legs with the retaining member;   placing the floral easel into a storage area; and   storing the floral easel in the storage area for a period of time.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the angle between the first and second legs is an acute angle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the angle between the first and second legs is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, in the step of providing the floral easel, the retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, elastic, clip, spring, band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in at least one of the leg members, a groove, a slot, and combinations thereof.