Animated artificial flower

Abstract

An artificial flower device gradually opens a simulated corolla and gradually upwardly extends a surprise gift following an actuation. In one embodiment, the actuation comprises exposing a portion of a stem of the device to a liquid to thereby dissolve a pellet which otherwise impedes actuation. In another embodiment, the actuation comprises pushing a button on the stem to thereby release a latch. In one embodiment, animation activity is driven by the bias force of a resilient spring, the rate of animation activity is controlled by a dashpot, a resilient compensation spring regulates an animation delay time, a plurality of hinge configurations enables the petals of the corolla to open with individual variations of rate and degree, a plunger comprising helical grooves imparts a rotation to the surprise gift during the ascent thereof, and manually sliding a sleeve returns energy to the springs and resets the flower for reuse.

1 . An animated artificial flower device, comprising:
 a stem comprising a tube; and   at least one petal attached to the stem defining a corolla, the corolla movable between a stable closed state and a stable opened state, the corolla configured to provide a hidden compartment while in the stable closed state;   whereby, upon an exposure of at least a portion of the stem to a liquid, the corolla is actuated to be moved from the stable closed state toward the stable opened state, thereby exposing the hidden compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cord, with which the corolla can be moved from the stable opened state toward the stable closed state. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a holder disposed within the corolla to which a surprise object can be attached. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plunger movably disposed within the stem and upwardly extensible relative to the corolla. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: a shuttle, operably connected to the corolla, whereby the corolla can be moved between the stable closed state and the stable opened state; and a plunger disposed movably within the stem and in slidable relation to the shuttle. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a dashpot configured to control a rate of animation. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the corolla is configured to be moved toward the stable opened state following an animation delay time. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber within the stem configured to receive a dissolvable pellet therein. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a shape and proportions customarily associated with a natural long-stemmed cut flower. 
     
     
         10 . An animated artificial flower device, comprising:
 a stem comprising a tube;   a resilient spring disposed within the stem;   at least one petal attached to the stem defining a corolla, the corolla movable between a stable closed state and a stable opened state, the corolla biased toward the stable opened state by the resilient spring, the corolla configured to provide a hidden compartment while in the stable closed state; and   a latch, wherewith the corolla can be held in the stable closed state;   whereby, upon a release of the latch, the corolla is actuated to be moved from the stable closed state toward the stable opened state, thereby exposing the hidden compartment.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a cord, with which the corolla can be moved from the stable opened state toward the stable closed state. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a holder disposed within the corolla to which a surprise object can be attached. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a plunger movably disposed within the stem and upwardly extensible relative to the corolla. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising: a shuttle, operably connected to the corolla, whereby the corolla can be moved between the stable closed state and the stable opened state; and a plunger disposed movably within the stem and in slidable relation to the shuttle. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a dashpot configured to control a rate of animation. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the corolla is configured to be moved toward the stable opened state following an animation delay time. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a shape and proportions customarily associated with a natural long-stemmed cut flower. 
     
     
         18 . An animated artificial flower device, comprising:
 a stem comprising a tube;   at least one petal attached to the stem defining a corolla;   a holder disposed within the corolla;   a clasp, slidably disposed in relation to the holder; and   a resilient band, configured to provide a downward bias force on the clasp;   wherein, the holder, the resilient band and the clasp define a presentation platform configured to removably attach a surprise object to the device.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the surprise object comprises a ring, and the presentation platform is configured to hold the surprise object in a substantially upright position. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the surprise object is removable from the presentation platform with a manual pull and rotation thereof, and replaceable to the presentation platform with a manual rotation and release thereof.