Floral easel and methods of use thereof

Abstract

An erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, as well as methods of shipping, storing and use thereof, are disclosed.

1 . A floral support and display device for holding a floral object, the floral support and display device having a substantially erect condition and a substantially collapsed condition, the floral support and display device comprising:
 a first leg having a first end and a second end with a length extending therebetween, the length of the first leg having a first side and a second side wherein the second side is capable of engaging a substrate substantially along the length of the first leg, wherein the first leg is provided with a non-linear configuration in the substantially erect condition so as to support the floral support and display device in an upright configuration; and   a second leg having a first end and a second end whereby the first ends of the first and second legs are intersected with one another to form an angle to define a vertex.   
     
     
         2 . The floral support and display device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 (a) a floral object support member capable of holding the floral object adjacent to the floral support and display device, wherein the floral object support member is connected to the second end of the second leg; and   (b) a retaining member capable of holding the first and second legs in the collapsed position, the retaining member attached to the second leg, and 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.   
     
     
         3 . A method comprising the step of:
 moving the floral support and display device of  claim 1  from a substantially erect condition to a substantially collapsed condition.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 placing the floral support and display device into a container; and   shipping the container containing the floral support and display device to a predetermined location.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the floral support and display device further comprises at least one of:
 (a) a floral object support member capable of holding the floral object adjacent to the floral support and display device, wherein the floral object support member is connected to the second end of the second leg; and   (b) a retaining member capable of holding the first and second legs in the substantially collapsed position, wherein the retaining member is attached to the second leg, and 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.   
     
     
         6 . A method of using a floral support and display device having a substantially erect condition and a substantially collapsed condition, the method comprising the steps of:
 erecting the floral support and display device of  claim 1  from a substantially collapsed condition to a substantially erect condition;   attaching the floral object to the floral object support member; and   displaying the floral object on the floral support and display device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of erecting a floral support and display device for holding a floral object from a substantially collapsed condition to a substantially erect condition further includes the step of disengaging the retaining member from engagement with the first and second legs. 
     
     
         8 . A floral easel for holding a floral arrangement, the floral easel having a substantially erect condition and a substantially collapsed condition, the floral easel comprising:
 at least three legs, each of the at least three legs having a first end and a second end;   a joining member having a plurality of openings for receiving the first ends of the at least three legs and being capable of supporting the at least three legs in a substantially erect condition and in a substantially collapsed condition, the joining member having at least three interior openings and at least three exterior openings, wherein in the substantially collapsed position the first ends of the at least three legs are placed into the at least three interior openings disposed substantially adjacent one another, and wherein in the substantially erect condition the first ends of the at least three legs are placed into the at least three exterior openings spaced a distance from each other;   a support member capable of holding the floral arrangement on the floral easel, wherein the support member is connected to the joining member; and   whereby the at least three legs form a pyramidal configuration when the at least three legs are in the substantially erect condition with the second ends of each of the at least three legs capable of engaging a substrate.   
     
     
         9 . The floral easel of  claim 8 , 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, 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. 
     
     
         10 . The floral easel of  claim 1 , further comprising a splay assembly for sustaining the floral easel in the substantially erect condition. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a floral easel, comprising the steps of:
 erecting the floral easel of  claim 8  from the substantially collapsed condition to the substantially erect condition, whereby the second ends of the at least three legs engage the substrate;   attaching the floral arrangement to the support member; and   displaying the floral arrangement on the floral easel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , 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, and 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, and wherein the method further comprises the step of retaining the at least three legs in the substantially collapsed condition by engaging the at least three legs with the retaining member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the floral easel further comprises a splay assembly for sustaining the floral easel in the substantially erect condition. 
     
     
         14 . A floral easel for holding a floral object, comprising:
 at least three legs having a first end and a second end, the at least three legs intersected with one another to define a vertex, the first leg having an extended portion at a first end thereof that extends a distance above the vertex, each of the at least three legs moveable with respect to one another about the vertex such that the at least three legs are moveable from a collapsed position to an opened position and from an opened position to a collapsed position, at least a portion of each of the at least three legs disposed substantially adjacent one another and a portion of each of the at least three legs spaced a distance from each other in the opened position, and wherein a greater portion of the first and second legs are disposed substantially adjacent one another in the collapsed position than in the opened position and a greater portion of the first and third legs are disposed substantially adjacent one another in the collapsed position than in the opened position and a greater portion of the second and third legs are disposed substantially adjacent one another in the collapsed position than in the opened position, and wherein the extended portion of the first leg is capable of holding the floral grouping on the floral easel;   a bracing assembly capable of holding the at least three legs in the opened position;   a reinforcing member capable of holding at least two of the at least three legs in the opened position; and   a retaining member capable of holding the at least three legs in the collapsed position, wherein the retaining member is attached to at least one of the reinforcing member, at least one of the at least three legs, and the bracing assembly, and 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.   
     
     
         15 . The floral easel of  claim 14 , wherein the at least three legs of the floral easel are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The floral easel of  claim 14 , wherein the second ends of the at least three legs engage a substrate in the opened position, and wherein in the collapsed position, at least a portion of the second ends of each of the three legs are disposed substantially adjacent one another. 
     
     
         17 . The floral easel of  claim 14 , wherein the at least three legs form a substantially pyramidal configuration having the extended portion extending above the pyramidal configuration when the at least three legs are in the opened position. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a floral easel, comprising the steps of:
 erecting the floral easel of  claim 14  from a collapsed position to the opened position, whereby the floral easel engages a substrate;   attaching the floral object to the extended portion of the first leg of the floral easel; and   displaying the floral object on the floral easel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least three legs of the floral easel are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least three legs form a substantially pyramidal configuration having the extended portion extending above the pyramidal configuration.