US2651422A - Holder for flowers and other articles - Google Patents

Description

Se t. 8, 1953 P. F. K. ERBGUTH HOLDER FOR FLOWERS AND OTHER- ARTICLES Filed Dec. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sneet l INVENTOR. Paw FifiERBe-un/ BY fldwz fiwdmrf HTTORNEYE Sept. 8, 1953 P. F. K. ERBGUTH HOLDER FOR FLOWERS AND OTHER ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1947 m6 MB P F m. P

WITNESS flTTORNEYE Sept. 8, 1953 P. F. K. ERBGUTH 2,651,422

HOLDER FOR FLOWERS AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Dec. 15, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet :5

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HTTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT. ()FFICE 2,651,422 V HOLDER; Fo-R FLOWERS: Annonian ARTICLES Paul K, Erbguth, GreatNecKN. Y. a f Application December 13, 1947, Serial No;791,'5 09 1 Claim. (01.211 9) This invention relates to a holder for flowers and other articles which are to be retained in a substantially upright position for the purpose of observation or ready access. e The object of the invention is to provide a holder; for flowers, pens, pencils and like unitary objects which are preferably displayed in single or multiple numbers. I Afurther object is to provide in such a device a secure fastening means for attachment to a surface" to insure against displacement and tipping, but nevertheless permitting ready removal thereof without marring or disfiguring such surface.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is atop view of the device, Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3is a horizontal section on the line 33 of 'Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is'a plan view of a modification! Fig. 5' is a vertical'section' on the line 55; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base of a further modification; Fig. 7 is in part a section of the device of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a front view of the device of Fig. 7.

The frame portions of the device are preferably made of a thermoplastic material, such as cellulose acetate, Lucite, Vinylite and the like, heated and bent to the desired configuration. .Other materials, such as thermo-setting plastics, metals and glass are also suitablel The top member I, formed of a suitable sheet of thermoplastic material, while in flat condition,

is molded, punched or drilled with a series of apertures 2 distributed in pre-determined arrangement over substantially the entire surface of the top member. The top member is then bent or bowed under the influence of heat to the desired contour to provide a substantially rigid member, which, however, is resilient under the ordinary conditions of use. The end portions of the top member I is provided with two broad, downwardly extending feet or supports 3 upon which the device is intended to rest along a line contact for a suitable distance. In Fig. 2 the device is illustrated in arrangement with the inside face of the glass bowl 4. An intermediate member 5 is likewise provided with a series of holes 6 which are generally aligned with the apertures 2 in the top member I. The intermediate member 5, which is also made of a thermoplastic, is provided with lugs I, two on each end thereof, which are bent downwardly and fit through slots 8 in the supports 3, thereby positioning the intermediate member below the top member I.

A rubber suction cup I0 is attached to the post II and is positioned below the intermediate member 5 with its lower edge normally lying near the plane of the lower edges 9. The post I I comprises the sleeve I2 which is inserted and cemented in the shank I3 of the cup I0, the shoulder I4 which fits against the central portion of the member 5, around the hole I6 and the stem I5 which is cemented into recesses in the post II and inthe sleeve I2. 'The post at its lower edge has a greater diameter than the hole I6 resulting in the material of the member 5, around the hole l6, being confined between the shoulders It and. the edge of the 'post II overlying the hole. Y

- .When theholder is intended to be used for supporting cut flowers in *a'dish 4, it is placed therein with the feet'or edges 9 of the supports {resting on the inner surface'of the dish. Downward pressure'is then applied to the top of the post II which causes the suction cup to attach itself to the inner surface of the dish. Inasmuch as the 'intermediatemember 5 is firmly embraced-between the post II and the sleeve I2, prssureon the post cau'sesflexing or bowing of the intermediate member 5, as illustrated in Fig. 2,whichin turn placed downward pressure on the elongated lower edges of the supports 3 and presses such edges against the inner surface of the bowl. Upon release of the downward pressure'on the'post 'II, the bowed position of the intermediate member 5 is retained by the downward pullof the suction cup I0 which is attached tothe inner surface of the bowl bottom. The supports 3 are spaced a suitable distance apart, greater than the diameter of the suction cup; in'or'de'r that the device is securely supported against tilting. The suction cup, per se, does notsupport the device, its function being to pull the"" device securely against the supporting sur- The edges 9 of the supports 3 are elongated and provide a line contact of support. In fact, the length of each of the edges 9 is greater than the diameter of the suction cup in order that the device is supported, not on the suction cup per se, but on the substantially rigid supports 3. Inasmuch as the suction cup is centrally located in respect to the intermediate member 5, the pressure thereof is distributed to the edges 2 on both sides of the suction cup.

The device is extremely sturdy and will resist movement or tipping even though a large number of long stemmed flowers are carried by the device with substantial portions thereof extending above the top surface of the top member I. These advantages result from the fact that the extreme outer edges of the supports are a relatively large distance apart, not only in respect of the outer edges of each end support, but also in respect of the relation of the outer edges of the opposite supports and also upon the fact that the suction cup is located inside of the outer edges and substantially centrally of the device, acting only as an attaching member under slight upward pull when in use. Thesuction cup does not carry any of the load of the device or of articles carried by the device. In other words, the suction cup is an anchor but not a load carrying support. It has in fact been found that when a suction cup, having about 1 /2" inches diameter, is secured to the inside surface of a glass flower bowl, by pressure on the post H against the resiliency of the intermediate member 5, it is difficult to detach the suction cup by upward pull on the post.

In order to break the suction of the cup ID, the lower portion thereof is connected with a handle 17 which parallels the stem I I and passes through two aligned apertures, the lower edge thereof carrying a rubber lip 18 cemented 0r otherwise attached to the edge portion of the cup Hi. When it is desirous to remove the holder, particularly when it carries a large number of flowers, the handle 11 is pulled upwardly which raises the edge portion of the cup around the lip I8, permitting the entry of water and breaking the suction.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the holder has a circular configuration and com prises the perforated plates l and 25 spaced apart by the perforated tubular member 30. A tubular base 20, made of aresilient thermoplastic material, is secured to the plate 25 and has a lower edge 2| forming a line contact with the flat portion of the bowl 4. The post H passes through the alined holes 3|, 32 in the plates l' and 25, respectively, and carries the comp-ression spring 22 which bears against the washer 23 and the pin 24, the latter passing through an aperture in the post. It will be apparent that the spring creates an upward pull against the suction cup In when the latter is attached to the bottom of the bowl thereby providing a downward pressure of the tubular base 20 against the bowl. A stop member 33, secured to the post, limits the extent of the upward movement of the post in response to the pressure exerted by the spring 22.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show the holder of this invention applied to a bracket for suspendin'g'articles of personal use, such as a watch, thermometers and like articles, or to be used for display on store shelves and in store windows. The structure of the holder is similar to that of Fig. 5.

the center of each plate, a first laterally-extending stop member secured to the post at a point between the two plates, a spring encircling said post said spring being compressed between the said first stop member and the lower plate and normally exerting an upward pressure on the post, a tubular base made of a resilient thermoplastic material and having an end secured to the lower plate said tubular base being substantially alined with the said tubular member, 'a second stop member secured to the post at a point within the said tubular base said second stop member being adapted to strike the lower plate and thereby limit the extent of upward movement of the post in response to the upward pressure exerted by the spring, and a flexible suction cup secured to the lower end of the post, the recited arrangement being such that a down* ward movement of the post will force the suction cup into frictional contact with the bowl bottom after which the holder will remain aifixed to the bowl by reason of the downward pressure of the resilient, tubular base against the bowl surface and the upward pressure of the spring.

PAUL F. ,K. ERBGUTH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 670,391 Robinson Mar. 19, 1901 903,227 Pruden Nov. 10, 1908 1,147,102 Knabe July 26, 1915 1,621,974 Deenihan Mar. 22, 1927 1,883,791 Jewell Oct. 18, 1932 2,261,326 Atkisson Nov. 4, 1941 2,332,352 Smith Oct. 19, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS a Number Country Date 319,554 Great Britain Sept. 26,1929

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