Floral basket

Nov. 6, 1934. η. μ. potter 1,979,771

FLORAL BASKET Filed April 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Nov. 6, 1934.

1,979,771

Η. M. POTTER

FLORAL BASKET

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Patented Nov. 6, 1934

1,979,771

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,979,771 FLORAL BASKET

Howard M> Potter, Youngstown, Ohio Application April 23, 1931, Serial No. 532,272

Claims.

My invention is a floral container.

The main purpose of my device is a waterproof container and basket structure which is peculiarly adapted to the deposit therein of flow5 ers and plants, and conserving a very decorative effect between the container itself and the floral contents.

A major object is the construction of such a device as lends itself to many variant decorative 10 features.

A further object is the method of construction whereby the handle portions lock the container portion to a base and preserve the integrity of the receptacle feature without attach15 ing the same to the base.

Another object is the method of construction of the receptacle portion and the method of handle construction in coactive relation to the receptacle and the base.

The attached drawings, show an embodiment of my device wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation of the primary container.

Fig. 2 is a container with , a base attached.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the· device in the form of a complete basket having the container upon a base,, and a handle which is part of the means for attaching the container to the base.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the relation, of the parts with the handle forming, mem30 bers in primary position.

Fig. 5^! is a cross section of the container at 5—5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the device as shown in Fig. 4. but showing the inceptional crossing 35 of the handle forming members prior to their being twisted one around the other.

Fig. 7 shows a method of fixing the flexible attaching members to the base.

Fig. 8 shows the method of attaching the-ends 40 of the flexible members forming the handle, and constricting the said members to give tension to the point , of contact with the container.

Fig. 9 is a modified form of the device, used as a flower box.

As illustrated the device consists of a receptacle which said receptacle is formed out of a single sheet of waterproof material, preferably a sheet of pliant metal: the central portion of the said waterproof sheet forms a bottom· 10 from 50· which'the vessel walls 11 are drawn up into corrugationsconsisting of crinkles 12 and recesses 13 to form a sinuous contour circumferentially. It will be observed that the corrugations in the side walls are deepest at the top; and run out to nothing at the bottom. The shape of the sheet from (Cl. 47—41) which the vessel walls 11 are drawn up is not limited to any specific contour but can be varied in accordance· with any desire so as to vary the elevation of different parts of the rim 14. The said receptacle may be used for the insertion of a go pot containing a plant, but the primary purpose is the assemblage therein of floral articles composing a floral' display: and the peculiar virtue of this corrugating of the walls 11 of the receptacle is that the various crinkles 12 tend to give @5 fixed position and location to those elements of the floral assemblage which are primarily designed to he frontally displayed, and are directly operative in maintaining the position of the entirety of the floral articles inserted in such re- jq ceptacle 10 and intended to be displayed thereby. The-crinkles 12 and the recesses 13 subserve this very desirable result wholly in addition to the peculiar ornamental character of the vessel itself. 75

In Fig. 3 I show the receptacle 10 in relation to an ornamental· base 15: this said base 15 has in it a plurality of holes 16—at least two of the same—one on either side of the base 15, as related to the receptacle 10. Into these holes 16 g₉are inserted ends of flexible rods 17,—such as reeds—and which are fixedly attached to the base 15 by a nail 19 driven through a portion of the base and through the inserted portion of the flexible rods 17; but the said flexible rods may _ggbe held permanently in the base by some other normal method: the principle here being that the flexible rods 17 so inserted shall be permanently therein imbedded.

The flexible members 17 attached thus to the ₉₉base 15 are designed to be placed so adjacent to the walls 11 Of the receptacle 10 that they will position the receptacle 10 centrally on the base 15; and each said, flexible attaching device 17 is somewhat resiliently placed in one of the re- ₉₅cesses 13 of the crinkled walls 12 to a point practically adjacent the rim 14 of the receptacle. Adjacent to the rim 14 of the receptacle the flexible attaching member 17 is pinched into connection with the wall of the container by some ₁₀₉means, such as what may be called a hog-ring, as shown at. 20 in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Although I prefer to use a block of wood for the base 15 the same may be of any material which will form a decorative supporting base of desirable character. ₁₀₅

In various figures of the drawings I show a loop handle in combination with the receptacle and base 15, forming a floral basket. This handle comprises the flexible members 17, which not only fixedly attach the container 10 to the jjq

1,979,771 base 15, but also by continuation into a bow or loop over the receptacle constitute a handle for transporting the said device as a unit. I preferably perforate the base 15 with four holes 16 3 so positioned in the base 15 that there will be practically an even distribution of the said holes 16 to provide that the receptacle will be seated within the circuit of said holes and be normally positioned thereby on the base 15. In using four 10 of said holes with the corresponding flexible members 17 I prefer to place two flexible members 17 on either side of the receptacle 10 in crinkled channels somewhat adjacent each other on either side, as shown in Fig. 4. After placing the said 15 flexible members 17 in such position on either side I pin them to the receptacle as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 with attaching devices 20. The flexible members 17 are then twisted as shown in Fig. 4 creating a primary tension upon the walls 20 of the receptacle 10, and then the same are drawn across each other as shown in Fig. .6, at 26 the free ends of each pair of flexible members 17 being twisted around the other pair and brought to an attaching point somewhat near where the 25 flexible members 17 are in contact with the rim of the receptacle. At the point where the ends of the twisted members 22 and 23 terminate a constricting device 25 is applied which serves to flx the ends of the flexible members and at the 30 same time draw the individual members 22 and of each pair of flexible members together, thus increasing the locking tension of the flexible members 17 upon the channel walls of the crinkled body of the receptacle.

I show a modified form of the device in Fig. 9, which is designed to provide a species of flower box. The means of attaching the waterproof receptacle at either end to the base 15 is a flexible member 24 in the form of a staple; its prongs 40 being inserted in the holes 16 of the base 15, the bent portions extending up above the rim 14 to act as handles; the said staple resting in the recesses 13 and being fixedly associated with the walls 11 by the clips 20.

45, It will be readily observable that the receptacle 10 can be formed out of any shaped sheet of waterproof material and give to the rim 14 any contour desired for practical or ornamental purposes. The device makes unusual provision for ₅Q the assemblage of a bouquet, or combination of flowers, or floral decorations; by reason of the fact that the stems of plants, leaves and foliage will automatically drop into these crinkles and remain positioned and provide a holding for a ₅₅ central mass background: the crinkles and wrinkles can be so formed that they will automatically position anything placed therein. The device is also peculiarly adapted to the assemblage therein of growing plants and even the degO posit therein of a potted plant. It will be readily observable that the receptacle portion is subject to the most artistic decorative treatment: and in the basket formation the handle can be treated artistically, in harmony with the recep05 taele and base, offering a heretofore unimown ' opportunity.

I do not limit myself to the device as shown except insofar as I am limited by the scope of my claims.