Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02750362 2011-08-24
VASE
Field of the Invention
[00011 The present invention relates generally to vases, and in particular, to
a vases
having a detachable portion.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Vases for holding cut flowers are available in various shapes and
designs. Vases
may be circular, oval, rectangular, square or irregular in cross-section, or
alternatively, may
comprise an irregular shape, or may assume the shape of a known item or
character, as long as
the shape does not impact on the function of the vase to hold flowers, dry
flowers, artificial
flowers, green fiolage, plants, or to function as a decorative stand alone
piece. Likewise, the
vase may be made out of a variety of materials, may be transparent,
translucent or opaque, and
may incorporate any design or design feature to enhance the aesthetics
thereof.
Summary of the Invention
[0003] A novel vase has now been developed which has a detachable bottom
portion that
permits the design features of the vase to be adapted to the surroundings.
[0004] Thus, in one embodiment, a vase is provided, comprising a top
containing portion
having a base, and detachable bottom portion that is removeably connected to
the base of the top
portion.
[0005] This and other embodiments of the invention will become apparent in the
detailed
description that follows by reference to the drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0006] Figure 1 is a side view of a vase in accordance with one embodiment of
the
invention; and
[0007] Figure 2 is a side view of the vase of Figure 1 in detached form.
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Detailed Description of the Invention
[0008] A vase is provided. The vase comprises a top containing portion having
a base,
and detachable bottom portion that is removeably connected to the base of the
top portion.
[0009] The top containing portion of the vase is formed to function as a
container
suitable to hold any item or items. In one embodiment, the top containing
portion may be used
to hold cut flowers, dry flowers, artificial flowers, foliage of any kind,
reeds, plants or other
decorative items such as candles, beads, pebbles, etc. The top containing
portion, thus, includes
an open mouth through which the tops of flowers or other items extend and a
base so as to
contain water and the stems of the flowers and the like. The top containing
portion of the vase
may assume any suitable shape, for example, circular, oval, rectangular,
square or irregular in
cross-section, or alternatively, may comprise an irregular shape, a tapered
shape, or may assume
the shape of a known item or character, as long as the shape does not impact
on the function of
the top portion to hold items.
[0010] Although the top portion comprises an open mouth, it may be designed to
receive
a cover or lid, e.g. by threading or a lip formed along the upper edge of the
upper portion. Thus,
the cover could be a screw-on cover or lid, or a cover that snaps into place
over a lip formed in
the upper edge of the upper portion.
[00111 The bottom portion is connected to the base of the top portion. The
bottom
portion may assume any shape suitable to support the vase in an upright
position and also a
shape that is connectable to the base of the top portion. Thus, the top of the
bottom portion is
adapted to permit the connection of the top and bottom portions of the vase.
In one embodiment,
the top of the bottom portion may correspond to the base of the top portion in
order to permit the
connection thereof.
[0012] The bottom portion of the vase is removeably connected to the base of
the top
portion by any suitable means of connection as would be appreciated by one of
skill in the art.
For example, the top edge of the bottom portion may be adapted to correspond
to the base of the
upper containing portion. In one embodiment, the top edge of the bottom
portion may be shaped
to fit within the base of the top portion, e.g. comprising an indent or ledge,
or shaped to fit over
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the base of the top portion, e.g. comprising a lip, to connect the top and
bottom portions.
Alternatively, the base of the top portion may be shaped to fit into or fit
around, the top of the
bottom portion. To provide a tight connection, the base of the top portion
and/or the top edge of
the bottom portion, may include or be coated with a material that will enhance
the connection
thereof, for example, an appropriate adhesive, rubber or other suitable
material. Alternatively,
the base of the top portion and the top edge of the bottom portion may be
threaded so as to
threadingly engage. In another alternative, the bottom portion may be fastened
to the top
portion using a fastener, e.g. a clip, band, or other molded fastening piece.
The fastener may be
made out of any appropriate material, e.g. metal, ceramic, glass, plastic or
other synthetic
material. The fastener may additionally be formed to complement the aesthetics
of the vase.
[0013] The top portion of the vase may be made out of any material appropriate
for a
vase, e.g. a material able to retain water, such as glass, ceramic, plastic,
metal, stainless steel,
crystal, stoneware, or the like.
[0014] The bottom portion of the vase may be made out of a variety of
materials. It may
be made out of material traditionally used to make a vase, e.g. such as glass,
ceramic, plastic,
metal, stainless steel, crystal, stoneware and the like. Alternatively, the
bottom portion may be
made out of another type of material, e.g. wood. In this regard, the bottom
portion may be made
of the same material as the top portion of the vase. Alternatively, the top
and bottom portions
may be made of different material. Thus, the top portion may be made of a
first material and the
bottom portion may be made of a second material.
[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the top portion of the vase is made
of a
material that is translucent or opaque, such as ceramic, while the bottom
portion of the vase is
made of a transparent material, such as plastic or glass. In this embodiment,
the stems of the
flowers, dry flowers, artificial flowers, fiolage, reeds or plants, held in
the top portion, if present,
are hidden by the walls of the top portion. The transparent bottom portion may
then contain any
decorative item or items. These may include decorative stones, shells, glass
balls, dried flowers,
figurines, candles, pictures, etc. The bottom portion can readily be removed
to change the
item(s) therein to match with changing decor in a room, or to update the item,
e.g. in the case of
a picture.
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[0016] Referring to Figure 1, a vase 10 in accordance with an embodiment of
the
invention is shown. The vase 10 comprises a top portion 20 and a bottom
portion 30. The top
portion includes an open mouth 22 and a base 24. The bottom portion 30 is
formed to connect
with the base 24 of the top portion 20, and includes an indented ledge 32 that
will fit into a lip
formed in the base 24 of the top portion 20.
[0017] As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the invention is not
limited to the
embodiment described herein. Variations of the invention which are within the
scope of the
appended claims are also intended.
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