Vase Apparatus Constructed from flexible Material

Abstract

A Vase Apparatus for containing flowers, water, candy, gifts, and the like, wherein said Vase Apparatus is constructed from poly-coated SBS paperboard or the like, with a plurality of bend lines on the paperboard that allow said Vase Apparatus to be created from a single sheet of paperboard and folded into its final configuration. A Greeting Card Envelope may also be attached to said Vase Apparatus, with said Greeting Card Envelope made from a single sheet of cardstock and folded into its final configuration.

Claims

1. A vase apparatus comprising: a base form, wherein said base form is created from a waterproof material, and is operable to be transformed from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration; at least two side panels; a bottom panel, wherein said bottom panel is bounded by said side panels; a plurality of bend lines, wherein said bend lines are operable to create at least one overlapping panel when said base form is transformed form said unfolded configuration to said folded configuration along said bend lines; and an adhesive zone wherein said adhesive zone is operable to adhere at least one said overlapping panel to at least one said side panel.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one cover flap; at least one cover flap bend line, wherein said cover flap bend line is operable to allow said cover flap to fold and overlap at least one said side panel and at least one said overlapping panel; and a cover flap adhesive zone, wherein said cover flap adhesive zone is operable to adhere at least one said cover flap to at least one said side overlapping panel or said side panel.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive zone comprises at least one of a group consisting of a chemical adhesive applied to said waterproof material, a physical fastener applied to said waterproof material, or a heat activated adhesive process.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said waterproof material comprises at least one of a group consisting of poly-coated Solid Bleached Sulphate paperboard, poly-coated Solid Bleached Board, or poly-coated Clay Coated News Back duplex paperboard.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said waterproof material comprises a recyclable material.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said chemical adhesive comprises at least one of a group consisting of Cyanoacrylate, Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) glue, epoxy, or Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) glue applied to said envelope base form.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said physical fastener comprises at least one of a group consisting of a staple, a screw, a rivet, a button, a tack, a nail, a paper clip, or a clamp.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said heat activated adhesive process comprises: applying heat to said adhesive zone while said overlapping panel and said side panel are in contact until said waterproof material begins to melt; removing said heat from said adhesive zone; and maintaining said contact between said overlapping panel and said side panel until said waterproof material cools.

9. A method for creating a vase apparatus comprising: creating a base form from a waterproof material; creating bend lines in said base form such that said bend lines define at least two side panels, a bottom panel, and at least twice as many overlapping panels as side panels; folding said base form along said bend lines such that an interior chamber is defined by said side panels and said overlapping panels; and adhering at least one said overlapping panel to at least one said side panel using an adhesive method.

10. A method for creating a vase apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising: a cover flap attached to said base form, with a cover flap bend line at the interface of said cover flap and said base form; folding said cover flap along said bend line such that said cover flap contacts at least one side panel or overlapping panel; and adhering said cover flap to said side panel or said overlapping panel using an adhesive method.

11. A method for creating a vase apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said adhesive method comprises at least one of a group consisting of using a chemical adhesive, heating said waterproof material such that it melts and adheres to itself, or using a physical fastener.

12. A vase and greeting card envelope apparatus comprising: a vase apparatus comprising a base form, wherein the base form is created from a waterproof material, and is operable to be transformed from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration; at least two side panels; a bottom panel, wherein said bottom panel is bounded by said side panels; a plurality of bend lines, wherein said bend lines are operable to create overlapping panels when said base form is transformed form said unfolded configuration to said folded configuration along said bend lines; a first adhesive zone wherein said adhesive zone is operable to adhere at least one said overlapping panel to at least one said side panel; and a greeting card envelope comprising an envelope base form created from a paper material that is operable to be transformed from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration, wherein said envelope base form includes at least one side panel and side panel bend line at an interface of said side panel and a back panel; a front panel and front panel bend line at an interface of said back panel and said front panel; at least one second adhesive zone operable to adhere at least one said side panel to said front panel, when said base form is transformed form said unfolded configuration to said folded configuration along said bend lines; and a third adhesive zone located on said back panel operable to adhere said greeting card envelope to said side panel of said vase apparatus.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said waterproof material comprises at least one of a group consisting of poly-coated Solid Bleached Sulphate paperboard, poly-coated Solid Bleached Board, or poly-coated Clay Coated News Back duplex paperboard.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said paper material consists of cardstock.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first adhesive zone comprises at least one of a group consisting of a chemical adhesive applied to said waterproof material, a physical fastener applied to said waterproof material, or a heat activated adhesive process.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second adhesive zone comprises a chemical adhesive further comprising at least one of a group consisting of Cyanoacrylate, Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) glue, epoxy, or Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) glue applied to said envelope base form.

17. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said third adhesive zone comprises a chemical adhesive further comprising at least one of a group consisting of Cyanoacrylate, Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) glue, epoxy, or Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) glue applied to said envelope base form.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] FIG. 1 is a layout view of an embodiment of the Vase Apparatus base form in an unfolded configuration.

[0040] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of an embodiment of the Vase Apparatus in a semi-folded configuration.

[0041] FIG. 2B is a is an isometric view of an embodiment of the Vase Apparatus in a semi-folded configuration.

[0042] FIG. 2C is a is an isometric view of an embodiment of the Vase Apparatus in a folded configuration.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a layout view of an embodiment of the Greeting Card Envelope in an unfolded configuration.

[0044] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the Greeting Card Envelope in a folded configuration.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of a sample Greeting Card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] The present Vase Apparatus greatly improves upon current paper based and other disposable vases in many ways. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of embodiments of the Vase Apparatus. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the embodiments of the Vase Apparatus may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the many benefits of the Vase Apparatus.

[0047] Referring first to FIG. 1, and one possible embodiment of the Vase Apparatus, for ease of manufacture, the Vase Apparatus base form 101 is cut, stamped, or otherwise created from poly-coated SBS paperboard, or other similar material. The base form 101 includes accordion bend lines 102, side panel bend lines 106, bottom panel bend lines 108, and cover flap bend lines 107, to allow the base form 101 to be folded into the final configuration of the Vase Apparatus. Preferably, the base form 101 will include three accordion bend lines 102 located in each quadrant bounded by the side panels 104 and side panel bend lines 106. In addition, each cover flap 103 includes a cover flap bend line 107 at the boundary between the cover flap 103 and the side panel 104. Also, the bottom panel 105 has bottom panel bend lines 108 located at the interface between the bottom panel 105 and the side panels 104. The corners of the bottom panel 105 also act as the terminus point of the accordion bend lines 102 and side panel bend lines 106.

[0048] Referring next to FIGS. 2A-C, which illustrate the same possible embodiment as FIG. 1, the Vase Apparatus base form 101 is transformed from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration by folding along the accordion bend lines 102, side panel bend lines 106, bottom panel bend lines 108, and cover flap bend lines 107 as illustrated in FIG. 2A. To enable the Vase Apparatus base form to stay in the folded configuration, adhesive is applied to the adhesive zones 109, located in the overlapped areas created by folding along the accordion bend lines 102 and side panel bend lines 106. A variety of adhesives may be used in the adhesive zones 109, such as Cyanoacrylate, Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) glue, epoxy, or Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) glue. Alternatively, and as is preferred, heat is 109 applied to the adhesive zones, once they are overlapped, to melt the surface coating of the poly-coated SBS paperboard on the overlapped surfaces. In doing so, the coating on the paperboard melts together and acts an adhesive, thus removing the need to apply another adhesive.

[0049] Once the adhesive or heating process has been applied to the adhesive zones 109, the cover flap 103 is folded over the top of a side panel 104 toward the interior chamber of the Vase Apparatus created by folding the base form 101, and once fully folded, the cover flap 103 covers the side panel 104 and overlapped folds 111 created by the bend lines. This fold is illustrated in FIG. 2B by the cover flap fold arrows 110. Once folded over, the cover flap 103 is held in place using adhesives or by heating as described previously. Once adhered to the overlapped folds 111, the base form 101 is in the fully folded and final configuration as illustrated in FIG. 2C.

[0050] As can be readily ascertained from the above description, the final shape and size of the Vase Apparatus is limited only by physical limitations of the poly-coated SBS paperboard or other waterproof paper, on its ability to be folded. Thus, in another possible embodiment the size of the bottom panel 105 can be increased relative to the size of the side panels 104 to create a Vase Apparatus that has a larger interior chamber width and depth relative to its height. In other words, the Vase Apparatus in this possible embodiment would be shorter and wider as compared to the one described previously.

[0051] Alternatively, in another possible embodiment the size of the bottom panel 105 can be decreased relative to the size of the side panels 104 to create a Vase Apparatus that has a smaller interior chamber width and depth relative to its height. In other words, the Vase Apparatus in this possible embodiment would be taller and narrower as compared to the one described previously. As can be readily ascertained, the ratio of width and depth to height is limited only by the constraints of the base form 101 material and therefore, in the interest of brevity, only these two embodiments have been described even though many others exist and are known to those skilled in the art.

[0052] In other possible embodiments, the Vase Apparatus base form 101 could include an increased or decreased the number of side panels 104 so that in the folded configuration the vase Apparatus's final form would be a different polygonal shape from that illustrated above. For example, if the number of side panels 104 is decreased to three, the final shape of the Vase Apparatus would be triangular rather than rectangular. Conversely, if the number of side panels 104 is increased to six then the final shape of the Vase Apparatus would be hexagonal. As can be readily ascertained, the possible embodiment variations of this nature are potentially infinite, except for the limits placed on the number of bend lines and side panels 104 by the physical properties of the material chosen to create the base form 101.

[0053] In addition, in any embodiment of the Vase Apparatus, a design may be printed on the base form 101. These designs may include colors, graphics, patterns, or even photographs.

[0054] Furthermore, the base form 101 can be made from a variety of materials including poly-coated Solid Bleached Sulphate (“SBS”), Solid Bleached Board (“SBB”), or Clay Coated News Back (“CCNB”) duplex paperboard. Preferably, the chosen material is made from recyclable materials and may be recycled.

[0055] In addition to the above, the Vase Apparatus may also include a Greeting Card Envelope that attaches to the Vase Apparatus. Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, in one possible embodiment of the Greeting Card Envelope, the greeting card base form 301 is cut, stamped, or otherwise created from a variety of card stock, including those with a linen finish. The greeting card base form 301 also includes a back panel bend line 306 at the interface of a back panel 304 and a front panel 305. The greeting card base form 301 also includes side panel bend lines 307 at the interface of the back panel 304 and side panels 303. Also included on the greeting card base form 301 are side panel adhesive zones 302 and a back panel adhesive zone 308. To transform the greeting card base form 301 from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration, the side panels 303 are folded over along the side panel bend lines 307. Once the side panels 303 are folded into place, the front panel 305 is folded over the side panels 303 by folding the front panel 305 along the front panel bend line 306. To keep the greeting card base form 301 in the folded configuration, adhesive is applied to the side panel adhesive zones 302 before the front panel 305 is folded onto the side panels 303. Once in the folded configuration the Greeting Card Envelope is ready for attachment to the Vase Apparatus or any other vase, vessel, container, or just about anything else.

[0056] To attach the Greeting Card Envelope to the Vase Apparatus, an adhesive, preferably as used on double sided tape or using double sided tape, is placed in a back panel adhesive zone 308. Next, using the adhesive coated back panel adhesive zone 308 is placed against a side panel 104 of a Vase Apparatus, thereby adhering the Greeting Card Envelope to the Vase Apparatus.

[0057] Referring now to FIG. 5, which illustrates a possible greeting card for use in the Greeting Card Envelope, a greeting card base 501 is cut from cardstock in a rectangular shape, which will fit inside the Greeting Card Envelope. The greeting card text 502, shown here as “Thank You,” may be customized for various occasions such as birthdays, wedding, and holidays. The location of greeting card text 502 may also be varied as needed for aesthetic or functional reasons.

[0058] As can be readily ascertained from this description, the Greeting Card Envelope may come in many different embodiments. For example, the size and shape of the Greeting Card Envelope can be easily varied to make the Greeting Card Envelope larger or smaller, or to vary the size of cards that may be placed in the envelope.

[0059] In other embodiments, the shape of the front panel 305 may be varied to create new looks for the Greeting Card Envelope. For example, the front panel 305 may be shaped as a heart for Valentine's day cards.

[0060] Numerous modifications to the features described and shown are possible. Accordingly, the described and illustrated embodiments are to be construed as merely exemplary of the inventive concepts expressed herein and addressed in the appended claims.