Flower Stem Insertion Device for Forming Flower Bouquets

Abstract

A flower stem insertion device for forming flower bouquets in accordance with the present invention includes an outer portion fabricated from a relatively flexible polymer material and having a plurality of apertures disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet when stem portions of preselected flowers are inserted through the apertures. The flower stem insertion device further includes a deformable inner portion fabricated from Floral foam configured to cooperate with the outer portion such that when the stem portions of the preselected flowers are ultimately inserted through the apertures, the stem portions penetrate the deformable inner portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to the outer portion.

Claims

1. Flower stem insertion device for forming flower bouquets comprising: an outer portion having a plurality of apertures disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet when stem portions of preselected flowers are inserted through said apertures; a deformable inner portion configured to cooperate with said outer portion such that when the stem portions of the preselected flowers are ultimately inserted through said apertures, the stem portions penetrate said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion; and a base portion having a recess for receiving said deformable inner portion; whereupon, said base portion is detachably secured to said outer portion, thereby securing the position of said deformable inner portion relative to said outer portion and said base portion, whereby, the stem portions penetrating said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet that covers said outer and inner portions.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said outer portion includes a recess in a bottom edge portion that ultimately engages a protrusion member integrally joined to an outer edge portion of said base portion, thereby preventing rotation of said outer portion upon said outer edge portion of said base portion.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said base portion includes clamp members integrally joined to an inner edge portion of said base portion, said clamp members being configured and dimensioned to secure said bottom edge portion of said outer portion upon a top wall of said outer edge portion of said base portion.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said clamp members detachably secure said bottom edge portion of said outer portion upon said top wall of said outer edge portion of said base portion.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes a handle portion.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said handle portion is detachably secured to said base portion.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said outer portion includes the triangular grouping of flower stem receiving members for configuring and dimensioning a preselected flower bouquet that covers said outer and inner portions.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said triangular grouping of flower stem receiving members configure said plurality of apertures to receive a corresponding quantity of flower stems inserted through said apertures and into said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance, said triangular grouping of flower stem receiving members configuring a plurality of secondary apertures between adjacent stem receiving members for adding flowers and/or decorations to the said device, said triangular grouping of said flower stem receiving members cooperating to guide each flower stem and decoration into said deformable inner portion material such that the relative position of each flower stem and decoration is maintained relative to said outer portion of said device.

9. Flower stem locking device for forming flower bouquets comprising: an outer portion having a plurality of flower stem receiving members disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet when stem portions of preselected flowers are inserted through said flower stem receiving members, said flower stem receiving members including locking members for securing the position of the flower stems relative to said outer portion; a deformable inner portion configured to cooperate with said outer portion such that when the stem portions of the preselected flowers are ultimately inserted through said flower stem receiving members, the stem portions penetrate said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion; and a base portion having a recess for receiving said deformable inner portion; whereupon, said base portion is detachably secured to said outer portion, thereby securing the position of said deformable inner portion relative to said outer portion and said base portion, whereby, the stem portions penetrating said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion to configure a preselected flower bouquet that covers said outer and inner portions.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said outer portion includes a recess in a bottom edge portion that ultimately engages a protrusion member integrally joined to an outer edge portion of said base portion, thereby preventing rotation of said outer portion upon said outer edge portion of said base portion.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said locking members are formed via a plurality of apertures that configure said locking members into a substantially triangular configuration having a tip portion that cooperates with adjacent tip portions to form a relatively small orifice for receiving an insertion end of a flower stem, such that said tip portion penetrates the flower stem when a respective flower stem is urged in a direction distal to said deformable inner portion, thereby preventing the removal of the flower stem from said device.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein said outer portion includes a substantially hemisphere configuration having a preselected quantity of said plurality of flower stem receiving members disposed to receive a corresponding quantity of flower stems inserted through said flower stem receiving members and into said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance, such that engagement between adjacent flower stems is prevented and the insertion depth of each flower stem into said deformable inner portion is sufficient to maintain the position of each flower stem relative to said inner portion.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said outer portion includes the triangular grouping of said flower stem receiving members for configuring and dimensioning a preselected flower bouquet that covers said outer and inner portions.

14. Flower stem securing device for forming flower bouquets comprising: an outer portion having a plurality of flower stem securing members disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet when stem portions of preselected flowers are inserted through said flower stem securing members, said flower stem securing members including stem engagement members for detachably securing the position of the flower stems relative to said outer portion; a deformable inner portion configured to cooperate with said outer portion such that when the stem portions of the preselected flowers are ultimately inserted through said flower stem receiving members, the stem portions penetrate said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion; and a base portion having a recess for receiving said deformable inner portion; whereupon, said base portion is detachably secured to said outer portion, thereby securing the position of said deformable inner portion relative to said outer portion and said base portion, whereby, the stem portions penetrating said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet that covers said outer and inner portions.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said outer portion includes a recess in a bottom edge portion that ultimately engages a protrusion member integrally joined to an outer edge portion of said base portion, thereby preventing rotation of said outer portion upon said outer edge portion of said base portion.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said base portion includes clamp members integrally joined to an inner edge portion of said base portion, said clamp members being configured and dimensioned to secure said bottom edge portion of said outer portion upon a top wall of said outer edge portion of said base portion.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein said outer portion includes the triangular grouping of said flower stem receiving members for configuring and dimensioning a preselected flower bouquet that covers said outer and inner portions.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein said flower stem securing members are formed via a plurality of apertures that configure said flower stem securing members into a relatively arcuate configuration having an end portion curved such that edge portions of said flower stem securing members are separated from the flower stems a preselected distance, said end portion cooperating with adjacent securing member end portions to form a relatively small orifice for receiving an insertion end of a flower stem, whereby said securing member end portions allow the flower stem to be extracted from said securing members when a respective flower stem is forcibly urged in a direction that extracts the flower stem from said deformable inner portion, thereby allowing a user of the device to remove a selected flower stem from said device.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein said outer portion includes a substantially hemisphere configuration having a preselected quantity of said flower stem securing members disposed to receive a corresponding quantity of flower stems inserted through said flower stem securing members and into said deformable inner portion a predetermined distance, such that engagement between adjacent flower stems is prevented and the insertion depth of each flower stem into said deformable inner portion is sufficient to maintain the position of each flower stem relative to said inner portion.

20. Flower stem insertion device for forming flower bouquets comprising: an outer portion having a plurality of flower stem securing members disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet when stem portions of preselected flowers are inserted through said flower stem securing members, said flower stem securing members including stem engagement members for detachably securing the position of the flower stems relative to said outer portion; and a base portion having a recess for receiving stem portions of preselected flowers; whereupon, said base portion is detachably secured to said flower stem receiving portion, thereby securing the position of said base portion relative to said flower stem receiving portion, whereby, flower stem portions inserted through said plurality of apertures in said flower stem receiving portion a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet that covers said outer and inner portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrative embodiment thereof, will be understood from the following detailed description and attached drawings, wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flower stem insertion device for forming flower bouquets in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1A is an exploded view of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 1B is the perspective view of FIG. 1, but with a deformable inner portion removed.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outer portion of the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2A is the perspective view of FIG. 2 but with flower stem portions inserted in apertures.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base portion of the device of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the base portion of FIG. 3.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 with a flower bouquet.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a top elevation view of the flower bouquet of FIG. 5.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a top elevation view of a stem receiving member.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the outer portion depicted in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 11 is a top elevation view of the outer portion depicted in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 11A is the top elevation view of FIG. 11, but with the number 6 added to identify a top stem receiving member.

[0034] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the outer portion depicted in FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 13 is a bottom elevation view of the outer portion depicted in FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 14 is the bottom elevation view of FIG. 13 but with flower stem portion inserted in apertures.

[0037] FIG. 15 is bottom elevation view of the outer portion of FIG. 13 but with flowers and flower stems depicted.

[0038] FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of FIG. 15.

[0039] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternative outer portion for the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of the alternative outer portion of FIG. 17.

[0041] FIG. 19 is a top elevation view of the alternative outer portion of FIG. 17.

[0042] FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of the alternative outer portion of FIG. 17.

[0043] FIG. 21 is a bottom elevation view of the alternative outer portion of FIG. 17.

[0044] FIG. 22 is a top elevation view of a stem receiving member of the alternative outer portion of FIG. 17.

[0045] FIG. 23 is a section view taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 22.

[0046] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a second alternative outer portion for the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 25 is a front elevation view of the second alternative outer portion of FIG. 24.

[0048] FIG. 26 is a top elevation view of the second alternative outer portion of FIG. 24.

[0049] FIG. 27 is a side elevation view of the second alternative outer portion of FIG. 24.

[0050] FIG. 28 is a bottom elevation view of the second alternative outer portion of FIG. 24.

[0051] FIG. 29 is a top elevation view of a stem receiving member of the second alternative outer portion of FIG. 24.

[0052] FIG. 30 is a sectional view taken along 30-30 of FIG. 29.

[0053] FIG. 31 is the perspective view of FIG. 2, but with a triangle configuration added in dashed lines to identify the triangle configuration grouping of the flower stem receiving members in accordance with the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 32 is the front elevation view of FIG. 10, but with dashed lines added to identify the triangle configuration grouping of the flower stem receiving members.

[0055] FIG. 33 is the top elevation view of FIG. 11, but with dashed lines added to identify the triangle configuration grouping of the flower stem receiving members.

[0056] FIG. 34 is the side elevation view of FIG. 12, but with dashed lines added to identify the triangle configuration grouping of the flower stem receiving members.

[0057] FIG. 35 is the bottom elevation view of FIG. 13, but with dashed lines added to identify the triangle configuration grouping of the flower stem receiving members.

[0058] FIG. 36 is the side elevation view of FIG. 12, but with the annular configurations of the stem receiving apertures of FIG. 12 replaced with square configured apertures.

[0059] FIG. 37 is the perspective view of an outer portion of the device of FIG. 2, but with diamond or V configured flower stem receiving apertures in the outer portion of the device in accordance with the present invention.

[0060] FIG. 38 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration for the outer portion of the device disposed in an arcuate configuration in accordance with the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 39 is a top elevation view of the outer portion of FIG. 38.

[0062] FIG. 40 is an end elevation view of the outer portion of FIG. 39.

[0063] FIG. 41 is a bottom elevation view of the outer portion of FIG. 39.

[0064] FIG. 42 is a side elevation view of the outer portion of FIG. 41.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 1-12, a flower stem insertion device for forming flower bouquets in accordance with the present invention is denoted as numeral 10 and includes an outer portion 12 fabricated from a relatively flexible polymer material and having a plurality of apertures 14 disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet 8 when stem portions 16 of preselected flowers 9 are inserted through the apertures 14. The flower stem insertion device 10 further includes a deformable inner portion 18 fabricated from floral foam or similar material capable of retaining water to accommodate natural flowers. Alternatively, the deformable inner portion 18 can be fabricated from a dry foam such as Styrofoam to receive artificial flowers. The deformable inner portion 18 is configured to cooperate with the outer portion 12 such that when the stem portions 16 of the preselected flowers are ultimately inserted through the apertures 14, the stem portions 16 penetrate the deformable inner portion 18 a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to the outer portion 12.

[0066] The flower stem insertion device 10 also includes a base portion 20, which includes a detachable handle 21 (when required to enable the device 10 to be hand held), the base portion 20 being fabricated from a relatively flexible polymer material and having a recess 22 configured and dimensioned to snugly receive the deformable inner portion 18. The base portion 20 is detachably secured to the outer portion 12, thereby forming an enclosure 23 for removably receiving the deformable inner portion 18, whereby, the stem portions 16 penetrate the deformable inner portion 18 a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to the outer portion 12 to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet that completely covers the outer and deformable inner portions 12 and 18.

[0067] As an alternative to the flower stem insertion device 10 being constructed from a flower stem receiving portion or an outer portion 12 with apertures, a base portion 20 and a deformable inner portion 18, the device 10 can be constructed from only the outer portion 12 and the base portion 20 without including the deformable inner portion 18. Constructing a flower stem insertion device 10 without the deformable material 18 enables a user of the device 10 to insert flower stem portions 16 into and remove the stem portions 16 from the outer portion 12 relatively easily, thereby allowing a user of the device to quickly reconfigure or replace flowers inserted into the apertures 14 to achieve an acceptable flower bouquet that completely covers the outer portion 12, when flower stem portions 16 have been inserted through the apertures 14 in the outer portion 12 a predetermined distance sufficient to maintain the position of each preselected flower relative to said outer portion 12.

[0068] The outer portion 12 of the device 10 includes a substantially hemisphere configuration having a preselected quantity of the apertures 14 disposed to receive a corresponding quantity of flower stems inserted through the apertures 14 and into the deformable inner portion 18 a predetermined distance, such that engagement between adjacent flower stem portions 16 is prevented and the insertion depth of each flower stem portion 16 into the deformable inner portion 18 is sufficient to maintain the position of each flower stem portion 16 relative to the inner portion 18. The apertures 14 can include a myriad of configurations including annular, square, triangular, hexagon and variations thereof. Further, an aperture having a triangular configuration can be orientated with a downward directed point or V portion such that a flower stem can be inserted into an upper portion of the aperture, then manually urged a relatively small distance in a downward direction until a portion of the flower stem engages both walls forming the V portion.

[0069] The outer portion 12 further includes an inverted V or similarly configured recess 24 in a bottom edge portion 26 that snugly engages a cooperating inverted V configured protrusion member 28 integrally joined to a top wall 36 of an outer edge portion 30 of the base portion 20, thereby preventing rotation of the outer portion 12 upon the top wall 36 of the outer edge portion 30 of the base portion 20. The base portion 20 includes clamp members 32 integrally joined to a top wall 34 of an inner edge portion 35 of the base portion 20. The clamp members 32 are configured and dimensioned to secure the bottom edge portion 26 of the outer portion 12 upon the top wall 36 of the outer edge portion 30 of the base portion 20.

[0070] The clamp members 32 include an inclined top wall 38, which is ultimately engaged by the bottom edge portion 26 of the outer portion 12, and a bottom wall 40 formed by a base portion 42 having side walls 44 with lateral dimensions equal to the thickness of the top wall 34 of the edge portion 30. The clamp members 32 capture a top edge portion 27 of the outer portion 12 after the bottom edge portion 26 is forcibly slid upon the inclined top walls 38 until the outer portion engages the base portions 42 and bottom walls 40 of the clamp members 32, and the top wall 36 of the outer edge portion 30 of the base portion 20. The flexible polymer material used to fabricate the device 10 allows a user of the device 10 to urge one or more of the clamp members 32 toward the center of the recess 22 of the base portion 20 to allow the outer portion 12 to be separated from the base portion 20 to replace the deformable inner portion 18 when required by the user.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 8-16, the plurality of annular configured apertures 14 in the outer portion 12 are formed by a predetermined quantity of annular configured stem receiving members 15 integrally joined together via connecting links 17 or at outer annular wall portions 19. The stem receiving members 15 form the apertures 14 that can include a myriad of configurations including, but not limited to annular 14, square 100 (FIG. 36), diamond or V 110 (FIG. 37), hexagon and combinations thereof. A relatively larger top stem receiving member 6 (see FIG. 11A) having about the same aperture 14 is configured and dimensioned to enable one stem receiving member to cover a relatively large top portion area of the outer portion 12 to promote a uniform distribution of relatively smaller stem receiving members 15. The apertures 14 are sized for a predetermined flower stem portion 16 for a selected flower, which can be naturally grown or manufactured from a selected material such as silk. A method for sizing the apertures 14 is to first determine the cross sectional area of a selected flower stem portion 16, then doubling the cross sectional area of the flower stem portion 16 to determine a target area for the apertures 14 of each stem receiving member 15. The cross sectional area of each stem receiving member 15 is depicted (see FIG. 9) for comparison to the diameter of the aperture 14 (see FIG. 8).

[0072] Further, the stem receiving members 15 form the outer portion 12 such that a preselected floral design is ultimately configured and dimensioned with little time and effort required from the user by disposing flower stem receiving members 15 such that adjacent receiving members 15 are offset to form a relatively zigzag configuration , thereby avoiding linear rows and columns of receiving members 15 that would result in a floral bouquet 8 displeasing to a viewing audience. One floral design technique includes configuring and dimensioning an outer portion 12 with pre-sized flower stem receiving members 15 integrally joined together such that adjacent stem receiving members 15 form arcuate triangle configurations (see dashed lines 3 of FIGS. 31-35) between center points 4 of receiving members 15 in adjacent arcuate rows 5, 7 and 11 of the outer portion 12.

[0073] The preferred arcuate triangles 3 are substantially isosceles right triangles formed by the positioning of respective stem receiving members 15 that form the outer surface of the outer portion 12. Alternative triangle configurations (equilateral triangles for example) can be used for varying the arrangement of the flower stem receiving members 15 when changing the flower bouquet 8 design. The triangles 3 separate adjacent members 15 in the same row (row 5 for example) about one-half the outer diameter of a receiving member 15, and separate adjacent members 15 joined together by connecting links 17 in adjacent rows (rows 5 and 7 for example) about one-half the outer diameter of a receiving member 15. Adjacent flower stem receiving members 1 and 2 (see FIG. 31) in the same row (row 5 for example), but not part of the same triangle 3 are also separated about one-half the outer diameter of a receiving member 15.

[0074] The same method for floral bouquet 8 configuration and dimensioning depicted in FIGS. 31-35 and described above has been incorporated into the alternative outer portion 50 depicted in FIGS. 17-23 and the second alternative outer portion 70 depicted in FIGS. 24-30, except that the dashed lines forming the triangles 3 are not included. Secondary apertures 90 (see FIG. 11A) between adjacent stem receiving members 15, which excludes apertures 14 formed inside the stem receiving members 15, can be used to add more flowers or decorations to the device 10 sufficient to enhance the theme of the flower bouquet 8 being configured.

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 38-42, the same floral bouquet 8 configuration and dimensioning method can be used for a relatively bendable outer portion 120 manufactured from a flexible polymer. The outer portion 120 includes a planar configuration that is bendable into an arcuate configuration, thereby allowing the insertion device 120 to be used to form flower bouquets 8 having relatively planar or arucate designs. The outer portion 120 includes flower stem receiving members 15 that are joined together to form patterns of triangles 3 and annular apertures 14 (see FIGS. 38 and 39) that receive stem portions 16 as described above. The planar insertion device 120 can be disposed upon planar or arcuate deformable inner portion material 18 (not depicted), which is disposed in a base portion 20 (not depicted); whereupon, flower stem portions 16 would be inserted through the apertures 14 of the receiving members 15 and forcibly urged into the deformable inner portion material 18 a selected distance to form a predetermined flower bouquet 8 design.

[0076] Referring to FIGS. 17-21, an alternative outer portion design for the above outer portion 12 is depicted in accordance with the present invention and denoted as numeral 50. The deformable inner portion 18 and the base portion 20 as described and depicted above remain the same. The alternative outer portion 50 for the device 10 includes a plurality of flower stem receiving members 52 disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet when stem portions 16 of preselected flowers are inserted through the flower stem receiving members 52. The stem receiving members 52 include locking members 54 for securing the position of the flower stem portions 16 relative to the outer portion 50.

[0077] The alternative outer portion 50 of the device 10 further includes a substantially hemisphere configuration having a preselected quantity of the stem receiving members 52 disposed to receive a corresponding quantity of flower stem portions 16 inserted through the stem receiving members 52 and into the deformable inner portion 18 a predetermined distance, such that engagement between adjacent flower stem portions 16 is prevented and the insertion depth of each flower stem portion 16 into the deformable inner portion 18 is sufficient to maintain the position of each flower stem portion 16 relative to the inner portion 18.

[0078] The locking members 54 are formed via a plurality of apertures 56 that configure the locking members 54 into a substantially triangular configuration having a relatively rounded tip portion 58 that cooperates with adjacent tip portions 58 to form a relatively small aperture 60 for receiving an insertion end 61 of a flower stem portion 16; such that the tip portion 58 engages and retains the flower stem portion 16 when a respective flower stem portion 16 is urged in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion 62 of the stem portion 16, thereby restricting the removal of the flower stem portion 16 from the device 10.

[0079] Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the locking members 54 are relatively thin when compared to the thickness 63 of the outer ring 64 to which the locking members 54 are integrally joined, resulting in the locking members 54 being flexible to receive and secure the stem portion 16, and the outer ring 64 being more rigid to provide stability for the alternative outer portion 50. The locking members 54 are configured in a concave relationship to the direction of insertion 62 of a flower stem portion 16 through the aperture 60. As a flower stem portion 16 is forcibly inserted through the aperture 60, the tip portion 58 of the locking members 54 ride upon the surface of the stem portion 16 until the stem portion 16 is inserted into the deformable inner portion 18 a predetermined distance. Should the stem portion 16 be pulled opposite to the direction of insertion 60, the tip portions 58 would tend to maintain the position of the stem portion 16 relative to the outer portion 12, thereby preventing the unintended removal of the stem portion 16 from the alternative outer portion 50, but not preventing the intentional removal (with sufficient force) of the stem portion 16 from the alternative outer portion 50. One of ordinary skill in the art could configure, construct and dimension the above described locking members 54 such that the locking members 54 can maintain the positions of the stem portions 16 of a selected flower bouquet relative to the outer portion 12 without including the deformable inner portion 18 in the base portion 20. The position of flowers forming the flower bouquet would be maintained relative to the outer portion 12 via the stem portions 16 being secured by the locking members 54 and the insertion ends 61 of the flower stem portions 16 engaging the wall of the recess 22 of the base portion 20.

[0080] Referring to FIGS. 24-30, a second alternative outer portion design for the above outer portion 12 is depicted in accordance with the present invention and denoted as numeral 70. The deformable inner portion 18 and the base portion 20 as described and depicted above remain the same. The second alternative outer portion 70 for the device 10 is substantially the same design as the alternative outer portion design 50. The second alternative outer portion 70 includes a plurality of flower stem engagement members 72 disposed to ultimately configure a preselected flower bouquet when stem portions 16 of preselected flowers are inserted through the flower stem engagement members 72. The stem engagement members 72 include stem engagement portions 74 for securing the position of the flower stem portions 16 relative to the outer portion 70.

[0081] The second alternative outer portion 70 of the device 10 further includes a substantially hemisphere configuration having a preselected quantity of the stem engagement members 72 disposed to receive a corresponding quantity of flower stem portions 16 inserted through the stem engagement members 72 and into the deformable inner portion 18 a predetermined distance, such that engagement between adjacent flower stem portions 16 is prevented and the insertion depth of each flower stem portion 16 into the deformable inner portion 18 is sufficient to maintain the position of each flower stem portion 16 relative to the inner portion 18.

[0082] The stem engagement members 72 of the second alternative outer portion 70 differ from the stem receiving members 52 of the alternative outer portion 50 due to the stem engagement portions 74 having a triangular configuration that includes a relatively blunt, inwardly curved tip portion 78 that arcuately engages a surface portion of a respective flower stem portion 16, thereby separating edge portions of the stem engagement members 72 from surface portions of the flower stems portions 16 and enabling the extraction of flower stem portions 16 from corresponding engagement members 72 and the deformable inner portion 18 with a relatively small amount of manual force. The stem engagement portions 74 and tip portions 78 cooperate to form a relatively small aperture 80 having a cross sectional area smaller than the cross sectional area of a flower stem portion 78 forcibly inserted through the aperture 80 via an insertion end 81 of a flower stem portion 16; whereupon, the blunt curved tip portion 78 arcuately engages the flower stem portion 16 and minimally restricts the movement of a respective flower stem portion 16 urged in a direction 82 opposite to the direction of insertion of the stem portion 16, thereby promoting the removal of the flower stem portion 16 from the device 10 without damage to the flower stem portion 16 and with less manual force than the force required to remove a flower stem portion 16 from the alternative outer portion design 50.

[0083] Referring to FIGS. 29 and 30, the stem engagement members 74 are relatively thin when compared to the thickness 83 of the outer ring 84 to which the locking members 74 are integrally joined, resulting in the engagement members 74 being flexible to receive and secure the stem portion 16, and the outer ring 84 being more rigid to provide stability for the second alternative outer portion 70. The engagement members 74 are configured in a concave relationship to the direction of insertion 82 of a flower stem portion 16 through the aperture 80. As a flower stem portion 16 is forcibly inserted through the aperture 80, the tip portion 78 of the stem engagement members 74 ride upon the surface of the stem portion 16 until the stem portion 16 is inserted into the deformable inner portion 18 a predetermined distance. Should the stem portion 16 be pulled opposite to the insertion direction of the stem portion 16, the inwardly curved tip portions 78 would not prevent movement of the stem portion 16 in either the insertion or extraction direction, but instead would minimally restrict extraction of the stem portion 16 from the aperture 80, thereby allowing the extraction of the stem portion 16 from the second alternative outer portion 70 without damage to the stem portion 16.

[0084] The foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.