Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable vase.

Background to the Invention

[0002] In many countries, flowers are purchased as a gift for a variety of occasions such as birthdays, funerals, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and anniversaries, amongst others. The cost of flowers alone is quite high and it is often necessary to purchase a vase to put the flowers in once delivered. The inclusion of a vase in the flower delivery can make the gift seem more substantial but depending on the type of vase ordered, can add significant cost to the order.

[0003] There are two types of vase which can typically be purchased from a florist. Firstly, it is possible to purchase a traditional glass vase. These are generally quite expensive. Secondly, foldable vases are available which typically comprise a plurality of sides extending upwardly from a base. The sides and base are usually made from water resistant material to prevent water being absorbed by the vase.

[0004] Due to the flexible nature of foldable vases, the weight of flowers can cause distortion to the shape of the vase and make it difficult to arrange the flowers in a desirable configuration. Owing to their limited use, foldable vases are often used once before being discarded.

[0005] A need exists for a low cost, foldable vase which has sufficient strength and rigidity to support the weight of flowers.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a foldable vase comprising: a base and a plurality of sides, made from a water resistant sheet material, the sides extending upwardly from the base and defining between them an open topped enclosure, at least one side being provided with at least one flexi- ble joint running longitudinally therealong to permit the vase to be collapsed and extended, and

at least one structural member, made from a water resistant material, spaced between the top and bottom of the vase and attached to opposing sides of the inside of the vase, each member being provided with at least one flexible joint thereon to permit the member to be folded together with the vase.

[0007] The provision of one or more structural members within a foldable vase offers improved rigidity of the vase. As foldable vases are typically made of flexible material, it can be very difficult, in use, to encourage the vase to maintain its shape. The structural members are attached to opposing sides of the vase to permit folding. In a typical vase of square or rectangular cross section, the members will be attached to just two sides of the vase.

[0008] The structural member is provided with one or more flexible joints thereon. In use, the member will be attached to the vase only on sides where there is no joint end point. It will be appreciated that on vases having more than four sides, multiple flexible joints may be required to permit the member to fold with the vase.

[0009] Preferably, each member will be provided with a plurality of cut-outs therethrough for receiving and supporting flowers. Vases of typical construction rely on the strength and rigidity of the side of the vase to support flowers which are located in and arranged in the vase. In the case of foldable vases, the flexible nature of the material means that the strength of the side walls may not be sufficient to support the weight of the flowers. The provision of a support member offers increased rigidity to the vase and the addition of a suitable level of water to the vase prevents both the vase and the member from collapsing upon themselves.

[0010] Preferably, the external shape of the support member will closely correspond to the internal shape of the vase. In order to conveniently arrange flowers within a foldable vase, the stems need to be located such that they make use of much of the free space within the vase. Having support members, with a plurality of holes therethrough, which are substantially the same size as the in- ternal cross-section of the vase permits flowers to be received and supported by the member or members across the free space of the vase.

[0011] Preferably, the vase and structural member will be manufactured from polypropylene or a combination of paperboard made from wood pulp and low density polyethylene. The materials listed are not intended to be a definitive list of materials which are suitable for use in the invention.

[0012] Preferably, the wall thickness of the, or each, member is at least 2mm to enable the member to support the weight of an arrangement of flowers. The wall thickness required depends on the material used. [0013] Preferably, the, or each, member will be glued to the inside of the vase. As the vase is intended to hold water, it is preferable for the, or each, member to be attached to the vase without compromising the integrity of the vase side walls. Gluing is the most convenient and effective attachment method of the, or each member, to the vase but it will be appreciated that other attach- ment methods could be used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the vase;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the vase

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the vase; and

Figure 4 is a view from the underside of the vase.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

[0015] Referring to the drawings, a foldable vase comprises: a base 10, four sides 20 extending upwardly therefrom and two structural members 30 located inside the vase.

[0016] The vase and the members 30 are made from polypropylene sheet material to prevent absorption of water from within the vase. The members 30 comprise a flat plate 32 with a plurality of cut-outs 34 therethrough. The plate 32 is substantially the same shape as the internal cross-section of the vase and has flanges 36 extending upwardly from two opposing sides 20. The flanges 36 are glued to respective internal sides 20 of the vase.

[0017] Two sides 20 of the vase are provided with longitudinal flexible joints 22 which are centrally located permitting each side 20 to fold around a central hinge point. To permit folding, the two sides 20 provided with flexible joints 22 must be opposing sides. The base 10 is provided with at least one flexible joint 12 to permit the base 10 to be folded flat within the sides 20.

[0018] Each member 30 is similarly provided with a flexible joint 38 thereon which, to permit folding, does not run between sides of the member having upwardly extending flanges 36. The base 10 is provided with a plurality of flexible joints 12 running from each corner of the base 10 to the centre point of the base 10. When folded, the base 10 concertinas upwardly to permit the vase to fold substantially flat.