STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0001] Not applicable.

Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel.

2. Description of the Related Art [0003] Easels have previously been used in industries such as, for example, art, photography, music, education, framing and the like to support and display designated items. These non-floral easels are expensive to fabricate and unsuitable for use as a floral easel. In the floral industry, floral easels are usually constructed of wood or non-wood materials, such as, for example, steel. Such floral easels are usually cumbersome and difficult to ship, transport, and store in that they do not have the ability to readily fold into a position that is compact and easily manageable. Typically, for example, at least two legs of current floral easels are in an open, fixed (erected) position making it impossible to fold the floral easel into a compact bundle for transportation. Currently, florists attach floral arrangements to wood or non-wood floral easels by affixing the floral arrangement to the two legs that are in the open, fixed (erect) position and transport the easels with only a third leg being collapsed. After a funeral visitation or service in the funeral home or chapel, the only collapsible leg of the current floral easel is collapsed while the other legs remain in the open and erect position. The easel is then transported to the cemetery where the collapsible leg is again erected, usually with the legs pressed several inches into the soil for anchoring purposes. The display is used again during a grave side service or as a decoration at the grave site after the service. These non-wood floral easels are frequently transported to various ceremonies and discarded after the ceremony. The transportability of current non-wood floral easels is therefore not maximized because of the bulky nature of these easels, and recylability of current non-wood floral easels is poor due to the bulky nature of current non-wood floral easels. [0004] Further, shipping and/or freight costs currently reflect the cumbrous nature of shipping current non-wood floral easels. For example, depending on the freight zone, freight costs may range from 9.26% to 36.14% of the total manufacturing costs. This is because current non-wood floral easels are produced in a factory and shipped to a designated location with two of the three legs fixed in the erected position with only one of the legs being collapsible. Shipping these types of floral easels is costly due to the large amount of space the current floral easel requires because of its inability to fully collapse into a bundle. A floral easel that is fully or partially collapsible would dramatically decrease shipping costs; fo i r example, fully or partially collapsible non-wood floral easels may reduce freight costs by up to 75% when compared to the freight costs of current non-wood floral easels. [0005] Warehousing space must also be maximized to accommodate storage of such floral easels. For example, when arriving at a distributorship or flower shop, current non-wood floral easels require the manufacturer, distributor or florist to provide an excessive and unnecessary amount of storage space for the easel which is attributed to the inability of the floral easel to fully collapse. Also, the reuse of current non-wood floral easels by florists is poor or even non-existent due to the extreme difficulty of packing and transporting the easels. [0006] Current wood floral easels are typically bulkier than non-wood floral easels and require more space even when the current wood floral easel is in a partially collapsed or fully collapsed position. Furthermore, wood is a scarce natural resource and alternative materials are more readily available for the construction of floral easels. Current wood floral easels are subject to warping upon continued use, especially when storing. These easels must be stored in a careful manner, avoiding exposure to certain conditions and must be disposed in a flat plane because of a tendency to conform to a non-linear plane. Current wood floral easels are also subject to insect infestation which requires irradiation when importing (or otherwise be subject to recall), and subject to splintering making the current wood floral easel difficult to transport in commerce as well as difficult to use and re-use. The wood of current wood floral easels must also be treated to provide the desired surface conditions (i.e., for sanding or painting) making the material prohibitively expensive when compared to other non-wood materials from which the floral easel could be constructed. Current wood floral easels also require assembly as well as articulation among the legs. [0007] It is to this end that there is a need in the industry for a fully or partially erectable or collapsible floral easel that overcomes the disadvantages and defects of current floral easels and that is compact, easily transportable, less expensive to ship and store, and is fully reuseable. It is to such a floral easel that the present invention is directed.

Summary of the Invention [0008] The present invention is directed to a fully or partially erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object having at least two leg members, each of the leg members having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the leg members being associated at a joining assembly, wherein the leg members are moveable from an open position to a second position wherein the leg members occupy a lesser volume of space in the second position and further wherein the at least two legs are self-erecting from the second position to the open position and a splay assembly capable of holding the leg members in the open position. The floral easel of the present invention may be self-erecting, self- collapsing, self-erecting and self-collapsing, semi-self-erecting, semi-self-collapsing and/or semi-self-erecting and semi-self-collapsing. Additionally, the present invention relates to methods of shipping an erectable or collapsible floral easel, methods of using an erectable or collapsible floral easel, methods of storing an erectable or collapsible floral easel, methods of placing a floral object on an erectable or collapsible easel, and methods of displaying a floral object on or about an erectable or collapsible floral easel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] ' FIG. IA is a perspective view of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0010] FIG. IB is a perspective view of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0011] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position having a floral object placed thereon. [0012] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0013] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0014] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0015] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0016] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0017] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0018] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0019] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0020] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0021] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0022] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0023] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0024] FIG. 8A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0025] FIG. 8B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0026] FIG. 8C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0027] FIG. 8D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0028] FIG. 1OA is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0029] FIG. 1OB is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0030] FIG. HA is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0031] FIG. HB is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the closed position. [0032] FIG. HC is a perspective view of the joining member of the embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel as shown in FIGS. HA -HB. [0033] FIG. HD is a perspective view of another embodiment of the erectable or collapsible floral easel of the present invention in the open position. [0034] FIG. 12A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. v [0035] FIG. 12B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0036] FIG. 12C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0037] FIG. 12D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0038] FIG. 12E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0039] FIG. 12F is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0040] FIG. 12G is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0041] FIG. 12H is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0042] FIG. 121 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0043] FIG. 13A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0044] FIG. 13B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0045] FIG. 13C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0046] FIG. 13D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0047] FIG. 13E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0048] FIG. 14A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0049] FIG. 14B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0050] FIG. 14C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0051] FIG. 14D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0052] FIG. 14E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0053] FIG. 15A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0054] FIG. 15B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0055] FIG. 15C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0056] FIG. 15D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0057] FIG. 15E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0058] FIG. 16A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0059] FIG. 16B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0060] FIG. 16C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0061] FIG. 16D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0062] FIG. 16E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. [0063] FIG. 16F is a perspective view of another embodiment of the floral easel of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention [0064] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways which would be plain to one of ordinary skill in the art given the present specification, drawings and claims appended hereto. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting and the claimed invention should be given its broadest possible meaning consistent with the terms and phrasing used in the claims.

Description of Figure 1 [0065] Referring now to FIGS. IA and IB, designated generally by the reference numeral 10 is a floral easel. All of the embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein may be fully erectable and/or collapsible, semi- erectable and/or semi-collapsible, semi-self-erectable and/or semi-self-collapsible, and combinations thereof- Further, all of the embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein may be erectable without being collapsible and vice-versa. The term "erectable", "erect", or "open" as used herein means that the floral easel 10 is deployed fully for use as intended, i.e., the display of a floral object. The term "collapsible", "collapsed", or "closed" as used herein means that the floral easel 10 is positioned such that at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable of being in or are in a fully or partially collapsed position. The term "fully erectable" as used herein means that at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable of being in or are positioned in the open position. The term "partially erectable" or "semi- erectable" as used herein means that one of the plurality of leg members of the floral easel is in a fully erected position or any number of the plurality of leg members are in a partially erected position. The floral easel 10 may be fully or partially collapsible. The term "fully collapsible" as used herein means that at least one of the plurality of leg members are capable of being positioned in the fully collapsed position. The term "partially collapsible" or "semi-collapsible" as used herein means that one of the plurality of leg members is in a fully collapsed position or any number of the plurality of leg members are in a partially collapsed position. Also, in one embodiment, the floral easel 10 may be reversibly erectable or irreversibly erectable. It should also be understood that the floral easel 10 may only be capable of erecting yet not collapsing, collapsing yet not erecting, and erecting and collapsing. [0066] The floral easel 10 has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the floral easel 10 has a first leg member 20, a second leg member 30, and a third leg member 40. The floral easel 10 also includes a splay assembly 12 for sustaining the floral easel 10 in an open or erected position as shown in FIG. IA. [0067] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the first leg member 20 has a first end 60 and a second end 70. The second leg member 30 has a first end 80 and a second end 90. The third leg member 40 has a first end 100 and a second end 110. The first end 60 of the first leg member 20, the first end 80 of the second leg member 30, and the first end 100 of the third leg member 40 are associated at a joining member 120. The second end 70 of the first leg member 20, the second end 90 of the second leg member 30, and the second end 110 of the third leg member 40 are generally in contact with a substrate 45 to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10 in a position suitable for use as a display for a floral object. The substrate 45 may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting floral easel 10 thereon. [0068] All embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein could be used with or without anchoring materials known in the art to prevent the floral easel 10 from moving or tipping. Examples of anchoring materials include, but are not limited to, adhesive, cohesive, spikes (metal or plastic), rubber feet or pads, combinations thereof, or any other materials capable of anchoring the floral easel 10 to the substrate 45. The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non- integrally with the floral easel 10 and may be constructed of the same or different material as the floral easel 10. [0069] In all of the embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein, the leg members may be constructed of any material such as, for example, steel rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), aluminum rod (tubular, flat, or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated, anodized or uncoated), stainless steel rod (flat or profile shaped) and/or wire (coated or uncoated), plastic pieces of material having cylindrical, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or other profile shapes or cross-sections of profile shapes, hollow, tubular or profile shaped materials made of metals or polymers, solid or hollow wood, synthetic or man-made materials, natural materials, or any other suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of at least one of the leg members and/or the joining member 120 is constructed of a substantially flexible material, i.e. at least a portion of at least one of the leg members is capable of bending. The leg members may have any size diameter, width, or profile dimensions and/or any length that is desired and useful for the particular use the floral easel 10 is put. In general, however, the floral easel 10 will have a height of from about 1/2" to 300", more preferably a height from about 10" to about 60", and most preferably a height from about 18" to about 36". [0070] At least two of the first leg member 20,the second leg member 30, and the third leg member 40 may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. IA and IB as one piece of tubular material forming an arch 130 having a center area 140). Alternatively, the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30 may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30 are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30 are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20, the second leg member 30, and the third leg member 30 may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum. [0071] The joining member 120 for connecting and/or receiving the first end of the leg members may be formed of the same material as the leg members or the joining member 120 may be formed of a different material than the leg members. Also, the joining member 120 may be integrally connected to the first end 100 of the third leg member 40 or formed separately from the first end 100 of the third leg member 40. As shown in FIGS. IA and IB, the joining member 120 is integrally connected to the first end 100 of the third leg member 40 and is crimped around and pivotally connected to the arch 130 formed in the center area 140 thereby integrally joining the first end 60 of the first leg member 20 and the first end 70 of the second leg member 30 to define an apex 150. In an alternative embodiment, the joining member 120 need not be integrally connected to the first end 100 of the third leg member 40, and alternatively, the joining member 120 may be welded, clamped, glued, or any other method of connecting the joining member 120 to the first end of each of the leg members. The joining member 120 may also be, for example, a solid block holding device (as shown in FIGS. 11A-11D), or any other device capable of receiving the first ends of the leg members. Also, the first end 100 of the third leg 40 need not be crimped around the arch 130. In an alternative embodiment, the joining member 120 and the arch 130 are connected using materials that permit the floral easel 10 to erect and/or collapse. Also, the first end 100 of the third leg 40 need not be pivotally connected to the arch 130. In an alternative embodiment, the first end 100 may be flexibly connected to the arch 130. [0072] The splay assembly 12 for sustaining the floral easel 10 in the open or erected position has a bracing assembly 160 and a reinforcing member 170. It should be understood that the splay assembly 12 may be formed separately from the legs or the splay assembly 12 may be integrally connected to the legs. Alternatively, the bracing assembly 160 may be formed non-integrally from the legs and the reinforcing member 170 may be formed integrally with the legs or vice- versa. The bracing assembly 160 has a first arm 180 and a second arm 190. The first arm 180 has a first end 200 and a second end 210. The second arm 190 has a first end 220 and a second end 230. The first end 200 of the first arm 180 is connected to the first leg member 20. The first end 220 of the second arm 190 is connected to the second leg member 30. The second end 210 of the first arm 180 and the second end 230 of the second arm 190 are connected to the third leg member 40. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the bracing assembly 160 is constructed of one continuous piece of material. The first end 200 of the first arm 180 forms a loop 232 around the first leg member 20 and is slidably connected to the first leg member 20, the first end 220 of the second arm 190 forms a loop 234 around the second leg member 30 and is slidably connected to the second leg member 30, the second end 210 of the first arm 180 and second end 230 of the second arm 190 form a contiguous loop 236 around the third leg member 40 and the loop 236 is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 180 and the second arm 190 may be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the leg members are able to fully collapse. [0073] The bracing assembly 160 may be a single piece of material, or more than one piece of material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the bracing assembly 160 is a single piece of material wherein the second end 210 of the first arm 180 and the second end 230 of the second arm 190 form a continuous loop around the third leg member 40 wherein the looped area is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40. If the bracing assembly 160 is fabricated using sufficiently flexible and springy material, it need not be slidably or pivotally connected to any or all of the plurality of leg members. [0074] The bracing assembly 160 may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the bracing assembly 160 may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the bracing assembly 160 to sustain the floral easel 10 in the open or erected position. [0075] If the third leg 40 is not pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 20 and the second leg 30, or, if the third leg 40 is pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 20 and the second leg 30 limiting its travel to positions of full erection, full collapse, or intermediate positions; and, if the first leg 20 and the second leg 30 are connected to limit travel to positions from full erection to full collapse, then at least one of the bracing assembly 160 and reinforcing member 170 can be eliminated from this embodiment of the floral easel 10. [0076] A stop member 235 may be connected adjacent and underneath the second arm 190 of the bracing assembly 160 to prevent the bracing assembly 160 from sliding down the second leg member 30 of the floral easel 10. The stop member 235 may be constructed of the same material as the leg member or of a different material than the leg member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. IA, the stop member 235 is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 190 of the bracing assembly 160. However, the stop member 235 may be connected to any of the leg members of the floral easel 10. It should be understood that the stop member 235 is not required; however, for embodiments in which the bracing assembly 160 is slidably or pivotally connected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235 aids in the erection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 10. [0077] The reinforcing member 170 has a first end 240 and a second end 250. The first end 240 is connected to the first leg member 20 and the second end 250 is connected to the second leg member 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first end 240 forms a loop 252 around the first leg member 20 and is slidably connected to the first leg member 20 and the second end 250 forms a loop 254 around the second leg member 30 and is slidably connected to the second leg member 30. It will be appreciated, however, that the first end 240 and the second end 250 may be connected in any manner to the first leg member 20 and second leg member 30 of the floral easel 10. [0078] For example, but not by way of limitation, the reinforcing member 170 may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a rope, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, a wire, springs, tubing, plastic, profiles, wood, polymer/fiber, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, combinations thereof or any other device which allows the floral easel 10 to be sustained in the open or erected position. The reinforcing member 170 may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the reinforcing member 170 may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the reinforcing member 170 to sustain the floral easel 10 in the open or erected position. It will be appreciated, however, that the reinforcing member 170 is not necessary in alternate embodiments where a more flexible floral easel 10 is desirable or acceptable for use. [0079] A stop member 255 may also be connected to the first leg member 20 of the floral easel 10 and placed adjacent and underneath the first end 240 of the reinforcing member 170 for preventing the reinforcing member 170 from sliding down the first leg member 20 of the floral easel 10. However, it should be understood that the stop member 235 may be placed on either the first leg member 20 or the second leg member 30 of the floral easel 10. The stop member 255 may be constructed of the same material as the designated leg member or of a different material than the designated leg member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. IA, the stop member 255 is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the first end 240 of the reinforcing member 170. However, the stop member 255 may be connected to either the first leg member 20, the second leg member 30, the third leg member 40 or any of the first leg member 20, the second leg member 30, and the third leg member 40 of the floral easel 10. It should be understood that multiple stop members may be used on the floral easel. It should also be understood that the stop members are not necessary to the erection, collapsibility, or stability of the floral easel 10; however, the stop members may enhance stability and facilitate erection of the floral easel 10. The reinforcing member 170 may also provide at least one location on the floral easel 10 to which floral objects and decorations may be fastened using wire clips, glue or any other fastening means capable of securing floral objects and decorations to the floral easel 10. [0080] In all of the embodiments of the floral easel described herein, the floral easel 10 may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object 260 (FIG. 1C) by placing the floral object 260 about the apex 150 of the floral easel 10. The term "floral object" as used herein will be understood to include any floral object which can be placed on a floral easel such as, but not limited to, a floral grouping, a floral decoration, a wreath, hanging potted plants, foam shapes (for example, a cross, words (i.e., mom), a flag), non-floral objects such as, for example, a photograph, a piece of artwork, a flag or any other object that is capable of being displayed on a floral easel. [0081] The term "floral grouping" as used herein refers to a single flower, foliage, a botanical item, a propagule, cut flowers, and/or other fresh and/or artificial plants or floral materials, including secondary plants, growing potted plants having a root portion and/or other ornamentation which adds to the aesthetic qualities of the overall floral grouping. The term "floral grouping" as used herein may also refer to a "floral grouping", as defined above, which is disposed within a pot or a flower pot. [0082] A support member 270 (FIGS. IA and IB) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object 260 (or non-floral object), however, any portion of the floral easel 10 may hold or support the floral object 260 or non-floral object, such as, for example, the joining member 120, the bracing assembly 160, the reinforcing member 170 or any other area of the floral easel 10 capable of supporting the floral object 260 or a non-floral object. The support member 270 may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10 such as, for example, the joining member 120, the leg members, or to the reinforcing member 170. The support member 270 may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object 260. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270 may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object 260. The support member 270, as shown in FIG. 1, is a hook connected to the joining member 120. [0083] The support member 270 may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 270 may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object 260. [0084] All of the embodiments of the floral easel 10 described herein may also have a retaining member 280 for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 280 may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, the joining member 120, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 280 may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280 may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. Alternatively, the retaining member 280 may be eliminated from the floral easel 10 and the plurality of leg members may be retained in the collapsed position by the joining member 120. [0085] As shown in FIG. 1, the retaining member 280 is connected to the first leg member 20; however, for example, the retaining member 280 may be attached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160, the reinforcing member 170, or to any other area of the floral easel 10 that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 280 or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 10. [0086] To move the floral easel 10 from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. IA) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. IB), the bracing assembly 160 is rotated about the loop 232 and the loop 234 to cause the loop 236 to slide in an upward direction toward the first end 100 of the third leg member 40 thereby pivoting the third leg member 40 inward toward the area between the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30. The reinforcing member 170 is also moved in an upward direction to cause the loop 254 of the second end 250 of the reinforcing member 170 to slide in an upward manner along the first end 100 of the second leg member 30. The first end 60 of the first leg member 20 and the first end 80 of the second leg member 30 are compressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 130 between the center area 140 of the first leg member 20 and the second leg member 30. The second end 70, the second end 90, and the second end 110 may then be inserted into the retaining member 280 forming the leg members into a bundle 290 (shown in FIG. IB). [0087] While methods of collapsing and methods of erecting the floral easel have been described herein, it is to be understood that other methods of collapsing the easels of the present invention will be evident to a person having ordinary skill in the art and therefore, such additional methods of collapsing and methods of erecting the floral easel are also within the scope of the present invention. [0088] It is also to be understood that the present invention also encompasses any embodiments described herein or modifications thereof with the skill of a person in the art. For example, any of the embodiments of the floral easel described herein may be self-erecting, self-collapsing, self-erecting and self- collapsing, semi-self-erecting, semi-self-collapsing, or semi-self-erecting and semi- self-collapsing. Also, any of the embodiments of the present invention described herein may be made so that no more than one assembly must be accomplished to maintain the easel in the erect position, semi-erect position, collapsed position, or semi-collapsed position.

Description of Figure 2 [0089] Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, designated generally by the reference numeral 10b is a floral easel. [0090] The floral easel 10b has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG.2, the floral easel 10b has a first leg member 20b, a second leg member 30b and a third leg member 40b. The floral easel 10b also includes a splay assembly 12b that is capable of sustaining the floral easel 10b in an open or erected position as shown in FIG. 2A. [0091] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first leg member 20b has a first end 60b and a second end 70b, the second leg member 30b has a first end 80b and a second end 90b, and the third leg member 40b has a first end 100b and a second end 110b. The second end 70b of the first leg member 20b, the second end 90b of the second leg member 30b, and the second end 110b of the third leg member 40b are generally in contact with a substrate 45b to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10b in a position suitable for use as a display for a floral object. The substrate 45b may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 10b thereon. [0092] At least two of the first leg member 20b, the second leg member 30b, and the third leg member 40b may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B as one piece of tubular material) thereby forming a loop 112b around a portion of the third leg member 40b. Alternatively, the first leg member 20b and the second leg member 30b may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20b and the second leg member 30b are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 20b and the second leg member 30b are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20b, the second leg member 30b, and the third leg member 30b may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.

[0093] The first end 100b of the third leg member 40b has an extended portion 114b extending a distance beyond a juncture 116b of the first end 60b of the first leg member 20b and the first end 80b of the second leg member 30b. [0094] The splay assembly 12b for sustaining the floral easel 10b in the open or erected position has a bracing assembly 160b and a reinforcing member 170b. It should be understood that the splay assembly 12b may be formed separately from the legs or the splay assembly 12b may be integrally connected to the legs. Alternatively, the bracing assembly 160b may be formed non-integrally from the legs and the reinforcing member 170b may be formed integrally with the legs or vice-versa. The bracing assembly 160b has a first arm 180b and a second arm 190b. The first arm 180b has a first end 200b and a second end 210b. The second arm 190b has a first end 220b and a second end 230b. The first end 200b of the first arm 180b is connected to the first leg member 20b. The first end 220b of the second arm 190b is connected to the second leg member 30b. The second end 210b of the first arm 180b and the second end 230b of the second arm 190b are connected to the third leg member 40b. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bracing assembly 160b is constructed of one continuous piece of material. The first end 200b of the first arm 180b forms a loop 232b around the first leg member 20b and is slidably connected to the first leg member 20b, the first end 220b of the second arm 190b forms a loop 234b around the second leg member 30b and is slidably connected to the second leg member 30b, the second end 210b of the first arm 180b and second end 230b of the second arm 190b form a contiguous loop 236b around the third leg member 40b and the loop 236b is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40b. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 180b and the second arm 190b may be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the leg members are able to collapse. [0095] The bracing assembly 160b may be a single piece of material or more than one piece of material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the bracing assembly 160b is a single piece of material wherein the second end 210b of the first arm 180b and second end 230b of the second arm 190b form a continuous loop around the third leg member 40b wherein the looped area is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40b. [0096] The bracing assembly 160b may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the bracing assembly 160b may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the bracing assembly 160b to sustain the floral easel 10b in the open or erected position. [0097] If the third leg 40b is not pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 20b and the second leg 30b, or, if the third leg 40b is pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 20b and the second leg 30b limiting its travel to positions of full erection, full collapse, or intermediate positions, and if the first leg 20b and the second leg 30b are connected to limit travel to positions from full erection to full collapse; then at least one of the bracing assembly 160b and reinforcing member 170b can be eliminated from this embodiment of the floral easel 10b. [0098] A stop member 235b is connected adjacent and underneath the second arm 190b of the bracing assembly 160b to prevent the bracing assembly 160b from sliding down the second leg member 30b of the floral easel 10b. The stop member 235b may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or of a different material than the leg members. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the stop member 235b is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 190b of the bracing assembly 160b. However, the stop member 235b may be connected to any of the leg members of the floral easel 10b. It should be understood that the stop member 235b is not required, however, for embodiments in which the bracing assembly 160b is slidably or pivotally connected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235b aids in the erection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 10b. [0099] The reinforcing member 170b has a first end 240b and a second end 250b. The first end 240b is connected to the first leg member 20b and the second end 250b is connected to the second leg member 30b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first end 240b forms a loop 252b around the first leg member 20b and is slidably connected to the first leg member 20b and the second end 250b forms a loop 254b around the second leg member 30b and is slidably connected to the second leg member 30b. It will be appreciated, however, that the first end 240b and the second end 250b may be connected in any manner to the first leg member 20b and second leg member 30b of the floral easel 10b. [OIOO] For example, but not by way of limitation, the reinforcing member 170b may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a rope, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, a wire, combinations thereof or any other device which allows the floral easel 10b to be sustained in the open or erect position. The reinforcing member 170b may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the reinforcing member 170b may be constructed from a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the reinforcing member 170b to sustain the floral easel 10b in the open or erect position. It will be appreciated, however, that the reinforcing member 170b is not necessary in alternate embodiments where a more flexible floral easel 10b is desirable or acceptable for use. [0101] A stop member 255b may also be connected to the first leg member 20b of the floral easel 10b and placed adjacent and underneath the first end 240b of the reinforcing member 170b for preventing the reinforcing member 170b from sliding down the first leg member 20b of the floral easel 10b. However, it should be understood that the stop member 255b may be placed on either the first leg member 20b or the second leg member 30b of the floral easel 10b. The stop member 255b may be constructed of the same material as the designated leg member or of a different material than the designated leg member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the stop member 255b is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the first end 240b of the reinforcing member 170b. However, the stop member 255b may be connected to either the first leg member 20b, the second leg member 30b, the third leg member 40b or any of the first leg member 20b, the second leg member 30b, and the third leg member 40b of the floral easel 10b. It should be understood that multiple stop members may be used on the floral easel. It should also be understood that the stop members are not necessary to the erection, collapsibility, or stability of the floral easel 10b; however, the stop members may enhance stability and facilitate erection of the floral easel 10b. The reinforcing member 170b may also provide at least one location on the floral easel 10b to which floral objects and decorations may be fastened using wire clips, glue or any other fastening means capable of securing floral objections and decorations to the floral easel 10b. [0102] A support member 270b (FIGS. 2A and 2B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object (not shown) (or non-floral object), however, any portion of the floral easel 10b may hold or support the floral object 260b or non-floral object, such as, for example, the bracing assembly 160b, the reinforcing member 170b or any other area of the floral easel 10b capable of supporting the floral object 260b or a non-floral object. The support member 270b may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10b such as, for example, the leg members, or to the reinforcing member 170b. The support member 270b may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object 260b. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270b may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 270b, as shown in FIG. 2, is a hook connected to the first end 100b of the third leg member 40b. [0103] The support member 270b may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 270b may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0104] The floral easel 10b may also have a retaining member 280b for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 280b may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 280b may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280b may be constructed from a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 280b may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 280b may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280b may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0105] As shown in FIG. 2, the retaining member 280b is connected to the first leg member 20b, however, for example, the retaining member 280b may be attached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160b, the reinforcing member 170b, or to any other area of the floral easel 10b that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 280b or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 10b. [0106] To move the floral easel 10b from the open or erect position (shown in FIG. 2A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 2B), the bracing assembly 160b is rotated about the loop 232b and the loop 234b to cause the loop 236b to slide in , an upward direction through the loop 112b toward the first end 100b of the third leg member 40b thereby pivoting the third leg member 40b inward toward the area between the first leg member 20b and the second leg member 30b. The reinforcing member 170b is also moved in an upward direction to cause the loop 254b of the second end 250b of the reinforcing member 170b to slide in an upward manner along the first end 100b of the second leg member 30b. The second end 70b, the second end 90b, and the second end 110b may then be inserted into the retaining member 280b forming the leg members into a bundle 290b (shown in FIG. 2B).

Description of Figure 3 [0107] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, designated generally by the reference numeral 10c is a floral easel. The floral easel 10c has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the floral easel 10c has a first leg member 20c, a second leg member 30c, and a third leg member 40c. The floral easel 10c also includes a bracing assembly 50c for sustaining the floral easel 10 in an open or erected position shown in FIG. 3A. [0108] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first leg member 20c has a first end 60c, a second end 70c, a first side 72c and a second side 74c. The second leg member 30c has a first end 80c, a second end 90c, a first side 92c and a second side 94c. The third leg member 40c has a first end 100c and a second end 110c. The first end 60c of the first leg member 20c, the first end 80c of the second leg member 30c, and the first end 100c of the third leg member 40c may be integrally connected at a joining member 120c. The second side 74c of the first leg member 20c, the second side 94c of the second leg member 30c, and the joining member 120c are generally in contact with a substrate 45c to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10c. The substrate 45c may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 10c thereon. The third leg member 40c extends a distance 125c perpendicular to the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c. [0109] At least two of the first leg member 20c, the second leg member 30c, and the third leg member 40c may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as one piece of tubular material forming an arch 130c having a center area 140c). Alternatively, the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same materials or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum. [0110] The joining member 120c for connecting and/or receiving the first end of the leg members may be formed of the same material as the leg members or the joining member 120c may be formed of a different material than the leg members. Also, the joining member 120c may be integrally connected to the first end 100c of the third leg member 40c or formed separately from the first end 100c of the third leg member 40c. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the joining member 120c is integrally connected to the first end 100c of the third leg member 40c and is looped around and pivotally connected to the arch 130c formed in the center area 140c thereby integrally joining the first end 60c of the first leg member 20c and the first end 70c of the second leg member 30c to define a juncture 150c. However, the joining member 120c may be for example, a solid block holding device, or any other device capable of receiving the first ends of the leg members. [0111] The bracing assembly 50c has a first arm 180c and a second arm 190c. The first arm 180c has a first end 200c and a second end 210c. The second arm 190c has a first end 220c and a second end 230c. The first end 200c of the first arm 180c is connected to the first leg member 20c. The first end 220c of the second arm 190c is connected to the second leg member 30c. The second end 210c of the first arm 180c and the second end 230c of the second arm 190c are connected to the third leg member 40c, In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the bracing assembly 50c is constructed of one continuous piece of material. The first end 200c of the first arm 180c forms a loop 232c around the first leg member 20c and is slidably connected to the first leg member 20c, the first end 220c of the second arm 190c forms a loop 234c around the second leg member 30c and is slidably connected to the second leg member 30c, the second end 210c of the first arm 180c and second end 230c of the second arm 190c form a contiguous loop 236c around the third leg member 40c and the loop 236c is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40c. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 180c and the second arm 190c may be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the leg members are able to fully collapse. [0112] The bracing assembly 50c may be a single piece of material or more than one piece of material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the bracing assembly 50c is a single piece of material wherein the second end 210c of the first arm 180c and the second end 230c of the second arm 190c form a continuous loop around the third leg member 40c wherein the looped area is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40c. [0113] The bracing assembly 50c may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the bracing assembly 50c may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the bracing assembly 50c to sustain the floral easel 10c in the open or erected position. [0114] If the third leg member 40c is not pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c or, if the third leg member 40c is pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c limiting its travel to positions of full erection, full collapse, or intermediate positions and, if the first leg 20c and the second leg 20c are connected to limit travel to positions from full erection to full collapse; then the bracing assembly 50c can be eliminated from this embodiment of the floral easel 10c. [0115] A stop member 235c may be connected adjacent and underneath the second arm 190c of the bracing assembly 50c to prevent the bracing assembly 160c from sliding down the second leg member 30c of the floral easel 10c. The stop member 235c may be constructed of the same material as the leg member or of a different material than the leg member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the stop member 235c is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 190c of the bracing assembly 50c. However, the stop member 235c may be connected to any of the leg members of the floral easel 10c. It should be understood that the stop member 235c is not required, however, for embodiments in which the bracing assembly 50c is slidably or pivotally connected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235c aids in the erection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 10c. [0116] The floral easel 10c may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end HOc of the third leg member 40c of the floral easel 10c. [0117] A support member 270c (FIGS. 3A and 3B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object or non-floral object. The support member 270c may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10c such as, for example, the bracing assembly 50c, the first leg member 20c, the second leg member 30c, the third leg member 40c, or any other area capable of having the support member 270c attached thereto. The support member 270c may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object or non-floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270c may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 270c, as shown in FIG. 3, is a hook connected to the second end HOc of the third leg member 40c. [0118] The support member 270c may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 270c may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0119] The floral easel 10c may also have a retaining member 280c for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 280c may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 280c may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 280c may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0120] As shown in FIG. 3, the retaining member 280c is connected to the third leg member 30c, however, for example, the retaining member 280c may be attached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160c, or to any other area of the floral easel 10c that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 280c or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 10c. [0121] To move the floral easel 10c from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. 3A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 3B), the bracing assembly 160c is rotated about the loop 232c and the loop 234c to cause the loop 236c to slide in an upward direction toward the second end 110c of the third leg member 40c thereby pivoting the third leg member 40 inward toward the area between the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30. The first end 60c of the first leg member 20c and the first end 80c of the second leg member 30c are compressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 130c between the center area 140c of the first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c. The first leg member 20c and the second leg member 30c may then be placed within the retaining member 280c forming the floral easel 10c into a bundle 290c (shown in FIG. 3B).

Description of Figure 4 [0122] Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, designated generally by the reference numeral 1Od is a floral easel. The floral easel 1Od has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the floral easel 1Od has a first leg member 2Od, a second leg member 3Od, and a third leg member 40d. [0123] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first leg member 2Od has a first end 6Od, a second end 7Od, a first side 72d and a second side 74d. The second leg member 30d has a first end 8Od, a second end 9Od, a first side 92d and a second side 94d. The third leg member 40d has a first end lOOd and a second end 11Od. The first end 6Od of the first leg member 2Od, the first end 8Od of the second leg member 3Od, and the first end lOOd of the third leg member 4Od may be integrally connected as shown in FIG. 4A and 4B. The second side 74d of the first leg member 2Od and the second side 94d of the second leg member 3Od are generally in contact with a substrate 45d to thereby support and hold the floral easel 1Od. The substrate 45d may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 1Od thereon. The third leg member 40d extends a distance perpendicular to the first leg member 2Od and the second leg member 3Od. [0124] The anchoring material may be formed integrally or non-integrally with the floral easel 1Od. For example, pins (not shown) may be added to the first leg member 2Od and the second leg member 3Od so as to penetrate the soil. The pins may be retractable or fixed. [0125] At least two of the first leg member 2Od, the second leg member 3Od, and the third leg member 40d may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B as one piece of springy, tubular material) forming a juncture 13Od. Alternatively, the first leg member 2Od, the second leg member 3Od, and the third leg member 40d may each be formed of different materials. For example, if the first leg member 2Od, the second leg member 3Od, and the third leg member 40d are formed of different materials, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the others may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, at least a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 2Od, the second leg member 3Od, and the third leg member 40d may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum. [0126] A brace 135d may be placed between the first leg member 2Od and the second leg member 3Od so as to support the leg members in the open position. [0127] The floral easel 1Od may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 11Od of the third leg member 40d of the floral easel 1Od. [0128] A support member 27Od (FIGS. 4A and 4B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object or non-floral object, however, any portion of the floral easel 1Od may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object. The support member 27Od may be connected to any area of the floral easel 1Od such as, for example, the first leg member 2Od, the second leg member 3Od, the third leg member 40d, or any other area capable of having the support member 27Od attached thereto. The support member 27Od may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 27Od may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 27Od, as shown in FIG. 4, is a hook connected to the second end 11Od of the third leg member 4Od. [0129] The support member 27Od may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 27Od may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0130] The floral easel 1Od may also have a retaining member 28Od for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 28Od may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 28Od may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 28Od may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0131] As shown in FIG. 4, the retaining member 28Od is connected to the third leg member 3Od, however, for example, the retaining member 28Od may be attached to any of the leg members or to any other area of the floral easel 1Od that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 28Od or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 1Od. [0132] Further, a display support device (not shown) may be placed on the third leg member 40d for supporting a floral object. For example, the display support device 29Od may be a bar attached perpendicularly to the third leg member 40d so as to support a floral object. However, any display support device 29Od may be used so long as it is able to support a floral object. [0133] To move the floral easel 1Od from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. 4A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 4B), the first leg member 2Od and the second leg member 3Od are compressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 13Od between the first leg member 2Od and the second leg member 3Od. The first leg member 2Od and the second leg member 3Od are pivoted upwardly toward the third leg member 40d. The first leg member 2Od and the second leg member 3Od may then be placed within the retaining member 28Od forming the floral easel 1Od into a bundle 29Od (shown in FIG. 4B).

Description of Figure 5 [0134] Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, designated generally by the reference numeral 1Oe is a floral easel. The floral easel 1Oe has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG.5, the floral easel 1Oe has a first leg member 2Oe, a second leg member 3Oe and a third leg member 40e. The floral easel 1Oe also includes a bracing assembly 5Oe for sustaining the floral easel 1Oe in an open or erected position, shown in FIG. 5A. [0135] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first leg member 2Oe has a first end 6Oe and a second end 7Oe, the second leg member 3Oe has a first end 8Oe and a second end 9Oe, and the third leg member 40e has a first end lOOe and a second end 11Oe. The second end 7Oe of the first leg member 2Oe, the second end 9Oe of the second leg member 3Oe, and the second end llOe of the third leg member 40e are generally in contact with a substrate 45e to thereby support and hold the floral easel 1Oe. The substrate 45e may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 1Oe thereon, As shown in FIG. 5A, a curve llle may be formed in the first leg member 2Oe between the first end 6Oe and the second end 7Oe for allowing the second end 7Oe to engage the substrate 45e. A curve 112e is formed in the second leg member 3Oe between the first end 8Oe and the second end 9Oe for allowing the second end 9Oe to engage the substrate 45e. [0136] At least two of the first leg member 2Oe, the second leg member 3Oe, and the third leg member 40e may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B as one piece of tubular material) thereby allowing the first end 6Oe and the first end 8Oe to form a loop 113e around a portion of the third leg member 4Oe. Alternatively, the first leg member 2Oe and the second leg member 3Oe may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 2Oe and the second leg member 30e are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 2Oe and the second leg member 3Oe are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 2Oe, the second leg member 3Oe, and the third leg member 4Oe may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum. [0137] The first end lOOe of the third leg member 4Oe has an extended portion 114e extending a distance beyond a juncture 116e of the plurality of leg members. [0138] The bracing assembly 5Oe for sustaining the floral easel 1Oe in the open or erected position has a first arm 18Oe and a second arm 19Oe. The first arm 18Oe has a first end 20Oe and a second end 21Oe. The second arm 19Oe has a first end 22Oe and a second end 23Oe. The first end 20Oe of the first arm 18Oe is connected to the first leg member 2Oe. The first end 22Oe of the second arm 19Oe is connected to the second leg member 3Oe. The second end 21Oe of the first arm 18Oe and the second end 23Oe of the second arm 19Oe are connected to the third leg member 40e. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the bracing assembly 5Oe is constructed of one continuous piece of material. The first end 20Oe of the first arm 18Oe forms a loop 232e around the first leg member 2Oe and is slidably connected to the first leg member 2Oe, the first end 22Oe of the second arm 19Oe forms a loop 234e around the second leg member 3Oe and is slidably connected to the second leg member 3Oe, the second end 21Oe of the first arm 18Oe and second end 23Oe of the second arm 19Oe form a contiguous loop 236e around the third leg member 40e and the loop 236e is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40e. When stated that the loop 232e, the loop 234e, and the loop 236e are "slidably connected", what is meant is that the loops are able to move a distance up and down each of the respective leg members. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 18Oe and the second arm 19Oe may be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the leg members are able to collapse. It will also be appreciated that the loops may either be slidably connected or connected in a fixed manner to each respective leg member. [0139] The bracing assembly 5Oe may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the bracing assembly 5Oe may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the bracing assembly 5Oe to sustain the floral easel 1Oe in the open or erect position. [0140] If the third leg 40e is not pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 2Oe and the second leg 30e or, if the third leg 40e is pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 2Oe and the second leg 3Oe limiting its travel to positions of full erection, full collapse, or intermediate positions, and if the first leg 2Oe and the second leg 30e are connected to limit travel to positions from full erection to full collapse, then the bracing assembly 50e can be eliminated from this embodiment of the floral easel 1Oe. [0141] A stop member 235e is connected adjacent and underneath the second arm 19Oe of the bracing assembly 50e to prevent the bracing assembly 5Oe from sliding down the second leg member 3Oe of the floral easel 1Oe. The stop member 235e may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or of a different material than the leg members. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the stop member 235e is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 19Oe of the bracing assembly 50e. However, the stop member 235e may be connected to either the first leg member 2Oe or the second leg member 3Oe of the floral easel 1Oe. [0142] It should be understood that the stop member 235e is not required, however, for embodiments in which the bracing assembly 50e is slidably or pivotally connected to at least one leg member, the stop member 235e aids in the erection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 1Oe. [0143] A support member 27Oe (FIGS. 5A and 5B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object or non-floral object, however, any portion of the floral easel 1Oe may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object, such as, for example, the support member 27Oe may be connected to any area of the floral easel 1Oe such as, for example, the first leg member 2Oe, the second leg member 3Oe, the third leg member 40e, or any other area capable of having the support member 27Oe attached thereto. The support member 27Oe may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object, such as, for example the bracing assembly 5Oe or any other area of the floral easel 1Oe capable of supporting the floral object or non-floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 27Oe may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 27Oe, as shown in FIG. 5, is a hook connected to the first end lOOe of the third leg member 40e. [0144] The support member 27Oe may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 27Oe may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0145] The floral easel 1Oe may also have a retaining member 28Oe for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 28Oe may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 28Oe may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 28Oe may be constructed from a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0146] As shown in FIG. 5, the retaining member 28Oe is connected to the third leg member 40e, however, for example, the retaining member 28Oe may be attached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 16Oe, or to any other area of the floral easel 1Oe that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 28Oe or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 1Oe. [0147] To move the floral easel 1Oe from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. 5A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 5B), the bracing assembly 5Oe is rotated about the loop 232e and the loop 234e to cause the loop 236e to slide in an upward direction toward the first end lOOe of the third leg member 40e thereby pivoting the first leg member 2Oe and the second leg member 3Oe upward toward the third leg member 4Oe causing the third leg member 3Oe to be placed between the first leg member 2Oe and the second leg member 3Oe. The first end 6Oe and the first end 8Oe may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Oe forming the leg members into a bundle 29Oe (shown in FIG. 5B).

Description of Figure 6 [0148] Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, designated generally by the reference numeral 1Of is a floral easel. The floral easel 1Of has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the floral easel 1Of has a first leg member 2Of and a second leg member 3Of. [0149] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first leg member 2Of has a first end 6Of, a second end 7Of, a first side lOOf and a second side 11Of. The second leg member 3Of has a first end 8Of, a second end 9Of, a first side 12Of and a second side 13Of. The first end 6Of of the first leg member 2Of and the first end 8Of of the second leg member 3Of are integrally connected forming an arch 140f where the first end 6Of and first end 8Of are joined. The second side HOf of the first leg member 2Of is generally in contact with a substrate 45f to thereby support and hold the floral easel 1Of. The substrate 45f may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 1Of thereon. [0150] The first leg member 2Of and the second leg member 3Of may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B as one piece of springy material). Alternatively, the first leg member 2Of and the second leg member 3Of may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 2Of and the second leg member 3Of are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 2Of and the second leg member 3Of are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 2Of and the second leg member 30f may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg member may be constructed of aluminum. [0151] The floral easel 1Of may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object (not shown) by placing the fjoral object about the second end 9Oh of the second leg member 3Of of the floral easel 1Of. [0152] A support member 27Of (FIGS. 6A and 6B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object or non-floral object, however, any portion of the floral easel 1Of may hold or support the floral object or the non-floral object. The support member 27Of may be connected to any area of the floral easel 1Of such as, for example, the first leg member 2Of, the second leg member 3Of or any other area capable of having the support member 27Of attached thereto. The support member 27Of may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 27Of may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 27Of, as shown in FIG. 6, is a hook connected to the second end 9Of of the second leg member 3Of. [0153] The support member 27Of may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 27Of may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0154] The floral easel 1Of may also have a retaining member 28Of for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 28Of may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members,, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining 28Of may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 28Of may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0155] As shown in FIG. 6, the retaining member 28Of is connected to the second leg member 3Of, however, for example, the retaining member 28Of may be attached to either the first leg member 2Of or the second leg member 2Of or to any other area of the floral easel 1Of that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 28Of or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 1Of. [0156] To move the floral easel 1Of from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. 6A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 6B), the second leg member 3Of is rotated counter-clockwise about the arch 140f formed between the first leg member 2Of and the second leg member 3Of. The second side llOf of the first leg member 2Of and the second side 13Of of the second leg member 3Of are compressed together thereby inverting the arch 14Of between the first leg member 2Of and the second leg member 3Of. The second end 7Of and the second end 9Of may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Of forming the leg members into a bundle 29Of (shown in FIG. 6B).

Description of Figure 7 [0157] Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, designated generally by the reference numeral 1Og is a floral easel. The floral easel 1Og has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the floral easel 1Og has a first leg member 2Og and a second leg member 30g. [0158] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first leg member 2Og has a first end 6Og, a second end 7Og, a first side lOOg and a second side 11Og. The second leg member 3Og has a first end 8Og, a second end 9Og, a first side 12Og and a second side 13Og. The first end 6Og of the first leg member 2Og and the first end 8Og of the second leg member 3Og are integrally connected forming an arch 14Og where the first end 6Og and first end 8Og are joined. The second side llOg of the first leg member 2Og is generally in contact with a substrate 45g to thereby support and hold the floral easel 1Og. The substrate 45g may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 1Og thereon. [0159] The first leg member 2Og and the second leg member 3Og may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B as one piece of elastic or resilient material). Alternatively, the first leg member 2Og and the second leg member 3Og may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 2Og and the second leg member 3Og are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 2Og and the second leg member 3Og are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, at least a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 2Og and the second leg member 30g may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum. [0160] The floral easel 1Og may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 9Og of the second leg member 3Og of the floral easel 1Og. [0161] A support member 27Og (FIGS. 7 A and 7B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object, however, any portion of the floral easel 1Og may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object. The support member 27Og may be connected to any area of the floral easel 1Og such as, for example, the first leg member 2Og, the second leg member 3Og, or any other area capable of having the support member 27Og attached thereto. The support member 27Og may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 27Og may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 27Og, as shown in FIG. 7, is a hook connected to the second end 9Og of the second leg member 3Og. [0162] The support member 27Og may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 27Og may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0163] The floral easel 1Og may also have a retaining member 28Og for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 28Og may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 28Og may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 28Og may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0164] As shown in FIG. 7, the retaining member 28Og is connected to the first leg member 2Og, however, for example, the retaining member 28Og may be attached to either the first leg member 2Og or the second leg member 2Og or to any other area of the floral easel 1Og that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 28Og or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 1Og. [0165] To move the floral easel 1Og from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. 7A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 7B), the second leg member 3Og is rotated clockwise about the arch 140g formed between the first leg member 2Og and the second leg member 3Og. The first side lOOg of the first leg member 2Og and the first side 12Og of the second leg member 3Og are compressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 140g between the first leg member 2Og and the second leg member 3Og. The second end 7Og and the second end 9Og may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Og forming the leg members into a bundle 29Og (shown in FIG. 7B).

Description of Figure 8 [0166] Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, designated generally by the reference numeral 1Oh, is a floral. The floral easel 1Oh has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG.8, the floral easel 1Oh has a first leg member 2Oh, a second leg member 3Oh and a third leg member 40h. The floral easel 1Oh also includes a bracing assembly 5Oh for sustaining the floral easel 1Oh in an open or erected position shown in FIG. 8A. [0167] As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the first leg member 2Oh has a first end 6Oh and a second end 7Oh, the second leg member 3Oh has a first end 8Oh and a second end 9Oh, and the third leg member 40h has a first end lOOh and a second end HOh. The first end 6Oh of the first leg member 2Oh, the first end 8Oh of the second leg member 3Oh, and the first end lOOh of the third leg member 40h are associated at a joining member 12Oh. The second end 7Oh of the first leg member 2Oh, the second end 9Oh of the second leg member 3Oh, and the second end HOh of the third leg member 40h are generally in contact with a substrate 45h to thereby support and hold the floral easel 1Oh. The substrate 45h may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 1Oh thereon. [0168] At least two of the first leg member 2Oh, the second leg member 3Oh, and the third leg member 40h may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B as one piece of tubular material forming an arch 13Oh having a center area 140h). Alternatively, at least two of the first leg member 2Oh, the second leg member 3Oh, and the third leg member 40h may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the leg members are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 2Oh and the second leg member 3Oh are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 2Oh, the second leg member 3Oh, and the third leg member 4Oh may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or of a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum. [0169] The joining member 12Oh for connecting and/or receiving the first end of the leg members may be formed of the same material as the leg members or the joining member 12Oh may be formed of a different material than the leg members. Also, the joining member 12Oh may be integrally connected to the first end lOOh of the third leg member 40h or formed separately from the first end lOOh of the third leg member 4Oh1. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the joining member 12Oh is integrally connected to the first end lOOh of the third leg member 40h and is crimped around and pivotally connected to the arch 130h formed in the center area 140h thereby integrally joining the first end 6Oh of the first leg member 2Oh and the first end 70h of the second leg member 3Oh to define an apex 15Oh. However, the joining member 12Oh may be, for example, a solid block holding device, or any other device capable of receiving the first ends of the leg members. Also, the first end lOOh of the third leg 40h need not be crimped around the arch 13Oh. In an alternative embodiment, the joining member 12Oh and the arch 13Oh are connected using materials that permit at least one of erecting and collapsing the floral easel 1Oh. Also, the first end lOOh of the third leg 4Oh need not be pivotally connected to the arch 13Oh. In an alternative embodiment, the first end lOOh may be flexibly connected to the arch 13Oh. [0170] The bracing assembly 5Oh for sustaining the floral easel 1Oh in the open or erected position has a first arm 16Oh, a second arm 17Oh, and a third arm 18Oh. The first arm 16Oh has a first end 20Oh and a second end 21Oh. The second arm 17Oh has a first end 22Oh and a second end 23Oh. The third arm 18Oh has a first end 240h and a second end 25Oh. The first end 200b of the first arm 16Oh is connected to the first leg member 2Oh. The first end 22Oh of the second arm 17Oh is connected to the second leg member 3Oh. The first end 24Oh of the third arm 18Oh is connected to the third leg member 40h. The second end 21Oh of the first arm 16Oh, the second end 23Oh of the second arm 17Oh, and the second end 25Oh of the third arm 18Oh are connected to an arm support member 255h. [0171] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the bracing assembly 5Oh is constructed of more than one piece of material, however it is to be understood that the bracing assembly 5Oh may be constructed of one integrally connected piece of material. Alternatively, the bracing assembly 5Oh may be formed non-integrally from the leg members. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the first end 20Oh of the first arm 16Oh forms a loop 232h around the first leg member 2Oh and is slidably connected to the first leg member 2Oh and the second end 21Oh of the first arm 16Oh is connected to the arm support member 255h. The first end 22Oh of the second arm 17Oh forms a loop 234h around the second leg member 3Oh and is slidably connected to the second leg member 3Oh and the second end 23Oh of the second arm 17Oh is connected to the arm support member 255h. The first end 24Oh of the third arm 18Oh forms a loop 236h around the third leg member 4Oh and is slidably connected to the third leg member 4Oh and the second end 25Oh of the third arm 18Oh is connected to the arm support member 255h. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 16Oh, the second arm 17Oh, and the third arm 18Oh may be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the leg members are able to collapse. It will also be appreciated that the loops may either be slidably connected or connected in a fixed manner to each respective leg member. [0172] The bracing assembly 5Oh may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the bracing assembly 5Oh may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the bracing assembly 5Oh to sustain the floral easel 1Oh in the open or erected position. [0173] The floral easel 1Oh may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object (not shown) by placing the floral object about the first end lOOh of the third leg member 40h of the floral easel 1Oh. [0174] A support member 27Oh (FIGS. 8A and 8B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object or non-floral object, however, any portion of the floral easel 1Oh may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object, such as, for example, the bracing assembly 5Oh, the joining member 12Oh or any other area of the floral easel 1Oh capable of supporting the floral object or non-floral object. The support member 27Oh may be connected to any area of the floral easel 1Oh such as, for example, the first ends of the plurality of leg members, the bracing assembly 50h or to any other area of the floral easel 1Oh to which the support member 27Oh may be attached. The support member 27Oh may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 27Oh may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 27Oh, as shown in FIG. 8, is a hook connected to the first end lOOh of the third leg member 40h. [0175] The support member 27Oh may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 27Oh may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0176] The floral easel 1Oh may also have a retaining member 28Oh for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 28Oh may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, the joining member 12Oh, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 28Oh may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 28Oh may be constructed from a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. Alternatively, the retaining member 28Oh may be eliminated from the floral easel 1Oh and the plurality of leg members may be retained in the collapsed position by the joining member 12Oh. [0177] As shown in FIG. 8, the retaining member 28Oh is connected to the first leg member 2Oh, however, for example, the retaining member 28Oh may be attached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 5Oh or to any other area of the floral easel 1Oh that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 28Oh or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 1Oh. [0178] To move the floral easel 1Oh from the open or erect position (shown in FIG. 8A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 8B), the first end 20Oh of the first arm 16Oh (the loop 232h), the first end 22Oh of the second arm 17Oh (the loop 234h), and the first end 24Oh of the third arm 18Oh (the loop 236h) lare moved toward the first end of each respective leg member so as to allow the leg members to collapse inward. The second end 7Oh, the second end 9Oh, and the second end 11Oh may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Oh forming the leg members into a bundle 29Oh (shown in FIG. 8B). [0179] In an alternate embodiment, the loop 232h, the loop 234h, and the loop 236h may be fixed to each respective leg member. To move the floral easel 1Oh from the open or erect position to the closed position, the arm support member 255h may be moved in an upward direction so as to allow the first leg member 2Oh, the second leg member 3Oh, and the third leg member 4Oh to move from the open or erect position to the collapsed position so that the second end 7Oh, the second end 9Oh, and the second end 11Oh may be inserted into the retaining member 28Oh forming the leg members into the bundle 29Oh (shown in FIG. 8D). [0180] In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, a portion of the first leg member 2Oh, the second leg member 3Oh, and the third leg member 40h may be bent to prevent each of the loops from moving toward the second end of each respective leg member. That is, the first leg member 2Oh has a bend 30Oh to prevent the loop 232h from moving toward the second end 7Oh of the first leg member 2Oh. The second leg member 3Oh has a bend 31Oh to prevent the loop 234h from moving toward the second end 9Oh of the second leg member 3Oh. The third leg member 40h has a bend 32Oh to prevent the loop 236h from moving toward the second end 11Oh of the third leg member 40h. [0181] To move the floral easel 1Oh from the open or erect position (shown in FIG. 8C) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 8D), the loop 232h, the loop 234h, and the loop 236h are moved toward the first end of each respective leg member so as to allow the leg members to collapse inward. The second end 7Oh, the second end 9Oh, and the second end 11Oh may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Oh forming the leg members into a bundle 29Oh (shown in FIG. 8D). [0182] In an alternate embodiment, the loop 232h, the loop 234h, and the loop 236h may be fixed to each respective leg member. To move the floral easel 1Oh from the open or erect position to the closed position, the arm support member 255h may be moved in an upward direction so as to allow the first leg member 2Oh, the second leg member 3Oh, and the third leg member 40h to move from the open or erect position to the collapsed position so that the second end 7Oh, the second end 9Oh, and the second end 11Oh may be inserted into the retaining member 28Oh forming the leg members into the bundle 29Oh (shown in FIG. 8D).

Description of Figure 9 [0183] Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, designated generally by the reference numeral 1Oi is a floral easel. The floral easel 1Oi has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the floral easel 1Oi has a first leg member 2Oi and a second leg member 3Oi. [0184] As shown in FIGS. 9A and B, the first leg member 2Oi has a first end 6Oi, a second end 7Oi, a first side lOOi and a second side 11Oi. The second leg member 3Oi has a first end 8Oi, a second end 9Oi, a first side 12Oi and a second side 13Oi. The first end 6Oi of the first leg member 2Oi and the first end 8Oi of the second leg member 3Oi are integrally connected forming an acute angle 140i where the first end 6Oi and first end 8Oi are joined. The second side 11Oi of the first leg member 2Oi is generally in contact with a substrate 45i to thereby support and hold the floral easel 1Oi. The substrate 45i may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 1Oi thereon. [0185] The first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 3Oi may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B as one piece of springy material). Alternatively, the first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 3Oi may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 3Oi are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 3Oi are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 30i may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material of a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg member may be constructed of aluminum. [0186] A support member 27Oi (FIGS. 9A and 9B) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object or non-floral object, however, any portion of the floral easel 1Oi may hold or support the floral object or the non-floral object. The support member 27Oi may be connected to any area of the floral easel 1Oi such as, for example, the first leg member 2Oi, the second leg member 3Oi or any other area capable of having the support member 27Oi attached thereto. The support member 27Oi may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 27Oi may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 27Oi, as shown in FIG. 9, is a hook connected to the second end 9Oi of the second leg member 3Oi. [0187] The support member 27Oi may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 27Oi may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0188] The floral easel 1Oi may also have a retaining member 28Oi for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 28Oi may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining 28Oi may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 28Oi may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0189] As shown in FIG. 9, the retaining member 28Oi is connected to the second leg member 3Oi, however, for example, the retaining member 28Oi may be attached to either the first leg member 2Oi or the second leg member 2Oi or to any other area of the floral easel 1Oi that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 28Oi or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 1Oi. [0190] To move the floral easel 1Oi from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. 9A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 9B), the second leg member 3Oi is rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise about the acute angle 140i formed between the first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 3Oi. By rotating the floral easel 1Oi clockwise about the acute angle 140i, the first side lOOi of the first leg member 2Oi and the first side 12Oi of the second leg member 3Oi are compressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the acute angle 14Oi between the first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 3Oi. The second end 7Oi and the second end 9Oi may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Oi forming the leg members into a bundle 29Oi (shown in FIG. 9B). By rotating the floral easel 1Oi clockwise about the acute angle 140i, the second side 11Oi of the first leg member 2Oi and the second side 13Oi of the second leg member 30i are compressed together thereby inverting the acute angle 140i between the first leg member 2Oi and the second leg member 30ϊ. The second end 7Oi and the second end 9Oi may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Oi forming the leg members into a bundle 290i(shown in FIG. 9B or NOT SHOWN- need to decide).

Description of Figure 10 [0191] Referring now to FIGS. 1OA and 1OB, designated generally by the reference numeral 10j is a floral easel. The floral easel 1Oj has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the floral easel 10j has a first leg member 2Oj and a second leg member 3Oj. [0192] As shown in FIGS. 1OA and 1OB, the first leg member 2Oj has a first end 6Oj, a second end 7Oj, a first side 10Oj and a second side 11Oj. The first leg member 2Oj has a plurality of arches 22j formed therein. The arches 22j may be rigid or they may be collapsible. The second leg member 3Oj has a first end 8Oj, a second end 9Oj, a first side 12Oj and a second side 13Oj. The first end 6Oj of the first leg member 2Oj and the first end 8Oj of the second leg member 3Oj are integrally connected forming an acute angle 140j where the first end 6Oj and first end 8Oj are joined. The second side HOj of the first leg member 2Oj is generally in contact with a substrate 45j to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10j. The substrate 45j may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 10j thereon. [0193] The first leg member 2Oj and the second leg member 3Oj may be formed as a single piece of material that is integrally connected (shown in FIGS. 1OA and 1OB as one piece of elastic or resilient material). Alternatively, the first leg member 2Oj and the second leg member 3Oj may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 2Oj and the second leg member 30j are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 2Oj and the second leg member 3Oj are formed of two or more pieces ,of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, at least a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 2Oj and the second leg member 3Oj may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum. [0194] The floral easel 10j may be employed to hold and/or support a floral object (not shown) by placing the floral object about the second end 9Oj of the second leg member 3Oj of the floral easel 10j. [0195] A support member 27Oj (FIGS. 1OA and 10B) may also be employed to hold and/or support, the floral object, however any portion of the floral easel 10j may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object. The support member 27Oj may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10j such as, for example, the first leg member 2Oj, the second leg member 3Oj, or any other area capable of having the support member 27Oj attached thereto. The support member 27Oj may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 27Oj may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The support member 27Oj, as shown in FIG. 10j, is a hook connected to the second end 9Oj of the second leg member 3Oj. [0196] The support member 27Oj may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 27Oj may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0197] The floral easel 10j may also have a retaining member 28Oj for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 28Oj may be selected of the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a hook, a loop, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 28Oj may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 28Oj may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. [0198] As shown in FIG. 1Oj, the retaining member 28Oj is connected to the first leg member 2Oj, however, for example, the retaining member 28Oj may be attached to either the first leg member 2Oj or the second leg member 2Oj or to any other area of the floral easel 10j that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 28Oj or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 10j. [0199] To move the floral easel 10j from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. 10A) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. 10B), the second leg member 3Oj is rotated clockwise about the acute angle 140j formed between the first leg member 2Oj and the second leg member 3Oj. The first side 10Oj of the first leg member 2Oj and the first side 12Oj of the second leg member 3Oj are compressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the acute angle 140j between the first leg member 2Oj and the second leg member 3Oj. The second end 7Oj and the second end 9Oj may then be inserted into the retaining member 28Oj forming the leg members into a bundle 29Oj (shown in FIG. 10B).

Description of Figure 11 [0200] Referring now to FIGS. 11A-11D, designated generally by the reference numeral 10k is a floral easel. The floral easel 10k has a plurality of leg members and, in one embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the floral easel 10k has a first leg member 20k, a second leg member 30k, and a third leg member 40k. [0201] As shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the first leg member 20k has a first end 60k and a second end 70k. The second leg member 30k has a first end 80k and a second end 90k. The third leg member 40k has a first end 100k and a second end HOk. The first end 60k of the first leg member 20k, the first end 80k of the second leg member 30k, and the first end 100k of the third leg member 40k are capable of being placed into a joining member 120k having a plurality of openings therein for positioning the leg members in the open or closed position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, the joining member 120k has a top portion 121k and a bottom portion 122k. The bottom portion has a first exterior opening 123k, a second exterior opening 124k, and a third exterior opening 125k therein for placing the leg members in the open position (FIG. HC). The joining member 120k also has a first interior opening 126k, a second interior opening 127k, and a third interior opening 128k for placing the leg members in the closed position (FIG. 11C). The joining member 120k may be any shape so as to support the leg members such as, for example, a block, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, or any other shape capable of receiving and supporting the plurality of leg members. Further, the joining member 120k may be constructed of any material capable of receiving and supporting the plurality of leg members such as, for example, wood, plastic, rubber, metal, or any other material capable of receiving and supporting the plurality of leg members. The second end 70k of the first leg member 20k, the second end 90k of the second leg member 30k, and the second end 110k of the third leg member 40k are generally in contact with a substrate 45k (shown in FIG. HA) to thereby support and hold the floral easel 10k. The substrate 45k may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, tile, carpet, combinations thereof, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel 10k thereon. [0202] The first leg member 20k and the second leg member 30k may be formed of two or more pieces of material. If the first leg member 20k and the second leg member 30k are formed of two or more pieces of material, the materials may differ or the materials may be the same. For example, if the first leg member 20k and the second leg member 30k are formed of two or more pieces of material, one of the leg members may be formed of steel and the other may be formed of aluminum. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of leg members may be formed of at least two or more materials. For example, a portion of at least one of the leg members may be steel and another portion of the leg member may be aluminum. In yet another embodiment, the first leg member 20k, the second leg member 30k, and the third leg member 30k may be integrally connected. The plurality of leg members may be constructed of the same material or a different material. For example, at least one of the plurality of leg members may be constructed of steel and the other leg members may be constructed of aluminum.

[0203] A support member 270k (FIGS. 11A- HC) may also be employed to hold and/or support the floral object 260k (or non-floral object), however, any portion of the floral easel 10k may hold or support the floral object 260k or non- floral object, such as, for example, the joining member 120k or any other area of the floral easel 10k capable of supporting the floral object 260k or a non-floral object. The support member 270k may be connected to any area of the floral easel 10k such as, for example, the joining member 120k or the leg members. Shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, the support member 270k is connected to the top portion 121 of the joining member 120k. However, the support member 270k may be connected to any portion of the joining member 120k. The support member 270k may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object 260k. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 270k may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object 260k. [0204] The support member 270k may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the support member 270k may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object 260k. [0205] The floral easel 10k may also have a retaining member (not shown) for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, the joining member 120k, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. Alternatively, the retaining member may be eliminated from the floral easel 10 and the plurality of leg members may be retained in the collapsed position by the joining member 120k.

[0206] To move the floral easel 10k from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. HA) to the collapsed position (shown in FIG. HB), the first ends of the leg members are moved from the exterior openings (123k, 124k and 125k) (FIG. HC) in the joining member 120k to the interior openings (126k, 127k, and 128k) (FIG. HC) in the joining member 120k. [0207] Shown in FIG. HD is another embodiment of the floral easel 101 wherein the floral easel 101 has a splay assembly 121 for sustaining the floral easel 101 in the open or erected position. The splay assembly 121 has a bracing assembly 1601 and a reinforcing member 1701. It should be understood that the splay assembly 121 may be formed separately from the legs or the splay assembly 121 may be integrally connected to the legs. Alternatively, the bracing assembly 1601 may be formed non-integrally from the legs and the reinforcing member 1701 may be formed integrally with the legs or vice-versa. The bracing assembly 1601 has a first arm 1801 and a second arm 1901. The first arm 1801 has a first end 2001 and a second end 2101. The second arm 1901 has a first end 2201 and a second end 2301. The first end 2001 of the first arm 1801 is connected to the first leg member 201. The first end 2201 of the second arm 1901 is connected to the second leg member 301. The second end 2101 of the first arm 1801 and the second end 2301 of the second arm 1901 are connected to the third leg member 401. In the embodiment shown in FIG. HD, the bracing assembly 1601 is constructed of one continuous piece of material. The first end 2001 of the first arm 1801 forms a loop 2321 around the first leg member 201 and is slidably connected to the first leg member 201, the first end 2201 of the second arm 1901 forms a loop 2341 around the second leg member 301 and is slidably connected to the second leg member 301, the second end 2101 of the first arm 1801 and second end 2301 of the second arm 1901 form a contiguous loop 2361 around the third leg member 401 and the loop 2361 is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 401. It will be appreciated, however, that the first arm 1801 and the second arm 1901 may be connected to the leg members in any manner as long as the leg members are able to fully collapse. [0208] The bracing assembly 1601 may be a single piece of material/ or more than one piece of material. For example, as shown in FIGS. HD, the bracing assembly 1601 is a single piece of material wherein the second end 2101 of the first arm 180 and the second end 2301 of the second arm 1901 form a continuous loop around the third leg member 401 wherein the looped area is slidably and pivotally connected to the third leg member 40. If the bracing assembly 1601 is fabricated using sufficiently flexible and springy material, it need not be slidably or pivotally connected to any or all of the plurality of leg members. [0209] The bracing assembly 1601 may be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the bracing assembly 1601 may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the bracing assembly 1601 to sustain the floral easel 10 in the open or erected position. [0210] If the third leg 401 is not pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 201 and the second leg 301 or, if the third leg 401 is pivotally connected to at least one of the first leg 201 and the second leg 301 limiting its travel to positions of full erection, full collapse, or intermediate positions and, if the first leg 201 and the second leg 301 are connected to limit travel to positions from full erection to full collapse, then at least one of the bracing assembly 1601 and reinforcing member 1701 can be eliminated from this embodiment of the floral easel 101. [0211] A stop member 2351 may be connected adjacent and underneath the second arm 1901 of the bracing assembly 1601 to prevent the bracing assembly 1601 from sliding down the second leg member 301 of the floral easel 101. The stop member 2351 may be constructed of the same material as the leg member or of a different material than the leg member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. HD, the stop member 2351 is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the second arm 1901 of the bracing assembly 1601. However, the stop member 2351 may be connected to any of the leg members of the floral easel 101. It should be understood that the stop member 2351 is not required, however, for embodiments in which the bracing assembly 1601 is slidably or pivotally connected to at least one leg member, the stop member 2351 aids in the erection and enhances the stability of the floral easel 101. [0212] The reinforcing member 1701 has a first end 2401 and a second end 2501. The first end 2401 is connected to the first leg member 201 and the second end 2501 is connected to the second leg member 301. In the embodiment shown in FIG. HD, the first end 2401 forms a loop 2521 around the first leg member 201 and is slidably connected to the first leg member 201 and the second end 2501 forms a loop 2541 around the second leg member 301 and is slidably connected to the second leg member 301. It will be appreciated, however, that the first end 2401 and second end 2501 may be connected in any manner to the first leg member 201 and second leg member 301 of the floral easel 101. [0213] For example, but not by way of limitation, the reinforcing member 1701 may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a rope, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, a wire, springs, tubing, plastic, profiles, wood, polymer/fiber, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, combinations thereof or any other device which allows the floral easel 101 to be sustained in the open or erected position. The reinforcing member 1701 may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the reinforcing member 1701 may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material allows the reinforcing member 1701 to sustain the floral easel 101 in the open or erected position. It will be appreciated, however, that the reinforcing member 1701 is not necessary in alternate embodiments where a more flexible floral easel 101 is desirable or acceptable for use. [0214] A stop member 2551 may also be connected to the first leg member 201 of the floral easel 101 and placed adjacent and underneath the first end 2401 of the reinforcing member 1701 for preventing the reinforcing member 1701 from sliding down the first leg member 201 of the floral easel 101. However, it should be understood that the stop member 2351 may be placed on either the first leg member 201 or the second leg member 301 of the floral easel 101. The stop member 2551 may be constructed of the same material as the designated leg member or of a different material than the designated leg member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. HD, the stop member 2551 is a horizontal cross-piece connected adjacent and below the first end 2401 of the reinforcing member 1701. However, the stop member 2551 may be connected to either the first leg member 201, the second leg member 30, the third leg member 401 or any of the first leg member 201, the second leg member 301, and the third leg member 401 of the floral easel 101. It should be understood that multiple stop members may be used on the floral easel. It should also be understood that the stop members are not necessary to the erection, collapse, or stability of the floral easel 101; however, the stop members may enhance stability and facilitate erection of the floral easel 101. The reinforcing member 1701 may also provide at least one location on the floral easel 101 to which floral objects and decorations may be fastened using wire clips, glue or any other fastening means capable of securing floral objects and decorations to the floral easel 101. [0215] The floral easel 101 may also have a retaining member 2801 for retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. For example, but not by way of limitation, the retaining member 2801 may be selected from the group consisting of elastic, a clip or clips, a spring, a band, shrink material, stretch material, the joining member 1201, a carton, a tube, a bend in the leg members, a groove, a slot, a loop, a hook, a wire, a bow, a rope, a magnet, a cord, a chain, a strap, a cable, adhesive, combinations thereof, or any other device capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. The retaining member 2801 may also be constructed of the same material as the leg members or the retaining member 2801 may be constructed of a different material than the leg members as long as the material is capable of retaining the leg members in the collapsed position. Alternatively, the retaining member 2801 may be eliminated from the floral easel 101 and the plurality of leg members may be retained in the collapsed position by the joining member 1201. [0216] As shown in FIG. HD, the retaining member 280 is connected to the first leg member 20; however, for example, the retaining member 280 may be attached to any of the leg members, the bracing assembly 160, the reinforcing member 170, or to any other area of the floral easel 10 that is suitable for connecting the retaining member 280 or may be a separate device unconnected to the floral easel 10. [0217] To move the floral easel 101 from the open or erected position (shown in FIG. HD) to the collapsed position (not shown), the bracing assembly 1601 is rotated about the loop 2321 and the loop 2341 to cause the loop 2361 to slide in an upward direction toward the first end 1001 of the third leg member 401 thereby pivoting the third leg member 401 inward toward the area between the first leg member 201 and the second leg member 301. The reinforcing member 1701 is also moved in an upward direction to cause the loop 2541 of the second end 2501 of the reinforcing member 1701 to slide in an upward manner along the first end 1001 of the second leg member 301. The first end 601 of the first leg member 201 and the first end 801 of the second leg member 301 are compressed together thereby decreasing the angle formed at the arch 1301 between the center area 1401 of the first leg member 201 and the second leg member 301. The second end 701, the second end 901, and the second endllOI may then be inserted into the retaining member 2801 forming the leg members into a bundle 2901 (not shown). [0218] The various embodiments of the floral easel described herein in FIGS. 1-11, may be further shipped and/or stored. To ship the various embodiments of the floral easel described herein in FIGS. 1- 11, the plurality of legs of the floral easel may be collapsed to the closed position and held in place by the retaining member; the floral easel may then be placed into a shipping container such as, for example, a box or crate, and the floral easel may be shipped to a predetermined location. Further, the various embodiments of the floral easel described herein in FIGS. 1-11, may be placed into a storage area for an indefinite period of time wherein the plurality of legs are collapsed into the closed position so as to store the floral easel in a storage area for an indefinite period of time.

Description of Figure 12 [0219] Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12I, designated generally by the reference numeral lOm-lOu, respectively, is a floral easel. The floral easel lOm-lOu has a top end 20m-20u, a bottom end 30m-30u and a side wall 40m-40u extending therebetween. The top end 20m-20u, the bottom end 30m-30u and the sidewall 40m-40u are formed so as to have the appearance of a cone as shown in FIGS. 12A-12I. The top end 20m-20u may have an aperture therethrough or may be solid. The bottom end 30m-30u may have an aperture therethrough or may be solid. The floral easel lOm-lOu may be a solid structure or may be hollow. The bottom end 30m-30u is generally in contact with a substrate 45m-45u to thereby support and hold the floral easel lOm-lOu. The substrate 45m-45u may be any surface such as, for example, a floor, dirt, grass, fiber, plastic, or any surface capable of supporting the floral easel lOm-lOu thereon. [0220] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12A, the floral object (not shown) may be placed adjacent to the top end 20m of the floral easel 10m. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12B-12E, a support member 50n-50q may be employed to hold and/or support the floral object, however, any portion of the floral easel 1On-IOq may hold or support the floral object or non-floral object. The support member 50n-50q may be any kind of device capable of supporting the floral object. For example, but not by way of limitation, the support member 50n-50q may be selected from the group consisting of a hook, a platform, a magnet, wire, adhesive, cohesive, velcro, a slot, a loop, a tab, a groove, a spring, elastic, a band, ribbon, a clip, combinations thereof, or any other device that is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12B, the support member 5On is a tab created by making a cut-out in the floral easel 1On wherein a bottom portion 6On of the support member 50n remains connected to the floral easel 1On. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D, the support member 5Oo and 5Op, respectively, is adhesive located on the floral easel 10o-10p. The adhesive may be, for example, glue, a tab, tape or any other type of adhesive capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. The adhesive tab shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D may be any shape such as rectangular as shown in FIG. 12C or circular as shown in FIG. 12D. However, it should be understood that the adhesive may be any shape so long as a floral object may be connected thereto. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12E, the floral easel 1Oq includes an aperture 55q through a portion of the sidewall 40q of the floral easel 1Oq so that a support member (not shown) such as, for example, an s-hook may be placed therethrough. The aperture 55q may be any shape and/or size and may be located on any area of the sidewall 40q for placing the support member therethrough. [0221] In the various embodiments of the floral easel described herein, the support member may be constructed of the same material as the floral easel or the support member may be constructed of a different material than the floral easel so long as the material is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. It should be understood however, that the support member is not required. The floral object may alternatively be placed around the top portion of the floral easel. It should also be understood that the floral object may be placed on either or both the top portion and/or the support member of the floral easel. [0222] Shown in FIG. 12F is a floral easel 1Or having a portion of the sidewall 40r removed so as to create a support member 5Or extending the length of a sidewall 40r for placing a floral object therethrough. [0223] Shown in FIG. 12G is a floral easel 10s having a portion of the sidewall 40s removed wherein a portion of the sidewall 40s remains connected to the floral easel 10s thereby creating a support member 50s, such as a tab, for hanging a floral object thereon. The support member 50s may be any shape or size. For example, as shown in FIG. 12G, the support member 50s is substantially triangular. [0224] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the floral easel described herein, the floral easel may have multiple portions of the sidewall 40t-40u removed as shown in FIGS. 12H and 121, respectively. The removed portions of the sidewall 40t-40u may serve to allow placement of the floral object therethrough for support of the floral object. Further, the floral easel lOt-lOu, as shown in FIGS. 12H and 121, includes a support member 50t~50u, such as a triangular tab, for holding and/or supporting a floral object thereon. It should be understood that the support member 50t-50u may be any shape and/or size such as, for example, triangular, square, or circular, so long as the support member 50t- 5Ou is capable of holding and/or supporting the floral object. [0225] It should be understood that the various embodiments of the floral easel described herein may be any shape and/or size. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13A-13E, the floral easel 10v-z, respectively, is a five-sided pyramid. Shown in FIGS. 14A-14E, the floral easel 10aa-10ee, respectively, is a five-sided pyramid having a plurality of leg members 280aa-280ee. Shown in FIGS. 15A-15E, the floral easel lOff-IOjj is a three-sided pyramid. Shown in FIGS. 16A-16F, the floral easel 10kk-10pp is a three-sided pyramid having a plurality of leg members 280kk- 280pp, respectively. [0226] Changes may be made in the construction and operation of the various components, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps or sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.