U.S. patent application number 10/775726 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-11 for decorative name card holder.
Invention is credited to Dusenberry, Shirley.
Application Number | 20050173603 10/775726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34827266 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050173603 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dusenberry, Shirley |
August 11, 2005 |
Decorative name card holder
Abstract
The present invention is a small vase that serves as a static
name card holder. The vase is lightweight, reusable, and can be
removably attached to the edge of a drinking glass, wine glass, or
similar utensil. Used in this manner, the current invention will
tastefully and attractively, in a floral setting, display the names
of people seated around a table.
Inventors: |
Dusenberry, Shirley;
(Scottsdale, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL A. SHIPPEY, PH. D.
4848 LAKEVIEW AVENUE
SUITE B
YORBA LINDA
CA
92886
US
|
Family ID: |
34827266 |
Appl. No.: |
10/775726 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/213.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 23/08 20130101;
A47G 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/213.2 |
International
Class: |
A47K 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A holder for name cards, comprising: a small, lightweight,
open-top container, capable of containing water, wherein the
container when filled with water is sufficiently light as to be
stably supportably on the upper edge of a drinking glass; means for
attaching said container to said edge of said drinking glass in a
stable, upright position; means for stably holding a card in an
upright position on said container; wherein said holding means
comprise at least one downwardly extending member forming a hanging
means to hang said container over said upper edge of a drinking
glass.
2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said means for attachment are
comprised of a tab fixedly attached to a side of said holder, and
extending outward and down in the shape of an inverted J.
3. The holder of claim 2, wherein said tab is permanently attached
to the outside of said holder, and is capable of removably
supporting said holder by means of stably resting astride the edge
of a thin-walled item.
4. The holder of claim 1, wherein said means for stably holding a
card are comprised of a plurality of tabs arising vertically from
the top surface of said holder.
5. The holder of claim 1, wherein said drinking glass is a wine
goblet.
6. The holder of claim 1, wherein said holder is constructed in the
shape of a flower, with the top surface curving horizontally
outward in the manner of petals of a flower.
7. The holder of claim 1, wherein said holder is capable of
containing water without leakage.
8. The holder of claim 1, additionally comprising a substantially
circular grid capable of residing in a stable horizontal position
within the neck of said container.
9. The holder of claim 8, wherein said grid is capable of
supporting one or more flowers or flower buds via insertion of the
stems of said flowers or buds into said grid.
10. The holder of claim 1, comprised of plastic.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed toward a name car holder
that can be attached to the upper edge of a drinking glass or
similar thin-edged item. The current invention is further capable
of supporting narrow-stemmed items, particularly flowers, for
display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of stationary
name card holders, particularly for static display. The invention
further relates to floral display items, and to holders with tabs
for attachment to larger items, particularly to the edges of
drinking vessels.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Static and portable name card holders are well known in the
prior art. An example is described by Hickman, Sr. in U.S. Design
Pat. No. 314,015, which teaches a clip-on plastic holder for name
tags.
[0006] Name tag and card holders that additionally support or
attach to stemmed flowers or the like are less prevalent. Wasilko
describes an upright bottom display holder capable of holding a
multitude of cards and having a top portion insertable into a
center sleeve and capable of holding flower stems. Carroll shows a
stand with a base that holds a card and a sleeve for a vial that
can hold a flower stem. Slavik describes a holder for greeting
cards with an attachment device for connecting the holder to one or
more flowers.
[0007] Prior art card holders do not combine the function of
presenting a card and a flower arrangement as an integral part of a
table setting. Such a function would be useful because there would
be fewer items to set onto the table, yet each table setting could
have an individual place holder and flower arrangement. Individual
arrangements and cards could also be delivered to a table while
attached to a beverage class, reducing the number of separate items
to be carried to the table.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is comprised of a receptacle having an
attachment tab for placement over the rim of a beverage glass or
other thin-walled item, having integrally attached slot holder tabs
for cards, and having a separate insertable mesh grid that may
optionally be set into the center of the receptacle for holding a
flower arrangement or other items with thin stems. The receptacle
and mesh grid are comprised of molded plastic, which may be of any
color, and which are formed in the shape of a multi-petal
flower.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a card and
flower holder that can be placed on the rim of a beverage glass as
part of a table setting.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the
number of separate items carried to and placed on a table, yet
providing for separate individual place arrangements for each table
setting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 Perspective view of the present invention in use
[0012] FIG. 2 Perspective view of the present invention showing the
insertion grid
[0013] FIG. 3 Top view of the present invention
[0014] FIG. 4 Side view of the present invention showing the
over-rim attachment tab
[0015] FIG. 5 Top view of the insertion grid for the present
invention
[0016] FIG. 6 Side view of the insertion grid for the present
invention
[0017] FIG. 7 Perspective view of the insertion grid for the
present invention
[0018] FIG. 8 Top view of the present invention showing detail of
cutaway views
[0019] FIG. 9 Detail cutaway view for Section A-A of the present
invention
[0020] FIG. 10 Detail cutaway view for Section B-B of the present
invention
[0021] FIG. 11 Detail cutaway view for Section C-C of the present
invention
[0022] FIG. 12 Side view of present invention showing over-rim
attachment tab
[0023] FIG. 13 Detail of over-rim attachment tab of the present
invention
[0024] FIG. 14 Side view of present invention showing frontal view
of over-rim attachment tab
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] FIG. 1 is a representative illustration of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention in use. The invention is shown
with the receptacle being attached over the rim of a beverage glass
by means of the over-rim attachment tab (10) and with a name card
inserted into the two sets of card holder tabs (20). One or more
flowers may be placed in the receptacle for display. The wine glass
is shown in shade and is not a part of the present invention.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is shown in perspective view from the side closest to the
name place card holder tabs (20). In this representation, the
petals (30, 50) around the rim of flower receptacle can be seen
clearly. The shapes of the petals shown are for illustration
purposes only. A multitude of petal shapes can be made. The entire
receptacle is made of molded plastic in any of a multitude of
colors. Two sets of name place card holder tabs are attached on one
side of the top rim (20). Each set is a pair of tabs closely spaced
to admit the width of a name card. An optional plastic mesh grid
(40) may be inserted into the center of the receptacle, resting
approximately midway into the cone-shaped receptacle (15).
[0027] In FIG. 3, the preferred embodiment of the present invention
is shown from a top view. At the center, the plastic mesh grid (40)
can be seen set approximately midway into the neck of the
receptacle (15). Thin-stemmed items, such as flowers, can be
inserted into the receptacle through the mesh grid in order to
create an upright display. The receptacle is rimmed by petals (30,
50) made as an integral part of the molded plastic receptacle. The
petal tips (31, 51) bend slightly downward, represented by the line
at the tip of each petal. The petal configuration is illustrative
only, as a multitude of petal shapes are possible. Two sets of name
place card holder tabs (20) are attached at one side of the petal
rim. The placement of these holder tabs is specifically determined
so that the channels of each holder are linear to each other and so
that the holder tabs are set sufficiently close to each other as to
hold upright a card having a length of 0.75 inches at a
minimum.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the present
invention from its side whereon the over-rim attachment tab (10) is
seen from the side. From this view, the receptacle can be seen to
consist of a cone-shaped base (1) with a rim of petals (30, 50)
that bend slightly downward at the tips (31, 51). The petals and
base are comprised of an integral piece of molded plastic.
[0029] FIGS. 5 through 7 show various aspects of the optional
plastic mesh grid (40) that may be set into the receptacle base. In
FIG. 5, the plastic mesh grid is shown from a top view. This grid
is comprised of a circular shape so that it will fit into the cone
base of the receptacle. The diameter of the circular shape is
determined by the size of the cone, such that the mesh grid can be
inserted only midway into the cone, thus leaving space in the cone
center below it. The preferable size of the mesh grid is
approximately 0.4 inches in diameter. The mesh grid is cut from a
pre-fabricated plastic mesh sheet comprised of squares, and thus
when the circular shape is cut out, the circular shape contains
five square holes while the squares on each corner are sliced in
half (41). The result is a cross-shaped grid having arcing cross
ends (42). In its preferable form, the square holes of the mesh
grid (43) have four equal sides that are approximately 0.075 inches
in length. The solid plastic mesh (44) is preferably approximately
0.06 inches in width.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of the plastic mesh grid
showing the square hole (43) at the center of two solid mesh
sections (44). From this view, the plastic mesh grid can be seen in
its preferable thickness to be approximately 0.06 inches.
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates the plastic mesh grid insert of the
present invention from a perspective view. The plastic mesh insert
is shown with five square holes (43), arcing cross ends (42), and
four squares sliced in half (41).
[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is again shown from a top view. However, this figure
shows the sections of the present invention that are displayed in
the detailed views that follow in FIGS. 9 through 13. The detailed
views illustrate the present invention from several aspects, which
differ each from the other as further explained in the following
description. It can also be seen from this top view that in this
particular embodiment of the petals around the rim of the
receptacle, the tips of the petals create a circle. However, the
larger petals (50) with flattened curves bend downward to a lesser
extent than do the thinner petals (30), creating a varietal effect
when viewed from a side or perspective angle, as will be apparent
in the next figures. The plastic mesh grid has been removed from
the center of the receptacle base for purposes of making the
illustration less complex. The name place card holder tabs (20) are
attached to the petal rim on one side of the receptacle so that the
channels in the holder tabs (21) are linear for purposes of holding
a name place card upright when inserted into the holder tabs.
[0033] FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross sections of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, taken from top through to
bottom, ie longitudinally. FIG. 9 shows a cross section taken
through thinner petals (30), near the over-rim attachment tab (10).
Said tab is shown in cross section. The conical angle of about
24.degree. formed by the cone of the flower is clearly seen.
[0034] FIG. 10 is also a cross section of the preferred embodiment
of the present invention, again longitudinally. This differs from
FIG. 9 in that the cut is taken through the centerline of broader
petals (50), at about a 45.degree. angle counterclockwise from the
cut of FIG. 9. In this case, the over-rim attachment tab (10) is
hidden on the back side of the flower vase as shown.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a narrow section of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, from an angle which
includes one set of the name place card holder tabs (20).
[0036] FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of
the present invention, from an angle which includes the over-rim
attachment tab (10) on the left side of the vase. The invention is
shown upright, in the same position as is preferred during use.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the over-rim attachment tab
(10).
[0038] FIG. 14 is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of
the present invention, from an angle which includes the over-rim
attachment tab (10) directly in front of the vase. In this view,
the invention is shown sideways.
[0039] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are
provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present
invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
rather as a basis for the claims and as representative basis for
teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in
virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or
manner.
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