초록 ▼

Novel methods, apparatus and kits to provide a new presently-untapped market for state-of-the-art artificial flowers presently sold only as part of artificial plant assemblies that include artificial stems, branches, leaves, etc., the invention comprising various novel improved means, as well as kit

Novel methods, apparatus and kits to provide a new presently-untapped market for state-of-the-art artificial flowers presently sold only as part of artificial plant assemblies that include artificial stems, branches, leaves, etc., the invention comprising various novel improved means, as well as kits including such means, for attaching such artificial flowers to non-blooming (pre-bloom, post-bloom or never-bloom) live vegeation having live stems, branches, leaves, etc., to simulate blooming thereof, for easy care-free instant yard beautification, said kits being devoid of artificial plant stems, branches, leaves, etc.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A kit for converting non-blooming live vegetation having live stems, branches or leaves to simulate blooming of such live vegetation, said kit comprising a plurality of artificial flowers devoid of artificial stems or branches or leaves not needed for such conversion and a plurality of means diff

1. A kit for converting non-blooming live vegetation having live stems, branches or leaves to simulate blooming of such live vegetation, said kit comprising a plurality of artificial flowers devoid of artificial stems or branches or leaves not needed for such conversion and a plurality of means different from each other for attachment of said flowers to the live vegetation, thereby improving conversion by providing a choice of one of said plurality of different attachment means in said kit for best attachment for each flower location on the live vegetation.2. A kit according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of different attachment means is a pin adapted to be stuck into any stem or branch of the live vegetation.3. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said pin is an integral part of the structure of said artificial flowers.4. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said pin is an adapter attachable to said flower.5. A kit according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of different attachment means is a clip adapted to grasp stems or branches of the live vegetation of varying shape or dimension in any direction including transversely thereof.6. A kit according to claim 5, wherein said clip is normally closed so that it must be opened to receive and grasp a live stem or branch.7. A kit according to claim 5, wherein said clip is an integral part of the structure of said artificial flowers.8. A kit according to claim 5, wherein said clip is a adapter attachable to said flower.9. A kit according to claim 1, wherein one of said attachment means is a tie.10. A kit according to claim 1, wherein, as one of said attachment means, said flowers are formed with a passage adapted to frictionally receive a live vegetation stem or branch for attachment of said artificial flower thereon.11. A kit according to claim 10, wherein said base passage is tapered from a smaller-diameter end adapted to frictionally engage either the same size artificial plant stem in assembly of an artificial flower plant or one stem of a range of larger-diameter live vegetation stems or branches wedged therein from the larger-diameter end for conversion.12. A kit according to claim 1, wherein one of said attaching means is a separate straight pin having sufficient length and a head to enable simply manually pushing said pin by said head into and through each of said artificial flowers, at any place and in any direction therethrough, and into a stem or branch of the live vegetation.13. A kit according to claim 1, said kit further comprising instructions for accomplishing such conversion.14. A kit for conversion of non-blooming live vegetation to simulate blooming thereof by attachment thereto of artificial flowers similar or identical to those otherwise used to assemble artificial flower plants, said kit comprising a plurality of such flowers, not as an assembled artificial flower plant, but separately, a plurality of means different from one another for attaching said flowers to the live vegetation and/or instructions for such attachment, as by use of a commercially available twist tie, pin or clip not included in said kit.15. A kit according to claim 14, wherein said means for attaching comprises any one or more of a pin, a clip, a tie, a tapered passage and/or a wire-type support.16. A kit according to claim 14, wherein said means for attaching is an elongated wire-like support having said flowers attached thereto for application of said flowers to a live tree or bush in the manner of a string of Christmas tree lights.17. A kit for attaching artificial flowers to non-blooming live vegetation stems to simulate blooming thereof, said kit comprising a plurality of artificial flowers formed with a passage to repeatedly frictionally receive either an artificial stem in assembly of an artificial flower plant or a live stem for such simulation, said kit and/or said flowers further comprising means other than or cooperating with said passage for attaching said flowers to live stems not frictionally receivable in said passage, said other means not preventing use of said passage to repeatedly frictionally receive either an artificial or a live stem.18. A kit according to claim 14, said kit further comprising means either integral with or separate from said flower(s) for attachment thereof to a live vegetation stem not frictionally receivable in said passage.19. A kit according to claim 14, wherein a portion of said means for attaching is frictionally receivable in said flower passage and another portion thereof is attachable to a live stem not frictionally receivable in said passage.20. A kit for converting non-blooming live vegetation to simulate blooming thereof, said kit comprising a plurality of artificial flowers and a plurality of alternative means selectable for best attachment of said flowers to the live vegetation.21. Apparatus for converting non-blooming live vegetation to simulate blooming thereof, said apparatus comprising an artificial flower formed with a passage adapted to frictionally receive either an artificial plant stem therein when assembling an artificial plant or a live vegetation stem or branch for such conversion, said flower including additional means, integral with or attachable thereto by insertion into said flower passage, for attaching said artificial flower to a live vegetation stem or branch of a shape or size not frictionally receivable in said flower passage.22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said additional attaching means is a pin to be stuck into the live vegetation stem or branch.23. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said additional attaching means is a resilient clip for grasping the live vegetation stem or branch in any position thereon, including across the stem or branch.24. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said additional attaching means is both a pin and a clip.25. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said base passage is tapered so that live stems or branches of variable size may be wedged therein.26. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said flower is formed with a non-porous cup-like integral or separately-attached receptacle for retaining a liquid enhancement such as a scent, liquid hummingbird food or pest deterrent.27. Apparatus for converting a non-blooming live vegetation to simulate blooming thereof, said apparatus comprising an assembly of a plurality of artificial flowers without artificial stems or branches or leaves connected on an elongated wire-like support adapted to be applied, in Christmas tree light fashion, over live vegetation such as a bush or tree, each of said flowers being movable along said support to a desired flower position on the live vegetation.28. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said additional attaching means is a tie.29. Apparatus for attaching artificial flowers to non-blooming live vegetation to simulate blooming thereof, said apparatus comprising an elongated wire-like support having a plurality of artificial flowers attached thereto and being constructed and arranged so as to enable application thereof to the live vegetation in the manner of Christmas tree lights.30. An artificial flower adapted to provide a hummingbird feeder, said flower having a non-porous receptacle for retaining liquid hummingbird food, said receptacle being either an integral part of said flower or removably attached thereto.31. Means for attaching to live vegetation an artificial flower having a passage for frictionally receiving an artificial flower stem to assemble an artificial flower plant, said means having a portion frictionally and removably insertable in the flower passage and another portion for attachment to a stem or branch of the live vegetation not frictionally insertable in the flower passage.32. A single-step method of marketing artificial flowers used in assembly of artificial flower plants, said step comprising marketing a plurality of said flowers separately from such artificial plaits, in a kit with a plurality of alternative means selectable for best attachment of said flowers to non-blooming live vegetation to simulate blooming thereof, one of said attaching means being a passage in said flowers for frictionally and removably receiving an artificial or live stem or one of said plurality of alternative attaching means.