GB2458735A

GB2458735A - Flower holder for clothing

Info

Publication number: GB2458735A
Application number: GB0806045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sajjad Yusufali Dhanji
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-03
Filing date: 2008-04-03
Publication date: 2009-10-07
Also published as: GB0806045D0

Abstract

A device for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil comprises a substantially flat body 10 having an enlarged first end portion 11 and an elongate narrow portion 12 extending from the centre of one side edge of the enlarged end portion to a second end of the body, means 17 being provided on a rear side of the enlarged end portion for attaching the body 10 to an article of appareil. The fastening means may be a safety pin, or a projecting pin with a separate fastening member. The elongate portion 12 may be inserted through a buttonhole in the appareil. In use, a flower (20, fig.4) is positioned against the front side of the device, with the bloom (22, fig.4) positioned against the enlarged end portion 11 and with the stem (21, fig.4) of the flower extending axially down the elongate narrow portion 12. The flower is then attached to the body of the device by fastening its stem to the elongate narrow portion 12, by means of a staple or by binding.

Description

Flower fastening device This invention relates to a device for fastening one or more flowers to an article of appareil.

It is well known for persons to wear a single flower at weddings and the like.

Gentlemen's suits are generally provided with a buttonhole in the lapel of the suit jacket, through which the stem of a flower can be inserted. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the flower has a tendency to rotate and move unless it is also pinned in place. The practice of pinning is difficult, unsightly and often unsatisfactory.

Ladies' appareil and some gentlemen's appareil are not provided with buttonholes.

Accordingly, in such instances, the flower needs to be pinned to the appareil, usually by engaging the pin with the stem of the flower. Again, since the flower is supported below the main part of the flower (which includes the bloom), the flower has a tendency to rotate downward under the influence of gravity.

Another disadvantage of the above-mentioned traditional method of wearing a flower is that the main part of the flower sits generally normal to the plane of the surface of the wearer's appareil, with the result that the flower is not displayed satisfactory to its full effect.

I have now devised a device for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil, the device comprising a substantially flat body having an enlarged first end portion and an elongate narrow portion extending from the centre of one side edge of said first end portion to a second end of the body, means being provided on a rear side of said first end portion for attaching said body to an article of appareil.

In use, a flower is positioned against the front side of the device, with the main part of the flower (including the bloom) positioned against the enlarged end portion and with the stem of the flower extending axially down the elongate narrow portion. The flower is then attached to the body of the device by fastening its stem to the elongate narrow portion: this deforms the flower and pulls its bloom into a more forwardly-facing position, thereby improving the appearance of the flower.

The device can be attached to an article of appareil by engaging the attachment means thereof with the fabric of the appareil. The attachment means is positioned at the enlarged first end portion of the body positioned behind the bloom of the flower.

In this manner, the flower is supported near or above its centre of gravity, such that any tendency for the flower to rotate is alleviated.

The attachment means may comprise a safety pin or the like. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise a projecting pin for passing through the fabric of the appareil and a separate fastening member for frictionally or snap-engaging with the distal end of the pin.

The elongate portion of the body of the device may be inserted through a buttonhole and, in order to facilitate this, the elongate portion preferably comprises longitudinal side edges which converge towards said second end of the body. Alternatively, for example if there is no buttonhole, the elongate portion may also comprise additional means for attaching it to the appareil to further alleviate the risk of rotational movement.

In instances where there is no buttonhole, means may be provided at the second end of the device for engaging the stem of the flower in order to hold the lower end of the stem of the flower in-situ on the device.

Preferably said engagement means comprises a formation which defines a passage facing axially of the elongate portion of the body. The formation is preferably collapsible to allow the device to be used with a buttonhole, with the formation collapsed to allow the elongate portion to be inserted there through.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device a hereinbefore defined in combination with a flower, the flower comprising a stem extending from a bloom, wherein the flower is fastened to the device such that the enlarged first end portion of the body is positioned behind the bloom and the stem of the flower extends axially of the elongate portion.

Preferably the stem is fastened to the elongate portion, for example by a staple or by a binding such as a ribbon or tape.

Preferably the body portion is formed of a sheet material, which maybe transparent or coloured to correspond with the colour of the fabric of the appareil.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of device in accordance with the present invention for fastening a flower to a wearers appareil; Figure 2 is a rear view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of a second embodiment of device in accordance with the present invention for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil; Figure 4 is a perspective view of device of Figure 1 or Figure 3 when in use; Figure 5 is a front view of a third embodiment of device in accordance with the present invention for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of device of Figure 5 when in use.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a device for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil, the device comprising a one-piece body 10 formed of sheet material. The device comprises an enlarged end 11 having a top edge 13 and opposite side edges 14 extending substantially perpendicularly from respective opposite ends of the top edge 13. A pair of downwardly converging bottom edges 15 extend from the lower ends of respective side edges 14. The body 10 further comprises an elongate portion 12, which extends from the lower end of the bottom edges 15 of the enlarged end portion 11. The elongate portion 12 comprises longitudinal side edges 16 which converge towards the lower end of the body 10.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a safety pin 17 is attached to the rear surface of the body 10 at the centre of the enlarged end portion 11. Alternatively, referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, an elongate pin 18 may extend outwardly from the rear surface of the body 10 at the centre of the enlarged end portion 11. A separate fastening member 19 is provided for engaging the pin 18.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, there is shown an article of appareil in the form of a suit jacket having a lapel L provided with a buttonhole B. In accordance with the present invention, a flower 20 comprising a stem 21 extending from a bloom 22 can be worn on the article of appareil by attaching the flower 20 to the front of device of the kind shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3 of the drawings. The flower 20 is attached by positioning the bloom 22 thereof against the enlarged end portion 12 of the body 10 of the device, such that the stem 21 extends axially of the elongate portion 12 of the body 10. The flower 20 is then held in place by passing a staple 23 through the upper end of the stem 21 into the upper end of the elongate portion 12 of the body 10 of the device. The elongate portion 12 of the body 10 of the device is then inserted into the buttonhole B and the tapered shape thereof helps to achieve this. The stem 21 of the flower 20 preferably remains on the outside of the lapel L. The fastening 17/18 on the rear of the device 10 is then attached to the lapel L to hold the device and flower firmly in-situ.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown an alternative embodiment of flower fastening device, which is similar to the devices of Figures 1 and 3 and like parts are given like reference numerals. In this embodiment, the lower end of the elongate portion 12 of the body 10 is provided with a bridge formation 50, which defines a passage 51 facing axially of the elongate portion 12.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, in use, the lower end of the stem 21 of the flower 20 can be inserted into the passage 51. The upper end of the stem 21 is then stapled to the elongate portion 12 of the body 10 as hereinbefore described. The device 10 is then fastened to the lapel or other part of an article of appareil by means of a fastener 17/18 as shown in Figures 2 or 3. The whole of the body 10 of the device is positioned externally of the article of appareil and the staple 23 and formation 50 together help to keep the flower firmly in-situ on the device 10. The fastening 17/18 is positioned directly behind the flower 22 near its centre of gravity, so that the device 22 will not rotate. However, if necessary, a further fastening pin (not shown) maybe provided on elongate portion 12 of the body 10. The formation can be folded flat in order to allow the device to be used in conjunction with a buttonhole (as shown in Figure 4) or without.

In an alternative embodiment, the formation 50 may be omitted and the stem 21 fastened to the elongate portion at various positions along its length by suitable fastening means such as staples, tape or braid.

Whilst the shape of the body portion 10 is generally Y-shaped as shown, it could be of any shape provided that it comprises an enlarged first end and a narrow elongate second end.

A flower fastening device in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet allows a flower to be reliably fastened to an article of appareil either with or without the use of a buttonhole. 1;

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil, the device comprising a substantially flat body having an enlarged first end portion and an elongate narrow portion extending from the centre of one side edge of said first end portion to a second end of the body, means being provided on a rear side of said first end portion for attaching said body to an article of appareil.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the attachment means comprises a safety pin.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the attachment means comprises a projecting pin for passing through the fabric of the appareil and a separate fastening member for engaging with the distal end of the pin.
4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the elongate portion comprises longitudinal side edges which converge towards said second end of the body. *I. * * * ** **** 20
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the elongate portion **..comprises additional means for attaching it to the appareil. *

***.S. * S

*:*
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means at the second end of the device for engaging the stem of the flower. *SS. * S S

*S I 5
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which said stem engagement means comprises a formation which defines a passage facing axially of the elongate portion of the body.
8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which the formation is collapsible.
9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the body portion is formed of a sheet material. p
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, in which the sheet material is transparent or coloured to correspond with the colour of the fabric of the appareil.
11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a flower, the flower comprising a stem extending from a bloom, wherein the flower is fastened to the device such that the enlarged first end portion of the body is positioned behind the bloom and the stem of the flower extends axially of the elongate portion.
12. A device as claimed in claim 11, in which the stem is fastened to the elongate portion by a staple or by a binding.
13. A device for fastening a flower to a wearer's appareil, the device being substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. *S*. * * * ** * * * S...IIlls..S *.I. * I ** III. * . . *I S