US5095649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage receptacle assembly
Assignee: FLO-STEP Inc A SC CORP
•
Filing: 1990-10-16
•
Granted: 1992-03-17
•
Expires: 2010-10-16
Abstract
Abstract An assembly for storage of floral items or the like which includes a housing made up of stepped side walls, a rear wall, a front wall section at each step and top wall sections at each step. At least one container is located at each step, preferably received in an opening defined by the top wall section thereat. The containers define at least one water drain opening therein which is associated with a water drain system and with appropriate controls for maintaining water within the container or draining same therefrom. A cut item separator support may be provided within the containers for dividing the inside of the containers into a plurality of compartments for the receipt of floral items therein and for water-free transfer of foliage from one container to another.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. Brownlee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:35
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G7/00; A47G7/02; A47G7/04; A47G7/041; A47F; A47F7/00; A47F7/0071; A47F7/0078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An assembly for display and storage of cut flowers, greenery and the like comprising: a) a housing, said housing including opposite side walls, said side walls being stepped, a back wall, a plurality of front wall sections, one of said front wall sections being provided for each step of said side walls, and upper wall sections provided at each step of said side walls, said upper wall sections being generally planar and defining at least one opening therein; b) a container receivable in each of said upper wall openings and extending down into said housing, said containers including a bottom wall and four side walls secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating therewith to define an open compartment for receipt of said items, at least certain of said container side walls having a flange secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom for contact with portions of said housing upper wall about said opening, one wall of each of said containers defining a drain opening therein; c) means associable with said drain openings of said containers for drainage of water from said containers; and d) separator means receivable in said containers for separating said container compartments into sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
An assembly for display and storage of cut flowers, greenery and the like comprising: a) a housing, said housing including opposite side walls, said side walls being stepped, a back wall, a plurality of front wall sections, one of said front wall sections being provided for each step of said side walls, and upper wall sections provided at each step of said side walls, said upper wall sections being generally planar and defining at least one opening therein; b) a container receivable in each of said upper wall openings and extending down into said housing, said containers including a bottom wall and four side walls secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating therewith to define an open compartment for receipt of said items, at least certain of said container side walls having a flange secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom for contact with portions of said housing upper wall about said opening, one wall of each of said containers defining a drain opening therein; c) means associable with said drain openings of said containers for drainage of water from said containers; and d) separator means receivable in said containers for separating said container compartments into sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 further including installation means for securing said housing to a supporting structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing and said containers are constructed of polymeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said separator means are transfer baskets providing for water-free transfer of cut flowers from one container to another container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 further including means for collecting water drained from said containers in a lower portion of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as defined in claim 5 further including a drain opening defined in the lower portion of said housing and means associable with said drain opening in said housing for drainage of water from said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a small bottom wall and an angled wall extending from said bottom wall to said back wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as defined in claim 7 further including a second angled wall extending from said bottom wall to the lowermost front wall section defining a rebated portion in said lowermost front wall section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
An assembly for receipt of floral items and the like comprising: a) a housing, said housing including opposite side walls having stepped upper surfaces, a back wall extending between said side walls, a front wall section extending between said side walls at each step and upper wall sections extending between said side walls at each step; b) at least one container located at each step and extending down into said housing, said containers defining drain openings therein; and c) water drain means associated with said container drain openings for removal of water therefrom, said drain means including control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
An assembly for receipt of floral items and the like comprising: a) a housing, said housing including opposite side walls having stepped upper surfaces, a back wall extending between said side walls, a front wall section extending between said side walls at each step and upper wall sections extending between said side walls at each step; b) at least one container located at each step and extending down into said housing, said containers defining drain openings therein; and c) water drain means associated with said container drain openings for removal of water therefrom, said drain means including control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said upper wall sections defines openings therein and said containers are received in said openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing is of unitary construction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
An assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said drain means is located within said housing and comprises a common conduit with legs secured between said drain openings in said containers and said common conduit and wherein stoppers are provided to seal said drain openings when desired.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
167 words
An assembly for receipt of floral items and the like, comprising: a) a unitary housing, said housing including opposite side walls having a rear surface and an upper surface, a rear wall connecting said side walls along said rear surfaces, a front wall section connecting said side walls, top wall sections connecting said side walls and defining at least one opening therein, and a bottom wall connected to said side walls, rear wall and front wall section defining a bottom portion beneath said opening; b) a container removably receivable in each opening in said top wall sections, said containers defining a drain opening in a lower portion of same; c) closure means associable with said drain openings in said containers for control of containment of water in said containers; and d) water drain means associated with said housing in a lower portion of one of said walls thereof whereby water may be drained from said containers into said bottom portion of said housing for subsequent drainage therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
167 words
An assembly for receipt of floral items and the like, comprising: a) a unitary housing, said housing including opposite side walls having a rear surface and an upper surface, a rear wall connecting said side walls along said rear surfaces, a front wall section connecting said side walls, top wall sections connecting said side walls and defining at least one opening therein, and a bottom wall connected to said side walls, rear wall and front wall section defining a bottom portion beneath said opening; b) a container removably receivable in each opening in said top wall sections, said containers defining a drain opening in a lower portion of same; c) closure means associable with said drain openings in said containers for control of containment of water in said containers; and d) water drain means associated with said housing in a lower portion of one of said walls thereof whereby water may be drained from said containers into said bottom portion of said housing for subsequent drainage therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said housing is mounted on casters for mobility.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US147849A
Cited
US780627A
Cited
FR415179A
Cited
US1153028A
Cited
US1558357A
Cited
US1764543A
Cited
US2261326A
Cited
US2463719A
Cited
US2940218A
Cited
US3365840A
Cited
US3686792A
Cited
US4006559A
Cited
US4334386A
Cited
DE3149102A1
Cited
US4546571A
Cited
US4608776A
Cited
US4899487A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-17 | 1995-09-16 | 1996-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-09-16 | 2000-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-17 | 2003-09-16 | 2004-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |