Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02561464 2006-09-28
PUMPKIN DECOR KIT
Background Of Invention
The present invention relates generally to craft kits for making decorative
statuettes and
displays using pumpkins, squash, melons, various fruits and vegetables, and
other like-shaped
articles composed of various materials. It is known that people often carve
pumpkins into jack-
o-lanterns, and/or decorate pumpkins in various fashions for exhibition as
seasonal decor,
particularly around Halloween. People also regularly display faux pumpkins and
jack-o-lanterns
made from assorted materials as seasonal decorations. Thus, it is desired to
have novel methods
of decorating and accessorizing pumpkins, squash, melons, various fruits and
vegetables, and
other artificial like-shaped items for use as seasonal decor.
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Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a decor kit for decorating and accessorizing
pumpkins,
squash, various fruits and vegetables, and other artificial like-shaped items
composed of various
materials. Therefore, the present invention provides a support base to sustain
a real or simulated
fruit or vegetable in an elevated position, where the support base is composed
of substantially
planar interlocking support members and shaped to provide a statuette
appearance with the
elevated real or simulated fruit or vegetable as part of the statuette.
In addition, the present invention provides a support base to sustain a real
or simulated
fruit or vegetable in an elevated position where the support base is composed
of substantially
planar interlocking support members, and a covering to surround the support
base where the
support base and covering are shaped to provide a statuette appearance with
the elevated real or
simulated fiuit or vegetable as part of the statuette.
In addition, the present invention provides a support base to sustain a real
or simulated
fruit or vegetable in an elevated position, a covering to surround the support
base, and a carving
template for use in carving the real or simulated fruit or vegetable, where
the support base and
covering are shaped to provide a statuette appearance with the elevated real
or simulated fruit or
vegetable as part of the statuette.
In addition, the present invention provides a themed statuette comprising a
support base,
a real or simulated fruit or vegetable resting atop the support base, and a
covering surrounding
the support base where the support base and covering are shaped to provide a
statuette
appearance with the elevated real or simulated fruit or vegetable as part of
the statuette.
In addition, the present invention provides a process for assembling a
statuette
comprising the steps of interlocking the planar support members to form a
support base, placing
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a real or simulated fruit or vegetable atop the support base, and wrapping the
support base in a
covering.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 shows a completed statuette made with a decor kit according to one
embodiment
the invention.
Fig. 2 shows the support structure of the embodiment of the decor kit
illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a completed statuette made with the inventive decor kit according
to another
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 4 shows the support structure with covering and accessory of the
embodiment of the
decor kit illustrated in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shows a completed statuette made with the inventive decor kit according
to another
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6 shows the support structure with covering and accessory of the
embodiment of the
decor kit illustrated in Fig. 5.
Detailed Descriution of the Invention
The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to
specific
embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in
different forms
and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this disclosure wilt fully convey the scope
of the invention to
those skilled in the art.
Except as otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms used herein have
the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention
belongs. 'The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is
for describing
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particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the
invention. As used in the
description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms "a,"
"an," and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, properties, and
so forth as
used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in
all instances by the
term "about." Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical
properties set forth in the
following specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending
on the desired
properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention.
Notwithstanding that
the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the
invention are
approximations, the numerical values to the extent that such are set forth in
the specific examples
are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however,
inherently contain certain
errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective
measurements.
A complete understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following
description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures
wherein like
reference characters identify like parts throughout. For purposes of the
description hereinafter,
the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "vertical", "horizontal", "top",
"bottom", "front",
"back" and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented
in the drawing figures.
However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various
alternative variations,
except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood
that the specific
devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in
the following
specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence,
specific dimensions
and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein
are not to be
considered as limiting.
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The present invention is directed to a pumpkin decor kit for general use in
decorating and
accessorizing pumpkins for enjoyment and display. However, the present
invention is not
limited for use with pumpkins, as the device may be employed to decorate a
wide assortment of
fruits, vegetables, and other various like-shaped articles. Non-limiting
examples of pumpkin-
alternative possibilities include squash, melons, faux pumpkins and other
artificial like-shaped
items composed of materials such as plastic, StyrofoamTM, ceramic, and
plaster. Specific
examples utilizing pumpkins, various fruits and vegetables, and/or artificial
fruits and vegetables
provided herein are not intended to be limiting.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pumpkin decor kit 100 of the present invention
generally
includes, among other things, a support base 102 comprising at least one
support member. The
support base 102 is desirably fashioned so that when a completed statuette is
made with pumpkin
decor kit 100 and a real or simulated pumpkin or other fruit or vegetable, the
statuette assumes a
humanoid appearance with the pumpkin or other natural or simulated fruit or
vegetable
simulating the "head" of the humanoid.
As representative of one embodiment, Fig. 1 illustrates an assembled pumpkin
decor kit
100 with pumpkin in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. As
shown in Fig. 2,
the associated pumpkin decor kit of the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 1
includes a support base
102 comprising a first support member 104 and a second support member 105 that
frictionally
interlock. While the decor kit depicted in Fig. 2 has a support base 102
comprised of
interlocking first support member 104 and second support member 105, alternate
embodiments
of the present invention may have support bases comprised of a single support
member or may
be comprised of more than two attached support members.
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The support base may comprise a single support member, or may be composed of
more
than one attached support members. In some embodiments with more than one
support member,
the support members may be attached to one another by engaging the support
members through
the use of interlocking slots or slits, clips, or other fasteners. The
illustrated embodiments of Fig.
2 and Fig. 4 show the support base 102 of the pumpkin decor kit being
comprised of a first
support member 104 and a second support member 105 that interlock
perpendicular to one
another through the use of slits 106 to form a friction fit joint 108.
However, the first support
member 104 and second support member 105 need not interlock perpendicular to
one another,
and further, need not interlock with one another at all. In alternate
embodiments, support
members may be attached to one another through the use of adhesive, tape,
staples, welds, or
combinations of such.
The support base 102 of the present invention may be constructed by the
consumer after
purchase of the pumpkin decor kit. The support members 104,105 may be
fashioned from
essentially planar materials, and marketed in a substantially flat packaging
arrangement. Once
the substantially planar support members 104,105 are removed from the
packaging, a three
dimensional support base 102 may be constructed by the consumer for
utilization in the pumpkin
decor kit. This may be done by the consumer interlocking the essentially
planar support
members 104,1 OS in a perpendicular fashion once removed from the packaging.
However, it
should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the support members 104,105
need not be
essentially planar. Further, it should also be apparent to one skilled in the
art that support base
102 need not be sold to the consumer with assembly required, and thus may be
sold already
constructed in a three dimensional form.
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The support base 102 may be formed from materials that have sufficient
rigidity to
support an object such as a pumpkin, a large vegetable or fruit, or other
similar object. In certain
embodiments, the support base may be formed from heavy cardboard or plastic
corrugate.
However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the support base
102 of the present
invention is not limited to the construction of cardboard and plastic
corrugate, but may be formed
from various materials. Non-limiting possible examples include sheet metal,
metal wire, solid
plastic, baffled plastic, plastic corrugate, plastic wire, wood, rigid-paper-
board, or combinations
of one or more of such materials. In alternate embodiments, the pumpkin d6cor
kit support base
may only require support of a lighter-weight faux pumpkin, and thus the
support base could also
be formed of material that is less rigid, such as paperboard or light weight
metal or plastic wire.
In the Fig. 1 embodiment of the present invention, the combination of support
base 102
and covering 116 gives a simulated humanoid appearance when used in
conjunction with a
pumpkin. In other embodiments of the invention, the support base itself may
give the desired
humanoid appearance when used in conjunction with a pumpkin or other natural
or simulated
fruit or vegetable. For example, the support structure 102 as illustrated in
Fig. 2 bears some
resemblance to a humanoid torso and can be used without covering 116 to
generate a humanoid
appearance when used in combination with a pumpkin or other natural or
simulated fruit or
vegetable.
In the ddcor kit 100 depicted in Fig. 1, the support base I02 and covering 116
give a
humanoid statuette appearance by portraying the appearance of a torso 112 and
arm-like
appendages 110. In the same way, the support base and associated covering of
the inventive
decor kit can be fashioned to portray other humanoid characteristics. This is
illustrated, for
example, in Figs. 3 and 5. In Fig. 3, the support base 102 and covering 216
portray legs 111 of a
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scarecrow humanoid, while in Fig. 5, a support base 202 and the covering 316
give an
appearance of a vehicle containing the body of a humanoid driver. In the
embodiments of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3, and Fig. 5, the pumpkin sitting atop the support base represents the
head of the figure.
However, alternate embodiments of the present invention need not give the
statuette appearance
of a humanoid figure, but may give a statuette appearance of many different
forms. Non-limiting
possible examples include animals, fictional characters and creatures,
vehicles, and assorted
shapes.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the support base's measurements
may be
in the range of about four inches to six feet in height, about four inches to
six feet in width, and
about four inches to six feet in length. These ranges in measurements allow
the present
invention to be employed with fruits, vegetables, and other various like-
shaped articles of
various sizes and shapes. The illustrated embodiments of the present invention
depict a support
base with a height of about one foot, a width of about one foot, and a length
of about on foot for
application with a five to fifteen pound pumpkin . However, it should be
apparent to one skilled
in the art that the measurements for the support base's height, width, and
length are not limited to
the illustrated embodiments, and may vary depending on the application of the
decor kit.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the support base may be flat
along the
bottom to sit substantially flush on a flat surface for stability. However, it
should be apparent to
one skilled in the art that the pumpkin decor kit need not have a support base
with a substantially
flat bottom. Further, the present invention may also include one or more
spikes, barbs, points, or
other implements protruding from the bottom of the support base for sticking
into the ground for
additional stability. These optional spikes or barbs protruding from the
bottom of the support
base may be formed from various materials. They may be composed from
extensions of the
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material used to form the support base, or may be made from the non-limiting
examples of metal
or plastic. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the pumpkin
decor kit need not
include spikes, barbs, points, or other implements protruding from the bottom
of the support
base.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the top of the support base 102
may
include a recess 114 to support an object selected by the user, such as a
pumpkin. See Fig. 2. It
should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the optional recess 114
may be formed in a
variety of sizes depending on what type of object is to be supported in the
application of the
decor kit. In other embodiments, the pumpkin decor kit may further include one
or more spikes,
barbs, points, or other implements protruding from the top of the support base
capable of
impaling, piercing, or otherwise attaching an object selected by the user,
such as a pumpkin. In
yet other embodiments, the support base may include the combination of both a
recess and spikes
or other implements to secure an object that is rested on the support base.
These implements that
may protrude from the top of the support base should provide additional
prevention of the
supported pumpkin from being dislocated from the support base. The spikes or
barbs that may
protrude from the top of the support base may be formed from various
materials. They may be
composed from extensions of the material used to form the support base, or may
be formed from
the non-limiting examples of metal or plastic. It should be apparent to one
skilled in the art that
the pumpkin decor kit need not include spikes, barbs, points, or other
implements protruding
from the bottom of the support base.
In some embodiments of the present invention not shown, the pumpkin decor kit
may
include drawings and writings directly on the support base. The support base
may include these
designs to give the appearance of clothes on the statuette, give the
appearance of a certain
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identity that the statuette is to resemble, and/or display messages. The
designs on the support
base may also be included to further give the appearance of a humanoid form,
an animal, a
vehicle, or a fictional character or creature. Generally, the possible designs
for the support base
of the present invention may deal with Halloween and Autumn themes. Non-
limiting specific
examples of possible designs may include designs associated with ghosts,
witches, skeletons,
scarecrows, monsters, goblins, and the like. However, the designs on the
support base may also
be associated with themes such as fictional characters, sports, racing,
holidays, birthdays, or
special events. Further, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that
the support base of the
pumpkin decor kit need not include a Halloween, Autumn, or other special event
theme.
Additionally, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the support
base of the pumpkin
decor kit need not include any drawings, writings, or designs.
In other embodiments of the present invention not shown, the pumpkin decor kit
may
include an unadorned support base, allowing the user to design the appearance
their own
personalized statuette. Additionally, the pumpkin decor kit may additionally
include pens,
markers, paint, stickers, and decals to provide the user with the tools to
decorate their statuette.
However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the pumpkin
decor kit need not
include tools for designing the figurine.
In yet other embodiments, as depicted in Fig. 1, the pumpkin decor kit 100 of
the present
invention may also include items such as coverings 116 to wrap the support
base 102, and
accessories 118 to further ornament the statuette. The coverings may be in the
form of clothing
on the statuette, in the form of giving an appearance of clothing on the
statuette, in the form
giving an appearance of a certain identity that the statuette is to resemble,
in the form of a
vehicle appearance, and/or in the form of decor for a special event or
occasion. The illustrated
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embodiments of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 show fabric coverings 116, 216 to wrap the
support base 102.
The illustrated embodiment of Fig. 5 shows a plastic and plastic corrugate
covering 316 to
surround and enclose the support base 202. It should apparent to one skilled
in the art that the
present invention is not limited to fabric coverings or plastic coverings as
shown in the illustrated
embodiments, but the coverings may consist of various materials. Non-limiting
possible
examples of materials that may compose the coverings of the pumpkin decor kit
include fabric,
plastic, plastic corrugate, cardboard, foil, metal, and paper. Further, it
should be apparent to one
skilled in the art that the pumpkin decor kit need not include a covering.
The coverings may be included to further give the appearance of a humanoid
form, an
animal, a vehicle, a fictional character or creature, and/or decor for a
special occasion.
Generally, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the coverings 116, 216 may deal with
Halloween and
Autumn themes. Non-limiting specific examples of possible coverings include
coverings
associated with the themes of ghosts, witches, skeletons, scarecrows,
monsters, goblins, and the
like. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
coverings may also be
associated with other assorted themes such as fictional characters, sports,
racing, holidays,
birthdays, or special events. For example, as depicted in Fig. 5, the covering
316 deals with a
racing theme. Further, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that
the coverings need not
incorporate any particular set theme, but may generally represent a human
figure, an animal, or a
vehicle appearance.
In embodiments of the present invention, the pumpkin decor kit may include a
carving
template for assistance in the carving of a pumpkin face associated with the
theme of the
particular decor kit. The inclusion of a particular face template associated
with the particular
theme of the decor kit would allow a user to carve a pumpkin keeping with, and
preferably the
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same as, the theme of the pumpkin decor kit. For example, the pumpkin decor
kit 100 of Fig. 1
could include a template facilitating the carving of a ghost face on the
pumpkin. Similarly, the
pumpkin decor kit 200 of Fig. 3 could include a template facilitating the
carving of a scarecrow,
and the pumpkin decor kit 300 depicted in Fig. 5 could include a template
facilitating the carving
of a race car driver face on the pumpkin. However, it should be apparent to
one skilled in the art
that the pumpkin decor kit of the present invention need not include a
template to carve a
particular type of face on a pumpkin that keeps with the decor kit's
particular theme.
In embodiments not shown, the pumpkin decor kit may include a unadorned
covering,
allowing the user to design their own personalized statuette. The pumpkin
decor kit may include
pens, markers, paint, stickers, and decals to provide the user with the tools
to decorate their
statuette. In one embodiment as depicted in Fig. 5, an unadorned covering 316,
in conjunction
with the support base 202, could give the appearance of a race car without
giving the appearance
of a particular driver's racecar. This embodiment would allow the user to
design the look of the
vehicle statuette to that of their favorite race car, with the supported
pumpkin symbolizing the
head of their favorite race car driver. This embodiment may further include
decals 120 to
embody the parts of a racecar, such as wheels, headlights, a windshield, and
driver numbers.
However, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the pumpkin
decor kit need not
include tools for designing the figurine. Further, it should be apparent to
one skilled in the art
that this same user decorating process could be embodied in any of the various
embodiments of
the pumpkin decor kit.
As depicted in Fig. l, Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 the pumpkin decor kit of the present
invention
may include accessories to further adorn the pumpkin. Non-limiting examples
include hats,
chains, brooms, shoes, and other such objects to progress the applicable theme
of the decor kit.
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For example, the pumpkin decor kit 100 of Fig. 1 includes a chain accessory
118 to further the
theme of a ghost. Likewise, the pumpkin decor kit 200 of Fig. 3 includes a
bird to sit atop the
pumpkin to further the scarecrow theme, and the pumpkin decor kit 300 of Fig.
5 includes a hat
318 to sit atop the pumpkin to further the race car theme. It should be
apparent to one skilled in
the art that many other accessories could be also be included with the pumpkin
decor kit of the
present invention.
In some embodiments, the pumpkin decor kit may include items for rendering
patterns or
decorations on the surface of, or through all or a portion of, the mounted
object, i.e. the pumpkin.
According to such embodiments, stencils or patterns for forming faces or other
renderings on the
pumpkin are provided. According to some embodiments, the decor kits may also
include one or
more tools for rendering patterns or decorations, such as manual or powered
blades, pokers,
scoops, scrapers and the like for carving and designing a pumpkin or other
fruit or vegetable.
According to yet other embodiments, the kits may contain marking pens, decor
items such as
faux gems, ribbons and the like, or straw or yarn for forming hair. Decor kits
may also comprise
items for providing internal lighting, such as battery or electrical powered
lighting fixtures,
candles and the like. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that
decor kits of the present
invention may also include artificial pumpkins or like objects that are ready
for mounting to the
support base and may be pre-designed or ready for design by a user.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the foregoing
description sets
forth in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, modifications,
additions, and
changes might be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
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