GB2153745A - Ornament - Google Patents

Abstract

An ornament which comprises a foam polystyrene ball or other solid figure covered by small pieces of fabric, the edges of which are held in slits formed on the ball, the slits each accommodating the edges of adjacent fabric pieces so that the fabric pieces extend under tension without interruption over the surface of the ball. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ornament This invention relates to ornaments.

The invention depends in part on the surprising discovery that it is possible to retain an edge portion of fabric in a slit in foam plastics, particularly polystyrene, against a considerable force tending to pull it out. A further surprising discovery is that even with two adjacent fabric edge portions in the slit, there is high resistance to pulling out.

The ornament according to the invention in one aspect comprises a foam plastics ball or other solid figure covered by small pieces of fabric the edges of which are held in slits formed on the ball, the slits each accommodating the edges of adjacent fabric pieces so that the fabric pieces extend under tension without interruptions over the surface of the ball.

In another aspect the invention comprises a method of making an ornament wherein with the aid of a knife slits are formed over the surface of a foam plastic ball or other solid figure and the edges of the fabric pieces being tucked into the slits, two edges being forced into each slit so that fabric pieces extend under tension without interruption over the surface of the ball. Preferably the fabric edge portion is tucked into the slit at the same time as the slit is formed.

Polystyrene foam is the preferred material for the ball. Preferably the method proceeds by first placing a piece of fabric against the surface of the ball and then, with a knife, pressing in the edge portions. The knife both cuts the slit and pushes the fabric into it.

The slit will ordinarily be straight because it is easier to cut straight slits with a knife: but in principle the slits can be of any shape. If the slits are straight, the fabric when applied to the ball will have at least three edges, but may have four, five or more. The polygonal figure so foamed need not be regular. The positioning of the slits for a particular piece of fabric will depend on the shape and size of the piece, and the pieces already on the ball, since at least one side of each piece except the first will have one edge portion tucked into an already made slit for an adjacent piece of fabric. The edge portions must be deep enough to hold in the slit, but the slit can accommodate considerable depth of fabric. There is no need for the edge portion to be of even depth, so wide variation of geometrical figure is possible for any given piece.Correspondingly the pieces can be of any shape and size within wide limits, and need not be cut specially.

The tucking in of the edge portion of the fabric pieces tensions the fabric. The slit edges are deformed elastically by the fabric to rounded form, thus providing forces, due to the resilience of the polystyrene foam material, which maintain the tension. The fabric pieces thus have a neat smooth appearance with smooth rounded edges each meeting the smooth rounded edge of the next piece. The tension is applied to the edge portions over the surface of the ball, with friction helping the force of retention in the slit.

One embodiment of the invention is abstracted in the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of an ornament.

The foam polystyrene ball is not seen in the drawing, but various pieces of fabric are seen at 1,2, 3, 4, all of different colour, pattern and/or texture.

The edges of the fabric pieces are not seen, because they are tucked into slits in the ball indicated at 6, 7, 8, 9. It will be seen at 11, 12,13, 14 that edge portions of the fabric deform the slit edges to rounded form.

The spherical central area of each piece runs flat ove the ball and may for convenience be secured there to it adhesive, though this is optional. The whole area of the ball is covered by 12 fabric pieces, though fewer or more may be used according to taste and to the size of the ball. The ball can be provided with a decorative loop 16, secured by pins 17, by which it can be hung, e.g. form a Christmas tree.

Manufacture in quantity is not difficult since the necessary handwork can be accomplished with surprising speed by unskilled labour. The polystyrene balls cost little and the fabric pieces can be offcuts from clothing manufacturers, available at low cost, sized only very roughly.

The ball need not be spherical. An elliptical form is contemplated, or other geometrical forms. The polystyrene may be replaced by other foam plastics materials, though this may involve extra expense.

1. An article comprising a solid figure formed as an integral moulding of foam plastics material, covered by small pieces of fabric the edges of which are held in slits formed in the plastics, the slits each accommodating the edges of adjacent fabric pieces so that fabric pieces extend under tension without interruption over the surface of said solid figure.

2. An article as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the solid figure is a sphere.

3. An article as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the plastics material is polystyrene foam.

4. An article as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, wherein the pieces are secured without adhesive.

5. A method of making an article wherein with the aid of a knife slits are formed over the surface of a foam plastic ball or other solid figure and the edges of the fabric pieces being tucked into the slits, two edges being forced into each slit so that fabric pieces extend under tension without interruption over the surface of the ball.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, using a polystyrene ball, one fabric edge portion being tucked into the slit at the same time as the slit is formed.

7. The article hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. The method of making the article hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ornament This invention relates to ornaments. The invention depends in part on the surprising discovery that it is possible to retain an edge portion of fabric in a slit in foam plastics, particularly polystyrene, against a considerable force tending to pull it out. A further surprising discovery is that even with two adjacent fabric edge portions in the slit, there is high resistance to pulling out. The ornament according to the invention in one aspect comprises a foam plastics ball or other solid figure covered by small pieces of fabric the edges of which are held in slits formed on the ball, the slits each accommodating the edges of adjacent fabric pieces so that the fabric pieces extend under tension without interruptions over the surface of the ball. In another aspect the invention comprises a method of making an ornament wherein with the aid of a knife slits are formed over the surface of a foam plastic ball or other solid figure and the edges of the fabric pieces being tucked into the slits, two edges being forced into each slit so that fabric pieces extend under tension without interruption over the surface of the ball. Preferably the fabric edge portion is tucked into the slit at the same time as the slit is formed. Polystyrene foam is the preferred material for the ball. Preferably the method proceeds by first placing a piece of fabric against the surface of the ball and then, with a knife, pressing in the edge portions. The knife both cuts the slit and pushes the fabric into it. The slit will ordinarily be straight because it is easier to cut straight slits with a knife: but in principle the slits can be of any shape. If the slits are straight, the fabric when applied to the ball will have at least three edges, but may have four, five or more. The polygonal figure so foamed need not be regular. The positioning of the slits for a particular piece of fabric will depend on the shape and size of the piece, and the pieces already on the ball, since at least one side of each piece except the first will have one edge portion tucked into an already made slit for an adjacent piece of fabric. The edge portions must be deep enough to hold in the slit, but the slit can accommodate considerable depth of fabric. There is no need for the edge portion to be of even depth, so wide variation of geometrical figure is possible for any given piece.Correspondingly the pieces can be of any shape and size within wide limits, and need not be cut specially. The tucking in of the edge portion of the fabric pieces tensions the fabric. The slit edges are deformed elastically by the fabric to rounded form, thus providing forces, due to the resilience of the polystyrene foam material, which maintain the tension. The fabric pieces thus have a neat smooth appearance with smooth rounded edges each meeting the smooth rounded edge of the next piece. The tension is applied to the edge portions over the surface of the ball, with friction helping the force of retention in the slit. One embodiment of the invention is abstracted in the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of an ornament. The foam polystyrene ball is not seen in the drawing, but various pieces of fabric are seen at 1,2, 3, 4, all of different colour, pattern and/or texture. The edges of the fabric pieces are not seen, because they are tucked into slits in the ball indicated at 6, 7, 8, 9. It will be seen at 11, 12,13, 14 that edge portions of the fabric deform the slit edges to rounded form. The spherical central area of each piece runs flat ove the ball and may for convenience be secured there to it adhesive, though this is optional. The whole area of the ball is covered by 12 fabric pieces, though fewer or more may be used according to taste and to the size of the ball. The ball can be provided with a decorative loop 16, secured by pins 17, by which it can be hung, e.g. form a Christmas tree. Manufacture in quantity is not difficult since the necessary handwork can be accomplished with surprising speed by unskilled labour. The polystyrene balls cost little and the fabric pieces can be offcuts from clothing manufacturers, available at low cost, sized only very roughly. The ball need not be spherical. An elliptical form is contemplated, or other geometrical forms. The polystyrene may be replaced by other foam plastics materials, though this may involve extra expense. CLAIMS

1. An article comprising a solid figure formed as an integral moulding of foam plastics material, covered by small pieces of fabric the edges of which are held in slits formed in the plastics, the slits each accommodating the edges of adjacent fabric pieces so that fabric pieces extend under tension without interruption over the surface of said solid figure.

2. An article as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the solid figure is a sphere.

3. An article as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the plastics material is polystyrene foam.

4. An article as claimed in Claims 1 to 3, wherein the pieces are secured without adhesive.

5. A method of making an article wherein with the aid of a knife slits are formed over the surface of a foam plastic ball or other solid figure and the edges of the fabric pieces being tucked into the slits, two edges being forced into each slit so that fabric pieces extend under tension without interruption over the surface of the ball.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, using a polystyrene ball, one fabric edge portion being tucked into the slit at the same time as the slit is formed.

7. The article hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. The method of making the article hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.