GB2504091A

GB2504091A - Decorative topper

Info

Publication number: GB2504091A
Application number: GB201212655A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christine Curley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-16
Filing date: 2012-07-16
Publication date: 2014-01-22
Also published as: GB201212655D0

Abstract

A decorative topper comprises a loop with a central axis, a flexible decoration situated along that central axis, and a temporary means of attachment to a surface situated along the central axis. The topper may be used to decorate a bottle of wine which may be opened and poured with the topper still in place. The loop may be rigid or flexible and may include an elasticated portion.

Description

A DECORATIVE TOPPER

Field of the Invention

$ The present invention relates to a decorative topper, more particularly but not exclusively a decorative topper for placement on a bottle.

Background

It is often desirable to decorate items that are purchased as a gift for somebody.

Typically items are wrapped or placed in a bag but this can create unnecessary waste.

Often a bottle of wine is taken out of courtesy to a friend or family's gathering to accompany a meal or as a thank you. Wrapping the gift may be unnecessary but it is often desirable to have some form of decoration to communicate a gesture of giving, and acknowledge who the gift was from.

Traditional decorations such as adhesive or stick-on bows are not adapted to fit bottles, therefore it may only be possible to decorate part of or one side of the bottle, which may not be the desirable and may make the bottle difficult to handle when wrapped.

In particular wrapping bottles in paper or wrapping is often impractical and *:*. 25 unsuccessful. * .

More particularly therefore bottles are typically placed in a gift bag, creating an additional expense and packaging that is not required and becomes problematic for storage, wherein if the bottle is to be saved for use at a later date it is not practical for * 30 the bottle to be kept in the bag and appears profligate to throw the bag away.

* . PriorArt Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: United states patent application US 2003 096 066 (CLARK) discloses an attachment mechanism for a first object to be releasably attached to a second object, comprising: a tirst adhesive strip (hat has a first adhering surface for adhering to the first object, and a second adhering surface; a backer/stabilizer that has a first surface that is adhered to the second adhering surface of the first adhesive strip; a first releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and a back side that is adhered to a second surface of the backer/stabilizer; a second releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and which is configured to be releasably attached to the front side of the first releasably attachable pad; and a second adhesive strip that has a first adhering surface for adhering to a back side of the second reteasably attachable pad, and a second adhering surface for adhering to a surface of the second object.

Granted European patent EP 0 251 470 (LABROSSE et al) discloses a prefabricated bow form for a Porn bow comprising two bow ribbons of a first width having first and second ends and being disposed in opposed relationship, and at least one tie ribbon having first and second ends and being disposed centrally between said bow ribbons, the first ends of said bow and tie ribbons being firmly bonded together, said bow ribbons being bonded together at a plurality of spaced bonded areas adjacent both longitudinal edges of said tie ribbon so that said tie ribbon is unbonded to said bow ribbons but constrained between said bow ribbons, said spaced bonded areas defining told lines extending across said bow ribbons about which told lines the bow ribbons will fold when a bow is formed by gathering the bonded areas adjacent said first ends, characterized by the feature that said fold lines include spaced adjacent 25 fold lines generally at right angles to the longitudinal edges of said bow ribbons and defining therebetween a generally central loop forming portion on each of said bow ribbons, and spaced fold lines between said central portion andboth ends of said bow ribbons disposed at acute included angles with the longitudinal edges of said bow ribbons with said acute included angles with respect to each longitudinal edge being alternately disposed adjacent and opposite said first end, said fold lines between the central portions and said second ends of said bow ribbons forming at least two loop forming portions on each of said bow ribbons, and said fold lines between said central portion and said first ends together with said bond at the first ends of said ribbons forming at least three loop forming portions on each of said bow ribbons, and said fold lines at acute included angles adjacent said fold lines at right angles forming generally triangular portions on each of said bow ribbons at both ends of said central loop forming portion.

In contrast the present invention provides an easy, sell-contained means to decorate a battle or similar tubular item, more particularly solving a problem of attaching a bow to an item that is not flat, as well as flat, wherein mostly bows fit and look best on items that are flat. In addition or the alternative it provides a solution that looks good from all angles.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a decorative topper comprising a loop with a central axis, a flexible decoration situated along that central axis! and a temporary means of attachment to a surface situated along the central axis.

In the preferred embodiments the flexible decoration is a bow comprised of ribbon! fabric! film or other elongate planar flexible material! and arranged in extending plural loops or ends to form a domed shaped decoration.

It is envisaged the bow may be comprised of multiple gatherings of a single piece or multiple pieces of ribbon, silk, film or other relatively thin elongate fabric or material which is/are shaped into three dimensional shapes.

Ends of the ribbon may also be visible in the flexible decoration. Further : 25 embodiments may include a plurality of different materials or alternate arrangements.

For example the flexible decoration may comprise tissue paper in some embodiments, whereas in other embodiments there may be cellophane, plastics or metallic parts that may extend, be suspended or otherwise form shapes.

:. 30 In some embodiments the flexible decoration may combine, cooperate or enhance the loop, whereas in preferred embodiments the flexible decoration or where appropriate bow, is envisaged to largely hide the loop.

It is envisaged the decorative topper may also include a label or tag integrated to the design so that a message can be included with the gift for the recipient or details of the gift such as type or ingredients may be included. For example, the flexible decoration may also include a label or tag integrated to the design so that a message can be included with the gift for the recipient or details of the gift such as type or ingredients may be included.

The ribbon or film used may be of a variety of sizes and colours so as to provide alternative designs.

It is envisaged in some embodiments that the ribbon or film may be pattered or printed to provide further variation.

The bow may also include other materials such as fabric, glitter, moulded shapes, string or wire.

In another embodiment the flexible decoration may be formed into other shapes. The decorative topper may be made to fit a particular bottle or to have significance to a particular user, for example being in the shape of a particular flower or animal.

In prefeired embodiments the gatherings of ribbon and/or film form loops are secured to a central location around the loop that acts as a tying point for the flexible decoration.

In some embodiments the loop is flexible or elastic and consequently can be flexed or stretched over a surface, for example a plurality of bottle necks.

. 25 In all preferred embodiments the flexible decoration is fastened to the loop, to enable the decorative topper to be placed over a surface stretching along the axis such as bottle, postorpole. . It is envisaged therefore that the oop may be a flexible or rigid in the form of a ring or cuff. In a flexible form the loop may be elasticated so as to fit any item. In this way the loop may supplement or provide the attachment means.

The loop may alternatively include an elasticated portion or segment for ease of fitting to the surface, or to allow the loop to fit over, for example! a lid or stopper. The loop may be helically resiliently cfeformable, so as to allow twisting into place.

Typically the ioop is positioned centrally with respect to the flexible decoration so that when the decoration is placed onto, for example the bottle, it appears visually the same from all angles and that the method of connection is not visible. Alternatively, the flexible decoration may be offset from the central axis of the loop or otherwise arranged so as to allow for different fashions.

Some embodiments or forms of loop position, arrangement or fashion may also allow the bottle to be opened and poured with the decorative topper and/or flexible decoration still in place which may be desirable for a special occasion or restaurant environment, or shop window.

It is envisaged that the loop, which may for example be a ring or cuff, may include an absorbent layer so as to catch any drips or spills made during pouring.

In another embodiment the loop may be offset from a central position to facilitate different decorative finishes.

The flexible decoration may be tied to the loop as part of the formation of the decoration using the loop as a securing point. Alternatively the flexible decoration, for example the bow, may be formed independently of the loop and then attached separately and/or detached or displaced.

In some preferred embodiments the flexible decoration also includes adhesive as the means whereby the decorative topper is attached to the surface. * * * * .*

*r Typically therefore the decorative topper includes means such as sticky tabs that can be used to attach the topper to prevent the topper from falling off during transport or storage More particularly this also enables items such as bottles of wine to be stacked horizontally with the topper.

* Brief Description of Figures

*** .* * * Figure 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the decorative topper; Figure 2 shows a view of underneath of the decorative topper of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view of underneath of the decorative topper of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a view from above of the decorative topper of the embodiment of Figure 1; And Figure 5 shows desirable steps for dressing a bottle using the decorative topper of the embodiment of rigure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured embodiment of the decorative topper includes silk ribbon, paper, fabric or material on a rigid ring of metal, plastics or string. Further embodiments may use elastic or resiliently deformable rings, at least in part.

In use to decorate and wrap an item therefore, a user wraps cellophane around the item, or bottle neck! and secures the cellophane with sticky tape.

The user then secures the cellophane at the bottle base.

The cellophane extends upwards from the distal end of the bottle, namely the bottle *:e* base and extends towards the bottle top. Accordingly the user twists the cellophane at the top of the bottle.

The user then passes the twisted cellophane through the loop.

The adhesive pads of the flexible decoration are used to attach the decorative topper * to the bottle.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to * those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. * S S * ** *

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Claims

Claims 1 A decorative topper comprising a loop with a central axis, a flexible decoration situated along that central axis, and a temporary means of attachment to a surface situated along the central axis.
2. A topper according to claim 1, wherein the decoration is a bow comprised of ribbon and the means of attachment is hidden in use.
3. A topper according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the loop is rigid.
4. A topper according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the loop is flexible.
5. A topper according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the loop includes an elasticated portion.
6. A topper according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the decoration appears similar from a plurality of orientations with respect to the central axis.
7. A topper according to any of claims I to 5, wherein the loop is offset from the central axis.
6. A topper according to claim 7, for use with a bottle, wherein the bottle may be opened and poured with the topper still in place.
9. A method of decorating a bottle according to any preceding claim or with reference to the figures. * . * . * **.S S.. * S. * S..S * * SAmendments to the claims have been tiled as tollows: Claims 1. A decorative topper comprising a loop with a central axis arranged to slip over a bottle situated along the axis and fix the topper to the bottle, and a plurality of flexible bows each attached to the loop and situated along and about the axis whereby with the decorative topper fixed to the bottle it appears similar and is similarly pourable from around the axis.2. A decorative topper according to claim 1 wherein the loop is arranged to fix the topper to the bottle temporarily.3. A topper according to claim 1, whereby with the decorative topper fixed to the bottle the ring appears to be hidden by the flexible bows from around the axis.4. A topper according to any preceding claim wherein the loop is rigid.5. A topper acàording to either of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the loop is flexible.6. A topper according to any preceding claim wherein the loop includes an elasticated portion.7, A topper according to any preceding claim wherein the bottle may be opened with the topper fixed to the bottle.8. A topper according to any preceding claim wherein the loop comprises a layer adapted to prevent liquid dripping past the loop.9. A method of attaching a bottle a decorative topper according to any preceding claim in which the topper is slipped over the neck of the bottle.
10. A method of decorating a bottle according to any preceding claim or as decribed herein with reference to the figures. * . S * S.* S S *. S *