US20030200589A1

US20030200589A1 - Decorative skirt

Info

Publication number: US20030200589A1
Application number: US10/133,821
Authority: US
Inventors: Denise Therres
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-25
Filing date: 2002-04-25
Publication date: 2003-10-30

Abstract

A decorative skirt for use with tables, Christmas trees and the like. The skirt has a sheet of material that forms the skirt body. The skirt body has at least one aperture, for the placement of a light therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of decorative skirts for use with tables, Christmas trees and the like.

Traditionally, skirts have been utilized to cover items that a user does not wish for others to see. For example, the surface and legs of a table, or the tree stand of a Christmas tree are the most common things covered by such devices. Skirts have also been decorated using a variety of materials such as fabric and thread to create patterns or scenes on their exterior surface.

Typically, since the skirt is utilized to hide an item under the skirt, the skirt has not been the focus or has not been a substantial contributor to the overall decorating scheme of a room.

The present invention addresses these needs, as well as other problems associated with the prior art. The present invention offers advantages over the prior art and solves problems associated therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a decorative skirt for use with tables, Christmas trees and the like. The skirt has a sheet of material that forms the skirt body. The skirt body has at least one aperture, for the placement of a light therein. The skirt may have a receptacle formed on the body for receiving a musical device. The musical device preferably has a speaker incorporated into the device. In one embodiment, the body of the skirt has an aperture sized to accommodate the trunk of a tree. This embodiment may be utilized as a Christmas tree skirt. The body of the skirt may also be constructed from a seamless piece of material. In this way, the skirt does not have any seams to interrupt the decorations created thereon. The skirt preferably, also has an outer surface and has decorative material arranged on the outer surface. It should be noted that one or more of the above referenced features be utilized in a single embodiment of the invention. Additionally, a string of lights having a plurality of lights spaced thereon, may be arranged under or attached to the skirt such that one light is placed in each of the apertures in the skirt body.

The above mentioned benefits and other benefits of the invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the present invention having an central aperture; and [0007]
FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention.[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the figures, the present invention provides a [0009] decorative skirt 10 for use with tables, Christmas trees, and the like. The skirt 10 has a sheet of material that forms the skirt body 12. The sheet of material may be of any material known in the art and may have any shape desired. For example, the shape of the skirt may simply be round or square, or may have another more complex shape. Additionally, the body may be manufacture to be reversible.
The [0010] skirt body 12 has at least one aperture 14, for the placement of a light therein. Preferably, the skirt is designed to have a plurality of apertures for use with a string or lights or a plurality of separate lights. Although the arrangement of the apertures on the body of the skirt are shown uniformly arranged around and in proximity to the perimeter of the skirt, the arrangement of the apertures on the skirt may be any suitable arrangement. For example, the apertures may be arranged to form a scene, words, or a decorative design. Additionally, the openings may be formed in any manner known in the art. For example, they may be sewn similar to a button hole, they may have a grommet surrounding the aperture, may be an eyelet, or other similar structures.
The [0011] skirt 10 may have a receptacle 16 formed on the body 12 for receiving a musical device. The receptacle may be sized to accommodate any musical device that produces music or any device for actuating a musical device, such as tape recorders, compact disc players, and radios; or a button or switch connected, either physically or remotely, to a musical device; and the like. The receptacle may be fabricated from the same material as the body 12 or may be from a different material. Any suitable material may be utilized to fabricate the receptacle. It is preferred that the musical device be constructed and arranged such that it can be actuated without directly touching the device within the receptacle. In this way, the device can be actuated remotely. For example, in the simplest embodiment, the device can be remotely actuated by orienting the device such that a button, that actuates the device, can be indirectly pressed through the material forming the body. The musical device preferably has a speaker incorporated into the device, but may have speakers that are not part of the device itself.
In one embodiment, the [0012] body 12 of the skirt 10 has an aperture 18 sized to accommodate the trunk of a tree or other such structures. This embodiment may be utilized as a Christmas tree skirt. Additionally, the body 12 of the skirt 10 may also be constructed from a seamless piece of material. In this way, the skirt 10 does not have any seams to interrupt the decorations created thereon. The skirt may also be easier to manufacture because there is no need to form a seam and no need to attach fasteners to keep the seam closed.
The [0013] skirt 10 preferably, also has an outer surface and has decorative material arranged on the outer surface. Decorations attached may be of any suitable type. It should be noted that one or more of the above referenced features be utilized in a single embodiment of the invention.
Additionally, a string or plurality of individual lights, may be arranged under or attached to the skirt such that one light is placed in each of the apertures in the skirt body. [0014]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, since many possible embodiments may be made of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted in the illustrative and not a limiting sense. [0015]

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. A decorative skirt, comprising;

a sheet of material forming a skirt body; and

at least one aperture in said body, for the placement of a light therein.

2. The skirt according to claim 1, wherein said skirt has a receptacle formed on said body for receiving a musical device.

3. The skirt according to claim 1, wherein said musical device comprises a speaker.

4. The skirt according to claim 1, wherein said body of said skirt has an aperture sized to accommodate the trunk of a tree.

5. The skirt according to claim 1, wherein said body is constructed from a seamless piece of material.

6. The skirt according to claim 1, wherein said skirt has an outer surface and wherein said skirt further comprises decorative material arranged on said outer surface.

7. The skirt according to claim 2, wherein said musical device comprises a speaker.

8. The skirt according to claim 7, wherein said body of said skirt has an aperture sized to accommodate the trunk of a tree.

9. The skirt according to claim 8, wherein said body is constructed from a seamless piece of material.

10. The skirt according to claim 9, wherein said skirt has an outer surface and wherein said skirt further comprises decorative material arranged on said outer surface.

11. The skirt according to claim 2, wherein said musical device is constructed and arranged to be activated without directly touching said device.

12. A decorative skirt, comprising;

a sheet of material forming a skirt body; and

a plurality of apertures in said body, for the placement of a light therein;

a string of lights having a plurality of lights spaced thereon, one of said lights being placed in each of said apertures in said body.

13. The skirt according to claim 12, wherein said skirt has a receptacle formed on said body for receiving a musical device.

14. The skirt according to claim 12, wherein said body of said skirt has an aperture sized to accommodate the trunk of a tree.

15. The skirt according to claim 12, wherein said body is constructed from a seamless piece of material.

16. The skirt according to claim 12, wherein said skirt has an outer surface and wherein said skirt further comprises decorative material arranged on said outer surface.

17. A decorative skirt, comprising a sheet of material forming a skirt body having a receptacle formed on said body for receiving a musical device.