US20070029222A1

US20070029222A1 - Decorating kit

Info

Publication number: US20070029222A1
Application number: US11/161,470
Authority: US
Inventors: Heather Shepardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-04
Filing date: 2005-08-04
Publication date: 2007-02-08

Abstract

A kit for decorating an annular base member includes a primary decorative piece corresponding to a selected decorative theme. The primary decorative piece includes a first fastener for securing it to the base member such that a portion extends into the central opening when in a mounted state. A plurality of secondary decorative pieces, each correlated to the selected theme, are adapted to be secured at selected locations to the base member by second fasteners. Optionally, a garland may be provided in the kit, a hanger may be provided, and the kit may include the annular base member to be decorated. A specially constructed second fastener is disclosed. The decorative pieces may be any of a variety of items depending upon the theme. The kit may include instructions for the placement of the decorative pieces.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to decorating a home, office, etc., for example, to create a festive atmosphere.

BACKGROUND

Throughout history, humans have sought to enhance their surroundings by the use of decorative items. Such items have included such diverse elements as wall paintings, tiles, tapestries and two-dimensional art, to name a few. In many instances, such decorative elements become a relatively permanent part of the environment in which they are placed, remaining on display for years on end. In contrast to these long-term decorations, some decorative items are intended to be of a more transient nature. One example is the use of fresh cut flowers that have a display life of only a few days.
In addition to these types of decorations, it is also known to create decorations for special events or seasons. Often, such events or seasons are correlated to a specific event, holiday or commemorative anniversary. Often, such holidays or seasons have an established theme associated therewith. In the United States, for example, the holidays that are key for decorating are Valentine's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Additionally, as the trend for decorating geared to a particular theme expands, other events such as New Year's Eve, St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day have become decorating events. Other decorative themes such as March Madness (basketball), Super Bowl Day (football) and the like give rise to decorative themes. Seasonal themes may include the advent of spring, fall harvest, and the like.
As free time has decreased, it has become more difficult for many individuals to reach the goal of decorating for holidays, seasons or events “with style”. To compound this issue, the standard for decorating has elevated dramatically due to the influence, for example, of home decorating mavens. Also, as a result of this trend, many people have expanded the number of holidays for which they attempt to decorate at a high level, in some instances, in competition with one another.
One common decorative display centers around the use of a wreath or wreath like item which can be hung from a wall or a door. Such wreathes may be made of plants such as sprigs of evergreens, boughs, vines or flowers, either natural or artificial. Alternatively, it is known to make such wreathes out of a cloth covered polystyrene plastic, other plastic or wooden materials and the like. Such wreathes may be decorated with thematic items such as pine cones, ornaments, ribbons, bows, etc.
The process for decorating wreathes has changed over the last decade. In the past, a craftsperson might affix decorative elements to the wreath using wire or glue. A craftsperson might also employ decorating accessories such as ribbon, raffia, fake fruit, flowers, leaves, etc. Often, such a person would need to visit a number a boutique stores to complete supplies for decorating a wreath. Naturally, this procedure can be very time consuming.
Moreover, many individuals do not have the creative talent or skills to create an attractive wreath for the selected holiday or event that is being celebrated. Accordingly, a more modern approach is to purchase an artificial wreath that is already decorated. While this approach eliminates some of the expenditure of time, it is not an optimal solution for those who still want to experience the satisfaction of creating one's own decorative wreath. Further, it eliminates the ability to use a live wreath since most pre-decorated are made of artificial materials.
Accordingly, there is a need for products that enable people to still enjoy the feeling of decorating their own wreath while, at the same time, reducing the time necessary to assemble and decorate the wreath. There is a further need for such products which can assist individuals having less creative talent in producing decorations that have the appearance of increased artistic skill. Such goals have been the impetus of the present invention.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is the provision of a new and useful wreath decorating kit which includes components that may be used by an individual to create his/her decorative wreath.
Another aspect of these disclosed embodiments is the provision of a new and useful kit that includes an annular wreath and components thereof which allows an individual to create his/her own decorative wreath.
Yet another aspect contemplated by these embodiments is to allow an individual the feeling of satisfaction in creating their own personal decorations while, at the same time, facilitating the ease of assembly of such decorations.
Still a further aspect of the disclosed embodiments is the provision of kits which enable those with limited artistic ability to create decorations having an increased artistic appearance.
According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, kits are provided for creating decorations that may be supported from a support member. According to one embodiment, a kit is provided for decorating an independently acquired annular base member or wreath having a central opening. In another embodiment, the kit includes the annular base member as part of the kit. In any event, such kits include a primary decorative piece corresponding to a selected decorative theme wherein the primary decorative piece includes a first fastener associated therewith for securing the primary decorative piece to the base member. This primary decorative piece is sized and configured to extend into the central opening of the annular base member when in the mounted state.
The kits also include a plurality of secondary decorative pieces each correlated to the selected decorative theme and adapted to be secured to the base member so as to be positioned at selected locations therearound. These secondary decorative pieces can be identical or different from one another. A second fastener is also associated with each of the second decorative pieces to secure them to the base member. The kit also includes a set of instructions identifying a location for and orientation of the primary decorative piece and for identifying the selected locations for the secondary decorative pieces.
According to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, the primary decorative piece, for example, may be selected from a group consisting of bows, ribbons, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetables and raffia. Likewise, according to the disclosed embodiments, the secondary decorative pieces are selected from a group consisting of Christmas ornaments, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, flags, stars, hearts, clovers, rabbits, baby chicks, baby ducks, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetables, artificial grains, dried fruits, dried vegetables, wine bottles, bats, spiders, ghosts, witches, skulls and miniature sports equipment.
Optional secondary decorative features may include garlands of a type adapted to be wrapped around the annular base member. Such garlands may be selected from a group consisting of strings of beads, decorative wire, strings artificial flowers, strings of artificial fruits, strings of artificial vegetables, strings of artificial grains and strings of stars.
In the disclosed embodiments, the first fastener for securing the primary decorative piece may be selected from a group consisting of string, wire, plastic ties and ribbons. The second fastener used to secure the second decorative piece in certain embodiments may be a clip, such as an alligator clip. Here, the disclosed embodiment teaches that the clip is secured to the second decorative piece by means of a flexible and resilient member, such as a spring.
Kits according to the disclosed embodiments may also include, optionally, a hanger that has a first end portion operative to engage the support and secure the hanger thereto and a second portion operative to engage the base member thereby to hang the base member from the support. Such hanger may be formed as an elongated strip having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion therebetween. The second end portion is configured as a J-shaped hook to hang the base member. The first end portion can then be formed as an L-shaped arm including a first leg extending generally perpendicularly to the central portion and a second leg extending generally perpendicular to the first leg and generally parallel to the central portion in opposed relation thereto. The central portion of the hanger may, if desired, include decorative features correlated to the selected decorative theme.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative wreath according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention with this wreath shown suspended from the top edge of a support in the form of a door;
FIG. 2 is a front plan view of an exemplary primary decorative piece used on the decorative wreath of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary decorative ornament used on the decorative wreath of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken about lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary hook member used to suspend the wreath of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a section of an optional garland used with the decorative wreath of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is an exploded view illustrating a kit according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a front view in elevation of a second exemplary embodiment of the decorative wreath such as may be created by the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a side view in elevation of a secondary decorative piece in the form of an ornament used with the wreath of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a front view in elevation of the third exemplary embodiment of the decorative wreath employing the concepts of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a side view in elevation of a primary decorative piece used with the wreath of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a front view in elevation showing a section of exemplary garland used with the wreath of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 13 is a side view in elevation showing an exemplary secondary decorative piece in the form of an ornament used with the wreath of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention broadly concerns decorations that may be used in a home, business or other environment. The exemplary embodiments described herein, including the various elements of the kits discussed, are provided to illustrate various aspects of such decorations. It should be understood, however, that the inventive concepts are not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Moreover, while the exemplary embodiments are directed to the decoration of wreathes, it should be understood that similar concepts could be used in the decorating of table arrangements and sprays, to name a few.
With that in mind, a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is introduced in FIG. 1. Here, it may be seen that a decorative wreath 10 is suspended from the upper edge of a door 12 by means of a hanger 14. Decorative wreath 10, for example, includes a primary decorative piece in the form of a bow 16 which is sized and configured to extend into the central opening 18 in the annular base member that is in the form of wreath base 20. Wreath base 20 is here depicted to be an annular arrangement of artificial or real clippings of an evergreen plant, such as a fir or the like. By the word “annular”, it is intended to mean any configuration that extends substantially around an opening generally as a closed loop, although horseshoe shapes and the like are intended to be included. Moreover, annular does not require circularity. With reference again to FIG. 1, a plurality of second decorative pieces, such as ornaments in the form of gift packages 22, candy canes 24 and a Santa Claus ornament 26 are positioned at selected locations around wreath base 20.
With reference now to FIG. 2, it may be seen that the primary decorative piece in the form of bow 16 includes a central bow body 28 formed by a plurality of loops of ribbon from which ribbon tails 30 extend. Bow 16 is also provided with a first fastener in the form of a pair of strings 32 for securing bow 16 to wreath base 20 such that bow body 28 extends into central opening 18, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
As noted above with respect to FIG. 1, a plurality of secondary decorative pieces are secured to wreath base 20. A representative secondary decorative piece in the form of present ornament 22 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, it may be seen that ornament 22 is configured to have the appearance of a wrapped Christmas present having a box like body 34 ribbon 36 and a bow 38. Ornament 22 is provided with a fastener 40 used to secure ornament 22 to the wreath body 20. As may be best seen in FIG. 4, fastener 40 is in the form of a clip, such as an alligator clip, having a pair of jaws 42 and 44 that are biased into a closed state by spring 46 so as to clamp onto a portion of wreath base 20.
Moreover, fastener 40 is secured to ornament body 34 by means of a flexible and resilient member such as spring 48. To this end, spring 48 is threaded onto leg 50 of fastener 40 through an opening 52 with an opposite end portion extending through an opening 54 in the sidewall of box-like body 34 where it is secured, for example, by means of an adhesive 56. In this exemplary embodiment, the flexible and resilient member that interconnects fastener 40 and the body of the selected ornament is illustrated as a spring. It should be understood, however, that other connectors would be useable, such as a resilient plastic member and the like. It is not essential that fastener 40 be secured by means of a flexible, resilient connector; it alternatively could be directly secured, in a somewhat rigid manner, to the body of the ornament.
With reference now to FIG. 5, it may be seen that hanger 14 is formed as an elongated strip having a linear central portion 60 having a first portion formed as an L-shaped arm 62 that includes a first leg 64 extending generally perpendicularly to central portion 60 and a second leg 66 extending generally perpendicularly to first leg 64 and generally parallel to central portion 60. A second end portion is located oppositely L-shaped leg 62 with this second end portion being formed as a J-shaped hook 68. Thus, L-shaped leg portion 62 is operative to engage a support, such as the top edge margin of a door to secure the hanger thereto. The second portion 68 is operative to engage the base member which, in this case, is wreath base 20. Thus, the wreath may be hung from the support by means of hanger 14. Further, it may be seen that central portion 60 includes decorative features 70.
FIG. 6 shows a section of an optional garland 72. Garland 72, as illustrated, is a plurality of beads 74 which are supported on a wire or string 76. In use, garland 72 is adapted to be wrapped around the base member, such as wreath base 20.
With reference now to FIG. 7, it may be seen that various ones of the components described above may be assembled into a kit for decorating an annular base member. Here, kit 100 may include any suitable container 102 that is sized and adapted to receive the respective components. Moreover, it should be appreciated that these decorative components in kit 100 all correspond to a selected decorative theme. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a Christmas theme is contemplated. Kit 100 therefor includes the primary decorative piece in the form of bow 16 along with a plurality of secondary decorative pieces such as present ornament 22, candy cane ornament 24 and Santa Claus ornament 26. Moreover, a set of instructions, such as instructions 104 is provided to identify the location for and orientation of the primary decorative piece and the locations of the secondary decorative pieces. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, instruction sheet 104 includes photographs or drawings 105-108 illustrating the progressive assembly of the decorative kit along with written instructions 109 directing the use as to assembly of the creative decorative wreath.
Optional components may be included in this kit, such as garland 72 described above. Again, this garland is correlated to the selected decorative theme. Hanger 14 may also be optionally included in kit 100. Where a hanger is included, it optionally have decorative features 70 that are correlated to the selected decorative theme. Here, decorative features 70 are in the form of cut-outs of Christmas trees. Finally, while it should be appreciated that kit 100 does not need to include the wreath base 20, wreath base 20 may optionally be included so that a complete assembly kit is provided. Should wreath base 20 not be included, the user is required to purchase a live or artificial wreath base for use with the decorative elements of kit 100.
It should be fully understood that the invention described herein is not limited to any particular decorative theme but may be a kit for virtually any decorative occasion. Thus, for example, as is illustrated in FIG. 8, a decorative theme in the form of a wreath for a wine tasting event is illustrated. Here, decorative wreath 110 includes a wreath base 120 in the form of a grape vine and leaves formed as an annular base member having an opening 118 therein. A primary decorative piece corresponded to the selected wine theme is provided in the form of a large wine bottle 116. When mounted, wine bottle 116 extends completely across wreath base 120 generally diametric thereto. To this end, the primary decorative feature, such as wine bottle 116, has a first fastener, similar to that of bow 16, for securing it to the decorative wreath base 120.
A plurality of secondary decorative pieces, also correlated to the selected decorative theme, are secured to wreath base 120. Here, the secondary decorative pieces include wine glasses 122 and a smaller wine bottle 124, for illustrative purposes only. With respect to FIG. 9, it may be seen that the second decorative features such as small wine bottles 124 are provided with a second fastener to secure the secondary decorative piece to wreath base 120. Here, however, the second fastener is in the form of ribbon tie 126.
FIG. 10 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of a wreath 210 according to an Independence Day (July 4^th) theme. Here, wreath base 220 is formed by an annular piece of polystyrene plastic (Styrofoam®) 222 that has a cloth covering 224 thereon. Wreath base 220 has a central opening 218. Here, a primary decorative piece in the form of a flag/flagpole 230 extends across opening 218, and another primary decorative piece in the form of skyrocket 232 also extends across opening 218. Each of flag/flagpole 230 and skyrocket 232 are secured to wreath base 220 by means of first fasteners such as string ties 240 illustrated in FIG. 11.
FIG. 12 illustrates an optional garland 272 which, as is shown in FIG. 10, is wrapped around annular base 220 in a spiral-like manner. Garland 272 includes a plurality of stars such as large stars 272, intermediate stars 276, and small stars 278 to illustrate that this type of decorative element may have varied size decorative features. However, the use of stars along with the flag and skyrocket all correlate to a common decorative theme, such as Fourth of July.
Secondary decorative pieces, such as bells 240 are also provided with a representative bell 240 being illustrated in FIG. 13. Here, bell 240 includes a bell-shaped faceplate 242 and a secondary fastener in the form of a serrated pin 244 is provided so that bells 240 may be secured to annular base 220 by piercing through the cloth covering 224 and into polystyrene plastic annulus 222. Again, the secondary decorative piece is correlated to the common theme.
From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the kit according to the present invention can utilize a variety of primary decorative pieces for the selected decorative theme. Thus, for example, the primary decorative piece could be selected from a group consisting of bows, ribbons, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetable and raffia. The secondary decorative piece is also correlated to a decorative theme so that, for example, they may be selected from a group consisting of Christmas ornaments, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, flags, stars, hearts, clovers, rabbits, baby chicks, baby ducks, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetables, artificial grains, dried fruits, dried vegetables, wine bottles, bats (mammalian), spiders, ghosts, witches, skulls and miniature sports equipment. Accordingly, for example, if a Halloween theme were selected, the wreath base could be decorated a primary decorative piece such as raffia, with the secondary decorative feature being bats, spiders, ghosts, witches and skulls. An Easter theme would use, for example, a primary decorative feature of a bow or flowers along with secondary decorative pieces such as Easter eggs, Easter baskets, rabbits, baby chicks, baby ducks, etc.
Where a garland is employed, the garland may be selected from a group consisting of strings of beads, decorative wire, strings of artificial flowers, strings of artificial fruits, strings of artificial vegetables, strings of artificial grains, strings or stars and the like.
Where a wreath is included as part of the decorative kit, the wreath base member could be selected from a group consisting of fabric covered cores of plastic or wood, vines, straw, leaves, chains of eggs, fir wreathes, holly wreathes and raffia, to name a few. Here, the first fastener can be selected from a group consisting of: string, wire, plastic ties and ribbons.

Claims

1. A kit for decorating an annular base member having a central opening and support the annular base member from a support, comprising:

(A) a primary decorative piece corresponding to a selected decorative theme including a first fastener associated therewith for securing said primary decorative piece to said base member, said primary decorative piece sized and configured to extend into the central opening when in a mounted state; and

(B) a plurality of secondary decorative pieces each correlated to the selected decorative theme and adapted to be secured to said base member so as to be positioned at selected locations therearound with there being a second fastener associated with each of said second decorative pieces.

2. A kit according to claim 1 including a set of instructions identifying a location for and orientation of said primary decorative piece and identifying the selected locations for said secondary decorative pieces.

3. A kit according to claim 1 wherein said primary decorative piece is selected from a group consisting of: bows, ribbons, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetables and raffia.

4. A kit according to claim 1 wherein said secondary decorative pieces are selected from a group consisting of: Christmas ornaments, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, flags, stars, hearts, clover, rabbits, baby chicks, baby ducks, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetables, artificial grains, dried fruits, dried vegetables, wine bottles, bats, spiders, ghosts, witches, skulls and miniature sports equipment.

5. A kit according to claim 1 including a garland adapted to be wrapped on the annular base member.

6. A kit according to claim 5 wherein said garland is selected from a group consisting of: strings of beads, decorative wire, strings of artificial flowers, strings of artificial fruits, strings of artificial vegetables, strings of artificial grains and strings of stars.

7. A kit according to claim 1 wherein said first fastener is selected from a group consisting of: string, wire, plastic ties and ribbons.

8. A kit according to claim 1 wherein said second fastener is a clip secured to a respective said secondary decorative piece.

9. A kit according to claim 8 wherein said clip is an alligator clip.

10. A kit according to claim 8 wherein said clip is secured to said secondary decorative piece by means of a flexible and resilient member.

11. A kit according to claim 10 wherein said flexible and resilient member is a spring.

12. A kit according to claim 1 including a hanger including a first portion operative to engage the support to secure said hook member thereto and a second portion operative to engage said base member thereby to hang said base member from the support.

13. A kit according to claim 12 wherein said hanger is formed as an elongated strip having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion therebetween, said second end portion being configured as a J-shaped hook.

14. A kit according to claim 13 wherein said first end portion is formed by an L-shaped arm including a first leg extending generally perpendicularly to said central portion and a second leg extending generally perpendicularly to said first leg and generally parallel to said central portion in opposed relation thereto.

15. A kit according to claim 13 wherein said central portion includes decorative features correlated to the selected decorative theme.

16. A kit for creating a decoration to be displayed on a support, comprising:

(A) an annular base member having a central opening;

(B) a primary decorative piece corresponding to a selected decorative theme including a first fastener associated therewith for securing said primary decorative piece to said base member, said primary decorative piece sized and configured to extend into the central opening when in a mounted state;

(C) a plurality of secondary decorative pieces each correlated to the selected decorative theme and adapted to be secured to said base member so as to be positioned at selected locations therearound with there being a second fastener associated with each of said second decorative pieces; and

(D) a hook member including a first portion operative to engage the support to secure said hook member thereto and a second portion operative to engage said base member thereby to hang said base member from the support.

17. A kit according to claim 16 including a set of instructions identifying a location for and orientation of said primary decorative piece and for identifying the selected locations for said secondary decorative pieces.

18. A kit according to claim 17 wherein said annular base member is selected from a group consisting of: fabric covered cores, vines, straw, leaves, chains of eggs, firs, hollies and raffia.

19. A kit according to claim 17 wherein said primary decorative piece is selected from a group consisting of: bows, ribbons, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetables and raffia.

20. A kit according to claim 17 wherein said secondary decorative pieces are selected from a group consisting of: Christmas ornaments, Easter eggs, Easter baskets, flags, stars, hearts, clover, rabbits, baby chicks, baby ducks, artificial flowers, artificial fruits, artificial vegetables, artificial grains, dried fruits, dried vegetables, wine bottles, bats, spiders ghosts, witches, skulls and miniature sports equipment.

21. A kit according to claim 17 including a garland adapted to be wrapped on the annular base member.

22. A kit according to claim 17 wherein said second fastener is a spring-biased clip secured to a respective said secondary decorative piece.

23. A kit according to claim 17 including a hanger including a first portion operative to engage the support to secure said hanger thereto and a second portion operative to engage said base member thereby to hang said base.

24. A kit according to claim 23 wherein said hanger includes decorative features correlated to the selected decorative theme.