US20080248221A1

US20080248221A1 - Christmas bell ornament

Info

Publication number: US20080248221A1
Application number: US11/730,822
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsung-Wei Chen
Original assignee: E Cherne Enterprises Co Ltd
Current assignee: E-CHERNE INTERPRISES Co Ltd; E Cherne Enterprises Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-04
Filing date: 2007-04-04
Publication date: 2008-10-09

Abstract

A Christmas bell ornament is disclosed, which is reduced in overall thickness to improve bulkiness in prior art. The bell ornament is made by adjoining two formed metal plates via the junction surface around the periphery with their inner surfaces facing each other. In horizontal cross sectional view, the width at the middle section of bell body after adjoinment is bigger that the width at each end, and an arc surface is formed with the bell body tapering from the middle section towards each end With overall size reduced, the volume of goods transported can be increased and the transport cost can be reduced. There can also be bossed pattern on the surface of Christmas bell ornament to give it excellent visual effect.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides an innovated Christmas bell ornament that retains the original shape of the bell, but with reduced size, and may have bossed or hole pattern produced on its surface. The Christmas bell ornament provides excellent visual effect when hung on a tree or a wall, making it an ideal ornament.
2. Description of the Related Art
Christmas bells are in general decorative products that are extensively hung on trees or walls as ornament for festivity, in particular during Christmas season.
The most commonly seen Christmas bells have Liberty-Bell shape or ball shape. Prior commonly seen Christmas bells include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D.427,364 and D.411,481. One of those bells has an integrally-formed Liberty-Bell shape disposed with a sunken ring near the mouth of bell and surrounding the bell surface. Because the bell has a circular cone body and the mouth of the bell is in the shape of a circular opening, it is relatively big in size and tends to cost more in packaging, storage and transport. In addition, the bell ornament when hung cannot stay straight, but tilts inwardly such that the entire shape of the bell cannot be fully revealed, thereby reducing its esthetic value.
In addition, a ball-shaped bell has a ball shape that is also big in size and takes space, thus lacking economic benefits as described above.
In addition, a bell needs to make sound. Thus it must be made of metal, which tends to constrain the processing technologies that can be used. Thus it is not that easy to design three-dimensional decorative pattern or patterned holes on the bell surface. That is why bell ornaments seen on the market predominantly have smooth surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Christmas bell ornament according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a Christmas bell ornament according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a Christmas bell ornament according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the Christmas bell ornament having another shape.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

First, refer to FIG. 1 which shows a perspective view of the Christmas bell ornament according to the invention having the pattern of Liberty Bell. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of its structure. FIG. 3 is a front view of the Christmas bell ornament, and FIG. 4 is the cross sectional view of the bell in FIG. 3. The Christmas bell ornament 1 of the invention is made of two metal plates 3 of proper thickness, such as iron, copper, and metal alloy. The desired shape of the bell is formed using processing machine (called punch press) to stamp the metal plates and molds them into shape into, for example, Liberty Bell shape and round shape, which is called a perform. FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are several examples of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 1. When the surface of the bell ornament desires to have bossed or longitudinal groove pattern 10, or a plurality of decorative holes 11, this can be achieved with the use of a mold in the production of perform. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when two metal plates 3 having a predefined shape are completed, align the two metal plates by having their inwardly concave inner surfaces face each other, and adjoin the two metal plates by apposing their junction surfaces 2 at the periphery. In a horizontal cross sectional view of the bell ornament 1 after adjoinment, the width at the middle section D of bell body is bigger than the width at each end d, and the width tapers from the middle section D towards each end d such that the opening of the bell 4 is in fish-eye shape, turning the bell ornament 1 into a flat-shape ornament as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. At the outer top surface of the bell body there is provided a hanger 8, which allows threading material to pass through for hanging purpose. At the inner top surface of the bell body there is disposed a hang ring 8, which can be connected to a drop weight 7 beneath through soft wiring material 6 that when the bell shakes, it can make sounds. Moreover, to give the bell ornament a more esthetic appearance, it can be tied with a satin ribbon 9, leaves 12, tassels, or shining beads.
In the aforesaid structure, it is apparent that it retains a bell shape when viewed from the front. But when viewed from the side, we will be surprised to find that it has been reduced in volume and becomes flatter. Such bell structure offers many advantages. For example, less material is required for packing and the volume of goods transported can be effectively increased, thereby greatly reducing the storage and transport costs. More so, such bell ornament when hung can stay straight without tilting inwards, rendering the display of the bell ornament more esthetic. As such, the bell ornament retains the original shape of the bell, but with reduced size, and may have bossed or decorative hole patterns produced on its surface to provide excellent visual effect when hung on a tree or a wall, thus making it an ideal ornament.
Many bells having different shapes may be derived from the bell ornament in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the Christmas bell ornament having a different shape. FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the bell ornament in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a front view of the bell ornament in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the bell ornament in FIG. 10. FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 respectively show an example of the bell ornament in FIG. 8. The bell ornament in FIG. 8 has the same construction and technical means as that in FIG. 1. That is, when two metal plates 3 having a predefined shape are completed, align the two metal plates 3 by having their inwardly concave inner surfaces face each other. Put round beads 13 therein and use them for making sounds before adjoining the two metal plates 3 by apposing their junction surfaces 2 at the periphery. In a horizontal cross sectional view of the bell ornament 1 after adjoinment, the width at the middle section of bell body D is bigger that the width at each end d, and the width tapers from the middle section D towards each end d such that the bell has a fish-eye shape in horizontal cross sectional view as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The aforesaid structure is reduced in size, which can increase the volume of goods transported and greatly reduce the storage and transport costs. More so, such bell ornament when hung can stay straight without tilting inwards, rendering the display of the round bell ornament more esthetic. As such, the bell ornament retains the original shape of the bell, but with reduced size, and may have bossed 10 or decorative hole patterns 11 produced on its surface to provide excellent visual effect when hung on a tree or a wall.

Claims

1. A Christmas bell ornament made by aligning two preformed metal plates with their inner surfaces facing each other, each metal plate having a junction surface around the periphery and on the inner surface of the preformed metal plate for adjoining the other metal plate, characterized in which in horizontal cross sectional view, the width between metal plates at the middle section of the bell body after adjoinment being smaller than the width of the metal plates to form a fish-eyed shape, and an arc surface being formed with the bell body tapering from the middle section towards each end to become a flat-shaped bell ornament.

2. The Christmas bell ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surface of the bell ornament is disposed with bossed or longitudinal groove pattern.

3. The Christmas bell ornament as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hang ring and drop weight or beads between the inner surfaces of metal plates.