US20100034990A1

US20100034990A1 - Ornament with bell

Info

Publication number: US20100034990A1
Application number: US12/186,985
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsung-Wei Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-06
Filing date: 2008-08-06
Publication date: 2010-02-11

Abstract

An ornament Includes a base, at least one bell and an elongated element. A bottom part of each bell is stringed together by the elongated element. The elongated element extending corresponds to a shape of the base and fixed on a surface of the base.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
The present Invention relates to an ornament, and in particular relates to an ornament with bell.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bells have been widely used in ornaments for celebration, such as Christmas. Referring to U.S. Des. 207,319 issued on Apr. 4, 1967, which discloses an ornament including a plurality of bells. Adjacent bells are connected by a chain, and the plurality of bells are stringed together for decorating the Christmas tree. However, when the above ornament is manufactured, a process of connecting the plurality of bells is time consuming and requires a lot of labor. Furthermore, the above ornament is not easily to exhibit a predetermined model and orientate the plurality of bells towards a same direction.
Therefore, what is desired is an ornament with bell that can overcome the above-described shortcomings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The ornament with bell is provided. The ornament includes a base, at least one bell and an elongated element. A bottom part of each bell is stringed together by the elongated element. The elongated element extending corresponds to a shape of the base and fixed on a surface of the base.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the elongated element is fixed to the base by welding.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the elongated element is fixed to the base by at least one fixed element.
In an embodiment of the present invention, each fixed element is made of metallic wire and has two hooking parts on two opposite sides thereof, a middle portion of the fixed element pressing on the elongated element, the hooking parts hooking on the base.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the base is a frame having a predetermined shape and made of metal, two rims of the frame adjacent to the at least one bell being parallel with each other, a distance between the rims being slightly less than a diameter of each bell so as to fix the at least one bell on the base firmly.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the elongated element is made of rigid material. Preferably, a width of the elongated element is much greater than a thickness of the elongated element, a cross section along a direction of the thickness of the elongated element providing at least a corner.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the base is a frame having a predetermined shape and made of a metallic sheet or an iron wire. The surface of the base can be a smooth surface, a rough surface or a twisted surface.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the elongated element is fixed to the base by at least one fixed element. The elongated element is made of plastic. Each fixed element defines a through hole, the through hole being located in the middle of the fixed element, the elongated element running through the through hole and restricted by the through hole. Furthermore, each fixed element has two clamping parts located on two opposite sides of the fixed element correspondingly, each clamping part defining a groove therein, the groove being engaged with the base.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the base is carried out surface treatment, such as plating or baking paint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which;

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a disassembled view of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing a plurality of bells being stringed together by an elongated element.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing an elongated element fixed to a base by welding, in which an imaginary line represents a plurality of bells fixed to the base.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing an elongated element fixed to a base by a fixed element made of an iron wire that has two hooking parts on two opposite sides thereof for hooking and clamping on the base, in which an imaginary line represents a plurality of bells fixed to the base.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the ornament with bell of FIG. 4, showing the elongated element fixed to rims of the base, in which an imaginary line represents the bells fixed to the elongated element and the base.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a plurality of bells assembled with an elongated element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a front aspect.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the plurality of bells assembled with the elongated element of the ornament with bell of FIG. 6, but seen from a back aspect, showing a width of the elongated element being much greater than a thickness of the elongated element, and a cross section along a direction of the thickness of the elongated element being a flat rectangle in shape for preventing the bells from swaying.

FIG. 8 is a disassembled view of the plurality of bells and the elongated element of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a plurality of bells assembled with an elongated element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the elongated element made of an iron wire and a cross section of the elongated element being rectangle in shape.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a plurality of bells assembled with an elongated element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present, invention, showing the elongated element made of an iron wire and a cross section of the elongated element being round in shape.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a plurality of bells assembled with an elongated element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a front aspect, showing the elongated element being relatively great in length.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the plurality of bells assembled with the elongated element of the ornament with bell of FIG. 11, but seen from a back aspect, showing a width of the elongated element being much greater than a thickness of the elongated element, and a cross section along a direction of the thickness of the elongated, element being a flat rectangle in shape,

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a fixed element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the fixed element defining a through hole in the middle of the fixed element, and two clamping parts located on two opposite sides of the fixed element correspondingly, each clamping part defining a groove in a bottom side thereof

FIG. 14 an isometric view of a fixed element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the fixed element defining a through hole in the middle of the fixed element, and two clamping parts located on two opposite sides of the fixed element correspondingly, each clamping part defining a groove in a bottom side thereof, furthermore, chamfers provided on inner sidewalk of the through hole and the grooves correspondingly.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a fixed element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the fixed element defining a through hole in the middle of the fixed element, and two clamping parts located on two opposite sides of the fixed element correspondingly, each clamping part defining a groove in a bottom side thereof, furthermore, a width of the through hole being much greater than a height of the through hole, and chamfers provided on inner sidewalls of the through hole and the grooves correspondingly.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a fixed element of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the fixed element defining a through hole in the middle of the fixed element, and two clamping parts located on two opposite sides of the fixed element correspondingly, each clamping part defining a groove in a bottom side thereof, furthermore, a width of the through hole being much greater than a height of the through hole.

FIG. 17 a partially disassembled view of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing an elongated element running through a through hole of a fixed element and a via hole of a bottom part of each bell, thereby stringing the bells together.

FIG. 18 a partially disassembled view of an ornament with bell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fixed element defined two C-shaped grooves for engaging with rims of a base, in which an imaginary line represents a plurality of bells fixed to the elongated element.

FIG. 19 is a partially assembled view of the ornament with bell of FIG. 18, showing the C-shaped grooves of the fixed element being pressed to engage with the rims of the base, in which an imaginary line represents a plurality of bells fixed to the base.

FIG. 20 is side cross-sectional view of the ornament with bell of FIG. 19, taken along line A-A thereof, showing the elongated element running through the fixed element, the C-shaped grooves of the fixed element engaging with the rims of the base, in which an imaginary line represents a plurality of bells fixed on the elongated element and the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe various exemplary embodiments of the present ornaments with bells in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 1-20, ornaments with bells according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention are denoted by a reference numeral 10
Referring to FIGS. 1-10, the ornament 10 according to a basic exemplary embodiment is shown. The ornament 10 includes a base 11, a plurality of bells 12 and an elongated element 13. In an alternative embodiment, the bell 12 can be only one.
The base 11 can be a frame having a predetermined shape and made of metal. For example, the base 11 is made of an iron wire or other metallic sheet For reducing production cost, the base 11 is preferably, made of the iron wire. A wire diameter of the iron wire can be in a range from 0.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters. A surface of the frame of the base 11 can be a smooth surface, a rough surface or a twisted surface formed by interweaving two or more iron wires. The base 11 can be curved to different shapes. The surface of the base 11 can be carried out surface treatment, such as plating or baking paint. The base 11 is made to the frame having the predetermined shape and outline. The frame includes two rims adjacent to the bells 12 being parallel with each other. A distance between the two rims is slightly less than a diameter of an outer surface of each bell 12, so that the outer surface of the bells 12 can be held by the rims of the base 11, thereby preventing the bells 12 from swaying and fixing the bells 12 on the base 11 firmly.
Referring to FIGS. 6-12, the bells 12 is, preferably, made of metal, and the bells 12 can be prepared by impact molding. Each bell 12 can includes a bead embedded therein. The bead may generate a euphony sound when the bell 12 is shaken. Each of the bells 12 has a bottom part 14. The bottom part 14 defines a via hole 15 for the elongated element 13 running therethrough.
The elongated element 13 is thin and long, and can be made of rigid material. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, preferably, a width of the elongated element 13 is much greater than a thickness of the elongated element 13, and a cross section along a direction of the thickness of the elongated element 13 is rectangular. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the cross section along a direction of the thickness of the elongated element 13 can be round. Preferably, a wire diameter the of the elongated element 13 is less than or equal to a diameter of via hole 15 of the bottom part 14 of each bell 12. Therefore, when the bells 12 are stringed together, the bells 12 will get close and align with each other. The elongated element 13 is thin and long, and can be made of rigid material. For example, the elongated element 13 is an iron wire. A cross section of the iron wire can provide at least a corner. Preferably, the corner is a right angle, and the cross section of the iron wire is a flat rectangle in shape; so that when the iron wire runs through the via hole 15 of the bottom part 14 of each bell 12, side-walls of the via hole 15 would be resisted/restricted by the iron wire, thereby preventing the bells 12 from swaying, and stabilizing the bells 12. Therefore, the bells 12 are easily to be orientated towards a same direction.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, after the above elements (base 11, bells 12 and an elongated element 13) are well prepared, the plurality of the bells 12 can be stringed together by the elongated element 13 running through the via holes 15 of the bottom parts 14 of the bells 12, thereby forming an aligned string of the bells 12; and then the bells 12 and the elongated element 13 are placed on the base 11, and a front end and a back end of the elongated element 13 are welded with upper surfaces or end surfaces of the base 15, thereby the aligned string of the bells 12 positioned between the rims of the base 11. That is, the bottom part 14 of each bell 12 is stringed together by the elongated element 13, and the elongated element 13 extends corresponding to the shape of the base 11 and fixed on the surface of the base 11. Consequently, with the help of the elongated element 13 and the predetermined shape of the base 11, the bells 12 would be easily to exhibit a various model and meet the different decorative requirement, and a process of assembling the ornament 10 is quickly and requires relatively less labor.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an ornament 10 according to another exemplary embodiment is provided. Other than the elongated element 13 is fixed to the base 11 by welding in the above embodiment, the elongated element 13 can be fixed to the base 11 by one or more fixed elements 16. The fixed element 16 can be made of a metallic wire, such as an iron wire. Preferably, a wire diameter of the fixed element 16 is less than a ware diameter of a rim of the base 11. The fixed element 16 includes two hooking parts 17 for engaging the run of the base 11 on two opposite sides of the fixed element 16. In use, a middle portion of the fixed element 16 may press the elongated element 13, and the hooking parts 17 may hook on the rims of the base 11 correspondingly. Therefore, the bells 12 and the elongated element 13 can be fixed on the base 11 by the fixed element 16. In this way, the ornament 10 is assembled easily, quickly and stably.
Referring to FIGS. 13-20, an ornament 10 according to further another exemplary embodiment is provided. Other than the elongated element 13 is fixed to the base 11 by welding or the fixed element 13 made of iron wire having the hooking part 17 in the above embodiments, the elongated element 13 can also be fixed to the base 11 by a fixed element 16 made of plastic or other material. The fixed element 16 made of plastic defines a through hole 18 in the middle of the fixed element 16. A size of the through hole 18 is proportional to or slightly greater than a size of the elongated element 13, so that the elongated element 13 can run through the through hole 18. The elongated element 13 further includes two clamping parts 19 located on two opposite sides of the fixed element 13 correspondingly. Each clamping part 19 defines a groove in a bottom side thereof. The groove is C-shaped. The C-shaped grooves may engage with rims of the base 11. A size of an opening of the C-shaped groove is much less than a size of the rim of the base 11, thus the clamping part can clamp on the base 11 firmly. In use, the elongated element 13 runs through the through hole 18 of the fixed element 16, thereby the elongated element 13 engaging with the through hole 18. Under an external force acting on the fixed element 16, the clamping parts 19 would expand to clamp on the rims of the base 11 firmly due to a performance of plastic. In this way, the ornament would be assembled quickly and stably.
It is noted that the scope of the present ornament with bell is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, for making the elongated element 13 run through the through hole 18 of the fixed element 16 conveniently, chamfers can be provided on inner sidewalls of the through hole 18, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. If the fixed element 16 engages with the elongated element 13 at an end of the elongated element 13, the through hole 18 engaged with the elongated element 13 can be replaced by a blind hole. In addition, the via hole 15 of the bottom part 14 of the bell 12 can be replaced by a hook.
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including configurations ways of the recessed portions and materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. An ornament with bell comprising a base, at least one bell and an elongated element, a bottom part of each bell being stringed together by the elongated element, the elongated element extending corresponding to a shape of the base and fixed on a surface of the base.

2. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the elongated element is fixed to the base by welding.

3. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the base is a frame having a predetermined shape and made of metal, two rims of the frame adjacent to the at least one bell being parallel with each other, a distance between the rims being slightly less than a diameter of each bell for fixing the at least one bell on the base firmly.

4. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the elongated element is made of rigid material.

5. The ornament with bell according to claim 4, wherein a width of the elongated element being much greater than a thickness of the elongated element, a cross section along a direction of the thickness of the elongated element providing at least a corner.

6. The ornament with bell according to claim 5, wherein the cross section along the direction of the thickness of the elongated element is a flat rectangle in shape.

7. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the elongated element is made of rigid material, the elongated element being an iron wire.

8. The ornament with bell according claim 1, wherein the elongated element is fixed to the base by at least one fixed element.

9. The ornament with bell according to claim 8, wherein each fixed element is made of metallic wire and has two hooking parts on two opposite sides thereof, the hooking parts hooking on the base.

10. The ornament with bell according to claim 8, wherein each fixed element defines a through hole, the through hole located in the middle of the fixed element, the elongated element running through the through hole and restricted by the through bole.

11. The ornament with bell according to claim 10, wherein each fixed element has two clamping parts located on two opposite sides of the fixed element correspondingly, each clamping part defining a groove therein, the groove engaged with the base.

12. The ornament with bell according to claim 11, wherein the base is a frame having a rim, a size of an opening of the groove being much less than a size of the rim for each clamping part clamping on the rim of the frame firmly.

13. The ornament with bell according to claim 11, wherein the elongated element is made of plastic.

14. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the base is a frame having a predetermined shape and made of a metallic sheet or an iron wire, two rims of the frame adjacent to the at least one bell being parallel with each other, a distance between the two rims being slightly less than a diameter of each bell for fixing the at least one bell on the base firmly.

15. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the base is made of an iron wire, the surface of the base being a smooth surface, a rough surface or a twisted surface.

16. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the base is carried out plating or baking paint.

17. The ornament with bell according to claim 1, wherein the bottom part of the bell defines a via hole for the elongated element running therethrough.