US3046684A - Honeycomb display device - Google Patents

Description

July 31, 1962 R. D. TRlTT HONEYCOMB DISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1959 R m m m R. D. TRITT ATTORNEY July 31, 1962 R. D. TRITT 3,046,684

HONEYCOMB DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I 6: 5- Fl 6:?-

INVENTOR R. D. T R ITT ATTORNEY July 31, 1962 R. D. TRlTT HONEYCOMB DISPLAY DEVICE 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed March 5, 1959 FIG-l2- IN VENTOR R.D= TRITT 3,046,684 HGNEYCOMB DISPLAY DEVICE Robert l). Tritt, 7 02 N. Pitt St., Carlisle, Pa. Filed Mar. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 797,524 2 tClaims. (CI. 41-11) This invention relates to ornamentation, decoration, and entertainment. More particularly, this invention provides a collapsible ornament that can be quickly and easily formed into a variety of attractive configurations to form eye-catching devices in merchants displays and for decorating tables, mantelpieces, and the like.

In the sale of consumer goods in grocery supermarkets, drug stores, and other establishments various lines of consumer goods are offered. In the midst of this competition, it is of importance to each store owner or manager that his displays of goods be attractive and eye-catching. Displays are used not only to attract customers into the stores, but, also to induce a frame of mind conducive to the making of purchases.

Further, with the pressure of complex modern-day living it has become the custom to assemble groups of people in varying numbers to enjoy eating and fellowship together, and frequently decorations and displays of various kinds are used on such occasions to enhance and beautify the surroundings. Also, desks, tables, and mantelpieces are frequently decorated in order to appeal to the esthetic nature of the occupants.

Heretofore, collapsible ornamental devices have been provided including sheets connected to la flexible honeycomb structure. By folding the sheets, the honeycomb structure is expanded into an ornamental shape. However, only one shape could be formed because the sheets were connected to each other along a hinge line.

It is an object of the invention to provide a collapsible ornament that can be readily formed into a variety of configurations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy for children that can be manipulated to form a series of amusing configurations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible ornament that can be formed into a variety of configurations with one motion of the parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible ornament comprising a plurality of :parts that cooperate to achievea unitary attractive appearance.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible ornament that can be manipulated to form a variety of configurations for use as attractive eye-catching ornaments adjacent goods displayed for sale.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible ornament that can be manipulated in an entertaining manner to form a variety of pleasing and amusing configurations.

it is a further object of the invention to provide an ornament having a plurality of parts that can be collapsed into compact form for transportation and storage.

A further object of the-invention is to provide a collapsible ornament that can be supported in a stand.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible ornament that can be formed into configurations suitable as a center-piece for a dining room table or a decoration for a living room mantelpiece.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following description of the physical embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an ornament according to the invention having three exp ansible honeycomb portions and shown in collapsed condition;

FIG. 2, an elevation of the ornament shown in FIG. 1

Patented July 31., 1962 after it has been manipulated by a single motion to a ice configuration wherein the three honeycomb portions are in the form of spheres and the ornament is supported in a comb portions have been manipulated to cylindrical torm;

FIG. 5, a side elevation of the ornament configuration shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, an elevation of the ornament shown in the previous figures wherein the two side honeycomb portions have been manipulated to irusto-conical form and the top honeycomb portion has been manipulated to a difierent frusto-conical form and rests on one of the side honeycomb portions;

FIG. 7, an elevation of the ornament shown in the previous figures wherein one side honeycomb portion and the top honeycomb portion are in the form of spheres and the other side honeycomb portion has been extended to form a loop engaging the two spherical honeycomb portions;

FIG. 8, an elevation of the ornament shown in the previous figures in collapsed form for transportation and storage;

FIG. 9, a vertical section on line 99 of FIG. 8, but showing the trunks of the support plates or sheets broken for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 10, a fragmentary horizontal section on line 10 10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11, a top plan View of the ornament shown in the previous figures in a configuration wherein the three honeycomb portions are extended in elongated arcs;

FIG. 12, a top plan view of the ornament shown in the previous figures in a configuration wherein one honeycomb portion is in frusto-conical form and the other two honeycomb portions are in the form of elongated arcs;

FIG. 13 an elevation of the ornament shown in the previous figures in a configuration wherein the right side honeycomb portion is in frusto-conioal form, the top honeycomb portion is in f-rusto-conioal form and rests on the right side honeycomb portion, and the left side honeycomb portion extends in a loop embracing the trunk of the ornament and engaging the lower portion of the rightside honeycomb portion; and, I

FIG. 14, a top plan view of the ornament shown in the previous figures in a configuration wherein the center honeycomb portion has an arched form and the two side honeycomb portions are elongated.

Briefly stated, the invention provides an ornamental expansible device including a plurality of expansible, flex: ible honeycomb portions having opposite ends secured to two separate support plates or sheets. Each support plate includes a trunk portion, two semicircular branch portions extending from opposite edges of the trunk portion, and a semicircular end portion. Each of the semicircular portions is secured to one end of a honeycomb portion.

When the ornament is in collapsed form, the support plates extend parallel to one another and embrace between them the honeycomb portions that are collapsed into the form of herni-cylindrical' stacks. By manipulating the support plates and the honeycomb portions as hereinafter described, a variety of attractive, amusing or colorless plastic, cardboard, or the like. The support plate includes a trunk portion 24 which serves as a manipulating handle and for mounting the ornament in a stand. Two semicircular branch portions 26 and 28 extend from opposite edges of trunk portion 24. An end semicircular portion 30 is formed at one end of the trunk portion 24. Similarly, support plate 22 includes a. trunk portion 32, two semicircular branch portions 34 and 36 extending from opposite edges of trunk portion 32, and an end semicircular portion 40 at one end of trunk portion 32.

Three expansible, flexible, elastic honeycomb portions are secured to and extend between the semicircular branch portions of the support plates 20 and 22. These honeycomb portions are formed "of flexible sheet material, such as paper, constructed in conventional manner to form a multi-layered stack that can be expanded in accordion-like fashion to achieve an expanded honeycomb form comprising a plurality of hexagonal cells. The honeycomb portions can be formed in a variety of colors to achieve eye-catching and attractive results.

The central honeycomb portion 42 has its opposite ends respectively secured, as by glue, to end semicircular portion 30 and end semi'circular portion 40. Similarly, side honeycomb portion 44 has its opposite ends respectively secured to branch portions 28 and 36. In the same manner, side honeycomb portion 46 has its opposite ends respectively secured to branch portions 26 and 34.

While the entire honeycomb portions are cellular, for

convenience of illustration only fragmentary parts of the honeycomb portions have been shown as cellular in the drawings.

It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the ornament, when collapsed, has a compact form suitable for storage and transportation. Because the support plates 20 and 22 lie parallel to one another, a plurality of the collapsed ornaments can be stacked upon one another in a pile for storage with economy of space.

The configurations of the ornament shown in FIGS. 2, 11, 12, 13, and 14 can be formed by a single motion of the support plates 20 and 22. To form the configurations shown in FIG. 2, the operator manipulates the collapsed ornament shown in FIG. 1 by grasping trunk portion 24 in one hand and trunk portion 32 in his other hand and rotating one of the trunk portions around its end semicircular portion as a pivot through an angle of 180 degrees until the support plates 20 and 22 overlie and touch each other. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2 end portion 30 contacts end portion 40, branch portion 28 contacts branch portion 36, and branch portion 26 contacts branch portion 34. By the foregoing rotation, the honeycomb portions 42, 44 and 46 have been expanded into the form of spheres 48, 50 and 52 shown in FIG. 2. For holding the configuration of FIG. 2 upright on a table, the two trunk portions 24- and 32 are inserted in a vertical slot formed in stand 54. Thus, a number of tables can be decorated rapidly by a simple manipulation of the collapsed ornament and subsequent insertion of the ornament in a stand.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the honeycomb portions in detail. The spherical honeycomb portion 50 includes some hexagonal cells of large cross sectional area and other hexagonal cells of small cross sectional area.

To form the configuration of FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper hemisphere of sphere 50, shown in FIG. 2, is pivoted, by the hand of the operator, around the outer end of branch portions 28 and 36 to achieve the form of a rig-ht circular cylinder 54. While the honeycomb portions tend to remain in the form given them by the hand of the operator, nevertheless a piece of transparent cellophane tape 56 can be attached to the cylinder 54 and the trunk portion 32 for maintaining the cylindrical form.

Similarly, the operator pivots the upper hemisphere of sphere 52, shown in FIG. 2, around the outer end of branch portions 26 and 34 to achieve the form of the right circular cylinder 58 shown in FIG. 4. The cylinder 58 is manitained in shape by a piece of transparent cellophane tape 69 attached to the trunk portion 32 and cylinder 58.

The configuration of FIG. 6 is formed by manipulating the configuration of FIG. 2 as follows. The operator pivots the upper hemisphere of sphere 50 around the outer end of branch portions 28 and 36 to produce the frusto-cone 62. Similarly, the operator pivots the upper hemisphere of sphere 52 around the outer end of branch portions 26 and 34 to produce the frusto-cone 64. Next, the operator pivots the upper hemisphere of sphere 48 around the right-hand edges, as seen in FIG. 2, of end portions 30 and 40 to produce the frusto-cone 66 that rests on frusto-cone 62.

As a continuation in an entertainment act, or as different form of table decoration, the configuration of FIG. 7 can be employed. To produce this configuration from the configuration of FIG. 2, the operator grasps the upper portion of sphere 52 and pulls it into an elongated loop 68. The loop 68 is pulled over to top sphere 48 and then released. The elasticity of the honeycomb loop 68 causes it to embrace the spheres 48 and 50 in the manner shown in FIG. 7.

As an attractive and pleasing table decoration, the configuration of FIG. 11 can be used. This configuration is formed in one motion by manipulating the collapsed form shown in FIG. 1. The operator grasps the trunk portion 24 in one hand and the trunk portion 32 in his other hand. Then he rotates the trunk portions through an arc of 90 degrees so that the end portions 36 and 40 move away from each other, thus expanding honeycomb portion 42 into elongated form 70. By this same motion, the honeycomb portion 44 is expanded into elongated form 72 and the honeycomb portion 46 is expanded into elongated form 74. The elongated form 76 extends above the elongated forms 72 and 74 so as to make the forms 72 and 74 appear, as viewed from above, as portions of a single honeycomb portion extending beneath the elongated forms 72 and 74. The trunk portions 24 and 32 overlap each other and lie flat on the supporting surface, such as a dining room table.

By a simple manipulation of the configuration of FIG. 11, the configuration of FIG. 12 can be formed. The operator rotates the trunk portions 24 and 32, while maintaining them in the same horizontal plane, until they form an approximate right angle. The honeycomb portions are then in the form of a hemi-frusto-cone 76, a curved elongated form 78, and a curved elongated form 80 extending above hemi-frusto-cone 76. This configuration is for decoration of buffet tables.

In FIG. 13 there is shown another configuration that can be formed by a single motion from the collapsed form shown in FIG. 1. The operator grasps the trunk portion 24 in one hand and the trunk portion 32 in his other hand. While maintaining the support plates 20 and 22 in vertical planes, the operator pivots the support plate 22 around the outer end of branch portion 36 as a pivot point until the support plates touch each other with all portions thereof superposed, as shown in FIG. 13, as a result of this motion, the honeycomb portions have achieved the forms of a frusto-cone 82 resting on a frusto-cone 84 and an elongated loop 86 surrounding the trunk portions 24 and 32 and engaging the bottom of frusto-cone 84.

Another attractive configuration useful as a table decoration is shown in FIG. 14. This is another configuration that can be achieved by a single motion from the collapsed form shown in FIG. 1. The operator, grasping trunk portion 24 in one hand and trunk portion 32 in his other hand, rotates the trunk portions through an angle of 90 degrees to the position shown in FIG. 14 Where the trunk portions are collinear and coplanar. The honeycomb portions have achieved the form of a center arched portion 88 between two parallel elongated portions 90 and 92.

In an entertainment act before an audience, the foregoing configurations, and others obtainable by other manipulations of the ornament, can be employed in a series to the amusement of the audience.

It will be seen that the invention provides an ornament, which has a compact form for storage, and can be quickly and easily manipulated to achieve a variety of attractive and pleasing configurations.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims. I

What is claimed is:

*1. For use in ornamentation and entertainment the combination of a first and second support plate, each said support plate having a trunk portion, first and sec- 20 ond semi-circular branch portions extending outwardly from opposite edges of said trunk portion, and an end semicircular portion at one end of said trunk portion, a first expansible, flexible elastic honeycomb portion having one end secured to said end semicircular portion on said first support plate and the other end secured to said end semicircular portion of said second support plate, a second expansible, flexible, elastic honeycomb portion having one end secured to said first semicircular branch portion of said first support plate and its other end secured to said first semicircular branch portion of ible, elastic honeycomb portion having one end secured to said second semicircular branch portion of said first support plate and the other end secured to said second semicircular branch portion of said second support plate.

2. A display device comprising a pair of stiff sheet facing support members having a trunk portion and a plurality of branch portions, at least two of said branch portions of one member being oppositely disposed to a like number of branch portions of the other member, and flexible extensible honeycomb structure mounted between .and attached to said oppositely disposed portions and comprising the only connection between said portions, said honeycomb structure being of sufiicient length to enable it when extended to assume more than one position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,310,711 Savage Feb. 9, 1943 2,346,824 Cohen Apr. 18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 686,418 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Brazel Novelty Co., Catalog #78, published at 4176 Apple Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Holiday Celebration Goods, page 37, col. 1, Figs 4 and 5.

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