US836887A - Artificial fruit. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

S. MILLER.

. ARTIFICIAL FRUIT.

APPLIGATION'IILED MAR. 6, 1906.

INVEN OR;

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A TTORNE V51 4 PATENT OFFICE.

SAM MILLER, OF MARSHFIELD, WISCONSIN.

ARTIFICIAL FRUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed March 6, 1906. Serial No. 304,550.

tion.

The object of the present invention is to provide an artificial bunch of fruit in the similitude of bananas for displaying purposes by fruit dealers and the like. i

. With this object in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the sec e of the claims without departing from tile spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of t e invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of an artificial bunch of fruit embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, some of the members being removed to disclose the mechanical construction of the invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken through the stem and between adjacent tiers of the artificial fruit. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the spacing elements. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the artificial bananas.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a central stem 1, preferably of wood and tapered upwardly in the similitude of the stem of a bunch of bananas. Clustered around the stem, as in the natural fruit, is a plurality of artificial bananas 2, which will ordinarily be formed of wood. The artificial bananas are arranged in annular sets or tiers, which are graduated in size and increase in lengths downwardly from the upper end of the bunch. Each of the upper sets or tiers of artificial bananas is carried by a band 3, preferably a wire which is threaded through a perforation 4, extending transversely through the upper end of each of the bananas, the ends of the band being intertwisted or otherwise connected.

For the separation of adjacent tiers of bananas I provide two forms of spacing members, (designated 5 and 6,) each of which is in the nature of a flat plate or disk having a central opening 7 for the reception of the stem 1. As the stem is tapered upwardly, the sizes of the central openings in the successive spacing members decrease upwardly in order that each plate may be held at the desired height upon the stem by reason of the frictional engagement of the walls of the opening 7 with the stem. The set or tier of bananas immediately above each spacing member hangs down over the outer edge thereof, so as to hold the bananas in an outwardly and downwardly inclined position in imitation of the natural fruit. As the uppermost sets or tiers of bananas ordinarily he in close proximity, the spacing members are omitted from two or more of the uppermost sets of bananas, and each of the other sets of bananas is provided with a spacing member, the distance between adjacent spacing mem bers increasing downwardly from the top of the bunch. The spacing members also increase in diameter in a general way from the top to the bottom of the bunch; but there is no regularity in the increase, as it will be seen that the next to the lowermost spacing ele- I 'ment'is smaller in diameter than the next above spacing element.

As shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that one of the s acing elements is in the nature of a disk and as a continuous external peripheral edge, while in Fig. 4 there has been illustrated a spacing element having its outer periphery provided with an annular series of segmental notches or seats 8, in which the bananas of the next above tier are respectively received, so as to positively hold the bananas in a regular spaced relation. Such of the spacing elements as have continuous outer peripheral edges permit of the bananas of the next above set being conveniently adjust-ed to lie between the bananas of the next below set, and therefore enable the convenient adjustment of certain of the bananas so as to give the bunch the desired efiect.

By preference the lowermost set of bananas are not connected by a band, but each banana is individually connected to the stem by means of a wire or other flexible connection 9, the several wires being of difierent lengths, so as to permit of the bananas hanging down in irregular order at the bottom of the bunch in imitation of the natural fruit.

An eye 10 is provided in the upper end of the stem for convenience in suspending the bunch from a suitable support.

It will of course be understood that the artificial bananas and the stem are painted or otherwise treated to have the color and general appearance of the natural fruit, and

as the artificial elements are not perishable the present device is very eifective forthe purpose of display, and by interspersing several artificial bunches with natural bunches an extensive display may be made with a minimum stock of natural fruit.

I propose to construct the present device of wood, paper, rubber, or other suitable material, and in lieu of the suspending-eye 10 any other appropriate suspending means may be employed. While Fig. 2 of the drawings omits a spacer between the uppermost sets of bananas, it is of course permissible to use one at this point if it becomes necessary. Instead of forming the spacers of wood they may be skeleton in form and may be of wire.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A bunch of artificial fruit including a stem, superimposed annular sets of artificial fruit upon the stem, and a series of spacing devices carried by the stem andengaging the artificial fruit to support the latter in the similitude of the natural article.

2. An artificial bunch of bananas comprising a stem which is tapered upwardly, a series of spacing-plates having central openings receiving the stem and snugly embracing the same to support the spacing elements thereon, and superimposed annular series of artificial fruit embracing the stem and hang tive spacing-plates.

3. An artificial bunch of bananas comprising a stem, a series of superimposed spacingplates carried concentrically by the stem, some of the plates being provided at their outer edges with notches, and superimposed annular sets of artificial bananas embracing the stem and hanging down over the edges of the respective spacing-plates.

4. An artificial bunch of bananas comprising a stem, a series of superimposed spacing elements carried concentrically by the stem, annular sets of artificial bananas hanging down over the edges of the respective spacing devices, and a band connecting the upper ends of the respective sets of artificial bananas and embracing the stem.

5. An artificial bunch of bananas compris ing a stem, a series of superimposed spacing elements carried concentrically by the stem, annular sets of artificial bananas hanging down over the edges of the respective spacing devices, a band connecting the upper ends of the respective sets of artificial bananas and embracing the stem, and individual connections between certain of the artificial bananas and the stem.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAM MILLER.

Witnesses:

C. S. VEDDER, GEo. H. REYNOLDS.

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