WO2016109352A1

WO2016109352A1 - Assembly for sculptural depiction of a pinnate leaf

Info

Publication number: WO2016109352A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/067430
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wendell TURNER
Original assignee: Turner Wendell
Priority date: 2014-12-31
Filing date: 2015-12-22
Publication date: 2016-07-07

Abstract

An assembly for sculptural depiction of a pinnate leaf including a mounting pin; a petiole portraying shaft fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the mounting pin's upper end; a medial rachis portraying member fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the petiole portraying shaft's distal end; lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates; series of wholly formed joints interconnecting the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates and the medial rachis portraying member, the series of wholly formed joints positioning each end among the leaflet portraying plates' proximal ends at the medial rachis portraying member; lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying members; and a second series of wholly formed joints respectively interconnecting the lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts with the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates.

Description

Assembly for Sculptural Depiction of a Pinnate Leaf

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to artificial plants and assemblies for sculptural depictions of trees and plants. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus and

assemblies for sculptural depictions of plants having pinnate leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly known and commonly configured metal sculptural depictions of pinnate leaves, such as palm leaves commonly experience metal fatigue and breakage at the bases of their leaflet plates due to wind induced vibration.

The instant inventive assembly for sculptural depiction of a pinnate leaf solves or ameliorates such problems and deficiencies by specially configuring a metal pinnate leaf sculpture to include multiple additional bar, plate, or shaft configured rachis portraying members; such additional members multiply functioning for enhancement of the assembly's pinnate leaf sculptural depicting ability and for reducing such wind vibration induced metal fatigue and leaflet breakage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first structural component of the instant inventive assembly for sculptural depiction of a pinnate leaf comprises a mounting pin having upper and lower ends. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting pin is composed of durable steel, and has horizontal cross-sectional dimensions of approximately 1 /8" x 1 /2" to 5/16" x 1 ". In use and operation of the instant invention, such mounting pin component may be slidably received within and secured at an upwardly opening mounting socket structure at an upper end of a metal palm tree trunk sculpture. Upon such socket mounting of the mounting pin, other attached structures (described below) are positioned and deployed for performance of their pinnate leaf sculptural depicting functions.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a petiole portraying shaft having proximal and distal ends. In the preferred embodiment, the petiole portraying shaft is composed of the same material (preferably steel) as the mounting pin component, and such shaft preferably has identical or matching cross- sectional dimensions. The petiole portraying shaft's proximal end is preferably formed wholly with the mounting pin's upper end, with a radially outward curvature commencing at such joint. Other mounting means such as welds or helically threaded attachments may suitably alternatively interconnect the mounting pin and petiole portraying shaft components.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a medial rachis portraying member having proximal and distal ends. In the preferred embodiment, the rachis portraying member's proximal end is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the petiole portraying shaft's distal end, and the curved and radially outward extension of the petiole portraying shaft is preferably continued by the medial rachis member. Similarly with the mounting pin / petiole shaft connection, other mounting means such as welds or helically threaded attachments may be suitably substituted. Further structural components of the instant inventive assembly comprise lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates, each such series extending distally, and each such plate having a proximal end and a laterally or oppositely laterally extending distal end. In the preferred embodiment, the outline or peripheral edge shape of each leaflet portraying plate matches the elongated "U" configuration which is commonly displayed by the leaflets of a common pinnate leaf.

Further structural components of the instant inventive assembly comprise first mounting means which connect the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates to the medial rachis portraying member. In the preferred embodiment, such mounting means laterally position and laterally extend the lateral series of leaflet portraying plates at and with respect to a later edge or end of medial rachis portraying member, and such means further function for oppositely positioning and extending the oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates at and with respect to the medial rachis portraying member's oppositely lateral edge. In the preferred embodiment, the first mounting means comprise wholly formed joints. The first mounting means may suitably alternatively comprise welded or bolted attachments.

Further structural components of the instant inventive assembly comprise at least a first lateral rachis portraying shaft and at least a first oppositely lateral rachis portraying shaft. Each shaft among the at least first lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts has proximal and distal ends, and in the preferred embodiment the lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts have lengths sufficient for abutting, intersecting, and supporting a majority of the lateral or oppositely lateral leaflet series.

Further structural components of the instant inventive assembly comprise second mounting means which respectively connect the at least first lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts to the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates. While such means may suitably comprise heat fusion welds, preferred second mounting means comprise a series of wholly formed joints

respectively between the lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts and the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates.

In use and operation of the instant inventive assembly for sculptural depiction of pinnate leaf, the assembly's mounting pin component may be downwardly inserted into and received within the upwardly opening socket at the upper end of the metal sculptural palm trunk. Upon such installation, the leaflets of the assembly's lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates are commonly exposed to high winds which commonly induce oscillations or vibrations of the leaflets at and about their proximal base attachments. Over time, such leaflet vibrations tend cause metal fatigue and breakage of leaflets, seriously degrading the ability of the assembly to perform its pinnate leaf sculptural portrayal function.

The instant inventive assembly's incorporation of the at least first lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts directly enhances the assembly's capacity and ability to sculpturally depict a pinnate leaf by replicating the look of the medial rachis portraying shaft in a complimentary fashion. Simultaneously with such direct enhancement of sculptural depiction capabilities, the additional rachis portraying members perform a function of damping wind induced vibrations and oscillations of the leaflet plates, thereby preventing metal fatigue and breakage. Occurrences of Metal fatigue at the proximal bases of the leaflet plates and resultant breakage and disconnections of such leaflet plates markedly lessens the assembly's capacity for sculptural depiction of the pinnate leaf. Accordingly, the instant invention's

incorporation of the at least first lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts further enhances the assembly's sculptural depicting ability by preventing leaflet plate breakage.

Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include enhanced and continued sculptural depiction of a pinnate leaf through the provision of structures as described above, and by arrangements of those structures in relation to each other in manners described above.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art configuration of an assembly for Iptural depiction of a pinnate leaf. Fig. 2 redepicts the structure of Fig. 1 , the view of Fig. 2 showing the structure of Fig. 1 modified by inclusion of lateral and oppositely lateral pluralities of rachis portraying shafts.

Fig. 3 redepicts the structure of Fig. 2, the view of Fig. 3 alternatively showing the rachis portraying shafts as members formed wholly with leaflet components.

Fig. 4 is a partial and reverse view of the structure depicted in Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Drawing Fig. 1 , a prior art assembly for sculptural depiction of a pinnate leaf is depicted, such assembly comprising a lower or proximal end mounting pin 2, such pin having upper and lower ends or distal and proximal ends 4 and 6. The mounting pin 2 and other components discussed below are preferably composed of steel.

A petiole portraying shaft 8 having proximal and distal ends 10 and 12 is incorporated for sculpturally portraying the petiole or stem portion of a pinnate palm leaf. In the embodiment depicted, the upper end 4 of the mounting pin 2 is fixedly attached to the proximal end 10 of the petiole portraying shaft 8 by means of a wholly formed joint.

Referring further to Fig. 1 , a medial pinnate leaf rachis portraying

member 14U,14L has proximal ends 16U,16L, and has distal ends 18U,18L. In the Fig. 1 embodiment, such medial rachis portraying member 14U,14L comprises a combination of a upwardly positioned or overlying extending plate 14U, and a downwardly positioned or underlying shaft 14L, such plate 14U and shaft 14L being fixedly interconnected by metal welds mounting means 20. Suitably, a wholly formed joint, bolted or riveted mounting means may be utilized in place of the welds 20.

Referring further to Fig. 1 , the depicted pinnate leaf sculptural assembly further comprises lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates 22 and 24. Each leaflet among said series 22 and 24 has a proximal end 26, and a distal end 28. In the depicted embodiment, the leaflet plates are fixedly attached to the medial rachis portraying member 14U,14L by first mounting means which preferably comprise a series of wholly formed joints which connect the proximal ends or bases of the leaflets to the lateral and oppositely lateral edges of the upper plate component 14U of the medial rachis portraying member 14U,14L. The wholly formed interconnections between the proximal ends of the leaflet plates and the lateral and oppositely lateral edges of plate 14U constitutes a preferred means for interconnecting the leaflet plates and the medial rachis portraying member 14U,14L. Suitably, other mounting means such as welded, bolted, or riveted attachments may be alternatively utilized.

Referring further to Fig. 1 , upon mounting of the depicted sculptural pinnate leaf at the top of sculptural palm trunk (not depicted within views) and upon exposure of the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates 22 and 24 to outdoor weather, wind induced vibrations or oscillations of the leaflet plates may occur. Such vibrations often undesirably produce metal fatigue at the wholly formed junctures of the leaflet plate's proximal ends with the medial rachis portraying member component 14U. The dashed oval 30 drawn upon Fig. 1 represents a zone of such metal fatigue at a leaflet proximal end, such oval representing an area of common wind induced leaflet breakage.

Referring simultaneously to Figs. 1 and 2, all reference numerals in Fig. 2 having the suffix "i" identify structures which are substantially identical to similarly numbered structures appearing in Fig. 1 . According to the inventive improvement represented by the pinnate leaf sculptural assembly of Fig. 2, at least a first lateral and at least a first oppositely lateral rachis portraying shaft 32 and 40 are provided, such shafts having proximal and distal ends 34 and 36, and 42 and 44. In the Fig. 2 embodiment, second lateral and second oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts 46 and 52 are additionally provided, such second shafts respectively having proximal and distal ends 48,50 and 54,56.

Second mounting means for interconnecting the lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts 32, 40, 46, and 52 in the form of welds 8 may be suitably utilized for rigidly securing such shafts to the undersurfaces of the pinnate leaf plates in an intersecting and supporting relationship with such plates. In operation of the pinnate leaf sculptural depiction assembly of Fig. 2, and during calm weather with low winds, the rachis portraying shafts 32, 40, 46, and 52 work in a complimentary fashion with the medial rachis portraying member 14Ui,14Li to cause the assembly to better visually and sculptural portray the pinnate palm leaf. During high winds, the attachments of the rachis portraying shafts 32, 40, 46, and 52 by means of welds 58 to the undersurfaces of the leaflet plates damp wind induced oscillations and vibrations of the leaflet plates. The oscillation damping effect and function advantageously reduces metal fatigue which may otherwise undesirably arise at leaflet's base ends at zones represented by dashed line oval 30i. Accordingly, the rachis portraying shafts 32, 40, 46, and 52 further enhance and compliment the assembly's pinnate leaf sculptural depiction capabilities by preventing breakage and loss of leaflet plates.

Referring simultaneously to Figs. 3 and 4, each structural element associated with a reference numeral having the suffix "j" is substantially identical to similarly numbered structures appearing in Figs. 1 and 2. According to the structural alternative represented by Figs. 3 and 4, at least first, and preferably first and second lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts 60, 66 and 72, 78, perform functions substantially identical to those of the rachis portraying shafts 32, 40, 46, and 52 of the Fig. 2 alternative. Instead of utilizing the weld mounting means 58 of Fig. 2, preferred series of wholly formed joints 84 are alternatively utilized as mounting means for respectively connecting the lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts 60,72 and 66,78 to the leaflet series 22j and 24j. Similarly with the Fig. 2 configuration, Fig. 3's rachis shafts 60, 66, 72, and 78 respectively have proximal and distal ends 62, 68, 64, 70, 74, 80, 76, and 82, and such shafts beneficially damp vibrations and metal fatigue at proximal leaflet plate end zones 30j for prevention of leaflet plate breakage. Also similarly with the Fig. 2 configuration, Fig. 3's leaflet plate breakage prevention function is performed simultaneously with and as a symbiotic complement to the rachis portraying shafts' functions of enhancement of pinnate leaf sculptural depiction.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.

Claims

The invention hereby claimed is:

LISTING OF CLAIMS Claim 1 (Original):

An assembly for sculptural depiction of a pinnate leaf, said assembly comprising:

(a) a mounting pin having upper and lower ends;

(b) a petiole portraying shaft having proximal and distal ends, the petiole portraying shaft being fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the mounting pin's upper end;

(c) a medial rachis portraying member having proximal and distal ends, the medial rachis portraying member's proximal end being fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the petiole portraying shaft's distal end;

(d) lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates, each plate among said series of plates having a proximal end and a distal end;

(e) first mounting means interconnecting the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates and the medial rachis portraying member, said means positioning each end among the leaflet portraying plates' proximal ends at the medial rachis portraying member;

(f) an at least first lateral rachis portraying shaft and an at least first oppositely lateral rachis portraying shaft, each shaft among the at least first lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts having a proximal end and a distal end; and (g) second mounting means respectively interconnecting the at least first lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts with the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates. Claim 2 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 1 wherein the medial rachis portraying member has upper and lower ends, the upper end comprising a distally extending plate and the lower end comprising a distally extending shaft, and further comprising third mounting means interconnecting said plate and said shaft.

Claim 3 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 2 wherein the first mounting means comprise lateral and oppositely lateral series of whole formations of the leaflet portraying plates' proximal ends with the rachis portraying members' distally extending plate.

Claim 4 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 3 wherein the second mounting means comprise lateral and oppositely lateral series of whole formations of the at least first lateral and oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts with the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates. Claim 5 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 4 further comprising second lateral and second

oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts, the second mounting means further respectively interconnecting the second lateral and second oppositely lateral rachis portraying shafts with the lateral and oppositely lateral series of leaflet portraying plates.

Claim 6 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 5 wherein the third mounting means comprise a plurality of welds.

Claim 7 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 6 wherein each leaflet portraying plate is composed of steel.

Claim 8 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 7 wherein the mounting pin, the petiole portraying shaft, and the medial rachis portraying member each have substantially rectangular cross- sectional shapes.

Claim 9 (Original):

The assembly of Claim 8 wherein each leaflet portraying plate has an elongated "U" shape.