Decorating Assembly and Methods of Use Thereof

• US 20120027961A1
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Phyllis Fogle
• Original Assignee: Phyllis Fogle
• Inventors: Fogle, Phyllis
• Application Number:
  US12/846,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20120027961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/8
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/0827 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2033/089 for the upper extremity of the central stem
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/0863 Elongated flexible decorations, e.g. tinsels, garlands, chains
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Decorating assemblies and methods of use are disclosed herein. An exemplary decorating assembly for decorating a tree includes a base member and one or more ornamental strings. The base member typically has an aperture disposed in the approximate center of the base member, a rim section, a trough section, and a plurality of slots extending generally vertically from a top edge of the rim section proximal the trough section. An exemplary method of decorating a tree with a decorating assembly includes providing the decorating assembly, typically preassembled within a container, holding the one or more ornamental strings in one hand while placing the base member on the top of the tree. Then, the one or more ornamental strings can be spread onto the tree in various configurations.

Claims

1. A decorating assembly for decorating a tree comprising:

an annular base member, the annular base member having an aperture disposed in the approximate center thereof, a circumferential rim section, a circumferential trough section, and a plurality of slots extending generally vertically from a top edge of the circumferential rim section proximal the circumferential trough section; and

one or more ornamental strings.

2. The decorating assembly of claim 1, wherein the annular base member comprises a unitary piece comprised of a plastic material.

3. The decorating assembly of claim 1, wherein the circumferential rim section is disposed in an outermost radial position with respect to the general center of the aperture.

4. The decorating assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of slots includes a widened opening portion, the widened opening portion disposed proximal the top edge of the circumferential rim section.

5. The decorating assembly of claim 1, wherein the annular base member further includes a generally frustoconical section extending from a top edge of the aperture to the circumferential trough section and a plurality of supporting arms, each of the plurality of supporting arms extending generally radially from an inner wall of the circumferential trough section proximal the aperture to a plurality of tabs disposed along the circumferential rim section.

6. The decorating assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more ornamental strings includes an alternating and operatively coupled series of ornate portions and a connective portions, the ornate portions being larger than the connective portions whereby the ornate portions are capable of fitting substantially within the circumferential trough section of the annular base member and the connective portions are capable of fitting within each of the plurality of slots.

7. The decorating assembly of claim 6, wherein a first ornate portion is disposed within the circumferential trough section of the annular base member and a first connective portion is disposed within a one of the plurality of slots for each of the one or more ornamental strings.

8. The decorating assembly of claim 6, wherein a single ornamental string comprises the one or more ornamental strings, the single ornamental string having,

a first ornate portion being disposed within the circumferential trough section of the annular base member,

a first connective portion being disposed within a one of the plurality of slots,

one or more intermediate ornate portions being disposed within the circumferential trough section,

a first intermediate connective portion being within another of the plurality of slots, the first intermediate connective portion being adjacent and operatively coupled to the one or more intermediate ornate portions on a first side, and

a second intermediate connective portion being within another of the plurality of slots consecutive to the slot within which the first intermediate connective portion is disposed, the second intermediate connective portion being adjacent and operatively coupled to the one or more intermediate ornate portions on a second side.

9. The decorating assembly of claim 6, wherein the one or more ornamental strings comprises one or more strings of bead garland whereby the ornate portions comprise beads and the connective portions comprise strings.

10. The decorating assembly of claim 6, wherein the one or more ornamental strings comprises one or more light strands whereby the ornate portions comprise light-emitting bulbs and the connective portions comprise one or more electrical wires.

11. The decorating assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots comprises sixteen slots substantially equally spaced around the top edge of the circumferential rim section.

12. A method of decorating a tree with a decorating assembly comprising (i) a base member, the base member having an aperture disposed in the approximate center thereof, a rim section, a trough section, and a plurality of slots extending generally vertically from a top edge of the rim section proximal the trough section;

and (ii) one or more ornamental strings, the method comprising;

providing the decorating assembly;

holding the base member of the decorating assembly in a first hand;

holding at least a portion of the one or more ornamental strings of the decorating assembly in a second hand;

coupling the base member of the decorating to a top, generally vertical branch of the tree; and

spreading the one or more ornamental strings onto the tree.

13. The method of decorating a tree with the decorating assembly recited in claim 12, wherein said providing the decorating assembly comprises providing the decorating assembly preassembled in a container whereby the base member is arranged on top of the one or more ornamental strings within the container.

14. The method of decorating a tree with the decorating assembly recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more ornamental strings comprises at least one light strand, the method further comprising,

electrically coupling an end of the at least one light strand to an electrical outlet.