Combination of thematically related decorative objects

• US 5,195,638 A
• Filed: 08/23/1991
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Hill Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Benson E. Zinbarg
• Inventors: Zinbarg, Benson E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US07/749,165
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 206/457, 206/575, 428/7-9, 428/13, 428/16, 428/19, 428/15, 52/3, 52/9, 52/311, D11/131, D11/160, D11/161, D21/176, D21/177, D21/179, 248/95
• US Class Current: 206/457
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1008 Anchoring means or weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1041 Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1075 Special shapes or constructions for aircraft type balloons A63H2027/1066
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/06 Air-filled or inflatable toy figures connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/004 Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons

Abstract

Decorative structures comprising a combination of a flexible sheet member and a decorative bag member simulate a universal conception of the appearance of a well known theme. For example, a combination structure for simulating a universal conception of the appearance of a ghost and Halloween jack-o-lantern pumpkin comprises a flexible sheet member placed over a support bag member and having facial indicia simulating an appearance of a face of a ghost thereon, and a generally rounded bag for receiving filling material and having indicia simulating a pumpkin. The free ends of the sheet member are secured to the ground at spaced apart positions, to provide a substantially pyramidal or generally inverted conical shape, so that, if desired, the resultant structure can flutter when subjected to wind. The support bag member may be fixed to the ground, for example, by means of pegs.

Claims

1. Decorative structures for simulating a common conception of the appearance of a fanciful character or object together with a common conception of the appearance of a thematically related object or character, comprising in combination:

a support bag means having a compressible filling material therein;

a plastic flexible sheet member placed over said support bag means and supported thereby, said sheet member supported by said support bag means forming a first structural element substantially in the shape of a pyramid or an inverted, truncated or pointed cone, and said sheet member having indicia thereon simulating the appearance of a said fanciful character or object;

a plastic flexible bag forming a second structural element, and having a first end and a second end opposite each other, at least said second end being open for receiving filling material therein; and

bunching means for bunching together and closing said second end of said flexible bag to form therein a second bunched closed end after filling material is inserted in said bag;

said flexible bag having a substantially rounded shape when filled with filling material and when said second end is bunched by said bunching means, and said bag having indicia thereon simulating appearance of a common conception of an object or character thematically related to the indicia of the flexible sheet member when positioned within viewing distance of said flexible sheet member.

2. The decorative combination structure of claim 1, further comprising:

securing means for securing free ends of said sheet member to a support surface after said sheet member is place over said support bag means.

3. The decorative combination structure of claim 2, further comprising:

fixing means for fixing said support bag member to the support surface to anchor said support bag means to the support surface.

4. The decorative combination structure of claim 3, further comprising:

means for connecting said sheet member to an upper portion of said support bag means to secure said sheet member and said support bag means together.

5. The decorative combination structure of claim 2, further comprising:

means for connecting said sheet member to an upper portion of said support bag means to secure said sheet member and said support bag means together.

6. The decorative combination structure of claim 2, wherein:

said flexible sheet member is draped over said support bag means.

7. The decorative combination structure of claim 2, further comprising:

means for connecting said sheet member to said flexible bag to secure said sheet member and said flexible bag together.

8. The decorative combination structure of claim 1, further comprising:

means for connecting said sheet member to said flexible bag to secure said sheet member and said flexible bag together.

9. A decorative combination structure according to claim 1, wherein:

said first end of said flexible bag is formed in a gussetted Z-lock configuration.

10. A decorative combination structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

second bunching means for said flexible bag, wherein both said first and second ends of said flexible bag are open, and said second bunching means is provided for sealing the first end of said flexible bag.

11. A decorative combination structure according to claim 1, wherein:

said first end of said flexible bag is heat sealed.

12. A decorative combination structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said indicia on said flexible sheet member are selected room indicia representing a ghost, a Santa, and Christmas tree and said indicia on said flexible bag are selected from indicia representing a pumpkin, an elf, and a gift.

13. A decorative combination structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said structural element substantially in the shape of a pyramid or an inverted cone is substantially taller than said flexible bag when filled with filling material.

14. A decorative combination structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said support bag means and said flexible sheet member are shaped and sized such that in placing said flexible sheet member over said support bag means, a space is provided over the support bag means and underneath the flexible sheet member.

15. A decorative combination structure in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

said space is filled with filling material.

16. A kit for forming a decorative structure for simulating a common conception of the appearance of a fanciful character or object in combination with a thematically related object or character comprising:

a support bag adapted to be filled for forming a central structural member of a fanciful character or object;

a plastic flexible sheet member adapted to be placed over said support bag when said support bag is filled, said sheet member adapted to form a structural element substantially in the shape of a pyramid or an inverted cone and having first indicia thereon for simulating the appearance of a fanciful character or object;

at least one connecting member for connecting said sheet member to said support bag at an upper portion of said support bag member;

a plurality of anchoring means adapted to be anchored in the ground or a floor surface for anchoring free ends of said sheet member to the ground or a floor surface at spaced apart locations around a peripheral portion of said sheet member in the vicinity of a lower portion of said support bag;

a plastic flexible bag having an open end for receiving filling material, said plastic flexible bag having second indicia thereon for simulating the appearance of an object or character thematically related to but different from that of said first indicia of the flexible sheet member; and

bunching means for bunching together and closing said open end of said plastic flexible bag after filling material is inserted in said plastic flexible bag.

17. A kit in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said at least one connecting member comprises a plurality of bendable spread clips.

18. A kit in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said plurality of anchoring means comprises a plurality of golf tees.

19. A kit in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said bunching means is a plastic-covered flexible metal wire.

20. A kit in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said flexible sheet member is in the form of two adjacent sheet portions of the same size having a rectangular shape with two intersecting edges with one of said adjacent sheet portions being jointed to the other of said adjacent sheet portions at said intersecting edges.

21. A kit in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said flexible bag is in the form of a gussetted flexible plastic bag having a closed bottom.