Apparatus for securely yet removably installing an ornament onto a substantively planar surface

• US 7,147,399 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swicherz, LLC
• Original Assignee: Swicherz, LLC
• Inventors: Janik, Craig, Wadsworth, John, Viscount, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MacArthur, Victor
• Application Number:
  US10/355,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20040037635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 403348-350, 116173-175, 285/33, 285 61- 62, D11165-183
• US Class Current: 403/349
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/062 Slalom gate poles, posts or marking sticks for sport fields
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/04 with bayonet catch
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7007 Bayonet joint

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching ornaments onto substantially planar surfaces comprising, a mounting base with an aperture, a coupling device with attachment means and an ornament. The mounting based has a curved surface and is securely attachable to a substantially planar surface. The coupling device is securely or detachably attachable to the mounting base and the ornament is securely or detachably attachable to the coupling device.

Claims

1. An apparatus attaching at least one novelty ornaments onto a substantially planar surface of an outdoor sports equipment, comprising:

(a) an elastomeric mounting base comprising an aperture and a flattened bottom surface mounted on said outdoor sports equipment;

(b) a coupling device having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having structures detachably attached to said mounting base;

(c) at least one novelty ornament attached to said upper portion of said coupling device;

wherein said mounting base has a convex horizontal upper surface;

wherein said upper surface of said mounting base forms at least one lip that extends into said aperture, wherein said aperture comprises a rib, and two diametrically opposed gaps at each end of said rib, and wherein said rib is in line with said diametrically opposed gaps; and

wherein said upper portion of said coupling device comprises an opening wherein said ornament securely detachably attaches, and said coupling device comprises horizontal extensions connected to said lower portion of said coupling device, at least one of said horizontal extensions engaging said at least one lips of said mounting base.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said generally planar undersurface of said mounting base securely attaches to said substantially planar surface by a pressure sensitive adhesive.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is double sided tape.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is a hook and loop fastener.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said generally planar undersurface of said mounting base securely attaches to said substantially planar surface by screws or other mechanical fasteners.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substantially planar surface is securely attached to another substantially planar surface by a rubber band.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sports equipment is a vehicle.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said vehicle is a snowboard or skateboard.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ornament is made of a rigid material.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupling device is made of a flexible material.

11. An apparatus attaching at least one novelty ornaments onto a substantially planar surface of an outdoor sports equipment, comprising:

(a) an elastomeric mounting base comprising an aperture and a flattened bottom surface mounted on said outdoor sports equipment;

(b) a coupling device having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having structures detachably attached to said mounting base;

(c) at least one novelty ornament attached to said upper portion of said coupling device;

wherein said mounting base has a convex horizontal upper surface; and

wherein said structures of the lower portion of the coupling device comprise a quarter-turn bayonet-style fastener.

12. An apparatus attaching at least one novelty ornaments onto a substantially planar surface of an outdoor sports equipment, comprising:

(a) an elastomeric mounting base comprising an aperture and a flattened bottom surface mounted on said outdoor sports equipment;

(b) a coupling device having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having structures detachably attached to said mounting base;

(c) at least one novelty ornament attached to said upper portion of said coupling device;

wherein said mounting base has a convex horizontal upper surface; and

further comprising a plurality of ornaments and necks of different shapes and appearances, each of said necks comprising a quarter-turn bayonet-styled fastener to lockingly but removably attach to the mounting base.

13. A decorative combination adorning an outdoor sporting good, comprising:

an ornament for adornment of the outdoor sporting good, said ornament having a neck portion, said neck portion being of a resilient nature so as to readily bend in the event of a person falling upon the ornament and neck;

a convex-shaped base of a polymeric material having a generally low profile with an aperture generally located on its top surface to receive said neck of an ornament such that said neck is lockingly but removably engaged, said base mountable to a generally flat surface of the outdoor sporting good;

wherein the combination of said ornament in assembly with said base is small enough that it avoids interference with the use of the sporting good while still allowing for adornment; and

wherein said neck portion further comprises a quarter-turn bayonet-style fastener for lockingly but removably engaging the convex-shaped base.

14. A decorative combination adorning an outdoor sporting good, comprising:

an ornament having a flexible, non-rigid exterior so as not to represent any risk of injury if fallen upon, said ornament having a neck portion integrally formed to the ornament and descending from a bottom surface of the ornament, said neck portion being of a resilient nature so as to readily bend in the event of a person falling upon the ornament and neck;

a convex-shaped base of a polymeric material having a generally low profile with an aperture generally located on its top surface to receive said neck of an ornament such that said neck is lockingly but removably engaged, said base having an adhesively-mountable undersurface to receive double-faced tape or adhesive to adhere to a generally flat surface of the outdoor sporting good;

wherein the combination of said ornament in assembly with said base is less than one foot in height to avoid interference with the use of the sporting good while still allowing for adornment;

wherein said neck portion further comprises a quarter-turn bayonet-style fastener for lockingly but removably engaging the convex-shaped base.