U.S. patent application number 11/730822 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for christmas bell ornament.
This patent application is currently assigned to E-CHERNE ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Tsung-Wei Chen.
Application Number | 20080248221 11/730822 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39827180 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080248221 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Tsung-Wei |
October 9, 2008 |
Christmas bell ornament
Abstract
A Christmas bell ornament is disclosed, which is reduced in
overall thickness to improve bulkiness in prior art. The bell
ornament is made by adjoining two formed metal plates via the
junction surface around the periphery with their inner surfaces
facing each other. In horizontal cross sectional view, the width at
the middle section of bell body after adjoinment is bigger that the
width at each end, and an arc surface is formed with the bell body
tapering from the middle section towards each end With overall size
reduced, the volume of goods transported can be increased and the
transport cost can be reduced. There can also be bossed pattern on
the surface of Christmas bell ornament to give it excellent visual
effect.
Inventors: |
Chen; Tsung-Wei; (Changhua,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-1176
US
|
Assignee: |
E-CHERNE ENTERPRISES CO.,
LTD.
Changhua City
TW
|
Family ID: |
39827180 |
Appl. No.: |
11/730822 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 33/08 20130101;
A47G 33/0818 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/11 |
International
Class: |
A47G 33/08 20060101
A47G033/08 |
Claims
1. A Christmas bell ornament made by aligning two preformed metal
plates with their inner surfaces facing each other, each metal
plate having a junction surface around the periphery and on the
inner surface of the preformed metal plate for adjoining the other
metal plate, characterized in which in horizontal cross sectional
view, the width between metal plates at the middle section of the
bell body after adjoinment being smaller than the width of the
metal plates to form a fish-eyed shape, and an arc surface being
formed with the bell body tapering from the middle section towards
each end to become a flat-shaped bell ornament.
2. The Christmas bell ornament as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
surface of the bell ornament is disposed with bossed or
longitudinal groove pattern.
3. The Christmas bell ornament as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a hang ring and drop weight or beads between the inner
surfaces of metal plates.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention provides an innovated Christmas bell
ornament that retains the original shape of the bell, but with
reduced size, and may have bossed or hole pattern produced on its
surface. The Christmas bell ornament provides excellent visual
effect when hung on a tree or a wall, making it an ideal
ornament.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Christmas bells are in general decorative products that are
extensively hung on trees or walls as ornament for festivity, in
particular during Christmas season.
[0005] The most commonly seen Christmas bells have Liberty-Bell
shape or ball shape. Prior commonly seen Christmas bells include
those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D.427,364 and D.411,481. One of
those bells has an integrally-formed Liberty-Bell shape disposed
with a sunken ring near the mouth of bell and surrounding the bell
surface. Because the bell has a circular cone body and the mouth of
the bell is in the shape of a circular opening, it is relatively
big in size and tends to cost more in packaging, storage and
transport. In addition, the bell ornament when hung cannot stay
straight, but tilts inwardly such that the entire shape of the bell
cannot be fully revealed, thereby reducing its esthetic value.
[0006] In addition, a ball-shaped bell has a ball shape that is
also big in size and takes space, thus lacking economic benefits as
described above.
[0007] In addition, a bell needs to make sound. Thus it must be
made of metal, which tends to constrain the processing technologies
that can be used. Thus it is not that easy to design
three-dimensional decorative pattern or patterned holes on the bell
surface. That is why bell ornaments seen on the market
predominantly have smooth surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Christmas bell ornament
according to the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a Christmas bell ornament
according to the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of a Christmas bell ornament
according to the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the Christmas
bell ornament in FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 5 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 6 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 7 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
Christmas bell ornament having another shape.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 8.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a front view of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 8.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the
Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 10.
[0019] FIG. 12 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 13 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 8.
[0021] FIG. 14 shows an example of the Christmas bell ornament in
FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] First, refer to FIG. 1 which shows a perspective view of the
Christmas bell ornament according to the invention having the
pattern of Liberty Bell. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of its
structure. FIG. 3 is a front view of the Christmas bell ornament,
and FIG. 4 is the cross sectional view of the bell in FIG. 3. The
Christmas bell ornament 1 of the invention is made of two metal
plates 3 of proper thickness, such as iron, copper, and metal
alloy. The desired shape of the bell is formed using processing
machine (called punch press) to stamp the metal plates and molds
them into shape into, for example, Liberty Bell shape and round
shape, which is called a perform. FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are several
examples of the Christmas bell ornament in FIG. 1. When the surface
of the bell ornament desires to have bossed or longitudinal groove
pattern 10, or a plurality of decorative holes 11, this can be
achieved with the use of a mold in the production of perform.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when two metal plates 3 having a
predefined shape are completed, align the two metal plates by
having their inwardly concave inner surfaces face each other, and
adjoin the two metal plates by apposing their junction surfaces 2
at the periphery. In a horizontal cross sectional view of the bell
ornament 1 after adjoinment, the width at the middle section D of
bell body is bigger than the width at each end d, and the width
tapers from the middle section D towards each end d such that the
opening of the bell 4 is in fish-eye shape, turning the bell
ornament 1 into a flat-shape ornament as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
4. At the outer top surface of the bell body there is provided a
hanger 8, which allows threading material to pass through for
hanging purpose. At the inner top surface of the bell body there is
disposed a hang ring 8, which can be connected to a drop weight 7
beneath through soft wiring material 6 that when the bell shakes,
it can make sounds. Moreover, to give the bell ornament a more
esthetic appearance, it can be tied with a satin ribbon 9, leaves
12, tassels, or shining beads.
[0023] In the aforesaid structure, it is apparent that it retains a
bell shape when viewed from the front. But when viewed from the
side, we will be surprised to find that it has been reduced in
volume and becomes flatter. Such bell structure offers many
advantages. For example, less material is required for packing and
the volume of goods transported can be effectively increased,
thereby greatly reducing the storage and transport costs. More so,
such bell ornament when hung can stay straight without tilting
inwards, rendering the display of the bell ornament more esthetic.
As such, the bell ornament retains the original shape of the bell,
but with reduced size, and may have bossed or decorative hole
patterns produced on its surface to provide excellent visual effect
when hung on a tree or a wall, thus making it an ideal
ornament.
[0024] Many bells having different shapes may be derived from the
bell ornament in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the
Christmas bell ornament having a different shape. FIG. 9 is an
exploded view of the bell ornament in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a front
view of the bell ornament in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a horizontal cross
sectional view of the bell ornament in FIG. 10. FIGS. 12, 13 and 14
respectively show an example of the bell ornament in FIG. 8. The
bell ornament in FIG. 8 has the same construction and technical
means as that in FIG. 1. That is, when two metal plates 3 having a
predefined shape are completed, align the two metal plates 3 by
having their inwardly concave inner surfaces face each other. Put
round beads 13 therein and use them for making sounds before
adjoining the two metal plates 3 by apposing their junction
surfaces 2 at the periphery. In a horizontal cross sectional view
of the bell ornament 1 after adjoinment, the width at the middle
section of bell body D is bigger that the width at each end d, and
the width tapers from the middle section D towards each end d such
that the bell has a fish-eye shape in horizontal cross sectional
view as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The aforesaid structure is
reduced in size, which can increase the volume of goods transported
and greatly reduce the storage and transport costs. More so, such
bell ornament when hung can stay straight without tilting inwards,
rendering the display of the round bell ornament more esthetic. As
such, the bell ornament retains the original shape of the bell, but
with reduced size, and may have bossed 10 or decorative hole
patterns 11 produced on its surface to provide excellent visual
effect when hung on a tree or a wall.
* * * * *