U.S. patent application number 15/810492 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-17 for snow mould.
The applicant listed for this patent is Robert Cooper. Invention is credited to Robert Cooper.
Application Number | 20180133611 15/810492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60301928 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180133611 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cooper; Robert |
May 17, 2018 |
Snow Mould
Abstract
A snow mould comprises a foldable sheet wherein the sheet has
first and second edges provided with an arrangement of
complementary fastening elements configured to releasably connect
together the first and second edges in a connected configuration.
In the connected configuration, the snow mould has a base portion
that narrows towards a base opening, the first and second edges
extend to the base opening, and there is a filling opening remote
from the base opening for use when putting snow into the mould.
Inventors: |
Cooper; Robert; (Leeds,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cooper; Robert |
Leeds |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
60301928 |
Appl. No.: |
15/810492 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 1/22 20130101; A63H
33/001 20130101; B44C 5/00 20130101; F25C 3/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20060101
A63H033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2016 |
GB |
1619279.1 |
Claims
1. A snow mould comprising a foldable sheet, wherein the sheet has
first and second edges provided with an arrangement of
complementary fastening elements configured to releasably connect
together the first and second edges in a connected configuration,
wherein, in the connected configuration, the snow mould has a base
portion that narrows towards a base opening, the first and second
edges extend to the base opening, and there is a filling opening
remote from the base opening for use when putting snow into the
mould.
2. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the base portion is
configured to provide a planar region extending inwardly from the
sides of the snow mould to the base opening, and configured to lie
flat across underlying ground in use in the connected
configuration.
3. The snow mould of claim 2, wherein the base portion is
configured to provide a planar region around the base opening, in
use in the connected configuration.
4. The snow mould of claim 2, wherein the planar region is
narrowest adjacent the first and second edges.
5. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the arrangement of
complementary fastening elements extends to the base opening.
6. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the base portion is
configured to provide a planar region adjacent the base opening, in
use in the connected configuration, and the arrangement of
complementary fastening elements does not extend into the planar
region.
7. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the first and second edges
extend to the filling hole in the connected configuration.
8. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein a fastening element extends
along each of the first and second edges.
9. The snow mould of claim 8, wherein the fastening elements form a
zip fastening, with teeth extending along the first and second
edges, and with a manually operable slider.
10. The snow mould of claim 8, wherein the first and second edges
are provided with a complementary hook and loop fastening
strips.
11. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein a plurality of separate
fastening elements is provided on each of the first and second
edges.
12. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the fastening elements are
selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of pairs of hook
and loop fastenings; buttons and button holes; toggles and loops;
buttons and loops; and pinch-release clip buckles.
13. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the arrangement of
complementary fastening elements provides a smooth inner face when
the mould is in the connected configuration.
14. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the foldable sheet is a
woven sheet.
15. The snow mould of claim 14, wherein the woven sheet is a woven
polyester sheet.
16. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein the foldable sheet is formed
from a plurality of stitched panels.
17. The snow mould of claim 16, wherein the panels are stitched
with seams on the outside, when the mould is in the connected
configuration.
18. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein one or more non-planar
inserts are provided within apertures of the foldable sheet.
19. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein one or more handles are
provided proximate the filling opening.
20. The snow mould of claim 1, wherein one or more handles are
provided remotely from the filing opening.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of UK Application No.
GB1619279.1, filed Nov. 14, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a snow mould, and more
particularly, but not exclusively, to a mould for building a
snowman.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Snowmen and similar snow-based sculptures are conventionally
constructed from a plurality of balls of snow, each formed by
rolling a kernel of snow across snow laid on the ground until it
grows to a sufficient size, before assembling the balls, for
example by placing a smaller, upper ball of snow on top of a
larger, lower, ball to provide a head and body. However, there
remains a need for a device to facilitate the convenient production
of improved snow-based sculptures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to a first aspect, there is provided a snow mould
comprising a foldable sheet, wherein the sheet has first and second
edges provided with an arrangement of complementary fastening
elements configured to releasably connect together the first and
second edges in a connected configuration, wherein, in the
connected configuration, the snow mould has a base portion that
narrows towards a base opening, the first and second edges extend
to the base opening, and there is a filling opening remote from the
base opening for use when putting snow into the mould.
[0005] The base portion may be configured to provide a planar
region extending inwardly from the sides of the snow mould to the
base opening, and configured to lie flat across underlying ground
in use in the connected configuration. The inwardly extending
planar region provides an area for weighting down when commencing
filling the snow mould, so that the upper part of the snow mould
may be more easily controlled during filling. The inwardly
extending planar region is shaped to lie substantially flat across
flat underlying ground, so that it may be easily withdrawn from
beneath the snow contained within the filled snow mould (e.g. by
being flat, and not folded, the planar region may be more easily
withdrawn from beneath a heavy snow sculpture formed by the snow
confined within the snow mould).
[0006] The inwardly extending planar region may be configured to
extend inwardly from sides of the snow mould, in use, by at least 5
cm, or by at least 10 cm, or by at least 20 cm. The base opening
may have an area that is less than 90% of the area that the base
portion is configured to occupy in use, or less than 80%, or less
than 70%.
[0007] The planar region may be narrowest adjacent the first and
second edges.
[0008] The arrangement of complementary fastening elements may
extend to the base opening.
[0009] The base portion may be configured to provide a planar
region adjacent the base opening, in use in the connected
configuration, and the arrangement of complementary fastening
elements does not extend into the planar region.
[0010] The first and second edges may extend to the filling hole in
the connected configuration.
[0011] A fastening element may extend along each of the first and
second edges.
[0012] The fastening elements may form a zip fastening, with teeth
extending along the first and second edges, and with a manually
operable slider.
[0013] The teeth may be plastic teeth.
[0014] The first and second edges may be provided with a
complementary hook and loop fastening strips.
[0015] A plurality of separate fastening elements may be provided
on each of the first and second edges.
[0016] The fastening elements may be selected from the group
consisting of:
[0017] a plurality of pairs of hook and loop fastenings;
[0018] buttons and button holes;
[0019] toggles and loops;
[0020] buttons and loops; and
[0021] pinch-release clip buckles.
[0022] The arrangement of complementary fastening elements may
provide a smooth inner face when the mould is in the connected
configuration.
[0023] The foldable sheet may be a woven sheet.
[0024] The woven sheet may be a woven polyester sheet. The woven
sheet may be a woven nylon sheet.
[0025] The foldable sheet may have a linear mass density of at
least 200 Denier
[0026] The foldable sheet may be formed from a plurality of
stitched panels.
[0027] The panels may be stitched with seams on the outside, when
the mould is in the connected configuration.
[0028] One or more non-planar inserts may be provided within
apertures of the foldable sheet.
[0029] One or more handles may be provided proximate the filling
opening.
[0030] Two handles may be provided on opposites sides of the
filling opening.
[0031] One or more handles may be provided remotely from the filing
opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Examples are further described hereinafter with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0033] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a snow mould with a zip
fastener, in use and full of snow;
[0034] FIG. 1B shows a further view of the snow mould of FIG. 1A in
use, at an earlier stage of filling, when partially filled with
snow;
[0035] FIG. 1C shows a cut-away view of the snow mould of FIG. 1A,
cut parallel to the ground;
[0036] FIG. 1D shows a cross-sectional view through the snow mould
of FIG. 1A perpendicular to the ground;
[0037] FIG. 1E shows a cut-away view through a second snow mould,
cut parallel to the ground;
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a third snow mould, with
a hook and loop fastener; and
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a fourth snow mould, with
a loop and button fastener.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
In the described examples, like features have been identified with
like numerals, albeit in some cases having one or more increments
of integer multiples of 100. For example, in different figures,
100, 100', 200 and 300 have been used to indicate a snow mould.
[0041] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a snow mould 100, once
filled full of snow 180. FIG. 1B shows a further view of the snow
mould 100 in use, at an earlier stage of filling, when it is
partially filled with snow 180. FIG. 1C shows a cut-away view of
the bottom part of the snow mould 100. FIG. 1D shows a vertical
cross-sectional view through the filled snow mould of FIG. 1A.
[0042] The snow mould 100 is formed from a flexible, resilient,
foldable sheet 102, with edges 104A, 104B, provided with
complementary portions of a fastening arrangement 106. In the
illustrated snow mould 100, the fastening arrangement is a zip
fastener, and when fully fastened, the zip fastener 106 extends
between a base opening 110 in a base portion 112 and a filling
opening 114, which are at opposite ends of the snow mould 100. In
the illustrated snow mould 100, the base portion 112 is provided by
a skirt-like planar region of the foldable sheet that extends
inwardly to the base opening 110, extending beneath the snow 180
contained within the snow mould 100, and is shaped to lie flat
across flat underlying ground 190, in use. Being shaped to extend
smoothly across the underlying ground, without being folded,
facilitates withdrawal of the planar region from beneath the heavy,
finished snow sculpture.
[0043] In use, the snow mould 100 surrounds the contained snow 180
(e.g. the snow mould has no other openings in the moulding
surface), which conforms to the shape of the snow mould to form a
snow sculpture, for example a snowman. The snow mould securely
retains the contained snow, and allows the surface of the snow
sculpture to be manually smoothed down.
[0044] In use, the lower part of the zip fastener 106 is closed,
and the base portion 112 is placed on the ground 190, with the
upper part of the snow mould 100 arranged to expose the interior of
the mould. Snow 180 is then placed into the snow mould 100,
including onto the flat base portion 112, for example by shovelling
snow from the surrounding ground 190. The snow resting on the flat
portion 112 weights down the snow mould 100, holding the bottom of
the snow mould in place on the ground, which facilitates filing by
enabling the bottom of the snow mould to be held in place on the
ground whilst the upper part of the snow mould it held up from the
ground. Then the sides of the snow mould 100 are raised, and the
snow within the snow mould is tamped down to fill-out the mould and
firmly conform to the shape of the mould.
[0045] The cycle is then repeated, with more of the zip fastener
106 being closed, and further snow 180 being placed into the snow
mould 100, before the sides are raised and the snow is again tamped
down to conform to the mould. FIG. 1B shows a partially filled snow
mould 100 with a partially closed zip fastener 106. The cycle of
closing more of the zip fastener 106, filling with snow 180 and
tamping it down is repeated until the snow mould 100 is full, as
shown in FIGS. 1A and 1D.
[0046] The mould may be provided with handles to facilitate raising
the sides of the snow mould 100 during filling and tamping, e.g.
upper level handles 120. The provision of handles may also
facilitate providing a non-vertical force to the snow mould 100
during filling, for example to counter asymmetric filling, or to
provide stability to an asymmetrically-shaped snow sculpture.
Further handles may also (or alternatively) be provided to
facilitate raising the sides of the snow mould 100 during filling
and tamping, which are located away from both the base opening 110
and the filling opening 114, e.g. mid-level handles 122, provided
approximately half way up the height of the snow sculpture, in use.
The handles 120, 122 extend externally from the snow moulding
surface in use, for example being loops of fabric connected to the
exterior of the snow mould at ends, with an intermediary portion
hanging free. The handles 120, 122 may be attached to the outside
of the snow mould, e.g. by stitching. The handles are configured
for grasping by a user, for example by passing the fingers of a
hand through the handle and grasping the handle as it extends
across the palm of the hand.
[0047] Being formed from a flexible sheet enables the mould to be
gradually peeled away from the completed snow sculpture, reducing
the risk of damage from adhesion between the mould and the snow
sculpture. Further, being flexible enables external pressure to be
manually applied to the snow mould during filling, to enhance the
conformance of the surface of the contained snow, to compact the
surface of the snow to improve its ability to retain the shape of
the mould after the removal of the mould.
[0048] The base portion of the snow mould 100 has a flat area 112
around the base opening 110 that extends inwardly across the
underlying ground 190, and in use snow 180 contained within the
snow mould rests upon the flat area as the snow mould is
filled.
[0049] Having a base portion that narrows towards the base opening
facilitates filling the snow mould, by retaining snow within the
snow mould to weight down the bottom of the snow mould, e.g. when
the sides of the snow mould are held up, or raised for tamping down
of the contained snow.
[0050] Once the construction of the snow sculpture within the snow
mould is complete, the zip fastener 106 is unzipped between the
filling opening 114 down to the base portion 112. The user then
inserts their hand under the edge of the bottom of the snow
sculpture to complete the unzipping of the zip fastener 106
(zipper). The upper portion of the snow mould 100 is peeled from
the surface of the snow sculpture, and starting from one edge 104A
and working around to the other edge 104B, the base portion 112 is
drawn out from beneath the edge of the snow sculpture.
[0051] In the illustrated snow mould 100, the base opening 110 is
off-centre in the flat base portion 112, being located towards the
fastening arrangement 106, as is shown in the cut-away view of FIG.
1D. The base opening 110 being provided off-centre, towards the
fastening arrangement 106 facilitates the user in releasing the
fastening arrangement (e.g. unzipping the zip fastener) beneath the
bottom of the snow sculpture, by extending only a short distance
beneath the snow sculpture from the bottom edge of the snow
sculpture.
[0052] Alternatively, the base opening may extend to the edge of
the flat base portion, so that the fastener arrangement does not
significantly extend beneath the edge of the snow sculpture (e.g.
the bottom stop of the zip fastener is not beneath the snow
sculpture in use). A snow mould in which the fastener arrangement
does not extend beneath the edge of the snow sculpture may enable
the snow mould to be more easily removed from the snow sculpture,
with the user not being required to insert their hand beneath the
edge of the snow sculpture to complete the unzipping of the zip
fastener. FIG. 1E shows a cut-away view of a further snow mould
100', in which the fastener arrangement 106' stops at the bottom of
the sides of the snow mould, and does not extend into the flat area
112' resting beneath the snow sculpture. Beneath the snow
sculpture, the edges 112A' and 112B' of the flat region are not
connected, and may overlap, as illustrated.
[0053] The snow mould of FIG. 1A has a base opening 110 that is
asymmetrically located. Alternatively, the base opening 110' may be
symmetrically located, as shown in FIG. 1E. The provision of a
symmetrically located base opening may enhance handling during
filling, and may be particularly suited to a snow moulds which the
fastening mechanism does not extend substantially beyond the sides
of the snow mould, into the flat area 112'.
[0054] In the illustrated snow mould 100, the foldable sheet 102 is
formed from woven high linear mass density fibre, e.g. 400 Denier
woven polyester or nylon fibre. Polyester and nylon have a low
adhesion to the sculpted snow. Further, high linear mass density
polyester or nylon (e.g. at least 200 Denier) retains its shape
under pressure from the snow within the snow mould, and resists
plastic deformation in ordinary use. Yet further, high linear mass
density polyester or nylon is strong-enough to withstand robust and
repeated use, for example withstanding glancing contact with the
edge of a shovel during filling.
[0055] In the illustrated snow mould, the foldable sheet 102 is
formed from a plurality of panels 132 that are stitched together
(alternatively, the foldable sheet may be shaped, single panel).
FIG. 1C shows a cut-away view of the snow mould 100 of FIG. 1A, cut
parallel to the ground 190, corresponding with the line C-C of FIG.
1A. The panels 132 may be stitched together with the seam
allowances and raw edges of the panels on the outside of the snow
mould 100, to provide a smooth surface finish to the snow
sculpture, in use. Alternatively, the panels may be stitched
together using a seam without exposed raw edges, again to provide a
smooth surface finish to the snow sculpture, in use.
[0056] The snow mould may be provided with inset panels (not shown)
of a less flexible material, which has a profiled inner surface
that produces a corresponding profile on the outer surface of the
corresponding part of the snow sculpture, in use. For example,
profiled silicone panels may be inset into the snow mould, e.g.
within a window in a single panel of the foldable sheet material,
or between different panels of the foldable sheet material. The
provision of inset panels with profiled inner surfaces may enable
the provision of surface detailing on the snow sculpture, e.g.
providing facial features of a human or animal snow sculpture.
[0057] In the illustrated snow mould 100, the first and second
edges 104A and 104B extend to the filling hole 114. This enables
the fastener arrangement 106 to be unfastened from the filling hole
114 to provide a larger aperture through which snow may enter the
inside of the snow mould.
[0058] Alternatively the fastener arrangement may not extend to the
filling hole (not shown), and when full fastened, the fastener
arrangement may be closed without leaving an opening (or
substantially no opening, i.e. no opening through which snow might
usefully be transferred into the snow mould) at the opposite end of
the fastening arrangement from the base opening.
[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates the lower portion of a further snow mould
200, in which the base portion 212 tapers inwardly to a base
opening 210 without the snow sculpture resting upon a substantial
portion of the snow mould, in use. The use of an inwardly tapered
base portion may enable the snow mould to be removed particularly
easily, once the snow sculpture has been completed. Alternatively,
the snow mould 200 of FIG. 2 may additionally be provided with a
flat area extending inwardly from the sides of the snow mould.
[0060] In the illustrated snow mould 100, the fastening arrangement
106 is provided by a zip fastener, having complementary rows of
teeth (elements) extending along the opposed edges 104A, 104B of
the sheet 102, and a zip slider 108. In use, the zip slider 108 is
on the outside of the snow mould 100, so that the slider (e.g. a
slider handle) is manually operable to fasten and unfasten the
fastening arrangement 106. The use of a zip fastener enables the
snow mould be to be easily fully or partially fastened by the user.
The zip fastener may have a locking mechanism to releasably hold
the slider 108 in place, e.g. by providing a locking-pin projecting
from a handle that is pivotably connected to the slider body, and
which can engage with the teeth when the slider is not in use.
[0061] The zip fastener 106 of the illustrated snow mould 100 has
plastic zip teeth (elements) and a plastic slider 108 for engaging
the complementary rows of teeth. The use of a plastic zip fastener
may be resistant to adhesion of snow and ice, which might otherwise
impair the working of the zip fastener.
[0062] Alternatively, the fastening arrangement 206 may be provided
by a hook and loop fastener (e.g. a Velcro.RTM. fastener), with
complementary strips of fastening elements extending along the
opposed edges of the sheet, as illustrated on the snow mould 200 of
FIG. 2. Use of a hook and loop fastener enables the snow mould to
be fully or partially fastened by the user.
[0063] In a further alternative, the fastening arrangement may be
provided by separate pairs of fastening elements. For example, the
pairs of fasteners may be hook and loop fasteners (e.g.
Velcro.RTM.), toggle/button and loop fasteners, or pinch-release
clipping buckles, for example with one part of each pair being
provided on the surface of the foldable material adjacent the edge
of the material, and the other provided on a tab that extends
across from the other edge. FIG. 3 illustrates a fastening
arrangement that uses loops 340 attached adjacent one edge 304A of
the foldable sheet material 302, which are releasably connected
across to buttons 342, which are attached adjacent the other edge
304B. The use of separate pairs of fastening elements may enable
particularly reliable operation, and inexpensive manufacturing.
[0064] The snow mould may have a smooth inner surface beneath the
fastening arrangement. In the illustrated snow mould 100, the inner
face of the zip fastener is shielded by a backing region 136 (e.g.
a backing of the foldable material), as shown in FIG. 1C. In use,
the smooth inner surface beneath the fastening arrangement provides
a smooth surface finish to the snow sculpture, in use.
[0065] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a design of a further
snow mould 300. The snow mould 300 has a base portion with a
skirt-like flap 312 that folds under the edge of the snow
sculpture, to lie flat on the ground, in use, and the fastener
arrangement (the button and loop arrangement illustrated, or an
alternative fastener arrangement) substantially does not extend
beneath the contained snow within the mould into the flat portion
312. The base portion of the mould has a centrally located base
opening 310, similar to that shown in the cut-away illustration in
FIG. 1E. Although illustrated as a single piece, the planar region
may alternatively be formed from a plurality of flaps that lie flat
on the ground beneath the snow mould, in use.
[0066] A snow mould in which the zip fastener does not extend
beneath the edge of the snow sculpture may enable the snow mould to
be more easily removed from the snow sculpture, with the user not
being required to insert their hand beneath the edge of the snow
sculpture to complete the unzipping of the zip fastener, prior to
tugging out the base portion from beneath the snow sculpture.
[0067] The figures provided herein are schematic and not to
scale.
[0068] Throughout the description and claims of this specification,
the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean
"including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and
do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or
steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification,
the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise
requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the
specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as
well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
[0069] Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical
moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular
aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood
to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example
described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features
disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,
abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or
process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except
combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are
mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details
of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel
one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this
specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and
drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the
steps of any method or process so disclosed.
* * * * *