Abstract:
The present invention relates to a jewelry, specifically a sprig of mistletoe, encased in resin and worn around the neck, wrist, ankle or ears, or hung as a decorative piece; and a method of manufacture of said jewelry.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. application No. 62/148,730, filed 16 Apr. 2016 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The field of the invention relates to jewelry, a method of making said jewelry and a method of wearing said jewelry with plant material. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    Mistletoe is a parasitical plant that grows on more than  100  different types of trees including pecan, hickory, oaks and black gum. The tradition of hanging mistletoe in the house goes back hundreds of years. The ancient druids believed that mistletoe possessed mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and wards off evil spirits. In Norse mythology, mistletoe was revered as a sign of love and friendship. The mistletoe traditions have emigrated along with cultures from Western Europe to the Americas. Today mistletoe is traditionally hung in houses around the Holidays. It is expected that when two individuals are positioned under the mistletoe, they will kiss. However, this tradition has a main drawback in that hanging mistletoe in the house means that it is only possible to partake in these traditions in a stationary location. Also, once hung, the mistletoe will dry out, wilt and lose its aesthetic appeal. If not removed, it can become a fire hazard. 
         [0006]    Therefore there exists a need for an invention which allows for real mistletoe to be mobile and portable, preserved and long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The exemplary embodiment of the present invention addresses a need to make mistletoe, which has both aesthetic and ceremonial uses, both portable and long lasting. The invention consists of a sprig of mistletoe suspended in a near-spherical, resin-filled container. The invention is manufactured by placing a sprig of mistletoe in the container. A transparent or near-transparent resin is added to the container, suspending the mistletoe and allowed to cure. Once the resin has hardened, the container is capped. The cap is then attached to a chain, rope, hook or other hanging device where it is suitable for use as a necklace, ornament or decoration; and may be worn around a wearer&#39;s neck, wrist, ankle, as earrings, or hung in a home or office. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other objects, features, and aspects of the invention will be better understood and more fully described upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a photograph of a pendant containing real mistletoe encased in a preservative (resin) attached to a necklace. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of a pendant containing real mistletoe encased in a preservative (resin) attached to a necklace. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of a pendant containing real mistletoe encased in a preservative (resin). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for mistletoe necklace, methods of manufacture and use. After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. Although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention. 
         [0013]    As used herein, mistletoe refers to any plant of the 1,300 species of the mistletoe plant, including, but not limited to plants of the genera:  Viscum,  such as  V. album  and  V. cruciatum; Phoradendron,  such as  P. leucarpum; Antidaphne; Arceuthobium; Korthalsella; Loranthus;  and  Rhipsalis.  As used herein, mistletoe refers to other plant materials, such as frankincense, myrrh or clover, which also carry religious and festive; in addition, mistletoe refers to any plastic or metal crafted to give the appearance of mistletoe. 
         [0014]    As used herein, chain refers to rope, string, ribbon, connected flexible series of metal or plastic links used for fastening or securing objects and pulling or supporting loads. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention is a pendant  1  that contains a sprig of mistletoe  2 , approximately 0.1 to 2 inches in length that has been harvested, clipped, dried and preserved. The dried sprig is placed in a transparent or near-transparent, glass, plastic or polymer container  3 . The container  3  is of any hollowed shape, in this preferred embodiment, the shape is spherical or semispherical. A resin  8  is then added to the container and allowed to cure, until it is set and dry. The container is then sealed with a cap  4 . A loop  7  attached to the cap, allows for the container to be hung from a chain, rope, hook or other hanging device  5 . The mistletoe-containing container may then be used as a necklace, ornament or decoration and may then be worn around a wearer&#39;s neck, wrist, ankle or ears, or hung in a user&#39;s home. In some embodiments, additional charms  6  may be hung from the necklace. This allows the mistletoe to be portable, allowing the user to bring the mistletoe tradition, wherever they wish. Depending on the size of the container, the pendant may way anywhere from 0.5 to 10 oz. 
         [0016]    By drying the mistletoe and preserving it in a resin the mistletoe does not go brown and die, can be worn, and is portable. Drying time may be reduced by the use of an ultraviolet light-activated resin. 
         [0017]    The invention is prepared by cutting a sprig of mistletoe from a branch. The mistletoe is dried using a borax, silica gel, air drying, dehydration and/or a standard pressing and drying method. Once dried the mistletoe is placed in a container. 
         [0018]    Next a resin, which will fill the container with the mistletoe, is prepared. The resin may be any one of a plastic, polyester, polycarbonate, casting, polymer, acrylic, polyurethane, an epoxy, such as bisphenol A or bisphenol F, silicone, chemical or dry resin, so long as it is transparent or nearly transparent. Using a two-part resin at room temperatures between 60-80° F. the resin is poured in equal parts, base and catalyst. The combined parts are stirred for up to five (5) minutes, poured into a new, clean, container and then stirred for up to five (5) minutes. The resin is then poured into a clean dispensing vessel. The resin is then dispensed into the container with the mistletoe. The container is then filled to the top to avoid seeing the “rim” of the resin. The resin is allowed to cure until the resin is completely set and dry. During the curing time, the mistletoe can be adjusted or moved within the container for the first two hours or until the resin has cured to a point where moving the mistletoe will cause air bubbles or visible disruption to the resin. The container is then prepared for capping. First any mistletoe stem sprig which is protruding from the cured resin, is trimmed and any resin which has overflowed over the rim of the container is removed. The cap is then placed over the rim of the container opening and sealed to the container with a glue or other adhesive. The container is applied to the caps and weighed down to make them immobile as the glue dries in 24 hours. Once dried, the mistletoe container is placed on a chain, rope, hook or other hanging device where it is suitable for use as a necklace, ornament or decoration. 
         [0019]    An alternative embodiment of this invention may utilize different colored containers or dyes added to the resin. A further embodiment may utilize multiple mistletoe sprigs. In yet another embodiment, the mistletoe sprig is coated with a plastic or metal, to give it another color. Another embodiment is to secure a loop or ring directly on the preserved mistletoe, in which case a container is not necessary. Another embodiment is a plastic or metal object, crafted to give the appearance of mistletoe used in place of real mistletoe. In yet another embodiment, a ring is placed partially in the resin, during curing, so that a cap is not necessary. A further embodiment may utilize containers in different shapes, such as teardrop, cubic, pyramidal and body parts, such as a mouth/lips. 
         [0020]    Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.