Abstract:
A holder for fireworks includes a body having first and second portions that are movable with respect to each other between clamped and unclamped positions. A retaining device is used to hold the portions in the clamped position against a firework. The holder may be collapsed to a flat configuration for storage and shipping.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application serial No. 60/456,154 filed Mar. 20, 2003; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to devices that hold fireworks in a proper position while the fireworks are ignited. Specifically, the present invention relates to a safety holder that may be used with a multiple shot firework or a rocket-type firework.  
           [0004]    2. Background Information  
           [0005]    Devices for safely igniting fireworks are generally desired in the art because they reduce personal injuries and property damage. One particular area of concern is multiple-shot fireworks that shoot one star burst after another into the air until the firework is spent. A problem with this type of firework is that the launch of an initial star burst can undesirably reposition the firework causing the next star burst to be fired in an unintended direction.  
           [0006]    Most multiple shot fireworks are in the form of a plurality of side-by-side vertical tubes or a long single tube such as the traditional roman candle. These multiple shot fireworks are sold in a wide variety of sizes and configurations. Those who ignite these types of fireworks desire a holder that is able to accommodate the wide variety of sizes and shapes for these fireworks.  
           [0007]    Another problem is that people who ignite fireworks like to take the fireworks to different places. A safety holder should thus be portable so that the person does not find it bothersome to use in different locations. The safety holder should also be inexpensive enough to not deter people from purchasing the holder. One known device sold under BLACK CAT® Safety Shooter Base trademark is shown in the photographs and photocopies submitted with the Information Disclosure Statement. This device may be erected from a flat storage position but does not provide the range of adjustability desired in the art.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a safety holder for fireworks. The safety holder is adjustable and may be used with fireworks of different sizes and shapes. The adjustability is accomplished by providing a holder having two opposed portions that move with respect to each other. A retaining device such as a clamp cord is used to maintain the clamped position against a firework.  
           [0009]    Another aspect of the invention allows the holder to be collapsed to a substantially flat condition. The invention may also be erected without the use of connectors or tools. This feature allows the holder to be sold, transported, and stored in a collapsed condition.  
           [0010]    The invention provides one embodiment that is used with thin, tube-shaped multiple shot fireworks and stick-based sky rockets. In this embodiment, a plurality of tubes are carried at the end of an elongated mount with the tubes being adapted to hold these types of fireworks. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the safety holder in a collapsed condition.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows a step of erecting the safety holder.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holder in an assembled condition.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the holder clamped on a first size multiple shot firework.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holder clamped on a second size multiple shot firework.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder with an alternative view of the retaining device.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the safety holder in a collapsed condition.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment with the anchor in place.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a typical sky rocket.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a typical roman candle.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the safety holder used to launch the sky rocket.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the safety holder used to ignite a roman candle.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the third embodiment of the holder.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the end of the third embodiment of the holder. 
     
    
       [0025]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    The first embodiment of the safety holder of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10  in the accompanying drawings. Safety holder  10  may be provided in a collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 1. The user may purchase holder  10  and erect holder  10  to the erected position shown in FIG. 3 without any tools or special connectors. Holder  10  generally includes a blank body  12  and a retaining device that holds body  12  clamped against the firework. In one embodiment, holder  10  includes a kit in the form of blank body  12 , a clamp cord  14 , a cord lock  16 , and a ground anchor  18  that may be assembled into erected holder  10  as shown in FIG. 3. Once erected, holder  10  is adjustable so that it may be used to holder a variety of different-sized fireworks  20  and  22  as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Holder  10  may be clamped against fireworks  20  and  22  while providing a wide, sturdy base that helps prevent fireworks  20  and  22  from tipping over.  
         [0027]    When erected, holder  10  includes a first portion  30  and a second portion  32  that pivot with respect to each other about a living hinge  34 . Portions  30  and  32  may be pulled toward each other with a retaining device that may be in the form of a clamp cord  14  that is held in the clamped condition with cord lock  16 . When in the clamped condition, clamp cord  14  will be in tension. Cord  14  may be a pair of cord portions or a single integral cord that extends around the body of holders  10 . In FIG. 6, a bar  37  may be used as the cord lock to keep cord  14  in tension with or without cord lock  16 . The retaining device may be provided in other forms such as tape or Velcro strips or other structures that can pull the first and second portions toward each other. Portions  30  and  32  defines a series of opposed notches  36  designed to seat fireworks  20  and  22 . Notches  36  may be provided in different shapes and sizes as shown in FIG. 1 to accommodate different-sized fireworks. Notches  36  may be rounded or angular to grip different fireworks.  
         [0028]    Blank body  12  includes a top panel  40  and a bottom panel  42  that may be formed from a cardboard material. The material may be printed with directions so that the user cannot misplace the directions. An appropriate fire retardant may also be added to the cardboard. Body  12  may also be fabricated from a plastic such as a corrugated polymer product. Other materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art may also be used. Each panel  40  and  42  defines a channel  44  and  46  with the edges of channel  44  defining notches  36 . Channel  46  may have smooth sides and may be more narrow than channel  44  so that the firework may rest on top of panel  42 . A pair of side flaps  50  and  52  extend from opposed sides of each panel  40  and  42 . Side flaps  50  and  52  may be pivoted with respect to panels  40  and  42  about living hinges  54 . Side panels  50  and  52  may be removed with the ends of panels  40  and  42  connected together to provide a rigid body for holder  10 . A rear panel  56  connects panels  40  and  42  with living hinges  58 . A portion of panel  56  acts as living hinge  34 .  
         [0029]    The user erects holder  10  by folding flaps  50  and  52  90 degrees to panels  40  and  42 . The user than folds panels  40  and  42  to such that they are parallel as shown in FIG. 2 with flaps  50  and  52  being overlapped one inside the other. The user then threads clamp cord  14  through the openings  60  defined by flaps  50  and  52  as well as panel  56  with the loose ends of cord  14  being disposed at the front of holder  10 . Cord  14  is threaded in the manner depicted in FIG. 3 such that cord  14  functions to hold flaps  50  and  52  together in the erected position. When other retaining devices are used, flaps  50  and  52  may be held together with other suitable connectors such as glue, snaps, Velcro, and the like. Cord  14  thus extends around body  12  and across hinge  34  to add rigidity to holder  10 . Pulling the loose ends of cord  14  together causes halves  30  and  32  to pivot toward each other about hinge  34 . A cord clamp  16  is used to lock the position of cord  14  with respect to portions  30  and  32 . An optional L-shaped anchor  18  may be pushed through one of portions  30  and  32  into the ground to connect holder  10  to the ground.  
         [0030]    The user places the firework  20  or  22  in between portions  30  and  32  and tightens clamp cord  14  to clamp firework  20  or  22  with portions  30  and  32 . Firework  20  or  22  may sit on top of or under panel  42 . Firework  20  or  22  may be placed in holder  10  with the fuse in the opening of holder defined by slots  44  and  46  so that the fuse may be easily lit. Firework  20  or  22  may then be ignited with little chance of firework  20  or  22  tipping over. Different-sized fireworks may be used simply by adjusting clamp cord  14 . When the user is done, cord  14  may be removed and holder  10  may be return to its collapsed condition for storage and transport.  
         [0031]    The second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, anchor  68  is in the form of an elongated strip that is woven through slits  70  defined by bottom panel  42  as shown in FIG. 8. Anchor  68  may be held to the ground with anchors  18 . Anchor  68  has a length that is longer than the width of panel  42 . Anchor  68  thus effectively increases the width of holders  10  and makes holder  10  more stable.  
         [0032]    The third embodiment of the holder is indicated generally by the numeral  100  in FIGS. 9-14. Holder  100  is used is sky rockets  102  or roman candles  104  as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Holder  100  is securely anchored to the ground to prevent the fireworks from tipping over when ignited. Holder  100  includes an elongated mount  110  with a plurality of tubes  112  connected to the top end of mount  110 . At least one of tubes  112  has a thick sidewall  114  to provide different-sized openings for different fireworks. Tubes  112  may have inside diameters of ¾ inch, ⅞ inch, 1 inch, and 1⅛ inch so that different fireworks may be securely held. Tubes  112  allow the sticks of sky rockets to slide through the tubes and allow the lower ends of roman candles to be frictionally held in place. In addition, small diameter (⅛ to ½ inch) for typical bottle rockets may be carried on the outside of tubes  112 .  
         [0033]    Mount  110  has a hollow lower end  120  that slides over a ground anchor  122  that has a stop flange  124 . Ground anchor  122  may slide inside ¼ to ¾ the length of mount  110 .  
         [0034]    Holder  100  may thus be firmly anchored to the ground and will not tip over when a rocket is launched. A particularly bad problem in the art is that large sky rockets can cause a bottle to tip over allowing the sky rocket to launch horizontally. Holder  100  will not tip over. Holder  100  is also easily adjustable to launch the rockets in other directions.  
         [0035]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0036]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.