Craft model

A three-dimensional craft model including a head and body is provided. More specifically, the craft model includes a two-dimensional body cutout and a two-dimensional body cutout. The cutouts can be formed into three-dimensional head and body objects by folding portions of the cutouts about fold lines and the three-dimensional objects can be held in place using one or more of securing tabs, reciprocal slots, and locking tabs. Also provided herein is a method for forming the three-dimensional craft figure, including the steps of folding portions of the body cutout across fold lines, locking one or more locking tabs on the body cutout to form the body object, folding one or more portions of the head cutout across fold lines, inserting one or more securing tabs through corresponding slots in the head cutout to form the body object, and attaching the head object to the body object.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to a craft model. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a craft model defined by a three-dimensional head and a three-dimensional body that are assembled from two-dimensional cutouts by a plurality of foldable portions.

Related Art

In the assembly craft model field, paper or cardboard sheets are used to fabricate objects. Where the material is often frail and can be easily damaged/destroyed by water/humidity, etc., the use of glue can often get messy and result in a misaligned assembly, and the designs themselves can be relatively elementary and dreary.

In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a craft model which is sturdy, captivating in appearance, and simple to construct.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to an assembly craft model. The craft model is assembled from a two-dimensional body cutout and a two-dimensional head cutout. The body cutout and the head cutout each include a plurality of securing tabs, slits, and fold lines. Additionally, the head cutout includes a body attachment opening and the body cutout includes locking tabs. The body cutout and the head cutout can each be folded along fold lines to assemble a three-dimensional body and a three-dimensional head, respectively, by inserting securing tabs into slits. The body attachment hole can then used to attach the three-dimensional head to the three-dimensional body to form the craft model.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a plastic craft model having a three-dimensional head and a three-dimensional body.

FIG. 1is an illustration showing a sheet10for a craft model of the present disclosure. The sheet10includes a body cutout12and a head cutout14. The body cutout12and head cutout14can be separated from the sheet10along score lines or die cut lines that determine shape of the body and the head, respectively. The body cutout12and the head cutout14each include one or more fold lines16(each fold line is labeled as one of16a-16zor17a-17e), bleed lines18, and die cut lines20(each die cut line is labeled as one of20a,20b,20c, and20d). The fold lines16indicate locations where a fold is used to assemble the two-dimensional cutout12,14into a three-dimensional object. Both the body cutout12and the head cutout14can be made from a single cutout that is separated from the sheet10and folded into the three-dimensional object or from two cutouts that are separated from the sheet10and folded into the three-dimensional object. As shown inFIG. 1, the head cutout14can include a first side wall having first, second, third, and fourth panels, and a top wall that is connected to one of the first, second, third, or fourth panels. The top wall can also be connected to a second side wall including one or more panels, and the top wall can also be connected to a bottom wall having a body attachment aperture40, discussed below. The body attachment aperture can be round as shown. The first and second side walls, including their respective panels, can form a perimeter of the three-dimensional head object (see, e.g.,FIG. 4B).

The die cut lines20indicate where the cutouts12,14are to be cut or separated from the sheet10, and can include perimeter cut lines20a, internal cut line20b, slit cut lines20c, and tab cut lines20d. The bleed lines18indicate where a design or artwork may run past the die cut lines20, as those skilled in the art would understand, to ensure that a misalignment of a perimeter die cut line20adoes not result in a white edge on the cutout. It should be understood that the bleed lines18and the die cut lines20shown are for reference, and are not necessarily printed on the sheet10.

The cutouts12,14may be completely cut along the die cut lines20, or partially cut along the die cut lines20. For example, the cutouts12,14can be perforated along the die cut lines20, thus allowing the user to easily remove the cutouts12,14from the sheet10. Those skilled in the art would understand that other methods to partially cut the cutouts12,14from the sheet can be used to allow the user to easily separate the cutouts12,14. Thus, the die cut lines20could be cut lines with one or more small connections that can be easily broken by the user. Alternatively, cutouts12,14can be completely cut along the die cut lines20in some places, and partially cut along the die cut lines in other places. For example, the perimeter cut lines20acan be cut partially, while the internal cut line20b, the slit cut lines20c, and the tab cut lines20dare cut completely. The cutouts12,14can be cut using any suitable cutting method. Alternatively, a user could cut the body and head cutouts12,14from the sheet10using a scissor or the like.

The sheet10can be made out of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, plastic, cardboard, etc. Further, the sheet10can be of any suitable size or thickness.

FIG. 2is an illustration showing the body cutout12and the head cutout14separated from the sheet10. Specifically,FIG. 2shows cutouts12and14printed with a design or artwork. The design inFIG. 2includes a “cyclops” monster. However, any design can be used, such as, for example, past or present pop culture characters, popular characters, motifs of any sort, people, action figures, etc. This allows the cutouts12and14to be used for different designs. The design can be printed with one or more colors32. The cutouts12,14further include a plurality of securing tabs34(each tab labeled as one of34a-34r), slits36(each slit labeled as one of36a-36k), fold lines16(each fold line labeled as one of16a-16zor17a-17e), and tabs44aand44b.

In additional, the head cutout14includes a body attachment aperture40, for connecting a three-dimensional head formed by the head cutout14to a three-dimensional body formed by the body cutout12. The body cutout12includes locking tabs42(each locking tab is represented by one of42a-44dto form the body cutout12into a three-dimensional body). The locking tabs42each comprise a generally semi-circular tab that is partially detached from the body cutout12. Locking tabs42aand42bare flipped mirror images of locking tabs42cand42d, so that locking tabs42aand42bcan align and lock with locking tabs42dand42c, respectively, when the body cutout12is formed into the three dimensional body. The detached portion of each tab slides over the attached portion of the corresponding tab to retain the tabs together and to retain the body in a three dimensional shape having an upper edge and a generally frustoconical shape.

The cutouts12,14can be folded along the fold lines16to assemble the two-dimensional cutouts12,14into the three-dimensional objects. The securing tabs34can be inserted into the slits36to form and retain the shape of the head as a three-dimensional object. Specifically, the securing tabs34, slits36, and fold lines16on the body cutout12are used to form a three-dimensional body of the craft model, and the securing tabs34, slits36, and fold lines16on the head cutout14are used to form a three-dimensional head of the craft model. The three-dimensional head can be attached to the three-dimensional body by resting the head, at the attachment aperture40, on the body with a pressure fit, securing tabs/slits, a twist/lock mechanism, or any other appropriate securing method. Other fastening mechanisms can be used in addition to, or instead of the securing tabs/slits34,36, the locking tabs42, and the body attachment hole40.

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a method50for assembling the body cutout12and head cutout14into the three-dimensional craft model. In step52, the body cutout12is folded across the fold lines16. In step54, the securing tabs34of the body cutout12are inserted into their corresponding slits36. In step56, body cutout12is locked in place via the locking tabs42to form the three-dimensional body. In step58, the heat cutout14is folded across the fold lines16. In step60, the securing tabs34of the heat cutout14are inserted into their corresponding slits36to form the three-dimensional head. In step62, the three-dimensional head is attached to the three-dimensional body.

FIGS. 4A-4Care illustrations visually showing the steps of method50.FIG. 4Ashows the process of steps52-56. Specifically,FIG. 4Ashows a first fold in the direction of arrow A across fold line16ain the body cutout in panel72, a second fold in the direction of arrow B across fold line16cin panel74, a third fold in the direction of arrow C across fold line16ein panel76, and a fourth fold in the direction of arrow D across fold line16gto form a folded element in panel78. Next, in panel80, the folded element is inserted in the direction of arrow E into and pulled through slit36bin the direction of arrow F. An arm formed by this process is shown in panel82. It should be understood that this process is repeated using folding lines16b,16d,16f,16h, and slit36ato form a second arm from the body cutout12. Further,FIG. 4Ashows body cutout formed as a three-dimensional body held in position by locking tabs42a-42din panel84. Specifically, locking tab42ais aligned and locked with locking tab42d, and locking tab42bis aligned and locked with locking tab42cto hold the three-dimensional body in position.

FIG. 4Bshows the process of steps58and60. Specifically, in panel86, securing tab34gis folded across folding line16oand inserted in the direction of arrow I into slit36c, securing tab34iis folded across folding line16r(not shown) an inserted in the direction of arrow J into slit36d, and securing tab34his folded across folding line16q(now shown) and inserted in the direction of arrow K into slit36e. In addition, panel86shows tab44afolded in the direction of arrow G across folding line16sand lifted upright, and tab44bfolded in the direction of arrow H across folding line16tand lifted upright. In panel88, securing tab34fis folded across folding line16nand inserted in the direction of arrow L into slit36f. In panel90, securing tab34eis inserted in the direction of arrow M into slit36h, securing tab34dis inserted in the direction of arrow N into slit36i, securing tab34cis inserted into slit36j, and securing tab34bis inserted into slit36k. In panel92, a three-dimensional head is shown formed from the described process.

FIG. 4Cshows the process of step62. Specifically,FIG. 4Cshows attaching in the direction of arrow O the three-dimensional head to the three-dimensional body in panel94.FIG. 4Dis an illustration showing a rear perspective view of the assembled three-dimensional craft model. Those skilled in the art would understand that the order of the steps in method50can be altered.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bare illustrations showing an assembled three-dimensional craft model200bearing a design. Specifically,FIG. 5Ashows a front perspective view of the assembled craft model200andFIG. 5Bshows a back perspective view of the assembled craft model200.

FIG. 6is an illustration showing a package210containing the body cutout12and the head cutout14. The package can include an aperture212for hanging the package210on a display. The package can be generally transparent to allow a person to view the design before purchase. As seen, the body cutout12and the head cutout14have been precut from a sheet10and are ready to be assembled.

FIGS. 7A-7Care illustrations a craft model bearing another design. Specifically,FIG. 7Ashows a body cutout12and a head cutout14of the craft model design,FIG. 7Bshows a front perspective view of the assembled three-dimensional craft model200formed by the body cutout12and the head cutout14, andFIG. 7Cshows a rear perspective view of the assembled three-dimensional craft model200.

FIGS. 8A-8Care illustrations of a craft model bearing another design. Specifically,FIG. 8Ashows a body cutout12and a head cutout14of the craft model design,FIG. 8Bshows a front perspective view of the assembled three-dimensional craft model200formed by the body cutout12and the head cutout14, andFIG. 8Cshows a rear perspective view of the assembled three-dimensional craft model200.

FIGS. 9A-9Care illustrations of a craft model bearing another design. Specifically,FIG. 9Ashows a body cutout12and a head cutout14of the craft model design,FIG. 9Bshows a front perspective view of the assembled three-dimensional craft model200formed by the body cutout12and the head cutout14, andFIG. 9Cshows a rear perspective view of the assembled three-dimensional craft model200.

Having thus described the system and method in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit or scope thereof. It will be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make any variations and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such variations and modifications, including those discussed above, are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.