Abstract:
A three-dimensional ornament ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of folded elements ( 8 ), ( 9 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ), ( 22 ) and ( 23 ) created from a plurality of nesting cuts ( 6 ), ( 7 ), ( 20 ) and ( 21 ) in a planar surface ( 1 ). The folded elements ( 8 ), ( 9 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ), ( 22 ) and ( 23 ) are fastened in opposing planes ( 15 ), ( 16 ) and ( 28 ) so as to give a unique and distinctive appearance. A multitude of three-dimensional ornaments ( 1 ) may be fastened together to form a snowflake ( 19 ) which may be suspended from a ceiling, tree or the like. The planar surface ( 1 ) may have a decorative surface and be of various colors, sizes and textures.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to three-dimensional ornaments, more particularly, a three-dimensional ornament that is attractive and easy to create.  
         [0002]     Three-dimensional ornaments made of a flexible, planar surface, such as construction paper, have been used for decorative purposes for many years. Children in school and summer camps Would create three-dimensional ornaments, such as Christmas ornaments, for their parents. Retail stores decorate their showrooms with three-dimensional ornaments to give a warmer, friendlier appearance. Even restaurants and hotels use such items to make rooms look more festive.  
         [0003]     Although the use of flexible, planar surfaces to construct three-dimensional ornaments for decorating is disclosed in the prior art, the present invention is a new three-dimensional ornament having a distinctive shape which is easy to assemble.  
         [0004]     The relevant prior art includes the following references:  
                                       U.S. Pat. No.               (U.S. unless stated otherwise)   Inventor   Issue/Publication Date                   2005/0097799   Murthy   May 12, 2005       5,609,928   Yedlin et al.   Mar. 11, 1997       5,484,378   Braithwaite   Jan. 16, 1996       2004/0251678   Dacey   Dec. 16, 2004       2002/0168485   Yedlin et al.   Nov. 14, 2002       2004/0256282   Glenn   Dec. 23, 2004       2005/0106995   Kim   May 19, 2005       3,861,279   Maling   Jan. 21, 1975       6,783,815   Flohe   Aug. 31, 2004                  
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional ornament that is attractive.  
         [0006]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional ornament that is easy to assemble.  
         [0007]     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional ornament that is lightweight.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional ornament that may be suspended.  
         [0009]     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional ornament that resembles a complex snowflake.  
         [0010]     The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a three-dimensional ornament comprising at least one flexible, planar surface having a predetermined area and perimeter having a centrally located spine having a left edge and a right edge. The spine divides the surface into a left side and a right side. A first cut extends from the spine left edge into the left side and returns to the spine left edge to create a first and second folded element which are attached to the spine. A second cut extends from the spine right edge into the right side and returns to the spine right edge to create a third and fourth folded element which are attached to the spine. The first and third folded elements mirror each other in size and shape, as does the second and fourth folded elements. To make the ornament, a person simply folds the first and third folded elements away from the spine so as to fall into a second plane and fastens the first and third folded elements together. Then, a person folds the second and fourth folded elements in an opposite direction from the first and third folded elements so as to fall into a third plane and fastens the second and fourth folded elements together.  
         [0011]     An alternate embodiment of the present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a three-dimensional ornament further comprising an additional two folded elements located on either side of the spine. In this manner, a series of nesting folded elements are created. For example, the first folded element nests within a second folded element and the second folded element nests within the sixth folded element. To assemble this embodiment, a person follows the steps listed above, and then folds the fifth and sixth folded elements into the second plane and fastens the fifth and sixth folded elements together.  
         [0012]     Additionally, a person may fasten a plurality of the three-dimensional ornaments together to create a larger ornament having a unique snowflake-like appearance.  
         [0013]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of a three-dimensional ornament of the present invention unassembled;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the first embodiment illustrating the directions in which to fold folded elements of the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a first embodiment of the present invention when assembled;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of a first embodiment of the present invention when assembled;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a second embodiment of a three-dimensional ornament of the present invention unassembled;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6 a  side view of the second embodiment illustrating the directions in which to fold folded elements of the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention when assembled;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a left side view of a second embodiment of the present invention when assembled; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention when multiple second embodiments are fastened together.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:  
                                       1.   planar surface       2.   spine       3.   spine left edge       4.   spine right edge       5.   hole       6.   first cut       7.   second cut       8.   first folded element       9.   second folded element       10.   third folded element       11.   fourth folded element       12.   left side       13.   right side       14.   first plane       15.   second plane       16.   third plane       17.   three-dimensional ornament,           generally       18.   lights       19.   snowflake       20.   third cut       21.   fourth cut       22.   fifth folded element       23.   sixth folded element       24.   apex       25.   spine center       26.   apex first plane       27.   apex second plane       28.   fourth plane                  
 
         [0025]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a front view of a first embodiment of a three-dimensional ornament of the present invention unassembled is shown. The ornament is assembled by using a substantially planar surface  1  that is foldable, yet sturdy, such as construction paper, posterboard and the like. The planar surface  1  may be of various colors of either a matte or shine finish having differing visual effects, such as glitter, holograms, iridescence, and the like. In addition, the planar surface  1  may be of varying textures. Preferably, the planar surface has an area and perimeter of a square, although other shapes, such as circles, triangles, trapezoids, and so forth may be used. The planar surface  1  includes a centrally located spine  2  having a left edge  3 , a right edge  4  and a center  25 . The spine  2  divides the planar surface  1  into a left side  12  and a right side  13 . A first cut  6  is located in the left side  12  and divides the left side  12  into a first folded element  8  and a second folded element  9 . The first cut  6  begins and ends on the spine left edge  3  so as to keep the folded elements  8  and  9  attached to the spine  2 . The shape of the first cut  6  should generally follow the shape of the perimeter. A second cut  7  is located on the right side  13  and mirrors the shape and placement of the first cut  6  so as to create a third folded element  10  and a fourth folded element  11  on the right side which are identical to the first and second folded elements  8  and  9 . Each of the folded elements  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  have apexes  24 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows the directions in which to fold folded elements of the first embodiment of the present invention. First, a person fold the planar surface  1  along the spine center  25  so the spine center  25  is located in a first plane  14 . Then, a person folds the first folded element  8  and the third folded element  10  away from the spine center  25  so the apexes  24  of the first and third folded elements  8  and  10  are in an apex first plane  26 . Then, a person folds the second folded element  9  and the fourth folded element  11  in an opposite direction away from the spine center  25  so the apexes  24  of the second and fourth folded elements  9  and  11  are in an apex second plane  27 . The planes  14 ,  26  and  27  are parallel to one another and placed so as the first plane  14  is located in between the first and second apex planes  16  and  27 .  
         [0027]     In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , varying views of a first embodiment of the present invention when assembled are shown. A portion of the apex  24  of the first folded element  8  overlaps a portion of the apex  24  of the third folded element  10  when folded and then the first and third folded elements  8  and  10  are fastened together in a second plane  15  using a fastening means, such as glue, staples, tape, hot glue and other similar means. In a similar manner, a portion of the apex  24  of the second folded element  9  overlaps a portion of the apex  24  of the fourth folded element  11  when folded and then the folded elements  9  and  11  are fastened together in a third plane  16 . A user may then hang the three-dimensional ornament  17  by inserting a wire, string, hook or other means in the hole  5 .  
         [0028]     Next,  FIG. 5  shows a front view of a second embodiment of a three-dimensional ornament of the present invention unassembled. The second embodiment of the three-dimensional ornament is similar to the first embodiment except the second embodiment includes a third cut  20  and a fourth cut  21  which create a fifth folded element  22  and a sixth folded element  23 . The third cut  20  is sized and shaped so as to allow the second folded element  9  nest within the fifth folded element  22  while the fourth cut  21  is sized and shaped so as to allow the third folded element  11  to nest within the sixth folded element  23 .  
         [0029]     In reference to  FIG. 6 , a side view of various directions in which to fold folded elements of the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Similar to the first embodiment, the apexes  24  of the first and third folded elements  8  and  10  are folded into an apex first plane  26  and the apexes  24  of the second and fourth folded elements  9  and  11  are folded into an apex second plane  27 . However, the apexes  24  of the fifth and sixth folded elements  22  and  23  are folded into a third apex plane  28  to create the ornament.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show varying views of a second embodiment of the present invention when assembled. Similar to the first embodiment, a portion of the apex  24  of the first folded element  8  overlaps a portion of the apex  24  of the third folded element  10  when folded and fastened together in the second plane  15  and a portion of the apex  24  of the second folded element  9  overlaps a portion of the apex  24  of the fourth folded element  11  when folded and then the folded elements  9  and  11  are fastened together in the third plane  16 . Additionally, however, a portion of the apex  24  of the fifth folded element  22  overlaps a portion of the apex  24  of the sixth folded element  23  and the folded elements  22  and  23  are fastened together in a fourth plane  28 .  
         [0031]     Finally,  FIG. 9  shows a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention when multiple second embodiments are fastened together. When a plurality of the three-dimensional ornaments  17  are fastened to one another, a snowflake  19  is created. The snowflake  19  may be hung from a ceiling, tree branch, pole or any other object in a similar manner as described above. In addition, lights  18  may be attached individual three-dimensional ornaments  17  or to the entire snowflake  19  to give a more festive appearance.  
         [0032]     The use of the present invention will allow a person to quickly assemble an attractive three-dimensional decorative ornament.  
         [0033]     It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.