Abstract:
An apparatus for the suspension of objects from stable and overhanging locations. A method for the installation and use of such an apparatus is also included. Apparatus is especially useful in the decorative display of lanterns created from pumpkins and other gourds and melons including cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Suspension of objects is necessary for a multitude of display and utility purposes. Examples include, but are not limited to common houseplants, wind chimes and bird feeders. The invention subject of this patent is specifically useful for the suspension of carved melon and gourd lanterns. 
         [0002]    Jack-o-lanterns have been carved from turnips and gourds for hundreds of years, but the practice did not become popular in North America until the late 1800&#39;s. Since that time jack-o-lanterns have become an icon to the fall season and the Halloween holiday. 
         [0003]    Jack-o-lanterns are typically placed on ground level surfaces or on raised items or structures such as benches, chairs, tables, and display stands or other surfaces. This is the current state-of-the-art. Much innovation has occurred in the past twenty years in the field of pumpkin carving, but very little innovation has occurred in the field of jack-o-lantern display technologies. Display of jack-o-lantern art is currently limited to solid and stable locations where they must be set down. No currently marketed technologies enable a user to suspend jack-o-lanterns. 
         [0004]    Current methods for the display of jack-o-lantern art limit the type of carvings that may be created. Typically, only one side of the jack-o-lantern may be visible since the carver must choose the best surface for carving. The natural shape of the pumpkin usually dictates which face will be viewable from the ground since this is the current state-of-the-art for jack-o-lantern display. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the invention is to allow for the suspension of objects from nearly any stable and overhanging location. These suspended objects include, but are not limited to, pumpkins and other gourds, common houseplants, and melons such as honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelons. Suspension locations include, but are not limited to, structural elements such as overhanging roof structures, gables, walkways, trees, playground equipment, plant hangers, thresholds and ceilings. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to be easily installed by following the provided methods, whereby favorable and robust displaying and performance is possible. Display performance requires the constraint of the carved gourd or melon in a stable and upright position and enables the user to face a carved gourd or melon in any direction desired. The provided method requires only the use of hands and simple common tools. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the invention to allow the user to easily and quickly move the displayed object to different locations. 
         [0008]    Additional object of the invention is to have attributes including lightweight, strong, fire proof and condensable for packaging and storage. 
         [0009]    The current invention is a lightweight, strong, fire proof and condensable suspension apparatus provided for the display of objects, such as a jack-o-lantern, through suspension from any stable and overhanging location. The suspension apparatus is comprised of a tensile member, support plate and connection element. The support plate is comprised of a strong material designed to withstand the loading resulting from said object suspension. The support plate transfers the suspension loads to the tensile member. Suspension loads are defined as loads that must be supported by the invention during normal operation. These loads include, but are not limited to, the forces caused by gravity, wind, rain and vibration. The base of the object effectively rests on the support plate. The tensile member is comprised of a strong, fireproof material that is connected on one end to the support plate and on the other end to the connection element. The tensile member may be embodied in many forms including, but not limited to, metallic, plastic or elastomeric rods, cables or ropes. The tensile member is installed through the bottom of the object, approximately through the center of the object and out of the highest surface. The tensile member transfers the suspension loads to the connection element. The connection element is comprised of a strong material having a form that allows for the distribution of all reaction loads resulting from suspension loads to an anchoring point. The anchoring device may be embodied in many forms including, but not limited to, screws, bolts, hooks, eyelets, openings and extended bodies such as tree branches, bars or lumber. The securing element may also be embodied in many forms including, but not limited to, hooks, loops, eyelets or other connectors. When the configuration for a desired suspension location is not compatible with the previously described connections and anchor devices, then another device may used to create an anchoring device. Examples include, but are not limited to, pipe clamps, zipping cable ties, rope, wire rope and cables. 
         [0010]    The physical connections made between the tensile member, connection element and support plate may be made through a variety of methods, which are standard to industry. These methods include, but are not limited to, welding, brazing, clamping or the application of cable compression fittings. Cable compression fittings are devices that are forged around bare wire rope ends to terminate these wire rope ends, or to create closed loops. During compression, the ductile compression fittings are forced into free spaces to cause a residual pressure that significantly increased relative friction between the wire rope and the compression fitting. Physical deformation of said parts also creates resistance to failure through interference, which utilizes the shear strength of said materials. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the support plate, tensile member and connection element are constructed to form an assembly for ease of packaging and use. The preferred embodiment for the tensile member is in the form of a strong, fireproof, flexible, corrosion-resistant metallic cable. These properties and materials are chosen for reasons including safety, cost savings, proximity to flame in a jack-o-lantern, ability to package and store, strength and the capability to use standard industrial tooling and parts. 
         [0012]    With the preferred embodiment additional functional elements may, or may not, be required for stability and performance, when applied to carved gourds and melons. With a cable extending through the top lid of the carved gourd or melon, loading causes an unstable equilibrium. If a destabilizing force acts on the device, the lid may become dislodged and the display properties become unfavorable through object tilting. In this preferred embodiment, a lid-locking device is required. The lid-locking device may be embodied in many forms. It may be embodied in the form of anchors embedded into the pumpkin on either side of the seam of the cut lid in multiple locations holding the lid in place by resisting lateral destabilizing loads. It may also be embodied in the form a device that locks an object on the cable at the desired location forcing the lid tightly into its equilibrium position. 
         [0013]    The functions, claims and relevance of the present invention to the current state-of-the-art will be defined in greater detail in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the provided drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment configuration of the present invention as installed specifically into a jack-o-lantern and placed in suspension from an anchoring device, which in this particular figure is a bolt, screw or nail. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view from above of the preferred embodiment configuration of the present invention as installed specifically into a jack-o-lantern. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view from below of the preferred embodiment configuration of the present invention as installed specifically into a jack-o-lantern. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view from above of the preferred embodiment configuration of the present invention as installed specifically into a jack-o-lantern. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view from below of the preferred embodiment configuration of the present invention as installed specifically into a jack-o-lantern. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a magnified perspective view of the preferred embodiment configuration of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a magnified perspective view of the lid-locking device for the preferred embodiment of the present invention prior to placement in secured position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a magnified perspective view of the lid-locking device for the preferred embodiment of the present invention in secured position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of said suspension apparatus similar in form and function to the preferred embodiment with the tensile member having rigid body properties. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a magnified perspective view from above of an alternative embodiment of the lid-locking device for the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing four said multiple extrusions. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9A  is a magnified perspective view from below of an alternative embodiment of the lid-locking device for the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing four said multiple extrusions. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of said suspension apparatus similar in form and function to the preferred embodiment with an alternative lid-locking device as installed specifically into a jack-o-lantern. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The present invention relates to an apparatus adapted for the suspension of objects from nearly any stable and overhanging location. The invention is especially useful in the suspension of objects including, but are not limited to, pumpkins and other gourds, and melons such as honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelons. The invention is installed by inserting said apparatus through the lowest surface of said object beginning with the securing element, pulling said apparatus through the approximate center of said object and extracting said apparatus from the top surface of said object, where it continues upward to a suspension anchoring location. Suspension anchoring locations include, but are not limited to, structural elements such as structural overhanging roofs, gables and walkways, trees, playground equipment, plant hangers, thresholds and ceilings. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 1 , jack-o-lantern  10  is in a state of suspension though the application of the present invention in the form of a suspension apparatus  1 . Suspension apparatus  1 , as shown in  FIG. 6  includes a suspension assembly  2  and lid-locking assembly  3 . The lid-locking assembly  3 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , consists of a lid-locking base  60  and lid-locking compression element  70 . The suspension assembly  2  consists of a tensile member  50  with a loop  90  on one end created with a loop creation device  80 , an end-stopping device  40  on the opposite end and a support plate  30 . The suspension assembly  2  is assembled first by installing the end-stopping device  40 , then passing the opposite bare end of the tensile member  50  through the hole in the support plate  30  and finally creating the loop  90  with the loop creation device  80  containing the support plate between the two ends of the suspension assembly  2 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , then, suspension assembly  2 , beginning with the loop  90 , is inserted through the bottom surface of the jack-o-lantern  10 , continuing through the approximate center of the jack-o-lantern  10  and exiting through the top of lid  12  at a location that is as close to the axis and stem  22  of the jack-o-lantern  10  as possible and continuing upward where the loop  90  is secured to the anchoring device  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Upon suspension, the weight of the jack-o-lantern  10  will force it to come to rest upon the support plate  30 . The loop  90  and loop creation device  80  are passed through the center hole  69  of the lid-locking base  60 , which is then translated downward along the tensile member  50 , relative to loop  90 , until is comes into contact with the lid  12 , where it is forced into the flesh of the lid  12  until its surface  67  comes into contact with the surface of the lid  12 . The lid-locking compression element  70  is forced to encapsulate the tensile member  50  in its axial hole  78  located along its axis B by inserting said tensile member  50  through a radial extending slit  79  along its length as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The lid-locking compression element  70  is then forced into the axial hole  69  of said lid-locking base  60 , located along its axis A. The compression forces imparted between the lid-locking base  60 , the lid-locking compression element  70  and the tensile member  50  increase the relative friction forces between these elements preventing the lid  12  from becoming dislodged from said object  10  by suspension loads. 
         [0028]    The structure of the suspension apparatus  1  is shown is greater detail is  FIG. 6 . It may be appreciated that the suspension assembly  2  may function to enable the suspension of said objects without the aid of any other devices, but the lid-locking assembly  3  improves the performance of the present invention by maintaining the stability of the suspended object regardless of suspension loading. 
         [0029]    The suspension assembly  2 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , consists of a tensile member  50  with a loop  90  on one end created with a loop creation device  80 , an end-stopping device  40  on the opposite end and a support plate  30 . The tensile member  50  consists of a thin and elongated form capable of extending through said suspended object. The loop  90  consists of a section of the tensile member formed back and reconnected adjacent to itself at a specific location, which enables the loop  90  to connect to the said anchoring device  100 . The reconnection location is arbitrary, but must accommodate the intended anchoring device  100 . The loop  90  is created with the loop creation device  80 , which consists of a cylinder-like form with two parallel end surfaces  84  and  86 , a cylindrical surface  82 , and two cylindrical holes  88  and  89 , which extend entirely through the device between said end surfaces  84  and  86 . The tensile member  50  is inserted through one of the said holes  88 , returned through the other hole  89  to create the loop  90  and secured to the loop creation device. The end-stopping device  40  consists of a cylinder-like form with two parallel end surfaces  42  and  44 , a cylindrical surface  46 , and one cylindrical hole  48 , which extends entirely through the device between said end surfaces  42  and  44 . The tensile member  50  is inserted through said hole  48  and secured to the end-stopping device  40 . The support plate  30  consists of a plate-like form with two parallel end surfaces  32  and  34 , a boundary surface  36 , which is perpendicular and intersecting with the said end surfaces  32  and  34  and a cylindrical hole  38 , which extends entirely through the device between said end surfaces  32  and  34 . The tensile member  50  is inserted through said hole  38  allowing the support plate  30  to rest upon the secured end-stopping device  40  for the purpose of supporting the said suspended object. 
         [0030]    The lid-locking assembly  3 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , consists of a lid-locking base  60  and lid-locking compression element  70 . The lid-locking base  60  consist of a flanged, cylindrical form with axis A, parallel end surfaces  62  and  64 , an opposing surface parallel to end surface  62 , a cylindrical surface  68  perpendicular and intersecting parallel surfaces  62  and  67 , a cylindrical surface  66  perpendicular and intersecting parallel surfaces  64  and  67  and a cylindrical hole  69 , which extends entirely through the device between said end surfaces  62  and  64 . The suspension assembly  2  is inserted through the said cylindrical hole  69  when installed as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . The lid-locking base  60  is pressed into the lid of the jack-o-lantern  12 . The lid-locking compression element  70  consists of a plug-shaped form with axis B, two parallel end surfaces  72  and  74  of dissimilar sizes connected with a transverse conical-section surface  76  intersecting with said end surfaces  72  and  74  to create a transverse conical section, a cylindrical hole  78 , which extends entirely through the device between said end surfaces  72  and  74  and a full-length radially-extending slit  79  described by a cutting plane that intersects with said axis B cutting away from said axis in only one direction. The tensile member  50  is encompassed by the cylindrical hole  78  of the said device  70  by means of the said full-length radially extending slit  79 . During installation, the lid-locking compression element  70  is translated downward along tensile member  50  and forced into the cylindrical hole  69  of the lid-locking base  60  as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 7A . This action imparts residual compression forces between the tensile member  50 , lid-locking base  60  and lid-locking compression element  70  increasing the relative friction forces between the said elements  50 ,  60  and  70 , which effectively increasing the forces required to dislodge the lid  12  from said object body  10 . 
         [0031]    The present suspension apparatus  1  is adapted to operate without degradation or failure is a harsh chemical and physical outdoor environments including ultraviolet radiation, open flame, heat, cold, wet and dry weather. The ideal materials for the present invention include corrosion resistant metals and flexible and stiff plastics. The present invention is inexpensive to manufacture and is easily configured to be contained in relatively small packaging. The present invention is easily cleaned and is reusable. The tensile member  50  is fabricated of a strong, flameproof, ductile, washable and corrosion resistant material, examples of which include wire rope, braided metallic cable or solid ductile metallic wire, which are widely available. The support plate  30  is fabricated of a strong, stiff, ductile, washable and corrosion resistant materials, examples of which include metals and hard plastics, which are widely available. The support plate  30  may be manufactured through various methods including stamping, forging or injection molding. The end-stopping device  40  is fabricated of strong, stiff, ductile, washable and corrosion resistant materials, examples of which include metals and hard plastics. A specific example of a widely available device, which may be used for the end-stopping device  40  is a wire rope compression fitting. The end-stopping device  40  may also be embodied in the form of a welded, brazed, soldered or forged mass fused, potentially with epoxy or glue, to the tensile member  50  in the appropriate location. The end-stopping device  40  may be manufactured through various methods including stamping, forging, extrusion or molding. The loop creation device  80  is fabricated of strong, stiff, ductile, washable and corrosion resistant materials, examples of which include metals and hard plastics. A specific example of a widely available device, which may be used for the loop creation device  80  is a wire rope compression fitting. The loop creation device  80  may also be embodied in the form of a welded, brazed, soldered or forged mass fused, potentially with epoxy or glue, to the tensile member  50  in the appropriate location. The loop creation device  80  may be manufactured through various methods including stamping, forging, extrusion or molding. The lid-locking base  60  is fabricated of strong, stiff, ductile, washable and corrosion resistant materials examples of which include metals and hard plastics. The lid-locking base  60  may be manufactured through various methods including stamping, forging or injection molding. The lid-locking compression element  70  is fabricated of tough, flexible, elastic, washable and corrosion resistant materials with relatively high values for coefficients of static friction, examples of which include rubbers and soft or flexible plastics. The lid-locking compression element  70  may be manufactured through various methods including forging or molding. The anchoring device  100  is fabricated of strong, stiff, ductile, washable and corrosion resistant materials, examples of which include metals and hard plastics. The anchoring device  100  may be manufactured through various methods including stamping, forging, extrusion or molding. The anchoring device  100  has a relatively arbitrary form, which must have a secure connection to said stable and overhanging location and bearing surface that will accept form of said loop  90 . The anchoring device  100  may be embodied in many forms including, but not limited to, screws, bolts, hooks, eyelets, holes in materials, structural edges and extended bodies such as tree branches, bars or lumber. Anchoring device may also be fabricated with alternative forms including, but are not limited to, pipe clamps, zipping cable ties, rope, wire rope and cables. 
         [0032]    The functional elements of suspension apparatus  1  function together in the said operating environment, while maintaining the stable and secure suspension of said object  10  from stable and overhanging locations. Said suspension loads acting on the said suspended object  10  are directly transferred in the form of a distributed load from said object  10  to the support plate  30  acting normally on said end surface  32  and perpendicular to tensile member  50  along its length where is passes through said lid  12 . Said suspension loads are then transferred from the end surface  34  of the support plate  30  to end-stopping device  40  in the form of a distributed load acting normally on the end surface  42 . Said suspension loads are then transferred from the end-stopping device  40  to the tensile member  50  in the form of frictional or shear loads acting parallel to the axis of the tensile member  50 . Said suspension loads are then transferred along the tensile member  50  and into the loop creation device  80  in the form of frictional or shear loads acting parallel to the axis of the tensile member  50 . Said suspension loads are then transferred from the loop creation device  80  into the loop  90  in the form of frictional or shear loads acting parallel to the loop as it enters the plane of the end surface  84  of the loop creation device  80 . Said suspension loads are then transferred from the loop  90  to the anchoring device  100  in the form of distributed loads acting normally to the surface of interaction between the loop  90  and the anchoring device  100 . Said suspension loads are then transferred from the anchoring device  100  to the said stable and overhanging location as reaction loads, which vary depending upon the type of device used for the anchoring device  100 . Said suspension loads may act to destabilize the seated position of the lid  12 , on said object  10 , which upon unseating creates an overall instability in the position of the said object  10  resulting in a new resting orientation of the said object  10  that is unfavorable as compared to the desired display orientation. The lid-locking assembly  3 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , is introduced to reduce the probability of the said potential destabilizing event. The lid-locking base  60  is forced through surface of the lid  12  until is becomes securely lodged into the flesh of the lid  12  per the said installation procedure. The lid-locking compression element  70  is placed over the tensile member and forced into the lid-locking base  60  per the said installation procedure and as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . When said destabilizing suspension loads are present the loads may cause loading transverse to the axis of the tensile member to be imparted into lid-locking compression element  70 . As the lid-locking compression element  70  is forced into the lid-locking base  60  compression forces are imparted between the lid-locking base  60 , the lid-locking compression element  70  and the tensile member  50  increasing the relative friction forces between these elements preventing the lid  12  from becoming dislodged by destabilizing suspension loads, thereby maintaining the desired display orientation of the said object during suspension. 
         [0033]    A first alternative embodiment of a suspension apparatus  101  is shown is  FIG. 8  and is very similar in form and function to the suspension apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 . However, the tensile member  50  in suspension apparatus  1  is reformed as a rigid tensile member  150 . The end-stopping device  40 , support plate  30 , lid-locking base  60  and lid-locking compression element  70  are unchanged in form and function in this first alternative embodiment. The loop creation device  180  is identical and form and function as the loop creation device  80  with the additional potential form of threaded fastening to the tensile member  150  and the loop  190 . The loop  190  is identical in form and function as the loop  90  with the additional potential forms of currently available hooking-type devices including eyelets and hooks that may be threaded into the loop creation device  180 . 
         [0034]    A second alternative embodiment of a suspension apparatus  201  is shown is  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 10 . and is very similar in form and function to the suspension apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7 . However, the said lid-locking assembly  3  in said suspension apparatus  1  is reformed as a physical alternative to the lid-locking assembly  3  as a multitude of lid-locks  260 . The end-stopping device  40 , support plate  30 , tensile member  50 , loop creation device  80  and loop  90  are unchanged in form and function in this second alternative embodiment. The lid-lock  260  consists of a plate-like element with two parallel end surfaces  262  and  264  separated by a perpendicular surface  266  that intersects the said parallel end surfaces  262  and  264  and multiple anchor posts  268  that are fused to the said end surface  264 . The lid-lock  260  is installed as shown in said  FIG. 10  by pressing the multiple anchor posts into the flesh of the jack-o-lantern  10  with anchor posts  268  being pressed into the jack-o-lantern flesh on either side of the lid rim  20  and the jack-o-lantern body rim  14 . The lid-lock  260  restrains the lid  12  from being dislodged from the jack-o-lantern body  10  in the event that destabilizing suspension loads act on the said suspended object  10 . The lid-lock  260  is fabricated of materials that are washable, stiff and corrosion resistant. The preferred material for fabrication of the lid-lock  260  is plastic manufactured by injected molding techniques. 
         [0035]    The present invention has been described in detail specific to the preferred embodiments. The following claims allow for modifications and changes to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.