Patent Publication Number: US-9839316-B2

Title: Ornament

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 62/129,227 filed on Mar. 6, 2015 and entitled “Ornament.” 
    
    
     Embodiments of ornaments described herein may be capable of opening and closing, storing items inside the ornament and may contain a scroll or other paper inside the ornament for recording information. Certain features regarding the ability to record notes in the ornament have particular utility associated with New Year&#39;s resolutions such as the recording of New Year&#39;s resolutions in the ornament which may be stored and reviewed on a year-to-year basis. 
     The scroll inside certain embodiments may be attached to a mechanism that lets a user scroll forward to review past entries and to record new entries. Such review and recording may occur on a year to year basis. There may be four notches in the support pieces that extend under a flat platform inside the ornament. This allows the two long rods to be inserted into place. On one end of each rod is a flat round piece to secure it in place within the support pieces beneath the platform. On the other end of each rod a knob piece may be positioned to allow the paper to scroll across the platform while the scrolls rotate in place within the support pieces when those knobs are turned by a user. There is a slit in each rod for the paper scroll to be inserted and attached. The roll of paper may attach to one rod and may cross over the flat platform returning to the other side of the platform and attaching to the second rod. This enables the platform to be used for writing the resolutions. The scrolls with knobs allow the paper to be moved forward as the paper is inscribed upon. The whole platform may be removed as one piece with the rods and paper attached in place. When a user is ready to begin writing resolutions for the next year, he or she may take the platform piece out by simply lifting it out and turning the scroll forward by turning one of the knobs attached to the rods. 
     The flat platform with knobs attached below allows the paper to roll over the platform. The scroll configuration also allows for small items to be placed inside as a unique way to present a gift on top of the scroll paper. The platform sits on a lip that acts as a ledge for the platform so that it may remain level. The paper scrolled over the platform or items sitting on the platform have a level surface that allows items to be showcased when the top of the ornament is removed. 
     The twist off top of the ornament is designed with a self-locking notch. This enables the ornament to be tightly secured when closed. If the ornament is used to hold a small item of reasonable weight the ornament will not separate or come undone when hanging on a Christmas tree. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view the underside of an ornament bottom piece. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an outside plan view of the ornament bottom piece. 
         FIG. 3  depicts an elevation view of the ornament bottom piece. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an inside plan view of the ornament bottom piece. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a plan view of the platform of the recording apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of the scroll attaching side of the recording apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a plan view of the scroll attaching side of the recording apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  depicts an elevation view of the recording apparatus. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a side elevation view of the recording apparatus rotated 90°. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a perspective view of the ornament top. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a plan view of the ornament top from the top. 
         FIG. 12  depicts a side elevation view of the ornament top. 
         FIG. 13  depicts a perspective view of the scroll cap. 
         FIG. 14  depicts an underside plan view of the scroll cap. 
         FIG. 15  depicts a side elevation view of the scroll cap. 
         FIG. 16  depicts a side elevation view of the scroll post. 
         FIG. 17  depicts a perspective view of the scroll post. 
         FIG. 18  depicts a top view of the scroll post. 
         FIG. 19  depicts an elevation view of the scroll post. 
         FIG. 20  depicts a plan view of the scroll attaching side of the recording apparatus with paper. 
         FIG. 21  depicts an elevation view of the recording apparatus with paper. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example 1 
     Ornament  50  may have Ornament bottom  100 , a Recording apparatus  200 , and an Ornament top  300 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , Ornament bottom  100  may have an Ornament bottom rim  110 , an Ornament bottom exterior surface  106 , an Ornament bottom interior surface  113 , Ornament bottom ledge  120 , Ornament bottom ledge resting surface  123 , Ornament bottom cavity  130 , Ornament bottom sealing surface  136 , Ornament tab entry slot  138  and Ornament tab locked position slot  140 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-9  of the drawings, Recording apparatus  200  may have two Scroll support pieces  203  and a Platform  220 . Platform  220  may have a Platform writing surface  226 , platform straight edges  228 , and Platform rounded edges  230 . Scroll support pieces  203  may have Open slots  206 , Post holes  208 , Standing edges  210 , and Scroll support rounded edges  216 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10-12  of the drawings, Ornament top  300  may have an Ornament top rim  310 , an Ornament top exterior surface  316 , an Ornament hook attachment portion  320 , a Locking tab  326 , an Ornament top sealing surface  328 , an Ornament top cavity  330 , and an Ornament attachment guide  336 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13-15  of the drawings, Scroll cap  270  may have a Scroll cap exterior surface  273  and a Scroll cap interior surface  278 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16-19  of the drawings, Scroll post  250  may have a Scroll post head  253 , a Scroll post shaft  256 , a Paper attachment slot  260 , and a Scroll post cap end  263 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 20 and 21  of the drawings, Recording apparatus  200 , Scroll support pieces  203 , Platform  220 , Platform writing surface  226 , Platform straight edges  228 , Platform rounded edges  230 , Standing edges  210 , Scroll support rounded edges  216  and Scroll post  250  may be configured and cooperate as previously described. Paper  350  may stretch from Scroll post  250  to the other Scroll post  250  over Platform writing surface  226  such that there is Paper in the display position  353  and Paper not in the display position  356 . 
     Paper may be wrapped around Recording apparatus  200  and over Platform writing surface  226  such that the paper creates a flat and suitable writing surface for recording information such as a New Year&#39;s resolution. In such a configuration, either of Scroll post  250  may be rotated such that the paper is pulled across Platform writing surface  226  revealing either new blank paper or paper with previously recorded information depending on which of Scroll post  250  is rotated. Recording apparatus  200  may rest stably on a flat surface, such as a table, such that writing may be accomplished on paper because Standing edges  210  are flat and oriented to enable writing on the paper that is drawn over Platform writing surface  226 . Also, Standing edges  210 , Platform  220 , Scroll support rounded edges  216 , Platform writing surface  226 , platform straight edges  228 , and Platform rounded edges  230  are all configured such that they fit into Ornament bottom cavity  130 . Further, Platform  220  may be stably supported within Ornament bottom cavity  130  such that writing on the paper of Recording apparatus  200  may be accomplished with Recording apparatus  200  stably supported by Ornament bottom  100 . Such stable support is accomplished by Platform rounded edges  230  resting on Ornament bottom ledge resting surface  123 . This stable support of Recording apparatus  200  within Ornament bottom  100  allows a user of the ornament to hold Ornament bottom  100  with Recording apparatus  200  inside of Ornament bottom  100  such that Recording apparatus  200  is stably supported and Recording apparatus  200  experiences very little movement relative to Ornament bottom  100 . The total translational movement of Recording apparatus  200  relative to Ornament bottom  100  in such a configuration may be less than 0.2 inches. When Recording apparatus  200  is in Ornament bottom  100 , Ornament bottom  100  may be held by the user in one hand while the user writes on the paper with the other hand. 
     Recording apparatus  200  may be assembled by sliding two Scroll posts  250  through the four Post holes  208  such that they run parallel to platform straight edges  228 . Next, a Scroll cap  270  may be fixed on the end of each of Scroll posts  250  such that they are substantially fixed within Post holes  208 . Then a long sheet of paper sized to fit within Paper attachment slot  260  may be run through Paper attachment slot  260  and may be attached to Scroll post  250  by either rolling and friction fit or by tape. Paper may then be scrolled onto Scroll post  250  thereby creating a roll of paper. The opposite end of the paper may then be run over Platform  220  and Platform writing surface  226 . Paper would then be attached to the opposite Scroll post  250  in a manner similar to the attachment to the other Scroll post  250 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, Scroll post  250  and Scroll cap  270  may be molded as a single piece such that the assembly of Recording apparatus  200  is in part accomplished by sliding two Scroll posts  250  with integral Scroll caps  270  through Open slots  206  and into Post holes  208 . In another embodiment, a Scroll post head  253  could be located at either end or both ends of Scroll post  250 . In still further embodiments, other types of handles may be employed as alternates to Scroll post head  253  including various knobs and handle components. 
     Ornament bottom  100  may be attached to Ornament top  300  by a twist lock action that cooperatively engages Locking tab  326  within Ornament tab entry slot  138  and ultimately within Ornament tab locked position slot  140  such that Ornament bottom rim  110  becomes flush with Ornament top rim  310 . Recording apparatus  200  is located within Ornament bottom  100  such that when Ornament  50  is closed both Locking tab  326  and Platform  220  are in contact with Ornament bottom ledge resting surface  123 . This configuration is made possible by the fact that Platform rounded edges  230  do not completely surround Platform  220 . Accordingly, when Recording apparatus  200  is within Ornament  50  and Ornament  50  is in the closed position, Locking tabs  326  would be located adjacent to platform straight edges  228 . Because of the twist lock configuration of Ornament  50 , Ornament  50  may securely hold the weight of its contents including both Recording apparatus  200  and an optional additional item which may be located within Ornament top cavity  330 . 
     Additional Examples 
     Ornaments described herein may, for example comprise an ornament body; a quantity of paper within the ornament body and a support configured to hold the first section of the quantity of paper wherein the support and the quantity of paper may be configured such that the first section can travel and transition through a display position, wherein the ornament is sized and configured to hang from a tree and wherein the quantity of paper is configured to transition through the display position by way of a scrolling action. The ornament body may for example take the form of Ornament bottom  100  and Ornament top  300 ; however, many alternate configurations such as cubes, or various holiday shapes may be employed. The ornament body may take a number of forms that either hold or contain the recording components described herein. Recording apparatus  200  as depicted in  FIGS. 5-9  is an example of a support usable with the paper as part of the ornament. Other such supports may have writing surfaces or other features that facilitate the recording of information on paper. Configurations of supports resembling a table platform or other similar form may be used in various configurations and embodiments. As indicated above, various portions of paper within the ornament may be called out as sections. Such sections may be written upon by a user in a way that allows a user of the ornament to move between sections such as a first section and a second section in a manner that allows the display of the first section while the second section is hidden, then allows for movement of the paper in a way that hides the first section and brings the second section into view. Display positions may include areas of the ornament that are suited for viewing of the paper. Platform  220  is an example of a display position, but many alternate configurations may be employed as the paper could be oriented in a variety of different ways and the display position need not necessarily be out of view when the ornament is closed. For example, the ornament may not completely conceal the paper when the ornament is hung from a tree as an ornament such as hanging from a Christmas tree. Paper may be moved in a scrolling action for example by turning a Scroll post head  253  to move the paper along Platform  220 . In a related example, the quantity of paper may be at least 10 square inches of paper. In another related example, the paper may have a width of at least one inch and in certain cases may have a width of at least 1.5 inches. In a related example, the ornament may have a paper retention area sized and configured to hold a major fraction of the quantity of paper wherein the major fraction is not in the display position. The paper retention area may for example may be the area beneath Recording apparatus  200  where the scrolls may be placed. Alternatively, any number of clips, pins, compartments or other means of retaining paper may be used. The paper retention area in many cases would be out of view, but need not be out of view. The paper retention area may serve to hold portions of the paper that are not currently the focus of attention or are not currently on display. As used herein, the major fraction of paper designates a majority of the paper and in many cases the major fraction of paper is several times the amount of paper on display. In a related example, the paper retention area may be configured to hold all of the quantity of paper over a period of time. In the embodiment depicted in Example 1, the paper moves back and forth by scrolling action such that over a period of time in which the paper is moved in a significant way, the entire quantity of paper may be at one time or another located in the paper retention area. In a related example, the support may have a display platform, the support may be removable from the ornament body and the display platform may be secured within an enclosure formed by the ornament body. The enclosure may, for example, be greater than two inches across. As a further example, the enclosure may be less than three inches across. The display platform may, for example, be Platform  220  as described in Example 1. Alternatively, the platform could be formed in a number of shapes including square and rectangle and could take on any number of orientations including a vertical orientation and various orientations between horizontal and vertical. 
     Ornaments described herein may, for example comprise an ornament body; a quantity of paper wherein the quantity of paper is sufficient to comprise a series of independent message sections, wherein the series of independent message sections includes a first portion in a display position and wherein the series of independent message sections includes a second portion that is not in the display position; and a support configured to hold the first portion; wherein the second portion is several times the size of the first portion, wherein the ornament body forms a releaseably closable enclosure, wherein the ornament body is configured to close securely and wherein the quantity of paper is within the releaseably closable enclosure. The series of independent message sections may be sections of the paper that do not overlap and those sections may move into and out of the display area. In a related example, the second portion may be inaccessible from outside of the ornament body when the releaseably closable enclosure is closed and wherein the second portion is protected from light when the releaseably closable enclosure is closed. In a further related example, the quantity of paper may be at least 10 square inches of paper. In a still further related example, the quantity of paper may be configured to transition through the display position by way of a scrolling action. 
     Ornaments described herein may, for example comprise an ornament body; a quantity of paper wherein the quantity of paper is sufficient to comprise a series of independent message sections, wherein the series of independent message sections includes a first portion in a display position and wherein the series of independent message sections includes a second portion that is not in the display position; and a support configured to hold the first portion wherein the support comprises a display platform, wherein the display position is on the display platform and wherein the display platform comprises a hard flat surface suitable for writing on the quantity of paper. The hard flat surface may, for example be the top of Platform  220 . The platform may, for example, be greater than two inches wide. In certain embodiments, the hard flat surface has a top surface area greater than three square inches. In a related example, the support may be removable from the ornament body, wherein the ornament body forms a releaseably closable enclosure and wherein the display platform can be secured within the releaseably closable enclosure. The locking mechanism including Locking tabs  326  is an example of a releaseably closable enclosure and many other mechanical fasteners and locking mechanisms may be used for that purpose. In a related example, a paper retention area may be sized and configured to hold a major fraction of the quantity of paper wherein the major fraction is not in the display position; wherein the quantity of paper is at least 10 square inches of paper; wherein the paper retention area is configured to hold all of the quantity of paper over a period of time; wherein the second portion is inaccessible from outside of the ornament body when the releaseably closable enclosure is closed; wherein the second portion is protected from light when the releaseably closable enclosure is closed and wherein the quantity of paper is configured to transition through the display position by way of a scrolling action. In a related example, the support may be separable from the ornament body and the support may be configured to rest stably on a flat level surface in a manner suitable for writing on the quantity of paper. In a related example, the ornament may have a paper retention area sized and configured to hold a major fraction of the quantity of paper wherein the major fraction is not on the display platform. In a further related example, the paper retention area may be configured to hold all of the quantity of paper over a period of time. In a related example, a width of the ornament body may be less than 5 inches and the height of the ornament body may be less than 8 inches. In a still further related example, the quantity of paper may be configured to transition between the series of independent message sections by way of a scrolling action. 
     The above-described embodiments have a number of independently useful individual features that have particular utility when used in combination with one another including combinations of features from embodiments described separately. There are, of course, other alternate embodiments which are obvious from the foregoing descriptions of the invention, which are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.