Patent Publication Number: US-8118157-B1

Title: Firework launching platform apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to firework supporting devices and more particularly pertains to a new firework supporting device for supporting fireworks in an upright manner to ensure they function properly and to allow for easy fuse lighting of the fireworks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the objectives presented above by generally comprising a panel that has a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral edge. The panel has a plurality of apertures therein extending into the top side and outwardly of the bottom side. The apertures receive a body of a firework to support the firework in an upright manner. The apertures include primary apertures and secondary apertures. Each of the primary apertures is positioned adjacent to the peripheral edge of the panel. A plurality of channels is positioned in the bottom side of the panel. The channels each extend through the peripheral edge and into one of the primary apertures. Each of the primary apertures is linked by at least one of the channels to the peripheral edge. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a firework launching platform apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2  of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2  of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective in-use view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new firework supporting device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the firework launching platform apparatus  10  generally comprises a panel  12  that has a top side  14 , a bottom side  16  and a peripheral edge  18 . The panel  12  is comprised of non-flammable material. The panel  12  has a plurality of apertures therein extending into the top side  14  and outwardly of the bottom side  16 . The apertures receive a body of a firework  8  to support the firework  8  in an upright manner. The apertures include primary apertures  20  and secondary apertures  22 . Each of the primary apertures  20  is positioned adjacent to the peripheral edge  18  of the panel  12 . A plurality of channels  24  is positioned in the bottom side  16  of the panel  12 . The channels  24  each extend through the peripheral edge  18  and into one of the primary apertures  20 . Each of the primary apertures  20  is linked by at least one of the channels  24  to the peripheral edge  18 . The channels  24  receive the fuses  9  of the fireworks  8  so that they can be lit outside of and spaced from the peripheral edge  18  of the panel  12 . The secondary apertures  22  are unlinked to the peripheral edge.  18  by any of the channels  24 . 
     The primary apertures  20  include at least two circular apertures  26 . At least one of the circular apertures  26  has a diameter approximately equal to 3.5 inches and at least one of the circular apertures  26  has a diameter equal to about 1.75 inches. At least two regular hexagon apertures  28  are provided. The term regular hexagon is used to denote a hexagon having equal length sides and equal angles formed by adjoining ones of the sides. The hexagon apertures  28  have a different size with respect to each other. At least one of the hexagon apertures  28  has a width equal to approximately 5 inches. A plurality of rectangular apertures  30  is also provided. The rectangular apertures  30  include at least two square shaped apertures. One of the square shaped apertures has a length and width equal to approximately 6 inches. The rectangular apertures  30  each have a different size with respect to each other. Each of the hexagon  28  and rectangular  30  apertures may each include a plurality of channels  24  connected thereto wherein some of the channels  24  go to the corners of the rectangular  30  and hexagon  28  apertures. 
     The secondary apertures  22  include a plurality of circular apertures each having a smaller diameter than the circular apertures  26  of the primary apertures  20 . The secondary apertures  22  each have a diameter less than 1.5 inches and may have a diameter less than 1 inch. The secondary apertures  22  are used for holding bottle rocket  7  type fireworks and the like as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The panel  12  has a plurality of elongated slots  32  therein extending into the top side  14  and outwardly of the bottom side  16 . Each of the slots  32  includes a pair of elongated inner walls  34  and a pair of respectively short end walls  36 . The elongated slots  32  include at least four of the elongated slots that are arranged in an X pattern as in the area denoted “ 38 ” to receive four equally spaced fins of a rocket.  FIG. 1  displays two X-patterns wherein one has a larger size than the other. The elongated slots  32  include at least two of the elongated slots  32  being linearly aligned with each other as in the area denoted “ 40 ”. 
     The peripheral edge  18  includes a first edge  42 , a second edge  44 , a third edge  46  and a fourth edge  48 . The first  42  and second  44  edges are positioned opposite of each other. Each of the channels  24  extends from an associated one of the primary apertures  20  to a closest positioned one of the first  42 , second  44 , third  46  or fourth  48  channels. The panel  12  has a length from the first edge  42  to the second edge  44  greater than 30 inches and a width from the third edge  46  to the fourth edge  48  less than 20 inches. The panel  12  has a height from the top side  14  to the bottom side  16  between 1 inch and 3 inches. 
     In use, a variety of fireworks  8  having different sizes are positioned in the panel  12 . The varying shapes of the primary apertures  20  allows for block and cylinder type containers holding a plurality of fireworks to be supported in the panel  12 . The sizes used for the primary apertures  20  can be chosen to match popular firework containers to ensure a secure fit between the edges of the primary apertures and the firework  8  containers. The channels  24  ensure that the fuses  9  are easily accessible even though a bottom of the fireworks  8  is hidden by the panel  12 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.