Patent Publication Number: US-2010108561-A1

Title: Pumpkin carving kit for carving sexually themed images

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a pumpkin carving kit, and more particularly, to a pumpkin carving kit for carving a sexually themed image onto a pumpkin including at least one pattern defining the sexually themed image. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pumpkin carving is a traditional means of celebrating the Halloween season. In the past, organic pumpkins have been carved by cutting away a portion of the shell near the stem or bottom and removing the strings, seeds and pulp from the interior of the pumpkin. An image is then formed on the exterior surface of the pumpkin using some form of cutting tool, such as pumpkin saw, paring knife, pocket knife or scissors blade. The image may first be transferred to the exterior surface of the pumpkin using a pattern having a cutout portion and a marking tool, such as a pen, marker or wax crayon. Once the image is formed, it may be illuminated by a light source positioned within the pumpkin, such as a candle or artificial light. 
     Some people prefer to carve an organic pumpkin because they enjoy making traditional Halloween treats using the strings, seeds and pulp removed from the interior of the pumpkin. However, most people find removing the strings, seeds and pulp to be time consuming and messy, and end up disposing of the pumpkin interior without utilizing the strings, seeds and pulp. Thus, many people would prefer to carve a pumpkin within a reasonable period of time without having to take additional precautions to protect their clothing and furnishings (e.g. table, desk, countertop, etc.) from the messiness of the contents of the pumpkin interior. 
     As a result, the use of artificial pumpkins having a hollow interior has increased significantly in recent years as suitable materials have been developed for forming a carvable artificial pumpkin. A further advantage is that a carvable artificial pumpkin is recyclable and may be used from year to year with the same or additional carvings. A carvable artificial pumpkin having a hollow interior and a shell made of a polyurethane foam material is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,188 and related patents issued to Chapman, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     When utilized, patterns for transferring an image to a pumpkin have historically been made from thin, flexible paper material that is capable of closely conforming to the irregular contour of the exterior surface of the pumpkin. Pumpkin carving patterns made from paper, however, are frequently weakened and ultimately destroyed by the liquid from the pulp of an organic pumpkin. If used with a carvable artificial pumpkin, oftentimes the delicate paper pattern is damaged by a cutting tool or a marking tool when the cutout portion of the pattern is traced. In other instances, the paper pattern is torn while being removed after being adhered to the exterior surface of the pumpkin. 
     More durable cutting dies, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,175 B1 issued to Brown et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,036 issued to Lani, as well as transfer patterns, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,446 issued to Bardeen and U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,224 issued to Wendler, are available. Cutting dies, however, are cumbersome, typically require a driving tool to impale the cutting die onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin and are inherently limited in complexity. Transfer patterns are similarly cumbersome, require additional expertise to use, and are typically not reusable. 
     For various reasons, the Halloween holiday has evolved from the traditional children&#39;s activity of trick-or-treating wearing costumes having a horror theme into adults wearing fanciful costumes and celebrating with alcoholic beverages and party decorations. Almost all bars, clubs and other drinking establishments feature Halloween events that cater to the heightened expression of sexuality that typically accompanies adults wearing costumes and consuming alcohol. The pumpkin remains the traditional Halloween party decoration. However, existing patterns for transferring an image onto the exterior surface of a pumpkin have not evolved along with the increase in adult-oriented celebrations, and instead, have continued to evoke a horror theme that is more suitable for use with the traditional children&#39;s activities associated with Halloween. As a result, it is difficult for a promoter of an adult-oriented Halloween celebration to locate party decorations, and in particular pumpkins, having a suitable theme. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a pumpkin carving kit for carving an image onto the exterior surface of a pumpkin that is useable with either an organic pumpkin or a carvable artificial pumpkin. There exists a further need for a pumpkin carving kit including a pattern for transferring an image to a pumpkin that is both durable and reusable, while closely conforming to the exterior surface of the pumpkin. There exists a further, and more particular, need for a pumpkin carving kit including a pattern for transferring an image having a theme suitable for an adult-oriented Halloween celebration onto the exterior surface of a pumpkin. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned disadvantages are overcome by, and the above needs, objectives and advantages, as well as others that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, are provided by a pumpkin carving kit according to the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a pumpkin carving kit including at least one pattern formed from a relatively thin, relatively flexible and relatively non-porous material that is substantially impervious to moisture. The at least one pattern includes at least one cutout portion comprising a plurality of edges. The kit further includes a marking tool for marking an outline of the edges of the at least one cutout portion of the pattern onto an exterior surface of a pumpkin. The kit further includes at least one cutting tool for carving the outline of the at least one cutout portion onto the pumpkin. The kit further includes an illumination source adapted to be positioned within the pumpkin for illuminating the cutout portion when the pumpkin is viewed from an external perspective. 
     In one aspect, the pumpkin is a carvable artificial pumpkin defining a generally hollow interior. The carvable artificial pumpkin may be formed from a polyurethane foam material having a nominal density of between about 2.5 and about 3.0 pounds per cubic foot. In addition, the exterior surface of the carvable artificial pumpkin may include a relatively thin coating formed from an acrylic elastomer. 
     In another aspect, the pumpkin may be an organic pumpkin including a shell having strings, seeds and pulp disposed within the shell and the kit may further include a scoop for removing the strings, seeds, and pulp from within the shell to form a generally hollow interior. 
     In yet another aspect, the at least one pattern is formed from a relatively thin plastic sheet. The plastic sheet may be selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane, polypropylene and Mylar®. The at least one cutout of the at least one pattern preferably defines a sexually themed image. 
     In yet another aspect, the illumination source includes a housing, a light emitting diode (LED), a curved reflector surface and a power source. The power source may be at least one battery. The illumination source may further include at least one anchor for securing the housing to the pumpkin. 
     In still another aspect, the at least one cutting tool is selected from the group consisting of a piercing tool, a rough-cut tool and a fine-cut tool. The at least one cutting tool preferably includes one or more of a piercing tool, a rough-cut tool and a fine-cut tool. The at least one cutting tool may include a cutting portion and a handle portion that defines a sexually themed contour. The sexually themed contour may depict human anatomy. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the present invention provides a novelty pumpkin carving kit for carving a sexually themed image onto a pumpkin. The kit includes a carvable artificial pumpkin formed from a polyurethane foam material. The kit further includes at least one pattern formed from a relatively thin, relatively flexible and relatively non-porous material that is substantially impervious to moisture, the at least one pattern including at least one cutout portion comprising a plurality of edges that define the sexually themed image. The kit further includes a marking tool for marking an outline of the edges of the at least one cutout portion of the pattern onto an exterior surface of a generally hollow pumpkin. The kit further includes at least one cutting tool for carving the outline of the at least one cutout portion onto the pumpkin, the at least one cutting tool comprising a cutting portion and a handle portion that defines a sexually themed contour. The kit further includes an illumination source adapted to be positioned within the pumpkin for illuminating the sexually themed image when the pumpkin is viewed from an external perspective. The kit further includes a generally hollow, box-like container for storing the carvable artificial pumpkin, the at least one pattern, the marking tool, the at least one cutting tool and the illumination source. At least one exterior surface of the container includes printed indicia illustrating the sexually themed image. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carving a sexually themed image onto a pumpkin. The method includes providing a pumpkin having an exterior surface and defining a generally hollow interior, a pattern including at least one cutout portion comprising a plurality of edges that define the sexually themed image, a marking tool for marking an outline of the edges of the at least one cutout portion of the pattern onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin, and a cutting tool for carving the outline of the at least one cutout portion onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin. The method further includes placing the pattern against the exterior surface of the pumpkin and using the marking tool to trace an outline of the plurality of edges of the cutout portion that define the sexually themed image onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin. The method further includes using the cutting tool to carve the outline of the sexually themed image onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A pumpkin carving kit according to the present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a pumpkin having a sexually themed image carved onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the contents of a pumpkin carving kit according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing a typical pattern of the pumpkin carving kit of  FIG. 2  wherein the pattern includes a cutout portion having a plurality of edges defining a sexually themed image. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view showing a typical plurality of cutting tools of the pumpkin carving kit of  FIG. 2  wherein at least one of the cutting tools includes a cutting portion and a handle portion defining a sexually themed contour. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawing figures wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a pumpkin, indicated generally at  20 , having a sexually themed image  12  carved onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin. The sexually themed image  12  is carved onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20  using a pumpkin carving kit, indicated generally at  10  in  FIG. 2 , according to the present invention, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The pumpkin  20  has a generally hollow interior  14  and may have an opening  16  formed through the bottom for accessing the hollow interior. As shown, an illumination source  70  to be described in greater detail hereinafter is positioned within the interior  14  of the pumpkin  20  to illuminate the sexually themed image  12  from an exterior perspective. As a result, the details of the sexually themed image  12  are enhanced relative to the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 . The illumination source may comprise at least one tab, projection or anchor  76 , as necessary for affixing the illumination source to the pumpkin  20 . Alternatively, the illumination source may be positioned within the interior  14  of the pumpkin  20  with the pumpkin merely placed over the illumination source. 
     The pumpkin  20  may be a conventional organic pumpkin or may be a carvable artificial pumpkin. In the former instance, the organic pumpkin is carved in a known manner by cutting the opening  16  through the shell on the bottom of the pumpkin  20  and removing the strings, seeds and pulp from the interior  14  using the scoop  30  provided with the pumpkin carving kit  10  depicted in  FIG. 2 . The scoop  30  may be any instrument or tool suitable for removing the strings, seeds and pulp from the interior  14  of the pumpkin  20 . As shown, the scoop  30  is a conventional shovel-like scoop comprising a bowl portion  32  at one end, a handle portion  34  at the opposite end and a cutting portion  36  disposed along the forward edge of the bowl portion, and is used in a well known manner to remove the internal contents of the pumpkin  20 . The sexually themed image  12  is then formed on the exterior surface of the pumpkin using the at least one pattern  40 , the marking tool  50  and the at least one cutting tool  60  of the kit  10 , in the manner to be described hereinafter. Once the image  12  has been formed, the illumination source  70  of the kit  10  is positioned within the interior  14  of the pumpkin  20  to illuminate sexually themed image  12  from an external perspective. 
     In the latter instance, a carvable artificial pumpkin is included with the kit  10 . The pumpkin  20  may be any commercially available artificial pumpkin made of a material that is carvable using the type of cutting blades on the cutting tools  60  that are provided with the kit  10 . For example, but without limitation, the pumpkin  20  may be a carvable artificial pumpkin of the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,188 and related patents issued to Chapman. Accordingly, the pumpkin  20  may be a carvable artificial pumpkin defining a generally hollow interior  14  that is formed from a polyurethane foam material having a nominal density of between about 2.5 and about 3.0 pounds per cubic foot. Furthermore, the carvable artificial pumpkin  20  may comprise a relatively thin coating formed from an acrylic elastomer to form the exterior surface. 
       FIG. 2  shows the contents of the pumpkin carving kit  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, the pumpkin carving kit  10  comprises at least one pattern  40 , a marking tool  50 , at least one cutting tool  60  and an illumination source  70 . The at least one pattern  40  is formed from a relatively thin, relatively flexible and relatively non-porous material that is substantially impervious to moisture. As shown, the at least one pattern  40  comprises two patterns  42 ,  44  each configured for forming a different sexually themed image  12  onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 . However, the pumpkin carving kit  10  may include any number of patterns and the patterns may or may not form a sexually themed image  12 . For example, the pumpkin carving kit  10  may comprise patterns  40  consisting of a variety of different patterns having a sexual theme, other theme (e.g., horror theme; traditional Halloween costume theme; etc) or a combination of sexual theme and other theme patterns. 
       FIG. 3  shows a typical pattern  42  that may be included in the pumpkin carving kit  10  in greater detail. The pattern  42  comprises a thin plastic film or plastic sheet  46  that is relatively thin, relatively flexible and relatively non-porous so as to be substantially impervious to moisture. The sheet  46  is preferably made of a plastic material so as to be durable and reusable. The sheet  46  is preferably thin and flexible so as to conform to the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 , whether the pumpkin is organic, and thus relatively irregular in contour, or artificial, and thus relatively regular in contour. The sheet  46  is preferably non-porous and impervious to moisture to prevent the pulp of an organic pumpkin  20  from damaging or destroying the pattern  42 . By way of example and not limitation, the material of the plastic sheet  46  is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane, polypropylene and Mylar®. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the plastic sheet  46  is formed of a substantially translucent Mylar® material having a thickness of between about 0.10 inches (0.0025 mm) and about 0.25 inches (0.0635 mm). Mylar® is a registered trademark owned by Dupont Tejjin Films for a specific family of plastic products made from the resin polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     Regardless, the pattern  42  further comprises at least one cutout portion  48  having a plurality of edges  49  that define the sexually themed image  12 . The edges  49  of the cutout portion  48  of the pattern  42  shown in  FIG. 3  define a giant-sized martini glass, indicated generally at  43 , and a woman reclining in the giant-sized martini glass while holding a conventional-sized martini glass, indicated generally at  45 . However, as previously mentioned, the pattern  42  is but one example of any number of possible sexually themed images  12  that may be included with the pumpkin carving kit  10 . 
     The marking tool  50  may comprise any conventional instrument or tool for marking an outline of the edges  49  of the at least one cutout portion  48  of the at least one pattern  40  on the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 . By way of example and without limitation, the marking tool  50  may be a pen, marker or any other device suitable for visually indicating the edges  49  (i.e. the contour of the cutout portion  48 ) on the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 . In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the marking tool  50  is a wax crayon so that the residual visual indications of the contour of the cutout portion  48  can be removed from the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20  once the image  12  has been carved. 
     The at least one cutting tool  60  may comprise any conventional instrument or tool suitable for carving the outline of the at least one cutout portion  48  of the at least one pattern  40  onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 . By way of example and without limitation, the at least one cutting tool  60  may comprise a plurality of cutting tools selected from the group consisting of a piercing tool, a rough-cut tool and a fine-cut tool. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the at least one cutting tool  60  of the pumpkin carving kit  10  comprises one or more of a piercing tool  62 , a rough-cut tool  65  and a fine-cut tool  68 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a typical plurality of cutting tools  60  that may be included with the pumpkin carving kit  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the plurality of cutting tools  60  comprises a cutting portion and a handle portion defining a sexually themed contour. As shown, the piercing tool  62  comprises a cutting portion  61  for piercing a hole through the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20  to the hollow interior  14  and a handle portion  63  defining a contour having a sexual theme. Likewise, the rough-cut tool  65  comprises a cutting portion  64  for making rough cuts through the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20  to the hollow interior  14  and a handle portion  66  defining a contour having a sexual theme. The fine-cut tool  68  comprises a cutting portion  67  for making fine cuts through the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20  to the hollow interior  14  and a handle portion  69  defining a contour. The contour of the handle portion  69  does not have a sexual theme, but may have a sexual theme if desired. As shown herein, the sexually themed contours defined by the handle portions  63 ,  66  depict human anatomy. However, the contour(s) of the handle portion(s) may or may not have a sexual theme. For example, the pumpkin carving kit  10  may comprise handle portions  63 ,  66  defining a variety of different contours that have a sexual theme, other theme (e.g., horror theme; traditional Halloween costume theme; etc) or a combination of sexual theme and other theme handle portions. 
     The illumination source  70  may comprise any conventional instrument or device for producing visual light and projecting the light outwardly from the illumination source. By way of example and without limitation, the illumination source may comprise a housing  71 , at least one light emitting diode (LED)  72 , a curved reflector surface  74 , and a power source  75 . In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the reflector surface  74  has a concave curvature and the at least one LED  72  is located at the lowest point of the reflector surface. Furthermore, the housing is sized to receive the power source  75  consisting of at least one conventional battery and a pair of lead wires forming an electrical circuit with the at least one LED. As previously mentioned, the illumination source  70  may further comprise one or more tabs, projections or anchors  76  for affixing the illumination source to the pumpkin  20 . In this manner, the illumination source  70  may be affixed to any portion of the pumpkin  20  as desired, including the side, top or bottom of the pumpkin. 
     In another embodiment, a pumpkin carving kit  10  kit according to the present invention comprises a carvable artificial pumpkin  20 , at least one pattern  40 , a marking tool  50 , at least one cutting tool  60  and an illumination source  70  essentially as previously described in all relevant respects. In addition, the pumpkin carving kit  10  comprises a generally hollow, box-like container  80  for storing the carvable artificial pumpkin  20 , the at least one pattern  40 , the marking tool  50 , the at least one cutting tool  60  and the illumination source  70 . Furthermore, at least one exterior surface of the container  80  includes printed indicia thereon comprising a sexually themed image  82 . 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of carving a sexually themed image  12  onto a pumpkin  20  according to the present invention includes providing a pumpkin having an exterior surface and defining a generally hollow interior  14 , a pattern  40  including at least one cutout portion  48  comprising a plurality of edges  49  that define the sexually themed image, a marking tool  50  for marking an outline of the edges of the at least one cutout portion of the pattern onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin, and a cutting tool  60  for carving the outline of the at least one cutout portion onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin. The method further includes placing the pattern  40  against the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20  and using the marking tool  50  to trace an outline of the plurality of edges  49  of the cutout portion  48  that define the sexually themed image  12  onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 . The method further includes using the cutting tool  60  to carve the outline of the sexually themed image  12  onto the exterior surface of the pumpkin  20 . In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the method further includes providing an illumination source  70  and positioning the illumination source within the generally hollow interior  14  of the pumpkin  20  such that the sexually themed image  12  is more clearly viewable from an external perspective. 
     The foregoing has described exemplary embodiments of a pumpkin carving kit for carving a sexually themed image onto the exterior surface of a pumpkin. The pumpkin may be an organic pumpkin or an a carvable artificial pumpkin formed from a polyurethane foam material having a nominal density of between about 2.5 and about 3.0 pounds per cubic foot. Furthermore, the pumpkin carving kit comprises at least one durable, yet flexible pattern including at least one cutout portion having a plurality of edges that define a sexually themed image. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.