Patent Publication Number: US-2003226236-A1

Title: Artificial pumpkin stem assembly and method of attachment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The invention relates to artificial pumpkin stem assemblies and methods for attachment of such assemblies to pumpkins, which do not have natural stems.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The celebration of Halloween is common in the United States and throughout the world. A common problem associated with the ability to sell pumpkins and subsequently carving pumpkins includes having the natural stem of the pumpkin break off. This makes removal of the lid to carve and illuminate the interior of the pumpkin more difficult, and diminishes the value of the pumpkin. Another common problem associated with artificial pumpkin stem assemblies is the manner in which they are affixed to the pumpkin. Previous devices and methods are complicated and do not remain attached to accomplish their intended goals. The use of an artificial stem assembly that would remain in tact and attached to the pumpkin when the stem is grasped would increase the value of the pumpkin, alleviate the problem of lid removal, and allow the pumpkin to be easily prepared for carving.  
       [0003] In addition, an artificial pumpkin stem assembly that includes a toggle fastener for fastening the artificial pumpkin stem blindly to the pumpkin prior to opening the pumpkin for carving would be beneficial. Furthermore, an artificial pumpkin stem assembly that includes a self-boring fastener for drilling a hole in the top of the pumpkin while simultaneously fastening the artificial pumpkin stem blindly to the pumpkin prior to opening the pumpkin for carving would also be advantageous. A further benefit of the present invention is to provide an artificial pumpkin stem assembly that includes a friable threaded fastener, which may be shortened after installation to avoid injury.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to cure those deficiencies outlined above and provide an artificial pumpkin stem assembly and method of attachment that is both safe and economical.  
       [0005] The present invention concerns an artificial pumpkin stem assembly that includes an artificial stem portion and an attachment portion connected thereto. The assembly also includes a fastener portion having a first end connected to the attachment portion and a second end that is connected the pumpkin. The fastener portion may be releasably securable or permanently attached to the attachment portion, depending on the specific use of the assembly. The fastener portion may also include a threaded shaft that has a boring tip formed thereon for boring the threaded shaft into the pumpkin.  
       [0006] To improve the ease of attachment, the threaded shaft may also include a flexible fastener attached to the second end thereof. An aperture may be drilled or otherwise formed in the top of the pumpkin, the flexible fastener collapsed and then placed through the aperture. The shaft may thereafter be threaded into the flexible fastener thereby drawing the flexible fastener up against the inside of the pumpkin for securing the artificial stem assembly in place on the pumpkin. This allows the artificial stem assembly to be attached to the pumpkin in a blind fastening condition so that access to the inside of the pumpkin is not necessary to secure the artificial stem to the pumpkin.  
       [0007] Alternately, the threaded shaft may include a self-boring tip thereon for boring a hole into the pumpkin while simultaneously threading the threaded shaft into the pumpkin. Further the threaded shaft may include a group of friable segments which allow the threaded shaft to be shortened after the shaft is threaded and installed into the pumpkin. The flexible fastener may be deformable for more secure attachment of the artificial stem assembly to the pumpkin.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] Advantages of the present invention will be readily understood, by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a front view of a pumpkin with a top in partial cross-section showing an artificial pumpkin stem assembly of the present invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a front partial cross-sectional view the artificial pumpkin stem assembly of FIG. 1, showing a self-boring fastener being threaded into the pumpkin.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a front partial cross-sectional view of the artificial pumpkin stem assembly of FIG. 1 showing a self-boring fastener in its secured position.  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a front partial cross-sectional view of the artificial pumpkin stem assembly of FIG. 1 showing a flexible fastener being installed into the pumpkin.  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a front partial cross-sectional view of the artificial pumpkin stem assembly of FIG. 1 showing a flexible fastener in its secured position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0014] The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views. Specifically referring to FIG. 1, the artificial pumpkin stem assembly is configured to replace the natural stem of a pumpkin, such as pumpkin  1 , when the natural stem has been lost or otherwise removed. Such an artificial pumpkin stem assembly is particularly valuable when carving a pumpkin as is typical during the Halloween season. The carving process includes opening the pumpkin by cutting the pumpkin shell around the top of the pumpkin at separating line  2 , removing the lid by grasping the stem and cleaning the interior of the pumpkin to prepare the pumpkin for further carving. Further carving may include cutting the pumpkin shell to form openings  3 A and  3 B for eyes, an opening  3 C to form a nose and an opening  4  to form a mouth. Any variety of sizes and shapes of decorative openings may be formed to add uniqueness to the pumpkin for display and artistic purposes.  
     [0015] In the instance where the natural stem of the pumpkin has been removed, it is preferable and advantageous to provide the artificial stem assembly of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 1, an artificial stem  5  is included which has a connector  6  to which shaft  7  is attached on one end. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, shaft  7  includes threads  8  and a tip  9  for penetrating and subsequently making threaded engagement with the top portion of the pumpkin  10 , where the natural stem of the pumpkin has been removed. The shaft  7  may be permanently attached to connector  6  or directly molded into the artificial stem  5 . In the case where connector  6  is preferred, connector  6  may include complementary threads for receiving shaft  7 , thereby allowing the shaft to be removable form the stem and replaceable with another fastener for longevity of, or an alternate, use.  
     [0016] Tip  9  of shaft  7  may be form such that the tip is self-boring and is capable of threading through and maintaining engagement with the top portion  10  of the pumpkin. In addition, the shaft  7  may be comprised of a threaded fastener that has one or more friable portions for shortening the fastener and removing the pointed tip of shaft  7  after engagement with top  10  of pumpkin  1 . An example of such a friable portion  11  is shown in FIG. 1 and provides a safe assembly that eliminates any danger associated with the tip or any other portion of shaft  7  protruding beyond the shell of the pumpkin when the artificial pumpkin stem assembly is installed for use.  
     [0017] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, another embodiment of the artificial pumpkin stem assembly of the present invention is shown with a self-boring toggle fastener  12  to secure the artificial stem  5  to the top  10  of pumpkin  1 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, self-boring fastener  12  includes a shaft  14 , a threaded boring tip  13  and a head portion  15 . In addition, the self-boring toggle fastener includes a threaded central fastener  16  that is engageable with connector  6  for attaching artificial stem  5  to the self-boring toggle fastener  12 . Central fastener  16  may be releasably secured so that the self-boring toggle fastener may be replaced or changed, depending on how the artificial pumpkin stem assembly is to be used in operation. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the self-boring toggle fastener operates by rotating artificial stem  5  clockwise thereby turning head portion  15 , shaft  14  and boring tip  13  to bore a hole in the top  10  of pumpkin  1 . Such rotation causes the self-boring toggle fastener to be threaded into the top  10  of pumpkin  1  and to be further secured by continuing to rotate artificial stem  5  in conjunction with threaded central fastener  16 . This further rotation causes tip  13  to pivot and be pulled up and drawn into position securely against the top  10  of pumpkin  1 . This further movement of tip  13  provides secure placement and positioning of the artificial stem assembly in the top  10  of pumpkin  1 .  
     [0018]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the artificial pumpkin stem assembly of the present invention showing toggle fastener that provides an economical and secure way to attach the artificial stem  5  to the top  10  of pumpkin  1 . In use, a toggle fastener  18  is placed in an aperture  17  to form the engaging surface for the artificial stem  5 . The toggle fastener  18  includes a head portion  19  and one or more flexible arms  20  that are positioned on the interior of the pumpkin  1  to engage the interior shell of the pumpkin to hold the artificial stem assembly in place.  
     [0019] In operation, the toggle fastener is placed through aperture  17  such that arms  20  protrude through the pumpkin shell. Stem  5  is positioned within the channel formed by posts  21  and rotated to thread the central fastener  16  into engagement with arms  20 . Posts  21  include flanges or other protrusions to help secure the toggle fastener  18  in place during the rotation of central fastener  16 . Accordingly, as arms  20  are pushed further into the interior of pumpkin  1  through the further rotation of central fastener  16 , arms  20  pivot outward and expand to more securely hold stem  5  in place. An aperture  22  is formed at the center junction of arms  20 , which forms a pivot point to allow expansion of arms  20  when central fastener  16  is threaded into position to connect stem  5  with toggle fastener  18 .  
     [0020] As may be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a variety of materials may be used to form stem  5  such as plastic, wood, ceramic or similar moldable or castable material, which allows the stem to simulate the appearance of a natural pumpkin stem. Such molding or casting operations may include adding coloring or dye to the material used to form the stem increasing its realistic appearance. In addition, it may be desirable to coat the stem with paint, stain or another type of coloring to achieve the same result.  
     [0021] The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiments of the invention. Numerous alterations of the structure disclosed herein will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiments of the invention, which are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as limitations of the invention. The following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly, as well as in the specific forms shown herein.