Patent Publication Number: US-2016220914-A1

Title: Snowman making device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 13/872,535, filed Apr. 29, 2013 which is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 13/419,119, filed Mar. 13, 2012. The entire specification, claims and drawings of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 13/872,535 are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of winter recreation and more specifically to devices and methods for the construction of snowmen and similar snow constructions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typical construction techniques for the making of snowman involve the forming of large, spherical masses of snow. These snow spheres are used to form the lower and middle parts of the snowman body with a smaller sphere formed for the head. To build a snowman of roughly human size takes considerable time and requires the lifting of at least one fairly heavy sphere on to the upper surface of a base sphere. Such an effort may be too strenuous for the small children usually interested in snowmen, thus requiring adult assistance. The present invention addresses this problem and also provides additional benefits. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,531, issued to Asperas, discloses a building component for facilitating the construction of snow boulders that can be used for making snow men or women. The construction component is snow spheres with an adhesive surface that can be provided as a single piece or constructed from components like hemispheres that can be assembled to form a sphere. The adhesive surface can have holes, nodules, bumpers, impressions or dimples that grip and hold snow as the sphere is being rolled on a snow surface. The resulting boulder that is formed by rolling the sphere in the snow is lighter than a solid snow boulder and it lasts longer as the weather warms. The spheres may be made out of plastic, graphite or other composite, fiberglass, aluminum or any other metal. An alternate embodiment is a blow-up beach ball or balloon that provides for easier stocking, shipping and storing when not in use. The boulder applies snow clumps to the adhesive surface and then rolls the snow sphere to create a large snow boulder that is lighter in weight than the normal snow boulder. A snow sphere with adhesion surface can be made of lightweight material but can have support and strength supplied by Styrofoam, graphite or other lightweight materials. The lightweight materials may either fill the interior or be arranged to leave spaces such as in a baffled, corrugated, or matrix arrangement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,887, issued to Mulhern is directed to a snow sphere for making various objects out of snow and particularly for forming into the appearance of a typical snowman. The snow sphere is comprised of an elongate flat sheet of flexible material having slots cut out along its length and tabs cut out or affixed at one end. The flat sheet is preferably easily rolled up and stored when not in use. It can be made of plastics such as vinyl, polyethylene, and natural rubber as well as synthetic elastomers. In use the tabs are engaged into a selected group of slots forming the desired diameter. Snow is shoveled or otherwise placed into the snow sphere. Once filled, the sphere can be released by simply pulling out the tabs from the slots. For the typical snowman, three diameters are constructed with the largest at the base and the smallest at the top for the head. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D384,960, issued to Kistler illustrates an ornamental design for a snow sphere. The design is shown as three circular spheres with the largest used for the base, the smallest for the head and the middle for the upper body. The spheres are barrel shaped and split in two with the two halves possibly hinged together and held closed by a pair of latches. The center sphere is shown with three short cylindrical members fastened to the inside wall of the sphere apparently providing a place for buttons to be installed after the sphere is removed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D375,964, issued to Poubouridis discloses an ornamental design for a snowman sphere. The design is shown as three separate spheres that can be set one on top of the other. Each sphere is split into two halves and hinged together with a means to keep the halves together and aligned when closed. The first sphere base is the largest and the smallest is for the head. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,279, issued to Rossi is directed to a multi-sectional interlocked snow sphere. The sphere includes a bottom section, intermediate section and a top section. The three spheres are in the form of a truncated spheroid with the two smaller ones having sections provided with a downwardly depending annular stud flange adapted to engage the top opening of the section below it. Each sphere is subdivided along vertical joints into halves that are hemispheroidal. The halves are provided with a suitable vertical edge-to-edge inter-engaging means which are rapidly attached or detached from each other. Opposite the edge-to-edge inter-engaging means are snap fasteners. The sphere sections can be made with sheet metal but preferably they are made from a synthetic plastic material as by sphering or forming from sheets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,838, issued to Chen discloses decorative lighting for outdoors that can include a cover shown as a snowman&#39;s head that is illuminated by placing it over the top of a pole that has one or more LEDs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,391, issued to Cheng is directed to an outdoor decorative light system that includes a plurality of bulb assemblies and attendant wiring and a support member. Typically the decorative light system can provide decoration for gifts, candy canes, Santa Claus, snowman, reindeer, Christmas trees, north pole, elf, manger, cross, ornament, sled, holly, bells, stockings, star, candles, sack of gifts, wreath, mistletoe, and the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,106 to Bonet Sirera describes an apparatus for sphering tubular members of fibrous cement, which comprises a two part sphere including a foraminous casing and an expansible core structure; means rotatably supporting at least one of said sphere parts, and means for expanding and contracting said core to compress and express moisture from the cement and then release the compressed cement, said core structure including a flexible sleeve surrounding a foraminous core having longitudinal external ribs. 
     United States Patent Application Publication 20110277310 to Washburn describes a simple and easy to make snowman with a limited amount of snow. The system does not require the lifting of heavy snow balls, typically used in the making of a snowman, and provides for small children to be able to handle the snow without adult help. Further, this invention provides a quick and affective decorating system which can be reused and positioned securely anywhere on the figure. 
     United States Patent Application Publication 20100068967 to Hume describes an apparatus including at least three 3-dimensional shapes, a first one of the 3-dimensional shapes being rotatably supported within a second one of the 3-dimensional shapes, the second one of the 3-dimensional shapes being rotatably supported within a third one of the 3-dimensional shapes, at least one of the 3-dimensional shapes including an opening capable of connecting at least one of the shapes to another one of the shapes. 
     United States Patent Application Publication 20080094839 to Pan describes a patterned ornament having lighting figures, which includes a transparent shell and inner lighting means. The inner surface of the ornament is provided with specific inclined or curved planes to reflect light ray to form specific virtual image shown on the ornament. The patterned ornament thus obtains beautiful outlook and increases decorative effect. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a snowman making device and method that will allow large snowmen to be constructed quickly and easily. It is a further objective to provide such a device that will provide a snowman of traditional appearance that is light in weight and easily movable. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a snowman making device and method of construction that can be safely and easily used by young children. It is yet a further objective to provide such a device that can be easily cleaned, maintained and stored. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a snowman making device that is durable, inexpensive and simple to use. 
     While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified. Development of a snow man making device which can be assembled quickly and easily without requiring great height or strength represents a great improvement in the field of recreation and satisfies a long felt need of parents and children. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art snowman making device inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above. 
     A snowman making device providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A plurality of hollow spheres is provided. Each of the spheres has an outer sphere and an inner sphere, and may be formed of resilient material. The outer and inner spheres are penetrated by a number of openings. The inner sphere is fixed inside the outer sphere and spaced from the outer sphere by a distance. When rolled in snow, snow penetrates through the openings and collects between the outer sphere and the inner sphere, inside the inner sphere and upon an outer surface of the outer sphere. The snow on the outer surface will be kept in place by virtue of its penetration of the openings. Since the snow will not be packed tightly within the sphere, a light weight snow sphere is formed. If three sizes of spheres are provided, the resulting snow spheres can be stacked upon each other to make a snowman. 
     In a variant of the invention, the inner and outer spheres are each formed as first and second joinable hemispheres. 
     In a further variant, the joinable first and second hemispheres are attached to each other with a latching mechanism. 
     In still another variant, the latching mechanism includes at least one hinge which has a removable pin. 
     In yet another variant, the latching mechanism includes at least one pair of male and matching female snap connectors. 
     In a further variant, the inner sphere is removably attached to the outer sphere, thereby allowing stacking of the hemispheres. 
     In yet a further variant, at least one section of the outer surface of the outer sphere is flattened to assist in stacking of the snow spheres. 
     In still a further variant, at least one part of the outer surface of the outer sphere includes a connector. The connector permits attachment of a first outer sphere to a second outer sphere. 
     In another variant of the invention, electric lighting is mounted within at least one of the spheres. 
     In still another variant, at least one mounting device is provided. The mounting device is located upon the outer surface of the outer sphere and permits attachment of an accessory to the outer sphere. 
     In yet another variant, the accessory is selected from the group that includes at least arms, facial features, hats, clothing and pipes. 
     In a further variant, the first predetermined distances ranges from ¼″ to 3″. 
     In yet a further variant, the first and second openings range in size from ¼″ to 1″. 
     In still a further variant, the first and second openings are formed as a series of slits. The slits have a length at least twice as long as a width of the slit. 
     In a final variant, the first and second openings are formed as a series of shapes chosen from the group includes at least X-shapes, polygons, alphabetic characters, numbers, symbols, animal shapes, leaf shapes and fanciful characters. 
     An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a completed snowman constructed using the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of one of the hollow spheres of this invention illustrating an outer sphere having a series of penetrating openings and an inner sphere without openings with snow on the outer surface and snow filling most of the space between the spheres; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of one of the hollow spheres of this invention illustrating an outer sphere and an inner sphere, each having a series of penetrating openings and with snow on the outer surface and snow filling most of the space between the spheres; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one of the hollow spheres of this invention illustrating a hinge with removable pin for fastening the hemisphere together; 
         FIG. 4A  is a close-up partial perspective view of one of the spheres of the  FIG. 4  embodiment illustrating a hinge with removable pin and retaining cord for the hinge pin; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one of the spheres of this invention illustrating a two part clip for fastening the hemispheres together; 
         FIG. 5A  is a close-up partial perspective view of one of the spheres of the  FIG. 5  embodiment illustrating the closure of the two part clip; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view plan view of one of the hollow spheres of this invention illustrating an outer sphere and an inner sphere separated by a series of spacers; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of one of the spacers and a portion of one of the inner spheres illustrating a device for temporary attachment of the spacer to the sphere. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the spheres of this invention in disassembled and stacked form for storage; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one of the spheres of this invention illustrating a flattened top for ease of stacking of the snow spheres; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of apparatus for attaching facial features to one of the spheres of this invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of apparatus for attaching arms to one of the spheres of this invention; 
         FIG. 11  is schematic view of apparatus for illuminating one of the spheres of this invention from the inside; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one of the spheres of this invention illustrating ovoid openings in the outer sphere; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one of the spheres of this invention illustrating alphabetical openings in the outer sphere; and 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of one of the spheres of this invention illustrating symbolic figure openings in the outer sphere. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows the snowman  54  that is fabricated with this invention  10 . In typical fashion the snowman has three parts: a head  48 , a body  52  and a base or lower part  50 . This invention  10  is provided in three sizes so that each part  48 ,  50 ,  52  can be easily made, and assembled in proper order. The three sizes are all identically fabricated. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each part  48 ,  50 ,  52  comprises two hollow spheres  18 ,  22 . One is larger than the other so each part  48 ,  50 ,  52  comprises an outer sphere  18  and an inner sphere  22 . Preferably the spheres  18 ,  22  are formed of some resilient material such as plastic but, as will be seen, they do not have to be transparent. 
     The outer sphere  18  is penetrated by a series of first openings  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the inner sphere  22  is penetrated by a series of second openings  32 . The inner sphere  22  is located within the outer sphere  18  and fixedly spaced from the outer sphere  18  by a distance  34 . This is accomplished with a number of spacers  14  attached to the inner  22  and outer spheres  18  and between them. These may be tubes or solid rods and permanently or removably attached. 
     As the invention  10  is rolled in the snow, snow  16  is forced through the openings  30 ,  32  and thereby collects between the outer sphere  18  and the inner sphere  22 , and inside  44  of the inner sphere  22 . Snow  16  also collects upon the outer surface  38  of the outer sphere  18  where it will be kept in place by virtue of compaction and its penetration of the openings  30 . However, the invention  10  will not be completely filled with snow  16 . Thus a light-weight sphere of snow in three sizes  48 ,  50 ,  52  is formed. Since three sizes of the sphere  48 ,  50 ,  52  are provided, three sizes of snow sphere  48 ,  50 ,  52  are formed which can be stacked one on top of the other to form the structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 4A, 5 and 5A , the inner  22  and outer  18  spheres are each formed as first  58  and second  62  joinable hemispheres, which are joined around their equators  60 ,  64 . 
     In a further variant, the joinable first  58  and second  62  hemispheres are attached to each other with a latching mechanism  66 . 
     In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , the latching mechanism  66  includes at least one hinge  70 , which has a removable pin  74 . 
     In yet another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 5A , the latching mechanism  66  includes at least one pair of male  78  and matching female  82  snap connectors. 
     In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6, 6A and 7 , the spacers  14  are not permanently attached to either the inner  22  or outer  18  spheres but are removable. For example, a slot  26  can be attached to the inner sphere  22  and a mating tang  28  can be attached to one end of the spacer  14 . But those familiar with the art to which this invention pertains will recognize that other devices and methods of attachment can be used. In this way the entire invention  10  can be disassembled and the hemispheres  58 ,  62  can be stacked as shown in  FIG. 7  for transportation or storage. 
     In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , at least one section  86  of the outer surface  38  of the outer sphere  18  is flattened to assist in stacking of the snow spheres  48 ,  50 ,  52 . Preferably the flat section  86  is at a pole of the sphere  10 . 
     In still a further variant, also illustrated on  FIG. 8 , a connector  94  is located on the outer surface  38  of the outer sphere  18 . Preferably it is located at one or both poles of the outer sphere  18  of each sphere  10 . The connector  94  permits attachment of the outer spheres  18  of different size snow spheres  48 ,  50 ,  52  to each other. This makes it easier to stack the different sizes of snow spheres  48 ,  50 ,  52  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , electric lighting  106  can be mounted within the invention, either between the spheres  18 ,  22  or inside  44  the inner sphere  22 . 
     In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , at least one mounting device  110  is provided. The mounting device  110  is located upon the outer surface  38  of the outer sphere  18  and permits attachment of an accessory  114  to the outer sphere  18 . 
     In yet another variant, the accessory  114  is selected from the group that includes at least arms  118 , facial features  122 , hats  98 , clothing (not shown) and pipes  102 . 
     In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first predetermined distance  34  ranges from ¼″ to 3″. 
     In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first  30  and second  32  openings range in size from ¼″ to 1″. 
     In still a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the first  30  and second openings  32  slits  138 . The slits  138  may a length  142  at least twice as great as their widths  146 . 
     In a final variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the first  30  and second  32  openings are shapes including X-shapes  150 , polygons (not shown), alphabetic characters  158 , numbers (not shown), symbols  166 , animal shapes  170 , leaf shapes  174  and fanciful characters  178 . 
     The following reference numbers are used on the Figures:
       10  this invention     14  spacer     18  outer sphere     22  inner sphere     26  slot     28  tang     30  first openings     32  second openings     34  first predetermined distance     38  outer surface of outer sphere     44  interior of the inner sphere     48  head     50  lower part     52  a body     54  snowman     58  first joinable hemisphere     60  equator of first hemisphere     62  second joinable hemisphere     64  equator of second hemisphere     66  latching mechanism     70  hinge of latching mechanism     74  removable pin     78  male snap connector     82  female snap connector     86  flat section of outer surface of outer sphere     90  part of outer surface of outer sphere     94  connector     98  hat     102  pipe     106  electric lighting     110  mounting device     114  accessory     118  arm     122  facial feature     132  slit     150  X-shape     158  alphabetic character     166  symbol     170  animal shape     174  leaf shape     178  fanciful character   

     The snowman making device  10  has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.