Patent Abstract:
A bow-forming ribbon assembly has a decorative flexible ribbon member and a drawstring connected loosely to the ribbon at points along its length by relatively stiff retainer members. Each retainer member extends generally transversely across the ribbon member, and each is inclined with respect to the transverse direction at an angle. Each retainer member is inclined at an angle different from that of an adjacent retainer member. Decorative arms having adornments are mounted adjacent at least some of the retainer members. On forming the ribbon into a bow by pulling the drawstring relative to the ribbon member, the inclined retainer members tend to skew the adjacent loops or segments of the bow relative to one another, as well as the decorative arms so that the loops and the arms are distributed at various angles around the axis of the bow, thereby providing a bow of great visual interest.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a ribbon assembly for forming a decorative bow, to be applied to wrapped gifts, for example.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     It is known to provide a ribbon with a drawstring connected loosely to the ribbon at points along its length and secured to the ribbon at one end so that a user of the ribbon assembly can draw the ribbon into a number of arcuate loops by pulling on the drawstring. One advantage of this known assembly is that the ribbon assembly can be packed flat, thus greatly facilitating and reducing the costs of storage and transport of the ribbon assemblies as compared with preformed bows which are relatively bulky and need to be packed in crush-proof containers.  
         [0005]     Prior ribbon assemblies, however, suffer from the disadvantage that, upon pulling the drawstring, the ribbon tends to fold itself into loops which are all aligned in one vertical plane, thus forming a fan shape. This is inconvenient to the user who normally requires the bow to be arranged in a more decorative rosette or pom-pon form, and necessitates the user having to pull on the individual loops to rotate them laterally and rearrange them so that the loops are spaced angularly around a central vertical axis of the bow. Apart from being time-consuming, this manipulation increases the risk of the bow becoming torn, damaged or soiled.  
         [0006]     It is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,837 to provide a bow-forming ribbon assembly comprising at least one decorative flexible ribbon member, and a series of relatively stiff retainer members which may be in plate form, or may be wire, spaced apart at intervals along the length of the ribbon member. Each retainer member is restrained against movement relative to the ribbon member and defines an aperture extending generally transversely across the ribbon member at an angle with respect to the transverse direction. Each retainer member extends at an angle different from that of the adjacent preceding retainer member. At least one drawstring member runs freely through the apertures defined by the successive retainer members.  
         [0007]     With this known patented assembly, as the bow is being formed by pulling on the drawstring, each relatively stiff retainer member tends to seat itself on the bow loop that is being formed immediately adjacent thereto in an angularly skewed orientation relative to the latter, and tends to skew each loop of the bow relative to the loop beneath, so that the loops of the bow are arranged in angularly spaced rosette or pom-pon like form. Desirably, each retainer member is inclined at an angle opposite to that of the preceding member.  
         [0008]     As advantageous as the known patented assembly is in forming a rosette bow without undue manipulation of the bow loops, it is desirable, especially from an aesthetic viewpoint, to make the rosette bow of more visual interest and fuller in appearance. The loops tend to flatten over time and give the bow a plain appearance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     One object of this invention is to provide a rosette bow with a fuller, more aesthetically appealing appearance.  
         [0010]     Another object of this invention is to provide a bow with a starburst-like arrangement of decorative elements radiating outwardly from a center of the bow.  
       FEATURES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in a bow-forming ribbon assembly comprising at least one flexible ribbon member, and preferably a pair of juxtaposed ribbon members, and a plurality of relatively stiff retainer members mounted on, and spaced apart lengthwise along, the ribbon members. Each retainer member is restrained against movement relative to the ribbon members and defines an aperture extending generally transversely across the ribbon members at an angle with respect to the transverse direction. Each retainer member extends at an angle different from that of an adjacent retainer member. At least one drawstring member, and preferably a pair of drawstring members, is secured to one end of the ribbon member or ribbon members and runs freely through the apertures formed by the successive retainer members.  
         [0012]     In accordance with this invention, a plurality of decorative arms is mounted at at least some of the retainer members. Upon forming the bow by pulling the drawstring members relative to the ribbon members, the retainer members are gathered together, and segments of the ribbon members between successive retainer members are folded to form bow loops which are angularly spaced apart from one another due to the different angled orientations of the retainer members. The decorative arms, likewise, are angularly spaced apart and provide the bow with a starburst-like arrangement with the decorative arms radiating outwardly in different directions from a center of the bow.  
         [0013]     Each decorative arm has a decoration at its outer free end region. The decoration may be a star, a heart, or virtually any adornment. The decoration may even be, or include, any text, for example, the words “Happy Birthday”. The decorative arms for any one bow can include the same adornment, or different adornments, for even greater visual appeal.  
         [0014]     Each decorative arm has a mounting portion at its inner free end. The mounting portion preferably has a neck inserted into the aperture of a respective retainer member. It is also possible to make the retainer member and the decorative arm of a common, one-piece construction.  
         [0015]     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a broken-away exploded view of a bow-forming ribbon assembly in accordance with the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ribbon assembly of  FIG. 1  during initial formation of a bow;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a view analogous to  FIG. 3 , but at a later stage of bow formation; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the completed bow with a starburst-like pattern of decorative arms.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 3  shows two elongated ribbon members  11  and  12  disposed in face-to-face relationship. The members  11  and  12  are formed by taking a length of conventional decorative ribbon material, e.g., a conventional synthetic plastic having a satin-like fibrous texture, and folding it at its middle portion  14 . A drawstring  13 , which may be formed of a narrower width of the same material as the members  11  and  12 , is connected to the members  11  and  12 , and passes between the two members  11  and  12 . In the example illustrated, the drawstring  13  is a double length of material which is tied in a knot at its middle around the middle portion  14  of the folded-over ribbon members  11  and  12 . Although in the example illustrated, the ribbon is formed from two ribbon members  11  and  12  and a double length of the drawstring material  13  is provided, as will be appreciated, the ribbon may instead comprise only a single length of the ribbon material  11 , and only a single drawstring  13  may be provided, attached to the single ribbon member  11  at one end.  
         [0022]     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , each ribbon member  11  and  12  is formed into a series of segments, preferably of approximately uniform length, by V-shaped indentations  16  and  17  cut on opposite sides of the ribbon members. The indentations  16  and  17  are offset longitudinally from one another on opposite edges of the ribbon members  11  and  12  so that a narrow neck portion  18  is formed between each indentation which has its narrowest portion inclining at a small angle, e.g., about 30° to 40°, with respect to the transverse width of the ribbon members  11  and  12 . The successive pairs of indentations  16  and  17  are formed so that each neck portion  18  inclines at an angle different from that of the preceding neck portion. In the preferred form, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the angle of inclination of each neck portion  18  is equal, but each inclines in a direction opposite to that of the preceding neck portion  18 .  
         [0023]     A retainer member  19  is applied around each neck portion  18 . Each retainer member comprises a small piece of a sheet material which is relatively stiff compared to the ribbon members  11  and  12 . The retainer member may, for example, comprise apiece of thin and stiff plastic material e.g., a cellulose plastic material. The retainer member  19  is provided with a central aperture  21  of a width to receive the narrow neck portions  18  of the ribbon members  11  and  12  and the drawstring members  13 , the latter being received sufficiently loosely so that they can be pulled relatively freely between the neck portions  18 . The retainer member  19  is formed with a slot or cut  22  extending inwardly from one edge to the aperture  21 . The retainer member  19  is mounted by flexing it slightly to open the cut portion  22 , so that the neck portions  18  and the drawstring members  13  can be introduced into the aperture  21 .  
         [0024]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the neck portions  18  are received snugly in the aperture  21 , so that the retainer member  19  is retained against movement longitudinally relative to the ribbon members  11  and  12 , and adopts and maintains the orientation of the narrow neck portion  18 . Each retainer member  19  is thus inclined at the same angle as the narrow neck portion  18 , and is in the form of a small plate presenting planar front and rear faces extending generally perpendicularly of the plane of the ribbon members  11  and  12 , these faces being inclined with respect to the transverse width of the ribbon members  11  and  12  and, in the example shown, each retainer member  19  being inclined in a direction opposite from that of the preceding retainer member  19 .  
         [0025]     As will be appreciated, in order to locate the retainer members  19  relative to the ribbon members  11  and  12 , and to orient them at the desired angles, it is not necessary to provide indentations  16  and  17  of the V-shape illustrated. For example, a simple cut may be formed inwardly from each edge of the ribbon member, the cuts being offset to provide a narrow land or intervening portion around which the retainer member  19  may be clipped.  
         [0026]     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , at least one decorative arm  30  is mounted at a retainer member  19 . Arm  30  has an adornment  32  at an outer end region thereof, a mounting portion  34  at an inner end region thereof, and an extension  36  between the end regions thereof. Adornment  32  is illustrated as a star for convenience, but could be any shape or decoration. Adornment  32  could be, or include, any alphanumeric characters. Mounting portion  34  has indentations  38 ,  40  matching indentations  16  and  17 , and a neck  42  matching the neck portion  18 . Hence, the arm  30  can be mounted and held within the aperture  21  of the retainer member  19 , as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0027]     A single decorative arm can be mounted at each retainer member, or at selected retainer members. More than one decorative arm can be mounted at each retainer member. The adornments  32  can be the same for a particular bow, or different adornments can be employed for the same bow.  
         [0028]     Each decorative arm is constituted of a thin, stiff plastic material, e.g., a cellulosic plastic material, identical to that of the retainer members. The decorative arm and the retainer member can be of one-piece, die-cut construction. Preferably, the adornment  32  is die-cut from a colored material which contrasts with a transparent material for the extension  36  and mounting portion  34 , the colored adornment  32  then being adhered to the extension  36 .  
         [0029]     In use, the ribbon in the flat form illustrated in  FIG. 1  is converted into a decorative pom-pon or rosette-like bow by grasping the free ends of the drawstrings  13  in one hand, and retaining a portion of the drawstrings  13  adjacent the retainer member  19  which is adjacent the free ends  13  lightly between the forefinger and thumb of the other hand. The drawstrings  13  are then pulled outwardly, with the finger and thumb engaging the underside of the retainer member  19 , so that the segments of the ribbon members  11  and  12  between the indentations  16  and  17  are gathered up into loops  24 .  
         [0030]     Because of the different angled orientations of the retainer members  19 , these tend to seat themselves on the bow loops, for example, the bow loops  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  in  FIG. 4 , at angularly skewed orientations. Thus, the successive loops  24   a ,  24   b , and  24   c  tend to be skewed angularly relative to one another at differing angles around the axis of the drawstrings  13  so that, instead of the loops  24  tending to superimpose themselves one on the other, the successive loops become arranged at differing angles spaced around the axis of the drawstrings  13  so that a bow is formed as shown in  FIG. 5  with the loops  24  arranged at varying angles around the axis of the drawstrings  13 , to provide a desired attractive rosette or pom-pon like form. Likewise, the decorative arms  30  follow the skewed orientations of the retainer members, and are arranged in a starburst-like pattern at varying angles around the axis of the drawstrings  13 . It will be appreciated that  FIG. 5  shows the completed bow with starburst-like pattern in an inverted position relative to its normal position of use.  
         [0031]     Once the bow is formed, the drawstrings  13  may be knotted adjacent the retainer member  19  exposed on the underside of the completed bow, and the free ends of the drawstrings  13  may be cut off. Alternatively, the drawstrings may be used for tying a parcel, and may thus secure the completed bow in position around a parcel or the like to be decorated by the bow.  
         [0032]     The bow-forming ribbon may be provided to the users with an adhesive-backed card having an aperture through which the free ends of the drawstrings  13  are threaded. The adhesive-coated surface may normally be covered by a release paper which is removed after forming the bow in order to assist in securing the completed bow to a parcel or the like.  
         [0033]     As will be appreciated, the bow-forming ribbon assembly as illustrated may be packed flat for storage and transport. The ribbon members may, for example, be folded about the narrow or neck portions  18 , with the segments of the ribbon being folded one on another, to provide a compact, folded structure. The decorative arms  30  are laid flat against the ribbon segments and are preferably shorter in length than the ribbon segment against which it is laid.  
         [0034]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.  
         [0035]     While the invention has been illustrated and described as a ribbon assembly for forming a decorative bow, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0036]     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.  
         [0037]     What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3