Abstract:
A stand, separable into parts, that can support substantially spherical objects such as pumpkins, melons, or balls; or those somewhat conical objects such as planters which have a top circumference greater in size than its lower circumference (the “load”) is disclosed. The stand includes a girdle that supports the load, at least two rigid leg segments that reversibly attach to the girdle, and, in a preferred embodiment, at least two rigid or semi-flexible arm segments also reversibly attached to the girdle. The body of the load is not pierced by the stand. When assembled, the stand combined with a load forms a vaguely humanoid structure. When not in use, the stand is capable of being disassembled and stored in a relatively compact form.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter of this application relates to decorative stands that support substantially spherical objects such as pumpkins, melons, or balls; or those somewhat conical objects such as planters which have a top circumference greater in size than its lower circumference, in a manner that is vaguely humanoid in appearance. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people do some degree of holiday decorating throughout the year. For some of these people, the decorating endeavor is quite extensive and requires large amounts of holiday-specific paraphernalia. 
     One of the holidays associated with extensive decorating is Halloween and some elaborately decorated residences can be found in most neighborhoods where Halloween is celebrated. Those people that decorate, will often decorate for more than one holiday. The amount of decorations used for a season will vary based on the decorator, but many people become serial accumulators of holiday decorations. For these people especially, the storage of these decorating items in the off-season is an increasing problem. Obviously, as more items are required, the space needed to store them when not in use increases. 
     Of all the symbols and items associated with Halloween, perhaps the most iconic is carved pumpkin. Often, whether to increase visibility of the pumpkin, or to place the pumpkin in a decorative context, the pumpkin is placed on some type of stand. Display stands that present pumpkins in a decorative manner are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,654 discloses a number of decorative pumpkin stands. Patents U.S. D444411, U.S. D445356, U.S. D445357, U.S. D445720, U.S. D520405, and U.S. D591530 also disclose different pumpkin stands. 
     Although decorative when in use, when not in use these stands are bulky and difficult to store. 
     SUMMARY 
     The subject matter of this application is a readily collapsible decorative stand for substantially spherical objects such as pumpkins, melons, or balls; or for somewhat conical objects such as planters which have a top circumference greater in size than its lower circumference, (the “load”) that forms a vaguely humanoid structure. The stand can be quickly assembled and disassembled without tools. In its disassembled state, the stand requires comparatively little storage space. 
     The stand consists of a girdle portion that reversibly attaches to at least two leg portions and, in at least one preferred embodiment, also to at least two arm portions. When assembled, a load is placed onto the girdle so that the load suggests the torso and head of a humanoid structure. The leg portions are rigid, but the arm portions may be flexible, allowing the stand, in its assembled form, to suggest humorous, whimsical, or threatening postures. 
     In one preferred embodiment, smooth male attachment regions of the arms and legs can be reversibly coupled with smooth female attachment regions located on the outer surface of the girdle portion. If additional structural stability is desired, compatible male and female threads may be present on the male and female attachment regions, respectively, to additionally secure said arms and legs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the assembled stand disclosed in this application, the stand is further placed in context with the addition of a sphere representing a carved pumpkin as the stand might hold as a Halloween decoration. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective drawing of this stand. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of the girdle portion showing how the girdle&#39;s attachment points interact with the attachment regions of the arm and right leg portions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description and drawings referenced therein illustrate an embodiment of the application&#39;s subject matter. They are not intended to limit the scope. Those familiar with the art will recognize that other embodiments of the inventive concepts are possible. All such alternative embodiments should be considered within the scope of the invention. 
     Each reference number consists of three digits. The first digit corresponds to the figure number in which that reference number is first shown. Reference numbers are not necessarily discussed in the order of their appearance in the figures. 
     For convenience, the term “load” will be used in the following description, however that term should be understood to include any substantially spherical objects such as pumpkins, melons, or balls; or those somewhat conical objects such as planters which have a top circumference greater in size than its lower circumference. 
     The stand disclosed in this application is comprised of a girdle portion [ 101 ], at least two leg portions and, in preferred embodiments, at least two arm portions. In a most preferred embodiment, there are two arm portions [ 102  and  104 ], upwardly oriented from the girdle portion, that are reversibly attached to opposite sides of the girdle portion; similarly, in the most preferred embodiment, there are two leg portions [ 103  and  105 ], downwardly oriented from the girdle portion, that are reversibly attached to opposite sides of the girdle portion. In this embodiment, the positions of the two arm portions and two leg portions suggest a humanoid structure. 
     When the most preferred embodiment is assembled, the disclosed stand has a right and left side, with one leg portion and one arm portion located on the right side and one leg portion and one arm portion located on the left side. Although it is not necessary that the right and left leg portions, or the right and left arm portions, be exact mirror images of each other, to avoid duplication only a single arm, and a single leg portion will be described below. It should be understood that, unless specified, details given for a single arm or leg appendage correspond to both the right and left side variants. 
     The girdle portion [ 101 ] is a roughly circular shape having an outer [ 212 ] and an inner surface [ 211 ] so that it may support a load placed onto the girdle portion. Said girdle portion further comprises a number of attachment points [such as  301  and  302 ] that in a preferred embodiment are joined to the outer surface [ 212 ] although said attachment points may also be joined to the inner surface [ 211 ]. In the most preferred embodiment, there are four such attachment points [such as  301  and  302 ], two of these are located on the right side of said girdle portion (as viewed in an assembled stand) and the remaining two are located on the left side of said girdle portion. On both the right and left side of said girdle portion (as viewed in an assembled stand), one of the attachment points [either, e.g.,  301  or  302 ] is intended to reversibly attach to that side&#39;s leg portion&#39;s attachment region [e.g.  201 ] and the other attachment point is intended to reversibly attach to that side&#39;s arm portion&#39;s attachment region [e.g.  208 ]. Although the preferred embodiment comprises a roughly circular girdle portion, said girdle portion may alternatively be in a hexagonal, pentagonal, triangular or other polygonal shape. 
     A leg portion consists of an attachment region [ 201 ], a thigh region [ 202 ], a calf region [ 203 ], and a foot region [ 204 ]. An angle [ 205 ] is formed by the attachment region and the thigh region [ 202 ]. An angle [ 206 ] is formed by the thigh region [ 202 ] and the calf region [ 203 ]. An angle [ 207 ] is formed by the calf region [ 202 ] and the foot region [ 204 ]. In most preferred embodiments, the angles [ 205 ,  206 , and  207 ] are fixed so that when the stand is assembled, the leg portions are capable to supporting the weight of the stand itself and the stand when supporting a load. In the most preferred embodiment, the mass of the stand is distributed over the two leg portions so that the stand is does not tip either forward or backward when supporting a load. In an alternative embodiment, the angle [ 206 ] formed by the thigh region [ 202 ] and the calf region [ 203 ] may be 180 degrees. It such an alternative embodiment, descriptive terms such as “calf” and “thigh” might not apply since there may be no clear demarcation between the regions. 
     An arm portion consists of an attachment region [ 208 ], a bicep region [ 209 ], and a forearm region [ 210 ]. An angle [ 215 ] is formed by the attachment region [ 208 ] and the bicep region [ 209 ]. An angle [ 213 ] is formed by the bicep region [ 209 ] and the forearm region [ 210 ]. Those angles [ 215  and  213 ] may either be fixed or adjustable so as to allow the stand, in its assembled form, to suggest humorous, whimsical, or threatening postures. In an alternative embodiment the angle [ 213 ] is formed by the bicep region [ 209 ] and the forearm region [ 210 ] may be 180 degrees. In such an alternative embodiment, descriptive terms such as “bicep” and “forearm” might not apply since there may be no clear demarcation between the regions. 
     The girdle portion&#39;s [ 101 ] attachment points [such as  301  and  302 ] may be of any shape capable of accepting a corresponding attachment region, but are, in a preferred embodiment, a tubular material, such as a portion of pipe with an inner diameter large enough to reversibly accept the attachment regions of either a leg portion [ 201 ] or of an arm portion [ 208 ]. In this preferred embodiment, these attachment points are oriented so that they are perpendicular to the ground when the stand is assembled. When the stand is assembled, the said attachment regions of an arm portion [ 208 ] or of a leg portion [ 201 ] are held in conformation to the said girdle region&#39;s attachment points [e.g.  302  and  301 ] by the action of gravity. In the case of an arm portion&#39;s attachment region [ 208 ], gravity pushes the attachment region down into a said attachment point, until the angle [ 215 ] formed by the attachment region and the bicep region contacts the said attachment point (e.g.  302 ), preventing further downward movement of said arm portion. Similarly, in the case of an leg portion&#39;s attachment region [ 201 ], gravity pushes an attachment point (e.g.  301 ) down onto said leg portion&#39;s attachment region, until the angle [ 205 ] formed by the attachment region and the thigh region contacts the said attachment point, preventing further downward movement of said arm portion. In another preferred embodiment, the attachment regions of arm portions [ 208 ] or leg portions [ 201 ] further comprise male threads that correspond to female threads located in said girdle region&#39;s attachment points [such as  301  and  302 ]. 
     In an alternative embodiment, accessory appendages may be reversibly attached to the girdle (e.g. the accessory attachment regions [ 303  and  304 ]) in the manners disclosed for the leg or arm portions to further enhance the decorative nature of the resulting humanoid figure. Such accessory appendages may include those resembling ears, wings, horns, wings, and other such decorative adjuncts; or may include appendages with functional aspects such as those holding a light or sound source, those holding signs, those equipped with motors, or other functional appendages.