Abstract:
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a set of small, medium and large canine type of teeth and a set of small, medium and large buck teeth which can be removably attached at any spacing and in any combination to a mouth opening in a pumpkin to create a ghoulish pumpkin face. Each tooth has an anchoring member which has serrated cross member which allow the teeth to be removably attached to the pumpkin.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/281,204 filed on Nov. 16, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a set of canine and buck teeth which can be removably attached to a mouth opening in a previously carved pumpkin to create a ghoulish pumpkin face 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Converting pumpkins into faces by scooping out the pulp of the pumpkin, cutting openings in the thick rind of the pumpkin to simulate eyes, a nose and a mouth, and then placing lights into the pumpkin to shine through the cut openings is known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,922 to Cayton discloses lighting units for use in Jack-O-Lanterns formed from hollowed-out pumpkin gourds. The lighting unit generally includes an elongate lighting element that is sized and shaped to permit itself and at least an adjacent part of the elongate lighting element to be pushed through the pumpkin flesh to depth of the hilt for internal illumination of the Jack-O-Lantern. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,770 to Blatherwick discloses a decorative novelty illuminated sparkling pumpkin device having a main body shell made of pelletized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers bonded in a molding process, and a light source providing illumination within the hollow interior space of the main body shell whereby the pelletized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers impart an enhanced sparkling/glowing effect upon illumination from the light source. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,710 to Brown, et al. discloses a children&#39;s kit for illuminative decoration of the exterior shell of a pumpkin, without requiring a carving knife. The kit consists of light pegs, a pattern sheet, a tool, and a light. The light pegs are a light transmissive material that can be colored and have a length at least equal to the pumpkin shell thickness. Each light peg has a first end that is convergent to pierce the exterior shell wall and is operative to collect light via a shaft portion which transmits light to a second end with an enlarged peg head. The enlarged peg head protrudes above the shell surface and is operative to disperse light. The pattern locates the light pegs on the pumpkin shell, with the tool being used to drive the light pegs through the pumpkin shell. The light is placed inside the open interior of the pumpkin to illuminate the light pegs. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,613 to Brown discloses an illumination device adapted for internally illuminating a decorative object such as a pumpkin. The device includes a dome shaped housing that is sized and configured to mount inside the decorative object. The housing has concavities with reflective surfaces and electric lights that are disposed in the concavities. Electric current is supplied to the light for illumination of the interior of the decorative object. The illuminative object has the optional capability to flash the electric lights to mimic the flickering of a burning candle and employ the use of fiber optics for special lighting effects. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,833 to Paniaguas discloses a kit for creating a face on a head-like base such as a pumpkin to create a jack-o-lantern. The kit includes a plurality of illuminating units, each of which has a battery and light bulb, and a plurality of largely translucent facial elements such as an eye, mouth, ear, etc. The facial elements are screwed into the illuminating unit to envelop and surround the light bulb so that light from the bulb&#39;s light is transmitted through the facial elements and emitted from the external surfaces of those elements. The assembly is configured so that the battery is housed in a spear-like pointed base which may be pushed into the head-like base and the light-emitting facial element thereby affixed to the outer surface of the head-like base. Other non-illuminated facial elements may supplement the illuminated ones. The translucent facial elements are interchangeable on the illuminating units so that the same unit can use different elements and the user can have different choices of elements. The translucent elements and base when assembled together enclose the electrical elements in a waterproof manner. The translucent elements have their outer surfaces coated with a light-reflecting coating so that light is emitted only on desired uncoated surface areas. 
         [0010]    US PreGrant Pub. No. 2007/0036920 to Birkmann discloses an insertable pumpkin decoration device for a pumpkin which is configured to simulate the appearance of traditionally carved Jack O&#39;Lanterns. The pumpkin decoration device comprises facial feature simulation elements that simulate facial features including eyes, a nose, and a mouth, and which are shaped to accommodate the curved outer surface of a pumpkin. Stickers may be affixed to each of the facial feature simulation elements to depict details of the facial features. Integrated with the facial feature simulation elements are attachment members, which may be inserted into the crust of the pumpkin. The attachment elements are angled to facilitate proper orientation of the facial feature simulation elements in relation to the outer surface of the pumpkin. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a set of small, medium and large canine type of teeth and a set of small, medium and large buck teeth which can be removably attached at any spacing and in any combination to a mouth opening in a pumpkin to create a ghoulish pumpkin face. Each tooth has an anchoring member which has serrated cross member which allow the teeth to be removably attached to the pumpkin. 
         [0012]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a prior art pumpkin where the top of the pumpkin has been sliced off to provide access to the interior of the pumpkin, the pulp has then been removed to provide a hollow chamber and openings have been cut in the rind of the pumpkin to provide a ghoulish face where one of the openings is a toothless mouth; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of another prior art pumpkin where the top of the pumpkin has been sliced off to provide access to the interior of the pumpkin, the pulp has then been removed to provide a hollow chamber and openings have been cut in the rind of the pumpkin to provide a ghoulish face where one of the openings is a mouth having relatively wide teeth of solid nontransparent downward projecting pumpkin rind; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C is a front, side and bottom view of a small size canine type of tooth which can be inserted into a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a more ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  is a front and side view of a medium size canine type of tooth with a bottom which, except for size, is similar to  FIG. 3C  and which can be inserted into a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a more ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  is a front and side view of a large size canine type of tooth with a bottom which, except for size, is similar to  FIG. 3C  and which can be inserted into a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a more ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  is a front and side view of a large buck tooth with a bottom which, except for size, is similar to  FIG. 3C  and which can be inserted into a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a more ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  is a front and side view of a medium buck tooth with a bottom which, except for size, is similar to  FIG. 3C  and which can be inserted into a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a more ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  is a front and side view of a small buck tooth with a bottom which, except for size, is similar to  FIG. 3C  and which can be inserted into a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a more ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a pumpkin where the top of the pumpkin has been sliced off to provide access to its interior, the pulp has then been removed to provide a hollow chamber and openings have been cut in the rind of the pumpkin to provide a more ghoulish face by inserting at least one of the teeth here disclosed into the mouth opening. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    A traditional way of celebrating Halloween is to display, during the evening hours, a lighted pumpkin face. To make a pumpkin face, the top of the pumpkin including the stem is sliced off and the inside of the pumpkin including the seeds is removed leaving an empty chamber inside the relatively thick pumpkin rind. Then, using a knife, openings which represent the eyes, nose and mouth are cut thru the rind. A light such as a candle is then placed inside the pumpkin to provide a face which glows. 
         [0024]    Cutting the eyes, nose and mouth in the thick pumpkin rind is normally done with a pocket knife which allows only relatively large features to be cut. As a result, the openings for the eyes, nose and mouth are triangles or generally rectangular shaped openings which have substantially straight sides. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a front view of a typical prior art pumpkin  10  where the top of the pumpkin  12  along a line  14  which encircles the stem was removed to provide access to the inside of the pumpkin. Working through the opening at the top of the pumpkin, the pulp and seeds were scoped out to provide a hollow chamber, and eye openings  16 ,  18 , nose opening  20  and mouth opening  22  were then cut in the relatively thick shell or rind of the pumpkin to provide a ghoulish face. Normally the mouth opening is toothless. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a front view of another prior art pumpkin where the top of the pumpkin had been sliced off to provide access to the interior of the pumpkin, the pulp and seeds have been removed to provide a hollow chamber and, in addition to the eyes and nose openings which have been cut in the relatively thick shell of the pumpkin, a mouth opening  22  with, for example, two relatively wide teeth  24 ,  26  of solid, downward projecting pumpkin rind are left as teeth to provide a ghoulish face. The fragile characteristics of the relatively thick pumpkin rind dictates that the mouth opening of the pumpkin face either be toothless or be limited to having two or three very wide thick teeth which are wildy spaced from each other. 
         [0027]    With the invention here disclosed, various types of teeth are provided which can be removably attached to a mouth opening in a pumpkin rind to provide a more ghoulish face. The teeth here disclosed are of various sizes and have different shapes, and can be positioned at various angles and distances relative to each other. For example, some teeth can be positioned to be straight up and down while other teeth can be positioned to project outward at small and/or large angles. In addition the teeth can have a forbidding color such as black with blood red stains, or white with green mold color, etc. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, there is disclosed a front, side and bottom view of a small size canine type of tooth  30  which can be removably attached to the mouth opening in a pumpkin to provide a ghoulish looking pumpkin face both during the day, and at night when the pumpkin is illuminated from its interior with, for example, a candle. The tooth  30  can have a generally cylindrical shape with a length  32  of 1.2 inches, more or less, from the base  34  of the tooth to its pointed tip  36 . The diameter  50  of the tooth at its base is about 0.3 of an inch where the front view  38  of the tooth has a substantially triangular shape and the side view  40  of the tooth has a curved saber shape. Projecting out from the bottom  34  of the tooth  30  is a serrated anchor  42  which has teeth that project toward its apex  44  and has two cross arms  46 ,  48  oriented at ninety degrees to each other. The length  52  of the serrated anchor is 0.6 of an inch, more of less. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , there is disclosed a front and side view of a medium size canine type of tooth with a bottom serrated anchor  72  which has a cross section that is similar to the cross section of the serrated anchor shown in  FIG. 3C . Except for size, the medium size canine tooth of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  is similar to the small size canine type of tooth of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  which can be placed in a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention. Continuing with  FIGS. 4A and 4B , tooth  60  has a generally cylindrical shape with a length  62  of 1.8 inches, more or less, from the base  64  of the tooth to its pointed tip  66 . The diameter  80  of the tooth at its base is about 0.4 of an inch, and the front view  68  of the tooth has a substantially triangular shape and the side view  70  of the tooth has a curved saber shape. Projecting out from the bottom  64  of tooth  60  is a serrated anchor  72  which has teeth that project toward its apex  74  and has two cross arms  46 ,  48  oriented at ninety degrees to each other as shown in  FIG. 3C . The length  82  of serrated anchor is 0.8 of an inch, more of less. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , there is disclosed a front and side view of a large size canine type of tooth with a bottom serrated anchor  102  which has a cross section that is similar to the cross section of the serrated anchor shown in  FIG. 3C . Except for size, the large size canine tooth of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is similar to the small size canine type of tooth of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  and can be placed in a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention. Continuing with  FIGS. 5A and 5B , tooth  90  has a generally cylindrical shape with a length  92  of three inches, more or less, from the base  94  of the tooth to its pointed tip  96 . The diameter  110  of the tooth at its base is about 0.4 of an inch where the front view  98  of the tooth has a substantially triangular shape and the side view  100  of the tooth has a curved saber shape where the side has an outward bend  111  of about 0.1 of an inch. Projecting out from the bottom  94  of tooth  90  is a serrated anchor  102  which has teeth that project toward its apex  104  and has two cross arms  46 ,  48  oriented at ninety degrees to each other as shown in  FIG. 3C . The length  112  of the serrated anchor is one inch, more of less. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C, there is disclosed a front, side and top view of a large buck tooth  130 . The buck tooth is adapted to be placed in a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention. Continuing with  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C, tooth  130  has a generally broad flat shape which is about one inch wide and has a front surface  132  which is bowed and a rear surface  134  that is substantially flat. Looking at  FIG. 6B , the side of the buck tooth has a slight bow or curved saber shape which has a thickness of about 0.25 of an inch at its base and tapers to a point  140  at its top end. The length of the buck tooth, including the serrated anchor  120 , is about 2.5 inches. Located on the front surface  132  of the buck tooth is a plurality of V shaped grooves  142  which appear as dark grey lines each having a depth of about 0.50 mm. Projecting out from the bottom  144  of tooth  130  is serrated anchor  120  which has teeth that project toward its apex  146  and has two cross arms  46 ,  48  oriented at ninety degrees to each other as shown in  FIG. 3C . The length  148  of serrated anchor is 1.1 inches, more of less. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C, there is disclosed a front, side and top view of a medium size buck tooth  150 . The buck tooth is adapted to be placed in a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention. Continuing with  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C, tooth  150  has a generally broad flat shape which is about 0.75 of an inch wide and has a front surface  152  which is bowed and a rear surface  154  that is substantially flat. Looking at  FIG. 7B , the side of the buck tooth has a slight bow or curved saber shape which has a thickness of about 0.2 of an inch at its base  156  and tapers to a point at its top end  158 . The length of the buck tooth, including the serrated anchor  160  is about 2.0 inches. Located on the front surface  152  of the buck tooth is a plurality of V shaped grooves  158  which appear as dark grey lines having a depth of about 0.50 mm. Projecting out from the bottom  156  of tooth  150  is serrated anchor  160  which has teeth that project toward its apex  166  and has two cross arms  46 ,  48  oriented at ninety degrees to each other as shown in  FIG. 3C . The length of serrated anchor is one inch, more of less. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C, there is disclosed a front, side and top view of a small size buck tooth  170 . The buck tooth is adapted to be placed in a mouth opening of a pumpkin to provide a ghoulish looking pumpkin face in accordance with the principles of the invention. Continuing with  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C, tooth  170  has a generally broad flat shape which is about 0.50 of an inch wide and has a front surface  172  which is bowed and a rear surface  174  that is substantially flat. Looking at  FIG. 8B , the side of the buck tooth has a slight bow or curved saber shape which has a thickness of about 0.12 of an inch at its base  176  and tapers to a point at its top end  178 . The length of the buck tooth, including the serrated anchor  180  is about 1.25 inches. Located on the front surface  172  of the buck tooth is a plurality of V shaped grooves  182  which appear as dark grey lines having a depth of about 0.50 mm. Projecting out from the bottom  176  of tooth  170  is serrated anchor  180  which has teeth that project toward its apex  182  and has two cross arms  46 ,  48  oriented at ninety degrees to each other as shown in  FIG. 3C . The length of the serrated anchor is 0.6 of an inch, more of less. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a front view of a pumpkin where the top of the pumpkin has been sliced off to provide access to its interior. The pulp was then removed to provide a hollow chamber and openings were cut in the rind of the pumpkin to provide an opening for a mouth. In accordance with the principles of the invention, various teeth here disclosed were inserted into the pumpkin rind at the mouth opening to make a more ghoulish pumpkin face. 
         [0035]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.