Abstract:
A decorative holder for an implement such as a pen, pencil, or thermometer comprising an interwoven base portion including a series of substantially concentric tiers of loops and supporting means for supporting the implement. The holder is made by a method which substantially conceals the intersections of the strand of pliant material from which the base portion is formed to provide a holder having a neat and decorative appearance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a decorative holder including supporting means for supporting an implement or decorative article, and a method for making the holder. 
     While articles fashioned by interweaving a strand of material are well-known in the art, many such articles are complicated in execution and frequently do not present a neat appearance, particularly at the intersections of the interwoven material. 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a useful, decorative, interwoven holder for an implement such as a thermometer, pen, pencil, or a decorative article. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide a method for interweaving a decorative holder which is simple and provides an attractive result. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a decorative holder which is ingeniously interwoven to conceal the steps of construction and which is simple to make. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The decorative holder of the invention includes a base portion comprising a strand of pliant but fixable material interwoven as a series of substantially concentric tiers of interlocking loops, and associated supporting means for supporting an implement or decorative article. In one embodiment of the invention, the supporting means comprises an extension of the strand of base material adapted to support and retain the implement; in an alternate embodiment of the invention, the supporting means comprises an attachment to the base. Preferably, the holder further includes an artificial flower, the stem of which forms both an element of the base portion and the supporting means, thereby serving as a functional and decorative element of the holder of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the Drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a cut-away of the decorative holder of the invention wherein the supporting means comprise an extension of the strand from which the base portion is interwoven; 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the method of forming the holder of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the decorative holder of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With particular reference to FIG. 1, the decorative holder of the invention generally indicated at 1, is illustrated at the beginning of construction thereof. A first strand 2 of a pliant yet fixable material having a first end portion 3 and a second end portion 4 is formed into a substantially closed frame element 6 by crossing the end portions 3 and 4 of the strand 2. The first end portion 3 is formed into supporting means for an implement 7 comprising a substantially helical coil 8 by bending the strand repetitively around the implement to be held; the second end portion 4 is trailed and secured to an artificial flower 9, for example, by twisting the strand about the stem portion 11 of the flower 9, or by other standard means such as insertion, glue, or wire. 
     A second strand 12 having a starting end 13 and a loose end 14, preferably of the same material as the strand 2, is then attached at the starting end 13 to the closed frame element 6 at any point thereupon, and a first tier 16 of overlapping loops 15 from the continuous strand 12 is formed; the formed tier of loops 16 is best seen in FIG. 2. Each of the loops 15 is formed by moving the loose end 14 of strand 12 in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion about the frame element 6 so that each of the loops 15 is axially intersected by the frame element 6 to form a crossover portion 17 and a cross-under portion 18 of the loops 15. After a sufficient number of the loops 15 have been evenly disposed about the frame element 6, the loose end 14 of the strand 12 is secured at a point 20 on the frame element 6, for example, near the attachment point of the starting end 13 of the strand 12; excess is then cut off. 
     A third strand 19, having a starting end 21 and a loose end 22, preferably of the same material as the strand 2, is then attached by the starting end 21 thereof to one of the loops 15 at the point where the cross-over and cross-under portions 17 and 18 thereof intersect, and a second tier 24 of overlapping loops 23 is formed; the completed tier 24 is best seen in FIG. 3. Each of the loops 24 is formed by weaving the loose end 22 of the strand 19 between the cross-over and cross-under portions 17 and 18 of the loops 15 to overcast the first tier of loops 16 until the second tier 24 of overlapping loops 23 is complete. The loose end 22 of the strand 19 is then secured at the next nearest intersection of a cross-over and cross-under portion 17 and 18 of a loop 15; excess is then cut off. Further tiers are added in a similar fashion to complete the base portion generally indicated at 26 of the FIG. 3. For an average size implement, such as a pen or pencil, one to four tiers of average-sized pliant strands will generally be suitable; sufficient tiers should be provided so that the base portion 26 is large enough to counterbalance the weight of the supported implement 7 and decorative flower 9. 
     The pliant material of the strands 2, 12, and 19 is preferably a stiff, yet flexible material such as a wire strand which is covered with a decorative material for aesthetic reasons. Suitable materials include pipe cleaners, plastic coated wire, or painted or enameled wire. Further, the decorative holder 1 may be formed from a continuous strand 2, rather than separate strands 2, 12, and 19. 
     In order to finish the base 26, the loops 15 and 23 are flattened and the points of intersection of the strands 2, 12 and 19 secured, by standard means such as by pinching, bending or twisting, so that the base 26 will retain its shape; alternatively, and preferably, the loops are flattened and secured as made. While it is generally preferable to have a substantially flat base 26, a slightly concave or convex base can be made by reducing the circumference of the succeeding tiers. Also, while the frame element 6 is illustrated as circular, other endless structural shapes, such as ellipses, rectangles, ovals, squares, and the like may be employed. 
     After the strands 2, 12 and 19 have been secured, the cross-over and cross-under portions 17 and 18 of the loops of each succeeding tier are in substantial alignment, radiating out like a sunburst, and presenting a neat appearance while making it difficult to discern the actual points of intersection of the strands 2, 12 and 19. 
     In an alternate embodiment the closed frame element 6 and helical coil 8 are fashioned in a similar manner but from an extended stem portion 11 of the flower 9, rather than from the separate strand 2. In this embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the pliant yet flexible stem 11a of a decorative flower 9a is employed as the first strand forming the closed frame element 6a in lieu of the first strand 2 of FIG. 1; in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the stem 11a  is further formed into helical coil 8a, comprising the supporting means of the decorative holder 1 for the implement 7a. A compact, neat, and durable unitary structure comprising a decorative holder is accordingly provided.