WO2004028831A1

WO2004028831A1 - A decorative article

Info

Publication number: WO2004028831A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/004079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Louise Dale Fowler
Original assignee: Louise Dale Fowler
Priority date: 2002-09-24
Filing date: 2003-09-23
Publication date: 2004-04-08
Also published as: AU2003267605A1

Abstract

A decorative article (2) comprising a decorative portion (4) and a suction device (6) for mounting the decorative article (2) to a surface of a product (8) to be decorated. The suction device (6) may be a suction cup which is preferably transparent. The decorative article is preferably a glass.

Description

A DECORATIVE ARTICLE

This invention relates to a decorative article and, more especially, this invention relates to a decorative article for improving the appearance of products.

There are many products whose appearance could be improved. It is an aim of the present invention to enable the improvement of such products in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a decorative article comprising a decorative portion and a suction device for mounting the decorative article to a surface of a product to be decorated.

The decorative article of the present invention can be inexpensively produced. It can easily be attached to the product to be decorated. Still further, the decorative article can easily be removed from the product, for example when it is no longer desired to decorate the product, or when it is desired to clean the product.

The product may be any product that has a hard surface to which the suction device can be mounted. The surface can be flat or curved. The product may be a container. The container may be a drinking vessel such for example as a glass, a cup, a mug, or a beaker. Where the product is a glass, then the glass may be a wine glass or a champagne glass as used for parties or wedding functions. The container may alternatively be a vase or a bottle containing beverages. The product may alternatively be a picture frame or a mirror.

In one embodiment of the invention, the suction device is a suction cup.

Preferably, the suction cup is substantially smaller than the decorative portion. The suction cup is then masked by the decorative portion and the suction cup is not easily seen. This then gives an attractive impression during use of the decorative article that the decorative portion is held in place on the product by some unseen means. The suction cup may be, for example, one quarter or less than the size of the decorative portion. The suction cup is preferably a miniature suction cup, typically of a size of 0.25 - 0.75 inch (0.635 - 1.905mm) and preferably 0.5 inch (1.27mm).

The suction cup may extend from a rear part of the decorative portion. Preferably, the suction cup extends from a central area of the rear part of the decorative portion.

The suction cup may be in the form of a pair of lips. When lots of the suction cups are produced and sold, then the pair of lips may provide an easily recognised indication of origin, for example of the manufacturer or the retailer. Shapes other than the pair of lips may be employed.

The decorative portion may be constructed substantially to conceal the suction cup during use of the decorative article. Thus, for example, the decorative portion may have a rearwardly extending, peripheral rim that acts substantially to conceal the suction cup during use of the decorative article. Alternatively, the decorative portion may have a recessed rear portion, with the suction cup being positioned in the recessed rear portion. Other constructions for the decorative portion may be employed in order that the decorative portion substantially conceals the suction cup during use of the article. When the suction cup is a miniature suction cup, then the decorative portion is more easily able to be constructed substantially to conceal the suction cup during use of the decorative article.

When the suction device is a suction cup, then the entire decorative article may be made of a material currently used for making known suction cups. This material may be a rubber material or a plastics material. If desired, the suction cup can be made of one material, and the decorative portion can be made of a different material. Advantageously, the suction device, for example the suction cup, is made to be transparent. It is then difficult to see the suction device during use of the decorative article on transparent products such as glasses.

The decorative article may be one in which the decorative portion comprises a panel having a recessed front portion for receiving decorative objects therein. The decorative objects may be printed or lenticular objects.

Preferably, the decorative portion and the suction cup are formed integrally with each other so that the decorative article is an integrally- formed one-piece decorative article.

Also, preferably, the decorative article is a moulded decorative article.

The decorative article may be one in which the decoration portion comprises only decoration, and in which there is no non-decorative background for the decoration. The decoration may consist of or comprise words which are of an open presentation. Alternatively, the decorative portion may be inscribed.

If desired the decorative portion may be moulded to be a curved decorative portion which extends partially around a curved part of the product to be decorated. The curved decorative portion may touch the curved part of the product to be decorated, or the curved decorative portion may be spaced apart from the curved part of the product to be decorated.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the decorative article is one in which the suction device is a flexible sheet device. The flexible sheet device may be a material like cling film or thicker, but essentially a material that is able to adhere by suction to the surface of the product to be decorated. Alternatively the flexible sheet device may be of a construction as employed in road vehicle tax discs which stick by suction to the inside surface of vehicle windscreens. With a construction like a road vehicle tax disc, then provision can be made for decorative portions to be inserted into the flexible sheet device. Persons can then have the facility to provide their own custom made decorative portions.

In all embodiments of the invention, the decorative portion may be printed to provide the decoration. The printing may be in the form of word such for example as Happy Birthday, Happy Christmas, Happy Valentines Day. The printing may alternatively or additionally be in the form of pictures such for example as pictures of a bride and groom, a wedding cake or a champagne glass. The printing may be for use by business corporations and thus the printing may give a company name and/or a company logo. Generally, the printing may be to give an aesthetic and/or a corporate business and/or an advertising decoration which improves the appearance of the product, for example a glass.

In all embodiments of the invention, the decorative portion may alternatively or additionally be formed in a shape that provides the decoration. Thus, for example, the shape may be the shape of a flower, a star, a heart, a bride and groom, or a wedding cake.

The decorative portion is preferably generally sheet-like. Thicker shapes forming, for example knobs, balls or the like, may be employed.

After use, for example after a party or a conference, the decorative article is easily able to be removed from the product. The decorative article can then be stored for reuse, or it can be disposed of.

The decorative article may include a badge, the badge being separately manufactured from the decorative portion, and the decorative article being such that it has fixing means for securing the badge to the decorative article. The fixing means may comprise a pair of pins connected to a rear part of the badge, and a pair of recesses for receiving the badge.

The decorative article may include one or more of a fragrance, a fluorescent material, electronic lights, speaking devices, sound devices, jewellery, textile motives, and touch sensitive motives. The touch sensitive motives may be touch/heat sensitive.

The present invention also extends to a product when decorated with the decorative article. The product is preferably a container, and the container is preferably a drinking vessel. A preferred drinking vessel is a glass. The glass may be of any shape and size for containing any desired type of beverage. Other types of products and other types of containers may however be decorated with the decorative article.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a first decorative article in use;

Figure 2 is a front view of the decorative article of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the decorative article shown in Figure 1 ;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are front views of second, third and fourth decorative articles in use;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of two further types of decorative articles of the same type and in use;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of one of the decorative articles shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side view of the decorative article shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the decorative article shown in Figures 8 and 9;

Figures 11 and 12 are front views of two further decorative articles;

Figure 13 shows two of the decorative articles in use.

Figure 14 is a top view of another decorative article; and

Figure 15 and 16 are front and top views of a further decorative article. Referring to Figures 1 - 3, there is shown a decorative article 2 comprising a decorative portion 4 and a suction device in the form of a suction cup 6. As shown in Figure 1, the suction cup 6 has been used to mount the decorative article 2 to an outside surface of a product to be decorated, the product to be decorated being in the form of a glass 8.

As shown in Figure 3, the suction cup 6 is a miniature suction cup and it is substantially smaller than the decorative portion 4. More specifically, the suction cup 6 is less than one quarter of the size of the decorative portion 4.

As can also be seen from Figure 3, the suction cup 6 extends from a rear part 10 of the decorative portion 4. More specifically, the suction cup 6 extends from a central area of the rear part 10 of the decorative product 4.

The decorative portion 4 is formed to be of a size and general construction that substantially conceals the suction cup 6 during use on the glass 8.

The decorative portion 4 is printed to provide the decoration. More specifically, the decorative portion 4 is printed with the words Happy Birthday. In addition, the decorative portion 4 is formed in a shape that provides the decoration. This shape is generally rectangular as shown with stars 12 at different corners of the general rectangular shape.

For a birthday party, the decorative article 2 can easily be stuck by suction to the glass 8. The glass 8 is thus transformed into a more decorative and personal product. After the birthday party, the decorative article 2 can easily be removed and stored for reuse. The glass 8 can then be washed as normal.

Figure 4 shows a front view of a glass 14 provided with a decorative article 16 which is generally circular in shape and which contains the words 40^th Birthday.

Figure 5 shows the glass 14 alternatively provided with a decorative article 18 in the form of a pair of lips.

Figure 6 shows the glass 14 alternatively provided with a decorative article 20 which is generally circular in shape and which contains the words 50^th Birthday.

Figure 7 shows a glass 22 provided with two decorative articles 24, each decorative article 24 being in the shape of a star.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show in more detail the construction of the decorative article 24. More specifically, the decorative article 24 has a decorative portion 26 which is visible from the front and which is in the illustrated shape of a star. The decorative article 24 also has a suction device in the form of a suction cup 28 extending from a rear surface of the decorative portion 26. As shown in Figure 10, the suction cup 28 extends from a central boss 30 extending from the rear surface 32 of the decorative portion 26. The decorative portion 26 has a rearwardly extending peripheral rim 34 which acts substantially to conceal the suction cup 26 during use of the decorative article 24 on the glass 22 as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 11 shows a decorative article 36 which has been formed in the shape of a flower. Figure 12 shows a decorative article 38 which is generally square as shown and which has been provided with a picture of a heart 40 being pierced by an arrow 42.

Figure 13 shows two of the decorative articles 36 shown in Figure 11 mounted on a product in the form of a mug 44.

Figure 14 shows a decorative article 46 comprising a suction device 48 and a curved decorative portion 50. Because the decorative portion 50 is curved, it is able to follow a curved part of an object, for example a curved face of glass. The suction device 48 can advantageously be made transparent so that the suction device 48 is not easily seen against the glass.

Figures 15 and 16 show a decorative article 52 having the words MERRY XMAS as the decoration, and in which there is no non-decorative background for the decoration. The words HAPPY XMAS are of an open presentation and they form a decorative portion 54 which is integrally formed with a suction cup 56 by a moulding process. The decorative portion 54 is curved as shown.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the suction device may be something other than a suction cup and the suction device may be a flexible sheet device of a construction like a vehicle road tax disc, or of a material like cling film. The decorative article may be of shapes and/or words and/or numbers different to those shown in the drawings. Where the suction device is a suction cup, the suction cup may be wetted prior to being stuck to the product, or the suction cup may be applied in a dry condition to the product. The decorative article of the invention may be sold in packs, for example a pack of 4, 10, 50 or 100, and with or without instructions for use and/or suggestions for products to which the decorative article can be attached. Where the decorative article of the present invention is produced by moulding, then the moulding may be injection moulding or any other suitable type of moulding.

Claims

1. A decorative article comprising a decorative portion and a suction device for mounting the decorative article to a surface of a product to be decorated.

2. A decorative article according to claim 1 in which the suction device is a suction cup.

3. A decorative article according to claim 2 in which the suction cup is substantially smaller than the decorative portion.

4. A decorative article according to claim 3 in which the suction cup is one quarter or less than the size of the decorative portion.

5. A decorative article according to any one of claims 2 - 4 in which the suction cup extends from a rear part of the decorative portion.

6. A decorative article according to claim 5 in which the suction cup extends from a central area of the rear part of the decorative portion.

7. A decorative article according to any one of claims 2 - 6 which the suction cup is in the shape of a pair of lips.

8. A decorative article according to any one of claims 2 - 7 in which the decorative portion is constructed substantially to conceal the suction cup during use of the decorative article.

9. A decorative article according to claim 8 in which the decorative portion has a rearwardly extending peripheral rim that acts substantially to conceal the suction cup during use of the decorative article.

10. A decorative article according to claim 8 in which the decorative portion has a recessed rear portion, and in which the suction cup is positioned in the recessed rear portion.

11. A decorative article according to any one of claims 2 - 10 in which the suction cup is made of a transparent material.

12. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative portion comprises a panel having a recessed front portion for receiving decorative objects therein.

13. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative portion and the suction cup are formed integrally with each other so that the decorative article is an integrally-formed one-piece decorative article.

14. A decorative article according to claim 13 in which the decorative article is a moulded decorative article.

15. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative portion comprises only decoration, and in which there is no non-decorative background for the decoration.

16. A decorative article according to claim 15 in which the decoration consists of or comprises words which are of an open presentation.

17. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative portion is moulded to be a curved decorative portion which extends partially around a curved part of the product to be decorated.

18. A decorative article according to claim 1 in which the suction device is a flexible sheet device.

19. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative portion is printed to provide the decoration.

20. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative portion is formed in a shape that provides the decoration.

21. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims in which the decorative portion is generally sheet-like.

22. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims and including a badge, the badge being separately manufactured from the decorative portion, and the decorative article being such that it has fixing means for securing the badge to the decorative article.

23. A decorative article according to claim 22 in which the fixing means comprises a pair of pins connected to a rear part of the badge, and a pair of recesses for receiving the badge.

24. A decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims and including one or more of a fragrance, a fluorescent material, electronic lights, speaking devices, sound devices, jewellery, textile motives, and touch sensitive motives.

25. A product when decorated with a decorative article according to any one of the preceding claims.

26. A product according to claim 25 and in the form of a container.

27. A product according to claim 26 in which the container is a drinking vessel.

28. A product according to claim 27 in which the drinking vessel is a glass.