US2731751A - Decorative cover plate - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24-, W56 J. GREEN DECORATIVE COVER PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 00%. 22, 1954 INVENTOR. JOSEPH $55K Jan. 24, 1956 J. GREEN 2,731,751

DECORATIVE COVER PLATE Filed 061. 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ited States Patent DECORATIVE COVER PLATE Joseph Green, Long Island City, N. Y., assignor to Spectoyculars Incorporated, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 22, 1954, Serial No. 464,062 Claims. (Cl. 41-10) The present invention relates to decorative apertured covers suitable for use with containers, toy musical instruments or which may be mounted on a suitable badge body to be worn as an ornament.

A cover in accordance with the present invention is illustratively shown with the ornamentation in form of a face having a mouth which defines an aperture, the aperture being required, for example, when the cover is applied to a toy trumpet.

An object of the invention is the provision of a decorative apertured cover which may be readily applied to or removed from a cooperating supporting device. The cover comprises a main body portion formed of relatively stiff resilient material and one or more outwardly extending decorative members formed of relatively soft and pliable sheet material held in slots formed in the main body portion. The pliable decorative members are readily inserted in or removed from the slots in the body portion of the cover for ease in original assembly, for cleaning or for any other desired purpose.

An object of the invention is the provision of a cover of this character which may be placed over the rim of a drinking tumbler, the aperture permitting a sipping straw to be inserted therethrough.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cover of this character in which the combination of the decoration on the cover and the outwardly extending pliable decorative members will be attractive to a child and will aid in inducing a child to sip a liquid from a drinking tumbler when the cover is in place on top of the tumbler.

Sitll another object of the invention is the provision of a removable decorative cover of this description which may be used as an ornamental attachment for a wind instrument such as a toy trumpet.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be applied to a circular disc-shaped badge body having a pin secured to its back to provide an ornamental pin or badge.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of outwardly projecting ears, feathers or similar relatively long and thin ornamental elements, which projections are formed of pliable material separable from the body of the cover. If integrally formed with the comparatively rigid body of the ornamental cover, these thin projections would be easily broken in shipment and in handling. The pliable projections permit easy packaging and avoid breakage of the ornamental covers with the pro jecting elements in place. Additionally, the use of separable pliable ornamental elements facilitates the use of contrasting colors for the main body of the cover and its ornamental projections.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification together with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view, partly broken away,

of the invention applied to a sipping tube extending through showing an embodiment drinking tumbler with a the ornamental aperture.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the cover shown in Fig. 3, with the pliable decorative element removed.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the pliable decorative ele ment removed from the cover.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing a modified form of a decorative cover.

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the cover of Fig. 6 in combination with a circular badge body having a pin secured to its back to form an ornamental badge.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the badge of Fig. 7 pinned to an article of apparel.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom veW of the modified form of cover shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line i0-1tl of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a side elevational view, partly broken away to illustrate details of construction, showing a decorative cover removably applied to the flaring free end of a wind instrument indicated as a toy trumpet.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a cover designated generally as 15 mounted on the rim of a drinking tumbler 16. The drinking tumbler 16 is partially filled with a beverage 17. The cover 15 has a mouth-shaped aperture 18 formed therein through which a sipping tube 1? extends into the beverage 17. The head of a child sipping the beverage is shown in dotted outline.

Referring to Fig. 2, the cover 15 comprises an annular or circular thin walled rim portion 20. The rim portion 20 is of slightly downwardly flaring frusto-conical configuration. The cover 15 is formed with horizontal coplanar supporting areas 22 adjacent to the rim portion 20 which bear against the rim 23 of the tumbler 16.

The central portion 24 of the cover 15 is of irregular contour and is shown ornamentally formed as the face of a clown, the mouth-shaped aperture 18 being provided with two teeth 25 which contribute to the amusing ap pearance of the clowns face. The central portion is integrally formed with the rim portion 20, being connected to and surrounded by the rim portion 20.

The ornamental comical appearance of the clowns face is accentuated by ears 27 which terminate in serrations 28 formed at the ends of a pliable strip designated generally as 29.

The body portion of the cover 15 may advantageously be molded from any suitable relatively stiff resilient plastic material of appropriate color. The pliable strip 29 may be cut from a sheet of plastic impregnatedfabric which is waterproof, easily cleaned and which has a moderate amount of inherent stiffness. Preferably the strip 29 is limp rather than resilient.

The rim portion 20 of the cover 15 has two axially extending slots 30 formed therein which open at their lower ends and which communicate at their upper ends with coplanar horizontal arcuate slots 32. The pliable strip 29 is formed with a constricted central portion 33 the ends of which pass through the horizontal slots 32 and are held therein against longitudinal movement by of the cover shown in Figs.

the laterally enlarged ear portions 27 of the pliable strip 29." The slots'32'arecoplanarand lie in -a plane normal to the axis of the circular rim portion 20. The pliable strip 29 is inserted through the open-ended axial slots 3!); and turned 'to enter the horizontal slots 321 The pl able strip 29'is thus securely yet removably held in the cover 15.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of the invention in which the centralportion 24 of cover is ornamentally formed as the face of an Indian. A pliable member designated generally as 34 and similar to the pliable strip 29 described above is somewhat U-shaped and its laterally enlarged end portions 35*are shaped to stimulate the appearance of feathers worn in the headdress of the.

Indian.

As shown in Fig. 9, the horizontal slots 36 extend toward a narrow straight-sided segment 37"of rim inward movement." The-pliable member 34 is' inserted" through the open ends of axial slots 38 and flexed to position 'the pliable member 34 within the coplanar horizontal slots in which it is removably secured.

As shown in Fig. 7, a circular disc-shaped badgebody 49 is provided with' a bent wire pin '41 for securing the badge body 40 to a garment. Fig. l or Fig. 6 may beremovably applied'to the'circular badge body 48 and worn as an ornament. The cover and badge body of Fig. 6 is shown worn as an ornament in Fig. 8. The rim portion 20 of the cover 15 cooperates with the circular edge of'the badge body 40 to hold the cover 15 frictionally secured thereto.

Fig. 12 shows a cover-15 removably appliedto the The cover 15 of either circular rim-at the flaring outer end 42 of a toy trumpet 43 comprising a reed 44 and a mouthpiece 45. The mouth of a child is shown in dotted outline blowing in the mouthpiece 45 of-the toy trumpet 43.'- When'applied to' a trumpet as-shown in Fig. 12, the mouth-shaped aperture 18 of cover '15 permits free use of the trumpet 43 and the cover 15 givesan amusing appearance to the toy.

When applied to a drinking-tumbler as shown in Fig. l, the cover 15 not only gives an amusing appearance to the tumbler 16 but also-.tcnds' to prevent spilling of the beverage 17 contained therein.

The axialslots 300t- Fig. 4 and axial slots'38 ofFig.-9

facilitate expansion of the rim portion 20 to accommodate circular articles otslightly different diameters.

I have shown and described. what I believe to be the bestembodiments of my invention. However, it will be apparent to those-skilled in the art. that many changes and modifications may be made in the specific illustrative embodiments of the invention which are hereindisclosed without. departing from the scope of the invention as defined intheappended claims;

Whatis claimed is:

l. A cover for a substantially circular. article, coin-1.v

prising a central portion adapted to overlie. said circular. article and cover the latter, a circular rim portion connected to and surrounding said central portion, said rim portion projecting at-an angle with respect to the general plane of said centralportionitov thereby encompass the:

periphery of said. circular article, said .cover being formed of. relatively stiff material and having at. least two spaced.

slots formed therein, and a relatively :fiatipliable member having .two spaced end portions tconnected ;with:..an.1'nteri.; mediate portion, saidintermediate portion of said'pliable 4- member extending between two of said slots and underlying said-- central portion, said spaced end portions of said member extending through said slots and outwardly beyond said rim portion.

2. A cover according to claim 1, in which said slots lie substantially in a common plane normal to the axis of said circular rim portion."

3. A cover: according; to claim '2, inwhich said rim portion has axial slots formed therein, said axial slots beingv open at one end forinsertion of said pliable member therein and communicating atitheir other ends'with said first-named slots whereby said pliable member may be positioned in .saidfirstnamedslots to beheld therein.

4. A cover according to claim 3, in which the portions of said pliable member disposed" insaid first-named slots substantially fill said first-named slots.

5. A cover according to claim 4, wherein said extend ing portions of said.- pliablemember. are. .Widenthan said first-named slots, thereby. .securing :said /extending aportions in said first-namedslots. L

6. A cover according to claim'zl, in whichisaid central portion is of irregular contounsaid centralzportion having coplanar:.supportingareas formed thereon adjacent to. said rim portion for positioning said cover in predeter-- mined-manner on said article.

7. A cover according to claim 1, in which said. rim.-.

portion is of slightly tapering .frusto-conical configuration. 8. In combination with .21 drinking :tumbler having .a

circular rim, a removable circular cover comprising :a

central apertured portion, a circular rim portion connected toand surrounding saidapertured portion, said rim portion cooperating frictionallyv with said rim ofsaid tumbler to'hold said cover-thereon, said cover being. formed. of relatively stiff resilient materialrand' having at t least two substantially coplanar spaced slots formed there in which are disposed above and extend generally parallel to the plane ofsaid tumblerrim, and a pliablemember formed of fiat sheetimaterial extending through said slots and comprising laterally enlarged end portions which extend outwardly beyond said cover.

9. In combination witha circular disc-shaped badge body adapted to. be secured to an article of apparel, a removable decorative cover comprising a central portion,

a circular rim portion connected to and surrounding said.

central portion,.-said.rim portion cooperating frictionally' with. .the edge of said badge body. to hold said cover-there 011,. said cover being formed of relatively stiff resilient.v

material 'and having at least two substantially coplanar spacedslotsformed therein which are spaced from and substantiallyparallelto the plane of said disc; and a w pliable memberformedof flat-sheet material extending. through said slots and comprising laterally enlarged end portionswhich extend outwardly beyond said cover."

10..-In'.combination with. a trumpet having a circular rim at one end, a removabledecorative cover comprising. a central apertured portion,. a circular rim portion connected to and surrounding said apertured portion, said run portion cooperating frictionally with said rim of said trumpet to hold said cover thereon, said cover being formed of relatively stiff resilient material and having at least two substantially coplanar spaced slots formed there-' in which are. spaced from and extend generally parallel to said trumpet.rim, anda pliable member formed'of flat sheet materialextending throughzsaid slots and comprislng laterally enlarged .end portions which extend out.

wardly beyond said cover.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 698,324.- Sangen; Apn':22,.' 1902?. 1,567,413.. Bocchino pea--29, 1929* FOREIGN PATENTS 148.7093 Grat-.-.Britain' 0a. 16, 19 19

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