Folding star
OwnerJames Trislerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A decorative folding star is made of star pieces, preferably straight strips and/or strips with ends bent to an angle, such as 36°. One end of each strip is fastened to the corresponding end of an adjoining strip. When all the star pieces are end-coupled, they form a topological loop. The structure is reinforced with extra fasteners at the crossing points. When these reinforcements and also one of the end fasteners are removed, the pieces can fold about the pivots of the remaining end fasteners and the star collapses for shipment or storage. The ends may be offset to provide clearance and aid in folding. The end fastener may be shaped to permit rotation only in the direction toward the collapsed position of the star. Lights or light holders may be mounted on the strips.
Claims19
A foldable, erectable and re-foldable star construction having a plurality of star points, comprising:
- a plurality of unitary star pieces each having a first end and a second end, at least one of the said star pieces having its ends at respective star points,
- each first end being rotatably coupled to a respective second end of a different one of the star pieces by a respective end fastener, whereby the star pieces are end-coupled into a topological loop;
- and
- at least one pair of the star pieces being mutually fastened at intermediate points thereof by an intermediate fastening, the intermediate points being disposed between the first end and the second end of each star piece of the pair to lock said piece in an erected star configuration;
- wherein the intermediate fastening is releasable for collapsing the folding star;
- and
- wherein at least one end fastener is releasable and the remainder of said end fasteners constitute pivot axes.
A foldable, erectable and re-foldable star construction having a plurality of star points, comprising:
- a plurality of unitary star pieces equal in number to the plurality of star points;
- a plurality of first fastening members fastening said unitary star pieces together in succession while leaving two of said star pieces, that will be adjacent one another when said construction is erected, free to move relative to one another;
- and
- a second fastening member for detachably securing said two star pieces directly to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.