# US 7,744,317 B2 · Plant and stem design and method of making > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,317 B2 - Document ID: US7744317B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/397,402 - Filed: 2006-04-04 - Published: 2007-10-04 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-04 - Assignees: The Enkeboll Company - Inventors: Wesley Val Barbir - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744317B2 ## CPC - B23C 3/00: Milling particular work; Special milling operations; Machines therefor (milling gear-teeth B23F, {heat assisted machining B23P25/00}) - E04F 11/00: Stairways, ramps, or like structures (mounting or marking-off stairways E04F21/26; of temporary {use during building} construction E04G27/00; means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; {means for facilitating access to swimming pools E04H4/144; appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00}); Balustrades; Handrails (ladders permanently attached to fixed structures E06C9/00) - E04F 19/02: Borders; Finishing strips, e.g. beadings; Light coves (for protecting edges of plaster E04F13/06) - Y10T 409/303752: Process - Y10T 409/303808: including infeeding - B23C: MILLING (broaching B23D; broach-milling in making gears B23F; arrangement for copying or controlling B23Q) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A lifelike carving product and a method of producing the same is provided. The product may be utilized as an onlay or integral part of architectural elements to show designs of plant, fruit, and/or vegetable. The product includes at least one plant body, at least one stem, and a realistic fruit-stem/vegetable-stem interface. The plant body may include a flattened area, a stem receptacle whereat a plant end of the stem converges to the plant body, and an arcuate rim that at least partially surrounds the plant end in the stem receptacle. The realistic fruit-stem/vegetable-stem interface may be formed with the stem converging to the plant body perpendicularly with respect to a tangent line, or with a stem centerline of the stem aligning with a stem plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a lifelike product on a multi-axis machining center, the method comprising: fastening a blank to the machining center for processing, the blank defining an upper portion; machining a plurality of elongate stems and a plurality of plant bodies disposed adjacent to each other to form a cluster of plant bodies into the upper portion of the blank, each stem defining a plant end, each plant body defining a top surface, each plant body including a stem receptacle whereto the plant end of a respective one of the stems converges, the stem receptacles at least partially disposed on the top surface of the plant body; and machining an arcuate rim into each of the stem receptacles, the arcuate rim substantially encircling at least a portion of a respective one of the plant ends of the stem disposed within the respective stem receptacle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the blank defines a back plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stems includes a curved stem. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of plant bodies includes a plant body that defines a generally circular perimeter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein an interstice is disposed intermediate the plant bodies of the cluster; the method further including the step of machining at least one of the stems within the interstice of the cluster, the plant end thereof converging to a given stem receptacle of a given plant body in the cluster. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein each of the stems further defines a vine end, the method further including the step of machining the plurality of stems within the interstice, each of the plant ends thereof converging to the plurality of respective plant bodies of the cluster, the vine ends of each of the plurality of stems converging to form a vine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of stems includes a stem defining a stem depth of at least 1/16 inch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including the step of changing tools. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein five tools are used to carve the product. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein a first tool is used to create a rough cut into the product. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the first tool is a ½ inch diameter drill bit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein a fifth tool is used to create a finished cut into the product. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the fifth tool is a 1/16 inch diameter drill bit.