BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to decorative wa hangings and the like and more particularly to a novel a improved lighted ornamental wall hanging such as a simulat Christmas tree.

Prior Art

Various types of decorative wall hanging are know some of which include lights.' In some instances, th provide molded plastic shell for shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a novel a improved lighted decoration particularly suited for use a wall hanging which can be reliably produced at modera cost, which is durable, and which can be nested for compa shipment and storage. The decoration includes a molded rel tively thin shell shaped to provide a three dimensional uni The illustrated embodiment is shaped to represent a Christ tree having a top ornament and a lower base. The she provides a forward or outer face and a concave rearward f defining a rearward cavity.

Secured to the outer face is decorative material In the illustrated embodiment, a garland-type rope is at tached by adhesive to cover the entire forward face of th simulated tree portion of the shell. This gives the appear ance of the needles of a Christmas tree.

The shell is formed with openings in which socket of a string of electric Christmas lights are mounted. Th wire of the string of lights extends along and is conceale within the rearward cavity. The sockets are positioned s that the light bulbs themselves extend forwardly from th front face. In the illustrated, embodiment the garlan partially covers the light bulb so the light from the bul is diffused through the garland to some extent.

The openings for the sockets are formed with generally cylindrical bore extending substantially perpendi ular to the adjacent wall portion of the shell. Such bore provide a surface enclosing and supporting a substantia portion of the socket. In the illustrated embodiment adhesive is provided to assist in anchoring the sockets i the associated bores.

The illustrated embodiment is also provided wit a relatively narrow contrasting roping and small ornamen so that the overall appearance of the decoration simulat an attractively decorated Christmas tree. Such ornamen are usually hung on the wall but, if desired, two su ornaments may be connected together back-to-back to provi a simulation of an entire tree which can be suspended aw from the wall.

Because the ornament is concave on one sid several ornaments can be nested for shipment and storage a compact manner. These and other aspects of this inventi are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are mo fully described in the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a decoration in acco dance with this invention which simulates a decorated Chris mas tree;

FIG. la is an enlarged fragmentary view of portion of the pine needle-type garland used to cover t tree portion of the shell;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the decoration illustrat in FIG. 1 with the garland and lights removed to bett illustrate the shape of the shell;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 3-3 Fig. 1 with a portion of the string of lights removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary section ill trating the mounting of the light sockets;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of an alternate b construction;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along li 6-6 of FIG. 5 illustrating the alternate base structure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which decoration is formed in sections which are assembled for u

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrated embodiment of an ornament in acc dance with the present invention is a decorated Christ tree particularly suited for hanging on a wall surface. should be understood, however, that in accordance with broader aspects of this invention other ornamental shapes be provided.

The basic structure of the Christmas tree ornam 10 is provided by a substantially rigid molded shell 11.

the illustrated embodiment, the shell 11 is molded from shee plastic material by a vacuum molding process and provides central simulated tree portion 12, an upper tree decoratio portion 13 and a lower base portion 14. As best illustrate in FIG. 3, the shell provides a rearward peripheral edg flange 16 which extends along a plane so that when th ornament is installed as a wall hanging, the flange 1 extends along the plane of the wall on which the ornament i hung.

The tree portion 12 is generally concave an generally in the shape of one-half of a cone having an ape at 17 and a base at 18. Between the apex 17 and base 18, th shell provides an irregular, generally conical wall portio 19. However, within the wall portion 19 are a plurality o irregular forwardly facing projections 21. These projection give additional shape to the tre ^' e portion to better simulat the branches of a Christmas tree. The projections 21 ten to be arranged in horizontal rows 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d, a best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In addition to providin a better simulation of a tree configuration, the projectio also provides additional strength to the shell. The projec tions need not all be of the same shape and size but prefera bly are generally tear shaped in configuration.

Located along the tree portion 12 are a pluralit of openings 22 in which sockets 23 of a string of lights 2 are mounted. Preferably, the openings 22 provide generall cylindrical bores 26 which extend substantially perpendicula to the adjacent surface of the shell 11, as best illustrate in FIG. 4. These cylindrical bores 26 provide a substantia mounting area for the support of the sockets 23 of the strin of lights. Preferably, the sockets are positioned so tha the forward ends thereof are substantially flush with th forward ends of the cylindrical bores 26 and are adhesivel secured within the bores to provide a permanent, stron

connection. With this structure, sufficient strength is pr vided in the mounting of the sockets so that the socke remain in position when the bulbs 27 are replaced.

The tree portion 12 provides a convex forward fa 28 having a generally conical, irregular shape. The adjace rearward face 29 is concave and defines a rearwardly faci cavity 31. The wire 32 of the string of lights 24 exten along the rearward cavity 31 and is concealed from view wh the decoration is in use.

Although the illustrated embodiment provides shell 11 which is vacuum molded from styrene material, t shell can be formed in other suitable ways, such as pressu molding, injection molding or rotational casting.

The decoration 13 illustrated represents a star with a light bulb 37 at its center. The star is enclos within a circular border 38 'surrounded by the adjace portion of the flange 16. Preferably, the flange 16 provided with a top opening 39 through which a nail or wi can extend to hang the ornament.

The base 14 of FIGS. 1 through 4 simulates t shape of a hexagonal potting box which provides three gene ally planar wall portions 43. As best illustrated in FI 3, the bottom wall 44 of the base is provided with a centra ly located, rearwardly facing recess 46 through which t wire 32 can extend without causing the flange to be spac out from the adjacent wall surface.

To provide a simulated tree structure, garland r 51 (best illustrated in FIG. la) is mounted along the forwa face 28 of the tree portion by adhesive or other suita means so that it substantially fully covers the forward f 28 of the tree portion of the ornament. Such garland simulates the needles of a Christmas tree and, by mounti the garland with sufficient density, the entire forward f 28 is virtually completely obscured from view. However,

irregular shape provided by the projections 21 causes th garland to assume an irregular profile which again simulate the appearance of a natural tree.

In order to add further decorations to the face o the tree portion of the decoration, relatively narrow garlan rope 52 is also installed over the face of the garland 51 Preferably, the garland 51 and the garland 52 are of con trasting colors. For example, the garland 51 may be pin tree green and the contrasting garland 52 may be silver o white. With such contrasting colors, the appearance of conventional decorated Christmas tree is closely approx imated. In addition, the garland tends to surround the bulb 27 and embed such bulbs to some extent so that the ligh emitted from the electric Christmas tree bulbs 27 is diffuse by the garland and an impression of depth is obtained Further, small spherical ornaments 53 are installed on random basis along the surface of the tree portion of th ornament.

Generally, the string of lights is powered b typical house voltage; however, in some instances where convenient supply of electrical power is not available suitable batteries can be installed within the cavity 31 t provide the electricity to operate the bulbs 27.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment i which the base provided by the shell is generally semi circular and simulates a ceramic pot 56. Here again, th base is integrally formed in the shell.

Generally, the shell is painted prior to th installation of the garland and lights. For example, th ornament 13 may be colored gold and the base may be red. I a green garland is to be installed on the tree portion 12 the surface of the tree portion of the shell is normall painted a dark green so that it does not show through th garland.

The shell is formed so that opposed peripheral po tions are not parallel but continue to diverge. Therefor a number of ornaments can be compactly nested for shippi or storage, reducing the expensive thereof. Further, instances in which a relatively large ornament is desire the shell can be formed in separate sections 11a, lib and l as illustrated in FIG. 7 and then connected by suitab fasteners 57. In such instances, it is desirable to insta a single string of lights along each section and provi suitable plug and socket connections to permit the lights be connected when the ornament is assembled for use.

Although the preferred embodiments of this inve tion have been shown and described, it should be understo that various modifications and rearrangements of the par may be resorted to without departing from the scope of t invention as disclosed and claimed herein.