BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of decorative articles on homes and yards, on commercial establishments, and in other areas is well known. Decorative articles are typically covered with lights for display. The use of lighted decorative articles is common, particularly during holiday seasons. Shapes are utilized for decorative articles, such as for example, star shapes and snowflakes. In order for such articles to be plainly visible, the article must be of a sufficient size to be easily seen from great distances.

Storage of decorative articles can be difficult and inefficient in that a space large enough must be provided to store the entire article. Large articles are more costly to ship, and require more display space at point of sale.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a decorative article that can be easily reconfigured to a more compact storage and/or shipping position and that can be easily alternated between a display and a storage position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a decorative article is provided.

The decorative article includes a plurality of members connected to one another in succession and movable between a folded storage position and an unfolded display position. Each of the members includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and first and second ends. A hinge interconnects adjacent members between respective top and bottom surfaces. Alternating ones of the bottom surfaces of the members overlay alternating ones of the top surfaces of the members in the article folded position, and the members are arranged in a circular pattern about a central axis of each of the members in the unfolded display position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present decorative article in the unfolded display position; FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the decorative article of FIG. 1 in the folded storage position; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 1 with the lights removed; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the present decorative article in the unfolded display position; FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the decorative article of FIG. 6 in the folded storage position; FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is a left side elevational view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 6; FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 6 with the lights removed; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the present decorative article in the unfolded display position ; FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the decorative article of FIG. 11 in the folded storage position; FIG. 13 is a top plan view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 11; FIG. 14 is a right side elevational view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 11 ; and FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of one of the members of the decorative article of FIG. 11 with the lights removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring simultaneously to FIGs. 1-5, a first embodiment of the present three-dimensional decorative article is illustrated, and is generally identified by the numeral 20. Decorative article 20 is in the form of three stars 22, each star 22 having six projections or points 24. FIG. 1 illustrates article 20 in an unfolded display position, whereas FIG. 2 illustrates article 20 in a folded storage position.

Article 20 includes a plurality of adjacent members 30 which are hingedly and foldably connected in succession to one another to allow article 20 to move between the unfolded display position shown in FIG. 1 to the folded storage position shown in FIG. 2. Each member 30 is configured in the shape of one-half of a star 22.

Article 20 includes six members 30,30a-30f. In the unfolded display position shown in FIG. 1, members 30a and 30d are disposed in a single plane and form a star 22; members 30b and 30e are disposed in a single plane and form a star 22; and members 30c and 30f are disposed is a single plane and form a star 22. The three planes containing a star 22 are spaced apart by about 60° and intersect at a line or axis 70 (FIG. 3) passing through ends 36 and 38.

Each member 30 includes a top surface 32, a bottom surface 34, a first end 36, and a second end 38. Member 30 may be fabricated from a track 40 having spaced apart walls 42 and 44. Track 40 may be utilized for mounting a string of lights including individual lights 48 between walls 42 and 44 to clips 50 (FIG. 5).

Members 30 are hingedly interconnected utilizing hinges 56 which are disposed adjacent ends 36 and 38 of members 30. Hinges 56 are disposed on alternating top and bottom surfaces 32 and 34 of adjacent members 30a-30f. Each hinge 56 includes a slot or socket 60 disposed on top surface 32 of each member 30 adjacent to ends 36 and 38. Socket 60 includes spaced apart projections 62. Hinge 56 further includes a ball, pin, or post member 64 disposed on bottom surface 34 of each member 30 adjacent to ends 36 and 38. Post member 64 is received within socket 60 between projections 62 and is rotatably mounted within socket 60, thereby allowing members 30 to move between the folded and display positions. When unfolded in the display position, post member 64 of member 30f engages projections 62 of member 30a. Ends 36 and 38 include a V-shaped edge 36a and 38a, respectively, having an angle of approximately 60° on both top surface 32 and bottom surface 34. Edges 36a and 38a of members 30a-30f abut adjacent edges 36a and 38a and form a stop to thereby maintain members 30 equally spaced apart, about 60°, in the display position.

Referring simultaneously to FIGs. 6-10, an additional embodiment of the present three-dimensional decorative article is illustrated, and is generally identified by the numeral 120. Decorative article 120 is in the form of three snowflakes 122, each snowflake 122 having eight branches or points 124. FIG. 6 illustrates article 120 in an unfolded display position, whereas FIG. 7 illustrates article 120 in a folded storage position.

Article 120 includes a plurality of adjacent members 130 which are hingedly and foldably connected in succession to one another to allow article 120 to move between the unfolded display position shown in FIG. 6 to the folded storage position shown in FIG. 7. Each member 130 is configured in the shape of one-half of a snowflake 122. Article 120 includes six members 130, 130a-130f. In the unfolded display position shown in FIG. 6, members 130a and 130d are disposed in a single plane and form a snowflake 122; members 130b and 130e are disposed in a single plane and form a snowflake 122; and members 130c and 130f are disposed is a single plane and form a snowflake 122. The three planes containing a snowflake 122 are spaced apart by about 60° and intersect at a line or axis 170 (FIG. 8) passing through ends 136 and 138.

Each member 130 includes a top surface 132, a bottom surface 134, a first end 136, and a second end 138. Members 130 may be fabricated from a track 140 having spaced apart walls 142 and 144. Track 140 may be utilized for mounting a string of lights including individual lights 148 between walls 142 and 144 to clips 150 (FIG. 10).

Members 130 are hingedly interconnected utilizing hinges 156 which are disposed adjacent ends 136 and 138 of members 130. Hinges 156 are disposed on alternating top and bottom surfaces 132 and 134 of adjacent members 130a-130f.

Each hinge 156 includes a slot or socket 160 disposed on top surface 132 of each member 130 adjacent to ends 136 and 138. Socket 160 includes spaced apart projections 162. Hinge 156 further includes a ball, pin, or post member 164 disposed on bottom surface 134 of each member 130 adjacent to ends 136 and 138. Post member 164 is received within socket 160 between projections 162 and is rotatably mounted within socket 160, thereby allowing members 130 to move between the folded and display positions. When unfolded in the display position, post member 164 of member 130f engages projections 162 of member 130a. Ends 136 and 138 include a V-shaped edge 136a and 138a, respectively, having an angle of approximately 60° on both top surface 132 and bottom surface 134. Edges 136a and 138a of members 130a-130f abut adjacent edges 136a and 138a and form a stop to thereby maintain members 130 equally spaced apart, about 60°, in the display position.

Referring simultaneously to FIGs. 11-15, an additional embodiment of the present three-dimensional decorative article is illustrated, and is generally identified by the numeral 220. Decorative article 220 is in the form of three trees 222, each tree 222 having three triangular sections having points 224. FIG. 11 illustrates article 220 in an unfolded display position, whereas FIG. 12 illustrates article 220 in a folded storage position.

Article 220 includes a plurality of adjacent members 230 which are hingedly and foldably connected in succession to one another to allow article 220 to move between the unfolded display position shown in FIG. 11 to the folded storage position shown in FIG. 12. Each member 230 is configured in the shape of one-half of a tree 222. Article 220 includes six members 230,230a-230f. In the unfolded display position shown in FIG. 11, members 230a and 230d are disposed in a single plane and form a tree 222; members 230b and 230e are disposed in a single plane and form a tree 222; and members 230c and 230f are disposed is a single plane and form a tree 222. The three planes containing a tree 222 are spaced apart by about 60° and intersect at a line or axis 270 (FIG. 13) passing through ends 236 and 238.

Each member 230 includes a top surface 232, a bottom surface 234, a first end 236, and a second end 238. Members 230 may be fabricated from a track 240 having spaced apart walls 242 and 244. Track 240 may be utilized for mounting a string of lights including individual lights 248 between walls 242 and 244 to clips 250 (FIG. 15).

Members 230 are hingedly interconnected utilizing hinges 256 which are disposed adjacent ends 236 and 238 of members 230. Hinges 256 are disposed on alternating top and bottom surfaces 232 and 234 of adjacent members 230a-230f.

Each hinge 256 includes a slot or socket 260 disposed on top surface 232 of each member 230 adjacent to ends 236 and 238. Socket 260 includes spaced apart projections 262. Hinge 256 further includes a ball, pin, or post member 164 disposed on bottom surface 234 of each member 230 adjacent to ends 236 and 238. Post member 264 is received within socket 260 between projections 262 and is rotatably mounted within socket 260, thereby allowing members 230 to move between the folded and display positions. When unfolded in the display position, post member 264 of member 230f engages projections 262 of member 230a. Ends 236 and 238 include a V-shaped edge 236a and 238a, respectively, having an angle of approximately 60° on both top surface 232 and bottom surface 234. Edges 236a and 238a of members 230a-230f abut adjacent edges 236a and 238a and form a stop to thereby maintain members 230 equally spaced apart, about 60°, in the display position.

Although three decorative articles 20,120 and 220, have been illustrated, the present invention is not limited to a star, snowflake or tree as illustrated.

Additional embodiments such as, for example, a spider web pattern may also be utilized in which a plurality of hingedly joined members configurable in a 360° pattern in an unfolded display position can be utilized.

Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.