Education and demonstration – Visual art or craft – artistic adornment – or color training... – Decorative sewing – needlework – weaving – or textile designing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-29
2004-03-16
Banks, Derris H. (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Visual art or craft, artistic adornment, or color training...
Decorative sewing, needlework, weaving, or textile designing
C434S081000, C434S096000, C434S083000, C428S131000, C428S134000, C428S906600, C112S439000, C112S475180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06705867
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to closed three-dimensional needlepoint canvases. Each of the canvases of the present invention is made from two interconnectable perforated shells. In various embodiments, interchangeable shells of different shapes are provided which can be connected together to form three-dimensional canvases in a variety shapes and sizes. In certain embodiments the shells have mechanically interlocking bases for easy detachment without external clips. The invention also provides craft kits containing the three-dimensional needlepoint canvases.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, the art of needlepoint has been practiced on flat two-dimensional canvases made of various fabrics or plastics. On these canvases, a design is either imprinted onto the canvas or shown in a separate drawing which may be transferred to the canvas by the user. As a result, the needlepoint products made from these canvases have been limited to two-dimensional representations.
In an attempt to branch out into three dimensional needlepoint products, the needlepoint industry has introduced three-dimensional needlepoint canvases made by connecting a series of individual two-dimensional canvases. Unfortunately, these three-dimensional canvases suffer from two significant drawbacks. First, they do a poor job of representing curved forms, and second, they are often impractical because they require a substantial number of two dimensional canvases to make a given three-dimensional form.
As an alternative to three-dimensional canvases made from a plurality of two-dimensional sheets, preformed three-dimensional canvases are also known in the art. However, these canvases only come in a limited range of specific shapes which are dictated by the manufacturer. Canvases of this type can be made from two canvas shells that are mirror images of each other. Such preformed canvases do not provide the consumer with the flexibility to create his or her own three-dimensional canvas shapes.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing three-dimensional canvases made from a plurality of interchangeable canvas shells that can be connected to form an array of three-dimensional needlepoint canvases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides three-dimensional needlepoint canvases comprised of interchangeable perforated shells that can be connected along their bases. One aspect of the invention provides a needlepoint canvas comprising a first and a second perforated shell, each of which is a three-dimensional shell characterized by an internal surface, an external surface, and a base. The bases of the two shells are substantially the same size and shape such that the two shells can be connected along their respective bases to form a three-dimensional needlepoint canvas. In one embodiment the base of the first shell and the base of the second shell are able to mechanically interlock to connect the two shells, forming a closed three-dimensional needlepoint canvas. Typically, the three dimensional canvas will be a continuous closed canvas. In various embodiments of the invention, the first shell and the second shell have different shapes.
Another aspect of the invention provides a needlepoint kit comprising a three-dimensional needlepoint canvas of the type described above, as well as a stitching material and, optionally, a threading tool. The stitching material may be any material capable of being strung through the perforations in the canvas. Examples of suitable stitching materials include, but are not limited to, string, thread, yarn, and the like. In one embodiment, the kit contains a plurality of shells having a plurality of shapes wherein the base of each shell is substantially the same size and shape such that any two shells in the kit can be connected at their bases to form a three-dimensional needlepoint canvas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3240176 (1966-03-01), Morrison
patent: 3570435 (1971-03-01), Morrison
patent: 4083740 (1978-04-01), Hamanaka
patent: 4310313 (1982-01-01), Brundige
patent: 4555429 (1985-11-01), Martin
patent: 4568615 (1986-02-01), DiVincenzo
patent: 5024176 (1991-06-01), Musante
patent: D361887 (1995-09-01), Wenkman et al.
patent: 6030140 (2000-02-01), Karten et al.
Carlson Christopher R.
Foght Jamieson A.
Rodgers Carole L.
Foley & Lardner
Suhol Dmitry
Uniek, Inc.
LandOfFree
Three-dimensional needlepoint canvas does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Three-dimensional needlepoint canvas, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Three-dimensional needlepoint canvas will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3222461