Twirling confetti device and method

Abstract

Twirling confetti includes a plurality of devices, each said device comprising a thin flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a longitudinal center line extending between the edges, a first end and a second end. The member is configured so that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end towards the first end. An elongated rib extends between the ends to one side of the center line. A weight is connected to the flat member adjacent to the first end.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to confetti and, in particular, to confetti which twirls when thrown.

[0002] Most confetti consists of small pieces of paper, typically small disks. When thrown, it simply falls to the ground or floor where it may be difficult to vacuum or sweep up. Consequently, the use of confetti is prohibited in many places, such as churches, where weddings occur.

[0003] Twirling devices of one type or another have been known for a long period of time. In fact, twirling devices occur naturally in the form of maple tree seeds. The seeds are contained at one end of a wing-like member. The member has an air foil shape and twirls as the seed drops from the maple tree.

[0004] A number of different toys and the like have been developed to exploit this twirling characteristic. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,413,316 to Bradley discloses an aerial spinning toy which is generally similar in shape to a maple seed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,993 discloses an air foil adapted to be propelled through the atmosphere. Similar devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 913,381; Des. 338,245; Des. 137,155; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,219 for example.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,310 to Sterr et al. discloses keepsake confetti which can be cut into various shapes.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,805 discloses specialty die cut confetti and a method of manufacture.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,720 discloses an optical effect material used for making shredded, flaked, die-cut and sheets of decorative materials. This may be used for confetti.

[0008] However the prior art does not disclose a practical way of making artificial devices which will twirl in the manner of a maple seed and yet can be produced cheaply enough and small enough to be used as confetti.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide improved confetti which twirls when thrown.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide improved confetti which has novel shapes and yet which twirls when thrown.

[0011] It is a further object of the invention to provide confetti which is not completely flat so it is easier to vacuum or sweep from a floor or the ground after it is thrown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a twirling confetti device, comprising a thin flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end and a second end and which tapers from the second end towards the first end. An elongated rib extends along the member near the first side edge and between the ends. A weight is connected to the flat member adjacent to the first end.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided twirling confetti comprising a plurality of devices, each said device comprising a thin flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end and a second end. Each member is configured so that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end towards the first end. An elongated rib extends to one side of a longitudinal center line extending between the ends. A weight is connected to the flat member adjacent to the first end.

[0014] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making twirling devices for confetti, comprising the steps of forming a thin, flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end and a second end, such that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end towards the first end, and running a bead of hot glue along the member near the first side edge between the first end and the second end. A globule of hot glue is placed near the first end of the member. The glue is then allowed to dry.

[0015] The invention offers distinct advantages compared to the prior art. It provides an imaginative type of confetti which twirls when thrown, providing a longer duration event and a more spectacular event. Furthermore, it permits such confetti to be made in mass quantities, sufficiently cheap so that it can be sold for common use. Also the confetti can be made in imaginative shapes to suit the taste of the party using the confetti and can be saved as souvenirs of an event.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Referring to the drawings:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a twirling confetti device according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing the rib and weight in stippled lines;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a third embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a fourth embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the fifth embodiment; and

[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of a container which contains a plurality of the devices of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, this shows a twirling confetti device 20 according to an embodiment of the invention. This device includes a thin, flat member 22 which, in this example, is cut from a sheet of paper. Alternatively, in others it could be cut from other relatively thin, flat and lightweight materials such as plastic or Mylar. The member has a first side edge 24, a second side edge 26, a first end 28 and a second end 30. It may be seen that the member tapers from the second end towards the first end. The effect is that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end towards the first end.

[0024] There is an elongated rib 30 which extends along the member near the first side edge between the ends of the member. This rib is formed of hardened hot glue in this example and is made by running a bead of the hot glue along the member near the first side edge and allowing the glue to cool. The device 20 has a longitudinal center line 31. The rib is located to one side of the center line. Also there is a weight 32 connected to the flat member adjacent to the first and 28. In this example of the weight is made of hardened hot glue and made by placing a globule of hot glue adjacent to the first end and allowing it to harden.

[0025] In this example the device includes indicia of representing an image, a plurality of stars in this particular case. Thus it may be seen that the first side edge and second side edge are not even due to the points in the stars, but generally the member tapers from the second end towards the first end. The stars decrease is size towards the first end.

[0026] Other embodiments are shown in FIGS. 2-5. These embodiments use like numbers for like parts as in the previous embodiment with the additional designations “.1”, “.2”, “.3” and “.4” respectively. Device 20.1 of FIG. 2 displays indicia in the form of a plurality of forks of lightning. FIG. 3 displays indicia in the form of a plurality of hearts.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a device 20.3 where the indicia represents a word, namely the coined word “SPINFETTI”. It may be observed from this example that the member does not have to taper between the first end and the second end. In this example the member is configured in another way so that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end 30.3 towards the first end 28.3. This is attained by cutting about some of the letters adjacent to the first end 28.3. It may be seen that the member is cut to conform with the bottoms of the letters SPIN, whereas the side edge 24.3 is straight between the letters “F” and “I” adjacent to the second end 30.3.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a further variation in the form of device 20.4. In this example the indicia has an overall shape of a cloud. There is an attached, small cloudlet 40 which gives the member 22.4 a larger cross-section adjacent to the second end 30.4.

[0029] The sizes of the devices above may vary according to choice. In general, the devices should be 5 mm-153 mm long between the ends. Preferably they should be 10 mm-40 mm long.

[0030] Typically the devices are sold in the containers such as bag 50 of FIG. 6 which contains, in this example, a plurality of the devices 20.4. The devices are used by opening the bag and tossing the plurality of devices into the air. The structure of the devices as described above causes them to twirl as they fall to the ground or the floor.

[0031] It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details described above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be interpreted with reference to the following claims.

Claims

1. A twirling confetti device, comprising:

a thin flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end and a second end and tapering from the second end towards the first end;

an elongated rib extending along the member near first side edge and between the ends; and

a weight connected to the flat member adjacent to the first end.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thin flat member is of paper.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rib and the weight are of hardened hot glue.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member includes indicia representing a word.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thin flat member includes indicia representing an image of an object.

6. A twirling confetti device, comprising:

a thin flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a longitudinal center line between the two edges, a first end and a second end, the member being configured so that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end towards the first end;

an elongated rib extending between the ends to one side of the longitudinal center line; and

a weight connected to the flat member adjacent to the first end.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thin flat member is of paper.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rib and the weight are of hardened hot glue.

9. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the member includes indicia representing a word.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the word comprises a plurality of letters, the member being cut about the letters adjacent to the first end, whereby the cross-sectional area of the member decreases towards the first end.

11. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thin flat member includes indicia representing an image of an object.

12. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thin flat member includes indicia representing a plurality of adjacent similar objects, the objects decreasing in size towards the first end of the member.

13. Twirling confetti comprising a plurality of devices, each said device comprising a thin flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a longitudinal center line extending between the edges, a first end and a second end, the member being configured so that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end towards the first end; an elongated rib extending between the ends to one side of the center line; and a weight connected to the flat member adjacent to the first end.

14. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 13, wherein the thin flat member is of paper.

15. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rib and the weight are of hardened hot glue.

16. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 13, wherein the member includes indicia representing a word.

17. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 16, wherein the word comprises a plurality of letters, the member being cut about the letters adjacent to the first end, whereby the cross-sectional area of the member decreases towards the first end.

18. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 13, wherein the thin flat member includes indicia representing an image of an object.

19. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 13, wherein the thin flat member includes indicia representing a plurality of adjacent similar objects, the objects decreasing in size towards the first end of the member.

20. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device is 5 mm-153 mm long.

21. Twirling confetti as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device is 10 mm-40 mm long.

22. Twirling confetti has claimed in claims 13, wherein the plurality of devices is within a container.

23. A method of making twirling devices for confetti, comprising:

forming a thin, flat member having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end and a second end such that the cross-sectional area of the member decreases from the second end towards the first end;

running a bead of hot glue along the member near the first side edge between the first end and the second end;

placing a globule of hot glue near the first end of the member; and

allowing the glue to cool.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the member is cut from a thin, flat sheet of material.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the material is paper.

26. The method as claimed in claimed 23, wherein the member is cut in a shape so that the member tapers from the second end to the first end.