WO2021118472A1

WO2021118472A1 - A multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic and a method of designing and manufacturing said frame

Info

Publication number: WO2021118472A1
Application number: PCT/SI2020/050026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Niko Fric
Original assignee: Nikoloon d o o
Current assignee: Nikoloon d o o
Priority date: 2019-12-09
Filing date: 2020-12-09
Publication date: 2021-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2022-06-09
Also published as: SI25938A

Abstract

The present invention in the field of human necessities belongs to the field of decorations, more precisely to the field of modular multi-piece decorative frames. The invention relates to a multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic and a method of designing and manufacturing said frame. The essence of the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics is in that the frame comprises a back side, a base and an uniform side part, wherein the back part and optionally the base is made from at least two pieces, which can be assembled into a whole using known shapes for jigsaws (puzzles). Shapes of cut-outs and their corresponding parts are arbitrary, as well as their number. The number of pieces for the back part depends on the size of the frame, wherein individual pieces may have different shapes. The side part is glued to the back side and the base once the latter two elements are assembled, wherein the side part follows the shape of the back side of the frame.

Description

A MULTI-PIECE FRAME FOR BALLOON MOSAIC AND A METHOD OF DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING SAID FRAME

Field of the invention

The present invention in the field of human necessities belongs to the field of decorations, more precisely to the field of modular multi-piece decorative frames. The invention relates to a multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic and a method of designing and manufacturing said frame.

Background of the invention and the technical problem

Balloon decoration is used for numerous events such as weddings, birthday celebrations, holidays such as Christmas or Easter, parties like new year parties, haloween parties and similar. Balloon decorations are usually made by connecting or gluing balloons into a particular structure, thus forming different shapes - hearts, squares or rectangles, arches. Recently, different sculptures made from so called balloon mosaics have emerged. Said mosaics are made from filled balloons of different sizes and colours, which are glued or installed in any other way into a prepared frame, which comprises a back part, a support and sides, wherein the frames are in any possible shape, typically in the shape of numbers, animals or various objects.

Existing frames for balloon mosaics are not suitable for usual transport procesures, as they are too big, too fragile and should not be bent, which prevents safe transportation to the final destination in one piece. A suitable solution of this problem has been developed by the company The Creative Heart Studio, which on its website https://thecreativeheartstudio.com/ shows different patterns to be bought by the clients, which are then printed on large printers, wherein the client then cuts the frame from a suitable material designed by the printed matrix. Finally, the frame is assembled by the client by gluing. This process is time consuming and also wasteful, as a lot of material has to be used.

The technical problem, which is solved by the present invention, is design of a frame for balloon mosaics, which will be readily prepared for installation, wherein it will be possible to package the said frame in boxes of usual sizes such as 30x40 cm, so that easy transportation using ordinary pallets is allowed. An additional technical problem is how to design frames of different sizes and shapes, so that they will fit into boxes of said sizes. It is required that the frame according to the invention is made from suitable materials, which are not too heavy for transportation and are at the same time not too light or too fragile, so that the final structure will reliably stand on the required space.

State of the art

Video available at https://www.youtube.eom/watch?v==sxzTwCxomQ shows a method of cutting and making a frame shaped as the letter S, wherein the back part is cut as one piece, while the sides are made from several pieces of flexible material. This frame cannot be packaged into smaller boxes, therefore its large size hampers transportation.

Video available at https:/7www. youtube.com/watch ?v=e5HUKjRD AS shows a method of cutting and making a frame shaped as number 1 , which does not have a back side and the sides are made from hand-cut individual pieces that are glued together into a whole.

Said solutions differ from the present invention in that the latter may be completely packaged into suitable boxes for usual transportation, while assembly is easy and involves minimal amount of gluing. Additionally, the user does not cut anything, because all parts are already provided. Creative heart studio offers on its website templates for printing, which the user has to print and put together, so that the back part of the frame can be cut from a suitable material in one piece. The user has to ensure printing material, material for the frame and then cut and glue everything together, which differs significantly from the present invention.

Description of the solution of the technical problem

The essence of the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics is in that the frame comprises a back side, a base and an uniform side part, wherein the back part and optionally the base is made from at least two pieces, which can be assembled into a whole using known shapes for jigsaws (puzzles). Shapes of cut-outs and their corresponding parts are arbitrary, as well as their number. The number of pieces for the back part depends on the size of the frame, wherein individual pieces may have different shapes. The side part is glued to the back side and the base once the latter two elements are assembled, wherein the side part follows the shape of the back side of the frame.

Materials, which can be used for the multi-piece frame according to the invention, may be any suitable for such articles, wherein the most suitable material for making the back part of the frame is hard Styrofoam, cardboard, wood or any other material, which can be cut as jig-saw puzzle parts or similar patterns. The thickness of the material for the back side is preferably between 1 cm and 5 cm, most preferably 2 cm. The cardboard may be a two-layer corrugated cardboard or any other combination of cardboard and filler, preferably made of degradable material. The side part is made from a flexible material, which can follow the shape of the back part and the base, preferably the side part is made from cardboard. Widths are arbitrary, usually between 5 and 25 cm, preferably between 10 and 15 cm, depending on the size of the back part and the planned sizes of balloons, which will be placed in the multi-piece frame. Parts forming the bottom and the back part of the frame have to be sized in accordance with box sizes for transportation. Said boxes usually have sizes 30x40 cm or 35x65 cm, therefore individual pieces should not exceed dimensions of 30x40 cm or 35x65 cm, respectively. Consequently the required shape of the frame is designed using the method of designing and manufacturing of said multi-piece frames, which divides the frame into suitably sized parts.

The method of designing the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) Choice of the frame shape; b) Choice of the frame size; c) Choice of required packaging size for packaging the frame; d) Measurement of the circumference of the back part and the base for determination of the side part length; e) Distribution of rectangles having the size of chosen packaging, so that optimal distribution of cuts is achieved to ensure as little number of pieces of the back part and optionally the base as possible and as little waste as possible; f) Definition of the cuts in the back part and optionally the base; g) Definition of the shape (puzzle) of the cuts; and h) Preferably adjustment of the shape of cuts with regards to the used cutting device.

Steps a) to d) may be performed in any sequence, while the whole procedure can be performed manually or preferably the procedure is computerized. Adjustment of the shape of cuts is intended to ensure complete matching of the pieces, as some cutting devices make wider cuts, which has to be taken into account during designing. In case the back part of the frame is made from Styrofoam and said Styrofoam is cut with hot wire, the latter makes an approximately 1.2 mm wide track, which has to be considered in the designing process.

The method of designing the said multi-piece frame according to the invention is preferably intended for dimensioning the shape of the frame, which can be packaged into packaging with sizes 30x40 cm or 35x65 cm after cutting, as these two sizes enable optimal transportation and packaging onto pallets. Regardless, the method can be adjusted so that the pieces are adapted to other dimensions of packaging, wherein the logic of the method is the same, only the measurements are adjusted.

The method of manufacturing of the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic in different shapes according to the invention comprises the following steps:

- Preparation of the material for the back part and the base of the frame;

- Cutting the required shape of the back part and the base;

- Cutting the back part and optionally the base into more pieces as prepared in the designing process; and

- Cutting a cardboard band for the side part into the required length and rolling of the band.

Cutting can be performed with any suitable equipment with regards to the material of the frame, it can also be computer controlled, wherein a file for cutting is prepared based on the pattern obtained in the designing process as described above. Said file is then sent to the chosen cutting device, which can then cut the prepared material into the required number pieces having pre-determined shapes.

The method of installation of the multi-piece frame according to the invention is carried out in the following way: the back part of the frame is assembled in the jig saw (puzzle) logic, followed by assembly of the base and gluing of the base onto the back part. Glue may also be applied between the pieces of the back part and the base, so that the construction becomes more rigid. Afterwards, the side part of the frame is glued on the edges of the back part and the base. This yields a construction closed from three sides, wherein the front side is open and can house balloons or other decorative elements to be stacked, glued or in any other way placed in the frame. Preferably balloons with different sizes are used, while their colours are chosen with regards to the user’s wishes or shape of the frame. For example, red, white and black balloons are used for Santa clause, green is used for a tree and white and black for a snowman, etc. The described frame may also be used for installation of lights or any other similar decorative elements, not just balloons. The multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic is placed in the packaging, so that it forms a complete decorative product, wherein the latter comprises:

- Assembly instructions;

- Back part of the frame comprising an arbitrary number of pieces;

- Side part of the frame comprising at least one piece;

- Base of the frame, which is uniform or comprises several pieces; and

- Decorative material, preferably a suitable number of balloons of different sizes and colours, which can be glued or in any other way placed in the multi-piece frame after its assembly, so that a balloon mosaic is created.

The described multi-piece frame is preferably used for balloon mosaics, but can also be used for other decorations, such as lights, flowers or similar decorative material. In case a sponge was inserted in the frame for retaining moisture and the frame was made from suitable moisture resistant materials, the invention could be used in flower industry for making floral arrangements in different shapes.

The multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic and the method of designing and manufacturing said frame will be described in further detail based on exemplary embodiments and figures, which show:

Figure 1 Examples of assembled frames of different shapes

Figure 2 Allotment of the back part and the base for a frame shaped as number

2

Figure 3 Allotment of the back part and the base for a frame shaped as a snowman

Figure 4 Allotment of the back part and the base for a frame shaped as Santa clause

The essence of the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics is in that the frame comprises a back side, a base and an uniform side part, wherein the back part and optionally the base is made from at least two pieces, which can be assembled into a whole using known shapes for jigsaws (puzzles). Shapes of cut-outs and their corresponding parts are arbitrary, as well as their number. The number of pieces for the back part depends on the size of the frame, wherein individual pieces may have different shapes. The back part of the frame and the base are made of Styrofoam, preferably from Styrofoam with 2 cm thickness, while the side part is made from a flexible cardboard, so that it can follow the shape of the back part. The side part is glued to the back side and the base once the latter two elements are assembled, wherein the side part follows the shape of the back side of the frame. Pieces forming the base and the back part of the frame must not exceed the size of the selected transport packaging, preferably 30x40 cm or 35x65 cm, respectively, therefore the required shape of the frame is divided into suitably sized pieces using the method of designing and manufacturing said multi-piece frames. In the so-prepared and assembled multi-piece frame balloons of particular size and colour are glued or otherwise installed, thus forming a particular shape or a character. Figure 1 shows some of the possible embodiments of the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics, namely in the shape of numbers 1 and 2, in the shape of a tree, a snowman and Santa clause. As described above, the multi-piece frame may be designed in any shape, while the shown embodiments represent only few examples.

Figure 2 depicts allotment of the back part and the base for a frame shaped as number 2 with 120 cm height, wherein the back part 1a is with cuts 1c divided into 8 parts, while the base 1b is divided into two parts 1b' and 1b". Installation of the back part 1a into the base 1b is enabled by grooves 1d in the base 1b, wherein protrusions 1 d' of the back part 1a are placed in the grooves 1d.

Figure 3 shows a possible allotment of the back part and the base for a frame shaped as a showman with 120 cm height, wherein the back part 2a comprises a hat 2a', a head 2a" and two pieces of a body 2a'" of the snowman. Piece sizes are arranged to fit into a box with dimensions 35x65 cm. Pieces are divided with cuts 3c. The base 2b is in one piece, as the selected snowman size the base is smaller than 35x65 cm. Installation of the back part 2a into the base 2b is enabled by the grooves 2d in the base 2b, wherein the protrusions 2d' of the back part 2a are installed in the grooves 2d. Figure 4 shows a possible allotment of the back part and the base for a frame shaped as Santa clause, wherein the base 3b is made from one piece, the body 3a comprises 10 pieces. Cuts are marked with reference number 3c. Installation of the back part 3a into the base 3b is enabled by the grooves 3d in the base 3b, wherein the protrusions 3d' of the back part 3a are installed in the grooves 3d.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics characterized in that it comprises a back side, a base and a uniform side part, wherein the back part and optionally the base are made from at least two pieces, which can be assembled into a whole using known jig-saw (puzzle) shapes, and the side part is arranged to be glued to the back part and the base using a suitable glue so that it follows the shape of the assembled back part.

2. The multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics according to claim 1 , characterized in that pieces forming the base and the back part of the frame have a size adjusted to usual transport packaging or boxes, respectively, preferably the pieces are smaller than 30x40 cm or 35x65 cm, respectively.

3. The multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the shapes and the number of cut-outs and corresponding pieces are arbitrary, wherein the number of pieces forming the back part depends on the size of the frame and wherein individual pieces may have different shapes.

4. The multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the materials for the multi-piece frame are any suitable, wherein the most suitable material for the back part is hard Styrofoam, but cardboard, wood or any other natural material may also be used.

5. The multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness of the material for the back part of the frame is preferably between 1 cm and 5 cm, most preferably 2 cm.

6. The multi-piece frame for balloon mosaics according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side part is made from a flexible material, which can follow the shape of the back part and the supporting base, preferably from cardboard, most preferably two-layer corrugated cardboard or any other combination of cardboard and filler, preferably from a degradable material, wherein the width of the side part is arbitrary, preferably between 5 cm and 25 cm, more preferably between 10 and 15 cm.

7. A method of designing the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: a) choice of the frame shape; b) choice of the frame size; c) choice of required packaging size for packaging the frame; d) measurement of the circumference of the back part and the base for determination of the side part length; e) distribution of rectangles having the size of chosen packaging, so that optimal distribution of cuts is achieved to ensure as little number of pieces of the back part and optionally the base as possible and as little waste as possible; f) definition of the cuts in the back part and optionally the base; g) definition of the shape (puzzle) of the cuts; and h) preferably adjustment of the shape of cuts with regards to the used cutting device.

8. The method of designing the multi-piece frame according to the preceding claim characterized in that steps a) to d) are performed in any sequence, while the whole procedure can be performed manually or preferably using a computer.

9. The method of designing the multi-piece frame according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the adjustment of the shape of cuts is performed to ensure matching of pieces, preferably 1.2 mm wide track is added for a frame made from Styrofoam cut with hot wire.

10. The method of designing the multi-piece frame according to any claim from 7 to 9, characterized in that the sizes of the pieces forming the back part and optionally the base are smaller than 30x40 cm or 35x65 cm, respectively.

11. A method of manufacturing of the multi-piece frame for balloon mosaic with different shapes according to any of the claims from 1 to 6, characterized in that the manufacturing method comprises the following steps:

- preparation of the material for the back part and the base of the frame;

- cutting the required shape of the back part and the base;

12. A decoration product comprising:

- assembly instructions;

- back part of the frame comprising an arbitrary number of pieces;

- side part of the frame comprising at least one piece;

- base of the frame, which is uniform or comprises several pieces; and