Reusable ornament and reusable ornament coupling apparatus and method

Abstract

An attachment mechanism for a first object to be releasably attached to a second object includes a backer/stabilizer that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The backer/stabilizer is semi-rigid, and may be formed out of plastic, poster board, card stock, or the like. The attachment mechanism includes a first Velcro® pad that has a front side with a Velcro® surface and a back side that is adhered to a second surface of the backer/stabilizer. The attachment mechanism also includes a second Velcro® pad that has a front side with a Velcro® surface and which is configured to be releasably attached to the front side of the first Velcro® pad. The attachment mechanism further includes a second adhesive strip that has a first adhering surface for adhering to a back side of the second Velcro® pad, and a second adhering surface for adhering to a surface of the second object. The backer/stabilizer is attached to the first object by either gluing, stapling, using adhesive tape, or sewing it onto the first object.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An attachment mechanism for a first object to be releasably attached to a second object, comprising: 
 a first adhesive strip that has a first adhering surface for adhering to the first object, and a second adhering surface;    a backer/stabilizer that has a first surface that is adhered to the second adhering surface of the first adhesive strip;    a first releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and a back side that is adhered to a second surface of the backer/stabilizer;    a second releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and which is configured to be releasably attached to the front side of the first releasably attachable pad; and    a second adhesive strip that has a first adhering surface for adhering to a back side of the second releasably attachable pad, and a second adhering surface for adhering to a surface of the second object.    
     
     
         2 . The attachment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the backer/stabilizer is one of styrofoam, wood, plastic, cardboard, spongy material, and card stock.  
     
     
         3 . An attachment device for a first object to be releasably attached to a second object, comprising: 
 a backer/stabilizer that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;    a first releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and a back side that is adhered to a second surface of the backer/stabilizer;    a second releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and which is configured to be releasably attached to the front side of the first releasably attachable pad;    a second adhesive strip that has a first adhering surface for adhering to a back side of the second releasably attachable pad, and a second adhering surface for adhering to a surface of the second object; and    means for attaching the backer/stabilizer to the first object.    
     
     
         4 . The attachment device according to  claim 3 , wherein the means for attaching includes at least one of stapling, gluing, sewing, tying and taping the backer/stabilizer to the first object.  
     
     
         5 . The attachment device according to  claim 3 , wherein the backer/stabilizer comprises: 
 a connecting element for connecting to a portion of the first object, the connecting element disposed above a remaining portion of the backer/stabilizer.    
     
     
         6 . The attachment device according to  claim 5 , wherein the connecting element is one of: a first protruding element for coupling to a cavity portion of the first object, and a second protruding element for coupling to a solid, spike-shaped portion of the first object.  
     
     
         7 . The attachment device according to  claim 3 , wherein the backer/stabilizer is one of plastic, cardboard, and card stock.  
     
     
         8 . An attachment device for a first object to be releasably attached to a second object, the first object including an affixing element having first and second ends, the attachment mechanism comprising: 
 a backer/stabilizer that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the backer/stabilizer including at least a first hole;    a first releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and a back side that is adhered to a second surface of the backer/stabilizer;    a second releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a Velcro surface which is configured to be releasably attached to the front side of the first releasably attachable pad; and    a second adhesive strip that has a first adhering surface for adhering to a back side of the second releasably attachable pad, and a second adhering surface for adhering to a surface of the second object,    wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the affixing element are fitted through the first hole of the backer/stabilizer, and    wherein the first and second ends of the affixing element are coupled together on an opposite side of the backer/stabilizer, to provide a coupling of the first object to the backer/stabilizer.    
     
     
         9 . The attachment device according to  claim 8 , wherein the backer/stabilizer is one of plastic, cardboard, and card stock.  
     
     
         10 . An attachment device for releasably attaching a first object to a second object, comprising: 
 an elastic band;    a backer/stabilizer having at least two regions for receiving respective ends of the elastic band;    a first releasably attachable pad that is adhesively coupled to one surface of the backer/stabilizer,    wherein a portion of the elastic band is disposed between the first releasably attachable pad and the one surface of the backer/stabilizer;    a second releasably attachable pad that has a first releasably attachable surface that is configured to be releasably coupled to the first releasably attachable pad; and    an adhesive material provided on a second, non- releasably attachable surface of the second releasably attachable pad,    wherein the adhesive material is adapted to be adhered to the second object, and    wherein the elastic band is adapted to be fitted around a portion of the first object.    
     
     
         11 . The attachment device according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least two regions of the backer/stabilizer are one of: at least two holes passing from the top surface to the bottom surface of the backer/stabilizer, and at least two openings formed at respective ends of the backer/stabilizer, and a channel portion formed on the bottom surface of the backer/stabilizer, for holding portions of the elastic band in place against the backer/stabilizer.  
     
     
         12 . The attachment device according to  claim 9 , wherein the backer/stabilizer includes a channel portion formed on the bottom surface of the backer/stabilizer, for holding one of an object and/or the elastic band in place.  
     
     
         13 . The attachment device according to  claim 11 , wherein the backer/stabilizer is one of plastic, cardboard, and card stock.  
     
     
         14 . A reusable ornament for attachment to an object, comprising: 
 an ornamental portion; and    a coupling portion for coupling the ornamental portion to the object,    wherein the coupling portion includes: 
 a ribbon for wrapping around the object, the ribbon including: 
 a first releasably attachable pad provided adjacent a first end of the ribbon on a first surface of the ribbon;  
 a second releasably attachable pad provided adjacent a second end of the ribbon on a second surface of the ribbon opposite the first surface; and  
 a third releasably attachable pad provided on the first surface of the ribbon,  
 
 wherein the third releasably attachable pad is adapted to be coupled to a releasably attachable pad disposed on the ornamental portion of the reusable ornament, and  
 wherein the first and second releasably attachable pads are adapted to be coupled to each other when the ribbon is wrapped around the object.  
   
     
     
         15 . A storage device for storing objects, comprising: 
 a holding portion having a substantially flat surface;    a plurality of rows and columns of releasably attachable pads disposed on the substantially flat surface of the holding portion, each of said releasably attachable pads configured to hold one object in place between uses of the object,    wherein each object includes an attachment device having a releasably attachable portion for coupling to one of the releasably attachable pads provided on the holding portion.    
     
     
         16 . The storage device according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a hanger cord coupled to the holding portion, for hanging the storage board on an object.    
     
     
         17 . The storage device according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of double-sided adhesive strips disposed between the fabric board and the plurality of releasably attachable pads, respectively, for adhering the plurality of releasably attachable pads onto the holding portion.    
     
     
         18 . A reusable object, comprising: 
 a container portion for holding an element to be stored therewithin; and    an attachment device coupled to the container portion,    wherein the attachment device includes: 
 a first releasably attachable pad that has an adhesive surface for attachment to an outer surface of the container portion;  
 a second releasably attachable pad that has an adhesive surface for attachment to another object, wherein the first and second releasably attachable pads each has a releasably attachable surface for releasably coupling the first and second releasably attachable pads to each other, to thereby releasably couple the reusable object to the another object.  
   
     
     
         19 . The reusable object according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a lid portion for coupling to the container portion to encompass the element within the container portion and the lid portion.    
     
     
         20 . The reusable object according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a label provided on an outer surface of the container portion,    wherein the label is capable of being removed from the container portion without damage to the container portion.    
     
     
         21 . A method for constructing an attachment device for releasably attaching a first object to a second object, comprising: 
 attaching a backer/stabilizer to the first object;    attaching a non- releasably attachable surface of a first releasably attachable pad to the backer/stabilizer;    attaching a non- releasably attachable surface of a second releasably attachable pad to the second object; and    coupling respective releasably attachable surfaces of the first and second releasably attachable pads to each other.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the backer-stabilizer is attached to the first object by one of an adhesive material, glue, staple and sewing thread.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 removing a peel-off protective cover on one surface of the backer/stabilizer prior to attaching the backer/stabilizer to the first object.    
     
     
         24 . A reusable ribbon for attachment to an object, comprising: 
 a first male releasable attaching means disposed adjacent to a first end of the ribbon on a first surface of the ribbon; and    a second female releasable attaching means disposed adjacent to a second end of the ribbon on a second surface of the ribbon,    wherein the first male releasable attaching means and the second female releasable attaching means are adapted to be releasably attached to each other to thereby wrap the ribbon around the object.    
     
     
         25 . The reusable ribbon according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a third releasable attaching means provided on the first surface of the ribbon,    wherein the third releasable attaching means is adapted to be coupled to a second object, to thereby releasably attach the second object to the object when the ribbon is wrapped around the object.    
     
     
         26 . The reusable ribbon according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a third releasable attaching means provided on the second surface of the ribbon,    wherein the third releasable attaching means is adapted to be coupled to a second object, to thereby releasably attach the second object to the object when the ribbon is wrapped around the object    
     
     
         27 . The reusable ribbon according to  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a bow having a fourth releasable attaching means for coupling to the third releasable attaching means of the ribbon.    
     
     
         28 . An attachment device for a first object to be releasably attached to a second object, comprising: 
 a backer/stabilizer that is provided on a first portion of the attachment device, the backer/stabilizer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;    a first releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and a back side that is adhered to a second surface of the backer/stabilizer;    a second releasably attachable pad that has a front side with a releasably attachable surface and which is configured to be releasably attached to the front side of the first releasably attachable pad;    means for attaching the backer/stabilizer to the first object; and    a card portion that is provided on a second portion of the attachment device, the card portion being separable from the first portion by tearing along a perforated line that separates the first portion from the second portion.    
     
     
         29 . The attachment device according to  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a hanger portion that is provided on a third portion of the attachment device with the second portion being disposed between the first portion and the third portion, the hanger portion being separable from the second portion by tearing along a perforated line that separates the third portion from the second portion,    the hanger portion being used to hang the attachment device onto a display rack.    
     
     
         30 . An object having a magnetic portion, comprising: 
 a first releasable attaching means disposed on one surface of the object;    wherein the magnetic portion is disposed on the one surface of the object, and    wherein the first releasable attaching means is adapted to be coupled to a second releasable attaching means that is attached to another object, to thereby releasably couple the object to the another object.    
     
     
         31 . A floral card holder, comprising: 
 a first releasable attaching pad having a first surface for releasable attachment to another device, and having a second surface with an adhesive material for adhering to the floral card holder; and    a second releasable attaching pad having a first surface adapted to be releasably attached to the first surface of the first releasable attaching pad,    wherein the second releasable attaching pad includes an adhesive material on a second surface thereof with a protective cover provided thereon, for adhering the second releasable attaching pad to an object to which the floral card holder is to be releasably attached to.    
     
     
         32 . A floral vase holder, comprising: 
 a ringlet for holding the floral vase holder therein; and    an attachment device coupled to the ringlet for attaching the ringlet to an object, wherein the attachment device includes: 
 a first releasable attaching means adhesively attached to the ringlet; and  
 a second releasable attaching means adhesively attached to the object.  
   
     
     
         33 . The floral vase holder according to  claim 32 , wherein the first and second releasable attaching means are adapted to be relesably attached to each other, to releasably attach the floral vase holder to the object.  
     
     
         34 . An attachment mechanism for a first object to be releasably attached to a second object and later to a third object, comprising: 
 a backer/stabilizer;    means for adhering the backer/stabilizer to the first object;    an adhesive unit having first and second adhesive surfaces that is configured to adhere to the backer/stabilizer by way of the first adhesive surface, and that is configured to adhere to the second object by way of the second adhesive surface,    wherein, after the backer/stabilizer and the first object has been deattached from the first object and prior to reuse of the backer/stabilizer and the first object for attachment to the third object, the adhesive unit is removed from the backer/stabilizer to allow another adhesive unit to be adhered thereto.