Artificial pumpkin stem assembly and method of attachment

Abstract

The present invention relates to an artificial pumpkin stem assembly that includes a stem portion, an attachment portion and a removable fastener portion for securing the artificial stem to a pumpkin. Secondary fasteners may also be attached to provide a versatile and secure fastening system for many environments and applications. The artificial pumpkin stem assembly is attached to a pumpkin that has had it natural stem removed and is attached to the top of the pumpkin by treading the artificial stem portion onto the top of the pumpkin where the natural stem has been removed. Alternatively, an aperture is formed in the top of the pumpkin and the artificial stem portion including a secondary fastener is inserted through the aperture and treaded into locking position to replace the natural stem.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An artificial pumpkin stem assembly to replace the natural stem of a pumpkin comprising an artificial stem portion, an attachment portion associated with said artificial stem portion, a fastener portion having a first end connected to said attachment portion and a second end for connecting said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         2 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fastener portion is releasably securable to said attachment portion.  
     
     
         3 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fastener portion is permanently secured to said attachment portion associated with said artificial stem portion.  
     
     
         4 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fastener portion has threads formed thereon and includes a tip for boring into said pumpkin.  
     
     
         5 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fastener portion has threads formed thereon, includes a tip for boring into said pumpkin and includes a group of friable segments thereon for shortening said fastener portion after threading into said pumpkin.  
     
     
         6 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fastener portion includes a flexible fastener attached to the second end thereof for securing said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         7 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fastener portion includes a deformable fastener attached to the second end thereof for securing said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         8 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 6  wherein said pumpkin has its natural stem removed and includes an aperture bored in the top of said pumpkin through which said fastener portion with said flexible fastener attached is placed there through for securing said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         9 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 7  wherein said pumpkin has its natural stem removed and includes an aperture bored in the top of said pumpkin through which said fastener portion with said deformable fastener attached is placed for securing said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         10 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 1  wherein said fastener portion includes a self-boring fastener attached to the second end thereof for securing said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         11 . The artificial pumpkin stem assembly of  claim 10  wherein said pumpkin has its natural stem removed and said self-boring fastener includes threads thereon to bore through the top of said pumpkin through which said self-boring fattener is threaded for securing said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         12 . A method of attaching an artificial pumpkin stem assembly to a pumpkin that has lost a natural stem on top of the pumpkin, including the steps of forming an artificial stem portion, attaching a shaft to said artificial stem portion having a first end connected to said artificial stem portion and a second end thereon, connecting said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of forming the artificial stem portion includes molding a releasable attachment portion into the artificial stem portion for removably securing said shaft to said artificial stem portion.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of attaching said shaft to said artificial stem portion includes forming threads into said shaft and threading one end of said shaft onto said artificial stem portion, and said step of connecting said artificial stem portion to said pumpkin includes threading said shaft into the artificial stem portion and threading said shaft into the top of the pumpkin where the natural stem has been lost.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further including the steps of connecting a fastener to the second end of the shaft, drilling an aperture in the top of the pumpkin where the natural stem has been removed, inserting said shaft and attached fastener into said aperture, and rotating said shaft such that said fastener is tightened to secure said artificial stem in place.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further including the steps of connecting a self-boring fastener to said second end of said shaft, rotating said shaft such that said self-boring fastener forms an aperture in the top of said pumpkin and continuing to rotate said shaft such that said self-boring fastener is tightened to secure said artificial stem in place.  
     
     
         17 . An artificial pumpkin stem assembly to replace the natural stem of a pumpkin comprising an artificial stem, an attachment portion positioned within said artificial stem, a threaded shaft having a first end connected to said attachment portion and a second end for threading said artificial stem portion directly into said pumpkin.