Pumpkin decorating kit

Abstract

A children's kit for illuminative decoration of the exterior shell ( 17 ) of a pumpkin, without requiring a carving knife. The kit ( 10 ) consists of packaging ( 12 ), light pegs ( 60 ), a pattern sheet ( 30 ), a tool ( 100 ), and light ( 25 ). The light pegs ( 60 ) are a light transmissive material that can be colored and have a length at least equal to the pumpkin shell thickness. Each light peg ( 60 ) has a first end ( 66 ) that is convergent to pierce the exterior shell wall ( 17 ) and is operative to collect light, a shaft portion ( 68 ) to transmit light to a second end with an enlarged peg head ( 62 ). The enlarged peg head ( 62 ) protrudes above the shell surface and is operative to disperse light. The pattern ( 30 ) locates the light pegs ( 60 ) on the pumpkin shell ( 15 ), with the tool ( 100 ) used to drive the light pegs ( 60 ) through the pumpkin shell. The light ( 25 ) is placed inside the open interior of the pumpkin ( 14 ) to illuminate the light pegs ( 60 ).

We claim:  
     
         1 . A kit for illuminative decoration of an exterior surface portion of a shell wall formed from an item of produce to have a selected shell wall thickness and an open interior, comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of light pegs constructed of a light transmissive material and having a length at least equal to the shell wall thickness; and    (B) a mallet adapted to drive said light pegs through the exterior surface such that a portion thereof optically communicates with the open interior of the item of produce.    
     
     
         2 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 1  wherein said light pegs are of at least three different colors.  
     
     
         3 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 1  further including a pattern sheet adapted to attach to the exterior surface portion of the shell wall and marked to locate positions for at least some of said light pegs corresponding to a decorative pattern wherein said light pegs are provided in a plurality of colors, said pattern sheet has markings that are correlated to light peg colors for instruction on positioning of selected colors at selected locations.  
     
     
         4 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 1  further including a pattern sheet adapted to attach to the exterior surface portion of the shell wall and marked to locate positions for at least some of said light pegs corresponding to a decorative pattern.  
     
     
         5 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 4  wherein said pattern sheet locates positions for at least some of said light pegs by using elements selected from a group consisting of pattern holes, pattern dots, and lines.  
     
     
         6 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 1  including an illumination device adapted to be placed in the open interior of the item of produce.  
     
     
         7 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 9  further including a pattern sheet adapted to attach to the exterior surface portion of the shell wall and marked to locate positions for at least some of said light pegs corresponding to a decorative pattern.  
     
     
         8 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 6  wherein said illumination device is a battery powered light.  
     
     
         9 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 6  wherein said illumination device is adapted to be placed in the open interior of the item of produce by use of a base that is operative to penetrate into the shell wall to independently support said illumination device in the open interior of the item of produce.  
     
     
         10 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 1  further including an illumination device independent of said light pegs and adapted to be placed in the open interior of the item of produce and operative to emit light, said light pegs operative to transmit the light from the interior of the shell wall so as to create an illuminative decorative pattern that is visible to an external observer.  
     
     
         11 . A kit for illuminative decoration of an exterior surface portion of a shell wall formed from an item of produce to have a selected shell wall thickness and an open interior, comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of light pegs each constructed as an integral one-piece molding of a light transmissive material and having a length at least equal to the shell wall thickness, said light pegs including 
 (1) a peg head; and  
 (2) an elongated shaft extending from said peg head and terminating in a tip portion; and  
   (B) a tool adapted to drive said light pegs through the exterior surface such that a portion thereof optically communicates with the open interior of the item of produce.    
     
     
         12 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 11  wherein said shaft has a convergent end portion opposite of said peg head that is adapted to facilitate penetration of said shaft through the shell wall.  
     
     
         13 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 11  wherein at least one of said peg heads has an outer surface formed with light reflective structures selected from a group consisting of facets, grooves, and images.  
     
     
         14 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 11  wherein some of said shafts are coated with an optically reflective material.  
     
     
         15 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 11  wherein some of said elongated shafts have incision grooves located on an outside surface of said shaft.  
     
     
         16 . A kit for illuminative decoration of an exterior surface portion of a shell wall formed from an item of produce to have a selected shell wall thickness and an open interior, comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of light pegs constructed of a light transmissive material and having a length at least equal to the shell wall thickness; and    (B) a driving tool operative when in use to drive each of said light pegs through the exterior surface such that a portion thereof optically communicates with the open interior of the item of produce, said driving tool including, 
 (1) an enlarged head having at least one flat surface adapted to contact a portion of said light pegs so as to drive said light pegs through the exterior surface of the item of produce; and  
 (2) an elongated handle extending radially outwardly from said enlarged head along a longitudinal axis.  
   
     
     
         17 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 16  wherein said enlarged head is cylindrical in shape and extends transversely to the longitudinal axis between a first flat end and a second flat end.  
     
     
         18 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 17  wherein said handle is located between said first and second ends of said enlarged cylindrical head.  
     
     
         19 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 16  further including an illumination device independent of said light pegs and adapted to be placed in the open interior of the item of produce and operative to emit light, said light pegs operative to transmit the light from the interior of the shell wall so as to create an illuminative decorative pattern that is visible to an external observer.  
     
     
         20 . A kit for illuminative decoration according to  claim 16  further including a pattern sheet adapted to attach to the exterior surface portion of the shell wall and marked to locate positions for at least some of said light pegs corresponding to a decorative pattern.