Kit for Making Decorative Structures and Method Relating Thereto

Abstract

A kit for making a decorative structure is presented. The kit comprises a three-dimensional primary support structure having a shape of a structure. The primary support structure has at lease one panel receiving slot. The kit further comprises at lease one panel. Each panel has at least one panel tab extending therefrom. Each panel is of a shape corresponding to a portion of the primary support structure. A method for making decorative structures using the kit is also presented. In practicing the method, at least one panel, having a pliable material affixed thereto, is affixed to the three-dimensional primary support structure by inserting a panel tab into a panel receiving slot.

1 . A kit for making a decorative structure comprising:
 a three-dimensional primary support structure having at least one panel receiving slot; and   at least one panel, each panel having at least one panel tab extending therefrom and wherein each panel is of a shape corresponding to a portion of the primary support structure.   
     
     
         2 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional primary support structure is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: perforated sheet metal, wood, wire mesh, wire grate material, aluminum, plastic, pliable corrugated plastic, baking stone, and baked clay. 
     
     
         3 . A kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the wherein the three-dimensional primary support structure is comprised of perforated sheet metal, 
     
     
         4 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional primary support structure is derived from a primary support structure having a two-dimensional shape of a structure, wherein the primary support structure has at least one primary support structure tab extending therefrom, at least one primary support structure slot, and at least one panel receiving slot. 
     
     
         5 . A kit according to  claim 4 , wherein the primary support structure is comprised of a semi-rigid material and wherein the semi-rigid material is folded to form a three-dimensional primary support structure. 
     
     
         6 . A kit according to  claim 5 , wherein the semi-rigid material is a corrugated material. 
     
     
         7 . A kit according to  claim 4 , wherein the two-dimensional primary support structure further comprises at least one flange extending from at least one edge of the two-dimensional primary support structure. 
     
     
         8 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein each panel is comprised of a material having at least one surface adapted for receiving a pliable material. 
     
     
         9 . A kit according to  claim 8 , wherein the material is a corrugated material having at least one grooved surface. 
     
     
         10 . A kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the grooved surface of the panel is horizontal to the primary support structure after the panel tab is inserted into the panel receiving slot on the primary support structure. 
     
     
         11 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the kit further comprises a pliable material. 
     
     
         12 . A kit according to  claim 11 , wherein the pliable material is selected from the group consisting of: a dough, a wax, a confection, a clay, and a plaster. 
     
     
         13 . A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein the pliable material is a dough. 
     
     
         14 . A kit according to  claim 13 , wherein the dough is a gingerbread dough. 
     
     
         15 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the kit further comprises a storybook. 
     
     
         16 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of: a house; an Easter basket; and a Christmas tree. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making a decorative structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing the kit according to  claim 1 ;   b) providing a pliable material;   c) affixing the pliable material to a side of each panel wherein the pliable material is integral with the panel and wherein each panel has at least one panel tab extending therefrom wherein each panel tab has a portion not covered by the pliable material; and   d) attaching each panel to a corresponding portion of the primary support structure by inserting each panel tab into each panel receiving slot.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , the method further comprising the step of baking the pliable material after the pliable material has been affixed to a side of each panel and before each panel is attached to the primary support structure. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the pliable material is affixed to the panel by the following method:
 a) providing the pliable material;   b) flattening the pliable material onto a releasable surface;   c) placing the panel onto the flattened pliable material;   d) pressing the panel into the pliable material;   e)trimming the pliable material around the panel and removing the pliable material from a portion of the panel tab; and   f) removing the panel containing the flattened pliable material from the releasable surface.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the three-dimensional primary support structure is derived from a primary support structure having a two-dimensional shape of a structure, wherein the primary support structure has at least one primary support structure tab extending therefrom, at least one primary support structure slot, and at least one panel receiving slot; wherein the three-dimensional primary support structure is formed by folding the two-dimensional primary support structure and inserting each primary support structure tab into each corresponding primary support structure slot to form a three-dimensional primary support structure. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the pliable material is a gingerbread dough. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of baking the panel containing the flattened pliable material after the panel is removed from the releasable surface. 
     
     
         23 . A decorative structure prepared by the method according to  claim 17 .