Light funneled illuminated edge decoration assembly and method

Abstract

A light funneled illuminated edge decoration assembly includes a support shaft having a bottom end and a top end. Each of a plurality of decorative elements is comprised of a single, unitary panel. The decorative elements each have a central area with an aperture extending therethrough. The support shaft is extendable through the apertures to allow the decorative elements to be stacked on each other. Each of the decorative elements has an upper surface and a lower surface each being non-planer. The decorative elements are each comprised of a fluorescent acrylic material. A retention member is mounted on the support shaft and releasably engages the decorative elements to retain the decorative elements on the support shaft.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of assembling a garden decoration comprising the steps of:
 providing a decorating element; and   mounting a support shaft to the decorative element such that the support shaft extends downwardly therefrom, the decorative element being formed from a unitary panel such that the decorative element has an upper surface and a lower surface, each of the upper and lower surfaces being non-planer, the decorative element being comprised of a fluorescent acrylic material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 1 , further including the step of releasably retaining the decorative element on the support shaft with a retention member. 
     
     
         3 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of retaining the decorative element on the support shaft further includes positioning the retention member on the shaft and extending the retention member and shaft through an aperture extending through the decorative element such that the retention member frictionally engages a perimeter edge of the aperture, the retention member comprising a resiliently compressible material extending around the support shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of providing a decorative element further includes the steps of:
 providing a sheet of fluorescent acrylic material;   cutting a shape from the sheet and defining the shape as a planar element;   heating the planar element; and   shaping the planar element when the planar element has achieved a temperature of malleability to add curvature to portions of the upper and lower surfaces to define the decorative element   
     
     
         5 . A method of assembling a garden decoration comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of decorative elements each comprising a unitary panel, wherein at least a first decorative element and a second decorative element are defined, the decorative elements each having an upper surface and a lower surface, each of the decorative elements being comprised of a fluorescent acrylic material; and   attaching together a support shaft with the plurality of decorating elements such that the support shaft extends downwardly from each of the plurality of decorating elements.   
     
     
         6 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 5 , wherein said upper and lower surfaces of said first decorative element are non-planar. 
     
     
         7 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 5 , further including the step of releasably retaining the decorative elements on the support shaft with a retention member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of retaining the decorative elements on the support shaft further includes positioning the retention member on the shaft and extending the retention member and shaft through apertures extending through the decorative elements such that the retention member frictionally engages perimeter edges of the apertures, the retention member comprising a resiliently compressible material extending around the support shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of providing the decorative elements further includes the steps of:
 providing a sheet of fluorescent acrylic material;   cutting a plurality of shapes from the sheet and defining the shapes as a planar element;   heating the planar elements; and   shaping the planar elements when the planar elements have achieved a temperature of malleability to add curvature to portions of the upper and lower surfaces, wherein at least some of the planar elements resemble flowers.   
     
     
         10 . The method of assembling a garden decoration according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of providing the decorative elements further includes the steps of:
 providing a sheet of fluorescent acrylic material;   cutting a plurality of shapes from the sheet and defining the shapes as a planar element;   heating the planar elements; and   shaping the planar elements when the planar elements have achieved a temperature of malleability to add curvature to portions of the upper and lower surfaces, wherein at least some of the planar elements resemble flowers.