Vacuum actuated display ornaments

Abstract

Improved vacuum actuated display ornaments which adhere to surfaces by self-suction are improved by a wall thickness at the center of mass thicker than their peripheral wall thickness.

1. A unitary, one-piece display ornament comprising a non- symmetrical  flexible sheet material having an overall mass and a center of mass, said ornament having contoured walls which form a convex exterior surface and a concave interior surface, said interior surface having a surface area of from about 3 in. 2  to about 25 in. 2 , both of which surfaces are suitable for displaying a printed message, while said interior surface is capable of adhering to a substrate when compressed against it; said contoured walls also forming a core at the center of mass of the ornament, said center of mass core occupying at least 40% of the total surface area of the ornament and containing at least 50% of the overall mass of the ornament. 
     
     
       2. The ornament of  claim 1  wherein the contoured walls form a conical shaped core at the center of mass and has at the periphery a wall thickness of 50% less than the wall thickness at its center of mass. 
     
     
       3. The ornament of  claim 2  having the wall thickness tapered gradually from about ⅛ inch thickness at the center of mass to about 1/16 inch at the peripheral wall thickness. 
     
     
       4. A unitary, one- piece display ornament comprising a flexible sheet material having an overall mass and a center of mass, said ornament having contoured walls which form a convex exterior surface and a concave interior surface, said interior surface having a surface area of from about  3  in.   2    to about  25  in.   2   , both of which surfaces are suitable for displaying a printed message and at least one of said surfaces having a message displayed thereon, while said interior surface is capable of adhering to a substrate when compressed against it; said contoured walls also forming a core at the center of mass of the ornament, said center of mass core occupying at least  40   %  of the total surface area of the ornament and containing at least  50   %  of the overall mass of the ornament.   
     
     
       5. A unitary, one- piece display ornament comprising a flexible sheet material having an overall mass and a center of mass, said ornament having contoured walls which form a convex exterior surface and a concave interior surface, said interior surface having a surface area of from about  3  in.   2    to about  25  in.   2   , both of which surfaces are suitable for displaying a printed message, while said interior surface is capable of adhering to a substrate when compressed against it; said contoured walls also forming a core at the center of mass of the ornament, said center of mass core occupying at least  40   %  of the total surface area of the ornament and containing at least  50   %  of the overall mass of the ornament, wherein said sheet has a shape corresponding to a product and/or a theme of a user of the ornament.   
     
     
       6. The ornament of  claim 1  wherein the core is a localized region within the ornament. 
     
     
       7. The ornament of  claim 6  wherein said center of mass core concentrates at least  50 %  of the overall mass of the ornament within one  40   %  of the total surface area of the ornament about its center of mass.   
     
     
       8. The ornament of  claim 1  wherein the core is generally symmetric. 
     
     
       9. The ornament of  claim 1  wherein the core is generally conical. 
     
     
       10. The ornament of  claim 4  wherein the message displayed on the ornament includes information relating to advertising or promotional purposes of a user of the ornament. 
     
     
       11. The ornament of  claim 4  wherein the message displayed on the ornament includes health- related information.   
     
     
       12. The ornament of  claim 4  wherein said sheet has a shape relating to the message displayed on the ornament. 
     
     
       13. The ornament of  claim 12  wherein the shape of the sheet and the message displayed on the ornament relate to advertising or promotional purposes of a user of the ornament. 
     
     
       14. The ornament of  claim 12  wherein the shape of the sheet and the message displayed on the ornament relate to health or emergency information. 
     
     
       15. The ornament of  claim 4  wherein the message displayed on the ornament is provided on the at least one surface in at least one form selected from a group of forms consisting of: directly printed, silk screened, pad printed, and labeled. 
     
     
       16. The ornament of  claim 15  wherein the message displayed on the ornament is in- mold labeled on the at least one surface.   
     
     
       17. The ornament of  claim 5  wherein said shape of the sheet is selected from a group of shapes consisting of a tooth corresponding to a product and/or a theme of a dental business, an apple corresponding to a product and/or a theme of a produce- related business, an animal corresponding to a product and/or a theme of a pet - related business, and a house corresponding to a product and/or a theme of a real estate - related business.   
     
     
       18. A unitary, one- piece display ornament comprising a flexible sheet material having an overall mass and a center of mass, said ornament having contoured walls which form a convex exterior surface and a concave interior surface, said interior surface having a surface area of from about  3  in.   2    to about  25  in.   2   , both of which surfaces are suitable for displaying a printed message, while said interior surface is capable of adhering to a substrate when compressed against it; said contoured walls also forming a core at the center of mass of the ornament, said center of mass core occupying at least  40   %  of the total surface area of the ornament and containing at least  50   %  of the overall mass of the ornament, wherein said sheet has a shape customized for a select predetermined business.   
     
     
       19. The ornament of  claim 18  wherein the shape of the sheet corresponds to a product and/or a theme of the business.