Resin-based sculptures with aesthetically pleasing hardware

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9441807-B2
Application number	US-201313787455-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2013
Priority date	Mar 7, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

The disclosure involves resin-based sculptures, such as resin-based lighting fixtures, that include resin pieces secured together by resin-based fasteners. One or more resin-based fasteners secure the resin pieces. Furthermore, the resin-based fasteners are configured to blend in with the resin pieces in a manner that reduces the visibility of the resin-based fasteners. For instance, the resin-based fasteners can have a color and/or shade that match the color and/or shade of the resin strips.

First claim

I claim:

1. A resin-based sculpture, comprising:
a plurality of resin strips; and
one or more resin-based fasteners securing the plurality of resin strips together, each of the resin-based fasteners having a mandrel and a main body, wherein the mandrel is movable relative to the main body, such that, upon insertion through an opening in the head of the main body, the main body is split, on at least one end, into a plurality of legs that thereby secure the one or more resin-based fasteners to the plurality of resin strips;
wherein:
one or more resin strips of the plurality of resin strips are shaped to form a decorative design, and
a color and resin material of the one or more resin-based fasteners matches a color and resin material of the one or more resin strips of the plurality of resin strips which are secured by the one or more resin-based fasteners.

2. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , wherein a shade of the one or more resin-based fasteners is darker than a shade of the one or more resin strips which are secured by the one or more resin-based fasteners.

3. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more resin-based fasteners are transparent.

4. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more resin-based fasteners comprise rivets.

5. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more resin-based fasteners comprise clips or screws.

6. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , wherein a first resin strip includes a different curvature than at least a second resin strip.

7. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 6 , wherein each resin strip of the plurality of resin strips includes a different curvature.

8. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one or more decorative layers positioned within one or more of the resin strips.

9. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 8 , wherein the one or more decorative layers comprise a fabric layer.

10. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
each resin strip has a gauge of between about ⅛ an inch and about ¼ an inch; and
each resin strip comprises PETG.

11. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more slots formed about the plurality of legs on each fastener;
wherein the one or more slots facilitate light transmission through each fastener.

12. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 11 , wherein:
the head comprises a main body opening into which the mandrel is advanced, and a countersink opening that fits a top portion of the mandrel; and
the top portion of the mandrel is wider than the opening into which the mandrel is advanced.

13. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 12 , wherein the main body opening into which the mandrel is advanced is conical.

14. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 1 , wherein each main body comprises:
a head; and
a blind end that comprises the plurality of legs.

15. A resin-based lighting fixture, comprising:
a plurality of resin pieces; and
a plurality of resin-based rivets securing the plurality of resin pieces together, each of the resin-based rivets having a mandrel and a main body, wherein the mandrel is movable relative to the main body, such that, upon insertion through an opening in the head of the main body, the main body is split, on at least one end, into a plurality of legs that thereby secure the plurality of resin-based rivets and the plurality of resin pieces together; and
a lighting source at least partially surrounded by the plurality of resin pieces,
wherein:
one or more resin pieces of the plurality of resin pieces are shaped to form a decorative design, and
a color, transparency, and resin material of the plurality of resin-based rivets matches a color, transparency, and resin material of the plurality of resin pieces, such that the plurality of resin-based rivets blends with the secured plurality of resin pieces.

16. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a mounting fixture supporting the plurality of resin strips.

17. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 16 , wherein the mounting fixture comprises a light socket.

18. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 15 , wherein a shade of the one or more resin-based rivets is lighter than a shade of the one or more resin strips which are secured by the one or more resin-based rivets.

19. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 15 , wherein a first resin piece includes a different curvature than at least a second resin piece.

20. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 19 , wherein each resin strip piece of the plurality of resin strips pieces includes a different curvature.

21. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:
one or more slots formed about the plurality of legs on each fastener;
wherein the one or more slots facilitate light transmission through each fastener.

22. The resin-based lighting fixture as recited in claim 15 , wherein each main body comprises:
a head; and
a blind end that comprises the plurality of legs.

23. The resin-based lighting fixture as recited in claim 22 , wherein:
the head comprises a main body opening into which the mandrel is advanced, and a countersink opening that fits a top portion of the mandrel; and
the top portion of the mandrel is wider than the opening into which the mandrel is advanced.

24. The resin-based sculpture as recited in claim 23 , wherein the main body opening into which the mandrel is advanced is conical.

25. A method of forming a resin-based sculpture, comprising:
cutting a plurality of resin pieces from a resin sheet made of a resin material having a texture;
heating the resin pieces;
shaping two or more resin pieces of the plurality of resin pieces;
securing a first resin piece of the two or more resin pieces to a second resin piece of the two or more resin pieces using a resin-based fastener having a color that matches a color of one or more of the first and second resin pieces, the resin-based fastener having a mandrel and a main body, wherein the mandrel is movable relative to the main body such that, inserting the mandrel within the main body causes the main body, on at least one end, to split into a plurality of legs that secure the mandrel to the main body of the fastener; and
assembling the resin strips about a mounting fixture.

26. The method as recited in claim 25 , further comprising dying the resin-based fastener to match the two or more resin strips.

27. The method as recited in claim 25 , wherein heating the resin strips comprises heating the resin strips to a temperature approximately equal to a glass transition temperature of the resin strips.

28. The method as recited in claim 25 , wherein the resin-based fastener is a lighter shade of the color than a shade of the first and second resin strips.

29. The method as recited in claim 25 , further comprising inserting the mandrel within each main body so that the mandrel is flush with a head of the main body.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 , wherein:
the main body comprises head portion having a countersink shape; and
the mandrel comprises a countersinking top portion that is thicker than the mandrel, the counte

Assignees

• 3Form Inc
• 3Form Llc

Inventors

• Smith Ryan Grey

Classifications

• F21Y2101/02

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• Y10T29/4998

  Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material · CPC title

• A61F13/266

  Insertion devices, e.g. rods or plungers, separate from the tampon · CPC title

• F21V1/22 Primary

  the material being plastics · CPC title

• Y10T428/24479

  including variation in thickness · CPC title