A plastics material twig carrying leaf stalks directly provided with a terminal portion, folded at a right angle, for support of the leaves, for the production of artificial ornamental plants

Abstract

 The invention relates to a particular plastics material formed twig for the production of artificial ornamental plants, which is characterised by the fact that it includes projecting leaf stalks (2) having a terminal section (3) of suitable length folded at a right angle with respect to the direction of the leaf stalks (2), on such terminal sections (3) there being fitted, by heat welding or gluing, corresponding leaves (4) made from a thin layer of plastics material.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a plastics material twig carrying leaf stalks directly provided with a terminal portion, folded at a right angle, for support of the leaves, for the production of artificial ornamental plants.

[0002] As is known, currently for the production of artificial ornamental plants in appropriate plastics materials, it is provided that the stems or leaf stalks intended to carry the leaves are mechanically fixed in a manual manner to the branches by means of pointed members (pins) or by means of small joints and the like.

[0003] This procedure, obviously, is rather laborious and significantly affects the cost of manufacture.

[0004] Moreover, the connection between the stalk and the branch, especially when pointed members are used, is always rather precarious in that a general pulling action on a leaf can easily cause separation of the associated stalk from the branch itself.

[0005] The object of the present invention is that of eliminating the previously lamented disadvantages by providing a formed twig in plastics material which simplifies the normal operations for the production of artificial ornamental plants.

[0006] Within the scope of the above-stated object, a particular object of the present invention is that of providing a formed twig in plastics material for the production of artificial ornamental plants, which is provided with appropriate shaped projections fixable to the individual leaves.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is that of providing a formed twig in plastics material which allows artificial ornamental plants to be obtained having leaves disposed in a pre-determined direction of orientation.

[0008] The said object, as well as the above-listed objects and others which will possibly become more clearly apparent hereinbelow, are achieved according to the invention by a formed twig in plastics material for the production of artificial ornamental plants, characterised by the fact that it is provided with projecting stalks having a terminal section, of suitable length, folded at a right angle with respect to the length of the stalks themselves; on such terminal sections there being applied, by heat welding or gluing, corresponding leaves made of a thin layer of appropriate plastics material.

[0009] Further characteristics and advantages of the formed plastics material twig which constitutes the subject of the present invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of a typical embodiment of the twig itself, illustrated purely by way of indication in the various figures of the attached drawing, in which:

In Figure 1 is shown a portion of this twig devoid of leaves;

In Figure 2 there is shown, in particular, a portion of the twig provided with leaves;

In Figure 3 there is illustrated a leaf and a terminal part of a leaf stalk, intended to support the leaf itself.

[0010] With particular reference to the numerical symbols of the various figures of the attached drawing, the formed plastics material twig, for the production of artificial ornamental plants, is constituted by a substantially round stem 1 whicn is ot sinuous shape similar in form to a generic bare twig.

[0011] On this stem there are formed, at more or less regular intervals, projecting stalks 2 lying in a single plane passing through the axis of the stem itself and having a direction almost radial with respect to this latter.

[0012] The said stalks preferably have suitable longitudinal ribs and are provided with a terminal section 3 folded at a right angle and having a triangular section in such a way as to define, a flat outside surface 3'.

[0013] In particular, the said terminal sections of the stalks have flat surfaces facing in the same direction as that in which they project from the twig.

[0014] To these flat surfaces of the said terminal sections there are fitted corresponding leaves 4 by means of a heat welding process or by gluing.

[0015] These leaves are formed as a thin layer starting from a suitable plastics material, and can have a form and outline shape, as well as a coloration, of any type depending on the specific type of plant which it is desired artificially to reproduce.

[0016] Obviously, the said stem 1 forming corresponding twigs can fork from a primary branch 1' which can be suitably fitted to a trunk.

[0017] These stems, moreover, can have lateral buds 5 formed in intermediate positions between the leaf stalks, for support of leaves, the terminal sections of which formally reproduce their main rib.

[0018] It is likewise appropriate to state that the arrangement of the said terminal section is such that the leaves fitted to them have their tips all facing in substantially a single direction.

[0019] Consequently it is possible to dispose twigs on a stem with a pre-determined foliar trend in such a way as to obtain, with a convenient orientation of the trunk itself, the best aesthetic and formal aspect of the ornamental plants produced.

[0020] From what has been explained above and from observation of the various figures of the attached drawing, the great functionality and practicality of use which characterises the formed twig for the production of artificial ornamental plants, constituting the subject of the present utility model will be apparent.

Claims

1. A formed plastics material twig for the production of artificial ornamental plants, characterised by the fact that it is provided with projecting leaf stalks having a terminal section of suitable length folded at a right angle with respect to the length of the leaf stalks themselves; on such terminal section there being fitted, by means of heat welding or gluing, corresponding leaves made of a thin layer of appropriate plastics material.

2. A formed plastics materal twig according to the preceding Claim, characterised by the fact that it is constituted by a substantially round stem of suitably sinuous form, similar in general form to a bare twig, on which are formed, at more or less regular intervals projecting leaf stalks lying in a single plane passing through the axis of the stalk itself and having an almost radial direction with respect to this latter.

3. A formed twig according to the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the said leaf stalks preferably have suitable longitudinal ribs and are provided with a terminal section folded at a right angle and having a triangular section in such a way as to present an outer flat surface.

4. A formed twig according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the said terminal sections of the leaf stalks have flat surfaces facing in the same direction with respect to the twig from which they project; on these flat surfaces of these terminal sections there being fitted corresponding leaves by means of a heat welding or gluing process.

5. A formed twig according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the said leaves are obtained as thin layers starting from a suitable plastics material and can have any desired form and outline shape, as well as coloration, in dependence on the specific type of plant which it is desired to reproduce artificially.

6. A formed twig according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the said stems, constituting corresponding twigs fork from a primary branch which can be suitably fitted to a trunk; these stems, moreover, can have lateral buds formed in intermediate positions with respect to the leaf stalks supporting the leaves.

7. A formed twig according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the arrangement of the terminal sections of the said leaf stalks is such that the leaves fitted thereon have their tips facing substantially in a single direction.

Drawing