Decorative devices and methods of making same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a decorative device for a non-food item, kits relating to the device, and methods of making the device. In one embodiment, the decorative article includes a non-food item having a first portion, a second distal portion, and a middle section disposed between the first and second portion. A decorative article is attached to the first portion of the non-food item. And, a decorative base is attached to the second portion of the non-food item. In another embodiment, the decorative article does not extend to the second portion of the non-food item.

1 . A decorative device comprising: 
 a non-food item comprising a first portion, a second distal portion, and a middle section disposed between the first and second portion;    a decorative article attached to the first portion of the non-food item; and    a decorative base attached to the second portion of the non-food item.    
   
   
       2 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the decorative article and the decorative base does not extend to the middle section of the non-food item.  
   
   
       3 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the decorative article and the decorative base does not contact the middle section of the non-food item.  
   
   
       4 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the decorative article and the decorative base is made from a polymeric material.  
   
   
       5 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the decorative article and decorative base is colorable.  
   
   
       6 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-food item has a centerline that extends throughout the device, and the ratio of the longest dimension of the decorative article, as measured normal to the centerline, to the longest dimension of the decorative base, as measured normal to the centerline, is less than about 2:1.  
   
   
       7 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-food item has a centerline that extends throughout the device, and the ratio of the longest dimension of the decorative article, as measured normal to the centerline, to the longest dimension of the decorative base, as measured normal to the centerline, is less than about 0.9:1.  
   
   
       8 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein the middle section comprises a compartment.  
   
   
       9 . The decorative device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-food item is selected from the group consisting of an applicator and a bottle.  
   
   
       10 . A decorative applicator comprising: 
 a body comprising a material therein, the body having a first end, a second end, and an middle section disposed between the first and second end, wherein either the first or the second end includes means for dispensing the material through the first end,    a decorative article attached to the first end of the body; and    a decorative base attached to the second end of the body.    
   
   
       11 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the decorative article and the decorative base does not extend to the middle section of the body of the glue stick.  
   
   
       12 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10  further comprising a cap for attachment to the first end of the body.  
   
   
       13 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the applicator further comprises a cap and the decorative article is attached to the cap.  
   
   
       14 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of adhesive, paint, lip balm, and lipstick.  
   
   
       15 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the decorative article and the decorative base is removably attached to the first and the second end of the body respectively.  
   
   
       16 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the decorative article and decorative base is made from injection moldable polymers, thermoformable polymers, moldable plastics, stamped plastics or metals, and extrudable polymers.  
   
   
       17 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the middle section of the body is substantially cylindrical or substantially polygonal.  
   
   
       18 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the decorative article and decorative base is colorable.  
   
   
       19 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the applicator has a centerline, and the ratio of the longest dimension of the decorative article, as measured normal to the applicator's centerline, to the longest dimension of the decorative base, as measured normal to the applicator's centerline, is less than about 2:1.  
   
   
       20 . The decorative applicator of  claim 10 , wherein the applicator has a centerline, and the ratio of the longest dimension of the decorative article, as measured normal to the applicator's centerline, to the longest dimension of the decorative base, as measured normal to the applicator's centerline, is less than about 0.9:1.  
   
   
       21 . A kit comprising: 
 at least two non-food items, each comprising a first portion, a second distal portion, and a middle section disposed between the first and second portion;    at least two different decorative articles each removably attached to the first portion of the at least two non-food items; and    at least two different decorative bases each removably attached to the second portion of the non-food items,    wherein when the at least two different decorative articles are removably attached to the at least two non-food items, the at least two different decorative articles do not extend to the middle section of the at least two non-food items.    
   
   
       22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two different decorative articles are interchangeable with one another.  
   
   
       23 . The kit of  claim 21  further comprising means for coloring at least one decorative article and one decorative base.  
   
   
       24 . A method of decorating an applicator comprising the steps of: 
 providing a body comprising material therein, the body having a first end, a second end, and an middle section disposed between the first and second end, wherein either the first or the second end includes means for dispensing the adhesive through the first end,    providing a decorative article and a decorative base;    attaching the decorative article to the first end of the body; and    attaching the decorative base to the second end of the body.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein after the decorative article has been attached to the first end of the body, the decorative article does not extend to the middle section of the body.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the decorative article is provided as two portions, a first portion and a second portion.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the first portion contain at least one pin and wherein the second portion contain at least one boss, the pin and boss aligned on the first and second portions.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second portions are spin welded or ultrasonically welded together to form the decorative article.