Rice petals

Abstract

Environmentally-friendly materials 1000 intended to be tossed into the air are constructed of water soluble materials which dissolve in the rain. These may also be made of materials which birds and squirrels may eat without doing them any harm. One preferred material, based upon its density and rigidity is rice papers. The materials are cut into pieces 1000 which are sized and shaped to resemble flower petals, confetti 1200 or a petal 1300 made to spiral down to the ground like a falling maple seed. The rice petals 1000, 1200, 1300 have a pale color to reduce the chances that they will stain the ground or other surfaces. These are designed to be used in areas which restrict throwing flower petals, which cause staining, rice, which harms wildlife, or confetti which must be cleaned up. The rice petals 1000, 1200, 1300 do not stain, may be eaten by wildlife and biodegrade in the environment. Since the material of the rice petals may be made of rice, they preserve the tradition of throwing rice at celebrations.

1 . A biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal comprising:
 a concave surface resembling a flower petal,   wherein the surface has a size and weight resembling that of a single flower petal, and   the surface has a wind resistance resembling that of a single flower petal.   
   
   
       2 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 1  wherein:
 the surface is made of a water soluble material which is adapted to dissolve in the environment.   
   
   
       3 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 1  wherein:
 the surface is made of a material which may be readily eaten by wildlife without causing them damage.   
   
   
       4 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 1  wherein:
 the surface is made of a material which has a rigidity similar to that of a flower petal.   
   
   
       5 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 1  wherein:
 the surface is made of a material which is dyed with a pale color that does not cause staining.   
   
   
       6 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 1  wherein:
 the surface is made of a rice starch material.   
   
   
       7 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 6  wherein:
 the rice starch material is pressed to adjust its density and rigidity.   
   
   
       8 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 6  wherein:
 the rice starch material is aerated to adjust its density and rigidity.   
   
   
       9 . A biodegradable, environmentally-friendly confetti rice petal comprising:
 a flat surface resembling a piece of confetti,   wherein the flat surface has a size on the order of ¾ inch to 2 inches and a weight to surface area ratio similar to that of a piece of confetti. are made of a water soluble material which:   is adapted to dissolve in the environment,   is a material which may be eaten by wildlife without causing them damage,   has a rigidity similar to that of confetti,   is dyed with a pale color that does not cause staining.   
   
   
       10 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly confetti rice petal of  claim 9  wherein:
 the flat surface is made of a water soluble material which is adapted to dissolve in the environment.   
   
   
       11 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 9  wherein:
 the flat surface is made of a material which may be readily eaten by wildlife without causing them damage.   
   
   
       12 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 9  wherein:
 the flat surface is made of a material which has a rigidity similar to that of a flower petal.   
   
   
       13 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 9  wherein:
 the flat surface is made of a material which is dyed with a pale color that does not cause staining.   
   
   
       14 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 9  wherein:
 the flat surface is made of a rice starch material.   
   
   
       15 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 9  wherein:
 the rice starch material is pressed to adjust its density and rigidity.   
   
   
       16 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly rice petal of  claim 9  wherein:
 the rice starch material is aerated to adjust its density and rigidity.   
   
   
       17 . A biodegradable, environmentally-friendly twirling rice petal, comprising:
 a) a heavy seed end,   b) a wing end having:
 a rigid leading edge, and 
 a more flexible trailing edge such that it may bend upward when an upward force is applied to it causing the wing end to approximate a propeller blade shape, causing it to twirl when dropped like a falling maple seed. 
   
   
   
       18 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly twirling rice petal of  claim 17  wherein:
 the twirling rice petal is comprised of a water soluble material which:   a) is adapted to dissolve in the environment,   b) is a material which may be eaten by wildlife without causing them damage.   
   
   
       19 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly twirling rice petal of  claim 17  wherein it is dyed with a pale color that does not cause staining. 
   
   
       20 . The biodegradable, environmentally-friendly twirling rice petal of  claim 17  wherein the twirling rice petal is constructed of a material being one of the group consisting of:
 a starch, a rice starch, a breading material, a seaweed material, a birdfeed material, and a material used to feed squirrels.