CRUCIFIX ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A crucifix having a vertical member having a first cut-out on a front portion and a second cut-out on a rear or opposite portion. A horizontal member is received within the first cut-out and connected to the vertical member. The horizontal member has a third cut-out on a rear portion. A crown is positioned about the vertical and horizontal members and received within the second and third cut-outs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed towards a crucifix. More specifically, and without limitation, this invention relates to a crucifix assembly with a crown that lies or mounts flush to a wall.

Crucifixes are well known in the art. One particular presentation of the crucifix includes the placement of a crown, including a crown of thorns, placed over the top of the crucifix and held in place by the horizontal member of the crucifix. Present designs, however, do not permit the crucifix to be mounted or to otherwise lay flush with a wall on which the crucifix is mounted. This in turn can result in odd methods of mounting the crucifix or the crucifix being slightly rotated, which places unnecessary pressure on the crown that can result in damage to the crown or the crucifix.

Thus it is a primary objective of this invention to provide a crucifix assembly that improves upon the art.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a crucifix assembly that can mount or lay flush against a wall.

Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a crucifix assembly that has a full circular crown that is intact.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a crucifix assembly that is aesthetically pleasing.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the specification and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A crucifix has a vertical member connected to a transverse horizontal member. The vertical member has a front portion with a first cut-out and a rear portion with a second cut-out. The horizontal member is received within the first cut-out. The horizontal member has a front portion and a rear portion. The rear portion of the horizontal member has a third cut-out.

A crown is positioned about the vertical and the horizontal member. More specifically, the crown extends around the members and engages the front portions of the vertical and horizontal members and is received within the second and third cut-outs. The crown has intertwined twigs that form a ring with pointed thorn-like wooden dowels that extend outwardly and transversely from the intertwined twigs. Also, the crown fits entirely within the second and third cut-outs so that the rear portions of the vertical and horizontal members lay flush against a support wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a crucifix; and

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of a crucifix.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the figures a crucifix 10 is shown having a cross 12 and a ring or crown 14. The cross 12 has a first or vertical member 16 and a second or horizontal member 18 that connect at an intersection point 20 to form the shape of a cross. As seen in the exemplary embodiment of the Figures, the vertical member 16 and horizontal member 18 are rounded posts, but can be planks, branches, twigs, logs or any other structures that form a cross shape. In some arrangements, the vertical member 16 is longer than the horizontal member 18. The vertical member 16 and the horizontal member 18 are made of wood, but can be made of any other suitable materials, including metal or ceramic.

The vertical member 16 extends between and terminates at a top or first end 22 and a bottom or second end 24. Between the top end 22 and the bottom end 24 is a vertical or first midpoint 26 equidistant from the top end 22 and the bottom end 24.

On a front portion 28 of the vertical member 16 is a first cut-out or notch 30 that is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the horizontal member 18, and hence aligns with the intersection point 20. In some embodiments of the present invention, the first notch 30 is positioned above the first midpoint 26 and below the top end 22 of the vertical member 16.

On a rear portion 32 of the vertical member 16 is a second cut-out or notch 34 that is sized and shaped to receive a portion of the crown 14 entirely within the second notch 34. In this way, the first notch 30 extends into the vertical member 16 from the opposite side than the second notch 34. Put alternatively, the first notch 30 and the second notch 34 both extend towards a vertical plane extending from the top end 22 to the bottom end 24, but from opposing sides. In other arrangements, the first notch 30 is in the rear portion 32 and the second notch 34 is in the front portion 28. The second notch 34 is positioned above the first notch 30 and below the top end 22 of the vertical member.

The horizontal member 18 extends between and terminates at a left or first end 36 and a right or second end 38. Between the left end 36 and the right end 38 is a horizontal or second midpoint 40. On a rear portion 42 opposite of a front portion 41 of the horizontal member 18 is a third cut-out or notch 44 that is sized and shaped to receive a portion of the crown entirely within the third notch 44. The third notch 44 is positioned closer to one of the two ends 36 and 38 depending on the arrangement.

The horizontal member 18 is received within the first notch 30 of the vertical member 16. One or more connection members, such as screws, 46 are passed through the rear portion 32 of the vertical member 16. Alternatively, adhesive is used to connect the vertical member 16 and the horizontal member 18.

The connection at the intersection point 20 of the vertical member 16 and the horizontal member 18 forms a top portion 48 and a bottom portion 50 of the vertical member 16 that extends above and below the intersection point 20, respectively. Similarly, a left portion 52 and a right portion 54 extend to the right and left of the intersection point 20, respectively.

The crown 14 is around the intersection point 20 in such a manner that it is received both in front of and behind the cross 12. The Figures show one such arrangement, where the crown passes behind the top portion 48 and is received within the second notch 34 of the vertical member 16. The crown 14 is also behind the right portion 54 and is received within the third notch 44. From there, the crown 14 passes in front of the bottom portion 50 of the vertical member 16 and the left portion 52 of the horizontal member 18. In this arrangement, the crown 14 is wrapped around the cross 12, but the size and shape of the second notch 34 and the third notch 44 receive the crown 14 in such a manner that it does not extend beyond the rear portion 32 of the vertical member 16.

The crown 14 in one embodiment is comprised of a plurality of interwoven twigs 56 and has a plurality of outwardly protruding thorns 58. Positioned through the crown 14 and in some embodiments, through spaces between the twigs 56 are connection members 46. In some arrangements of the present invention, the connection members 46 have discs or washers 59 opposite their point of connection to further secure the crown 14. Alternatively or in addition to the connection members 46, adhesive is used.

In some embodiments, a cover 60, such as stacked strands of rope or cloth, is positioned on the vertical member 16 and above and below the intersection point 20. In this way, the cover 60 disguises the first notch 30. Likewise, the positioning of the second notch 34 and the third notch 44 on the rear side of the cross 12 prevent the second notch 34 and third notch 44 from being readily visible, which also hides the connection members 46 and any adhesive. The elements of the present invention also allow the crucifix assembly 10, and the vertical member 16 in particular, to mount flush against a wall or surface (not shown). Alternatively, wood putty is placed on the back.

Therefore, a crucifix assembly 10 has been provided that mounts flush against a wall 62, has a full, intact crown 14, is aesthetically pleasing, and improves upon the art.

From the above discussion and accompanying figures and claims it will be appreciated that the crucifix assembly 10 offers many advantages over the prior art. It will be appreciated further by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby. It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in the light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included in the spirit and purview of this application.

Claims

1. A crucifix, comprising: a vertical member having a first end, a second end, a front portion having a first cut-out, and a rear portion having a second cut-out;a horizontal member received within the first cut-out and connected to the vertical member, wherein the horizontal member has a first end, a second end, and a rear portion having a third cut-out; anda crown position about the vertical and horizontal member and received within the second and the third cut-out.

2. The crucifix of claim 1 further comprising a cover wrapped around the horizontal member adjacent the vertical member.

3. The crucifix of claim 1 wherein the crown includes interwoven twigs formed to create a ring with pointed wooden dowels extending outwardly and transversely from the interwoven twigs.

4. The crucifix of claim 1 wherein the rear portion of the vertical and horizontal member are adapted to lay flush against a support wall.