Patent Application
20090014398
The present invention is directed to ladder sculptures and methods of use, and in particular to anthropomorphized ladder sculptures.
In the prior art, the use of ladders in other applications is known. U.S. Pat. No. D31,418 to Wilson discloses a game frame in the shape of side-by-side ladders.
It is also known to incorporate living images with a ladder. U.S. Pat. No. D78,040 to Muller shows a step ladder that includes images of a bunny rabbit on its side legs.
U.S. Pat. No. D89,409 to Porter discloses a table that has animate figures for its legs.
A first object of the invention is to provide a new type of ladder sculpture.
Another object of the invention is a ladder sculpture that is anthropomorphized in that it has ladder legs with human body profiles/shapes.
A further object of the invention is a method of using the ladder sculptures to portray human images/shapes on a wall or other surface.
One other object is the use of the ladder sculpture as a support for another structure such as a table top, ash tray, flower pot, a shelf or shelves, or the like.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent when reviewing the description below.
The ladder sculpture of the invention comprises a first ladder leg with a portion having a shape generally depicting a profile of a human male or human female body and a second ladder leg with a portion having a shape of a human male or human female body. A plurality of rungs are provided that interconnect the first and second ladder legs. Portions of the ladder legs having the human female or male body shape are positioned between top and bottom ends of the ladder legs.
In one embodiment, the first leg can have a human male body profile and the second leg can have a human female body profile. Alternatively, the first and second legs can be both human male or female body profiles.
The top end of the ladder legs can be shaped like a human hand, and/or the bottom end of the ladder legs can take on the form of a human foot.
The bottom ends of the ladder legs can be interconnected by a base. Similarly, the top ends of the ladder legs can support an article, whereby the article is further adapted to support or display other items, or be used for display purposes itself. In a preferred embodiment, the ladder top ends include hands, with the hands configured so to support the article.
The invention also includes a method of use of the ladder sculptures. In this method, a light source is provided and directed against one or more sculptures, that are positioned adjacent a wall surface. The ladder sculptures create shadows on the wall surface, creating an image of human forms. Any of the above-described ladder sculptures can be utilized in the image creating method.
The present invention offers a unique form of sculpture using ladders whereby the ladders are anthropomorphized with ladder legs having human body profiles or shapes. The ladder sculpture can be used for decorative purposes, or in conjunction with another member or article in a support or display mode.
Leg 1 has a middle section that has the profile of a human male, with leg 2 having its middle section shaped with the profile of a human female. The edges of the legs 1 and 2 are made to represent various features of a human body. For example, in leg 1, a chest is found at 4, a knee at 5, buttocks at 6, etc. Similar features are shown represented on leg 2, buttocks at 7, breast at 8, knee at 9. The depicted profiles of the human male and females are exemplary, and other shapes could be used. For example, the body profile could be made larger or smaller to represent thin or overweight bodies. Alternatively, certain features could be exaggerated, such as the male's chest to represent strength.
In the
While a table top 16 is shown, the ladder top ends could be used to support virtually any article that would provide an additional utility to the sculpture, e.g., an ash tray, a flower pot, champagne bucket, multiple shelves, an easel, a towel rack, lamp, etc. These articles would be attached to the top ends using conventional technology. In yet another mode, although not shown, the hands of the
While
In an exemplary use of the ladder sculptures, a pair of sculptures can be employed, each having hands 10 and 11 at top ends thereof, feet and a sculpture base at the bottom ends, see
It should also be understood that the embodiment of
The sculptures can be made of any material, e.g., metal, wood, plastics, composites or combinations thereof. The attachment between the rungs and legs, and base and legs can also take any form, such as welding if the pieces are metal, or through the use of fasteners, adhesives or combinations thereof.
As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects of the present invention as set forth above and provides a ladder sculpture which is adapted for display purposes, and as a support for other articles or members.
Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations from the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.
This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) based on application No. 60/483,922 filed on Jul. 2, 2003, and herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10879285 | Jun 2004 | US |
| Child | 12216565 | US |
