GB2437261A

GB2437261A - A mood indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2437261A
Application number: GB0611720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Macalister S Moorhouse; Terry Cooke; Linda Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-19
Filing date: 2006-06-14
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Also published as: GB0611720D0; GB0607661D0

Abstract

A mood indicator 10 comprises a main portion 12 and a mood indicating portion 14. The mood indicating portion 14 is arrangeable on the main portion 12 in a selected one of a plurality of positions. The mood indicating portion 14 may be formed of a flexible material. Optionally storage means may be provided to store one or more indicators.

Description

MOOD INDICATOR

This invention relates to mood indicators. Embodiments of the invention relate to symbols for indicating the emotions of a user.

There are occasions, such as during sporting fixtures, when it is desirable for individuals to be able to indicate to others their feelings.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a mood indicator comprising a main portion and a mood indicating portion arrangeable on the main portion in a selected one of a plurality of positions. In one embodiment, each of the aforesaid positions can, if desired, represent a difterent mood of the user.

In one embodiment, the main portion and the mood indicating portions may comprise co-operating attachment formations to allow the mood indicating portion to be attached to the main portion. In one embodiment, the co-operating attachment formations comprise a projection on one of the portions receivable in an aperture on the other of the portion.

The main portion may define a pair of apertures, and the mood indicating portion may comprise a pair of projections, each being receivable in a respective one of the apertures. The projections may be in the form of detent members receivable in the apertures to secure the mood indicating portion to the main portion. The projections may have a dimension which exceeds a dimension of the apertures, such that when the projections are received in the apertures, the mood indicating portion is locked to the main portion.

Preferably, the mood indicating portion is formed of a flexible material to allow it to be deformed into the aforesaid plurality of positions. Preferably, the mood indicating portion comprises an elongate strip. The projections may be provided on the elongate strip, desirably at respective opposite ends thereof. The projections may comprise detent members, each of which may have a narrower free end, which may widen to an engagement region. The detent members may narrow towards the elongate strip. The elongate strip may define a recess on each side of the detent member.

The mood indicating portion may be formed of a flexible material, such as a plastics material.

The apertures defined by the main portion may be spaced from one another by a distance which is less than the length of the mood indicating portion. In one embodiment, this provides the feature that the mood indicating portion needs to be deformed from a straight condition to a selected one of a plurality of curved conditions in order for each projection to be received in a respective one of the apertures.

One of the apertures may be wider than the other aperture to allow pivoting of the projection when it is received therein.

The mood indicator may comprise a support member to support the main portion.

The support member may be attached to the main portion, and may be foldably attached to the main portion to enable it to be folded to a support condition in which it can support the main portion.

The support member may be foldable rearwardly relative to the main portion.

A storage means may be provided to store one or more indicators.

The indicators may be arranged to further indicate the mood of the user. The storage means may comprise a flap, which may be cut into the support portion. The indicators may be held by the storage means, desirably between the storage means and a further region of the main portion.

The indicators may comprise cards, such as red and/or yellow cards.

In one embodiment, the main portion may have a representation of a pair of eyes. The apertures may be arranged below the eyes. Thus, in this embodiment, when the mood indicating portion is arranged on the main portion, the main portion represents a face, with the mood indicating portion representing the mouth of the face.

The mood indicating portion may be mounted on the main portion in a first position, in which the mood indicating portion extends in a downward direction from each of the apertures. In this position, the mood indicating portion may represent a smile on the main portion.

The mood indicating portion may be mounted on the main portion in a second condition in which the mood indicating portion extends upwardly from each of the apertures. In this position, the mood indicating portion represents a frown on the main portion.

In a third position, the mood indicating portion may be mounted on the main portion such that the mood indicating portion extends upwardly from one of the apertures and downwardly from the other of the apertures. In this position, the mood indicating portion represents a wry smile, denoting disappointment, or other similar emotion or mood.

The flexible material may be a flexible plastics material, such as polypropylene. The main portion may be formed of a flexible material, which may be a flexible plastics material, such as polypropylene.

If desired, the main portion could be decorated in a manner to represent allegiance to sporting teams, such as football teams.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a mood indicator in an unassembled condition; Fig 1A shows an embodiment of a mood indicating portion; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the mood indicator in Fig. 1 with the mood indicating portion mounted on the main portion; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with a support portion being moved rearwardly of a main portion to a support condition; and Fig. 4 shows the mood indicator of Fig. 3, with a support portion arranged in its support condition extending rearwardly from the main portion.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the mood indicator with the mood indicating portion in a first position; Fig. 6 shows a front view of the mood indicating portion shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a front view of the mood indicator shown in Fig. 5 with the mood indicating portion in a second position; and Fig. 8 shows a front view of the mood indicator shown in Fig. 5 with the mood indicating portion in a third position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a mood indicator 10, comprising a main portion 12 and a mood indicating portion 14. The main portion 12 and the mood indicating portion 14 are both formed of a flexible plastics material, such as polypropylene.

The main portion 12 is in the form of a face 16. The main portion 12 is generally circular in configuration, but has a lower edge 18 which is straight.

A support member 20 extends from the main portion 12 and is joined thereto at the lower edge 18. The support member is also generally circular in configuration, as shown.

The support member 20 can be folded rearwardly of the main portion 12, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5.

When folded rearwardly, the support portion 20 enables the mood indicator 10 to be stood on a flat surface, for example a desk or a table.

As can be seen from the drawings, the face 16 represented by the main portion 12 has a representation of a pair of eyes 22. It also has on it a red cross 24 extending across it, representing the Cross of St. George to allow supporters of the English Football Team to display their allegiance.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the decoration on the main portion 12 could be the colours of any sporting team, or any other desired representation.

The main portion 12 defines a pair of spaced apertures 26 in the lower region thereof. The spaced apertures 26 are provided to attach to the main portion 12 the mood indicating portion 14.

The mood indicating portion 14 comprises an elongate flexible strip 26 and a pair of co-operating connecting members 28, 30 at opposite ends of the strip 26. In order to mount the mood indicating portion 14 on the main portion 16, the connecting members 28, 30 are each inserted into a respective one of the apertures 24. The connecting members 28, 30 are of a greater diameter than the diameter of the apertures 24 such that, when inserted through the apertures 24, they are held therein thus securing the mood indicating portion 14 to the main portion 12.

The distance between the apertures 24 is less than the length of the elongate strip 26, which means in order for the mood indicating portion 14 to be mounted on the main portion 16, it has to be deformed into a curved condition to allow the connecting member 28, 30 to be received in the apertures 24. The purpose of this will be explained below.

One of the apertures, such as the right hand aperture 24 when viewed in Fig 1 is, in one embodiment of a larger diameter than the other of the apertures. This allows the connecting member 28 or 30 inserted therein to pivot within the aperture, to enable the elongate strip 26 to be moved easily between its position.

Fig 1A shows a further embodiment of the mood indicating portion 14.

The embodiment shown in Fig 1A differs from that shown in Fig 1 in that the elongate flexible strip 26 defines a recess 31 on either side of the projections 28. Also, the projections 128 shwon in Fig 1 A differ from those of the mood indicating portion 14 shown in Fig 1. In Fig 1 A, the projection 28 are in the form of elongate detent members. Each projection 28 is/has a narrow insertion portion 32 which widens to a securing portion 34. The projectors 28 then narrow to a narrow portion 35 towards the elongate strip 26.

The recesses 31 provide the advantage in the embodiment shown that they reduce the extend to which the strip 26 engages the main portion 12 in the vicinity of the apertures 24.

The support member 20 may, if desired, include storage means in the form of a flap 21 cut from the support member 20 as shown by the broken lines. The flap 21 allows the storage of indicators for further indicating the mood of the user. The indicators may comprise substantially rectangular cards 21A which can be held by the flap 21 on the support member. The cards 21A can be red and/or yellow cards. When the user wishes to signify this mood, they may remove one or other of the cards 21A to wave it.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, there is shown a side view of the mood indicator 10 with the mood indicating portion 14 arranged on the main portion 16. Fig. 2 is simply a representation of Fig. 1 viewed from the side with the support portion 20 extending directly downwardly from the main portion 12.

The mood indicating portion 14 is mounted on the main portion 12 such that it extends downwardly from each of the apertures 24. A front perspective and front view of this position of the mood indicator 14 is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and it can be seen that it represents a smile on the face 16.

In order to provide a support for the mood indicator 10, the support portion 20 is folded rearwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to its support condition in which it extends in a rearwards direction, generally at right angles to the main portion 12. When the support portion 20 is in the position shown in Fig 4, the mood indicator 10 can be supported on a table or other flat surface.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a view of the mood indicator 10, in which the mood indicating portion 14 is arranged on the main portion 12 in a first position in which it represents a smile. The position of the mood indicating portion 14 on the mood indicating member 20 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 represents a happy outcome for the user of the mood indicator, for example, in the event of a win by their chosen team.

Fig. 7 shows the mood indicator 10 with the mood indicating portion 14 in a second position, in which the mood indicating portion extends upwardly from each of the apertures 24, thereby representing a frown, as shown in Fig. 7. This position would be employed by the user in the event of an unsuccessful effort by the sporting team in question.

Fig. 8 shows the mood indicator 10, in which the mood indicating portion 14 is arranged such that it extends upwardly from one of the apertures 24 and downwardly from the other of the apertures 24. This position of the mood indicator 40 is intended to represent a wry smile, or a resignation to the inevitability of having lost.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person that the flexible nature of the mood indicator 14 allows it to be moved to the positions shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example other features can be provided on the main portion 12.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A mood indicator, the mood indicator comprising a main portion and a mood indicating portion arrangeable on the main portion in a selected one of a plurality of positions.

2. A mood indicator according to claim 1, in which each of the aforesaid positions can, if desired, represent a different mood of the user.

3. A mood indicator according to claims 1 or 2, in which the main portion and the mood indicating portions comprise co-operating attachment formations to allow the mood indicating portion to be attached to the main portion.

: *.., 15 4. A mood indicator according to claim 3, in which the co-operating attachment formations comprise a projection on one of the portions receivable in an aperture defined by the other portion.

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5. A mood indicator according to claim 4, in which the main portion :. 20 defines a pair of apertures, and the mood indicating portion comprises a pair of projections, each being receivable in a respective one of the apertures.

6. A mood indicator according to claim 5, in which the projections have a dimension which exceeds a dimension of the apertures, such that when the projections are received in the apertures, the mood indicating portion is locked to the main portion.

7. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mood indicating portion is formed of a flexible material to allow it to be deformed into the aforesaid plurality of positions.

8. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mood indicating portion comprises an elongate strip.

9. A mood indicator according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the projections are provided on the elongate strip, at respective opposite ends thereof.

10. A mood indicator according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the projections are in the form of detent members receivable in the apertures to secure the mood indicating portion to the main portion.

11. A mood indicator according to claim 10, in which each of the detent members has a narrower free end, which widens to an engagement region.

: *** 15 12. A mood indicator according to claim 11, in which the detent members e..

narrow towards the elongate strip. S...

13. A mood indicator according to any of claims 10 to 12, in which the elongate strip defines a recess on each side of the detent member. :. 20

14. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the * mood indicating portion is formed of a flexible material.

15. A mood indicator according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the apertures defined by the main portion are spaced from one another by a distance which is less than the length of the mood indicating portion, so that the mood indicating portion needs to be deformed from a straight condition to a selected one of a plurality of curved conditions in order for each projection to be received in a respective one of the apertures.

16. A mood indicator according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, in which one of the apertures is wider than the other aperture to allow pivoting of the projection when it is received therein.

17. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mood indicator comprises a support member to support the main portion.

18. A mood indicator according to claim 17, in which the support member is attached to the main portion.

19. A mood indicator according to claim 18, in which the support member is foldably attached to the main portion to enable it to be folded to a support condition in which it can support the main portion.

: ** 15 20. A mood indicator according to claim 19, in which the support member SI. is foldable rearwardly relative to the main portion. *5S

21. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which storage means is provided to store one or more indicators.

22. A mood indicator according to claim 21, in which the indicators are * S arranged to further indicate the mood of the user.

23. A mood indicator according to claims 21 or 22, in which the storage means comprise a flap.

24. A mood indicator according to claim 23, in which the flap is cut into the support portion.

25. A mood indicator according to any of claims 21 to 24, in which the indicators are held by the storage means, between the storage means and a further region of the main portion.

26. A mood indicator according to any of claims 21 to 25, in which the indicators comprise cards, such as red and/or yellow cards.

27. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the main portion has a representation of a pair of eyes and the apertures are arranged below the eyes, so that when the mood indicating portion is arranged on the main portion, the main portion represents a face, with the mood indicating portion representing the mouth of the face.

28. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mood indicating portion is mounted on the main portion in a first position, in which the mood indicating portion extends in a downward direction from each of the apertures so that the mood indicating portion represents a smile on the main portion. p 0**

29. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mood indicating portion is mounted on the main portion in a second condition in which the mood indicating portion extends upwardly from each of the apertures so that the mood indicating portion represents a frown on the main :-:; portion.

30. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which in a third position, the mood indicating portion is mounted on the main portion such that the mood indicating portion extends upwardly from one of the apertures and downwardly from the other of the apertures, so that the mood indicating portion represents a wry smile, denoting disappointment, or other similar emotion or mood.

31. A mood indicator according to claim 14 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the flexible material is a flexible plastics material.

32. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the main portion is formed of a flexible material.

33. A mood indicator according to claim 32, in which the main portion is formed of flexible plastics material.

34. A mood indicator according to any of the preceding claims, in which the main portion is decorated in a manner to represent allegiance to sporting teams.

A mood indicator substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

36. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter *.-1 5 disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. S... I. * S

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