US20070155517A1

US20070155517A1 - Artificial blood puddle

Info

Publication number: US20070155517A1
Application number: US11/326,745
Authority: US
Inventors: Portia Perry; Kay Kropp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-05
Filing date: 2006-01-05
Publication date: 2007-07-05

Abstract

A sheet-like structure for mimicking a pool of spilled blood or blood puddle. The structure is blood red in color and preferably made of a flexible urethane resin, thermoplastic elastomer, rubber, plastic or silicone material. The sheet-like structure will be made in the shape of a blood puddle created naturally after an injury or any spilling of blood, and is intended to be placed on a surface for filming or for a novelty use anywhere blood is shed or spilled. This device eliminates the clean up process involved when artificial liquid blood is used in film, television and theatrical productions, and for novelty uses.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to a special effects device for use in motion pictures, television, theatrical productions, and for novelty use, and more particularly to a flexible sheet-like structure that mimics the shape of a pool of blood created on a surface.
In filming motion pictures, television series, and the like, the need for simulating spilled blood arises in scenes where a character suffers a bleeding injury. In these situations, artificial liquid blood is used at a suitable location, such as below the head of the performer where an injury in the head is depicted. At present, when a scene is filmed using artificial liquid blood, the surface on which it is poured, the performer and the performer's costumes must be cleaned. Usually this cleaning process becomes messy and time consuming. In addition, there are novelty uses for artificial pooled blood for fun houses, parties, etc.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for artificial liquid blood when filming motion pictures, television productions, and the like. A further object of the present invention is to simplify the clean up process of artificial blood after filming a scene. Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-like structure, which realistically mimics an actual blood puddle created in an injury. These and other objects will become apparent from the accompanying summary, description and drawings.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a sheet-like structure that mimics an actual pool of freshly spilled blood in numerous shapes and sizes. The sheet-like structure eliminates the clean up process involved when artificial liquid blood is used in the current art. In accordance with this invention, the sheet-like structure will be made in the shape of realistic blood puddles created after an injury or any time blood is spilled. The structure is made of a flexible material and placed on any surface to mimic an actual blood puddle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one of the embodiments of the sheet-like structure in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of one of the embodiments of the sheet-like structure placed under the head of a performer in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a second embodiment of the sheet-like structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 . . . Sheet-like Structure
11 . . . Performer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the artificial pooling blood puddle sheet-like structure is illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in FIGS. 1 through 3. The sheet-like structure is designed to mimic an actual blood puddle created by any spilling of blood. The solid sheet-like structure eliminates the need for artificial liquid blood, presently used to create blood puddles when filming, and in novelty use.
Referring to FIG. 1, one preferred embodiment of the sheet-like structure 10 is illustrated as it is held prior to use. The structure 10 is tinted to approximate the color of spilled blood, and is made of a flexible material, comprising urethane resin, a thermoplastic elastomer, latex, silicon or rubber in the random shape of an actual pool of blood. The structure 10 can be placed on any surface where a pool or puddle of blood effect must be created.
The sheet-like structure 10 when placed on a surface and under the head of a performer 11 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The structure realistically mimics the blood puddle that would be created by a blood spill 11. After use, the structure 10 can be removed, cleaned and stored, and may be used repeatedly.
Referring to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the sheet-like structure 10 is illustrated as it is held in the hand of a user. The shape of the structure 10 according to this embodiment is different from the previous embodiment in that the outline of the pool of blood is different, to simulate a different injury. Similarly, many other shapes of the sheet-like structure are possible, since a blood puddle can take any shape. Therefore, a user of the device may use several versions of the invention for different scenes and situations, so that the same shape blood puddle isn't repeated.
All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

Claims

1. A structure for mimicking a pool of spilled blood, said structure comprising a sheet-like member in a generally planar configuration with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the edges of the top surface are random and generally lobed, and wherein the edges of the top surface are soft and arc downward to meet the edges of the bottom surface to give the structure the appearance of viscous fluid.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structure is tinted to a dark color to approximate the color of oxidizing blood on a surface.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the sheet-like member is made of urethane resin, thermoplastic elastomer, plastic, rubber, silicone, or any other flexible material.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the sheet-like member comprises different shapes and sizes to approximate different volumes of spilled blood.

5. The structure/article of claim 1, wherein the sheet-like member is made of rigid material such as plastic or the like.