US20120183703A1

US20120183703A1 - POM POM Device

Info

Publication number: US20120183703A1
Application number: US13/349,014
Authority: US
Inventors: Janet Beaulieu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-17
Filing date: 2012-01-12
Publication date: 2012-07-19

Abstract

An improved wearable pom-pom device. The device has a ribbon with pom-poms attached at opposite ends, although a plurality of pom-poms may be arrayed in a desired amount along the length of and at the ends of the ribbon. The pom-pom device may be worn on various parts of the body and may be worn as a hair tie. The pom-pom device may further include attached bells and/or beads in addition to pom-poms, and may be used to display school or team colors and logos.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to decorative, festive and/or celebratory clothing accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to clothing that is used to show support for sports teams, schools, organizations, events and the like. The present invention is generally described as pompoms or other decorative items attached to versatile belt and hair accessories.
Pompoms have been widely used by cheerleaders, and adopted by fans, to show support for sports teams. The use of identifying colors that are team colors or school colors are used to differentiate between different teams for which an individual wishes to show support. Identifying colors are also used for organizations and groups, along with particular artistic designs, logos, flags, etc. However, prior inventions related to pompoms have either used hands to support the pompoms, or have added characteristics to the pompom accessory that make the accessory unusable in certain circumstances.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior inventions have attempted to overcome shortcomings in items used for displaying and/or using pompoms. Pompoms that are held by or attached to the hands of a user are well known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,215 for FINGER HELD POM-PON, Jan. 18, 1983 to Matt D. Offen et al. teaches a pompom attached to a user's finger or thumb. A WRIST POMPON STRUCTURE, which is a sleeve worn by the user, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,725, issued Aug. 10, 1993 to Catherine L. Smith. A glove having pompoms freely attached to the tip of one or more of the glove fingers is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,682, issued on Feb. 2, 2010 to Teresa E. Dunham. Gloves, however, have the disadvantage of being warm at time when a user may not wish for the extra warmth. In addition, adding pom-poms (or other ornamental items) to the end of gloves can make it difficult to hold food, drink, and other objects. A POM-POM POCKET SCARF is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,862 B2, issued on Aug. 17, 2010 to Hope V. Bjelland teaches a scarf with hand pockets and pom-poms at the ends of the scarf. A scarf, however, cannot be used in warm seasons or warm climates. Further, the scarf is bulkier and more cumbersome than the present invention.
None of these inventions, however, disclose a simple yet versatile pom-pom strap combination that may be used for various purposes, including as a belt and a hair-tie. In addition, none of the prior art teaches a year-round, wearable pom-pom device that can be easily removed from the body and used in a more traditional manner to celebrate, demonstrate team support, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a clothing accessory to display colors or designs in support of sports teams, schools, holiday celebrations, and/or ideas or organizations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt with pom-poms at opposing ends of the ribbon or belt.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt with colors or indicia communicating support and/or celebration.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt that can be worn on the body, but easily removed when it is desired to utilize the pom-poms to display celebration, team support, or the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt that can be worn as a hair tie.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt that an be worn on the body with pom-poms and further having bells and/or beads.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wearable device that may be used to display and/or celebrate team or school affiliation or support through the use of colors, logos, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a ribbon in accordance with the invention, and having pom-poms attached at opposing ends.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention as it is being worn around a user's waist.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention as it is being tied into a user's hair.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein there are a plurality of pom-poms attached along the length of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the current invention is shown with a ribbon 101 with pom-poms 102 attached to the ribbon 101 at opposing ends of the ribbon 101. It will be understood that, while the term “ribbon” is used herein to describe the body of the invention between the pom-poms 102, the ribbon 101 may be constructed of any flexible material suitable for the purpose of attaching to a user's body, and therefore the material from which the ribbon is constructed may be chosen from natural fibers, man-made fibers, leather, plastic, or any combination thereof as is commonly found in clothing and clothing accessories. The ribbon 101 may further comprise an ornamental portion 103 running the length of the ribbon. The ornamental portion 103 may be used to display colors, logos, or the like. The pom-poms 102 are attached to the ribbon 101 by attachment means 104. The attachment means 104 may comprise sewn connections, mechanical connections, or any other means that is well known in the art of clothing and accessory design and manufacture. The pom-poms 102 may be of any color or combination of colors, and may further comprise designs, logos, or other desirable visual imagery.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the invention is shown as worn by a user 201 around the user's waist 202. Although the invention is shown around the user's waist, it will be understood that, by its very nature, the invention as disclosed herein may be tied around any portion of a wearer's body. The ribbon 101 is tied 203 to itself as shown, and any number of knots well known to users may be utilized. It will also be understood that mechanical or other fastening means may be used in place of the knot; however, tying the invention in the manner shown is preferable.
FIG. 3 shows the present invention as it is worn by a user 201 to tie in the user's hair 301. Although the invention is shown tied around a user's hair 301 to form a single ponytail, the FIGURE is demonstrative only, and it will be understood that the present invention may be used singly or in groups of two or more to decorate a user's hair in any manner that a user chooses.
FIG. 4 shows the present invention with a plurality of pom-poms 102 arrayed along the length of the ribbon 101. The number of pom-poms 102 shown should not be considered limiting, and it will be understood that any number of pom-poms 102 may be arrayed along the ribbon 101 to achieve a desired visual effect. It will also be understood that more than one pom-pom may be attached at the end of the ribbon 101.

Claims

1. A wearable device, the wearable device comprising:

a. A ribbon portion having two or more ends and a middle portion;

b. At least one pom-pom attached at each of the two or more ends of the ribbon portion.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the ribbon portion is flexible.

3. The wearable device of claim I wherein the ribbon portion further comprises an ornamental portion along at least a portion of the length of the middle portion.

4. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the at least one pom-pom comprises an identifying color.

5. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the at least one pom-pom comprises a design or logo.

6. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the wearable device is of sufficient length to be wrapped at least once around a user's waist and tied with a knot.

7. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the wearable device is of sufficient length to be tied around a portion of a user's hair.

8. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises one or more pom-poms attached along the middle portion of the wearable device.

9. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises one or more bells attached at any part of the ribbon portion.

10. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises one or more beads attached at any part of the ribbon portion.

11. The wearable device of claim 3 wherein the ornamental portion comprises a stripe, a design, or a logo.