US20140051320A1

US20140051320A1 - Novelty Devices

Info

Publication number: US20140051320A1
Application number: US13/585,388
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen R. Hormel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-14
Filing date: 2012-08-14
Publication date: 2014-02-20

Abstract

Novelty devices are described. In one aspect, a novelty device includes a glove configured to receive a hand of a user and comprising a plurality of sheaths configured to receive respective fingers of the user when the user's hand is placed within the glove, and wherein one of the sheaths comprises a mascot which is configured to receive at least a portion of one of the fingers of the user within at least a portion of the mascot when the user's hand is placed within the glove.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to novelty devices.

BACKGROUND

Sporting events have been enjoyed by fans and enthusiasts for many decades. Fans often take pride in their favorite teams and wear various attire to show their support for their teams. For example, fans may wear jerseys, hats, pins, mugs, t-shirts, and various other items including the names and logos of their favorite teams and/or favorite players.
At least some aspects of the disclosure are directed to novelty and cheering apparatus and methods which fans may use to show their support for their favorite teams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a novelty device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a novelty device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a novelty device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the novelty device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the novelty device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the novelty device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the novelty device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of the novelty device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front side view of the novelty device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a back side view of the novelty device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
At least some aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a novelty device and methods which may be used, for example, for cheering a team at a sporting event. In example embodiments described below, the novelty device includes a glove which is worn by a user and has a mascot of the team upon or which is attached to at least one sheath of the glove. The user's finger may be inserted into a body of the mascot and the mascot may move as a result of movement the user's finger. The novelty device is relatively small in size and capable of being conveniently placed in a pocket of the user when not in use.
According to one embodiment, a novelty device comprises a glove configured to receive a hand of a user and comprising a plurality of sheaths configured to receive respective fingers of the user when the user's hand is placed within the glove; and wherein one of the sheaths comprises a mascot which is configured to receive at least a portion of one of the fingers of the user within at least a portion of the mascot when the user's hand is placed within the glove.
According to an additional embodiment, a novelty device comprises a glove comprising a trank configured to receive a hand of a user when the user's hand is placed within the glove; and a mascot connected with the trank and configured to receive at least a portion of a finger of the user within at least a portion of the mascot when the user's hand is placed within the trank.
Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a novelty device 10 is shown. The illustrated embodiment of the novelty device 10 includes a glove 12 and a mascot 14 of a team. The novelty device 10 may be worn by a fan who is cheering their team and the mascot 14 may be a mascot of the team in one example.
The depicted mascot 14 is merely one illustrative example and other characters, figurines, etc. may be attached to the glove 12 in other embodiments. The mascot may be people (e.g., a pirate, a warrior, a knight, etc.), animals (e.g., a dog, an eagle, a bear, etc.), or other characters which may be used to cheer a team or other purposes.
The glove 12 is configured to receive a hand of a user and includes a trank 13 and a plurality of sheaths 16 attached to the trank 13. The trank 13 is configured to receive the user's hand and the sheaths 16 are individually configured to receive a finger or thumb of a user when the novelty device 10 is worn by the user. In the example of FIG. 1, the glove 12 is a fingerless glove where the sheaths 16 do not cover the entire lengths of the user's fingers, but rather the sheaths 16 only cover the portions of the user's fingers which adjacent to the palm of the user's hand as shown in FIG. 1. Other configurations of the novelty device 10 and glove 12 thereof are possible, for example as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 2 below.
Furthermore, the mascot 14 is attached to the sheath 16 for the index finger of the user in the example embodiment of FIG. 1. More specifically, each of the sheaths 16 includes a distal opening 18 which allows the respective finger or thumb of the user to extend outwardly of the respective sheath 16. The lower portion of the body of the mascot 14 includes an opening corresponding to the opening 18 of the sheath 16 for the index finger of the glove 12 and which permits the user's index finger to extend into the body of the mascot 14. The glove 12 and mascot 14 may be made of cloth or other flexible material and which permits the user to move the mascot 14, for example, front to back, up and down, side to side, etc.
In one embodiment, the lower body portion of the mascot 14 may be sewed or attached by any convenient means to the sheath 16 and about the opening 18 to permit the user's index finger to be received into the body of the mascot 14. A releasable fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro®), may be used to attach the mascot 14 to the glove 12 permitting one mascot to be removed and replaced with another mascot in one embodiment. For example, the mascots 14 may be different and associated with different teams to be cheered by the user at different sporting events.
Although one mascot 14 is shown attached to one sheath 16 of the glove 12 in the example of FIG. 1, other embodiments are possible including a plurality of the same or different mascots 14 attached to a plurality or all of the sheaths 16 of the glove 12 and which may individually receive a finger or thumb of the user when the novelty device 10 is worn by the user.
Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the novelty device 10 a is shown. The example embodiment of FIG. 2 includes a full length glove 12 a having sheaths 16 a which cover entireties of the respective fingers and thumb of the user.
In one embodiment, the mascot 14 may be formed about one of the sheaths 16 a, and accordingly, the user's finger (e.g., index finger) contacts the interior of the respective sheath 16 a without contacting the mascot 14 itself.
In another embodiment, the distal end of one of the sheaths 16 a (e.g., sheath 16 a for the index finger) may be removed and the mascot 14 may be attached about an opening at the end of the sheath 16 a in an arrangement which is similar to the sheath for the index finger in the fingerless glove embodiment of FIG. 1.
While example embodiments have been disclosed with respect to mascots for sports teams, other mascots, figurines, animals, or characters may be attached to the glove in other embodiments.
FIGS. 3-10 depict an ornamental design of a novelty device.
At least some aspects of the disclosure are directed towards methods of using the novelty devices. One example method includes placing a user's hand within the glove and inserting a finger into the mascot of one of the sheaths of the glove. The user may move his finger to move the mascot, for example, in a manner cheering for their favorite team.
In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entire invention is not limited to the specific features and/or embodiments shown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise forms of putting the invention into effect.
Further, aspects herein have been presented for guidance in construction and/or operation of illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. Applicant(s) hereof consider these described illustrative embodiments to also include, disclose and describe further inventive aspects in addition to those explicitly disclosed. For example, the additional inventive aspects may include less, more and/or alternative features than those described in the illustrative embodiments. In more specific examples, Applicant(s) consider the disclosure to include, disclose and describe methods which include less, more and/or alternative steps than those methods explicitly disclosed as well as apparatus which includes less, more and/or alternative structure than the explicitly disclosed structure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A novelty device comprising:

a glove configured to receive a hand of a user and comprising a plurality of sheaths configured to receive respective fingers of the user when the user's hand is placed within the glove; and

wherein one of the sheaths comprises a mascot which is configured to receive at least a portion of one of the fingers of the user within at least a portion of the mascot when the user's hand is placed within the glove.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the mascot extends outwardly from a distal end of the one sheath.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the mascot is attached to the one sheath.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the mascot comprises a body having an opening which is adjacent to an opening at a distal end of the one sheath.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the one finger of the user is the index finger.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheaths individually cover an entirety of the respective finger which is received within the individual sheath.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheaths individually cover only a portion of the respective finger which is received within the individual sheath.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the mascot is flexible and configured to move as a result of movement of the one finger of the user.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the mascot comprises a body which is configured to receive at least the portion of the one finger of the user.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the mascot is a figurine which is configured to receive the at least the portion of the one finger of the user within a body of the figurine.

11. A novelty device comprising:

a glove comprising a trank configured to receive a hand of a user when the user's hand is placed within the glove; and

a mascot connected with the trank and configured to receive at least a portion of a finger of the user within at least a portion of the mascot when the user's hand is placed within the trank.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the glove comprises a sheath attached to the trank and the mascot extends outwardly from a distal end of the sheath.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the glove comprises a plurality of sheaths individually configured to receive a finger of the user, and the mascot is attached to one of the sheaths.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the glove comprises a plurality of sheaths individually configured to receive a finger of the user, and the mascot comprises a body having an opening which is adjacent to an opening at a distal end of one of the sheaths.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the glove comprises a plurality of sheaths individually configured to receive a finger of the user, and the sheaths individually cover an entirety of the respective finger received within the individual sheath.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the glove comprises a plurality of sheaths individually configured to receive a finger of the user, and the sheaths individually cover a portion of the respective finger received within the individual sheath.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the mascot is flexible and configured to move as a result of movement of the user's finger.

18. The device of claim 11 wherein the mascot comprises a body which is configured to receive at least the portion of the user's finger.

19. The device of claim 11 wherein the mascot is a figurine which is configured to receive at least the portion of the user's finger within a body of the figurine.

20. The ornamental design for a novelty device as shown.