US3471966A - Manipulatory puppet - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1969 K. KRATZER MANIPULATORY PUPPET Filed July 27, 1966 INVENTOR.

KARL KRATZ ER A TTO/QNEY United States Patent 3,471,966 MANIPULATORY PUPPET Karl Kratzer, Hemau, Upper Palatinate, Germany Filed July 27, 1966, Ser. No. 568,172 Int. Cl. A63h 3/04 US. Cl. 46-154 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A puppet comprises a funicular support base with a rod through the bottom extending to a puppet head above the support, the top of the latter and the puppet head being joined by a loose garment, whereby the puppet head can be readily manipulated with one hand, the other hand being used to hold the support.

The object of the invention is to create a puppet, distinguishing itself by being of a very simple construction and inexpensive to manufacture, which is capable of carrying out a variety of charming and entertaining movement and gestures. There are known puppets dressed in some sort of a garment, which can be pulled over the hand, whereby three fingers catch into the sleeve of the garment and the hollowly executed head. However, the motion and mobility of such puppets are limited to the motions carried out by the fingers. Particularly, a most charming complete turning of the head relative to the body, respectively to the arms was hitherto not feasible. Furthermore, a certain length of time is consumed until the fingers have reached the proper position in the interior of the garment and head. Consequently, these already known puppets become too laborious and diflicult to handle for small children.

In accordance with my invention there is brought about a manipulative puppet, in that a rod or dowel is guided loosely through a tapering and conical cylinder, the head of said puppet is fastened to the upper end of said dowel or rod, the garment of said puppet being attached to the upper edge of the tapering or conic cylinder. One hand may very easily hold onto the lower point of the funnel shaped cylinder of said puppet, while the other hand manipulates said dowel. By swinging and/or turning the dowel, as well as by causing the puppet to more or less slide into the said cylinder, the puppet can carry out numerous most natural and humorous movements, and gestures, climaxing in a complete turning of the head without simultaneous turning of the arms. In short, it is clear that the puppet is capable of a variety of motions, viz., of being rotated, of being pulled up and down, and of being rocked angularly with respect to the funnelshaped support.

The invention is described in detal by way of the attached drawing, which illustrates a mode of carrying out the invention.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a lateral view of the novel puppet.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the broken line shown in FIGURE 1, and shows a detail in section of said puppet. In the drawing, 1 designates a funnel shaped part, having a small opening at its lower end, through which a rod 2 loosely guida-ble and movable, passes. A head 3 is fastened onto the upper end of said rod 2, which basically, as indicated in the example, has the shape of a ball with a small hat 4 attached thereto. The puppet is wrapped in a gown or smock-like garment 5, which is closed by a decorative loop 6 just below the ice head. The garment is furnished with arms and hands or gloves 7, for example, constituted by simple flaps made of a fabric or felt. The lower edge of said garment is fastened onto the upper edge of the funnel shaped part 1. One may use a decorative ribbon 8 for the purpose of fastening said garment to said funnel, said ribbon being drawn alternately through corresponding openings 9 on the edge of said funnel, at the same time serving to keep the funnel together at its upper end, whereby said alternately arranged ribbon may continue along the vertical overlapping and joining edges of said funnel down to the pointed end of the funnel.

It will suifice to fasten the garment-by means of durable threads 10 onto the interior space of the band 8. The length of the rod 2 is 12-24 inches. The rod must in any event be long enough so that a section thereof is left protruding from the lower part of said funnel, and that one can comfortably hold onto said rod, when the puppet is drawn completely out of said funnel shaped part. One may cause the puppet to completely disappear, by retracting same into the funnel. The puppet can be turned around its axis once or even several times in any position; this holds true even when said puppet emerges slowly from said funnel.

The drawings and description of the puppet are obviously merely intended as an illustrative example; any other type of puppets may be used in carrying out the invention. When the invention is applied to animal figures, one uses fur or skin instead of the garment.

Adults as well as children may be entertained by the invented puppet, due to its charming and variable movements.

I claim as my invention:

1. A puppet, comprising in combination,

a funnel-shaped support base adapted to be held in one hand of an operator;

a rod guided loosely through said support and capable of being rotated, pulled up and down, and worked angularly with respect to said support; and extended through the bottom of said support so as to be graspable by the other hand of said operator;

a garment attached to the wide upper end of said funnelshaped support and extending to the upper part of said rod;

a head mounted above said garment on the upper end of said rod whereby said garment and head may be withdrawn into said funnel-shaped support upon pulling down said rod.

2. A puppet in accordance with claim 1 wherein said garment is attached to said upper edge of said funnel by a length of ribbon threaded therebetween, said length of ribbon likewise being threaded across overlapping seams of said funnel, thereby maintaining said support in a 55 funnel configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,327,234 11/1942 Wolfi etal 46-126 2,725,670 12/1955 Hodes 46-154X FOREIGN PATENTS 728,336 4/1955 Great Britain.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner CHARLES R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner

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