Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates generally to the field of neck tie accessories and more specifically to a tie puppet.
Hand puppets have been a common novelty toy in use around the world for hundreds of years. The user inserts his or her hand into a likeness of a person or animal, and proceeds to use his or her fingers to animate the puppet's features for the entertainment of others.
Hand puppets have a three dimensional form in order to allow a user to insert his or her hand and to operate the puppet's features. However, in some specialized applications, it would be helpful for the hand puppet to be able to be flattened and hidden when not in use. Although some hand puppets are made of soft fabric and can be made to fold relatively flat, they cannot become as flat as necessary in order to be hidden in the back of a standard neck tie.
Furthermore, current hand puppet assemblies cannot be easily attached or removed from the rear portion of a standard neck tie.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a wearable tie made of fabric that includes an operable puppet feature hidden in the rear portion of the tie.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tie with puppet feature where the puppet feature is capable of lying in a flat format when stored and can then pop out to a three-dimensional format when in use.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tie with puppet feature where the puppet feature is removable from the tie so that the tie and the puppet feature are separately washable and so that the puppet feature may be installed after the tie is knotted.
A further object of the invention is to provide a tie with puppet feature where the puppet feature easily returns to a hidden flat format after use.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tie with puppet feature where the puppet feature includes an optional small sound memory chip and associated amplifier and speaker.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a tie puppet comprising: a tie retaining panel, a character face panel, a V shaped mouth panel, a fabric tube member, a hook fastener member, a loop fastener member, said tie retaining panel and said character face panel joined together at one end, said tie retaining panel sized to fit into the space between the inner and outer layer of a standard neck tie, said V shaped mouth panel attached on each side to said fabric tube member, said character face panel having an integral panel extension whose sides match that of a standard neck tie, said tube member attached on one side to said extension panel of said character face panel, said tie retaining panel having said hook fastener member attached to its underside, said loop fastener member attached to the end portion of said neck tie, and said hook fastener member capable of attaching to said loop fastener member thereby removably securing said invention to said neck tie.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
referring to
Figure two shows a person wearing a tie 2 with the present invention attached. As can be seen, the present invention is not detectable from the front view because it is shaped to fit behind the front tie panel in a flat format that does not give away the fact that a hand puppet is stored behind the front tie panel. When the puppet feature is revealed by the user, it elicits surprise and delight form viewers young and old alike.
The graphic features of the invention can represent any type of head including human heads and animal heads. Additionally, representations of arms may also be folded within the boarder of the tie 2 and folded out when in use as a puppet. The front surface of the tie 2 may also include graphic images that relate to the features of the puppet hidden within. The puppet images may be holiday theme such as Santa or an Easter Bunny. Or the facial features may be digitally recreated photographs of actual people or animals including popular sports figures or cartoon animals. Additionally, a small speaker, amplifier and battery power supply can be added to the puppet feature to allow the puppet to speak or make other sounds without human assistance.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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