Puppet head

• US 5,368,518 A
• Filed: 06/28/1993
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elise G. Hitchcock
• Original Assignee: Elise G. Hitchcock
• Inventors: Hitchcock, Elise G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/082,434
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 446/26, 446/27, 446/28, 446/327, 446/328, 446/329, 446/368, 446/369, 446/371, 446/372, 446/376, 446/366, 446/367, 446/390, 446/391, 446/395, 446/268
• US Class Current: 446/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/14 into which the fingers of the hand can be inserted, e.g. hand-puppets

Abstract

The invention relates to a puppet which is manipulated by both arms of a user primarily as a form of cheering for a person or entity during sporting and similar events. The puppet comprises a first member including a first elongated sleeve into which a first arm of the user may be inserted. A second member is secured to the first member and includes a second elongated sleeve into which a second arm of the user may be inserted. The first and second members cooperate to provide a puppet in the shape of a mascot or character identified with the person or entity being cheered. The first and second members are secured together in a manner which permits the user to impart relative motion through arm movements.

Claims

1. A puppet head to be manipulated by the arms of the user, the puppet head comprising:

a head element including a mouth, said head element including an aperture extending therethrough;

a first member forming an upper jaw of the mouth, said first member including a first elongated sleeve coextensive with said head aperture into which the first arm of the user is inserted during use, said first member extending along a first longitudinal axis;

a second member forming the lower jaw of the mouth, said second member being attached to said first member in a manner which permits relative motion between the first and second members, said second member including a second elongated sleeve into which the second arm of the user is inserted during use, said second elongated sleeve being opposite to and independent from said first member and said head;

said first and second members being hinged together so as to allow said second and first members to provide relative movement that simulate movement of the mouth of the puppet head;

wherein a user through arm movement can impart animation to the puppet head by one arm operating the upper jaw and the other arm operating the lower jaw of the mouth of the puppet head.

2. The puppet head according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second members includes a row of teeth.

3. The puppet according to claim 1 wherein said second member is hinged to said first member along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said first and second members.

4. The puppet according to claim 1 wherein a pair of eyes are disposed on said first member.

5. The puppet according to claim 1 wherein said finest and second members are sized to extend along substantially the entire length of a user'"'"'s arm.

6. The puppet according to claim 1 further comprising a carrying loop attached to at least one of said first and second members.

7. The puppet according to claim 1 wherein said first member includes a first top portion and a first bottom portion secured to each other to form the first elongated sleeve and the second member includes a second top portion and a second bottom portion secured to each other to form the second elongated sleeve.

8. A puppet head to be manipulated by the arms of the user, the puppet head comprising:

a first member including a first elongated sleeve into which a first arm of the user is inserted during use, said first member extending along a first longitudinal axis, being sized to extend along substantially the entire length of a user'"'"'s arm, and forming the head and an upper jaw of an animal;

a second member including a second elongated sleeve into which the second arm of the user is inserted during use, said second member extending along a second longitudinal axis, being sized to extend along substantially the entire length of a user'"'"'s arm, and forming a lower jaw of an animal;

said second member being secured to said first member along a line substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said first and second members, to allow said first and second members to provide relative movement that simulates movement of the mouth of the puppet head;

whereby a user through arm movement can impart animation to the puppet head by one arm operating the upper jaw and the other arm operating the lower jaw of the mouth of the puppet head.

9. The puppet head according to claim 8 wherein a pair of eyes are formed in the head and a plurality of teeth are formed or at least one of said first and second members.

10. The puppet head according to claim 8 wherein each of said first and second members include a row of teeth substantially in alignment with each other.

11. The puppet head according to claim 8 wherein a pair of eyes are disposed on said first member.

12. The puppet according to claim 8 further comprising carrying means disposed on at least one of said first and second members.

13. The puppet according to claim 8 wherein said first member includes a first top portion and a first bottom portion secured to each other to form the first elongated sleeve and the second member includes a second top portion and a second bottom portion secured to each other to form the second elongated sleeve.

14. A puppet head to be manipulated by the arms of the user, the puppet head consisting essentially of:

a head element including a mouths, said head element including an aperture extending therethrough;

a first member forming an upper jaw of the mouth, said first member including a first elongated sleeve coextensive with said head aperture into which the first arm of the user is inserted during use, said first member extending along a first longitudinal axis;

a second member forming the lower jaw of the mouth, said second member being attached to said first member in a manner which permits relative motion between the first and second members, said second member including a second elongated sleeve into which the second arm of the user is inserted during use, said second elongated sleeve being opposite to and independent from said first member and said head;

said first and second members being hinged together so as to allow said second and first members to provide relative movement that simulates movement of the mouth of the puppet head;

wherein a user through arm movement can impart animation to the puppet head by one arm operating the upper jaw and the other arm operating the lower jaw of the mouth of the puppet head.

15. The puppet head according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said first and second members includes a row of teeth.

16. The puppet according to claim 14 wherein a pair of eyes are disposed on said first member.

17. The puppet according to claim 14 wherein said first and second members are sized to extend along substantially the entire length of a user'"'"'s arm.

18. The puppet according to claim 14 further comprising a carrying loop attached to at least one of said first and second members.

19. The puppet according to claim 14 wherein said first member includes a first top portion and a first bottom portion secured to each other to form the first elongated sleeve and the second member includes a second top portion and a second bottom portion secured to each other to form the second elongated sleeve.

20. The puppet head according to claim 14 wherein said second member is hinged to said first member along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said first and second members.