Novelty band for storing and displaying toy figures

• US 8,540,544 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sqwish World, Llc
• Original Assignee: Sqwish World, Llc
• Inventors: Logue, Dax
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik, Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US13/081,041
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 63/21, 63/23, 63/291, 63/40, 446/26, 446/27, 446/101, D11/3, D11/79
• US Class Current: 446/26
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/105 characterised by the shape or layout of the toestrap
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/24 Ornamental buckles or other ornaments for shoes, with fastening function buckles in general A44B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/00 Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps settings for holding gems or the like A44C17/02; devices for putting-on or pulling-off bracelets A47G25/901
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 8/004 with decorative arrangements or form

Abstract

A novelty assembly that is used to retain and display toy figures. The assembly utilizes a band having a first surface and a second surface. The band can be formed as a bracelet, necklace, headband, belt, shoe strap, handle strap, or the like. A plurality of nub projections extend from the first surface of the band. A plurality of toy figures are provided. Each of the toy figures has a bottom opening. The bottom opening of each toy figure is pressed onto one of the nub projections that extend from the band. The bottom opening of the toy figures receive and engage the nub projection with a friction fit. This interconnects the toy figures with the band. The result is a novelty band or strap where the toy figures appear to be the ornamentation of the novelty.

Claims

1. A novelty assembly comprising:

a band having a first surface and a second surface;

a plurality of nubs extending from said first surface of said band, each of said plurality of nubs being cylindrical in shape, having a first length and a first diameter that extends along said first length, wherein said plurality of nubs are separated by a pitch spacing along said band, and wherein each of said plurality of nubs is fabricated from an elastomeric material that has a high first coefficient friction;

a coating of paint covering each of said plurality of nubs, wherein said coating of paint has a second coefficient of friction that is lower than said first coefficient of friction;

a plurality of toy figures, each of said toy figures having a bottom opening of a second diameter, wherein said second diameter of each said bottom opening is smaller than said first diameter of each of said plurality of nubs, wherein said bottom opening of each of said toy figures receives and engages one of said plurality of nubs with a friction fit, therein interconnecting said plurality of toy figures with said band.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said band and said plurality of nubs are unistructurally molded as a single plastic form.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said band forms a continuous loop.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of nubs are equidistantly spaced along said band.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said band has a first end, an opposite second end and a connector for selectively interconnecting said first end to said second end.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said toy figures have a predetermined maximum width and said pitch spacing between said plurality of nubs are at least as wide as said predetermined maximum width.

7. A novelty assembly comprising:

a band having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface;

a plurality of protrusions radially extending from said outwardly facing surface of said band, each of said plurality of protrusions being cylindrical in shape, having a first length and a first diameter that extends along said first length, and wherein each of said plurality of protrusions is fabricated from an elastomeric material that has a high first coefficient friction;

a plurality of toy figures molded from elastomeric material, wherein each of said toy figures has a bottom opening of a second diameter, wherein said second diameter of each said bottom opening is smaller than said first diameter of each of said plurality of protrusions, wherein each said bottom opening receives and engages one of said plurality of protrusions with an interference fit, therein joining said plurality of toy figures to said band.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said band and said plurality of protrusions are unistructurally molded as a single plastic form.

9. The assembly according to claim 7, further including a coating of paint covering each of said plurality of protrusions.

10. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of toy figures, said plurality of protrusions and said band are fabricated from elastomeric material.

11. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of protrusions are equidistantly spaced along said band.

12. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said toy figures have a predetermined maximum width and said plurality of protrusions are spaced apart by distances that are at least as wide as said predetermined maximum width.