US20100136877A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20100136877A1
Application number: US12/626,045
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael S. Maddi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-10
Filing date: 2009-11-25
Publication date: 2010-06-03

Abstract

The instant invention relates to hand-manipulated puppets. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-supporting hand manipulated puppet adapted to serve as a rest or support for the forearm of the puppeteer.

Description

This continuation-in-part application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/972,598 entitled ANIMAL PUPPET, to Maddi, Michael S., filed Jan. 10, 2008, hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

2. Background of the Related Art

Hand-manipulated puppets which simulate animals or other living creatures are well known in the art. Examples of prior patents which disclose such puppets include U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,896 issued on Jun. 18, 1957 to Snyder, U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,142 issued on Jan. 13, 1981 to Crawford, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,626 issued Jan. 14, 1992 to the present inventor Maddi.

It is well known in the art that the use of hand-manipulated puppets may cause fatigue in the forearm of the puppeteer. This fatigue results from the effort of supporting the weight of the puppet and the weight of the puppeteer's forearm. Of the cited prior patents, only Maddi discloses a self-supporting hand manipulated puppet adapted to serve as a rest or support for the forearm of the puppeteer.

In Maddi, the hand manipulated puppet includes an inverted U-shaped member comprising two spaced apart legs, an upper arch, and a third upper leg connected in spanning relation between the legs. The two spaced apart legs of the member extend into the puppet's legs, causing the member to serve as endoskeletal support for the puppet. The third upper leg is positioned to support the puppeteer's forearm while the puppet is in use.

The puppet design disclosed in Maddi addresses the problem of puppeteer fatigue, but contains several substantial limitations. Construction of the puppet disclosed in Maddi is relatively expensive and is difficult to mass produce. The puppet must be molded in multiple sections and the sections formed around the endoskeletal member. In addition, Maddi's incorporation of a rigid endoskeletal member results in a puppet with rigid, immovable legs. Inclusion of immovable legs detracts from the realism of the puppet. A need exists for a less expensive means of constructing a self-supporting puppet suitable for mass production that is capable of supporting the forearm of a puppeteer and includes moveable legs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the present state of the art of constructing a self-supporting hand/forearm puppet. The body of the puppet includes a lower opening providing access to a cavity capable of receiving the hand and forearm of a puppeteer. The puppet uses a first material for at least a portion the body of the puppet and a second material for the legs of the puppet. The first material is capable of being manually manipulated by a puppeteer. The second material is of sufficient density and stiffness to support the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm. The legs of the puppet are attached to the body such that the legs are capable of rotational movement about the body of the puppet.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a hand-manipulated puppet, the puppet comprising a body, the body having a cavity with a lower opening, the body composed at least in part of a first material; at least two legs coupled to the body, the at least two legs composed of a second material; wherein the cavity receives the hand and forearm of a puppeteer incident to manipulating the puppet, wherein the first material is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer, and wherein the second material has a greater density than the first material and the second material is of sufficient density and stiffness to support the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm.

In a further embodiment, the present invention is a hand-manipulated puppet, the puppet comprising a body, the body having a cavity with a lower opening, the body having at least one first section composed of a first material and a second section composed of a second material; two spaced apart legs coupled to the second section body, the legs composed of a second material and capable of rotational movement; wherein the cavity receives the hand and forearm of a puppeteer incident to manipulating the puppet, wherein the first material is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer, and wherein the second material is of sufficient density and stiffness to support the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, and a better understanding thereof will be made readily apparent when reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments herein below, as well as by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a first embodiment of the puppet;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the body of a first embodiment of the puppet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a leg of a first embodiment of the puppet;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the puppet illustrating the internal cavity and puppeteer's hand and forearm in phantom perspective;

FIG. 5 depicts a lengthwise cross-sectional view of the body of a second embodiment of the puppet;

FIG. 6 depicts a front view of a leg of a second embodiment of the puppet;

FIG. 7 depicts a top cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the puppet;

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of a third embodiment of the puppet; and

FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of a four-legged embodiment of the puppet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to the construction of a self-supporting hand-manipulated puppet of the type that uses the hand and forearm to manipulate the puppet. The puppet includes a body having a cavity therein and at least two legs. The hand and forearm of a puppeteer enter the cavity through a lower opening located at least in part between the at least two legs. By manufacturing the body of a first material having a selected density and manufacturing the legs of a second material having a higher density, the higher density of the legs can act to provide support for the puppeteer's forearm as it rests against the bottom portion of the cavity in the puppet.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. For example, drawings herein depict a puppet of a two-legged dinosaur. The present invention contemplates puppets of four-legged animals, which may include four weight-bearing legs or may include two weight-bearing legs and two non-weight-bearing legs. The present invention contemplates puppets of birds, fish, plants, or any other known organism, as well as fantastical creatures such as dragons. In these alternative embodiments, the at least two legs of the puppet may represent wings, fins, vines, tentacles, arms, or other body parts.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one as or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments,” “and an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The term “manipulate” as used herein is to be interpreted as actions performed by a puppeteer which provide a puppet with lifelike movements. Manipulation of a puppet generally involves the puppeteer using the hand and/or forearm inserted within the cavity of the puppet to transiently deform the puppet's features is such a manner as to provide the appearance that the puppet is chewing, talking, looking about, or performing other lifelike movements.

A self-supporting hand-manipulated puppet of the type contemplated by the present invention is the type of puppet which generally simulates an animal. Typical animals have two spaced apart legs or four spaced apart legs. The present invention contemplates both but includes at least two spaced apart weight-bearing legs that support the weight of a forearm during use of the puppet. The type of puppet contemplated is one where the hand and forearm are inserted through a lower opening into the cavity of the puppet during use. The puppeteer's hand would typically manipulate the mouth of the puppet and the forearm would manipulate the body and from time to time rest its weight against the bottom portion of the cavity, over the weight bearing spaced apart legs of the puppet. In one embodiment of the present invention the animal is a dinosaur which, while it may have 4 legs, typical walks on just two legs. The two walking legs are the intended weight-bearing legs. Similarly other animals would have two legs designated as weight-bearing, so that animals with four legs would, for example, have their rear legs as the weight-bearing legs.

As used herein the term “body” refers to the entire puppet except for the weight-bearing legs. In a first embodiment, the body is made of a cast polymer foam of the flexible type. These are usually foams that have a percentage of flexibility agents introduced to product a flexible polymer. In a preferred version of this first embodiment, the flexible polymer foam is a flexible polyurethane foam. Commercially available flexible poly urethane foams are available, such as the FlexFoam-IT!™ series of products from Smooth-On, Inc. of Easton, Pa. The products are manufactured from a 4,4 methylene bis(phenylisocyanate)-type urethane foam and is mixed from two different formulations to give cast densities of between 3 lb/ft³to 25 lb/ft³. The art of casting with polymeric foams such as urethane foams is well know and both the body production, leg production and the attachment to each other is well known in the art.

The density of the given polymer relates to the flexibility of the puppet. The body and especially the mouth of the puppet is manipulated to make the puppet appear life-like. The choice of polymer is such that the body is made of a first flexible polymeric foam. In the example above in one embodiment the selected polymeric foam would be in the about 10 lb/ft3 or less density to give the right flexibility. In another embodiment the density is from about 5 lb/ft3 or less.

The weight-bearing legs of this first embodiment of the present invention are made of a cast second flexible polymeric foam that is of a higher density than the first flexible polymeric foam. The second can be the same or different foam but in one embodiment the foam is a flexible polyurethane foam. In another embodiment the second foam has a cast density of from about 10 lb/ft3 and above.

The legs of the puppet are preferably attached to opposing sides of the puppet rather than underneath. This configuration of spaced apart supporting legs is less likely to suffer from separating, splitting or the like from the body as would be the case for attachment underneath the body of the puppet. This positioning of the legs on the body can be clearly seen inFIG. 1. In this first embodiment, the legs are attached to the body at about the level of the internal cavity or higher.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the puppet1. In this first embodiment the animal is a dinosaur, which has abody2 and walks on twolegs20. This puppet1 has ahead10 andshort neck12. Thefront legs13 of the puppet1 are not weight-bearing legs.

FIG. 2 is a side view of thebody2 of the first embodiment of the present invention. In this first embodiment, thebody2 includes side leg attachment knobs15 as a means of aligning and indicating whereleg20 attachment can occur. In this embodiment, eachattachment knob15 is a protruding cylinder designed to match a correspondingleg attachment depression25 in theleg attachment area26 of eachleg20.Attachment area16 surrounding theattachment knob15 is a smooth area designed to facilitate attachment of the leg. Thebody2 includes alower opening24 providing access to acavity42. Thebody2 in this first embodiment is cast from FlexFoam-IT!™ X having a 10 lb/ft³cast density, however other densities as taught herein could be used when selecting the first flexible polymeric foam.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of aleg20 of the first embodiment of present invention.Leg attachment depression25 corresponds to theattachment knob15 of thebody2 and provides a means of coupling theleg20 to thebody2. Using this means of attachment, theleg20 is securely attached to thebody2 such that theleg20 is capable of rotating about theattachment knob15. Theleg attachment area26 is a smooth area which corresponds to theattachment area16 of thebody2. In one embodiment the leg is made from FlexFoam-IT!™25 having a cast density of 25 lb/ft³. In this particular embodiment, theleg20 is cast of a foam of a higher density than the foam used in thebody2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the puppet1 illustrating internal features in phantom perspective. The puppeteer'sarm40 andhand41 are inserted through thelower opening24 into thepuppet cavity42 incident to manipulating thehead10 andneck12 of the puppet1. When theforearm40 rests and puts downward pressure on the puppet1, thelegs20 provide support for resting theforearm40.

In a preferred second embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, thebody102 of thepuppet100 comprises afirst section104, asecond section106, and acavity42 capable of receiving a puppeteer'shand41 andforearm40. The two ormore legs110 are coupled to thesecond section106 of thebody102. Thelegs110 andsecond section106 are composed of a second material of sufficient density to support the weight of the puppet and support the puppeteer'sforearm40 as it rests against the bottom portion of thecavity42. Thefirst section104 is composed of a first material of lower density than thelegs110 andsecond section106, and is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer. It is preferable, but not required, for thelegs110 andsecond section106 to be composed of the same second material. Thelegs110 andsecond section106 may be composed of thermoplastic elastomers of sufficient density and stiffness to support the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm. Preferably, thelegs110 andsecond section106 are composed of polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) of sufficient density and stiffness to support the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm. Thefirst section104 may be composed of thermoplastic elastomers sufficiently flexible to be capable of manipulation by the puppeteer. Preferably, thefirst section104 is composed of PVC of lower density and stiffness than thesecond section106 and is capable of being manipulated by the puppeteer. Thefirst section104 andsecond section106 of thebody102 are formed separately and are coupled together using means designed to give the appearance that thebody102 is a single piece. Preferably, thefirst section104 andsecond section106 are coupled together using an adhesive. Thebody102 may include more than onefirst section104, as shown inFIG. 5.

In this preferred second embodiment, thesecond section106 includesopenings108 for each of the two ormore legs110. Theopenings108 are generally circular and, if the puppet includes an even number oflegs20, located on opposing sides of thepuppet100. As shown inFIG. 6, eachleg110 includes anattachment knob112, the attachment knob having aflange114. Theattachment knob112 is inserted into theopening108. The diameter of theflange114 is larger than the diameter of theopening108, mechanically coupling the leg to the body, as shown inFIG. 7. Using this means of attachment, theleg110 is securely attached to thebody102 such that theleg110 is capable of rotating about theattachment knob112.

In this preferred second embodiment, as shown inFIG. 7, theflange114 includes aleg restriction knob116 and thecavity42 includes abody restriction knob118. As theleg110 rotates about theattachment knob112, the distance between thebody restriction knob118 andleg restriction knob116 varies. Thebody restriction knob118 andleg restriction knob116 are coupled by a restriction means120, such as a rubber band. The restriction means120 exerts a force drawing thebody restriction knob118 andleg restriction knob116 closer together, causing theleg110 to rotate. Preferably, thebody restriction knob118 andleg restriction knob116 are positioned such that the restriction means120 causes theleg110 to naturally adopt a downward orientation.

In a third embodiment, as shown inFIG. 8, thepuppet200 resembles a dragon. Thepuppet200 of the third embodiment is similar to thepuppet100 of the second embodiment, with the addition of at least onemember202 representing an extremity of thepuppet200. Themember202 is coupled to thesecond section106 of thepuppet200. Themember202 may be coupled to thesecond section106 such that themember202 is capable of rotation, similar to the means by which theleg110 is attached to thebody102. Alternatively, themember202 may be fixedly coupled to thesection106 such that themember202 is incapable of rotation. In this third embodiment, the at least onemember202 is twomembers202 which represent the wings of thedragon puppet200.

Eachmember202 comprises asupport204 and amembrane206. Thesupport204 is coupled to thebody102 and provides structural support for themember202. In a preferred embodiment, thesupport204 is composed of the same material as thelegs110 and/orsecond section106 of thepuppet200. Themembrane206 extends between thesupport204 and thebody102, as shown inFIG. 8, and represents the surface of the wing. Themembrane206 is composed of a pliable material, such as fabric.

In this third embodiment, thesupport204 comprises ahinge208 coupling anupper support210 and alower support212. Rotation about thehinge208 changes the angle between theupper support210 and thelower support212, providing the appearance that thepuppet200 is spreading and furling its wings. In this embodiment, thehinge208 may be locked in an “open” position, where the angle between theupper support210 andlower support212 provides the appearance that thepuppet200 has spread its wings.

In a four-legged embodiment, as shown inFIG. 9, thebody302 of thepuppet300 comprises afirst section304, asecond section306, and acavity42 capable of receiving a puppeteer's hand and forearm (not shown). Thehind legs310 are coupled to thesecond section306 of thebody302. Thelegs310 andsecond section306 are composed of a second material of sufficient density to support the weight of the puppet and support the puppeteer's forearm as it rests against the bottom portion of thecavity42. Thesecond section306 includesopenings308 for each of the two ormore legs310. Theopenings308 are generally circular and, if the puppet includes an even number of legs, are located on opposing sides of thepuppet300.

Thefirst sections304 are composed of a first material of lower density than thelegs310 andsecond section306, and is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer. It is preferable, but not required, for thelegs310 andsecond section306 to be composed of the same second material, as previously described.Front legs313 may also be attached to thesecond section306 throughcircular openings309 in the same manner as thehind legs310. Thefront legs313 may be, but are not required to be, constructed to assist in bearing the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's arm.

The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. Modifications to the invention may be made by those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and without departing from the teaching of the invention and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A hand-manipulated puppet, the puppet comprising:

a. a body, the body comprising:

1. a first section composed of a first material;

2. a second section composed of a second material;

3. a cavity with a lower opening;

b. at least two legs coupled to the second section, the at least two legs composed of the second material;

wherein the cavity receives the hand and forearm of a puppeteer incident to manipulating the puppet, wherein the first material is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer, and wherein the second material has a greater density than the first material and the second material is of sufficient density and stiffness to support the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm.

2. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 1, wherein the at least two legs are coupled to the second section such that the legs are capable of rotational movement.

3. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 2, further comprising means of restricting the rotation of the legs.

4. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 1, wherein the first material and second material are thermoplastic elastomers.

5. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 1, wherein the first material and second material are polyvinyl chloride.

6. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 1, wherein the lower opening is located generally between the at least two legs.

7. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 1, wherein the body includes more than one first section.

8. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one member coupled to said second section, the at least one member representing an extremity of the puppet.

9. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 8, wherein the at least one member is composed at least in part of the second material.

10. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 8, wherein the at least one member represents a wing of the puppet and comprises a support and a membrane.

11. The hand-manipulated puppet ofclaim 8, wherein the at least one member comprises a support, the support including a hinge coupling an upper support to a lower support.

12. A hand-manipulated puppet, the puppet comprising:

a body, the body having a cavity with a lower opening, the body having at least one first section composed of a first material and a second section composed of a second material;

two spaced apart legs coupled to the second section, the legs composed of a second material and capable of rotational movement;

wherein the cavity receives the hand and forearm of a puppeteer incident to manipulating the puppet, wherein the first material is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer, and wherein the second material is capable of supporting the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm.