US20090280719A1 - Ribbon performance device or toy - Google Patents

A streamer toy or a performance device, including a handle attached to a cord whose length can be varied and which can be extended or retracted. A weight, such as a ball, may be connected to the cord. The cord may have one or more ribbons or streamers attached to it. A user can perform various movements with the toy or performance device which cause the ribbons or streamers to make various configurations in the air, such as serpents, spiral, throws and catches, boomerangs, and flips. The invention may also include whistles, bells, and/or lights to further enhance the performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

• The present invention relates to toys or performance devices. More specifically, the invention is directed to toys or performance devices that allow a user to create by manipulative movements, various configurations of the device such as those used in rhythmic gymnastics.

• Various toys or performance devices that use cords and/or ribbons exist, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,941 to Hooten and U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,946 to Bloomfield. Streamers, a common apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastic performances, are also known. However, it is not believed that the prior art provides the streamer, cord, or ribbon with a retraction and/or expansion feature. It would be advantageous to provide such a feature that permits the user to vary the length of the streamer or cord without stopping the movement of the performance. Such a feature would also be advantageous for storing the device as it would limit the amount of cord or streamer that could entangle itself.

• Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable and expandable performance toy or device for use in performances such as rhythmic gymnastics. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a performance toy or device with a weighted assembly attached to the retractable device, providing more speed when using the device and/or to better direct the streamer or cord, allowing more variations of ribbon configurations and/or enhanced flexibility in manipulating the device as compared to prior devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• The apparatus of this application may be a children's toy or an improvement to a performance device such as the ribbons used in rhythmic gymnastics.

• The device provides the user with a handle and cord emanating from the top. At the other end of the cord, a weight and/or ribbon assembly may be attached. A ribbon assembly may include ribbons or streamers radiating from the cord. A variety of items may be used as a weight that provide extra visual effects, such as a rubber ball, a colored disc, etc. A whistle or bells may be located on the weight, cord, ribbon, or streamer to provide an audible effect to the performance device.

• In one embodiment, it is preferable to use a ball as a weight. When a ball with attached cord is used, the user can swing the handle and the ball may fly quickly through the air. The user may even choose to strike the ball against a surface which creates extra visual effects with the ribbons and streamers.

• The device may have reeling means located within the handle or on its exterior. This reeling means allows the user to increase or decrease the length of the cord, moving the weight and ribbon assembly closer or further from the handle. This changes the visual displays produced by the device. The reeling means may be automatically or manually activated depending on what type of control the user desires.

• In one embodiment, the reeling means may be a tape spring located inside the handle. The cord may be anchored to the handle. When the user twirls the device, the cord unravels from within the handle. The user may stop the extension of the cord by depressing the tape spring from the exterior of the handle, clamping onto the cord. The user may also automatically reel in the cord by depressing a button communicating with the tape spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1

  is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the performance device;

• FIG. 2

  is vertical sectional view taken along reference line 2-2 of

  FIG. 1

  ;

• FIG. 3

  is top and side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the performance device;

• FIG. 4

  is a perspective view of the performance device in use;

• FIG. 5

  is an enlarged sectional view taken along reference line 5-5 of

  FIG. 4

  ;

• FIG. 6

  is a side perspective view showing the two interior sides of the handle of the performance device opened at its vertical axis; and

• FIG. 7

  is an enlarged perspective of a winding mechanism shown in

  FIG. 6

  .

DEFINITION OF CLAIM TERMS

• The terms used in the claims of the patent as filed are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law.

• “Ribbon assembly” means a part of a performance device that provides the majority of the visual display, such as at least one ribbon and/or streamer. In addition, it may include anything that may add to a visual display, such as a light, whistle, webbing, decoration, glow-in-the dark material, etc.

• “Reeling means” means a part of the performance device that allows a user to extend or contract the cord automatically.

• Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

• Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.

• Referring to

  FIGS. 1 and 2

  , a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

  performance device

  17, may be manufactured for use as a children's toy, or as an improvement to a performance device, such as may be used in rhythmic gymnastics.

  Device

  17 may have a

  handle

  1 with a

  first end

  2 a (

  FIG. 7

  ) of

  cord

  2 inserted within

  interior channel

  31 of

  handle

  1. In this embodiment, means for varying the length of

  cord

  2 may be located on the exterior of

  handle

  1, such that a user may wrap or unwrap

  cord

  2 around

  anchor

  5, having

  sides

  5 a and 5 b and narrowed

  radial portion

  5 c. A

  second end

  2 b (

  FIGS. 1 and 5

  ) of

  cord

  2 may be attached to at least one weight, such as

  ball

  3, and a ribbon assembly that may include radiating ribbons 4 and/or streamers attached to the top of the

  ball

  3 using rivet 6 (

  FIG. 5

  ) to provide a radiating effect. A user may manipulate the

  device

  17 by holding handle 1 (see

  FIG. 4

  ) and twirling it around so that

  cord

  2 floats in the air in a direction proscribed by the movement of

  ball

  3, while the ribbon or streamer assembly 4 creates visual effects in the air.

• Referring to

  FIGS. 3

  , 4, 6, and 7, preferred embodiments of the present invention,

  cord

  2 may include automatic reeling means.

  Unused cord

  2 may be located within

  handle

  1 by running through

  channel

  31 and wrapping around

  anchor

  34 within

  interior space

  32 of

  handle

  1.

• Referring to

  FIG. 4

  , in one preferred embodiment, a user may control the length of

  cord

  2 by

  depressing button

  11 located over a spring loaded handle. When

  button

  11 is pushed it

  clamps cord

  2 and prevents its release. If the user releases

  button

  11, the pressure on

  cord

  2 is released, and upon twirling

  cord

  2 can further release from coil spring 15 and increase in length. This embodiment may but need not utilize spring-loaded means located in the handle (such as used in a tape measure, for example) for automatically retracting the cord, and for releasing it under force, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, if the user pushes

  button

  11 without twirling (i.e., without providing an opposing force directed in a radially outward direction along the cord),

  cord

  2, driven by a spring (not shown), will contract back into

  handle

  1 automatically and wind around anchor (

  FIG. 7

  ).

• Referring now to

  FIGS. 6 and 7

  , a user may control the length of

  cord

  2 by depressing

  clamping mechanism

  33 a located over a spring-loaded handle. When a user simultaneously twirls

  device

  17, this causes

  cord

  2 to be released from

  interior space

  32 as the momentum of

  ball

  3 and ribbons 4 pull on

  cord

  2 as centrifugal force is generated by the swinging. The user may exert a clamping force on

  ribs

  33 with his/her thumb to stop the release of

  cord

  2 using a spring mechanism as discussed above. When the cord is free of clamping, the cord may be permitted to automatically wind back into

  handle

  1 and around

  anchor

  34 using spring means, not shown. Clamping means 33 a (e.g., a linear piece of plastic or metal) carrying

  ribs

  33 may be anchored to the handle by

  tab

  36 to prevent clamping means 33 a from moving relative to

  cord

  2.

• Referring to

  FIG. 3

  , in another embodiment,

  cord

  2 may be affixed to an anchor (not shown) within

  handle

  1. Foldable handle 35 may be attached to the exterior of

  handle

  1. The user may wind

  foldable handle

  35 to contract

  cord

  2 back within

  handle

  1. Foldable handle 35 may lock into place on

  handle

  1 by folding it in the direction shown by arrow Y so that

  handle projection

  35 a fits within

  recess

  48 on the handle.

• Referring again to

  FIG. 1

  , it is desirable to use a

  cord

  2 that will not break with repeated use. A material like nylon may be used. In an alternative embodiment, the cord may be a rubber-band-like material. Such a composition would create a completely different visual effect when the device is moved by the user. Also, a user may desire extra visual effects. In another preferred embodiment (

  FIG. 1

  ),

  cord

  2 may have lights 16 (e.g. LEDs) attached, and/or may be made of or sprayed with glow in the dark attributes, which may add to the visual effects when the device is in use.

• Referring to

  FIGS. 4 and 5

  , in a preferred embodiment the weight of the performance device may be provided by a variety of objects, such as

  ball

  3. With a weight, such as

  ball

  3 attached to

  cord

  2 and the streamers 4 attached to the cord or weight, the ribbon assembly can achieve speed that is difficult to achieve without the weight, enabling additional configurations to be used within the air. When using the device, the user may swing the

  ball

  3 on the

  cord

  2 by the

  handle

  1, striking and bouncing the ball against a surface. This adds an extra visual and performance feature. In another preferred embodiment, the ball may have a light within it (not shown).

• Referring again to

  FIG. 6

  , in another preferred embodiment, a

  whistle

  13 may be attached to

  cord

  2. In yet another embodiment (not shown),

  whistle

  13 may be the only weight attached to

  cord

  2. And in yet another embodiment not shown, bells may be coupled to

  cord

  2 or ribbons 4. When the device is whirled around in these embodiments, the

  whistle

  13 or bells (not shown) may add pleasant (or piercing) sound to the visual display provided by the performance device.

• Referring again to

  FIGS. 4 and 5

  , the ribbons or streamers 4 may be attached to each other by a

  rivet

  6.

  Rivet

  6 may hold multiple ribbons or streamers 4 to each other. Alternatively, they may be secured to the device by a knot (not shown) in

  cord

  2.

• Other changes and modifications constituting insubstantial differences from the present invention, such as those expressed here or others left unexpressed but apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following claims.