US20040110444A1

US20040110444A1 - Liquid filled amusement device with external extensions

Info

Publication number: US20040110444A1
Application number: US10/314,486
Authority: US
Inventors: Chu-Yuan Liao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-09
Filing date: 2002-12-09
Publication date: 2004-06-10

Abstract

A novelty device that has an elongated torical encasement of flexible material that defines a central sleeve. A volume of liquid is contained within the encasement. A least one external accessory is provided that is attached to the encasement. When the point of attachment is on the exterior of the device, the external accessory extends away from the device. However, when the point of attachment rotates within the central sleeve section, the external accessory can be hidden from view. Thus, by selectively exposing and hiding the external accessory, the appearance of the device can be selectively altered and the device can appear to transform between two distinct appearances.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to novelty devices that have a thin plastic skin that is formed into an elongated torical configuration and is filled with liquid.

2. Prior Art Statement

In the field of novelty devices, there are many devices that are intended to be squeezed in a user's hand. The pressure from the user's hand deforms the novelty device thereby providing a visual novelty. As the novelty device is squeezed, it also provides a tactile sensation to the hand that adds to the overall novelty of the device.

Many such novelty devices are molded from plastic or elastomeric material. Certain novelty devices are filled with liquid. Such novelty devices provide a squishy sensation when squeezed. One such liquid filled novelty device is made from an elongated tube of flexible plastic skin. The opposite ends of the tube are folded toward each other and are attached to each other. This forms an elongated torical encasement. When the elongated torical encasement is filled with liquid, the encasement tends to move around the liquid filling as the encasement is squeezed. As such, the novelty device tends to move itself out of a person's hand when squeezed. Such novelty devices are sold under the name Water Wigglers by Play Visions, Inc. of Woodinville, Wash.

The present invention is an improvement to liquid filled novelty devices having elongated torical encasements that increases the play value of such devices. This improvement in the art is described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novelty device that has an elongated torical encasement of flexible material. Due to its torical shape, the encasement has an external cylindrical section and an internal central sleeve section that are continuous, wherein the internal central sleeve section extends down the center of the external cylindrical section. A volume of liquid is contained within the encasement. No other structural element is present. Accordingly, the encasement is free to fold about the internal volume of liquid. This enables the sections of the encasement that are on the exterior of the device to pass into the central sleeve section of the device and vice versa.

A least one external accessory is provided that is affixed to the encasement. When the point of attachment is on the exterior section of the device, the external accessory extends away from the device. However, when the point of attachment rotates within the central sleeve section, the external accessory can be hidden from view. Thus, by selectively exposing and hiding the external accessory, the appearance of the device can be selectively altered and the device can appear to transform between two distinct appearances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0009]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0010]
FIG. 2A is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the external accessory in the middle of the exterior of the device; [0011]
FIG. 2B is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the external accessory at the bottom of the exterior of the device; [0012]
FIG. 2C is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the external accessory passing partially into the central sleeve of the device; [0013]
FIG. 2D is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the external accessory passing fully into the central sleeve of the device; [0014]
FIG. 3A is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention having two sets of external accessories fully exposed; and [0015]
FIG. 3B is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention having the two sets of external accessories hidden within the central sleeve.[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a [0017] novelty device 10 is shown. The novelty device 10 has an elongated torical encasement 12 that is filled with a liquid. Due to the torical shape of the encasement 12, the novelty device 10 has a cylindrical outer shape. However, also due to the torical shape of the encasement 12, the novelty device 10 defines a sleeve 14 that extends through the center of the novelty device 10.
The [0018] encasement 12 is made of a flexible, liquid impermeable material. Since the encasement 12 is filled with liquid, the encasement 12 retains the liquid and can move relative the liquid. Accordingly, the part of the encasement 12 that is on the exterior section of the novelty device 10 can quickly be rotated into the sleeve 14 of the novelty device 12 and vice versa.
An [0019] external accessory 20 is added to the material of the encasement 12 at a fixed point. The external accessory 20 can be adhesively bonded to the encasement 12. As such, the external accessory 20 is affixed to the encasement 12 at a set point and moves with the encasement 12. Consequently, when the point of attachment of the external accessory 20 rotates into the center sleeve 14 of the novelty device 10, the external accessory 20 also rotates into the center sleeve 14.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the [0020] external accessory 20 is comprised of a ring 22 that is adhesively bonded to the encasement 12. A plurality of plastic tentacles 24 extend from the ring 22, as do two eyes 25. Accordingly, the attachment of the external accessory 20 to the novelty device 10, provides the novelty device 10 with the appearance of a squid or octopus.
Referring to FIG. 2A, the [0021] novelty device 10 is shown with the external accessory 20 at the center of the exterior of the encasement 12. The encasement 12 is then moved in the direction of the arrows 26. This causes the external accessory 20 to move downwardly as the encasement 12 at the bottom of the novelty device 10 moves into the central sleeve 14.
Referring to FIG. 2B. it can be seen that by further movement of the [0022] encasement 12 in the direction of the arrows 26, the external accessory 20 will eventually reach the bottom the novelty device 10. As is illustrated by FIG. 2C, if rotation of the encasement 12 is continued in the direction of the arrows 26, the external accessory 20 passes up into the central sleeve 14 of the novelty device 10.
Lastly, referring to FIG. 2D, it can be seen that by continuing the movement of the [0023] encasement 12 in the direction of the arrows 26, the entire external attachment can be pulled into the central sleeve 14, wherein no part of the external attachment is directly visible on the exterior of the novelty device 10.
Since the [0024] external accessory 20 of the encasement 12 can be selectively hidden within the central sleeve 14 of the novelty device 10, the novelty device 10 can be selectively oriented between two appearances. In a first configuration, the external accessory 20 is visible on the exterior of the novelty device 10. In a second configuration, the external accessory 20 is hidden in the central sleeve 14 of the novelty device 10. This provides the novelty device 10 with two distinct appearances, wherein the novelty device 10 can be caused to transform from one appearance to the other.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 2D, the [0025] external accessory 20 had tentacles that made the novelty device appear as a squid. Such an external accessory 20 is merely exemplary and it should be understood that the external accessory 20 can be configured as wings to make the novelty device look like an insect. In alternate embodiments, the external accessory can be legs, arms, horns, eyes, hair or the like.
Referring to FIG. 3A, an embodiment of a novelty device [0026] 30 is shown where two separate sets of external accessories 32, 34 are attached to the encasement 36. In the shown embodiment, the two external accessories 32, 34 mimic the appearance of the front legs and hind legs of a frog, respectively. Furthermore, images of frog eyes 38 are printed directly on the encasement 36. As such, when in the configuration of FIG. 3A, the novelty device 30 has the appearance of a frog.
However, as shown by FIG. 3B, by moving the [0027] encasement 36 in the direction of arrows 40, the two external accessories 32, 34 can be rotated into the central sleeve and out of external site. A different set of eyes 39 can be printed on the encasement 36, thereby giving the novelty device 30 the appearance of a tadpole. As such, by selectively manipulating the novelty device 30 between the configuration of FIG. 3A and the configuration of FIG. 3B, the novelty device 30 can be caused to transform from a tadpole to a frog and vice versa.
From the above, it will be understood that the external accessory attached to the encasement of the novelty device can have many different forms and that the encasement itself can be colored, painted or otherwise marked to complement the external accessories being attached. The shown embodiments of the present invention, as will therefore be understood, are exemplary and a person with graphic design skills can create external attachments for the novelty device that can cause the novelty device to resemble most any animal, insect or elongated object. All such alternate embodiments and modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. [0028]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A novelty device comprising:

an elongated torical encasement that defines a central sleeve of a predetermined length, wherein said encasement is filled with mostly liquid; and

at least one external accessory affixed to said encasement.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said external accessory extends from said encasement by a first length, wherein said first length is no greater than said predetermined length of said central sleeve.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said external accessory includes a ring that is affixed to said encasement and extensions that extend outwardly from said ring.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of external accessories are affixed to said encasement at different points.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said external accessories are selected from a group consisting of tentacles, arms, legs and wings.

6. A novelty device comprising:

an elongated torical encasement having an external cylindrical section and an internal central sleeve section that are continuous, wherein said internal central sleeve section extends through said external cylindrical section;

a volume of liquid contained within said encasement;

at least one external accessory affixed to said encasement.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein each said external accessory is affixed to said encasement at a particular point, wherein said external accessory contains an extension that extends away from said encasement when that particular point is on said external cylindrical section.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said external accessory extends from said encasement by a first length, wherein said first length is no greater than said central sleeve.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein said external accessory includes a ring that is affixed to said encasement and extensions that extend outwardly from said ring.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of external accessories are affixed to said encasement at different points.

11. The device according to claim 6, wherein said external accessories are selected from a group consisting of tentacles, arms, legs and wings.

12. The method of selectively changing the appearance of a novelty toy, comprising the steps of:

providing an elongated torical encasement that defines a central sleeve of a predetermined length, wherein said encasement is filled with mostly liquid;

attaching an extension accessory to said encasement;

selectively moving said encasement between a first position, where said extension accessory is contained within said central sleeve and a second position where said extension accessory is not hidden within said central sleeve.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said external accessory extends from said encasement by a first length, wherein said first length is no greater than said central sleeve.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said external accessory includes a ring that is affixed to said encasement and extensions that extend outwardly from said ring.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of external accessories are affixed to said encasement at different points.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said external accessory is selected from a group consisting of tentacles, arms, legs and wings.