U.S. patent application number 12/252715 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-23 for wearable fan accessory for improved clapping.
Invention is credited to Marc Sterling Jones.
Application Number | 20090100572 12/252715 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40561947 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090100572 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones; Marc Sterling |
April 23, 2009 |
Wearable Fan Accessory For Improved Clapping
Abstract
A pair of sports fan gloves, each having a front side and a back
side, and a plurality of members positioned in covering relation to
the front side of each glove. The glove may be manufactured from
any conventional cloth fabric or similar material used for clothing
apparel, and dimensioned to be worn on various sized hands. The
members are preferably made of a firm plastic or other rigid
polymer and affixed to the palm and fingers of each glove in spaced
relation to each other. Users wearing two such gloves may applaud
or handclap in the convention manner, with improved audibility and
loudness of the resulting clapping sound.
Inventors: |
Jones; Marc Sterling;
(Syracuse, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BOND, SCHOENECK & KING, PLLC
ONE LINCOLN CENTER
SYRACUSE
NY
13202-1355
US
|
Family ID: |
40561947 |
Appl. No.: |
12/252715 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60999211 |
Oct 17, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/160 ; 2/163;
2/167 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/0031
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/160 ; 2/163;
2/167 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Claims
1. A wearable fan accessory, comprising: a glove; and a plurality
of members affixed to said glove.
2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said glove is dimensioned to
be worn on the hand of a human.
3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein said glove comprises a palm
and five fingers.
4. The accessory of claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality
of members are affixed to the palm.
5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein said glove comprises
fabric.
6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein said members comprise
plastic.
7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein said members are affixed to
said glove by thread.
8. The accessory of claim 7, further comprising a second glove and
a second plurality of members affixed to said glove.
9. The accessory of claim 8, where said gloves include a logo
printed thereon.
10. The accessory of claim 9, wherein said gloves and said
pluralities of members are of the same color.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/999,211, filed Oct. 17, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to amusement devices and, more
particularly, to a device for improving the percussion of clapping
hands.
[0004] 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0005] Spectators in an audience normally express approval of a
performance by creating an audible sound known as applause.
Applause is the most commonly used method to demonstrate
appreciation or approval of a performer or performance and is
typically created by numerous individuals striking their hands
together to generate an audible sound known as a "handclap." A
handclap is normally generated by positioning the fingers of the
first hand together where they form a row and are touching each
other, and flatly striking the palm of the opposite hand.
[0006] In addition to clapping, there are a few devices known in
the art for improving the loudness of applause. For example, some
fans may employ two vertically-shaped inflated plastic balloons
that create noise when struck together. Such devices as bulky,
however, and frequently obstruct the view of others when used.
Other fans may wear giant foam hands having a single digit
extended. These devices will not make any noise when clapped
together, and also interfere with the ability of surrounding fans
to watch an event. Finally, there are a variety of physical
noise-making devices used by, such as ratchets and air horns. These
devices are often banned however, and require a user to hold onto
the device, thereby interfering with the users ability to grasp a
beverage or food item.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the
present invention to provide a system and method for generating
louder applause and, in particular, handclapping.
[0008] It is another object and advantage of the present invention
to provide a system and method for generating louder applause that
is easy to use.
[0009] It is a further object and advantage of the present
invention to provide a system and method for generating louder
applause that does not interfere with viewing an event.
[0010] It is an additional object and advantage of the present
invention to provide a system and method for generating louder
applause that allows a user to carry out other activities while
viewing an event.
[0011] In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the
present invention provides a glove having a front side and a back
side, and a plurality of members positioned in covering relation to
predetermined portions of front side. The glove may be manufactured
from any conventional cloth fabric or similar material used for
clothing apparel, and dimensioned to be worn on various sized
hands. Members are preferably made of a firm plastic or other rigid
polymer and affixed to the palm and fingers of each glove in spaced
relation to each other. The members may be made of various
materials that provide rigidity and may vary color, size, thickness
and shape to suit the needs of the user or the environment. User
wearing two such gloves according to the present invention may
applaud or handclap in the convention manner, and the present
invention will improve the audibility and loudness of the resulting
clapping sound.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0012] The present invention will be more fully understood and
appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is perspective view of the front of a right hand
sports fan glove according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of a right hand
sports fan glove according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a
wearable sports fan accessory 10 comprising a glove 12 having a
front side 14 and a back side 16 and a plurality of members 18
positioned in covering relation to predetermined portions of front
side 14.
[0016] Preferably, glove 12 is manufactured from a cloth fabric or
similar material. The fabric can vary in weight, texture and color
to accommodate different ambient temperatures and reflect personal
preferences as to color and style. Glove 12 may further comprise
fabrics or similar material will sustain protect against or repel
environmental conditions, such as rain or snow, for the use of the
present invention during outdoor events or areas.
[0017] Members 18 are positioned on the palm and fingers of the
glove and in spaced relation to each other. Preferably, each glove
12 will include between about ten and fifteen members 18 attached
thereto. Members 18 may be attached to glove 12 in any number of
conventional ways for attaching items to clothing, such as sewing
the peripheral edges of members 18 to the material of glove 12 with
a durable thread that may vary in color and weight. As with glove
12, members 18 may be made of various materials that provide some
amount of rigidity and may vary color, size, thickness and shape to
suit the needs of the user or the environment. It should be
recognized by those of skill in the art that various polymers and
plastics may be used for members 18, such as acrylics,
polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyamides, and the like, provided
that when the plastics are formed as sheets and clapped, they will
provide the enhanced clapping sound. In an alternative embodiment,
glove 12 may be configured as a mitten, such as for use in colder
climates, with a plurality of members 18 positioned on the integral
palm portion of the mitten.
[0018] Accessory 10 according to the present invention allows a
user to produce an audible sound that is substantially louder than
the sound produced by a bare handclap. However, it should be
understood by those of skill in the art that every person does not
have the same total sound produced for a handclap and that each
user's individual total sound produced can change depending on the
force, frequency, and actual length of the user's handclap. As
gloves 12 are designed and appropriately dimension to be worn on
the hands of a user, the present invention allows for improved
loudness without interfering with the viewing of spectators and
fans around the user of the present invention.
[0019] Due to the hand size of accessory 10, the present invention
is very portable and may be stored and transported like
conventional gloves, e.g., in a small storage pouch, a mid-sized
pocket, a purse or small bag. Accessory 10 is also reusable,
depending on how many sporting events that will be attended by the
wearer to show their support.
[0020] Accessory 10 may be employed by a user by inserting each of
his or her hands into one of two gloves 12 according to the present
invention. The user may then clap his or her hands in the
convention manner to produce a louder clapping noise that with bare
hands to show encouragement for the individual athlete, a team,
sporting event or any other event where applause is appropriate,
such as outdoor sports like football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse,
field hockey, and beach volleyball, or even indoor sports like
basketball, indoor soccer, and indoor lacrosse to name a few.
[0021] Like conventional gloves, the present invention may include
text or designs imprinted or applied thereon, such as team names,
slogans or logos for desired teams or individuals, or combinations
thereof on back side 16. Moreover, the materials used for glove 12
and members 18 may be selected in the color or colors of a
particular team to further show fan support at a sporting
event.
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