Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B1/00—Hats; Caps; Hoods
  • A42B1/004—Decorative arrangements or effects
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B1/00—Hats; Caps; Hoods
  • A42B1/24—Hats; Caps; Hoods with means for attaching articles thereto, e.g. memorandum tablets or mirrors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B27/00—Ladies' or like fans
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B11/00—Umbrellas characterised by their shape or attachment
  • A45B11/02—Umbrellas characterised by their shape or attachment attached to the body of the user

Definitions

• the invention relates generally to a novelty device and is particularly related to a novelty headwear having a removable fan-like structure, which can be readily opened and closed as, desired.
• the fan novelty device not only attracts attention but also has entertaining, promotional and marketing values.
• the present invention provides a novelty device comprising a fan-like structure, advantageously removable, attached to at least one head gear.
• the fan-like structure is formed by a strip of pliable and foldable material having an accordion structure defined by a plurality of fin-like members.
• the novelty device further comprises a flexible base corresponding to each fan-like structure having substantially the same size and shape as the corresponding fin-like members.
• the front most fin-like member of the fan-like structure is mounted on the base.
• the base is removably attached to at least one head gear, which can be placed on a wearer's head.
• the head gear may be a dome-shaped body such as a cap as disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,903,626 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/693,089, or head bands, barrettes, hair combs, rubber bands, hair clips, etc.
• the flexible base conforms to the shape of the wearer's head to allow the free movement or pivoting of the fan-like structure with the movements of the wearer's head.
• the fan-like structure may be positioned in a front-to-back orientation, such that the wearer's tilt or snap of his or her head backward or forward would open or close the fan-like structure, respectively, or a side-to-side orientation, such that the wearer may tilt or snap his or her head left or right to open or close the fan-like structure.
• the accordion folding of the fan-like structure are provided with openings at the fold lines which aid in the pleating and opening of the fan-like structure and improve the structural integrity of the open fan-like structure in windy conditions.
• Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention showing the manner of attachment of the fan-like structure in a closed position on a base and then on different types of head gears.
• Fig. 2 is a side view of the fan novelty head gear of Figure 1 on a wearer's head in the front-to-back orientation with the fan-like structure in the open position.
• Fig. 3 is a front view of the fan novelty head gear of Figure 1 on a wearer' s head in the side-to-side orientation with the fan-like structure in the open position.
• Fig. 4 is a magnified view of a portion of the fan-like structure of Figure 2 illustrating the openings at the fold lines.
• Fig. 1 shows the fan novelty device 10 comprising a strip of pliable material 11, a base 12 and a head gear 13 (13a, 13b or 13c).
• the strip of pliable material 11 has an accordion folding 14 formed of a plurality of pleated fins 15.
• the strip of pliable material 11 may be made of fabric, paper or spun bonded polyolefin such as DuPont's Tyvek®.
• the pleated fins 15 are clasped or attached together to form the pivotal point 17 of the fan-like structure, best shown in Figure 2.
• Different designs may be printed on the strip of material 11 for display (not shown).
• the front most fin 15a is attached to base 12 by any means known to one skilled in the art, such as sewing, gluing, stapling, taping, Velcro® attachment, snap buttons, etc.
• Base 12 is made of a flexible material such that it conforms to a wearer's head as shown in Figure 2.
• Base 12 may be made of the same material as the strip of material 11.
• Base 12 has a shape and size substantially similar to that of the front most fin member 15a to provide adequate support for the strip of material 11 when fins 15 are in the open position to form the fan-like structure 22 as shown in Figure 2.
• Opposite ends 18a and 18b of base 12 are attached to head gear 13 by any means known to one skilled in the art, such as sewing, gluing, stapling, taping, Velcro® attachment, snap buttons, etc.
• Opposite ends 18a and 18b of base 12 may be attached to a head band 13a at two opposed locations 19a and 19b or to two hair combs 20a and 20b or to two barrettes 21a and 21b.
• Other types of head gears 13, such as rubber bands, hair clips, etc., suitable for attachment to a wearer's head may be used.
• Removable attachment means between base 12 and head gear 13 allows the instantaneous changing of different strips of material 11 having fan-like structures 22 of different designs and/or shapes.
• Figure 2 shows a side view of the fan novelty device 10 on a wearer's head with the strip of accordion folded material 11 in an open position to form a fan-like structure 22.
• the opening of the strip of material 11 from the closed position as shown in Figure 1 is accomplished by tilting the wearer's head backward such that the fins 15 are pivoted from the pivotal point 16 and expanded to form the fan-like structure 22.
• the strip of material 11 may also be opened manually by hand.
• Figure 3 shows a front view of the fan novelty device 10 on a wearer's head in the side-to-side position.
• Opposite ends 18a and 18b of base 12 of the novelty device 10 in Figure 3 are attached to two barrettes 21a and 21b, which are positioned on the right and left sides of the wearer's head, respectively.
• the opening of the strip of material 11 to form the fan-like structure 22 requires the wearer to tilt his / her head from side to side.
• An advantage of using a head gear 13 such as head band 13 a, hair combs 20a and
• head band 13a provides additional area for which promotional or advertising material may be displayed.
• Figure 4 is a detailed view showing the accordion folding 14 of the strip of material 11.
• a plurality of slit openings 24 At the fold line 23 formed between a pair of adj acent fins 15 are a plurality of slit openings 24.
• Alternating with the slit openings 25 along the fold line 23 are a plurality of bridges 25.
• the slit openings 24 aid in the pleating and opening of the fan-like structure 22 by providing guidelines to the according folding 14. Additionally, the slit openings 24 allow wind to pass through without interfering with the structural integrity of the fan-like structure 22 when it is in the open position.
• a 3 to 1 ratio between opening 24 and bridge 25 is used on every fold line 23 of the strip of material 11.

Landscapes

• Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)
• Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=25391799

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2001
  • 2001-07-09 WO PCT/US2001/021570 patent/WO2003000081A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-07-09 BR BR0117060-0A patent/BR0117060A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-07-09 CN CNB018235476A patent/CN1323622C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-07-09 JP JP2003506535A patent/JP2004534158A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-07-09 EP EP01274329A patent/EP1453392A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-07-09 CA CA002451186A patent/CA2451186A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-09 AU AU2001298004A patent/AU2001298004A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2002
  • 2002-03-04 TW TW91103897A patent/TW531394B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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