Hand-controlled puppet

Claim 1

A hand-controlled puppet comprising a conical-shaped support member having a hollowed-out central area which terminates in a first aperture at the tip end of the conical-shaped support member and which terminates in a second aperture at the base end of the conical-shaped support member, each aperture being in axial alignment with the axis of the conical-shaped support member and with the center of the other; an elongated rod positioned in the hollowed-out central area of the conical-shaped support member and extending axially therethrough and past and beyond the first aperture at the tip end of the conical-shaped support member and past and beyond the second aperture at the base of the conical-shaped support member, said elongated rod being adapted to be moved vertically relative to said support member along the axis of the conical-shaped support member and through the first aperture and second aperture and being adapted to be rotated relative to said support member about said axis in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in any vertical position; a simulated head mounted on the end of the elongated rod adjacent to the second aperture; a bilaminar covering having a back and a front positioned adjacent said second aperture and adapted to have the portion of the elongated rod extending past and beyond the base located between the back and front of the bilaminar covering, said bilaminar covering having an elongated top portion extending from the back thereof which is positioned around and attached to the back portion of the head which is affixed to the end of the elongated rod adjacent the second aperture, a pair of opposed extending arms and a bottom portion which is affixed to the base of the conical-shaped support member to enclose said second aperture, said bilaminar covering having a positive bias which urges the bilaminar covering into an arcuate shape with the opposed arms bending slightly toward the front; and an adhesive joining the elongated top portion of the back member of the bilaminar covering to the back portion of the head and joining a portion of the interior of the back and front of the bilaminar covering to that portion of the elongated rod extending between the back and front of the bilaminar covering to form a simulated backbone and to limit the rotation of the elongated rod relative to said bilaminar covering in both the clockwise and counterclockwise direction, said elongated rod, head and bilaminar covering affixed thereto being adapted to move in a first vertical direction toward the first aperture to draw the head and bilaminar covering to the interior of the hollowed-out central area of the conical-shaped support member and to move in a second vertical direction toward the second aperture to transport the head and bilaminar covering out of the hollowed-out central area enabling the head and rod to extend the bilaminar covering between the head and base; said elongated rod being adapted to be rotated in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction relative to the conical-shaped support member to rotate the top and back of the bilaminar covering in the direction of the rotation of the rod relative to the bottom of the bilaminar covering affixed to the base of the conical-shaped support member to cause one of the opposed extending arms to move in an upward direction toward the head and the other opposed extending arm to move in a downward direction toward the base to enable a user to hold the conical-shaped support member in one hand and to move the elongated rod with the other hand in the first vertical direction to draw the head and bilaminar covering into the hollowed-out central area of the conical-shaped support member and in the second vertical direction to transport the head and the bilaminar covering from the hollowed-out central area and to rotate the elongated rod through the limited rotation in at least one of a clockwise and counterclockwise direction causing movement of the opposed extending arms relative to the head.

Claim 15

The method of fabricating a hand-controlled puppet comprising the steps of forming a conical-shaped member to produce a hollowed-out central area therein with a first aperture at the tip end and a second aperture at the base end of the conical-shaped support member with the apertures in axial alignment with the conical-shaped support member; placing an elongated rod within the hollowed-out central area of the conical-shaped support member which is adapted to simultaneously pass through both of the axially aligned first and second apertures; affixing a simulated head to the end of the elongated rod adjacent the base of the conical-shaped support member; forming a bilaminar covering having a front portion, a relatively elongated back portion, a pair of opposing arms with a positive bias causing said arms to curve toward said front portion and a bottom portion; affixing said bilaminar covering to the head and elongated rod assembly and to the base of the conical-shaped support member to enclose the second aperture, said affixing being performed by adhering the elongated back portion of the bilaminar covering to the back of the head and adhering the interior of the back and front of the bilaminar covering to the elongated rod to form a simulated backbone relationship; and attaching the bottom portion of the bilaminar covering to the base end of the conical-shaped support member to form the hand-controlled puppet.

Claim 16

The method of fabricating a hand-controlled puppet comprising the steps of forming a conical-shaped member to produce a hollowed-out central area therein with a first aperture at the tip end and a second aperture at the base end of the conical-shaped support member with the apertures in axial alignment with the conical-shaped support member; placing an elongated rod within the hollowed-out central area of the conical-shaped support member which is adapted to simultaneously pass through both of the axially aligned first and second apertures; affixing a simulated head to the end of the elongated rod adjacent the base of the conical-shaped support member; forming a bilaminar covering having a front portion, a relatively elongated back portion, a pair of opposing arms with a positive bias causing said arms to curve toward said front portion and a bottom portion; affixing said bilaminar covering to the head and elongated rod assembly and to the base of the conical-shaped support member to enclose the second aperture, said affixing being performed by adhering the elongated back portion of the bilaminar covering to the back of the head and adhering the interior of the back and front of the bilaminar covering to the elongated rod to form a simulated backbone relationship; and attaching the bottom portion of the bilaminar covering to the base end of the conical-shaped support member to form the hand-controlled puppet.