US4365353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Body puppet and teaching aid
Assignee: MEADS JOSEPH C 6003 LOOMIS LAKEWOOD 90713 A CITIZEN OF USA
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Filing: 1980-12-31
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Granted: 1982-12-28
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Expires: 2000-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A relatively simple and low-cost body puppet is disclosed comprising a garment worn about the trunk of a user which includes artwork and other indicia depicting a humanized face and mouth. The garment is formed of a substantially resilient material which when manually stretched by the hands of the user, causes the indicia on the puppet to momentarily distort and assume varying facial expressions. The body puppet of the present invention is additionally adapted to serve as a teaching aid, permitting children to non-verbally communicate with others and predict and record the actual response of a viewer.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard N. Rayl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:23
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D11/00; A41D27/00; A41D27/08; G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B21/00; G09B21/009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A body puppet comprising: a garment sized to be worn about the body of a user; indicia formed on said garment depicting a humanized face, said garment formed of a sufficiently resilient fabric material so that when said garment is manually stretched by said user, said indicia momentarily distorts to assume varying facial expressions on said puppet; and an elongate slot formed through said garment and aligned with a portion of said indicia corresponding to the mouth of said humanized face, said slot adapted to permit said garment to spread apart in the vicinity of said portion of said indicia when said garment is manually stretched to simulate the opening of the mouth of said puppet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A body puppet comprising: a garment sized to be worn about the body of a user; indicia formed on said garment depicting a humanized face, said garment formed of a sufficiently resilient fabric material so that when said garment is manually stretched by said user, said indicia momentarily distorts to assume varying facial expressions on said puppet; and an elongate slot formed through said garment and aligned with a portion of said indicia corresponding to the mouth of said humanized face, said slot adapted to permit said garment to spread apart in the vicinity of said portion of said indicia when said garment is manually stretched to simulate the opening of the mouth of said puppet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The body puppet of claim 1 further comprising means attached to said garment in the vicinity of said elongate slot to biasingly return said garment back to an initial unstretched position to simulate the closing of the mouth of said puppet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The body puppet of claim 2 wherein said biasingly return means comprises a substantially rigid patch adhered to the undersurface of said garment and including a slot aligned and registered with the elongate slot formed through said garment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The body puppet of claim 3 further comprising a patch member including indicia formed thereon representing the inside of a mouth, said patch member attached to the undersurface of said garment and positioned in said vicinity of said elongate slot so that when said garment is spread apart, said indicia representing said inside of said mouth may be viewed through said elongate slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The body puppet of claim 4 wherein said garment is formed of cotton fabric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The body puppet of claim 5 wherein said garment comprises a T shirt which closely conforms to the trunk of said user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A body puppet comprising: a garment sized to be worn about the trunk of a user; indicia formed on said garment depicting a character; an elongate aperture formed through said garment and aligned with a portion of said indicia, and a patch attached to the undersurface of said garment and positioned in the vicinity of said elongate aperture; said garment formed of a sufficiently resilient material so that when said garment is manually stretched by said user, said indicia momentarily distorts to simulate animation of the character and said aperture is formed to permit said garment to spread apart in the vicinity of said portion of said indicia when said garment is manually stretched to reveal said patch through said elongate aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A body puppet comprising: a garment sized to be worn about the trunk of a user; indicia formed on said garment depicting a character; an elongate aperture formed through said garment and aligned with a portion of said indicia, and a patch attached to the undersurface of said garment and positioned in the vicinity of said elongate aperture; said garment formed of a sufficiently resilient material so that when said garment is manually stretched by said user, said indicia momentarily distorts to simulate animation of the character and said aperture is formed to permit said garment to spread apart in the vicinity of said portion of said indicia when said garment is manually stretched to reveal said patch through said elongate aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The body puppet of claim 7 further comprising means attached to said garment in the vicinity of said elongate aperture to biasingly return said garment back to an initial unstretched position and cover said patch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The body puppet of claim 8 wherein said biasingly return means comprises a plastic patch fastened to the undersurface of said garment and including a slot aligned and registered with said elongate aperture formed through said garment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | 1986-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-27 | 1990-06-28 | 1990-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-27 | 1994-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |