Page:US Patent 5830035.djvu/4

5,830,035 Due to the length and resiliency of the neck portion and the weight of the figurine or character 22, minimal flexure or wiggling movement of the large toe 12 fitted with the puppet 10 will cause the figurine or character 22 to traverse to and fro or oscillate in a predominantly backward and forward path which mimics the advance and retreat of the figurine or character 22 and provides an amusing effect. However, depending on the dexterity and control of one's single digit, one may also move or oscillate the figurine or character 22 to and fro in a limited lateral or circular motion.

Neck portion 20 is constructed such that it provides a relatively gradual and constant taper in its depth between upper wall 16a and free end 24. Neck portion 20 has a relatively great reduction in its width at its base adjacent upper wall 16a, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and thereabove tapers gradually and constantly toward free end 24. This provides a reduction in the overall cross-section of neck portion 20 toward free end 24. During movement of the user’s toe 12, figurine 22 experiences compound back and forth movement under the influence of its own weight movement caused by flexure of neck portion 20 due to its tapered cross-section, and movement of neck portion 20 as a whole relative to cap 16.

It should be appreciated that by virtue of the friction fit mounting of the figurine or character 22 on the neck portion 20, the figurine or character 22 may be adjustably positioned upwardly or downwardly as well as from side-to-side depending on the male and female design of the figurine or character 22 and the free end 24 of the neck portion 20. It should also be understood that other figurines or characters 22 may be mounted on other single digits of the hand or foot to provide the desired effect.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, while the puppet 10 of the present invention is shown mounted on the large toe of a human foot, the elastic cap of the puppet is also conformable to the shape of a finger on one's hand. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only, and should not be deemed limitative on the scope of the invention set forth with following claims.

I claim:

1. A puppet adapted to be mounted on a human digit for providing animated motion of a figurine responsive to movement of the human digit, the puppet comprising:
 * a hollow, elastic cap having an interior wall defining an axially-extending cavity for snugly receiving said human digit; and
 * a resilient neck having a proximal end connected to said cap and a distal end secured to said figurine, said neck extending along an axis transverse to the cavity axis wherein the neck is tapered so as to decrease in transverse dimension in a direction from said proximal end toward said distal end, and wherein said figurine is mounted to the distal end of said neck and is spaced from said cap, said neck and said figurine being oscillatable to and fro in response to movement of said human digit.

2. The puppet of claim 1, wherein said figurine is removable from said neck and interchangeable with another figurine.

3. The puppet of claim 1, wherein said neck is constructed and arranged to be one-piece with said elastic cap.

4. The puppet of claim 1, wherein said neck is a separate element constructed and arranged to be attached to said elastic cap.

5. The puppet of claim 1, wherein said neck is a solid member extending from an upper portion of said elastic cap.

6. A puppet adapted to be mounted on a digit of a human appendage for providing animated motion of a figurine responsive to flexure of the digit, the puppet comprising:
 * a hollow, elastic cap having an interior wall defining an axially-extending cavity for snugly receiving said digit of said human appendage; and
 * a resilient, solid, elongated neck extending upwardly with respect to said cap along an axis transverse to the cavity axis, wherein the figurine is mounted to the neck and the entirety of said figurine is supported at a distance relative to the cap, said figurine being movable in a predominantly forward and backward path relative to the human appendage in response to flexure of said digit.

7. The puppet of claim , wherein said figurine is adjustable, and attachable and detachable from said neck by means of a friction fit.

8. The puppet of claim 6, wherein said elastic cap is constructed of a material enabling the cap to be conformable to the shape of the digit.

9. A toe puppet adapted to be mounted on a person's toe for providing animated motion of a character responsive to wiggling movement of the toe, the puppet comprising:
 * a hollow, elastic cap having wall and an end wall defining an open-ended axially-extending cavity for snugly receiving said toe, said cap including a resilient, elongated tapered neck portion extending upwardly with respect to the side wall along an axis transverse to the axis of the cavity and supporting said character at a distance spaced upwardly from said cap, said character being movable back and forth in response to movement of said cap due to the taper and length of said neck portion and the weight of said character, and said character being friction fit on said neck portion to allow adjustability and interchangeability of said character on said neck portion.

10. A puppet, comprising:
 * a cap having a side wall and an end wall defining a passage for receiving a digit of a human appendage, wherein the cap defines spaced first and second ends and wherein the passage extends inwardly from the first end along a first longitudinal axis;
 * a resilient neck connected to the cap and extending therefrom along a second longitudinal axis transverse to the first longitudinal axis, wherein the neck is connected to the cap at a location spaced from the first end of the cap such that a portion of the side wall is disposed between the neck and the first end of the cap; and
 * a figure secured to the neck, wherein movement of the cap is transferred through the neck to the figure so as to move the figure in response to movement of the digit.

11. The puppet of claim 10, wherein the neck defines a proximal end adjacent the cap and a distal end adjacent the figure, and wherein the neck tapers in transverse dimension from the proximal end toward the distal end.