Puppet book reading system
A puppet of any size can hold a book of any size. The system requires an attachment method that connects the arms of the puppet to the cover of the book. The preferred embodiment envisions slots near the edge of the book cover that the arms of the puppet fit into. The end of the arms of the puppet has a fastener which folds around the edge of the book, allowing the puppet to grip the book. The only limitation is that the puppet's arms must be able to reach to the edge of the cover of the book.
This invention relates to toys. More specifically it relates to puppets. Even more specifically it relates to puppets that can hold books.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPuppets have been used in a broad range of contexts and for a large number of purposes. They have been used to both educate and entertain. They have been used in forums as diverse as stages, classrooms and television. Since most puppets are human in body arrangement, with a head and two arms, many puppets use props. The props are usually lightweight and always scaled down versions of real objects. Real objects are two heavy or to large for the puppet to hold or use the object. In turn this meant that the operator of the puppet was limited to using the puppet-sized objects.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThis invention is a system by which a puppet of any size can use its arms to hold a regular book of any size. This allows a puppet operator to create the illusion that a puppet is reading a book. The operator attaches any regular book to the hands of the puppet, then uses the puppet in the normal manner. The puppet attaches to the book by a fastener that is attached to the puppets hands or arms. The corresponding fastener is attached to the cover of the book. The puppet then grasps the book by attaching the corresponding fastener on the book to the fastener on the puppets hands or arms.
The purpose of this invention is to allow any puppet to read any book. Thus the fastener that attaches the puppet's hands or arms to the book can be permanent or reversible. Examples of possible reversible fasteners are snaps, magnets, adhesive pads, hook and loop fasteners, statistical fasteners, such a VELCRO, or buttons. The puppet attaches to the book by fitting the hands of the puppet through a slot on the cover of the book. The hand of the puppet then loops back so that it touches the arm of the puppet and attaches to the arm. The arm of the puppet has the corresponding fastener for the fastener on the hand of the puppet. The advantage of this system is that the puppet can hold any book with a slot in the book cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In the preferred embodiment, the arms 3 are inserted into slots 4 on the book cover 2. The arms 3 have fasteners 5 attached that are made of a statistical fastener such as VELCRO. The arm 3 is then folded over so that it touches itself and the two parts of the statistical fastener meet, thus fastening the arm 3 around the edge of the book cover 2. In the preferred embodiment, the limit on the size of the book cover 2 is that the arms 3 of the puppet 1 must be able to reach the edge of the book cover 2 where the slots 4 are located. Other embodiments could have slots 4 placed in a different location on book cover 2 that would allow a smaller puppet 1 or arms 3 that are shorter. Some versions of the invention could have the slot 4 on a square of material that is attached to the book cover 2.
In the preferred embodiment, the fastener 5 is attached only to the arms 3. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener 5 causes the arm 3 to form a loop that holds the book cover 2 by the slot 4. In other embodiments, the fastener 5 can have half the fastener on the arm 3 and the corresponding fastener 5 on the book cover 2. For instance, and not meant as a limitation in any way, the grab fabric half of a statistically fastener like VELCRO could be attached to the arm 3 of a puppet 1. The hook fabric half of the statistical fastener could be on the book cover 2. By matching the two halves of the fastener together, the puppet 1 can be made to hold the book cover 2. Such a system could use book covers 2 that do not have slot 4. Possible fasteners could be snaps, buttons, magnets, suction cups, statistical fasteners such as VELCRO, insert and slot combinations and any combination of these fasteners.
The fastener 5 could itself be reversibly attached to the arm 3 of the puppet 1. In the case were fastener 5 is reversibly attached to the arm 3 of the puppet 1, a single attachment system could be used on many puppets 1. The possible methods of attaching the fastener reversibly to the puppet 1 should be clear to any person skilled in the art. Possible attachment methods are snaps, buttons, magnets, suction cups, statistical fasteners such as VELCRO, insert and slot combinations and any combination of these fasteners. In the preferred embodiment, a piece of material with slot 4 in it could be reversibly attached to the book cover 2. This would allow the preferred embodiment to use any book as the book cover 2.
In the preferred embodiment, the book cover 2 contains a book, pamphlet of collection of pages. The pages attached to book cover 2 may be permanently or reversibly attached to book cover 2. Book cover 2 may be an integral part of the book or pamphlet that book cover 2 is attached to. If the book or pamphlet is reversibly attached to the book cover 2, the reverable attachment method can be any that allows the book or pamphlet to be attached and detached from the book cover 2. Persons skilled in the art will be aware of various possible attachment methods.
The arms 3 of the puppet 1 can be any limb. The arms 3 can include legs, tails and tentacles. The preferred embodiment envisions the use of arms as arms 3.
Although this invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made which clearly fall within the scope of the invention. The invention is intended to be protected broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A Puppet Book Reading System comprising a puppet with arms and a body,
- a fastener is attached to the arms of the puppet at the most extreme end of the arm from the body of the puppet,
- a corresponding fastener to the faster is attached to the arm at a point near the fastener,
- a book cover with a slot near the edge of the book cover, so that the arms of the puppet can be inserted in to the slots on the book cover and then folded over the edge of the book cover so that the fastener reversibly fastens to the corresponding fastener creating a loop with the end of the arm so that it appears that the puppet is holding the book cover as if to read the book covers contents.
2. A Puppet Book Reading System from claim 1 further comprising a square of material that contains a slot and a fastener that can be reversibly attached to the book cover so that the arms of the puppet can be inserted in the slots on the square of material and then be folded over to fasten the fastener and corresponding fastener on the arms of the puppet so that the puppet is holding the book cover as if it is reading the contents of the book cover.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 29, 2007
Publication Date: May 31, 2007
Inventor: Lisa Leleu (Doylestown, PA)
Application Number: 11/699,093
International Classification: A63H 33/38 (20060101);