Sports projectile shaped bead necklace and method of manufacture

Abstract

A sports team necklace has a necklace string with beads directly molded thereto. The beads include sports projectile shaped beads. In one embodiment, a majority of beads are of a smaller size and one or more is larger and can be a pendant. In another embodiment, colored groups of beads are arranged sequentially, the colored groups representing team colors. In another embodiment smaller beads display alternating groups of beads, each a different team color and a pendant carries a team color or colors.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] My co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/125,191, filed Jun. 20, 2000, for “Sports Beads”, is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/214,532, filed Jun. 27, 2000, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to necklaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved necklace containing sports projectile (e.g. baseball, football, soccer ball, hockey puck, etc.) shaped beads and one or more enlarged bead(s) or pendant beads.

[0005] 2. General Background of the Invention

[0006] Prior art necklaces have been sold containing baseball or football shaped beads. These beads are typically hollow beads which are strung onto a string individually. These prior art necklaces were not provided with smaller beads and pendants (or larger beads) but were rather hollow beads of generally uniform size and shape.

[0007] The following patents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,958,841; 2,008,005; 2,163,814; 2,253,659; 2,577,584; 2,893,095; 3,091,030 and D-206,176.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 1,958,841 discloses a beaded string and shows molding the bead onto a string to form an integral continuous string of beads.

[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,163,814; 2,253,659; and 2,577,584 disclose ornamental articles that are integral units in that the ornaments are molded onto support wires or rods.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,030 discloses a belt formed with beads integrally molded onto a fiber support.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides an improved necklace that has a plurality of smaller beads fastened together to define a necklace body, a majority of the smaller beads having a sports projectile shape such as for example a football, baseball, basketball, soccer ball, or hockey puck.

[0012] The smaller beads can include a plurality of alternating groups of smaller beads of differing colors. For example, there can be provided a first group of adjacent beads of, for example, eight beads of a red color. On either side of the group of eight red beads, there can be provided other groups of beads of different colors such as, for example, eight beads of gold color. A larger bead or pendant is supported by the necklace body, the larger bead displaying one of the first or second colors or both of the first and second colors of the first and second groups of smaller beads.

[0013] The present invention provides an improved method of marketing a sports souvenir for a team that has at least two team colors. The method includes providing a souvenir in the form of a necklace body that includes multiple, spaced apart smaller beads having a shape of a sports projectile, and a larger bead or pendant that displays at least one of the team colors thereon. The method also includes grouping the beads in colored groups of one team color followed by another team color. The method includes marketing the souvenir necklace to a sports fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small football-shaped beads having a relatively large football-shaped bead attached thereto as a pendant;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small baseball-shaped beads having a relatively large baseball-shaped bead attached thereto as a pendant;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small basketball-shaped beads having a relatively large basketball-shaped bead attached thereto as a pendant;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small soccer ball-shaped beads having a relatively large soccer ball-shaped bead attached thereto as a pendant;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small football-shaped beads;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small baseball-shaped beads;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a seventh embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small basketball-shaped beads;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sports bead necklace showing an eighth embodiment of my invention, a necklace of relatively small soccer ball-shaped beads;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the ninth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and showing particularly the attachment of the beads to the string;

[0026] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11; and

[0027] FIGS. 13-14 are sectional views illustrating the method of the present invention, showing beads being directly molded to a supporting string.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10. Necklace 10 is comprised of a plurality of smaller beads 11 mounted upon string 12. In the preferred embodiment, these smaller beads 11 are directly molded to the string 12 and are thus solid in construction. A larger bead 13 is also attached to the necklace body which is comprised of the necklace string 12 and the smaller beads 11. The larger bead 13 can be in the form of a pendant or can simply be a larger bead that replaces some of the smaller beads 11.

[0029] Each of the beads 11 in FIG. 1 is preferably a sports projectile, namely a football having a tapered end 14, tapered end 15 and a large central portion 16. Each of the beads 11, 13 preferably has one or more simulated seams 17 and can include simulated laces 18.

[0030] In FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral 20. Necklace 20 includes smaller beads 21 and a larger bead 23. If desired, more than one larger bead 23 can be supported by the necklace body which is comprised of string 22 and smaller beads 21 that are preferably directly molded thereto.

[0031] Each of the smaller 21 and larger 23 beads preferably provides simulated stitching 24. The necklace 20 of FIG. 2 thus includes a plurality of baseball shaped sports projectile like beads 21 and a larger baseball simulated bead 23 as shown. The bead 23 can be in the form of a pendant that depends from the necklace body that is comprised of the smaller beads 21 and string 22.

[0032] In FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown, designated generally by the numeral 30. Necklace 30 is comprised of a plurality of smaller beads 31 mounted upon string 32. In FIG. 3, the smaller beads 31 are preferably directly molded to string 32. Larger bead 33 can be in the form of a pendant as shown in FIG. 3 or can be simply a larger bead on string 32 that replaces some of the smaller beads 31. The larger bead 33 preferably provides one or more simulated seams 34 as shown. Similarly, the smaller beads 31 can provide one or more simulated seams.

[0033] In FIG. 4, another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown designated generally by the numeral 40. The necklace 40 includes a necklace body that is comprised of smaller beads 41 and string 42. In FIG. 4, the smaller beads 41 are preferably directly molded to the string 42. A larger bead 43 can be in the form of a pendant or can be molded directly to string 42 in the same general position as the smaller beads 41, with the larger bead 43 replacing some of the smaller beads 41. The necklace 40 of FIG. 4 has smaller beads 41 and larger beads 43 that each simulate a soccer ball. Thus, each of the beads 41, 43 can have a plurality of panels 44, 45 including lighter colored panels 44 and darker colored panels 45. Simulated seams 46 are provided on both smaller beads 41 and larger bead 43, the seams 46 marking the boundary between adjacent panels 44, 45.

[0034] In FIG. 5, a necklace is shown, designated generally by the numeral 50 that is comprised entirely of small, football shaped beads 11 molded directly to a string 12.

[0035] In FIG. 6, the necklace 51 shown is comprised entirely of smaller beads 21 that are of a simulated baseball shape, molded directly to string 22.

[0036] In FIG. 7, the necklace 52 is comprised entirely of small beads 31 that simulate basketballs, each bead 31 molded directly to string 32.

[0037] In FIG. 8, the necklace 53 is comprised entirely of smaller beads 41 that simulate soccer balls, each bead 41 molded directly to string 42.

[0038] In FIGS. 9-12, the necklace 55 shown includes groups of beads of alternating colors, including small beads 57 of a first color (for example, eight beads, gold in color), and a second group of beads 58 of a second color (for example gold). Thus, the necklace 55 includes a total of forty-eight small beads. These small beads include three groups of eight each of the first color, beads 57 and three groups of eight beads 58 each of the second color. The groups of beads alternate such as for example, eight red beads, eight gold beads, eight red beads, etc.

[0039] A larger bead or a pendant 59 is supported by necklace body that includes the string 56 and the beads 57, 58. The pendant 59 preferably includes a plurality of displayed colors, including at least a first color 60 (e.g. gold) that corresponds to the color of the first group of small beads 57 of first color. The pendant 59 also includes a second color 61 (e.g. red) that corresponds to the color of the small beads 58 of a second color. The pendant 59 is preferably in the form of a team logo and provides a plurality of colors, at least two of the colors (i.e. team colors) being the same colors that are displayed in the small beads 57, 58.

[0040] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a method of manufacture of any of the necklaces of FIGS. 1-12. The necklace, such as necklace 55 can be constructed by directly molding the smaller beads 57, 58 to the supporting necklace string 56. If desired, a large bead that is larger than bead 57 or 58 can be attached, (directly molded) to string 56. This direct molding can be accomplished by providing upper and lower mold sections, each having a cavity that corresponds in shape to one half of each bead. String 56 is supported at the interface that is defined by surfaces 66 and 67 of the respective mold sections 62, 64.

[0041] The lower mold section 62 provides a plurality of cavities 63 that are spaced at intervals, each of the cavities 63 can be shaped to define one half of the football shaped bead 57 or 58 shown in FIG. 11. Likewise, the upper mold section 64 provides a plurality of cavities 65 that correspond in shape to one half of the football shaped beads 57, 58 of FIG. 11. Upon assembly of one mold section 62 to the other 64, the surfaces 67, 68 meet and the cavities 63, 65 align so that material added to the interior of the cavities 63, 65 as aligned in FIG. 14 provide football shaped beads 57, 58. Similar molds can be provided for the various other shapes that are shown in FIGS. 1-8 such as basketball shaped cavities (or soccer ball, baseball, or hockey puck shapes).

[0042] Once a string 56 of beads 57, 58 has been manufactured using mold sections 62, 64, the necklace of FIG. 9 can be completed by glueing or otherwise connecting the ends together at connections 68 shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

[0043] The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention: 1 PARTS LIST Number Description 10 necklace 11 smaller bead 12 string 13 larger bead 14 tapered end 15 tapered end 16 large central portion 17 simulated seam 18 simulated laces 20 necklace 21 smaller bead 22 string 23 larger bead 24 simulated stitching 30 necklace 31 smaller bead 32 string 33 larger bead 34 simulated seam 40 necklace 41 smaller bead 42 string 43 larger bead 44 panel 45 panel 46 simulated seam 50 necklace 51 necklace 52 necklace 53 necklace 55 necklace 56 string 57 small bead, first color 58 small bead, second color 59 pendant 60 logo color, first color 61 logo color, second color 62 lower mold section 63 cavity 64 upper mold section 65 cavity 66 surface 67 surface 68 connection

[0044] All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

[0045] The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of marketing sports souvenir necklaces to sports fans of a sports team that has at least two team colors, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a necklace that is comprised of sports projectile shaped beads;

b) closely spacing the projectile shaped beads at intervals upon the necklace and in sequentially spaced colored groups, wherein a first plurality of the beads are of a first team color and a second plurality of the beads are of a second team color;

c) marketing the necklace of steps (a) and (b) to the sports fans.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching one or more pendants to the necklace, wherein the pendant is larger than the sports projectile shaped beads.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are football-shaped beads.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are baseball-shaped beads.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are basketball-shaped beads.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are soccer ball-shaped beads.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are hockey puck shaped beads.

8. A necklace made by the method of any preceding claim.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching a pendant to the necklace that is colored with one of the team colors.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching a pendant to the necklace that is colored with both of the team colors.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the pendant is a sports projectile shaped pendant.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the pendant is of a sports team logo shape.

13. A necklace, comprising:

a) a plurality of beads that are fastened together to define a necklace body, a majority of the beads having a sports projectile shape;

b) the beads comprising a plurality of alternating groups of differing colors, including at least a first group of adjacent beads of a first color and a second group of adjacent beads of a second color, and

c) a pendant that is supported by the necklace body, the pendant displaying a plurality of colors including at least the first and second colors.

14. The necklace of claim 13 wherein the beads are football shaped beads.

15. The necklace of claim 13 wherein the beads are baseball shaped beads.

16. The necklace of claim 13 wherein the beads are basketball shaped beads.

17. The necklace of claim 13 wherein the beads are soccer ball shaped beads.

18. The necklace of claim 13 wherein the beads are hockey puck shaped beads.

19. A method of marketing a souvenir of a sports team having at least two team colors to a sports fan, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a souvenir in the form of a necklace body that includes multiple, spaced apart beads having a shape of a sports projectile, and a pendant that displays at least one of the team colors thereon and that is attached to the necklace;

b) grouping the beads in colored groups of beads that alternate one team color for one group of beads with another team color for another group of beads;

c) marketing the souvenir necklace to a sports fan.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein each group of beads includes at least two beads of the same color.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising attaching one or more pendants to the necklace, wherein the pendant is larger than the sports projectile shaped beads.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are football-shaped beads.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are baseball-shaped beads.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are basketball-shaped beads.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are soccer ball-shaped beads.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are hockey puck shaped beads.

27. A necklace made by the method of any preceding claim.

28. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of attaching a pendant to the necklace that is colored with one of the team colors.

29. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of attaching a pendant to the necklace that is colored with both of the team colors.

30. A necklace, comprising:

a) a necklace body that includes a string and a plurality of smaller sports projectile shaped beads directly molded to the string, the string having a length and a majority of the length having spaced apart sports projectile shaped beads;

b) at least one larger sports projectile shaped bead being supported by the necklace body; and

c) wherein a plurality of the sports projectile shaped beads have simulated seams.

31. The necklace of claim 30 wherein the beads are football shaped beads.

32. The necklace of claim 30 wherein the beads are baseball shaped beads.

33. The necklace of claim 30 wherein the beads are basketball shaped beads.

34. The necklace of claim 30 wherein the beads are soccer ball shaped beads.

35. The necklace of claim 30 wherein the beads are hockey puck shaped beads.

36. A method of marketing a souvenir of a sports team having at least two team colors to a sports fan, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a souvenir in the form of a necklace body that includes multiple, spaced apart beads having a shape of a sports projectile, and a pendant that displays at least one of the team colors thereon and that is attached to the necklace;

b) grouping the beads in colored groups of beads that alternate one team color for one group of be ads with another team color for another group of beads;

c) marketing the souvenir necklace to a sports fan.

37. A method of making necklaces, comprising the steps of:

providing a mold of sports projectile shaped beads for a necklace;

placing a string or other line or cord in the mold;

supplying plastic to the mold;

removing from the mold a necklace formed of sports projectile shaped beads direct-molded onto the string or other line or cord.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising attaching an additional sports projectile shaped bead to the necklace, wherein the additional sports projectile shaped bead is larger than the sports projectile shaped beads direct-molded onto the string or other line or cord.

39. The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are football-shaped beads.

40. The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are baseball-shaped beads.

41. The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are basketball-shaped beads.

42. The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are soccer ball-shaped beads.

43. The method of claims 37 or 38, wherein the sports projectile shaped beads are hockey-puck-shaped beads.

44. A necklace made by the method of any one of claims 37-43.

45. Apparatus for performing the method of any preceding claim.

46. The invention(s) substantially as shown and/or described herein.