Combination desktop accessory and gag gift

Abstract

A combination desktop accessory and caricature gag gift unit with a base containing functional desktop items such as a tape dispenser, paperclip holder, ashtray, etc. and at least one caricature figurine mounted on the base where the figurine represents some aspect of life or of an occupation or profession. Examples might be a golfer, compulsive shopper, chair or coach potato, doctor, dentist, etc. The base can optionally rotate to allow easy access to the accessories, and it can contain further gag items. An optional voice unit can make comments related to the stereotype or caricature or could crack related jokes or make any other sounds.

Description

This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/493,055 filed Aug. 6, 2003 and hereby incorporates that application by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the fields of gag gifts or items and desk accessories and more particularly to a caricature gag gift that also performs a useful function as a desktop accessory.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known in the art to give gag gifts to friends. Such gifts usually serve no useful purpose, but rather simple represent some aspect of life that invokes a humorous response from the recipient.

Caricatures and figurines are sometimes humorous representations of some characteristic of a person or stereotype. Such a gift (or item bought to represent a humorous aspect of the buyer's own life), once looked at is usually stuffed away somewhere and then forgotten (possibly found again in house cleaning, but then soon again stored and forgotten).

What is badly needed are caricature gifts that represent different stereotypes, personalities, occupations, hobbies, etc. that also serve some useful purpose so that they will not be simply stored away after being laughed at the first time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a desktop accessory that can hold items like paperclips, pencils, ashtray, tape dispenser as well as a caricature figurine the represents a humorous aspect of a person's character, occupation, hobby, sport, etc. The figurine can optionally talk possibly cracking jokes related to the subject matter.

As examples of the present invention consider caricatures of a personal trainer, a couch potato, a compulsive shopper, a golfer, a patent attorney, a doctor, a musician, a dentist and on and on including any aspect of life or work.

The present invention can be constructed on a base which provides support and holds the functional equipment (as well as possibly some of the gag material) with at least one figurine mounted on the base. The base can also hold batteries and a speaker for talking models as well as a button to activate the voice. The base can optionally rotate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a golfer embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a different embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a base with the figurine removed.

FIG. 4 shows a golfer figurine.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of a base.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a base.

It should be noted that the figures are presented solely to illustrate the concepts of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combination of one or more caricature figurines mounted on a functional base. FIG. 1 shows an example of the present invention. In this case, a golfer kicking the ball into the hole with his right foot rather than putting it in. FIG. 2 shows a different embodiment of a golfer gift. The golfer 1 can be seen in FIGS. 1-2 as a funny caricature, that can bring laughter to a person who has such traits in real life. While the center mounting of a figurine is the preferred mounting position, it is within the scope of the present invention to mount the figurine anywhere on the base and to also have multiple figurines on the same base.

FIG. 2 also shows a base 2 that contains both utility and gag items or markings. The utility items and gag aspects of the present invention can be combined. Various combinations of utility desktop items can be placed on the base 2 such as a tape dispenser 5 (space shown), an ashtray 4 or other compartment, and slots 3 for paperclips and other useful items.

On example of the present invention could contain a figurine of a “compulsive shopper” containing a store shelf that can also be an ashtray. Moving clockwise, can be an up escalator, a display clip holder, a down escalator, a credit card voice activation button, various ads and coupons, and a credit card/money pile tape dispenser.

The figurine 1 is normally mounted in the center as shown in FIGS. 1-2; however, it is possible to mount the figurine anywhere on the base or have multiple figurines. The base shown in FIG. 2 is simply an example of the present invention. Any shape base with any combination of gag and functional desktop items is within the scope of the present invention.

Any type of figurine is within the scope of the present invention: a personal trainer holding a clipboard and a bowl of fruit possibly sitting on a throne giving orders to everyone, a chair potato slouched in a chair (or coach) with a clutter of newspapers, a paperback book on the floor and barefooted (or in socks). different golfers with different personality characteristics, etc.

FIG. 3 shows the base from FIG. 2 that can be adapted for any type of figurine. It contains generic places for an ashtray 4, a tape dispenser 5, a paperclip holder 7 and empty generic trays 3 and other desktop utility devices. A utility can for holding pencils, pens and/or scissors (as shown in FIG. 1) can also be added.

FIG. 4 shows a particular figurine of a golfer.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of a base that is designed to lift off and onto a foot that allows the entire unit to rotate. Rotation, while optional, makes the entire desktop array very useful allowing access to all the trays and items with a single finger. Again one sees a place for a caricature tape dispenser 5, ashtray 4, utility cup 7 and trays 3. The utility cup 7 can hold pens, pencils, scissors, etc. as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a loaded base. Here a tape dispenser 5 and a utility cup 7 as well as generic trays 3 can be seen.

One optional aspect of the present invention is a voice presentation where the user can push a button, and the figurine (or unit) talks, sings, or cracks a joke. For example, the golfer could yell “Fore”, the compulsive shopper could say “Bargains, bargains”, or “So much to shop, so little time” or any other funny representative statement or joke. A musician could play a few bars of Beethoven or Mozart.

The idea of the present invention is to create the perfect gift for a particular person who knows that it represents them. The voice mechanism could be hidden in the base and work with small batteries, a tape player or flash rom, and a small loudspeaker. A button could be hidden somewhere on the top of the base to activate the voice. This setup can be seen in FIG. 1 where the voice activation button can be in the center of the card holder, and the voice unit can hidden in the tape dispenser or elsewhere. The voice unit could also be hidden under the figurine.

The base and figurines can be made from any material and can be colored (they can be painted or made from colored material) or plain. The preferred material is plastic or resin since it is easy to mold; however, any material is possible including, but not limited to, glass, metal, wood as well as plastic. The preferred way to manufacture the present invention is by molding generic plastic or resin bases and then separately molding particular figurines and support pieces that will be attached to the base. It should however be recognized that it is possible to mold an entire unit from one mold if desired. The method of using a generic base has the advantage that the gag part of the units can be modified as new ideas come along without changing the basic design of the base. This results in tremendous cost savings in manufacture since new base molds are not required for each new unit.

It is also possible to place humorous titles on the units so that the characters are immediately recognizable. For example, the titles Trainer, Chair Potato, Compulsive Shopper, Golf Pro, etc. could apply. The embodiment show in FIGS. 1-2 would probably be called something like “Golfer”. It should be noted that accessory devices like a tape dispenser can be “gag related” to the figurine. For example, for the golfer of FIGS. 1-2, the tape dispenser can be shaped like a golfing shoe. For a compulsive shopper, the tape dispenser can be shaped like a shopping basket. The utility can provided for pencils, pens, scissors, etc. can also be “gag related”. For example, for the golfer figurine, the utility can can be shaped like a golf bag. For the compulsive shopper, the utility can can be shaped like a shopping bag, etc.

Any possible figurines can be used depicting any walk or trait in life. A few examples are: golfer, compulsive shopper, chair potato, lawyer, doctor, teacher, trainer, policeman, fireman, politician, military, driver, fisherman, tour director and tennis player.

Numerous examples, figures and descriptions have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. One skilled in the art will realize that numerous variations and changes are possible that are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A combination gag gift and desktop accessory comprising:

a base containing at least one desktop utility device;

at least one caricature figurine attached to said base unit, said figurine mocking at least one stereotype or character trait.

2. The gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 1 further comprising a voice presentation means for providing an audio gag message.

3. The gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 1 wherein said base rotates.

4. The gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 1 wherein at least said base is made of moldable material.

5. The gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 1 wherein said utility device is chosen from the group containing an ashtray, a paperclip holder, a utility can and a tape dispenser.

6. The gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 1 wherein said base also contains gag representations.

7. A combination gag gift and desktop accessory comprising:

a base containing a plurality of desktop utility devices including at least a tape dispenser and a utility can;

at least one caricature figurine attached to said base unit, said figurine mocking at least one stereotype or character trait.

8. The combination gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 7 further comprising an ashtray.

9. The combination gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 7 further comprising utility trays.

10. The combination gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 7 wherein said tape dispenser is gag related to said figurine.

11. The combination gag gift and desktop accessory of claim 7 wherein the figuring is chosen from the group containing a golfer, compulsive shopper, chair potato, lawyer, doctor, teacher, trainer, policeman, fireman, politician, military, driver, fisherman, tour director and tennis player.

12. A method of providing a useful desktop accessory that mocks a trait of life comprising:

providing a base to receive useful desktop devices;

placing useful desktop utility devices on said base;

placing a gag figurine on said base.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least some of said desktop devices are chosen from the group containing a tape dispenser, utility can, ashtray and paper clip holder.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said gag figurine is chosen from the group containing: golfer, compulsive shopper, chair potato, lawyer, doctor, teacher, trainer, policeman, fireman, politician, military, driver, fisherman, tour director and tennis player.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said base rotates for easy access to said desktop utility devices.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said base is plastic or resin.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said base is molded.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said figurine is painted.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said desktop utility devices are gag related to said figurine.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein said figurine is centered on said base.