Flying finger toy

Abstract

A flying finger toy comprising a top piece, a bottom piece, a divider; and a front piece, wherein the bottom piece is concave in shape and comprises two open ends and two curved sides, the top piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece, the divider is permanently attached to the center of the bottom piece and runs parallel to the curved sides of the bottom piece, the front piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece, and the divider creates two channels into which a child can comfortably fit two adjacent fingers. In an alternate embodiment, the top piece is releasably attached to the bottom piece so that one top piece can be replaced with another by releasing one top piece and attaching another.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of toys, and more particularly, to finger toys for children.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,559 (Lane, 1993) discloses a toy glider that can be propelled by a child's finger. The glider comprises a fuselage with a force-receiving surface that is curved to facilitate reception of the distal portion of a person's finger. The glider is not meant to be worn on the finger, however, and is limited in that it cannot be worn by a child on his or her fingers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,443 (Kulesza et al., 1983) provides a toy vehicle device that is worn on a finger, but the part of the device that is worn on the finger is shaped like a ring. This invention is limited in that the toy does not extend the entire length of the wearer's finger, it can only be worn on one finger, and it is not meant to simulate a flying object.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,472 (Hill, 1981) discloses a finger toy that sits on the distal end of the wearer's finger. This invention is limited in that it can only be worn on one finger, the toy does not extend the entire length of the child's finger, and the only independent claim requires that the toy include a propeller.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0121702 (Seibert et al.) describes a finger puppet that makes sounds when the finger is tapped against a hard object. This invention is limited in that the puppet is attached to the finger with a ring-like device, each puppet can be worn on only one finger, and it is not meant to simulate a flying object. This invention is also limited in that it requires electronics to generate the sounds.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a finger toy that simulates a flying object, such as a rocket, spaceship, bird, bat, or even a flying fish. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a finger toy that can be worn on two fingers simultaneously and that covers nearly the entire finger. It is a further object of the present invention to provide for interchangeable top pieces that can transform the toy into different types of flying objects.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A flying finger toy comprising a top piece, a bottom piece, a divider, and a front piece, wherein the bottom piece is concave in shape and comprises two open ends and two curved sides, the top piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece, the divider is permanently attached to the center of the bottom piece and runs parallel to the curved sides of the bottom piece, the front piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece, and the divider creates two channels into which a child can comfortably fit two adjacent fingers. In an alternate embodiment, the top piece is releasably attached to the bottom piece so that one top piece can be replaced with another by releasing one top piece and attaching another. Preferably, the length of the top piece is in the range of six (6) to ten (10) centimeters. In all of the embodiments, the bottom piece is sized so that a child can comfortably fit two of his or her adjacent fingers within the channels created by the divider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention worn on a child's finger.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative top piece.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a means for releasably attaching the top piece to the bottom piece, showing only the top piece.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a means for releasably attaching the top piece to the bottom piece, with the top and bottom pieces shown together.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

• • 1 Bottom piece
  • 2 Divider
  • 3a Top piece (first embodiment)
  • 3b Top piece (second embodiment)
  • 4 Front piece
  • 5 Ring

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the present invention comprises a bottom piece 1 that is preferably concave in shape in relation to the top piece 3a. A divider 2 is attached to the center of the bottom piece 1 and runs parallel to the curved sides (as opposed to the open ends) of the bottom piece 1. The divider 2 may be as long as the bottom piece 1 or slightly shorter, as shown in FIG. 1. The divider 2 creates two channels into which a child may fit two of his or her adjacent fingers, which will usually be the index finger and the middle finger. The bottom piece 1 is sized so that with the divider 2 in place, the toy will comfortably fit a child's two adjacent fingers.

The top piece 3a is attached either permanently or releasably to the bottom piece 1. If releasably attached, then the top piece 3a can be removed and a different top piece can be attached to the bottom piece 1. In a preferred embodiment, the top pieces are removable and can be slid on and off of the bottom piece 1. Preferably, the entire toy is made of a rigid plastic, although the toy could be made of any sufficiently rigid and durable material.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention worn on a child's finger. As can be seen from this figure, the bottom piece extends nearly to the third knuckle, covering most of the finger. The goal of this invention is to allow a child to wear the toy and move it in the air to simulate flight (while making accompanying flight sounds, as most boys do). In contrast to some of the prior art, the toy never actually leaves the child's finger until the child takes it off.

FIG. 2 also shows the front piece 4, which is attached to the bottom piece 1 and is optionally attached to the top piece 3a. The purpose of the front piece is to prevent the child's fingers from extending beyond the front of the toy. The front piece can either be a separate piece or an extension of the bottom piece. In order for the top pieces to slide on and off as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the width of the front piece 4 cannot be greater than the width of the bottom piece 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the divider 2 tapers at the end. In addition, the divider 2 extends beyond the bottom piece 1 and nearly touches the front piece 4. The present invention is not limited to any particular length or shape of the divider 2, however, as long as it divides the bottom piece 1 into two channels.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative top piece 3b. As explained above, if the top pieces 3a, 3b are releasably secured to the bottom piece 1, then one top piece can be replaced with another. Alternatively, the toy can be made with different permanent top pieces. The present invention is not limited to any particular shape or size of top piece, as long as the top piece is of a size that can be worn on one's fingers. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the top piece 3a, 3b is in the range of six (6) to ten (10) centimeters.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a means for releasably attaching the top piece to the bottom piece, in which only the top piece is shown. In this embodiment, a ring 5 extends below the top piece 3b, and the ring is sized so that it will fit around the front and bottom pieces 4, 1 and slide on and off either end of the bottom piece 1. FIG. 6 is a side view of this same means for releasably attaching the top piece to the bottom piece, showing the ring extending around the perimeter of the bottom piece 1. The present invention is not limited to any particular means of releasably attaching the top pieces; for example, snaps or sliding mechanisms that are molded into the bottom of the top piece and the top of the bottom piece could also be used.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A flying finger toy comprising:

(a) a top piece;

(b) a bottom piece;

(c) a divider; and

(d) a front piece;

wherein the bottom piece is concave in shape and comprises two open ends and two curved sides,

wherein the top piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece,

wherein the divider is permanently attached to the center of the bottom piece and runs parallel to the curved sides of the bottom piece,

wherein the front piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece, and

wherein the divider creates two channels into which a child can comfortably fit two adjacent fingers.

2. A flying finger toy comprising:

(a) a top piece;

(b) a bottom piece;

(c) a divider; and

(d) a front piece;

wherein the bottom piece is concave in shape and comprises two open ends and two curved sides,

wherein the top piece is releasably attached to the bottom piece,

wherein the divider is permanently attached to the center of the bottom piece and runs parallel to the curved sides of the bottom piece,

wherein the front piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece,

wherein the divider creates two channels into which a child can comfortably fit two adjacent fingers, and

wherein one top piece can be replaced with another by releasing one top piece and attaching another.

3. A flying finger toy comprising:

(a) a top piece;

(b) a bottom piece;

(c) a divider;

(d) a front piece; and

(e) means for releasably attaching the top piece to the bottom piece;

wherein the bottom piece is concave in shape and comprises two open ends and two curved sides,

wherein the top piece is releasably attached to the bottom piece,

wherein the divider is permanently attached to the center of the bottom piece and runs parallel to the curved sides of the bottom piece,

wherein the front piece is permanently attached to the bottom piece,

wherein the divider creates two channels into which a child can comfortably fit two adjacent fingers, and

wherein one top piece can be replaced with another by releasing one top piece and attaching another.

4. The flying finger toy of claim 3, wherein the means for releasably attaching the top piece to the bottom piece is a ring that extends below the top piece, and wherein the ring is sized so that it will fit around the front and bottom pieces and slide on and off either end of the bottom piece.

5. The flying finger toy of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the bottom piece is sized so that a child can comfortably fit two of his or her adjacent fingers within the channels created by the divider.

6. The flying finger toy of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the length of the top piece is in the range of six (6) to ten (10) centimeters.