POM POM Device
An improved wearable pom-pom device. The device has a ribbon with pom-poms attached at opposite ends, although a plurality of pom-poms may be arrayed in a desired amount along the length of and at the ends of the ribbon. The pom-pom device may be worn on various parts of the body and may be worn as a hair tie. The pom-pom device may further include attached bells and/or beads in addition to pom-poms, and may be used to display school or team colors and logos.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to decorative, festive and/or celebratory clothing accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to clothing that is used to show support for sports teams, schools, organizations, events and the like. The present invention is generally described as pompoms or other decorative items attached to versatile belt and hair accessories.
Pompoms have been widely used by cheerleaders, and adopted by fans, to show support for sports teams. The use of identifying colors that are team colors or school colors are used to differentiate between different teams for which an individual wishes to show support. Identifying colors are also used for organizations and groups, along with particular artistic designs, logos, flags, etc. However, prior inventions related to pompoms have either used hands to support the pompoms, or have added characteristics to the pompom accessory that make the accessory unusable in certain circumstances.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior inventions have attempted to overcome shortcomings in items used for displaying and/or using pompoms. Pompoms that are held by or attached to the hands of a user are well known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,215 for FINGER HELD POM-PON, Jan. 18, 1983 to Matt D. Offen et al. teaches a pompom attached to a user's finger or thumb. A WRIST POMPON STRUCTURE, which is a sleeve worn by the user, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,725, issued Aug. 10, 1993 to Catherine L. Smith. A glove having pompoms freely attached to the tip of one or more of the glove fingers is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,682, issued on Feb. 2, 2010 to Teresa E. Dunham. Gloves, however, have the disadvantage of being warm at time when a user may not wish for the extra warmth. In addition, adding pom-poms (or other ornamental items) to the end of gloves can make it difficult to hold food, drink, and other objects. A POM-POM POCKET SCARF is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,862 B2, issued on Aug. 17, 2010 to Hope V. Bjelland teaches a scarf with hand pockets and pom-poms at the ends of the scarf. A scarf, however, cannot be used in warm seasons or warm climates. Further, the scarf is bulkier and more cumbersome than the present invention.
None of these inventions, however, disclose a simple yet versatile pom-pom strap combination that may be used for various purposes, including as a belt and a hair-tie. In addition, none of the prior art teaches a year-round, wearable pom-pom device that can be easily removed from the body and used in a more traditional manner to celebrate, demonstrate team support, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a clothing accessory to display colors or designs in support of sports teams, schools, holiday celebrations, and/or ideas or organizations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt with pom-poms at opposing ends of the ribbon or belt.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt with colors or indicia communicating support and/or celebration.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt that can be worn on the body, but easily removed when it is desired to utilize the pom-poms to display celebration, team support, or the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt that can be worn as a hair tie.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ribbon or belt that an be worn on the body with pom-poms and further having bells and/or beads.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wearable device that may be used to display and/or celebrate team or school affiliation or support through the use of colors, logos, and the like.
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Claims
1. A wearable device, the wearable device comprising:
- a. A ribbon portion having two or more ends and a middle portion;
- b. At least one pom-pom attached at each of the two or more ends of the ribbon portion.
2. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the ribbon portion is flexible.
3. The wearable device of claim I wherein the ribbon portion further comprises an ornamental portion along at least a portion of the length of the middle portion.
4. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the at least one pom-pom comprises an identifying color.
5. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the at least one pom-pom comprises a design or logo.
6. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the wearable device is of sufficient length to be wrapped at least once around a user's waist and tied with a knot.
7. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the wearable device is of sufficient length to be tied around a portion of a user's hair.
8. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises one or more pom-poms attached along the middle portion of the wearable device.
9. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises one or more bells attached at any part of the ribbon portion.
10. The wearable device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises one or more beads attached at any part of the ribbon portion.
11. The wearable device of claim 3 wherein the ornamental portion comprises a stripe, a design, or a logo.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 12, 2012
Publication Date: Jul 19, 2012
Inventor: Janet Beaulieu (Virginia Beach, VA)
Application Number: 13/349,014
International Classification: D04D 7/06 (20060101);