WEARABLE ORNAMENT DISPLAY

Abstract

A figurine display clip configured to allow a user to both display a figurine on a surface such as a desk and to wear the figurine by coupling it with an article of clothing. The figurine display clip includes a figurine, a coupling, a link, and a clip, wherein the clip is set at an angle to the figurine such that the figurine can be displayed on a surface. The clip may include an opening through which an article of clothing can be disposed to configure the device for wearing. The link may be flexible or rigid, allowing a user to have more or less control over the display of the figurine when it is being worn on clothing.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/583,505, and from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/583,506, both filed Nov. 6, 2016. The foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to figurines, and, more specifically, to figurines configured for wearing on a garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Figurines typically configured for standing display are often prized by their owners due to a particular affinity for the lifestyle, hobby, etc. which the figurine may represent. However, the figurines are often configured for display on a flat surface only, and are therefore difficult to present on the user's person. A user may wish to display the figurine on their clothing, but no device currently exists for converting a standing figurine to a wearable ornament. The present invention intends to remedy these and other problems by allowing individuals to easily display ornaments and figurines on a flat surface or on an article of clothing with a single mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to figurines, and, more specifically, to figurines configured for wearing on a garment.

The invention disclosed herein is a substantially rigid figurine permanently coupled with a substantially rigid display and wearable clip mechanism. The figurine may be attached to the figurine display clip via a chain style link, a rope style link, a solid link, or a series of magnets, wherein the link is coupled with the figurine at one or more hinge points. The present invention further includes at least one grip into which at least one arm of the figurine display clip can be removably inserted, configuring the figurine for upright display. The figurine display clip further includes at least one clip opening through which an article of clothing, such as a belt loop or backpack strap, can be disposed, configuring the figurine for wearable display.

In addition to the foregoing, various other devices, systems and/or product embodiments are set forth and described in the teachings such as the text (e.g., claims, drawings and/or the detailed description) and/or drawings of the present disclosure.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, embodiments, features and advantages of the device and/or processes and/or other subject matter described herein will become apparent in the teachings set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric rear plan view of one embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 2 an isometric rear plan view of a different embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of one embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 4 is a right side plan view of one embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 5 is left side plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a rear plan view of a different embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 7 is a right side plan view of a different embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 8 is a left side plan view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a different embodiment of the figurine display clip;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the figurine display clip in the extended wearing position;

FIG. 14 is a rear plan view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a front plan view of a different embodiment of the figurine display clip in the extended wearing position; and

FIG. 16 is a rear plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates generally to figurines, and, more specifically, to figurines configured for wearing on a garment.

Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-16 to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment.

Importantly, a grouping of inventive aspects in any particular “embodiment” within this detailed description, and/or a grouping of limitations in the claims presented herein, is not intended to be a limiting disclosure of those particular aspects and/or limitations to that particular embodiment and/or claim. The inventive entity presenting this disclosure fully intends that any disclosed aspect of any embodiment in the detailed description and/or any claim limitation ever presented relative to the instant disclosure and/or any continuing application claiming priority from the instant application (e.g. continuation, continuation-in-part, and/or divisional applications) may be practiced with any other disclosed aspect of any embodiment in the detailed description and/or any claim limitation. Claimed combinations which draw from different embodiments and/or originally-presented claims are fully within the possession of the inventive entity at the time the instant disclosure is being filed. Any future claim comprising any combination of limitations, each such limitation being herein disclosed and therefore having support in the original claims or in the specification as originally filed (or that of any continuing application claiming priority from the instant application), is possessed by the inventive entity at present irrespective of whether such combination is described in the instant specification because all such combinations are viewed by the inventive entity as currently operable without undue experimentation given the disclosure herein and therefore that any such future claim would not represent new matter.

FIG. 1 is an isometric rear view of one embodiment of the figurine display clip. The figurine display clip is comprised essentially of a figurine 7, a link 2, and a display clip 5. In some embodiments, link 2 may be a chain style link, or another substantially flexible link such as a rope style link, a ball chain style link, and more. In some embodiments, link 2 is coupled with figurine 7 via an eyelet style coupling 1. The coupling 1 will, in preferred embodiments, be permanently coupled with the figurine 7 and link 2. However, in some embodiments, coupling 1 may be removably coupled with the figurine 7, in order to allow a user to change out which figurine is to be displayed or to clean or otherwise service the figurine or display clip. The eyelet style coupling 1 may also be configured as a magnetic coupling, allowing a user to more easily remove the link 2 from the figurine 7. A preferred embodiment includes a two-dimensional (2D) figurine, as depicted in FIGS. 1-16, because a figurine display clip will allow an otherwise 2D figurine to stand for display. However, it should also be understood that the figurine display clip may be configured to be coupled with a three-dimensional figurine, a display device such as a mobile phone or mobile phone case, a laptop or tablet computer, a portable game system, and so on.

Link 2 serves primarily to couple the figurine 7 with the display clip 5. Link 2 also serves to allow a user flexibility in the display or wearing of the figurine 7, by allowing the figurine to be freely rotated, moved out of the way of other items, such as pockets, tucked away, or otherwise flexibly positioned relative to the display clip 5. Display clip 5 may include an extension 3. In some embodiments, link 2 is permanently coupled with clip 5; for example, as seen in FIG. 1, a link of the chain forming link 2 is disposed through a hole in the end of the clip extension 3. In other embodiments, link 2 may be removably coupled with clip 5.

Display clip 5 is, in preferred embodiments, comprised of a substantially rigid loop with an opening 6 through which an article of clothing, such as a belt loop or a backpack strap, can be disposed, coupling the figurine 7 with the user's person. While the loop may be substantially rigid, it should be understood that it must have at least some flexibility in order to allow a user to attach the clip 5 with their preferred article of clothing. In preferred embodiments, the clip 5 will be comprised of a rigid plastic material, which would allow it to give structural integrity to the device while still permitting the flexibility to allow a user to don and remove the figurine 7. In other embodiments, the clip 5 may be comprised of a metal, such as aluminum or steel, or some other substantially rigid material. While each of the constituent parts of the figurine display clip may be individually crafted and later assembled, it is also anticipated that the entirety of the device could be machined or molded from a single unit. Therefore, while each individual part may be comprised of a different material, it should also be understood that the entirety of the device may be comprised of the same material.

In preferred embodiments, the figurine display clip may include a grip 4 into which extension 3 can be removably inserted. Extension 3 may be disposed at an angle to the plane upon which clip 5 would rest. The angle in extension 3 serves to offset the clip 5 from the figurine 7, allowing the figurine 7 to be displayed upright on a flat or substantially flat surface such as a desk, a shelf, etc. While the particular angle is not disclosed herein, and may be virtually any angle that suits the manufacturer or user of the device, the angle will, in preferred embodiments, be between zero and ninety degrees relative between the plane of the clip 5 and the plane of the extension 3. When extension 3 is inserted into grip 4 such that the back of the extension rests against the back of the figurine 7, the clip 5 is offset from the rear of the figurine, creating a standing figurine for display.

FIG. 2 is a rear isometric of an alternative embodiment of the figurine display clip. In this embodiment, the link 9 may be substantially solid. In a further embodiment, the solid link 2 may be substantially rigid, allowing a user more control over how the figurine 7 is positioned, instead of the substantially flexible link 2 as shown in FIG. 1. In a further embodiment, the link 9 may be coupled with the figurine 7 via a hinge style coupling 8. As with the coupling 1, coupling 8 may be permanent or removable. In some embodiments, the coupling 8 may include two end pieces and a pin, wherein the pin is disposed through the end pieces and at least one hole in the link 9. In other embodiments, the coupling 8 may include two end pieces into which a protrusion on link 9 is inserted to create the rotation point of the hinge. In this embodiment, link 9 takes the place of extension 3, and a portion of link 9 is removably inserted into grip 4 to put the figurine display clip in a display configuration.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of one embodiment of the figurine display clip in the display configuration, showing extension 3 inserted into grip 4. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are side views of one embodiment of the figurine display clip in the display configuration.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the figurine display clip in the display configuration, showing link 9 inserted into grip 4. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are side views of one embodiment of the figurine display clip in the display configuration.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are top plan views of two embodiments of the figurine display clip. In particular, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show that, when in the display configuration, the clip 5 is offset from the figurine 7, creating a stable display. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are bottom plan views of the same two embodiments. Here it can be seen that, in some embodiments, clip 5 may include a stability portion 10. In some embodiments, stability portion 10 may include a rounded, tapered, angled, or other structural aspect that further lends stability to the figurine display clip. In some embodiments, stability portion 10 may include a high-grip material, such as PVC foam, to allow the clip 5 to be held fast to a surface such as a dashboard.

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the figurine display clip in an extended wearable position. FIG. 14 is a rear plan view thereof, showing particularly that grip 4 is coupled with figurine 7 and remains in place even when link 2 is removed to allow a user to wear the figurine display clip.

FIG. 15 is a front plan view of the figurine display clip in an extended wearable position. FIG. 16 is a rear plan view thereof, showing particularly that grip 4 is coupled with figurine 7 and remains in place even when link 9 is removed to allow a user to wear the figurine display clip.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

While preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A figurine display clip, comprising:

at least one connector;

at least one link portion coupled with the connector;

at least one clip coupled with the at least one link portion at a proximal end, the at least one clip including at least one distal end extension, the at least one extension offset at an angle to the clip; and

at least one grip portion, wherein the at least one grip portion is configured to receive at least one segment of the of the at least one link.

2. The figurine display clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector is an eyelet style connector.

3. The figurine display clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one link portion is a chain style link.

4. The figurine display clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one link portion is a substantially solid link.

5. The figurine display clip of claim 4, wherein the at least one substantially solid link is substantially rigid.

6. The figurine display clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one clip comprises:

at least one loop including at least one opening configured to allow the at least one loop to be disposed around or through at least one article.

7. The figurine display clip of claim 6, wherein the at least one loop is substantially rigid.

8. The figurine display clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one link portion comprises:

a first length of link portion coupled with the at least one connector at a proximal end of the link portion;

a substantially rigid extension portion disposed at a distal end of the link portion, and

wherein the at least one grip portion is configured to securely receive the substantially rigid extension portion.

9. The figurine display clip of claim 8, wherein the substantially rigid extension portion comprises:

a substantially rigid extension portion including a cross-section of a particular shape,

and wherein the at least one grip portion is configured to receive the substantially rigid extension portion.

10. The figurine display clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one link portion comprises:

a first length of link portion coupled with the at least one connector at a proximal end of the link portion, wherein the at least one grip portion is configured to securely receive a segment of the link portion disposed distally from the at least one connector.