Transformative Novelty Apparatus
A novelty headgear apparatus made from a formed, three-dimensional paperboard box is presented. The inventive apparatus and method for making the same, includes the use of perforated guides applied to a formed, three-dimensional paperboard box in any headgear configuration selected by a producer. The user tears or cuts along the perforated guides to reveal the selected headgear. Multiple pieces and indicia may also be applied to enhance the headgear apparatus.
The present application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/602,800, filed Sep. 4, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a novelty apparatus and, more particularly, to a novelty apparatus which is a transformative headgear piece formed from a three-dimensional box.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNovelty items are well known. They are found in many settings, including but not limited to sports team or event support and often include logos, sponsorship information, or other indicia. In these settings, novelty items are found in a variety of formats. One popular format is headgear, often in the form of a hat, mask, visor, or other wearable configuration. The prior art is replete with examples of such items. For example, the following prior art patents all disclose novelty headgear: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,165,272; 6,941,582; 5,428,842; 5,214,800; 4,429,420, and 4,246,659.
A wide variety of novelty headgear has been created and are presently available. However, there is a need for improvement in novelty headgear, and it is to this need that this invention is directed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide novelty headgear which enables a user to form the novelty headgear from a formed, three-dimensional box.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide novelty headgear which can be used for promotional and fan support purposes.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an alternate use for consumer packaging.
It is yet another object of the invention to decrease waste and cost by providing an option for multiple uses of consumer packaging.
It is an advantage of the present invention to enable manufacturers of products to increase sales by providing a new avenue for promotional programs.
It is another advantage of the present invention to enable advertisers, such as, but not limited to, sports teams and corporate sponsors, to increase exposure and create brand loyalty through an alternate advertising medium.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to enable fans and supporters to demonstrate their loyalty without having to spend money on additional items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe above objects and advantages are provided for a novelty headgear apparatus particularly adapted for use as a promotional item to be used by fans and supporters at sporting and other events or venues but may also be used for other purposes as well. The novelty headgear of the present invention is preferably comprised of a formed, three-dimensional box which includes perforations or scoring in designated patterns which may then be torn or cut along such perforations/scoring to form the novelty headgear. Alternatively, dotted or solid lines may serve as guides along which consumers can cut to form the headgear. (Together, perforations, scores or scoring, dotted lines and solid lines may also be referred to as “guides.”)
The guides may be preferably configured to simulate various types of head coverings including, but not limited to helmets (e.g., football, baseball batting helmets, hockey, race car, motorcycle), caps (e.g., baseball or general, such as may be seen used by car racing fans), masks, visors, military helmets, firefighter helmet, and astronaut helmets. Still other preferable configurations may simulate various types of sporting event mascots, various types of animals, monsters, holiday figures or figurines, various types of food, well known public figures, corporate logos, non-descript headgear such as a “wizard” hat, or virtually any other type of head gear, object, thing or design that may be desired for a particular promotion, giveaway, or event that may be formed from a three-dimensional box.
In addition, separate features, such as three-dimensional glasses, face guards, chin straps, or appliques, such as team logo stickers, corporate logos, flexible displays, etc., may preferably be included.
Highly-preferred embodiments include a main panel which extends along the box front as well as extends to the box side. It is highly preferable that the main panel is removable from the box when a user perforates the box along the guides. Preferably, once the main panel is removed from the box and the box is placed on a user's head, the area in which the main panel previously was now becomes a face-receiving opening for the user.
Highly-preferred embodiments also include the guides which enable a user to further transform the box by creating a face guard or other items as desired by the user. The face guard preferably has a face guard end and can reversibly fit into a receiving slot. The slot can be used for accepting ancillary headgear fittings. Preferably, the face guard also includes punch-outs.
The guides can preferably be either perforations, scoring, dotted lines or solid lines. It is preferred that when perforated or cut, the guides separate out a portion of the box to form a face-receiving opening, a face guard, three-dimensional glasses or a visor from a portion of the box.
In preferred embodiments, the headgear can also include at least one earhole punch-out and at least one indicia placement area. Preferably, the headgear is made of paperboard.
Other preferred embodiments include a visor which has an elongated headband piece with a strap separator to separate the headband piece into a first headband piece having a first headband-piece end, and a second headband-piece having a second headband piece end. Preferably, the first headband piece has adjustment slots adjacent the first headband piece end, the second headband piece also includes a tab adjacent the second headband piece end for reversibly and adjustably fitting into the first headband piece adjustment slots.
The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment including the above-noted characteristics and features of the device. The device will be readily understood from the descriptions and drawings. In the drawings:
Before explaining the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of arrangements of the components set forth in the following description. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the arts, the present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. It is also to be understood that where ranges are provided for various aspects of the invention and for examples, they are approximate ranges and are not to be limiting except where noted otherwise.
Moreover, the preferred embodiment employs a heavy paper or cardboard. (Also referred to throughout as “paperboard”). As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present invention is suitable for other materials that hold their shape and can be perforated, cut or folded (for example, plastic) without exceeding the scope or spirit of the invention.
Main panel 24 is removable from box 20 when a user perforates the box along guides 36. As can be seen in
As will be noted by those skilled in the art, in the case of a box having box handles (as seen in
As seen best in
Additionally, other embodied uses of a portion of box 20 can be made into other items instead of face guard 38. For a non-limiting example, and as seen in
In the embodiment including three-dimensional glasses 46, slot 44 would be placed on box 20 in an appropriate position for three-dimensional glasses 46 to be connected to box 20 as depicted in
It will be appreciated that guides 36 are employed to create the design for the configuration of the inventive headgear which can be of any type or style suitable to the type of box and headgear selected. In the preferred embodiment, as seen best in
Indicia placement area 52 can be pre-printed with appropriate indicia or, alternatively, stickers could be included in the packaging for placement. Alternatively, the space could be a blank for the user to draw in whatever they prefer.
As described, any type of headgear suitable for the size and shape of box 20 is contemplated in the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, main panel 24 may be placed place at a higher horizontal plane along box side 28, box side 30 and box front 26 to create a cap 60, such as depicted in
The method of producing novelty headgear from a three-dimensional box comprises the steps of applying guides 36 to a three-dimensional box 20, guides 36 are in the configuration of a type of headgear desired by the producer. Once guides 36 are applied, the user can tear or separate excess material from box 20 following guides 36 to reveal the intended headgear. The producer may also include additional features through the use of additional guides to also include reversibly attachable items such as a face guard 38 or three-dimensional glasses 46, for example. Indicia may also be applied, the indicia being in the form of stickers and the like. Guides 36 which are applied to box 20 can be of various varieties, including but not limited to, perforations, scorings, printed solid and dotted lines.
As seen in
It is also to be understood, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the preferred and alternative embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. More specifically, as those skilled in the art will understand the configuration options are limited only by the imagination of the headgear designer. Any type or shape of headgear can be made using the principles of the invention on a formed, three-dimensional box.
Claims
1. A novelty headgear comprising a rectangular three-dimensional box, the three-dimensional box including guides strategically located on the three-dimensional box, the guides being in the configuration of a headgear style, the headgear style is selected from the group comprising football helmets, baseball batting helmets, race car, motorcycle, caps, masks, visors, military helmets, firefighter helmet, astronaut helmets, mascots, various types of animals, monsters, holiday figures or figurines, various types of food, well known public figures, corporate logos, and non-descript headgear, and the guides are selected from the group comprising perforations, scoring, dotted lines and solid lines, wherein the guides are perforations or cuts on the box that when perforated or cut separate out a main panel of the box to form a face-receiving opening, a face guard, three-dimensional glasses or a visor from a portion of the box.
2. The novelty headgear of claim 1 wherein the face guard includes punch-outs.
3. The novelty headgear of claim 1 further comprising at least one earhole punch-out.
4. The novelty headgear of claim 1 further comprising at least one indicia placement area.
5. The novelty headgear of claim 1 comprised of paperboard.
6. The novelty headgear of claim 1 wherein the visor includes an elongated headband piece with a strap separator to separate the headband piece into a first headband piece having a first headband-piece end, and a second headband-piece having a second headband piece end, the first headband piece having adjustment slots adjacent the first headband piece end, the second headband piece including a tab adjacent the second headband piece end for reversibly and adjustably fitting into the first headband piece adjustment slots.
7. The novelty headgear of claim 1 further comprising at least one slot for attaching ancillary headgear fittings to the box.
8. A method for producing novelty headgear from a rectangular three-dimensional box comprising the steps of: (a) placing guides on the three-dimensional box in the contour of a selected headgear; and (b) separating excess material from the three-dimensional box by following the guides such that the shape of the selected headgear results, wherein the selected headgear is selected from the group comprising football helmets, baseball batting helmets, caps, masks, visors, military helmets, firefighter helmet, astronaut helmets, mascots, various types of animals, monsters, holiday figures or figurines, various types of food, well known public figures, corporate logos, and non-descript headgear, and the guides are on the box and are selected from the group comprising perforations, scoring, dotted lines and solid lines, the guides when perforated or cut separate out a main panel of the box to form a face-receiving opening, a face guard, three-dimensional glasses or a visor from a portion of the box.
9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of separating punch-outs from a portion of the box.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of including at least one earhole punch-out.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of including at least one indicia placement area.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2018
Publication Date: Mar 14, 2019
Applicant: Four Box 12, Inc. (Pleasant Prairie, WI)
Inventors: Jarrod Schackmuth (Zion, IL), Ronald Johnson, JR. (Pleasant Prairie, WI)
Application Number: 16/170,309