Wrist Flag and Autograph Band
A flexible wrist tape banner to be worn around the wrist or head of a user for convenient transportation and easy release and display at sporting events. The flexible tape banner is highly visible in the extended configuration and very compact when rolled up around the wrist. The wrist tape banner can be adjusted to securely fit around any wrist or head. The wrist tape banner also functions as a writeable surface for receiving autographs or writing personal text. The flexible tape banner may also be used to display LED lights or to attach trading pins, noise makers, pom poms, or other accessories.
This non-provisional patent application is a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) patent application of patent application Ser. No. 17/990,668, filed on Nov. 19, 2022, which claims priority to provisional patent application entitled “Hey Wave Rally Flag” filed on Nov. 19, 2021, having application No. 63/281,400. All the applications referenced above in this paragraph are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally hand-held banners, and more particularly, to banners and autograph materials that can attach to the wrist or head.
Description of Related ArtSport stadiums provide fans the opportunity to cheer on their teams with promotional items and souvenirs such as rally towels, foam fingers, pom poms, and inflatable noise makers. These items often are large and cumbersome to store or carry, especially since bags are no longer permitted in many stadiums. Cheap promotional items are often left behind littering the stands and streets. Fans desire flags and banners to cheer on their team and even be able to get autographs from their favorite athletes.
Accordingly, there is a need for promotional products for fans to cheer on their sports teams that are easy to carry, compact, highly visible, and not overly expensive. It also would be desirable for the same promotional products to provide a surface to receive autographs of athletes or display custom text.
ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONOne aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that can be easily transported.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that is highly visible but compact when stored.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that can be easily transported on the wrist or head and easily deployed for display when in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flag or banner that can be attached and waved on a person's wrist.
An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that provides a writing surface for autographs or custom text.
In order to achieve these aspects and others, the present invention provides a flag or tape banner with an inner end, an outer end, a first side, and a second side. A first connector strip is located on the first side of the tape banner proximate to the inner end of the tape banner. A second connector strip is located on the first side of the tape banner proximate to the first connector strip so as to provide an open space on the first side of the tape banner between the first connector strip and the second connector strip. A flexible loop is located and sized to go around the tape banner within the open space, wherein the first connector strip and the second connector strip are to be connected together so as to enclose the flexible loop within the open space. A third connector strip is located on the first side of the tape banner proximate the outer end of the tape banner. A fourth connector strip is located on the second side of the tape banner proximate a middle location of the tape banner between the inner end and the outer end of the tape banner, wherein the fourth connector strip is configured to connect to the third connector strip when the tape banner is rolled up. In an alternative embodiment, a buckle can be used in place of the flexible loop.
The tape banner preferably is constructed of flexible, high quality, comfortable material. The tape banner preferably is approximately two inches wide by twenty-six inches long that conveniently wraps around the wrist or head of a user forming a stylish, one-size fits-all headband, wristband, wrist tape banner, or wrist flag. The tape banner or flexible tape banner flag is reusable, durable, and preferably constructed of strong, smooth polyester with dye sublimation printing providing a surface for graphic logo designs, QR codes, and customizable team colors. The tape banner surface also can be used for writing personal text or collecting autographs at sporting events, concerts, and theme parks. The wrist tape banner further can be used at political rallies and other causes, not just athletic arenas or autographs from athletes. The tape banner can even be used to display pins, such as Disney® or trading pins.
The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed invention and specific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention, and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Referring now to the drawings,
The first, second, and third connector strips 20, 22, 28 preferably are releasable connectors, such as hook and loop fasteners, like Velcro®. The first, second, and third connector strips 20, 22, 28 construction materials preferably include alternating cloth or hooks that are securely sewn or glued onto the taper banner 15. The first and second connector strips 20, 22 preferably extend perpendicular to the tape banner 15. The third connector strip 28 preferably extends parallel to the tape banner 15.
A flexible loop 30 is sized to go over the tape banner 15 around the open space 24 between the first connector strip 20 and the second connector strip 22. In accordance with the present invention, the connector strips 20, 22 are configured to be connected together as a hook and loop combination (Velcro®) to enclose the flexible loop 30 within the open area 24 of the tape banner 15. (See
It should be noted that in another embodiment, the first connector strip 20 and the second connector strip 22 can be stitching that are permanently sewn together to enclose the open area 24 around the flexible loop 30, or even glued together.
A team logo, promotional statement, QR code, or other printed or hand written text or graphic design 17 can be included on the first side 12 of the tape banner 15 to be highly visible to observers. The tape banner 15 preferable is constructed of a highly visible color to be seen by observers. Additionally, the tape banner 15 preferably is constructed of a flexible material that is suitable for being written upon with an ink marker. This enables the tape banner 15 to provide a surface area for receiving autographs or other hand written texts. Additionally, a self-contained battery-operated light source, such as a flasher, or an audible noise maker 29 can be attached to the tape banner 15.
In accordance with the present invention, the first connector strip 20 and the second connector strip 22 are shown to be enclosing the flexible loop 30 within the open area 24 of the tape banner 15, and wherein the first connector strip 20 and the second connector strip 22 are about to be connected together to enclose the flexible loop 30. Both the first side 12 and the second side 18 of the tape banner 15 are visible in the perspective view of
A fourth connector strip 32 is located on the second side 18 of the tape banner 15 approximately in the middle of the tape banner 15 between the inner end 14 and the outer end 16. Similar to the first, second, and third connector strips 20, 22, 28, the fourth connector strip 32 preferably is constructed of hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®. The fourth connector strip 32 construction material preferably includes cloth that is securely sewn or glued onto the second side 18 of the taper banner 15. The fourth connector strip 32 preferably extends parallel to the tape banner 15.
In accordance with the present invention, the third connector strip 28 on the first side 12 of the flexible tape banner 15 is configured to be connected to the fourth connector strip 32 when the tape banner 15 is rolled up, as shown in
After the flexible loop 30 is enclosed within the open space 24 by connecting the first connector strip 20 and the second connector strip 22 together, the loop 25 is formed by pulling the outer end 16 with the third connector strip 28 of the tape banner 15 through the elastic or flexible loop 30 on the opposite end of the tape banner 15 and continuing to pull until the outer end 16 until the tape banner 15 makes a loop 25 that is configured to fit around a person's wrist or head. A user pulls the loose or outer end 16 of the tape banner 15 until the loop 25 is secure or tight around the user's wrist or head, thus securing the tape banner 15 to the user. The user can then wrap the loose part 27 including the outer end 16 of the tape banner 15 around the user's wrist, preferably about two rotations, and then connecting the third connector strip 28 to the fourth connector strip 32 to secure the loose part 27 of the tape banner 15 around the user's wrist. The user creates a wristband by securing the third connector strip 28 to the fourth connector strip 32. The tape banner 10 can be configured to fit all possible wrist sizes by the using the adjustable third and fourth strip connectors 28 and 32, respectively.
When the user wants to deploy and wave the tape banner 15, the user can detach the third releasable connector strip 28 from the fourth releasable connector strip 32 to unwrap and extend the tape banner 15. The loop 25 around a user's head or wrist remains in tension from the interference fit of the flexible loop 30.
In an alternative embodiment the accessory tab strip 36 can replace the releasable connector 28. In this embodiment, one side 37 of the accessory tab strip 36 does not include a releasable connector, and that side 37 is stitched, glued, or otherwise securely attached to the outer end 18 of the flexible tape banner 15. The other side 38 of the accessory tab strip 36 still does include a releasable connector for attaching the accessory tab strip 36 to the fourth releasable connector 32 in the rolled-up configuration of the tape banner 15, as shown in
While specific embodiments have been shown and described to point out fundamental and novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the invention both illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A wrist tape banner for use at sporting events, comprising:
- a flexible tape banner having an inner end, an outer end, a first side, and a second side;
- a buckle having a slot and connected proximate the inner end of the flexible tape banner, wherein the slot is sized to enable the outer end of the flexible tape banner to pass through;
- a first releasable connector on the flexible tape banner proximate the outer end of the tape banner;
- a second releasable connector on the flexible tape banner proximate a middle location of the flexible tape banner between the inner end and the outer end of the flexible tape banner, wherein the first releasable connector is configured to connect to the second releasable connector when the flexible tape banner is rolled up; and
- wherein the outer end of the flexible tape banner is releasably unconnected to other locations of the flexible tape banner so the outer end of the flexible tape banner can be rolled up flat when the first releasable connector is attached to the second releasable connector.
2. The wrist tape banner of claim 1, further comprising:
- a third releasable connector on the buckle and a fourth releasable connector proximate the inner end of the flexible tape banner, wherein the third releasable connector connects to the fourth releasable connector to attach the buckle to the flexible tape banner, and the buckle can be disconnected from the flexible tape banner as a safety feature if sufficient force is applied to the connection between the third and fourth releasable connectors.
3. The wrist tape banner of claim 1, wherein the buckle includes a second slot for receiving the first inner end of the flexible tape banner to attach the buckle to the inner end of the flexible tape banner.
4. The wrist tape banner of claim 2, wherein the fourth releasable connector is on the first side of the flexible tape banner.
5. The wrist tape banner of claim 1, wherein the first releasable connector and the second releasable connector are configured as strips.
6. The wrist tape banner of claim 1, wherein the first releasable connector and the second releasable connector are hook and loop connectors.
7. The wrist tape banner of claim 2, wherein the third releasable connector and the fourth releasable connector are hook and loop connectors.
8. The wrist tape banner of claim 1, wherein the outer end of the flexible tape banner has passed through the slot in the buckle so as to form a loop in the flexible tape banner.
9. The wrist tape banner of claim 8, where the first side of the flexible tape banner faces inwards toward a center of the formed loop.
10. The wrist tape banner of claim 8, where the second side of the flexible tape banner faces inwards toward a center of the formed loop.
11. The wrist tape banner of claim 1, further comprising:
- a light source attached to the flexible tape banner.
12. A wrist tape banner for use at sporting events, comprising:
- a flexible tape banner having an inner end, an outer end, a first side, and a second side;
- a buckle having a slot and connected proximate the inner end of the flexible tape banner, wherein the slot is sized to enable the outer end of the flexible tape banner to pass through;
- a first releasable connector on the first side of the flexible tape banner proximate the outer end of the tape banner;
- a second releasable connector on the second side of the flexible tape banner proximate a middle location of the flexible tape banner between the inner end and the outer end of the flexible tape banner, wherein the first releasable connector is configured to connect to the second releasable connector when the flexible tape banner is rolled up;
- a third releasable connector on the buckle and a fourth releasable connector on the first side and proximate the inner end of the flexible tape banner, wherein the third releasable connector connects to the fourth releasable connector to attach the buckle to the flexible tape banner, and the buckle can be disconnected from the flexible tape banner as a safety feature if sufficient force is applied to the connection between the third and fourth releasable connectors;
- a tab strip having releasable connectors on opposing sides, and wherein one of the opposing sides is releasably connected to the first releasable connector of the flexible tape banner; and
- wherein the outer end of the flexible tape banner is releasably unconnected to other locations of the flexible tape banner so the outer end of the flexible tape banner can be rolled up flat when the first releasable connector is attached to the second releasable connector.
13. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, wherein the tab strip includes an aperture for attaching other items.
14. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, wherein the first releasable connector and the second releasable connector are hook and loop connectors.
15. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, wherein the third releasable connector and the fourth releasable connector are hook and loop connectors.
16. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, wherein the outer end of the flexible tape banner has passed through the slot in the buckle so as to form a loop in the flexible tape banner.
17. The wrist tape banner of claim 16, where the first side of the flexible tape banner faces inwards towards a center of the formed loop.
18. The wrist tape banner of claim 16, where the second side of the flexible tape banner faces inwards towards a center of the formed loop.
19. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, further comprising:
- a light source attached to the flexible tape banner.
20. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, wherein the other opposing side of the tab strip is attached to the second releasable connector strip when the flexible tape banner is rolled up.
21. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, wherein the releasable connectors on the opposing sides of the tab strip are hook and loop connectors.
22. The wrist tape banner of claim 12, further comprising large promotional text on the flexible tape banner.
Type: Application
Filed: May 24, 2024
Publication Date: Oct 3, 2024
Inventors: James A. Ringenbach (Marco Island, FL), Sheila K. Ringenbach (Marco Island, FL), Calvin J. Ringenbach (Marco, FL), Thomas J. Ringenbach (Marco Island, FL), Mason K. Ringenbach (Marco Island, FL)
Application Number: 18/674,078