US20010053654A1

US20010053654A1 - Device for launching confetti

Info

Publication number: US20010053654A1
Application number: US09/881,137
Authority: US
Inventors: James Watkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-16
Filing date: 2001-06-14
Publication date: 2001-12-20
Also published as: EP1163942A2

Abstract

A device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like, comprises a conical tube having a bottom plug in a lower portion to define a cavity above the plug to receive the confetti, coiled streamers and the like. An upper plug formed of a low density foam material is fitted within a top portion of the tube for holding any confetti, coiled streamers or the like within the cavity, and the tube forms a handle portion below the lower plug for grasping by a user. The upper plug is adapted upon quick motion of the handle portion by the user to fly outwardly by centrifugal force and permit the confetti, roller streamers or the like to fly from the tube to fall in an attractive shower. When used with confetti, the confetti is preferably arranged face to face in a plurality of bundles arranged in layers within the cavity. Each layer of bundled confetti is arranged adjacent another in side-by-side relation with the individual elements of confetti in substantially vertical alignment within the cavity.

Description

PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is based on provisional application No. 60/211,954 filed Jun. 16, 2000, and claim is made for the benefit of the filing date of the provisional application[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for launching into the air confetti or other festive material such as coiled streamers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices for propelling confetti made from colored paper or other festive material are known and devices such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 825,843 and 1,663,679 include a charge of explosive material which needs to be ignited to explode confetti into the air. Such devices pose clear dangers and disadvantages, particularly when used indoors. The use of compressed air or carbon dioxide gas to propel confetti have been proposed, but such devices need to be connected to a source of compressed gas or contain a cartridge of compressed gas, and thus may be bulky or complicated in design, and may not be suited for use in many party environments by children or those inexperienced or untrained in the proper use of the devices. Such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,620,355 and 5,634,840.

Additionally, horn-shaped devices have been proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,153,207 and 1,491,809 that are filled with confetti which can be forced from the horn by air pressure of the user blowing through a mouthpiece, but such devices are limited in the amount of confetti that can be dispersed and the distance the confetti or elongates streamers can be propelled.

Other devices as proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,403,225, 5,556,319, 5,624,295 and 5,823,850 fling confetti from an open tube by centrifugal force. In these later devices, the confetti is held within the tube by the friction against the side wall, and confetti begins to leave the tube as it is moved quickly to expel the confetti. In such devices, the distance the confetti can be propelled is somewhat limited, and the confetti can not always be flung in a selected direction or towards a selected person or object. Another device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,628, discloses a cup for holding confetti that can be moved rapidly upwardly and stopped suddenly to propel confetti in a somewhat limited manner.

Such devices are often unduly complex, or cannot propel confetti or elongate coiled streamers appreciable distances or with any great accuracy.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device for launching confetti that can propel the confetti or coiled streamers an appreciable distance in a selected direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like, comprises a tube, preferably conical, having a bottom plug in a lower portion to define a cavity above the plug to receive the confetti, coiled streamers and the like. An upper plug that may be formed of a low density foam material is fitted within a top portion of the tube for holding any confetti, coiled streamers or the like within the cavity, and the tube forms a handle portion below the lower plug for grasping by a user. The upper plug is adapted upon quick motion of the handle portion by the user to fly outwardly by centrifugal force and permit the confetti, roller streamers or the like to fly from the tube to fall in an attractive shower. When used with confetti, the confetti is preferably arranged face to face in a plurality of bundles arranged in layers within the cavity. Each layer of bundled confetti is arranged adjacent another in side-by-side relation with the individual elements of confetti in substantially vertical alignment within the cavity.

In this way, the upper plug will frictionally hold the confetti or the like in the tube, even should the tube be inverted. However, upon the flick with the user's wrist or arm, the upper plug can be made to fly outwardly and release the confetti, coiled streamers or the like with appreciable force and with some directional control.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the description given below of a preferred embodiment, which description is made in conjunction with the following drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a device for launching confetti or the like of the present invention having bundles of confetti arranged therein; [0011]
FIG. 2 is a top elevational view thereof; [0012]
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a device for launching confetti or the like of the present invention having coiled streamers arranged therein; [0013]
FIG. 4 illustrates the position prior to launching confetti or the like; [0014]
FIG. 5 illustrates the launching of confetti or the like. [0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a [0016] device 10 for launching confetti 12 or coiled streamers 14 or similar festive material, comprises a tube 16 having a bottom plug 18 in a lower portion to define a cavity 20 above the plug to receive the confetti, coiled streamers and the like. The tube 16 is preferably conical and formed of paper, a synthetic plastic material, cardboard or the like. An upper plug 22 is fitted within a top portion of the tube 16 for holding any confetti, coiled streamers or the like within the cavity 20, and the bottom plug 18 and upper plug 22 are formed of low density foam material with the bottom plug being fitted more tightly against the interior of the sidewall of the conical tube than the upper plug 22.
The sidewall of the conical tube forms a [0017] handle portion 26 below the lower plug 18 for grasping by a user. The upper plug 22 is fitted within the opening 24 of the conical tube in a manner holding the confetti, streamers or the like inside the tube even should the tube be inverted. As will be understood, however, the upper plug 22 may be flung from the tube to release the confetti or entrained coiled streamers or the like upon flicking the wrist of the user from the cocked position of FIG. 4 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.
When used with confetti, the confetti may be arranged face to face in a plurality of [0018] bundles 28 arranged in layers within the cavity as shown in FIG. 1. Each layer of bundled confetti may be arranged adjacent another in side-by-side relation as shown, for example, in FIG. 2 with the individual elements of confetti in substantially vertical alignment within the cavity. By substantially vertical alignment is meant the bundles of confetti will deviate no more than 30 degrees from the vertical. With this arrangement for the confetti, it has been found that the confetti can be flung directionally an appreciable distance to provide an enhanced shower effect.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment made above; however, the present invention is not limited by any details of the above but is set forth by the appended claims. [0019]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like, comprising a tube having a bottom plug in a lower portion to define a cavity above the plug adapted to receive confetti, coiled streamers and the like, and an upper plug fitted within a top portion of the tube for holding any confetti, coiled streamers or the like within said cavity, said tube forming a handle portion below said lower plug for grasping by a user, said upper plug being adapted upon quick motion of the handle portion by the user to fly outwardly by centrifugal force and permit the confetti, roller streamers or the like to fly from the tube.

2. A device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like as set forth in

claim 1

, said tube having side walls flaring outwardly from the bottom portion.

3. A device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like as set forth in

claim 2

, said tube being conical.

4. A device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like as set forth in

claim 2

, said upper plug being formed of a foam material.

5. A device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like as set forth in

claim 1

, said upper plug being formed of a foam material.

6. A device for launching confetti, coiled streamers or the like as set forth in

claim 1

, including confetti arranged face to face in a plurality of bundles arranged in layers within said cavity, each layer of said bundles being arranged adjacent another in side-by-side relation with said individual elements of confetti in substantially vertical alignment within said cavity.