Abstract:
A mobile stand for storing and organizing hand held puppets includes a base supported on swiveling casters and carrying a pair of vertically spaced display decks each of which includes a plurality of upwardly projecting support rods for carrying individual puppets.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 121 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/309,263 filed on Aug. 2, 2001 in the name of Herman R. Dean and entitled “Puppet Storage Stand”. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to toy storage devices and, in particular, to a mobile stand for the storage of puppets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Puppeteers often use a number of puppets during the course of a performance. Each must be accessed readily for use and stored for reappearance without interrupting the show. When the performance is completed, the puppets must be transported for storage. Generally, the puppets are stored individually, separated for the performance and transported to the stage for use. Thereat the puppets are arrayed on the floor or raised surface for selection. The puppets may become entangled and difficult to access while maintaining the continuity of the show. Further, the puppets are often commingled in storage making retrieval of needed puppets for a given show difficult. The use is further complicated when additional gear is required for the movement of puppet arms and legs, which can become entangled with surrounding puppets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a stand for organizing puppets during performances and storing in an organized and safe manner. The stand comprises a base on swiveled casters that carries at least one level of support rods on which the puppets are carried that may be rolled to the performance stage. The support rods may be oriented for grouping of puppets for a given performance. After performance, the stand may be transported and rolled to final destination, such as a closet, whereat the puppets are safely maintained in separated condition awaiting the next show. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile stand for organizing and storing hand held puppets that may be conveniently transported on swivel casters between storage and performance locations. 
     Another object is to provide a puppet stand having a plurality of spaced support rods for holding individual hand held puppets in an organized array. 
     A further object is to provide a puppet stand having a roller supported base that can easily moved between locations and has a plurality of support rods for discretely carrying individual puppets. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a mobile puppet storage stand carrying puppets in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is enlarged side elevational view of storage stand of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the base platform and casters for the puppet stand of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom fragmentary perspective view of the caster and the base platform of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a to fragmentary perspective view of the mounting flange for storage stand. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment and not for limiting same, FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile puppet support stand  10  for carrying and organizing a plurality of typical hand held puppets  12 . As additionally shown in FIG. 2, the support stand  10  includes a lower display deck  20  and an upper display deck  24  located vertically thereabove. The decks  20  and  24  are carried on a mobile base platform  26 . 
     The lower display deck  20  includes a circular base  30  carrying a circumferentially spaced series of vertically upwardly extending lower storage rods  32 , which in use are received in the body sleeve for supporting the puppets thereon. The upper display deck  22  includes a circular base  34  carrying a circumferentially spaced series of vertically upwardly extending upper storage rods  36 . Preferably, the bases  30 ,  34  are formed of a wood material, such as veneered plywood or solid wood, or a plastic material. The storage rods  32 ,  36  may be formed of conventional dowel material. For a plate diameter of about 24 inches, a circumferential series of 8 to 10 storage rods, 18 inches in length and ¾ inch diameter, may be supported on about an 18 inch diameter pattern. The rods  32 ,  36  are telescopically retained in countersunk holes in the top surface of the bases for discrete insertion and removal for facilitating grouping of puppets for performances. Alternatively, the rods may be mechanically or adhesively retained in the holes. The rods are covered at their distal upper ends with protective rubber tips  37  for minimizing damage to the puppet interior. The bases  30 ,  34 , the platform  26  and the storage rods  32 ,  36  may be stained, painted or otherwise decoratively finished as desired. 
     Referring additionally to FIGS. 3 through 5, the decks  20 ,  22  include mounting flanges  40  attached coaxially at the top and lower surfaces thereof by threaded fasteners  42 . The flanges  40  include a through bore  44  provided with internal pipe threads. 
     A support pipe  50  having threaded ends conventionally coupled to the opposed flanges structurally interconnects the decks  20 ,  22 . The pipe  50  has a length greater than the storage rods  32  to provided sufficient clearance for mounting and removal of the individual puppets. A storage pipe  54  is connected to the upper flange on the top deck  24  and establishes an upwardly opening cylindrical cavity for holding and organizing additional puppet components such a hand bars and associated strings for operating the arms and legs of a puppet. 
     The base platform  26  is generally octagonal and formed from a material compatible with the decks. The base platform  26  includes a coaxially located support flange  40 . A lower spacer pipe  60  includes threaded ends connected with the flanges  40  for supporting the lower deck  20  in spaced relation to the base platform  26 , preferably about 6 inches apart. 
     Referring additionally to FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of peripherally spaced swivel casters  70 , of commercially available construction, are attached at the periphery of the bottom surface of the base platform by suitable fasteners  71 , such a wood screws. As will be appreciated, the casters  70  facilitate multidirectional translation of the support stand over a support surface  72  to allow the stand, without disassembly to be conveniently used and stored. 
     The stand is readily packaged in partially assembled component parts, including the base platform with casters and flange, and the decks with the flanges, together with the pipes  54 ,  50 ,  60  and the support rods  32 ,  36 . The pipes may coupled to the flanges without tools by relative rotation to assemble the stand decks and base platform. The rods may then be inserted in desired locations with the remainder stored in the storage pipe  54  until needed. The stand may be readily transported between use and storage locations. During performances, the puppeteer may easily index the stand through rotation on the base platform on the caster for convenient access to the desired puppets. Further, the rods and associated puppets may be grouped for differing presentations. For a lesser number of puppets only a single base may be provided. Also, for a large number, three or more tiers may be provided. 
     Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.