Abstract:
A flag connected to a wristband or similar device by a length of material. The wristband and the length of material permit a spectator to throw the flag in a direction away from the spectator without fear of it being lost. The length of material permits the spectator to easily retrieve the flag after it is thrown. The ability to throw the flag increases its visibility and can be used to indicate to a game official a missed infraction. The length of material also allows the spectator to spin the flag around to show the spectator&#39;s admiration for the team or game.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The example embodiment(s) of the invention described herein relate to the field of toys and/or novelty items and particularly pertain to a flag attached to a wrist band by a length of material for utilization during a sporting event. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The use of flags at sporting events and the like is readily known. These flags are often handed out to spectators entering a stadium or ballpark. The flags usually have team names and logos fashioned thereon or other types of advertisement for sponsors. During games it is not uncommon for the spectators in the excitement of the moment to throw the flag in the air. Unfortunately, due to the physical characteristics of the flag it is all too common that a spectator is unable to retrieve the flag once it is thrown. This can be particularly troublesome years later when the spectator learns that the flag has become a collector&#39;s item. 
         [0005]    One inventor, Gregory Mathews, the applicant of U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,052 attempted to resolve this problem. Mathews invented a glove that has a pocket for holding a flag or piece of cloth. During the game a spectator removes a portion of the cloth from the pocket and attaches it to fasteners disposed on the finger tips of the glove. In this fashion the cloth is spread out over the palm of the glove. The spectator can then use their hand to indicate a rule infraction that may or may not have been missed by a game official. Several shortcomings of the device disclosed by Mathews are readily apparent. For instance, in the summer the spectator&#39;s hand will sweat making wearing the glove uncomfortable. In the winter the glove may not provide enough warmth to keep the spectator&#39;s hand warm if the game is conducted outdoors. Additionally, the glove can hinder a spectator&#39;s ability to retrieve items from a pocket or purse to purchase food or memorabilia. Lastly, a significant shortcoming of the Mathews device is that the flag is kept close to the spectator&#39;s hand thereby limiting the ability of a game official of seeing it. 
         [0006]    Woolery, the applicant of U.S. Pat. No. 1,670,176 invented a signal that consisted of a flag attached to a glove or partial glove for signaling while driving a vehicle. The Woolery device has the same shortcomings as the Mathews, increased heat in the summer; not enough warmth in the winter; and a flag that is kept too close to the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a flag that can be thrown a distance away from the spectator and easily retrieved. What is also needed is a flag that it is easily visible to the referees, athletes and other spectators. Another unfulfilled need is a flag that is comfortable to wear and permits free movement of the spectator. All of these and other needs are fulfilled by the present invention and will become readily apparent upon examination of the brief summary of the invention, drawings and detailed description. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention pertains to a flag or sheet of material fashioned as a flag that is connected to a wristband or similar device by a length of material. The wristband and the length of material permit a spectator to throw the flag in a direction away from the spectator without fear of it being lost. In one example embodiment, an attachment member is disposed between and connected to the length of material and the flag such that the user can select one of a plurality of flags to use. Additionally, it permits a spectator to use multiple flags. 
         [0009]    An advantage of the invention over the prior art is that it can be thrown a distance away from the spectator thereby increasing its visibility. 
         [0010]    Another advantage of the invention is that permits the spectator to be more involved in the game. For instance, if the spectator believes there was an infraction that was not seen or called by an official, the spectator can throw the flag into the air as should have been done by the official. This allows the spectator to demonstrate their frustration toward the official. 
         [0011]    Another advantage of the invention is that the flag can be spun around above the spectator to show the participants of the game their admiration. Since the flag is attached to the length of material there is no fear that it may be lost. 
         [0012]    These and other advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description of the invention and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the wrist flag device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the wristband of the wrist flag device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the flag of the wrist flag device 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the flag of the wrist flag device. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The preceding figures are for illustrative purposes only. Therefore, they should not be considered limiting but rather samples of example embodiments of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to appended example  FIGS. 1-4 , an embodiment of a wrist flag device is indicated by numeral  10 . In an example embodiment, the device  10  includes a wristband  20  and a flag or sheet of material  30  connected together by a length of material or tether  40 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wristband  20  includes a sheet of material such as nylon webbing and the like having opposed first  21  and second  22  surfaces with the first opposed surface  21  being disposable adjacent a spectator&#39;s wrist. The wristband  20  can include a fastening mechanism  23  such as snaps, hook and loop fasteners and the like that are readily known to those skilled in the art. In one example embodiment, wristband  20  includes two opposed ends indicated by numerals  24   a  and  24   b  of  FIG. 2 . The use of the fastening means  23  in conjunction with the opposed ends  24   a  and  24   b  permit wristband  20  to be adjustable about a wrist of a spectator. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, wristband  20  can comprise a solid strip of material that can be manufactured from an elastomeric material. This embodiment permits a spectator to stretch the wristband  20  over the hand and onto the wrist. In yet another embodiment of the invention, wristband  20  can comprise a solid or generally rigid ring that fits over the spectator&#39;s hand and wrist. Other embodiments and modifications are possible and should be considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , flag  30  comprises any type of sheet material such as nylon, cotton, synthetic blends and the like. In one example embodiment, a hole  31  is formed in a lower corner of flag  30  for receiving and securing at least a portion of tether  40  therein. Although illustrated in a corner of the flag  30 , the hole  31  can be disposed through any portion of the flag  30 . Additionally, other types of attachment mechanisms are also possible such as hook and loops, snap fasteners, rings and the like and should be considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0022]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 3 , a reinforcement ring  32  can be attached to the hole  31  to prevent damage to the flag  30  from attachment to tether  40 . The reinforcement ring  32  can be manufactured from plastic, foam, metal or the like so long as it reinforces the material of the flag  30  bordering or forming the hole  31 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , a fastening member  34  can be attached, coupled, connected and the like to a portion of the flag  30  to fasten the flag  30  to a portion of the wristband  20 . The fastening member  34  can comprise one half of a hook and loop fastener, half of a snap fastener where the other half of the fastener is secured to the wristband or some other article of clothing of the spectator. In the embodiment having a wristband  20 , comprised of a cooperating hooks and loops, the fastening member  34  can be removably coupled to a portion of the wristband  20  until it is to be used by the spectator. This prevents the flag from interfering with the movement of the spectator. 
         [0024]    The flag  30  can be manufactured in any shape, size, and color. In one example embodiment, advertisements, team logos and the like can be disposed on the flag  30  by any means. In one of the preferred embodiments the flag  30  is manufactured from a yellow material similar to that of officials of sporting events. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an attachment member  36  can be operatively coupled between the flag  30  and the tether  40 . The attachment member  36  can comprise a hook  38   a  and retractable or pivotable post  38   b  operatively coupled together to permit a spectator to replace, change, interchange and the like different flags  30 . In one embodiment, the hook  38   a  is extendable through the hole  31  and the post  38   b  is allow to engage the hook  38   a  and prevent its detachment from the flag  30 . 
         [0026]    The attachment member  36  can be manufacture from any material such as plastic and the like. In one embodiment, the attachment member can be manufactured from or coated with a foam material such that it will not damage anything that it comes into contact with during use. For the true sport enthusiast, the attachment member  36  allows them to change flags  30  depending upon the event they are seeing such as, a football, basketball, or hockey game. Other events are also possible and should be considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0027]    The tether  40  connecting the wristband  20  and the  30  flag preferably has a length that permits the spectator to throw the flag  30  into the air and easily retrieve it. It can be manufactured from any material such as rope, twine, cord, an elastic band, and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the tether  40  can be detached from either or both of the flag  30  and the wristband  20  such that it can be replaced. Cooperative hook and loop fasteners can be used to hook ends  41   a  and  41   b  of the tether  40  to the flag  30  and the wristband  20  respectively. Other types of fasteners can also be used to removably secure or attach the tether  40  to the flag  30  and/or wristband  20 . In one embodiment, the tether  40  can be manufactured to have the same color or material as the flag  30 . It is possible to have tethers  40  that are decorative and/or include logos, advertisements and the like. Other embodiment and modifications are also possible and should be considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0028]    In use a spectator places the wristband  20  around their wrist. Whenever the spectator is moved he or she may throw the flag  30  into the air. The flag  30  can then be retrieved by lifting the arm or pulling on the tether  40 . The user may throw the flag  30  into the air to draw the official&#39;s attention to a missed infraction during the game. The spectator can also spin or twirl the flag  30  in the air above them while holding the tether  40 . This may be done to demonstrate the spectator&#39;s appreciation of an event during the game such as a touchdown, basket, homerun or a goal. 
         [0029]    When not in use the spectator can wrap the tether  40  around their arm and secure the fastening member  34  to the wristband  20 . In another embodiment, the spectator can remove the tether  40  from the wristband  20  and store the flag  30  and attachment member  40  in a pocket or the like. Other uses for the device  10  are also possible and modifications in use should be considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.