Abstract:
A body part model for a model body part of a human or other animal. The model includes a pullout tab. A base portion has one or more slots therein to accept the pullout tab with the pullout tab having a major surface thereon to display indicia that relate to the model body part.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to devices for displaying body part models. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved stand for a body part model having pullout tabs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the United States, within the last ten years, pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to advertise their products directly to patients with certain restrictions. This has created a need for advertising tools that pharmaceutical companies can use to advertise their unique products and are also tailored to comply with the specific rules for advertising pharmaceuticals. 
         [0003]    Specifically, one type of advertising tool is a display of a human body part that a pharmaceutical or a therapeutic device company&#39;s products are designed to treat. The displays are then handed out to potential customers with information about the product being sold. These displays are difficult to compactly and efficiently produce with enough space for the advertising or regulatory information to be printed. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a body part model that can be efficiently and compactly produced while still having sufficient space on which to print regulatory and advertising information. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention comprises a body part model. The model body part is of a human or other animal body part. A base portion has one or more slots therein to accept a plurality of pullout tabs. The pullout tabs have a major surface thereon to display indicia that relate to the model body part. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a body part model according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a body part model according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a pullout tab according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a body part model according to an embodiment of the present invention having the tabs pulled outwardly; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a right side view of a body part model according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6 , there is shown and described a body part model  10  having a base portion  12  and body part portion  14 . The base portion  12  is preferably made from ABS plastic. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the body part portion  14  represents a quantity of human fat and is preferably made from a BTER material. It is envisioned that the body portion could comprise any human body part or animal body part and is shown isolated from the body of the human or other animal. For example, a model of a heart, brain or lungs of a human or other animal could be mounted on the base portion  12 . 
         [0013]    The base portion  12  further includes a plurality of slots  16  in the various side faces  18  thereof. Each slot  16  in each side face  18  is placed at a different elevation within the base portion  12  such that each slot will not intersect another slot, although it is envisioned that a single slot having multiple openings may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. Pullout tabs  20  are moveable within the slots  16  to extend outwardly from the base portion  12  ( FIG. 5 ) to expose an upper face  22  of the pullout tabs  20 . The upper face  22  may be used to provide advertising or regulatory information regarding the product to be marketed. A single slot embodiment would need a slot of sufficient height in order to accept multiple pullout tabs. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the slots are of a width X and have an opening having a width Y, which is smaller than the width X. In  FIG. 4 , the pullout tabs  20  include a first side  24  that may be pulled by the user and a second side  26  that remains within the base portion  12 . The second side  26  includes two extensions  28  that extend outwardly along the second side  26 . When the pullout tab  20  is installed in the slot  20 , the extensions  28  fit within the width X, but are wider than the width Y. In a preferred embodiment, the pullout tabs are installed within the base portion as the base portion is molded or assembled. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, the pullout tab  20  could be installed within the slot  16  by resiliently deflecting the extensions  28  In this manner, the tab  20  is not easily removed or disassociated from the slot  16 . In effect, the extensions  28  are resilient enough that they will flex to allow their initial installation into the slot  16  past the width Y. Once installed past the narrower width Y, the extensions  28  return to their outwardly extending shape shown in  FIG. 4  and retain the tab  20  within the slot  16 . Once within the slot  16 , the extensions  28  may be made of a material that either allows the them to be resilient enough that they will flex to allow their initial installation into the slot  16  past the width Y or of a material that cannot be redeflected to remove them from the slot  16 . 
         [0016]    The above examples show that the invention, as defined by the claims, has far ranging application and should not be limited merely to the embodiments shown and described in detail. Instead the invention should be limited only to the explicit words of the claims, and the claims should not be arbitrarily limited to embodiments shown in the specification. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims, and the Examiner should examine the claims on that basis.