Flexible coiled lasso toy

The present invention discloses a retractable coiled toy, made of a material having a memory, which has a handle integral with the coil or body of the toy. The slinger is preferably made out of polyurethane, a coiled steel, other plastics or some other material which has memory. The present invention discloses a number of methods for using the coiled toy. The Slinger can be used to wrap around the wrist, like a bracelet. In another use, the slinger may be used as a lasso.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention discloses a flexible toy having multiple functions, which can be used to perform a number of tricks.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Over the years, a number of toys have been invented which have a flexible feature.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,718,792 (F. G. Main) discloses a toy, including a metal strip coiled into a single plane at one end and having a handle secured to the other end thereof. The hnalde is arranged substantially tangential to the coiled portion of the strip and rests in the plane of the coiled portion. The coiled portion yields of its own weight to produce uncoiling and coiling movements upon the movement of the handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,959 (Fleischer) discloses a toy adapted for pulling, stretching, and bouncing which includes two intertwined helically cut shells. More specifically, the toy comprises a first spherical shell cut into a helix, a second spherical shell cut into a helix, and wherein the two helixes are intertwined with each other so as to produce an unitary toy. The two shells may be both cut in either a clockwise or counterwise direction. Alternatively, one shell may be cut in a clockwise direction, and the other shell is cut in a counter-clockwise direction. Each spherical shell has a diameter of between ½ and 2½ inches. The thickness of the helix may be between ⅛ and ½ inches.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,300 (Storry) discloses a recreational projectile, which in one embodiment displays rotational motion imparted when the projectile is thrown, similar to the motion of a turning screw. The recreactional projectile comprises a strip of resilient plastic coiled into a compressible helix at an angle of helical advancement sufficient to prevent adjacent windings of the coiled strip from overlapping each other when in an uncompressed state.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,217 (Hsueh) discloses alight reflection band device having a protection band, a flexible plate disposed on the protection band, a base band disposed on the flexible plate, a transparent layer disposed on the base band, and a liquid solution and a large number of light-reflection particles disposed between the transparent layer and base band. A periphery of the protection band, a periphery of the flexible plate, a periphery of the base band, and a periphery of the transparent layer are melted together. The object of the present invention is to provide a light reflection band device which can reflect light at night. Another object of the present invention is to provide a light reflection band device which can be placed on a wrist or a waist of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a retractable coiled toy, hereinafter referred to as the Slinger, made of a material having a memory, which further has a handle integral with the coil or body of the toy. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slinger is made out of polyurethane, a coiled steel, other plastics or some other material which has memory.

The present invention discloses a number of methods for using the coiled toy. The Slinger can be used to wrap around the wrist, like a bracelet.

In another use, the slinger may be used as a lasso. In yet another use of the slinger,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, the slinger toy1is comprised of a single, unitary piece of material. The slinger1is preferably made out of polyurethane, metal, or some other material having memory. The slinger1preferably has a handle section2and a coiled section3. The coiled section3ranges in length from about three inches to about eight inches, with a length in the range about of 2¾ inches to about 4¾ inches being optimum. The coil4should range from about ¼ inch to about one inch, and preferably ⅜ inches in diameter to about ¾ inches in diameter. The handle2, which is integral with the coiled section3, is preferably a straight piece, preferably ranging in length from about 3½ inches to about 6½ inches. The slinger toy may come in a number of different colors, and may be flourescent. The toy may also be multi-colored. It is preferred that the colors be bright. Words or patterns may be printed along the length of the coils.

It is also preferred that the material from which the slinger toy is made is circular20in nature, such that if stretched out, the slinger toy would have the shape of a wire. More specifically, the material of the slinger toy has a circular width. This shape gives the toy more flexibility, and prevents the toy from scraping any of the objects it lassoes. While the material could be flat, the cir circular wire type material allows for ease of use of the toy.

The slinger toy1may be used in a number of different ways. In one instance, the slinger1may be used to catch or lasso items. This is accomplished by grasping the handle2with one hand, twirling the coiled section by the handle2so that the coiled section3expands outward, and then positioning the coiled section3such that a middle section6of the coiled section will wrap around the object being lassoed. The coiled section3should be twirled just once, or as many times as it will take to to provide inertia.

The user of the slinger toy1may first try to catch his finger7by the slinger toy1. The user picks up the slinger toy1, grasps the handle2with one hand8, twirls the coiled section3by the handle5so that the coiled section3expands outward, and then positioning the coiled section3such that the middle section6will wrap around the object being lassoed. For example, a wrist9may be placed in the path of the coiled section3being twirled, such that when coiled section3connects with said wrist, said retractable coiled toy1forms a bracelet10about said wrist9. The wrist9is placed in the path of the rectractable coiled toy1being twirled, such that when said coiled section3connects with the wrist9, said retractable coiled toy1forms a bracelet10about the wrist9.

The handle2is positioned angularly to the coiled section3as the coiled section3wraps around said object being lassoed, such that the coil section3is locked in around the object being lassoed by intertwining with itself. The retractable coiled toy can also be used to capture items in the air, by using the same method as described above.

The retractable coiled toy can also be used as a fashion accessory. This is accomplished by grasping the retractable coiled toy, separating at least some coils of the coiled section; and placing the coiled section about a body part or an article of clothing. The slinger toy may be used as a key ring, with the key30looped through one end of the slinger toy so that the key30resides on the coil, while the other end of the slinger1is secured about a belt loop31or some other appropriate apparel, such that the slinger toy is attached to the clothes. The slinger toy1may also be attached to a zipper50, by sliding the coil material through the opening51in the handle52of the zipper50. The slinger toy can then be used to hang tags54or sky tickets to the zipper50. As shown inFIG. 9, the slinger can also be attached to the nose40, by either putting the bridge of the nose between two coils, or by putting the septum of the nose between two coils. The coiled section may be wrapped around a pony tail11, at least one ear12or earlobe13of a person to form an ear attachment, around an ankle14to form a ankle bracelet15. Separation of the coils allows for the ease in positioning the slinger toy1onto the object or body part in question.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.