NOVELTY WAGGING TAIL AND METHOD OF USE

The invention could comprise of a novelty tail and a method for its operation, the novelty tail comprising an attachment apparatus that attaches to an operator; an resilient member of a definite length that terminates at two ends with at least one end that affixes the resilient member to the attachment apparatus; an outer covering that at least partially encapsulates the resilient member; wherein a movement of an operator is transmitted from the attachment apparatus to the resilient member to move the novelty tail in a reciprocal or wagging manner.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention10could comprise of novelty wagging tail20and a method for its use100. As substantially shown inFIG. 1, the novelty wagging tail20in one embodiment could comprise of an attachment apparatus30for attaching novelty wagging tail20to an o operator, a resilient member50that is attached to the attachment apparatus30, and an outer cover that encapsulates the resilient member50and further provides the novelty wagging tail20with its tail form and appearance.

The attachment apparatus generally attaches to the operator12between the hips16and proximate the backside of the waist14. The attachment apparatus30for attaching the invention10to the operator12could be designed to attach generally to the operator12or to the operator's clothing18. As substantially shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. the attachment apparatus30for the former could be a pair of straps32attached at a common end34to a plate36. The plate36could be placed by the backside of the operator's waist14to allow each strap32to be placed along a respective side of the waist14to allow the other free ends38of the strap32to be tied to each other in the front of the waist14to secure the attachment apparatus30to the operator. The plate36could also foster attachment to the resilient member50/outer cover60.

As substantially shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment apparatus30as the latter could be an inverted U-shaped clip50having two arms42connected by a common arm end44, the arms otherwise terminating in two opposing and fee arm ends46. The two opposing and free arm ends46could be biased to together (e.g., the clip50being made of resilient plastic) so as to snugly hold a portion of the operator's clothing18between them. In another version, as substantially shown inFIG. 6, the two arms42could movable connected together (e.g., by hinge) and a spring (or the like)48to bias the two free arm ends46towards one another in a substantial pinching action/motion.

The resilient member50could be designed and constructed to generally use the operator's hip motion to substantially impart a wagging motion to the invention10. In one possible embodiment, as substantially shown inFIG. 7, the resilient member50could be a suitable two-ended length of coil spring52with a first spring end attached to the attachment apparatus while a second spring end is left substantially unattached. As substantially shown inFIG. 8, the resilient member50could also be a length of suitable plastic58having two ends with first length end60attached to the attachment apparatus30while the other second length end62is left substantially unattached.

In either version, as substantially shown inFIG. 9. the resilient member50could project outward from it attached end54,60/attachment apparatus30to generally be perpendicular to the back of the operator with its second unattached end56/62in a first position64. As the hips of the operator swivel towards one direction, the motion of the hips could sway the unattached end56/62from the first position64in the direction of the movement of the hips and towards a second position66(e.g., towards a first side of the waist) distal from the first position64. As the hips then counter sway into an opposite motion (e.g., side-to-side motion). the unattached end56/62moves from the second position66, past the first position to a third position68(e.g., towards the second side of the waist) that may be in a mirror position from the second position66. As this hip (e.g., side-to-side) motion is repeated (e.g., through walking, running, or swiveling hips), the resilient member50may translate the hip action into wagging or back-and-forth motion of the invention10.

As substantially shown inFIG. 10. the outer cover70could in one embodiment could comprise a soft and flexible material (e.g., cloth, polyester, etc.) forming a cover body72with a channel74to receive the resilient member50. The cover body72could take up numerous colorations shapes, sizes to impart various tail looks to the invention. The cover body72could further employ a lighting system76using light emitters such as LEDs connected to an electronic circuit/power source to impart a wide variety of light effects to the tail, while moving and otherwise.

As substantially shown inFIG. 11. one possible process or methodology100for operating the invention could start with step102attaching the invention. In this step, the invention could be attached to the operator. In the form of the invention using an attachment apparatus having straps, the plate could be placed at the back of the operator's waist (e.g., proximate to the buttocks.) Each strap is brought along a respective side of the operator's waist to generally present the unattached ends in the front of the waist where the unattached ends can be tied together to affix the invention to the operator. In the form of the invention using an inverted U-shaped clip, a portion of the operators clothing, such a rear part of the waistband of trousers, pants, shorts and the like can be placed in between the two arms to allow the biased unattached ends to close upon and pinch that portion of the clothing to hold the portion of clothing within the clip to attach the invention to the operator's clothing. As this step is substantially completed, the process100could proceed to the next step104, imparting hip motion/wagging the invention.

In step104. imparting hip motion/wagging the invention, the operator may commence a physical motion through its hips which will ultimately generate wagging motion by the invention10. The operator's hip motion can be generated through a standard gait process (e.g., walking or running) or though more stationary motion process of swiveling hips (e.g., dancing or the like.). Generally the operator moves its hips/legs to swivel one side of the hip to lead in one direction (towards one side of the front of the body) and then reverses the motion to swivel the other side of the hip to lead in the opposite direction (towards the other side of the front body.) This set of motions then could be repeated for a desired period of time to cause the desired wagging effect.

As the hips of the operator swivel in one direction, the motion of the hips could sway the unattached end of the resilient member from the first position (pointing direct back and away from the back of the operator's waist) towards the direction of the movement of the hips to a second position (e.g., towards a first side of the waist) distal from the first position. As the hips then counter sway into an opposite motion, the unattached end could move from the second position, past the first position to a third position (distal from both the first and second positions and towards the second side of the waist) that may be in a mirror position from the second position. As this hip motion is repeated (e.g., through walking, running, or swiveling hips), the resilient member may translate the hip action into wagging motion of the invention. It could be possible due to resilient nature of the resilient member for that member to accentuate the hip movement into a very fast paced wagging motion wherein the invention is wagging faster than the hips are moving. If the operator wishes to terminate the process100, the operator generally reverses the process100.

CONCLUSION

As substantially shown and described here within the invention provides a novelty tail which translate the operator's hip motion into a wagging motion for the invention.