Novelty device for attachment to an article

Abstract: A novelty device (1) is provided for attachment to an article such as an eating utensil. The novelty device (1) has a device body (2) formed of a soft plastics material. The device body (2) has a slot (4) extending within the device body (2). The slot (4) tapers within the device body (2) in order to accommodate different shapes and sizes of article. The device body (2) can be moulded as a character.

Description: This invention relates to a novelty device for attachment to an article, in particular for attachment to an eating utensil such as a spoon. Novelty devices for attachment to articles such as spoons or pencils are known. Known articles include erasers for attachment to the top of pencils which contain a cylindrical hole which fits snugly over the top of a pencil, or candy comestibles as disclosed in US-A-3,615,596. Articles for attachment to the top of eating utensils such as spoons are generally machined pieces in which the handle of the eating utensil is made to be glued into the article, or for assisting infants and toddlers in grasping the eating utensil. See, for example, US-A-5,479,708. Novelty devices add interest to the top of eating utensils which are used by small children. Unfortunately, the ends of eating utensils come in a range of different shapes and sizes and therefore articles are not supplied for general attachment to the ends of eating utensils as they would need to be supplied in a range of different shapes and sizes. According to the present invention there is provided a novelty device as defined in claim 1. Preferably, the soft plastics material is sufficiently flexible to allow the slot to expand to accommodate an article. An air hole may be provided in the device body to allow the egress of air. This has the advantage of allowing air to escape from the device body when an article is inserted into the slot. The air hole is also a safety feature to provide an air passage through the device if swallowed by a child. Preferably, the device body is moulded as a character. The article may be an eating utensil such as a spoon. Preferably, the soft plastics material comprises resin, plasticiser, stabilisers, epoxydised plasticiser and lubricant. An embodiment of a novelty device for attachment to an article in accordance with the present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the novelty device; Figure 2 is a back perspective view of the novelty device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section through line A-A of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-section through line B-B of Figure 3. Referring to the drawings, a novelty device 1 is provided for attachment to an article such as an eating utensil, specifically a spoon. The device 1 has a device body 2 formed of a soft plastics material. The device body 2 has a slot 4 which extends from an opening 18 in the device body 2 into the interior of the device body 2. The slot 4 has a flat front surface 11 which is generally parallel to the front 10 of the device body 2 and a back surface 12 which is generally parallel to the back 8 of the device body 2. The slot 4 has two opposing sides 14 which join the front and back surfaces 11, 12 of the slot 4. The two opposing sides 14 are tapered such that they approach each other as the slot 4 extends within the interior of the device body 2. The slot 4 is also tapered as the front and back surfaces 11, 12 of the slot 4 approach each other as the slot 4 extends within the interior of the device body 2. An air hole 20 is provided in the top of the device body 2 opposite to the slot opening 18. The air hole 20 allows the egress of air from within the slot 4 when an article is inserted into the slot 4 blocking the opening 18. The air hole 20 also provides an air passage through the device body 2 which acts as a safety feature in the event that the device 1 is swallowed by a child. A portion of the front 6 of the device body 2 can extend below the opening 18 of the slot 4. The soft plastics material in which the device body 2 is formed is a composition of resin, plasticizer, stabilisers, epoxydised plasticiser and lubricant. The following ingredients form a suitable soft plastics material. The percentage breakdown of the ingredients is given in brackets: Resin PVC resin (61.44%); Plasticiser DINP (35.00%); Stabilizers Calcium/Zinc stabilisers (1.84%); Epoxydised plasticiser Epoxydised soya bean oil (1.54%); Lubricant Zinc stearate (0.18%). The device 1 is formed as a character head such that the head sits on the top of an article such as an eating utensil. The slot 4 is tapered to allow the device body 2 to accommodate different shapes of ends of articles. The device body 2 is designed to taper in a proportionate manner corresponding to the taper of the slot 4 within the device body 2. Smaller articles can be pushed up within the slot 4 and the soft plastics material will hug the contour of the article. In the case of eating utensils such as spoons, the end is often not straight but slightly curved in which case the soft plastics material will accommodate the shape of the eating utensil. Modifications and improvements can be made to the forgoing without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Claims: A novelty device (1) for attachment to an article, comprising a device body (2) formed of a soft plastics material, the device body (2) having a slot (4) therein, wherein the slot (4) tapers within the device body (2), characterised in that the slot (4) has a flat front surface (11) which is generally parallel to the front (10) of the device body (2) and a back surface (12) which is generally parallel to the back (8) of the device body (2). A novelty device (1) as claimed claim 1, wherein the soft plastics material is sufficiently flexible to allow the slot (4) to expand to accommodate an article. A novelty device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an air hole (20) is provided in the device body (2) to allow the egress of air. A novelty device (1) as claimed any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device body (2) is moulded as a character. A novelty device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the article is an eating utensil. A novelty device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the soft plastics material comprises resin, plasticiser, stabilisers, epoxydised plasticiser and lubricant.

Inventors: AIKEN MARY, AIKEN, MARY
Applicants: MEGAPRINT GROUP LTD, MEGAPRINT GROUP LIMITED
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47G21
IPC codes: A47G21, B43K29