Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a novelty garment having an ornamental and entertaining feature, particularly a plush toy as a part thereof. The garment has two different embodiments. The first embodiment is worn as a sleeve on a human arm. The second embodiment is worn as a band on any part of the arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a novelty garment worn on the arm. Specifically, this garment has a three-dimensional ornament used for entertainment or educational purposes. Typically, the ornament is shaped to look like an animal, but the ornament can also be made to look like an insect, a sports team mascot, a mythical creature, a cartoon animated character, or any other shape that plush toys can assume. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Novelty garments have multiple uses, including entertainment and education. For example, learning tactile feedback is an important part of the education of children. From an early age, children learn about shapes, geometry, movement, and object manipulation by interacting with various objects and devices, such as a three-dimensional plush toy. Typically, a plush toy must be carried from place to place, at least using one hand to pick up said plush toy. This action prevents the user or entertainer from carrying other items or from playing with other toys simultaneously. Thus, what is needed is a wearable plush toy that will free both hands for accomplishing other tasks at the same time. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,321, granted to Kornbleuth, discloses a garment having an amusement device in the form of a puppet, the design being integrally a part thereof and attached to the sleeves of the garment. The puppet is formed from the sleeve of a garment having two distinct layers of material that are attached at one end. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,122, granted to Moldovan, discloses an apparel article in the nature of clothing or a backpack that includes a first fabric material onto which is sewn, at least in part, a stuffed animal as an ornamental feature. The location of the animal can be on the shoulder of a garment or the top arm portion such that the animal appears to perch or hug onto the body of a wearer of the article. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,866, granted to Fox, discloses novelty clothing, and more particularly to a wearable garment such as a shirt having a removable three-dimensional toy play object of a two-dimensional design thereto. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,167, granted to Johnson et al., discloses apparel for human heads, and more particularly, caps having removably attached plush animals with buttons located near their bellies. 
         [0007]    Of the above patented devices, however, none is particularly adapted for displaying a three-dimensional plush toy on a garment sleeve or wristband. In addition, none of the aforementioned patented embodiments give the appearance of the wearer&#39;s hand exiting the creature&#39;s mouth and the wearer&#39;s arm exiting the creature&#39;s posterior end. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention recognizes a need that the prior art does not fill. Thus, it is a general object of the invention to provide a novelty garment with an ornamental feature that has entertainment and educational value. 
         [0009]    The present invention discloses a novelty garment in the shape of a sleeve or band with a three-dimensional ornamental feature attached thereto. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment that can be worn on the arm or the wrist. 
         [0011]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plush toy either attached to or incorporated around the garment. 
         [0012]    One embodiment of the present invention may have a pocket or pouch on the plush toy and that pouch may contain one or more plush toys that are smaller than the present invention. The pouch may also contain other small objects that fit into the pouch. 
         [0013]    Various combinations of presently disclosed features may be provided in a given embodiment thereof, in accordance with this invention. Generally, one such exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an elastic garment sleeve with one open end and one partially closed end. The partially closed end is connected in a specific location to separate the thumb and forefinger of the wearer&#39;s hand. The partially closed end is located at the distal extremity of the wearer&#39;s arm. A plush toy is attached to the garment sleeve in such a way as to give the appearance that the wearer&#39;s hand exits the plush toy creature&#39;s mouth and the wearer&#39;s arm exits the plush toy creature&#39;s posterior end. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the plush toy is perched on top of the elastic garment sleeve. Generally, the belly of the plush toy creature is the surface of the plush toy attached to the garment. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, the elastic garment encircles the wrist or arm of the wearer and has a plush toy attached directly to the garment. Generally, the belly of the plush toy creature is the surface of the plush toy attached to the garment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. Those of skill in the art will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments. They do not set forth all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Conversely, some embodiments may be practiced without all of the details that are disclosed. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it is intended to refer to the same or like components or steps. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of one embodiment of the garment with an arm and hand inserted through a sleeve with a plush toy in the shape of an animal attached thereto. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of one embodiment of the garment with one end of the garment exiting a plush toy creature&#39;s mouth and the other end of the garment exiting the tail end of a plush toy creature. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of two embodiments of the garment encircling the wrist and forearm of the wearer with a plush toy in the shape of an animal perched on top of each embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of one embodiment of the garment to show one possible means of a fastening feature to join the legs or hands of the plush toy. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of one embodiment of the garment that has a pocket or pouch feature on the back of the plush toy. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, as a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]    In the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of one embodiment of the garment and shows the general shape and construction.  FIG. 1  shows a garment sleeve  10  includes a distal end  50  and a proximal end  40 . The distal end  50  of the sleeve  10  has a connective feature  30  between the forefinger and thumb to prevent the sleeve  10  from traveling up the wearer&#39;s arm toward the elbow. A plush toy  20  may be attached to the sleeve  10  along the belly of the plush toy  20 .  FIG. 1  also shows that the garment sleeve  10  may itself be made of a decorative material  60 . The material  60  may be elastic so as to keep the plush toy in place when the sleeve  10  is worn. Also, the plush toy  20  may be wholly stuffed, partially stuffed, or unstuffed. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of another embodiment of the garment of  FIG. 1  with one end of the garment exiting a plush toy creature&#39;s mouth and the other end of the garment exiting the tail end of a plush toy creature.  FIG. 2  shows how the sleeve  70  is completely surrounded by the plush toy  120 .  FIG. 2  also shows how the sleeve  70  exits the mouth  90  of the plush toy animal  120  and how the sleeve  70  exits just beneath the tail  110  of the plush toy animal  70 . The material  80  may be elastic so as to keep the plush toy  120  in the desired orientation when the sleeve  10  is worn. The material  80  may be decorative to provide additional entertainment value. Also, the plush toy  20  may be wholly stuffed, partially stuffed, or unstuffed. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of two alternate embodiments of the garment encircling the wrist and forearm of the wearer with a plush toy in the shape of an animal perched on top of each embodiment. It shall be understood that these embodiments may be worn individually or in multiples of two or more. Although two examples of the embodiment are shown, the construction and description of only one of these embodiments is described in  FIG. 3  because they are considered substantially similar except for the shape of the plush toy attached to the garment and the decorative design of the material.  FIG. 3  shows how the garment is a band  140  that may wide enough to accommodate the size of the plush toy  130 . The plush toy  130  is attached to the band  140  at and along the belly of the plush toy  150 . The material  160  may be elastic so as to keep the plush toy  130  in the desired orientation when the band  140  is worn. The material  160  may be decorative to provide additional entertainment value. Also, the plush toy  130  may be wholly stuffed, partially stuffed, or unstuffed. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of another embodiment of the garment. The plush toy is again perched on top of the sleeve. The arms or legs of the plush toy may have a fastening feature such as Velcro. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of another embodiment of the garment. The distal end of the sleeve  180  does not have a connective feature between the forefinger and thumb. The proximal end of the sleeve  190  is elongated to extend further up the wearer&#39;s arm. As in  FIG. 4 , the plush toy  195  is again perched on top of the sleeve. In a preferred embodiment, the plush toy  195  may have a pocket or pouch  200 . The pouch  200  may have a fastening feature to keep the pouch closed. Any fastening device may be used.  FIG. 5  shows how the pouch  200  may contain one or more smaller plush toys. In order to fit inside the pouch  200 , the smaller plush toys must be smaller than the pouch and thus, the smaller plush toys are also preferably smaller than the plush toy that includes the pouch  200 . Alternatively, the pouch  200  on the plush toy  195  may contain any small object(s) that fits within the pouch, including, but not limited to: toys, miniature books, money, personal grooming items, and/or sundry items. 
         [0029]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.