Abstract:
A parade throw and its method of use are disclosed. The parade throw includes a bag having an open top and a contained support member that can be in the form of a disk, ring, or plastic “Frisbee®” like member. The combination of bag and support disk are assembled together. In one embodiment, the disk is hollow, providing a hollow interior or cavity that can receive substantially all of the bag for storage when it is to be thrown. The disk can be made of cardboard or other disposable material so that the user simply removes the internal support and uses the bag for storing articles once it is retrieved. In other embodiments, the support disk may be in the form of a toy that can be a throwable disk or ring.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/218,900, filed Jul. 18, 2000, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to parade throws and related articles that are designed to be thrown during sporting events, spectator events, conventions, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a throw that features a disk like support structure fitted within or around a collapsible bag, the combination being thrown from a parade float, or into spectator stands. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Many parade events have throws that are hurled by the parade participants to onlookers. At sporting events such as football games, basketball games, hockey games, etc., articles are frequently thrown from the field or court into the stands and to the spectators. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a unique parade throw that can be thrown to onlookers at a parade, to attendees at a convention, or to spectators at sporting events. 
     The apparatus includes a collapsible bag that folds and conforms to an internal/external disk like support member so that the combination of support member and bag form a disk that can be thrown and will soar. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the bag and disk portions prior to assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the disk at the bottom of the bag, with the bag in an extended, open position; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the bag being conformed to and inserted into the interior of the disk support; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown in the throwing, folded position; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, and illustrating the method of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the bag in an extended, open position and with the disk support member at the bottom of the bag shown in phantom lines; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective, exploded view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in an open position; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown in a throwing, folded position; 
     FIG. 12 shows the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in a sequential view that illustrates throwing and opening of the bag at the end of a throw and an alternate method of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is another fragmentary sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a different disk arrangement; 
     FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a different arrangement for the disk; 
     FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the disk that is used with the sixth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 22 is a sectional view of the sixth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 23 is another sectional view of the sixth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 24-27 show an alternate method of configuring the apparatus of the present invention and showing a seventh embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 28-29 show the seventh embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and an alternate method of configuring the apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 through 3 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  10  in FIGS. 1 and 2. Parade throw  10  includes a support disk  11  contained within a collapsible bag  12 . Bag  12  has cylindrical wall  13 , open top  14  and bottom panel  15 . The bottom panel  15  can be connected to the cylindrical wall  13  using a stitched connection  16 , as an example. 
     After the parade throw  10  is caught by a spectator, the support disk  11  can optionally be removed or discarded. Bag  12  can then be used by the spectator for storage purposes. Bag  12  can provide a drawstring  17  for use in closing the open top  14  when the bag is filled with other carnival throws, parade throws or a user&#39;s paraphernalia. The open top  14  is surrounded by edge  18  at the upper end of cylindrical wall  13 . The drawstring  17  can be positioned at or next to upper edge  18  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     In FIGS. 1 and 3, support disk  11  includes bottom panel  19 , top panel  20 , and can include a pair of optional support spacers  22 . Top panel  20  preferably has a centrally located opening  21  that is sized large enough so that the bag  12  can fit through opening  21  for storage within hollow interior  23 . 
     Hollow interior  23  is large enough to contain bag  12  when most of the sidewall  13  of the bag  12  is pushed into interior  23  as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In such a situation, the bottom panel  15  of bag  12  registers against and fits closely to the bottom panel  19  of disk  11 . During insertion of the bag  12  as shown in FIG. 4, arrows  25  indicate schematically the gradual insertion of bag  12  into interior  23  (in the direction of arrows  25 ) and while the user  24  simultaneously rotates the disk  11  in the direction of arrow  26  as an example. 
     In FIG. 6, the method of the present invention is illustrated wherein a user  24  throws the combination of bag  12  and disk  11  from a parade float  30 , the throwing motion being indicated schematically by the numeral  27 . The flight of the combination of support disk  11  and bag  12  comprising parade throw  10  is schematically indicated by the arrows  28 ,  29 . 
     In FIGS. 7 and 8, a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown, designated generally by the numeral  10 B in FIG.  8 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, a plastic disk  31  is used as the internal support in place of support disk  11 . The plastic disk  31  can be of an injection molded plastic material preferably of a generally uniform thickness, having a central opening  32  that corresponds in size and shape to the opening  21  of the disk  11  in FIG.  3 . Plastic disk  31  has an upper flat surface  33  at the central portion of the disk, surrounding central opening  32 . 
     At the periphery of plastic disk  31  is provided convex peripheral upper surface  34  and concave peripheral undersurface  35 . Otherwise, the bag  12  is of the same construction as that shown with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. The user tucks the upper edge  18  of bag  12  though the center  32  of disk  31  and to the underside of the disk  31  so that the majority of the bag  12  including substantially all of its cylindrical wall  13  fits through the opening  32  and into the space in between disk  31  and bottom panel  15  of bag  12 . 
     Disk  31  can be plastic, and can be replaced with an internal support structure made of any suitable material including but not limited to cardboard, foam, Styrofoam or the like that supports the bag sufficiently. Alternate disk configurations can be used. 
     FIGS. 9-12 show a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  10 C. In FIGS. 9-12, a ring  36  attaches to a bag  42  that has an open top  54 . Ring  36  has a large open center  37 , inner edge  38 , convex upper surface  39 , and concave undersurface  40 . A peripheral edge  41  defines the outer dimension of ring  36 . Bag  42  has a cylindrical side wall  43 , upper edge  44 , lower edge  49 , and an open top  54  and bottom panel  55 . A stitched connection  56  can be used to join bottom panel  55  to edge  49  of sidewall  43 . A drawstring  45  is provided at open top  54 , the drawstring having a spaced apart ties  46 ,  47  that can be used to tie ring  36  to bag  42  at open top  54 . In that regard, ring  36  provides a pair of spaced apart openings  48  that are positioned to form a connection with the ties  46 ,  47  of drawstring  45 . 
     Optional streamers  50  can be positioned along lower edge  49  at bottom panel  55 . In FIG. 10, arrows  51  schematically indicate the folding of bag  42  about ring  36 . Bag  42  is simply collapsed upon and folded about the top and periphery of ring  36  and may be encased in a disposable plastic wrapper until use. Its configuration is generally shown in FIG. 11 at the time it is to be thrown. 
     In FIG. 12, the parade throw  10 C is shown being thrown, schematically indicated by the arrows  52 . Because the bottom of parade throw  10 C is open, the centrifugal force of throwing the parade throw  10 C opens the bag  42  to the position shown in FIG.  12 . In the position shown in FIG. 12, the streamers  50  create a drag. This drag in combination with the weight of ring  36  causes the bag  42  to open to the position shown in FIG.  12 . The arrow  53  schematically indicates the slow descent of the apparatus of  10 C once it has been thrown and has opened. The bag  12  or  42  can be modified to allow attachment of lights, reflective stickers, or other decorative ornamentation. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  57 . The parade throw  57  includes a bag  58  having an open top  59 . The bag  58  can be provided with a drawstring  64  at or next to the open top  59 . 
     A throwable disk  60  is shown upside down in both FIGS. 13 and 14. For purposes of illustration, the upside down disk  60  is shown in the position that allows a bag  58  to be collapsed and stored in the concavity  65  of disk  60  as shown in FIG.  14 . In order to retain the bag  58  within the concavity  65  of disk  60 , plate  62  fits under annular flange  61  as shown in FIG.  14 . The plate  62  can be provided with a central opening  63  that enables a user to grasp the plate  62  at opening  63  and pull it physically from its connection to disk  60  at annular flange  61 . The bag  58  can then be removed and used to contain throws such as toys, beads, coins and the like. 
     FIGS. 15-19 show a fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  66 . In FIGS. 15-19, a bag  67  provides an open top  68  and can be provided with a drawstring  69  at or next to the open top  68 . A pair of plates  70 ,  71  are placed inside the bag  67  near the bottom of the bag as shown in FIG.  15 . 
     Plate  70  has a central opening  72 . The plates  70 ,  71  can be constructed of any suitable material including but not limited to paper, cardboard, Styrofoam, foam or the like that supports the bag sufficiently. The plates  70 , 71  are initially positioned in generally parallel, spaced apart relation (as shown in FIG. 16) at the bottom of the bag  67 . The plate  71  is placed in the very bottom of the bag  67 . The plate  70  is positioned just above the plate  71 . The bag  67  is then tucked beginning at its top  68  through opening  72  and into a void space  73  in between the plates  70 ,  71 . In FIGS. 18 and 19, a single plate  74  is used having a central opening  75 . 
     In FIG. 19, the top  68  of the bag  67  is tucked through the opening  75  and stored in between the bottom  76  of the bag  67  and the bottom  77  of the disk  74 . In FIGS. 17 and 19, the parade throw  66  is shown in its completed folded position when it is ready to be thrown to a spectator of a parade, sporting event, spectator event or the like. 
     FIGS. 20-23 show a sixth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  78 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 20-23, a bag  79  has a flexible bag wall  80  with a lower end portion  81  to which is attached a rigid throwable disk member  82 . The disk  82  has an annular flange  83  that receives plate  84 . The plate  84  has opening  85  enabling it to be quickly grasped and removed by a recipient. In FIGS. 22 and 23, the user collapses the flexible wall  80  of bag  79  into the space  86  defined by the bottom  87  and side wall  88  of rigid disk member  82 . Bottom  87  may have a concavity  89  that helps the rigid member fly when it is hurled by a user and simultaneously spun as simulated in FIG.  6 . Bag  79  can provide an open top  90  and drawstring  91  so that it can be opened and used to store articles such as parade throws, beads, toys, coins and the like. Drawstring  91  can be located at or near upper edge  90 . 
     FIGS. 24-26 show a parade throw  92  that includes a generally flat bag  93  having opposed side walls  94 ,  95  and an open top  96 . A drawstring  97  can be used for closing the open top  96 . Stitching  98  can be used along one edge  101  and at bottom  102  for forming a closure. 
     As the bag  93  is generally flat, a disc like throwable parade throw  92  is produced by placing support disc  11  inside bag  93  by inserting it through open top  96  as indicated by arrow  103  in FIG.  24 . The panel  20  of disc  11  having opening  21  is placed against a selected side wall such as side wall  94 . The bag  93  has been folded around the disc  11  and stuffed into opening  21  as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. 
     In FIGS. 28-29, the same bag  93  can be used to form a throwable parade throw  92  by placing the disc  11  on the outside of the bag  93  such as against side panel  95  and with opening  21  facing away from side panel  95  as indicated by arrow  100  in FIG. 28. A user then folds the bag  93  about the disc  11  and stuffs the periphery of the bag between the panels  19 ,  20  of disc  11  through opening  21  as shown in FIG.  29 . 
     The following is a list of suitable parts-and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
     Part Number: Description 
       10  parade throw 
       10 B parade throw 
       10 C parade throw 
       11  support disk 
       12  bag 
       13  cylindrical wall 
       14  open top 
       15  bottom panel of bag 
       16  stitched connection 
       17  drawstring 
       18  upper edge 
       19  bottom panel 
       20  top panel 
       21  central opening 
       22  optional support spacers 
       23  hollow interior 
       24  user 
       25  arrow 
       26  arrow 
       27  arrow 
       28  arrow 
       29  arrow 
       30  parade float 
       31  plastic disk 
       32  central opening 
       33  upper flat surface 
       34  convex peripheral upper surface 
       35  concave peripheral undersurface 
       36  ring 
       37  large open center 
       38  inner edge 
       39  convex upper surface 
       40  concave undersurface 
       41  peripheral edge 
       42  bag 
       43  cylindrical sidewall 
       44  upper edge 
       45  drawstring 
       46  tie 
       47  tie 
       48  opening 
       49  lower edge 
       50  streamer 
       51  arrow 
       52  arrow 
       53  arrow 
       54  open top 
       55  bottom panel 
       56  stitched connection 
       57  parade throw 
       58  bag 
       59  open top 
       60  throwable disk 
       61  annular flange 
       62  plate 
       63  opening 
       64  drawstring 
       65  concavity 
       66  parade throw 
       67  bag 
       68  open top 
       69  drawstring 
       70  plate 
       71  plate 
       72  opening 
       73  void space 
       74  plate 
       75  opening 
       76  bottom 
       77  bottom surface 
       78  parade throw 
       79  bag 
       80  flexible wall 
       81  lower end portion 
       82  rigid member 
       83  annular flange 
       84  plate 
       85  opening 
       86  void space 
       87  bottom 
       88  side wall 
       89  concavity 
       90  open top 
       91  drawstring 
       92  parade throw 
       93  bag 
       94  side wall 
       95  side wall 
       96  open top 
       97  drawstring 
       98  stitching 
       99  arrow 
       100  arrow 
       101  edge 
       102  bottom 
       103  arrow 
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.