Abstract:
Winged costume attachments provide for the quick and easy donning and removal of costume wings, as worn for various costume parties or gatherings, stage plays, etc. The attachments comprise left and right shoulder and wrist straps, with each strap preferably formed of an elastic material covered with a protective fabric sleeve. Reinforcements are provided at each wingtip for secure attachment of the wrist straps, and an additional central reinforcement panel is provided for secure attachment of the shoulder straps. The central reinforcement panel may comprise a specific panel provided only for reinforcement, or may comprise a portion of an additional panel extending from the wing panels to form a tail or other component. The present attachment strap configuration results in the neck and chest areas of the wearer remaining clear of any attachment straps, thereby providing a safer costume which is easily donned and removed by small children without assistance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to costume apparel, and more specifically to attachment means for costumes simulating wings or similar devices of various configurations. The present attachments essentially comprise a single shoulder strap and wrist band of elastic material, on each wing panel. The present costume wings are thus devoid of any straps or the like extending about the neck or across the chest, thereby providing a significant advance in safety and ease of donning and removal, particularly for younger persons. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Humankind has been inspired by the concept of flight for thousands of years, as evidenced by ancient myths, legends, and artwork. Only relatively recently has technology advanced sufficiently to permit human flight, with the technology involving relatively high complexity and costs, as well as requiring significant training. 
     Nevertheless, flight remains a dream for many people, particularly younger children in their games and activities. Actual flight is of course beyond a realistic possibility in casual children&#39;s play, but nearly all children nevertheless enjoy fantasizing or imagining flight at times in their play. 
     Accordingly, costume wings have been developed for use in children&#39;s play activities, as well as for use in adult activities such as costume parties, stage plays and dances, etc. Such wings per se are well known and old in the art, and have been developed in a vast number of different configurations in order to simulate virtually every known type of flying bird and insect, as well as innumerable mythical creatures. 
     These various costume wing configurations are installed upon the wearer in various ways, almost always involving a series of inelastic straps, ties, or cords or the like. The object of these attachment means is nearly always to provide a very secure and positive means of securing the relatively large costume wing panels to the body of the wearer. While a series of straps or the like passing from each shoulder and around the throat or front of the neck and across the torso and around the waist generally provides the attachment security desired, they are not a desirable means of securing relatively small costume wing panels to children for casual play activity. The most important drawback to such multiple and cumbersome strap attachments, is the passage of straps or ties close to the throat or neck of the wearer. The potential hazard among small children at play, and even among adults wearing relatively large and cumbersome costumes, is apparent. Also, most children take pride in being able to accomplish various tasks on their own, without adult assistance. The various earlier developed means of securing costume wings upon the body, nearly always require the assistance of another person. This is true even for adults donning such costume wings, in many cases. 
     Accordingly, a need will be seen for a safer and more straightforward means of securing such costume wings to the wearer, with the attachment means avoiding any potential choking hazard for the wearer and also enabling the wearer of the costume wings to don the wings himself or herself, without additional assistance. The present winged costume attachments are preferably formed of an elastic material to provide some “give” and stretch, both to enable the wearer to don and remove the wings easily, and also to avoid injury to the wearer in the event one of the wing panels becomes caught upon another object during play or other activity. 
     A discussion of the related art of which the present inventors are aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,797 issued on Dec. 19, 1961 to Grace Schwartz, titled “Accoutrement For Choreography,” describes a wing costume assembly having a single wing panel extending from tip to tip and completely across the wearer&#39;s back. Extension poles are provided to extend the span of the wings, with the poles seating in sockets secured to the wrists of the wearer. The wrist attachments are not permanently secured to the wing panel, but rather serve as seats for the extension poles which in turn insert into elongate pockets along the leading edge of each side of the wing panel, along with the arms of the wearer. The Schwartz costume also has a neck opening (column 4, line 39), through which the wearer must pass his/her head and neck to don the costume. In contrast, the wrist attachments of the present wing costume embodiments are permanently secured to the outer tip areas of the wing panels, rather than merely serving as attachment points for fittings which in turn secure to the wing panel. Also, the present wing costume has no material surrounding the neck and defining a neck opening. The sole means of securing the present panels to the body of the user, comprises a single elastic shoulder strap and a single elastic wrist strap extending from each wing panel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,155 issued on Dec. 21, 1999 to Regina Silberman, titled “Security Garment,” describes an article more closely resembling a conventional poncho, than a wing costume. The front and back panels of the Silberman article extend completely across the wearer from wrist to wrist and are secured together, which does not allow them to streamline rearwardly in the breeze when running, as is desired for a set of costume wings. The Silberman garment includes a neck opening but has no wrist attachments, whereas the present wing costume has an open neck area with separate shoulder and wrist attachments. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D-45,010 issued on Dec. 9, 1913 to May F. Lanier, titled “Ceremonial Gown,” illustrates a design comprising a robe or gown with a generally triangular panel extending between each sleeve and the respective side of the body of the gown. The triangular panels are apparently a permanent part of the gown; thus, no separate attachment means is apparent for the panels. No gown, robe, or other garment for covering the trunk of the body, is provided by the present winged costume attachment invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D-351,493 issued on Oct. 18, 1994 to Diane C. DeCinque, titled “Winged Applique For A Shirt,” illustrates a design wherein a pair of winglike panels are sewn to a conventional shirt, extending from the end of each arm and down the respective side of the shirt. The result more closely resembles the Lanier &#39;010 design discussed immediately above, than the present winged costume attachments invention, with its removable shoulder and wrist securing straps. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D-422,397 issued on Apr. 11, 2000 to Steve N. Cohen, titled “Pair Of Sleeves With Attached Display Flag,” illustrates various embodiments of a design essentially as described by the title of the patent. The sleeves are completely independent of one another, with the only means of securing the devices to the arms of the wearer being the tubular configuration of the sleeves themselves. No means of securing a single, continuous costume wing panel across the back and arms of a person is provided by the Cohen disclosure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D-433,210 issued on Nov. 7, 2000 to Ian T. Allison, titled “Bat Costume,” illustrates a design as described by the title of the patent. While a costume design is claimed, no means is apparent for securing the design to the body of a person. More specifically, no shoulder or wrist strap attachments are shown in the Allison &#39;210 Design Patent. Moreover, it appears that the device would have to be worn across the front of the wearer due to the thickness of the central area between the winged extensions, rather than across the back, as in the present winged costume attachments invention. 
     Page 188 of the Butterick clothing patterns catalog of January and February 1999 illustrates both an adult and child&#39;s angel costume with wings extending from the shoulder areas of each costume. As only the front view is shown of each costume, the specific attachment of the wings is not clear. However, a series of straps or ties is shown extending around the waist and diagonally across the chest, with the arms remaining completely clear of the relatively rigid wings. The present winged costume attachments utilize only shoulder and wrist strap attachments for wings formed of a single ply of a lightweight, soft, and flexible fabric, unlike the relatively rigid and built up wing structures illustrated in the Butterick catalog reference. 
     Finally, page 18 of an undated catalog from Magic Cabin Co. illustrates front and back views of “Silk Wings” being worn by two children. While the Magic Cabin wings include wrist straps, the central attachment ties are relatively complex, cumbersome, and potentially hazardous, with their wraps about the sides of the neck and diagonally across the chest and additional waist ties with their long, trailing extensions. Also, no reinforcement means is apparent in the Magic Cabin disclosure, which is essential for the relatively lightweight fabric used in the present winged costume. 
     In addition to the above specific patents and other disclosures, the present inventors are well aware of the use of shoulder straps for use in carrying back packs, book bags, luggage, and other relatively heavy and bulky articles on the back. However, to the best of the inventors&#39; knowledge, all such devices have been equipped with relatively stout, non-elastic shoulder straps. The use of elastic in the construction of a shoulder strap in a device intended for carrying relatively heavy loads, is clearly impracticable. Such back pack, luggage, etc. shoulder straps clearly teach away from the use of a stretchable elastic material, whereas a non-elastic material is not desirable in the present invention, due to the desire to retain simplicity and avoid the need for complex and awkward buckles or other devices to secure the straps. Using elastic bands for the wrist and shoulder straps of the present invention, anyone, including relatively small children, may quickly and easily don and remove a winged costume without need for assistance by others, thereby greatly increasing their independence. The elastic wrist and shoulder strap means of the present invention provides a significant advance in safety as well, as such straps will “give” to allow the wearer&#39;s arm to pull free in the event the wing is caught upon some object. A nonelastic strap cannot provide such a safety advantage. 
     None of the above inventions, patents, and devices, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises means for temporarily and removably securing or attaching various winged costume embodiments to the upper body of a person (child or adult). The present attachment system overcomes various problems or disadvantages of attachment means for such costume devices developed in the past, by providing a single wrist strap and a single shoulder strap to each side of the single continuous wing panel which extends essentially across the arm span from hand to hand. The attachment straps of the present winged costumes are elastic, with the elastic material preferably encased in a fabric sleeve for durability and appearance. Reinforcement areas are provided for each wrist strap attachment point, with additional reinforcement provided for the shoulder strap attachment area. The generally central shoulder strap attachment area reinforcement may comprise one or more additional panels attached to that area, or may comprise additional material forming a tail or other components, attached to the central area of the wing panels. The material from which the wings are formed is preferably a lightweight natural fabric of some sort, but may comprise any natural or synthetic, woven or nonwoven sheet material as desired. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide various embodiments of winged costumes and attachments therefor, with the attachments comprising left and right shoulder and wrist bands or straps extending from the wing panels with the neck, chest, and waist areas being devoid of any attachment means. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide winged costumes and attachments therefor, which attachments comprise elastic straps having fabric sleeves disposed thereover. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide winged costumes and attachments therefor, including reinforcement panels disposed at each strap attachment point. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide winged costumes and attachments therefor, which central reinforcement panel may comprise an additional sheet of material forming an extension component (e.g., tail, etc.) for the wing panels. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 provides front and rear environmental, perspective views of a first embodiment of the winged costume and attachments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the winged costume and attachments of FIG. 1, showing its various components. 
     FIG. 2B is a front elevation view of the assembled winged costume and attachments of FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the winged costume and attachments, showing the provision of a tail portion also serving as the central reinforcement area. 
     FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the assembled winged costume and attachments embodiment of FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of yet another embodiment of the present winged costume and attachments invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of still another embodiment of the present winged costume and attachments invention. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention describes winged costume attachments for conveniently securing and easily removing costume articles, such as simulated wing panels, upon a wearer. The winged costume attachments of the present invention may be applied to innumerable variations and patterns of such simulated wings, with but a few of the possible variations being shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the basic concept of the present invention is adaptable to far more variations and embodiments than those illustrated, however. The present invention also includes various wing panel embodiments in combination with the attachment means, as well. 
     FIGS. 1 through 2B illustrate various views of a first embodiment wing panel with attachment straps. The wing panel  10  of FIGS. 1 through 2B comprises a single panel having a span  12  extending from a left wing tip area or portion  14  across the back of the wearing person P 1  or P 2 , to a right wing tip area or portion  16 . The left and right wing tip areas  14  and  16  respectively include a semicircular left and right wrist attachment strap or band, respectively  18  and  20 , extending from the front surface  22  of the wing panel  10 . Preferably, a wrist strap reinforcement panel, respectively  24  and  26 , is installed (stitched, etc.) to the front surface  22  of the wing panel  10  at each tip area  14  and  16  for durability of the winged costume  10 , which is preferably formed of a relatively light weight natural or synthetic woven fabric (silk, a light Nylon, etc.). However, other woven or nonwoven materials (e.g., light weight plastic sheet, etc.) may be used to form the wing panel  10  if so desired. 
     The central area  28  of the wing panel  10  includes a left and a right shoulder strap or band, respectively  30  and  32 , extending from the front surface  22  thereof. These shoulder straps  30  and  32  are of the same general configuration as the wrist straps  18  and  20 , but are of course somewhat larger in order to fit about the shoulders and/or upper arms of the wearing person P 1  or P 2 . Preferably, a central reinforcement panel  34  is attached (stitched, etc.) to the front surface  22  of the central area  28  of the wing panel  10 , to reinforce the strap attachments in the manner of the reinforcements  24  and  26  provided for the wrist strap attachments. 
     Each of the straps or bands  18 ,  20 ,  30 , and  32  is preferably formed of an elastic material, in order to provide a secure fit about the wrists and shoulders of a person wearing the present costume wings  10 . The use of an elastic material has been found to work well in securing the wings  10  to the body of the person P 1 , P 2  wearing the wings, as the wings are quite light in weight due to the light weight materials from which they are constructed. The use of such light weight materials is primarily to allow the wings  10  to streamline and float in the breeze when the wearer is running, or in any light wind or breeze relative to the wearer. However, the very light weight material provides other advantages, in that it does not require heavy, inelastic attachment straps and accompanying relatively complex buckles, additional straps, etc., as required by many such wing costumes of the prior art. The elastic material works well in securing the light weight wings  10  to a person, and also allows a very young child to don and remove the wings  10  easily by himself or herself without need for additional assistance. 
     As no buckles or other mechanical fastener or closure means is required with the present elastic bands or straps, they may be formed as continuous closed loops at each point on the wing panel  10 . The closed bands  18 ,  20 ,  30 , and  32  and the respective underlying material to which they are stitched or otherwise attached, i.e., left and right wing tip areas  14  and  16  and central area  28 , or the respective reinforcement areas  24 ,  26 , and  34 , define a pair of closed wrist passages  36 ,  38  and closed shoulder passages  40 ,  42 , shown most clearly in FIG. 2B of the drawings. Preferably, each of the elastic straps or bands  18 ,  20 ,  30 , and  32  is enclosed by a fabric sleeve material  44 , as indicated by the gathered external appearance of the straps  18 ,  20 ,  30 , and  32  in FIGS. 1 through 2B, in order to protect the elastic material. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively provide exploded and assembled front perspective and elevation views of an alternative embodiment wing costume, designated as wing panel  100 . The wing panel costume  100  contains essentially the same components as the winged costume  10  of FIGS. 1 through 2B, including left and right wrist straps or bands  18  and  20  with accompanying reinforcements  24  and  26  and left and right shoulder straps or bands  30  and  32 . However, the wing panel  100  is configured differently, being divided generally into left and right halves  102  and  104  extending to each side of the central area  28 , to represent two separate wings. 
     The central shoulder strap reinforcement panel  106  also differs from the central reinforcement  34  of the wing costume  100  of FIGS. 1 through 2B, in that the reinforcement panel  106  of the wings  100  comprises an elongate extension, with a downwardly or rearwardly extending tail portion  108 . When the elongate extension panel  106  is assembled to the left and right wing panels  102  and  104 , the result is somewhat representative of a dragon, with its separate left and right wing panels  102  and  104  and elongate, outwardly or rearwardly extending tail portion  108  formed by the extension of the shoulder strap reinforcement panel  106 . 
     FIG. 4 provides a front elevation view of yet another embodiment of the present wing costume, having a wing panel  200  with a scalloped or feathered trailing edge  202 . This configuration may be colored in some manner to resemble the wings of a bird with their feathered trailing edges, if so desired. The panel  200  is formed of a single sheet of material, but may include a tail extension  204  extending rearwardly from the central area  28  of the wing panel  202 , to provide further resemblance to a bird configuration. Alternatively, the central reinforcement panel  34  and tail extension may be formed of a single piece of material and applied to the wing panel  200 , if so desired, in the manner of the “dragon tail” configuration of the wing costume panel  100  of FIGS. 3A and 3B. In other respects, the wing costume panel  200  is essentially identical to the wing costume panel  100  of FIGS. 1 through 2B, having an essentially continuous and unbroken span from tip to tip with left and right wrist straps or bands  18  and  20  and their accompanying reinforcements  24  and  26 , and left and right shoulder straps  30  and  32  and corresponding central shoulder strap reinforcement  34 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a further embodiment of the present invention, similar to the “dragon wing and tail” embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, discussed further above. The wing costume  300  of FIG. 5 includes a left and a right wing panel or lobe, respectively  302  and  304 , formed of a single sheet of material. As in the case of other embodiments of the present invention, left and right wrist straps or bands  18  and  20  and corresponding reinforcement panels  24  and  26  are installed at the panel tips, with left and right shoulder straps or bands  30  and  32  secured to the central area  28  of the wing panel  300 . The reinforcement  306  also includes an extended tail portion  308 , which also comprises two lobes. The result is an appearance resembling many beetles, with their flight wings represented by the two wing panels  302  and  304  and their wing covers represented by the lobed central reinforcement panel  306  and extension  308 . As in the case of all of the various embodiments of the present invention, the embodiment of FIG. 5 may be colored as desired, e.g., to resemble a “ladybug,” or other insect as desired. 
     In conclusion, the present winged costume and attachments provides a novel means for fitting such costumes to a person, comprising the use of a series of elastic straps or bands at the wrists and shoulders. The shoulder bands or straps are independent of one another excepting their attachment to a reinforcing panel or panels at the center of the wing panel, thus defining an open area therebetween which is devoid of any other attachments or encumbrances. This provides a significant advance in safety for persons wearing the present wing configurations, as no straps, ties, or other elements pass in front of the neck or throat, across the chest, or around the waist with the present wing costumes. In addition, the elastic nature of the wrist and shoulder straps allows them to stretch in the event that a wearer of the present costume catches some portion of the costume on another object, thus allowing the person to pull free. 
     The present elastic wrist and shoulder straps also enable a person to don and remove the wings quickly and easily. While this is an advantage for all who may wish to wear such wings, including adults for a costume party, play, etc., it is of particular significance to smaller children, who no longer require the assistance of an adult in donning or removing the costume wings of the present invention. The present elastic wrist and shoulder straps provide a significant advance in comfort for the wearer as well, as they do not bind or restrict a person wearing the wings with the present attachment bands when that person bends, stretches, or otherwise moves. 
     As the various wing panels and extensions of the present invention are preferably formed of very light weight materials, the elastic bands or straps are quite sufficient to hold them in place upon the wearer of the device. Such lightweight fabric will generally require some reinforcement at the wrist and shoulder strap attachment points, as noted above. It should be noted that these reinforcement areas are not limited to only a single ply of fabric or other sheet material, but may comprise additional sheets of identical or differing dimensions, as required to provide a sound assembly. The result is an attractive, safe, easily donned and removed, yet durable winged costume which will provide hours of enjoyment for wearers of all ages. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.