Abstract:
Convertible pompons having ornamental arrays such as fluffy projections at opposite ends of baton handles are constructed from pompon halves with half handles incorporating coupling mechanisms for connecting and disconnecting the handle halves. The half handle of one pompon half can be connected with the half handles of a plurality of other pompon halves to assemble the convertible pompons, and the pompon halves of the assembled convertible pompons can be separated and recombined with other pompon halves to provide a yet wider choice of convertible pompons.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to pompons (also referred to as poms), which generally take the form of balls of fluffy material attached to handles and waved by cheerleaders, dancers, and sports fans, and more particularly, the invention relates to pompons with baton style handles in which fluffy materials are attached to opposite ends of handles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Pompons, as attention gathering devices flourished by cheerleaders and others, feature ornamental arrays, generally in the form of fluffy balls formed by a multitude of strands or streamers that can be visually coordinated with school colors, uniforms, costumes, or other performance requirements. For example, the strands or streamers are available in different, lengths, widths, colors, and materials and can be assembled in various combinations into fluffy balls. The strands are attached to a core piece, which also generally includes a handle for gripping the pompons. 
         [0003]    One type of pompon features fluffy projections (e.g., strands) supported from opposite ends of a baton handle. Typically, the fluffy projections combine to form two halves a single fluffy ball that can be gripped at its center. Such fluffy projection halves can be similar or different from each other. Different color fluffy projection halves can be arranged for matching school, uniform, or performance colors. However, similar colored fluffy projection halves may be preferred for other routines or circumstances. In addition, with the possibilities for mixed colors and different length or material strands, the fluffy projection halves provide increased versatility to suit occasions. 
         [0004]    Although the fluffy projection halves can be factory assembled in a variety of different combinations, each new combination of the fluffy projection halves requires the purchase of a new pompon. The cost of purchasing sets of pompons with different combinations of fluffy projection halves can be expensive. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one or more preferred embodiments of the invention, convertible pompons can be constructed with interchangeable fluffy projection halves that can be used individually or in different combinations within the convertible pompons. Each of the pompon halves has an ornamental array such as a fluffy projection supported from a handle half, which can be gripped for flourishing the individual halves. However, the handle halves can also be coupled together to form baton handles of convertible pompon assemblies so that the pompon halves can be flourished together. 
         [0006]    Thus, the invention among its objects provides a more efficient use of the fluffy projection halves of pompons with baton style handles. Each such fluffy projection half is preferably usable on its own or in combination with another fluffy projection half. Preferably, the handle halves can be connected and disconnected easily and reliably so that the fluffy projection halves can be used individually or in various combinations within the same performance or event. Both increased versatility and reduced pompon costs can be realized. 
         [0007]    One version of the invention as a convertible pompon assembly includes both a first ornamental array projecting from a first handle half and a second ornamental array projecting from a second handle half. The first and second handle halves incorporate a coupling mechanism having a coupling facility for interconnecting the first and second handle halves, thereby forming a unitary baton handle between the first and second ornamental arrays. The coupling mechanism also has an uncoupling facility for disconnecting the first and second handle halves, thereby allowing one of the first and second handle halves to be interconnected with a handle half of another ornamental array. 
         [0008]    The coupling mechanism is preferably formed integrally with the handle halves without requiring additional moving parts and is preferably engaged and disengaged by relative motion between the handle halves. For example, the coupling mechanism can include a male fitting associated with the first handle half and a female fitting associated with the second handle half. The male fitting preferably projects from the first handle half, and the female coupling is preferably formed within the second handle half. The male and female fittings can include mating threads for engaging and disengaging from each other. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, the coupling mechanism can include a detent mechanism that provides snap-fit engagements and disengagements or a latch mechanism that can be engaged and disengaged by relative motions. For example, the latch mechanism can be formed with a catch that is movable relative to the first and second handle halves. 
         [0010]    The handle halves preferably include end surfaces that abut one another for forming the unitary baton handle. The handle halves also preferably include peripheral surfaces that are arranged side-by-side to form a substantially uninterrupted peripheral surface of the baton handle. The matching surfaces are preferably easy to grip both individually as handle halves and collectively as a baton handle. The coupling mechanism can be used to draw the end surfaces of the handle halves into engagement with each other. A detachable strap can be used for loosely connecting the two handle halves as a further grip aid when the handle halves are together or as a tie for storing individual pompons in pairs. 
         [0011]    Another version of the invention as a convertible pompon system includes a plurality of pompon halves, each having fluffy projections supported from a handle half. The handle half of a first of the pompon halves is engageable with the handle halves of more than one of the plurality of other pompon halves for forming convertible pompons from different pairings with the first of the pompon halves. In addition, the handle half of the first of the pompon halves is disengageable from the handle half of a second of the pompon halves and is engageable with the handle half of a third of the pompon halves for switching between different pairings of the pompon halves. 
         [0012]    The engageable handle halves preferably form a unitary baton handle between the pompon halves. The engageable handle halves also preferably include a first end supporting the fluffy projections and a second end that incorporates portions of a coupling mechanism for engaging and disengaging the handle halves of other pompon halves. 
         [0013]    The coupling mechanism can be formed integrally with the engageable handle halves without requiring additional moving parts and is engaged and disengaged by relative motion between the engageable handle halves. A male fitting can be associated with the handle half of the first pompon half and a female fitting can be associated with the handle halves of the second and third pompon halves. 
         [0014]    Alternatively, the engageable handle halves can incorporate a coupling mechanism that includes a detent mechanism that provides snap-fit engagements and disengagements or a latch mechanism that can be engaged and disengaged by relative motions of the handle halves alone or in combination with other parts such as a catch. 
         [0015]    The engageable handle halves preferably include end surfaces that abut one another and peripheral surfaces that are arranged side-by-side to form a substantially uninterrupted peripheral surface of the baton handle. The fluffy projections preferably differ among at least the second and third pompon halves to support the assembly of differently appearing convertible pompons from the plurality of pompon halves. 
         [0016]    A plurality of end caps can be supplied with mating features for completing the coupling mechanisms of the various handle halves to complete the handle halves for use flourishing the individual pompon halves. For example, end caps with female fittings can be coupled to handle halves with mating male fittings to complete the handles of the individual pompons. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a disassembled convertible pompon in the form of two pompon halves with half handles arranged for coupling the pompon halves together. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the disassembled convertible pompon partly in cross section with partly cutaway ornamental arrays. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a similar side view of the assembled convertible pompon with partly cutaway ornamental arrays. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of one of the pompon halves having a male fitting along with a cross-sectional view through an end cap having a female fitting for completing the handle of the one pompon half. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the other of the pompon halves having a female fitting shown partly in cross section along with an end cap having a male fitting for completing the handle of the other pompon half. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the one pompon half assembled with the female end cap, which includes a carrying strap. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a disassembled alternative convertible pompon partly in cross section showing a detent coupling mechanism. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side view of another disassembled alternative convertible pompon partly in cross section showing a latching coupling mechanism. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a side view of another disassembled alternative convertible pompon partly in cross section showing a friction coupling mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    A preferred embodiment of the invention as a convertible pompon  10  is depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 . Two pompon halves  12  and  14  are assembled together to form the convertible pompon  10 . The pompon half  12  includes an ornamental array  16  in the form of fluffy projections made of a multitude of strands  20  and a handle half  24  from which the strands  20  project. Similarly, the pompon half  14  includes an ornamental array  18  also in the form of fluffy projections made of a multitude of strands  22  and a handle half  26  from which the strands  22  project. 
         [0027]    Although the pompon halves  12  and  14  and the handle halves  24  and  26  are referred to as “halves”, the terms “half” or “halves” as used herein are intended to denote either the two parts of the convertible pompons  10  or the two parts of the convertible pompon handles rather than a reference to their relative sizes. The ornamental arrays  16  and  18  of the two pompon halves  12  and  14  can contribute to the formation of a contiguous ornamental array, such as in the form of a single fluffy ball, or can form separate ornamental arrays, each complete in itself. The handle halves  24  and  26  are preferably approximately equally sized so that each handle half can function on its own as at least part of a handle grip of an individual pompon, but the two handle halves could also be made unequally sized for further distinguishing between the pompon halves, such as for distinguishing between crown and show pompons. 
         [0028]    The strands  20  and  22 , which are also referred to as streamers and can easily number 1000 or more per ornamental array  16  or  18 , can be provided in various lengths, widths, colors, and materials. Generally the strands  20  and  22  are made of thin plastic strips but can also be made of paper, foils, or even feathers. Within each ornamental array  16  or  18 , the strands  20  or  22  can be all the same color or a combination of colors. The color schemes of the two ornamental arrays  16  and  18  can be the same or different. 
         [0029]    The handle halves  24  and  26  include remote ends  28  and  30  at which the ornamental arrays  16  and  18  are attached by conventional means, including capturing the strands  20  and  22  in bunches. The handle halves  24  and  26  also include adjacent ends  32  and  34 , which can be abutted together to form a unitary baton handle between the ornamental arrays  16  and  18 . Proximate the adjacent ends  32  and  34 , the handle halves  24  and  26  incorporate a coupling mechanism  36  that provides for both connecting and disconnecting the handle halves  24  and  26 . 
         [0030]    The handle half  24  incorporates a female fitting  38  that is formed through the adjacent end  32 , and the handle half  26  incorporates a male fitting  40  that projects from the adjacent end  34 . The female and male fittings  38  and  40  have mating threads  42  and  44  that allow the handle halves  24  and  26  to be screwed together or apart. 
         [0031]    The pompon halves  12  and  14  can be coupled together with each other to form the convertible pompon  10  as shown in  FIG. 3  or can be coupled to other pompon halves of different colors or styles having appropriately matching handle fittings. For example, the pompon half  12 , which incorporates a female fitting  38 , can be paired with another pompon half like the pompon half  14  incorporating a mating male fitting  40 . Similarly, the pompon half  14  can be paired with another pompon half like the pompon half  12  having a female fitting  38 . 
         [0032]    In addition, the pompon halves  12  and  14  can be used by themselves. Each of their handle halves  24  and  26  provides a region for gripping the pompon halves  12  and  14 . However, as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , mating end caps  46  or  48  can be supplied as handle extenders to provide larger or different grips. The end caps  46  and  48 , which incorporate mating female and male fittings  50  and  52 , couple to the adjacent ends  32  and  34  of the handle halves  24  and  26  to form new ends  54  and  56  that can be shaped as desired for improving appearance or grip. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the assembled end cap  46  completes a dowel-shaped handle for the pompon half  14 . Alternatively, the end cap could be shaped to convert the handle to a different type of grip, such as a crown or block style, where the grip is oriented orthogonal to that of a dowel-shaped handle. The ornamental arrays  16  and  18  can be separately arranged in the form of individual fluffy balls to further fashion individual pompons from each of the pompon halves  12  and  14 . 
         [0033]    The handle halves  24  and  26 , as well as the end caps  46  and  48 , can include mountings in the form of bores  58  or other features for supporting straps, loops, rings, or other ancillary gripping or carrying structures. For example, the pompon half  14 , which is fitted with the end cap  46 , includes a carrying strap  60  supported from the end cap  46 . 
         [0034]    A variety of different coupling mechanisms can be used to connect the handle haves together to form convertible pompons as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . For example, a detent mechanism  68  of a convertible pompon assembly  70  is shown in  FIG. 7 . One handle half  72  incorporates a female fitting  76 , and another handle half  74  incorporates a male fitting  78 . Resilient protuberances  80  project from a periphery  82  of the male fitting  78 , and a receiving channel  84  is formed in the female fitting  76 . The resilient protuberances  80  deflect, such as by compression or displacement, to allow the male fitting  78  to enter the female fitting  76  but expand into the channel  84  to temporarily secure the two handle halves  72  and  74  together. The channel  84  is positioned to receive the protuberances  80  at a point where adjacent ends  86  and  88  of the handle halves  72  and  74  come into contact with each other to complete a unitary baton handle having a substantially uninterrupted peripheral surface  90  extending between ornamental arrays  92  and  94 . The engaged detent mechanism  70  tends to lock the handle halves  72  and  74  together, but a predetermined separating force can be applied to the handle halves  72  and  74  to disengage the detent mechanism  70  and pull the handle halves  72  and  74  apart. The separated handle halves  72  and  74  can be reengaged with each other or with another mating handle half for use as a convertible pompon or can be engaged with a mating end cap for use as an individual pompon. 
         [0035]    Another alternative coupling mechanism in the form of a latching mechanism  98  for a convertible pompon assembly  100  is shown in  FIG. 8 . One handle half  102  incorporates a female fitting  106  having a resilient latch  110 , and another handle half  104  incorporates a male fitting  108  having a notch  112 , which is shaped for receiving a similarly shaped protuberance  114  of the latch  110 . When the female and male fittings  106  and  108  are mated together, the protuberance  114  fits within the notch  112  to temporarily hold the handle halves  102  and  104  together. However, a predetermined force can be applied to re-deflect the latch  110  and pull the handle halves  102  and  106  apart. The separated handle halves  102  and  104  can be can be reengaged with each other or with another mating handle half for use as a convertible pompon or can be engaged with a mating end cap for use as an individual pompon. 
         [0036]    Yet another coupling mechanism, this, in the form of a friction coupling mechanism  118  for a convertible pompon assembly  120 , is depicted in  FIG. 9 . Each of two handle halves  122  and  124  incorporates similar male  126 ,  128  and female  130 ,  132  fittings. The male fittings  126  and  128  take the form of half cylinders and the female fittings  130  and  132  include corresponding shaped recesses. However, one or the other of the male fittings  126 ,  128  and the female fittings  130 ,  132  can be slightly tapered or otherwise shaped so that when drawn together, the male fittings  126  and  128  and the female fittings  130  and  132  engage each other with a friction fit. Although tight enough to hold the handle halves  122  and  124  together for intended use, a separating force can be applied to overcome the friction bond and release the handle halves  122  and  124  from each other. 
         [0037]    A hand strap  134  straddles the two handle halves  122  and  124  and has a length that prevents the handle halves  122  and  124  from disengaging when displaced by a hand gripping the handle beneath the strap  134 . However, without a hand in place, the handle halves  122  and  124  can be separated and the strap  134  can be displaced so that the separated handle halves  122  and  124  can be reconnected to each other or to a similar handle half for use as a convertible pompon or can be coupled to end caps for use as individual pompons. The end caps for engaging the two handle halves  122  and  124  can be substantially the same. 
         [0038]    Although described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the convertible pompon system of the present invention can be carried out in a variety of ways. For example, many other known types of coupling mechanisms, including combinations of the coupling mechanisms described above, can be used to temporarily secure the pompon halves together to form convertible pompon assemblies.