Abstract:
Clothing for a hood ornament such as a dog hood ornament. The clothing may be dimensioned and configured to physically engage the hood ornament, and further, the hood ornament clothing may provide the hood ornament so dressed with specific personality. In addition, the clothing may be seasonal in nature, such as Christmas clothing, Halloween costumes and the like. The clothing for hood ornaments may further give to the dressed up hood ornament features or references to the owner of the hood ornament or vehicle, such as clothing indicating the personality or background of the owner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/712,472 filed Aug. 30, 2005 in the name of the same inventor, Patricia A. Herman, and entitled NOVELTY CLOTHING FOR VEHICLE HOOD ORNAMENT, and claims the priority and benefit of that earlier application. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0002]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).  
         [0003]     The trademark MACK used herein is owned by Mack Truck Inc for MACK brand vehicles, accessories and ornaments.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention relates generally to vehicle hood ornaments, and specifically to clothing for vehicle hood ornaments.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH  
       [0005]     This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Hood ornaments on vehicles take a number of forms, some of which may be quite famous. Notably, some hood ornaments take the form of three dimensional metal figures rather than symbols or flat insignia. For example, the ROLLS ROYCE brand of automobiles may be sold with a figure called WINGED VICTORY, while MACK brand trucks and vehicles may be sold with the MACK bulldog. Such companies and figures may develop such a high degree of brand loyalty among consumers, drivers and the like that the figurines may end up being sold independently of the vehicle itself, incorporated into products such as paperweights, ash trays, or the like.  
         [0007]     The applicant believes is not yet known to display such hood ornaments in clothing independent of the figure itself. That is, while hood ornaments may include clothing such as that of WINGED VICTORY or the studded dog collar of the MACK bulldog, the applicant believes that actually selling outfits dimensioned and configured to physically engage to the hood ornament so as to allow the hood ornament to be clothed are as yet unknown.  
         [0008]     It would be advantageous to provide clothing for hood ornaments.  
         [0009]     It would further be advantageous to provide clothing for hood ornaments dimensioned and configured to physically engage the hood ornament.  
         [0010]     It would further be advantageous to provide clothing for hood ornaments which provides the hood ornaments with personality.  
         [0011]     It would further be advantageous to provide clothing for hood ornaments which provides the hood ornaments with seasonal references.  
         [0012]     It would further be advantageous to provide clothing for hood ornaments which provides the hood ornaments with references to the owner of the hood ornament or vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     General Summary  
         [0014]     The present invention teaches clothing for a hood ornament such as a dog hood ornament. The clothing may be of a number of different types and materials such as but not limited to costumes, cotton, polyester, vinyl, vinyl coated polyester, Naugahyde brand material, truck tarp material, awning material, and other polymers.  
         [0015]     The clothing may be dimensioned and configured to physically engage the hood ornament, for example, by having spans of material sized to go around the body and limbs of a hood ornament and by making use of snaps, hook-and-loop fastener material, hook and eye fasteners, buttons, stitching, bows, ribbons, zippers, nail heads, studs and so on.  
         [0016]     The hood ornament clothing may provide the hood ornament so dressed with specific personality or may be seasonal in nature, such as Christmas clothing to dress the hood ornament as Santa Claus, Halloween costumes and the like, or to give to the dressed up hood ornament features or references to the owner of the hood ornament or vehicle, such as clothing indicating the personality or background of the owner, a hobby such as motorcycling, gender or the like.  
         [0017]     Summary in Reference to Claims  
         [0018]     It is therefore a first aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory for a first hood ornament, the accessory comprising: 
        a first item of clothing having a first appearance, the first item of clothing being     dimensioned to match the dimensions of such first hood ornament, and     the first item of clothing being configured to match the shape of such first hood ornament.        
 
         [0022]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory further comprising: 
        a second item of clothing having a second appearance, the second item of clothing being dimensioned to match the dimensions of such first hood ornament,     the second item of clothing being configured to match the shape of such first hood ornament, and     the appearance of the second item of clothing matching the appearance of the first item of clothing whereby the two items of clothing provide a suit of clothing for the hood ornament.        
 
         [0026]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory wherein the first and second items of clothing are secured together.  
         [0027]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory wherein the first item of clothing comprises a body covering and the second item of clothing comprises a pair of trouser legs.  
         [0028]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory wherein the second item of clothing comprises one member selected from the group consisting of: a belt, a cloak, a cape, a stud, a sequin, a rhinestone, a head covering, a collar, and combinations thereof.  
         [0029]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory further comprising: 
        an insignia upon the accessory.        
 
         [0031]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory wherein the first and second item of clothing further comprise: 
        a Santa Claus suit.        
 
         [0033]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory wherein the first and second item of clothing further comprise: 
        a super hero suit.        
 
         [0035]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory wherein the first and second item of clothing further comprise: 
        a feminine outfit.        
 
         [0037]     It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory wherein the first and second items of clothing are secured together by means of one member selected from the group consisting of: stitching, snaps, studs, hook-and-loop fabric, zippers, hook and eye, buttons, bows, nail heads, and combinations thereof.  
         [0038]     It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide an accessory for a dog shaped hood ornament for vehicles, the accessory comprising: 
        a first item of clothing having a first appearance, the first item of clothing being dimensioned to match the dimensions of the body of such dog shaped first hood ornament,     the first item of clothing being configured to match the shape of the body of such dog shaped first hood ornament,     a second item of clothing having a second appearance, the second item of clothing being dimensioned to match the dimensions of the legs of such dog shaped hood ornament,     the second item of clothing being configured to match the shape of the legs of such dog shaped hood ornament, and     the appearance of the second item of clothing matching the appearance of the first item of clothing whereby the two items of clothing provide a suit of clothing for the dog shaped hood ornament.       
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0044]      FIG. 1  is a perspective oblique frontal view of a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is a perspective oblique side view of a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a perspective rear view of the first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a perspective front view of a third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0048]      FIG. 5  is a planform diagram of a fourth pattern embodiment of the device.  
         [0049]      FIG. 6  is a planform diagram of a fifth pattern embodiment of the device.  
         [0050]      FIG. 7  is a planform diagram of a sixth pattern embodiment of the device. 
     
    
     INDEX OF REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0000]    
       
          Body portion  100   
          Insignia  102   
          Trouser legs  104   
          Cloak/cape  106   
          Stud  108   
          Belt  110   
          Hood ornament  112   
          Vehicle  113   
          First body part  200   
          Second body part  204   
          Hood ornament  212   
          First material  214   
          Second material  216   
          Third material  217   
          Hood ornament  312   
          Tail hole  318   
          Snap fastener  320   
          Hood ornament  412   
          Various studs  422   
          Pattern  502   
          Cut line, body  504   
          Fold line  506   
          Tail hole  508   
          First leg  510   
          Second leg  512   
          Collar  514   
          Pattern  602   
          Body  604   
          Snap fastener, top portion  606   
          Snap fastener, bottom portion  608   
          Stitch  610   
          Front leg  612   
          Rear leg  614   
          Collar  616   
          Belt  618   
          Body portion with legs  704   
          Collar  716   
          Belt  718   
          Cape  720   
          Pleats  722   
          Second collar  770   
          Snap  772   
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0093]      FIG. 1  is a perspective oblique frontal view of a first embodiment of the invention, hood ornament clothing for a bulldog hood ornament emblem of the MACK brand of vehicles.  
         [0094]     For clarity, hood ornament  112  is shown with solid lines, and only a very partial view of a vehicle is shown (as a complete view of a vehicle would render the hood ornament hard to perceive).  
         [0095]     Body portion  100  of the hood ornament clothing may partially or substantially cover the body of the hood ornament, and may have insignia  102 . Part of, attached to, or separate from, the body portion  100 , trouser legs  104  may cover the rear legs of the hood ornament. The front legs of the hood ornament clothing may be a part of the body portion  100  or may be separate from or attached thereto in a manner similar to the trouser legs  104  covering the rear legs.  
         [0096]     Cloak/cape  106  and belt  110  may be attached to the body portion  100  or may be a part thereof. Stud  108  may be both for appearance and further may be used to secure various parts of the hood ornament clothing together.  
         [0097]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the cloak/cape, belt and insignia may be red while the body and collar may be blue and the studs silver, however, in embodiments colors other than the exemplary colors may be used. The parts of the hood ornament clothing combine to form a superhero outfit.  
         [0098]     The insignia chosen may be an insignia signifying allegiance to such things as sports teams, products, services, musical bands, organizations or the like. As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the suit may be a one piece suit, while as shown in  FIG. 2 , the suit may be manufactured from several pieces which are then connected.  
         [0099]      FIG. 2  is a perspective oblique side view of a second embodiment of the invention on hood ornament  212 . First body part  200  of the hood ornament clothing and second body part  204  may be the major parts of the Santa Claus outfit depicted. First material  214  may be white and fluffy and second material  216  may be red, while third material  217  may be a shiny black material to simulate boots, thus providing appropriate coloration. Such a seasonal outfit may be worn and removed depending upon time of year.  
         [0100]      FIG. 3  is a perspective rear view of the first embodiment of the invention. Hood ornament  312  is depicted wearing the hood ornament clothing of the invention with a tail hole  318  clearly visible. It may be seen that in addition to having sizes and dimensions which are proper for the hood ornament clothing to fit the hood ornament, the hood ornament clothing of the invention must also be configured in a shape which fits the shape of the hood ornament.  
         [0101]     It may be seen that dressing and undressing the hood ornament may be easily accomplished by means of fasteners such as snap fastener  320 . Other snap fasteners on the device may allow easy fastening of the front trouser legs to themselves so as to secure the legs of the clothing to the hood ornament legs. The back legs will function in a similar manner.  
         [0102]      FIG. 4  is a perspective front view of a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the hood ornament clothing provides a appearance to the hood ornament  412 , which may reflect the gender of the owner or driver of a vehicle, may represent some connection to an owner or driver or the like. In the case of the this embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the appearance of a coat or dress may be suggested by the cut of the clothing.  
         [0103]     Various styles of studs  422  may be employed, thus allowing additional styles of clothing and projecting different personalities. The clothing of the embodiment may be pink or another color of choice.  
         [0104]      FIG. 5  is a planform diagram of a fourth pattern embodiment of the device. Pattern  502  may be printed onto a sheet of paper or the like, or may be embodied in another form. The pattern may also be used as a planform view of the individual pieces of cloth which make up the hood ornament clothing of the invention. Cut line for the first body portion  504  may indicate the location of a line for cutting the material to make the device, while fold line  506  indicates a location at which it might be folded into the proper size and shape (dimension and configuration) to fit the hood ornament. Tail hole  508  may be cut out to allow the tail of the hood ornament to project therethrough. First leg  510  and second leg  512  and collar  514  may be separate pieces of cloth which are cut individually and attached to the first body portion. (For clarity, only one leg of each size is shown, however in the case of a four legged hood ornament such as a bulldog, two of each size would be required.)  
         [0105]     The pattern of  FIG. 5  may be used to make the embodiment of the invention in which the device is any of the suits show or discussed: a Santa suit, a super hero suit and so on.  
         [0106]     The dimensions to fit the MACK brand bulldog trademark with this outfit are as follows:  
                           TABLE I                                       Belt width pre-fold   1.5″           Belt width folded   0.5″           Belt length   6.5″           Body front width   6.625″           Max width   7.875″           Width under arm   4.5″           Tail cut out, width   0.375″           Tail cut out, height   0.25″           Rear leg width   3.5″           Rear leg height   2″           Front leg width   3.125″           Front leg height   1.25″           Waist   3.25″                      
 
         [0107]     A ¼″ inch hem may be made all the way around the perimeter of the body portion, back leg, and front leg, which reduces these dimensions in the final form.  
         [0108]      FIG. 6  is a planform diagram of fifth pattern embodiment of the device during construction: this represents the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with some connections made and various parts already sewn. Pattern  602  has parts which make body  604 , front leg  612 , rear leg  614 , collar  616 , and belt  618 .  
         [0109]     Snap fastener, top portion  606  and snap fastener, bottom portion  608  may cooperate to physically engage together and hold pants legs and similar items closed, while stitch  610  may be used for more permanent attachment of parts together.  
         [0110]      FIG. 7  is a planform diagram of a sixth pattern embodiment of the device. This preferred embodiment and best mode now contemplated is a single piece pattern which testing has revealed to be superior to previous patterns. Every embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  may be made using this pattern, with the significant change between the outfits being the accessories, materials, colors and the like. Thus, this embodiment is not a sequential change from either  FIG. 5  or  FIG. 6 , rather, this embodiment may be used in place of earlier patterns to produce a similar superhero outfit. It may be seen that different patterns may produce similar or identical outfits.  
         [0111]     In the case of this pattern, the body portion may have the leg portions cut therewith, forming a body portion with legs  704 , then portions of the front legs of the device may then be cut from the larger body portion. Pattern portions for a superhero cape  720 , belt  718 , and collar  716  may also be seen. In addition, a second collar  770  may be provided with the outfit or as alternative sub-embodiment of the main embodiment.  
         [0112]     Pleats  722  may be used to provide a more pleasing appearance of a cape, to provide better fit and so on.  
         [0113]     This embodiment may conveniently be placed on the hood ornament and removed using snap fasteners  772  as shown, or using other types of easily removable fasteners such as buttons or similar items previously listed.  
         [0114]     The dimensions to fit the MACK brand bulldog trademark with this outfit are as follows:  
                           TABLE II                                       Cape width   4″           Cape height   2.5″           Belt width pre-fold   1″           Belt length   6″           Collar “inner” length   5.5″           Collar “outer length   6.125″           Collar width pre-fold   1″           Body front width   5.875″           Max width   8″           Widths under arm   3.5″-3.5625″-4″           Tail cut out, square   0.3125″           Rear leg portion max width   6.25″           Rear leg portion height   1.25″           Waist   3.125″           Leg gap width, top   0.9375″           Leg gap height, total   1.125″           Leg gap diagonal length   0.375″           Leg gap height, lower run   0.875″                      
 
         [0115]     The clothing of the invention may be military or police uniforms, motorcyclist/biker outfits, or other suits of clothing.  
         [0116]     In other embodiments additional accessories to the hood ornament clothing accessory itself may be used: chains, trademarks, jewelry, rhinestones, sequins, beads, decorative buttons, decorative bows, decorative snaps, and decorative studs, and combinations thereof, and so on.  
         [0117]     The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims.